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Old Country Buffet restaurant in Wilkes-Barre Township closes following Chapter 11 filing

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Switch to in-house Luzerne County tax collection back on the public agenda

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; To Anita Heffers, a leprechaun that appeared under an overpass was more than simply a reminder that St. Patrick&#8217;s Day was soon to be upon us.</p><p>It was, Heffers said, evidence of the good spirit of area residents.</p><p>As Heffers made her way past the leprechaun placed near Benett Street and Mercer Avenue on Monday, she quickly took notice that the little guy, complete with shamrock glasses and green garland, had toppled over.</p><p>Immediately, Heffers gathered rocks to support the leprechaun, which was in reality a snowman on which a great deal of greenery had been placed.</p><p>To ensure that those making their way through the town would take notice of the decoration, a cardboard sign had been erected next to the snowman. &#8220;I&#8217;m back. Happy St. Patty&#8217;s Day,&#8221; it said.</p><p>The spot under the overpass has been surrounded in mystery since a simple weed sprouting from the ground there was decorated with garland and tiny ornaments during the Christmas season. When the weed collapsed, it was replaced by a small tree, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/499809/tiny-tree-in-kingston-symbolizes-the-real-spirit-of-the-christmas-season" target="_blank">equally well decorated and spirit-inspiring.</a></p><p>The New Year&#8217;s season brought with it a snowman in the same spot. And although temperatures were getting pretty cold as January approached, folks said their <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/501159/from-weed-to-tree-to-snowman-secret-decorators-keep-holiday-spirit-going-on-kingston-roadside" target="_blank">hearts were warmed by the plastic snowman</a> that prompted many motorists to stop momentarily or honk or wave, and certainly to smile.</p><p>A Valentine&#8217;s Day heart showed up unexpectedly in early February, seemingly as a reminder to take a moment to stop and show someone love, not necessarily just to their sweethearts, but to friends, families and other members of the community.</p><p>&#8220;It has encouraged residents to use the holidays to celebrate our community spirit and hope for the future,&#8221; Heffers said.</p><p>Heffers said that on Sunday, she was having a bad day and the decoration, newly decorated, lifted her spirits.</p><p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know what this has meant to me,&#8221; she said while shoring up the leprechaun with rocks.</p><p>Heffers credited the person who has returned to the site again and again to provide a bit of levity and positivity to area residents.</p><p>Heffers began to say that she hoped the person responsible for the good deed would be found out, but then stopped.</p><p>&#8220;Perhaps,&#8221; she said, &#8220;its the not knowing, the bit of mystery, that makes this thing work.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The original Christmas weed. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_decor-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The original Christmas weed. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_decor1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This tiny Christmas tree replaced the weed when it collapsed. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_decor1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>This tiny Christmas tree replaced the weed when it collapsed. </caption1><photoCredit1>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_decor2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Happy New Year snowman. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_decor2-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>The Happy New Year snowman. </caption2><photoCredit2>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL030816Leperchaun-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A plastic snowman dressed as a leprechaun, in anticipation of St. Patrick&#8217;s Day, now stands at Bennett Street and Mercer Avenue in Kingston<ins> &#8212; the same spot where a Christmas weed, a tiny Christmas tree, a Happy New Year snowman and a Valentine&#8217;s Day heart mysteriously appeared over the past few months</ins>. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL030816Leperchaun-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>A plastic snowman dressed as a leprechaun, in anticipation of St. Patrick&#8217;s Day, now stands at Bennett Street and Mercer Avenue in Kingston<ins> &#8212; the same spot where a Christmas weed, a tiny Christmas tree, a Happy New Year snowman and a Valentine&#8217;s Day heart mysteriously appeared over the past few months</ins>. </caption3><photoCredit3>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit3></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>

Kingston’s ‘Christmas weed’ saga continues with leprechaun snowman for St. Patrick’s Day