6 Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, September 20, 2001 EDITORIALS Christmas reminds us of ideals to strive for It is disheartening that in the season the three major Western religions celebrate important holidays, the region that served as the womb of Judaism, Chris- tianity and Islam is embroiled in deadly conflict. It is difficult to believe this is behavior Moses, Jesus or Mohammed would have recommended to those who claim to follow in their footsteps. Religion, which has been the inspiration for many of the greatest accomplishments of mankind in music, art, architec- ture and other forms of creativi-* ty, also has often been kid- napped by angry misfits to justi- fy their hatefulness. That is not to say that all violence and evil is spurred by perverted interpre- tations of spiritual teaching; cer- tainly more than enough horrific acts have been carried out by vi- cious killers with nothing but venom in their veins who make no pretense of allying them- selves to a higher value. As a holiday approaches to celebrate the humble entrance of God into man’s imperfect world, it would be helpful for all of us — as individuals and as nations — to seek the funda- mental integrity that undergirds legitimate religious belief, and to set our minds and hearts on a course toward peace and harmo- ny rather than war and discord. That may seem a distant and idealistic challenge at this time, but it is one that must be met if mankind is to reach its full po- tential for goodness. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus The New York Sun was started in 1833 by Benjamin H. Day, then just 23. The publication - which became one of the great newspapers in America -was the first New York “penny paper.” : The Sun ceased publication in 1950, but every Christmas its memory is revived by an editorial printed on Sept. 21, 1897. Virginia O'Hanlon, a New York City youngster, wrote this letter. Dear Editor: I'm 8 years old. Some of my friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says. “If you see it in The Sun,it’s so.” Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon 115 W. 95th St. The letter wound up on the desk of Francis Pharacellus Church. an assistant editor of The Sun. A more hardened person might have thrown it away, but Church felt differ- ently. He wrote this reply. “Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been af- fected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not be- lieve except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Vir- ginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certain- ly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. “Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Vir- ginias. There would be no childlike faith, then no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world, would be extinguished. “Not believe In Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? “Nobody sees Santa Claus. But that is not a sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. “You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering in the unseen world which not the strongest man, not even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. “Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is noth- ing else real and abiding. “No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now Virginia, nay ten times ten thousand years, from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.” The Dallas Post TIMES*LEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DAL A 18612 » 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek GENERAL MANAGER Heather B. Jones REPORTER Ruth Proietto PRODUCTION MANAGER Brenda McDonough ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Darlene Sorber OFFICE MANAGER Ron and Charlotte Bartizek PUBLISHERS EMERITUS Stephen Peterson PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 1-800-427-8649 Amanda Austin, a fifth frader at Lehman-Jackson Elementary School, drew this peaceful Christmas scene. Carol King Holiday schedule: A re- minder of library hours during the holiday season. The library will be closed on December 24 and 25, and on December 31 and January 1. The bookstore ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - De. 18, 1931 FIREMAN WILL DISTRIBUTE TO ONE HUNDRED FAMILIES Great progress is being made by Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Company in its work of solicit- ing clothing, food, and funds for needy families of Dallas and vicinity. Many persons have contributed foodstuffs, clothing and funds while children of the community have helped in gath- ering used toys and bringing them to the firemen’s headquar- ters. George Gould became a mem- ber of the staff of The Dallas Post. Due to increasing work in The Post's job printing depart- ment there was a need to hire another person. Mr. Gould will have charge of circulation and mailing as well as other duties. A benefit dance for the needy will be held at Kunkle Commu- nity Hall. The proceeds of which will be turned over to the use of Henry M. Laing Fire company to use in its work of assisting needy families of the region. 60 Years Ago - Dec. 1941 WAR FAILS TO BLACK OUT CHRISTMAS SPIRIT In spite of the war with its Library lists closings for holidays will be closed for two weeks, from Monday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 4. Registration for story hours: Registration will take place from January 7 to 13, 2002. The sto- ry hours will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Slate boards: Twelve addi- tional slate boards are available now for purchase as Christmas gifts. One is on display at the front desk — come take a look. The 100 boards in the limited edition were cut from the origi- blackouts all over the world, Dallas has its finest Christmas lighting this year. A beautiful Christmas tree, trimmed entirely with red lights, has been placed in the center of the community at the intersection of Main street and the harvey’s Lake Highway. Strings of multi-colored lamps have been strung along both sides of Main street. Women of the Dallas Rotary entertained their husbands at their annual Christmas dinner party at Dallas Inn. Mrs. John Nicholson, president of Rotary Anns welcomed the gusts and R.J. Breslin, Rotary president responded. The Navy Department an- nounced that 361 newly-ap- pointed Aviation Cadets, U.S. naval Reserve, have reported for advanced flight training at Pen- sacola and Jacksonville, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas. Among the Cadets, is Robert Lewis Fleming, Dallas. 50 Years Ago - Dec. 21, 1951 FIREMAN GET NEW FIRE TRUCK Trucksville Fire house is shel- tering the latest thing in fire trucks for rural communities. The new fire truck was delivered bringing in its 500 gallon tank, a full load of St. Lawrence River water to mingle with that of To- by’s Creek. Plans for modernization of classrooms in Dallas Township School, have finally become a re- ality. Installation of beautiful, up-to-date chairs and desks for the four classrooms was com- pleted. Modern fluorescent light- ing, designed by General Elec- tric, was installed. The new fur- niture was purchased from Kurtz Brothers, Clearfield. nal blackboards in the 75-year- old school building which now houses the library. This fundraiser has great appeal for anyone who attended the old Dallas High or elementary schools located there before 1983, or has a child or grand- child who did. With the addition of a stand, it would make a great place to write your grocery list or other reminders! The price is $25. New display: Rita Rusnak, a library volunteer, is another li- brary patron who has suc- Ronald C. Doll, son of H. Stan- ley Doll, Dallas, has won his doctorate in Education at Co- lumbia University, specializing in school supervision and cur- riculum development. Doll, was a former principal of Dallas Bor- ough and Dallas Township. 40) Years Ago - Dec. 21, 1961 VETERAN LINEAR EM- PLOYEE AWARDED FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE P.H. Moore, vice-president, Plant Manager of LINEAR, INC., presented a gold watch to Roy Lear in recognition of 25 years service with the company. Mr. Lear joined in 1936 at Philadel- phia and in 1956. Second Lt. Robert D. Richard- son, Dallas, joined the 402nd Military Police Prisoner of War Camp of Wilkes-Barre. Lt. Richardson will serve as camp supply officer, replacing Capt. Frank G. Koronkiewicz. Lake-Lehman Educators’ As- sociation held its annual Facul- ty-School Board Christmas Ban- quet at Irem Temple Country Club. mar. James S. Williams was in charge of the arrange- ments. 30 Years Ago - Dec. 21, 1971 LAKE-LEHMAN PRAISED FOR AUDIT REPORT Lake-Lehman School District has received accolades from David H. Kurtzman, secretary of education in Pennsylvania, for its third error-free audit report made by the Office of the Auditor General for the Lake-Lehman School District. Esther Arendt, daughter of Mary Arendt, Noxen, was named Back Mountain Food Bank drop points The Back Mountain Food Bank has established drop- off points throughout the area. The food bank plans to as- semble Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for 120 local families, 38 more than last year. Non-perishable items may be dropped off at any of these locations. Cash donations may be sent to the Back Mountain Food Bank, c/o Trucksville United Methodist Church, 40 Knob Hill Rd., Trucksville PA 18708. For information, call the church office at 696- 3897. Pickett’s Charge 64 E. Center Hill Rd., Dal- las. The Dallas Post 607 Main Rd., Dallas. Dallas Photo Shop 447 Memorial Hwy., Dallas. Century 21, Ruth K. Smith Real Estate, Inc. : 358 S. Memorial Highway, Shavertown. ; The Treasure Chest Main Rd., Dallas. St. Francis Cabrini Church 585 Mt. Olivet Rd., Wyoming. Trucksville United Methodist Church Church Rd., Trucksville. cumbed to the appeal of Teddy bears. The bear purchased in 1984 at a flea market started her collection. Succeeding ones were gifts from her family or were flea market or garage sale buys. Best wishes for a holiday filled friends, and the warmth of hap- with the love of family and . py memories, from all the library staff: the five Ms — Martha, Mar- ilyn, Millie, Margaret and Mikki — and Anna, Brian, Cindy, Dan, Debbie, Edie, George, Janet and Rebecca. to the academic dean’s list at the conclusion of the fall term at Alderson-Broaddus College Philippi, W.. Va. Members of the Ladies Auxil- iary of Lehman Volunteer Fire Company were hostesses at a Christmas Party for the firemen of the company. The “Flute Trio” of Lake-Lehman High School en- tertained with several selections, accompanied by Vera Tough. The girls in the trio are Debbie McKeel, Helen Jean Earl and Lynda Tough. 20 Years Ago - Dec. 16, 1981 WEIS EMPLOYEES TO SHARE $915,000 Sigfried Weis, president of Weis Markets, Inc., announced Christmas Profit Sharing Bonus ® l | | | | | | checks totaling over $915,000 have been distributed to more than 6,400 employees. This is the 35th consecutive year that Weis Markets has shared a por- tion of its profits with its em- ployees. Dallas Township held a winter carnival which was held in the school's gymnasium. This was the culmination of many weeks of work by many supportive PTO members under the co-chair manship of Marsha Paczewski and Jean Utter. Hundreds of handcrafted articles were sup- plied to be sold as Christmas gifts to children in “The Corner Shoppe”. Children visited with Santa and played many games. Airman David J. Williams, son of David E. Williams of Shaver- town, and Mary Freelove of Ore gon, has been assigned to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., af- ter completing Air Force basic training. Early deadlines for holidays Due to the Christmas and New Year's holidays, the deadline for all contributed news items, photos and clas- sified and display advertising for the December 27 and January 3 issues of The Dal- las Post will be 5 p.m. the Friday prior to the publica- tion date. | Delivery of subscriber and | newsstand copies will not be - changed.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers