Ea : 6 The Dallas Post EDITORIAL Friday, August 29, 2003 OUR OPINION Can‘Think Green’be a Back Mountain slogan? It may seem like a small thing, but the vote last week by the Dallas Township Board of Supervisors to participate in a study of planning and zoning could be a critical step for the Back Mountain’s future. The study, which is funded by citizen con- tributions, will be conducted by Growing Greener: Conserva- tion by Design, with an eye toward aligning development of housing and business sites with aesthetic and ecological con- cerns. One has to believe this new openness to “green” thinking is at least partly a response to the rape of land near the Dallas Township park. Clearcutting there has not only destroyed a vista and wildlife habitat, runoff from the now-denuded site threatens a stream, and has brought citations against the own- er from the Luzerne County Conservation District. Unfortu- nately, those sanctions come with no teeth, as no fines have been levied or appear to be forthcoming. Things might be different if Dallas Township — and the en- tire Back Mountain — had zoning regulations that place a high value on the natural surroundings that make this such an at- tractive place to live, and corresponding penalties for violating the rules. Of course, laws are only as good as the enforcement, and that is an issue that should also be addressed, given the lax oversight of construction sites in most local communities. It would seem this study is a perfect opportunity for the new Council of Governments to work together in planning the Back Mountain’s future. Why limit it just to Dallas Township? We urge officials of other communities to contact Dallas Town- ship and ask that this project be expanded to cover the entire region, in the process tying together our collective interests in preserving the best of what we now have while laying the groundwork for a prosperous and pleasant future. Little red caboose or big red barn? Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK A brief vacation last week took us to Pittsburgh, that west- ern PA Valhalla of modern culture, or so we had heard. Re- member all the articles in the last decade about how Steel- town had adapted to the new economy by attracting “knowl- edge-based” businesses and high-tech innovators? I was eager to see the result, but disappointed in the reality. The Iron City has its share of nice looking office buildings, that’s for sure. And there are two impressive new sports stadi- ums where one used to suffice. But reading the newspapers, it appears the economic miracle was an illusion, since Pittsburgh is about where Scranton was until a couple of years ago — in the fiscal dumper and near bankruptcy. And Pittsburgh suffers the same discouraging malady as most cities in this state, unkempt roadsides and infra- . structure. To be sure, work is underway on two bridges (of more than 700, my former neighbor and repatriated Pittsburgher said) and the shiny sports stadiums that you and I paid for with our tax dollars are impressive, but by and large the city looks like any other over- the-hill rust belt town. That’s not so at our prime destination, Oakmont Contiity Club. . My son and I were volunteers at last week’s U.S. Ama- teur golf tournament there, and we found this to be one im- pressive facility. I normally castigate people who cut down trees, and that was my initial reaction whena club member told me 4,000 of them had been removed in recent years. But he went on to explain the purpose; to restore the golf course to its original condition. In fact, judging by old photos, there were even fewer trees on it in the early years than remain after serious culling. The icing on the week’s cake could not have been anticipat- ed. One day’s volunteer work involved being a “walking scor- RON BARTIZEK er,” tagging along with a group of golfers — in this case a two- some — and recording their scores for uploading onto the in- ternet and various other places. I happened to draw an un- known, skinny 19-year-old from Australia who was playing in the Amateur for the first time. He emerged triumphant after an up-and-down 18 holes in the first round, and I joined the kids who flocked around for an autograph. Little did I suspect that after five more grueling rounds he would be the eventual winner of the most important amateur tournament in the world, joining the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and — yes — Tiger Woods. Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post publishes opinions on a variety of topics in many forms. Editorials, which are the opinion of the management of The Post, appear on the editorial page and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. Any artwork represents the opinion of the cartoonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: e 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. e 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 libel, slander or objectjonable wording. In addition to letters, we welcome longer pieces that may run as columns. The author or subject's relevance to the Back Moun- tain will be the prime consideration when selecting material for publication. rie DALLAS POST TIMESeLEADER Cogpunity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALLA 18612 * 570-675-5211 dallaspost@leader.net Ronald Bartizek EDITOR/GENERAL MANAGER Justin Wisnosky ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Er Youngman REPORTER Claudia Blank AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene E. Sorber OFFICE MANAGER LETTERS Editor, I am writing in response to all the pub- licity The Dallas Post and residents of Sago Street have been giving to the clearcutting of trees by the landowner. First and foremost, I would like to say that I live in a rural part of the Back Mountain on an acre and a half of land. I realize that except for my acre and a half of land, I can- not control what other people do with the land surrounding my home. These resi- dents should have gotten together and pur- chased the land if it meant so much to them. This is America, where we are free, especially as a landowner to do almost whatever we want to with our property within certain limitations. It seems to me The Dallas Post, its edi- tor and the residents of Sago Street are tar- geting the landowner with negative public- ity. This especially seems true since The Dallas Post just ran a story a few weeks ago about at least a dozen new developments that are currently underway in the Back Mountain. Not once did I read a story Property owner nr every right to cut down trees about the landowner of one of these other 12 developments and cutting of trees. Ob- viously, to make room for the houses, . roads, etc. they had to cut down trees. To the residents of Sago Street, you need to realize you are living in an area that has been rapidly developing for some time now. If you don’t like it, move out to the country and buy your own 100 acres and stop negatively targeting this landowner. He has done nothing wrong. Susan Irvin Back Mountain Dallas Harvest Festival features ‘wrap-up’auction © On Sunday, Septem- ber 14, there will be a wrap-up auction of items unsold at the auction in July. The hours are 1 to 6 p.m. on the library grounds. Story hours: Regis- tration for the fall sto- ry hours for toddlers and 3-4-year-olds will CAROL KING begin on Tuesday, September 2. Come to | We will discuss “East of Eden” by John the children’s room, or call at 675-1182, to learn about the schedule and to register your child. Bookshop reopens The Slightly Read 29 in the Community Room at the library. Steinback. Members may pick up a copy of the book at the front desk. Bookshop, in the basement of the library, | case. Kevin Price; 12,'is showing his'post- will reopen on Tuesday, September 2. Book discussion group: The first meet- ing’ of the Fall~season of the Monday | morning group will be held on September | New display: Two brothers have collab- orated on the latest display in the library card collection, and Tim Price, 9, has his pencil collection on display. FIV 70 Years: Ago - September 1, 1933 D.P. HONEYWELL ANSWERS CHARGES OF SCHOOL BOARD Defending his charge for services in au- diting the books of Dallas Township School Board, D.P. Honeywell, in a lengthy statement, declared that the amount he asked of the directors was not excessive but ONLY was justified by the YESTERDAY great volume of work necessary to check on the records kept by the board. With two exceptions barbers of Dallas, Shavertown, Trucksville and Fernbrook have complied with NRA requirements and signed the code. Under the new ruling ships will be open 8 a.m. until 7 p.m, with the exception of Saturdays. Some items you could get at American Stores Co.: sardines, 3 cans 10$; angel food ‘cake ea. 21¢; Wheaties 2 pkgs 25¢; Geisha crab meat 25¢; waxed paper, pkg. 5¢. 60 Years Ago - September 3, 1943 HONOR ROLL IS DEDICATED AT LAKE SILKWORTH Another community in the Back Moun- tain honored its boys and girls in the serv- ice, whenmore than 500 hundred residents of Lake Silkworth gathered on the shore of the lake to dedicate their honor roll. many patriotic citizens and their friends took part in the flag raising ceremony con- ducted by Trucksville Service Mother’s- Club at the “Y” in Trucksville. Some of the movies that played at the Shaver Theatre: “The Human Comedy” with Mickey Rooney and Fay Bainter; “Boots and Saddles” with Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette; “Stand By All Networks” with Florence Rice and Alan Baxter. 50 Years Ago - August 28, 1953 JOINTURE AIDS ATHLEICS AT LEHMAN-JACKSON One result of the jointure of Lehman- Jackson-Ross Jointure Schools according to Supervising Principal Lester Squier, prom- ises to be a better athletic program than the school has been able to put on in the past. Unless rain comes quickly, Back Moun- tain green tomato crop willl be curtailed by dry weather almost as disastrously as it was by unseasonable dampnesss last fall. New traffic lights installed at the inter- section of Carverton Road and Memorial highway in Trucksville have met with uni- versal approval an eill be officially accepted by; the State Highway Department with appropriate ceremonies. 40 Years Ago - August 29, 1963 FEDERAL CHECK TRUANCY IN MI- GRANT FAMILY KIDS Representatives of the Departmeht of La- bor, United States government, visited area schools for migrant workers’ children, and informed social worker Judith Snyder, whose husband Reverend John Snyder is the director of the Orange school, that the government will be on the lookout for tru- ancy. Dallas Junior High school has been des- ignated as the place where Sabin Oral vac- cine against polio will be given. Adminis- tering the vaccine will be Dr. A.A. Mascali and Dr. Henry Gallagher. Workmen at the big bend of Memorial Highway, lower Kingston Township. are only abou three weeks from completion of the giant cut through the mountain. Con- struction workers estimat they will bring the floor down to the required level, a 101 foot deep excavation. Only Yesterday is compiled from the back-issue files of The Dallas Post. 30 Years Ago - August 30, 1973 ‘MINI TWISTER’ STORMS DALLAS; FELLS LARGE TREES Some Dallas residents witnessed what they thought was a “mini twister”. Howev- er, according to the National Weather Ser- vice, it was an “intense thunderstorm with winds up to 50 mph.” Lake Street was closed to traffic because of large trees and branches in the middle of the road and electric wires which were pulled down. In the first Dallas Borough council meet- ing in some time to be attended by all ' councilmen, Harold Brobst introduced, and had passed, a motion to rescind a previous- ly passed motion to hire a fourth patrol- man for the borough. Michael J. Kester, resident of Kingston township wants his land presently the site of a HUD mobile home park, on Harris Hill Road, Trucksville, changed from agricul tural designation to one which would al- lows him to establish the park on a private, rental basis.The majority of the township residents in attendance at the Zoning Board’s hearing were strongly againstthis request. : 20 Years Ago - August 24, 1983 & INJUNCTION PUTS STOP TO PUBLIC HEARING An injunction has been served against the Dallas School Board, halting the Public Hearing for John Gabriel. Gabriel, who was District Supervisor of grounds and main- tence, was fired by the Dallas School Board reportedy because he had been given poor job evaluation for the past two years. John Abraham, resident of Sahvertown for the past two years, opened his show re- pair center in the new building consturcted by Clifford Parker & Sons in Shavertown. According - to many residents, Abraham’s Shoe Repair business is the first of its kind in the Back Mountain area in more than 20 years. Police will be strictly enforcing state School Bus Stopping Law With children going back to school next week, PENNDOT is urging drivers to slow down when traveling in and around school zones, school crossings and school buses. State and local police will be strictly en- forcing Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law which mandates that when the red light is flashing on a school bus and the side stop arm is out, drivers must stop at least 10 feet behind the bus. When drivers see yellow flashing lights on the bus, it means the bus is getting ready to stop. Drivers should then slow down and not attempt to pass the bus. Persons convicted of violating Pennsylva- nia’s School Bus Stopping Law, face stiff penalties including a 60-day suspension of their driver’s license, a $100 fine and have five points assessed on their driving record. Persons convicted of speeding throug) posted school zone face a fine of $93 plus three points assessed on their driving record. I IT
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers