BOX 336 Vol. 92, No. 33 ty In Bs The big news economically in the past week has been lower prime interest rates and an abundance of stock market activity. Nationally, political and economic forecasters are having a field day, predicting the effects on the country as a whole. The average consumer, however, is less concerned with the soundness of the country as a whole than he is with his own immediate financial picture. “What does a 13% percent prime interest rate mean to me?” is the question the average citizen asks experts, the answer is not too promising. Richard Ross, First Eastern Bank president, calls it “a step in the right direction.” However, he said it may take some time before the average consumer sees aly real LONGEST FI With lending rates so volatile, it will be some time before financial institutions bring down rates on mortgages, car loans or consumer loans. Ross believes lenders are wary of being burned, in case the prime rate shoots back up in a short time. He is optimistic, however, and said the consumer is likely to get a break sometime during the next year. He does not predict the old six and nine percent mortgage rates of the past, but believes the present 16 percent will ease up. United Penn Bank president, Richard Laux, agrees, and sees the crux of the matter as a lack of confidence. ‘If rates stay down, business and the public will gain confidence. Then we’ll see more opportunities to buy with less in- place in the up Species Fishing Tournament. VR The Dallas Area Administration presented an elementary grade change proposal to the Board of Director’s Education Committee on Wednesday, Aug. 25. The plan will provide for a grading system similar to that used on the high school level, with implementation expected for the first marking period ending Nov. 13. Dallas Area assistant superin- tendent, Gerald Wycallis explained the change was requested by parents who responded to a survey conducted last spring. The survey asked if parents were satisfied with the elementary grading standards of E (excellent), S (satisfactory), (improvement needed) and 0 (oral explanation necessary). “Regardless of what symbols we use, parents always refer to the Wycallis. “The majority suggested a numerical value be placed on the marking symbol.” As a result, the district hopes to go with the standardized A (92-100), B (85-91), C (75-84), D (71-74) and 0 INSIDE COMINGEVENTS 5 COOKBOOK 6 SOCIAL 7 WEST SIDE 8,9 SPORTS 10 CLASSIFIED 11 SCHOOL 12 (oral explanation necessary). C will constitute the average mark. The administration is hoping for board acceptance of the change, considering it is what parents feel they best understand. However, whatever marking method is used, Wycallis said the report card can never adequately explain a pupil’s progress. ‘‘That’s why we arrange for ‘personal conferences. In my opinion, such meetings carry far greater significance.” Laux looks at the present activity as a good sign, but cautions it’s too early to tell if it’s an indicator of the future. “Many people say it's a temporary phenomenon, yet others think rates will go even lower,” he said. ‘Still, the economists have been wrong about a lot of things in the past few years, so you have to consider it purely speculative.” He said six months is a decent “drag” time. If rates stay down that long, consumers may begin to see some softening of mortgage rates. Automobile. and consumer loans take a little longer to come along. At Northeastern National Bank, president Larry Stettler looks for stabilization’ as the key to con- fidence building. “The situation is so fluid and flexible, no one is ever sure of what to expect,” he ex- plained. ‘Stabilization will benefit everyone. Business can plan ex- pansion and consumers can plan purchases with relative certainty. We haven't had stabilized rates in over two years.” : Stettler believes interest rates are fairly close to the lowest they will go. In addition, he believes it is possible they’ll shoot up again after elections. “We shouldn’t get ecstatic over this kind of activity. We tend to do that and it turns out to be a deviation of the true picture.” ‘‘At this point,” Stettler said, ‘‘the lowered prime” ate is a real benefit to corporate America.” However, ‘he sums up the picture by adding, “No one has a crystal ball to see what will happen in the future. Whether the benefit translates to consumer America, remains to be seen.” Chris Purcel and Ed Connor, general and co-chairmen of the Dallas Fire and Ambulance Country Carnival, have released the following schedule of events for the three day affair which will be held Sept. 3, 4 and 5 at Back Mountain Memorial Library Grounds, Main St., Dallas. On Friday evening, the carnival will open at 6 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Poets featuring Frankie and the Corvettes during the night. On Saturday, the carnival will open at 5 p.m. All games and refreshment stands will be open prior to the Firemen’s Parade which will start at 6:30 p.m: The parade will form in the parking lot of the Offset Paperback Plant and proceed up the Luzerne-Dallas Memorial Highway to Main St. and the carnival grounds. The Country Kings will provide entertainment immediately after the parade. On Sunday, the carnival will open at 5 p.m, Abilene will entertain the carnival goers and close out the carnival. Food and refreshments available during the affair will include steak sandwiches, sausage and peppers, halushkie, horiemade chile, clams, fried shrimp, corn, hamburgs and hot dogs. The: food booths are chaired this ¥éar by F. J. Barry, Jr, Emily 24 ns, Blixiwen Shaffer and Jeanette Grieves. the Lake. (Mark Moran Photo) Are your children adequately prepared for school? A press release from the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants provides in depth information on necessary budget reshaping associated with the start of school. Discussing expenses for clothing, transportation, food and activities, the release focuses on parental responsibility in these areas. Noticing increased activity in local clothing and shoe stores, this reporter posed the question to Charlotte Watchalunis, Elizabeth St., Dallas. Charlotte is the ideal person to query about preparations for school. As the mother of eight, she has sent children off to all levels of educational instruction, from nursery school to college. She also runs Hilltop Nursery School, a popular pre-school in the Dallas area. She might have provided a lighthearted recital of hidden and unexpected expenses tied to sen- ding the children to school each year, flavored with examples taken from her own experience. Charlotte’s impression of the im- portance of such preparation gives away the secret of her success as a mother, as an educator of the very In the last two weeks, two vehicles have gone over the guard rails on Route 309, Kingston Township, and dropped approxi- mately 30 feet into the creek bed. Mark Kunkle, Kingston Township manager, is dissatisfied with the condition of the guard rails, most which are down for a distance of approximately 40 yards. statement made by an official of PennDOT on Aug. 26, that the department has no intention of up- grading the type of guard rail used along this stretch of highway. “I believe that it is my responsi- bility to request a review of the situation on Route 309,” said Kunkle. “Not only is much of the guard rail down but in several areas in a serious state of disrepair. I have written a letter to Thomas Collins, district engineer of Penn- dot, requesting a review of the situation.” Kingston Township Police Chief Paul Sabol said that many vehicles have gone over the guard rails and into the creek during the past four years. Sabol is concerned about a tragedy happening similar to the one along the highway in Dallas, when the Daley boy went through the guard rails. “Without checking the records I'm not certain how many fatalities there have been in the area where these last two vehicles went over,” said Sabol. ‘However, I know of two instances, one where the College Misericordia girls were killed, and one where the man helping with an accident in that area was killed. “The speed limit on the highway is 45 mph and at that speed there is quite an impact. Wire rope is not enough, there should be some panel type rail along the section of Route 309 from the light at Carverton Road to the Courtdale Borough line,” said Sabol. young and the central figure in a solid and successful family unit. “We don’t like to dwell on ex- penses,”’ she explained. “Not that we aren’t conscious of them, but you have to be flexible. You have to identify your priorities.” With eight children in various stages of development, Charlotte believes she has come to some conclusions about her own priorities. And they don’t lie in the amount of money she spends on gasoline to transport her daughter to hockey practice every-day. ‘We don’t think about it as an expense. The experience she gains is what's important.” Charlotte’s number one priority is to prepare each child, from the beginning, toward a goal of in- dependence. “You have to cut the cord gently, one thread at a time.” Ske worries about people who concentrate on chronological rather than emotional age. “What is the child really ready for?” she asks. She doesn’t think in terms of sen- ding a child to kindergarten because he or she is five years of age by the calendar. Readiness for school, in tors. She admits that the size of her family increases the responsibility of each member to contribute in various tangible and intangible ways. Her children learn to help themselves financially by taking jobs such as delivering newspapers and babysitting. That result stems from an emphasis on self-esteem and independence, not that a child has reached a particular age. Charlotte prefers to concentrate her energies on encouraging her children to achieve at their in- dividual levels. ‘‘Small children can learn to make small decisions,”’ she explained. ‘They can decide which outfit to wear to school or what flavor ice cream cone to have. This process prepares them for the larger decisions, and the eventual breaking away, particularly from Mom.” Through her experience in the nursery school, Charlotte is well aware of the pain of separation. She believes we cannot and should not try and shield our children from that pain. ‘‘As long as they know we are supporting them, they’ll go through it,” she said. ‘‘Sometimes we just have to let them go.” She explained that as parents, we've all been a certain distance SR and our children are now about to travel that road. They certainly have additional factors to deal with; not the least of which is the questionable influence of that vast wasteland, television. Charlotte believes the road can be traveled together. Along with gauging the child’s readiness for school, she is strong in her belief that parents should always refer to the institution in a positive light. “We tell them they will learn in school, but they will also have friends, explore and discover, and experience what life is all about.” it She looks at extracurricular activities as a part of the key to success in that endeavor. “It’s a chance to develop leadership talents which can be tapped for community service later. It's and opportunity to determine what qualities the child can nurture and improve.’ To prepare your child for school in this manner requires a firm lifelong committment from the parents. It is much easier to spend an afternoon shopping for clothes or to place lunch money in an envelope every week. Charlotte’s thinking is that such activities are secondary to the real meaning of preparation ii ny
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers