PAGE 4 THE POST COMMUNITY Sunday, December 31, 2006 SANTA VISITS BACK MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL LIBRARY Santa Claus recently paid a visit to the Children’s Room at the Back Mountain Memorial Library. He spent some time posing for photos with children, including many who participate in the li- brary's toddle story hour at 1 a.m. each Tuesday. Santa's good friend Tom VanWhy also stopped by the library for a visit. Sitting with Santa is 2-year-old Lorisa Klinger, a member of the story hour group. Sign up Jan. 3 for story hour and parent/child workshop Registration for the winter/ LIBR ARY NOTES spring story hours and the spring parent/child workshop at the Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3 at the library on Huntsville Road in Dallas. Janet Bauman, children’s li- brarian, is looking for volunteers to conduct a toddler half-hour story time and a story hour for holiday items in the foyer of the library entrance. Some of the items available include Christ- mas dinnerware, linens, orna- ments, cookie jars, wreaths, flo- ral and stuffed snowmen and toys. The items will be available until Jan. 6. ® oo 0 Young adults who would like to gather for an hour at the library to discuss “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” by Ann Brash- ares is welcome to the young adult section at 6:30 p.m. Mon- day, Jan. 29. No registration is necessary. Participants may bring snacks for the group to share. the older toddlers, ages three to five years. She suggests teaming up with others if you have an in- terest but cannot commit to the entire session. For more information, call the library at 675-1182. ® 0 0 The Holiday Boutique at the Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary is running a half-price sale on all remaining Christmas and MOMENTS IN TIME * On Jan. 7, 1785, Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries travel from England to France in a gas balloon, becom- ing the first to cross the English Channel by air. The two nearly crashed into the Channel, as their balloon was weighed down by supplies, forcing them to throw nearly everything out of the balloon. Blanchard even threw his trousers over the side in a desperate, but apparently successful, attempt to lighten the ship. ® On Jan. 2,181, Senator Timothy Pickering, a Federalist from Massachusetts, becomes the first senator to be censured by the Senate. Pickering was accused of revealing to the public secret for- eign-policy documents sent by the president to Congress. ® On Jan. 5, 1914, the Ford Motor Company rolls out a series of initiatives targeted at improving the lives of its workers. Along with boosting the company’s minimum wage to $5 per day, Ford also unveiled plans to trim its work day to eight hours. * On Jan. 4,1936, Bob Hope debuts on network radio in the cast of “The Intimate Revue.” Hope, born Leslie Townes Hope in London, made his film debut three years later in “The Big Broadcast of 1938," singing “Thanks for the Memory." ® On Jan. 1,1953, country singer Hank Williams, 29, dies of a heart attack in the back of a limousine on the way to a show in Canton, Ohio. Media speculated that his death may have resulted from drug and alcohol abuse. His hits included “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “I'm So Lonesome | Could Cry." STRANGE BUT TRUE ® One out of every seven people in North America have a perma- nent tattoo somewhere on their bodies. Think of seven of your clos- est friends; if you can't see any tattoos, statistically speaking, one of them probably has a tattoo where the sun don’t shine. ® Here's a bit of a creepy factoid for you: Theodore Bundy, Albert De Salvo, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Jack the Ripper all have 13 letters in their names. ® The Hawaiian word “Honolulu” means “sheltered harbor.” * |[t was noted humorist and student of human nature Bill Vaughan who made the following sage observation: “If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another noncon- formist who doesn’t conform to the prevailing standard of noncon- formity.” * At one time, it was against the law in Texas to take more than three sips at a time while standing up. * |t's a well-known fact that felines have a strong attraction to catnip. Next time you get some for Fluffy, though, consider this: Catnip supposedly prevents flatulence and morning sickness and speeds up hair growth in humans. * Nutritionists say that Brussels sprouts have three times as much vitamin C as oranges. | don't know about you, but I'd rather eat three oranges than one Brussels sprout. * Only 3 percent of the water in the entire world is fresh rather than saltwater. Proportionally speaking, if you compared the world’s water supply to a single gallon, freshwater makes up only four ounc- es of the total. If you further narrow it down and consider only easily accessible freshwater, it's only two drops out of that gallon. Patience, pal. The door will open, and the sharp edge of the winter air will assault your tender nose, luring you to explore, examine, snuffle and scrape and bound in search of an adventure. These short days hold promise yet. Patience. A 70 YEARS AGO Dec. 24, 1936 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SUDDENLY PASSES AWAY Harry Pittman, age 40, a highly popular resi- dent of Dal- las and member of the Dallas Borough School Board died suddenly early yes- terday morning after an illness of just a few hours. His unexpected death came as a severe shock to the community in which he had been held in such high esteem. Word of the tragedy stunned his friends and brought wide-spread expres- sions of sorrow from people in all classes. Mr. Pittman, who was employ- ed by the Hudson Coal Co. in La- flin, came home from work early yesterday morning and com- plained of stomach pains. He was unable to sleep and went downstairs. Mrs. Pittman was giving medicine to one of their children when she heard a fall downstairs. When she rushed down, she found her husband ly- ing on the floor. He had struck his nose in falling an apparently died instantly. An autopsy is planned to see if Mr. Pittman died of indigestion or a heart at- tack. YESTERDAY Thanks to the generosity of the scores of people who respon- ded to The Dallas Post’s annual appeal for toys for needy chil- dren this week, some 200 chil- dren will be happier tomorrow. Part of the burden of the task was assumed this year by the Dallas Women’s Club, which dis- tributed toys to children who at- tended a Christmas party in the high school. Other toys, collect- ed and repaired, were distrib- uted by Dallas Post staff mem- bers this week. Because of the paper’s expand- ed field this year, a number of re- quests for toys were received from distances which presented a difficult delivery problem. In such cases, the slips were turned over to other agencies which were distributing toys. A few bundles of toys could not be de- livered because the family homes could not be located or because the writing on the re- quest was illegible. People who requested toys but did not re- ceive them should call the Dallas Post at Dallas 300. 60 YEARS AGO Dec. 27, 1946 77-YEAR-OLD MAN CHOPS WOOD ON BIRTHDAY Frank Ruggles of Meeker cele- brated his 77th birthday a week ago in typical fashion — chopping wood. A native of Pikes Creek and a resident of Meeker for more than 50 years, Mr. Ruggles’ daily activities belie his years. During the summer months, his days are spent as a caretaker at the Maple Grove Cemetery, where he is the guiding spirit and working arm of the Maple Grove Cemetery Association. Winters are spent cutting wood for fuel and rags for the beautiful hook rugs his wife is fa- mous for. An ex-tax collector of Lehman Township, his services are frequently sought by rela- tives who stipulate “Uncle Frank” as executor of their wills. Questioned about his strenu- ous activities, Mr. Ruggles’ blue eyes twinkle as he delivers a brief but powerful speech about the good effects of hard work. He’s got a point there — himself. Friends and neighbors paused during the busy Christmas sea- son to pay final respects to Jo- seph B. Schooley, who died at 12:15 a.m. Saturday following a heart attack at his home on Har- ris Hill Road. Joe Schooley was the third of his line to cultivate the farm nestled against Harris Hill in Kingston Township, where funeral services were con- ducted by his old friend, the Rev. Harry Savacool and his pastor, the Rev. George Roberts of the Trucksville United Methodist Church. Schooley was a descendant of Nathaniel Schooley, colonial set- tler, who migrated from New Jer- sey to the Wyoming Valley and was the first Schooley to make his home there. Pennsylvania’s hunters, trap- pers and farmers have apparent- ly declared war on Bre’r Fox. The state Game Commission has announced that since the be- ginning of the fiscal year June 1, more than 14,700 foxes have been killed in Pennsylvania. A bounty of $4 per fox is paid by the state for each one killed. The bounty now amounts to nearly $59,000 and if the present rate continues; last year’s record of 45,000 foxes killed may be ex- ceeded. 50 YEARS AGO Dec. 28, 1956 WELL-KNOWN WOMAN DIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY Mrs. D.P. Honeywell, one of the cherished old-timers of the area, will be buried this after- noon in the family plot at War- den Cemetery. Helen Honey- well, 84, slept away the final days of her life, dying quietly at Huntsville Convalescent Home on Christmas morning. Failing in health for the past several months and requiring more and more attention, she was admit- ted to the hospital a month ago. Mrs. Honeywell was a familiar figure in Dallas, with her beauti- ful snowy white, naturally wavy hair. She was a member of the Dallas United Methodist Church. When she and her hus- band Delbert owned the acreage now owned by Irem Country Club, she used to say to her friends: “Del’s got a little extra money, so he’s gone up to the field to bury it.” Just returned from a visit to Washington, D.C. police depart- ment, where he had an opportu- nity to view all phases of police activity, Dallas Township Chief of Police James Gensel has called a meeting of all Back Mountain police officials for 9 to- night at the Dallas Borough building. Gensel is also chair- man of the Back Mountain Citi- zens’ Committee on Safety. While in Washington, Chief Gensel was the guest of his cou- sin Charles Haas, a radio dis- patcher and 15-year veteran at Washington Police Headquar- ters. At the meeting called for to- night, local police will set up a cooperative effort for stricter en- forcement of traffic laws in Dal- las Township and seven town- ships in the Back Mountain area. All law enforcement officials, magistrates, and public officials are invited to attend. 40 YEARS AGO Dec. 29, 1966 RECORD BIRD COUNT RECORDED AT LAKE Harveys Lake, not yet frozen on the day of the annual Christ- mas Bird Count, tipped the scales in favor of a record bird roster, contributing ducks which are not ordinarily seen after the lake freezes over. Edwin John- son listed 51 bird species Mon- day, starting at 4:30 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. with the last light. The Back Mountain Bird Club, heretofore, has always failed to reach the goal of 50, with 47 being the previous re- cord. But that mark was broken Monday, Dec. 26, 1966. Dr. Charles Reiff, Dr. Robert Ogren and Michael Barone, all members of the Wilkes College faculty, started owling at 4:30 a.m. Jack Eck and Girard Kipp joined the group in the Back Mountain. Bill Evans and his son, Terry Baltimore and Mark Stair combed the Wyoming Val- ley; and the Rev. William Reid handled the Orange section. A rash of accidents befell the Back Mountain during Christ- mas week. On Friday night, Mrs. Fay Smith of Sweet Valley was struck when she stopped her ve- hicle for a traffic light. The other driver who caused the rear end collision drove away, but the li- cense number of the car was ob- tained. In another accident, Arthur Miller was hospitalized at Nes- bitt Memorial Hospital on Fri- day afternoon when his truck rolled over on Demunds Road in Dallas. The vehicle was demol- ished. And the son of Bucky Ed- wards of Huntsville had a nar- row escape from injury on Christmas afternoon when the Jeep he was driving skidded off the road near the Paul Goss home and flipped over in a wood- ed area. The Jeep was towed from its resting place. An early snowstorm visited the region two days after the first » day of winter, blanketing the Back Mountain with up to eight inches of snow and reducing traf- fic to a minimum. A previous storm on Dec. 13 had dumped five inches of snow. In Dallas, plowing and cinder- ing went ahead smoothly, with street commissioner Andrew Pe- ranto at the helm. Mr. Peranto, a man of long experience in the work and construction business, looks ahead. If the weather fore- cast indicates a storm, he sees mitted to rest ahead of time ) that the men on his crew are » get ready for round-the-clock tour of duty, if necessary. 30 YEARS AGO Dec. 30, 1976 NO TAX INCREASE IN DALLAS TOWNSHIP. Dallas Township Board of Su- pervisors approved its 1977 bud- get for $296,300 during a special meeting Monday night in the township building. There will be no tax increase in the township and the three-mill, 1 percent earned income (shared equ with the school district) $5 po capita and $2 per month trailer taxes will prevail for the coming year. The board also voted to do- nate $1,781 to the Dallas Fire and Ambulance Association. This matches an amount received by the Kunkle Fire Company through the state. = Jim Davies, a resident of Dal- las and local businessman, an- nounced officially that he will enter the competition to become the mayor of Dallas Borough in the April primary election. Council president Jerry Machell is serving as acting mayor due to the prolonged illness of Mayor Steve Hartman of Susquehanna Avenue. Hartman's wife has con- firmed that her husband will not seek reelection. Davis is the owner of Davis Of- fice Supplies and The Toy Box, both located in the Dallas Sho ping Center. He is also assis chief of the Dallas Fire and Ani- bulance Co. Davis also served six year with the Dallas Borough and Dallas Township police de- partments. 20 YEARSAGO Dec. 29,1986 DAVENPORT STREET RESIDENTS COMPLAIN Depending on which resi- dents you talk to, people who live on the paved section of Da- venport Street in Dallas are ei- ther satisfied with the condition of the road or they are not. Ever since work was done by the Dal- las Water Company on the street last year, there have been a num- ber of complaints about the con- dition in which the road was left. Some residents say it’s the wa- ter company’s fault, while others say it’s a combination of the com- pany and stormy weather. still others have no complain all. Many of the people who com- plained said water runs dows the street, off the road onto their property. g v
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers