| | ! 6 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, August 15, 2001 EDITORIALS Democracy raises its head in Lake Township A good old-fashioned uprising is taking place in Lake Township, as furious residents mount a drive to place a “no- confidence” vote in the supervisors on the November ballot. That item isn’t much more than a feel-good gesture for peo- ple who are upset that supervisors voted to disband the po- lice department in order to free up more money for road re- pairs. If they really want to make an impact, the dissidents will have to cast another vote in November, one for supervi- sor. Since two of the three seats will be on the ballot, a con- certed write-in campaign could tip the balance of power in the township. It’s encouraging to see people step out and work to make a difference in their community when such an important issue is at stake. The present supervisors gave nothing but lip: ser- vice to the people who packed the township building to argue for keeping local police; it appears their minds won't change, so the people who sit in the supervisors’ chairs will have to if the department is to be restored. Bush makes good choice on stem cell research President George W. Bush has been the butt of many jokes — some deserved and some not — for the difficulty he some- times has articulating positions. Whether because of expert coaching and practice or because he was speaking, as he likes to say, from his heart, the President expressed himself well in outlining his decision to offer limited federal support for research into medical uses for embryonic stem cells. The decision is a departure from campaign promises to keep the government out of this field, and it could be costly in political terms, at least among certain supporters. But it was a wise choice, and Mr. Bush explained it well. Among his points was one the national media seem to have missed — that previous “miracle” cures have often failed to live up to early predictions of success, and jumping in too quickly could compromise ethical considerations for less reward than is now anticipated. Critics will point out that private industry and researchers in other nations may advance more quickly than the U.S., but that is not a valid consideration when making a decision of such consequence. There will be plenty of opportunity to catch up and surpass others, and it is an advantage that U.S. government-supported projects will be held to high sci- entific and ethical standards, making their results more credible. If stem cells deliver on their promise, Mr. Bush or a suc- ~ cessor will be asked to review this policy, and choose again between rigid moral judgements and pragmatic benefits, since so many embryos that are in storage could be used to improve the lives of people suffering from debilitating illness- es, rather than be destroyed, as is now the case. Such a de- cision will be easier to make if the lifesaving qualities of em- bryonic stem cells are proven, or dismissed. Publisher’s Notebook Ron Bartizek It's amazing the changes that take place in the course of a lifetime, even one that isn’t over yet. Here are a few that stand out in the memory of a leading-edge Baby Boomer daydreaming listlessly on a hot summer day: * There was a time when teachers were held in high re- gard, pretty close to doctors. Now they are often reviled, par- ticularly by people who weren't the best students when they were in class. » Speaking of doctors, health care used to be something you could get at home, and you went out for dinner. Now it’s the other way around. * Many of us worked summers in the fields, bringing in hay or weeding gardens. In a lot of cases, our kids ride bikes on neighborhood streets laid out on those same fields. » It wasn't long ago that a car with air conditioning and power windows was a luxury; now those and more options are standard on just about every model. And (proving the good old days weren't always so good), cars are cheaper com- pared to salaries. * At about the same time, an exotic vacation was a week- long auto trip through a neighboring state, staying at motels and visiting caverns and museums. Try that on your family! » Dishwashers were once called “children.” * Labor Day weekend used to be the last chance for a quick getaway or family gathering. Now it's the start of the high school football season. Thanksgiving was the end of the season, but if your team doesn’t make playoffs now; they're finished before the leaves begin to fall. * Missile defense meant crawling under your desk and cov- ering your eyes. Now it means billions of dollars and lasers in the sky. Each system seems equally effective. * An "X" on a product meant poison, not pornography. * Stores were closed Wednesday and Sunday, and open af- ter 5 p.m. only one night. Today, we still have trouble finding time to do all our shopping. * McDonald's hamburgers really were 15¢! The Dallas Post TIMESe LEADER Cogmunity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DAL 612 » 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek GENERAL MANAGER Brenda McDonough Ruth Proietto ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Production Manager Ron and Charlotte Bartizek PUBLISHERS EMERITUS Stephen Peterson PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 1-800-427-8649 Heather B. Jones REPORTER A beautiful Back Mountain vista. Photo by Ron Bartizek John Allen, who died August 3, was that rarest of birds in the Back Mountain, an unrecon- structed liberal who all his life took up the cause of the down- trodden, the disenfranchised, the discouraged, even the de- spised. Who else in our region campaigned for Jesse Jackson, Jerry Brown and Ralph Nader, helped launch a local branch of the Green Party, and joined oth- ers to rehabilitate convicted felon and former State Attorney General Ernie Preate? But his political and social views tell only one part of John Allen's life story, or perhaps they illuminate it. The most impor- tant chapter is the one that in- cludes his wife, Annabell, son Craig, daughter Heidi and beloved grandchildren Sasha and Simone. Carol King Library website - Do you know that on the library's web- site you can access the online catalogue, do a periodical search, access medical periodi- cals, the National Photo Archives, sports history, con- o's | YESTERDAY |S 70 Years Ago - August 14, 1931 LIGHTNING STARTS HUNTSVILLE FIRE Recently a heavy rainstorm swept over the area, causing a fire which leveled a barn in the Huntsville district, owned by W.G. Laidler, and also caused a blaze at the farm house of Frank Bulford, cattle dealer in the same section. Mrs. Clarence Elston and her son, Harold, 5, were slightly burned, by the flash while in the kitchen of the farmhouse. The storm was ex- tremely severe in Dallas. Dallas and Shavertown clubs of the Wyoming-Luzerne county Rural League settled the last regularly scheduled game of the 1931 season. The locals batted out eight runs in the fourth inning Only Yesterday is taken from the files of The Dallas Post, which reach back as far as 1929. “Pappy” even at- . tracted pseudo grandchildren, including our daughter, Katie. His devotion to those he loved was palpable, and perhaps he understood that everyone de- serves the same feelings of love and respect he had for his family members. Unlike most of us, though, he actively worked to spread humanitarian kindness far beyond his circle of family and friends, embracing causes and cures that he believed should be shared with every sin- gle person on earth. John Allen was a member of The Dallas Post family for a few: years in - fittingly - the late 1960s and early 1970s, and he maintained a connection to this newspaper ever since. From his home in Sweet Valley, which he and his family built, he would send occasional letters or notes to future editors, reminding them of the causes he held dear. But he was never overbearing or demanding, and his ironic sense of humor could be turned on himself as quickly as on others. The Post was not John’s only newspaper venture. He was an owner of the Triboro Banner in Old Forge and contributed to several other publications in the region, usually ones that shared his ideology. That is the wrong term, though, for John was not dogmatic in his thinking but rather applied the age-old lessons of common sense and an unfailing faith in the ability of people to realize their full poten- tial to seemingly intractable problems of modern life, an an- gle of attack that would serve all of us well. This ferocious defender of civil AN APPRECIATION | rights, the environment and op- ponent of injustice and inequali- ty was in reality a gentle man who attracted friends and earned the respect of countless acquaintances with his consis- tent idealism, something few people maintain through the tri- als of so many decades. His life was not without disappointment — even tragedy — but he never dwelled on his misfortune, in- stead finding inspiration as he championed the plight of others who suffered even more. That legacy should be a comfort to his , family, and an inspiration for his friends to carry on the good fight. Ron Bartizek Editor's Note: The Dallas Post encourages friends and family members to submit Appreciations for publication. Travel the World Wide Web from the library sumer information, learn about gardening, food and nutrition, home improvement, music, art, astronomy, astrophysics, and life science? Do you know that you can find a poem among the 700,000 listed online, learn about contemporary books, po- ets, playwrights, journalists and noted scholars? Do you know that you can find out about up- coming events and activities at the library, the hours it's open, and bookshop hours and spe- cials? To access all these wonderful sites, and more, sign on to backmountainlibrary.org and won by the score of 12-3. Warren Yeisley, secretary and L.A. McHenry, president of Dal- las Rotary Club attended the re- cent district conference of secre- taries and presidents of Rotary Clubs of 51st district held at Sunbury. 60 Years Ago - August 15, 1941 PURCHASE OF RICKETTS GLEN FOR STATE PARK IS STILL UNCERTAIN While Governor Arthur H. James, officially inspected Rick- etts Glen with State officials and Luzerne County newspapermen, the purchase of that scenic woodland area for a State Park is still a hypothetical matter. Ac- cording to Dr. G. Albert Stewart, secretary of Forests and Waters, negotiations for the purchase of land from the Ricketts Estate by the State have not yet begun. Flames from a burning cottage at Harvey's Lake leaped to the roof of an adjoining structure and both were completely de- stroyed before the equipment of the Daniel C. Roberts Fire Com- pany could be put into opera- tion. The cottage belonged to Mrs. Rowena Hayward of Larksville. Plans for the forma- tion of schoolboy safety patrols to handle added traffic hazards < You'll need the bar-code num- ber on your library card to regis- ter. Librarian's report - Martha Butler attended the Luzerne County Library System meeting on July 11. The system's Au- tomation Technology Adminis- trator will be leaving the system on August 19. The position has been advertised and applications are being taken in order to try to fill the position in a timely man- ner. Martha is working on a pro- posal with Intellacom to upgrade computer . hardware and add equipment that will enable the created in this area by new high- way construction were made by members of Dallas Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. 50 Years Ago - August 17, 1951 COMMONWEALTH BUILDING NEW OFFICES ON LAKE STREET Construction of the new Com- monwealth Telephone Company general office building on Lake Street is moving along on sched- ule. Ground for the structure was broken this spring. Con- struction of the foundation was delayed several weeks because of the presence of quick sand. Leslie Jr. and Aaron, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Sutton, Lehman, enlisted in the Army together, sent to Fort Meade and were to- gether for ten days before being separated. Leslie is with the Air- borne Infantry at Camp Breck- enridge, Kentucky. and Aaron is at Camp Gordon, Georgia and a member of the Military Police. At Gavy’s market, Trucksville, some of the items you could purchase at $1 bargains were: diced red beets, 10 cans, $1; Gerber’s baby foods, 10 for $1; cream style corn, 7 cans $1; frozen or- ange juice, 5 cans $1; toilet tis- sue, 10 rolls $1. library system to expand ana ® use DVD format with the chil- dren’s computer programs. Congratulations to Mrs. Rudolph and Mrs. Bauman on the successful conclusion of this summer's reading programs for children! Participation and at- tendance were exceptionally high this year. Golf tournament - set for the tournament is Sep- tember 17, to be held at the Irem Temple Country Club in Dallas. The Par 4 Cafe will pro- vide food in the picnic pavilion. Full details will be given in an upcoming edition. 40 Years Ago - August 17, 1961 THREE YOUNG SCIEN- TISTS ESTABLISH LABO- RATORY ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD Three young scientist, friends and associates for a number of years as college instructors and as students, have a newly formed independent chemistry research organization, Surface Processes Research and Devel- opment Corporation, and have selected Dallas for' the location of their new laboratories. The members are: President and treasurer Dr. George J. Young; Secretary Joseph Peter Hall Jr., and Ralph B. Rozelle. The lab is located off Country Club road. Construction of seventy-two low The date © ¢ ¢ cost homes on Carverton roa ® east of Checkerboard Inn was approved by the Kingston town- ship Board of Supervisors at their meeting. The project, known as Vanguard Village, will have homes priced at $9,000. Frank LaBar of the Home Im- provement Company said twen- ty-five homes ‘already have prospective buyers. Jewish Com- munity Center broke ground in Idetown for permanent facilities See YESTERDAY, pg 7 | — — a
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers