8 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, November 5, 1997 Yolunteers —— ‘(continued from page 1) Korean War. He is a member of the Army Corps of Engineers and Retirees Activities Office of Wyo- ming Valley. The latter group meets every Monday with fellow veterans to help with any prob- lems they might be having. “My dad was a WWI veteran. This is my way of giving back to vets. Without veterans we'd all be speaking German or Japanese,” said Smith. “Helping people at the hospital is just great.” + John Hudak of Dallas Town- ship started volunteering at the VA six years ago after his retire- ment. He believes his time there not only helps the patients, but himself as well. “I listen to the voice of experience,” said Hudak, referring to his 95 year old father. “He said if you retire you better stay busy. If you don’t do any- thing, you'll feel like you have one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel.” © A Korean War veteran, Hudak feels a responsibility to make the patients smile. “It makes you feel good to do something for a fellow vet,” he said. “I like to joke with the patients. Some don’trespond, but when you get alaugh it makes ~ you feel good.” ‘Hudak believes the general public forgets about their veter- ans too easily. “They forget too quickly. Most of the male volun- teers are veterans,” he said. »~ Marion Kunigonis of Dallas is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for Daddow-Isaacs Post 672. Her husband and all of her brothers were in the military. Every Wednesday and Friday morning, Kunigonis visits the veterans for coffee hour. Everyone gets to- gether to chat and interact. “I think it’s terrific to volunteer (at the VA),” said the woman who is known as “Mom” around the hospital. “People should come + and visit their veterans.” Pat Iorio heads the Volunteer Services department and smiles as she talks about people she considers special. “Our volun- teers have chosen tobe here, that’s POST PHOTO/KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Taking time out for others. From left, seated, Marion Kunigonis of Dallas; Chelsea Scharding-Taras of Lehman; Diane Bowman of Dallas; standing,-Raymond Smith of Shavertown; Pat lorio, VA volunteer services; and John Hudak of Dallas : what makes them so special,” said Iorio, whose husband served in Vietnam and Saudia Arabia. “I feel they (the veterans) should be served. Thank God these people did this for us so we could appre- ciate our freedom,” she said as her smile crept away. The volunteers clearly enjoy their work and feel their cause is nothing but worthy. “The veter- ans served you, now serve the veterans,” said Kunigonis. “Only a few hours a week is a plus. People can make their own hours.” For more information on vol- unteering, call 821-7237. Just like a mom, Kunigonis escorts people to and from the mall. She also helps with the bingo games and auxiliary par- ties. Kunigonis encourages people of all ages to volunteer at the VA. At 75, she is a ball of positive energy and wants to share her time and joy with others. “Volunteerism keeps a person young. It keeps you in a better. state of mind,” she said. “People should get out, be active and if someone doesn’t have a smile, give them one of yours.” She thinks many people do not volunteer at hospitals because they fear sick people. “You can always sleep better if you get out and help others,” she said. Bowman, whose brain cancer hasbeen in remission for 20 years, knows what it is like to be sick. She credits VA care and volunteer work for her peace of mind. “It’s good for me. It keeps me from being stressed. The VA really helped me,” she said. “I praise God. I have two hands and two legs able to help the other veter- ans. It's worth it to make the time.” Not every volunteer has such an immediate attachment to the VA. Fourteen-year-old Chelsea Scharding-Taras volunteers dur- ing the summer months. The Lake-Lehman student said she learned a lot from the veterans. “Imetalot of people. Talking to the veterans and having many conversations, I learned everyone is different,” said Scharding- Taras, whose father is a physician assistant at the VA. Drug test (continued from page 1) as it includes everyone from the superintendent to staff. “I'm a little upset they are dis- criminating against the athletes. They should wait until everyone down to the maintenance men can be tested,” she said. *" At Monday night's school board work session, board members said the entire administration and beard had volunteered to submit. to similar testing. Teachers can- not be forced to take the tests. Saba said she and other par- ents she knows fear athletes will ~~ fdll'victim to other students who might plant drugs. “.Len Dorrance of the Gridiron Club, whose son is a senior on the football team, opposes randomly BiLo Oil Co. ~~ Call around for prices - then make us your last call! We'll beat any aadver- tised home “heating oll price in our Per area by Gallon 2 MINIMUM 125 GALLONS ~* CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-BUY-BILO 3 (1-888-289-2456) 24 Hour Hot Line ® Computerized Prescription Service ® Russell Stover Candies ® Greeting Cards * PA Lottery Tickets * Newspapers ®* Magazines 159 N. MemorialHwy., Shavertown, PA (675-1191) testing only athletes. “There area lot of issues for me. I don’tlike the random part of it and wonder how they will pick the kids,” he said. Dorrance supports the drug-sniff- ing dogs, as does Saba. 5 Some high school students echo parents in their belief that ath- letes should not be singled out for testing. Laura Popson, 14, is a freshman who does not play orga- nized sports at school. “It really didn’t bother me because I don’t have anything to worry about,” she said. “But, if they do test the athletes they should test every- one.” Popson thinks the district should wait until that is a legal option before it begins the pro- gram. As far as the dogs, she believes they might not do as much good as some think. “Most of the kids who would sell drugs wouldn't be dumb enough to bring them to school. They are smarter than they think,” said Popson, who has never see evidence of drugs in school, but knows they exist by hearing others talk. School board members said they have yet to receive a single complaint about the policies from the public. “I haven't received one call. I talk to people all the time who have kids in the district. They unanimously think it'sa good idea. Ifyou have nothing to hide, what's your problem?” said Maureen Banks, board member. “Idon’t think it’s fair, but it’s all the law allows us to do,” said Banks, who has volunteered with the rest of the board to be tested along with the students. “Maybe parents should ask themselves if they would want to know if their child had a drug problem,” suggested John Litz, a board member who supports both policies. “For quite a few years I listened as numerous members of the community addressed us and told us there is a drug problem at the high school.” Litz thinks the two proposed policies are a good way to deal with the problem. Saba said she expects a crowd of parents to attend the next school board meeting on Nov. 10 at 7 --p.m. in the administration build- ing. Q. Where can you find the most Back Mountain news? A. In The Dallas Post every week | dream home a reality. 15 Year Fixed Rate Morteage Getting your mortgage at our bank is pomtless. $ 1 Fist National Community Bank just made affording a home a lot easier. For a limited time we are offering a 15 year fixed rate mortgage at 7.25% APR* with no points. Stop by any of our seven convenient locations and make your Dunmore 346-7667 / Scranton 343-6572 / Dickson City 489-8617 / Fashion Mall 348-4880 Pittston Plaza 655-FNCB(3622) / Wilkes-Barre 831-1000 / Kingston 283-FNCB(3622) *Offer available on mortgages up to $214,600 Loans with less than 20% down payment require PMI. Rates are in effect as of date of publication and may change without notice. APR/Annual Percentage Rate. An example of monthly payment terms per $1,000 borrowed would be 180 payments of’ $9.13 for 15 years fixed rate. Rate quoted for owner occupied 1-4 family residence, financing for purchase and/or refinance. Construction financing available at different rates and terms. Annual Percentage Rate(APR) assumes first payment Thirty(30) days from date of closing. FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANK Serving our community from strength. Visit our web site @ http://www.fncb.com Call Mortgage Link 1-888-700-FNCB 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week To Pre-qualify Points Member FDIC ® School board - (continued from page 1) low Pine wood construction. “You might stop it by painting it, but you would have to do it often,” said Williams. The playground could last in- definitely if maintained well or fall apart within a few years if ne- glected, Williams told the board. Williams suggested renovating or replacing the playground in 2000. Also, the district is looking to replace portions of the ceilings and floors at the high school. Griffiths said poor lighting in cer- tain hallways should be improved. Kraynak told the board it would cost around $25,000 tg replace incandescent lighting on 10,000 sq. ft. of ceiling with florescent lighting. $150,000 was set aside in this year’s budget for high school renovations. The board is looking into a new intercom system for Dallas El- ementary School. Due to damage to the heat and bell system, the intercom was wiped out, said Griffiths. The district plans to bid out for the approximately $28,000 system. School board members volun- teered to be tested for drugs just like athletes if a proposed drug policy is passed. The board is scheduled to perform a second public reading of the policy at its meeting Nov. 10, after which the policy can be put into effect. Board members said at Mon- day night's work session they haven't heard any complaints about the plan, but parents op- posed to it say they will turn out at next week's meeting to make their concerns known. The regular school board meet- —-ing will take place Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in the administrative build- ing off Church St. * Cet Em Chile They Last! Precious Pigs . . . Only at Luzerne National Bank Eh This classic porcelain china piggy bank is yours Get a Precious Pig! $5.00 early withdrawal penalty fon the asking when you open a Luzerne National Bank Christmas Club of $10 a week or more. Other club options are also available. And, your Luzerne National Christmas Club will earn interest while you save! Open a Luzerne National Bank Christmas Club. . . . 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Knouse, Patient Advocate, Wyoming Valley Health Care System Kim Manning, Esq., Legal Services, Wyoming Valley Health Care System Margaret Monahan Hogan, Ph.D., Center For Ethics and Public Life, King’s College Wednesday, November 12, 1997 Back Mountain Medical Center 100 Upper Demunds Road e Dallas Living will and healthcare power of attorney To register, please call 675-4330, WYOMING VALLEY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM b Eo 0 TE IS o'N8 0 8 5 J 28 OR Io 1 0: ofl ol Jo: GH © So Wo J) 0M § (0 OB 0 O81 0) @)y \ =
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers