Es The Dallas Post NEWS Sunday, December 12, 2004 (continued from page 1) ty very well,” he said in regards to the tremendous cheering of the home team and their fans. “Coming into this huge, gorgeous natatori- um is really something for them.” “Dallas High School handily won the meet with some ter- rific performances. Kira Szulborski broke the school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:05:68. Allen Gonczol won the 200 IM and Andrew VanLoon took a first in the 50 free. Alyssa Retzena won the girls’ 100 breast- stroke, Whitney Bolton was first in diving, and Samantha O’Brien won the 100 free. “I think Lehman did won- derfully in their first meet,” ous but swam well and had the courage to try events like the 500 free, which is a challenge for very experi- enced swimmers.” Dallas started its program 10 years ago with 21 boys and girls on the team and no pool. “Lehman has tremendous interest with over 50 kids. It won't be long before they are i “They seemed competitive in this league. The Dallas team and I wish them all the best,” said Stretanski. The Lake-Lehman High School team has six meets scheduled this year. The sev- enth and eighth grade mem- bers hope to get into some age group events also. As the top swimmers for Lehman finished their races at Dallas on Monday, they excit- edly claimed title to the school records and Devine hopes that continues through- the season. We're just going to keep FOR THE POST/M.B. GILLIGAN Lake-Lehman coach Maureen Devine advised her novice swimmers not to panic if they swallow a mouthful of water during a race. Pictured from left are Jaime Lipski, Denise Fabian, Amber Nociesta and Devine. improving,” she said. “That’s our goal for this year.” Devine worked her way through the ranks at the YMCA, from aquatic director to youth, aquatic and pre- school director. “They have a terrific career development program at the Y. That’s how I could move into what I'm doing now,” she said. In addition to being Lake- Lehman’s first swim coach, she also owns and operates First Adventure Preschool in Dallas. Jaime Lipski competed in several events, including the 500- meter freestyle. . TRAIL (continued from page 1) __lots of wonderful donations,” said Rimple. Mike Garrity donated a deed to Tom Garrity’s property and many people like Karen and Craig Williams, Trucksville, gave easements for use of their property for the trail. The final piece fell into place for section two with the signing of an ease- ment for access from property wned by Russ Newell. “We are very thankful for his melp and cooperation,” said Bill Leandri, Chairman of the Back Mountain Trail Board of Directors. “That was a big step forward for the trail.” Members of the association are excited to have reached this phase of development, but their goal is not complete yet. “We are trying to get people safely from the Back Mountain to the valley by walking or riding bicy- cles,” goal is an 8mile corridor from Luzerne to the borough of Dallas, ultimately to continue as far as Ricketts Glen. 1 Section 2 of the trail will trav- él from Trucksville behind Newell’s and behind some prop- erties on Lehigh Street in Shavertown. The trail will pro- ceed up Vine Street and ulti- mately will use a small part of Main Street. At East Franklin Street, it will again go into a beautiful wooded section ‘of d, along Toby’s Creek, to wer Demunds Road. F Jake Kovalchik, a Dallas High School student, built a kiosk for the trailhead at East Franklin Street for his completion proj- ect. Other Dallas students, Alyssa Retzena and Cassie Snider, are building a picnic area in the same spot for their projects. Several Dallas High said Rimple. The first . Bill Leandri, Chairman of the Back Mountain Trail Association Board of Directors, and Judy Rimple, President of Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, are pictured at the kiosk for the trail- head on East Franklin Street in Shavertown. Jake Kovalchik built the kiosk for his completion project at Dallas High School. School students under the direction of completion project coordinator Sarah Saylor recently did a trail cleanup proj- ect. Now that the easements have been signed, ASTA will be coor- dinating the release of funds from the DCNR grant. “Hopefully we’ll have enough to complete the whole eight miles. Our biggest construction costs include the beginning in Luzerne and the trailhead in Trucksville, where we need to put in some steps. That will probably be with logs and rail- road ties,” said Rimple. “The land behind Newell’s will also be expensive because it is so steep. We'll be doing some things for safety concerns along the trail.” Section 3 of the trail will run from Lower Demunds Road through Dallas Borough to College Misericordia. “They have been very gracious in allowing use of the parking lot and restroom facilities,” said Rimple. College Misericordia has already id a portion us" UAY 5 Fashion Boutig Fashion That Fits, ~ Si ov a Men's N ight Out! DECEMBER 15th FROM 4:00PM - 8:00PM REGISTER TO WIN A HOME DEPOT GIFT CERTIFICATE This year get her something that she REALLY wants. 100-8p/ Sun 120-5 of its woods for the trail. Although not all of the ease- ments have been signed, the association has received verbal commitments for part of the route that is proposed to pro- ceed across land owned by the Diocese of Scranton, Watkins and Medura Dentistry, and Commonwealth Telephone. There is still work to be done and volunteers are always wel- come. For more information visit the web site at http://bmt.editthispage.com or call Mark Albrecht at 696-3409. We Offer FOR THE POST/M.B. GILLIGAN LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL BOARD Paperwork holding up title transfer of old school By JANINE UNGVARSKY For The Post LEHMAN TWP. — The River of Life Fellowship has taken occupancy of the former Lake-Lehman middle school, school board members learned at their Dec, 6 meeting. Also at the meeting, Jim Mahon was re-elected president of the board. Board Solicitor Charles Coslett reported a few issues have arisen that will delay the closing on the building until at least mid-January. " Coslett said one issue, a recent demand by the Lehman Township supervisors for input ‘into the disposition of the school, is allowed under: the municipal planning code. Since the supervisors’ recom- mendations aren’t binding and the district still intends to go through with the sale, the supervisors’ request won't pre- vent the sale, Coslett said. The supervisors voted last month to concur with the school district’s dissolution of the Lehman Township School Authority, a defunct body that held the title to the school. Coslett told the school board on Monday the resolution that will make the dissolution final has not been returned by Lehman Township supervisors. “Orally, they've done it, but they have not returned the paperwork,” Coslett said. The resolution must be filed with state and county offices to for- mally clear the title and allow completion of the sale, which will bring $70,000 to the dis- trict. In another matter, several board members expressed con- cern about spending money on new championship banners to be hung in the gym. The issue was referred to the athletic committee to evaluate old ban- ners and recommend a course of action. In a special reorganizational meeting held before the work session, Mahon was re-elected as board president. Sheila Gionfriddo will serve as first vice president and Charles Balavage as second vice presi- dent. Mark Kornoski was elected to fill a West Side Area Vocational Technical School board vacancy created by the resignation of Lois Kopcha. Robert Peron will serve as alternate for that seat, which expires in December 2005. Balavage was re-elected to serve on the Vo-Tech board until December 2007, with Moderno Rossi as his alternate. Gionfriddo holds the district’s third seat on the board, which doesn’t expire until December 2006. FOR THE POST/S. JOHN WILKIN Looking every bit the ormer superintendent he was, John Zaleskas spoke after the high school gym was dedicated to him. GYM (continued from page 1) “He looked after the teachers and the support staff, and he loved the kids.” Gorgone said naming the gym after Zaleskas was fitting. “You would always find him at the games — football, wrestling, baseball, whatever they were playing, he was there,” Gorgone said. “John wanted Lake-Lehman to be a family,” Gorgone said. He gestured to the throng of well-wishers crowded around Zaleskas. “That’s what you see here.” In 40 years in the district, Zaleskas had his name on a lot of doors, as teacher, coach, principal and acting superin- tendent; now it is on the gym. Several months ago, the school board voted to dedicate the gym to Zaleskas in recogni- tion of his service. The state-of-the-art facility holds 1,200 people and features balcony seating, retractable basketball nets and the capabil- ity of accommodating two classes or volleyball games simultaneously. It is part of a larger addition begun three years ago, more than a decade after Zaleskas retired in 1990. “We've made some additions Unique Quality & Stylish Jewelry® Offering a Wide Variety of Gems and Gem styles to choose from. We do watch & jewelry repairs. > 40% off silver & gold *Excludes Estate Pieces Offer expires 12/24/04 with this ad* Luzerne e Shopping Center * Luzerne * 570.718.1076 4 since you were here,” said school board President Jim Mahon during the dedication ceremony, “But the foundation was set in stone a long time ago by you, Mr. Zaleskas.” Mahon and former district Superintendent Bob Roberts spoke of Zaleskas' dedication, caring and compassion for the faculty, staff, parents and espe- cially the students. “No child left behind was Mr. Zaleskas’ practice at Lake-Lehman long before the U.S. Congress made it a law,” Roberts said. Fans stood and applauded several times as Zaleskas spoke and accepted a plaque com- memorating the dedication, which took place before the first home wrestling meet of the season. Later, Zaleskas and more than 50 family members, friends and former colleagues gathered for refreshments. SEAN'S SKI TIPS pom 8H CN Q. Why do ah have colored lenses? A. 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