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WYOMING — A man arrested for breaking into Kasarda’s Greenhouse on Saturday and taking over 100 feet of copper piping is also facing charges alleging that he stole a PT Cruiser from a Wilkes-Barre repair shop and a bank card from the woman he had been staying with.

Patrick Lee Staley, 53, with a last known address in Wilkes-Barre but listed as “homeless” in the criminal complaint, was arrested on Monday night in Nanticoke after he was positively identified from surveillance footage as the man who burglarized Kasarda’s two days prior.

Staley is now facing charges from police departments in Wyoming, Nanticoke City and Wilkes-Barre City on various charges relating to the burglary and other related crimes.

According to the complaint:

Staley was initially identified as a suspect in the theft of a bank card on July 6 by the victim, a woman with whom Staley had been staying with in Wilkes-Barre for a few months.

The victim told police that she had last seen her card on July 5, and that on the day she called police, she noticed that a transaction had occured at the Pantry Quik in Hanover Township in which $201.75 had been withdrawn from her account.

The granddaughter of the victim told police that she suspected Staley, who had been staying with the victim as a favor to a downstairs neighbor who used to date Staley, according to the complaint.

Staley showed up at Wilkes-Barre City police headquarters on July 7 to turn himself in, admitting to taking the card without permission and to withdrawing $200 from an ATM.

The Kasarda’s burglary occurred 10 days later, on Saturday, and Wyoming Borough Police Chief Chris Mercavitch was called to the greenhouse on Monday to investigate the burglary.

Upon…

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Quest Adventures, in collaboration with Delmarva Birding Weekends, is now offering guided paddling tours on historic Broad Creek in Laurel.

Waters once sailed by three-masted Chesapeake Bay schooners known as “sailing rams” are now navigated by a different type of vessel.

The Broad Creek flows into the Nanticoke River, one of the most wild and scenic rivers on Delmarva. The waterways are teeming with birds and other wildlife, and they have a rich history dating back to the First People of the Chesapeake region, the Nanticokes.

Quest Adventures has been a tourism staple in Delaware’s coastal resort area for more than 20 years, creating memories for individuals and families by delivering quality outdoor recreational experiences. The Quest team hopes to continue this success in western Sussex County with six new guided kayak tours that will appeal to nature lovers, history buffs and explorers of wild Delmarva.

Two trips will focus on the birds, flora and fauna of the waterway. A Wednesday, Aug. 25 tour will feature birds, basking turtles and other late-summer wildlife along Broad Creek. As summer transitions to fall, paddlers may discover warblers, vireos and flycatchers migrating south after nesting season. Year-round residents such as bald eagles, great blue herons and wood ducks are often encountered on Broad Creek, as are eastern painted turtles and northern red-bellied cooters.

As the sun sets, a host of animals begin to awaken in the woods and marshes beside the waterway. A twilight tour of Broad Creek Thursday, Sept. 9, will give paddlers an opportunity to look and listen for barred owls and eastern screech owls among the trees.

Tommy Thompson, a local historian and associate member of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe, will lead Saturday paddles set for Aug. 28 and Oct. 2, talking about the history of Broad Creek as it has been…

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Campers at a culinary camp at LCCC learned to slice, dice, sauté, and more.

NANTICOKE, Pa. — “Sprinkles by the handful” was part of the instructions in the cake decorating process as students learned how to bake and decorate cakes during the Luzerne County Community College Kids Culinary Boot Camp in Nanticoke.

For some students, this was the first opportunity to engage in the kitchen and with new friends.

“They are just fantastic,” said chef Instructor Kim McLendon. “They are very attentive, they listen, but they’re eager to just get back out there and just start cooking and just being amongst their friends.”

But many of these chefs say they’re here to learn.

“I’m learning a new skill, and it’s quite fun to do that because I just like to have like a general knowledge of things,” said 14-year-old Luke Colleran of Mountain Top.

“So, I can learn more, and my sister said, ‘Yay, maybe you can make eggs then,'” said 10-year-old Cecelia Cain of Mountain Top.

This boot camp is an opportunity for students to learn about cooking and an outlet for creative expression.

“I’m putting on the sprinkles on the peanut butter, add, like, a little pop to it,” said Cecelia.

“I’m going to make a giant Oreo by putting the vanilla in the middle and then the chocolate on the outside,” explained Luke.

“We allow them to say this is our taste test kitchen. I feel like it gives them that vast knowledge to be able to expand throughout the box and really learn to develop their culinary intuition, which is great,” said McLendon.

Earlier this week, the students learned to make salads and pasta. Next up is pizza, followed by a “Chopped”-style competition in Nanticoke.

The camp at LCCC wraps up at the end of the…

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Edward S. “Baran” Baranowski, 72, of Lake Silkworth and formerly of Nanticoke, passed into eternal life Saturday morning, July 17, 2021, in Residential Hospice, Inpatient Unit, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on Sept. 5, 1948, in Lehman, Edward was the son of the late Edward C. and Adeline Frankowski Baranowski.

Edward was a graduate of Nanticoke High School, Class of 1966.

A United States Army veteran, Edward honorably served his country for nearly three years during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of specialist 4th class.

Prior to his retirement, Edward was employed as a driver for C.H. Briggs Hardware Company.

Edward was a member of the Nanticoke Fire Department’s Mowery Hose Company No. 3 and the Nanticoke Ambulance Association, running with Medic 301. Additionally, he was a member of the Lucky 14 Sportsman Club.

An avid outdoorsman, Edward enjoyed fishing, hunting and golfing. His granddaughter, Kaitlyn, was the light of his life, and he was proud of all her accomplishments. He was a great fan of Kaitlyn’s traveling softball team, The Rivercats, attending all her games to cheer her and her teammates on.

Edward is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Katra Baranowski, with whom he celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 10. Also surviving are his beloved daughter, Cheryl Brudnicki and her fiancé, Richard Bohan; his adoring granddaughter, Kaitlyn Brudnicki; his brothers, Richard Baranowski and his wife, Elaine, Nanticoke; and Anthony Baranowski and his wife, Michelle, Nanticoke; his sister, Debra Keener and her husband, Byron, Pittston; his faithful companion, Bella; as well as his nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

The Baranowski family wishes to extend their sincerest thanks to the PCU and ICU doctors and nurses from Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for their compassionate care of Edward during his final days. They wish to also thank his oncologist…

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