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4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, July 26, 1989
Tie DALLASC[20ST
Our roads need more,
better traffic control
If you have spent too much time sitting in traffic stalled at the
light in the center of Dallas, this week's story about lights in the
Back Mountain may help explain why.
It seems to us that the region’s highways need more lights
and more coordination of them for both smooth traffic flow and
| safety. While PennDOT has consistently underestimated the
need for better traffic control here, the Back Mountain's growth
| in recent years is unmistakable. And that growth will acceler-
ate when the Cross Valley Expressway is connected to Inter-
| state 81 in 1991.
For years, local municipalities have been willing to accept
the financial burden of installing additional lights, but PennDOT
has turned down their requests saying the lights weren't
needed. But how many more people must die at the intersec-
tion of Route 309 and Main Street before a light can be justified
| there, for example?
Along with more lights, installing a device to coordinate their
| cycles and speeds would make our highways safer and more
convenient to use. Presently, the lights in Kingston Township
| are green for about one minute for autos traveling on Route
| 309. When those same cars get to Dallas, the lights stay green
| for only 30 seconds. Motorists on their way to Harveys Lake
| know the result.
| We think it’s time for a complete series of lights at appropri-
| ate points on Routes 309 and 415. There should be lights at
these locations: Route 309 and Franklin Street, Shavertown;
| Route 309 and Main Street, Dallas; and the intersection of
| Routes 415 and 118 in Dallas Township.
| In addition, all lights on these routes should be coordinated
| for speed and cycle, so that motorists driving at the speed limit
| can drive the entire distance from Luzerne to Harveys Lake
| without stopping. Once drivers accepted that driving at the
| speed limit moved them smoothly on their way, speeding would
| diminish drastically. Coordinated lights would also open more
regular “gaps” so that drivers wishing to enter traffic lanes
| would have safe opportunities to do so.
| Better traffic control on our highways is long overdue. Let's
not make it any more costly or disruptive than it must be, by
| addressing the problem now.
President confounds
supporters and critics
| If he has done nothing else in his first six months, George
| Bush has managed to show both critics and supporters that he
is less predictable than either had thought.
| Ardent conservatives, who had hoped the President would
simply carry on the laissez faire policies of his predecessor,
have been disappointed to see him propose action on the
environment and in other matters that strike them as unnec-
essary government intervention.
| Proponents of some of Mr. Bush's initiatives, while welcom-
ing them, are concerned that little more than lip service has yet
been forthcoming. They know that if promises are given no
| money, they cannot be kept.
|
We share the perplexity that many Bush watchers express.
| We still can’t separate the campaign-style media stunt from
deeply held beliefs. Perhaps the best - or worst - example of that
| confusion was Mr. Bush’s brief but noisy attack on the
Supreme Court's decision upholding Americans’ right to burn
the flag in protest.
Even if the President truly believes that flag burning is one
| form of expression that should not be tolerated, his response
| was more appropriate for a stump speech by an underdog in a
| Congressional race than for the President of the United States.
| And we have deep reservations about his plan to amend the
Constitution over this issue, when legislative action could ac-
complish his purpose.
Overall though, we are heartened by Mr. Bush’s thoughtful,
mature approach to the issues America faces. The world, and
the United States’ place in it, is changing at a very rapid rate.
Mr. Bush seems to have the capacity to see our relationships
| with other nations in a new and more productive light, and to
] accept the realities of an emerging new order.
There are many who would resist the President's tacit
acknowledgement that the United States is no longer the
dominating force it once was in world affairs. They see any
lessening of our influence as weakness. We tend to agree with
' Mr. Bush's opposite assertion that the strength of the nations
we have aided is recognition of our accomplishment.
~The real test for George Bush seems yet to come, and it is
likely to be an economic one. He has promised much - soon he
will be asked to deliver.
Cattails
(Photo by Charlotte Bartizek)
Library news
'Friends of the
Library’ goal
topped by more than $400
By NANCY KOZEMCHAK
The Back Mountain Memorial
Library is grateful for its many
‘friends’. The 1989 ‘Friends of the
Library’ campaign has reached a
total of $5,423.00, halfway into
the year. This is a record amount
for this campaign, having passed
the budgeted amount of $5,000.
The mailing list for the campaign
was updated prior to the mailing
and our chairman of ‘friends’ was
looking forward to an even larger
amount because of this. The
‘friends’ money is a designated
amount in our annual budget, and
the contributions are much appre-
ciated when it comes time to bal-
ance the budget. A warm thank
you to our ‘friends’.
The newest member of our staff
is Susan Scott of Tunkhannock.
She is working for us under the
student work-study program spon-
sored by PHEAA. She is working
40 hours a week at the library and
we will be reimbursed for 50% of
her salary at the end of the sum-
mer. She is presently helping with
our 1989 auction accounts receiv-
able billing which is a rather large
time-consuming project. Along
with this, she is helping with in-
ventory.
M.E.L.V.L.L."S Magical Mystery
Mansion Summer Reading Club is
continuing its magical pace. The
clue for the third week is ‘Melvil
was at the library today’. The three
teams are The Masters Team,
Servants Team and the Chimney
Sweeps Team. The first week win-
ning team was the Chimney Sweeps
and the second week was the Ser-
vants. The club will continue until
August 11 for pre-school children
up to sixth grade.
Maureen Borton Harris was in
the library the other day with her
three children. They were busy
checking books out from the chil-
dren's room for their home reading
enjoyment. Maureen worked for
us at the library as a student page
when she was 15 years old. I found
it hard to believe that was 21 years
ago. She was then and is today, a
very nice person.
New books at the library: “The
Changeling” by Philippa Carr is a
story of love, envy, passion and
betrayal, by Britain's famed his-
torical romance novelist. The story
is rich in historical detail and an
evocative portrait of Victorian
England. It is the story of Rebecca
Mandeville, who is left with her
infant sister, Belinda to take care
of, when her mother dies. The story
becomes laced with affection bu
also with jealousy. :
“Capital Crimes” by Lawrence
Sanders is the ultimate Washing-
ton thriller. He calls himself Brother
Kristos, a bearded bear of a man,
whose eyes can pierce the soul. His
origins are cloaked in mystery, but
his present mission is clear. He
was a man of God—or a power-
crazed charlatan—with the future
of the nation in his grasp.
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.
50 Years Ago - July 28, 1939
DALLAS WATER BEGINS
DRILLING A NEW WELL
The new Luzerne by-pass will be
completed by August 3 and a for-
mal celebration will mark the long-
awaited improvement.
Close on the heels of its $7,000
improvement program in Dallas,
the Dallas Water Company has
begun drilling for a new well on N.
Lehigh Avenue, Shavertown which
is expected to provide relief for
long-suffering consumers.
Twenty-eight of the country's
flashiest long-distance swimmers
are to shove off at noon from
Hanson's dock in a five-mile race
for the U.S. championship.
40 Years Ago - July 29, 1949
NEW BEAUMONT INN
OPENS FOR BUSINESS
The new Beaumont Inn was
recently opened for business by its
builder and owner, Peter Masonis.
Little relief is in sight for Shav-
ertown water consumers now that
health authorities ruled out the
use of water from the three deep
wells of Fernbrook Mill because
the water was unfit for human
consumption.
Four of Sen. T. Newell Wood's
horses from his Harveys Lake Farm
are being shown at Elmira and
later at the Ohio Show in Colum-
bus, Ohio.
Engaged - Betty Eldredge Ford
and Armand Lapane; Edith Howell
and F. Allen Haughwout.
Wed - Lois Bertram and Harry
Nolf.
30 Years Ago - July 30, 1959
IDETOWN FIRE HALL
NAMED AFTER DAVIS
Postal survey being made in
Trucksville-Shavertown areas to
determine feasibility of carrier
delivery.
Idetown Fire Company will be
named for Jonathan R. Davis as a
result of his son's generous offer to
-put the forrmer carriage house on
his father’s estate at the disposal
of the community as a fire hall and
community building.
Explorer Scouts of Post 232
started down the branch of the
Susquehanna early Monday eve-
ning, leaving Renova at 7 and
camping for the night at Hyner
Park. They expect to reach Sun-
bury sometime Saturday.
Ham ‘n Yegg
Total contributions to date to
the Ham ‘n Yeggs amounts to
$2,835. Additional names added
to the contribution list include:
Mr. and Mrs. William Brackett, J.
Archbald Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Only yesterday
Wed - Mildred Mae Katchmar
and Robert Stanley Scruitsky;
Nancy Hall and Thomas Lauder.
Rev. J. Edwin Lintern is named
pastor of Centermoreland Meth-
odist Charge as his first perma-
nent pulpit.
20 Years Ago - July 31, 1969
TOP REPORTER JOINS
N.E. NEWSPAPERS,INC.
J.R. Freeman, top national re-
porter from Texas and Colorado,
joins the staff of Northeastern
Newspapers, Inc., publishers of The
Abington Journal and The Dallas
Post, owner and publisher Henry
H. Null, 4th announced this week.
Fresh Air kids enjoy story hour
at the Back Mountain Library.
Engaged - Janice Eileen Hanna
and Donald Edward Curtis; Jo Ann
Severs and Lee Michael Philo.
‘Wed - Linda Lee Adams and
Louis H. Estabrook.
Centermoreland Church holds
its 14th annual auction and
chicken barbecue August 8 and 9
at the church grounds.
10 Years Ago - July 26, 1979
DALLAS BUSINESSMEN
STUDY MODERN EGYPT
Shavertown Fire Company will
hold its annual auction this week-
end beginning today July 26.
Dr. Mahmoud Fahmy and Ralph’
Jamgochian, Dallas businessman,
participated in an indepth and first-
hand look at modern Egypt. Dr.
Fahmy of Dallas conducted the
two week tour of students and
non-students as part of a Wilkes
course entitled “Cultural Founda-
tions of Education in the Middle
East.”
Petitions have been circulated
in Kingston Township requesting
the installation of a traffic light at
the intersection of Route 309 and
Franklin Street and a reduced
speed limit on Route 309 between
Center and Franklin Streets.
Dallas Community Development
plan for proposed street and water
and storm drains is to be done
within three years according to
Tom McCabe, project assistant.
The Borough recently received
approval of a $250,000 develop-
ment grant.
Wed - Alice Paxton and Roger
Case; Linda Jean Catania and
Wayne Gary Humphrey.
Engaged - Susan Nalbone and
Philip Delpero.
National All-Star girls win Dis-:
trict 16 title.
contributions
Dana, Nancy S. Kozemchak, Jane
McMichael, Mr. and Mrs. Paul
Monahan, Mrs. Gertrude Moss,
Emily Pengelly, Mary T. Reese and
Mr. and Mrs. George Weaver.
Road repairs set for week
Matthew R. Collura, Luzerne
County Maintenance Manager, has
announced the following work
schedule for Department forces for
the week of July 24:
BRUSH CUTTING - Swamp Road
in Hunlock Twp.
MOWING - Various routes in
Lake and Lehman Twps.
POTHOLE PATCHING - Various
routes in Dallas Twp.
SHOULDER STABILIZATION -
Eighth St. in Kingston Twp.; SR -
4026 in Hunlock Twp.
Ronald A. Bartizek
Editor and Publisher
Sharon Zuzelski
Advertising Acct. Exec.
Rob Zapotoski
Composition
The Dallas Post
Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612
Telephone: 717-675-5211
Jean Hillard.
Office Manager
MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION
AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION
Charlotte E. Bartizek
Associate Publisher
Charlot M. Denmon
Reporter
Olga Kostrobala
Classified/typesetting
The Post asks: Should the Back Mountain have the ‘911° emergency system?
Charies Hann
Welder
Wayne Sheldon
Grocery clerk
“We need something in this area.
‘911’ would save time.”
: emergency call.”
“Yes. It cuts down on the confu-
sion when you need to make an in the past and they quickly puta community.”
Michelle Pellam
Housewife
“Everyone should. have used it
doctor on the line to help me
through my emergency.”
Frank Morgan
Warehouse laborer
“Yes. It is a better service to the
Chris Davis
Emergency Dispatcher
“Most definitely. ‘911’ would
make it much easier to dispatch in
an emergency.”
Elwood Sheldon
Businessman
“Yes. You get a response more
quickly.”
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