web1_TTL032118sterling1.jpg

Wilkes-Barre zoning board OKs plan to renovate Empire Silk Mill into apartments

web1_american-flag-gavel-scales-of-justice.jpg

Hazleton man gets probation in bank scam

<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; Hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, parakeets, reptiles and fish will be for sale and cats will await adoption as the PetSmart store in the Arena Hub Plaza reopens Friday morning.</p><p>PetSmart announced its reopening Wednesday, the latest business to come back after the devastating June 13 tornado.</p><p>Tara Seymour, store manager, said the store will be open Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., marking the return to normal operating hours &#8212; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.</p><p>Seymour said the store will &#8220;be open for good&#8221; beginning Friday and a grand re-opening celebration is planned for Saturday, Dec. 8, with a lot of promotions and prizes planned for customers.</p><p>&#8220;And Santa Claus will be there on Dec. 8 for photos with pets from noon to 4 p.m.,&#8221; Seymour said. &#8220;We&#8217;re all just really excited about getting reopened for the community we serve.&#8221;</p><p>Seymour said for the last five months while the store was being repaired and remodeled, employees were working at other PetSmart locations in Dickson City and Hazleton.</p><p>&#8220;But we are very happy to be back together as a family,&#8221; Seymour said.</p><p>A majority of the 25 to 28 PetSmart employees are returning, she noted.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been a long process,&#8221; she said. &#8220;The store is beautiful &#8212; everything inside is new.&#8221;</p><p>One new feature Seymour talked about is a self-service dog wash, where customers can give their dog a good cleaning. Seymour said the service will be free for the first 30 days after the reopening and dog owners must provide proof of rabies shots for their pets.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re really anxious to see our regular customers again,&#8221; Seymour said. &#8220;Our customers can try out the new dog wash and see if they like it.&#8221;</p><p>Seymour said PetSmart will offer many of the same products as before and the same types of animals for sale. She said the PetSmart grooming and training salon will also be back.</p><p>And it will resume its agreement with the SPCA of Luzerne County for adopting cats.</p><p>Here are some of the things planned for the Dec. 8 grand re-opening:</p><p>&#8226; Free bath and grooming service for the first 25 pets to arrive.</p><p>&#8226; Free gift cards ($5 to $50 value) to the first 50 pet parents in line on grand re-opening day.</p><p>&#8226; A chance to win a prize package valued at $250.</p><p>&#8226; Free toys, bandanas and T-shirts.</p><p>&#8226; Santa Claus photos with pets and pet families from noon to 4 p.m.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_TTL112918Petsmart2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This is a chameleon available for purchase at PetSmart in the Arena Hub Plaza. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_TTL112918Petsmart2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>This is a chameleon available for purchase at PetSmart in the Arena Hub Plaza. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_TTL112918Petsmart1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">PetSmart store manager Tara Seymour works with Kim Paddock and Patrick Verastro to prepare the PetSmart store in the Arena Hub Plaza for its re-opening Friday after it sustained extensive damage in the June 13 tornado. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_TTL112918Petsmart1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>PetSmart store manager Tara Seymour works with Kim Paddock and Patrick Verastro to prepare the PetSmart store in the Arena Hub Plaza for its re-opening Friday after it sustained extensive damage in the June 13 tornado. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Tornado-hit store reopens Friday</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

After being closed for five months, PetSmart set to reopen Friday