4 . The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, July 17, 1996 a Be EDITORIALS | Kingston Twp. makes right move with vendor rules . Kingston Township has moved quickly to level the playing field for resident businesses that must compete with transients such as the flower tents. Supervisors passed two ordinances last week, which together should assure that these stores on wheels don’t hold an unfair advantage. ‘The new rules lift the fee temporary merchants pay to the township from $10 peryear to $300 per month, and limits them to 30 days per year. While that may sound like a stiff charge, it is surely less than established businesses pay in rent or mortgage each month, not to mention taxes, utilities and other costs of doing business. Farmers selling their own produce are exempted from paying the fee. The township also now requires that transient merchants conform to all zoning regulations for setbacks and parking, obtain state highway occupancy permits if located along a state road, and hook in to the municipal sewer or provide portable lavatories. A few champions of unfettered free enterprise will object to these restrictions, claiming that temporary stands were the birthplace of many permanent businesses or that more compe- tition is always good for the consumer and the marketplace. While both points are valid — though not always so — concerns for salety and the preservation of a stable permanent business structure outweigh them here. Transient businesses like the . flower tent did [ar more harm than good in the Back Mountain, and il they were allowed to continue picking ofl customers during the best seasons, would eventually have gouged a hole in our retail community. Appearances matter, too, and a town flooded with vendors in tents doesn’t project a positive image either to its populace or those passing through. Of course, if temporary businesses siphon off enough profits, even permanent ones would look shabby, as funds for maintenance would dry up along with the morale of the business people. Government surely should not coddle business, but neither should it allow private interests to overtake what is best [or the vast majority of its citizens. In this case, making temporary ‘merchants comply with the same rules permanent businesses must observe serves the wider community well. Publisher's notebook ul Like many of our readers, Charlotte and I have enjoyed attending the library auction each year, browsing through the tenls, munching on goodies and even offering a few bids. We are fortunate to live within walking distance, so it wasn't unusual forone or the other of us to be there for a couple of hours each night, most times with the kids in tow, or at least as close as we could convince them {0 stay. All that changed this year, when we agreed (o lead the committee that solicits and collects new items to the sold over the block. Now we havela different perspective on the auction. It's not just four days of fun and (rolic; it's months of planning and hard work, capped by long nights spent on the block bringing out items for display and sale, moving sold merchandise to buyers’ cars,.worrying whether there’s too much or too little to sell. and wondering if the bids are really enough to meet the library's needs. And it’s still fun, even il you end each night exhausted. Hundreds of volunteers devote endless hours to the auction each year, and many of them have been doing it for many years — even a few decades — so our rookie year isn’t particularly noteworthy. I even invited some new helpers this year, and they all showed up. But we haven't even scratched the surface of the potential in the Back Mountain, and not just for workers. Despite the crowds and the record sales, there still is a large group of people who don’t attend the auction, and we won't quit until we [igure out how to gel them out to this unique event. That old saying was never more true: They don’t know what they're missing. Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post attempts to publish opinions on a variety of topics in many [orms. 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 lo the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: * Letters should not exceed 500 words. e No writer may have more than one letter published during a 30-day period, excepl as a reply to another letter. ¢ Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. * 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. LiBRARY AUCTION HISTORY Past chairpersons of the Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction gathered Friday night for a tribute. Pauline Kutz introduced them. From left, kneeling; Peggy Harvey, '95: Connie Scott, '90, '92: Joseph Killeen, '82. Standing; Bill Jones, '93; John Shaskas, '86, '88, '89: Bill Spurlin, '79; William Umphred, '73; Rena Rothschild, '78; Kerry Freeman, '77. '83. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LETTERS [ love you, people of the Back Mountain! Editor: Last week my husband Joe and I worked together to produce a custom framed plein air painting to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Back Mountain Memorial Library Auciton. We borrowed reference photos from The Dallas Postnewspaper files so that I could include several historicial auc- tion figures in the painting, and I want to thank all of you at The Post for your help and generosity in sharing your files with me. To my incredulous surprise, a group of the Auction Committee As I was saying Jack Hilsher My dictionary defines the noun “pun” as “a humorous use of a word where it can have different meanings.” Puns have also been classified as “the lowest form of humor.” Not so fast. I don't agree. Nor does James Kilpatrick, the noted wordsmith. In his language col- umn he said “every lover of lan- guage admires a fine simile and an apt metaphor is a thing of beauty. But a truly clever pun is a work of art in a class by itself.” Never mind that my main man Fred Allen once said, “Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.” (Some pun, eh kid?) Seriously, if you must, all of us know someone who likes to pun whenever they can in ordinary conversation. I had a cousin in Canada who couldn't discuss any subject without punning. His were usually awful. (His folks had named him “Ewart,” perhaps that was his problem. Where they got the name I'll never tell you but thankfully he got called “Bud” later on.) 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 Paul Rismiller PRODUCTION MANAGER 2) PRINTED WITH |S=7|soVINK| Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER wimnen 7 NIN PENNSYIVANIA “neice. SEL 3 NATIONAL NEWSPAPER EV/SPAP] ASSOCIATION NEWSPAPER By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Book Club held their meet- ing on June 17. The secretary's report was given by Mary Lou Swingle, treasurer's report by Elin Northrup and the contingency report by Blanche Thompson. Mary Panaway reported on the new books. The next Book Club meeting will be on September 16. New books at the library: “The Choice” by Bob Woodward is the behind-the-scenes story of Presi- dent Bill Clinton and Senate Ma- jority Leader Bob Dole over the last two years. It is the personal and political story of how the nation's two top leaders prepared themselves to square off for the members, workers and attenders pledged the necessary funds for the purchase of that painting when it went across the auction block. They have donated the painting to the Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary for permanent display. 1 want to publicly thank each and every one of you who gave money to that fund for your belief in, and appreciation of, my artwork! The people of this community have always inspired me, and now I feel honored beyond my dreams. I have won over a dozen interna- tional art awards, but none of them have resulted in the plea- sure and honor that came from hearing the applause of the citi- zens of my hometown commu- nity. In my opinion a few artists across the nation have been for- tunate enough to [ind the friends, support and encouragement that I have found here in the Back Mountain. A simple “Thank you" seems so inadequate, but I want you all to know that my heart feels ready loburstas I write the words, “Thank you Back Mountain! 1 love you so much.” Sue Hand Dallas A collection of rather pun-gent plays on words Several years ago there was something called “The Pun Foun- dation” and they published a newsletter called “The Pundit” which contained most of the fol- lowing gems. They certainly illus- trate the Art of Punditry: —One summer a prolonged drought played havoc with truck farms. Frozen food companies had a terrible year. Fresh peas were shriveled, eggplants were small, tomatoes and other veg- etables died on the vine. As a result, many were culled but few were [rozen. (Yes, I do hear the groans but I have no plans to stop.) —The pastor of a Lutheran church in Philadelphia decided to go easy on low-income members of his congregation. Pastor Glenn Zorbrecognized that not everyone is fit to be tithed. —A farmer had a small stream running through his New Hamp- shire farm and his wife, an invet- erate gardener, planted {lowers along the stream and kept ils borders clean and clear. This is because she loves to weed a good brook. (Stop complaining...they gel worse.) —Famed archer William Tell was also a championship bowler. His entire family excelled at the sport. As his fame grew, following the story of young Bill and the apple. every merchant in Switzer- 1996 presidential election. Never before has political reporting pro- vided voters with so much authoratative, in-depth informa- tion on the candidates before a presidential election. The book sets the stage for the November 5, 1996 election with a study of the contenders in action - their dis- cussions, conversations, assess- ments, disappoints, anger and triumphs. “Dust and Ashes” by Anatoli Rybakov brings to life the seminal event of the modern era-World War II-from the Russian perspec- tive. As Stalin and Hitler clash, Red Army tanks advance, and the struggle that changed the course of the 20th century plays out on the battlefields, the story brings the Soviet experience to ils spec- tacular conclusion. The epic spans the most dramatic years, land recruited atleast a cousin for his team. After a while it became hard to be sure for whom the Tells bowl. —Stephen King tells about the smog in London getting so bad many of the city’s famous rooks began to die off. London City Council, concerned because the birds were a good tourist attrac- tion, found an American aviarist who was willing to raise a flock of smog-resistant birds to replace the fallen fliers. But this supplier was so slow tht the Council kept nagging him with insistent cables: “Bred Any Good Rooks Lately?” (Please stop that groaning.) —You've heard about the king who stowed his throne in a grass house, so we can skip that one and conclude with the classic tale of the sultan’s favorite dolphins. The ruler loved them so dearly that he kept a pride of lions to - guard their lagoon. The dolphins could live forever on a diet of pigeon meat. One day, alas, the dolphins’ keepers ran out of pi- geon meat. In desperation, they tranquilized the lions and brought in gull meat instead. Police swiftly discovered their crime and brought appropriate charges. They arrested the keepers for transporting gulls across state li- ons for immortal porpoises. Now...you'd think I should be sorry but I'm not. New book contains voters' info on Dole, Clinton 1937-1943, as Stalin's egomania undermines the red Army-just when the Russian people face the Nazi onslaught. “Grand Jury” by Philip Friedman reveals the dramatic form of the inner workings of the American criminal justice system as experienced by both prosecu- tors and defense lawyers. The reader is taken beyond the public face of the courtroom, behind the scenes of the only secret proceed- ings in American jurisprudence— the Grand Jury. It is a towering novel of corruption, conspiracy and courage that reaches all the way to the highest levels of U.S. and Chinese officialdom. It is a work of many parts and many levels, challenging the reader to take a trip into a new and threat- ening world where even angels might fear to tread. ONLY | YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - July 24, 1936. ; DROUGHT WORSENS. ,. Moving to forestall a possible ‘i water shortage if the drought corr: = tinues, Dallas-Shavertown Water: Co. this week leased WiC) Shepherd's large well in tHe rear’, of his home on Machell Avente’- and has connected it to the main!" so it can be used to supply homes : in that section. selw Jbl Population of the Sandy Beach: Camp Sites broke the all-time’> record last week with 48" tents’. and trailers located there. There‘ are more than 200 people livirigat the sites, with more on the way. Trailers are becoming more popu~ lar every year. Last yeat there: were only two trailers stoppingat:: the lake, there are seven here this’; summer. “3617 50 Years Ago - July 26,1946 LEHMAN AVE. LOTS.GET hy AFACELIFT, TRIM In line with its policy of rasiing % the educational standards and at, the same time improving- the: physical property of the districts Kingston Township School Board; will embark on a program.-that- will see all buildings improved: and refreshed and several new faces on the faculty when, school; opens this fall. A call for bids have been issued for improvement {eo} the grounds at Shavertown amt, Trucksville grade school build ings. Windows, doors and-woodr » work will be painted at the high. school building. CHOI G Lehman Avenue had its fae ir lifted this week when all weeds in,i- the vacant lots were cut downs. Similar operations on other roads, of the borough would be a help to chronic hay fever sufferers. « -(r, ji ; 40 Years Ago - July 20,1956 4 CIVIL DEFENSE HOLDS NUCLEAR EXERCISE + k The Policy Committee for Dal- las Area Schools will recommend continuance of Westmorelagé ane Dallas-Franklin-Menroe fdotball teams of the new jointure at the - Aug. 14 board meeting. Discus- | ™ 4 2 sions to go along with the status | @ 9 quo on athletics was made at the | | Tuesday evening meeting at the | administrative offices in Dallas. | More than 2,000,000 Pennsyl- | vanians will lose have their lives | in theoretical air attacks which form the basis of today's nation- wide civil defense test, Chief | Russell Honeywell, Dallas Bor- | ough Director of Civil Defense dis- closed yesterday. According to - Honeywell, today’s “paperattacks” : 1 will explode 15 nuclear weapons on or over 11 Pennsylvania cities. The smallest of these will be single Hiroshima type atomic bombs dropped on Johnstown and Wilkes-Barre. J 30 Years Ago - July 21, 1966 VANDALS HIT AUCTION | », Jerry Gardner, chairman of the 20th Library Auction, has reported | that this year's gross will be in the | neighborhood of $19,500 running ! close tolastyear's total of $19,687. Expenditures are approximately $4,000. Gardner said all revenue | has not been turned in. : Vandalism followed the Back | Mountain Library Auction this | year, much to the dismay of those | who are most interested .in ils success. William Berti had cleaned up the grounds following three nights of action ovér' the block. Tent flaps were secured and leftover items in the various stand were deemed safe for the time being. Mrs. Risley had her attention called to boys fooling around the stands. When she | checked, she was shocked to find books scattered, some with pages torn, tents slashed, odds and ends items broken and tossed to the | ground and the Forty Fort Ice | £9 ® WPT Ta Ma TR YA TAT - Cream truck used on show grounds broken into with its wind- shield and window glass smashed. 20 Years Ago - July 22,1976 CABLE COMPANY FIXES TV PROBLEMS Back Mountain Telecable Co. reported this week that it had resolved the transmission prob- lems on S. Pioneer Avenue and other sections of Trucksville prior to the Kingston Township super- visors meeting last week, at which time a letter from David Phillips was presented. The letter re- | quested supervisors reconsider the company's contract with the | township because of poor trans- | & mission and service. Foo
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers