8 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, March 20, 1996 Ean Offset president Michael Gallagher, center welcomed Gov. Tom Ridge to the plant last week. Also on hand was Joseph Makarewicz, far left, Andy Sordoni, behind Gallagher to left, and Sander Yelen. y LE 4 ~ Joe Makarewicz led Gov. Tom Ridge on his tour of Offset Paperback last week. Here, he pointed out some machinery while Adam Crayhall, second from left, looked on. William Tippet and ‘Shirley Moyer, Kingston Twp. supervisors, were at right rear. Joe Makarewicz, Offset executive vice president of manufacturing, led Gov. Tom Ridge between stacks of printed pages waiting to be sent to the bindery. Ridge took a full tour of the plant last week. Offset (continued from page 1) Offset president Michael Gallagher in a conference room filled with local dignitaries, Ridge was given a whirlwind tour of the 260,000 sq. ft. plant, which employs 670 people. He visited with workers along the way, stopping frequently to chat about the work they per- formed in the facility, which prints one-third of all the paperback books sold in the U.S. Dorothy Cooper, who works in the invoicing department snapped a photo of the Governor, then quickly moved to his next stop to shake his hand. “Oh, I saw you before,” Ridge said, and then she had her photo taken standing beside the Governor. Bill Hardwick, quality service manager, said the “energy level was high” throughout the plant in the 24 hours employees cleaned up and prepared for the Governor's visit. After his tour, Ridge spoke to a bevy of media people in Offset's new training center, a separate building adjacent to the produc- tion facility. “I saw firsthand a company that has used the most modern technology not to replace workers, but to grow the busi- ness,” he said. He also praised the cooperative relationship between labor and management at the plant. Citing the competitive pres- sures Offset faces, Ridge said a study of workmen's compensa- tion costs in Pennsylvania and six other states found Pennsylvania with the highest expense in 40 of 42 categories. Workmen's com- pensation costs are based on the type of business, as well as a past- experience rating. “There's nothing we can do more important to preserve jobs and create new ones,” than reform workmen's compensation, Ridge said. Joe Makarewicz, executive vice president, manufacturing, said the program has “always been a costly item,” and the company's efforts to control it haven't gar- nered the desired results. He said Offset instituted a safety program in 1989 that reduced time lost to accident and injury by 80 per- cent. As a result, the cost of the insurance fell from $500,000 in 1989 to about $220,000 in 1992. The program continues to hold down accidents, but workmen's compensation insurance costs still soared to $700,000 last year. Makarewicz said. Ridge also explained why he supports a 6.5¢ per gallon in- crease in the slate gasoline tax. That tax, rather than others, makes “those who use, pay," for improvements to roads, he said. Ridge said revenue may also be gained by implementing tolls on I- 80, which his administration is now discussing with the federal government. Chess (continued from page 1) cused. George puts a lot of time into coaching them. When they won their last meet it really made his day.” .*.Compared to Jordan, Tim Polin, 11 is a chess veteran who learned the game from his mother when he was four years old. -. He's now teaching his sister, Kitty, 4, to play chess and follow in his footsteps. “She's picked it up. pretty well,” he said. .».Tim describes himself as an aggressive player. “The older kids act surprised {hat I'm able to beat them,” he said. “The son of Mark and Ellen Polin, Tim also has a younger brother, Zach, 9, who isn'tinter- ested in chess. Tim is a sixth- der al Wyoming Seminary ower School. “When he isn't winning chess tomaments, Tim plays golf, s bowling, skis downhill and enjoys snowboarding. +*I'mvery proud of Tim and the club,” Ellen Polin said. “George Trent has been so good for them.” Ben Rogers, 11 and also a sixth- grader at Seminary, ‘learned the game from his father ‘when he was seven years old. The son of Dr. Robert Rogers .and Dr. Linda Borund, he has a brother, Andy, 7. ‘He learned chess from his father when he was seven years old: ketball and Little League base- ball, in which he played with the Cardinals last year. “It was a fun season,” he said. Dan Downey said he is very impressed with his son's and the team's accomplishments. “For me, the most important part was the fun we had going to the tournament at Bloomsburg,” he said. “Seeing the high level of competition and all the rigors the players go through was a real eye-opening experience. they sat eyeball to eyeball for nearly two hours. It was very demand- ing.” At 14 years old, Rich Kurilla is the oldest Smart Alekhine from the Back Mountain to attend Thursday's tournament. The son of Joanne and Gary Kneal, Rich is a ninth-grader and honor student at the Dallas high School. “I learned chess from Gary,” he said. “I beat him a lot.” Astrong defensive player, Rich also enjoys plotting strategies to make sale moves and wear his opponent out before ruthlessly Rich Kurilla will join his teammates for a chess oun at Bishop O'Reilly High School this weekend. exploiting the other player's first mistake. he is the team's only competitor in the junior high school division. He's also a “pretty good” ten- nis player for Dallas. Without George Trent, team would be nothing,” Joanne Kneal. their intellect.” Hume Ross, whois also sched- uled to compete, could not be reached for an interview. The tournament is a first at Bishop O'Reilly High School, ac- the said “He challenges cording to chess club advisor Susan Longo, who teaches French and religion. At least 23 students have registered, she said. “Originally we planned it for grades eight through 12, but after the Back Mountain contin- gent registered, we opened it up to grades six through 12,” she said. The students will compete ac- cording to their level of ability rather than by age groups, Longo said. tion here for the next few hun- dred years,” she said. “When I'm in my 38th year of teaching I want to be at our 30th tourna- ment. Winners will receive cash - prizes and trophies. Back Mountain members of Bishop O'Reilly's chess club who will compete in the tournament also include Bill Kingsbury, John Reap, Rich Kurilla and Ryan Wil- liams. “We're trying to start a tradi- The Post is still only $18 per year The Dallas Post and 1996 Health & Fitness pages in The Abington Journal 0 @ J 4 “*.*He caught on very quickly,” 2 5] Si Dr: Rogers said. a Yo ‘ He plays a good defensive / of Q game, hitting his opponents hard “Logd) with skilled counterattacks. ae [Age isn’t important in chess f P = skill is,” Ben said. “Itall comes 7 fa experience." i fs / ‘.~When he isn’t studying. Ben Ci be found working with his ‘IBM computer learning program- ming. ‘Brian Downey, 12, a sixth- rader al the Dallas Middle “School. learned chess basics from his father when he was oy eight years old. He is the son of ‘Dan and Sue Downey and has a “ister, Amy, 18, who is in col- lege. .+.+“Brian outstripped his in- “structor rather quickly,” Dan ‘Downey said, laughing. .".* Brian loves plotting strategy in long matches, letting his op- ponents make mistakes, then zeroing in for the checkmate. He also enjoys playing bas- advertising. Advertisers are welcome to submit items for publication, which will be used as space is available as long as they are of general reader interest. Special rates and sizes are available, or your existing ad size can be used. Combination rates include The Abington Journal and The Dallas Post. The Abington Journal 717-587-1148 Health and Fitness are top priorities today, and these pages will attract readers who have the means to purchase your products or services. Special Health & Fitness pages will be published March 27, June 26 and Oct. 23. These special pages will be bannered to attract attention, and will contain features and photos along with Ee Ta The Dallas Post 717-675-5211 Interested? Call either office for more information.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers