Vol. 110 No. 24 Dallas, Pennsylvania SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS June 16 thru June 22, 1999 ** Lack of rain beginning to take toll on home owners, farmers ) D By KASIA McDONOUGH Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN - The pitter-patter sounds and lighthearted sights of a spring shower are sadly absent from the land- scape of late, requiring Governor Ridge to declare a drought warning for the 47 counties in Pennsylvania. The unusually dry weather is begin- ning to take a toll, not just on happy youngsters hoping to soak unsuspecting parents, but on area farmers, landscap- ers and consumers who are facing im- pending water shortages. “Over the last 120 days, Luzerne County has received 9.7 inches of rain, which is 3.4 inches below the norm for this time of year,” said John Chiaramonti, of the National Weather Service. Consumers throughout the state are encouraged to reduce water usage by 10 to 15 percent and United Water, a local provider serving many Back Mountain communities, has issued a series of tips to assist with the cutback. The company warns that mandatory restrictions, limit- ing household water consumption to 40 gallons per day, may be implemented if voluntary measures do not reduce de- mands and the rainfall shortages con- tinue. The U.S. Geological Service reports that the prolonged period of dry weather has started to affect ground water levels which may lead to trouble for those who depend upon wells. “We have a network of wells throughout the state which we that people with shallow wells may start to experience low water pressure.” Bob Sorber, of Sorber Well Drilling in Sweet Valley, has observed changes which can be attributed to the lack of rain. “So far, we haven't had problems with drilling new wells, but I have noticed that when pulling old pumps out of the ground the monitor regularly,” said Dennis Risser. “Things are getting very dry to the point Graduation ceremonies at Dallas High School were interrupted by bouncing balls and silly string, in what has become an Having a ball at gr. By DAVID FINE Lake-Lehman High School junior LEHMAN - Nine years ago was the beginning of a generation that gave us Ronald Reagan, leg warm- ers, and acid-washed jeans, but left something behind. On June 6, 1999, Lake-Leh- man High School held its 41st annual commencement cer- emony. The sun and the parents alike shone on the stadium field where those in black and gold robes marched to mark an end of their experiences at the school. Graduation, however, had another context besides “end” that day; graduation also meant “begin- ning,” a beginning that would re- quire change. The same type of POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK annual exercise. Dallas graduated 77 girls and 82 boys June 11. More photos, including the whole class, on page 6. See RAINFALL, pg 7 For Lake-Lehman grads, an end, and a beginning change scared these graduates once as kindergartners when they first entered Lake-Lehman. The same, scared feeling that marks every rung on the ladder each of us climb. Graduation can never be writ- ten as one type of experience. To many of the students it is a re- lease from having to wake up at 7 a.m. To others it is the end of “one chapter in their book” as class president Trisha Pilosi explained, and tosomeitis just alayover, the final flight is about to take off momentarily. Intense emotions radiated from the seniors — joy, anticipation, sadness, confusion. During the ceremony, the world See LAKE-LEHMAN, pg 5 POST PHOTO/JIM PHILLIPS Tommie and Lottie Chipego, niece and nephew of Lake-Lehman graduation senior Lennette Zipay, waited anxiously to present her with a bouquet of flowers. Final Dallas School District '99-00 budget has no tax increase By KASIA McDONOUGH which creates an unfavorable vari- windfall of approximately do some work on the elementary period of time in which the school Post Staff DALLAS - The final version of the Dallas School District budget for the 1999-2000 academic year does not contain a millage in- crease. The approved budget includes total expenses 0f$19,614,081 and revenues totaling $18,841,937, ance of $772,144. This shortfall includes a $500,000 reserve which has been established to cover unforseen expenses that may oc- cur in the next fiscal period. A projected tax increase of 7 mills was included in the tenta- tive budget which was presented to the school board May 10. The increase was avoided due to a $600,000. Elimination of the proposed tax hike came as a relief to at least one member of the audience at the June 14 school board meet- ing, who had cautioned the board against spending frivolously. “You can’t buy the whole store at once,” said Tom Dombroski, of Kingston Township. “I know we needed to schools but we have to spread it out so it is less of a burden on the taxpayers. I think the board has been up front about how much it is spending, which is good.” The $600,000 windfall, which isnot recurring revenue, includes an adjustment made by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Northeast- ern Pennsylvania to extend the district must repay an outstand- - ing balance as a condition of join- ing the proposed health care con- sortium. Dallas owes the insurer $300,000 which will be repaid over a period of five years instead of the three-year period originally anticipated. The change reduces See BUDGET, pg 5 16 Pages, 2 Sections Calendar.......c....c..... 16 Classified............. 14-15 Crossword............ 16 Editorials.................. 4 Obituaries................. 14 SEhOGk: .....ccuiias: 12-13 Spots... 9-10 CALL 675-5211 ~ ) © ' FOR HOME DELIVERY, Martha Stewart is hot Churches plan : : oe to improve their topic at business meeting COmMnRitios deavors, which produce a com- Post Staff bined $250 million in annual By KASIA McDONOUGH No sales, Goldstein opened the floor Post Staff ve LEHMAN - Q: What happens for discussion. And did she get Oo when a roomful of business and it, as audience members ex- NOXEN -The economy of rural com- wn professional people are asked pressed admiration, resentment munities in northern Luzerne and south- wn their observations of Martha and a range of other opinions. ern Wyoming County has suffered one 3 Stewart, the “Diva of Domestic- Goldstein described Stewart devastating blow after another forcing amen ity,” as she has been called? as a “home keeper,” who per- often distraught residents to search for ae] A: A lively discussion that sonifies the American dream of new opportunities in the wake of finan- I more closely resembles a politi- a self-made success. But cial uncertainty. : : cal talk show than the placid Stewart's ability to appear suc- These small towns were once bustling D 14] atmosphere of “Martha Stewart = cessful with little stress or effort centers of community life and important —-— Living.” drew a rebuke from Elva Valen- contributors to the economic prosperity Loa Linda Goldstein, Ph.D., who is co-writing a book about the Martha Stewart empire and its effect: on American culture, spoke about the wildly success- ful entrepreneur to members of the Back Mountain Business and Professional Association last © week. After outlining the vast reach of Stewart's various en- tine, who acknowledged liking some of what Stewart does. “She's perpetuating a myth that you can have it all and do it all,” Valentine said. “But you can't. I think it's destructive in the long ”» run. : POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK That's one sentiment she Linda Goldstein, an associate professor at Penn State See MARTHA, pg 7 Wilkes-Barre, played a video clip from a Martha Stewart television show during a presentation last week. of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Armour Leather Company provided steady employment for the men in Noxen, and surrounding towns, while area women worked at the local dress facto- ries. Earlier in this century, an array of small businesses also thrived in these communities. “There were three grocery See CHURCHES, pg 3 and mail to The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612-0366 MAILING LABEL- Please enclose this label with any address changes,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers