Vol.91 No.5
03 A¥3an1g Noy
Parents of Dallas School District
students leveled criticism at the
Feb. 9 school board meeting. The
latest controversy deals primarily
with the opposition the school
district’s food committee is
receiving from the directors in the
,committee’s attempt to distribute a
MW co0d survey questionnaire dealing
with the school’s food service,
Custom Management, Inc.
Members of the food committee
are volunteers and a number of
them are parents of ‘elementary
students. They want only to cir-
culate the survey to all students in
order to receive first hand
evaluation from those served by the
food service. The committee's plan
was turned down by the board
members who said it would serve no
purpose.
However, the. numerous com-
ments made by parents at the
meeting did not SHoport the board’s
theory.
Mrs. Shirle@ Gingo, a food
committee me r, explained that
her group volunteered their time
preparing the survey. She told
board members that there is a
problem with the food service as
there are a lot of irate parents and
uneasy students. She complained
that her group is being ignored by
the board and she requested a
meeting with the entire school
board.
Director Harry Lefko stated that
this was the first time the com-
mittee had asked to meet with the
board. Mrs. Gingo reminded the
large crowd at the meeting that the
food problem has the interest of the
entire gistriet
‘Mrs. Joan . Ogurkis, PTO
president, speaking on her own
y behalf said she was annoyed, that
her problems were not so much with
the cafeteria as with the board’s
decision to set the survey aside. She
said she wants the survey for her
young child.
Board members claimed the
decision banning the survey distrib-
ution was not arbitrary, that it was
reached after consulting with
student committees and others who
believe things are improved.
Mrs. Ogurkis commended the
food service for sending the menu
home with elementary students as
she can hardly ever find it in papers
anymore. She concluded parents
have the right to know and accused
the board members of closing a
door on the committee.
A letter from Margaret Janosik
also urged the board to conduct the
happy.
A nufritionist, member of the
committee, said the committee was
set up as a workable unit, not one to
be pacified. She agreed that things
are now calm in the aftermath of
the boycott but that they may not
remain so. Therefore, she urged the
board to view the survey as a
measure to prevent another large
‘scab’ boycott. The senior high
school food strike cost the district
$2,900 in food revenue when
students refused to eat cafeteria
lunches for five days.
The board’s rebuttal was that any
parent may eat a sample lunch.
Director Gloria Brennan said that
children do not like all meals pre-
pared for them at home either.
Chuck Garnett of Custom
Management said that 1700 of the
3600 enrollment generally buy
daily. A father of an elementary
student was not impressed by these
figures noting ‘just because you
don’t have a riot on your hands now
to question the prices the food ser-
vice pays to its suppliers and the
public’s availability of invoices.
Garnett said Custom pays less for
its supplies than a lot of other food
services. Fred Croop, business
manager, said invoices are avail
able upon request.
Mrs. Cindy Addison took the floor
and said ‘Since I'm moving I'll say
I get the distinct impression you
(the board) don’t want to talk about
food. You're not the one packing
four lunches every day because the
kids will not eat at school”
Brennan told the large group pre-
sent ‘Maybe we’ll all brown bag
it’. No other comment on the
elimination of the
program followed her remark.
Another parent challenged the
board “Why is it so difficult to let us
know what is happening when one
plus one do not add up to two?”
Newly-appointed Clarke Bittner,
who through his experience as an
employee of Bevaco, Inc. a food
position to answer some of the
questions, was silenced by two of
the board members. Bittner said he
was willing to try to explain the
situation but was strongly urged to
keep quiet by Lefko who told him
“You need the figures at hand’’, and
by Brennan, who while facing the
press area, warned Bittner ‘Look
who’s encouraging you te do this,”
Bittner then declined.
Director Mahmoud Fahmy
reiterated his position that the
parents should be included in the
decision-making as ‘“That’s why we
have these advisory boards.”
A food committee member and
spouse concluded the discussion
with the comment ‘‘Someone along
the line somewhere isn’t looking
hard enough’.
Business manager Fred Croop
confirmed that he had resigned his
position with the district effective in
June. Croop will accept a teaching
position at Wilkes College. Director
Ernest Ashbridge said he was sorry
to lose Croop as were the other
board members.
Director Pat Gregory informed
the board that she will not attend
another closed session but rather
will spend that time with her newly-
established Sunshine Committee.
The group will be comprised: of
Gregory, four teachers, six students
and anyone else interested. It will
deal with the issues open and above
board, she said. The board mem-
bers may attend meelings of her
group as may members of. the
administration, if they desire.
One of the first projects on the
new group’s agenda is the state’s
food and nutrition for public
schools. This committee will be
called the ‘Kitchen cabinet”.
Gregory said she has reached the
age at which she must be herself
while still being an effective school
director. She believes she can offer
more working outside of closed
sessions and in the framework of
the Sunshine Committee which will
tackle the issues as they emerge.
Twenty five cents
The May primaries will see a lot
of action in the mayor’s race in
Dallas Borough.
Dallas Borough’s Mayor James
Davies will not seek reelection to
another four year term as mayor,
he stated over the weekend. Davies
said his legal and actual residence,
in Dallas Township, would prohibit
a candidacy. Davies said he would
not resort to using a parent’s
borough address or a business in
order to hold the position which he
noted he’ll miss.
Friends and supporters of Davies
will be glad to learn he is not closing
the chapter on borough politics: He
said when he is able to relocate in
the best role in which he can again
serve the people, perhaps on council
or as mayor!
For now, his residency
requirements are stasifactory until
the close of the term on Jan. 1, 1982.
Two others are reportedly vying
for the mayor’s post. Lou Katchko,
90 Main St., owner of the Town
A frustrated Kingston Township
manager, Mark Kunkle, has fixed
the responsibility for Wednesday’ Ss
flash flooding of Main Street in
Shavertown with’ county com-
missioners past and present.
On Wednesday, Feb. 11 between
the hours of dawn and 8:30 a.m., the
onto Main Street in back of Cook’s,
Back Mountain Lumber and
Wyoming National Bank. Also
affected were the homes of two
persons who had to be evacuated
along with many who again suf-
fered through water-filled base-
ments.
Kunkle believes these people
cannot and should not have to with-
stand the anguish of flooding. He
said it is caused by the county-
owned Main Street Bridge which if
repaired or replaced would have a
larger. and more accommodating
© water flow underneath. Certain
correspondence from the county
dated May 1, 1 says ‘‘we are
working duigenth towards com-
pletion during 1
Kunkle said He commissioners
have ignored the township’s pleas
and lack understanding of the
individual sitting on the board of
commissioners is the answer
Kunkle said “It’s not a matter of
where a person is from but his
understanding for others.”
Kunkle who is a degreed city
planner, traces the problem with
the county to October of 1976 when a
heavy rainfall hampered the water
flow under the bridge and former
manager Mike Stanley asked for
assistance. In Feb. of 1977 Stanley
and then Rep. Frank O’Connell con-
tacted the bridge department to
consider reconstruction of the span.
On July 10, 1978 Stanley and
O’Connell asked county engineer
John Churnetski for a time schedule
for the project as some businesses
and property owners wanted to
make improvements. Churnetski
then said a time table could not be
provided as federal funding is in-
volved. He said in his July, 1978
letter to Stanley that all state and
federal agencies must be satisfied
prior to any movement.
The county engineer was again
asked of the status of the bridge
Feb. 27, 1979 and chief draftsman
Castellino told the township
‘earliest is next spring.” Then it
Kunkle said is the last step before
construction.
O'Connell © and Kunkle
corresponded regularly with the
county commissioners and on Nov.
9, 1979 found out the federal ‘‘off-
systems bridge program’ funding
“all of a sudden went to somewhere
else in the county,” according to
Kunkle. Kunkle had been told by a
county official it was headed for
Kingston Township. It never
arrived, but went elsewhere, noted
Kunkle.
Then the county did small repairs
on its Main Street bridge, repairing
a small wall and installing a snow
fence.
Kunkle asked the commissioners
to put the reconstruction fee in their
1980 budget as improvement to
Main Street is essential for DER
grants. Also, he pointed out the
traffic survey may cause added
traffic on the small bridge. Crossin
and Churnetski replied on Nov. 26,
1979 federal funding ran out but
road and bridge department will
“try to cause the bridge to be re-
placed.” Also, the two said they will
try to establish a high priority for
the project, a substantial under-
taking.
Nothing materialized and in what
Kunkle called the ‘‘clincher,”
Churnetski said on May 1, 1980
“Thank you for your letter we are
working diligently toward com-
pletion during 1980.” This was in
response to Kunkle’s request for
specific plans on April 10, 1980.
Again, 1980 turned into 1981 and
the bridge remains as before.
UDAG funds are unavailable due to
the low income levels in the area of
the problem.
_ Kunkle wrote to Frank
Trinisiewski in late 1980 urging him
to do something as the longer it is
put off the more expensive it
becomes. Churnetski, Kunkle told
the commissioner, is not to blame
as he did get a railing for the
structure. Kunkle is annoyed the
county says ‘in the spring.” He
poses the question to the com-
missioners ‘‘What Spring?”
Trinisiewski never responded to
that letter, nor to:another of Jan. 20,
1981 where Kunkle points out
“‘Shavertown people and township
officials have been jerked around
for five years now’’ and warned of
the consequences of another over-
flow. Again, no response from
Commissioner Trinisiewski.
Kunkle then tried Commissioner
Ed Brominski for assistance, again
to no avail. Two days after Kunkle
Brominski on Jan. 22, 1981 promptly
replied “I received your letter, any
further questions you have
regarding the bridge are to be
directed to Luzerne County
engineer John Churnetski.”
Kunkle, who said he is thoroughly
fed up with the run-around, last
week penned a letter to Trinisiewski
people go through this every time
there is a heavy rain. Kunkle cited a
lack of understanding on the part of
Trinisiewski and the others which is
not in the best interests of the
people said Kunkle in the com-
munique written following last
week’s predicted flooding.
House Restaurant, has confirmed
he will begin circulating petitions
Tuesday, Feb. 17. Katchko, who has
owned the restaurant for three and
one half years, will run on the
Republican ticket.
Prominently ' mentioned by
residents, a council member, and
long time borough politician as a
candidate is Delmar Besecker,
Republican who sought the office of
mayor once before about six years
unsuccessful. :
The Post also contacted Walter
Mohr, Machell Avenue, who is with
ning of his possible interest. Mohr
said he was ‘kind of’ interested but
would not run against Besecker, a
friend. If Besecker does not run,
Mohr will reconsider, he said.
Christine Mascali was also
among those mentioned as a
possible contender. There are three
council seats to be filled in the May
primaries and to date the only ones
intending to run are incumbents
Willard Newberry.
Kingston Township board of
recreation program will be held for
six weeks from June 21 to July 31
but not at the new Center Street
facility.
According to the recreation
commission report, the Westmore-
land playground will provide the
nucleus of the summer program
with Center Street more suitable for
races, tennis and baseball.
Applications for the summer
recreation program will: be
received in mid-April. Applicaants
must be 18 years or older and be
certified in first aid.
The supervisors voted to send a
letter of thanks to the Kingston
Borough officials who provided
sand bags for the Wednesday flash
flooding on Main Street in the area
behind Cook’s Drug Store and Back
Mountain Lumber and Hardware.
Mark Kunkle, township manager,
said the flooding was caused by the
county-owned Main Street bridge. A
larger span with an increased water
flow capacity is needed, said
Kunkle.
In related action, the township
supervisors approved the purchase
building. For a premium of $320 for
for $50,000 and $15,000 on its con-
tents. The building runs parallel to
Toby’s Creek and in places is only
about eight feet away, said Kunkle.
It was reported that there will be
a delay in the installation of the ad-
vanced left hand turn signal at the
intersection of Route 309 and Center
Street as the supplier said the
ground work involved in the
project.
Pine Drive in Carverton Heights
after study and an answer will be
given to the many residents who
attended the meeting, promised the
supervisors.
Michelle Cassatori, Barry Pizano,
Mrs. Santarelli and Tom Welles.
The township will advertise an
ordinance to take over Armstrong
and Village Drives in Rose Village.
A light will be placed at the en-
trance to Sunrise Estates.
The township will file an applica-
tion with the Resource Conserva-
tion and Development Council for a
project on Holcomb’s Creek.
A special meeting to discuss the
use of revenue-sharing funds will be
held March 3.
Church news. ..p.2,3
Police Reports. ..p.4
Bridgette. .......p.8
Sports. .....p.10, 11
‘Menus. ........p.11