4 | The Dallas Post - Tie SDALLASSD0ST Dallas, PA Wednesday, April 5, 1989 No winners in town meeting fiasco Tonight's Dallas Borough “town meeting” at the Gate of Heaven school will be less useful than it might have been because at least four candidates for office have said they will not attend. This is unfortunate, and should have been avoidable. Perhaps the lesson is that one political group cannot hope to - convince another that it can host a truly equitable meeting between the two. Tonight's meeting is sponsored by the Dallas Borough Preservation Association, and two of the candidates for borough council are members of that group. Add to that the fact that the moderator is also a member of the association and you have a formula for mistrust, no matter how upright the individuals involved. : We can't help but feel that both parties in this dispute are being disingenious about the reasons and motives for their actions. The Preservation Association people had to know that the incumbents would feel threatened by the supposed stack- ‘ing of the meeting. If they were serious about their fairness, they should have bent over backward to meet the other ' participants’ needs. As for the incumbents, they should have decided much ‘sooner that this meeting wasn't for them and told the public why. In both cases, we hope personal politics haven't replaced genuine concern for the borough's future. Care needed to prevent fires The rash of brush fires that have hit the Back Mountain during the past week are a sharp reminder that we must be ‘exercise extreme care when handling materials that could ignite fires. : : At least one of the fires appears to have been caused when a homeowner was burning waste in a drum and sparks touched off a blaze in a nearby field. In that case, the fire came danger- ously close to homes, but was quickly extinguished by Lehman and Jackson Township firefighters. Other fires also threatened Only yesterday E50 Years Ago - April 28, 1939 WATER COMPANY STARTS FIXUP PLAN Dallas Water Company is ready to launch $7,000 improvement % plan toend the long-standing water : shortage in Dallas. Peg Casterline, 18, Harveys Lake, gained the distinction of being the first girl this year to take a dip ’ in the lake although it lasted only two minutes. Evening News to print last edi- tion Saturday as it will merge with the Times Leader Monday. Anniversary - Mr. and Mrs. James Kibbler, Noxen, 50 years; Mr. and Mrs. Amos Kitchen, Har- veys Lake, 48 years. Wed - Millicent Rustine and .¥ Joseph Hand. Beaumont defeats Dallas Bor- = ough 15-8. Fishermen's haven The Alderson United Methodist Church at Harveys Lake is annually the site of a fishermen's breakfast, said by some to guarantee you'll catch your limit. (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Letters Preservation Ass'n chairman calls for thoughtful planning Editor: structures as well as fields. Most Back Mountain communities have curtailed open burning. Common sense should dictate that even if the municipality doesn’t forbid it, burning should be postponed “until we receive enough rain to lower the hazard of fire. E * = £ 5% & : 3 | A History book was a hot commodity There certainly are plenty of history buffs in the Back Mountain. When we published an article last week announc- ing that the last 20 (there were 32, really) copies of D. A. Waters’ history of Dallas were available for sale, we never imagined the response we received. Assuming it would take some time to sell all the copies, we ‘had planned to draw up an ad to run this and subsequent weeks until the books were gone. We never got to do that; by last Friday all copies were sold or spoken for. It’s good to know that so many area residents care about the ‘Back Mountain's history. Knowledge of an area’s past - just as ‘that of a person - is immensely helpful in planning its future. We wish there were more copies of the history book available, to satisfy those who were not able to get one last week. Anyone wishing to review the book may do so at the Back ‘Mountain Memorial Library, where copies are part of the 5 £ reference collection. The Dallas Post Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Tami Britton Charlotte E. Bartizek Associate Publisher Charlot M. Denmon Advertising Acct. Exec. Reporter Rob Zapotoski Jean Hillard Olga Kostrobala Compositio Office Manager Classified/typesetting MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION ¥ Letters invited The Dallas Post encourages readers to share their opinions with the community by writing a letter to the editor. All letters for publication must be signed and include a telephone number so that we may verify authen- ticity. We will not publish anonymous letters. Send letters to: The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612. Letters received by Noon on Monday may be included in that week's issue. Ray Cecconi appointed Dallas Postmaster ~ Raymond A. Cecconi has been appointed Postmaster of Dallas, effective April 8, 1989. The ap- pointment was approved and announced by George Harkins, General Manager/Postmaster of the Harrisburg Field Division. Cecconi joined the Postal Serv- Ice in 1963 as a city carrier in Sewaren, New Jersey Post Office. Since then, he has held such posi- ~ tions as Superviasor, Delivery and | Collection, Kingston, Pa.; tempo- rary Postmaster of Olyphant and Dallas; and mostrecently as Super- ~ intendent, Postal Operations, Dal- las. AL Cecconi and his wife, Mary Ann, reside in Pringle. They have a daughter, Jill. As Postmaster, Cecconi will be responsible for overseeing 24 employees and an annual mail volume of 10,575,000. Dallas has 4 City Carrier Routes, 7 Rural Carrier Routes and a contract Salon at the College Misericor- ia. The Dallas Post Office falls within the management jurisdiction of the Lehigh Valley facility. Lehigh Val- ley is responsible for all postal operations in the zip code areas ~ 180 through 188. Last summer the Dallas Bor- ough Council hastily pushed through a re-zoning of the Deer Meadow tract—effectively quadru- pling the housing density on those 29 acres. This action was taken without in-depth study or discus- sion, in contravention of the Bor- ough's then existing development ' plan. At that time, 349 other resi- dents joined in signing a protest petition which, subsequently, the Council refused to accept. The Dallas Borough Preserva- tion Association believes that this action was very short-sighted in- asmuch as it failed to provide - adequate protection for the envi- ronment, the taxpayers’ pocket- books, and the Borough's existing “lifestyle”. Our precarious water situation was virtually ignored. Quantitative studies relative to these factors were not conducted and vague assurances from vari- ous and sundry officials were naively accepted at face value. We need much more specific informa- tion as to cost—how much, alloca- tion, alternatives, etc. : Presently, it appears that very substantial new costs are to be loaded onto Borough residents indefintely and well into the fu- ture. In effect, an open-minded commitment was made to pay whatever costs are incurred when- ever they are required. One example of a future un- known cost has to do with the potential correction of pollution of the Huntsville Reservoir—the safety of which has thus far been ignored. A 1972 report by Gilbert Associates stated that in 1970 the Back Mountain area's ground water supply was barely adequate. That by 1980, the supply could be slightly deficient and, by 2020, the deficiency could reach large pro- portions. The consultant suggested tapping, among other sources, the Huntsville Reservoir, Harveys Lake, Frances Slocum, State Park Lake, Abrahams . Creek and the ‘Susquehanna River. The new development “Woodridge Estates II” will tap Huntsville Reservoir for its water supply. At this time, intelligent and thoughtful planning can greatly improve our future prospects. Careless and inadequate planning can only breed disaster! Joan C. Hiller, Chairman Dallas Borough Preservation Ass'n. Meadows says thanks for daffodils Editor: On behalf of the residents of the Meadows Nursing Center, I would like to express our appreciation for the American Cancer Society “Daffodil Day” flowers we received last week through the generosity of the Cheer Flower Contributors. These beautiful flowers of “Hope” brought Spring to us in a special way. Marilyn Gregorski Activities Director Candidates announce they won't attend "town meeting" Editor: We, the candidates for “Produc- tive Government in Dallas Bor- ough” do not consider the “town meeting” being sponsored by the Dallas Borough Preservation As- sociation to concern itself with the issues of Dallas Borough at large. This belief has been underlined by the recent actions of the group sponsoring this so-called “town meeting.” Fully intending to appear and discuss our positions relative to issues of borough importance, we did propose to the sponsoring organization our willingness to appear provided that the meeting would be conducted in an impar- tial manner. We have had correspondence with Mr. Joel Daniels of the Dallas Borough Preservation Association requesting both an impartial fo- rum and moderator. In response to these requests for fairness we have been informed that Mr. Daniels of the Association would be the moderator. We have also received a flyer produced by the association announcing the “town meeting”, which has basically set an agenda for the meeting which deals with the Deer Meadows de- velopment primarily. Although this > development may be one issue, we feel that there are many other important issues which concern Dallas Borough residents. The Dallas Borough Preservation Soci- ety was founded due to the Deer Meadows issue and that seems to be their one and only concern. Thus, since we have not been |accorded the common courtesy of 'a fair and equitable forum and program, which would be con- ducted by a fair and impartial moderator, we, the candidates for “Productive Government in Dallas | Borough”, have declined to appear ‘at the “town meeting” to be held on April 26, as we consider the pur- pose of this meeting is not to pro- vide unbiased information to the taxpayers of Dallas Borough as to the positions of all the candidates. Rather it is a contrived crass politi- .cal atempt on the part of a very selfish special interest group to furthter the campaigns of the candidates which they are sup-. porting. Paul LaBar Donald Shaffer Timothy Carroll, Donald Cooper b' 40 Years Ago - April 29, 1949 | PRINCE OF PEACE ESTABLISHED James S. Waters wins livestock _ award, the Arthur Bigelow Schol- ~ arship of $100. William H. Evans, Sr., will be ~ guest of honor at an Open House for his 80th birthday. The Prince of Peace Episcopal | Church has been permanently established in the Back Mountain. Wed - Katherine Louise Kocher | and Allen L. Fox; Roberta Quaill and Edward J. Keller; Shirley Malkemes and Roland Gensel. Engaged - Marjorie Hilbert and Herbert Goodwin. 30 Years Ago - April 23, 1959 WESTMORELAND BASKETBALL CHAMPS FETED More than 50 students plan to take the National Merit Scholar- ship Qualifying Tests at Westmore- land High School, hoping to ad- vance to the finals for a scholar- ship. Elston and Gould will furnish a Back Mountain Taxi Company with Ralph Garris as their partner. A Detroit man remembers Dr. Brown with a gift to Doctor's Memorial at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Westmoreland champs are honored at a basketball dinner at Irem Temple. Engaged - Carol Bennett and Gary G. Bligh. Wed - Linda Kay Hetrick and Edward F. Gaulin. Charlie Gosart's Store has fourth expansion in six years. Prince of Peace will install new organ within a few days. 20 Years Ago - April 24, 1969 PENN STATE PLANS SCIENCE BUILDING Dr. Howard Swain of Kingston Township Water Commission re- ports cost of meters are causing more complaints from consumers. According to bid figures received Tuesday night by members of the Back Mountain Sewer Authority, sewer installation estimates doubled. Construction of a $952,500 science building is planned for the Penn State Campus at Lehman. Red Cross blood collection at Noxen netted 50 blood donors. Wed - Mary L. Holmes and Rich- ard B. Davis; Constance Wharen Mainwaring and Thomas Everett Bashares; Gail Alice Mosier and Joseph R. Chirra. Engaged - Susan Janet Fleming and Major Hugh Wilfred Fitzpa- trick, Jr. Anniversary - Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Anderson, Sr., Shav- ertown 35th anniversary. Dallas defeated Crestwood in an exhibition track meet Monday. 10 Years Ago - April 26, 1979 KRIVENKO, EASON TO HEAD AUCTION Lake-Lehman Band wins na- tional title in Georgia competition. Joyce Krivenko and James Eason are named co-chairmen of this year’s Back Mountain Library Auction. Prince of Peace Women plan antique show. Up With People show returns to the Back Mountain. Anniversaries - Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Williams, Sr., Fernbrook, 61 years; Mr. and Mrs. James Patton, Sr., Noxen, 46 years; Mr. and Mrs. John Paul, Shavertown, 32 years. DAMA receives $5200 from Dallas Township for delinquent sewer fees. are preferred. letters. election. 18612. Political comment welcomed In the interest of fairness to all candidates, The Dallas Post will “accept candidate announcements for the May 3 issue, but not for May 10. Announcements should be submitted no later than Monday, May 1 at 12 Noon. Typed copy and black and white photos Also, we encourage readers to submit letters to the editor voicing their opinion and comments on the upcoming elections. All letters must be signed and include a telephone number so that we can verify their authenticity. The Post does not publish anonymous Letters for the May 10 issue may not raise new issues or charges, since the subject of the letter would not have time to reply before the Send letters to: Editor, The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA Library news Kristin Cashore wins regional spelling bee By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Book Club of the Back Mountain Memorial Library held its April meeting in the reference room of the library last week. Fourteen members attended and heard monthly reports from the club's officers. The membership for 1989 has reached 200 with $1,790 being contributed for book club book purchases. Liz Lloyd, president of the library board of directors, spoke to the group about the future plans for a community room. Refreshments were served with Grace Martin and Elizabeth Stoehr presiding at the tea table. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 15 at 1:30 in the reference room at the library. The library staffwas very pleased to read in the newspapers that Kristin Cashore of Tunkhannock won first place in the 7th annual Scripps-Howard Regional Spelling Bee. Sheisnow 12 years old, in 7th grade at Gate of Heaven School in | Dallas. Evidently, the Cashores have maintained a dynasty when it comes to spelling over the years with other members of the family winning spelling bees in the past. By winning the regional, Kristin qualified for the right to represent the area in the national spelling bee. We feel rather proud and quite honored about Kristin. She joined the Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary when she was 2 years old back in 1979 and has been an active member since then. Con- gratulations, Kristin! Dr. John Shaskas, 1989 library auction chairman, has announced the library will not be able to ac- cept used merchandise for the auction. It has become much too costly to dispose of the large unsal- able items that have been contrib- uted during the last few years. We will, however, continue to accept smaller used odds and ends for the Dallas Women of Kiwanis booth which is a mainstay of the auction. The main items sold across the auction block will be new items and antiques. July 5 through the 9th are the 1989 auction dates. Another warm thank you toJohn Henninger of Shavertown for his yearly contribution of a large pon- derosa lemon which he had shipped up here from Florida. This year, in addition to the large ‘mother’ lemon, he also donated a small ‘baby’ one. We will be making a large pitcher of lemonade shortly. Thanks, Mr. Henninger, for thinking of us. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren has been a popular book in the children’s room of the li- brary for many years. Pippi has a series of books about all sorts of things written by the same author. It was interesting to note that Doorways represented a challenge to Erica Dykhouse of Grand Rap- ids, Michigan who dressed up as Pippi Longstocking, when she and her classmates brought storybook characters to life during Reading Awareness Month. Her braids measured 15 inches, sticking straight out from her head. A real Pippi look-a-like. i
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