Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, February 28, 2002 Band, music programs deserve more support Question #1: Which has more student participants, the Lake-Lehman football team or the music program? Answer: Music, by leaps and bounds, with band and or- chestra, colorguard, chorus and more. Question #2: Which gets more financial support from the district? Answer: Do we even have to ask? These questions aren't meant to belittle the importance of athletics, including football, in public schools. They are, in- stead, offered to illustrate the topsy-turvy nature of funding and personnel for different programs, depending not on the participation rate of students but on popularity with power- ful adults. Hundreds of students take part in music pro- grams in the Lake-Lehman district, yet there is only one in- strumental band director to serve five schools and more than 2,000 students. That would be akin to the junior and senior high football teams having a single coach, and even that comparison isn’t fair to the music teacher. In addition to his classroom duties, Edward Richards, that teacher, has served as director of the marching band and other extra-curricular groups for several years. And he’s done a fine job at it; under his tutelage, Lake-Lehman con- tinued to be at the very top of public school musical groups in this region and far beyond, and several graduates have gone on to prestigious colleges and universities. One has to wonder why Lake-Lehman can’t find a few thousand dollars to pay for adequate staff and support in the music program, but doesn’t think twice about spending mil- lions on an athletic stadium and fieldhouse. The district is not alone in this inequity, of course, nor is music the only program that is underappreciated, underpublicized and un- derfunded in public schools. “Music hath charms that soothe a savage beast,” wrote William Congreve. Perhaps those tones will work their magic on a school board that seems at least open to the suggestion of a greater commitment to a program that involves and as- sists hundreds of students. Publisher’s Notebook Ron Bartizek They should have known. Canny observers suspected what would follow when the International Skating Union chose to buckle under pressure and award a second set of gold medals to the Canadian pairs team. Within a couple of days, slighted competitors began lining up bearing suitcases of reasons why they deserved a shiny first-place medallion, in- stead of the paltry and meaningless hunk of silver or bronze they'd been given. And once again, it was the “Media” who was. at fault, having concocted a conspiracy to reward North American athletes at the expense of those from other na- tions. How can you miss with that argument: Ugly American plus Media equals injustice every time. The ISU director, not content with creating haved just once, then proposed sweeping changes in scoring that went something like this: Each competitor starts with 100 points, and deductions are made based on faults, such as wearing a costume that looks like a dead ostrich slung over the shoul- der, or failing to present judges with complimentary passes to “Armegeddon on Ice.” I'm afraid no amount of tinkering, though, will satisfy every figure skater, coach and national Olympic organization. The only thing that might come close would be to put an Ameri- can television executive on the ice, as a hurdle that irate skaters could conveniently fail to carry while performing a triple toe loop. No deduction. Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post attempts to publish opinions on a variety of topics in many forms. Editorials, which are the opinion of the managment of The Post, appear on the editorial page and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. Any artwork represents the opinion of the cartoonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, sub- ject to the following guidelines: ¢ Letters should not exceed 500 words. * No writer may have more than one letter published during a 30-day period, except as a reply to another letter. ¢ Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. * Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. * The Post retains the right to accept or reject any letter, and to edit letters for grammar and spelling, as well as to eliminate any libel, slander or objectionable wording. In addition to letters, we welcome longer pieces that may run as columns. The author or subject's relevance to the Back Mountain will be the prime consideration when selecting mate- rial for publication. The Dallas Post TIMES*LEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL A 18612 » 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek : Timothy J. R GENERAL MANAGER imothy J. Raub REPORTER Bill Dunn Ruth Proietto ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. PRODUCTION MANAGER Ron and Charlotte Bartizek PUBLISHERS EMERITUS Stephen Peterson PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 1-800-427-8649 Darlene Sorber OFFICE MANAGER Sorts reminder of the past. Upper Derruinds Road Dallas. Photo by Rov Bartizek Internet classes for library patrons Carol King Three 2-hour computer class- es will be held in March to in- troduce patrons to the internet and show them how to make simple searches. Each class is a one-time event limited to five persons each, and is open to li- brary patrons who are 18 and over. The dates are Monday, March 4, 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.; and Friday, March 8, 10 a.m. to noon. There is no charge. Patrons may sign up at the front desk. It's urged that you do so soon, as the 15 places will probably be filled quickly. Daffodils: The library is again ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - February 26, 1932 WOMEN FORM CLUB TO AID FIREMAN Several women gathered to form a Womens Auxiliary to the Henry M. Laing Fire Company. The following officers were elected: President Mrs. J. P.A. Schmerer, vice president, Mrs. Ralph G. Eipper, secretary, Mrs. John A. Girvan, treasurer, Mrs. leonard L. O’Kane. Some of the items you could buy at the A&P stores were: flour, 24 1/2 lb. bag, 55¢; lard, 2 Ib, 13¢; hot cross buns, 2 doz., 25¢; mixed veg- etables, 3 cans 25¢; eggs, 21¢; pancake flour, lge. pkg., 29¢. At the Himmler Theatre some of the movies that played: Delicious with Janet Gaynor, Peoch-O-Reno with Bert Wheel- er and Robert Woolsey, Under 18 with Marion Marsh, Dead- line with Buck Jones. 60 Years Ago - February 27, 1942 MINSTREL PRESS AGENT PREDICTS SELL-OUT WHEN SHOW HITS TOWN Henry M. Peterson, press agent for David Joseph's greater Old Time Minstrels assisting the American Cancer Society in its annual Daffodil Day: The flowers, priced at $6 a bunch, may be ordered at the front desk until March 7 and picked up on the afternoon of March 21. Grill raffle tickets available: Have you seen the large stain- less steel grill on display just inside the library entrance? It will be raffled off at the 56th Annual Auction this July. Tick- ets are now available at the front desk, at $2 each or a book. i a of 6 for $10. Bargain prices, you should win this Meridian MDBQ freestanding . barbeque grill valued at $4500! It was do- nated by Mary Ann Sigworth. It would be great for large (really large) parties — think of enter- taining at the lake or for an en- tire neighborhood! Auction committee meeting: The next meeting is came into town this week to arrange lodging for actors and hire local hands to unload two car loads of scenery: Some of the shows stars will be: The famous Dolly sisters, “Gabriel” Harvey Johns with his trum- pet; famous tap dancers David Blight and Joan Quigley. This show is sponsored by the Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Company. Final games of the 1942 Back Mountain League Basket Ball season are scheduled. Dal- las Borough holds the lead and it seems that it will claim the championship. Lehman, which began the season in champi- onship style but lost three of its stars, will fight hard to de- feat Dallas. Stanley Zelazinski, a senior at Lehman High School was among the selectees called for service by Draft Board No. 5. Zelazinski is the son of Joseph Zelazinski if Sweet Valley. 50 Years Ago - February 29, 1952 EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT CUTS $3,000 OFF TOWNSHIP ROAD COSTS Operating under a stream- lined organization plan insti- tuted nine months ago Kingston Township Supervisors saved $3,000 in highway main- tenance cost in 1951 as com- pared with 1950, In recognition of his ten years of service, members of Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Com- pany presented Harry L. Ohlman, retiring president, with a certificate of apprecia- tion. scheduled for February 28, at 7 p.m. at the library. It’s time for everyone to think of items to be donated to the auction, includ- ing books, nearly-old col- lectibles, odds and ends, and antiques. Call the library if you need help in getting large items to the library. Book review: Pam Oliveira reports that the book discussed on a recent Monday evening, “Heart of Stone,” by Renate Dorrestein, was “loved by all :.: The author.is an award-winning. Dutch author and this was her, first book translated into Eng- lish. It is the story of a young girl's childhood in Holland and it is told through the eyes of Ellen, her mother, and a narra- tor. The book weaves back and forth through time, covering 25 years of her life, and slowly un- folds the unimaginable heart- break that haunts her still. The book was wonderfully written Louise Kelly, Idetown, has been recalled to flight service and will report at the Naval Air Station in New Orleans. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kelly, Dallas. 40 Years Ago - March 1, 1962 RUCKNO HEADS SPECIAL GIFTS George L. Ruckno, Shrine Acres, has been appointed 1962 Heart Fund Drive Special Gift Chairman of the Back Mountain Area. He was named by Mrs. Lyle Slaff and Mrs. Fred Dingle, Co-Chairman of the Back Mountain area. Donald Cutting, Lehman, member of the Pennsylvania State police for the past twen- ty-six years, has been promot- ed from Sergeant to First Sergeant at Wyoming Barracks. Atty. Robert Fleming, Dal- las is in the Republican nomi- nation for Representative in the General Assembly from the Sixth Legislative District. He is co-chairman of this year’s auc- tion. 30 Years Ago - March 16, 1972 PRESIDENTIAL CUP AT STAKE FOR L-L BAND The Lake-Lehman Band has accepted an invitation to participate in the 1972 annual Maryland State Grand Festival Parade of Champions, and the prize at stake is the coveted Presidential Cup. Issued by President Richard M. Nixon, the cup is awarded to the best marching band in the United and kept us interested until the very last page. It comes highly recommended by everyone in the group!” The next book is “A Fine Bal- ance,” by Rohinton Mistry. : The group will meet on Mon- day, March 25, at Stax at 7 p.m. As always, everyone is wel- come. For further information, call Pam at 674-9935. Tudor TLC Book Club: Lisa Carey, author of Mermaids «Singing, will*discuss her book on Monday, Mareh 4, at 7 p.m. at Wyoming Semiinary’s Broke: ingham Performing Arts Center, Sprague Avenue in Kingston. Everyone is welcome, and no reservations are necessary. On the afternoon of March 4, there will be a student work-- shop with the author at Tudor, Call the shop at 288-9697 for time and other details. Tudor is currently selling Singing at a discount. Mermaids States. Nineteen Town and Coun- try manor homeowners submit- ted a petition to the Lehman Board of Supervisors request- ing that the township assume responsibilities for roadways in that area. Jon Jay LaBerge son of Mr. and Mrs. John Charles LaBerge, Dallas, has been awarded a four year scholar- ship to Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, at Glen Cove, Long Island. 20 Years Ago - February 24, 1982 BANK WILL GIVE MONEY AWAY Hanover Bank of pennsyl- vania’s Dallas Office is spon- soring a special instant winner contest and grand prize draw- ing that will offer over $1,850 in prize money to Back Moun- tain residents as part of their second anniversary celebra- tion, Michael Kerkowski the Dallas Office manager has an- nounced. At the annual meeting of the Back Mountain Memorial Library Association, the librari- an’s report stated that 1981 was a year of steady growth for the library. Estimated active borrowers is 9,911. Karen Kraynak, a junior student at Dallas High School, has been named First Place All-Around Gymnast at the PIAA District II Gymnastic Championships held at North Pocono High School. Are you opinionated? The Dallas Post is always pleased to hear from good columnists. If you have what it takes, we guarantee you a regular forum to write whatever you choose. (Unless it’s libelous or tasteless, of course.) If you are the one person in 1,000 who can express ideas clearly and forcefully, send The Post a letter telling why you want to be a columnist. Mail it to : The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA 18612, or drop it off at our office at 607 Main Road, Dallas (across from Offset Paperback).
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