PD The Dallas Post h £7 POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Gail Smallwood, director of public communications at '- College Misericordia; says she can't pick a favorite book, because she reads so many. By JESSICA MORGAN Post Correspondent skills. BACK MOUNTAIN - This week has been designated as International Lit- eracy Week and throughout the world, including here in the Back Mountain, a growing number of people are showing concern for people’s lack of basic literacy Alarming numbers from the Pennsyl- vania Department of Education tell us that 25 percent of the state’s adults are functionally illiterate. That means one person in four has never acquired the skills necessary to correctly complete a job application or fill out an unemploy- ment form. Joel Eneboe, owner of Dallas Bike Works, has seen firsthand some of the problems that can occur when employ- €es are not literate. needs to write an estimate or make a proposal for a potential customer,” he says. Additionally, a person aspiring to make a living in today’s world of busi- ness should also bring to the job a basic knowledge of office technology. Computer literacy is becoming increas- “Even a laborer ingly important today. Salespeople have to know how to construct spreadsheets and send E-mail in order to remain competitive. For adults trying to enter the workforce, Eneboe suggests brushing up on spelling skills as well. “There are no second chances in business,” he warns. “People quickly lose their respect for a company if they receive information that includes obvious spelling and grammatical errors.” What kinds of problems would occur in a restaurant if its employees ‘were unable to read and write? Chris Klug, the owner of Yesterday's restaurant in Trucksville became upset just think- ing about it. “I just can’t imagine what my business would become,” she stated. “Everything that has to do with the restaurant business involves people being able to read and write, from the cook in the kitchen reading a recipe, to the waitress in the dining room writing the orders.” Reading and writing have always been impor- Reading is important for work, enjoyable for Ca tant to this mother of six grown children who still takes time to enjoy a good book at the end of the - } day. he Gail Smallwood; Director of Public Communi-- cations at College Misericordia, starts her morn- ing by reading several area newspapers including’ | “I have to know what's going on | = The Dallas Post. in the community to be effective in my position,” says Smallwood. Literacy skills are a day-to-day’ :' necessity since her department is responsible for’ |" all media relations at the college including writing." ‘news releases, news letters and the Alumni Maga- + zine. “There's a lot of writing and reading in this": job,” she says. A man of many talents, Rev. Dan Miller of the Back Mountain Harvest Assembly Church is par-'- | ticularly grateful he has the ability to read and’ “Literacy has enabled me to function better: | write. in my daily life, whether by reading a blueprint to" build a house, or reading the Bible to learn how to' | - A native of Selinsgrove in. |: best run my home.” central Pennsylvania, Rev. Miller loves life in the Back Mountain but, like so many of us, he dreams of faraway lands. says, “whether real or imaginary.’ If you'd be interested in giving an adult the’ { opportunity to explore the world through reading, ' contact The Wyoming Valley Council at 287- -{° 2013. By RONALD BARTIZEK $33 Post Staff DALLAS TWP. - Discussion about a proposed gymnasium for the Dallas Elementary School dominated the Dallas School Board meeting Monday night. Paul Degillio, a representative of Quad Three Group, the district's erigineers, presented a plan that would add a 6,500 square foot, PIAA regulation size basketball court on the side of the building nearest Hildebrandt Rd. Gil Griffiths, superintendent of schools, questioned the absence of lockers, seating and showers in the facility, which would be a bas- ketball floor surrounded by mini- mum clearances. “Do we need four PIAA gyms?” asked board member Thomas Russ. Griffiths explained that an additional facility allowed more community use of the district’s gyms. “If we cut the community out,; we'd haveino problem with ~ scheduling,” he said; but did not recommend such an option. Joel Sims, another Quad Three representative, estimated that adding locker and shower facili- tiggould tack another $150,000 on the estimated $650,000 cost of the gym. Sims said the gym would cost $250,000 more than a 3,200 square foot multi-purpose room, an earlier option. Meeting PIAA standards adds another $280,000 to the cost, he said. Griffiths asked Sam Barbose, principal of Dallas Elementary, if he could make better use of a larger gym or a more modest facil- ity which included some bleach- ers, storage room and showers. “Right now amenities are a little more important to me than alarge gym,” Barbose said. He also pointed out that without adjacent storage, chairs and other items needed for assemblies would have to be carried 140 feet from the present storage room. In the end, the board asked Quad Three to come up with a plan that would create a gymna- sium of approximately 4,000 square feet, plus lockers, bleach- ers on one side and locker rooms. While too small to meet PIAA ap- proval, such a facility would be a “very usable gymnasium,” for el- ementary school students, Sims said. He suggested it could be built for the same cost as the larger gym. Six administrators get raises ‘The Dallas School Board voted unanimously to grant raises to six adininistrators at Monday's meeting. Board president Ernest Ashbridge Jr. said the increases were “cost of living,” about 3 percent. The new saldries are: Frapk Galicki, high school principal - $64,410 Anthony Martinelli, middle school principal - $65, 093 Samuel Barbose, Dallas elementary principal - $62,811 Charlotte Williams, business manager - $54, 515 Mark Kraynack, supervisor of buildings and grounds - $36,778 Jack Wega, computer coordinator - $58, 822. Vacancy (continued from page 1) ried an address from there. ‘Other board members said they had candidates in mind for the post, which will run until Dec. 31, 1999. Had Finn resigned last week, candidates for his spot could £21 a } : Larina Shumbres Account Executive Cathy Clamar CELLULARONE The Best Call You'll Ever Make.® Guaranteed. . Free Delivery to Home or Business! Account Service Representative have been added to the November ballot. Now it is up to the board to appoint a replacement by Oct. 7, or the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas will do so after that date. 650-8885 446-8885 650-6845 7 Back to drawing board for Dallas Elementary gym Sims also presented a plan for renovations and repairs to the school, with a $500,000 price tag. In other business, principals of each school made presentations about opening day preparations and activities. Frank Galicki, high school principal, said teachers and administrators had worked over the summer to create a “safe, orderly environment for everyone.” He showed a schedule that listed activities for every day of the school year, and another that described better use of the “flex period,” under which every teacher has a flex assignment every day. Galicki said assemblies and signup days had been held so that all students knew what activities were available. “Flex checkers” are assigned to check that stu- dents are attending the flex pe- riod classes they signed up for. “It’s our responsibility to see they are held accountable,” Galicki said. Assistant principal Paul Reinert described a nine-step discipline procedure that involves parents early in any disciplinary action. “Our focus is to prevent small problems from becoming big prob- lems,” he said. Galicki proudly presented the latest SAT test score results. He said Dallas High School students averaged 513 points on the verbal test, an increase of 23 from last year, and 523 on math, an in- crease of 27 points. Other principals said openings went smoothly, and particularly - “Reading has allowed me the! |: opportunity to travel tolands I may never visit,” he 3 thanked Mark Kraynak, supervi- sor of buildings and grounds, for the condition of the buildings. * 7 : i) A pS ati NES ng, 3 ' { { Tr —— ee RETIN NNT A drawing shows the proposed) ocation of the Dallas Elementary gym, at the end of the right wing. Hildebrandt Rd. runs along the top. 3%" In a new world of few traditions — there's still an & >| AGEor NHOGDNCE Jennie Mika White 4 Rte. 309 North Memorial Highway, Shavertown be (Just 10 minutes from surrounding areas) * Convenient Parking PS, Ase 674-5555 ER Age of Innocence announces the addition of hair stylist, Jennie Mika White to the salon team. Jennie invites current and new clients and JSriends to visit the beautiful new salon and receive a complimentary conditioning clear color gloss (value $25) with every haircut. Jennie specializes in advanced color techniques, alternative colour, highlighting and precision hair sculpting. Day, evening and weekend appointments are available. Call today for an appointment. TRE Te TAO NEE Ee BACK MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT RENTAL Ideal For Homeowners ¢& Contractors pe Lawn & Garden Equipment e Tractors/Skid-steers » Contractor's Equipment Scaffolding Rt. 309, DALLAS (Just past Dallas Shopping Center on Left) 675-3374 Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30-5; Saturday 7:30- 1 e Tables and Chairs A & Dunmore - 1416 Monroe Avenue, 347-5010 (Comprehensive Health Services Center) Also located in Wilkes-Barre MEGA" [1201 [0F:Y Be WN: {0):V:N E0114] 3) (a=W eo] [To Jo B (= el] (14 800-222-4493 Toll Free in PA Welcome to OMEGA e Convenient hours, no appointment needed Great, personal service * Quality tests, prompt results YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED [Caf To TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SPECIAL OFFER INVES $1,000" - $4,999 $5,000" - $24,999 | $25,000" + Medicare/major insurances welcome. 5.80% b. 00% SE 5902 See... FRANKLIM FIRST Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Subsidiary of ONBANCorp, Inc. The Bank for Northeastern Pennsylvanians 1-800-262-1210 * (717) 821-7100 Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is current as of date of publication and may be subject to change. *Minimum balance required to open the account and obtain the Annual Percentage Yield. Penalty for early withdrawal. Dallas, PA Wednesday, September 10, 1997 3 5 y POS NA a fi z== HRT A, 3 J TREAIS ee — CP BE BD I SE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers