4- The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, August 13, 1997 — EDITORIALS Cellular company bends truth for its own ends Oh, those wily folks from Cellular One. At Monday night's Dallas Township zoning board meeting, they once again skirted the edge of truth in a successful attempt to gain approval for a 280-foot tower on township land. Unless you're really up on these matters, they could convince you their rights supersede those of individuals and the townships, so you might just as well roll over and play dead when they come to town. Mark Horinko, a technical manager for Pennsylvania Cellu- lar Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanguard Cel- lular out of Greensboro, North Carolina (which trades under the Cellular One name), proved a master at disinformation as well as technical matters. Asked if the company was regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission, he had to admit it wasn't. But he quickly added that it is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Ad- ministration. Whoop de doo. That sounds real important. The only problem is, the federal government doesn’t regulate public utilities, the states do, and PA Cellular, no matter what name it goes under, is not a public utility. That's important because Dallas Township exempted Cellular One from the township's height restrictions based on the company’s status as a public utility. Catherine Naughton, representing Cellular One, couldn't resist getting into the act, either. At one point she asked Dr. Roger Landry, who has led a citizen revolt against the tower, if he was familiar with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, “signed by President Clinton,” which she attempted to imply, prevents the peons from standing in the way of our bridge to the 21st Century, Cellular One. That wasn't the end, just the beginning of the velvet glove tactics the company has tried to use since it first applied for permission to build the tower, claiming this was the only way to offer clear service to the region. Horinko had to admit that the company could hang 60 or more devices on a tower this size, and without a breath made sure we know that in their largesse, they give non-profit emergency services free access. Oh, yes, they “would consider” leasing tower space to commer- cial enterprises, too, but the lease they signed with the town- ship doesn't commit them to sharing a nickel of that revenue with the folks who made it so easy for them. Cellular One has been able to pull the wool over township officials’ eyes. But the company's continuing campaign of distortions may catch up with it if Landry and other like- minded citizens take the issue further up the judicial chain. Whether their challenge wins or loses, the township comes out on the short end, because officials chose to put residents concerns about their town behind those of a company dangling a financial carrot. | Publisher's notebook } You can learn a lot from language. For example, have you noticed how many times modifiers are used to spin an an- nouncement in the direction of an advertiser, as in, “my vacuum cleaner will last eight long years.” I guess that's better than eight short years. Politicians have been known to use the same tactic, attempting to paper over weaknesses in their policies or personalities. “But the infection has spread into the general population, too, and is becoming an epidemic when it comes to claiming victim status. The most egregious example I've come across lately was awoman who was the subject of a report about long commutes. It seems Mrs. X has been driving to her speechwriting job in Washington DC for years ... from Charleston, West Virginia! But now, her employer, the federal government, has made it easier for her and others like her by opening “telephone centers” nearer their homes, in this case just down the street. Now, I don’t necessarily think such centers are a bad idea, although going 300 miles west may be a bit much. But with today’s communication technology, people who write and read for a living really don’t need to be in the office each and every day, as long as they're self-motivated. No, my complaint is with Mrs. X's characterization of her self-imposed four-hour commute. Commenting on her new situation, she said she was happy to have back the many hours a.day she had been “denied” all those years. Excuse me, but who did the denying here? This woman had children, who apparently were “denied” her company weekdays most of their lives, a situation that I suppose she blamed on ... her employer, the government for not making her life easier, the state of West Virginia for being too far from her job? Pick one, I guess. Victim-speak may now simply be a new figure of speech, but I worry that as it becomes more common it will infiltrate thought, and even more of us will absolve ourselves from all responsibility for our foolishness and failures. The question then becomes, who takes the blame? oo eae Send your items to: The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 or drop them off at our office at 45 Main Road, Dallas. Deadline: Fridays at 4 p.m. 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 Jessica Appolo ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Kylie Shafferkoetter REPORTER Ruth Proietto PRODUCTION MANAGER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver ; OFFICE MANAGER MEMOER rd 2) PRINTED WITH NINE PENNSYLVANIA SOYINK| ASSOCIATION © ren NEWSPAPER An old cold cellar, not needed in the age of refrigeration. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. ~—— Food n' fun Jim Phillips It is impossible for me to think of hot summer days without also pondering the crisp, cool refresh- ment of watermelon. It is equally hard for me to imagine a picnic or lazy Sunday afternoon without this wonderful fruit. I'm not the only one to have considered the watermelon won- derful. It is one of the oldest fruits known. Historians can place the watermelon all the way back to 2000 B.C. They belive the first fruits grew in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. As civilization and cultivation spread, the water- melon was made known to Eu- rope and Asia. By 1600, and as you've probably guessed, the wa- Library news le Nancy Kozemchak WHALES AND DOLPHINS! The display case at the Back Moun- tain Memorial Library is literally swarmed with whales and dol- phins! There are many stuffed whales of all sizes inside the case and scattered around the outside. These have been borrowed from Aniela Coveleski of Harveys Lake. Aniela is nine years old and will ONLY YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - Aug. 20, 1937 JOHN KELLY, 23, DROWNS AT HARVEYS LAKE Harveys Lake claimed its fourth victim of the season on Sunday afternoon when John Kelly, 23 of New York, former Wilkes-Barrean drowned near Stull’s at Alderson. His brother, Harry, 24, Wilkes- Barre narrowly escaped the same fate at the time. He attempted a rescue and had to be taken to Nesbitt Memorial Hospital to re- cover from shock and exposure. You could get - Round steak, 35¢ 1b.; stewing chickens, 27¢ 1b.; Pillsbury’s Best Flour, 24-1b. bag, 99¢; large double loaf A&P bread, 11¢; Kellogg's Corn Flakes, pkg., 6S; Ritz Crackers, 1-1b. pkg., 21¢. 50 Years Ago - Aug. 22, 1947 TITMAN’S FAIRLAWN PASSES INTO NEW HANDS Titman's Fairlawn store, estab-- lished in 1900 by C.A. Frantz, will SE Melon offers summer refreshment termelon made it debut in North America via the early colonists. The old world watermelons were much smaller and not as sweet as the melons of today. The colonists used every part: the rind was pick- led, the juice was drunk, the seeds were toasted for snacks, and of course the flesh was eaten. Today Americans consume over three billion pounds of watermelon each year! Let's face it - eating watermelon is easy, (albeit messy) but picking the perfect fruit is another story. There are many ways of selecting a ripe water- melon as there are versions of the fruit. Which by the way totals nearly 50 different varieties. The most reliable method for selecting the best fruit is to simply turn the melon over. If the under- side is yellow and the rind overall has a healthy sheen, the water- melon is most probably ripe. Choose a watermelon that is free from dents, bruises and cuts, but most of all the fruit should be heavy for its size. Watermelon is best when cold Whales, dolphins swim into library attend fourth grade in the Lake Noxen Elementary School in the fall. She began collecting these when she was five years old when she received two wooden ones for a present from her parents. She now receives them from friends and family for birthdays and holi- days. One year at Easter, she received a Baluga whale while in Mystic, Connecticut, which the bunny himself dropped off. He is the yellowish, smaller one in the display. She received others from the General Store in Erie, PA on vaca- tion; as souvenirs while on vaca- tion; a water globe for Christmas. She has a picture of whales which she received as a prize during the 1996 library auction on top of the pass into new hands on the first of September under terms of a 10- year lease recently signed by Harold Titman and Ralph Dixon, Hudson merchant. Dixon an- nounced that he will convert the store into a self-service market within a short time. New equip- ment will be installed. Circulation of books at the Back Mountain Memorial Library for July showed an increase of 550 over June and 302 over July of last year according to a report by Miss Miriam Lathrop, librarian at the meeting of the Library Execu- tive Committee Tuesday evening. The total number of volumes now owned by the Library has passed the 12,000 mark. Now playing at Shaver Theatre - “Deception” with Bette Davis, Claude Rains and Paul Henreid. 40 Years Ago - Aug. 23, 1957 GROWTH IN BMT SET TO CHANGE COMPLEXTION A number of real estate trans- fers are pending in the Back Moun- tain Area that may change the complexion of Memorial Highway from Trucksville to Natona Mills. Under consideration are a shop- ping center in Trucksville, and another in Shavertown and one at the intersection of Routes 309 and 115. The State Department of Public and crisp. Most people like it plain, but the crimson or golden flesh varieties are an ideal match for many aromatic spices, as well as onions, garlic and cilantro. FRESH WATERMELON SALSA 2 cups seeded and coarsely chopped watermelon 2 Tablespoons each chopped onion and water chestnuts 2 to 4 Tablespoons chopped jalepeno peppers 2 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt. Combine all ingredients; mix well. Refrigerate 2 hours. Makes about 2 cups. Serving ideas: Top grilled chicken or pork with salsa, serve with nachos and cheese, or use as an interesting garnish or side dish. WATERMELON SMOOTHIE 2 cups seeded watermelon chunks case. When she is at fairs, and wins prizes, she always takes whales as her choice. There is a Shamu cap on top of the display from Sea World, Ohio and a T-shirt of The Blue Whale, the largest animal that ever lived, from the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution. There is a video, jewelry, postage stamps, a fan, post cards, and many books on whales. There are other small whales doing different things, also. New children’s books: “Mir- ror” by Alexandra Day and Chris- tina Darling is the story of a seven year old girl who felt she was too old for a nap. While lying on her bed, she swore she saw a real jungle in a mirror. “Troubles” by Jane Kurtz is the Instruction Wednesday approved petitions of five Back Mountain area school districts to form a union district County Superin- tendent of Schools reported. County Supervisor E.S. Teter who took the petitions to Harrisburg for DPI approval, added that he received assurance that the Bu- reau of Reorganization, DPI, will approve plans for reorganizing the high school program of Dallas Area Jointure into a senior and junior high school system. Robert Bachman, advertising manager of The Dallas Post since February, 1951 has accepted a new position with Ketchem, MacLeod and Grove Inc., one of the largest advertising agencies in the country with headquarters in Pittsburgh. 30 Years Ago - Aug. 17, 1967 SCHOOL DIRECTOR AND WIFE CELEBRATE 62 YRS. Two members of Dallas School Board cast their votes Tuesday in the type of heating to be used at the new Junior High School fol- lowing action taken at an earlier special meeting. Earl Fritzges and Mrs. Ann Vernon cast their bal- lots for gas heat feeling this would be less expensive. Former school director C.J. Eippers and his wife will be mar- ried 62 years Aug. 22. They are 1 cup cracked ice 1/2 cup yorgurt 1 or 2 Tablespons sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon almond extract (optional) Combine all ingredients in blendor or food processor; blend : until smooth. Makes 2 to 3 serv; ings. y » 3 » WATERMELON SALAD 1/4 cup water 2 1/4 cup sugar 1/8 cup fresh mint leaves 1/4 cup orange juice 2 Tablespoons lime juice ’ 2 quarts watermelon balls or ~~ # cubes 4 utes; add mint leaves. Strain, and discard the leaves.?, Stir in juices. until well chilled. Serve with some of the liquid and a sprig of mint. Makes 8-10 servings. sbi Boil water and sugar 5 min- Chills» Pour over water- 4 melon and toss well. Refrigerate ° story of Tekleh who is curious and likes adventure. And trouble always seem to * find him, no matter how hard he tries to avoid it. His father thinks _ a ‘gibeta’ board will keep him out * of trouble. “Do Pirates Take Baths?” by . Kathy Tucker tells us pirates spend © most of their days searching for treasure ships to plunder; but - there is more to a pirate’s busy . life—there are jolly meals of hard- | tack and barnacle stew. “But Where is the Green Par- : rot?’ by Thomas and Wanda | Zacharias will offer young readers ! a lively game of hide-and-seek as they search for the parrot on every | page of this book. Everything isin | vivid color. the parents of three children, have : six grandchildren and one great- ’ granddaughter. Several residents of Lehman - Township appeared before the : board on Saturday morning to: question light assessment notices + received. Solicitor William A. Val- . entine informed the visitors that | he has been instructed todraw up * a form letter concerning delin- - quent light bills from Lake! Silkworth and the secretary had filled in amounts and names as * submitted by the tax collector. 20 Years Ago - Aug. 18, 1977 STATE PASSES LAW TO AID DURING INFLATION Pa Inflation has dwindled the breadwinner's paycheck in value, : and now a state budget impasse : in Harrisburg has made paychecks | for state employees and welfare : recipients non-existent. Bills must : still be paid, families still have to have food in the house. Welfare * recipients may borrow money from : a bank in the amount of the check © being held in Harrisburg, Michael | Jurnak, executive director of ! Luzerne County Board of Assis- : tance said. You could get - 10-1b. bag? ground chuck, $7.90; Sirloin tip ¢ steak, $1.69 1b.; large grade A | eggs, 59¢ doz.; home-baked pies, | $2.49 ea. : 7 {v “> »
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers