i , i 4 The Dallas Post Dailas, PA Wednesday, September 15, 1993 The Dallas Post PA, Back Mountain are recycling leaders The state of Pennsylvania, not noted as a national leader in most ways, has an enviable record in at least one area—the use of recycled material and the promotion of recycling in its communities. And the Back Mountain is among the leaders within the state. In a press release published in last week's Post, the Dallas Area Municipal Authority (DAMA) pointed out that the three towns for which it administers trash and recyclables collection achieved a goal set for 1997 of having 25 percent of all household waste recyclable. That figure was exceeded this past June, just two years after the trash and recycling plan was implemented. Two of the participating communities—Dallas and Kingston townships— were required by state law to institute recycling by September, 1991. The third, Dallas Borough, decided to join up because the program meant lower costs for the majority of its residents, and officials there suspected it would be only a matter of time before state mandates reached communities its size. Statewide, more than 700 cities, towns and boroughs have recycling programs and state and local governments are ac- tively promoting the purchase of products made from recycled material. In addition, the state is working to encourage the growth of industries that can turn old items into new ones—a critical shortage now that so much recycled material is avail- able. The glut of some items is so huge that they have no value with the result that companies which pick up the stuff must pay to get rid of it instead of earning money that would offset pickup costs. It is important that private industry see the potential in using recycled rather than virgin materials, and you can help. The more demand there is for products made from recyclables, the more attractive it will become for companies to invest in the plants and equipment that reclaim old cans, paper and plas- tics. Look for products that are made with recycled material, and purchase them when you can. That may take a little sacrifice on your part right now, as recycled items are fre- quently more expensive than new ones. But that is true mostly because the sales volume is relatively low, and economies of scale aren't being realized. When they are, prices will come down, recycling will become even more attractive, and trash service will cost less as haulers compete for contracts to pick up bags at our curbsides. Publisher's notebook We're proud of awards, and grateful Things got a little heady in our office a couple of months ago, when we were notified that the staff of The Dallas Post had been recognized for excellence by the National Newspaper Associa- tion, of which the newspaper is a member. We weren't allowed to publicize the awards until this week, when they will be presented at the association's annual meeting in Cincinnati. Editorial cartoonist Jim O'Connell won first place for the best original cartoon, competing with daily and weekly cartoonists of all sizes from throughout the United States. The Post also was voted the third best newspaper of its size in the nation. While we're careful not to become overly excited when we win awards—or disappointed when we don’'t—these are particu- larly satisfying. The National Newspaper Association is com- posed of 4,159 member daily and weekly newspapers from all 50 states, ranging in size from The Wall Street Journal to tiny weeklies with only a couple of hundred subscribers. Estab- lished in 1885, it is the largest and oldest newspaper trade association in the nation. And, experience tells us that only the best papers spend the time and money to enter such a rigorous competition. From the first time we saw Jim O’Connell’s work, many of us have believed that his talent, wit and insight would eventually lead to major success as an editorial cartoonist. But the com- petition is tough, and few practitioners get a shot at the big time. We hope this award helps him in his quest. The Post’s third-place finish in general excellence is a feather in the-cap of everyone who works here. All aspects of the newspaper are taken into account, from news coverage and headline writing to ad makeup. We are honored to be in the company of America’s finest community newspapers. Most of all, we are grateful tothe readers and advertisers who make it possible to publish a newspaper we and the Back Mountain can be proud of. It is their support and inspiration that are the true honors for The Dallas Post. : Ron Bartizek Do you agree? Disagree? Editorials are the opinion of the management of The Dallas Post. We welcome your opinion on contemporary issues in the form of letters to the editor. If you don't write, the community may never hear a contrasting point of view. Send letters to: The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA 18612. Please include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we may verify authenticity. We do not publish anonymous letters, but will consider withholding the name in exceptional circumstances. We reserve the right to edit for length and grammar. DEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST N our \ oH ARN RAIA { RRR RRR “NAN —— NOS Sls JW.J. Housing, for those who don't need it By J.W. JOHNSON Longtime readers of this col- umn may remember that its au- thor finds Federal meddling in housing subsidies, construction, etc., to be a parasitical phenome- non at best. And now the bleeding hearts who promote such programs are trying to force another one down our throats. Or are they...because the latest such program is not one to help the poor. Perpaps, it's to help the middle class? The wealthy? Or to help some politically positioned fat cat developer stuck with some houses, and who now needs a federal program into which the sale of said houses can be shoehorned? Perhaps some and/or all of the above. Several mortgage brokers have been complaining lately about the multitude of phone calls they've received following a press release announcing the following: “Knoll Affordable Rural Hous- ing Program” Must all homes now be built on a hill? Hardly. But there's about as much logic between requiring that houses be built on a knoll, and the Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Catherine Baker Knoll, sponsor- ing a housing program; more specifically, acting as the pass through agent for $15 million from the federal Farmer's Home Ad- ministration (FmHA). And so as not to bore you with the bureaucratic mush which explains the program, suffice it to say that the only two Pennsylva- nia counties which do not qualify for the program are Delaware and Philadelphia counties, making the program anything but rural. Likewise, the question of af- fordability (read, taxpayer give- away) is underscored when the program guidelines find that a family of four in Pennsylvania's wealthiest county (Montgomery) can make up to $47,500 a year and still qualify for the program. Putting it another way, and according to area mortgage bro- kers, the only way for any one to qualify for this program is a. Not to need a house in the first place b. Find some fool builder who will build a house to all the speci- fications required, and then sud- dently go insane and not charge you for the work. c. Both of the above. According to the brokers, in order to meet all the specifica- tions for the program, a home would have to cost so much money that anyone wanting to buy such a home would: a. Not be applying for the pro- gram in the first place. b. Would likely far exceed the program's income guidelines c. Both of the above. And at least one broker be- lieves that the only logical expla- nation for a program—for which there are not logical qualifiers—is that somewhere there is a large group of houses already built...already built, but which a developer has had difficulty sell- ing. : a. That is, unless this devel oper could sell them under this program. b. That is, unless this devel- oper could sell them under this program to people who, because of the income levels permitted ($33,800) for a family of four in Wayne County, for example), wouldn't otherwise qualify for the assistance in the first place. The brokers also point out that even if some family would find a home that would meet the con- struction and inspection require- ments, the closing costs under the program would total 9-10 percent of the home's purchase price. What family (in particular those who would need the 100 percent financing offered by this program) would also have the $15,000 in closing costs...on the $150,000 home that the construc- tion and inspection requirements “would dictate the home would have to cost? And more to the point, why then should taxpayers be involved in a program to finance such housing? The FmHA didn't find that $15 million under a rock. And in the bigger picture, gov- ernment involvement in housing and in subsidized housing in particular, is only an economi- cally and socially immoral politi- cal bandaid for the problem. The entire notion of subsidized hous- ing finds its proponents riding on a sightless white horse. To wit, and while I believe I am my brother's keeper, not everyone is my brother. Put another way, subsidized housing has caused a conceptual destruction of ‘doing itlocally.’ That destruction began with the notion that it was for the government to do, what in reality, was really a local responsibility. A local responsibility, for whatever reason, could not or would not be funded by local taxpayers, sup- ported by local community groups, or guided by local schools and churches. As that relates to the housing authority, we now have a federal agency telling us that everyone is guaranteed ‘decent, safe and sanitary’ housing. Our tax dol- loars are purloined to fund this notion. From this chair, the sad his- tory of public housing can be seen inderelict inner city projects, fraud and corruption in its manage- ment, confusing programs such as the one outlined above, and more to the point, a guarantee that with such projects our future holds more of the same. Before the vote buying politi- cians and the now unaccountable bureaucracy became entrenched, the strength of this nation was always people coming together with different needs, while find- ing the best and brightest among us to fulfill those needs through rewards of the free enterprise system. What we have with taking away local responsiblity, and with col- lectivised housing specifically, is a grouping together of people who, with the same needs, really can- not help each other; consequently, another need is created... more tax dollars, and the continued em- ployment of a bureaucracy and politicians which perpetrated this travesty upon a self-reliant Amer- ica in the first place. Library news The 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 Peggy Young Advertising Acct. Exec. Grace R. Dove Reporter Paul Rismiller Production Manager Olga Kostrobala ‘ Classified/typesettin Jill Urbanas yp g Office Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION Free sundae with each new card issued By NANCY KOZEMCHAK “Exciting September!” That is what the month of September 1993 is turning into. The Back Mountain Memorial Library is holding Library Card Sign-Up Month in conjunction with the American Library Association. The goal is to put a library card in every adult's billfold and in every youngster’s backpack or pocket. There is a special glossy greet- ing card sponsored by the Ameri- can Library Association, TheWalt Disney Company and the Back Mountain Memorial Library which features “Belle” who asks you to take the card to your local library and sign up for your card. The card is filled out and pre- sented to the librarian in charge of the information desk at the library. Belle advises that just as she does, children love adven- ture, excitement, visiting faraway places, and learning new things. At the library, we can do all this and more! Please open the door to wonder and help your children sign up for a library card. It's small enough to fit in your wallet, powerful enough to change your life...it’s a library card and it's freE! The library will be giving out a free sundae coupon from McDonald's in Shavertown for everyone who signs up for a li- brary card. New books at the library: “The Red Horseman” by Stephen Coonts is a novel that shows the forces at work within a collapsed superpower which become the strands that are woven into this blockbuster novel. Greed, hatred, patriotism and blind ambition run riot in a society on the brink of chaos—ruled for centuries by terror, murder and naked force. “Sugar Cane” by Connie May Flower is a true original, filled with life on every page. Set alter- nately amidst the sand dunes and palmettos of Florida's northeast Atlantic coast and the magical swamps and cane fields to the south; it is a tale about people learning to forgive the past so that they can step freely into the fu- ture. At touching story. New videos received at the li- brary: “Video Math & Verbal Re- view for Civil Service Exams” in- cludes a two hour study guide. It is a valuable aid for test prepara- tion. “Attracting Birds to Your Back- yard” with Roger Tory Peterson is a memorial presented by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Henry in memory of Barbara Ann Mead. It includes a visit to his ‘bird garden’. “The Infinite Voyage” shows Voyager nicknamed ‘the little spacecraft thatcould'. In 12 years, the two spacecraft traveled four billion miles and sent back de- lightful findings. “Country Line Dancin'...made easy” is just what you're looking for if you like to dance, but don't always have a partner. You will learn the number one dance for the last eight years. “Geronimo and the Apache Resistance” is a dramatic tale of this legendary medicine man, his people and their lifelong struggle to maintain ancestral lands, and brings it to life. Contributions welcome: The Dallas Post welcomes submission of opinion columns and letters to the editor. Send them to The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA 18612 Only yesterday 60 Years Ago - Sept. 22, 1933 COMPLAINTS HEARD ON WATER QUALITY Formal complaints against the quantity and quality of water supplied to homes in Dallas will be presented to Public Service Commission at Harrisburg within the next few weeks by the Dallas Borough Taxpayers Association it was announced this week. Atty. _ Bert Lewis of Dallas has been’: a appointed to prepare the petition. A committee headed by Vincent. SE A. Shindal will carry out the plans to lodge the formal complaint. Dedication of a plot of lots in Fern Knoll Burial Park which has been set aside for the interment of members of [.LO.O.F. and their families will take place late this month if present plans are carried * out. Extract 15¢ bot.: salmon, 2 cans 31 ¢; Softasilk cake flour, 32¢ pkg.; sweet potatoes, 7 lbs., 19¢. 50 Years Ago - Sept. 17, 1943 NEW HIGHWAY, NOT RUNWAY IN PLANNING Spiking rumors that an emer- gency runway for army bombers. is being laid out on the Joe Parks farm in Idetown, Scranton Dis- trict Office of the State Highway Department said that its engi- neers are making a preliminary study for a new highway between You could get - Pure Vanilla Horseshoe. Hayfield Farm, on Rte. 115, and | the Harveys Lake Highway. Christmas gifts may be mailed | by parcel post to Army men and women overseas only between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. After the latter date such parcels may not be mailed unless a written re- quest from the soldier for the article is presented with each parcel. 40 Years Ago - Sept. 18, 1953 DALLAS BOROUGH TO BUY OLIVER BUILDING Dallas Borough Council at a special meeting Wednesday at the. Back Mountain Memorial Library Annex voted to accept the offer of | Dallas Branch of Miners National to lend the borough $25,000 at 3% interest for the purchase of Oliver Motors property on Main St. as a borough building. Coun- cil then passed a resolution to borrow only $21,000 of this amount. The balance will be paid . out of the borough's current reve- nues. Loan will be paid off in . equalinstallements overa 10 year : period. More than 3600 students are - enrolled in Back Mountain schools this fall. Largest enrollment is Dallas Borough-Kingston Twp. jointure with 1080. School show- ing largest gain is Gate of Heaven which has added an 8th grade and has a record first grade of 65, 3 largest in its history. You could get - Boneless chuck | roast, 49% lb.; Australian lobster tails, 89¢ lb.; Virginia Lee Ice Cream, 1/2 gal. pkg. 98¢; cauli- | flower, 1g. hd. 23¢. 30 Years Ago - Sept. 19, 1965 ORAL POLIO VACCINE DRAWS A CROWD Residents flocked upon the’ Polio Stations Sunday beginning at noon and continuing to 6 p.m., probably the most smoothly or- ° ganized effort against disease that - the Back Mountain has ever wit- > nessed. Ushered through the front door, pausing for a moment to : register at a table manned by a battery of clerks on to a table with 2 sugar, on again to pick up a cer-’ tificate on to another to deposit ! 25% and out into the free air. , Back Mountain Library Book Club members were enthralled a with Rev. George Deisher’s talk - on birds and wildlflowers Monday in the Library Annex inaugurat- ing the Book Club’s new season. = Lake-Lehman opened its foot- ° ball season with a 24-14 victory over Nescopeck. Dallasopensina ’ non-conference game Friday night under lights against Plymouth at Huber Stadium where Coach Eddie Brominski was formerly a grid mentor. 20 Years Ago - Sept. 20, 1973 DR. EUGENE FARLEY, DIES AT HIS FARM Dr. Eugene Farley, 74, died ofa heart attack at his Beaumont farm Monday. He was best known as the 24-year president of Wilkes College. For 10 years prior to that he served as president of the ' Wilkes-Barre educational institu- tion when it was known as Buck- nell Junior College. Kingston Township Board of - Supervisors voted to hire Wilbur Smith Consulting Engineering Co. | to rewrite the present zoning ordinance and submit a township building code. Cost of proposed | project will be $12,300 which will’ be paid through the Federal Reve- nue Sharing Fund. ‘ , a D> ¢
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers