4 The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, November 14, 2004 OUR OPINION Quicker response to sewage leaks needed systems, something must be done about the response hen leaks are found. The present protocol clearly does not move quickly enough to address this problem. For more than a decade, the sanitary sewer system around Harveys Lake has overflowed during heavy rains. A pumping station that forces Jackson Township’s waste under Route 309 and on its way to the Dallas Area Municipal Authority has leaked with some regularity since at least 1999. And while [sien health truly is threatened by overflowing sewage there is progress toward corrections in both places, the lethar- ~ gic pace raises questions about whether people, animals and” plants are being adequately protected from danger. / In both cases the state Department of Environmental Protection, which is charged with enforcing regulations designed to keep sewage where it belongs, has handed out vio- lations and threatened sterner action. But, as Mike Brunamonti, chief of DEP’s sewage planning section points out, things should never get to this point. That’s because every public sewer system is required to file an annual report that chronicles the previous year’s activities and projects future usage and equipment needs. If those reports are being completed accurately, why haven't problems like these been averted, or at least anticipated? Perhaps some of the blame can be laid to the understandable difficulty small municipalities have in managing this impor- tant public function. Building and maintaining sanitary sewer systems is a com- plicated and expensive undertaking. The present arrange- ment, in which a hodgepodge of systems large and small are interconnected and interdependent, cries out for rational over- all management that can better integrate their operations, and can respond more quickly to problems. ‘Literature is life,” even after is ends Some people are transparent in their desire to leave a lega- cy behind after their bodies have worn out. They tell anyone within shouting range how important they are, clearly expect- ing to be remembered for their achievements or notoriety. Others would be surprised by what happens after they die, when those who they have left behind recognize the meaning of a life that was lived with a purpose that demands recogni- tion, even if the person never did. That is the case with Teresa Rutkowski, the 20-year reading teacher at Gate of Heaven School who died in January. Her memory, and her commitment to educating children, have been continued by the school and donors who supported refurbishing the school’s library, which was rededicated last week in her honor. Students, teachers and visitors will be struck by the new fixtures and impressive murals that now cover the walls. And there is a new academic feature as well, an accelerated reading program that stimulates interest and helps measure children’s progress. But the most significant characteristic of the library is not found in books or tables. It is the living spirit of some- one who demonstrated through her actions the value of read- ing in a well-rounded person of any age. As Teresa Rutkowski’s favorite saying reads, now inscribed on the library wall, “Literature is life.” MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel e On Nov. 17, 1839, Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi's first opera, “Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio,” debuts in Milan. The pre- miere was held at La Scala, Italy’s most prestigious theater. Verdi would go on to compose such classic operas as “Rigoletto, “Il Trovatore, “La Traviata, “Aida and “Otello.” ® On Now. 16, 1907, Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory collectively enter the United States as Oklahoma, the 46th state. Oklahoma’s name derives from the Choctaw Indian words okla, meaning “people,” and humma, meaning “red.” ® On Now. 20, 1947, 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth, heir to the British throne, marries her distant cousin Philip Mountbatten in a lavish wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London. e On Nov. 15, 1956, Elvis Presley’s first movie, “Love Me Tender,” opens at the Paramount Theater in New York. The movie earned back its $1 million cost in just three days. e On Nov. 19, 1969, Brazilian soccer great Pele scores his 1,000th professional goal, in a game against Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium. Pele’s illustrious career included three World Cup championships. ¢ On Nov. 18, 1978, People’s Temple leader Jim Jones leads hun- dreds of his followers in a mass murder-suicide at their agricultur- al commune in remote northwestern Guyana. The final death toll was 913, including 276 children. The mass suicide came one day after US. Rep. Leo Ryan, D-Calif., and his entourage were mur- ; dered after traveling to Jonestown to investigate the cult. ® On Now. 21, 1990, the scandal-ridden career of Michael Milken, Wall Street’s “junk-bond king,” comes to an end as U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood sentences him to a 10-year prison term for var- ious securities law infractions. (c) 2004 King Features Synd., Inc. First snow. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LETTER Poll worker marvels at democracy in action As I was returning home at 1 a.m. Wednesday from working at the Dallas Township middle district polling location, I was - awestruck at what I had experi- enced on election day. My day began at 6:30 a.m. and I was assigned a voting machine and to explain, if necessary, how the voting machine worked to those who have never voted or forgot how to register their votes. The weather was very cool during the day but turned to a bone chilling cold at night . with a light rain. The line of voters started to form before 7 a.m. and the line continued to grow throughout the day and evening. The wait was nearly 2 1/2 hours. I was so impressed with all of those who voted that day! Pm sure that many were frustrated with the long wait in line with cold fin- gers and toes but their kindness and understanding were expressed throughout that day and evening. These voters, who were waiting in line, graciously allowed all the handicapped and those with health problems to break into the front of the line so as not to wait outside in the cold and the rain. Other acts of caring were observed when a man gave a nearby lady his coat so she could stay warm and dry and when a nearby church served coffee in the parking lot to those standing in line at night. To watch the expressions on all of those young persons who were voting for the first time was a real joy. One young man was so excited about his first voting experience that he pulled out his photo phone and had his picture taken as he was entering the voting booth so he could send the picture to his mother. I observed the happiness on the faces of parents seeing their young adults voting for the first time and the concern on the face of a young mother who was carrying a very young baby and two tots who were trailing behind. Many parents brought their very young children into the booth with them to experi- ence their voting selections. One lady remarked as she left the booth, “it was worth the wait!” I was very surprised to dis- cover the large number of older people who required explana- tions of how the voting machine worked before they 'see democracy work recorded their ballots. I sensed embarrassment in some of them. Finally, I appreciated the patience and dedication of those who were doing their polling work along side of me. Their focus was on accuracy and making sure that all the voting rules and regulations were properly followed so each voter’s selections were valid. © It was a very long day but o that I will never forget. We live" in a great Back Mountain com- munity with many wonderful people. I thought about how fortunate we are to live in America and how lucky I was to “first hand.” May God continue to bless Americal fh Joe Hardisky Dallas Tie POST TIMES*LEADER Community Newspaper Group 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 * 570-675-5211 : thepost@leader.net : Patrick McHugh Ronald Bartizek 70 Years Ago Nov. 16, 1934 \ FLAMES THREATEN FERNBROOK HOME Quick action of members of Henry M. Laing Fire Co., assist- ed by the Shavertown Chemical Corps, prevented a serious blaze on Wednesday morning w hen papers around the chim- ney in the residence of Lewis ONLY - YESTERDAY Stritzinger, Lincoln Street, Fernbrook, became ignited. Mrs. Stritzinger was ironing and the extremely hot fire in the stove sent intense heat up the chimney. Flames did break through the roof but valiant efforts of the firemen halted their further progress and extinguished them. An impressive tribute to the memory of James E. Jones, widely-known labor leader who died at his home here late last month has been paid by mem- bers of UMW of A as far distant as Albert, W.Va. Mrs. Jones has received copies of the resolu- tions, which testify to the extreme respect which his asso- ciates had for Mr. Jones. The Resolution Committee of Local Union No. 4240, UMW of A of Albert, W. Va, decided to drape it’s charter for a 90-day period. An outbreak of scarlet fever in Dallas Township was report- ed by Elmer Kerr, district health officer, yesterday after- noon. Five children have been stricken and two cases are under observation. An effort to bar progress of the contagion is under way. Thirty-two cultures were made early in the week EDITOR PUBLISHER Only Yesterday Justin Wisnosk i i ADVERTISIN IS compiled from the Pat O'Donnell back-issue files PREPRESS MANAGER of The Post. > * and three had a positive reac- tion to tests. 60 Years Ago Nov. 17, 1944 SGT. BOYLE FLIES HERE FROM CHINA S/Sgt. Danny Boyle, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing 52 combat missions over enemy territory as turret gunner of a Mitchell Bomber while sta- tioned in the Chinese Theatre of operations, arrived at his home in Trucksville on Wednesday night after a trip by air from China to Miami, Fla. Danny has been overseas since last December and has been in the Air Cotps for two years. Fifteen thousand tons of farm conservation lime were deliv- ered to farmers within a 15 mile radius of Dallas this season by L. C. Sutton of Dallas R.E.D. The lime is furnished free by the United States Department of Agriculture to all farmers who will agree to distribute it over their lands as a part of the program for soil conservation. With a quota of $10,000, Dallas Woman’s Club will open their drive for the Sixth War Bond sale Monday, Nov. 20. Mrs. John Corliss is chairman and Oswald Griffiths, co-chair- man, under whose direction club members will sell bonds in the Dallas Post Office building every day for the next several weeks. Any member selling ten bonds or more totalling $1,000 or more will be presented with the blue brigade pin. 50 Years Ago Nov. 12, 1954 BAD BEAR IS DOWNED IN SUGAR HOLLOW A marauding, sheep-killing bear was shot early Monday morning by a Tunkhannock man and his son on their Sugar Hollow Farm. The 300-pound killer fell prey to George E. Gay, Tunkhannock, associated with the Gay-Murray Co. Inc., and his son, George R., 14, shortly after 12:30 a.m. on their farm, about eight miles west of Tunkhannock. Mr. Gay said that he began losing sheep to the marauders about the mid- dle of last month and his neigh- bor, George Kubach, had lost a calf to them. Gay and his son found the trail of three bears after a snowstorm last week. All members of Lehman- Jackson-Ross school board except for Harry Ruggles were present at Tuesday night’s joint board meeting, grouping to have their picture taken for the yearbook before going into for- mal session. At adjournment, members were entertained in the home economics room, sampling dessert prepared by eighth-grade students under the direction of Mary Pleban, instructor. Hugo Winterhalter, musical director for RCA Victor record- ing department, top orchestra leader and music arranger, paid a brief visit to College Misericordia Tuesday to greet his old friend Sister, Mary Bertrand RSM, head of the col- lege music department. In his brief remarks to students, he recalled that his last visit to the college was 27 years ago, when he played with St. Mary’s Orchestra. 40 Years Ago Nov. 12, 1964 FIRE COMPANIES HOLD TRUCKSVILLE BLAZE TO ONE ROOM Fire scorched a bedroom in a Westmoreland Hills home yes- terday afternoon around 3-3:30 and smoke and water damaged much of the rest of the new split-level. Little Bobby Woicicki, 7, home from school with illness, ran to his mother and said, “Mommy, your bed- room is on fire.” Mrs. Woicicki told the Dallas Post at the scene that Bobby had apparently been playing with matches. Low-bidder on the proposed post office and federal office building, to be located on the site of Dallas Depot, is Raymon Hedden and Company, of Dallas, the Dallas Post learned this week. The post office is now studying the matter fq approval of contract. The c of building does not include cost of architect and land. Purchase of some land, owned by Mrs. Harold LaBar is still in dispute. “a 1 A Harveys Lake business- man, John Link, Warden Place, has responded to the problem sewage contamination at the lake by being the first in that community to install a com- plete home disposal unit, the Spencer Sewage Treatment Plant, company officials announced = at the Lake Supervisors meeting Saturday. 30 Years Ago Nov. 14, 1974 KINGSTON TWP. GIVES AWAY MERCY VEHICLE Kingston Township Ambulance Association has donated their old aninkace dif) the Kunkle Fire Company. The” vehicle was turned over to Kunkle officials at a special cer- emony Nov. 8 at the fire hall. Present for Kingston Township were Ed Carey, president; Nancy Buss, auxiliary presi- dent; Allan Nichols, secretary- treasurer, among others. Present for Kunkle were Ted King, fire company. president; Conrad Higgins, vice president; and Jack Dodson, fire chief. Harveys Lake Borough Council, . at last Thursday’s meeting, ratified council presi- dent Fred Merrill's action ter- minating a tax collection con- tract with the Don Wilkinson Agency. Council also appointed a three-member zoning board. The three people picked for the zoning board and their terms of office are: Ben Orfaly, Outlet section, a two-year term; Andrea Fulton, Sandy Beach, a three-year term; and Josep@ Ruotolo, Point Breeze, a fou year term. : ‘See YESTERDAY, pg 5
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers