6 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, March 20, 2003 EDITORIAL Keep up the energy for positive change Wow! No lesser word can describe the difference in the ap- pearance of “Downtown Dallas” shown in last week's virtual presentation of the Main Street area. Kevin Buchinski, a Penn State student who is helping with the “Our Dallas — Today and Tomorrow” visioning project, created the “after” versions of familiar spots, and the transformations are stunning. Re- moving unattractive signs, adding some greenery and — espe- cially — placing utilities underground turn a ragtag view into the kind of quaint, attractive town we are in spirit, but not in actuality. Then there's the abandoned gas station that sits at the cen- ter of everything. There may have been a time when that loca- tion was the key to success, but that has passed. Stuck hard by a busy intersection and hemmed in by parking lots and side streets, there is little to recommend it as a viable com- mercial enterprise, either as a service station or anything else. Some local volunteers are making a serious effort to convince the corporate owner to donate the forlorn building to the bor- ough, using the argument that beyond the gratitude of the community, they will receive more value as a tax writeoff than they can ever hope to realize from a sale or lease. That property is a key to another possible major improve- ment — the creation of a traffic “roundabout” to replace the present five-way intersection and traffic signals. The theory is that a roundabout offers several advantages over the present setup. First, there is no need for lights, other than perhaps for pedestrians, and thus traffic flows more smoothly. It also flows more slowly, since the very nature of the circular pattern encourages a moderate pace. And it offers prime real estate for an esthetic statement about Dallas and the entire Back Moun- tain that could not be further from the present ugliness. There are still many questions to be answered before most of these dreams have a chance to become reality. But it is en- couraging that so many people are looking so seriously at the region's future; their energy and enthusiasm are bound to make a difference, for the better, in our community. Good choice to put off realignment The directors of the Dallas School District deserve commen- dation for their decision to postpone realignment of the ele- mentary buildings for at least a year, so the staff and parents can have adequate opportunity to contribute to the final arrangement. Just a few weeks ago, there were fears that the district would push through changes that hadn't been ex- plained to the public, and especially to the people who had to work and live with any result. No one has questioned district administrators’ motives in this affair, and they surely have the best interests of the dis- trict and students in mind. But any change of this magnitude — which may replace two K-5 schools with one that is K-3 and the other grades four and five — needs to be thoroughly Ivestigated and communicated to the community. wii . Loo wile al Publisher’ s Noho i This being the season of March Madness — the NCAA bas- ketball playoffs — some people have begun floating the notion that college athletes should be paid for their services. At least one advocate of this scheme has suggested they shouldn't even have to be enrolled; the onerous duty of actually going to class can be put off until they've used up all their eligibility. That raises one of the interesting issues that would have to be addressed by rules makers — just how long would a player re- main eligible, since grades and graduation wouldn't be a fac- tor. Would it be four years? Players can now remain eligible for more than four years if they “red shirt” due to injury or acade- mic standing, so that doesn’t seem fair. Perhaps they would be allowed to stay on until they earned a fat professional contract or were ready to collect Social Security, whichever came first. Keep in mind that this payment would be in addition to the full-boat athletic scholarships handed out by major colleges and universities, often to “students” whose applications wouldn't otherwise receive even a glance. No, these advocates of athlete welfare contend, it's just not fair to hand a kid $20,000 or $30,000 worth of free education each year, they need spending money, too, or they'll be tempted to accept use of an Escalade from a friendly local auto dealer. Their best supporting argument seems to be that athletes generate in- come for the school, unlike those leeches who just show up to get an education. It has become hard enough to feel close to teams that recruit players from across the nation to represent their city or state on the fields of play; turning them into mercenaries with no other attachment to the institution than a paycheck would make it almost impossible to root for old Alma Mater U with any degree of passion. I have some sympathy with the argument that some scholar- ship athletes come from families lacking the means to send them even meager amounts of cash for an occasional Big Mac. So, why not reach a compromise here: If a student fits the low- income profile, and is keeping his or her grades up, give him 20 bucks a week for pizza money. Of course, any institution deciding to do that for athletes had better prepare to defend it- self in court against every other student without a Daddy War- bucks lifestyle. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DAL 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 Qui OFFICE MANAGER oY sin PAGE DESIGN Last scene of winter? Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. Library week will include magic show LIBRARY NEWS (@F: 170] I ET The week of April 7-12 will be celebrated at the Back Mountain Memorial Library by the “I Love the Library” Magic Show, featur- ing Mark Piazza, who will weave his magic using books that are in the library, from favorite fairy tales to modern-day classics. Kids of all ages are invited to at- tend the show on Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. Programs for Young Adults: The first babysitting course con- ducted by the American Red" Cross at the library was well at- tended. (See the picture else- where in the Post.) A second class, on April 12, from 9:30 am. to 3:30 p.m., has been scheduled, this time with an age range of 11 to 15 years old. The fee of $25, which is due in the li- brary before April 12, covers the cost of a copy of the Red Cross Babysitter's Handbook. Partici- pants should bring their own sandwiches; the library will fur- nish sodas and cookies. Note: A third class will be scheduled if there are as many as 10 interested young people who were not able to attend ei- ther of the first two classes. Call the library, 675-1182, for com- plete details. The Red Cross First Aid and Safety course, a Young Adults program for 12 to 18-year-olds, will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Again, bring your own sand- wiches). Participants learn how 30. act in emergency situations “mtil medical’ help arrives~Regis- tration and the fee of $25 must be made in advance of the pro- gram date. Librarian's report: Staff mem- bers Martha Butler, Brian Ful- . ton, Marilyn Rudolph, and Janet Bauman participated in Febru- ary in county-wide meetings to improve the quality of the li- brary’s services. Mrs. Rudolph and Mrs. Bau- man visited the Evans Falls School and read to the kinder- garten classes there. Mrs. Bau- man also conducted a tour and crafts session for 12 Daisy Scouts and their leader. On Feb. 20th, the children of Head Start at Twin Stacks Center visited the library. | Elise Good of the Family Ser- vices Association is again dis- cussing parenting skills with the parents of Story Hour children during Story Hour time. Total circulation for the month of February was 8,098; new - loan which she has labeled “Paint- ““brushes, Palettes, and Prifit: books added; 247; new borrow- ‘ers, 85: and active borrowers, 15,242. Staff member “in jail” for a good cause: (There! That caught your eye.) We are happy to an- nounce that Brian Fulton was in jail for several hours on March 13. The occasion was the annual Muscular Dystrophy drive for funds. Brian volunteered to spend time in a makeshift jail at the Holiday Inn, and was re- leased when passers-by added to the amount Brian had already collected for MD from generous library staff members and pa- trons. Cut in library budget: For i formation about the proposed 50 percent cut in spending for li- braries in the state budget, and what you can do to help, click on www.backmountainlibrary.org New dis oe i Sue Hand has ed to-the library a display the Back Mountain.” It is a charming display of familiar scenes and other items. Please take a look the next time you come into the library. ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - March 24, 1933 FREE SEEDS AVAILABLE TO NEEDY FAMILIES Under auspices of Luzerne county Emergency Gardens committee, backyard gardens and community plot gardens will be planted throughout the re- gion. Seeed and fertilizer will be furnished by Luzerne County Emergency Relief board to all el- igible persons. A stormy session of Dallas borough school board opened in the high school building with resignation of Daniel Waters as president of the board and cli- maxed by the decision not to reappoint A.E.Uber as supervis- ing principal of the borough schools. Some of the items you could get at the American Stores Co. were: apricots, 2 lbs 25¢; Oval- tine, 6 oz. can 39¢; Betty Crock- er milk chocolate layer cake, special each 39¢; Oxydol, 2 small pkgs 15¢. Only Yesterday is compiled from the back-issue files of The Dallas Post 60 Years Ago - March 19, 1943 AMERICAN PRESS MAGAZINE CARRIES FEATURE ARTICLE ON SCRIPT CLUB The Dallas Post's Script Club received national recognition in a full-page article appearing in The American Press, publishers’ monthly magazine with nation- wide distribution. State Game Protector T.A. Reynold of Kingston issued a warning that large numbers of licensed and unlicensed dogs are running wild game through- out the Back Mountain region and Red Rock Mountain. Establishment of an air raid control center Back of the Mountain was closer to reality with the announcement that Commonwealth Telephone Com- pany will maintain a 24-hour alert to handle their first incom- ing call during an air raid. 50 Years Ago - March 20, 1953 ROSS CITIZENS OPPOSE RAISE IN ROAD TAXES Ross Township taxpayers, faced with a two-mill increase in road taxes while there is a $6,082 surplus in the township treasury, held an indignation meeting. Many believe the in- crease is the retaliation for the refusal of Auditors Edgar Cragle and Basil Steele to increase the Supervisors’ rates of pay before first discussing it at a taxpayers meeting. Reynold , “Chubby” Watkins purchased the old Rinus property along Memorial Highway near Woodland Inn, Shavertown, and is erecting a concrete block store and warehouse there. The busi- ness will be known as Luco Farm Service. Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Com- pany’s new $15,907 American LaFrance pumper has been promised for delivery soon. A road test is being given at Elmira. 40) Years Ago - March 21, 1963 AMBULANCE GETS HYDRAULIC COT : Dallas ambulance tried out a new Bomgardner hydraulic stretcher for size at a meeting of the amublance association. The stretcher if the latest of its kind, insuring passenger of a smooth transit from stretcher to a hospi- tal, bed or table. Kingston Township supervi- sors will soon arrange for new quarters, as time draws near to vacate the township building. about $17,000 will be realized - from sale of the present property to State Department of High- ways. Supervisors must erect a new building if they are to re- ceive funds from the Emergency Public Works Fund. Damage estimated at around $800 was done to the home of Henry Altemus, Noxen, by a fire subsequently subdued by some thirty Noxen volunteer firemen. Altemus was not injured. - Chief Calvin Strohl, says most likely that a fuse was overloaded, and made a wire hot. 30 Years Ago - March 22, 1973 BOARD AND TEACHERS AGREE TO 2-YEAR CONTRACT The Dallas Board of School Di- rectors and the Dallas Educ) tion Association recently con cluded negotiations with a two- year contract agreement. The first of its kind to be signed by the two groups. Dallas Area Municipal Au- thority signed a formal service agreement with the Harveys Lake Municipal Authority at the regular monthly meeting of DAMA. The admissions office at col- lege Misericordia had an- nounced the acceptance of Cyn- thia Anne Jalil, daughter of His Excellency Cecil J. Jalil, Ecuadorian Ambassador to the United Nations. 20 Years Ago - March 23, 1983 FBI INVESTIGATES FIRE An arson team from the FBI was called in to investigate a house fire that occurred on De- munds Corners. Dallas Town- ship Police Chief Carl Miers stated thare is “no questioj that the fire was arson. District Magistrate Leonard Harvey, who officially an- nounced that he is running for re-election will apparently be unopposed at the polls. Despite rumors that at least one other candidate would be running, no one filed for the post. Lehman Brownie Troop 641, and Junior Troop 626 took part in Boscov's Department Store's 21st anniversary celebration for the Girl Scouts from Penn's Woods Council. The Brownies won two ribbons, a first prize overall for their table display, and the junior troop won a first prize ribbon in the junior age level display. Genealogical Society to conduct workshop at Osterhout The Northeast PA Genealogical Society will conduct a Computer Workshop with Michael Strauss, District Director of the Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. Use of the 1800 United States Census CDs will be demonstrated at the Gates Computer Lab., Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, beginning at 6 p.m. March 25. Registration is limited to 25 participants. The 1800 CDs are available for research at the NEPA Genealogical Society library, 156 N. Main St., Shavertown. The records of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Church, Wilkes- Barre, and St. Mary's Church, Avoca, have been microfilmed and ag also available for research. To register call the Osterhout Free ® brary at 823-0156.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers