The Post By CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Post Correspondent DALLAS — Who knows what woodland spirit inspires Chris Berish. Who cares? His Back Mountain neigh- bors love to see each new cre- ation and some have asked him to carve up their tree trunks and stumps, just as he has done with many of his own. “I just look at a tree and see an image and pretty much pic- ture something in that tree,” Berish said in explanation. Only certain tees — or certain rocks — become bears, squir- rels, or chipmunks. “There’s a rock up there I could pretty much carve a tur- tle out of,” he said on a recent afternoon. “It’s a flat rock stick- ing up where I built the stone ®: but I haven't got to it yet.” An avid hunter and lover of nature originally from Ply- mouth, his visions have turned a modest corner lot in Dallas into an outdoor sculpture gar- den and landscaper’s delight. Berish moved to Dallas two years ago to enjoy a quiet neighborhood and more of the country scene. The previous owners had not done much to improve the property along West Center Hill Road in Dal- las, so Berish has constructed a two-tiered water pond system with a creek, and carved up the tree stumps. The stumps are chain-sawed and then fine chis- eled to resemble men, bears or other animals. N “It’s nice to work with a chis- el, but I like the chain saw best. You can’t let the chain saw con- trol you, though, you have to have steady hands or you'll cut Yolunteer —— NEWS Sunday, October 5, 2003 3 too far and there’s no way to bring it back.” He fondly displays his “mis- take bear.” It’s the one with the pointy ears. A Polynesian-look- ing sculpture was supposed to be a bear or a woman but the trunk was too skinny. It (or a, 2 Chris Berish takes a chisel to a tree stump that he roughed out using a chain saw, left. In center, his “mistake bear” that became a man (woman?) with she/he) had breasts and a big belly. Berish now dresses him up for the holidays. Berish explains his compul- sion humorously. “I was born in the woods one day, and could never sit still, and I love to be outdoors.” So one day, sitting in the woods waiting to catch bear with a friend, he whittled a small bear out of black wal- nut. But the desire to carve was really launched when he saw chain saw carvers at Knoebel’s Amusement Park. Another influence and sup- porter of his wood carving pas- al Ll He a “There’s a rock up there I could pretty much carve a turtle out of.” Chris Berish Dallas sion is his girlfriend, Kim Brown, a rousing fan who chal- lenges Berish, a car detailer, to tackle bigger projects. “He’s al- ways busy outside doing some- thing, like his job isn’t enough,” she said. hris Berish finds the inner animal in trees and stones Berish admits to some inher- ited talent from his father, but has never had any formal train- ing. “It’s just a fun hobby and a challenge to make something.” Neighbors and friends give him second opinions, ideas, and donate materials. Berish is almost ready to stain and polyurethane the 6-foot carved bear that stands in his yard. But not everyone sees the same thing he does. One woman drove by and said, “That’s a cute bunny you're doing there.” Berish plans more carved bears for his yard. POST PHOTOS/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK distinct Polynesian overtones, center. At right, he started with the stone wall and water garden. Puppies help students at Dallas El learn to read @®... from page 1) very rewarding,” said Banks, the mother of five children. Banks is the daughter of John and Pat Luke of Kingston Township. She grew up near Frances Slocum State Park, at- tended Gate of Heaven Elemen- tary School and Dallas junior and senior high schools. She will graduate in May from King’s College with a double major in psychology and neuro- science. “Boys or girls, ® whoever you work with, they're great.” Margie Banks Dallas In addition to attending col- lege, sometimes full-time, for the last eight years and raising five children, she volunteered with Cub Scout Pack 155, was assistant leader and leader for her two older daughters’ Girl Scout troops, and started a Brownie troop for her two younger daughters, which she led through Junior Scouts and now into two Cadette troops. Her children, and therefore, Margie, have participated in sports ranging from softball and baseball to basketball, field hockey and wrestling. More- over, she took a turn as stand manager for Back Mountain Baseball, started and managed two travel field hockey teams and delivered newspapers for the Times Leader for over two years. She has taken her scouts on numerous day trips and camp- ing excursions. Her car, pur- PumpkiniPatch Pick Your Qwnh Pumpkins Hay, Straw, Cornstalks Sat/Sun 10-6 Call for group rates 298-0962 309N to 29S. towards 1 . Noxen. Follow f| orange signs. POST PHOTO/M.B. GILLIGAN Margie Banks is pictured with her youngest daughter, Aman- da, at a recent Girl Scout meeting. chased in February, already has more than 13,000 miles on it. “My mother was a Cub Scout den mother and my father coached mini football and little league,” said Banks. “They were always signing us up to help out at the church too,” she said in reference to her four brothers and one sister. “I was a Girl Scout through Cadettes and earned the First Class Award, which was one of the highest you could receive.” “Mama Marge,” as she is af- fectionately known to many young area girls, is currently looking for an internship in her field and has plans to continue her education through a doctor- al program. “I hope to be a cli- nician and would like to work with children and put all of my volunteer experience to good use,” she said. Banks wholeheartedly en- dorses volunteer work. “I really enjoy the kids. They are each unique and special and it keeps me young. It also keeps you in- formed about what is going on in your children’s lives,” said Margie. “Sometimes I think people are just rushing from the start to the finish, but you have to enjoy it now because when it’s gone, it’s gone.” Banks lives in Dallas with her husband, Chris. Their five chil- dren are: Tim, 21, Jessica, 19, Susan, 18, Becca, 13, and Amanda, 12. “Boys or girls, whoever you work with, they're great. I don’t do it for any recognition, I do it for the kids,” said Banks. Editor’s Note: The Post will be publishing an occasional series on the contri- butions volunteers make to our community. If you know some- one who would make a good subject, let us know by dropping a e-mail to dallaspost@leader.net or calling 970-7157. VAN BE | =H \[® AVA] =f] Showtimes effective Friday 10/03/03 DIANE LANE u i TUSCAN-SUN PGs ‘Under the Tuscan Sun” has romance, beautiful people, a magnificent backdrop in Tuscany, Rome and Florence, good characters and a nice arc of hope. = Reeling Reviews All elements click in “Sun,” a shimmering, deeply felt film The Hollywood Reporter aily 7:15 « Fri/Sat 9:30 % at/Sun/Wed 1:15/3:30 mld $ftbos Foastionl “ Nowhere in Africa HELD Sun 1:00 » Mon 7:00 OVER! Whale Rider Sun 4:00/7:00 « Tue 7:00 COMING SOON INIT FR ARI E CRUELTY ORGE CLOONEY CATHERINE ZETA-JONES WYOMING COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER FOR INFORMATION CALL 996-1500 LIVE ON STAGE! An Evening of One-Act Plays by Tom Flannery “Fight Like Hell Till You Get to Heaven: Moments with Mother Jones” starring Agnes Cummings directed by Bob Shiesinger Presented in cooperation with Scranton Public Theater “Wherever Working Men Go” acoustic monologue starring Van Wagner “The Flying Girls” (1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire) starring Agnes Cummings Oct. 3 (WITH OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION) Oct. 4: 8,9 Tickets $15 « All performances at 7:30 p.m. The Origin of Place Names in Nertheastern Pennsylvania” 07 i Wi ae 4 i Atectuiby © Tuesday, Oct. 7 - 7:00 p.m. ~D#Stiefdon Speer .-» $5.00 Dielricsr THEATER RE¥ial 4 at-Talal-T~ “MORE THAN THE MOVIES” 836-1022 www.dietrichtheater.com =) PLAY BUILDING > for 6-12 year olds with Michaela Moore $30 for all six weeks Saturdays Oct. 4-Nowv. 15 THEATER RESIal dat-1alal~-1~1 4 “MORE THAN THE MOVIES” 836-1022 www.dietrichtheater.com In conjunction with the SPCA, students at Dallas Elementary who are having difficulty learning to read, will now be a part of the puppy pals program. Beginning October 10, the school will be hosting dogs from various locations to work as reading mentors. The Puppy Pals Program, created by the guidance counselor, Betsy Jerome and Sharon Hartshorne, reading specialist, has children read to the visiting puppies. The goal of the program is to make reading fun for the children and improve reading scores at the same time. The Puppy Pals program meets one time per quarter. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Post with any Serta Perfect Sleeper Set Purchase Queen set WITTE { HOME FURNI {rH A gy) ” SVE mp— PT MONEYSAVER NS [ 1 nh
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