6 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, March 13, 2003 EDITORIALS Take a serious look at county government reform We in the Back Mountain can be proud that several of our neighbors are members of the Luzerne County Government Study Commission, and are thus contributing their time and talent in a serious effort to reform county government to make it more effective and efficient. Neil Allen, J. Carl Goodwin, Rob Seeley and Ruth Tetschner agree that the group will offer a blueprint for positive reform by the July 26 deadline for inclusion on the November general election ballot. Then it will be up to us to decide whether we're satisfied with the current state of affairs, or want a change. Some of the proposals sound absurdly logical, such as open budget hearings and professional management that is free from political pressure. But these elements have clearly been lacking in Luzerne County, or at least they have been over- shadowed by the shortcomings of the current system in which a majority of two commissioners wields enormous power. It is hard to escape the conclusion that an outdated struc- ture in which cronyism runs rampant has held this region back for decades, as other areas of the state and nation have prospered. Businesses that might consider a Luzerne County location are likely to feel uncomfortable making a substantial investment in an atmosphere where more effort seems to go into protecting cherished insider relationships than to attract- ing new blood and opportunities. While there is no guarantee that a revised framework will change things overnight, there's also no reason each of us should not consider the merits of the proposal when it appears on the ballot. Keep the letters coming This week's Post contains something we don’t see enough of — your opinions. The letters to the editor column contains readers’ thoughts on current Back Mountain topics that may or may not match yours. Some of them clearly don’t agree with what we've written, and that’s okay with us. One of the most important responsibilities of a newspaper is to act as a forum for ideas, so that all sides of an issue are presented for review. Far too often, we run across people who have some- thing to say, but are afraid to speak up. That limits what we can present in articles, and leads to stories that are more one- sided than we would like, but given the choice of no story at all, we must go with what we have. A lively letters column is an asset to any community. Please keep writing, and we'll continue to do all we can to present your opinions accurately and completely. There's no reason why your voice shouldn't be included on issues that affect you, your family and your neighbors. Publisher’s Notebook Ron Bartizek 1 néver saw the movie, “Field of Dreams,” because the en- tire premise sounded just too sappy to be worth an evening that could better be spent peeling potatoes. But no one can escape its premise of “build it and they will come.” For that alone, I think the movie's creators should be forced to watch reruns of Joe Millionaire for eternity. My reasoning is simple; everyone who has a cockeyed scheme to use taxpayers’ money for construction of an un- needed edifice has adopted the theme, with the result that dozens, perhaps hundreds of stadiums, arenas and other “public” buildings dot the American landscape like so many Monopoly pieces. The board that oversees the Wilkes- Barre /Scranton International Airport is the closest entity to embrace this supply-side theory, as they attempt to justify pouring $33 million into a facility that has an anemic record of activity and lacks a reliable major tenant. One supporter of this scheme even had the temerity to suggest that we need only look to Charlotte, North Carolina for an example of a city that prospered because it invested in its airport. I guess the weather, location in a booming growth area and highly successful local companies contributed little to Charlotte's ascension. If this premise is true, I look forward to North- eastern PA becoming the Atlanta of the north, as national firms that have avoided us flock to the region for its superior air transportation opportunities. Let's get real; airports expand because there is demand from users for them to do so, not the other way around. Ours may be in need of renovation — even some expansion — but don’t swallow this backwards logic as justification. What our little airfield needs more than anything are lower fares and better connections, whether from existing or new carriers. Until we have those, there is little reason for most travelers to choose AVP over Lehigh Valley or even Philadel- phia and New York, since the convenience of proximity is overshadowed by the time and expense it takes to get to most destinations from here. Do the Lackawanna and Luzerne county commissioners who oversee the airport have good intentions? Who am I to say they don’t, and if they can keep the bite from local pock- ets small, maybe it's worth seeing if they're at least partially right. I just wish they wouldn't treat us like fools who don’t understand fundamental economics. 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. Erin Youngman REPORTER Claudia Blank AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene E. Sorber Terry Quinn OFFICE MANAGER PAGE DESIGN ll Apple trees stand like chilly sentinels at Brace’s Orchards. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. I Media portrays Harveys Lake negatively, and wrongly Editor, As a lifetime Harveys Lake res- ident and one who takes as ac- tive role in my community, I am writing to express my disap- pointment in your editorial. Peo- ple showed up at the council meeting in record numbers to voice their support for our May- or, Council, and Police Depart- Turnout at Harveys Lake meeting was genuine Editor, Through your editorial, you conveyed a message, that if peo- ple truly care about their town, they should quit whining and assume some responsibility. Everyone is entitled to an opin- ion. I feel, anyone saying the show of moral support at the council ment and you refer to their effort as phony? I was there, and saw and heard residents from every section of the lake from a fair representation of our citizens. How is that phony? For people to come out to a council meeting on a cold winter night, young and old, you know something was on their mind! 1 should know, as I attend the meeting was phony, should re- member these people are resi- dents. They are entitled to ask questions, voice opinions, defend their community and people they trust and believe in. These residents — from lakefront to side street, young and old, any political affiliation are showing concern and responsibility to their “home” town. I believe it is meetings on a regular basis, and a typical meeting brings out a mere dozen residents. They came out in strong support of the elected officials and voiced deep concern over the recent media assault on our communi- ty. Could it be because we have had no real estate tax increase in 20 years, we have a new bor- ough garage, a new police head- wrong to even suggest these peo- ple or their interest is phony. Generations of Harveys Lake natives built this town into a community which has much ap- peal. Many people have moved into our town to get away from the unpleasantness and the hec- tic pace of the big cities. I am sure our ancestors made mis- takes along the way, but they quarters, a road crew that's done a good job in this tough winter, a peaceful community? If you ask me, what has been phony is the media’s portrayal of our community, not the proud people of the community who are fed up with the media. Ailene Forster Harveys Lake managed to create a nice place, which I call “home.” Please don’t let egotism and destructive natures destroy “our heritage, our home.” Please help keep “my home” a place people want to move to, where neighbor still helps neighbor. Cheryl Harris “Harveys Lake 'Haltive Complainers should use their energy to help community Editor, I read the comments in your editorial the other day. Now this is my comment: 1. 'm not a phony, I am a lifetime resident of Harvey's Lake. 2. 1 was there in support for our Mayor, the Police Depart- ment also our elected officials. 3. I was not asked to come to the meeting; I came as a con- cerned borough resident where I have lived all my life. 4. If the mayor, and elected officials didn’t do a great job they never would have been re- elected, Duh! 5. I also came to the meeting because of our Chief of Police. I feel that he has done a lot of good things for our borough, and the community, why isn’t he given any credit there? This is my comment to the person or persons that sent their com- ments to your newspaper. “In- stead of running our officials down, why don’t you try and help the community don’t try to hurt us.” Stop throwing mud and be responsible resident, stop try ing to put a good man down. I would appreciate it if you would also print the positive side of the story. Linda Bennett Harveys Lake Realignment of Dallas schools would bring benefits Editor, I have been reading all the ar- ticles The Dallas Post has been writing about the possible re- alignment of the Dallas School District's elementary schools. I am wondering how anyone, after reading your articles or at- tending the recent meetings, or both, could ' possibly still be against a realignment. I am a parent of a kinder- garten student in the Dallas El- ementary School and our younger son will be in kinder- garten in 2005. I am completely in favor of realignment. There are a variety of reasons (very good ones) to show why realign- ment is a good idea, even a ne- cessity, while the best reason given to remain with the status quo is the neighborhood school or family atmosphere that is wanted by those who want to keep things the way they are. That is all well and good and I can see where that would be a nice thing to have if having it didn't mean sacrificing the list of benefits Dr. Speziale cited as reasons for realignment. I would think it would be an obvious de- cision to choose smaller classes, better spending of funds and more consistent education over this neighborhood school feeling some parents are looking for. One other argument against realignment was that some stu- dents had just been moved out of Dallas Elementary and would have to move back if realign- ment took place. No matter what, when things change, someone has to be the first to go through the changes until things are established. Unfortu- nately that’s the case for many students now attending these schools but surely our children are capable of going through some changes for something that will be a long term benefit for the school district and the children to come after them. Change is a part of life and not a bad thing for children to learn and even experience and no one has mentioned, in everything I've read, that the current set up is simply unfair because it means that some students get to experience and benefit from the new, state-of-the- art, mind-stimulating Wycallis building and others do not. Simply not fair. You recently had an article saying the school was recognized for many won- derful reasons and every child that goes through the district should get a chance to experi- ence it. I have read many opinions of parents who are against the re- alignment and I just wanted to write and express the opinion of someone who is for it, becaus I'm sure I'm not the only one. Molly Davies Kingston Township ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - March 17, 1933 SHEEP NEAR HERE ATTACKED BY DOGS Dogs killed five sheep on the W. T. Payne farm in Dallas town- ship. Three of the yews had five lambs with them and two those killed would have had lambs within a few days. Within recent months killer dogs have de- stroyed sheep in Dallas town- ship, Dallas borough and lower- Wyoming county to the extent of about $500 damage. Girl Scouts of Dallas celebrat- ed the twenty-first birthday an- niversary of the organization in Dallas borough high school. One of the features of the program was the cutting of a large birth- day aniversary cake on which there were twenty-one candles representing the years the Girl Scout organization has been in existance. Some of the items you could buy at American Stores Co. were: tomatoes, large can 10¢; cheese, 1b. 15¢; ketchup, 16-o0z bot 10¢; ASCO coffee, Ib 21¢; Jigsaw puzzels, each 15¢. 60 Years Ago - March 12, 1943 MARRIED MEN ARE NOW BEING CALLED TO SERVE Married men in large num- bers-many of them married 14 to16 years but with no other de- pendents beside their wives are being called for immediate in- duction into the army by Shick- shinny Draft Board which has exhausted its supply of single men. The Red Cross campaign for funds is lagging in the Back Mountain county with less than one-half of the $2,575 quota raised as the drive passes the’ midway mark. Thirty-one young men from this area have been called by draft Board No. 1 of Wyoming for their final phyysical examina- tions prior to induction into the United States Army at the In- duction Station, Wilkes-Barre. 50 Years Ago - March 13, 1953 PETITION FOR LIQUOR STORE IN DALLAS Steps toward obtaining the es- tablishment of a State Liquor Store in Dallas were taken by Back Mountain Business Associ- ation at its meeting. Harold Smith, chairman of Dr. Henry M. Laing Volunteer Fire company's current drive for funds for a new fire-truck, states that a substantial number of pledges remain unpaid, and See YESTERDAY, pg LJ @
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