The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, October 31, 2002 EDITORIAL Rec center’s success will depend on our support The Back Mountain Recreation Complex is no longer just a gleam in its supporters’ eyes — it’s a big step closer to reality now that the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources (DCNR) has delivered the last of $750,000 in grant monies to the purchase of 130 acres in Lehman Township. This property seems ideally suited to the purpose of pro- viding diverse recreational opportunities to Back Mountain residents of all ages and interests. It offers a mixture of level and sloping terrain that can be developed into playing fields, picnic grounds and walking trails. And therein lies the next challenge. Now that the acreage is in hand, the next step will be to turn it into facilities that will serve about 1,000 youth baseball, softball and soccer players as well as their parents, siblings and anyone else with a hankering to’'get some exer- cise in the out of doors. Like just about anything that would serve so many people, this park will require lots of money to create and maintain. The state has been a big help so far, and credit should be given to State Senator Charles Lemmond and Representative George Hasay for their staunch support. Also deserving thanks are the former owners of the land, who showed great patience as they waited for the rec group to' acquire the funds to close the deal on two separate parcels. Now it's up to the rest of us to see the project through to completion. Volunteers are currently soliciting potential ma- jor donors, and once enough of a base is built, a public fundraising campaign will begin. The overall goal is a daunting $7 million, a figure that in- cludes the cost to develop a wide variety of venues, from fields to an ice skating rink and skateboard park. Commit- ments have already been made by youth sports organiza- tions to maintain fields once they are built. It's only money, as the saying goes, and when the time comes, we urge everyone to make a contribution, no matter the size, to this worthwhile venture. Aside from helping make the present dream a reality, widespread volunteer and financial support will give more people a palpable stake in the complex, assuring its continuation into the distant fu- ture. They're cute, cuddly, deadly, so learn to live with bears If you enjoy being close to nature, there aren't many places better to live than the Back Mountain. Even if you occupy the smallest lot along the most densely populated street, wildlife abound. And in just a few minutes walk or drive, you can stride through heavy forest or open meadows, taking in the views. But sometimes nature can come a little too close, such as when a black bear climbs onto your porch or ambles through your yard in search of a meal. That has been happening with greater frequency in recent years as the bear population has grown and house lots have been developed in areas that used to be open or wooded land. Bear encounters have been even more frequent this fall because the weather in spring and summer stunted the growth of berry bushes and other forage the bears feed on, forcing them to range farther as they prepare for the coming winter. How desperate do they get? Well, there have been reports in the past of bears strip- ping Christmas lights from trees and shrubs alongside hous- es in the mistaken belief they were berries. The Game Commission has published a long list of dos and don'ts when dealing with bears, and we'd all be wise to read it. Essentially, the points are common sense, including ad- monitions against luring bears near your home to get a clos- er look at the cuddly creatures that can easily Kill a child or adult that gets in their way. The Dallas Post published the tips in last week's issue, and this week Erin Youngman talked with Game Commission officers about the dangers. If you have a problem bear in your neighborhood, or would like a copy of “bear etiquette,” call the Commission's Dallas office at 675-1143. : Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post attempts to publish opinions on a variety of top- ics 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 car- toonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject 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 li- bel, 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 material for publica- tion. ~The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL A 18612 * 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek Erin Youngman GENERAL MANAGER REPORTER : Kari L. Wachtel Claudia Blank ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene E. Sorber Terry Quinn OFFICE MANAGER PAGE DESIGN © Le Rule edge along Hun (£5 i 5 . Lovely | tsi | I ll ES | y: i i lle-Idetown Road. Photo by Ron Bartizek. Letter is a reminder of hard truths of wartime Editor, Greetings from Florida! 1 would like to share with you the enclosed letter I came across the other day. It was written by the Supervising Prin- cipal of Dallas High School and was published in the Dallas Post in 1942. What a tribute to our men and women in the armed services. My husband of 57 years, By- ron Atkinson, attended Dallas High School and joined the Navy that same year. He had The Dallas Post’ mailed to him at sea, as he was in the South Pacific aboard the @ Destroyer U.S.S. Bell. After the war he joined the National Guard and served in the Army during the Korean War. He also served as Commander in V.F.W. in N.Y. state. He retired from General Mo- tors after 30 years. and we moved to Florida in 1991. Dorothy and Byron Atkinson Spring Hill, Florida To former students of the Dal- las High school in the Armed Forces: I am very glad to take this op- portunity of writing to you who are serving your country. Many of you have left good jobs and all of you have left comfortable homes. You are making a sacri- fice but the world will be a bet- ter place in which to live after you have won the war. The cost" of victory will be great not only to you but to us on the home front. We on the home front will gladly go without the ordinary conveniences in order that you, who are fighting our battles, may have what it takes to win. © Of the students I have known since being associated with the Dallas High School, thirty-four are in the armed forces. Three teachers have also answered their country’s ( call. | Mr. Clarence LaBar, the physical education teacher, left last June. The instructor hired to take his place was inducted be- fore school opened. Mr. Tinsley and Miss Morgan are dividing the work in the gymnasium. Mr. William Moran, left just a few days before school opened. His place is being filled by Miss Josephine Magee of Harrisburg. Mr. Robert Henderson, the band “instructor, left on December. 17. So far no one has been found to take his place. The students of the school are also doing their bit. They col- lected 69,680 pounds of scrap and received a plaque for having the greatest number of pounds per pupil of any high school in the country. The pupils, mostly from the elementary grades, have collected about two tons of . tin cans. The eighteen year olds are beg) ing registered as fast as they be- come of draft age. We hope it will be possible for them to fin- ish the year as most of them are in the graduating class. For this group a course in pre-flight aeronautics is being planned for the second semester. We wish it were possible for you all to be home for Christ-g} mas. But as this is not possible in time of war, I desire to take this occasion to wish each.and every one of you a Merry Christ- mas and a Happy New Year. Very sincerely yours, T.A. Williammee, Supervising Principal ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - October 28, 1932 KINGSTON TOWNSHIP WILL DEDICATE NEW SCHOOL Representatives of fraternal groups, service club and alum- nae will partipate in the formal dedicatory exercises at Kingston township’s new $100,000 high school building. Herbert Hill is chairman of the program. Some of the items you could get at American Stores Co. were: corn, 3 cans 29¢; evap. milk, 6 cans 29¢; eggs, doz. 25¢; apple cider, 1/2 gal. 21¢; Jolly Time popping corn, 12 1/2¢. A cottage at Warden Place, Harveys Lake, owned y Joseph Beleski, was destroyed by fire. Harveys Lake fire department at- tempted to extinguish the flames. but there was not enough hose to reach to the lake and a small creek near thettage did not have enough water. Only Yesterday is complied from back-issue files of The Dallas Post. 60 Years Ago - October 23, 1942 SCHOOLS OBTAIN $240 FROM SALE OF SCRAP PILE The Scrap for Victory Cam- pagn was held by Dallas Bor- ough schools and t;he schools received just a few cents short of $240 from the sale of the scrap- $239.24 to be exact. Lehigh Valley Railroad track crews, their forces expanded by several local men, were busy along the Bowman's Creek re- moving extra rails from all crossings so that the steel could be added to the nation’s dwin- dling reserve of metal for the war effort. Due to a lack of fire hydrants, along Parrish Hieights, Dr. :Hen- ry M. Laing Fire company wona a two-hour fight against an attic fire and saved the two-story stucco cottage owned by Miss Edity Reyonods of Bear Creek. 50 Years Ago - November 7, 1952 $700 ADDED TO DR. SCHOOLEY FUND One hundred dollars was added to the Dr. Sherman R Schooley Memorial Fund by a Kingston Township woman who asked her family to give checks to the fund instead of gifts to her on her birthday. At General Hos- pital more than $600 was re- ceived from nurses and staff. Work was progressing under the direction of contractor Ralph Downend on the rearrangement of the interior of the Garinger Building on Main Street in preparation for the removal of Dallas Post Office to that loca- tion Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Com- pany signed a contract for pur- chase of an American LaFrance 750-gallon per minute pumper. 40 Years Ago - November 1, 1962 HUNDREDS JAM CENTER FOR HALLOWEEN PARADE Over 300 costumed children of all ages, and half again as many parents and spectators jammed the Back Mountain Shopping Center area to watch the annual Halloween Parade sponsored by Back Mountain Businessmen’s Association. Mrs. Fred Anderson, Chair- man of Back Mountain Centr, Luzerne County Unit, of The American = Cancer Society's Pennsylvania Division, wa awarded the Silver Sword pin the highest award for volunteer service at the unit level. Kingston Township's Board of Supervisors approved as site of the proposed new Township Building vacant land on Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown, belonging to Nellis Holcom, Shavertown. 30 Years Ago - October 26, 1972 DRUG RAID NETS YOUTHS Two men and two women were arrested when Kingston Town- ship Police raided a trailer pad at Frances. Slocum State Park - where about 12 youths were found smoking marijuana. Businesses damaged from the Agnes Flood were eligible for cash needs on a short-term 90 day note at two percent interest basis renewable for a maximum of 180 days. Commonwealth Telephone Company's president John B.Hi- bbard reported earnings for the. first nine months of 1972 at@ $1.99 compared to $1.86 for the same nine month period in 1971. 20 Years Ago - October 27, 1982 POLICE REPORT VANDALISM HIGH AT HALLOWEEN Local police departments are busy responding to complaints of various types of vandalism@) and criminal mischief which seem to accompany the Hal- loween season, such as vehicle windows being broken, scattered garbage, and pumpkin smash- ings. David’ Seidel, Dallas was con- gratulated by council executive, Dave Hasel, for being the first _ Tiger Cub in the Back Mountain®) area. The introduction of Tiger Cubs will mark the first time in its 72-year history that scouting has offered a program to boys younger than eight. The second edition of Whole Valley Cookbook was on the stands in area stores. The col- lection of ethnic recipes and his- torical summaries is a very pop- ular item with Valley people. The book is put together by the Pub-g) lication Committee of the Histor- ical Society to earn money. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Dallas Post L ) =
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers