i Local artist preserves area history through art work by SARA J. LUNDBERG Managing Editor The Back Mountain area is rap- idly changing, and Jackson Town- ship resident Sarah ‘Missy’ Turner wants to capture the history of the land before the landscape is com- pletely tranformed — through art work. : Turner has been involved with several artistic projects around the area that deal both in restoration and the representation of history. In 1983 she was chosen by a former owner of Hanson's Amuse- ment park in Harveys Lake to re- store antique carousel horses that had been part of the park's history dating back to 1909. . It took Turner over a year and a half to finish the project. She pre- pared the wood of 14 carousel horses, refinished and repainted each one by hand. The project was made more complicated by the fact that the horses had to be squeezed into her small basement, and the antiques were moved around at night to avoid general public knowledge of their value, and possible theft. The restored horses are nowworth approximately $220,000, said Turner. They are being leased to an amusement park in Old Town Kis- simmee, Florida. That restoration project increased Turner's interest in representing history through art work, and she started to look for other subjects. Her painting ‘Lost Lambs’ is an example of preserving history through art. It is a realistic painting depicting lambs grazing on open fields on Sutton Road near the Hill- side farms property. Turner painted the scene from an old photograph she had taken in 1983 and created the painting to preserve the ambi- ance of the country era. The land is now being prepared for residential development. : “Through my experience of pro- fessional painting I learn to stare Dietz's observe Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Alden Dietz, Beaumont, observed their 50th wedding anniversary recently. They were married on September 10, 1938 at the Courtdale Methodist Parson- age by the Rev. George Sweet. Atten- dants were: Doris Dietz Balewski and Carl Jolly. Mrs. Dietz is the former Thelma Richards, daughter of Emma and the late Paul Richards. Mr. Dietz is into nature and observe it very closely. I aim to convey a total, synaesthetic experience through painting.” Turner said. Turner describes the vision of an artist as ‘questioning and compar- ing objects’ . In her painting “Lost Lambs” the lambs imply a religious signficance and symbolize innocence and naivete, and the larger signifi- cance of the animals grazing on an open field set against a moody sky- line which will soon be transformed by development is a statement on loss and the transient nature of life. Some of Turner's paintings have been purchased by Back Mountain residents, and her works has been purchased and become part of the private collections of homes as far away as Hawaii and England. She is strongly influenced by the Impres- sionist painters, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Turner is interested in doing more art works representing scenes of historical significance. She likes to paint barns and country scenes, and is also intrigued as an artist by old cars, especially automobiles stored in a location of open farm- land and grazing livestock. Other projects bearing Turner's artistic style include a wall mural at Nanticoke State hospital depicting the appearence of the institution in 1910, and the hand-painted win- dows at Stretch-Out in Shavertown. Turner is employed as a art teacher at St. Michael's reformatory school in Tunkhaneck, PA. She also has a studio located on the second floor of Cheshire Cat on Route 309 where she teaches private art classes, and is a free lance artist. Turner graduated from Lake- Lehman high school in 1979 and studied Art Education at College Misericordia. She has a 11 year old son, Tim, who attends Lehman- Jackson Elementary school. S0th Wedding the son of the late Fred and Pru- dence Dietz. Mr. Dietz is a retired carpenter contractor. The couple have four children: Mrs. Conrad Higgins, Kunkle; Carolyn Dietz,. Denver, Colorado; Sally Headman and Chris of Beaumont. They have three grand- children, Kim and Doug Higgins and Jon Headman. Ladies Auxiliary held Christmas Dinner Ladies Auxiliary ofWardan Place, Harveys Lake, held their Christmas in August party at the Barn at Newberry Estates, Dallas, recently. Dinner, entertainment and the traditional exchange of gifts took place. Those who attended including the following members and guests: Genevieve Kostreva, president; Mary Olshefski, vice president; Patricia Morrissey-Choman, treasurer; Margretta Flammer, secretary; Lor- raine Yeager, Helen Walsh, Alberta Podgurski, Barbara Miscavage, Helen Mickiewicz, Monica Miek- iewicz, Elizabeth Morrisseey, Ann Seletski, Jean Seletski, Mary Kozzi, Mildred Bozek, Gertrude Davenport, Genevieve Burk, Nellie Decker, Marie Valenti, Margaret Shiner, Josephine Dombroski, Louella Donn, Adele Feldman, Ann Griffin, Betty Hines, Debbie Laubenstein, Elinore Vino, Doris Yahushko, Betty McCann, Leanore Magargle, Terry Linn Magargle, Linda Pudim, Wanda Romanowski, Diane Sirotkin, Dorothea Karcin, Louise Wilcox, Corra Hughes, Larwitha Wilson, Pat Manick, Edna Burke and Henrietta Ziegler. ER The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, September 28, 1988 5 LANDMARK ARTIST-Local artist Missy Turner emjoys painting Back Mountain land- marks such as building or animals. Above, she discusses one of her paintings with two of her students Joe Hayer and Jason Covert as she demonstrates what she would like them to try. (C.M. Denmon Photo) / . Radon Seminar at Wilkes Tonight Interest in radon testing has in- creased since a recent federal EPA study was released warning that cancer-causing radon gas was much more prevasive than previously be- lieved. Federal health officials is- sued a national health advisory saying that millions of homes have elevated radon levels, but the ma- jority of homes in the Back Moun- tain area have not yet been tested for radon. : An official from TEQ, a radon testing company in Wilkes- Barre, said that orders for charcoal cannisters used to measure radon levels have increased dramatically since the EPA study was released. He also said that levels detected in the Back Mountain are the same as those detected in Luzerne County, low to moderate readings. The Vice President of TEQ, Ed Druckor, was not able to reveal the exact number of homes tested in the Back Mountain or the level of radon detected in the area. “Twenty five percent of the homes that have been tested in Northeastern Pennsylvania have elevated radon levels,” said Druckor. A public information semi- nar on radon will take place at Wilkes College tonight at 7:00 p.m. The seminar will take place in Room 101 of the Stark Learning Center. DT Aa I Library auction supplement inside l i DALLASC[0ST Vol. 99, No. 26 Wednesday, July 6, 1988 25 Cents Mrs. Allison appointed to new post at Penn State Priscilla Allison, of Dallas, has been named Acting Director of Academic Affairs at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus according to Dr. James H. Ryan, campus execu- tive officer. Professor Allison suc- ceeds Dr. David Rice, who has accepted a position as vice presi- dent of Academic Affairs at Siena College, in Albany, New York. For nearly 100 years, The Post has covered the Back Mountain communities, bringing residents more complete information on the activities closest to their lives. cali 675-5211 Mail the coupon at right to: for a home delivered subscription The Dallas Post TT = PO.B 51812 annie 1 Year in Luzerne County Pos OX oe 8612 Lo BOT eieenines 2 Years in county | Quick work by fire companies restores water after sabotage Staff Writer By CHARLOT M. DENMON Saline JEW 5 : Ld 11 FRY % hat 1] PLAS : raga, Boil water advisor use ban k= ARE YOU MISSING NEWS IN YOUR COMMUNITY? The Post brings the Community to your door. Missing The Post is missing your community. Your community's activities and news, your schools, sports and business. Tie SDALLASCPoST fn Insia® residents and ishipe > Name Please start my subscription to The Dallas Post Mailing Address City State Zip Please enclose your check in the appropriate amount REN 1] TER 1 Year out of Luzerne County
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