6 The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, October 12, 2003 OUR OPINION Volunteers make the community stronger Without them, fires wouldn’t be extinguished, children wouldn’t have scout packs to join, churches would be little more than stately buildings. They are volunteers, and all of them are critical components in the engine that drives a com- munity forward. Unfortunately, they are also becoming harder to find. We are hoping to spark more interest with an occasional se- ries on volunteers in the Back Mountain, which started last week with Margie Banks, a prime example of the species. With five children to raise and a tenacious desire to earn a college degree, she certainly could be excused from serving outside in- terests. Instead, she is a poster child for the old saw, “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” Of course, she is far from the only person who reaches be- yond everyday chores and family concerns to help others. No one should be intimidated by super-volunteers’ voracious ap- petite for service. There is enough important work to do in lo- cal schools, churches and institutions — even in government — that every bit of help is necessary and appreciated. Each of us has commitments that must come before volun- teer service, and it would be wrong to suggest those be put be- hind outside interests. But most us can streamline our busy schedules enough to help out with a worthwhile cause or com- munity organization, where there is definitely strength in num- bers. So, the next time someone asks you to volunteer at a food booth, or help out with a community event, give it a try. You might find you have more time than you realized. EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK Adults — better known as fogies — who only see the most outlandish and risque snippets from MTV might not associate the network with character-building activities. But maybe there was a moral when Angie Nice took the stage last week- end after being selected to star in an episode of the program, “Made.” The essence of the show is to make someone’s wish come true, usually a desire to do something they haven’t had the nerve or skill for. Angie didn’t necessarily want to be a star. But she did want to get over a severe case of stage fright — sometimes bad enough to make her run off the stage at auditions. Her friend Caroline Motyka doesn’t share i Lal Angie's fear. “I'm used to it,” said the Lake- RON Lehman junior, an old hand at performing in BARTIZEK choral groups, often directed by her mom, Suzanne. “Angie seems like a crazy, wild girl,” Caroline said. But her friend knew better, judging by how nervous she got just talk- ing in front of the class. When the Lake-Lehman theater group cast a net for parts in “Pippin” last year, Angie was held back. “I want to do it,” she told Caroline, “I want to get over my fear.” But then she chick- ened out. But when the talent scouts from MTV showed up at Lake- Lehman last spring, she screwed up her courage enough to make it through the audition and was selected for the show. Remarkably, director Jon Pineno found a play that featured a girl who burst into laughter at the most inopportune mo- ments on stage. That’s what Angie herself used to do, said Amy Kohn, the freelance director and producer who was in charge of the project for MTV. Only with Angie, the laughter would quickly turn to tears as she struggled with her distress. Aside from conquering her emotions, Amy thought Angie needed to learn just what she could accomplish if she put in the work required. Judging by Angie’s polished performance last weekend, she succeeded on both counts. Mark Alan Gordon served as Angie’s acting teacher. A 20- year veteran who usually works with stage actors, he said he also has “done a bunch of Law & Orders.” He took a break from his present assignment, directing Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in Cleveland, to take a front-row seat for Angie’s coming out party, after coaching her over the last three months. “It’s been really fascinating to teach one student,” Gordon said. Far different from the classes he’s usually instructing at New York University. His career started with a high school play, “Oliver,” when he was a sophomore. It was just a chorus role, but “I knew from day one I'd probably be doing this for the rest of my life.” Maybe it won’t be the same for Angie. But at the least, she and the entire Lake-Lehman community had a great time last weekend. And compared to the other press the school has been getting, it was a welcome relief. So, is there a moral here? If there is, it may be that with a little gumption and enough support, we can do anything. And even if we're not wildly successful, we're still better off for try- ing. Letters invited Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, sub- ject to guidelines regarding relevance and suitability. Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. Send letters to: The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711. They may also be sent by e-mail to: dallas post@leader.net Deadline for each Sunday's issue is Wednesday at noon. | Beware of ghosts and gob- lins! The library will be the site of a Haunted House this Hal- lowe’en! The hours are Friday and Satur- day, Octo- ber 24 and 25,610 11 p.m.; and Sunday, Oc- tober 26, from 5 to 9 p.m. A dona- tion of $5 per person is request- ed; proceeds will benefit the li- brary. This is a fun-filled event for the whole family (everyone is encouraged to come in cos- tume), with special activities for the little ones. Call the li- brary for the spooky details. 000 If you are a patron of the li- brary and attend school in grades 4 through 12, you are in- vited to enter a very special na- tional reading and writing com- petition. First of all, do you like to read? Have you ever read a book that has inspired you and motivated you to take action to help yourself or others? Would you enjoy writing to the author and telling him or her how the CAROL KING book has made a difference in your life? If your answers are “yes”, stop by the library and learn about the “Letters About Liter- ature” program sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Mrs. Catherine Gourley, a resident of Dallas, is the National Direc- tor of the LAL Reading Pro- gram. She has supplied the li- brary with a poster and copies of the contest entry form. The form may also be downloaded on the computer at www.loc.gov/letters. The web- site gives hints and sample let- ters from past winners to help you. : The contest has three compe- tition levels: level 1 for grades 4 to 6, level 2 for grades 7 and 8, and level 3 for grades 9 through 12. Finalists will read their en- tries during the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, in the fall of 2004, and tour his- toric sites during their stay there. Two national winners will each receive a $500 Target Gift Card. The submission deadline for all levels is Decem- ber 6, 2003. The Friends of the Library Get those knives and candles ready. Pumpkins at Darling's Greenhouse, Dallas. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LIBRARY NEWS Library has a scary treat for visitors this year are going to hold their annual Citrus Fruit Sale again this year. Order forms will be avail- able soon. Fresh pineapple has been added to the list of choic- es, which includes gift boxes and cheesecake. Keep the sale in mind as you think about those to whom youd like to give a thoughtful and delicious gift during the upcoming holi- day season. Another gift idea is the En- tertainment Book, still avail- able, and still only $25. The li- brary has copies at the desk. [ XN J Fred Krohle, the manager of the Slightly Read Bookstore, is running a special on paperback books, priced at $1 a bag in- stead of the usual $1.50. Some of you may not realize that the library has such an outlet. ‘It has its own handicapped-acces- sible entrance at the rear of the library building, on the lower level. There is abundant park- ing. Get acquainted! The hours are Monday, 1-7 p.m.; Wednes- days, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Satur- days, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The shifts are all staffed 'by volunteers. You can be one of them by call- ing the library at 675-1182. The members of the Bool Discussion Groups planning committee this year are Shirley Forney, Jane Gritman, Claudia Malleson, and Andrea Payne. They met during the summer to select books for the year. At the group’s first meeting of the new season, Claudia led the discussion of “East of Eden,” by | John Steinbeck. I was not in tendance, but my reporte | (thank you, Jean!) said that everyone liked the book and that Claudia’s thought-provok- ing questions resulted in a very lively, in-depth discussion. The genus of the book was the bibli- cal story of Cain and Abel, and the central theme is the contest between ‘good and evil. The sto ry is indeed “preachy,” as the introduction to the book prom ises, but it is a fascinating tale which holds one’s attention from beginning to end. The group recommends the bod highly, for first-time reading ¢r re-reading. [XK XK J U The new display in the case at the library is — appropriats- ly for the season — a collection of horror figures and other ghoulish items, loaned by Bb and Holly Swartz. tue POST TIMES®LEADER C ) unity Newspaper Group 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-B E PA 18711 » 570-675-5211 dallaspost@leader.net Ronald Bartizek Patrick McHugh EDITOR PUBLISHER Justin Wisnos ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Greg Stauffer AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Erin Youngman REPORTER 70 Years Ago October 13, 1933 MOVEMENT AGAINST RECOGNITION OF US.S.R. STARTED IN TRUCKSVILLE Seeking primarily to bar any action toward recognition of the Soviet Union by Congress, the American Non-Recognition of Russia Movement was start- ed this week by a group of local persons, headed by Mrs. Harry Harding of Trucksville. To Wal dron Fred- erick of Conynham Borough, belongs the honor of be- coming the first member in 1933 of the Luzerne County 400 Bushel Potato Club with a yield of 444 bushel per acre. This is the sec- ond time Mr. Frederick has achieved this honor for in 1928, his yield was 437 bushels per acre, Items that could be pur- chased at JE. Besecker Co. were Goodyear Pathfinder tires for $5.70 each. At the American Store Company, fancy selected eggs were 23 cents a dozen and donuts were 10 cents for half a dozen. ONLY YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago October 15, 1943 AIRCRAFT OBSERVATION POST IS CLOSED Paul Shaver, Chief Observer of the Dallas Observation Post, received a telegram last Mon- day from Colonel L.C. Cragie, notifying him that until further notice the Dallas Observation Post would discontinue 24-hour continuous duty. The post was organized a few weeks after Pearl Harbor and has been manned 24 hours a day since then. Edward Milbrodt, son of Chris Milbrodt of Outlet, re- cently was brought before Jus- tice of the Peace Allen Major, of Lehman, by Constable Joseph Ide, on a warrant sworn out by William Stoeckert, of Lehman, and fined $10 and costs for de- liberately frightening a team of horses owned by Williams. Ten horsemen, guests of John H. Blackman of Idetown, completed their fifth annual 115-mile autumn ride on Sun- day over mountain trails through the old lumbering country bounded by North and South mountains. 50 Years Ago October 9, 1953 FIVE TOWNSHIPS PLANTO DISCUSS SCHOOL MERGER Directors of the Dallas- Franklin joint board instructed Supervising Principal Raymond Kuhnert, Tuesday night,to in- vite Lake-Noxen and Monroe Township school boards to a special meeting Friday, October 16, to discuss consolidation of the separate districts. An unusual feature of the Sixth Annual Community Con- cert will be the participation of the youthful Eck Trio, children of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Eck Sr., of Shavertown. Lightening doesn’t often strike twice in the same spot, but that isn’t true with rob- beries. Sunday night a thief Ea broke into the Trucksville Mill Poultry Shop for the tenth time. The robber is suspected to be a young boy because he left a good trail of candy wrap- pers at the Mill 40 Years Ago October 10, 1963 BOARD TO CONTACT WATER COMPANY OVER LOW QUALITY More problems with unfit drinking water in Trucksville, brought a decision by Dallas School Board Tuesday evening to have solicitor Jonathan Valentine | contact Rulison Evans, Trucksville Water Com- pany, concerning the matter. Dr. Lester B. Jordan took over the chairmanship of the “Voters for Farrar” committee last night, when an enthusiastic rally of supporters of Welton Farrar for School Director was was held at the YMCA. An evening of hilarious en- tertainment is planned for Sat- urday evening, October 19, at Hanson’s Park when the Har- veys Lake Woman’s Club will sponsor a Sadie Hawkins Dance, beginning at 9 p.m. 30 Years Ago October 11, 1973 DALLAS TWP. HIRES NEW FULLTIME PATROLMAN Russell Banta is now a full- time officer on the Dallas Township Police Force. After serving a probationary period of six months, he was accepted by the board of supervisors at their regular Oct. 2 meeting. He will receive full. pay and benefits. Andrew EF. Gallagher and |a spokesman from the Pennsylw- nia Bureau of Environmental Control have told the Post that families are leaving the Gil- lagher Mobile Home Trailer Park, Kunkle, and that it will ke closed. At the recent meeting of S. Therese’s Altar and Rosary Se¢- ciety, Shavertown, an interes! ing talk on education was given by William Dick, Instructor of Education at College Misericor dia and Consultant to the Dal las School District. 20 Years Ago October 12, 1983 DALLAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MAY BECOME NEW LIBRARY The Dallas School Board, which was meeting at press time Monday night, was ex- pected to approve the sale of the former borough school to the Back Mountain Memorial Library. The elementary school, located on the corner of Huntsville Road and Franklin Street, was recently appraised at $26,000. Dr. Edmund Napieralski was appointed to the Jackson Town- ship Municipal Authority on October 3 by the township su- pervisors. Napieralski’s appoint- ment fills the last vacancy on the seven-man board. The 37th Annual Back Moun- tain Memorial Library Auction, held in July, netted a profit of $40,575.64. The final figures were released by 1983 Auction Chairman Joanne Freeman who stated that the amount was “nearly 1,000 more than was made last year.”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers