Dallas, PA Wednesday, June 10, 1998 6 The Dallas Post EDITORIALS Good work, good luck to the Class of 1998 “So, let us put to rest the notion that today’s teenagers are universally lazy, stupid and unmotivated, or even that a signifi- “cant minority of them fulfill that stereotype. If you have read Kylie Shafferkoetter’s articles in this issue and last week, you know there are a great number of young people in our high schools who are talented, respectful and serious about their future, and that of our nation. They want to be doctors, engineers, women's rights activists and business leaders, and if -they maintain the dedication to excellence they've shown so far, inere’ S$ no reason to expect they won't succeed. ‘Life will throw many obstacles in their paths, of course, and the graduates of 1998 should ékpect some twists and turns along the road to fulfillment of their goals. They have lived a relatively protected existence until now, and when they go out on their own will find it takes more than a high IQ to stay on top, and there are fewer helping hands and sympathetic ears around. Nor should they be surprised if the pace of progress is slower than anticipated, or if 10 or 20 years from now they find ‘themselves working in an entirely different field from the one ~ they took aim at back in ‘98. Until they have tested the waters of “real life,” they cannot know for sure what truly attracts them “and inspires real devotion. And let's not forget the students whose grades didn’t top the charts, but who learned well how to give their best effort to each endeavor, and to apply their skills and interests not only to a career but to the improvement of their community, starting with their own families and friends. Everyone has a contribution to make to our society, and there's no reason to limit the expecta- tion that each of us — from the most humble to the most exalted — can make a difference. There's plenty to do, from global warming to man’s inhumanity to his brothers and sisters, and the world is counting on this generation to handle themselves better than the ones before. ~ We're happy to send the Class of 1998 off on the journey of life with congratulations for all they are and all they've done so far, and to urge them to keep up the good work, while taking as much enjoyment as possible along the way. Plan now to support the 52nd library auction “Would you like to take concrete action to help the Back ‘Mountain? Do you mind getting credit for it? If the answer to ‘those questions is yes and no respectively, take a minute now to ‘decide if you can contribute an item or items to the 52nd Back Youniain Memorial Library Auction, to be held July 9-12. “’The auction raises about one-fourth of the library's annual ‘operating budget, mostly by selling new and antique items over .the block to hundreds of willing bidders who know their pur- ‘chases support this important institution. Most of the new items ‘are donations from individuals and businesses, many of whom ‘have helped the library for years. But there's always room for more, because the auction goes until the last item is sold, and the more there are, the better the library can fulfill its role. The auction isn’t limited to new merchandise and antiques; each year there are several good used pieces, such as a wonder- ful metal patio set that went over the block last year. If you've never donated an item before, or if you haven't yet done so this year, why not take a minute to think if you can help. Auction volunteers will come and pick up your donation, or you can drop it off at the library. Just fill out and mail the coupon below, or call 675-1182, and you can do your part. ig + 5 EE EE GE SE EN SENN ANN NEN RENN GENE NEN SEEN EEN SENN SENN SEN SEEN NE SE SE Sy - i Name of Individual or Business I Phone # i Item to be Donated Value $ ‘A receipt will be mailed or delivered at time of pickup. Back Mt. Library Auction 5 96 Huntsville Rd. I Dallas PA 18612 pp ——— i i ] I ; i Q Please call to arrange pickup 0 Item will be delivered i } 1. “Send to: y I of Letters, columns and editorials “The Dallas Post attempts to publish opinions on a variety of topics in many forms. Editorials, which are the opinion of the managment of The Post, appear on the editorial page and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. Any artwork represents the opinion of the cartoonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. _ Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: ¢ Letters should not exceed 500 words. No writer may have more than one letter published during a 30-day period, except as a reply to another letter. « Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. « Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. « The Post retains the right to accept or reject any letter, and to edit letters for grammar and spelling, as well as to eliminate any libel, slander or objectionable wording. In addition to letters, we welcome longer pieces that may run as columns. The author or subject's relevance to the Back Mountain will be the prime consideration when selecting material for publication. 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 Kylie Shafferkoetter REPORTER Jessica Appolo ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Ruth Proietto PRODUCTION MANAGER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER 2) PRINTED WITH NIN PENNSYLVANIA SOY INK NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATIO PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION The good old days? Nhe not. Photo ny Monica Marzani. Soci and believing in Oregon A Case for consgayation Alene N. Case My husband and I recently spent two wonderful weeks in Oregon with our two sons who live in Portland. During our stay, we ~ had plenty of opportunities to see a wide variety of landscapes and to talk with experts in the field of legal protection of natural re- sources. But, for me, the most memorable conversation was with a young couple who are third or fourth generation Oregonians. Soon after our arrival at their home, itbecame obvious that these thirty-something parents of two lively children shared our concern about the environment, specifi- cally the forests and rivers of the northwest. They were not only concerned; they were also quite knowledgeable. So, we asked them how their parents and grandpar- ents and other people in the older generation felt about the loss 0f 95 percent of the old-growth forests. [ am still pondering the answer: “They simply do not believe that it is gone.” I am no expert on the process of grieving, but I do know that denial is often the first response. It comes before anger or tears or accep- tance. It certainly comes before any constructive response to the situation which might have cre- ated the loss. I wondered then, and I wonder now, how one can be left with only five percent of the gorgeous huge trees that once prevailed and not realize that ninety-five percent of them are missing. Before we conclude that these folks are senile or insensitive, let's consider some reasons that might lead to such a denial of reality. First, most people in Oregon live in cities. Portland and other Or- egon cities are models of planning and urban development. They have parks both large and small in which people can recreate. Some of these parks contain old- growth forests with their atten- dant mosses, ferns, birds, and other wildlife. If lived in Oregon, I would be understandably proud of these progressive cities. ' But, such pride can also lead to a cer- tain blindness regarding other environmental problems. Second, well-meaning conser- vation measures often hide envi- ronmental problems from the ca- sual viewer. Did you ever drive down a country road with large trees on either side and suddenly realize that this “forest” was only two or three times as wide as the road? Beyond the trees that you could see from the road, some paper company had cut acres and acres of forest to make tissues. Well, this situation occurs over and over again in Oregon, too. We drove down one “scenic highway” that was separated from clear- cuts on either side by about 100 meters of mature forest. No won- der the natives don’t realize “that it is gone!” I am becoming increasingly uneasy about plans to protect “viewsheds.” Many environmen- -tal groups gain support from the public when they advocate pro- tecting the scenery near cities or major highways. I can support such efforts if they are also linked to the protection of sensitive eco- logical areas such as streams, lakes, wetlands, or steep slopes that might erode if disturbed or when linked to the protection of prime agricultural land. But, ifwe are only preserving the “view” for people, we are encouraging the very innocent denial that the older people in Oregon are exhibiting. How will people know that the problems exist if we hide them? Airplanes are great equalizers of views. On our way home, the weather was gorgeous all across the country and I had a window seat from which I could see quite well. The loss of large expanses of trees in the northwest, the irriga- tion of marginal agricultural lands, the lack of adequate stream bor- ders in the midwest, and the sprawl of towns and cities could not hide from me. Occasionally, I was pleasantly surprised by con- tour planting and strip-cropping or by small patch cuts of timber that were regenerating nicely. Bujt, mostly, Iwas once again saddened by the obvious destruction of gaed land especially near cities like St Louis MO, Dayton OH.erPhiladel phia PA. Factories and subdivi sions ‘and super-highways arc covering land that has in the past put food on our tables and pro- vided wood for our houses. Some day I imagine a visitor to the eastern US asking a long-time resident a variation on the ques- - tion we asked in Oregon: What do “your elders think about the de- struction of farm and forest land? Will the answer be the same? Will we deny that it is gone? Let us always look around us and not close our eyes to the obvious. Let us do the planning necessary to live with nature and with each other. Let us view our land as the priceless resource that it is ang protect it as such. 2 Seeing is believing! ‘ ONLY YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - June 17, 1938 DALLAS BORO CRACKS DOWN ON DELINQUENTS The first of several hundred distraint notices to be served on delinquent taxpayers in Dallas Borough, were issued yesterday by Tax Collector Arthur Dungey who has been ordered by Dallas School Board to “crack down” on delinquents who are responsible for the more than $2,100 balance he owes the district. The Postmaster General in Washington, D.C. announced the appointment of Nicholas Staub, of Trucksville as postmaster at the Trucksville office. Staub will suc- ceed William Luksic who resigned after filling the position for the last four years. The salary is $2,000. 50 Years Ago - June 18, 1948 DALLAS TO GET TWO NEW ‘FIRE HYDRANTS Borough Council has approved the installation of two more fire hydrants in the borough bringing the total now in use to nine. One will be installed at the intersec- tion of Veterans’s Memorial High- way and Machell Avenue and the other will be installed at the inter- section of Susquehanna and Wyo- ming Streets. Council's liberal attitude toward fire protection within the past decade has saved Dallas Borough property owners thousands of dollars in lowered fire insurance premiums. Hayfield Farm will exhibit the nationally famous Clydesdale teams of eight horses at the fourth annual Lehman Horse Show July 5. In addition, Alexander Tough, farm manager has announced that 14 of the farm’s little Sardinian donkeys will be on exhibition. 40 Years Ago - June 13, 1958 LAKE-NOXEN ADDED TO SCHOOL JOINTURE Lehman and Jackson Town- ship school directors signed an agreement for a larger jointure with Lake-Noxen Tuesday at the June Board meeting. Ross Town- ship members not having a full quota present voted to hold a spe- cial meeting to decide the matter. You could get - Chuck roast, 39¢ Ib.; rib roast, 69¢ 1b.; sweet red plums, 2 lbs., 39¢; canta- loupes Ig., ea. 29¢; Virginia Lee cherry pies, 40¢ ea.; Scott Towels, lg. roll, 31¢. 30 Years Ago - June 20, 1968 LIBRARY PREPARES FOR 22ND AUCTION Antique Committee, still in the process of final formation, has procured a pine jelly cupboard with plank sides and the original white china knobs for its main offering at the 22nd Annual Li- brary Auction. It is on display in Shavertown at Wyoming National Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Archie Baker of Trucksville, will observe their 60th wedding anniverssary June 24. The couple were married June 24, 1908 by Rev. Carl Councilman in the old Methodist parsonage in Carverton. They had five chil- dren, three of whom are living. They also have six grandchildren and two- great-grandchildren. Baker is a retired plaster contrac- tor. 20 Years Ago - June 15, 1978 LAKE-LEHMAN BOARD DOES NOT ADOPT BUDGET The Lake-Lehman School Board Directors declined to adopt a 1978/79 budget at their Tuesday meeting despite earlier indications that they would do so. Angelo DeCesaris- financial committee chairman exprgssed reluctance to adopt final budget and noted that action at the state level will deter- mine Lake-Lehman’s final budget allocation. According to DeCesaris, Governor Milton Shapp vetoed allocations of $50 million for subsidies to local school dis- tricts. Legislature has threatened to override the veto, in which case Lake-Lehman stands to receive a substantial subsidy. The amount of the subsidy represents either a six mill increase in taxes or a reduction in programs. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news and photos each week? A: Only in The Dallas Post | ~ ~~ El ~ | \ { “ L \ , \ \ % \ ) fi ® iA ~~ HE Ne? ~~ MEA
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers