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Vol. 109 No. 25
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The Back Mountain's =
The Dallas Post
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Dallas, Pennsylvania
lin Newspaper Since 1889
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June 24 thru July 1, 1998
Stepped-up
presence
of police
yields results
By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER
: Post Staff
TRUCKSVILLE - With less noise, gar-
bage and vandalism, the people of
Meadowcrest credit the police for their
peace of mind. Using grant money for
extra patrolling of the area, the Kingston
Township Police have eradicated certain
“elements” that left residents feeling vul-
nerable and unsafe.
James Balavage, police chief and Rose
Yarmel, Luzerne County Housing Au-
thority grant coordinator, credit the pro-
gram for the improvements.
Even so, the Kingston Township Board
of Supervisors approved the program for
only three months at last week’s meeting,
saying the project was still under evalu-
ation. . :
The Meadowcrest Community Oriented
Policing Grant Program with the Luzerne
County Housing Authority is run through
the federal Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). It is a two-
year $27,000 grant that expires in May
1999. The township pays the officers’
salary and is reimbursed with the grant
money. The contract must be renewed
every year.
The project is currently into the first
six months of the second year and only
received approval
for three months of
the second part of |
the year.
Officers work one
third of their regu-
lar shift in
Meadowcrest and
two thirds when
they are off-duty.
Police work 32
hours a week in the 4
project. Patrolmen Martin
. Balavage ex- Maransky, left, and
plained the goal of Frank Ziegler walk
the project. “HUD around Meadowcrest.
(by using police) attempts to increase the
level of safety and security for the many
elderly and single parents who live in
Meadowcrest. To make life as safe as
possible these grant programs have been
initiated,” he said.
See MEADOWCREST, pg 8
Spencer family works, plays, stays together in business
By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER
Post Staff
LEHMAN - It’s safe to say that
if Sam Spencer had not struck a
golf ball so well, at least 10 lives
would have been very different.
And local golfers would not have a
74-acre haven so close to home.
In the early 1950's, working as
the golf pro for such places as
Irem Temple Country Club was
growing old for Sam. “He never
wanted to be dictated to by the
clubs. He wanted to get into his
own business where there would
be a decision of one,” said John
Spencer, Jr., Sam's grandson.
As a result, in 1953 Lehman
Golf Course, the first public golf
course in a 30 mile radius, was
open for business.
Fast forward 45 years and the
business is stronger than ever
with the Spencer family still at the
helm. The entire family.
Virginia Banks honored as
Virginia H. Banks of Dallas has
been honored as the 1998 Sisters
of Mercy Woman of the Year.
Virginia (Ginger) Banks has
devoted a lifetime to the service of
others, particularly children with
physical chalienges and young
women.
A Massachusetts native, she
graduated from Boylston’s High
School of Commerce and Salter
Secretarial School in Worcester.
Soon after graduation, the Cen-
tral Intelligence Agency in Wash-
ington, D.C. hired her where she
After Sam retired, his son John
and his wife, Fran (who passed
away in 1990) ran the course and
raised their nine children. Gradu-
ally, as the kids grew, they would
help. Whether it was mowing the
lawn or shagging balls, they all
helped.
Pride fills his voice when John
tells his father’s story. “He started
as a caddy at Valley Country Club
in Hazleton, then became caddy
master and assistant pro,” ex-
plained John. In 1935 Sam be-
came a member of the Profes-
sional Golf Association. “He was
almost one of the original mem-
bers.” He even played one year in
the famous Master's tournament.
Sam then worked at Elkview
Country Club in Carbondale for
14 years before going to Irem
Temple Country Club, where he
was the club pro for 12 years. He
retired from Lehman in 1974, and
passed away in 1992.
worked until 1956. She met her
husband, the
late Joseph B.
Banks, in the
nation’s capi-
tal. Mr. Banks
served as sec-
ond lieutenant
in the Air Force,
fulfilling his
military duty
after graduat-
ing from the Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology. Virginia and
Joe married in 1954 and planned
VIRGINIA BANKS
John, an only child, was
brought up on the course and
always worked there, so it was
only natural that his children do
the same. “I think it's great that
we work together,” he said. John
played golf all over Europe while
he was in the Army. “He was a
very good amateur player,” said
his daughter, Beth. He played
with Jennings Randolf, Jr., who
is now a golf announcer.
This is John’s 45th year work-
ing at the course. He is the owner
and his son, John Jr., 31, is the
general manager. Beth is the golf
instructor. John, Beth, John Jr.,
his wife Kim and their three chil-
dren live together in the family
home which is on the course.
The other seven children live
elsewhere, but do their share of
work when they can.
Beth, who is also the physical
See SPENCERS, pg 8
Storms took
toll on lake
businesses
But a pickup comes
with sun, warmth
By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER
Post Staff
HARVEYS LAKE - Between thrashing
thunderstorms, tornado warnings and
cool temperatures, the usual summer
activities have been postponed at the
lake. For the past few weeks people have
not been eating or playing with the same
force as previous years and business
owners took notice.
Fortunately, the past weekend gave
anxious vacationers and business own-
ers a window of sunshine and warmth,
and they took full advantage :
Ray Ostroski, co-owner of Josie’s Ital-
ian Water Ice, said it had rained every day
since their opening. “Friday was the first
day it didn’t rain. Thursday there were
people just standing in the rain eating. I
think they were just tired of the weather,”
he said.
Josie's celebrated its grand opening
Saturday under the hot sun. “The re-
sponse from the public has been very
good. They are as excited as we are.”
Just down the way a little, the Funnel
Cake Haus had a similar fate. But, owner
Chris Janusz takes it all in stride. “We
had to pay for the nice weather we had to
start the summer off this good,” he said.
“People are glad (the warm weather) is
finally here.” :
Janusz said even when it’s raining the
lines form. “Even when it’s raining ana
cold people will buy ice cream. I guess
people need ice cream,” he said with a
smile.
Getting ice cream at the Funnel Cake
Haus is a tradition for James Brokenshire
and family. Although he has moved to
Wilkes-Barre, Brokenshire still visits his
parents often. “With the lake I always
have someplace to go. We swim, fish and
I ride my motorcycle around the lake,” he
said.
Kim Hritzak of Jones’ Potato Pancakes
said blocks of time without customers
was as much a reminder of the stormy
weather as thunder. “We've been pretty
slow. It’s usually really busy in the
summer, but the past few weeks have
See LAKE BUSINESS, pg 3
A
POST PHOTO/KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER
John Jr. and Beth Spencer stand in front of the family home and
business. They are the third generation to operate the golf course.
Sisters of Mercy Woman of the Year
to return to Boston in 1956 so
that Joe could complete his
master’s degree. Instead they
came to the Wyoming Valley, Joe's
hometown, where they stayed to
raise their family.
Virginia was actively involved
in the Parents Association at Wyo-
ming Seminary, the school her
children and husband attended.
The Parents Association was in-
strumental in many of the school’s
fund raising efforts. In addition,
the Association set up support or’
‘host’ families for the resident
boarding students, and Virginia
and Joe opened their home to
many youngsters over the years.
King's College also benefited
from Virginia and Joe's involve-
ment. Each summer the College
seeks local residents to host teach-
ers from Ireland. Virginia and Joe
participated in this exchange pro-
gram for many years.
In 1983, when her husband
purchased the financially troubled
Pocono Downs racetrack
inWilkes-Barre, Virginia began t
dedicate herself to serving the live:
of children with mental and physi-
cal challenges.
Through a special Night at the
Races, Mr. and Mrs. Banks do-
nated the entire use of the race-
track, and its employees to host
an event to benefit St. Joseph's
Center in Scranton. The Center
treats mentally and emotionally
challenged children and young
adults who have multiple neuro-
logical impairments. The event,
which raises about $55,000 an-
See BANKS, pg 7
14 Pages, 2 Sections
Calendar................... 14
Classified............. 12-13
Crossword................ 14
Editorials:.................; 4
Obituaries................. 12
School... lh... 11
SPOrS........ooiiiminns 9-10
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