4 | The Post EDITORIAL - Sunday, February 8, 2004 OUR OPINION Depot is a monument to a nearly forgotten past Anyone who attended the open house for the Noxen Train ‘Depot restoration project was able to take a peek into the his- tory of Noxen and other once-thriving villages. It seems an oxymoron now to put “Stull” and “boomtown” in the same sentence, but 100 years ago Stull, Noxen, Mountain Springs and other towns were at the center of some of that era’s biggest industries — ice, timber and leather tanning. Nearby Harveys Lake was hopping then as well, with tourists arriving by train, then boarding a steam-powered excursion boat for a ride to resort hotels like the Oneonta. Not only is the economic vitality of that time only a memo- ry, so is the transportation network that fostered it. Roads and highways filled with cars and trucks crisscross our valleys and hillsides now, in place of winding tracks and clattering locomo- tives. Today’s arrangement surely satisfies our need for instant gratification — no need to wait for a scheduled train, just jump in the car and go — but it leaves a lot to be desired in other ways. Train travel was a shared experience, not a solitary one, and required that people tolerate one another for at least a few hours. It also was less wasteful of resources in the movement of both passengers and freight than is the fleet of cars and trucks needed to transport an equivalent load. The tradeoff for that savings was the inconvenience of having to arrange life around scheduled service, which seems like a huge imposition to people accustomed to heading “up the mall” on a whim. It will be interesting to see if future generations value the in- stitutions of our time as highly as some of us do those from the age of rail. Will there someday be a drive to restore a dilap- idated service station or convenience store? Only time will tell. For now, we should be grateful for the effort, money and interest being invested in the Noxen depot, which will stand as a reminder of the transitory nature of “progress.” Not only will the structure itself be restored, it will house displays about that proud past, assuring that the generations who came be- fore and their accomplishments are not forgotten. If you'd like to know more, or get involved in this worth- while project, call the North Branch Land Trust at 696-5545, or check out their web site at www.nblt.org. ‘School news’1s more than controversy Almost certainly more than it would choose to be, the Dal- las School District has been in the news lately. The latest headline grabber was the disclosure that a teacher had been in- volved with a student in an intimate relationship. That inci- dent took a new turn last week when the teacher resigned, but it will surely be back in the spotlight if he is subsequently charged with wrongdoing. A few weeks earlier interest focused on Ted Jackson, the in- tense high school football coach who was said to have scuffled with a student, and the school board’s disinclination to re- spond. Before that, a murky process that left a board seat open was the subject of speculation that the apparent people’s choice might be passed over in favor of an insider. That didn’t happen, and the new board seems off to a positive start, even if it has been interrupted by the teacher/student allegation. Those are the stories most people would probably mention if asked what they've heard lately about Dallas. That’s in part because the stories have received wide reporting by both newspapers and broadcast outlets. And let’s face it, they're un- usual, controversial topics that get people’s attention. There have been other articles that recounted more com- mon aspects of life in the schools, such as an after-school re- medial math program and the recognition of two teachers for their outstanding work. This is not to mention the routine publication of honor students, coverage of plays and dozens of other events and activities that take place day after day. The fact that occasional bad news catches our imagination is a testament to the consistent positive message coming from Dallas, and Lake-Lehman as well. If good news was exception- al, it might get more notice, but as long as it’s the norm, we take for granted that our schools are doing the job we expect. In that climate, apparent breakdowns leap out as interesting, at least to people who aren’t directly involved. A public school district is a large, complex enterprise with dozens of employees and thousands of students. In that con- text, it is inevitable that some complications will crop up. What we should expect from administrators is not an absence of controversy but consistent attempts to maintain high stan- dards in the face of unanticipated adversity. And one more word of advice to superintendents, principals and board members: Be open about problems and your re- sponses to them, so rumors don’t displace facts and common sense. We're all in this together. Letters are welcome Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: ¢ Letters should not exceed 500 words. e 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. e 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 objectionable wording. Send letters to: The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711, or by e-mail to: thepost@leader.net. Nuzzling in the cold, Machell Avenue. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. New books at Back Mountain Memorial Library The Back Mountain Memori- al Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas, announces the addition of the following books to their collection: FICTION “The Cat Who Talked Turkey” by Lilian Jackson Braun. “Mr. Paradise” by Elmore Leonard. “The Second Chair” by John Lescroart. “Divided in Death” by J.D. Robb. Wyoming County awarded grant to help meet building code standards The Department of Commu- nity and Economic Develop- ment recently approved a grant for the Southeast Wyoming County Council of Govern- ments that will help communi- ties: meet new construction standards, said Rep. George Hasay (R-117). “Back in 2002 we enacted “Sunny Chandler’s Return” by Sandra Brown. “Dating Dead Men” by Harley Jane Kozak. “Three Marys” by Paul Park. NONFICTION “The Gospel of Mary of Mag- dala” by Karen L. King. “The Irish Way” by Robert Emmett Ginna. LARGE PRINT NONFIC- TION legislation to bring all munici- pal building codes in the Com- monwealth into conformity with federal standards known as the BOCA Code,” Hasay said. “However, the legislature realized that such requirements could place additional financial burdens on many of our com- munities. Therefore, we ex- “I'm Not Slowing Down” by Ann Richards. BIOGRAPHY “Over the Edge of the World” by Laurence Bergreen. YOUNG ADULT “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini. “Positively 4th Street: the lives and times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Baez Farina and Richard Farina” by David panded .the Shared. Municipal Services Grant Program to cov- er these requirements.” The $8,000 Shared Munici- pal Services grant will be used toward establishing building in- spection programs in Eaton, Monroe and Northmoreland townships. “Specifically, the funds will Hajdu. “Indigo” by Alice Hoffman. “The Ear, the Eye and the Arm” by Nancy Farmer. “Nightmare” by Joan Lowery Nixon. AUDIOTAPES “Odd Thomas” by Dean Koontz. SPECIAL DONATIONS “Gifts and Giving: stampin’ up” presented by Cheryl A. Sut- help cover the costs of purchas- ing computers, printers" and other office equipment and training and ‘testing the build- ing inspectors,” Hasay said. The program is part of the legislature’s and the depart- ment’s efforts to stimulate eco- nomic development within the state. ) Post drop box update The building that housed The Post until October has been sold, and the drop off box there has been closed. A box at the Uni-Mart in Dallas, across from the Dallas Shopping Center, remains open. News items, photos and other correspondence can be deposited there at any time. Please do not place cash or checks in the box. The deadline for submissions is Tuesdays at 5 p.m. The POST TIMES*LEADER Community Newspaper Group 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 « 570-675-5211 thepost@leader.net Patrick McHugh PUBLISHER Ronald Bartizek EDITOR Justin Wisnosk ADVERTISIN Erin Youngman REPORTER Greg Stauffer AD PRODUCTION MANAGER 70 Years Ago February 9, 1934 RULING FORCES KINGSTON TWP. TO POSTPONE BUILDING A ruling by the Pennsylvania State De- partment of Justice brought an abrupt end to the plans of Kingston Township School Board to con- struct a new $100,000 building. "The proposed Luzerne by-pass, which would afford a quicker route from Kingston to Dallas by avoiding heavy traf- fic in Luzerne, will be discussed at the summer home of Senator A. J. Sordoni, Harveys Lake. ONLY YESTERDAY Andrew Diamond, aged 23 of Tunkhan- nock, driver of the truck that crashed through the ice at Harveys Lake and sank 80 feet, grasped a loose floor board which floated up and clung to it and the edge of solid ice until he was rescued. 60 Years Ago February 4, 1944 FIGHTER PLANES FLY OVER DALLAS Several groups of fighter planes on night flying operations flew over Dallas Tuesday, between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Henry Lee of Machell Avenue and son of Captain Larry Lee was one of seven mem- bers of Wyoming Seminary’s senior class to to be elected to Cum Laude membership at the school this week. The sudden death of Mrs. Jennie Austin Brickel, outstanding resident of Dallas, was a shock to many as she was on the road to recovery when struck with a heart attack. 50 Years Ago February 5, 1954 NEW ELECTRIC SIGN AT HALLS DRUG STORE An attractive 12-foot electric spectacular sign was erected last week for Hall’s Phar- macy in Shavertown by Plastic Arts Sign Company of which Elmer Nagle, Shaver Ave. is owner. William Burnaford, popular Back Moun- tain soloist, takes the lead in Little The- ater’s forthcoming production of Carrousel. Malcolm Nelson was elected president of Harveys Lake Rod and Gun Club Monday night at Herman Kern’s Restaurant. 40 Years Ago February 6, 1964 MARTZ DEATH SHOCKS COMMUNI- TY Frank Martz Jr., of Wilkes-Barre and East Dallas, met a tragic death Monday after- noon when the helicopter he was piloting struck high tension wires at Topton, Pa. Sheldon Evans, proprietor of Evans Drug Store, Memorial Highway, was elected president of the Rural Building and Loan Association recently, and J. F. Besecker, vice president. Dallas Borough was unable to meet part of its payroll last week, but will be operat- ing all right next week. 30 Years Ago February 7, 1974 SWEET VALLEY MAN KILLED IN CRASH Charles Long, 55, a community leader of long standing in the Back Mountain, was killed in an auto accident in his home com- munity. Back Mountain Memorial Library re- ports it had a record breaking circulation in 1973; 40,311 adult books 1 were circulated and 66,566 juvenile. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Evans, 111 Church Street, Dallas, celebrated their sil- ver wedding anniversary February 5. 20 Years Ago February 8, 1984 DALLAS MAN HONORED FOR 55 YEARS OF SERVICE Bruce Davies Jr., Dallas, was honored by Boy Scout Troop 281 for 55 years of scout- ing service. Twenty-two unionized employees of the Banks Equipment Co. in Jackson Township went on strike February 8 in a contract dis- pute. Seven-year-old Alton Nulton of Harveys Lake was the grand prize winner of an 800 Atari computer given away from Common. wealth Telephone Company. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week gy A: Only in The Post
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers