PAGE FOUR COMMENT Stating that he will not support any legislation aimed at bailing out Philadelphia’s schools while hurting taxpayers in his district, Rep. Frank J. O’Connell, Jr., said he will oppose two companion bills now before the Legislature. 0’Connell explained that HB 593 and 1075 are blatantly unfair to the majority of residents of Pennsylvania. He said that if HB 593 would become law Philadelphia would receive $55 million in school subsidies in the first year. “Assuming the state income tax would be raised to pay for this bill it would mean that people in Luzerne County would be forced to pay more taxes while receiving less in school subsidies,” O’Connell said. “Many other districts would be robbed in a similiar - fashion yet Philadelphia just comes in and is handed $55 million. It is unfortunate that this money will go to help pay for limousines for Philadelphia school board members and other wasteful extravangances that prevent the ‘‘Philly’’ School District from balancing its budget.” The Luzerne County legislator added that HB 1075 is the worst bill he has ever read. He explained that the by the Rev. Charles H. Gilbert We had good reason to make our the ballet of Pinocchio down at the Center for the Performing Arts at Wilkes College. The phrase “performing arts’’ well describes the Of course there was plenty of lively music, and colorful costumes, and above all the delightful dancers, some quite®small, others long-legged and graceful. I cannot even so much as imagine myself in a ballet, any more than I could imagine myself in a football players uniform! It was billed as. a ‘Children’s Ballet”, and both of us children enjoyed it greatly. I think this is the first event we ever attended where I had a specially priced ticket as a ‘‘Senior Citizen”, same as child’s ticket; we appreciated that part of it, also. Our special reason for wanting to see this performance was that one of Catherine’s ‘‘Alleluja’’ choir girls was dancing her first solo part in this ballet. We've been getting better acquainted with. Barbie this year, since she gets off the schoolbus at our house on choir practice day half an hour before the rest of the girls arrive. She was excited about her pretty costume and her special dance as the German marionette. She is a faithful pupil of this form of ‘performing art”, and I would say she performed as an artist could be expected to do. Since my seeing ability is far from well enough ‘equipped to see all that goes on in a stage full of movement, we sat way down front, and Cathy told me when to expect Barbie’s dance and pointed her out so I could watch. But nobody had to tell me the story of Pinocchio. It was one of my favorite books as a boy, and we still have the little blue book, translated from the Italian and containing lively pen and ink sketches of the characters. My memory, as is the case with elderly people, can bring out from the misty past images that would defy occular effort to picture. To me of long ago and of excited memory, Pinocchio was first of all a log of wood in which a dear little old man named Gepetto becomes deeply interested. As I remember the picture which. also left a deep impression of a touching manner, he was a poor shoemaker somewhere in Italy a long time ago. Gepetto found that his log of wood was alive and green, and perhaps his imagination pictured that the life of the stick could be a good beginning for a lively little boy. But how lively with undisciplined roguishness he turned out to be! He no sooner picked up the stick to lay it on the table when with a wriggle and twist it got out of his hands and banged against his poor old shins. But Gepetto was not one to give up so easily. He began with his long two- handled draw knife to smooth off the bark. The log writhed in either laughter or pain. “Oh! how you tickle The Post Deadline is 5 P.M. Monday Morgus says PennDOT fixing HL read drains * Harveys Lake Councilman Andy Morgus announced this week that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation workers have begun maintenance activities around Lakeside Drive in the borough intended to reduce drainage problems. "The PennDOT personnel were reportedly cleaning drainage culverts serving the roadway and, according to Morgus, intended to improve ditches alongside the road as well. =Drainage of the state-maintained roadway has been a problem in the borough since the roads were repaved following the installation of sewers. PennDOT officials accepted the road installation and borough leaders have pressed them since then to resolve the drainage difficulties. ““Morgus said he was pleased with the state’s prompt attention to the matter. a ONLY YESTERDAY 40 years ago-June 18, 1937 Local farmers who sell produce at the farmers market in Wilkes-Barre received news this week that the market will enlarge its facilities thus relieving congested conditions and giving them more room for their produce. A corps of surveyors have been busy at work making a new survey along the route of the proposed Luzerne highway. In keeping with the trend to automotive transportation, Wilkes- Barre Railway Corp. is understood to be considering the abandonment of street cars and substituting busses on the run to Dallas. Dallas Legionaires bring unique circus to town enlisting the services of about 100 local men and women. The new Hammond electric organ will be demonstrated at the Sunday services at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Engaged-Winifred Jones to Willard Hoover; Mary Ann Laycock to Lee Scott. Kunkle family holds 24th annual reunion at the Kunkle Community Hall with 110 members and visitors present. ’ Deaths-Mrs. Elizabeth Oliver, Meeker; Milton White, Trucksville. You could get-Leg of lamb 27 cents lb.; veal roast 23 cents lb.; slicing tomatoes 10 cents lb.; new potatoes 29 cents peck; coffee, 19 cents lb.; fig bars 2 1bs. 17 cents bread 11 cents loaf; butter 2 lbs. 69 cents; salad dressing 29 cents qt.; corn flakes 6 cents pkg.; wheat puffs 2 pkgs. 15 cents. 30 years ago-June 20, 1947 Advance ticket sales indicate that more than 400 persons will attend Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Company’s Community Chicken Dinper which will be served by the Ladies Auxiliary of the company, June 26, at the Dallas Borough High School. Auction sale nets $3,000 for the Back Mountain Memorial Library. me! I can’t stand being tickled!’’ But Gepetto continued until the whole log was smooth. Then he began making a nose and eyes and chin, and you would be surprised what a roguish, boy-like face grew under Gepetto’s skilled hands. When the mouth was made, he stuck out his tongue! And when his arms and legs were done, he grabbed the old man’s wig off and ran with it. The poor father had to stop his work and get it back or his bald head would chill. ‘ Pinocchio had lots of adventures before he turned into a really truely boy. He always had good intentions, but was easily persuaded by others to avoid school and work and go off to Pleasure Isaland, where he almost turned into a donkey. And not being very bright or experienced, he was an easy victim to a couple of con artists. But the Blue Fairy usually came to his rescue, and Gepetto never gave up hope that he would become a good son after all, and sure enough, he finally did. I wonder if the author knew how well he was portraying the problems of the Creator with his human children when he wrote about Gepetto and Pinocchio? When Dottie was small, she once said, “The Heavenly Father would have saved himself a lot of trouble if he hadn’t made people, wouldn’t he?” purpose of the legislation is to issue bonds and to enact a program to loan money to purchase school buildings from financially troubled school districts. “In reality this bill will only aid Philadelphia while once again hurting taxpayers from throughout the State. “In order to get assistance under HB 1075, a school district would have to have an unfunded debt and be taxing real estate at the maximum rate set by statute. : “In effect, a school district will have to spend more and tax more to get additional state subsidies. If one school district does not increase taxes, it could be bumped out of its bracket by others and forced into a lower bracket. “This would wreak havoc on the school directors would not know how much state aid to expect. Worse, it creates a disincentive to school districts trying to hold costs down.” 0’Connell said that he will definitely not support either proposal because of the high cost to all taxpayers and the few benefits which the legislation would provide. “I believe that the solution to the funding problem in the field of education would be to raise the WADM, (the amount the State pays per pupil to each school district) from the current $750 to $300 or $925,” he said. “The Legislature would also have to look into permitting local districts to alter the current earned income tax formula in regards to education. “Only 50 cents of every dollar paid to. the state for ‘school taxes is returned to the local district while every cent of local taxes is spent in the district. “I believe that these two actions would provide a fair solution to the situation and would be better because it would not reward school districts which could not stay within their budgets.” } 0’Connell said he believes that the general assembly must stop mandating programs for local school districts and that school directors must resist the implementation of mandated programs introduced by the Department of Education through directives. He added that operating costs must be cut and that all teachers’ contracts should be settled by July 1. The Lake Lehman School District service personnel have agreed to extend their contracts for one month, R.A. Garinger, president of the of the school board said Tuesday night, to allow for more time for contract negotiations. The original contract would have expired June 30, Garinger said, but under the new agreement will expire July 30. The school board’s bargaining unit will meet with representatives of the LLEA on June 23 for further labor negotiations, Director Gilbert Tough said, in preparation for the special meeting of June 28 when the proposed passed. In other business, the board passed a recommendation from the search committee to hire Dr. David Preston, current principal of the Lewistown High School in Lewistown, as assistant superintendent for a salary of $26,000. The recommendation was passed tentative to receipt of a letter from Preston confirming an agreement made to work for one year as assistant superintendant. Lehman Twp. Approximately one dozen residents of Towne and Country Manor angrily claimed that, after two years of complaining, La Salle Road and Greenwich Road still have not had proper berms and drainage installed by developer Paul Cybul. The complaints were aired at Monday's meeting of the Lehman Township Board of Supervisors. According to zoning laws for a subdivision, roads, drainage, and sewers are supposed to be completed before any construction is to begin. Despite this, residents said that there are how 30 homes in the development and La Salle Road and Greenwich Road must be maintained by residents until the roads are brought up to township specifications by the developer. Residents were also angered by the fact that three new homes have been constructed even though the board reportedly instructed the zoning and Preston will replace Superindent Robert Belles, at the end of the 1977-78 school year if his work proves satisfactory. Belles is planning to retire at that time. In other business, Al Babetski, president of the Citizens’ Advisory Council asked the school board to supply to the CAC copies of last minute agenda additions and of the financial reports to allow the CAC to more accurately serve its purpose. The board passed a recommendation to trade in two used 72 passenger busses at a trade in value of $9,700 and purchase two new 36-48 passenger buses from Gross Equipment for $22,000. The price stated is minus trade-in value and federal tax, Director Don Jones said. The board also passed a recommendation to not convert two gas boilers in the junior high school to oil. The cost of conversion of one gas boiler would be $6,500 and cost $17,113 to fill, Director Tough said, and would not be cheaper to maintain than the current system. Director Kenneth Williams recommended the board contract an Elementary School, but no decision was made on what firm will be awarded a contract. In other business, the board accepted the 1977-78 school year calendar. The first day of school for the Lake-Lehman area will be Sept. 7, Garinger said. TETTER Dear Sirs, First of all, I want to complement you on your fine newspaper and thank you for the publicity you give to events at our Huntsville United Methodist Church. I would like to subscribe to the paper and I am enlcosing a check for this. Thank you! Sincerely, Margaret Reid sewerage enforcement officers approximately one year ago not to issue Cybul any more building permits until this road problem has been taken care of. Joe Park, chairman of the board, suggested they check with the recorder of deeds to determine whether those deeds were bought before the cut-off date for building. Sewerage enforcement officer and zoning officers assured Park that they had issued no further building permits to Cybul during the time in question. Supervisor Ignatius Hozempa reported that along with township engineer Bill Samuels, he inspected the streets and that the roads had not been fixed. Hozempa suggested that even though Cybul instructed verbally to bring the roads up to township standards, a registered letter should be sent to Cybul by the board. This letter will instruct Cybul to abide by sub-division rules which Kingston Township Veterans Association will have a carnival all next week, including rides, baked goods, booths, refreshment stands and a dance. Zelma Porter, trainer of Surprise Allen, famous Tennessee walking horse, will be judge at the Lehman Horse Show on July 4. Now playing at local theatre-‘‘Cross My Heart”, Betty Hutton, Sonny Tufts, Shaver Theatre. Engaged-Peggy Brace to Ralph Smith, Married-Marion Arline Handley and Wilbur Harrison Edmondson; Adeltha Miller and Charles Mahler; Arline Rozelle and George Evans. Birthday-Walter ‘Pop’ Covert, 76 years. Deaths-Mary Shouldice, Jackson; Frederick C. Graydolf, Dallas; Miss Margaret Bachman, Carverton. You could get-Smoked hams 59 cents lb. ; chuck roast 45 cents lb.; tea bags 35 cents pkg. 50 cents peanut butter 30 cents lb.; bread 11 cents loaf; Birdseye frozen haddock 41 cents lb. ; frozen mixed fruits 39 cents pkg. ; coffee 37 cents 1b.; lettuce 2 Ig. heads 19 cents; new cabbage 2 lbs. 11 cents; watermelons 69 cents 1» melon; tomatoes 25 cents pkg. 20 years ago-June 21, 1957 Lehman horse show has many added features this year including Joann McKeel of Lehman who will ride her brown and white pony ‘‘Tiny Tim’’ in two of the pony classes in the July 4 event. ‘participated in the Parents Night program at Central YMCA pool on Tuesday evening. David W. Kunkle receives his DDS degree from Temple University and will shortly assume his duties as lieutenant junior grade at the Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland where he will serve for two years. Memorial gifts phase of the Gate of Heaven expansion campaign got underway Tuesday evening. Dallas Legion defeated West Wyoming 9-0, Sunday, and will host the Hanover White Sox this Sunday. Married-Marilyn Bernice Lundy and Lt. Hilbert C. Lehman. Engaged-Sallie Heslop to Donald G. Salanty. Anniversary-Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Polacky, 22 years; Mr. and Mrs. John Southwell, Sr., 25 years; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Jenkins, 35 years. Birthday-Adam H. Young, 80 years. Now playing at local theatres- ‘““‘Abandon Ship’’, Tyrone Power, Forty Fort Theatre; ‘“‘Giant’’, Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Himmler; “Untamed Youth”’, Mamie VanDoren, Luzerne; ‘“The Spirit of St. Louis’’, Dallas Outdoor; “Disneyland’’, Moonlite Drive-In; “The First Texan”, Joel McCrea, Sandy Beach Drive-In; “China Gate”, Gene Barry, Nat (King) Cole, Star- Lite Drive-In. You could get-Steaks 79 cents Ib.; capons 49 cents lb.; frozen green peas 7 pkgs. $1; frozen sliced strawberries 2 pkgs. 59 cents; tea bags 57 cents pkg. of 48; oranges 49 cents doz; cucumbers 4 for 19 cents; tuna fish 31 cents can; wax paper 25 cents 125-ft. roll. 10 years ago-June 22, 1967 Eastern Orthodox Church now has its building site, a gift from Joe Parks. Sunset Beach Association dance is held to help finance the stone wall along the beach. Shavertown Fire Company plans its bazaar, parade for June 29 to July 1. Russell. Traver was elected president of the Noxen Volunteer Company on Tuesday evening. The summer band program for Dallas will start Monday and continue for six weeks. Engaged-Dianne Lee Pope to Russell James Hoover. Married-Susan Diane Larish and ~- Joseph R. Hand; Bonnie Lee Updyke and Roy Barry Weldon; Judith Lynn Jones and Wesson Gage. Anniversaries-Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Oberst, 29 years; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schweppenheiser, 26 years; Mr. and Mrs. John Zavickas, 30 years; Mr. and Mrs. Rush Lamoreux, 40 years; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mahler, 20 years; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Griffith, 25 years; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Baker, 59 years; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Laning, Sr., 50 years; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kittle, 50 years. .Shavertown takes Westmoreland in the outstanding Little League game of the week. Now playing at local theatre-‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, Robert Morse, Michele Lee, Deaths-Raymond J. Finley, Shavertown; David H. Davies, Sr., formerly of Dallas. You could get-Steak 79 cents 1b.; bacon 79 cents lb. pkg.; chicken legs 49 cents Ib.; seedless grapes, 39 cents 1b. ; lemons 6 for 29 cents; potato chips 49 cents lb. pkg.; sharp cheddar cheese 77 cents 1b. ; olives 69 cents jar; coffee $1.93 3 Ib. bag; bread 2 lvs. 41 cents; tuna fish 2 cans 69 cents. require a five foot berm on the road with stone graded away from the roadway and installation of proper drainage. Cybul will be given three days from the day on which the letter is received to comply. Residents, however, seem to have adopted a ‘I'll believe it when it happens’ attitude. It was acknowledged that a petition for ‘installation of street lights in Towne and Country Manor has not been recirculated. Solicitor William Valentine and Police Chief Bill Russell will attempt to set up a meeting with other area police chiefs and possibly their solicitors to discuss and write a Mutual Aid Police Agreement which is acceptable to all’ ®pelice departments involved. DAMA seeks bond refinance Dallas Area Municipal Authority (DAMA) has requested that their joint financial advisors, Butcher & Singer and Kidder & Peabody investigate the possibility refinancing their original long term bonds. According to R. Spencer Martin, chairman of the board, at the time of system in 1971, the interest rate on the bonds was 7Y% percent. The interest rate on long term or 30 year bonds has since dropped. Martinstated that if it were possible for DAMA to refinance the purchase bonds at the rate of 6 or 61% percent it would mean a considerable savings. The due date would not be changed and costs for refinancing would be included in the overall project. Bids for the refinancing will be accepted by mid-July, he reported: This would also mean that a rate increase for residents on the system could be indefinately delayed. Martin said that increasing costs have also affected DAMA. ‘‘we are holding our own at the present time and meeting all of our obligations with the new extensions and added service areas.” DAMA is “cautiously optimistic” about the bond project. / Ray Carlsen, Editor & Publisher Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks, Editor Emeritus Sandie Forgue, Advertising Charlot Denmon, News & Advertising Virginia Hoover, Circulation Bea LaBar, Circulation Asst. Blaze Carlsen, Asst. to Publisher Susan Heller, Office & Production Olga Kostrobala, Office & Production Eleanor Rende, Office & Production Jane Lutz, Office & Production Patricia Rogers, Office & Production Sally Riegel, Office & Production Cheryl Casner Gula, Graphics Betty Meeker, Graphics —_—ayo I NNASUSTAINING MEMBER—1977 March 3, 1889. Subscriptions--$7 per Telephone 675-5211 or 825-6868. Box 366, Dallas, Pa. 18612. year. ® o $0» se
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers