Tag: Nanticoke

Democrats rode to victory in the race for Luzerne County Council Tuesday night, reclaiming the body’s majority, while voters handed the county controller’s office to another member of their party.

In a separate question, voters also rejected proposed changes to the county’s home rule charter.

“I think, it’s almost like a referendum, if you ask me, on what’s going on nationally,” said Democrat Denise Williams, who claimed the most votes in the council contest.

“The common denominator that I heard door-knocking across the board was people were very unhappy with what’s happening nationally,” Williams added.

Luzerne County Councilman John Lombardo, left, talks with friend John Eric Poli at The Knights in Pittston while waiting for election returns Tuesday night, Nov. 4, 2025.

Luzerne County Council race

The 11-member council had seven Republicans and four Democrats heading into the election, with five seats — all held by Republicans — up for grabs.

Democrats claimed four of the five openings in the countywide at-large race, according to unofficial results with all 186 precincts reporting:

• Williams (D) — 38,280
• John Lombardo (R) — 37,374
• Steven Coslett (D) — 36,053
• Chris Belles (D) — 35,986
• Dawn Simmons (D) — 34,478

On the Republican side, incumbent councilmembers Brian Thornton (33,136 votes) and Greg Wolovich (31,872) appear to have failed in their efforts to win second terms.

Two other Republicans, Jackie Scarcella (33,852) and former councilman Stephen J. Urban (32,872), also failed in their bids to win seats.

Tony Perzia (31,973) was the only Democrat who did not win a seat.

“I’m really happy. I’m happy for everybody,” Williams said.

Lombardo was grateful for his reelection, but “extremely disappointed” in the overall outcome for his party.

“Many of…

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A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Monday at 9:08 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 10 p.m. for Cayuga, Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Tioga and Broome counties.

The storms may bring wind gusts of up to 50 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches).

“At 9:08 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over South Cortland, or near Cortland, moving southeast at 40 mph,” comments the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Cortland, Homer, Virgil, Groton, Locke, Genoa, Dryden, Ledyard, Nanticoke and Greene.

The weather service states, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”

Preparing for impending lightning strikes: Expert safety recommendations

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, mostly during the summer. It claims the lives of about 20 people annually, according to the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To guarantee your safety in the midst of a thunderstorm, take into account the following recommendations:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
• Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
• Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• Lightning can strike even when a storm…

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SEAFORD — The world of robotics has come to TidalHealth.

And, on Oct. 22, the surgical-assisting equipment was put on display, with TidalHealth Nanticoke president Penny Short labeling it the future of medical care.

“It’s an important revolution,” she said. “That innovation is what I think is going to lead health care in the future.”

During a combined mixer facilitated by the Western Sussex and Greater Georgetown chambers of commerce, attendees visited the hospital’s lobby, where four mobile robots were stationed for demonstrations.

Some tested their skill at the controls of the da Vinci, a robotic surgical system that uses a minimally invasive approach in a variety of procedures.

Additionally, Dr. William Doran shared information about the Mako equipment used primarily in orthopedic cases, notably hip and knee replacements.

Its 3D imaging software permits surgeons to intricately remove a joint to within submillimeters of accuracy, providing a custom fit.

“You can get a very good outcome using a traditional method. However, some of the variants can lead towards failed components,” said Dr. Doran, who oversees Nanticoke’s orthopedics robotics. “By using the technology here, … we are able to get a very positive outcome, a faster recovery, and we don’t have to dissect certain levels.”

Dr. Doran pioneered this technology for hip and knee replacements on Delmarva. In early 2024, he performed his 1,000th Mako procedure, the first surgeon in Delaware to reach the milestone.

“I am actually approaching my 2,000th robotic joint replacement here not too long from now,” he added.

TidalHealth Nanticoke’s other robotics include Ion robotic bronchoscopy, which allows surgeons to biopsy, diagnose and manage lung cancer. There’s also aquablation, a heat-free surgical procedure to treat an enlarged prostate utilizing a high-powered water stream to remove excess tissue.

Thoracic surgeon Dr. Kurt Wehberg leads the department of surgery at Nanticoke and is one of…

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Bonnie Hall.

Coastal Point | Submitted

When Nanticoke Tribal Historian Bonnie Hall addresses guests at Native American Day on Saturday, Nov. 1, she will offer an overview of the history of the Nanticoke tribe, as well as giving an update about renovations to the Nanticoke Indian Center and Nanticoke Indian Museum, where Native American Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day.

Admission to both the event and the museum will be free on Native American Day.

There will be storytelling by Ragghi Rain, as well as Native traditional dancing, drumming, singing and flute performances. Vendors will sell Indian fry bread, Indian tacos, succotash, T-shirts, hats, books, memorabilia and a book about the Nanticoke language, “Once It Has Been Spoken … It Cannot be Unspoken.”

Hall will be presenting “The Nanticokes Lasting Legacy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” and said she will remind those attending “of the importance of celebrating the diversity of a folks.”

“Since the Nanticokes are considered the First People of the First State, it’s important to understand about the Nanticoke tribe and how we have persisted over time, how we have had to be very resilient and have had to go along with changes that have taken place, how we have worked hard to keep our elders and our youth engaged and to keep our life ways and our culture alive and well.

“We work very hard to preserve that. We have so many people who are moving here to Delaware. No matter where you go, there’s a new development going up. Some of the people who are new here don’t even realize we are even here, so these presentations are so important to educate folks and teach them who we are,” Hall told the Coastal Point.

She…

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Dan Griffith of the Archaeological Society of Delaware will present “17th Century Indian Towns in Sussex County” at 2 p.m. at the Nanticoke Indian Museum near Millsboro on Friday, Nov. 14.

The admission cost is $5 per person.

Griffith, during a telephone conversation with the Coastal Point, said he will focus on American Indian towns from 1600 and 1700.

His research indicated Capt. John Smith came into Delaware downstream from Seaford near the confluence of Broadcreek and the Nanticoke River, Griffith said.

“In June 1608, Capt. John Smith, from Jamestown, Va., sailed up what is now known as the Nanticoke River and encountered an Indian nation he called the Kuskarawaoks. He mapped three Indian towns on that river, Nause, Nantiquak and Kuskarawaoks. The latter was the home of the leadership of the Kuskarawaoks, which John Smith called the Kings’ House. The Kuskarawaoks later became known as the Nanticoke — as well as the river — when, in the mid-17th century, the leadership of the Kuskarawaoks relocated to the town of Nantiquak.

“On the eastern side of Sussex County, near present day Lewes, there was reported a town occupied by Indian people named by the Dutch the Siconece. The Indian town near Lewes was later known in English as Chesonesseck, translated as Place of the Siconece.

“By the late 17th century, the Maryland colony began to establish reservations for the Nanticoke and Assateague peoples. By the mid-18th century, the reservation system was abandoned. Some Indian people migrated to the north, joining Indian communities in what is now Pennsylvania and New York, while some Indian families stayed behind in their home territory of southern Delaware and adjacent Maryland counties,” Griffith explained.

He said Indian towns were not what Europeans expected, but “they found out real quick” that the towns were linear arrangements of houses and dwellings…

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Two dominant backs in Ty’Meere Wilkerson and Dewayne Downey are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Berwick Bulldogs will host the Hanover Area Hawkeyes at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both teams are coming into the contest red-hot, with Berwick sitting on ten straight wins and Hanover Area on three.

Berwick’s defense heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They simply couldn’t be stopped as they easily beat Tunkhannock 53-0. Given the Bulldogs’ advantage in MaxPreps’ Pennsylvania football rankings (they are ranked 173rd, while the Tigers are ranked 493rd) , the win wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Brayden Cleaver

Berwick can attribute much of their success to Brayden Cleaver, who threw for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Those 73 passing yards gave Cleaver a new career-high.

Berwick was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 288 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they’ve now rushed for at least 214 rushing yards every time they’ve taken the field this season.

Meanwhile, Hanover Area put their dominant defense on display in the team’s third consecutive shutout on Friday. They claimed a resounding 63-0 victory over Greater Nanticoke Area. The score at the end of the third wound up being the final score as the Hawkeyes just coasted through the last quarter.

Berwick better keep an eye on Logan Richardson. He was instrumental in Hanover Area’s win, throwing for 190 yards and five TDs while completing 88.9% of his passes. Richardson’s passing game has become a key predictor of the Hawkeyes’…

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NANTICOKE — The history of Nanticoke has been buried again — in terms of a time capsule.

In the city, there’s a time capsule in Patriot Square that was placed underground in 1976 to mark the nation’s bicentennial. The fate of one buried in 1876 remains a mystery — after it was unearthed during park renovations in 1912 and presumably reburied without records or a marker.

On Sunday, another box of Nanticoke history was interred.

To mark its 30th anniversary, the Nanticoke Historical Society buried a time capsule outside its headquarters near the Mill Memorial Library. It will be opened in 50 years.

“We have a penny because there probably won’t be a penny then,” said Judy Minsavage, vice president of the society.

The U.S. Mint will stop making pennies next year and they will be gradually taken out of circulation so those who open the capsule in 2075 might have never seen one, officials with the historical society said.

Books about the history of Nanticoke were placed in the time capsule, along with photos, 2025 utility bills, photos of modern day gas prices and many more contemporary things. There are nostalgic items about city icons like former Gov. John S. Fine and one-armed Major League Baseball player Pete Gray.

“Who knows what Nanticoke will be like in 50 years so we wanted to show them what it’s like now,” said society member Tania Gronkowski.

• 

  Chester Zaremba, president of the Nanticoke Historical Society, shovels dirt onto top of a time capsule outside the society’s headquarters next to the Mill Memorial Library. (Courtesy of the Nanticoke Historical Society)

• 

  Members of…

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Sofia Goetter had three goals and an assist to lead No. 3 Mid Valley to a 7-0 victory over No. 6 Nanticoke Area in the District 2 Class 2A girls soccer quarterfinals Saturday at Mid Valley.

Adyson Zabriski tacked on three assists, and Gwen Mazur had a goal and an assist for the Spartanettes.

Mid Valley will face No. 2 Lake-Lehman on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinals at Lake-Lehman.

Penelope Serrano had 16 saves for the Trojanettes.

First: MV – Mazur, 7:48. MV – K. Goetter (S. Goetter), 18:32. MV – S. Goetter, 22:39. MV – S. Goetter (Zabriski), 25:07. MV – Leslie (Mazur), 39:59; Second: MV – Schroeder (Zabriski), 64:36. MV – S. Goetter (Zabriski), 74:31; Shots-corners: MV 24-5, NAN 1-2; Saves: MV (Galeas) 1, NAN (Serrano) 16; Records: MV 14-4, NAN 8-9.

Western Wayne 4, Honesdale 3: At Western Wayne, Maci Lazorchak’s second goal with 15 minutes remaining lifted the No. 4 Lady Wildcats to a win over No 5 Honesdale in the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals.

Western Wayne advances to face No. 1 Wyoming Area in Wednesday’s semifinals.

First: Downey (HON), 3:03. Chearney (WW) from Lazorchak, 16:13. Eisle (HON), 18:56; Second: Mistishin (WW), 54:02. Lazorchak (WW) from Mistishin, 55:07. Valerio (HON), 58:37. Lazorchak (WW), 64:57; Shots-corners: HON 9-2, WW 10-10; Saves: Razny (HON) 6, Kaub (WW) 6; Records: HON 13-5, WW 15-3.

Abington Heights 10, Wallenpaupack 2: At Abington Heights, Lilia Calvert had four goals and three assists, as the No. 2 Lady Comets defeated the No. 7 Lady Buckhorns in the Class 3A quarterfinals.

Sara Horsley had four saves in her first career start, and Brooklyn Yankow scored her first varsity goal. Allison Stanton added two goals, and Eva Kane had one goal and two assists for the Lady Comets.

Abington Heights will…

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