*. The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 8, 1996 gl... my . aa IEDITORIALS Don't waste time; prepare now for development now a Th Anyone who doubts the strength of development pressures “on the Back Mountain should be startled by the price asked for ‘one ‘commercial parcel. An international real estate corpora- tion has listed 46 acres of the former Yalick farm along Route -415 in Dallas Township for an eye-popping $2.5 million. As the full color brochure used to promote the land says, its a “prime ~¢ommercial tract” suitable for lodging, retail, food, professional services, entertainment facilities and other uses. At $54,000 per acre, the land is too expensive for housing development, so Jit'appears likely that a substantial commercial development “will eventually occupy the now-open fields. ' “There's nothing improper about a property owner trying to sell land for the greatest possible price. One of the principles of real estate is to assign land to its “highest and best use.” That is usually interpreted as whatever brings in the most money, ‘and a shopping center developer would pay more than a farmer for prime highway [rontage. += "While most of the property is zoned for commercial use, some «dsmnot. And even within the commercial zoning structure, there ‘are measures that can be taken to assure that any development ‘is ‘attractive, safe and doesn’t overtax resources. Dallas Town- “ship, which hasn't revised its zoning regulations in more than . a decade, would be wise to review rules that apply to large commercial uses now, rather than alter the land is sold and ‘proposals put forward. And they should be prepared for significant challenge from a potential developer; anyone who can spend that much money will also have an expensive, ‘skillful and tenacious lawyer ready to resist restrictions on their plans. .'Business development is certainly welcome in the Back ‘Mountain, although it's hard to envision an immediate need [or ‘alarge retail facility. But whatever use is made of this and other parcels of land, it should be in a form that preserves as many of the region's charms as possible, since they are the bedrock of the Back Mountain's appeal to those who want to live and work here. iy Publisher's notebook The spectacle of Washington politicians scrambling over one another to repeal the last 4.3¢ increase in the tax on gasoline is not a pretty sight. Such obvious pandering to supposed consumer outrage tells me two things. First, true leadership qualities are few and [ar between, whether from a youthful President or an aging Senator. Second, there is a yawning gap between their perception of most people's priorities and the real thing. This episode reveals what they really can be in their poe worst moments — typical vote-buying candidates, ready at the “drop of a hat to disown common setise for political advantage. As nearly everyone else accepts, there are basic supply/ demand reasons [or the spike in gasoline prices. Don't forget, the ones clamoring to scale back the tax are the same people who fought to strike down fuel economy standards and hike speed limits, two of the greatest contributors to upward pricing pressure. The measly tax increase is a minor factor, one that was hardly noticed [or nearly three years. The truth is, respon- sible leaders would have raised gasoline taxes 25¢ or even 50¢ a gallon when they had the chance, and used the money to support mass transit, which is withering nearly everywhere. Having lived through the oil supply crises of the 1970's — I was a gas pumper mysellin 1972 — I've been amazed ever since at our unwillingness to rein in our appetite for petroleum. There's a real danger that overdependence on imported oil will do our nation more harm than any other [orce, when supplies begin to run thin. It appears to be too much to ask our political leaders to recognize (hat essential fact. Most Americans understand that getting our collective fiscal house in order must take precedence over temporary tax relief. I think the [irst candidate who shows that he or she under- stands the importance of our long-term [inancial health and has the backbone to talk seriously about how to achieve it will win the electoral sweepstakes. Provided, of course, they can get past the party elders who value transient political gain over responsible governing. Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post attempts to pubiish opinions on a variety of topics in many forms. Editorials, which are the opinion of the managment of The Post, appear on the editorial page and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. Any artwork represents the opinion of the cartoonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: e Letters should not exceed 500 words. » No writer may have more than one letter published during a 30-day period, except as a reply to another letter. * Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. e Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. » The Post retains the right to accept or reject any letter, and to edit letters for grammar and spelling, as well as to eliminate any libel, slander or objectionable wording. In addition to letters, we welcome longer pieces that may run as columns. The author or subject's relevance to the Back Mountain will be the prime consideration when selecting material for publication. The Dallas Post Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 717-675-5211 Charlotte E. Bartizek ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ronald A. Bartizek PUBLISHER Grace R. Dove REPORTER Peggy Young ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC La Paul Rismiller PRODUCTION MANAGER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER PRINTED WITH NU PENNSYLVANIA SOY INK] ASSOCIATION ren NEWSPAPER Hillside Farms greenhouse, before the Mother's Day rush. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. B.A.D. Attitude Tour is excellent for youth Editor: On Thursday, April 25, stu- dents at Dallas High School, Dal- las Senior High and Lake-Lehman High School were treated to ral- lies with national youth speaker Chuck Kish. Mr. Kish'’s program, entitled “the B.A.D. Attitude Tour," has received accolades from Presi- dent Bush and President Clinton and Governor Ridge, as well as numerous governors, mayors and school principals throughout the nation. The focus of the tour is to encourage young people to make As I was Jack Hilsher Hey Bill Gates! Beware! In your haste to pile up big bucks, don't overlook that in humans, a brain cell is said to die for each dollar accumulated. For proof, the Microsoft genius who peddles tons of a product called software - which I do not understand, nor do I intend to - need look only briefly at the life of Howard Hughes, the richest man ever. (And that's in our entire solar system.) Howard died a nut. Simple as that, in spite of being a billionaire. So you see, money isn't every- thing. And the only thing I would ever have envied Howard was Terry Moore, but even that didn't last. Before 1 give you some unbe- lievable stuff, things which only came out long after he passed away, arecap should refresh your memory: Born in 1905, at age 18 Howard inherited the Hughes Tool Company. Worth less than a mil- lion on paper at that time, he made a profit of $750 million by responsible decisions and to have a “bad attitude” toward alcohol and drug abuse. Students are encouraged to think for them- selves rather than “follow the pack” or do what “everybody else” is doing. With all the choices facing our next generation of leaders, we applaud our local principals for bringing in programs such as the B.A.D. Attitude Tour to equip young people to make right choices. Back Mt. Harvest As- sembly was honored to play a roll in bringing Chuck Kish to our area. In addition, we would like to thank Back Mt. Servistar, Dreier Automotive, Hillside Farms and Dairy Store, Mimmo's Pizza and Restaurant, and Pizza Perfect for their commitment to our schools. Their financial contributions helped make this program pos- sible. Rev. Robert D. Coscia, Jr. Youth Pastor, Back Mt. Harvest Assembly Dallas Like brain cells, money and fame are short-lived 1972. Then he also had accumulated hotels and casinos in Reno, Las Vegas and the Bahamas, plus Hughes Aircraft, the largest mili- tary contractorin the U.S., and he had sold TWA for $546 million. All this is quite incredible be- cause he was not a very good businessman. He ran RKO into the ground and lost money on countless other deals which didn't matter because others automati- cally took up the slack. Hughes legends abound, but my favorite will always be the ice cream story. It would be {oo de- pressing to write’ about his deterioration...like at the end he never bathed or brushed his teeth. His finger and toenails grew inches long. In 10 years a full-time bar- ber cut his hair only three times. He became a drug addict and injected with a dirty needle. Skip all that. For months Hughes in- sisted on having banana-nut ice cream with every meal. His aides panicked when they learned the flavor had been discontinued. Contacting Baskin-Robbins, they learned it could he produced as a special favor butonly with a batch of 350 gallons. There was no choice - they ordered it. A refrigerated truck sped the ice cream [rom LA to the Desert Inn, where the food manager had been told to expect it, but not 350 gallons! Asking a Hughes aide where in hell he was going to put 350 gallons of ice cream, he was told to rearrange his frozen food somehow and pack it all away, and they relaxed, knowing there was enough to last Hughes’ life- time. When it was served to Hughes the next day he declared, “That's great, but it's time for a change. From now on, I want French va- nilla.” Howard Hughes died in 1976. There were 17 mourners present atl his funeral, and no one wept. No top official of his company was present. The corporate PR direc- tor requested his casinos hold a moment of silence out of respect, and this request went out over the public address systems. One casino fell silent. The slot machines grew quiet and the blackjack games stopped. At the crap tables, stickmen held the dice. Then the pit boss looked at his watch and said, “OK, roll the dice. He's had his minute.” If you missed The Post - you missed the news! (oN VN IR" YESTERDAYS 60 Years Ago - May 15,1936 K.T. HIGH GRADUATES LARGEST CLASS EVER Was it necessary for Dallas Borough School Board to give Su- pervising Principal Norman Dinger a two-year contract extension? Could such action be interpreted as an attempt by the old bpard to usurp the power of the incoming board? Upon the anwers to these questions will rest the outcome of a complicated controversy which neared its climax as Dinger asked Luzerne County courts to refrain the local directors from dismiss- ing him and employing a new principal in his place. y ay Kingston Township High School will graduate the largest class. in its history, Junel2. There will be about 52 seniors in the graduat- ing class. : : art BY BR By 50 Years Ago - May 17, 1946 LEHMAN U.M. RECEIVES’ NEW GLASS WINDOW - Based on 90% collection of taxes, Kingston Township ‘School Board will probably adopt-a bud- get calling for a 35-mill tax at its May 28 meeting. Increased mill age will permit the board to in* crease all teacher salaries $100 as required by the State and will also make it possible a $2,100 minimum salary for all teachers who have been in the school sys: tem two or more years. Five of the present teachers will have to be dropped from faculty in order for the board to stay within the 35- mill budget. Alovely colored window depict- ing “Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane” will be presented to the Lehman Methodist Church at special services May 19; ‘at 3:30 p.m. The window measures’ five by seven feet, is the gift of the Friendship Class and was pur? chased with funds raised by pre: senting plays, holding teas and rummage sales during the year.! 40 Years Ago - May 11, 1956 STATE PLANS JAIL FOR DELINQUENT KIDS. . A $10 million Pennsylvania In- stitute for Defective Delinquents will be built shortly within a 35- acre wire enclosure atop a hill at Chase in Jackson Township. Some 1,250 acres of land. have been acquired for the -entire project. There will be adequate facilities to house 1,000 inmates with provision for future expan- sion. The Institution will. ulti mately have a staff of 300-400. A large shipment of fresh,Ha- waiian Orchids is due to arrive by plane here today. They are ta be given away at Evans Rexall Drug Store, Shavertown as Mether's Days gifts, a custom started by Mr. Evans a number of years ago. You could get - Steaks, 69¢ lb,; ducklings, 49¢ 1b.; Beechnut Colf- fee, 1 Ib. can, 99¢; Strawherty preserves, 2 lb. jar, 59¢. 30 Years Ago - May 12, 1966 SWEET VALLEY FIREMEN REVIVE PARADE Dr. Robert Mellman, Superin- tendent of the Dallas School Dis- trict, was honored recently when he received an invitation to‘teach at Penn Stale University Gradu- ate School this summer. Due'to the feeling of school directors that this would impose heavy -addi- tional duties upon the busy ad- ministrator, they urged him to decline the post. With a flourish of high school bands, greased pigs, and "Hillbil- lies” one of the great historic Back Mountain celebrations will be're- vived after a lapse of 10 years, the Sweet Valley Memorial Day Pa‘ rade. i 20 Years Ago - May 13, 1976 : AREA BICENTENNIAL ART CONTEST PLANNED. Residents within the Dallas School District may face a tax increase of 12 mills for the coming year, according to the ‘Earl Fritzges, chairman of the Dallas School Board Finance Cortrft- tee. The Art Committee of the “Back Mountain Bicentennial Celebra- tion” will sponsor an art contest as part of the celebration to.be held at College Misericordia. May 4, 5 and 6. Pictures of “Yester- year” will be featured in the con- test and all Back Mountain resi- dents are invited to enter.. Cash prizes will be awarded. To @
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers