LAs A eT A a Ca hE d EDITORIALS | 4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, January 29, 1997 * =1 Pray “Take time now to explain school plans - Dallas school board president Ernest Ashbridge closed the ast meeting by saying it may be April before the panel selects * a site for the new Westmoreland Elementary School, a com- ment that drew calcalls from the overflow audience. The “reaction was understandable in the context of a disappointing ua but stepping back [rom the question for a few weeks may not be such a bad idea. No matter what the final outcome, building a new school is "an important issue to the district's students, parents and taxpayers, and should be approached in a deliberate manner . that makes il easy for people to share their concerns while ; providing a forum for administrators to explain the reasoning « behind their recommendations. That really hasn't happened to the degree it might, but now there is time to do so. We urge the school board and administration to schedule a ‘series of public information sessions at which they can explain the educational, financial and administrative grounds for each potential site. These should be well-publicized in advance, and ~ comment from the community should be given equal weight . with the administration’s presentation. Varying the times and locations will assure that the greatest number of interested people may attend. Sessions like these would give anyone with a genuine interest in this issue a clear description of the advantages and drawbacks of each site, and might help school directors settle in their own minds the best location [or the school. The sooner these sessions are held, the better it will be for everyone. Ridge i is right; state should not be in liquor business ky A , + fs w. » Vy “Hooray for Gov. Tom Ridge’s support of plans to turn state iquor stores over to private owners. Despite the overheated “and inaccurate rhetoric coming [rom supporters of state stores, “there is no defensible reason [or the state to be in the business “of selling liquor. We know all the scare tactics that warn of “private stores willing to sell booze to children just to make a buck, but we don't buy them. The state’s proper role is to zegulate sales and enforce laws relating to alcoholic beverages, ot to sell them. 4: The plan must be more than just a ploy to let a privileged [ew ma on this lucrative trade, though. It must include the oppor- “rumity for entrepreuners (0 open new stores, particularly in ‘areas now ignored by the state system. More stores would “Ajean heightened competition, and that would bring greater "Selection and better prices [or consumers. ....JUs a sale bet that whatever profit the state now makes on liquor sales would be more than offset by additional sales, ' business andiemployment taxes paid by privately-owned stores, ' especially near the state’s borders. Even more important, Pennsylvania would no longer be in the inappropriate position + of excluding private industry from a legitimate enterprise, on . the shaky ground that the stale is saving us from our own evil . instincts. Publisher's notebook A good cup of collee is one of life’s great pleasures, but it's not , easy to come by. I've noticed that most restaurants, at least * affordable ones, have cheapened their coffee over the years, ' and even the [ew that use decent beans make the brew so weak ‘ the flavor is barely discernible. On the other hand, it seems ryou're less likely to get a cup that has been in the pot for hours than in the past, or maybe those new thermos-type devices are | in wide use. . Larger cities have been overrun with collee bars since they . spread [rom their base in Seattle a few years ago. We haven't : been so lucky, although a capuccino machine is no longer an ‘oddity, even in some convenience stores like Orloski’s. I like ' capuccino, without all the odd flavorings, just a little shaved ' chocolate on top, but my favorite cup of joe comes [rom Big Apple Bagels. Their dark roast would probably send anyone ‘used to ordinary restaurant colfee into shock: I love it. Of course, like most early Baby Boomers, I can’t drink the ‘high test aller noon anymore, unless I'm planning a late night oul. There must be some change that takes place in our cells “about age 40 to make us more sensitive to calleine. Maybe it’s ‘tied Lo the ones that control eyesight. Time was, I could drink ‘regular [rom morning ‘til night, and not lose a minute's sleep. ‘Now, one modest cup of dark roast is the highlight of the day. ‘and maybe that’s made it seem even tastier. a_i SiS TAD Your letters are welcome at The Dallas Post Our office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday ‘through Friday. Or mail your letter to us at 607 Main ; Rd., Dallas, PA 18612, or fax to (717) 675-3650. 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 Kylie Shafferkoetter REPORTER Dennise Casterline ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Paul Rismiller PRODUCTION MANAGER Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER 2) PRINTED WITH NIN PENNSYLVANIA |=7[SOYINK|_ NATIONAL HE wersnen NEWSPAPER Address: 10 E. South St., Tarigle. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. Waste not; want not A Case for consepyation RRP AO Alene N. Case I thought I had seen it all; but then, at Christmastime this year, my husband discovered that our grocery store had a most unusual display - they were selling fake “seedlings.” He even spent the $1.74 to bring one home as proof. On the card, sure enough, it said “seedlings” in big bold letters (see accompanying photograph). Then, when I turned the card over, it read “Made in China.” I kid you not! The old expression “Waste not; want not” keeps going through my head as I contemplate the nonsense of buying a fake seed- ling. Of course, this is not the only example of Yuletide items that are basically useless. There are pet rocks, pottery that grows and tiny jars of jelly or mustard that hold 1.5 ounces. But, when we tire of those, at least we know that they can be reused or re- cycled in some way. What, pray tell, do you do with a seedling that is made of metal wire and plastic? Except for the small square of burlap and the pretty bow, the thing will no doubt wind up in the landfill. Now, I am not saying that all gifts must be useful. But, I am saying that if they are not useful they should at least be beautiful or interesting. That vase holding the real hemlock sprig in the pic- ture is an excellent example. It would be priceless to me if I never used it for anything. [tis the most gorgeous crystal vase I have ever seen, and it was a gift from a dear friend who is no longer living. Many people argue that Ameri- cans will never take conservation seriously because it will require a drastic change in lifestyle. Does it really require such a drastic change to think twice before buy- ing a fake seedling? According to that popular sage, Arthur C. Clarke, “Solid wastes are only raw ma- terials we're too stupid to use.” And, 1 might add, *stupid” enough to im- port from China in the first place. Let's. con- sider for a moment some state- ments found in an article entitled “Reducing waste, saving materi- als,” byJohn E. Young. “...people do not need materials but the services they provide.” (What ser- vices are provided by this “seed- ling?”) “... the economic health of nations has often been equated with the amount of raw materials consumed.” (Do we really want the economic health of the United States or China to be gauged by the amount of iron or oil used in the manufacture and transport of this “seedling?”) “In the long run, selective purchasing by informed buyers might be the strongest in- centive for manufacturers to pro- duce low-waste, safer items.” (I can only hope that my husband was the only person who had a reason to purchase one of those “seedlings.”) It seems to me that Americans -you and I - can do a great deal to conserve resources without dras- tic changes in lifestyle. We just have to take the creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey seriously and not be “stupid.” Is it really that diffi- cult to think before we buy? We don’t have to know all there is to know about where the iron ore was mined or how much oil it took to make the plastic needles or how cheap the labor was over- seas to realize that buying a “seedling” made in China is un- necessary at best and foolish at worst. | All we have to do is think a little bit and use our common sense. If we begin applying this same com- mon sense to other purchases, we will easily avoid items that are over-packaged, unrepairable, or . unnecessary. And, we will find ways to use items we already have to substitute for items we might buy new. As one author has pointed out, the most difficult decision to quan- tify is the decision not to buy. Let's start putting those econo- mists to the test. And now, if you will pardon me, I must take my “seedling” out to the garbage - it is shedding “needles” on the carpet. LEGISLATORS DIRECTORY Federal Officials Representative Paul E. Kanjorski (PA 11th District) (D) Wilkes-Barre: 825-2200 Washington: (202) 225-6511 Wilkes- Barre PA 18701-2397 or 2429 Rayburn Building, Wash- ington, DC 20515 Senator Arlen Specter (R) Wilkes-Barre: 826-6265 Washington: (202) 224-4254 Address: 116 S. Main S., Wilkes-- Barre PA 18701 Senator Rick Santorum (R) or 477-3752 B-40 Dirksen Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington: (202) 224-6324 Fax: (202) 228-4991 State Officials State Sen. Charles D. Lemmond (R) (717) 675-3931 22 Dallas Shopping Ctr., Memorial Hwy., Dallas PA 18612-1231 Lemmond’s district includes the Back Mountain. State Rep. George Hasay (R) 287-75050r542-73450r474-2276 369 South Mountain Boulevard, Mountaintop PA 18707 Hasay's district encompasses: Harveys Lake, Lehman Township, Jackson Township, Lake Town- ship, Franklin Township, Ross Township, and Dallas Township's north voting district. State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D) 283-9622 or 655-3375 Suite 107, 400 Third Avenue, King- ston PA 18704 Dallas Borough, Dallas Township except for the north voting district, and Kingston Township. ONLY YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - Feb. 2, 1937 BACK MOUNTAIN HELPS MIDWEST FLOOD VICTIMS Extending a helping hand across 1,000 miles to flood- stricken families of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, Dallas "and its vicinity this week had raised more than $250 to swell the Red Cross relief fund. In addition, many people dispatched contri- butions of clothing. A $26,000 bond issue to fi- nance erection of the annex to Kingston Township High School was bought by First National Bank of Dallas at a meeting of township school directors on Monday evening. Federal grant which is interested in the project because the Public Works Administration has set aside a grant of more than $21,000 for labor on the job, was | also a bidder but withdrew. 50 Years Ago - Feb. 7, 1947 PETITION ASKS FOR STREET LIGHTS IN SWEET VALLEY '- Residents of Sweet Valley have petitioned the supervisors of RO$s Township to have street lights installed along the main thorough- fare in that community from Tor- rance Naugle's Corners to the Junior Mechanics Hall. Seven- teen lights will be installed over a distance of one and 2/10ths miles. Pupils of grades, 3, 5, 7, 9; and 11 of Lehman Schools were given health and dental exams begin- ning last Wednesday and con- tinuing throughout the remain- der of the week. The examina- tions, of which extensive records will be kept, are part of a state program to locate and recommend treatments for physical ailments among High School students. 40 Years Ago - Feb. 1, 1957 NO LEADS IN JEWELRY - STORE THEFT Lt. Richard B. Collett, 24, son of Orphans Court Reporter and Mrs. Bartholomew Collett, Harris i Hill, Rd. was .instantly killed Wednesday afternoon when the plane in which he was flying with > another officer and enlisted man, crashed into a wooded area, two miles from Fort Devens, MA. An investigation into causes of the failure of the single engine Beaver L20 plane is still underway. It has been nearly two months since Henry Mastalski, Dallas jew- eler lost $1,500 in diamond rings, a loss partially covered by insur- ance. State Police are working on the problem, in conjunction with Chief of Police Russell Honeywell, but there has been no lead. 30 Yours Ago Feb. 2. 1967 LONGMORE MEMORIAL DEDICATION HELD The Thomas Longmore Memo- rial Dedication Ceremony will be held in the Lake-Lehman High School gymnasium Feb. 3. The ceremony is being held in memory of Tom Longmore in recognition of his leadership and outstanding service as a teacher, friend, ahd coach to the students of Lake- Lehman. Kingston Township supervisors met Tuesday evening in a special session and named Berkheimer Agency to collect its 1% earned income tax joining with Dallas Borough, Dallas Township and Franklin Township in having -a central collection agency. All'mu- nicipalities are in the Dallas School District. ar 20 Years Ago - Feb. 3, 1977. COLD, OIL SHOCK CLOSE SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES Record cold and the energy cri- sis has not hit the local area as severely as it has in some parts of Pennsylvania and the country, but it has hit hard enough to cover the closing of schools, cutbacks in some businesses, cancellations, of events and confusion in: high school sports schedules. After being closed for five days, stu- dents returned to school for:one day last week before Gov. Milton s. Shapp, ordered all schools to close because of the shiptage of natural gas. Harveys Lake code enforcement committee agreed at their meet- ing last week to submit a li§tiof properties recommended for, An- clusion in the demolition of. der- elict buildings project to the bor- ough planning commissior at their next meeting. Property pic- tures, code numbers and other details will be submitted to -the commission. Pe! 0
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers