Zawatski qualifies for Olympic Trials

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Luzerne County Sports Hall inductees announced

<p>NEWPORT TWP. &#8212; Both the American flag and the spirits of township residents rose on Monday night as the township dedicated a new municipal building along the Kirmar Parkway.</p><p>Township veterans gathered in a flag raising and honor guard ceremony, setting the stage for an event that celebrated not simply a new building with 3,655 square feet of space housing municipal offices, a police station and community room, but the perseverance that made it possible.</p><p>Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, addressed the crowd as master of ceremonies, crediting commissioners with holding fast to their vision of the building for almost a decade.</p><p>Michael Dziak, CEO of Earth Conservancy, a project partner, said, &#8220;It&#8217;s been a load road, but well worth it in terms of community growth.&#8221;</p><p>Yudichak, who worked to garner $500,000 in Local Share Account (LSA) grants to fund the project, said he looked forward to the building improving community service, ensuring public safety and maximizing economic development opportunities.</p><p>&#8220;This is not simply a building made of brick and mortar,&#8221; he said, &#8220;this is about building a better future for the township, making prosperity possible.&#8221;</p><p>Paul Czapracki, president of the township Board of Commissioners called the building, &#8220;a wonderful, beautiful building which will carry the township and its residents into the future.&#8221;</p><p>Addressing those gathered, he said, &#8220;we present this building to you.&#8221;</p><p>The old municipal building, constructed in 1911, was not energy efficient or ADA compliant.</p><p>State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, said the township had worked to put together a project budget that would not unduly stress its taxpayers, with only $150,000 borrowed by the township to complete the $650,000 project.</p><p>Mullery said he believed the building would be a catalyst for new jobs, stimulating new business along the parkway.</p><p>Officials have said construction of the new facility will also open up 10 to 15 acres of land for commercial development and serve as the catalyst for new retail and professional job opportunities.</p><p>The crowd of over 100 seemed to respond with a sense of community and gratitude, with many having been residents of the township throughout their lives.</p><p>Resident Vern Treat said he was attending the event simply because he was a long-time resident and felt it was his duty to participate in community events and have an understanding of what was happening in the township.</p><p>&#8220;Newport Township is vast,&#8221; said Treat, recalling that it includes the villages of Alden, Glen Lyon, Lee, Ridgeview, Sheatown and Wanamie. The township covers an area of 16.8 square miles and has more than 5,000 residents.</p><p>Murph Fletcher, a member of the township&#8217;s community organization in charge of recreation, said the building had been sorely needed and is filling a real need.</p><p>Looking forward to the building not only serving township officials, but providing a gathering place for community groups, Fletcher called both the building and the effort &#8220;top notch.&#8221;</p><p>Many attendees of the event were simply residents committed to the township, calling each of those gathered &#8220;neighbor.&#8221;</p><p>Tom Kashatus, a member of the township community organization and fundraiser, said he has lived in the township all his life.</p><p>&#8220;We all work together to help each,&#8221; said Kashatus. &#8220;That&#8217;s just what we do.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Newport Township Board of Commissioners President Paul Czapracki offers remarks as master of ceremonies state Sen. John Yudichak, left, looks on at the grand opening of the Newport Township Municipal Building &amp; Community Center on the Kirmar Parkway on Monday evening. Newport Township Board of Commissioners President Paul Czapracki, center, offers remarks as master of ceremonies state Sen. John Yudichak, left, looks on at the grand opening of the Newport Township Municipal Building &amp; Community Center on the Kirmar Parkway on Monday evening. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL080415NewportBuilding_toned.jpg</photo0><caption0>Newport Township Board of Commissioners President Paul Czapracki offers remarks as master of ceremonies state Sen. John Yudichak, left, looks on at the grand opening of the Newport Township Municipal Building &amp; Community Center on the Kirmar Parkway on Monday evening. Newport Township Board of Commissioners President Paul Czapracki, center, offers remarks as master of ceremonies state Sen. John Yudichak, left, looks on at the grand opening of the Newport Township Municipal Building &amp; Community Center on the Kirmar Parkway on Monday evening. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Newport Township has grand opening for new municipal building, community center