Teens work together to learn tolerance By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - With the drum beats pounding in the air, students tried their best to learn traditional Afri- can dances. Some got it right away, others found their feet go- ing in opposite directions. After tripping and turning red in front of each other, they became friends. Forty students from 10 area schools participated in the Diver- sity Institute Leadership Camp at College Miseri- cordia the last week in June. Four students from each school were cho- sen by an appli- cation process and each school paid $1,000 to participate: Students stayed on campus for the week of June 22. Wyoming Seminary students Jaclyn Walkowiak and Veronica McRipley were the only Back Mountain students to take part. The dance the first day played out as a metaphor for the week to follow. As students discussed issues — everything from aware- ness of their own prejudices to conflict “resolution and how to communicate — some understood right away, others tripped over ideas a bit, sometimes to their own embarrassment. But, they stayed together as a group of friends working through prob- lems, even if awkward at first. This is the camp's first year. Dr. Linda Trompetter, asst. aca- demic dean of College Misericor- dia, is also the director of the Diversity Institute, which holds seminars to promote multicultural relations all over Northeast PA. She said the camp has been in the works for a couple of years. “We really wanted to do some- thing regionally. There are so many issues in northeastern Pennsylvania. We are losing many talented people because they don’t feel: (wanted) : here,” said Trompetter. “Students were exposed to all diversity in the camp. Everything from class and race to physical/ mental abilities and sexual orien- tation,” she said. During the six-day camp, stu- dents participated in interactive programs with titles like, “Four Questions, Cycle of Oppression,” “Workshop on Diversity,” “Lead- ership and Critical Thinking Skills,” and “Conflict Resolution Peace Center.” “These help in eliminating prejudice and increasing JACKLYN WALKOWIAK See DIVERSITY, pg 12 New pastor joins Dallas United Methodist family’ By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - Rev. William D. Lewis has wasted no time easing into his new job. On his first day, the new pastor of Dallas United Meth- odist Church conducted a funeral and visited members of his new congregation in the hospital. On July 1, Rev. Lewis officially was moved to Dallas after Rev. Michael Bealla, who was with the church for 10 years, was moved to the Binghamton area. The Bishop decides when changes should be made and moves pastors accord- ingly. Rev. Lewis admits it’s difficult to leave the Forty Fort United Methodist Church where he has worked for 12 years. But, he looks forward to meeting his new L ; 3 CHES =NeIS]\V/[\VISINIRRI=ISHO] Si | =H BVA BN WARS LAKE-LEHMAN S101. [OO] EBIISH E21 [03 BS Vol. 109 No. 27 Dallas, Pennsylvania / 50 Cents July 8 thru July 14, 1998 Garden sets scene for stories, strengthens a neighborhood a POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Dr. Anthony Mussari and Kathleen "Kitch" Mussari relaxed in Windsor Park, which they created on a vacant lot next to their home. By JENNIFER JUDGE Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. - What do you do when the lot adjacent to your house is used as a neighborhood dump? Just ask Dr. An- thony and Kathleen “Kitch” Loftus Mussari, residents of Windsor Drive in Orchard View Terrace. The couple bought a nearby lot, previ- ously used for dumping by a contractor -and developed Windsor Park, a series of flower gardens that one visitor to the park called “a living memorial.” Visit Windsor Park and stand in the top garden completed in 1996. Daylilies sway in the wind. Black-eyed Susans cluster in a circular bed next to purple coneflowers and ornamental grasses. Honeysuckle bushes heavy with berries provide refuge for the numerous varieties of birds that call Windsor Park home. A few strategi- cally placed benches provide places to just sit and watch. From the upper garden, there is a breathtaking view of the valley below. “The idea was that you have an incred- ible collage of colors,” Tony Mussari ex- plained. “It's a peaceful, serene place where people can collect their thoughts.” Tony and Kitch designed the garden themselves, with the idea that it would look like an English country garden, made up of “rooms.” : Achieving this goal was no easy task. The Mussaris took out 22 truckloads of refuse. Only one tree grew on the site, which they chose to leave in place. The lower gardens were completed in 1997. “We took what was an eyesore and made it beautiful,” he said. And what began as one family’s attempt to beautify a neighborhood has provoked the interest of the community. “Any neighbor who wants to plant something leaves it in a paper bag with their name on it near the spot where they want it planted and we plant it for them.” So why would anyone take the time to See WINDSOR PARK, pg 12 congregation and forming rela- tionships. “Being a pastor, you're deeply involved in people's lives. After 12 years you get to know everyone. You're a pastor of the people of that church. It's like leaving a family for a new family,” he ex- plained. He recognizes that these feel- ings are similar for everyone in- volved. “This particular congre- gation is feeling the pain of losing a pastor they've had for 10 years. They wonder, ‘Who is this fellow?” It’s sort of like an arranged mar- riage. They wonder what I am like and I wonder what they are like and we know it has to work out because it's already been ar- ranged.” See DALLAS UMC, pg 3 Ready | for the auction Too soon to consider tax reform By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - The Dallas School Board now knows what its op- tions are with regards to newly implemented state tax reforms, the optional local tax system and the Homestead Act. But it's much too early to say board members will recommend changes in how taxes are collected. : The new system could elimi- nate nuisance taxes, such as the per-capita tax and occupational privilege tax, and increase earned income tax up to 1.5 percent. To offset the income tax increase, up to half the value of primary resi- dences in the district could be freed from property taxes. At its regular meeting Monday, the board heard a presentation by See TAX REFORM, pg 3 Fields deal still in works By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - The compromise agreement between the Dallas School District and property own- ers who opposed construction of two athletic fields behind the high school is getting the final touches. “We have reached an agree- ment in principle. Now we are trying to put together a stipula- tion that wraps up the agreement,” said Atty. Bruce Phillips, who rep- resents the majority of property OWNErSs. “It’s not all spelled out yet. I hope we will wrap it up in the next couple of weeks. There are a lot of particulars that need to be spelled out.” In the agreement, the district will leave many existing trees to provide screening for the fields. Also, a chain link fence will sur- round the fields. About 20 neighboring property owners, including Phillips, who represents most of the group, filed alawsuitin December, 1997. Atty. Ted Krohn also represents some of the property owners The action stated that the township did not properly adver- tise or post the property inform- ing residents of the possible inter- pretation of the zoning ordinance. Also, it questioned whether a vari- ance on the setback was handled correctly. A setback of 100 feet is indicated in the zoning ordinance, but the school district was granted avariance to build the fields closer to the property line. After the neighbors opposed the field, it became known that some of them had built gardens and structures on district land. BM Too noisy? Sutton Hills resident says barking dogs are a nuisance, asks for ordinance, Pg 2. : Amanda Rose Carson, granddaughter of library auction volunteer Ernie Ashbridge, tried out a carousel horse that will be sold at the : 52nd annual event. The auction takes | place Thursday through Sunday. | See the special | section inside | for all the | details. CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK HM Uphill racers for charity. Sports. 32 Pages, 2 Sections Dave Beccaris and Dr. Alan Boonin race for glory ... and Calendar..................... Classified............. 10-11 Crossword.................. 8 Editonials.................. 4 Obituaras.........ci....v. 10 School...7..iivi iil ve 7 SPOS... iets 9 CALL 675-5211 POST PHOTO/ FOR HOME DELIVERY, NEWS OR ADVERTISING The Dallas Post MAILING LABEL- Please enclose this label with any address changes, and mail to The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612-0366
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