4 The Dallas Post Pg. § ba AT oN. Ld -~ » » hd ¥ * Dallas, PA Wednesday, September 7, 1994 T he Dallas Post Taxpayers give ¥ i i a t { * : - 0. - ox Ld Le 4 . ~ Te = - ivics lesson Last week's article about the Back Mountain Taxpayers’ ‘Association (which we incorrectly labeled the Dallas Tax- payers’ Association, a different group), reported the evolu- tion of the organization's focus from opposition to the Dallas Area Municipal Authority's trash and recycling program to countywide concerns. Among their current targets are the proposed arena, a regional rail line, and ‘Congressman Paul Kanjorski's plans for an inflatable dam on the Susquehanna River. In'a nutshell, president Russ Ockenhouse says the group ‘wants tax money spent on basic necessities — roads and ‘bridges — before projects like an arena are funded. In “addition, they would like major expenditures to face a citizen referendum before funds are committed. ‘though one could easily draw the conclusion they aren't as ‘much interested in controlling progress as in stopping it, ‘unless someone besides their members is footing the bill. If ‘you agree or not, though, this and other organized groups are providing a lesson about civics in action. By organizing, ‘attending meetings, promoting their cause and voting for candidates they support, taxpayer groups are becoming a It’s hard to argue with this group’s basic premise, al- ‘significant force in local government. While it’s far from certain that a majority of citizens line up behind their cause, taxpayer associations have and will continue to wield power beyond their numbers as long as those who feel differently don’t turn out at the polling ‘booth. The same would be true of any organized group no matter their ideology; if the “silent majority” sits home while a motivated few take charge, it won't be long before they see things changing against them. That has already happened in the Abington Heights School District, where every mem- ber of the school board was a taxpayer association-sup- ported candidate. . ~The essence of American democracy is found when com- peting ideas meet in the public arena for debate and dis- cussion, being reduced and merged until a general consen- sus is reached. But it takes two to tango, as the saying goes. If a single group — whether it be a taxpayer associa- t ion or a collection of profligate liberals — can dominate elections, our government will serve their interests before those of the community at large. =. Many people apparently feel uncomfortable taking a public stand. Some wrongly fear retaliation from powers that may be offended. Others “just don’t have time.” Still others claim they don't really care, they'll go along with whatever happens. Nearly all overestimate the reaction their opinion may draw, and the difficulty of expressing it. You can guess the conclusion of the lesson — if you care about how your town or school district is run, get involved. If you feel strongly about the direction it should take, get organized. At the very least, get registered and vote, or you could be surprised at what happens. i i 1 Two area residents will be honored during National Rehabilitation Week September 18-24. Though left a quad- riplegic by an automobile accident, Heidi Jo Allen of Sweet Valley has battled back to earn a job as a computer opera- tor at SallieMae in Hanover. Understandably, she is now an advocate for people with disabilities. Her story is both inspiring and instructive. No one would have blamed her had she chosen to live a life of dependency after this tragic event. Instead, Heidi stood up to adversity of a scale few of us will ever confront, and grasped her dignity and self- respect from the jaws of fate. Hers is a fine example for everyone who feels life has dealt them a bad hand, and that’s most of us at one time or another. Of course, none of us, disabled or not, succeeds com- pletely on our own. Thus, Nancy Dukes of Harveys Lake f H will be recognized for her work in pet therapy and volunteer efforts to raise funds for Allied Services’ recreational pro- grams for the disabled. Both will recieve regional awards sponsored by Allied. "The fall sports season is upon us, and you'll notice that Dave Konopki is no longer writing for The Post. That's because he landed a full-time job with The Times Leader as their high school football writer. We wish him the best of fortunes in his new position, and know he'll do as good a good job there as he did for us. Would PROTEST MoRE ABOUT THER OWN SHOOTINGS, You'd THINK THEY J As I was saying ‘Jack Hilsher The following is from “Who's Who of Jazz” by John Chilton, Page 111 under “F”, for Fitzger- ald, first name Ella: “Raised in Yonkers, won prize at Apollo Theater amateur night. In 1935 made professional debut with Tiny Bradshaw's band at Harlem Opera House, then joined Chick Webb as featured singer, working a the Savoy Ballroom in New York. When Webb died Ella led the band for two years. Worked solo thereafter, promoted by im- pressario Norman Granz who became her manager. Gained international reputation for many tours during 60s and 70s. Would you believe this 76-year old jazz singer won her 13th Grammy only a few years ago? Her poor health prevents any more tours but otherwise she'd be plying her trade, and to quote Joe Wil- liams, “she still can outswing any- “A close encounter with jazz great Ella Fitzgerald body.” The phrases used to proclaim her artistry are many: “purest tone,” “peerles sense of rhythm,” “musical inventiveness,” “excep- tional range,” and on and on. Someone once said, “All the great singers, if they have continued over the decades, become differ- ent singers than they were; they getdeeperand better, witha touch- ing quality.” i Those words surely apply to Ella Fitzgerald. Critic Leonard Feather said, “she’s the definitive jazz singer. Although Granz got her to do commercially saleable albums of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, with strings yet, she never sacrificed her validity as a jazz artist.” Ella occupies a special place in my memories. Anyone who knows me will know of my long standing love affair with jazz. I had three symphonic albums in my collec- tion - they were supposed to broaden (improve?) my musical tastes, and I did play them and I did enjoy them; always I returned to my first love...that stuff with a beat! Before WWII it was possible to bus to NYC over a weekend, sight- see, see a ball game, see a Broad- way show, dine well, stay at the Sloane House YMCA for $1.75 per, and return pooped Sunday night with change left from a $20 bill! (Today, how many minutes does $20 last??) But my Big Apple nights were spent on 52nd Street, where you could hear Basie, Shearing, Art Tatum et al. Beer was 75¢ a bottle and they never asked you to drink up or move on. I'll never forgetone night - maybe at Kelly's Stables or the Famous Door, not sure which - our subject, Miss Ella Fitzgerald walked in and sat down right next to me at the bar. She was bubbling over, having just watched Sgt. Joe Friday in a Dragnet episode. She thought it was terrific and couldn't wait until the next one. Well, I wish I could tell you that I introduced myself as an out-of-town fan. Bought her adrink. Told her about Wilkes- Barre. Told her how much I en- joyed her music. So help, I did none of those things. I couldn't. My tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth. Before long she departed. Ella, wherever you. are, I'm sorry. But I didn't stop buying your albums. Only yesterday The economic viewpoint i Do you agree? Disagree? . Editorials are the opihion 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 ind a daytime phone number so that we may verify authenticity. e donot publish anonymous letters, but will consider withholding the name in exceptional circumstances. We reserve the right to edit for length and grammar. a 1 = ¥ 4 I 1 A a 0 Te Se a ni ph © The Dallas Post Peggy Young ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Paul Rismiller PRODUCTION MANAGER PRINTED WITH SOY INK Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Charlotte E. Bartizek ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Grace R. Dove REPORTER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Urbanas OFFICE MANAGER MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION VOTED 3rd BEST SMALL WEEKLY IN THE U.S., 1993 Stakeholders’ Alliance tries By HOWARD J. GROSSMAN The burning issue in North- eastern Pennsylvania from an eco- nomic development perspective is not how many jobs will be at- tracted to Northeastern Pennsyl- vania but how many jobs will be retained. Job retention is a conscious strategy designed to enhance the ability of existing businesses and industries to maintain and ex- pand economic opportunities wherever and whenever possible. The most crisis laden issue cur- rently facing Northeastern Penn- sylvania in recent time was the need to retain over 1,200 jobs threatened by the policy of Leslie Fay to eliminate these jobs and move them to Guatemala. To combat this policy, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Stake- holders Alliance was organized. Consisting of over 70 individuals ‘representing the community of Northeastern Pennsylvania in- cluding, but not limited to, gov- ernment, business, clergy, labor, social service and elated economic sector categories, the Stakehold- ers Alliance has been meeting: weekly at St. Mary's Rectory in Wilkes-Barre to plan, organize, develop and implement ways to carry out its primary mission of complete job retention of all Leslie Fay employment in the region. It is aregional issue since Leslie Fay has manufacturing facilities in three Northeastern Pennsylvania counties including Luzerne, Lackawanna and Schuylkill. In stillother countries, contract work between Leslie Fay and another firm is carried out, and these jobs may be and, in some cases, were at risk. A special study to demonstrate the social and economic impact of the potential job losses in North- eastern Pennsylvania was com- pleted by the Midwest Center for Labor Research, a Chicago-based organization. The organization issued a 22 page document, the summary of which suggested the following impact would occur if over 1,200 direct jobs were lost. —Loss of 3,024 workers includ- ing direct and ripple effects —Total cost to government would be $26.6 million —Two years after the layoffs, dislocated workers will earn 74.3 percent of their former incomes —Total tax loss of $14.7 million —Increased cost of social safety net programs would equal $11.9 million —440 people would still be unemployed after two. years —A variety of risk factors such as physical and emotional dis- eases, stress, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart attacks, depres- sion, etc. would occur as well as social pathologies such as crime, suicide, domestic violence, alco- hol and drug abuse. A Congressional hearing was held in the region on June 7th by the US House Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations of the Committee on Education and Labor. Five members of Congress were present, led by Congress- man Paul E. Kanjorski, of the 11th Congressional District and Congressman Ron Klink of Penn- sylvania who chairs the Subcom- mittee. Taking testimony from 12 individuals representing govern- ment, labor, the not-for-profit community, economic develop- ment and the clergy, the testi- mony ran for three and a half hours. The result of the testimony clearly showed the shocking im- pact which the loss of these jobs would have on the Northeastern Pennsylvania regional community as well as the extremely difficult conditions which exist in other countries such as Guatemala and Honduras where workers carry out the production of women's clothing for Leslie Fay. The Northeastern Pennsylva- nia Stakeholders Alliance pre- sented testimony, submitting for the record the entire Midwest Center for Labor Research report along with information on the specific impact these job losses to save jobs \ would have on the general econ- omy of the region as well as a series of recommendations which are designed to help alleviate this type of problem in the future. Among the general economic im- pacts which relate tothe job losses are the following: —Set back the regional eco- nomic development program sig- nificantly, probably years. —Cause severe disruption to the human service delivery sys- tem in light of the vast number of individuals who would require assistance. —Add many unemployed people to an already high employ- ment rate of 7.8% (as of April, 1994), with the unlikelihood of finding jobs for high age individu- als (the average age of a Leslie Fay employee was 47). —Cause the region to add a number of empty buildings to its stock of buildings which is al- ready high. —Further depress the economy of a region during a period of time which is uncertain and unstable. In summary, the Stakeholders Alliance believed that every con- ceivable step should be taken to enable these jobs to remain in Northeastern Pennsylvania. If not, the human toll would be severe as the average age of Leslie Fay’ employees is 47 and many have devoted their entire careers to Leslie Fay. Many will be unable to secure new employment in light of the current economic conditions facing Northeastern Pennsylvania. The support of the regional com- munity and its leaders and citi- zens has been sought by the North- eastern Pennsylvania Stakehold- ers Alliance. The final result was the conclu- sion of an agreement between company management and the union for a new three-year con- tract, saving well over half the jobs originally threatened. The Stakeholders Alliance hopes that full community support was a signficant factor in concluding the agreement. No one covers local news like The Post Ill cond 60 Years Ago - Sept.14, 1934 | EMPLOYMENT IN BORO ISIN GOOD SHAPE | Dallas Borough has less un- employment than any other bor- ough or city in Luzerne County with one exception. That is“the conclusion drawn from the 12 page report which the Depatrt- ment of Research and Statistics of the Pennsylvania Emergency Re- lief Board released this week. = Announcement was made this week that Dr. Charles Perkins of Kingston Township will become associated with Dr. G.L. Howell of Trucksville in the practice ' of medicine and X-ray work. Je You could get - Chuck pot rodst, 19¢ 1b.; smoked shoulders, picnic style, 17¢ 1b.; small mackeral, 3 lbs. 25%; soup beans, 4 lbs. 15¢; onions, 4 lbs., 10¢. roy (oy » 50 Years Ago - Sept. 8, 1944 COLLEGE SEES A RECORD ENROLLMENT: College Misericordia will start the fall term September 10 with the largest enrollment in its 21 year history. In order to accom- modate an increasing number of boarding students, College au- thorities have made arrangements to house 20 students and two nuns in the former Bauer home on Machell Ave. and Spring Street in Dallas. Until such time asthe new Gate of Heaven Parish stants construction, the property will be known as Misericordia Villa. Miss June Owens has been employed to teach senior high school mathematics at Lehman High School and will start her duties in about five or six weeks after she completed her master's work at Bucknell University. “In Old Chicago” with Alice Faye, Tyrone Power and Dorr Ameche now playing at Shaver Theatre. : Tm 40 Years Ago - Sept. 10, 1954" : TEACHER REQUESTS *~ OVERTIME PAY ed $ The question of what consti- tutes ateacher's working day arose at Dallas-Franklin Joint School Board. A letter from one of the teachers requestingadditionalpay for work outside the regular school day was presented to the direc: tors for consideration. Whether coaching football, directing the band, selling tickets was a normal teacher activity or should ‘be considered as extra work for which a teacher receives extra income would be discussed. : Enrollement of Dallas Borough+ Kingston Township joint schools announced by James Martin at the school board meeting is 1,102 on opening day as contrasted with last year's 1,069. : 30 Years Ago - Sept. 10, 1964 | DALLAS CONSIDERS | COLLEGE COURSES Dallas School Board meeting approved the offering of college subjects to high school students at Saturday sessions. College instructors will be approached to teach classes or permission ob- tained for high school faculty members certified in essential subjects to help out in the new program. Those eligible to par- ticipate will be determined by the guidance instructor and senior high school principal. Lake-Lehman's banner enroll ment this fall, necessitates, hir- ing another first grade teacher, reported supervising principal Lester B. Squire, Tuesday ever ning to members of the joint board. A brand new $25,000 building will be constructed on Fostef Street, behind the new post office site by Dallas Chapter 396, Order of the Eastern Star as a meeting hall. Ground will be broken shortly. | i 1} J 20 Years Ago - Sept. 12, 1974 AREA DRUG BUSTS / NET 12 DEALERS District Magistrate Leonard Harveys’ Dallas office was a busy place the latter part of last week. The Magistrate conducted prelimi- nary hearings for 12 individuals most of whom were swept up in the latest State Police drug raids. Biggest catch was Wallace “The Governor” Hughes an alleged Wilkes-Barre heroin dealer charged with selling 16 bags of heroin to undercover State Police narcotics agents. From all reports this year's Fall Fair was bigger and better than ever. It is still too early to deter- mine exactly how much money was earned for the new medical facility, but total gross on the grounds (including refreshment stands, gate admissions and sale of space to commercial exhibits) will run slightly higher than last year. HA 2 he pY; a >
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers