4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, December 20, 1989 Tie SALLASC0ST Merry Christmas “And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” : - These words from the Gospel of Luke, verses 3,10-3,11, summarize the beginning of one of the greatest stories in human history. On Monday millions of Christians will cele- brate that birth once again, many by exchanging gifts with family and friends in a gathering of trust and hope. While it would be easy to feel that the true spirit of Christmas has been overwhelmed by commercialism, the holiday is much too strong for that; a few sale ads are not enough to trample a 2,000 year old tradition. We hope that in the rush and distraction of shopping and decorating, all who celebrate this special time will find room for reflection on the real meaning of the season. Whether or not one believes the Christmas story literally, it can give us all hope for a better life here on earth and beyond. School directors show spirit of public service Congratulations to the new and reelected members of the Dallas and Lake-Lehman school boards. By their willingness to voluntarily devote time and attention to the needs of our children, these men and women demonstrate that the desire to perform public service is alive and well in the Back Mountain. While a school directorship is often a stepping stone to higher political office in larger areas, it is seldom so here. Local school board members usually serve because they genuinely wish to particpate in the development of young people. We and our readers won't always agree with what our school directors have to say, but we will always admire there dedica- tion and their readiness to commit themselves to the service of others. Chanukah symbolizes a timeless message December 22 marks the beginning of the Jewish festival of Chanukah. This eight day celebration commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in about 165B.C. and the rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem. The Syrians, led by Antiochus Ephiphanes, had tried to force the Jews of Palestine to adopt Greek idols and the language. After about 10 years, the Jews prevailed and recaptured the Temple, which had been desecrated. Highlighted by the ceremonial lighting of a new candle on a Menorah each day of the celebration, Chanukah is also called the “Feast of Lights.” The candles symbolize the Talmud story of how a small supply of oil - enough for one day - miraculously burned for eight. While in recent years the holiday has tended to emphasize the military victory over the Syrians, it also stands as a reminder of the resilience of the Jewish people throughout the years, and the power of an oppressed people to rise up against tyranny. Te DALLAS Post Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek Charlotte E. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Associate Publisher Charlot M. Denmon Reporter Peggy Young Advertising Acct. Exec. Paul Rismiller Composition Olga Kostrobala Jean Hillard Classified/typesetting Office Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION Gifts From Girl Scouts The decorations on the Dallas town tree are the handmade gifts of several Back Mountain Girl Scouts and Brownie troops. (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Letters Calls for reinstatement of county tax on stocks Editor: Last December, I complained that the Luzerne County Commis- sioners were not fair to property owners when they abolished the Personal Property Tax. This action resulted in a $1.5 million revenue loss that had tobe picked up by the property owners. . . oh At last week's commissioners. meeting, I once again spoke on this subject and Chairman Frank Crossin said it was now a valid point since tax reform, which would have eliminated the PPT, was de- feated. : : During the discussion, Mr. Jim Phillips said he would not vote for a budget that included the PPT - evidently not realizing that he is now the minority commissioner. However, if Mr. Phillips continues to show his disregard for the prop- erty owner on this issue, he will always be a minority commissioner. Mr. Phillips also claimed he re- ceived 200 letters and telephone calls from people who wanted the PPT eliminated - and that it would be slap in their face if the tax is reinstated. Really? What does Mr. Phillips think it is to the 69,000 property owners who do not have the money to invest in out of state stock? These people may not write letters or make telephone calls but they do vote, and I'm sure they will remember the PPT issue in the 1991 elections. And if word gets around that Mr. Phillips can be swayed by 200 people, the ACLU will get 200 of its zealots and ask him to use his influence to remove the creligious displays. from: th courthouse lawn. Now, before the PPT payers think that they are being picked on, let them consider this: payers of this tax who live in Pittsburgh pay a total of 12 mills on each $1 of out of state investments - 3 times the amount the PPT payers was as- sessed in our county. Further, the tax is still being collected in neigh- boring Lackawanna and Columbia counties. I'm sure that Mr. Frank Trini- sewski will join with Mr. Crossin and do what is in the best interest of the Luzerne County taxpayer - that is, to reinstate the Personal Property Tax - and take some of the burden off the property owners. We are tired of being dumped on. Raymond Ripa Swoyersville Publicity raises blood donations Editor: On behalf of the Chapter Board of Directors, thank you for your ongoing media support of Back Mountain community blood drives. Your sponsored public service ads in The Dallas Post have signifi- cantly strengthened donor recruit- ment. In this fiscal year we have seen’ a 10% increase in Back Mountain blood donors over the previous year. This success is due in a large part to your newspaper promotion of Red Cross collections. Again, thank you for your sup- port of the mission of the American Red Cross. We look forward to our continued collaboration with your publications. Jeffrey A. Brightbill Assistant Executive Director Only yesterday | 50 Years Ago - Dec. 22, 1939 BURGESS SMITH ISSUES INVITATION TO MUSIC PROGRAM Dallas Borough Burgess Her- bert Smith extended an invitation to all townsfolk to participate in the program of Christmas music in front of the community Christ- mas tree. A cheerybonfire visible through- out Dallas broadcast a warm Christmas message from the hill- top campus of College Misericor- dia Thursday night as the stu- dents ended their pre-holiday fes- tivities with their traditional pa- rade. Aunt Rebecca Monk of Dallas will celebrate her 81 year-old birth- day Christmas Eve. Willard Lozo elected president of St. Paul's Lutheran Church men. Wed - Evelyn M. Atherholt and Ernest W. Goodman and her sister Evangeline Pearl Atherholt and Edward Wolfinger, both on Sun- day, Dec. 24. 40 Years Ago - Dec. 23, 1949 O'MALIA LAUNDRY TO DOUBLE IN SIZE O'Malia Laundry is embarking on a $100,000 plant expansion program which will double the floor space and permit the addition of fur storage and dry cleaning. Fire Chief Jim Besecker urges care with Christmas trees which are filled with highly inflammable pitch. Huntsville and Dallas teams are leading in the Church-Community League both tied at 4-0. Wed - Myrtle Lamoreaux and Alexander McCulloch; Elizabeth Saxe and Arthur Goss. Dallas Shavertown Water Com- pany has completed drilling its new well on Demunds Road and will hook into its lines serving Shavertown as soon as the new pump arrives from Sheffield and a chlorinator from Philadelaphia. NEPA Breeding Company added several outstanding bulls to its herd during the last month. 30 Years Ago - Dec. 23, 1959 WOMEN'S CLUB HELPS 150 NEEDY FAMILIES Harveys Lake Women's Service Club packed 150 baskets of cheer for needy families in the Back Mountain area. 2 EY The home of Carl Cook at Viola Park near Evans Falls was de- stroyed by fire but Mrs. Cook saved her seven year old child by wrap- ping him in a blanket and running to a nearby neighbor's home. . Dallas School District directors and faculty held a Yuletide dinner at Irem Temple Country Club. A 15-year-old Kingston boy who left home a week before was found in Dallas where he was picked up by Dallas Chief Russell Honeywell. 20 Years Ago - Dec. 23, 1969 POLICE BREAK UP PANTY RAID Dallas Borough sets its tax levy at nine mills. For the second consecutive year, Dallas police broke up a panty raid by King's College students at Col- lege Misericordia with the result that 11 King’s freshmen were fined $231 in fines and costs early Wednesday morning. It has been announced that Newberry Estates will be devel- oped into a condominium apart- ment project beginning early next spring. Victory for the Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl Jan. 1 will loose a flood of orange juice at the local Penn State Campus on Jan. 5. Dallas Township supervisors refused to vote on the zoning re- quest last week which would per- mit the construction of 140 condo- minium apartments on property adjacent to Irem Temple Country Club. Harveys Lake Yacht Club plans its annual Commodore Ball for Saturday, Dec. 27. 10 Years Ago - Dec. 26, 1979 LAKE COUNCILMEN CLAIM DEATH THREATS Two Harveys Lake councilman claimed they had received death threats if they attended Friday's special meeting. Four police offi- cers stood guard as the two men, President Robert DeRemer and Councilman Robert Wintersteen attended the meeting. Back Mountain citizens mourn the Rev. Robert D. Yost of Shaver- town United Methodist Church. Trucksville PTO hosted the Trucksville students at a Mexican ; Christmas party last week. Tommy Ash, 12, is becoming a pro archer according to his in- . structor Bob Maharty. Dallas Mountaineers lose 77-53 to Bishop Hannon in the opening round of the Tunkhannock Kiwa- nis Basketball Tournament. John Foglietta, Jr. graduated from the Antonelli School of Pro- fessional Photography in Philadel- phia. For the first time in years, Mrs. Harriet Miller of Dallas will have her entire family home for the holidays including her two sons from California. State housing agency offers low interest loans The Pennsylvania Housing Fi- nance Agency (PHFA) has devel- oped a program to help lower-in- come families purchase a home of their own. With interest rates of approxi- mately eight percent, reduced up- front charges and PHFA-financed closing cost assistance, this pro- gram provides year-round availa- bility of low-interest mortgage fi- nancing for qualifying families, Lee said. Loans can be backed by a Veter- ans’ Administration guarantee or by Federal Housing Agency and conventional mortgage insurance. To qualify for this program bor- rowers’ income may not exceed $21,000 for one person and two- member families. For each addi- tional household member $1,000 may be added to the income limit. One-member household eligibility is limited to handicapped individu- als. The purchase price of the home may not exceed $58,000. Additional information about the Lower Income Home Ownership program may be obtained from the PHFA's toll-free hotline at 1-800- 822-1174. 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 receivedby Noon on Monday may be included in that week's issue. The Post asks: What is your favorite thing about Christmas? Shelly Pellum Dallas Harveys Lake Age 11 Age 5 "Seeing all your relatives that "My new doll." come from another state." Tanya Pellum Harveys Lake Age 4 "Brown boots." Christina Biggs Dallas Age 11 "Getting lots of gifts." Pearl Biggs Dallas Age 5 "Lots of toys."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers