Voir Sud Vol. 96, No. 48 By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Correspondent Each December, for generations, residents of the local area have spent hours and hours planning and executing beautiful decorations symbolic of the happiest season of the year. Children join their parents in con- structing outdoor manger scenes, decorating trees, making or buying gifts symbolic of the gifts borne by the Wise Men of the East to the Christ Child born in a manger. As the fast pace of the modern world increases so too has the types of decorations, gifts and greetings of joy and love sent to loved ones. Holiday scenes tend to become more modern, decorations become more elaborate and the entire Wyo- ming Valley and Back Mountain become brighter and more colorful with each passing year. Christmas decorations, toys and holiday specials appear in the stores before Halloween. Shoppers with harried expressions on their faces rush hither and yon through the downtown and Back Mountain stores. Friends discuss Christmas gifts and Christmas cards over coffee in one of their favorite snack shops. “We're going to cut back on our Christmas cards this year,” said one. “We’ve decided to send cards to only friends or relatives living out of town,” comments another. “I’m getting tired of the whole business,” we overheard one shop- per say. And one of our friends said to us, “Christmas is too commercial anymore. I believe people have lost sight of the real meaning.” We assured her this was not the case. Perhaps a minority might overlook the fact that Christmas marked the greatest gift man has ever received - The Birth of the Christ Child, but not most. She departed for home not truly con- vinced. During the next few days, we observed persons around us more carefully than we had in the past. We listened to conversations about their Christmas plans and about their shopping experiences, pushing through crowds to get the ‘hard-to- find’ item their son or daughter just had to have. The real meaning of Christmas — the celebration of Christ’s Birth — was it there? We began to have our doubts. Wintery scene By made for some beautiful Directors inducted Dallas Post/Charlot M. Denmon By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Correspondent Newly elected and re-elected school board members were officially sworn into office at the meetings of the Dallas Area and Lake-Lehman School District held last week, Monday, Dec. 2, at Dallas, and Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Lake-Lehman. At the Dallas Board meeting held Dec. 2, Donald Jones of Franklin township was elected president of the board of a one-year term on the first ballot. Director Harry Sickler was elected vice president of theboard for a term of one year. Both men are retired. Dr. William Camp, director, served as temporary president during the election for board president. James Richardson, newly-installed director, was elected to serve as the Dallas District representative to the West Side Vocational Technical School Board on the second round of balloting. He received five votes and John George four, after they each received four votes and Tex Wilson, one on the first ballot. Judge Robert Hourigan administered the oath of office to newly-elected directors Thomas Landon and James Richardson, and to re-elected officers Dr. William Camp and Tex Wilson. Ernest Ashbridge, retiring president, expressed his appreciation to board members for their cooperation during his term of office and spoke on the board’s accomplishments during the year. He said he was proud of the work done by the board including opening work sessions to the public. Jones thanked Ashbridge for his work as president and pledged to do his best as the board’s new president. He asked for the harmonious cooperation of all board members. Prior to the installation, District Superintendent Gerald Wyecallis announced that sale of the Trucksville Elementary School was finalized and that the district had received a check for $116,500 from Smith-Miller Associates, purchasers. The former school will be citizens to be designated as Trucksville Manor. The superintendent also explained that there was a possibility that in the near future, the official training for school bus drivers would be transferred from the Luzerne Intermediate Unit 188 to the individual school districts with the cost of the training also becoming the responsibility of the districts. The superintendent was requested by the board to express the district’s disapproval of this proposal. Meetings will continue to be held the second Monday of each month at 8 p.m., with the work session held prior to the meetings open to the public. At the Lake-Lehman School Board meeting held Tuesday, Dec. 3, Alan Keiper was elected unanimously to the board for a one year term. Martin Noon was elected as first vice president to the board for a one year term but although Edward Mark was elected second vice president to the board for a one-year term it was by a 6-3 vote. Mark also was elected as the Lake-Lehman District representative to the West Side Vocational Technical School by a 6-3 vote. Bing C. Wolfe was elected as the alternate representative to West Side Vo Tech. Keiper succeeded Joseph “Red” Jones, former president for the board for two years. He is a resident of RD 1, Noxen. Mark replaces Thomas Williams as representative to the West Side Vo Tech School, Williams having lost is bid for re-election in the May primary. Joseph “Red” Jones expressed his appreciation to the board members for their work during his terms as president. He said as president he never wanted the education process disrupted which it never was, despite the fact that there was not always harmony among the board members. He said he was thankful that he could serve as president of the board at Lake- Lehman and that the administration, faculty and students helped make his job easier. Jones said that administering a $2.8 million budget is an awesome responsibility. Jones congratulated Keiper and expressed his cooperation. Se Brady is appointed. chairman Mary Beth Garey Brady has been named ' chairperson of Alumni Giving for College Misericordia’s 1986 annual fund drive. The announcement was made by jean M. Pope, director of alumni affairs. The college will kick off its annual support campaign entitled, “Funds for a Better Future,” in January. The goal for alumni giving is $93,- 000; the overall goal for the cam- paign is $325,000. Brady leads a team of 90 alumni volunteers in contacting more than 7,000 alumni across the nation through direct mailings and a six- day phonathon in February. Funds raised will provide scholar- ships and financial aid for needy, well-qualified students; for Presi- dential Scholarships based upon academics and athletics. Approxi- mately 85 percent of Misericordia’s students receive financial assist- ance. Alumni-giving committee mem- bers include: Agnes Williamson, Benedicta Matchett, Bill Jones, Frank Pugliese, Bernadine Luksic, Irene Wisnieski, Mary Panaway, Jeanne Coyle, Mary Blewitt, Kathy Wega, Debbie Ruckno, Katherine McDermott, Bernadine Tomasek, Kathy Lawrence, Rita Casey, Tom Hanlon, Dave Payne, Jr., and Bridgett Kelly. A 1968 graduate of College Miseri- cordia, Brady’s community and pro- fessional associations include the advisory boards of Human Services of Luzerne County, Children and Youth of Luzerne County and Col- lege Misericordia’s Act 101 pro- gram. In addition, she is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Society of Hospital Social Work Directors, and is a 1984 graduate of Leadership Wilkes- Barre. Brady, who received a master’s degree in social work from Mary- wood College, is director of social services at the John Heinz Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in Wilkes-Barre. 25 Cents Dallas Post/Ed Campbell ~~ a breath-taking winter scene. Away he goes! Dallas Post/Ed Campbell near his home. Dr. Thomas F. O'Donnell, Execu- tive Director, Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18, announces the annual search for artistically talented high school sophomores and juniors is officially underway as posters and application forms for the 1986 ses- sion of the Pennsylvania Governor’ School for the Arts are now being distributed to all secondary schools. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Educatin and the state’s intermediate units, the Penn- sylvania Governor’s School for the Arts is a full-scholarship, residential summer arts program held each summer on the campus .of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. Approximately 225 students, includ- ing artistically talented handi- capped students, will be selected from across the state to. participate in the five week session, July 6 - August 9, 1986. skills and knowledge in one of six art areas--theater, dance, art, music, photography and creative writing--students will also have the opportunity to participate in a vari- ety of creative studies, career awareness, and leadership work- shops. A guest artist series, films, studenf performance, HO exhibits, and an active recreation program are all part of the activi- ties. Now entering its 14th year of operation, the Pennsylvania Gover- nor’s School for the Arts counts among its alumni many rising young stars of stage, screen and television as well as established studio artists, musicians, and pro- fessionals in education, arts admin- (See UNIT, page 2) Inside The Post Calendar .......... 15,20 Commentary ......... 6 Cookbook .......... ind Crossword ............. 3 Obituaries ............. 4 People: ................ 3,9 School .............. 14,16 |}: Sports .......... 11,12,13