6 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, April 10, 2003 EDITORIAL Harveys Lake needs help to protect water quality The latest test results of the water in Harveys Lake are not encouraging, for humans or fish. It appears that a ban on fertilizers that contain phosphorus on land around the lake has done nothing to lower unacceptable levels of nutrients, which foster the growth of algae that crowds out other forms of life in the lake. Harveys Lake is a natural treasure that deserves a better fate. It is also a body of water that belongs to everyone in Pennsylvania, not just those who own waterfront property. That fact would suggest that the state should take a larger role in addressing the lake’s health, a task that seems to be out of reach for the borough. While the fertilizer ban is writ- ten into law, there has been no visible enforcement of it, making it unclear whether such a measure could have the desired effect. Another possibility is that the restricted area needs to be enlarged to include all of the lake’s watershed. Still another concern is whether sewage from lakefront homes is being controlled sufficiently; evidence was present- ed to the borough council last year of overflows into the lake, but there has been no reported follow through. The lack of effective action can’t be blamed entirely on the borough, though. Pennsylvania's largest natural lake merits more attention from the state Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies that have the personnel, ex- pertise and authority to reverse the downward spiral in wa- ter quality. Until that is forthcoming, it’s unlikely much will change, making algae blooms and weakened fish stocks the norm, rather than the exception they should be. But will they make the same mistakes? Congratulations to the Lake-Lehman High School students who placed first through third at the Regional History Day competition, held last month at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Their outstanding work will take them to the state level com- petition in May, and from there, hopefully, on to nationals in June. Activities like this don’t get the same recognition as sports, and that’s a shame. The research and presentations that won judges’ approval have taken virtually the entire school year to complete, and have required as much dedication as any touchdown run or three-point basket — or perhaps more. We look forward to reporting their results as they move up the ladder of competition. Publisher’s Notebook Silent sentinal of the season. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. GUEST COLUMN Gather ‘round, children, for today’s lesson in government finance. + You may have been told by some of your elders that there are certain rules for living. There's a list of 10 that most everyone knows, even if they aren't church-going. You know, the stuff about killing, cussing and graven images, whatever those are. Money isn’t mentioned directly, although there is a caution about paying more attention to what your neighbor has than caring for what is your own. You've probably heard about the financial thing from your parents, or maybe grand- parents — you know, those old fogies who talk about the Great Depression, which occurred around the time di- nosaurs roamed the earth. Then there’s smoking, drinking and drugs, those terrible vices your parents constantly warn you against, making them even more appealing. Well, my name is Ed Rendell, and I'm here to correct some of the bad advice you've been given. Here’s how things really work here in the richest nation the world has ever known: e Sin is bad for the people who can’t afford their bad habits. * But it’s good for you, little children, because we're going to tax the bejeesus out of it to buy new school books. * You might worry that making sin more expensive would mean we'd get less tax money, but we know better. You know how hard it is to eat just a few chocolate chip cookies, or to play a video game at the arcade just once? It's the same with drinking, smoking cigarettes and gambling, but the differ- ence is the people who do those things don’t have to ask mom and dad for an extra quarter. They can spend all their quarters, and no one can stop them. * So, bad habits are good! At least in the short term, which is all most of us in elected office care about. ~ Now remember, until you become an adult, which can hap- pen as early as age 18 or as late as ... well, never, you shouldn't do any of those bad things. But you'd better hope other people do, or we all might have to pay what it's worth for public services. Q: Where do you find the most ‘Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Dallas Post The Dallas Post TIMES*LEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL A 18612 * 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek EDITOR/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 The West offers reminders of, lessons for the East MATTHEW J. LLOYD Sweat runs down my forehead, drips into the corner of my eyes and causes a sting. I pause atop the peak to take in the view. My breaths still pant to the beat of my footsteps. I look out upon the mountains and valleys, and I think of those who came before me. I think of my forefathers trav- eling west across the Atlantic Ocean and settling in this New World. And then I think of their children and grandchildren ex- ploring westward still, journey- ing across this continent for the first time. I think of Lewis and Clark setting off, leaving their families and homes, and head- ing into the unknown. I think to myself, “how far we've come.” Then I think of these rugged mountains and wide open land- scapes. I think of the Wild West and the draw it still has on the soul. For me the west is just as much an idea of an ideal as it is a territory on a map. My idea of the West is one where past meets present, where dream meets reality. I moved west dreaming of liv- ing a life more simple and pure. I dreamed of making my home in a small cabin among the Rocky Mountains. I dreamed of spend- ing my time in the mountains. Moving west was my dream of setting off on my own to discover myself, to make something of myself. All this could only be achieved by packing my bags, like Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and going there. This spring will mark the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s appointment to explore the west. Both men returned east after their voyage, but nei- ther remained there long. The pull of the west drew Lewis to accept the job of Governor of the Louisiana Territory and Clark as Indian Agent of the West. This May will ‘mark the third anniversary of my journey to a small" cabin against the back- drop of Wyoming's Wind River Mountains. I make my living by guiding people into the moun- tains and educating them about the values of wild places. Unlike Lewis and Clark’s time, there are now towns in the west. I live near a small town called Lander. Yet western towns like Lander have their own history, they are living relics of what towns used to be. Lander’s.cen- tral business district is located on Main Street. The town’s resi- dents all work, shop and eat in establishments along Main Street. Main Street is where I go to mail letters home to my family — just like the Pony Express. My family and friends often ask me if I'll ever move back home. My reply is, “maybe some- day.” The truth is I regularly day- dream of saddling up and head- ing back east. I dream I'll one day come home to a place not unsimilar to my new home in the west. I dream of an old med- est farmhouse surrounded by forested rolling hills, open mead- ows of hay bordered by old stone walls of piled fieldstone. 1 will enjoy walks around nearby lakes filled by flowing streams trick- ling from pure springs. I dream of living near a cen- tralized community where people come together to conduct daily affairs — working and eating and shopping downtown instead of sitting in traffic jams while commuting to some remote box store. My new home in the West and my old home in the East face similar fates. Will preservation and conservation save our last natural resources? Will proper planning and development re- store and renew our communi- ties? I guess only time and see- ing our dreams become reality will tell. I am headed back down the i mountain. The sweat beads on my forehead slower now a 5 doesn’t run far enough to stin my eye. Now I feel a different sting. I know this sting gets a bit deeper with every mile I am from home. I feel like I've been gone from home so long, and this sting has become numbing. But it's true. And it reminds me of a home and a family I love so much. Leaving home is the price one pays for, going west. The west is where we discover ourselves. But I've also discovered that my home will always be back in the Back Mountain. Matthew J. Lloyd is an instruc-g tor at the National Outdoor Lead) ership. School in . Lander, Wyoming. He grew up in Dallas and graduated from Wyoming Seminary. ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - April 14, 1933 BIG SEED SHIPMENT IS RECEIVED HERE One of the largest shipments of garden and field seeds ever re- ceived in Dallas was delivered to the Risley Hardware Company from Alfred J. Brown, Co. of Grand Rapids, Mich. Robbery of two Tunkhannock stores and the theft of more than $1,000 worth of merchandise was cleared up by State Police. Six Woming County youths, five of them less than 18, were ar- rested. The treasurer of Dallas town- ship school board received a check for more than $3,500 from Luzerne County commis- sioners in land returns paid to the commissioners by township taxpayers whose taxes werere- turned during 1932. 60 Years Ago - April 9, 1943 NEW INDUSTRY WILL OPEN SOON IN SHAVERTOWN A new industry that will em- ploy between eight and ten peo- ple and may later increase that number will open soon in the old Shavertown Dairy Building on Main St., Shavertown. The industry is a chicken and turkey dressing plant. An honor roll erected by Local 217 of International Fur and Leather Workers and commemo- rating the service to their coun- try of eighty young man and women from Noxen and vicinity will be dedicated. Miss Helen Koslofsky, Harveys Lake soprano who scored a marked success in her rcent ap- pearance in Carnegie Hall, has been invited to sing in New York Town Hall in the near future. 50 Years Ago - April 10, 1953 DALLAS-KINGSTON EVALUA- TION SET FOR NEXT MARCH Evaluation of Dallas Borough, Kingston Township Joint schools has been approved by Harris- burg and will take place next March, according to a report read at a meeting of the joint board. In preparation for evalua- tion, teachers’ meetings will be arranged for every second Fri- day, with school dismissed half an hour early to give added time. The 1953 financial effort of Back Mountain Branch Town and Country YMCA will be led by R.E. Neal, of Goss Manor. Neal is the Manager of te Wilkes- Barre Neisner’s store. Some of the movies that played at the Sandy Beach Dri- ve-In Theatre: “Denver & Rio Grande” with Edmund O’Brien, Sterling Hayden; “Hurricane Smith” with Yvoneee DeCarlo, and John Ireland; “I Confess” with Montgomery Clift, Anne Baxter. Letters, columns and editorials 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. 40 Years Ago - April 11, 1963 LITTLE LEAGUE “FARM” TEAMS PLANNED Expansion of the league to eight teams and development of a farm league are projects of Back Mountain Baseball for Boys organization which fostered the 1962 state champion Little League All-Stars. At a meeting some of the plans were to Ex- pand the league to eight teams, projects of building a enw re- freshment stand and press box, at the little league field in dalals Township, and the development of a farm league. Ninety five local residents had chest X-rays when the Wyoming valley Mobile Unit visited the Back Mountain area. Caddie Labar says he would be gald to take a vicious dog off the hands of anybody who wants to get rid of one, after being robbed agian recently. Several months ago, his store was bro- ken into and two revolvers, four radios, two tape recorders and a spotting scope on a tripod were taken. 30 Years Ago - April 12, 1973 POLICEMENT TO HAVE PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS Dallas Borough police chief Ray Titus reports that the new, countywide police comminica- tions system will have its effect on the borough's police commu- nication system soon. Contracts are set for the acquisition and installation of radios,he stated. All cruisers will have radios and will be interconnected with all other police cruisers in the area on this side of the Susquehan- na. Dallas area manager of Com- monwealth Telephone Company, R. Dale Wagner, announced that fire company emergency phones in the Back Mountain were put under strict surveillance equip- ment, due to the rash of annoy- ance calls on fire company lines during the last few weeks. Dallas Senior High School track team will vie for its sev- enth consecutive District 2 title against G.A.R. Hanover Lake- Lehman, Dunmore, Carbondale, and Forest City, when the sea- son opens. 20 Years Ago - April 13, 1983 NEW FIRE COMPANY unre IS READY FOR THE ROAD Dallls Fire Company members are thrilled with the arrival of their rebuilt 1953 Class A Pumper, which one fireman de- scribed as “solid as a tank.”After having a new diesel motor in- stalled as well as new brakes, the pumper is now classed for insurance purposes as a 1983 model. The rebuilding of the fire engine was done by the Ameri- can LaFrance Company in Dun- more at a cost of $45,000 Frank Coulton of Harveys Lake is seeking reelection for council at Harveys Lake. He serves as chairman of the coun- cil. Some of the items you could at Dallas Nursery: dwarf and cher- ry trees, $8.99; lime, 501b. $1.83. » Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. 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. * Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to E fruit trees, ‘1 $6.99; turf food, 50lb. $9.95: :
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers