The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, October 30, 1996." 5 ane, ot “in the oh so important flap over @ thediscipline of coaches and play- i#.ers in the Dallas School District, t.+only one individual and one group have any claim to showing integ- "rity and class. ‘«;@’he individual turns out, of all t= disciplining Aaron Pietraccini, he b. had every right to protest being {suspended before receiving a fair @ icaring. Protest he did, but in a dignified anner. When the board reinstated («- him while awaiting a formal inves- “ligation into the charges, it was i "only undoing an obvious error, but Brady accepted the decision with fagoed grace. =. ,*The group who deserves kudos for its role in this mini-drama was the Dallas Gridiron Club. They at- terfded the special school board meeting to resolve the issue in force, but managed to put in a credible performance at what many .,y Would have expected to be a loud, \,, acrimonious mob scene. "My only question for the erst- “* while members is how many of the 7500 or so of you who showed up for this major issue have put in an Uappearance a school board meet- 7ing to discuss something minor, ® (like, say, the closing of a school? ¥3 That said, I present the rest of =the cast: lo The School Board: If you're go- ii1ing to fold and do something stu- pid whenever an irate parent waves «ian attorney at you - quit, and save the voters of the district the trouble Qf booting you out on election day. «And I must add, if a coach threat- ened me with not showing up at a 1, game unless he got his way, there -wotild be only one answer, quick “and irrevocable - show up at the game, or don't show up at all - we'll “mail you your last paycheck. Bh fhe Irate Dad: I'm a father too, x1 a bo uy Rah! Rah! Rah! Go Coach, GO!! so I'll never buy this "my boy (or girl) would never do this", or "my boy (or girl) shouldn't have been treated like this" crap. My kids just might do this, and if they did, they deserve exactly what they get. I sincerely hope young Aaron isn't considering a tour in the mili- tary. It might strike him as exces- sive punishment to be told "Drop and give me thirty, dud!" for about the tenth time that day. (I certainly thought it was excessive.) When you show up with an Es- quire in tow, it will lead to embar- rassment (not to mention a blan- ket party) for the boy, and will certainly lead to gales of laughter at the NCO club that night. My advice as a professional: keep your lawyer in your pocket until you really need him. See below. The Player: First he's giving lip to a teacher, which started the whole mess, then he blows off a game, further aggravating his prob- lem. Maybe because his big brother is co-captain of the varsity squad, he thinks he's one of the anointed. There's a lot of maybe's involved, but think it's obvious the boy has an attitude. Hmm, maybe you should con- sider sending him into the service, dad! The Lawyers: Unnecessary leeches whose presence in any situ- ation is guaranteed to confuse, obfuscate, and bury facts, foryears, if not decades. (And incidentally, generate generous paychecks for themselves.) As a general rule: utterly useless. The Coach: Ted Jackson had every right to defend his assistant, and everyone would have been dis- appointed had he left Brady dan- gling in the wind. However, suggesting you and the rest of your staff might miss the homecoming game over this was a bum call. Wah! Wah! If you don't play my way, I'm taking my ball home! Gee, what an inspirational mes- sage that is to teach the team! And speaking of inspiration, if Brady did indeed lean on Pietraccini too hard, I wonder where he could have picked up that kind of an attitude? From his boss and former coach, perhaps? A lot of players and Gridiron Club members used the phrase "discipline and respect" in their defense of Brian Brady. Ted Jackson's grandstanding showed a grandiose lack of self-discipline, and a disgraceful lack of respect for the school board, the students, and yes, even his team. Personally, I think you should beat feet and clear the way for someone who will teach the Dallas football team "discipline and re- spect” by their example, not just their words. I've little doubt that my opinion is in the minority, and that their are many who will vehemently dis- agree, so I might as well go all the way and state my underlying prob- lem with this sordid scenario. I do not dispute the importance of team sports to those who take part, but I am frustrated and of- fended at the emphasis so many attach to what are, after all, just games, in the face of far more serious issues involving our schools. I was really frosted that stu- dents were dismissed early to at- tend the Dallas homecoming game. First of all, I, for one, send my children to school to attend class and learn. Only the kids on the field learn anything from a sport- ing event. Secondly, because of the weather, the game had to be post- poned to a school day afternoon. Excuse me, but DUH!, don't you think it might be reasonably ex- pected that the weather, or per- haps the arrest of some star player, might end up delaying the game? So why not have a backup date set aside on a WEEKEND!? But no, this would be too much to expect from people with such twisted priorities. While districts across the coun- try lavish so much attention and money on their athletes, the rest of the student body are reduced to a herd, useful for filling the stands, but otherwise allowed to drift along into drugs, sex, and trouble. ol Editor: On behalf of the Dallas High School Student Council and the entire student body, we would like to thank Mrs. Sprau, Student Council Advisor for her leader- ship, tireless efforts, enthusiasm oy J LETTERS =v + LYN Ld 8) AEE i and guidance in helping our Stu- dent Council develop and present a ‘great’ Homecoming program for our school. Dallas High School has a execellent faculty and it is exemplified by Mrs. Sprau. I also need to recognize and o Student council president praises advisor thank the many students who worked so diligently decorating, planning and participating in our Homecoming activities. Aaron Getz President, Student Council 1 Hiw i } - @ \"“ DEATH OF AN INNOCENT 1241 went to a party, mom, I re- by ‘membered what you said L950You told me not to drink, so I “""8rank soda instead. "OL really felt proud, mom, the way you said I would. “1 didn’t drink and drive, even “hough the others said I should. “1 know 1 did the right thing, mom, I know you were always right a+ «Now the party is finally ending, ~dmom, everyone is driving out of ; y sight. avs, 4 As i got into my car, mom, I ~ciknew I'd get home in one piece, 201+ sbecause of the way you raised »34€, so responsible and sweet. 19sjih started to drive away, mom, »1ibut as I pulled into the road, a1) the other car did not see me @ and hit me like a load. srit 1/As I lay here on the pavement, 4" 6m, 1 hear the policeman say... "4574 the other guy is drunk, mom, “7fow I'm the one to pay. I'm lying here dying, mom, I wish you'd get here soon. 0" How could this happen to me, mom, my life has burst like a balloon. There is blood all around me, @ ‘mbm, and most of it is mine. % LY hear the medics say, mom, I'll “14i€'in a short time. JE [0 v g ~ A333 img! fr y + | It's Easy to sme | Subscribe! use the handy coupon | on page 2. ] Daxnt I just wanted to tell you, mom, I swear I didn't drink. It was the others, mom, the others didn’t think. He was probably at the same party as I the only diference is, he is drunk and I will die. Why do people drink mom? It can ruin your whole life. I am feeling sharp pains now, pains just like a knife. The guy who hit me is walking, mom, and I don’t think it's fair. I'm lying here dying, and all he can do is stare. Tell brother not to cry, mom, tell Daddy to be brave and when I go to heaven, mom, put “daddy's girl” on my grave. Someone should have told him, mom, not to drink and drive. If only they had told him, mom, I'd still be alive. My breath is getting shorter, mom, I'm becoming very scared. Please don't cry for me, mom, you were always there. I have one last question, mom, before I say goodbye, I didn’t drink and drive, mom, so why am I the one to die? Former Dallas Post employee Linda Smith submitted this poem, which she received on the Internet Jrom a friend who, like Linda, is concerned about people who drink and drive. : SPROg Members of the Back Mountain Land Trust who attended the national land trust rally in Vermont are, from left; Ellen Alaimo, Doug Ayers VMD, Will Conyngham, president, and Linda Thoma, administrator. Rally recharges Land Trust members By ALENE N. CASE Post Correspondent BACK MOUNTAIN - Along with some new information, four mem- bers of the Back Mountain Re- gional Land Trust brought back renewed spirits from the National Land Trust Rally. Ellen Alaimo, Doug Ayers, Will Conyngham and Linda Thoma were among 1,100 people from 37 states and four countries who at- tended the annual National Land Trust Rally in Burlington, Ver- mont, Oct. 17-20. The Vermont Land Trust and The Nature Con- servancy of Vermont, which co- hosted the event, expected around 800 people to attend. Instead, they were forced to close registra- tion when more than 1,000 people had registered more than amonth before the Rally. Doug Ayers, a local veterinar- ian who has attended the past three national rallies, found Ver- mont to be an excellent location for such an event. He says that “the populace is clearly behind the concept” of land trusts in Ver- mont. The governor, Howard Dean, addressed the gathering, as did a Republican U.S. Senator from the state and the mayor of Burlington. According to Dr. Ayers, Vermont has successful programs to preserve farmland “because they know that the farm- land is their bread and butter, literally, because people come there to look at that.” October 17 was a day devoted to field trips. The two men joined a group of 40 persons who canoed seven miles of the Lamoille River, a scenic stream which empties into Lake Champlain. The women visited the town of Stowe and the Trapp Family Lodge where they were guided by Johannes von Trapp, the youngest of the chil- dren made famous in the musical The Sound of Music. His family has recently placed a conservation easementon 1,100 acres of their property to ensure that it will remain in its natural condition forever and to retain the scenic value of the land. During the next three days, the participants attended workshop sessions and seminars on topics ranging from organizational man- agement to fundraising to the “nuts and bolts” of conservation easements to the protection of watersheds. Each of the four local representatives attended dif- ferent sessions so they could bring as much information as possible back with them to the Back Moun- tain Regional Land Trust. Many of these ideas were already being discussed and implemented at the regular monthly meeting October 24. But, when asked what they considered the most important thing they brought home with them, the unanimous response was “energy and enthusiasm.” Will Conyngham, president of the lo- ~ cal organization, used the word “empowerment” and emphasized that, “A Land Trust is a necessary component of any progressive community.” The Back Mountain Regional Land Trust is currently working on two conservation easements which will bring the total acreage protected to more than 100. They need people who can advise the board on matters as diverse as law, surveying, ecology and wet- lands management, and environ- mental education. They also are in the process of setting up com- mittees to handle publicity, fi- nance, activities, etc. Volunteers who are willing to donate some time and expertise are most wel- come. If you are interested in catch- ing the spirit of this land trust and participating in any way in their future projects, please contact Linda Thoma at 675-2274. she represents. EFFECTIVE. PHYLLIS MUNDY IN A WORD — Bringing back home the tax dollars you send to Harrisburg. Fighting to create new jobs and save existing ones. Listening to you at countless one-on-one sessions, fo- rums and town meetings. These are the hallmarks of State Representative Phyllis Mundy’s service. All her constituents in the Back Mountain know Phyllis Mundy feels everybody across the 120th District should be heard and ... helped. Phyllis MUNDY | 2 {=e (LE Paid for by Phyllis Mundy for State Representative Committee NC She’s dedicated herself to serving full-time the people Phyllis Mundy started the wheels in motion with eco- nomic development officials to relocate 100 new jobs here from New Jersey. She helped save rail service for four major em- ployers. There are now traffic lights at dangerous intersec- tions in Kingston, Exeter, West Pittston and the Back Moun- tain because of Phyllis Mundy’s persistence. She had PennDOT erect sound barriers along the Cross Valley Expressway. In short, Phyllis Mundy gets things done. Friend of working families. Advocate for senior citi- zens. Promoter of economic growth. Full-time legislator. Endorsed by both labor and business — the state AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce.
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