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Vol. 99, No. 4
Wednesday, February 3, 1988
25 Cents
Phil hits
he mark!
BY DEBBY HIGGINS
Post Editor
Fat and sassy, snug in his
abode atop Gobbler’s Knob,
Punxsutawney Phil was again
called upon to perform his
annual duty, February 2.
-- Phil, second in reputation only
gi the Farmer’s Almanac for
predicting the weather, didn’t
sew his shadow Tuesday, mean-
ing there will be an early
spring.
The folks from the Jefferson
County community of Punxsu-
tawney put great store in Phil’s
abilities, as they make Ground
Hog Day a statewide’ occasion.
The town’s fathers, true to their
local celebrity’s stature as a
forecaster, do not tout Phil’s
inaccuracies but instead main-
tain their mascot’s long record
on-the-money predictions.
gMeanwhile, Phil, looking con-
each February to let the waiting
throngs of Pennsylvanians know
what’s in store for six more
weeks. Eager for even a slight
indication of winter’s end, state
residents anticipate the chubby
forecaster’s weather verdict
with crossed fingers. Scientifi-
cally, however, Phil’s predic-
tions don’t amount to a hill of
beans. :
aGround Hog Day, brought to
-. by German and
English settlers, is a legend
steeped in tradition. wha
gi'hose early American settlers
wrutalized by harsh winters,
looked for even the smallest
‘hint of the end of cold winter
hardships.
The old world traditions some-
times held water in the old
‘country, were believed in
strongly enough to be carried
“over to the new land. More than
just a chance to glimpse into
future weather conditions,
Ground Hog Day provided, (if
| il went well), a day to cele-
| te. Cabin fever was as prev-
alent for those winter-weary
pioneers as it is for modern-day
folk. Remember, back then,
Friend or foe?
This scene could have been taken from-an old Currier and Ives print, but it's really a snow-
covered road right here in the Back Mountain. The recent snowfall caused many problems, but
the beauty of it all paints a wonderful, wintertime picture.
Nordic skiing is alive and well in BM.
staying indoors was not made
more enjoyable by television,
compact disc players, and
VCR's.
So, Ground Hog Day while
being an opportunity for an
over-weight, long-footed rodent
from west central Pennsylvania
to bask in the celebrity’s spot-
light, is something more. It’s a
ge: of the old ways brought
o the 20th century. A pleasant
slice of Americana that lives,
yet, followed by thousands who
ordinarily give no more to the
old ways than a smile or a
fleeting thought.
Schedule noted
Newcomer’s Club of Wyoming
Valley announces its upcoming
activities for the month of Feb-
ruary.
We will be attending Gus
Genetti’s Queen of Hearts Ball,
featuring music by the Poets, on
February 5.
The monthly craft night is
smnocking at the home of Deb
&rkwood, Kingston, on Febru-
‘ary 9.
Mardi Gras night will be Feb-
ruary 13 at the home of Karen
Lambruschi, Dallas.
Executive board meeting is
scheduled for February 16 also
at the home of Karen Lambrus-
chi.
A general member coffee will
be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran
Church, Shavertown, February
18.
Ethnic Dining will be Cajun
cooking demonstration by
Nancy Tkatch on February 23 at
Dorranceton United Methodist
Church, Kingston.
A pot luck luncheon will be
held at St. Paul’s Lutheran
Church, Shavertown, on Febru-
ary 25. _ ;
Call 287-6038 or 696-3368 for
more information.
BY CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Writer
Bright-colored jackets and ski
suits dotted the ‘Back Nine” of
Irem Temple Country Club’s
golf course as dozens of male
and female Nordic (cross-coun-
try) skiers made their way
across the trails made by others
before them.
It was Saturday afternoon and
the bright blue sky and warm-
ing temperature made it an
ideal day for the out-of-door
lovers, who took to the trails,
down-hill inclines or to frozen
ice-covered ponds and lakes.
Among them were Duncan
and Kay Whitehead, whom we
caught just as they were ready
to take off across the snow at
the Club. No novices are these
two who have been going cross-
country skiing for the past 11
years.
“Duncan saw a book in the
library about cross-country
skiing and found it interesting,”
said Kay. “So he bought one
and both of us read it and tried
following the directions. Then
College Misericordia had ski
classes for two consecutive
Wednesday nights and we
attended them. They were inter-
esting and a lot of fun, we met
all types of people from bankers
‘Alpine
§
to teachers to students.”
The first time the Whiteheads
tried skiing, they waited until
midnight, then went out on the
vacant lot near their home and
tried the sport. They discovered
they were able to maneuver the
skiis, so decided they wouldn’t
be embarrassed going out on
trails in the area. At the time
they started cross-country
skiing they were the only ones
in the area that they knew who
participated in the sport.
“Now there are lots of Back
Mountain residents going cross-
country skiing,”’ Kay said. “We
meet many of our friends when
we're out, especially up at the
Club.”
The couple usually go skiing
at the Country Club and occa-
sionally they go to Lake Jean or
sometimes to Moon Lake. They
used to go in the fields by the
bird sanctuary in Dallas the
first few years they went skiing.
They used to wear ordinary
jeans when they went out but
recently they started wearing
gaiters to keep out the snow.
Kay and Duncan explained
that their doctor approved of
Nordic skiing and that swim-
ming and cross-country skiing
were considered two of the best
cardio-vascular exercises.
“It’s inexpensive compared to
skiing,” explained
Dallas Post/Linda Shurmaitis
Duncan. “You don’t need a pro
to teach you, just a few books
and some video tapes. The
equipment is not as expensive
either. You need only good fit-
ting skis and bindings, boots
and poles. Depending on what
you want, it could cost less than
$150.”
Last year their son started
cross-country and goes occa-
sionally although his family
demands sometimes prohibits
him from going as much as his
parents go.
According to the Whiteheads,
until the recent snow, this year
had been a bad year for skiing.
“We thoroughly enjoy it,”’ Kay
said. “It is a sport that is good
fo you and at the same time,
you can enjoy nature and the
out-of-doors. Everyone from
children to senior citizens can
go cross-country skiing and
enjoy it.”
Cross-country skiing may be
fairly new to the Back Mountain
but in Europe, it pre-dates
Alpine Skiing. In the war Finn-
ish troops were cross-country
skiers and were able to attack
the enemy and disappear
quickly into the night. When the
Russians realized the benefits of
the sport, they soon began train-
ing their troops in the sport and
have also become excellent par-
ticipants.
Catholic Schools Week to begin Feb. 5
The faculty and students from
Gate of Heaven School are pre-
paring for their Annual Catholic
Schools Week celebration begin-
ning with the opening Liturgy
on Friday, Feb. 5, at 8:30 in the
church. Father Michael Sulli-
van, celebrant will be assisted
by Sister M. Davida Morgan,
Principal, as cantor, Mr. Bob
Paley, President, PTG, as guest
speaker, and students and
teachers in full participation.
On Monday, Feb. 8, the annual
spelling bee will take place in
the gym, beginning at 1:10. The
winner of this contest will be
eligible to participate in the
national spelling bee contest
held in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, par-
ents and friends are invited to
the school’s annual Science Fair
and Open House, beginning at
6:30pm. Ci
During this special week,
from the 5th to the 11th, various
activities--varsity vs. faculty
basketball games; talent shows;
special dinners and desserts;
and Student Appreciation Day
will take place within the school
and all parents and friends are
invited to attend these activi-
ties. A calendar of events for
the week was distributed to all
- families during the last week of
January for their convenience.
|” ‘was opened, it made it easier -cling than just putting the trash
~
Garbage crisis not
over for residents
it will make the problem of
dumping easier although they
realized, the cost will not be any
less. At present, West Side cost
Regular collection of trash ; )
and garbage in Back Mountain Is $ig for HICHDors and $18 to
communities over the past feW Three new areas at the land-
months have lulled residents fj) have been designed and
into believing that the problems {here are no out-of-town haulers
confronting the haulers over : : :
landfill sites have disappeared. iy ie ihe slits according
Many of the residents have been chsh Lwiee.
asking independent haulers me of sn
Whew ne Hates Bc trash jing programs into effect and
The long-familiar expression hese prog: ans have beed help. |
‘silence is golden’ is not applica- yy for Ing the garbage ump oy
ble in this case. Local haulers ad percen lies
are still confronted with where p : :
and when they will be able to
dump.
“The problem has not gone
away,” said Juanita Berti, wife
of William Berti of Dallas. “It’s
not as acute as it was in the late
summer and early fall but the
situation is not getting better.
The opening of the Keystone
landfill has made it easier but
there are many minor aggrava-
tions the haulers are confronted
with regularly.”
Berti, in the trash removal
business for more than 35 years,
used the West Side Landfill until
it was ordered shut down last
year by DER. He then had no
alternative but to find another
site and began dumping at
Ait until that fill’s quota was
met.
~ When the Xeystone Landfill,
BY CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Writer
Kingston Township ‘Manager
Fred Potzer said that local
municipalities have discussed
recycling but the most deterrent
factor has been the high cost of
labor involved in the collection.
Road departments of the Back
Mountain boroughs and town-
ships do not have the necessary
personnel needed to take care of
the roads as well as collect
Jovspaers and glass for recy-
ling. The use of private haulers
was considered by the munici-
palities but the prices of news-
print are too low to make it
worthwhile for the haulers.
Glass recycling has to have a
mandatory program requiring
the complete cleaning of the
glass before it can be accepta-
ble to the recycling company.
“There’s a lot more to recy-
out for collection,” Potzer said.
“What we have been looking at
is a leaf compost program
‘where our residents can take
their yard waste and tree
branches and those items that
are not collected by local haul-
for. local haulers to get into
Amity although it was still on a
“first come, first served’ basis.
The West Side Landfill, whose
officials have been ordered to
bring in a management com-
pany fo ‘manage the site, has. bo
been operating under the super- ©TS- i
vision of acting manager, _Potzer also warned area resi-
Thomas Doughton of Dallas, an dents to beware of haulers
employee of the Pasonick Engi- coming in from outside the area
neering Company, engineers of quoting unusually low collection
the landfill who have been Prices. There have been cases
appointed interim management Where this has been done and
company until West Side board after the residents pay the
members appoint a new man- hauler, he disappears and their
agement company. _« rubbish and trash is never
Since Doughton has been at ‘Picked up.
West Side, the price to dump There is presently such a situ-
there has come down to $18 a ation under investigation in the
load to dump there for non- Pittston area. Potzer explained
members. However, the hauler that the Back Mountain haulers
must get a call in to the landfill have been around for many
by 7 a.m. to let management years and have the reputation of
know the amount of their load. being reliable. They are appre-
If they can’t get in West Side, ciative of their customers and
haulers must take a chance at are trying to keep costs of
going to Amity in Taylor, or to collection as low as possible and
Buckhorn, the transfer station still allow the haulers to exist.
at Bloomsburg. “Costs of collection are not
“Since Doughton has been going to get any lower,” Potzer
operating the landfill, the situa- said. “Our communities have
tion has been running been fortunate to date because
smoother,” said Berti, “But it’s - in most areas of the state
not going to get any cheaper.” the country, collections cos
Dan Cornell, who bought the are much higher. 14
business formerly owned by K. “For newcomers in the are
Kocher, dumps at Buckhorn or we have a list of local haulers
Amity and like Berti, must get that we can provide for them if
there before the quota of fill is they call the Kingston Township
met. ~ office. We don’t recommend any
Doughton explained that the one hauler but give them a li
landfill’s quota is 2,500 cubic of reputable haulers in ¢
yards per week or 500 cubic area.” Pi
yards per day. The member According to Potzer, incinera-
communities, on the West Side, tion appears to be the ideal way
Kingston, Edwardsville, Swoy- to go but local community eoffi-
ersville, etc. have 250 to 300 ‘cials are waiting to hear
cubic feet reserved for them whether or not the county will
daily and the other half, approx- decide on such a program. This
imately 1,250 cubic feet weekly, will depend on whether or not
are reserved for haulers such as all of the haulers in the county =
Berti, Cornell and others from will take their rubbish te such a
the Back Mountain area, on a plant since the cost of sich a
first come-first served basis. program will require complete
Back Mountain haulers are support of all independent and
hoping that when the new sec- municipal haulers in order fo
tions of West Side Landfill open, cover the costs of the operation. ~~