PAGE FOUR BURNHAM by L.D. Burnham . “Grandpa, Grandpa, wake up! Why are you screaming in your sleep?” the young boy yells. ‘Where? What? Who?, Oh,oh...screaming you say, boy. I must have been dreaming,” I say. “Yes, I was dreaming. It was terrible.” My hands are shaking and the boy notices. “Holy asteroids, Grandpa. You're having a real fit. What's the mat- ter?” “It must be the time of year, grandson,” I say. “Is it something in your dark and seamy past, Grandpa?” the boy asks. “You might say that,” I say. ‘It's known as September Syndrome. It begins at the end of August through, and it gets really terrible right after Labor Day.” “I bet I know, Grandpa. It's a throw back to the dark times. September's when school started wasn't it?”’ he says. ‘““Ahhhhh! Are you trying to freak outan old man? Yes, yes, that's it!” I confess. I assume the fetal position, pulling my solar blanket up close to the side of my face. “Tell me about it, Grandpa. You know I'm always an eager little learner, and besides, It'll do you good to talk about it.” “Perhaps you'reright,” I say. ‘It would start in August.” I begin. ‘The mother would begin sneaking off on shopping trips, bringing back ill-fitting shoes and stiff, scratchy pants. The kids would never wear ONLY YESTERDAY ® « them. They’ de wear their old stuff, but the buying was a part of the ritual. **Soon the kids would grow fidgety and irritable. They’'de begin to get mouthy at their beloved parents. They’de begin to throw food at dinner time. They'd slouch in their chairs. They'd refuse to help around the house.” ‘Was this some pyschological change, Grandpa?” ‘No, they were just practicing for school, grandson,” I say. ‘‘Soon parents buy them reems of notebook paper, pens, tweezers to pluck up the little leads for mechancial pencils, book bags, lunch boxes, safety deposit notebooks with 27 separate com- partments...all manner of educational paraphernalia. “They were preparing to learn new things, Grandpa?” “No, they never used these things. It was a way of punishing their parents for sending them out of the house. Just another part of the ritual. “In the evenings, grandson, the mothers and fathers would gather, usually after dark, and form giant ring-around-the-rosie circles. They would hold great festivals of rejoicing, tossing valiums -all around, singing things such as, ‘No more kids, the little crooks, into teach they'll sink their hooks.’ “And what about the teachers, Grandpa?” “They usually scrambled around on the ground picking up the valiums the parents threw. Some spent time ‘in prayer and meditation. Others spent time in the bar.” “Relax, Grandpa, you're shaking again.” “I'm all right now, grandsen,” I say. ‘Well, that's about it, the tell- tale signs of September.” “Didn't any of the kids want to go back to school, Grandpa?” the boy asks. ‘Oh, some did, secretly, of course. Rumor had it they met in little covens come the end of July. Some of them held clandestine meetings in libraries to insure none of the other kids would ever see them. Some communicated by letter. That was safe also.” ‘Gosh, Grandpa, didn’t they realize what a wonderful thing learning is? Things must have been really tough before the compulsory intelligence laws were passed. Compulsory attendance seems dumb.” “Oh, the laws weren't that dumb, grandson. Some of the products were, but we got by. We still learned some valuable things. “Some folks learned to read so well they got jobs on the radio. We'd sit out at our picnics, the rain pouring down on us, and listen to the radio announcer read the ‘‘Sunny, and mild...” forecase all day, over and over. “People .learned the art of con- versation. They learned to say things like, ‘Hey, how are ya?’ and the ever notable, ‘What's up?’ ‘‘And they learned to balance 50 years ago-Aug. 22, 1930 Dr. Henry M. Laing firemen plan big clambake hoping to wipe off all . debts on fire fighting apparatus with the proceeds. Police officers Avery and Elston reinstated after Dallas Burgess and council members reach an agreement. Lehigh University, Penn State and Yale participate in study of Pennsylvania anthracite coal. Noxen team drops from Rural Baseball League with Dallas, East Dallas and Beaumont tide for first place with two more games to be played before elimination takes place. Now playing at local theatre- “Ladies Love Brutes’’, George Bancroft, Himmler Theatre. Deaths-Mrs. Roy Gordon, Maple Grove. You could get-Sliced bacon 33c 1b.; frankfurters 24¢ 1b.; corn flakes 2 boxes 15¢; coffee 25¢ 1b.; con- fectioners sugar Tc pkg. 40 years ago-Aug. 23, 1940 Burgess Herbert Smith of Dallas proclaimed Aug. 29 as ‘‘Corey Frantz Day’’ when townsfolk will joinin a gesture of appreciation for the contribution Frantz, banker, retired businessman and long-time resident, has made to Dallas. Glen. Miller, who once milked cows for $2 a week, breezed into Dallas Monday night and left early Tuesday morning with a large chunk of cash to be added to the $500,000 or so his band will earn this year. Miller played at Fernbrook Park. Dallas Council may ask state to reconsider the site of the Mill Street bridge. Miss Jean Bogart of Dallas is appointed to the faculty of Lehman schools. The post-season playoffs to decide - the championship in the Bi-County Baseball League has to be post- poned until Dallas and Beaumont break their second place tie, since ruling requires that the first place team, Vernon, must play the second place team. : Negotiations are underway to build a Catholic church at Harveys Lake. Now playing at local theatre- ‘‘Saturday’s Children’’, John Garfield, Himmler Theatre. Married-Grace E. Lindsley and Rev. Herbert Dwight Oliver, Jr; Helen Jeter and Ellsworth Wilco; Eleanor Kunkle and William Frederick. Death-John Hoover, Harveys Lake. You could get-Hams 13¢ 1b.; fish fillets’ 11¢ lb.; butter 2 lbs. 57c; coffee 23¢'1b.; peanut butter 2 1b. jar 19¢; - sweet potatoes 2 lbs. 9c; bananas 5c lb.; Elberta peaches 5 lbs. 25c¢. 30 years ago-Aug. 25, 1950 Back Mountain Memorial Library Board votes to buy the Parrish home on Main Street ad- jacent to the library. Back Mountain Citizens Com- mittee for Better Schools heard reports on enrollments and seating capacity in Dallas Borough, Dallas Township and Kingston Township at its meeting Monday night in the Dallas Post building on Lehman Avenue. The old Goss School bell will soon be housed in the Prince of Peace Church bell tower. Harveys Lake Lions will hold their Miss Harveys Lake Beauty Contest Sept. 3 and 4 at Sandy Beach. Now playing at local theatres- “The Damned Don't Cry’, Joan Crawford, David Brian, Shaver Theatre; ‘‘Conspirators’, Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Himmler Theatre; ‘Yellow Sky”, Gregory Peck, Ann Baxter, Richard Wid- mark, Dallas Outdoor Theatre. Engaged-Marie Calkins to Jack “THE Editor & Publisher Asst. Publisher Editor Emeritus News Editor James Smith Advertising Jan Jones Advertising Virginia Hoover Circulation Manager Bea LaBar Circulation Assistant Ruth Holthaus Circulation Jane Opalicki Production Manager Olga Kostrobala Production Betty Meeker Production Kay Whitehead Production 1979-1980 Carol Budziak Production Debbie Zurinski Production Paul Strasser Production Marianne Trynoski Production Jim Dougher Production Peggy Poynton Office Mark Moran Photographer 1889. Subscriptions $7.00 per year. Dallas, Pa. 18612 Lamoreux; Cecelia C. Kupstas to John Link. Married-Estella Mae Evans and Cpl. Donald Chamberlain; Carol Scouten and William Space; Lucille Disque and George Bittenbender. Birthdays-Mrs. Allie Moris, 86 years; Mrs. A.A. Neely, 84 years. Deaths-Almon T. Rood, Meeker. You could get-Steaks 99¢ Ib.; bacon 59¢ 1b.; American cheese 25¢ 2lb.; salad dressing 25c pt.; rye bread 16c loaf; M&M's 27c¢ 7-oz. pkg.; frozen red raspberries 47c .pkg.; frozen orange juice 2 cans 45c; cantaloupes 19¢ each; green beans 10c 1b.; yellow cooking onions 3 1bs. 13c. 20 years ago-Aug. 25, 1960 Dallas Rotary Club will offer opportunity for high school students to study abroad under the Rotary District 741 Student Exchange program. Dallas teachers plan all-day session for day before opening of school. Dallas schools to open two days after Labor Day, according to Dr. Robert Mellman, superintendent. Lehman coaches build new football team with only four let- termen back. Head coach Edward Edwards reported that 41 boys turned out for practice. Head Coach Eddie Brominski is pleased with the Westmoreland football squad who will scrimmage with Larksville High School on Wednesday. Now playing at local theatres- Walt Disney's ‘‘Pollyanna’’, Dallas Outdoor Theatre; ‘‘The Apart- ment’, Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Sandy Beach Theatre. Engaged-Peggy Maza to Robert Davis, Jr.; Carol Newberry to Jerry R. Hendler. Married-Charlotte Lois Perkins and Dr. Bruce Schmucker; Theresa Andrea Polachek and Howard J. Shiner; Alice W. Ide and John J. Hudak. Anniversary-Mr. and Mrs. Guy checkbooks, and how to talk to the bank official about the overdrawn accounts to straighten out the whole mess. “Sure we learned all kinds of things, grandson.” “I learned one thing toay, Grandpa,” “What's that?” I say. “September Syndrome was bad enough to give anyone night- mares.” Drive safely Labor Day weekend Zerfoss, Sr., 34 years. Death-Philip Dodson, Broadway. The White Church on the Hill, Trucksville, officially broke ground for the new educational building. Dallas Dairy, Wyoming League champions, opens the semi-finals at home Sunday against a rugged Swoyersville team. You could get-Chuck roast 35¢ Ib.; cube steaks 9c lb.; stuffed olives 4 6'%2-0z. jars 69c; tuna fish 2 cans 57c; coffee T9¢ 1b.; frozen French fries 2 pkgs. 37c; frozen potato patties 2 pkgs. 3lc; Calif. Bartlett pears 2 lbs. 29¢; cucumbers 3/ 14c. 10 years ago-Aug. 27, 1970 Natona employees reach set- tlement after 280 workers were on strike since last May 22. A demonstration in snake han- dling by a Pittston doctor will highlight this year’s Fall Fair. The fair will open at noon on Saturday and closing ceremonies will include the drawing for the portable TV at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Wyoming County residents op- position mounts on nuclear power plants. Leonard Harvey, justice of the peace for 24 years, has been unanimously endorsed as the candidate for magistrate in District 3-8 by Sen. T. Newell Wood, County Republican Chairman Patrick J. Solano, and Republican leaders in the municipalities comprising the District. School bells ring the end of vacation on Sept. 8. Mrs. Ronald Ertley, Dallas, takes Irem golf championship. Married-Eleanor Ruth Jones and Richard V. Yanalunas; Rebecca Lovell and Leighton Ross Scott, Jr. Anniversary-Mr. and Mrs. Stanley A. Cook, 50 years; Mr. and Mrs. John Kriel, 25 years. You could get-Frying chickens 28c lb.; rib roast 87c lb.; white bread 3 lvs. $1; raisin bread 39c loaf; Wisk 59c qt. bot.; frozen beefburgers 53c pkg.; frozen pierogies 2 pkgs. 69¢; carrots 2 1-1b. pkgs. 23c; radishes 2 pkgs. 19¢. Pennsylvania Prk ablaze in torn newspaper. familiarity. by Howard J. Grossman Recently, the Economic Development Council of Nor- theastern Pennsylvania, through a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, issued a final document covering a 1979 update of the Rural Public Transportation Plan for Nor- theastern Pennsylvania, The document provides recom- mendations for improving public transportation service in parts of Northeastern Pennsylvania which are currently underserved or not served at all by public tran- sportation. The plan suggests the feasibility of increasing service through paratransit facilities, support of bus companies, increased usage of taxi cabs and the coordination of agencies with common carriers. In the rural areas of Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties, as well as the more rural counties in the Pocono Mountains, public tran- sportation needs to be further developed. Some new elements have been added in recent years which very likely will increase the access for work, shopping, and other purposes on the part of rural families. For example, in Monroe County a transportation authority has been established and is operational. Increased attention is being placed onrural townships and areas within the metropolitan areas of Nor- theastern Pennsylvania which allows for increased concern for moving people and goods. A rail passenger service proposal from Scranton to Hoboken with a change to New York City will allow more options for passengers to have connections to major metropolitan markets and areas. The plan suggests strongly the need to protect existing bus com- panies and to tie together transpdrtation authority systems as well as the use of public common carriers wherever possible. One area which requires further study, is the relationship of school bus tran- sportation and public common carriers. As costs increase for school districts to support bus transportation, there may come a time when public transportation is a desirable option in certain in- stances. On the other hand, maximizing the use of school buses when they otherwise are not oc- cupied is an area deserving further attention. 3 The Council can make available copies of the rural public tran- sportation plan for Northeastern Pennsylvania at minimal cost. Contact can be made by writing Box TT7, Avoca, Pa. 18641. Dear Editor: Decision-making is important to everyone, but especially to men who are leaving prison for the outside world. A program called THRESHOLDS teaches decision- making to men close to release from the State Correctional Institution at Dallas. Its 6th cycle of training for volunteers begins on Friday, Sept. 19 and runs through the weekend. The place is Mercy Center, Dallas, on the College Misericordia cam- pus. After certification, each volun- teer will be assigned by Deputy Superintendent G.A. Walters to meet with a prisoner on a person-to- person basis twice a week for ten weeks, roughly from October through December. The meetings are held under guard supervision in the academic building on the prison grounds. No pre-requisite education is necessary to teach this, but age. For further information get in touch with me, director of THRESHOLDS, at Box 71, Pioneer Ave., Dallas, or phone me after 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 675- 1742. Sincerely, - Mrs. Ingrid Prater r ; \
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers