er et AW LOWY AY ey “$$ NF Hy Pe a , Nl RITE. oe RR 2 ar AN. 2 Bk Go Re MN ve TR ow 8 FR ON oe SR UC OR PR SB SLSR oo 5 of sb. SER.» Ror ARENT Es cn A OMS Sa Ne Ms dd Se J SR Dur 8 A wi, rn NL Pressure N \ b. \ The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, December 27, 1989 3 By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Ed Schechter has been inter- ested in improving transportation in the Back Mountain for more than two decades. He says im- provements on Route 309 are among the most significant changes made during the past 10 years. ® “w.*The highway lighting is im- proved and renovations and re- pairs during the years have helped reduce the number of major acci- dents. The reduced speed limit ‘has probably been a factoras well,” Schecter said. . “There has been an increase in traffic due to the growth in devel- - opmentin the Back Mountain and with the improvements to Route 309, there are more trucks prefer- ring to travel this way. Route 309 today has only minor tie-ups Increasing truck traffic is a big concern for the future compared to those of five or 10 years ago. I believe that is due to the new construction done in the past two years. "Local residents may consider the tie-ups inconvenient, but when you look at the state's perspective of three-quarters of an hour or more, local tie-ups are minor.” Schecter, who lives in Jackson Township, does foresee difficulty in the future, sometime in 1991, when the work going on to com- plete the Cross Valley is com- pleted. “Completion of the Cross Valley will give some relief to the Co- nyngham Avenue tie-ups we now have but that same completion may well bring heavier traffic through the Back Mountain." Schecter explained that more trucks will come down Route 309 to our area, through Dallas, Shav- ‘ertown, and Trucksville. He said the truck traffic will be heavier and substantiated by more people. “Even the above would not overcrowd our highways but for three factors,” Schecter explained. First, the Tunkhannock bypass that will go straight through will channel traffic across the bridge over the Susquehanna River and down Route 309. : Second, Route 309 would be the preferred route to Conyngham Avenue and from there to Route 81 and 80 and third, the Abingtons are fighting truck traffic and if they win the trucks will come our way. “The Proctor and Gamble vol- ume of trucks is staggering; from "Route 309 today has only minor tie-ups compared to those of five to 10 years ago.” Ed Schechter one plant alone there are 304 trucks,” Schecter explained. Schecter said that a request has been made through several groups that the State Department of Trans- portation do a study of the trucks traveling from the northern tier, but after the Cross Valley is com- pleted the study may take a couple of years, perhaps even five or 10, and no matter what the study shows the local area faces a prob- lem with trucks. He is also concerned with the traffic problems around the center (continued from page 1) Wdents seem to be satisfied with the ~ government. They said few resi- dents come to the meetings unless they have a complaint which can usually be solved. In Dallas Borough, Mayor Paul LaBar said traffic problems have increased due to growth in the Back Mountain and problems in ~ government have become greater. “The borough is more difficult because there are more residents than previously,” LaBar said. "It has become less personal and there are many new faces. We have a lot ¥ newcomers who come and go. ome of them get on the board, make decisions, then move out ~ let the natives hanging. City BHeople move into the area and ~ expect the same services they had ~ living out there.” Howard Grossman, executive director of the Economic Develop- ment Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, said the biggest change in the last decade is the increase in population and inflated housing costs. . “Here asin other parts of North- gcastern Pennsylvania, there is ome concern about newcomers ‘coming and taking control which is prevalent in areas of this region but sometimes that is good. New blood sometimes makes the big- ~wgest differences in planning for the future,” Grossman stated. “He believes officials’ of Back Mountain communities should take some steps to create a council of governments. Grossman also believes that there were more ef- forts for better transportation in the early 1980's than now. ' “There have been cutbacks in the Luzerne County Transporta- SE Be BE i REVIE W| tion Authority during the past decade and an extension of high- way growth beyond Sweet Valley and a change in the types of serv- ices. “We didn't have 911 in the 1980's, but the municipalities did initiate the advanced life support system which has been working well. I believe 911 will come. “One negative factor is that instead of fewer water systems, which was a Back Mountain goal, today we have more which is not good,” Grossman concluded. Robert Brown, once mayor of Dallas and more recently borough manager, said he liked the area as it was in the old days, cool and calm but he realizes that can't be forever. In the 1960’s he helped bring sewers to Dallas and in the 1950's he helped bring in indus- try. Vie we didn’t have industry, Itold them we had to have shopping centers and now we have both,” Brown said. “School consolidation came about and it worked for the better and improved the educa- tional curriculum. What bothers Brown is that new people from other states came in and promoted good ideas but then "There is a population change and a lot of the newcomers who know nothing about the area think they do and want to run it.” A Dallas Township official they left and the natives were left hanging with high prices. Brown also pushed for police consolidation and although the departments did not actually con- solidate, they have moved to the point where they work with one another. “In spite of development, Dallas Borough has not moved forward,” Brown said. “We need a review of taxation, planning and zoning and we need reassessment and re- evaluation. We have unfair taxa- tion in the Back Mountain. I be- lieve we should have one large Back Mountain municipality to put our area in a status to get money from the state rather than having it all go to Pittsburgh and Philadel- phia.” Brown said there has been tre- mendous growth in the area and traffic is too much for the high- ways. He also said that municipal officials have to grow with the development. 4 “The future for the Back Moun- tain is consolidation and the bor- ough has not improved in the past 20 years. It has done nothing but the sewers and fixed a few streets "New blood sometimes makes the biggest difference in planning for the future.” Howard Grossman Executive Director, Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania but didn't use the excess funds they kept in the bank. “When I was borough manager there were three roadmen, now there are two, there were four policemen instead of three. The residents need and want police protection and there is not enough road help. People know higher taxes are necessary,” Brown concluded. Alan Major, amember of Luzerne County Planning Commission who resides in Lehman Township, said the biggest change in Lehman Township in the past 10 years are the sewers and next the four or five developments. “We had planning and zoning in the 1960’s, but in the past 10 years we had the county come in and revised the ordinances and brought them’ up. to date. If the purchasers of the water company decide to sell the land owned by the company, we may have more developers seeking to build. The only other major changes in Lehman Township is that we black- topped some roads that were not blacktopped before,” Major said. BEEN: CECE OT of Dallas. “There has been an increase in accidents and in the summer the flow of traffic will increase sub- stantially. Commercial business is moving up Route 415 and as that continues to grow, traffic will in- crease toward Route 118. The access and exits through Dallas Borough will not get better,” Schecter predicted. As far as the other roads in the Back Mountain are concerned, Improvements to Route 309 may bring more truck traffic Schecter foresees they will have greater use but he believes the maintenance done by the munici- palities will keep them in good shape with the exception of the five corners at the intersection near Huntsville Dam. As more students enroll at Penn State Lehman Campus, he believes there should be a light at the intersection. He also feels that some of the curbings are too tight along 309 and 415; that they really need a marginal road with one entrance and one exit. : “These roads are expensive and require the condemnation of a lot of properties and people are not will- ing to pay forit,” Schecter explained. But overall, the Back Mountain's highways are in much better condi- tion than they were at the begin- ning of the decade, Schechter feels. Schools (continued from page 1) but an overall improvement in facilities and curriculum,” Wycal- lis said. John Oliver, Lake-Lehman Junior High School principal, has been with that district many more than 10years, living through many changes. He has seen improved facilities such as the construction of the new Lake-Noxen School fol- lowing the burning down of the old ‘one; renovations to the Junior High building, the new Ross Township Elementary School and renova- tions to the Senior High School all of which he said has made every- thing much easier. “Continued development of the staff from kindergarten through 12th, revising of the curriculum and a dedicated faculty has made the district progress to a high level. We also have a great group of stu- dents, they're interested and dedi- cated. They are a pleasure to work with,” Oliver said. Board member Liz Sichler re- members when her children went tokindergarten in the Harveys Lake recreation hall because the Lake School had burned to the ground. The new school was started and two years later, a full-time kinder- garten program was put into effect in the district, a program which has been very successful. “Then came the introduction of computers from kindergarten up according to ‘the students abili- ties,” Sichler explained. “A-V equip- ment was introduced and then VCR's were used by the faculty to teach children the multiplication tables. “Modern technology was brought into the education world; IEND OF THE R E V | E A Ae i Bi RE Bi Be Bo The school population in the Dallas district has actually declined in recent years teachers began team teaching and bringing innovative ideas into the classroom,” she explained. “The senior high program is advancing and the Industrial Arts Program with the use of computers is teach- ing advanced drafting to prepare ' students for college. Industrial arts used to be considered shop, now taxpayers see it as things students can use.” Sichler said the same is true in ‘the new computers for the writing center in the writing lab. She said without good communication skills, students can't make it in today's world. {A “The district is fortunate that it has good teachers, interested and dedicated to helping the students. The priicipals have encouraged the teachers and many of the pro- grams have come from department heads. The teachers have even come to the board with whole pro- grams,” Sichler concluded. Lake-Lehman High School expansion, By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Teachers and administrators say the expanded and renovated Lake- Lehman High School will be well worth its cost. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Borchetta explained that the building, which was built in 1962, is being used in a different manner than it was designed for 27 years ago. . “Outside pressures on school facilities have determined the need for different kinds of space for an ~ extended period of time,” he ex- plained. High School Principal Jay Zale- skas said the high school is in dire. “At the present there is no way Tig of additional space. to expand for new courses-we have no room. We have no conference rooms for the itinerant persons from the LIU and the proposed science labs will mean better and modern facilities for the students. “Our phys ed program needs the added team rooms and our industrial arts program is getting into robotics, which should be housed separately,” Zaleskas said. The principal also explained that the newly renovated library will ~ become a true media center in- cluding audio-visual equipment, computers and other updated Are your Automobile and Homeowners CIT ER TN [Te] 1d (0r:]/K Slocum Insurance Agency, Inc. YER ETE ETR 1) Dallas, PA 18612 675-1167 Ya v.) AVaR[aTo [Toto To [oT 41 t+ Insurance Co. equipment. He also praised the proposed new guidance suite. “That is very important,” Zale- skas explained. “The present guid- ance offices are so small it is diffi- cult for the counselors to work privately with the students. It will make a big difference.” Mrs. Lynne Lewis, head of the home economics department is elated about the proposed plans. “If all goes as planned, the dis- trict will have ultra-modern facili- ties,” Lewis said. “Lake-Lehman will have the premier home eco- nomics department in the state. Our facilities will be modernized, we will have more working space and our child development pro- gram will be enhanced. Our food lab will be better equipped and we will be able to offer more to the students. We will also have a teacher demonstration area and an auxiliary kitchen and a sewing lab.” Lewis concluded. Mrs. Christine Kopcho, head of the science department, said that presently the science department does not have enough room for the students. “Under the proposed building project, we will have sufficient science rooms and enough science labs for the students. There will be 5 United Penn Plaza Kingston 288-6188 Jew facilities draw praise from teachers "Lake-Lehman will have the premier home economics department in the state.” Lynne Lewis Home economics department head no more ‘hit or miss’ classroom space. “We will also have plenty of stor- age space and our labs will be new and modernized, fully equipped for the students to work. It will be wonderful,” Kopcho said. There is an air of excitement among both faculty and students at Lake-Lehman High School as they begin to realize the benefits that will come with the proposed building project. A tax millage increase of seven mills over the next two years to help finance the $3.7 million reno- vation project for the senior high school does not seem to be too much for most of the district's taxpayers. A meeting held Wednesday, Dec. SALE PILLOW TALK Al Winter Gowns, Robes and More! 30% off 5% OFF RACK $. 20, to present an overall explana- tion of the project was attended by only a few taxpayers. The projected increases in millage will problably mean three mills the first year and four mills the second year. Those ‘increases are to finance the high school project and do not include any millage that may be needed to cover operating expenses. The projectis scheduled tobegin in the spring and the total cost includes furnishing, staffing, light- ing, heating, insurance, bond fees, administrative expenses and other items associated with the renova- tions to the building. Citizens’ (continued from page 1) Lake; L.J. Law, Ross Township; Murray Miller, Jackson Township; James Ryan, Jackson Township; Anne Vernon, Kingston Township, two years term. Nancy Eckert, Dallas; Will Co- nyngham, Lehman Township; Howard Grossman, Dallas Towsnhip; Ben Phillips, Dallas; Ed Schechter, Jackson Township; Deloris Slesiensky, Kingston Town- ship and Jacqueline Williams, Dallas Tolwnship, three years term. Hours: Mon. & Thurs. 10-8 Tues. & Wed. 10-6 Fri. & Sat. 10-5 Fappy Mew Kk) FINO'S PHARMACY July 3-10 1990 Join Rev. Jack Prater and Ingrid on this wondertui trip to Day 2 - Munich Day 5 - Lucerne INCLUDED FEATURES: with private bath/shower. - Bavarian style - with beer and music. » First Class tickets to the Passion Play. + Touring by private Deluxe motorcoach. fees included. » Services of a Tour all included services. Land Tour Price $1,115.00 Per Person, Double Occupancy Includes bus to and from JFK Single Supplement: $95.00 3 Main Street, Dallas, PA - 675-1141 The play has attracted millions. But it’s only part of the real drama to De ZI FL Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Day 1 - Depart tonight for your very special tour of picturesque Europe Day 3 - Munich - Salzburg - Innsbruck Day 4 - Innsbruck - Liechtenstein - Day 6 - Lucerne - Neuschwanstein Castle - Obergammergau Day 7 - Obergammergau - Passion Play Day 8 - Obergammergau - Munich - USA + Accommendations in First Class and Selected hotels for four (4) nights; all rooms + Accommodations for two (2) nights in Obergammergau in private homes, as assigned by the Passion Play Committee. Due to the tremendous demand, only accomodations with hot and cold running water can be guaranteed. : + Breakfast and dinner daily plus lunch in Obergammerau featuring: Welcome dinner + Guided city sightseeing in Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Luceme, all admission + Visit to King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle. [ anager throughout Europe. + Baggage handling (one piece of luggage per person), taxes and service charges for ~ Lucerne TRAVEL AGENCY Valley Automobile Club 309/415 Plaza Trave| Plus airfare from New York 675-8282 | SE RE RESPIR Cn "nn,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers