4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 21, 1997 NT Eoonias “Tragic fire should be ‘the start of reform «~The fire at the Harveys Lake personal care home that ended ~nine lives should be the beginning of a movement to tighten ~uuregulations on similar institutions. Like a similar blaze in Sweet Valley a dozen years ago, this tragedy could have been ‘easily averted, or at least minimized if facilities that provide : care for profit were more tightly controlled. To start, no two-story, wood framed structure should be "allowed this use. At Country Manor, 100-year-old wood fed the fire as it engulfed the entire building in a matter of minutes. Old buildings simply weren't built as well as new ones in this .respect, because materials and building techniques now con- sidered standard weren't available decades ago. Even one- ‘story structures should be required to meet strict fire codes, such as adequate separation of rooms by fire resistant surfaces i ‘and mandatory sprinkler systems. Not only was Country Manor an accident waiting to happen, it offered no resistance to flames once they broke out. Any place that purports to offer care for elderly people who are unable to fend for themselves should afford even more protection. It should have an alarm system that is connected directly to emergency services, so fire and ambulance crews can be dispatched without delay. It should have fireproof surfaces in areas most likely to be the flashpoint for catastro- * phe. And it should have adequate staffing. Only one worker was on duty for the 21 residents of Country Manor, a number that meets state minimums, but those requirements are clearly inadequate. Even on a regular night, when nothing extraordinary happens, a single worker will be hard pressed to keep up with 21 people’s needs. Last week, extra hands likely would have led more residents from the «+ inferno that Country Manor became. As for those who would wring their hands over the expense of such regulations, let them explain to the families of the ‘victims, or anyone else with an ounce of responsibility in their makeup, how they could cost justify the needless deaths of nine human beings. a POE VEE (EEE ee Lae CRE a es i oT HVE RE HOR a Ee a a Let's not gamble with Pennsylvania's future Many members of the State Legislature think they've latched on to a sure thing in their plan to allow slot machines at horse racing tracks. The lure of easy money is just too strong for them to acknowledge that they want to lead the Commonwealth down a primrose path that looks attractive but contains thorny issues they'd rather not have to talk about. Ever since state governments got into the lottery business, many observers have thought it was only a matter of time before more gambling was embraced in the hunt for new revenue, but without raising taxes. Gambling receipts, you see, come from a source that’s invisible - except to those on the losing end of the deal. That includes not only the people who pump quarters into one-armed bandits, but those who suffer as a result; families, friends and employers of people who get hooked on the get-rich-quick dream promoted so scandalously by a government, that instead of looking out for the welfare of its citizens, increasingly seeks new ways to fleece them. Slot machines may be closely followed by “riverboat” gam- bling, whose only connection to the Wild West fantasy is the consistent take by the house. If that farce becomes reality, scam artists in other regions, such as the Poconos, won't be far behind demanding their piece of the action. It sounds old-fashioned to cite the unwholesomeness of gambling in arguments against it, when supporters trot out tales of economic growth and prosperity. But even the most math-challenged among us should be able to understand that when the house wins, they lose, whether the folks on the other side of the table are double-dealing card sharks or amiable state legislators. Publisher's notebook 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. The Dallas Post Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek PUBLISHER Charlotte E. Bartizek ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Jessica Appolo ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Kylie Shafferkoetter REPORTER Ruth Proietto PRODUCTION MANAGER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER MEMBER vd PRINTED WITH \L PENNSYLVANIA SOY INK] NATIONAL NEwsPaPen NEWSPAPER Robert Brown, back at Harveys Lake from Port Charlotte Florida, checked downed wires on his boathouse. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LETTERS Trashing of trail is bad sign for community Editor: This past Saturday our family took the first hike for this year of the Luzerne-Trucksville Rail-Trail. Let me say first that we had a wonderful afternoon - fueled up at “Taste of Traditions Restau- rant” down at the Trail's Luzerne end and for the next hour we were treated to both the beauty of this great trail and, sadly, to the shock of seeing the vandalism that's been done to it since last fall. Three of the bridges over wash- out gullies, that were built by some young men from Back Moun- tain as part of their Eagle Scout requirements, have been pulled completely out and heaved down the trail’s steep bank. Another bridge must've been too difficult to move so its railings and foot boards are being ripped out one by one. My guess is that some of the trail's dirt bikers have decided that having these dips in the trail available to them for bike jumps The economic viewpoint Howard Grossman Surprisingly, the federal gov- ernment has moved to provide additional funding for rural America. Despite cut-backs in subsidies over a number of years for farming and agricultural prac- tices. rural America can benefit from certain provisions of the new Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act (PL 104-127) which is widely known as the 1996 farm bill. The Act restructures the deliv- ery of rural development assis- tance throughout the US Depart- ment of Agriculture, allowing greater flexibility and more coor- dination with local governments. Some of the positive steps taken to help Northeastern Pennsylva- nia and other rural areas of the state include the following: *The infusion of an additional $300 million into rural develop- ment and research over the next three years as part of the Fund For Rural America. * New funding flexibility to al- low local governments to meet is a higher order need than bridg- ing these dips to allow children, grandparents and the general public safe passage. Further con- jecture is that since the bikers weren't consulted when these bridges were put in, they didn't feel the need to consult anyone with their decision to take the bridges out. Also disheartening, was the sig- nificant increase in the amount of “tagging” done, of course, on the most dramatic stone formations - both the natural stones at the Falls, and the man-made retain- ing wall. This rail-trail vandalism and the innumerable acts of vandal- ism throughout our community need more than our head-wag- ging, our discouragement and our words of denunciation. A healthy body attacked by germs or trauma works immediately to both stop the agents of destruction and re- pair their damage. A body that is ineffective to stop diseased activ- ity and mend what it destroyed is “immune deficient”...and death by immune deficiency is a terrible way to go whether you are an individual, a community or a na- tion. I'm not suggesting by this anal- ogy that we round up our (youth- ful) offenders, tear the spokes off their dirt bikes one by one, and throw everything and everyone over something steep. However, every effort should be made to apprehend the perpetra- tors and impose some significant, character-building consequences. If you know anything, speak up. And, more importantly, the rest of us need to get on, or otherwise support the repair committees. Donations can be made to the “Anthracite Scenic Trails Asso- ciation” P.O. Box 212, Dallas, PA 18612. Mary Blanc Dallas Farm bill a positive step their varying needs through the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) * Establishment of Rural Busi- ness Opportunity Grants which can be utilized for a variety of purposes, including, among oth- ers, the following: e Identify and analyze business opportunities including export markets. ¢ Identify, train, and provide technical asisstance to rural en- trepreneurs * Establish business support centers * Conduct regional community and local economic development planning * Establish centers for training technology and trade Additionally, the legislation re- authorizes water and waste dis- posal grant programs and in- creases authorized appropriations from $500 million to $590 mil- lion. The Intermediary Re-Lend- ing Program will continue to oper- ate as it does now under separate appropriation. This is a program being admin- istered in Northeastern Pennsyl- vania by the Economic Develop- ment Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania (EDCNP). A Communtiy Facilities Grant Program is established at S10 million per year. Distance learn- ing and medical link authoriza- tion is provided through a new loan component to complement existing distance learning and medical link programs. The new loan program provides more flex- ibility. Authorization is given for a new Venture Capital Program to dem- onstrate the utility of loan guar- antees in attracting private in- vestments in rural enterprises. A new conservation title re-au- thorizes the Resource Conserva- tion Development District program through the year 2002. This pro- gram exists in Northeastern Penn- sylvania through the Pocono Northest Resource Conservation and Development Council origi- nally organized under the aus- pices of EDCNP. EDCNP is monitoring the work being done to implement the new legislation. Communications are taking place with the State Direc- tor responsible for the program and with the Regional Manager located in Allentown, PA. More attention will be placed on how to maximize rural devel- opment activities, through the region as a result of the passage of this landmark legislation. Howard Grossman is Executive Director of the Econolmic Develop- ment Council of Northeastern Penn- sylvania,. He lives in Dallas. ONLY YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - May 28, 1937 MOVEMENT TO PAVE MAIN ST. IN LUZERNE | Amovement to include the pav- ing of Main and Bennett Streets, Luzerne, in any program for the construction of the long-awaited Luzerne by-pass enlisted new sup- port this week as Luzerne busi- ness men pressed home conces- sions secured by a local commit- tee, several weeks ago. Twenty two seniors of Dallas Borough High School will receive their dipLomas Thursday evening in the borough high school. Rabbi Louis Levitski of Wilkes-Barre will oO § OP) . deliver the Commencement’ ‘ad- : dress. The seventh annual commence- ment of Dallas Township High School will be held tonight in the high school auditorium- with Judge John S. Fine as the princi. pal speaker. 50 Years Ago - May 30, 1947 BANDS WILL CLOSE SATURDAYS FOR SUMMER The First National Bank, Dal- las, will be closed every Saturday starting June 14, continuing through the months of July, Au- gust and September. The plan which is being followed by Wyo- x te <4 E ming Valley Banks was approved at the meeting of directors on Wednesday morning The sides of the Barn in the Barnyard began to bulge this week as Dick Phillips and a score of workers scoured the countryside for household furnishings, an- tiques, live stock, garden and farm supplies for the Library Auction, June 7. 40 Years Ago - May 31, 1957 BMT ANNUAL HORSE SHOW IS BIGGER THAN BEFORE The Lehman Township Volun- teer Fire Co. will stage its 13th annual Back Mountain Horse "Show July 4 with everything big- ger and better than previous years according to Glenn Johnson, president. The show will open with a donkey baseball game in which prominent men from Back © A Oo) 4 J ¢ Mountain communities will: par- ticipate. A new automatic ice machine, one of the first of its kind in the area was recently installed at Or- chard Farm Restaurant by the J.B. Co. The big machine delivers both bulk ice and cubes tg-cus- tomers who insert the proper amount of coins in the slot: You could get - Smoked hams, 59¢ 1b.; Beltsville Turkeys, 6-12 Ib. avg., 49¢ 1lb.; Supreme Sand- wich Bread, loaf 17¢; Swan soap, 4 reg. cakes, 37¢; Wisk Liquid, 1/ 2 gal. $1.33. 30 Years Ago - May 25, 1967 ST. PAUL'S DEDICATES NEW PIPE ORGAN St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Shavertown held impressive cer- emonies on Sunday morning dedi- cating its new pipe organ, the gift of the former Trinity Lutheran Church, Wilkes-Barre. Rev. Frederick H. Eidem, pastor, ex- pressed great appreciation of the organ, saying it contributedto the service and was a token of the fellowship and generosity of fel- low Christians. The Back Mountain yestérday became a permanent site of Penn State University Center when ground was broken officially for new buildings, adjacent to Hayfield House and the conver- sion of the manor itself hence- forth to be known as Penn State- Hayfield Commonwealth Campus. The property was originally owned by Mr. and Mrs. John’ N. Conyngham II who originally?) built Hayfield House. 20 Years Ago - May 26, 1977 TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN PLANS 15TH ANNIVERSARY Lake-Lehman school directors adopted a tentative 1977/78 bud- get which includes a 10-mill in- crease and learned of a $57,000 deficit in the current budget dur- ing a bleak school board meeting Tuesday evening. The proposed budget has a millage rate of 77, includes anticipated additio. Trinity United Episcopal Church, Church St., Dallas is for- mulating plans for its 15th-anni- versary. June 12 has been desig- nated as Anniversary Sunday. Trinity United Presbyterian was organized on June 19, 1962 by the Presbytery of Lackawanna with 123 members. tot o 0 8 ( Sg 4 wi BE oO 4
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers