8 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 15, 1996 Pool (continued from page 1) too small for meets. They say scheduling time at other pools with diving areas, such as Wyo- ‘ming Valley West or at Kistler Elementary in Wilkes-Barre, is nearly impossible. Karey Kyle, a former competi- tive swimmer who has coached swim teams and managed a mu- nicipal pool, estimates it will cost the district $82,716 per year to operate a pool year-round, while the pool could easily generate $68,826 in income [rom pool mem- berships, summer programs and rentals. +,*The parents received 83 re- sponses to a survey form, accord- ing to Betsy Gaffney, another in- terested parent. ; “We received 67 responses for it and 17 against it,” she said, noting the pool's potential value to the community as a place to ‘hold Red Cross programs, senior citizens’ swims, scuba and canoe safety lessons, lap swims and water aerobics. “Swimming could become a valuable part of the curriculum and an excellent way for the less athletic students to build self- ' esteem and confidence,” Gaflney said. In response to one comment from the survey, which said the district already has a pool in the middle school’s sub-basement, Galfney quipped, “We'll be more than happy to use it if we can (ind it.” ". She provided the board with copies of comments from survey responses. “It's about time!" wrole one reader, while others suggested renting the pool out for children’s parties to help defray operating expenses. . “Area residents should be will- ing to pay a tax (one-time or ongo- ing) lo support it,” wrote another. [] One response opposing the pool suggested building a municipal pool instead of having the district pick up the tab for one. Others wrote, “We have all to do supporting ourselves. We don't need higher school taxes" and “It's too expensive. We should use the money on better education. A home is more important to our youth than a pool.” Others suggested the money would be better spent on educa- tional programs. “It would take a very long time for a pool to generate enough in- come lo recoup all its construc- tion costs,” said swim and dive team coach Malt Stretanski. “But it could support its own operating expenses.” Describing College Misericordia's pool as too small, too shallow and “inadequate for competition on an elite basis,” he described the ideal six-lane, five to 15-foot deep 25-meter by 25- yard facility, which would also contain a separate lraining pool between 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 feet deep. Such a facility costs be- tween $100 and $200 per square foot, he said. “U.S. Swimming, who designed and built the Olympic center in Georgia, is the best in the coun- try,” he said. “We would want you to work with them or at least to have them advise you.” The board said it would study the figures and take the matter under advisement. Best choice is building at Middle School, engineers say At a work session before the regular meeting the board heard a presentation from Quad Three Group architect Paul Degillio and director of educational programs Joel Sims on the elementary school feasibility study. Sims said his firm doesn't rec- ommend two options, of either renovating the Westmoreland School or building an addition at the Dallas Elementary School, which also needs between $30.000 and $40,000 in roof support re- pairs. The state probably wouldn't fund renovations to Westmoreland, the district's old- est operating building, he said. Although demolishing Westmoreland and building a re- placement on the same seven- acre site on Lehigh Street sounds like a good idea, Degillio and Sims said the state would question the size of the site. “Of the seven acres, two are across the street and on a very steep slope,” Sims said. “You can't build there. The other five acres contain another acre of steep slope which couldn't be used, leaving only four acres to use for a new school which would be 20 to 30 percent larger under the present slate requirements.” A new building, erected either alongside the present Dallas El- ementlary school or behind the middle school, could be designed to accommodate either three or four grades. depending on what the district wants, Degillio said. The earliest that a new elemen- tary school could open is 1999, Sims said. DEELEY {ol alg CIE RY C=T a ToT gF-1 I TTATA D FN [ FT CYEEPAL XR ~ NAPA MOTOR OIL «5W30 -10W30 -10W40 + 20W50 «SAE 30 «SAE 40 Limit 2 cases per customer. Oil price does not include applicable state/local taxes or recycling fees. MAKE IT NAPA BRAND NEW Bee i POST PHOTO/GRACE R. DOVE The former Hanson’s Amusement Park, famous for its wooden rollercoaster which crossed over the Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks, is up for sale. For the past five years it has been the site of an amphitheater for outdoor concerts. Former Hanson's Park land on the market By GRACE R. DOVE Post Staff HARVEYS LAKE - The former Hanson's amusement park, which has enjoyed a second incarnation as amusicamphitheater, has been put up for sale. Shirley Hanson, owner of the park, has listed the 25-acre plot with Lawrence Real Estate in Wilkes-Barre. The land, which in- cludes 792 feet of lakefront, the campground and the amphithe- ater, can be subdivided, accord- ing to realtor Larry Lebenson. “We're just putting feelers out right now,” he said. “I don't have any prices yet — perhaps the sign went up a bit prematurely.” He said he has received four calls this week about the land, and isn't sure whether the Hanson family will sell the entire parcel, subdivide it or develop it them- selves. Commercial land in Wyoming Valley is available for between $85,000 and $100,000 per acre, depending on its location, while a commercial parcel on Route 415 in Dallas Township is being of- fered for $54,000 per acre. Lakefront property is generally sold by the foot, according lo realtor Mike Gerrity, who has seen residential lakefront offered for $1,000 per foot for 100-foot wide parcels and $1,000 to $1,500 per foot for 50-foot-wide parcels. “I don't have any figures for commercial land or lakefront,” he said. “There haven't been any com- mercial sales recently. Our only commercial areas are at Sunset and Hanson's.” Concert promoter Thom Greco, whose five-year lease for the land housing the amphitheater expires at the end of the season, said he has the option to renew his lease and to make a counteroffer to any bid submitted for the land. He said he hasn't discussed any fig- ures with them. “No matter who buys the land, my five-year lease still stands,” he said. “The buyer then has income from a tenant for the first [ive years.” He said he sees any bids on the properly and has the right either to make a counteroffer or to say he doesn’t want to bid. His busi- ness occupies three of the eight parcels which make up the 25 acres, he added. “I'm always interested,” Greco said. “A good 60 percent of my business involves real estate hold- ings in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Allentown.” Greco and the amphitheater became involved with the Hansons in 1991, after the borough re- fused to approve a zoning change from commercial to residential, which would have paved the way for Shirley Hanson to develop her land into 166-unit townhouses. Her application for the zoning change was denied August 7, 1991, after two public meetings soliciting comment on the issue, at which more than 100 residents voiced opposition to her plan. Conflicting reports onthe avail- ability of walter supplies [or the development and its possible ef- fect on the borough's sewer and road systems were cited by resi- dents wanting an environmental impact study performed before the zoning change was approved. “If you put this commercial propertly into the wrong hands it could destroy the lake,” Hanson said at the May 29, 1991, meet- ing. adding she had received of- fers to build low-income housing or a night club with outdoor con- certs at the site and offers [rom a religious organization and a [or- eign company to buy the land. Dr. Dennis Gaza Has announced the closing of his medical practice at 199 Lake Street, Dallas, Pa. Patient records are being held at Mercy Medical Management Solutions, 330 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic, Pa., 18507. Patients can request copies of their records by calling Linda Norton, (717) 341-6674 or writing to her at the above address. Bursting with Back Movnfain news The Dallas Post 0 i a hometown paper you can feel good about ELIZABETH MUNKATCHY Elizabeth Munkatchy, formerly of Noxen, died May 10, 1996 in Specially Hospital, Houston. Born “Dec. '14.>1911, in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late Gabriel and Mary Kalmar. She was a member of Noxen United Methodist Church, the Classmates and Eastern Siar Dallas Chapter No. 396. She was preceded in death by her husband, William. Surviving are her son, Robert, Houston; stepdaughters, Eunice Haverick, East Stroudburg; Jane Race, Noxen; stepson, William, Noxen; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Ann Kalmar and Agnes Kish, both of Scranton; Mary Ellen Costanzo, WI; Florence Fleth, Dummore; brothers, George Kalmar, CA; Edward Kalmar, Newark, NJ: nieces and nephews. Interment, Orcutt Grove Cem- etery, Noxen. OBITUARIES ERIC PHILLIPS Eric Phillips, 37. of: RR 5 Tunkhannock, died May 6, 1996 in Wilkes-Barre General Hospi- tal. Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of Linda Pilger of Beau- mont and the late Ernest A. Phillips. He 'was employed by Offset Pa- perback and was a member of Local 137 Printers Union. Surviving in additon to his mother are, his wife, Karen; sons, Eric John II and Alex Michael, both at home; stepfather, Bob Pilger, Beaumont; brother, Ernie, Dallas; sisters, Elaine Brennan, Beaumont; Eden Alden, Allen: town; a half-brother, Walter Pilger Beaumont; half-sister, Sara Pilger, Beaumont; stepbrothers, Robert Pilger, Kunkle; Mark and James Pilger, both of Harveys Lake; a stepsister, Carol Pilger, Forty Fort; a step-grandmother, Eleanor Phillips, Lewisburg. Interment was at the conve: nience of the family. Lake Twp. to recycle newsprint May 18 Newspaper will be collected at the Lake Township drop off center on Route 29, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Paper should be packed in paper bags and all glossy inserts removed. All-U-Can-Eat breakfast May 19 at Ruggles Ruggles United Methodist Church, Rt. 29. behind Harveys Lake, will host an All-U-Can-Eat-Breakfast, Sunday, May 19. 10 am.-1 p.m. Adults $4.50, children $3.50. Free under [ive years. We B “T'here’s Nowhere to Go But U pl” ¢ Trade up once during the initial term ¢ Minimum deposit $1,000 ® Three different levels paying top yields ® 24-month term ¢ Limited offer. Act now! 8 “With My Revolutionary CD, A Good Rate Can Only Get Better!” With Franklin First's Revolutionary CD, you can't go wrong! If rates should go down, you'll be locked in at an attractive, competitive Annual Percentage Yield in your choice of three levels. But if rates go up, you have the option of trading for a higher rate. There's nowhere to go but up. And there's nothing to do but drop by Franklin First for a Revolutionary CD this week. I] One Day We'll Be YOUR Bank 1-800-262-1210 « (717) 821-7100 4 See... FRANKLIN FIRST Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers