4 The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, September 5, 2004 OUR OPINION Organizations help open our eyes to the world n this momentous election year, and at a time when Joven around the globe have a great effect on prosperity and security in the United States, it is critically impor- tant that Americans develop a greater understanding of the wider world and its diversity in people, language, government and economics. Three institutions in the Back Mountain are working to help us do that. In the Dallas School District, Candyce Fyke has spearheaded the creation of the Elementary Foreign Language Academy, which this year will bring in native speakers of 11 languages for sessions with students of all ages, and with adults. The teach- ers transmit more than elocution and grammar — they promote awareness of the cultures in which the languages are spoken. In the process, they chip away at barriers of ignorance and apprehension that have grown up around us in part because of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s geographic and cul- tural isolation. It’s hard to gain an awareness of and comfort with people who look or speak differ- ently when you hardly ever come in contact with them. Expanding our horizons Diversity for Economic Growth and Development in the Back Mountain Back Mountain Business and Professional Associa- tion Thursday, Sept. 9, 12 noon College Misericordia Li- brary, McGowan Room, 2nd Floor Speaker: Dr. Linda Trompetter, Ex. Director of the Diversity Institute at College Misericordia The value of diversity to busi- Call reservation to 675- ness is the topic of the September 9380 by Tuesday, Sept. 7. meeting of the Back Mountain There is an $8 charge for lunch Business and Professional Associ- ation. There, Linda Trompetter, executive director of the Diversity Institute at College Misericordia, will talk about how reaching out to all the members of society can enhance the performance of busi- nesses and institutions. And later this month, College Misericordia will host an Interde- pendence Day, to focus on the re- alities of an interdependent world and the civic responsibilities that come with it. This region is rightly hailed as a wonderful place to raise a family in comfort and security. It is a cra- dle of the “family values” so often touted by politicians, and most people who grow up here gain a sense of their heritage and an- cestry that eludes those who live in places where the pace of change is quicker and more insistent. But there is a flip side to that consistency, in that many of us feel no need to become ac- quainted with people and ideas that seem “foreign” and threat- ening. That reliance on the familiar has a cost. As anyone who spends time in larger cities knows, diversity brings vitality and stimulation in both social and economic terms. Besides that, it is simple haman decency to accept and express interest in our neighbors — whether next door or across the sea — as we share communities and a world that are becoming more close- ly linked by the day. . We encourage citizens of the Back Mountain to embrace these opportunities to learn more about people and cultures that appear so different at first glance, but with whom we real- ly have a lot in common. Each of our lives will be richer for the effort. Interdependence Day Monday, Sept. 13, begin- ning at 9:30 a.m. with a lecture and celebration in the Kennedy Lounge of the Banks Student Center on the College Misericor- dia campus. Free. Elementary Foreign Language Academy Beginning Sept. 20 in Dal- fas schools. Classes in 11 languages for children and adults, twice weekly for eight weeks. Call 639-1083 or 674-7208 for more information MOMENTS The History Channel IN TIME ® On Sept. 10, 1897, even without Breathalyzers and line tests, George Smith’s swerving was enough to alarm British police and make him the first person ever arrested for drunken driving. ® On Sept. 11, 1930, Katherine Anne Porter’s first collection of short stories, “Flowering Judas,” is published. During her lifetime, she published only 25 stories and one novel, “Ship of Fools,” which took her more than two decades to complete. ® On Sept. 9, 1942, a floatplane launched from a Japanese sub- marine drops incendiary bombs on an Oregon state forest — the first and only attack on the U.S. mainland during World War II. * On Sept. 12, 1953, six months after the death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev succeeds him with his election as first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Khrushchev would rule until 1964, when Leonid Brezhnev, his protege and deputy, organized a successful coup against him. e On Sept. 8, 1966, “Star Trek” premieres as the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise takes off on their mission to “boldly go where no man has gone before.” Although “Star Trek” ran for only three years and never placed higher than No. 52 in the ratings, Gene Roddenberry’s series became a cult classic and spawned four TV series and nine movies. ® On Sept. 6, 1972, during the Summer Olympics in Munich, an attempt by West German police to rescue nine Israeli Olympic team members held hostage by Palestinian terrorists ends when all nine Israeli hostages are killed, along with five terrorists and one German policeman, in an extended firefight. (¢) 2004 King Features Synd., Inc. 3 If only Vincent was around to paint them. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. EF. Yaw Back Mountain Food Pantry needs donations Many months have gone by since the postal workers and Boy Scouts had food drives to collect nonperishable food items to restock the shelves at the Back Mountain Foo Pantry. ’ A recent inventory revealed that the following items are in short supply: juice, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, canned meats, cereal, canned beets and carrots, spaghetti sauce, sugar, flour, canned white and sweet potatoes and cake mixes. Individuals, churches and civic or service organizations are encouraged to call the vol- unteers at the food pantry at 696-2917 to arrange a mutually convenient time to deliver any donations they are able to col- lect, or food may be dropped off on Tuesday or Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon. i The food pantry is located in the Dickson Educational Facili- ty at the Trucksville United Methodist Church. : : ¢ { 70 Years Ago Sept. 7, 1934 DALLAS TOWNSHIP ADDS NEW TEACHER Five hundred children regis- tered for the first day of school at Dallas Township on Tues- day, establishing a new record for the number of students in that district. Because of the un- usual number of students ONLY YESTERDAY Tie POST TIMESeLEADER Community Newspaper Group 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 * 570-675-5211 thepost@leader.net Patrick McHugh Ronald Bartizek PUBLISHER EDITOR Justin Wisnosk ADVERTISIN Greg Stauffer AD PRODUCTION MANAGER x ¥ in the fourth grade, school directors, at a meeting on Tuesday night, elected Miss Mary Leona Smith of Kunkle as a teacher. All directors attended the meeting of the board. Frost was frequent in this section during the last week but farmers report that no ma- terial damage to crops result- ed. In some sections, tempera- tures were below normal and records for August were bro- ken. Warmer weather has pre- vailed during the past few days. First National Bank of Dallas this week received from the Federal Deposit Insurance Cor- poration at Washington the of- ficial signs which will hang at all receiving windows as visible evidence that the depositors of this institution are insured. The First National is one of more than 14,000 licensed banks in the country which are receiving these signs. 60 Years Ago Sept. 8, 1944 HUNDREDS ATTEND TREE DEDICATION Attracting a crowd of be- tween 700 and 800 persons in- cluding parents of service men, educators, and representatives of other communities where similar memorials are being planned, Lehman Township dedicated its Memorial Trees Monday with impressive serv- ices on the high school grounds. The Rotary Club of Dallas on Sept. 14 will welcome Charles V. Adams, Governor of the 177th District of Rotary Inter- national, which includes 62 Ro- tary Clubs in Central and Northern Pennsylvania. Adams will visit the Rotary Club and advise and assist President Paul Warriner, Secretary Harold Payne and other offi- cers on matters pertaining to club administration and Rotary service activities. Mrs. Harvey Bottoms of Sly Street, Luzerne, formerly of Idetown and Dallas, received word that her husband, Harvey Bottoms, S. 2/C, has arrived safely on a South Pacific Is- land. Before entering the serv- ice, Mr. Bottoms was employed at Shaver’s Service Station in Idetown. The Bottoms have two children, Mary Louise and Jane Marie. 50 Years Ago Sept. 3, 1954 BOYS BREACH DAM AT MISERICORDIA POND Two boys with shovels at- tacked the dam which forms the small pond on Lake Street Tuesday evening and let out all the water, leaving a green scum on muddy banks and an un- sightly mudhole instead of a sheet of shining water. This happened while Mr. and Mrs. John Girvan, whose property adjoins, were away for a few hours in Freeland. All morning on Tuesday, Mr. Girvan and six teenage boys had labored to clear debris from the bottom of the pond and repair the dam. Police of five states, Pennsyl- vania, New Jersey, Ney York, Maryland and Ohio are work- ing on the disappearance of Caroline Davis from her home in Trucksville. She was last seen boarding a bus for Wilkes- Barre early Sunday morning, Aug. 15. Her family believes that the 14-year old girl has found herself a job as she is tall enough and mature enough in looks to pass for several years older. Up to date, no trace of her whereabouts has been dis- covered and she has not been in contact with any of her widely scattered relatives. Dallas Township Women’s Civic Club is planning a coun- try party at the Arthur New- man home near New Goss Manor tomorrow at 7. A corn and wienie roast is planned. There will be amusement for the children and a bake sale, to which donations are solicited. Members of the Dallas Ambu- lance Association and their families are invited, so that township residents may be- come acquainted with other subscribers and patrons of the association. 40 Years Ago Sept. 3, 1964 PLAY WITH RATTLER THOUGHT HARMLESS Bobby Lee, 12, and Tommy Shilanski, 14, can tell their grandchildren they played with a timber rattlesnake virtually in their back yard and came out of it unbitten. The snake’s pa- tience exhausted when the boys gave him the old heave- ho. The snake had only one rat- tle, and that’s why the boys at first figured him for a garden type snake when they found him lying in Mrs. Helen Crane’s back yard at Outlet, Harveys Lake, Tuesday. The boys gave a tug to the rattler’s tail and made the discovery that ended the friendship. Bob- by hit the 18 inch snake with a rock and together the boys fin- ished him off with other rocks. The front of Rev. M. Richard Bevan’s 1964 model car was damaged, when a deer jumped in front of him last Tuesday. It has been falsely reported that Rev. Bevan had collided with a motorcycle. Mr. Bevan is pas- tor of Huntsville Christian Church. Thomas Drive by quick thinking and prompt action, prevented a ca- tastrophe early Monday after- noon. Alone at home, the 15- year old boy felt the house rumble and ran to the base- ment to check the cause. Flames were shooting out of the oil furnace and Tom dashed upstairs for the fire extinguish- er and put out the flames. He then called his dad, Warren Myers in Wilkes-Barre. Mr. My- ers advised his son to put in a request for the Dallas Fire Co. 30 Years Ago Sept. 5, 1974 DALLAS NATIVE TO APPEAR ON TV SHOW Bernadine Wisnewski, for- merly of Dallas, will appear on the Art Fleming Double Jeop- ardy Show from New York Sept. 11. Miss Wisnewski is the daughter of Blanche Wisnews- ki and her late husband, Leo, Fern Brook, Dallas. The show will be aired on WBRE TV, Channel 28 at 1:30 p.m., Sept. 11. A public meeting on the pro- posed zoning ordinance for Myers, Elmcrest § Harveys Lake was held last Wednesday, some more changes are in the offing and. despite some residents’ appeal for more consideration of @ ordinance, council will proba bly vote on it at their next’ meeting Sept. 5. Most of the people in attendance were con- cerned with their own individ- , ual property and the way it was zoned on the proposed map. ; concert The symphonic sound: of the Lake-L.ehman* High School Band, under the ; direction.of John Miliauskas, will be presented over Radio Station WNAK, Nanticoke, Sept. 5. The program will be offered to listeners of 730 on the radio dial from 6:05 until p.m. 20 Years Ago Sept. 5, 1984 PROF. BALLA CITED FOR TEACHING AT + PENN STATE For his 25 years of dedicated teaching service to Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Robert G. Balla, associate professor of engineer- ing at the local campus in’ Lehman was presented with a Penn State chair. Professor Bal- la began his teaching career at Penn State in September of 1958 when the campus was lo- cated in the Guthrie School on North Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre. He was the first instructor in the Common- wealth System to teach com- puter science to engineering students. d The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce move a step closer to being fully ac? credited, John F. Sheehan Jr, executive director, announced recently. Steve Woolley, diret- tor of the Northeast Region of the US. Chamber and Kath- leen Fish, public affairs manag- | er, spent a full day in Wilke Barre. I College Misericordia took another step forward in its growth as a coeducational in- stitution with the appointment of Albert Clocker as its first full-time athletic director. Dr. Joseph R. Fink, college presi- dent, announced Clocker’s ap- Aug | 29, and also explained that the pointment Wednesday, school’s new grant-in-aid pro- gram will enable Misericordia to develop a competitive athlet- ic program. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Post ® | » + A
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers