o_o Dallas, PA 4 The Dallas Post Wednesday, March 19, 1997 - - a EDITORIALS “Responses to a survey about the four-period day at Dallas gh School turned up an interesting anomaly; while students, patents and teachers agree that taking no more than four classes helps students, the majority of respondents also feel that educational quality has not improved under the new schedule. The issue is further confused by a nearly even split on the question of whether or not longer classes in a one- semester arrangement have been helpful. Those comments lead to a couple of possibilities: “1. The “benefits” cited by those who think four classes are enough don’t have anything to do with education. Or: ~ 2. The schedule appears to offer educational benefits, but for some reason they have been unattainable. + It would appear the second point may be the most important. Students — the people closest to the issue and with the most at stake — have found the new schedule frequently prevents them from taking courses they need or would like to sign up for. They also have found the long periods a challenge to their atfention span, especially if a teacher lacks the skill or motiva- tion to keep the 81-minute period moving. Since teachers rejected the plan in the first place, it’s safe to assume many of are unenthusiastic about the change. Now we are being told that the school may have a shortage of ¢lassrooms, which would put even more pressure on sched- ules than has existed this year. #School administrators and the teaching staff have a large order to fill; they must either correct the flaws in the present system or change it to something that better meets the needs of ‘students, especially the ones who bring good behavior and motivation to class along with their book packs. One place to start is to hold a series of face-to-face meetings among stu- dents, parents, teachers and administrators to flesh out prob- lems and discuss solutions. In addition to gathering informa- tion, everyone could suggest corrective measures, and in the process begin to develop the kind of constructive relationship that is the hallmark of all great organizations. You can’t vote if you don’t register by April 21 There are encouraging signs that people are paying more attention to the workings of town government and local school boards. There will be competition for many seats this election cycle, at least in the primary, giving us the opportunity to choose who will represent them. Those choices are particularly important since about the only chance citizens have to truly influence local affairs is at election time. Once seated, officials can pretty much do as they please until the next time around, adding weight to the selections we make now. ‘But you can't participate in the process if you haven't registered to vote. The cutoff date for registrations for the May 20 primary is April 21, and since the primary will effectively be the election for most offices, there's no time to waste. The Dallas Post is trying to make registering to vote as convenient as possible by distributing voter registration appli- cations from our office. All you need to do is pick up a form, fill it out, and send it to the Luzerne County Election Bureau office in Wilkes-Barre by April 21. There's no cost except a stamp, and the ultimate reward; the opportunity to take your rightful place in our democracy. ‘Application forms may be picked up at our office on Main Road in Dallas, just across from Offset Paperback, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. We've got quite a stack of them right now, and we'll get more if we need them. We hope anyone who isn’t registered will take a few minutes todo so, and in so doing strengthen our community. Publisher S notebook | Ron Bartizek | ‘Many politicians count on our short or selective memories when they make campaign promises, or they hope we're not paying attention. The best (worst?) of them may even believe that when they reverse course from supposed principles, they really haven't wavered at all, but are simply adapting the the new reality that has replaced the one that existed when they made their pronouncements. Thus President Clinton can baldly claim that he has upheld his pledge to run the most ethical administration in decades even as he turns the White House into a fundraising venue. Even VP Gore got in on the act, defending his fund raising phone calls because they were probably “legal.” ‘Not that leading Republicans are pillars of virtue. Rep. Dan Burton, who heads a committee poised to recommend major telecommunications legislation, accepted a trip from AT&T to play golf at Pebble Beach, and attended three fund raisers hosted by the company. But he says righteously that he won't be swayed by such special treatment, since he’s above such base motivation. My solution to this nonsense? Limit campaigns to two months and contributions — including “in-kind” stuff like fund raising dinners and golf trips — to a maximum of $1,000 for any individual or other entity. tf 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 Dennise Casterline ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Kylie Shafferkoetter REPORTER Paul Rismiller PRODUCTION MANAGER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER MEMBER rd / 2) PRINTED WITH NINE PENNSYLVANIA [=Isov INK] NAUSNAL Newspaper NEWSPAPER Mid-month, and March hasn't yet decided on an exit strategy. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LETTERS 1 State liquor stores and employees, serve useful purposes = Editor: As the controversy continues over the Ridge plan to rid the state of the liquor stores, what can be further said that emphasizes the opposition to it? Proponents for privatization always cite service, selection, hours and downsizing govern- ment. Opponents cite the same reasons. I believe the state liquor stores serve a useful purpose for having career employees who gen- erally are friendly, engage you in daily topical conversation, main- tain a good looking store and usu- ally go out of their way to get you anything in the catalog not cur- rently stocked in the store or in- form you of the thousands of items available through special order and operate on the premise that too much availability will increase underage drinking and more abu- sive consumption than is occur- ring now. Reasonable people think this is great. Thank goodness for the 12 hour daily limit stores are open. Imagine who might want to purchase liquor and wine at mid- night on any night of the week? Then again, I'm in bed, so I really wouldn't know but I can guess. The argument I like about downsizing government is that if you restrict government to the level suggested by many, we will be like animals in the wild...that is...every man for himself. I be- lieve the purpose of government is to create a forum for the discus- sion of how we are to live with each other and to implement the deci- sion we decide on. The private sector has created many opportu- nities, especially during the years from the late 1800's to the com- puter age. Now there seems to be a dramatically leveling off of good employment opportunities. While that is open for further discus- sion, look around you at where our national employment situa- tion is heading. To get to the issue at hand, the social security we yearn for is being replaced by a “bottom line” mentality. Now to complicate the matter, Governor Ridge wants to open the liquor and wine market to private owners who will have to sell in volume to earn the “entre- preneurial spirit” award from the Chamber of Commerce. I suggest to you there will be a “I Told You So” story to be told when private liquor and wine sales increase problems that we might consider serious now. In addition, the “ev- ery man for himself” attitude will be evident when the liquor and wine tax is collected when cus- tomers purchase, but get lost on its trip to the Department of Rev- enue. In a nutshell, the state liquor stores operate with conscientious adults selling very carefully to w, - 1 young looking adults. The stores’ are kept in good condition for cus: tomers. Responsible adults can. find their way to our stores during some part of the 12 hours they are: open. Privately sold beer is caus: ing social havoc among teens and’ college students. (Making a good! case for state control). And fi-: nally, in a recent article in the, Observer, a liquor trade maga-, zine, the author reported itis hard" to imagine that there’s a food and: beverage operator who would sug- . gest that his business wouldn't, greatly benefit from increasing: beverage revenues. Since no busi- « ness operates under the burden of too much profit, finding ways to: increase revenues is nearly unis» versal imperative. > So there you have it. Either you think I'm crazy or you ignore a problem staring us all in the face. Louis Volpetti, manager Dallas Liquor Store If you love animals, don't give them as Easter gifts i Editor: The vast majority of baby bun- nies, chicks and ducks who are given as Easter gifts die within a few weeks. They are frequently the victims of unintentional neglect and cru- elty. Requiring special feeding, ONLY YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - Mar. 26, 1937 CHAIN STORE TAX OPPOSED Opposition to the Chain Store Tax Bill, which passed in the House on Monday evening, continued to mount locally this week despite the Governor's efforts to explain the measure as a boon to rural school districts. The Governor promised that the $3,000,000 which food buyers will contribute during the next two years if the bill passes will be used to raise the salaries of grade school teachers in fourth class districts. Teachers in Dallas Borough, Dallas, Jack- son, Kingston, Lake and Lehman Townships would be affected by the bill. A tentative budget which would fix Dallas Borough School District's tax levy at 29 mills was approved at a meeting of the local board on Monday evening and the secretary was directed to post and advertise the budget according to law. care and constant temperatures, these extremely vulnerable little animals are poorly suited as pets. Those animals who do survive the first few weeks are often released to shelters, after maturing and losing their appeal. This Easter you can help pre- 50 Years Ago - Mar. 28, 1947 THIEVES BREAK INTO DALLAS TOWNSHIP HIGH Sneak thieves, probably mem- bers of a ring that operated in this area some months ago, broke into Dallas Township High School last Thursday evening and caused con- siderable damage fo filing cabi- nets, class room doors and teach- ers’ desks, but their take was small not exceeding $25. Local cops suspect the job was probably com- mitted by the same culprits who broke into all other schools of this area several months ago. For the first time in the 265 year history of the Commonwealth, a uniform system of taxing legal instruments by County Prothonoe- taries has been set up in Pennsyl- vania. The plan has been drawn up and submitted to the various Prothonotaries by Auditor Gen- eral G. Harold Wagner. It pro- vides that certain taxable items will be taxed uniformly through- out the State and that other items will be tax free throughout the 67 counties. 40 Years Ago - Mar. 22, 1957 DEER STATUES STOLEN Three of the four white deer that have delighted youngsters who pass by the Floyd Slocum home on Memorial Highway near vent cruelty by giving your little ones, or encouraging others, to give stuffed toys. When in a store which sells live chicks, ducks, and rabbits, please stop at the sevice desk and express your disapproval to the management. Chapel Lawn Cemetery were dam- aged last Saturday night by van- dals who may have attempted to steal them. Slocum is offering a $100 cash reward for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the guilty persons. The Back Mountain region lost one of its most respected elder citizens Monday with the passing of Jacob Laux, founder of Jacob Laux Manufacturing Co. and prominent Catholic layman whose early efforts helped to bring about the establishment of St. Therese’s Parish and Holy Name Society in Shavertown. You could get - T-bone steaks, 88¢ Ib.; round roast, 79¢ Ib.; pork sausage, 59¢ lb.; frozen veg- etables, 6/99¢; Post's Grapenut Flakes, 25¢ box. 30 Years Ago - Mar. 23, 1967 AVENUES NAMED TO SEWER AUTHORITY BOARD Robert G. Dickinson, Park Av- enue and Francis Dixon, Colum- bia Avenue were named to the Joint Sewer Authority Board by Dallas Council, meeting in ad- journed session on Tuesday evening. This is another first for Dallas Borough, the group being also the first community to lower tax millage in the Back Mt. follow- ing the passage of a wage tax to counteract that introduced in Also, contact the shelter be cause in Pennsylvania it is illegal to sell chicks and ducks under four weeks of age, and rabbits under eight weeks of age. Edward Gross Director of Development SPCA of Luzerne County Wilkes-Barre by Mayor Slattery.” All time PIAA District Track and Field Records: Roy Supulski a senior this year set a record in the 440-yard run of 50.2 in ‘66; Ed Baker a 1965 graduate of Dallas set a record of 11’ 7” in the pole vault in his senior year. Mike Wilkes, a 1966 graduate estab- lished a record last year of 191’ 2" in the javelin event. The Back Mountain Telecable Co. has been purchased by a Sunbury firm, Barni Brothers Inc: which expects to use the poles of U.G.I. The schools will continue to receive educational programs ’ and will be unaffected by the changeover. : 20 Years Ago - Mar. 24, 1977 ED BROMINSKI RETIRES Ed Brominski will be retiring at the end of the school year. “I don’t: want to retire, I love my students and enjoy my work,” it is the policy of Dallas School District that em-" ployees must retire at 65. A dedi- cated teacher, coach and athletie" director, he will leave unusally" large footsteps to fill a task near: impossible. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Swingle, | Franklin St., Dallas, will observe their 73rd wedding anniversary - on March 24. The Swingles have two sons and five grandchildren. Both are in good health. LEGISLATORS DIRECTORY Federal Officials Representative Paul E. Kanjorski (PA 11th District) (D) Wilkes-Barre: 825-2200 Washington: (202) 225-6511 10 E. South St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701-2397 or 2429 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 Senator Arlen Specter (R) Wilkes-Barre: 826-6265 Washington: (202) 224-4254 116 S. Main S., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 Senator Rick Santorum (R) B-40 Dirksen Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington: (202) 224-6324 Fax: (202) 228-4991 State Officials State Sen. Charles Lemmond (R) (717) 675-3931 22 Dallas Shopping Cir., Memo- rial Hwy., Dallas PA 18612-1231 Lemmond's district includes the Back Mountain. State Rep. George Hasay (R) 287-7505 or 477-3752 369 South Mountain Boulevard, Mountaintop PA 18707 State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D) 283-9622 or 655-3375 Suite 107, 400 Third Avenue, Kingston PA 18704 Dallas Borough, Dallas Township except for the north voting dis trict, and Kingston Township. & 5D @
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers