Vol. 116 No. 3 Dallas swimmers swamp O'Reilly. page 7 L Back Mountain's Newspaper Since 1889 January 16 to January 22, 2005 SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Both sides in condo battle vow to press on Expansion plan appears to meet regulations, but angers neighbors. By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — Not In My Back ard, NIMBY, is often used in broad erms to describe resistance to new development. But for residents of The Maples, a neighborhood of stately DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT Galicki wants all teachers to be on the Web Acting superintendent says most teachers now have in Internet page; he is pushing for it to become a requirement. By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — Dallas students will have one less excuse for not com- pleting their work if acting Superintendent Frank Galicki is suc- cessful in making all teachers main- tain a Web page. Galicki says many teachers in the district’s two elementary schools and the middle school — he estimates 75- 80 percent — now have an Internet page accessible to students and par- ents. The rate is lower at the high school, “but we’re getting there,” he says. “The availability of technology is greater in the elementaries and mid- dle school,” Galicki said last week. Dallas Elementary and the middle See DALLAS, pg 3 homes on expansive lots, it is literal when referring to the Dakota Woods condominiums. John Thomas, President of The Dakota Group Inc., which is building the condos, says their fears are mis- - guided. “These aren’t babies,” he says in describing the units, some of which sell for $300,000. “These are equal in any way, shape or form to anything in The Maples.” About 50 people signed a petition protesting Dakota’s request to add 14 units to the 42-unit project, and many "of them turned out for a zoning board hearing Jan. 10. They voiced concerns about crowded schools, lower property values and environmental degradation in asking the board to turn down the request. Even if that happens, Thomas says Dakota will purchase the land, and take whatever action is necessary to gain approval. “They can sign petitions until Hell freezes over,” he said. “We'll let the course of the legal system go through.” Zoning approval is conditional upon the board ruling the proposed develop- ment complies with existing regula- tions. If the board finds the expansion is legal, engineering and site develop- They're walkin’, yes indeed Irwin and Helen Messick walk two miles every day. The 80-something couple forgo exercise machinery for the more natural and communal benefits of walking in Dallas. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK DMS students come to the aid of fire victims They had intended to donate to tsunami relief, then a tragedy occurred closer to home. By M.B. GILLIGAN Post Correspondent It is often said that charity begins at home and that was the sentiment behind a decision at the Dallas Middle School last week to change the beneficiary of a fundraising effort. Members of Miss Jennifer Presper’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade Cultures classes had planned to seek donations for victims of the recent tsunami in Asia. Instead, due to a fire on January 6, a local family will bene- fit from their efforts. The Scafidi family of Dallas lost Inost of their possessions in a fire at their home. The three children, John, Steven and Lauren, are students in the Dallas School District. “We at the Dallas Middle School are very grateful for the positive response we always receive from our families, so we are very selective in what we choose to do. I think we already ask a lot of our students,” said Anthony Martinelli, principal. “But, when an emergency in our com- munity arises, we feel it is the respon- sibility of our school community to respond.” The Dallas Middle School has annual events that benefit the SPCA, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the Back Mountain Food Pantry. School courses revolve around meeting standards these days and that is the goal of Miss Presper’s Cultures class. “It is part of our com- munity access standards,” said Presper. Her students are developing their skills by interacting with the community. They made and posted signs throughout the school to adver- tise the fund raising drive. “We're collecting money at each of the three lunch periods and then counting the money,” said Erika Turner. The students collected over $200 in the first day of the drive, which lasted until Thursday of last week. FOR THE POST/M.B. GILLIGAN Members of Miss Presper’'s Cultures Class who recently helped with a collec- tion to benefit the Scafidi family of Dallas are pictured by one of the many signs they made for the school halls. From left are: David DeJesus, Erika Turner, John Lyons, Christine Snedeker, Tim Vassello, Cassie Atherholt, Stephen Lyons, and Jennifer Presper. “Someone even donated a gift card to Old Navy,” said Cassie Atherholt. “My brother knows the oldest of the Scafidis,” said Tim Vassello. “I think this is something nice for them.” The students all expressed the notion that they will be more willing to donate to future causes after work- ing so hard on this effort. Several clubs at the Dallas Middle School have also pledged donations. Cadet Isaac to participate selected by outgoing guards for their Back Mountain connections to the inaugural Parade for President George H.W. Bush. ment plans would be presented to the township’s planning commission for approval prior to construction. “If you only consider the zoning rules, we should have gotten approval,” Thomas said. Zoning officer Leonard Kozick does- n’t disagree. He thinks the plan meets the rules for Planned Residential See CONDOS, pg 3 LAKE-LEHMAN BUSING Van contractor defends record By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff LEHMAN TWP. — There’s no dis- agreement on this: It costs a lot to transport Lake-Lehman special-needs students and those who attend parochial and private schools. But Lake-Lehman School Board President James Mahon and van con- tractor Sandy Dobrowolski are locked in a war of words about why, and wha to do about it. One of the 13 contractors used by the district, Dobrowolski says she has tried to show administrators how to cut costs, but they have not respond- ed. “There’s no reason for three vans to be at Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech,” she said. On her run from the far western reach- es of the district to the Wilkes-Barre school, she drives very near the homes of three students who are picked up by other contractors. “I have offered to take them at no extra cost to the district,” she says, but has not been allowed to. Instead of implying that all the con- tractors are ripping off the district, Dobrowolski thinks the district should be looking for efficiencies in its sys- tem. “I have given them ways to save this district money,” said the 19-year contractor. According to school district figures, in 2003-04, Lake-Lehman paid an aver- age of $10,070 for each child shuttled by car or van to classes elsewhere, a service mandated by state law. That See VANS, pg 3 WV Inside The Post ‘Toy Story’ display at the library. Page 4 12 Pages, 1 Section in Inaugural Parade superior physical stamina and drill profi- Calendar... ......... 12 ciency. Membership in the platoonis con- Sgt. Griffin helping with Church .............. 1 Cadet John Isaac of Dallas will partici- sidered one of the most prestigious hon- milita ry's planning Crossword. ...... 0. 8 pate in the Presidential Inaugural Parade ors at the college. The 61-member team Editorials... eu sivas 4 January 20, in Washington, D.C. as a performs precise drill movements based Army Staff Sgt. Cynthia L. Griffin has Obituaries... . ov & 5 member of The Citadel Summerall on a silent close order drill known as The arrived in Washington, D.C. to serve as a SCHOOL... i ras 10 Guards. Citadel Series. The series has never been member of the Joint Task Force-Armed Sports i. . IoR.RL AME 7-9 Forces Inaugural Committee. The com- petitively selected members from the five branches of U.S. military services arrive according to a time-phased plan at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The inaugural team is responsible for a range of planning, operational, communi- cations, logistics, personnel, and public affairs support related to inaugural cere- The guards were recommended to the Armed Services Inaugural Committee by the entire South Carolina congressional delegation. The recommendation was initiated by Congressman Joe Wilson. Named for Gen. Charles P. Summerall, former chief of staff of the U.S. Army and president of The Citadel from 1931 until 1953, the Summerall Guards is the mili- tary college’s silent precision drill pla- toon. Each spring rising seniors are written down, but has been passed down from class to class through rigorous prac- tice. A widely-traveled unit, the platoon has participated in parades and ceremonies throughout the country, including the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans; the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah, Ga; and the Azalea Festival in Subscriptions Wilmington, N.C. In 1989, they per- and Delivery: 829-5000 | formed in- the Presidential Inaugural See INAUGURAL, pg 2 L ¥ How To Reach Us News: 675-5211 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 Advertising: 829-7101
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