You Can Get Crafty At The Denison House 
The Denison Advocates Will Hold A Craft Fair From 11 A.m. To 5 P.m., Sunday, 
July 21, On The Grounds Of The Historic Nathan Denison House, 35 Denison St.

Acting Up 
Youngsters Discover The Work Behind The Glamour Of Stagecraft

By JERRY LYNOTT; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, July 12, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





HUGHESTOWN -- Everything about the project is big, except the publicity. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The limited details about a 60,000-square foot banquet hall to be built
near a former coal breaker are buried within an application for a permit to
remove coal from the site. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The secrecy causes concern for the people who should know what's going on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We have heard this rumored but nothing has come into this office," said
Adrian Merolli, director of the Luzerne County Planning Commission. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Robert Kulick, overseeing the project for Robachele Inc., the company
headed by his wife, Michele Mattioli, promises to provide details at the
appropriate time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're going to do everything we must do to be in compliance with DEP (the
state Department of Environmental Protection), Hughestown Borough and the
county," Kulick said Thursday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So far, Robachele received one permit from DEP to dig coal from the site
off Parsonage Street. That permit expired last month after the company, based
in Long Pond, Monroe County, did not remove all the coal within 30 days. The
company's application for a larger Anthracite Incidental Coal Extraction
Permit is on file at the county Engineers Office. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hughestown Mayor Paul Hindmarsh has seen neither the application nor any
plans from Robachele. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A blast a few months ago to prepare the site near the former No. 9 breaker
for excavation literally woke up borough officials. "We were even unaware they
were digging down there," Hindmarsh said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In 1991, the strip mining operation run by ABC Coal Co. of Hazleton created
problems for residents near the site of the proposed banquet hall, Hindmarsh
said. ABC stopped mining, back-filled the pit and reclaimed the land. But the
huge drag line used to mine the coal still was left behind. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The past coal mining experiences have the borough on guard, Hindmarsh said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're looking at it kind of with both eyes," he said of Robachele's plans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Merolli was unaware of the project until a reporter questioned him about
it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We will take a close look at this," said Merolli, whose office has
jurisdiction over zoning for the borough. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "As from what I can see and hear of I don't see anything illegal," Merolli
said after scanning through the application. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The company is taking care of its legal obligations first by applying for
the mining permit from the state, Merolli said. It would be prudent if the
company notified the commission too, he said, because the company could lose
money if it prepares the land and later fails to get zoning approval. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kulick said Robachele's main concern at the moment is with the permit. Once
that goes through, the coal will be removed and the ground stabilized for the
building and surrounding parking lot. The banquet hall will cater to weddings
and parties. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The company signed a 25-year lease for 8 acres owned by Joseph Nowakowski
of Duryea. Nowakowski could not be reached for comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The permit request by Robachele is not a way for Nowakowski to get back in
the mining business, according to Colleen Stutzman, an inspector supervisor
with DEP's Bureau of Mining and Reclamation in Pottsville. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nowakowski violated state mining regulations and forfeited bonds for three
operations, according to DEP records. In February 1988 he was declared a
forfeited operator and permanently barred from mining anywhere in the country. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Mr. Kulick is solely on his own. As far as we know at this time Mr.
Nowakowski is not involved," Stutzman said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The pending permit applies to approximately 5 acres bordered by Center and
Parsonage streets. Heavy equipment will be used to dig out the coal in cuts of
200 feet by 100 feet that are not to exceed 80 feet in depth, according to the
permit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Robachele already has published three of the required four consecutive
weekly legal ads of its pending permit application. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After the final notice, the public has 30 days to file objections to the
permit with DEP and request a public hearing. If nothing is filed, no hearing
will be held, and the permit application will be reviewed and most likely
approved, Stutzman explained. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Stutzman said she did not think it would be that easy. "I really expect
to see a public hearing on this one." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Project's Secrecy Creates Concern 
Planning Commission 
Official Says Only Rumors 
Of Coal Excavation At Site 
Of Planned Banquet Hall 
Have Reached His Office

Project's Secrecy Creates Concern Planning Commission Official Says Only Rumors Of Coal Excavation At Site Of Planned Banquet Hall Have Reached His Office