L Dallas, Pennsylvania The Back Mountain's Newspaper Since 1889 July 4 to July 10, 2002 United We Stand Vol. 113. No. 27 DALLAS POST 50 Cents SPORTS Little League all-star play begins, and girls win twice. Pg 9. Students earn Legion awards. Pg 11. COMMUNITY Gate of Heaven Holy Commu- nion classes. Pg 5. Back Mountain towns tackle long-range plans dents, but also borough neighbors, on the issues they believe need to be addressed. “Because Dallas Borough serves as a com- mercial and cultural center for the entire Back Mountain region, we welcome the in- volvement of our neighbors in this process,” said Joe Moskovitz, the borough manager. The public meeting of over 150 people A “Visioning,” survey are tactics to cope with growth By ELIZABETH ANDERSON and TIMOTHY J. RAUB The Dallas Post 3.4 percent. The beauty of the Back Mountain has en- ticed people to live here for generations and at is no less true today. The population in the Back Mountain in- creased 5.5 percent from 1990 to 2000 ac- cording to the U.S. Census. That is a signifi- cant amount considering Luzerne County as come. a whole lost 2.7 percent of its people and the Commonwealth's citizenry has only grown The pressure of this growing population and increasing development has caused some Back Mountain municipalities to re- evaluate their long range planning goals in an attempt to shape their communities into what they envision they can and should be- Dallas Borough has embarked upon a community visioning process they call, “Dal- las, Today and Tomorrow,” seeking citizens’ opinions as well as their involvement. The borough held a public meeting May 29, seeking input from not only borough resi- came up with 56 separate issues which the Community Visioning Steering Committee has grouped into four major categories, said Moskovitz. Four task forces of 10 to 25 vol- unteers will be formed to deal with the fol- lowing four major areas; year: provides See LONG-RANGE, pg 8 Library Auction this weekend The 56th annual Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary Auction begins a four-day run Thursday. The “social event of the about 25% of the library's an- nual operating budget. See the special section inside for all the details. E July 4250607] M+ Saturday 6 midnite + Sunday 6.7 i swsisnereo The Dallas Post TIMES # LEADER On the library grounds Thursday 6-11 pm. « Friday 6.11 p, By ELIZABETH ANDERSON Post Correspondent JACKSON TWP. — Where can you climb up into the cockpit of a Life-Flight helicopter, be finger- printed by a Secret Service agent and not go to jail, experience the visual sensations of alcohol and drugs (without a headache) in front of cops without getting busted and just have a great time with the family, sitting on the grass and eating all the hot dogs your belly can hold —- all for free? Safe Kids Day, of course! The Jackson Township Police Department in as- sociation with the Back Mountain Police Associa- tion and the Jackson Township Crime Watch, host- ed the First Annual Safe Kids Day at the Jackson Township Recreation Park, June 22. Several hundred children and their parents at- tended the daylong event and enjoyed the perfect weather while they learned, the fun way, about staying safe. Petting Nitro, the narcotics dog, regis- tering your bike with the local police department and being strapped to Jackson Township Ambu- lance’s backboard were but a few of the free events to be experienced. Kids took home lots of free stuff and learned plenty in the process. The Life Flight helicopter made an impressive POST PHOTOS/ELIZABETH ANDERSON Crime Dog McGruff and the crash dummies, Vince and Larry, advised the local law enforcement officers, Jackson Township Sgt. Scott Davis and Dallas Borough Police Chief John Fowler, to be on the look-out for plenty of happy children at Safe Kids Day, June 22, at the Jackson Township Recreation Park. McGruff goes undercover as Kevin Weber, age 15, in his off hours with backup from Vince (blue jump- suit) as Eric Leedock, age 12, and Larry (gray jumpsuit) as Kim Nordfors, secretary to Magistrate Tupper. o Parents, kids learn to be safe while having fun landing on the field just yards from the crowd, fas- cinating children and grownups alike. The rotating blades whooshed hair back from faces and hats from heads as it landed. The crew answered ques- tions from enthralled little boys, and big boys too. Parents had the opportunity to get digital photos and fingerprints of their children from the four Se- cret Service agents who came down from Washing- ton, D.C. The prints were made using a high resolu- tion scanner and SentryKids software. Obtaining quality fingerprints from children using ink is ex- See SAFE KIDS, pg 4 No surprises in final L-L budget © €¢ bo) o “Only” a 26% increase in health insurance premium By ELIZABETH ANDERSON Post Correspondent LEHMAN TWP. — The Lake- Lehman School Board passed the budget for the 2002-2003 school year, May 27, with $18.7 million ($18,740,564.09) in expenditures ®... no tax increase. Property owners in Luzerne County will continue to pay real estate millage of 221 mills and property owners in the Township L. UZ ERNE FBANK NATIONAL of Noxen in Wyoming county will pay the same 42 mills as last school year. The budget passed by a 5-2 vote with Angelo DeCesaris and James Mahon voting no. Board members Lois Kopcha and Michelle Coombs were not pre- sent. Kathleen Williams, the district business manager, reported a modest 1.66 percent increase in the 2002-2003 school year bud- get as compared to the 2001- 2002 school year budget. Both DeCesaris and Mahon questioned the budget process. “In comparing budget to budget we take our best guess last year and compare it to our best guess this year. I don't know if this solves anything to say that our expenditures have increased 1.66 percent,” said DeCesaris. “I don't think this is an accurate state- ment. We should be comparing numbers to actual.” He went on to say, “If we can budget a smaller loss this year than last year without an in- crease in millage something has got to be wrong in the budget See LEHMAN; pg 7 * NO MONTHLY FEES « NO MINIMUM BALANCE « NO KIDDING! Miller caught Mountain Ju- nior Bowling League's awards ban- quet. Story on page 10. Splash! The water bal- loon tossed by his partner split open at Timmy during the Back Luzerne 288-4511 - Plains 829-3900 Swoyersville 287-1141 - Dallas 674-5442 i Public Square 822-4211 - Wyoming 613-0966 STAR Despite $ million In bank, Dallas raises taxes 4 percent By TIMOTHY J. RAUB Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — The School Board voted to accept the district's 2002-03 $22.6 million budget with an 8-mill in- crease Friday. The rate will now be 198 mills. District Bustiiess Consultant Al Mel- one Jr. has said the increase comes as a direct result of the rise in health care costs. Personnel benefits are budgeted at $3.44 million, an increase of more than $500,000 from the 2001-2002 budget. A mill is $1 of every $1,000 of as- sessed property value. An average resi- dent of the school district currently See DALLAS, pg 3 16 Pages, 2 Sections Calendar..........corsesanviesss 16 Classified................. 13-15 Crossword.............iveine 10 EQUONAIS..... ccc rvicirri nina 6 ObUAIIES...... coco enn sonies 2 SONO0L ot taess sare ninninsss 11 SPOS. ....iii ii rmmanaies 9-10 CALL 675-5211 FOR HOME DELIVERY, NEWS OR ADVERTISING E-mail: dallaspost@leader.net The Dallas Post Please enclose this label with any address changes, and mail to The Dallas Post P.O. 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