rT < 12 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, January 7, 1998 Statue (continued from page 1) “She has been a special blessing tous; ithas been especially peace- ful since she came.” The peace is appreciated in the Murray house- hold, which includes five children under the ago of 10 and two work- ing parents. The three-foot statue arrived from Fatima in the early 1950's, brought over by Gus Mazzacarro of St John the Baptist Church in Pittston. It was a dream of a priest, Father Bednarczyk also from Pittston, who as a young seminar- ian in Europe saw these devo- ° tional statues go from home to home and hoped to establish the same custom in his parish if he became pastor. The statue first circulated only among the homes of his parishio- ners, but in 1955 Bishop Hannon permitted it to be circulated to homes throughout the Diocese of Scranton provided no money was ever accepted or involved, that people were obedient to the pas- tors, and that it was used for private devotionals only. Peeking around the back of the statue, lifting the glowing brocade robes at the bottom, you can see the statue was made by Jose Ferrara of Fatima. The statue - comes to a home on a Wednesday night and remains there until Saturday, each night being the inspiration for a prayer group. Ten-year-old Antonella Recchia, a neighborhood friend of the Murrays, was chosen this night to crown the beautiful statue, its porcelain face aglow with sparkling deep human-like eyes ready to tear. “I came over to pray,” says Antonella. Many people have come to see the statue and pray this night in Dallas. Wilma Gifford and her husband came to pray so that things in her home will be resolved. She prays for conversion of non-believers, and the return to the faith of her children She also comes with spe- cial intentions for friends unmen- tioned. Says Wilma, “Over the years some prayers have been answered, some still need to be resolved in time.” While the Fatima devotion al- lows time for special personal prayer intentions, it is still as originally intended a devotion of prayer for people who cannot or will not pray for themselves and an adoration to Mary and Jesus. A spokesman for this Diocesan Pilgrim Virgin Statue, as it is called, noted “we pray for an end to abortion, teenage conversions, people involved in catastrophes, an increase in callings to the reli- gious life, a return to religious obedience, the lonely, the sick, - and the aged. Beside predicting the end of ~ World War I, the beginning of the second World War, the deaths of two of the Fatima children, and the rise of Communism in Russia the vision at Fatima called for prayer for condemned souls who have no one to pray for them. And have prayers been answered? Have there been miracles? At Fatimayes, in Northeast Pa, “Well let's just say that things have happened,” said one devotee. Relics of the saints are included in the statue’s visit. Bones of saints and popes, pieces of robes, and garments encased in brass and glass crosses are displayed. People may be blessed with these. The prayer service is organized around the saying of the rosary, the Hail Marys, the Our Fathers, inter- spersed with meditation on vari- ous mysteries in the lives of Mary and Jesus. Irene Whittock, of Dallas, notes, “Thisis very comforting. John and Diane have taken me in.” Her family is in King of Prussia. During the statue’s visit the home is open to the public, usu- ally around the 6.30 p.m. devo- tional time. ; The pilgrim statue’s visits are already scheduled through the year 2002. Persons interested in arranging for a visit, interested in being a prayer leader for the ro- sary devotional, having the statue at their home, or any other infor- mation should call the Diocesan office in Scranton and ask for information regarding the Dioc- esan Pilgrim Virgin Statue. The Pilgrim Virgin Statue was brought to the U.S. from Portugal in the 1950's. It has gone from home to home since. A Real Hometown Paper you can feel good about The Dallas Post [PIONEER MERICAN MEMBER F.D.I.C. BAN <<... Home Equity Loan Special - 6 » 79%:rr 60 month term 6.99%. 61-120 month term Home Equity Installment Loans 1-800-552-3332 Equal Housing Lender *Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is accurate as of publication date. Loans up to 80% loan to value. $10,000 minimum. New financing only. .25% higher for non- drafted accounts. Inquire about additional terms and rates. The monthly payment on $1,000 borrowed at 6.79% APR for 60 months would be $19.70; 6.99% APR for 120 months would be $11.60. Pioneer American Bank's.lending policies, procedures, and practices of nondiscrimination cover all aspects of bank services including, in particular, the application for and granting of extensions of credit, 1-4 family PA owner-occupied properties only. Credit life and accident/health insurance available. Subject to normal bank underwriting requirements. Rates, terms, and offer are subject to change without notice. Rates are for loan with autodraft from Pioneer American Bank account only. pe Open for business Luzerne National Bank opened its newest branch, at the intersection of Main St. and Rt. 309 in Dallas Borough, on Monday. Carolyn Byron of Dallas did some business with teller Lorraine Ulichney, Shavertown, that morning. Pension POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK Senior Citizen Centers spon- sored by the Luzerne/ Wyoming Counties Bureau for the Aging of- Jer hot noon meals Monday through Friday to people 60 years of age or older. Donations from participants are gratefully accepted and needed in order to expand this program. The Back Mountain Center is locted at 22 Rice Street. Dallas. Call 675- 2179 for information. ¢ The following is the menu for the week of January 11. All lunches include margerine, milk and coffee. MONDAY - Ham steak w/rai- sin sauce, sweet potatoes, wax beans, whole wheat bread, choco- late cupcake. TUESDAY - Manicotti w/meat- balls and tomato sauce, sliced zucchini, orange juice, Italian bread, gelatin w/whipped topping. WEDNESDAY - Knockwurst w/ sauerkraut, parsley boiled pota- toes, mixed vegetables, whole wheat bread, pineapple w/coco- nut. THURSDAY - Italian roasted chicken, Italian roasted potatoes, Roman vegetable medley, cran- berry juice, dinner roll, fruited yogurt. : FRIDAY - Tuna hoagie, tomato- lettuce, cole slaw, minestrone soup, hoagie roll, oatmeal cookie, mayonnaise. (continued from page 1) But he likened himself to a custo- dian or superintendent, arguing that they are evaluated by the final result of their work, as is a tax collector. Finkelstein disagreed, finding there was “virtually no control whatsoever asserted over the Claimant by the School District.” He cited as an example Reese’s decision toreduce his office hours without consulting the district. “The Hearing Examiner can only imagine what the School District would do if the superintendent or a custodian told them he was going to work less hours,” he wrote. Reese and two other tax collec- tors recently lost a suit against the district, filed when their pay- ment plan was changed from com- mission to a flat $4 per bill col- lected. That the district was able to dictate its payment terms was another factor in the examiner's decision, along with the fact that tax collector is an elected position for which Reese has voluntarily campaigned through several elec- tions. “A person is not normally ‘elected’ to an employment posi- tion,” Finkelstein wrote. To be considered an employee, the employer must supply the principal tools for the occupation. Finkelstein argued that was not the case with an elected tax col- lector. While the district does sup- ply the tax bills, envelopes and record-keeping books, Reese sup- plies the office, telephone service and all other office equipment and supplies. The retirement system appeals board agreed that the tax collector's job required’ unique skills, but Finkelstein did not sup- port that argument. “The manner in which the Claimant described his job function leads to a conclu- sion that no skills whatsoever are required for this position,” he _ wrote, since the tax bills are printed for Reese, postage is ap- plied by the district and all that he must do is record payments and deposit them in the bank. “There is no unique skill in- volved in any of these activities such as a teacher who teaches or even a custodian who cleans and sweeps,” Finkelstein found. Reese, represented by John E. Beekman, Esq., counsel to the state association of tax collectors, also argued that his work was part of the regular business of the employer. But Finkelstein also turned away that reasoning, of- fering the example of a fuel oil supplier whose activity is neces- sary to the district, but who could never be considered an employee. The crux of his argument, Reese said Monday, is that the federal government requires that taxes and Social Security contributions be withheld from his payments, indicating that he is an employee, not an independent contractor. - Finkelstein said that factor alone does not determine employment status. Two cases that Reese presented as precedents weren't similar, Finkelstein said, because in both of them the tax collectors worked in offices supplied by their em- ployer, kept regular hours and were subject to substantial con- trol. Reese said he would appeal the decision, one that affects 300- 400 tax collectors throughout the state. “I presume the association will see this as a test case,” he said. But whether it is pursued by the association or not, Reese said he would continue to seek status as an employee. Atty. Ben Jones III, the school district solicitor, said it has taken at least 50 hours of his time to defend the matter. “It’s taken a great deal of attention,” he said, including at least two trips to Harrisburg. He also feels this has become a test case for the tax collectors group, and has been assisted by lawyers who work for the retirement system. “4 Wedding fo Remember” Many people start their New Year by making plans for a wedding. And each January readers of The Post and The Journal look forward to this special feature section which includes articles, photographs and numerous pieces of information to make their wedding a "dream come true". Also important to this section is advertising which will be the ke to drawing customers to your store. Promote your business and the professional service you provide by advertising in "A Wedding to Remember" A Special Feature in ‘The Dallas Post PUBLICATION DATE: WED., JANUARY 21 AD DEADLINE: FRI., JANUARY 16 (One day earlier if proof is needed) For more information on “4 Wedding Jo Remember”, call The Dallas Post 675-5211 EP off £5 & wis BR | by
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers