RE SE Sct Si es A BE G0 gr FL 4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, July 24, 1996 DS LE EC — EDITORIALS Tax reform yes, but fair and up-to-date State legislators are again proposing changes in the way school districts collect the taxes necessary to fund their operation. This will be the third attempt in recent years to shift the tax base from property to income; both the prior plans failed. While there are good arguments for greater reliance on income taxes and less on property levies, no tax scheme could ever be completely fair. Much is made of the crushing burden ever-increasing property taxes place on people on fixed in- comes — usually identified as elderly persons with no children in school — but higher income taxes could put pressure on young families with good incomes but little savings. One point rarely mentioned in attacks on property taxes is that owners of older homes pay taxes on long-outdated valua- tions, while buyers of new homes pay a premium rate. That's because no widespread revaluation of property in Luzerne County has taken place in more than 30 years. The result is a wide imbalance in tax bills among properties of equal value, depending on when they were .built. So, some of the people screaming loudest about higher taxes are actually paying at a considerably lower rate than most property owners. The bills pending now in Harrisburg contain a provision for districts to offer a “Homestead Exemption,” by which residen- tial property values could be lowered while commercial prop- erties retain their higher valuation, and thus higher taxes. This is patently unfair; businesses already contribute more than their fair share to government funding, and they should not be expected to subsidize the cost of public schools. We think income is a fairer basis for taxation than property. But any change in the tax laws should include a requirement that properties be reassessed every 10 years, so that property owners are treated equally and fairly. And distinctions between residential and business property should be eliminated. Helping others, being paid in pride and humility Many Back Mountain people go out of their way to help others, whether as members of a service organization or by acts of personal kindness. This willingness to share one’s good fortune is a hallmark of American life, in which volunteers take on,many of the tasks left to government in other nations. ‘Grace Dove profiles one example of this spirit this week in a piece on Dr. George Cimochowski, a heart surgeon who go to Poland later this year, teaching, lecturing and bringing much needed equipment to the struggling democracy. He began these trips in 1993, and like so many others who have gone to i less-developed countries, was drawn back by the remarkable vitality of people struggling to do good in difficult conditions. Dr. Cimochowski says he gets as much as he gives from these trips, in doses of inspiration and appreciation for the comforts and medical advantages Americans enjoy. We would guess his Polish hosts and patients feel equally lucky to have the attention of an American mentor who give so freely of his time and talent. Publisher's notebook One of the more idiotic ideas circulating this election year would offer payment vouchers to parents whose children attend private schools, including those run by religious orga- nizations. Sounding more like a populist than a conservative, Bob Dole presented an enhanced version last week, offering to give $2.5 billion per year of taxpayers’ money to many people who don’t need it. Here are a few reasonable questions I would ask of both those who would dole out the money and those who would receive it. For the givers: * Why should we give tax money to people who already send their kids to private school, and can easily afford to continue doing so? » Will you demand that schools receiving aid meet certain standards, just as the public schools must? * Don't you think some schools will simply raise their tuition rates an amount equal to the vouchers’ value? For the recipients: * Do you really believe that public money will come without strings attached? * Will you be willing to expand your facilities to accommodate new students, knowing full well there's no guarantee the money will keep lowing? » Will you accept students with, learning, physical or emo- tional disabilities? If you do, can you maintain your academic standards? Since our kids go to Gate of Heaven School, we would rake in some of your money if a voucher plan is adopted. While I don’t mind cashing checks, I would resent paying more for someone else's children to Btend a school that won't accept everyone. I'd rather see the government work harder to improve the public schools, and not just by throwing money at bricks and mortar. They could use more of the standards and discipline found in private and parochial schools, for which people are now willing to spend extra money. 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 Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER PRINTED WITH NTN PENNSYLVANIA SOY INK] BO IE VSPAPER NEWSPAPER i 52 AT EU bi Re Dritls A SA OAAS arM Hayfield barn, but no hay. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. As I was Jack Hilsher This column starts éut heavy, but not to worry...itends up much lighter. The subject is suicide, topical because of that high navy official whose tragic end over two combat ribbons is not easy to understand. Seems to me it would have been better for all concerned - especially the poor Admiral - if Newsweek had kept its big nose out of the whole thing. Anyway, some figures on this subject are not current-up-to- dates would certainly be worse - but they are bad enough and they do show the problem's scope: Each day over 100 people in the U.S. kill themselves. Worldwide make that 1,000 each day. (And failed attempts numberat least 10 times those which succeed.) It is said that “suicide knows no boundaries” and that all soci- eties are puzzled by this deliber- ate attempt by man to end his existence. No age, norace, no sex, nothing leads the pack, ‘except LIBRARY NEWS By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The 50th annual Back Moun- tain Memorial Library Auction is now history. The tents have gone back, the tables have been re- turned, the vendors have taken their wares, and the grounds are gradually returning to normal. The Rotary Club of Dallas is work- ing on the refreshment stand to clean and restore it and the auc- tion block is ready to be closed up for another year. The initial re- ports have been that every booth and vendor, new goods items, odds and ends, books, nearly old items and antiques have exceeded their expectations in revenues. The Ham ‘n Yegg hams were an exciting venture for this 50th cel- When you go, leave your heart and soul to the girls that those most publicized are those most prominent. Some ex- amples follow. Jack London, 40, author. 1916. Record: 51 books in dozens of languages. Reason: Drink. Suf- fered severe pain from poor diet and booze. Method: Poison. Ivar Kreuger, 52, Swedish In- dustrialist (the “Match King") 1932. Record: Supplied most of world's matches from factories in 34 countries. Obsessed with ac- cumulating wealth, bought every- thing in sight but Wall Street's crash floored him in 1929 and he lost it all. Method: Gunshot. James Forrestal, 57, 1st U.S. Defense Secretary, 1949. Record: Built U.S. Navy into world’s larg- est. Worked 20 hours per day. One of most important and influ- ential government officials ever. Methods: Admitted to Bethesda Naval Hosital for “occupational fatigue” but one month later jumped from 16th floor. Marilyn Monroe, 36, actress, 1962. Record: Became American sex symbol, appeared in long string of successful pictures. Rumored to have had affairs with two Kennedys, one of them the President of these United States. Method: Barbituate overdose. Sometimes there are suicide notes...one in five suicides leaves a note. Suicidologists claim they are probably a “cry for help.” Some notes may be scrawled on a mirror. Some may be neatly typed. Others with pencil, chalk or a stick - whatever is handy. A comparison study of phony suicide notes against genuine notes concluded that most tend to be stereotyped and contain few adjectives or adverbs. Some ex- amples that don't fit the usual pattern: A banker left a list of instruc- tions and concluded, “Sorry to be a nuisance this way. Call...(and he named his choice of undertak- ers.) One woman left three notes: “There is nothing mysterious about this, and “I am taking whis- key, it makes it easier,” and the third, “It's harder than I thought.” Then there was a 45-year old man who left very precise instruc- tions and this final comment: “My small estate I bequeath to my mother; my body to the nearest accredited medical school; my heart and soul to all the girls; and my brain to Harry Truman.” Auction revenues exceed everyone's expectations ebration. A new item was the basket auction, which was re- ceived quite well. The antique and the new good chance items were given to the lucky winners and everyone seemed {o enjoy the various kinds of food available on the grounds. Awarm thank youis extended to Ernie Ashbridge and everyone who worked with him to make the 50th auction a huge success! New books at the library: “Lily White” by Susan Isaacs is an ambitious novel that introduces Lee White, a criminal defense law- yer practicing on Long Island. Into her life drifts Norman Torkelson, a career con man charged with strangling todeath his latest mark. The case seems to be routine. “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” by Terry McMillan is the story of Stella Payne, who is 42, divorced, a high powered invest- ment analyst, mother of 11-year old Quincy—and she does it all. From Little League car-pool duty to analyzing portfolios. She con- fronts hopes and fears about love. “The Winter's Hero” by Vassily Aksyonov is a remarkable saga in the years following the second world war. Russiain the 1950's is a world created in the image of an increasingly paranoid Joseph Stalin, a society where campaigns against artists, intellectuals and others destroy thousands of people. “Sacrament” by Clive Barker is the story of Will Rabjohns, per- haps the most famous wildlife pho- tographer in the world, who has made his reputation chronicling the fates of endangered species. Including his own. As he is rising in his career, he is witnessing his own world ravaged by AIDS. x (OF "HI { YESTERDAY [Sxl | 60 Years Ago - July 31, 1936 : | COURT NIXES DALLAS | TAXPAYER GROUPS' CASE: For the first time since May, | | Dallas Borough School Board » ! could function without fear of vio- | lating injunctions this week. Last. of three cases pending against the | | district ended Friday when Judge | John S. Fine, handed down a! decision fixing the tax levy at 29! mills, a reduction of one mill un- der the budget which had been adopted by the school <board. | | Fine's action concluded the! sit | started by H. Stanley Doll; secre- h)) tary of Dallas Taxpayer's Associa- | tion. The same group of taxpay- ers which brought the suit had- supported two other actions. against the local board.: ‘Both were decided in the board's faver: by Judge William S. McLean. S50 Years Ago - Aug. 2, 1946, MRS. HICKS SLIGHTLY "~~ HURT IN CARACCIDENT ~~ @ Several complaints against raw’ sewage running in the streets of Dallas were heard at the Dallas Borough Board of Health meeting Tuesday evening. The board re-- solved to take drastic action against the PA. Ladies Slovak Union unless immediate steps are taken to remedy the condition in front of its property on Huntsville - ©) Road. The board also heard com- | plaints against overflowing sumps and septic tanks on Lehman Av- - enue and at Main and Orchard Streets. abEdAde ly Considerably bruised and shaken up in an auto accident - last Saturday at Stoney Creek, VA, Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks, Dallds Post’ columnist, is recovering at the . home of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Howard Todd, Charleston, S. C. wr Mrs. Hicks, who was driving: alone at the time of the accident, was hit by another machine making a left hand turn near Stoney Creek. Shaver Theatre has completed installation of a penthotise’ and large exhaust fan on the roof of its building in Shavertown. Opera- tion of the fan makes the theatre ; several degrees cooler and 'pa-- trons have complimented Shaver on the increased comfort. ' * '" 40 Years Ago - July 27, 1956: + SCHOOL JOINTURE MAY FACE PROBLEMS ! Lehman-Jackson-Ross jointiire face a possible loss of $271, 000 State appropriation if it does not carry successfully to its consum- mation a further jointure with | Pp Lake and Noxen school districts, says Lester Squire, supervising principal. Jackson Township di- rectors are unable to get a Inajor- ity vote in favor. Jointure requires that all boards vote aye. SH Dallas Lions Club will sponser a Hert ante at Dallas Owtdoor Theatre Aug. 8, fealuring-a-pic-- ture for the entire family. Be- tween the shows, a number, of prizes will be given away. Dallas Lions Night is for the benefit of sight-saving for school children. . ® 30 Years Ago - July 28, 1966: NEW PHONE RATES FOR SWEETVALLEY. ‘24. The telephone base rate area : revisions to be filed Aug. 1, with Public Utility Commission will ‘af. © fect annual savings of $1,538.40 for 71 Sweet Valley customers who are paying mileage charges, ’ says R.E. Koeb, District Manager’ of Commonwealth Telephone Cor Ifapproved by the PUC these tariff revisions will go into effect Oct. X, A well known Back Mount i couple, Mr. and Mrs. John A: Girvan, Lake St., Dallas, marked . their 59th wedding anniversary [7 July 20. The Girvans were par- ents of 10 children. A son swas Killed in Italy in WW II and two- daughters are also dscsayedn: 20 Years Ago - July 29,1976 PROPOSED POST OFFICE CHANGE DOESN'T FLY Abraham George, an official of the Wilkes-Barre post office ac-- companied by Robert Voelker, alsa | Bp of the Wilkes-Barre post, office, appeared before Dallas Borough Council at their meeting to ask council's opinion on a recommen- dation to include the Dallas post office as a branch of the Wilkes- Barre post office for economy and personnel efficiency. Most’ mem- bers of the council did not seém‘in accord with the suggestion, point- ing to the Shavertown post office, | | whichis a branch of Wilkes-Barre. .
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers