8 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, July 2, 1997 POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Fr. Dave Cappelloni posed with three young friends at the Gate of Heaven bazaar, which he founded. From left; Erin Tanner, Fr. Dave, Kelsey and Kaitlyn Moody. Fr. Dave (continued from page 1) good things like the bazaar and the marathon,” said Jane McAndrew, who has been coming to the church for 38 years. “The parish needed his youth and en- thusiasm.” Cappelloniran a marathon last fall that raised $15,000 for the church and started the highly successful summer bazaar fund raiser two years ago. “He has affected everybody. His outgoingness is very inspirational. He has brought the church to- gether and we wish him luck in his new endeavors,” said Lillian Drust, a church member of 45 years. Cappelloni is originally from Scranton, where his parents, Geva and Al still live. He has four brothers and one sister. He gradu- ated from the University of Scranton and attended Mary Im- maculate Seminary in Allentown. He came to Gate of Heaven four years ago as assistant pastor to e has brought { the we wich him luck in his 1 new end, avors,” Gate of ran an Brus Reverend William Cusick, who passed away on May 1. “We'll really miss him, espe- cially after losing our pastor,” said Margie Morgan. “It’s hard to lose him so soon after.” Morgan said he has ways to bring out the symbolic aspects of the religion. She recalls a fountain at Easter mass with beautiful plants around it to represent a new beginning. “He helped the parish feel more like a family,” she said. For Cappelloni, the assignment is bittersweet. “I'm saddened at leaving. It's the hard aspect of it (the job),” he said. “I've enjoyed my time here at Gate of Heaven. [ like the Dallas area, I like the kids. It's a nice place to be.” He added that Muncy seems like a nice town. Although they understand his current feelings, Cappelloni’s par- ents are proud. “We feel for him. He gets attached to the people, but he gets over it,” said his mother. “I'm happy he has been made a pastor.” His parents came up to help make the move to Muncy. Cappelloni’s love of children is evident. “We’ll miss him. He's a great guy with the kids. He's very interested in the younger families in the parish,” said Stephanie Baloh of Shavertown. Joe Drust, a church member for 45 years, summed up the feel- ings for the departing pastor. “It’s a joy to be with someone with so much enthusiasm, love and friendship.” — Heard the news? let us in on it. Call or write with your happenings or story ideas so we can share them with the Back Mountain. Send items to: The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612. MINOW Ts "1997 DALLAS IREWORKS DISPLAY < Dallas High School Grounds aturday, July 5 Raindate: Sponsored by NNN RN NN) Fertilizer (contined from page 1) page,” he said. Phosphates are a problem in excessive amounts. Mike Case, limnologist and professor in geoenvironmental sciences and engineering at Wilkes University, has been studying Harveys Lake with his students for several years. He explained that although lakes need some phosphorus, “phos- phorus does occur naturally in rocks and soil. As soil and rocks decompose, phosphorus is taken up by trees and leaves.” When the leaves drop from the trees and decompose, phosphorus is added to the lake. Necessary phosphorus has positive effects for the lake. Phos- phorus helps algae grow. Case explained the benefits of certain types of algae. “Lakes need a healthy and diverse population of algae not dominated by one type. This supports the food web.” Excess phosphorus enters the lake through the watershed when lawn and flower fertilizers are used that contain phosphorus. ‘.Ev- erything that is put onto a lawn or that drips off a car runs into the lake,” explained Mike Daley, a member of EVAC. “Algae and rooted aquatic plants are fueled by phosphorus. If they get a good dose of it, they go crazy.” Daley says that EVAC mem- bers act as “stewards of the health of the lake.” He said that lawn care companies make arguments againstaban, buthesaid, “They're not scientists. They have certain fertilizers in stock and it's a hassle for them to get different fertilizer.” Daley says many stores don't carry the phosphorus free fertilizers despite the fact that they are made. Lawn care companies argue that a ban on phosphate fertiliz- ers would not eliminate phos- phates from other sources. Karl Swinski, lawn care supervisor for Green Machine Lawn Service, said that one commonly used fertilizer contains only 3 percent phospho- rus. For a 50 pound bag, that means approximately 1.5 pounds is phosphorus. One 50 pound bag fertilizes slightly over two av- erage size lawns. The spread of phosphorus per application per lawn is approximately 12 ounces, he explained. “I'm not disputing there's a problem with phosphates in the lake, but to what degree do lawn fertilizers contribute?” Swinksi asks. He explained that phospho- rus is important for “seed germi- nation and development of roots,” and feels that phosphorus free fertilizers would not produce the same results. But Case explained that any amount of phosphorus contrib- utes to algae problems at the lake. “It takes only a very small quan- tity of phosphorus from human sources to cause nuisance algal blooms in the lake. That's not a matter of opinion. It's well docu- mented, he said. “Phosphorus-is the nutrient which limits or con- trols biological productivity of freshwater lakes.” The effects of algae are more serious than not being able to swim in the lake, Case noted. “When the algal cells die, they decompose in the deeper parts of the lake and use up the oxygen in the lake,” he said. Oxygen deple- tion creates a situation that can- not support cold water fishery. The ban on fertilizers contain- ing phosphorus can only have positive effects for the waters of Harveys Lake, Case said. “I think the people will be extremely happy with the water quality in about four to five years,” he said. "Oxy- gen levels in deep water will rise and the size and the number of fish will rise too.” L-L budget (continued from page 1) Price said the board had wanted a six mill increase, but cut the preliminary budget from a 14.3 mill increase down to eight. Kopcha felt the board was cutting in all the wrong places. “I think this is a phony budget,” she told the board. Kopcha feels more should have been cut out of sports. “We have an eight percent discre- tionary budget and three percent of that is for sports. It's not show- ing fiscal responsibility. We have to look at what we need, not what we want.” Karen Whipple said that stu- dent activities fees, which includes sports, makes up only 2.2 to 2.6 percent of the budget. “We've already cut supplies within the administration. It's far better to let our kids have things,” she said during a phone interview. Whipple said she is pleased | - with the budget. “The district as a whole has really. pitched in to cut back to the bare bones,” she said. “I can’t believe they pulled it off. I can’t say enough about what (business manager Kathleen) Wil- July 6th T hank You ri US I SSIS TTT ne Yi? 0 | board memb er liams and Price have done.” Last year, with a slew of early retirements, salary raises and no fund balance, the board agreed to a 23 mill tax hike in Luzerne County and a 18 mill increase in Noxen Twp. The 1996-97 budget began with a $269,209 deficit, no fund balance and no provisions for early retirees for this year. Provisions have been made for retirees in the new budget, said Williams. Whipple said previous boards » did not raise taxes when they should have. “Boards tend to not want to raise taxes. That mindset _ can't move any further,” she said. “7, RR s#balance.” In 1989, the district had lucrative teachers’ contracts, but raised the millage by only five. For the next two years, the board had to make up the shortfalls with a 18 mill increase in 1990 and a 25 mill increase in 1991. In 1993 and’ 1995 there was no mill increase. Whipple said it’s no one’s fault. “The district has not grown in conjunction with the costs. We don’t have a tax base. There are no businesses, no industry. We're unique in that,” she said. But, said she is more encouraged do- ing the budget this year than in the past. “I hope this is our last real tough, tight year.” The board also approved an $850,000 Tax and Revenue An- ticipation Note from PNC Bank. Business manager Williams said the note is, “A safeguard for cash flow because there is no fund . The mete must be paid by June 1998 and if the district does not need to use it, money could be made on its interest, said Williams. L77777 A A Fi We
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