EE TE T_T a 4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, March 15, 1995 The Dallas Post Councilman should bow out of dock dispute gracefully Harveys Lake councilman David Abod’s antics are wearing thin with the citizens of that community, and serve as a reminder that local elected officials can sometimes equal their national counterparts in self-centered foolishness. Abod is engaged in a battle with his neighbor over space for a dock in front of the neighbor's property. As time passes, though, it seems Abod is more interested in asserting his per- ceived right to do whatever he pleases over any reasonable consideration of fair treatment. Abod’s dock juts across in front of the neighboring property's 50-foot waterfront. He claimed last October that he had rebuilt his dock to the dimensions it had been for 60 years after, “Someone came in with a backhoe and dragged it out,” in April. Photos taken in June, 1994 show only three pilings in the water in front of the neighbor's lakefront, to which walkways were connected last summer. The neighbor, James Pugh, bought the lot in July, when no walkways were in place. Understandably upset that his plans for a dock and boathouse of his own had been blocked, he complained to the borough’s zoning code enforcement officer, who washed his hands of the matter by deferring to the state Department of Environmental Resources. DER got involved August 19 when it issued a notice of violation to Abod, saying he had failed to obtain a permit before enlarging his dock. That complaint is still pending. Abod first attempted to solve his problem by introducing a resolution to the borough council suspending the portion of the zoning ordinance dealing with side yard requirements in the shoreline area. The resolution passed in October, as Abod magnanimously abstained from voting on his proposal, appar- ently displaying at least an outside limit to his shameless self- interest. A month later, the council rescinded its vote, after realizing its true purpose. Then the zoning officer granted the neighboring property | owners a permit to construct a dock and boathouse, which | Abod promptly challenged. At a zoning meeting February 28, Abod demonstrated the absurd length he is willing to go to gain personal advantage, when his attorney suggested that Abod owned the lake bed under his dock by adverse possession, known more colorfully as squatter’s rights. Since his dock had been there for 21 years, he claimed, the lake bed belongs to him. That tune quickly changed when the attorney for Pugh pointed out that Abod lacks the necessary court decree to claim adverse possession, and the zoning board dismissed any further comment along those lines. Abod’s lawyer then chimed inthat the lake bed is owned by the descendants of the two men listed as holding land patents to the property in 1871, sono one can be granted a permit to build without their permission. The zoning board wisely ignored this argument, ruling that Pugh’s permit had been issued properly. In response, Abod said he will appeal the ruling to county court, challenge Pugh’s DER permit and file papers to claim squatter’s rights to the land below his own dock. In the past, Dave Abod has done quite a lot of good at Harveys Lake. He was a founder of the borough's Environ- mental Advisory Council (EVAC), and was active in establish- ing a recycling program that has recently received a state grant to expand. EVAC worked to secure extensive testing of the lake's water after severe algae blooms appeared to be increas- ing. Abod also was instrumental in the creation of a map that delineated wetland areas in the borough. He is now vice president of the borough council. But Abod’s recent actions on his own behalf are undoing all the good he has accomplished. When a public officialfirst uses his position for personal gain, then engages in the kind of silly and selfish conduct Abod has been demonstrating, he loses all credibility as a representative of anyone but himself. He should gracefully back off from this ridiculous attempt to assert sovereignty over 20 feet of lakefront before he makes himself and Harveys Lake's government more of a spectacle than it already is. “yellow fr Publisher's notebook A speaker on National Public Radio's All Things Considered last week made the point that the debate about welfare reform seems to focus entirely on women and not their partners in irresponsibility. Proposals to deny welfare to teenage mothers and to cut off benefits for future children give the impression that women magically become pregnant all by themselves. “It’s like they think we clone children,” she said. I hadn't thought about the lack of balance in the proposals, but when I did it made sense, especially when the speaker said that half the fathers of children born to 16-year-olds are in their 20's. Perhaps instead of merely punishing women, and by associa- tion their children, we should be looking for a way to make fathers bear at least the financial burden for their children. Surely reform taking that direction would find more wide- spread support in Congress and the nation at large. 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 Grace R. Dove ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC REPORTER Paul Rismiller Olga Kostrobala PRODUCTION MANAGER 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 PRINTED WITH SOY INK © View of the Sunset area of Harveys Lake, from the Oneonta Hotel. From a postcard dated 1907. A Case for Conservation | Alene N. Case | April 10, 1988—Sunday—To- day is cool and sunny, but spring is definitely on its way. Daffodils are blooming in ouryard and other plants show signs of budding out. We had warm weather a week or so ago and lots of showers in between. Today when I went for water, the view as I came up over the hill past Harveys Lake that overlooks the Sordoni Farms was soothing in its colors. That view is always my favorite. Today every- thing was pastel except the bright blue of the ponds and silos and the deep brown of the horses. The hills looked purple, but on closer examination the color came from red maple flowers against light grey (I prefer the Canadian spell- ing) tree bark. Then there was “from weeping willows leaf: ing out, green from pasture grass, light tan from taller grassland, and, of course, the light blue sky. April 13, 1994—We just saw a fabulous rainbow on our way to church. It was not only bright and complete; it was also double and double within the main bow. It was likely the best one I ever saw, and that includes in Hawaii and at sea. May 15, 1992—Life has sort of settled down around here the past few days. It's still busy but spirits have rebounded and things are getting done. The flowers and green leaves help. It's hard to stay down in the spring. May 19, 1992—Most pleasant in the backyard. The tempera- As was saying Jack Hilsher Yes, indeed, more than you think. And not the usual life made up of puttering or garden- ing or fishing. No, there's a world out there most retirees never even consider. They should. It's the world of volunteering...people doing things for other people for nothing. They get paid not with money but in the satisfaction of knowing what they are doing is good, and oddly enough, it does them good in re- turn. The blessedness of giving, not always receiving, is intangible - can't ve seen, weighed or meas- ured - but it's there, and it's felt. You should try it. Volunteering is better experi- enced than described, but I will give ita try. I'm sure you're think- ing you need special skills to work as a volunteer, in a field you know nothing about. Just not so...all volunteer positions have training periods. You'll have a seasoned teacher who will stick with you until he/she is certain you can be on your own. As for skills, you probably already have most of what is needed. Here is an example: Can you drive a car? Then you can work for DIAL-A-DRIVER, avery worth- while group which serves those Sketches from my journal ture is in the low 70s with a soft breeze blowing. Most of the leaves are out on the trees now. Lilac, wild geranium, ajuga, periwinkle, and dogwood are in bloom. The garden columbine is just starting to flower and it looks like we are in for quite a show in many parts of the yard. August 18, 1992 (First entry after returning home from seven weeks in Eastern Europe)—Itis a lovely morning! The temperature is about 65°F, and it is pouring rain. But, I still think it is a lovely morning. Berit (our son who remained at home) says that some people are complaining about the rainy summer here this year. They have such short memories—how about the drought the past three years? The vegetation is so lush it almost looks tropical! I picked three quarts of blueberries after we got home Saturday. September 9, 1992] just hung out a load of laundry and now it looks like rain. If April showers bring May flowers, what does September rain bring? Mil- dew, no doubt. November, 1992—It will snow today again, they say. Yesterday, a little flock of juncos was flitting around in the forsythia bushes in the back of our yard. This morn- ing I saw a very red male cardinal against the green and grey back- ground of the hemlock tree. Beautiful!...I enjoyed watching a little golden-crowned kinglet turn- ing upside down on the branches outside the kitchen window. We don't get them very often and they are really cute. January 14, 1992—Small hail is falling with the rain now and the wind is quite strong. Glad I did my outside work yesterday. I pulled carrots (beautiful ones!) on January 13th! February 6, 1995—When Iwas out getting water before the big snow, | had to put the hose down occasionally to carry the full jugs to the car...The force of the water from the end of the hose made a hole in the ice (on the stream near the artesian overflow we use for drinking water). Then, as the water continued to flow, it pushed air under the clear ice and that air would move downstream slowly in large flat bubbles. I just stood and watched for several minutes as these bubbles would consoli- date, break off, and move. It was like nothing I have ever seen be- fore. The closest thing I can think of to compare it to would be an amoeba budding in two dimen- sions. March 10, 1995—The early morning sun is glistening through our bedroom window, highlight- ing the marvelous ice crystal pat- terns on the glass. The ones near the bottom look like feathers. I used to study those patterns of- ten on my large bedroom windows when | was a child—we did not have storm windows so the entire surface was often covered with fleeting artwork. March 19, 1993—It was -5°F this morning when I took Ebony (our dog) out at 5:45 AM! Incredi- bly cold for March...It is sunny today and I plan to read and plant garden. Plant garden? 1 figure ~ what better way to look forward to spring than by putling in pepper and tomatoe seeds. Now, if I'd just learn to spell tomato. Keeping a journal has been a favorite activity of mine since I was given my first blank book on Christmas 1987. I would like to invite you to join me. It is a great way to record signs and sounds and feelings and thoughts. Do not try to write every day because that is too stressful. Write a little or a lot. Share it with family and friends if you wish. But, save your writings and, at some time in the future, you will be happy you started. Is there life after retirement? who can't drive themselves any- where, like to a doctor, or to shop. volunteers in this group make thousands of such trips each year, are entitled to tax deductions for mileage, and are given complete liability insurance. For details call 287-9809. Another group, MEALS-ON- WHEELS can always use drivers and helpers for two-person teams todeliver meals to shut-ins, mostly elderly and with some physica! handicap. Time involved is mini- mal, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, once or twice a week. (Either of these two possibilities would be good to “cut your teeth” on volun- teering!) For “Meals” call 825- 8543. Then right under your collec- tive noses is the Back Mountain Library, which can always use a few extra volunteers. Tasks are light duty and interesting in a friendly and stimulating atmos- phere. Call 675-1182 and get further details from Martha. Area hospitals are a definite volunteer hotbed. For these or- ganizations, volunteers are as valuable as gold nuggets. With- out them, services would go beg- ging and costs would increase. “Pink Ladies” as the gals are called, (all the men wear red jackets) sort and deliver mail, direct visitors, deliver flowers, help out in the hospitality shop, help discharge patients, cashier in the gift shop, and assist patient families in waiting rooms. Call any hospital or nursing home (several are in the Back Mountain) and ask for the person in charge of volunteer- ing. I can absolutely guarantee you a welcome reception. These places - and the others - are al- ways on the lookout for new members, and they are experts at making you feel welcome. Now if you are somewhat relec- tant to shop around for a suitable spot on your own, a good place to put your resolve to a test is a group with these initials: R.S.V.P., an old standby capably managed by Program Director Anne Rappa- port (822-1158) who says, “Back Mountain Volunteers can easily be placed near where they live. We work with several nursing homes.” The initials stand for “Retired Senior Volunteer Pro- gram.” Rappaport adds, “We'll make it painless for your search. First we'll talk, find what you like and what you can do. Then we'll arrange a job interview at a place which interests you, and we'lleven go with you. Try us. You'll like us!” R.S.V.P. has great side benefits....regular friendly lunch- eons at which they recognize vol- unteer’s service time. At the last one in September pins were given out for 5, 10, 15 and 20-year service in volunteering. In the 20- year category were an amazing seven persons who had logged a total of140 years of service! To leave you and: this subject with something to think about, and possible to jog you into action investigating one of the above suggestions further, guess what one of the leading causes of car- diac disease is? Nothing more or less than plain old lack of activity. So to put it another way, by volunteering, the life you save after you retire could be your own. Think about it! ~ Mrs. Henry Holdredge of Mt. Only | yesterday | 60 Years Ago - Mar. 22, 1935 BAKERY WILL COME TO BACK MOUNTAIN Announcement was made this week of the consolidation of the plumbing and heating business formerly conducted by Earl H. Mcenk with that of B & B Supply Co. This new department of the; Supply Co. will be greatly enlarged; and will be under the personal. | supervision of Mr. Monk who has been engaged in this work in the: community for the past 20 years: Shendler Baking Co. of Scran-: ton has signed a 5-10 year lease. with John Sullivan for the store room formerly occupied by the, | Meridian Restaurant and willopen: amodern bakery thereaboutApril: | 1. The company will install bake- | ovens in the building, will have | retail sales rooms and will operate several routes out of Dallas sell.:n ing pastries, pies, cakesand bread. | ~D | 5 | 50 Years Ago - Mar. 16, 1945 1+ AREA MARINES IN IWO «| JIMA BATTLE ARE SAFE One of the biggest obstacles to’, the establishment of a Teen- -Age. House in Dallas was removed’ Monday evening when members * of Oneida Lodge #371, 1.0.0. F._ voted to lease the old Ritter paint ’ shop to the Teen-Age Committee | : for an annual rental of $1.00 per year. The 20 x 50 foot building is centrally located, but a consider- able amount of renovation will be’ : required before it can be ready for” occupancy. Two of three Kingston Town-" ship Marines known to have been @ in the invasion of Iwo Jima are. now in base hospitals recovering from wounds received early in the” engagement, according to letters’! received this week by their par- ents from the Red Cross. The” wounded are Pfc. Ralph Williams, * a son of Squire and Mrs. Herbert, Williams, Trucksville, and Pfc.” Ernest Holdredge, son of Mr. and, Greenwood Road. The third," Marine Luther Gregory son of Mr. i and Mrs. William Gregory of Trucksville, this week wrote his. mother, heisstillonIwoJimaand~ | “haven't received a scratch yet.” ©! You could get =! Porterhouse, | steak, 42¢ Ib.; hamburg 28¢ lbs! | potatoes, 15-lb. peck, 63¢; #1 yellow onions, 4 lbs.,15¢; broc-i! coli, 25¢ bnch. ' 40 Years Ago - Mar. 18, 1955 NOXEN METHODIST 5 CHURCH REDEDICATED Although the formal opening ofi!= the Back Mountain Office of the: Wyoming National Bank of Wilkes-is Barre at Shavertown was sched-i= uled for 10 a.m., hundreds of: residents of the area wereon hand 1! an hour before opening time to inspect the office, welcome the 7 ¢ new business to the area and to | open Savings Accounts. Each | new account opened was credited with$1.00. ¥ Fred Pierce Carson, Resident’ Bishop of Philadelphia, at an impressive service at Noxen Meth- odist Church, Tuesday night. dedicated 16 memorial stained. glass windows, a feature of the. recent remodeling and redecora-- tion of the edifice. Bishop Carson is the first Bishop to occupy the cathedral chair in the sanctuary. Now playing at Dallas Outdoor Theatre “The Bridges of Toko-Ri" with William Holden and Grace Kelly. ® 30 Years Ago - Mar. 18, 1965 L-L PREPARES FOR STATE EVALUATION Lake-Lehman School Jointure is preparing for evaluation. Six- teen educators from the Evalu- ation Committee will visit schools of the jointure March 23-26 to weigh its qualification for certifi- cation by the Middle States Asso- ciation of Colleges and Secondary Schools. = Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Co., 1! Dallas and Dallas Community | Ambulance Association announce | total receipts of the coin card drive } for 1964 and thank all who solic- ited and contributed. Theamount | derived from Dallas Borough and | Township was $6,210.67 and the ambulance portion from Kunkle | amounted to $333.62. : Local basketball fans are in for! a big treat March 26 when the! WARM Double Dribblers come toi § town for a thrilling game against faculty members of Lake-Lehman | and Dallas Sr. and Junior High, Schools.. The game held for the benefit of the March of Dimes will} be played at Dallas Senior High! School gymnasium. LE EE SE SE SE SE SE oF 3 ge 3 8 = = It's easy to subscribe to The Dallas Post Use the coupon on page 2 or call 675-5211 i -
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers