The Post NEWS Sunday, February 1, 2004 ®harmacies oi (continued from page 1) The roads have been widened, chain after chain has come in, but independently owned stores selling their mix- ture of greeting cards, choco- lates and over-the-counter so- lutions have weathered the changes. “It’s not just business,” said Fino’s customer George Jorda about why he gets prescrip- tions filled only at Fino’s. “Honest to God — it’s like fam- ily. I've never come in and they haven't said hello.” Rumors have been running rampant about a Walgreens coming to the area. When queried, all the pharmacists al- ready know about the possibili- Mark Development Compa- ny, which has applied to build one of the mega-drug stores in Clarks Summit, Lackawanna unty, has purchased the Piz- za Hut and adjoining Valen- tine’s Sales and Service proper- ties in Dallas Borough. “We depend on customer service, the chains don’t.” Gary Karwaski Medicine Shoppe Dallas Borough Manager Joe Moskovitz said a Pittsburgh firm representing Walgreens stopped by last fall to do an en- vironmental survey of the property. Walgreens is the largest drug store chain in the country. In 2003, the company built 430 new stores. There are 29 in Pennsylvania; most have drive- thru windows and are open 24 hours. Owners of Back Mountain pharmacies say they are un- daunted by the possibility. @ have already met the challenge of three of the four largest pharmacy chains — Rite Aid, Eckerd and CVS — and think they've figured out the key to doing it again. “We depend on customer service, the chains don’t,” said Gary Karwaski, owner of the Medicine Shoppe located across the street from where the Walgreens may be built. “We do our business a little bit differently here — we cater "to our patients.” From opening the store in the middle of the night for a sick customer, to delivering a rescription free-of-charge to @ who is homebound, he owners say they offer serv- ices the chains do not. “Most chains are like a four letter word, C-O-L-D,” said Jor- da as he got up, went behind the counter and chatted with pharmacist Michael Fino. “I would absolutely not,” re- sponded one of Fino’s cus- tomer when asked whether she would patronize a Walgreens should it come to the area. “Fino’s is wonderful. When you come here, you feel like family.” Back Mountain customers ~ are not unique in their love for the small corner drug store. A recent survey published in the October 23 issue of Con- sumer Reports magazine showed more than 85 percent of the 32,000 sampled were “very happy” or “completely happy” with their experience at independent pharmacies, compared to 58 percent for chain drug store customers. & “You could put a chain right cross the street and we'd still have our customers — I have no concerns,” said Kristen Billek, pharmacist at Trucksville Pharmacy. Lehman Twp selling 911 signs The Lehman Twp. Fire and Ambulance Co. is selling 911 address signs. Each sign will be made at the fire hall, 25 - Firehouse Rd., for every ad- dress in the membership area at a cost of $12 each. The reflective sign can be mounted to the mail post or house. This will assist emer- gency personnel in locating a residents. © Members will available from . 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednes- - day and Thursday evenings, or call 675-5654. a\T[e]\ ) want to start your own ~~ business for only $10.00 (07.1 I BAY \ 477-2951 sr i¥ Masters and commanders Cub Scout Pack 281, Dallas, held its annual Raingutter Regatta January 23 at the Dallas Middle School. Pack members each customized their own sloops, made from a uniform kit, then provided the wind power to send them down a gutter in side-by-side races. In photos, clockwise from top: Joe Kapolka, 10, approached the finish; Brian O’ Donnell, 8, checked out the entries as they were lined up for inspection; Nancy McDonald gave the once-over to the boat entered by Christopher Tamanini, 10. POST PHOTOS/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Ear} aL FAT ION i SR } 3 ir Tre ie Gate 3 ol WAU TH : + #4 Hn hie CE A 19 Sg 85 Raingutter Regatta Winners Fastest in Pack 1st — Adam Goeringer 2nd — Ryan Hogan 3rd — Dante DeAngelo 4th — Steven Kirk 5th — Thomas Lynch 6th - Carl Baxter Lions seek members The Dallas Lions are look- ing for new members. Anyone interested in joining the club should contact any club mem- ber or they can contact Frank Rollman at 675-4485. Tell our advertisers you saw them in The Post. They'll appreciate it, and so will we. Specializing In Custom Wood Shutters & Blinds « JAGS Custom Shutters Call 779-3079 Cub Scout Pack 281 Best of Show 1st — Andre Santora 2nd — David Madl 3rd — Jarad Hoats Best in Wolf Dens 1st — Aaron Napkora 2nd — Ryan Frania 3rd — Josh Evans Best in Bear Dens 1st — Cory Parsons 2nd — Jeremy Peters 3rd - John Murray The Personal Touch “We Care About the People We Care For.” UNITED METHODIST Homes Best in Webelos 4 1st - Matthew Blom 2nd - Alex Zubko 3rd — Andrew Arnoldi Best in Webelos 5 1st — Christopher Dillon 2nd - Mark Luksa 3rd - Travis Culver Judges were members of the Harveys Lake Yacht Club. You'll find it here! Our residents enjoy a secure lifestlye with private suites, worship services and an active social schedule. A professional nurse is available 24 hours a day! With our caring staff, we offer the Personal Touch! Tunkhannock Campus 50 West Tioga Street Tunkhannock, PA 18657 570-836-2983 www.umhwc.org | Area libraries work to weather funding storm By CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Post Correspondent Area libraries are gamely try- ing to maintain services at cur- rent levels, despite anticipated cutbacks in state aid. “We are thankful for the con- tinued community support for all our fund raising efforts and we are always looking for more creative ones,” said Martha Butler, head librarian. The li- brary received $95,100 from the state last year, to fill out a $340,000 budget. State aid is expected to be cut by 35 per- cent this year. Community support plays a big part in the library’s opera- tions as well, said Butler. “We have a wonderful volunteer program, with weekly volun- teers in the library and at the bookstore. Our ‘Friends of the Library’ group has come up with selling reading glasses, a Haunted House, and a Giving Tree this year.” The library does not antici- pate any cutbacks in hours or services. “Cut back our hours? Are you kidding? We're trying to get more volunteers and add extra hours,” said Mary Hopfer, volunteer librarian at the Schenck Memorial Library in Noxen. The library receives only $1,000 each year from the state, books are donated, and 30 percent of the proceeds from a used clothes closet helps buy copier toner, supplies, heat and electricity. The library is staffed by vol- unteers three half-days a week and Saturdays. They are hoping for increased interest and par- ticipation in the library from the restoration of the nearby Noxen train depot. “We have a great time and don’t forget there’s ‘Tea at Three’ each day we're open,” said Hopfer. Susan Turrell, head librarian at the Tunkhannock Public Li- brary, winces when budget cuts are mentioned. “We are desper- ately trying not to cut hours or services. Personnel cuts would “Cut back our hours? Are you kidding? We're try- ing to get more vol- unteers and add extra hours.” Mary Hopfer Volunteer librarian Schenck Memorial Library be very hurtful,” she said. The relatively new 12,500 square foot building with plen- ty of parking, 25 new comput- ers, and a busy community room has become a cultural center for Tunkhannock. Tunkhannock is proud of the new library, and circulation is up 30 percent over last year. “We petitioned and petitioned — wrote letters to the legisla- ture — this library is so very important to a rural communi- ty,” Turrell explained. The Tunkhannock Public Library is the only state-funded library in Wyoming County. “We're always looking for something new in fund raising. We do a Christmas show, a gar- den show, a golf tournament, and now a wine tasting. We're considering a square dance this year,” said Turrell. One third of the library’s an- nual $209,084 budget — about $78,000 — comes from state funding. “That amount we're told could be cut by 36 per- cent,” Turrell said. While desperately “holding the line” and searching for new fund raising activities, librari- ans suggest the State of Penn- sylvania may have to consider waiving funding standards. The amount spent on books, contin- uing state-mandated education for staff members and mini- mum number of library hours staffed, are all on the table for possible exception. The Luzerne County Library System has filed a request with the state to allow for these ex- ceptions, and the Pennsylvania Public, Library Association is considering doing the same. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Stefani Manzoni of Dallas checked out books Wednesday with Back Mountain Memorial Library staff member Brian Fulton. AT THE MOVIES Showtimes effective Friday 1/30/04 Jack Diane “E" 9 Somethings ....... Gotta Give Best Actress Diane Keaton One of the best adult romantic Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton — what comedies of the year — or the last few years, for that matter. an inspired pairing! — Steve Rhodes — Paul Clinton, CNN Daily 7:00 + Fri/Sat 9:30 Sat/Sun/Wed 1:00 « Sat/Sun 3:30 HELEN MIRREN JULIE WALTERS Daily 7:15 FriSat 9:15 Sat/Sun/Wed 2:00 ®: Sat/Sun 4:00 FIRIAL WEE Miracle (5S Mystic River Girl with a Pearl Earring THEATER BI%Ts14at=1alal=11:4 “MORE THAN THE MOVIES” 836-1022 www.dietrichtheater.com CALENDAR GIRTS| WYOMING COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER FOR INFORMATION CALL 996-1500 FEBRUARY CLASSES CLASSES FOR KIDS MIXED MEDIA (Age 5-12) Feb. 9, 16, 23, Mar. 1 or Feb. 13, 20, 27, Mar. 5 + 4-5:30 pm « $25 ART CLASS FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS (Age 45) Feb 9, 16, 23, Mar. 1 * noon-12:45 pm + $20 QUILTING FOR KIDS (Age 6+) Wednesdays through Apr. 14 + 3:30-5 pm + $10 per project CREATIVE WRITING FOR EIGHTH GRADERS Thursdays through Feb. 12 + 4-5 pm « $20 CLASSES FOR ADULTS DRAWING FOR ADULTS (Age 13+) Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 * 10-11:30 am * $40 DRAWING AND PAINTING FOR ADULTS (Age 13+) Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 + 6:30-8 pm * $40 DECORATIVE PAINTING FOR ADULTS (Age 13+) Wednesdays through Mar. 24 + noon-3 pm « $15 per class WATERCOLOR FOR BEGINNERS (Age 13+) Feb. 10, 17, 24 + 10 am-noon * $15 per class YOGA FOR YOU (Age 9 to adult) Wednesdays Feb. 18 to Mar. 24+ 10-11 am + $10 per class or $50 for all six POTTERY AND SCULPTURE (Age 13+) Feb. 4, 11,18, 25+ 8:30-10 am or Feb. 9, 16, 23, Mar. 1 + 6:30-8 pm + $40 GENEALOGY: FINDING YOUR HISTORY Introduction: Jan. 30 + Intermediate: Feb. 27 + 6-8 pm * $10 THEATER BEPTa1 4at=-1alal=1~1¢ “MORE THAN THE MOVIES” 836-1022 www.dietrichtheater.com se ————————————— a ——— a ———— Ca—
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers