Dallas Post Dallas, PA June 20, 2001 EDITORIALS | St. Paul’s move a sign of Back Mountain’s times Christians may not believe in reincarnation of the human body and soul, but the parishioners of St. Paul's Lutheran Church surely know how it feels to breathe new life into their congregation. Last Sunday church members took a giant step — literally — when at the close of services the most im- portant symbols of church life were transported from Shaver- town to Dallas Township, where the destination was the new, expanded church building. St. Paul's is one of many vibrant houses of worship in the Back Mountain, and it's move to larger quarters is a sign of the times here, in more than one way. Not only had the con- gregation expanded beyond the capacity of the 75-year-old building, the land it occupied had become extraordinarily valuable, as new residents and commuters traveled the busy highway it adjoined. Thus, the church has built a stylish new edifice about two miles away in Dallas, while a bank office will open on the old church property. The former church building will soon be demolished to make room for parking. But, as Sandy Peoples put it in her story about the church’s move, the old St. Paul's will live on in the hearts and minds of the thousands of people who filled its sanctu- ary with hymns and humility for three-quarters of a century. Budget has its good points Three Lake-Lehman School Board members voted against adoption of the 2001-2002 budget last week, contending that the district hasn't played fair with taxpayers for several years, intentionally underestimating the district's financial strength, only to end each year with far more cash than bud- geted. If the new budget is to be believed, that situation may be a thing of the past. The new budget projects a 3.2 percent increase in spending but only 1.6 percent more revenue, and most of that comes from an increased state contribution. Local revenues are pro- jected to rise by only $77,130, or less than 1/10 of 1 percent. But since the actual local tax collection through June 5 equals the entire projected amount for the next fiscal year, there's reason to think the budget figure is in fact understat- ed. But with all that said, Lake-Lehman has been able to sus- tain a consistent level of taxation for four years, which tax- payers can appreciate after several preceding years of hikes. Publisher's Notebook It's summer, the season school children have looked for- ward to since the day Christmas vacation ended. It's the same time of year parents anticipate with a mixture of de- light and dread, kind of like a cousin's wedding, where you get free food and drink at the price of spending time with people you may get along with better when you don’t spend too much time with them. Summer used to be different. When most Americans worked farms and fields, summer off from school was less like an endless vacation and more like a Peace Corps for kids, during which they worked for next to nothing but the good of the family. There was hay to be brought in, gardens to be weeded, stables to be cleaned, all of which made school look pretty inviting come fall. In fact, farm families’ need for free summer help was the reason summer vacations were in- vented. Not that we don’t keep kids busy nowadays — the differ- ence is that now parents pay. to keep their progeny occupied with soccer camp and Boy Scout camp and music camp and computer camp and — who knows, maybe there’s a camp where they can learn to be camp counselors. And are they happier than when kids were expected to help with the chores when they weren't in school? Well, sure they are; they get to spend several weeks with their buddies, eating Snick- ers bars and telling lies instead of sweating their butts off in the barn. Wouldn't you be happier, too? We hope, of course, that indulging our kids with enlighten- ing summer experiences will make them more well-rounded, complete and confident individuals, who won't have to write columns griping about their children’s summer camps. That’s why we're disappointed when they'd rather hang out in the park with their friends, listening to Eminem and Brit- ney Spears, than tour the capitals of Europe, learning more than we'd ever want to know about Mozart, Van Gogh and Churchill. I don’t suppose we'll ever return to an agrarian economy, unless gas prices get so high we can't afford to drive to the grocery store and up the mall, which means our kids will never know the boundless joy of bringing in the second cut- ting. Instead we may just have to repeal the long summer va- cation, just as soon as we can get the teachers’ unions to see the wisdom of year-round schooling. I'm not holding my breath. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL 18612 * 570-675-5211 Julie D. Imel EDITOR REPORTER Ken Brocious Ruth Proietto ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Produciton Manager Ron and Charlotte Bartizek PUBLISHERS EMERITUS Stephen Peterson PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 1-800-427-8649 Pretty summer posies. Photo by Jim Phillips. ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - June 26, 1931 GIRL SCOUTS HOLD JOINT PICNIC RALLY The Dallas Girl Scouts joined with other girl Scouts from the Dallas District at a picnic rally at Farmer's Inn, Hillside. Chairman of the Dallas District troop committees are: Mrs. J.L. Kintz and Mrs. George Russ. Captains of the troops are: Misses Williams, Shavertown; Leonore Robinson and Mrs. A.D. Hull, Dallas; Frances Keel- er, Trucksville, and Mrs. F.U. Zimmerman, Idetown. Thirty taxpayers were present at the meeting of the Shavertown Fire Company. The majority were in favor of the taxation plan on which the fire company would receive funds. A committee composed of Harry Goeringer and Herman Van Campen were appointed to meet with town- ship solicitor, Donald Coughlin. At American Stores Co., you could purchase Libby's sliced pineapple, 2 big cans, 35¢; Bosco chocolate syrup, jar, 21¢; tuna fish, 2 cans, 29¢; Victor coffee, 11b., 17¢, 3 1bs., 50¢; Ivory Snow, 2 pkgs., 19¢; Fan- nings pickles, jar, 16¢. 60 Years Ago - June 27, 1941 STATE PURCHASE OF RICKETTS GLEN FOR PARK NEARLY FINAL A bill, appropriating $150,000 for the purchase of some 10,000 acres of the Ricketts Es- tate and approved by the House, passed by unanimous vote in the Senate at Harrisburg and was sent to Governor Arthur H. James for his signa- ture. Col. Ricketts, a member of a famous Luzerne County family and a Civil War hero, owned the immense tract from which the State Park is to be carved. From time to time the Dallas Post receives letters from Dallas boys who are in the military ser- vice, and The Post would like to be able to publish such letters each week. The editors are urg- ing boys who take the post to write about their experiences m the camps. Sessile 770 Joseph C. Huntzinger, who makes his home at the Castle Inn, Idetown recently completed the primary CAA flying course at Wyoming Valley Airport. Huntzinger received his pilot's li- cense after 35 hours of instruc- tion at Smith Flying Service. 50 Years Ago - June 29, 1951 TOY COLLECTORS TO HAVE A TREAT Collectors will be pleased with the offering of antique toys at the library Auction. Some of the toys are as follows; bride and groom doll set in the original box, costumed completely; a reed doll carriage, upholstered in red plush; doll's umbrella, an exact replica of umbrellas of the period. Harveys Lake Women’s Service Club is holding its Friday Frolic at Sandy Beach, with dancing. Music is by Mark McKeune and his orchestra. Proceeds will be used to buy milk for school chil- dren. All of the ice cream and popci- cles to be sold at the refresh- ment stand at the Library Auc- tion have been contributed by Evans Rexall Drug Store. It is the first time in the history of the auction, that all of the ice cream has been the gift of one dealer. 40 Years Ago - June 29, 1961 SUMMER REC PROGRAM FOR DALLAS AREA Dallas School Districts, Dr. Robert A. Mellman superinten- dent, will establish a recreation program for children over six years of age, with summer activ- ities. Activities will include soft- ball, volleyball, badminton, whif- fle-ball, basketball, kick-ball, checkers, in addition to free . play. John Wormeck won the high- est award in Boy Scouting, when he received the Eagle badge at dinner in Trucksville Fire Hall. John, 14, a member of Troop 155, is the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Wormeck, Trucksville. i At the Dallas Outdoor Theatre, some of the movies that were playing: One Eyed Jacks, star- ring Marlon Brando and Karl Malden; The Facts of Life, with Bob Hope and. Lucille®Ball, and | The . Hoodlum Priest, starring Don*Murray. v RR 30 Years Ago - July 1, 1971 SCHOOL BUDGET APPROVED, NO TAX CHANGES FORESEEN The 1971-72 budget for Dallas School District was approved by the Board of Directors, with the total figure at $3,237,726. Salaries for teachers in the dis- trict’s seven schools were listed at $1,321,490. The pupil trans- portation figure was set at $150,392. Edmund Labatch, the recipi- ent of two superior performance awards from the United States Postal Service has been named Assistant to the Postmaster at The Dallas Post Office. The police department of Har- veys Lake Borough has a new cruiser, a 1971 Ford. The cruis- er is used for continuous 24- hour duty by Chief Leinthall, Pa- trolmen Richard Williams and James Faerber, and by 8 special officers. 20 Years Ago - June 17, 1981 DALLAS PLEASED BY TEST RESULTS Dallas School District officials are pleased with the excellent results achieved by students in the California Achievement Test which was administered to Dal- las students. There was a 75 percent increase in the students scores from the excellent scores of the previous years. The Centermoreland Phillies won both of their games in the Majors Division of the Bob Hor- lacher Memorial Little League and seem headed for the divi- sion championship. With just four games left to play the Phillies held a two game lead over second place Beaumont Braves on a record of nine wins in 11 games. John F. Banks of Dallas has been elected to the Board of Di- rectors of the Associated Penn- sylvania constructors. He is also president of American As- phalt Paving Company which operates out of Shavertown. Carol King Get ready for 55th Auction! Auction 2001 begins on Thursday, July 5, rain or shine, on the library grounds. Booths will be open at 4 p.m. The auc- tion starts at 6 p.m. — bring your own lawn chairs — and continues through Sunday, July 8. Bidding ends at 11 p.m. Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, and when the last item is sold Sunday. There are always a lot of interesting an- tiques and other items to bid on, and the people-watching is fun; too. Come and enjoy this great community effort, made possible by the dozens of volunteers who contribute countless man-hours to make it a success. Parking on the streets sur- rounding the library is limited. Shuttle bus service is being pro- vided from the CVS and Eastern Star parking lots, adjoining the post office in the center of Dal- las, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. See you at the auction! Book Store schedule — The Book Store has closed, but will be open during the auction. The Paperbook Room has also closed, and will re-open after the auction. ~ Children’s library — The next event in the summer's reading program, “Animal Odyssey make tracks to the library!” will be “The Hunting of Snark” and “Jabberwocky,” on Monday, July 16, from 1-2 p.m. at the li- brary. Make and take home a craft and create a snack too! Registration will take place July 6 through July 12. The dates for the programs for the rest of the summer are Fri- day, July 27 (time and place to be announced); Tuesday, Au- gust 7, 1:30-2:30 p.m.; and the Animal Odyssey Party on Fri- day, August 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Complete details will be given in future columns. The Donuts and Discussion group of 9- to 12-year-olds met June 18 and discussed “Out of the Dust,” by Karen Hesse. On Thursday, July 9, the book will be “Jacob Have I Loved,” by Ka- terine Paterson; on Monday, July 23, “Guests,” by Michael Dorris; and on Monday, August 6, “The Slave Dancer,” by Paula Fox. New display — Miniature tea sets owned by 5-year-old Brinley Williams of Sweet Valley are now on display at the library. She received her first miniature tea set from her grandmother, Nancy Harris, when she was one. Since then her grandmoth- er, who lives in California, has sent her many sets. Brinley’s favorite is a Precious Moments Noah's Ark set. She has sets for every holiday, with a total of 33 in all. New Books The Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas, announces the addition of the following books to their collection: FICTION “Best Friends” by Martha Moody “Lord of the Silent” by Eliza- beth Peters “lan Fleming's James Bond 007 in Never Dream of Dying” by Raymond Benson “Gunman’s Rhapsody” | Robert B. Parker “Thinks...” by David Lodge “A Soldiers Duty” by Thomas E. Ricks “Fearless Jones” Mosley “Dance Upon the air” by Nora Roberts “The Yokata Officers Club” by Sarah Bird “Little America” Bromell “The Song of the Earth” by Hugh Nissenson “A Kiss to Remember” by Tere- sa Medeiros by by Walter by Henry ¢ ¢ . *
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers