The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, December 27, 2001 3 Band Jowimen from page 1) Lake-Lehman employees, thereby circumventing the dis- trict’s liability issue and allowing practices. The band sponsors suggested the board assume only a small portion of the salary, with the band sponsors responsible for the remainder. Several band members read let- ters to the board pleading their case and defending Richards’ @ position. “No one doubts Mr. Richards’ dedication or the amount of time he puts in,” said Charles Boytin, president of the school board. “The timing of his ‘resignation,’ so to speak, to Mr. Oliver, was certainly not appropriate. It leaves us right in the middle.” In order for the board to con- @ cider the request to employ In- door Guard and Percussion coaches, the Lake-Lehman Edu- cation Association would have to establish these positions, negoti- ate a contract and the position would have to be posted for 10 school days. “We're really stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Boytin added. “We just can’t turn a school activity over to a volun- g oo person and avoid a tremen- dous liability to the district.” - The board continued discus- sion on the topic after the band members and sponsors left the meeting. Band sponsors fund a large part of the band’s financial needs. “It's dedication,” said Boytin. “They've always adopted the attitude that says, ‘We'll take care of ourselves.” Boytin added the band sponsors have come to the board for money only once, concerning a significant trans- portation cutback. “If any organization is having [irouble financially, why can't i hey come to us?” asked Angelo DeCesaris, board member. “The amount of money this school -district has made over the years, I'm embarrassed.” An animated discussion be- “We just can’t turn a school activity over to a volunteer person and avoid a Charles Boytin ~ School board president tween board members ensued on the financial support given sports versus other activities, such as the band, but with no real resolution to the dilemma. The matter was held over until the January work session for re- view. In other business, an action Setormending that Douglas umbower and Associates pre- e drawings and specifications Tor renovations to the Edward H. Edwards Memorial Stadium for 8 percent of the construction costs was tabled. This would in- clude the athletic field, track, bleachers and artificial turf, but not a field house. “There’s needs and there's wants,” said board member Lois Kopcha, about the artificial turf. “We are in a recession. What in the world are you people think- ing about?” Kopcha continued saying the state and the school will have to come up with the money to cover this high, and in her opinion, unnecessary ex- pense. “I think it's throwing money away,” she added. She further warned about recent teachers’ pension losses and the inevitable raising of taxes in the near future to cover expenses such as these. Charles Balavage, first vice president, said he too was ini- tially against the artificial turf because of the expense, but thinks the safety factors make it a good investment. Angelo DeCesaris, board mem- POST PHOTO/ELIZABETH ANDERSON Lake-Lehman Concert Band members and band sponsors ask school board for help. . .. we need to address the situation of the athletic facility. I just want to know ~ what money we have.” Angelo DeCesaris School director ber, said he is concerned about where the money is coming from. “I have been talking about that since October.” He ques- tioned seeming discrepancies in thé business manager's Dec. 18 available funds estimate show- ing $1.9 million available for the athletic facility. “I had thought in a previous mention it was $3 million. I would like to have the opportunity to discuss the mat- ter with the business manager at a meeting,” he said. The busi- ness manager was not present. “I fully recognize that we need to address the situation of the athletic facility,” = DeCesaris added. “I just want to know what money we have.” Boytin, the school board presi- dent, said he had put the stadi- um renovation item on the agen- da so that construction could be possible by summer. The board agreed to discuss the matter fur- ther in the January work ses- sion and Trumbower said he would do a workup of the athlet- ic field. Trumbower also reported the Ross Elementary School project is near completion but may not be finished by the end of the year due to the delayed arrival of playground equipment. The board agreed to throw out a copier proposal from Golden Business Machines and autho- rized the business manager to develop specifications and solicit competitive bids for lease or purchase of copiers for the dis- trict. The next Committee of the Whole meeting will be held Mon- day, Jan. 8, 2002 at 7 p.m. in the music room of the Lehman- Jackson Elementary School be- cause of the holiday. County targets {continued from page 1) a fact the solicitor for the as- sessors office claimed to be un- aware of, Savage said. ) Charles Boytin, school board board, requesting Savage send a letter to the assessors office ask- ling * ‘why were we sent this letter labout joining them in fighting this and putting up our money ‘to do it when they didn’t send it Ito the local townships? ; “I' know they are singling us out because our millage is the @ est” added Boytin. | \president, questioned this seem- © ling discrimination of the school 1 know they are singling . us out Peter Savage Lake-Lehman Solicitor “We THE VICTOR | MARKS, MD AWARD FOR ; SERVICE EXCELLENCE PRESENTED TO NITA C. NATIVIDAD, MD OCTOBER 2001 have the most to gain or lose.” In speaking with local munici- pal solicitors, Savage found while many had heard nothing Community Practice network. ithe Servce Excellence Award. ] WN atividad earns Service Excellence Award Nita Natividad, MD, radiation oncologist and chairperson of the cancer committee at the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer : Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, was recently | presented the Victor J. Marks, MD, Award for Service Excellence. Natividad was one of three physicians in the Geisinger Health Sys- tent so honored for attaining the highest patient satisfaction scores {in the three parts of Geisinger 's clinical enterprise-Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Geisinger Medical Center, and the rd Marks, MD, presented Nita Natividad, MD, Trucksville, Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? | A: Only in The Dallas Post | Call 675-5211 to subscribe ibid db ibid dddb bbb bb bb bb ob ob ob ob ob ob ob ob ob ob ob ob ob db ob WW WW NY TY TY YT TY YT OY OT YT YT YT OT YT YT YT YT OT OT CYT CTY FCGT COT RCT CTC CY CTO TT TT TY TTY YY YTTTYTYTY of the proposal, most of the townships felt they could not af- ford the costs. “One of the best comments...came. from . the Lehman Township supervisors last night when they said this was kind ‘ofia finger in the ‘dike attempt when the real issue should be reassessment on a county-wide basis,” said Savage. In a related matter, the board tabled the action to refund an overpayment of taxes of over $12,000 to Richard Maslow, due to a reduced property assess- ment, until the next meeting as Savage said it was unclear if the refund should go to Richard Maslow or Stephen and Jennifer Holtzman, who appear to have bought the Lehman property near the reservoir. Savage said higher legal documents were not available to him at the time he inquired and he will follow up on the matter. Cleason s. Greetings Looking for a great gift idea? Our new class starts January 20, 2002 PROFESSIONAL TUTORING CENTER 343-2014 Serving the ack THE JEWELRY DOCTOR Located in the center of Dallas at 26 Lake St. oo) < ountain Have Your Holiday Jewelry ‘altered before your New Year’s Eve night out! ad ww Authorized Black Hills Gold Dealer. 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Corpsmembers who successfully complete a year of service earn a $1,000 cash bonus and may qualify for an education award up to $4,275. Corpsmembers get on-the-job training in power-tool safety and operations and many other skills. They are also offered out- service training, which may in- clude vocational-technical courses, college classes, field trips, and - when needed - the chance to earn an equivalent high school diploma. Corpsmembers receive their reg- ular wages while they attend ap- proved training. Transportation may also be available to corpsmembers to and from the job site. Individuals interested in learning more about the oppor- tunities available through the PCC can visit the CareerLink Centers in Pittston or Wilkes- Barre. They may also contact crewleader Jim Roslevich at 602-7341 or Exeter Borough Secretary Debra Serbin at 654- 6816. McGrady named deputy superintendent Superintendent Thomas La- van ‘announces James J. Mec- Grady as Deputy Superinten- dent for Facility Management at SCI-Dallas. Deputy McGrady's responsi- bilities include overseeing the security, maintenance, and fire & safety aspects of the institu- tion’s daily operation. Deputy McGrady began his corrections career in 1982 as a correctional officer at SCI-Dal- las. He was promoted to sergeant in 1986, and in 1988 was promoted to lieutenant. In 1992, he was promoted to cap- tain and served as shift com- mander. Deputy McGrady trans- ferred to SCI-Mahonoy in 1993 as intelligence captain and held that position until being promot- ed to major in 1997. McGrady has been a member of numerous policy development committees through his career. Deputy McGrady received com- mendations in 1991 for work in emergency preparedness, policy and procedure development. He was selected as SCI-Mahonoy's Employee of the Year in 1996 and was the recipient of the De- partment of Corrections Out- standing Performance Award in 1997, Chesapeake Bay program seeks applications The Luzerne Conservation District is accepting farmer applica- tions for the Chesapeake Bay Cost Share Program. Through the Bay ‘Program funding is available to farmers in the Chesapeake Bay Wa- tershed to help implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s) The Bay Program will cost share 80% of the cost to install BMP’s up to $30,000. For more information about the program or to apply con- tact the Luzerne Conservation District at 674-7991. Stream signage grants available The Susquehanna River Basin Commission received a Growing Greener grant from the Department of Envirommental Pretection. This grant will be used to identify streams by. placing signs on both sides of stream crossings. Those who qualify for this grant include non-profit organizations and municipalities. 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