L Vol. 114 No. 48 ® cub Scouts prepare for fire. Page 4 The Back Mountain's Newspaper Since 1889 November 30 to December 6, 2003 SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Growth at college cushions local economy By ERIN YOUNGMAN Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — Enrollment at College Misericordia is up nearly 30 percent since 2000. A strong market- ing campaign, changes on campus and community involved president are eS cited as reasons for the increase. Leaders of the Dallas Visioning pro- gram and Back Mountain Business and Professional Association say what- ever the reason, the increase is good i 0) news for the local economy. Jane Dessoye, Executive Director of the college’s Admissions and Financial Aid departments, said last week that enrollment has gone up so significant- ly that at 2,122 students, the college has reached its maximum. It doesn’t stop there, though. The number of applications is increasing every year, so much so, said Dessoye, that Misericordia’s rejection rate went up 253 percent over last year. “The number even surprised me,” she said. Misericordia, Borough gain tree grants Page 8 The growing numbers are largely due to a marketing plan put in place in 1999 that is advertising the school to prospective students mostly in the im- mediate vicinity, said Dessoye, but also to states such as New Jersey, New York and Maryland. “We've made ef- forts to expand our regions.” This year 18 percent of the student body is from out-of-state. The number of full-time students enrolled at the college has risen from 1,074 in 1999 to 1,384 this year. Over- all enrollment including part-time, graduate and full-time has grown by 456 students in the same time period, or 27.4 percent. Community business leaders say the additional hundreds of students in the area is great news for local businesses and the ongoing Dallas revitalization effort. “Students are consumers,” said Lynn Banta, President of the Back Mountain Business and Professional Association (BMBPA). “They go out to eat, they buy jewelry, they use all of the services the Back Mountain has to offer.” For the Back Mountain, such con- sumerism is welcome. Banta said the area is still reeling from the loss of See ECONOMY, pg 2 i Boe. 2 Extra, 4 Lh RT a Nate or artifice 5 Spenial orivileae,. 58g; hye Sal ids J — a2e Yer in Dallas country Wycallis Elementary School second graders dressed for the occasion of the school’s annual Hoedown, held last week. Show- ing off their western finery before the show are, from left, front row: Alex Klinges, Jennifer Cave and Kayla Wanek. In rear are Maria Lombard, A.J. Mazula, and Jacob Howell. More photos on page 3. POST PHOTO/M.B. GILLIGAN Paid personnel provide speedy ‘midday response By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN — Adding paid emergency service personnel has helped to offset the detrimental effects of busy lifestyles and increased popula- tion on fire and ambulance re- sponse in the regions largest townships. Dallas Fire and Ambulance hired two paid emergency med- Is paid ical techni- emergency cians (EMT) dud for weekday service In coverage more Back than three Mountain’s years ago. future? hey can pio. Page 2 vide immedi- ate first re- sponse from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Our goal is to get the ambu- lances and fire trucks out as quickly as possible,” said Brett Slocum, the Dallas chief. He says the department is “Our goal is to get the ambulances and fire trucks out as quickly as possible.” Brett Slocum Chief, Dallas Fire & Ambulance able to leave the station in 1.5 to 2 minutes after receiving a call. Mark Van Etten, treasurer of the Dallas department, said Kingston Township Ambulance also employs weekday respon- ders. Until recently, each depart- ment also had one paid EMT at their respective halls between 6 am. and 4 p.m. weekends. Starting November 1, the two have paired up, spending Satur- See RESPONDERS, pg 2 Two generations, 100 ) years service to Rotary By SANDY PEOPLES Post Correspondent “Service above self” has been the motto of the Rotary Club of Dallas since 1927, and over the last several decades, one Back Mountain family has made it a way of life. Spencer Martin joined Ro- tary on October 1, 1959. This year he and his family celebrate his 44 years as a Rotarian. He recently reflected on those ars and how he came to be a ember of this service organi- zation. Making our community strong. If you know someone who might make a good example, call 970-7157. Martin joined Rotary at the invitation of his neighbor and well-known Back Mountain res- ident, Dr. Lester Jordan. “Doc Jordan was Mr. Rotary,” said Martin. “He led the charge and started the foreign exchange program for students. It was the first such Rotary program in the world, and since then, it has become a major interna- tional program.” “The best part of Rotary is actually two-fold,” said Martin. “As a member of a service or- ganization, you are able to do things for the community, and with other Rotarians, you get to do them in the fellowship of good people.” Martin was president of the Rotary Club of Dallas in 1968- Tae: ri tion.” The Martins celebrate more than 100 years of service to the Rotary Club of Dallas. From left: Eric, Karen, Joan and Spencer. 1969 and has seen the club grow in its dedication to the area. “Rotary founded the fall fair, which is now known as the Luzerne County Fair,” said Martin, “and was instrumental in the creation of the Back Mountain Memorial Library and the annual antiques auc- The club has supported many other projects, such as a Christmas Shopping Spree for underprivileged children, book scholarships for college-bound students, leadership camp for area high school sophomores, roadside cleanups, Salvation Army bell ringing, and more. For Martin and his wife, Joan, Rotary played a major role in the raising of their chil- dren. “Every April we would take our five kids to the annual Rotary conference,” he said. “They really looked forward to it. And every fall we would lit- erally camp out at the fall fair grounds because the kids were also involved in helping to set things up. The library auction also became part of their way of life.” The Martins are pleased that their son, Eric, became a Rotar- ian. “Service to the community was instilled in all of our kids and all of them have found ways to give back to their com- munity,” Joan Martin said. Spencer and Joan Martin are both proud recipients of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow- ship Award, which is the high- est honor to be bestowed upon a Rotarian recognizing excep- See SERVICE, pg 3 Kingston Twp. budget clears first hurdle By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff KINGSTON TWP. - Many uncertainties remain in the 2004 budget that was passed on first reading last week, not least of which is the rate of increase in township employees’ salaries. With a deadline looming for adoption, the first reading was passed November 24 on a 3-2 vote, with Paul Sabol, Carl Goodwin and Neil Allen provid- ing the majority. Chris Yankovich and John Versari vot- ed against the plan. Unionized police personnel have a contract that gives them a 4.75 percent raise in 2004. The present budget calls for a 3.5 percent increase for non- uniformed employees such as the road crew and office staff. That discrepancy doesn’t sit will with some supervisors, or with employees. Yankovich has been adamant about the need for consistency in raises. “If youre going to give it to one, you need to give it to both,” he said Monday. Eddie O'Neill, township Manager, asked the board to consider giving all employees a 4.75 percent increase if the po- lice bargaining unit would ac- See BUDGET, pg 2 Green Road project survives By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff KINGSTON TWP. — Resi- dents of Green Road, one of the last remaining dirt roads in the township, turned out at the No- vember 24 budget meeting to plead for continuation of the project to pave the 3-mile road. “It’s just awful living on that road. Please, please pave it for us,” implored Cynthia De- lescavage. Their efforts were successful. Despite having concerns about its effect on township finances, the supervisors voted 4-1 to continue the project to pave Green Road. Chris Yankovich was the lone dissenter. “I'm not against paving Green Road,” he said, but feels the township can’t af- ford the $50,000 annual cost over 13 years the township is paying for the bond issue that is paying for the work. Several residents of Green Road asked the supervisors to See GREEN RD, pg 2 V INSIDE THE Post 14 Pages, 2 Sections Calendar. Honor rolls from Lake-Lehman Sr. High School, Bishop O’Reilly Jr. and Sr. High School and Lake-Lehman elementary schools. Pages 12-13 ne wk 5 ; 8 w ne DALLAS we New coach, new optimism for Dallas Mountaineers boys basketball squad. ¥ How To Reach Us News: 675-5211 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 Advertising: 970-7102 Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000 ——S
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