The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, March 31,1999 5 LaBar (continued from page 1) The money Paul earned was used to buy clothes and basic necessities. “Paul was proud that he was able to provide for him- self,” recalls Hand. Paul was independent but he was never on his own. His father’s salary as a house painter and fire fighter covered expenses and paid the tab at Hislop’s Restaurant where the two often had dinner. “He didn't have a mother, but everyone looked out for him. He had lots of love and care,” said Roth. He would recall years later that many people had been generous to him when he needed their kind- ness most. "Many a time, Mr. France would take me home for a hot meal and he’d always call me son,” LaBar told Sue Hand. Paul left high school before graduating. At 17, he enlisted in the Army and spent several years in Panama during World War II. “He loved Panama, the weather, the people and the canal. He was very active and enjoyed running in local races while there,” Hand said. Paul returned to Dallas after completing a second tour in the Army. He was employed by the Elston Dairy as a milk man. While he enjoyed his responsibilities at the dairy, Paul wanted to do more. Following in his father’s foot- steps, he joined the Dallas Fire and Ambulance Company. The elder LaBar had received a com- mendation from the fire company years before for his record of ex- cellence. The superior service continued during Paul's tenure as an ambu- lance driver. “I always had a job and did my best for people. lam so proud that my friends and neigh- " bors felt they could trust me,” he told cousin Pauline Roth. That trustworthiness got him elected mayor of Dallas in 1981. “Paul once said that he didn’t know how it came about that he ran for office, but that somebody probably asked him to do it,” re- called Sue Hand. “Paul was so proud to be the Mayor. He was lucky enough to have the oppor- tunity to give back to the commu- nity that had given so much to him,” she said. When Paul LaBar died, he had been living for many years at the intersection of Main Street and Huntsville Road, across the street and a little down from his birth- place. His complete obituary ap- pears on page 12. Taxpayers ass'n candidates night The Lake-Lehman School District Taxpayers Association invites you to attend our “Meet the Candidates Night, Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m. in the Lehman Township Municipal Building. All Lake-Lehman School District Taxpayers are urged to attend. Friends of the Library at a planning session in the Library’s Community Room. From left, seated, are Gloria McCartney, Rita Rusnak, Carolyn Johnson and Joanne Runner. Standing are Vivian Bednarz, vice-chairman of the luncheon; Shirley Forney, Jill Kryston, chairman; and Jo Ann Hall, All are residents of the Back Mountain. Author's luncheon set for April 29 Friends of the Back Mountain Memorial Library in Dallas are pleased to announce their 11th Annual “Luncheon with a Special Author”. It will be held on Thurs- day, April 29 at the Apple Tree Terrace, Newberry Estate, Dallas, with a social hour at 11:30 a.m. and luncheon starting at 12 noon. Proceeds benefit the library. The author this year will be Iris Levy of Kingston. At the luncheon watching her four children as they grew from babyhood to maturity. She is already well known throughout the area for her “Cook- ing Good with Iris” program, aired for 11 years on the local CBS Tv affiliate. The pulic is welcome and reser- vations should be made early for this popular Spring event. Tables . of 8 may be reserved. For further information, and for reservations, please telephone the Library at 675-1182 by April 20. she will present her collection of poetry, Iris Petals, inspired by RELIGIOUS SERVICES BACK MOUNTAIN HARVEST ASSEMBLY - 340 Carverton Rd., Trucksville. 696-1128. Pastor, Daniel S. Miller. Christian Education for all ages, 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wed., 7 p.m., "Genos' youth service. Midweek home groups; call for days and times. ‘Weekday prayer 6:30-7:30 a.m. Visitors welcome. DALLAS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 4 Parsonage St., Dallas. 675-0122. Rev. William D. Lewis, Pastor. Sunday School 9 a.m.; Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. PRINCE OF PEACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Main St., Dallas. The Rev. Robert A. Nagy. Holy Eucharist 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.; Sunday School grades 1-12, 10 a.m. Nursery provided. 675-1723. SHAVERTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 163 N. Pioneer Ave., Shavertown. 675-3616. Pastors: Rev. Douglas and Janet Bryant Clark. Music Dir., John Vaida. SATURDAY: 5:30 p.m., Chapel Service; SUNDAY: 9 a.m., Family Oriented Service; 11 a.m. Traditional Service. Sunday Classes for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Sunday Child Care Provided. Visitors expected. PHONE-A-PRAYER 675-4666. ‘ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH - 196 N. Main St., Shavertown. Sat. Worship 5:30 p.m.; Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11 a.m., Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Phone 675-3859 or e-mail: stpaul@epix.net for more information. Everyone welcome! Rev. Charles H. Grube, Pastor. Hust [3etween Or riends Local Crafters THE MUSIC BOX PLAYERS present Neil Simon’s PLAZA SUITE Apr. 16-18, 22-25, 29,30 May 1,2 (@1e] o Xe HC oYeTo Wee] Surprise Drawing Discounts & FREE Gifts Exp. Sat. 4/3 DINNER & SHOW: $30.00 $22.00 (children 12 & under) Show Only: adults - $17.00 students - $15.00 children - $13.00 jewelry baby items wooden crafts yard signs dolls « wedding ay DINNER PLAYHOUSE . Rie 196 Hughes St. 641 Memorial Hwy., Dallas ¢ swoyersville, PA 18704 (Between J&J Deli & LaBar's) aE 283-2195 or 1-800-698-PLAY 675-0821 Friends (continued from page 1) to the organization. “You couldn’t ask for a more dedicated, consci- entious person,” Richardson said. “He always would give more that what was asked.” Dedication is a word that comes up a lot when people talk about Paul LaBar. “He was dedicated to the orga- nization,” said Lynn Sheehan, who served as secretary of the fire de- partment for about 18 years when LaBar was treasurer. “He still at- tended every meeting even when he wasn’t secretary any more.” LaBar did have one quirk, Sheehan said. “I used to poke fun ‘at him because he disdained the use of calculators. I had a lot of fun with Paul.” He was old school, Sheehan said, and felt he had learned his math the old way and would continue to use those meth- ods. Sheehan noted that LaBar took special interest in Main Street, where he grew up on one side of the street and lived on the other side until he died. “He wasn’t just the Mayor of Dallas, he was the Mayor of Main Street,” Sheehan said. : Milt Lutsey has been manager of Dallas Borough since 1989, and even though LaBar’s mayoral responsibilities were primarily to oversee the police department, he took an active interest in every aspect of his hometown. “He was in here just about ev- ery day,” Lutsey said, describing how LaBar would walk the block down from his home at the corner of Huntsville Road and Main Paul LaBar with his grandchildren, Rachel Madeira, left, and Laura Madeira. ‘Street, and climb the stairs to the borough office. Even though he could vote on borough business only in the event of a tie among council members, “He made every council meeting over 17 years,” Lutsey said of the man who was Mayor since 1981. Jack Fowler, police chief, said LaBar took his responsibilities seriously. “People don’t realize how important that job is,” Fowler said. “We were answerable to him.” LaBar had to approve all pur- chases, apply for grants that al- lowed the purchase of vehicles and equipment and grant permis- sion for increased staffing for spe- cific police activities. “He more or less ran the police department,” Fire destroys car SHAVERTOWN - Firefighters battled a stubborn car fire on Ferguson Road Friday morning. The blaze started as Debra Wilushewski arrived to work at Jean Innamorati’s Century 21 office that morning. She was in the car when the fire started but escaped unharmed and was transported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital as a precaution. Neighbors, living near the Realtor’s office, offered assistance and comfort to the woman whose car was destroyed by the fireball. POST PHOTO/KASIA McDONOUGH Yard section. Ee on 2 PP os \ with co-op. Don't ha your plans fine poin age with us and we'll detalls,. = our advertising dollar ve the time to figure ts? Share your pack- fill you in on all the Springtime is... Home Improvement Time Build a solid customer foundation with an ad in The Dallas Post's Home and Yard Section. Winter's just about over and homeowners in the Northeast are eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring to get outside and tackle that long awaited remodeling project. Whether building a new dream home, planning a professionally landscaped shade garden or just adding a coat of paint to that shabby old shed, tell them who to turn to for the expertise, services or supplies you provide with an ad in The Dallas Post Home and ‘This special tab will include professionally prepared articles and photographs about the home and yard plus tips on how to get that project under control. A combination with The Abington Journal, Clarks Summit gives you more bang for the buck. Combination with The Abington Journal provides added distribution Publication Date: Wednesday, April 14 Ad Deadline: Thursday, April 8 Size: 5 Col by 13" SAU Tabloid The Dallas Post 607 Main Road Dallas, PA 18612 (717) 675-5211 or fax your ad to 675-3650 Fowler said. More than that, “He . was alwaysright there to help us.” F.J. Barry, now Ambulance Chief for Dallas Fire and Ambu- lance, knew LaBar nearly all his life, but got to know him better after he joined the department. Barry said LaBar made many con- tributions. “He was an extremely valuable person as a daytime driver,” Barry said. “He was very cool, very calm. He knew the roads well, and was on a first-name basis with many patients. They felt very comfortable with him around.” 44g Barry said LaBar’s proximity to the ambulance garage was espe- cially valuable in the severe win- ters of 1993-94 and 1995-96. Because he could walk to the ga- rage, he could get the ambulance out quickly, and keep it going. “No matter how bad the roads got, he was able to keep the unit moving,” Barry said. William Roberts was first elected to the borough council in 1991, and has served as presi- dent of the council the past two years. He and others new to bor- ough government drew on LaBar’s experience and insight. “He was full of information,” Roberts said. “When I had ques- tions about the borough, he had the answers. If you asked him about a street, he could tell you its history, and all the people who had lived there.” Lynn Sheehan summed up Paul LaBar's life this way: “The likes of him don’t come around often.” Mercy receives $1000 | literacy grant The Mercy Institute of Educa- tional Development from Dallas has received a $1,000 grant from Laubach Literacy through its Na- tional Book Scholarship Fund (NBSF). The grant money will be used to purchase books and instructional materials for the program. In. addition, NBSF materials will be ' used to involve the students’ par- ents in their learning at home. Grants are given to family lit- eracy programs that work to im- prove the literacy skills of parents and their children. Grants are also awarded to programs that work with special groups, such as the homeless, refugees, people, learning English asa Second Lan- . guage, and adults with mental disabilities. :
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers