Wally relaxes
Dentist
(Continued from page 1)
Dr. Medura also admits that at
times, he uses a Sony Walkman. In
fact, according to Dr. Medura, some
patients like to have the music
playing during the whole procedure.
Besides these ‘sophisticated’ meth-
ods for relaxation, Dr. Medura
pointed out that just by controlling
what a person hears during the
procedure is also important.
Not only is what a dentist says to
his patient important, but according
to Dr. Medura, what a parent says
to a child about the dentist can also
be a main factor.
“It’s very important that parents
‘don’t relate scary stories to their
children about the dentist. Also,
they should try to refrain from key
words such as hurt or pain,” he
said.
Dr. Medura feels that 95 percent
of the children he sees are ideal
patients because these precautions
are taken.
Dr. Medura agrees that attitudes
toward dentists have changed in the
past several years.
“When I first came to the area,
the people weren’t dentally edu-
cated. In the last few years, how-
ever, people have turned toward
preventive dentistry,” he said.
It seems then that dentist’s offices
should not be portrayed as ‘dens of
pain”, but as places to go to keep
those smiles shining bright.
It’s true that fear is a very real
thing when visiting the dentist’s
office. However, the most dreaded
fear has almost nothing to do with
the dentist’s drill or chair. In fact,
sometimes you don’t even have to
face this fear until days after the
initial visit. Have you guessed what
it is yet? Right - THE BILL.
According to Mike Thomas, direc-
tor of sales at Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Northeast Pennsylvania,
this is one fear that cannot be easily
ignored.
If you've already looked into pur-
chasing dental insurance, then you
know it’s virtually impossible for
individual policyholders to obtain it.
Thomas explained why this is so.
“It’s all because of what we call
adverse selection,” he said. ‘It’s a
sad fact, but people just don’t go to
Rip-offs on
The offer that promises you riches
for very little output, the outfit that
‘offers you instant credit or easy
financing - consumer beware!
Rip-offs -are on the rise again,
making it very easy for the uncau-
tious to fall prey to the unscrupu-
lous. The Reader’s Digest, in its
February issue, describes some of
them that are currently being prac-
ticed:
— “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Send for
our listing of high-paying opportuni-
ties.” The listing (almost always
from a far-distant city) will cost
from $10 to $20 and may well have
been lifted from the classified ads.
Most reputable employment agen-
cies charge either the employer or
applicant a fee, but never before the
job has been filled.
— ‘‘Earn big money right in yuor
own home! Get $1,000 to . $3,000
monthly for stuffing envelopes.’
Again, you're asked for up-front
money and what you receive is an
offer of an instruction manual for
MALTBY
DRUG STORE
326 Hughes St.,
Swoyersville, Pa.
287-7724
VALENTINE
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BUY 1 AND
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FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY
LOWEST PRICES GUARANTEED
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dentists regularly and not many of
them would buy the insurance
unless they really needed it.
“After the dental work was com-
plete, there would be absolutely
nothing we could do to stop them
from cancelling the policy,”” he
added. “If we did offer individual
dental insurance, the premiums
would probably be so high (because
of adverse selection) that not many
could afford it.”
Thomas did say, however, that
this insurance is offered to certain
group policyholders of five people or
more. So, if you are one of these
lucky people, relax.
On the other hand, if you're one of
the unfortunate ones, perhaps it
would pay to take extra special care
of those pearly whites!
— WALLY KOCHER
the rise
even more money.
Karl Lauby of the New Yourk
Better Business Bureau says,
“Whenever you're asked to buy
anything in order to work at home,
don’t do it. If they claim you can
make more money than sounds rea-
sonmable, investigate. We advise
people to write to the company and
ask for names and addresses of
others who are making the adver-
tised sum of money.” You’ll never
hear, the article predicts. }
— “Get the best in cable TV with
our special introductory offer!’
Some sharp operators canvass a
neighborhood not yet scheduled for
cable, claiming they’re representing
a cable company and asking for a
$25 deposit and $25 installation fee.
Legitimate cable companies will
usually notify you that a representa-
tive will call on you, and that person
check with City Hall to see what’s
really going on in cable in your
area.
There are many other scams. The
name of the game is to get your
money without giving you anything
in return. Keep that fact in mind,
and you should be able to resist
most of the traps set by, rip-off
artists.
BARON'S
By HOWARD J. GROSSMAN
The Ben Franklin Partnership is
the most exciting venture for eco-
nomic development in Pennsylvania
since the birth of the Pennsylvania
Industrial Development Authority in
1956. The Partnership is a blend of
higher educational institutions, busi-
ness and industry, economic devel-
opment agencies, labor organiza-
tions and others concerned with
economic growth. The Partnership
was initiated in 1983 by Governor
Dick Thornburgh as Pennsylvania’s
approach to high technology and a
means to tap into the nation’s new
focus on technological inovations.
In the first year of the Ben
Franklin: Partnership Program,
applications were received by the
State from seven colleges and uni-
versities asking to be designated as
an advanced technology center. The
Ben Franklin Partnership Board
and staff of the Pennsylvania
Department of Commerce reviewed
the applications and interviewed
representatives of each higher edu-
cational institution. As a result of
the competitive process, four uni-
versities were selected to receive
$250,000 each from the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania. They were
designated as Advanced Technology
Centers. These universities included
a joint venture between Carnegie
Mellon University and the Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh, the University
City Science Center in Southeastern
Pennsylvania, Lehigh University,
serving Lehigh Valley and North-
eastern Pennsylvania, and Pennsyl-
vania State University based at
State College, serving. all other
areas of the State.
Since the principle of the Ben
Franklin Partnership is to blend
higher education with business and
industry and other facets of the
community, the program was estab-
lished as a challenge grant in which
the more private sector funds
raised, the more likely that.a given
project and or program would be
approved under the Ben Franklin
structure. Thus, each of the
Advanced Technology Centers dem-
onstrated a significant amount of
private sector funding as part of
their application process.
With one million dollars for Fiscal
Year 1983, the program was initi-
ated as each university geared. in a
short period of time to meet the
lin Program. These goals included:
(1) emphasis on research and devel-
opment to encourage the manufac-
ture of new products and creation of
new jobs as a result of technology;
(2) entrepreneurial development to
expand business opportunities for
marketing, carrying out profitable
business functions, develop ‘venture
capital and implement other factors
designed to establish a one-stop
center for business development;
(3) training and retraining of
employees to meet those jobs which
will be available in the 1980’s and
1990’s as they relate to advanced
technology.
These three goals have many
different aspects to them; however,
they relate in Pennsylvania to not
only new technology and skills, but
modernizing and upgrading basic
industries such as steel, coal, needle
trades and related industrial activi-
ties with technology improvements
to help save jobs and stabilize these
industries to a reasonable economic
level. Thus, the invention of the
words advanced technology have
great meaning in Pennsylvania,
perhaps more so than any other
state in the nation. :
With the establishment of the first
year program for the Ben Franklin
Partnership, second year applica-
tions were limited to those
advanced technology centers who
were designated the first year.
Each of the centers prepared com-
petitive applications to secure a
portion of the $10 million which had
been set aside for fiscal year 1984 in
the State budget. The applications
were reviewed in depth by both the
Ben Franklin Partnership Board
and the Pennsylvania Department
of Commerce and were approved by
the Ben Franklin Booard in August
and September, 1983.
Each of the Advanced Technology
Centers received the following com-
mitment of dollars:
Carnegie Mellon - University of
Pittsburgh - $3.350 million; Lehigh
University - $2.9 million; University
City Science Center - $2.350 million;
Pennsylvania State University - $1.4
million. 2
The projects included in the
second year application impact the
entire State and result in substantial
dollars being committed by the pri-
vate sector, as well as other organi-
zations who have become partners
with the Ben Franklin Program.
Some examples of projects that
were included by Lehigh University
which impact Northeastern Penn-
sylvania are the following:
— development of computer
assisted design technology for the
glass industry
SEAFOOD
— cooperative development of a
nuclear power technician training
program
— office automation seminar
— hybrid microelectronics labora-
tory and program development
— development of a fire-resistant
material for aircraft interiors
— materials testing laboratory
and program development
The Economic Development Coun-
cil of Northeastern Pennsylvania is
interested in establishing a satellite
center to replicate many of the fine
programs being carried out at
Lehigh University currently in the-
form. of workshops, seminars and
other related functions.
The Ben Franklin Partnership
Board is a 15-member organization
which meets monthly in Harrisburg
or in one of the four designated
Advanced Technology Centers.
Members of the Board include the
following persons who are either ex-
officio appointees or appointees of
Governor Dick Thornburgh.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania
approach to the Ben Franklin Part-
nership includes a strong commit-
ment on the part of higher educa-
tion to participate in the program
along with the business and indus-
trial community. Some of the high
educational institutions who have
been funded through the Ben Frank-
lin Partnership thus far include the
University of Scranton, Wilkes Col-
lege and the Luzerne County Com-
munity College. Others will be sub-
mitting projects in subsequent years
for consideration under the Ben
Franklin Partnership.
One of the most interesting
aspects of the Ben Franklin Part-
nership is the incubator program.
An incubator center is a building
which houses companies who
require a small amount of space,
can utilize common services such as
receptionist, reproduction, clerical
and related services, require the
ability to develop and or market a
product and be a company which is
characterized as a small growth
firm capable of significant expan-
sion ‘in the future and the type
which hovers around the word tech-
nology. Incubator centers have
proven themselves in other parts of
the nation, and several of the
advanced technology centers are
establishing such facilities. Lehigh
University has established an incu-
bator center on its campus, and the
Economic Development Council and
others are developing a series of
functions which will lead to the
establishment of one or more incu-
bator centers in the region.
A proof of success thus far in the
Ben Franklin Partnership is the
actual nurturing and or establish-
ment of new companies who have
created new products thus establish-
ing new jobs in Pennsylvania. Such
activities as venture capital funds,
incubator centers, and other types
of innovative activities, including a
strong research and development
base for each of the advanced tech-
nology centers, leads many to con-
clude that this program will grow
significantly in the next several
years.
The business and industrial com-
munity of Northeastern Pennsyl-
vania can take advantage of the
Ben Franklin Partnership by con-
tacting the Economic Development
Council, P.O. Box 777, Avoca, PA
18641. The ways to accomplish
important changes to the economic
structure of Northeastern Pennsyl-
vania through the Ben Franklin
Partnership are myriad. Every
business and industry thinking of
expansion should consider hwo to
utilize this important program.
(Howard J. Grossman is the
Executive Director of the Economic
Development Council of Northeast-
ern Pennsylvania.)
CTC tests
equipment
Commonwealth Telephone Com-
pany customers in the Sweet Valley
(477) exchange may be receiving
calls from telephone company rep-
resentatives during the next several
weeks. The purpose of these calls is
to test new central office equipment
scheduled to be cut into operation
within the next few months.
These test calls will insure that
the equipment is fully operational
and that the company’s records are
accurate.
If any customer has a doubt as to
the authenticity of the caller, he can
verify the information by calling the
telephone company.
J
N
Classified
Deadline
Friday 5p.m.
News & Ad
Deadline
Friday Noon
NN 2
Nothing hurts like be
A Public Service of this Publication
and the Veterans Administration
The nation salutes its hospitalized
veterans during the week of Febru-
ary 14 and the Veterans Administra-
to visit the nearly 90,000 patients in
its medical facilities.
ans medical and benefits programs,
has also mounted an effort to
encourage Americans of all ages to
serve as hospital volunteers year-
round. :
~ Over 50 national volunteer groups
and veterans organizations have
joined in the effort.
With the First Lady as honorary
patron and Harry Morgan, star of
AfterMASH, as honorary chairman,
the program’s theme is ‘‘Nothing
hurts like being forgotten - Nothing
helps like being remembered.”
Morgan, who plays the Chief of
Staff at a fictional VA hospital in
the AfterMASH show, is featured on
radio and television spot announce-
ments.
World War II Navy veteran John
Chuchola, in a wheelchair, personi-
fies the salute on the informational
printed material urging participa-
tion. -
“In addition to honoring our vet-
erans and volunteers,” said VA
Administrator Harry N. Walters,
“this is an opportunity for us to
share with the public the profes-
_ sional excellence of the VA’s health
care system which is the nation’s
largest.”
The system includes 172 medical
centers, 16 domiciliaries and 99
nursing home care units throughout
the country.
Walters noted that ‘‘volunteerism
is critical to the quality of care
provided those who have served
their country in time of need.”
Looking for food
During Fiscal Year 1983, 79,000
volunteers provided 11.9 million
hours of service to hospitalized vet-
erans. The value of their participa-
tion, based on the generally
accepted average value of $6.50 per
hour, would be $77.2 million. Volun-
teers also generated $10 million
dollars in donations. :
Volunteers are involved in every-
thing from patient care and recrea-
tation assistance. $
Examples of volunteer services
range from helping in home rehabil-
itation of stroke patients to super-
vised youth groups from pre-school
through junior high school in one-to-
one ‘‘adopted grandparent” activ-
ity.
Because of the rising age level of
the veteran population, there is a
growing emphasis on geriatrics and
services for the terminally ill and
their families. !
The groups supporting the drive
to get more volunteers are mem-
bers of the VA Voluntary Service’s
National Advisory Committee. In
addition to the major veterans
groups they include organizations
such as the Red Cross, the Ameri-
can Association of Retired Persons,
the ELKS and the Salvation Army.
About 60 percent of all VA vulun-
teers are affiliated with a group or
organization, ranging from very
large national ones to local clubs
and churches. Those without organi-
VA staff members.
If you want to join in the salute to
veterans, or volunteer on a longer-
term basis, call the VA medical
facility nearest you. Tell they you
want to participate and they’ll tell
Dallas Post/Ed Campbell
feeder such as this one. .
5
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