The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday,August 15, 2002 SHINER: AV NE ‘Last dance’ may mark end of an era at Harveys Lake It was only a generation ago that one of the treats of sum- mer was a trip to Hanson's Amusement Park at Harveys Lake. Last weekend's “Last Dance of Summer” may signal the end of Hanson's as an entertainment venue, and that is yet another step — perhaps the final one — in the transfor- mation of Harveys Lake from an accessible commnunity treasure into a closed enclave. A century ago, trains carried visitors from the valley to the lake, where they could spend a day “bathing” or begin an ex- tended stay at one of the resort hotels. They might disem- bark the train to ride a steamboat to their destination. Other tourist destinations were thriving as well, and access to the lake was available to the public, not just property owners. Hanson's was a big draw, and its roller coaster and other rides thrilled generations of people from around the area, while its stage featured some of the biggest stars of the 1950s and 1960s. But bigger parks with more rides were springing up at the same time the railroads and hotels were fading, and before long thrill seekers could hop in their car for a ride to Hershey or Six Flags for a day. While the economic changes that drove Hanson's to close probably couldn’t be overcome, it hasn't helped matters that the lake has become essentially private, even though the tax- payers own it. Harveys Lake is a public body of water, which you would never guess on a drive around its shoreline. Boathouses of all size and description cover nearly every inch of the shore, while easy access is found only at the state boat launch — hardly the place for a refreshing swim or tanning session. The state has let its citizens down by allowing development to encroach on the lake, with the result that, like Hanson's, public use of a public resource appears to be a thing of the past. And there doesn’t appear to be anyone who cares. Publisher’s Notebook Dear President Bush, America has been through some tough times recently. The attacks of September 11, 2001 were a tragic reminder that our nation is not universally loved and that our citizens are not immunized against aggression. The death toll was the greatest since the Vietnam War, and the fact that the victims were civilians gave 9/11 a unique and dark twist. In re- sponse, U.S. troops were dispatched to Afghanistan where some have died or been injured as we drove out those who sponsored the attacks and condoned the presence of hateful “evil-doers.” There is every reason to believe more casualties will bejtaken in the months and years ahead if we are truly committed to restoring that pathetic nation to respectability. Even before last September, clouds were forming on the economic front as a frantic decade of expansion came to a screeching halt. An economy that had begun to cool six months before the attacks was rocked by those events, and has been further weakened by revelations of fraud and deceit at the highest levels of business. Now, your administration seems poised to go after Iraqui leader Saddam Hussein in what could be the first unprovoked attack by the United States on another sovereign nation. Given these circumstances, we expected you to request help from us, the citizens who bankroll every government ac- tion, whose children die in battle and whose bank accounts shrivel in a recession. But that hasn't been the case; you have asked little or nothing from us except to max out our credit cards. Even a tax reduction, which many economists saw as ill-advised from the start, appears to be secure de- spite growing deficits and overseas commitments of troops and equipment that appear to multiply like rabbits. So I'm asking this, Mr. President; please call for sacrifice in the face of adversity. Don’t tell us everything's okay and you'll take care of it. It isn’t, and you can’t, and by leaving us out of the equation you risk failure on all fronts. You may think, Mr. President, that we love our leaders only when the stock market zooms skyward and frappacinos flow like tap water, but that’s not the case. We want to — need to — be a part of the important events that take place during our lifetimes, and we're not afraid to give up a few luxuries for the good of the nation. What we don’t want to sacrifice are our liberties, or the lives of our countrymen in a mean- ingless cause. That's why it’s important that you justify any military action to all of us, not just your inner circle. We're not stupid, or as selfish as you might think. If you can convince us of the need to invade Iraq, we'll be behind you 100 percent, and we won't mind giving up a dinner out or a trip to the mall in support of the troops. But you have to invite us in, or your causes will not be ours, and the suffer- ing of casualties and their families will appear to be for noth- ing. That's not a good state of affairs for the American peo- ple, or for a President. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Dallas Post A sign of days gone by. Photo by Elizabeth Anderson. Local SPCA accepts, places all breeds of dogs Editor, The reports from a local televi- sion station regarding the Danville S.P.C.A.’s adoption poli- cy left many viewers confused and angry. The phones in our of- fices rang off the hook over this issue. many callers, without ad- equate information assumed that all SPCA’s have a breed specific (pit bill) adoption refusal policy. Although I did an inter- view over the phone with the re- porter, my commentary was not aired. To clarify for all who read this letter, the .S.P.C.A. of Luzerne County is a private, Carol King The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL A 18612 * 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek GENERAL MANAGER Kari L. Wachtel ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Timothy J. Raub REPORTER Claudia Blank AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene E. Sorber Terry Quinn OFFICE MANAGER PAGE DESIGN The summer series has just ended, and now Marilyn Rudolph announces that regis- tration for the Fall Story Hours ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - August 12, 1932 TRACEY HEADS CAST FOR WARNERS’ DOCTOR X Lee Tracey of Shavertown heads an all-star cast of Warner Brothers’ players that has com- pleted Doctor X, a feature tech- nicolor production to be ready for exhibition in a few weeks. Other forthcoming pictures in which Tracey will be seen in the principal roles are Phantom Fame, produced by RKO; Night Mayor and Washington Merry- Go-Round, by Columbia. A seventy-five foot flag pole has been erected by Luzerne county committee of American Legion on the soldier's plot at Evergreen cemetery at Shaver- town. Arthur E. Uber of Hillards, Pa., was elected supervising principal of Dallas borough schools at the meeting of the school board . 60 Years Ago - August 14,1942 LOCAL MARINES ARE STATIONED IN BATTLE AREA At least four local Marines non-profit organization that is not affiliated with any other or- ganization. Our adoption policy does not discriminate against any breed of dog. All pets turned into our shelter are judged indi- vidually. They are evaluated by trained staff members to deter- mine their adoptability. All breeds of dogs have the propen- sity to bite given the right set of circumstances. The S.P.C.A. of Luzerne Coun- ty makes every effort to assure that a healthy pet as well as one that is well mannered is matched during the adoption process. A pet is a lifetime com- Fall story hour Tegistration ‘scheduled will be held September 9-13. The Story Hours will begin during the first week in October. New evening book discussion group: “Life Series”, a new book discussion series developed by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, will meet one Monday a month, starting in September, to talk about contemporary Ameri- can memoirs. The schedule is September 9 - “Angela’s Ashes;” October 7 - “When I Was Puerto Rican;” November 4 - “Miriam's 4 mitment that should not be tak- en lightly. Responsible pet own- ers, regardless of the pet's breed, socialize their dogs at an early age, invest in obedience lessons, make regular visits to a veteri- narian for health checkups and vaccinations, obey all state dog laws and local ordinances, li- cense their pet, spay/neuter their pet to help curtail pet over- population and should their pet become lost, immediately search their neighborhood and call their local shelter. We are pleased that this story had a happy ending for “Baby” neg the pit bull “All shelters” Kitchen: A Memoir;” and Decem- ber 9 - “Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Dis- aster.” Free copies of the books will be given to those who regis- ter and commit themselves to reading all four titles and partic- ipating in all four sessions. All meetings will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the library. Call the li- brary at 675-1182 to register for the series. Librarian’s report: Statistics wide rely on public support for the work they do on behalf of homeless, unwanted, neglected and abused animals. Imagine what your community would be like without one to care for them. The S.P.C.A. of Luzerne County shelters and cares for approximately 9,000 animals a year. Change happens when people care. This was evident in the case of “Baby”. Call your lo- cal shelter and ask to volunteer. You can make a difference. Edward Gross Director of Development “SPCA of Luzerne for the month of July include: total circulation, 10,017; books added, 205; new borrowers, 58; and active borrowers, 14,781. Slightly Read Bookshop: The bookshop will re-open after La- bor Day. Call the library to make certain of the Fall schedule. Displays: We remind you that the library would welcome loans of collections to be shown in the display case. Again, call the li- brary for details. may be seeing action for the first time in the Solomon Is- lands battle. They are Willard M. Kocher and Willard E. Shaver of Dallas, and Private Shaver’s cousins, Elwood and Howard Whitesell of Pike's Creek. : Steps were taken for the es- tablishment of a permanent sal- vage set-up in the Dalals area to supervise the regular collec- tion of tin cans, scrap iron and rubber. Some of the items you could purchase at the Acme Super- markets were: peaches, 4 Ibs, 25¢; : potatoes, 15 1bs., 35¢; chickens 1lb., 35¢; bread 2 large loaves, 17¢; Waldorf Tis- sue, 2 rolls, 9¢, 50 Years Ago - August 22, 1952 JACKSON TEAM AGAIN WINS 19 GAMES For the second successive years, Jackson Township Little League Team walked off with the honors, with a straight score of winning both halves, and a phenomenal record of nineteen games won out of twenty games played. Two new teachers have been elected by Lehman-Jackson Township School Board to suc- ceed two who have resigned. They are: Marilyn Sickler, and Mrs. Ida Howell. Mary Wier, well known for her religious, civic and social lead- ership, has been named Gener- al. Chairman of the Frank L. Hemelright annual Memorial Award Committee for 1952. 40 Years Ago - August 16, 1962 PA CHAMPIONS MEET MASS. TEAM IN SEMI-FINALS Little League All-Stars’ first game for the Eastern United States Championship will be at Medford, Mass. The game will be broadcast on WNAK . This will be a twin-bill contest for Eastern U.S.A., bidder for the Williamsport World Series, Ed Dubil pitching. Two Back Mountain boys who enlisted together, were graduat- ed from Fort Benning, Ga., as paratroopers and received their wings. They are Pvt. Walter Ku- niskas, Dallas and Pvt. Richard Malick, Jackson Township. At the Dallas Drive-In The- atre, some movies that played: Hatari!! starring John Wayne, Red Buttons; Hell is for Heroes, with Steve McQuern, Bobby Darin; Pillow Talk, with Doris Day, Rock Hudson. 30 Years Ago - August 10, 1972 DALLAS SCHOOLS GET READY TO HANDLE 700 EX- TRA STUDENTS Due to disruptions in valley schools as a result of the Agnes flood, an additional 700 -chil- dren are expected to attend Dallas School Dsitrict schools this year. Dr. Linford a. Wer- hieser, superintendt, and Thomas Jenkins, business manager, were authorized by school directors to apply for funds to meet the added finan- cial burden. Excavation for three duplex houses began this week on the former Risley property at the corner of Huntsville Road and Lehman Avenue, Dallas. The Bureau of Employment Security opened an office in the Brothers Four Restaurant building, Main Street, Dallas. 20 Years Ago - August 11, 1982 AMERICAN ASPHALT BEGINS ROAD WORK Crews from American Asphalt Paving Co., began to do initial work on the Brook St. and Bo- hac St. improvements contract. The improvements are com- prised of storm sewer and street reconstruction. The project to- tals $87,192. Two former Back Mountain residents completed graduate studies ‘at the University of Hawaii in Hnolulu. They are Robert L. Brown, and his wife Joan of Shavertown. The couple spent several years in the rural areas of Alaska, developing sec- ondary education programs for small villages. A Back Mountain family was among the 100 “Love From Mrs. Butterworth’s” sweepstakes winners who enjoyed an all-ex- penses-paid trip to Walt Disney World Vacation Kingdom. The “Keystone State” winner was the family of Patsy A. Nicely of Dallas. Only Yesterday is compiled from the files of ‘The Dallas Post. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers