4 The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, October 31, 2004 OUR OPINION Let the public in on key decisions about schools r A Nhere’s a wry saying that no good deed goes unpun- ished. You need no further proof than what happened when Dallas School Board member Dennis Gochoel tried to let the public in on the next round of expensive con- struction and renovation, this time at the high school. Gochoel, who is chairman of the board’s property commit- tee, had a memo sent to the media from the district office on October 22, seeking publicity for a public meeting October 28, at which four architectural firms would review their proposals for the project. The notice was a breath of fresh air from a dis- trict that has in the past been criticized for making little effort to openly discuss significant moves with parents and taxpay- ers, giving the impression — deserved or not — that deci- sions are made without the messiness of building a consensus within the community. Alas, the hoped-for openness lasted but a couple of hours. Later in the day, district personnel were told by David Usavage, board president, to call off the meeting. The matter, he told a reporter, would probably be dealt with at Monday night’s board work session. But an agenda prepared for the board did not list the architects proposals as a topic. It’s not as if Gochoel trampled on protocol when he sched- uled the public review. Holding such a session was discussed at earlier board meetings. As chairman of the property com- mittee, he sent an e-mail to all board members inviting them to help him sift through the 12 proposals that were submitted by the Oct. 21 deadline. When he received no takers, he selected four and sent another note about the Oct. 28 meet- ing, which was envisioned as an open interview of the firms by board members and administrators, with the floor then open to questions from the public. Perhaps this is only a temporary delay in the board’s scheme to let the public in on such an important aspect of the district’s operation. We certainly hope so, and will be looking eagerly for the next scheduled date. Old Shoe game is sports competition at its best Rabid fans would call the term “friendly competition” an oxymoron. Some of them were shocked when players for the St. Louis and Los Angeles Dodgers shook hands at the conclu- sion of their baseball playoff series, suggesting the gesture was in opposition to the win-at-all-costs principle of professional sports. We've got news for them; friendly competition is alive and well, and if they'd like to see it in action they should come to next Saturday’s 56th Old Shoe football game at Dallas High School. That’s when this year’s teams will square off with an intensity that transcends records or statistics, battling through four quarters to claim the bronzed shoe trophy signifing a year’s worth of effort and practice compressed into 48 minutes of play. That's if the game doesn’t go to overtime. We can make this guarantee; fans will see a game punctuat- ed by moments of individual and team greatness. Then they'll see the coaches and players, especially the seniors, congratu- late each other for their desire and execution, probably by shaking hands. A lot has changed since the first Old Shoe game in 1948. Schools have been consolidated, populations have grown and perspectives have matured. But the tradition of a clean, hard contest played on a crisp fall day endures, for both the players and fans to enjoy and appreciate. Sportsmanship and an appre- ciation for your opponent’s skills and hard work are as much a part of that tradition as are blocks, tackles and passes. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel ® On Now. 1, 1512, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of Italian artist Michelangelo's finest works, is exhibited to the pub- lic for the first time. “The Creation of Adam” was among his epic ceiling frescoes, which took years to complete. e On Nov. 3, 1928, cartoon star Mickey Mouse appears in “Steamboat Willie,” an animated short produced by Walt Disney. “Steamboat Willie” was the first fully synchronized sound cartoon ever produced, with Mickey's squeaky voice provided by Walt Disney himself. : ® On Now. 4, 1939, the first air-conditioned car, a Packard proto- type, debuts at the 40th National Automobile Show in Chicago. Despite widespread acclaim, the expensive accessory would not be within the reach of the average American for several decades. ® On Nov. 6, 1946, actress Sally Field is born in Pasadena, Calif. Field knew as a child that she wanted to act, and by age 17 she had landed the title role in “Gidget,” playing a perky teen surfer. She won Best Actress Oscars in 1979, for “Norma Rae,” and 1984, for “Places in the Heart.” ¢ On Nov. 5, 1968, in one of the closest elections in U.S. history, Republican challenger Richard Nixon defeats Vice President Hubert Humphrey by less than 500,000 votes. Nixon campaigned on a platform designed to reach the “silent majority” of middle- class and working-class Americans. (c) 2004 King Features Synd., Inc. 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 Pat O'Donnell PREPRESS MANAGER The fields’ fall bounty. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. Greenway vision and values report is published The long range future, poten- tial benefits and continuing challenges to the Susquehanna Greenway are all a part of the newly published “Susquehanna Greenway - A Vision for Connecting Communities to the River.” Often referred to as the vision and values state- ment, the document synopsizes the three years of planning for the Greenway and looks at the years ahead as the plan takes shape in the 22 Pennsylvania counties through which the river flows. The SEDA-Council of Governments has led the plan- ning effort, heading a team which includes public, commu- nity, and environmental organi- zations. The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is the program’s public arm. Susquehanna Greenway — A Vision... clearly defines the Greenway, referring to it as a “linear corridor,” “land- and water-based,” and “a mix of public and private property.” The report extends well beyond the river itself, stating, “The scenic environment of the Susquehanna region and the river that defines it beg to be discovered.” It elaborates on both economic and recreational opportunities in the region and says the Greenway will “...set a new course for Susquehanna Valley communities.” Ongoing, river-related chal- lenges are not ignored, includ- ing pollution, new pressures for development of the region’s water resources and increased urbanization. The Greenway, says the report, will play an important role in conserving the region’s land and water assets, and its cultural heritage. Already a major attraction, both locally and beyond, the Greenway will “..further ele- vate the Susquehanna among America’s treasured rivers...” Potential benefits are spelled out, and fall within the general categories of recreation, econo- my, environment and communi- ty. While some are readily apparent, such as environmen- tal education, others are less obvious, e.g., opportunities for exercise, wellness and healthy living. For planning purposes, the Greenway planning team divid- ed the 22-county Susquehanna region into six geographic areas or “reaches,” corresponding to the segment of the river within them. For instance, the west- ern-most reach extends from Carrolltown to Lock Haven, the southern-most from Harrisburg to the Maryland border. Each of the reaches is fea- tured in the vision and values statement with maps, photo- graphs and an outline of key local issues. Susquehanna Greenway — A Vision... is now available for viewing on the Greenway Web site, www.susquehannagreen- way.org. A limited number printed copies are available. information, interested individ- uals may contact Ann August at SEDA-COG, 570-524-4491 or e- mail aaugust@seda-cog.org. 70 Years Ago Nov. 2, 1934 TRACES HISTORY OF KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Attorney William Brewster of Kingston, the author of a wide- ly-known history on this sec- tion, addressed the Men’s Club of Trucksville MLE. Church on Monday night. He traced the growth and devel- opment of this sec- ONLY tion from YESTERDAY the days when the Indian roamed these hills and gave an interesting account of incidents connected with the life of William Trux, one of the founders of Kingston Township and the man after whom the town of Trucksville was named. Action was taken this week to secure a State Emergency Education Appropriation for Dallas and vicinity and if the projects suggested by the local committee are approved, $600 monthly will be paid to capable local persons who will carry on the 20-week program. Prof. J.S. Martin, supervising principal of Kingston Township schools, and Eugene Lazarus, a member of the Dallas School Board, con- ferred this week and made arrangements to have a group of local persons sponsor the project. Three hundred twenty-five persons from all parts of the Back Mountain section and neighboring areas attended the big dinner given at Kunkle Community Hall last Tuesday night by A.C. Devens. W.A. Atkison of Waverly, N.Y., was the speaker. It was the first event of its kind in two years. 60 Years Ago Nov. 3, 1944 WOUNDED SOLDIER RETURNS TO STATES Word has been received here Only Yesterday is compiled from the back-issue files of The Post. + Dallas, that Pvt. John Macullough has returned to the United States aboard a hospital ship and is now at the U.S. Army Station Hospital at Camp Edwards, Mass. John lost a leg below the knee and was severely wound- ed in the other while fighting in France on July 31. Since that time he has been in an English hospital. The movement set on foot by Dallas Kiwanis Club for later week day mail collections, as well as a mail collection on Sundays from post offices in Shavertown and Trucksville, is meeting with favorable response throughout the Back Mountain region. Howard Isaacs, president of the club, estimated this week that the cost of such service to, the post office department would not be great. The dollar drive in the Back Mountain region is now at its height. With just two days to go GOP women are intensifying their campaign efforts to mar- shall a quota of fighting dollars to keep this state jin the Republican column and send the Dewey-Bricker ticket to vic- tory at the polls on Tuesday. The Dallas committee, with Mrs. Nelson Thompson as chairman has already forward- ed $100 to the State Committee and will have well over $200 by the time the campaign closes on Saturday night. 00 Years Ago Oct. 29, 1954 2-YEAR-OLD SAVED FROM DROWNING Larry Spaciano, 2-year-old baby son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Spaciano, Maple Street, Shavertown, was saved from drowning Thursday morning by the swift action of young Ted Kocher, a garbage collector of 55 Barber Street, Swoyersville, formerly of Shavertown. Ted pulled the child, who had fallen into a duck pond, out of the water and performed artificial respiration. Chief of Police and Mrs. Edgar Hughes of Harveys Lake are on two weeks vacation tour- ing the eastern coast and New England. Assistant Walbridge Lienthall is in charge of the police department while Chief Hughes is away. IY 40 Years Ago Oct. 29, 1964 DALLAS HOME VANDALIZED; GATE OF HEAVEN WINDOWS DEFILED Halloween vandalism in Dallas borough in the past week included some expensive soap damage on finished wood paneling on the outside of the home of R.G. Dickinson, Park Avenue, on Thursday after- noon. Police officer Alexander MacCulloch said some sort of lemon soap was used. The dam- age is irreparable without plan- ing the wood. MacCulloch also said that obscenities were scrawled on windows at Gate of Heaven School on Thursday night with soap. Postmaster Ed Buckley issued “Halt” sprayers to city carriers for protection against toothsome pooches, according to announcement today. The sprayer is a small cylinder gun, now being issued to mailmen around the USA, which shoots a stinging repellant designed to temporarily blind a dog and cause it to turn tail and run. Dallas Township police inves- tigated some Halloweening in Shrine Acres Saturday night, when trees by the Moyer home were liberally decorated with rolls of toilet paper. Also being watched Tuesday night was Arthur Newman's cabbage patch in East Dallas, object of some juvenile hankey-pankey. 30 Years Ago Oct. 31, 1974 COLLEGE MISERICOR- DIA FORMS CIRCLE K CLUB College Misericordia’s newly formed Circle K Club was for- mally inducted into the Kiwanis organization last week in ceremonies conducted at the Irem Temple Club by the Dallas Kiwanis Club. During the cere- monies, district lieutenant gov- ernor Charles Charles officially welcomed each of the 45 Misericordia students who comprise the Circle K Club. Scott Enslen, 11-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Enslen, Howell Road, RD 7s Shavertown, competed against an opponent from Rahway, N.J., in the area punt, pass and kick competition in his age group on Oct. 27 at the Yale Bowl, New Haven, Conn. The event was held during the Giants pro-foot- ball game. After defeating 4,500 youths throughout the United States to qualify as one of the two area finalists, Scott was runner-up to the Rahway youth. Leo Corbett, witkes Bari) City Engineer, and member o the Charter Study Commission, was guest speaker at the October meeting of the Gate of Heaven Parent-Teachers Guild. Mr. Corbett, introduced by Kenneth Adams, president, spoke on the newly-proposed home rule government for Luzerne County. 20 Years Ago Oct. 31, 1984 PROGRAM ADOPTED, IN DALLAS SCHOOLS The Dallas School District will ' soon become the only school district in the area to adopt the “Here’s Looking at You, Two” program, which con- sists of curriculum geared toward combating drug and alcohol abuse by children. Robyn Jones, health teacher at the Dallas Junior High School, and an avid runner, spoke "® a fellow runner one day w informed her of the availability of the program from the Comprehensive Health Education Foundation. Sam Soltis, Shavertown, an administrative fellow at Wilkes- Barre General Hospital, has authored a series of four arti- cles, which will appear in “Hospital Bottom Line,” a monthly magazine publishing current topics in health care, The series, which begins with the November 1984 issue and continues each month until February 1985, examines the home health industry in the state of Ohio. Lehman Brownie Troop 641 recently held a troop Halloween party. A cake sent in by Joan Conrad helped the girls cele- brate the birthday of Girl Scout founder Juliette Lowe. Leaders are Helen and Judy Gung Neighborhood direct? Charlene Cook was a costumed guest.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers