| | I The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, April 25, 2002 EDITORIAL Teachers’ timing, tactics reflect badly on them The relationship between teachers, students, the adminis- tration and taxpayers in the Lake-Lehman School District is being strained in many ways, and things are likely to get worse before they get better. The district is facing several large challenges simultaneously: e Labor unrest at a level not seen in many years, as the teachers’ union and board are at odds over a new contract * An expected budget deficit that offers little hope for relief * A construction project that - like most similar undertak- ings - will probably cost more than planned The pressure of all these factors creates a threat to the dis- trict’'s greatest strength, a remarkable level of cooperation and respect among faculty, students and administrators. Working with a tax base that lacks commercial entities of any size or number, Lake-Lehman has made great strides in its academic standing in the last decade, even as it has struggled to function with inadequate and outdated facilities. Then came a point at which there was no choice but to reno- vate and expand Ross Elementary School and replace the di- lapidated middle level building, putting additional stress on the district's finances. Unfortunately, for themselves and the district, teachers are asking for higher pay and more benefits at just the wrong time. Not only is the teachers’ union’s timing off, its tactics are inappropriate. We understand there is a negotiation going on, and don’t regard the union’s excessive demands as a fi- nal stand. If past experience holds true, the sides will even- tually find common ground, and it’s likely to be much closer to the board's offer than to the teachers’ wish list. That kind of back-and-forth is to be expected. What's troubling is the union’s move to put students in the middle of the conflict by refusing to do “extra work,” which is defined as anything be- yond a 7.5 hour day. The result may be canceled field trips, inactive clubs and perhaps a, loss of opportunities for stu- dents who could earn extra credit or otherwise sharpen their resumes in anticipation of college. From their own point of view, the teachers are putting themselves in position to be blamed for future tax increases, which seem almost certain to occur, even if their salaries aren't the full cause of them. It’s likely few of the people who provide the district's payroll will be sympathetic to well-com- pensated teachers who withdraw services from the very chil- dren they're committed to helping. Publisher’s Notebook Ron Bartizek Some of the commentary after the latest Tiger Woods romp in a major golf championship offered the opinion that other contenders had given up trying to catch the player who is now seven-of-seven when entering the final round with a lead. While the play of Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen left a lot to be desired on a Masters Sunday, it’s hard to believe these world-class golfers didn’t arrive at the first tee hoping to win and ready to give their best efforts, even if Tiger's stellar record was weighing on their minds. Did the prospect of catching and passing the best player of his era — perhaps of all time — affect their performance? I expect so, and the result was ragged rounds at just the worst time. Curtis Strange, the analyst whose own playing career in- cluded a pair of U.S. Open victories, went so far as to sug- gest that by acknowledging Tiger's greatness, other players are showing weakness. “Even if I knew someone was better than me, I'd never admit it,” he said. But Strange comes from a different generation and another planet in the eco- nomics of professional sports. Extreme competitiveness was a requirement simply to survive on the PGA Tour or in the National Football League 20 years ago. Salaries or winnings were in five or six digits for a whole season, and sponsor- ships were measly add-ons from local investors who took a chance that a player would hit it big. Compare that to the Masters, where Singh collected $187,600 for a week's work after shooting the worst Sunday round of the top. 17 finish- ers, or to the millions that are paid to average baseball play- ers each season. There's no doubt it's tougher to keep the competitive juices flowing when the checks get that big. We should be less concerned with a pro athlete’s psyche than with the ridiculously high profile sports and entertain- ment have in our culture. Just like overpaid CEOs, sports and movie stars are compensated at a rate that wildly over- states their importance in our lives, and present a perverted image of success to young people. I'd venture to say that one brilliant medical researcher does more good for us than 100 selfish, reckless celebrities, but you won't find entire sections of newspapers or hours of television programming that focus on chemists or physicists. Then again, if that was the case, they might spend most of their time preening for the camera instead of doing work that will outlast the final round or 9th inning. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Dallas Post Framed by boathouses on Harveys Lake. Photo by Timothy J. Raub. I i ES Thanks to community for generous support of family Editor, On behalf of Gina and Bill Ackerman and their three adopt- ed children from Russia, I would like to thank all those who sup- ported our tremendously suc- cessful spaghetti dinner on April 20. The dinner was the first of a series of events that will help re- unite the three children with their 4-year-old brother, Aleksei, who is still in a Russian orphan- age. To date, about 30 percent of our $20,000 goal has already been raised. “From Russia With Love...Re- uniting a Family” is a powerful story. As it unfolds, hope, faith and love all triumph over despair Carol King The Friends’ 14th Annual Spring Luncheon last week was a great success, with 131 in atten- dance. We thank The Dallas Post for its part in publicizing the event. We want to remind everyone of the presentation at the library and tragedy. Gina and Bill adopted the three older children from a Russ- ian orphanage in August of 2000. They learned of the chil- dren's relationship with their younger brother only after the older children began to speak English. (Aleksei was in a differ- ent orphanage.) The Ackerman’s are seeking to adopt Aleksei this summer pending the arduous adoption process and the finan- cial resources to do so. Compli- cating the story and creating a sense of urgency is that Aleksei has a cleft palate and will require surgery in order" for him “to ‘be able to speak. The generosity of the commu- nity and the willingness to em- brace a special needs child on the other side of the world is nothing short of inspiring. To those who donated the food, drinks, deserts and raffle items; the Huntsville Christian Church; Lake-Lehman High School for the use of the cafeteria; all those who volunteered, attended or do- nated to the event, please accept our heartfelt appreciation for you kindness and encouragement. We are also very grateful to the members of the media for help- ing to tell this special story. Our goal is to raise much of the remaining $14,000 by July, Friends of the Library lunch this Saturday, April 27, by Char- lotte Raup, a Master Herbalist and Pennsylvania State Master Gardener. The time is 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. She will demonstrate the making of herbal vinegars for medicinal uses or for cooking, and talk about the usage of the top 20 medicinal herbs. College Misericordia’s Circle K recently held a children’s book drive. The books collected were donated to the Back Mountain Memorial Library and to the li- braries at the Gate of Heaven Ele- mentary School and College Mis- ericordia. Club members who conducted the drive included Megan Cochi, president; Francine Geertgens, vice president; Nicole Risboskin, secretary; and Joanna Moore. Author David Baldacci will be speaking at the Celebrity Lun- cheon on Thursday, May 9. It will be held at Genetti's in Wilkes- Barre. Those attending are asked to arrive between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. Baldacci will speak at 11 a.m. and answer questions af- ter his talk. Luncheon is served at 12:30 p.m. For information about tickets, call Mary Reddy at 696-3967. AUCTION REMINDERS: DO- NATE your time as a volunteer, and your antiques, books, nearly- old collectibles, odds and ends, and new goods. the expected time frame when Aleksei could be adopted and brought to America. Other events to offset the cost of this adoption and to reunite the sib- lings are in the planning stages. Prayers, ideas and financial support are welcome. Donations can be made to: The Ackermans Huntsville Christian Church 1160 Church Road Dallas, PA 18612 or by calling 675-1761. Thank you for opening your hearts to children in need. Bill a ie draws 131 —— TAKE A CHANCE on (1) the Auction Quilt, made by the Back Mountain Friendship Quilters. It's on display behind the front desk. The donation is $1. (2) the gigantic stainless steel grill on display in the library. The grill is brand new and is valued at $4,500. Raffle tickets are $2 each or a book of 6 for $10. Drawings for both items will take place on Sunday, July 7. The library still has available some 97x12” framed slateboards made from blackboards in the former Dallas High School build- ing, which now houses the li- brary. They're priced at $25. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL 18612 * 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek GENERAL MANAGER William J. Dunn Jr. ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Timothy J. Raub REPORTER Ruth Proietto AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene Sorber Terry Quinn OFFICE MANAGER PAGE DESIGN ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - April 22, 1932 WARDAN KUNKLE SEEKS ELECTION IN BOROUGH Wardan Kunkle made a strong bid for election as county com- mittee man from the north dis- trict of Dallas borough. For the past five years he has been pre- seidnt of the Dallas borough council. Charles E. Watkins, Muncie Indiana, addressed Greatee Dalals Rotary, issuing a chal- lenge, to every member of Rotary to support the Three Year Re- construction Program of Greater Wyoming Valley. At the local A & P Store, some items you could buy: sugar, 10 Ibs 42¢; milk, 5 cans 29¢; corn flakes, pkge 6¢; bacon, 1 pkgs. 23¢; peanut butter, 1b. 10¢; fig bars, Ib. 10. 60 Years Ago - April 24, 1942 ‘SALVAGE FOR VICTORY’ TO BE HELD Determined to clear the area of all waste materials usuable in national defense industries, a crew of 150 volunteers work- men will man a 30-truck detail and conduct a clean-up cam- paign along every street of Dal- las, Shavertown and Trucksville. Annual war bonds purchases of more than $100,000 in the Back Mountain Area were indi- cated as returns from the “Pledge for Victory” campaign came in to Charles A. Stookey of Dallas, chief of Air Raid Zone No. 9. . Mrs. Jane Lohmann, since 1925 an employee of the Trucksville Post Office, has been appointed acting postmaster to fill a vacancy created by the res- ignation of Nicholas Staub. 50 Years Ago - April 25, 1952 BACK MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEER FIREMEN BATTLE BLAZES Trucksville, Shavertown, Dalals, Kunkle and Noxen vol- unteer firemen battled a blaze on the ridge in back of the Roushey Plot Sunday afternoon and evening. A second fire was responded to at Hays Corners. At the Sandy Beach Drive-In Theatre, some of the movies that played: “Sands of Iwo Jima” starring John Wayne,; “The Re- turn of Jesse James” with John Ireland , Ann Dvorak; “I Shot Billy The Kid”, Don Barry, Robert Lowery; “Force of Arms” Wiliam Holden, Nancy Olson; “Never Trust A Gambler Dane Clark, Cathy O'Connell, Tom Drake. Thomas Coleman, 16, son of Mrs. Ruth Coleman and the late Basil Coleman, had the honor of portraying the typical American boy on the Elks National Youth Day posters being distributed all over the United States in prepa- ration for Youth Day. 40) Years Ago - April 26, 1962 ROUSHEY LEADS DRIVE FOR ANEW INDUSTRY AT NOXEN Raymond Roushey has been appointed to handle contacts with prospectibve tenants for the vacant Armour Leather Compa- ny plant. Fire of an undetermined origin completely destroyed a barn during the high winds on the 70-acre Algert (Lefty) Kliamovich Farm on the Alderson-Beaumont Road at Beaumont. Back Mountain Protective As- sociation Community Service Award is to be presented to Howard W. Risley, Editor and Publisher of the Dalals Post, at the Irem Temple Country Club. 30 Years Ago -May 4, 1972 PRISON EMPLOYEES PRE- SENT PETITION SCORING POLICIES A petition objecting to enforce- ment policies at State Correc- tional Institution, Dallas, was signed by a large number of em- ployees. Only after holding a family: conference did Harry D. Swep- ston Jr. decide to accept the Dallas Area School District's bid to become one of its school di- rectors.It was his wife and chil- dren who finally convinced him to serve on the school board. James Connolly has been named general sales manager for Native Knits division of Na- tive Textiles, and Indian Head Company. 20 Years Ago - April 21, 1982 L-L COACH HITCHCOCK HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Floyd “Shorty” Hitchcock, head wrestling coach at Lake- Lehman and NCAA Division I wrestling champion, will be one of six inductees into the newly created Bloomsburg State Col- lege Athletic Hall of Fame Lack of interest on the part of the community and service clubs in the BAck Mountain in- dicate that ther will be no Back Mountain “Citizenship Award” this year. Merrice Hall, College Miseri- cordai will be the setting for the 1982 Dallas Post Homemakers School. Homemakers School Home Economist, will demon- strate a variety of recipes. Deb- bie Zurinski willl be mistress of ceremonies. L ¢ -. = Be a -—
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers