4 The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, February 6, 2005 | OUR OPINION Township business must be conducted in the open n important meeting of the Dallas Township Supervisors was held last week, but you missed it. hances are that had it been properly advertised — which it was not — the audience still would have been thin. It usually is. But the overwhelming apathy of the township’s citi- zens does not get the supervisors off the hook for holding an illegal meeting. There was one active participant, developer John Halbing, who has submitted a new project to the planning commission. That’s what’s supposed to happen; a subdivision goes to the planning commission for review and comment, the developer fixes or ignores any problems, and the commission forwards it to the supervisors, with a recommendation to either approve or reject it. The plans also are sent to the Luzerne County Planning Commission for review, although the township is under no obligation to pay attention to their observations. The meeting raises at least two important questions. One is why the supervisors are allowing a developer to lobby them before the planning commission has completed its work. The other is why members of the public, who are affected by changes in population, traffic and other factors, weren't given their rightful opportunity to be in on the discussion. We can anticipate some of the excuses for this lapse in judgement. “People don’t care,” is one. “They wouldn’t under- stand,” is another. Yet another might be, “We're just trying to do the best thing for everyone, and not hold up progress.” All three of those — and any other — is not acceptable. Frustrating as it might be for the supervisors to do what they think is right for the township while working in a vacuum of citizen apathy, they have an absolute responsibility to conduct the public’s business in the open. We can’t know if the discussion about road grades and manhole covers would have proceeded differently before an audience. But if the lengthy critique of this subdivision offered by a county engineer is any indication, we can be cer- tain that there is a lot more to talk about. And what about members of the township planning com- mission? In effect, they are the potential victims of an end- around play, since a developer who gets tacit agreement from the supervisors for his plans will have little incentive to respond to criticisms from the planners. The township expects to receive a grant that will pay for a thorough review of its ordinances, something that hasn’t been done for 40 years. But a shiny new code book won't help Dallas Township deal with the escalating pressure of develop- ment unless officials consistently and energetically enforce the rules. The public has a role to play in that effort, adding some support to officials’ backbones as they weigh the bene- fits of growth against the costs. But if the people are cut out of the process, it becomes too comfortable for officials to fashion compromises that lean too heavily one way or the other, and that ignore the voices that matter most, those of citizens and taxpayers. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel e On Feb. 8, 1587, after 19 years of imprisonment, Mary Queen of Scots is beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England for her complicity in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I. Mary’s son, King James VI of Scotland, would later become king of England upon Queen Elizabeth’s death in 1603. ® On Feb. 13, 1914, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers is formed in New York. ASCAP was the first U.S. group to help protect copyrighted music against illegal public performances for profit, and it lobbied for the collection of license fees for each public performance of a copyrighted song. e On Feb. 11, 1960, host Jack Paar storms off NBC’s “The Tonight Show” to protest censorship. Paar was infuriated when censors cut a joke about a “water closet,” claiming it was in poor taste. Paar left the set in tears and did not return for a month. e On Feb. 9, 1965, the United States sends its first combat troops to South Vietnam as a U.S. Marine Corps Hawk air defense missile battalion is deployed to Da Nang to protect a key U.S. air- base. e On Feb. 12, 1976, actor Sal Mineo is stabbed to death in Hollywood, Calif., as he parks his car behind his apartment. Mineo was a famous teen actor in the 1950s, co-starring with James Dean in both “Rebel Without a Cause” and “Giant,” and he later appeared in films such as “The Longest Day” and “Escape From the Planet of the Apes.” ® On Feb. 7, 1984, Navy Capt. Bruce McCandless becomes the first human satellite when he exits the orbiting U.S. space shuttle Challenger without a tether and maneuvers freely, using a bulky rocket pack of his own design. (c) 2005 King Features Synd., Inc. Letters are welcome Letters to the editor are welcome. Letters can be submitted several ways: By e-mail to: thepost@leader.net By mail to: The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711. By using the drop box located in the Uni-Mart convenience store on Route 309 in Dallas, across from the Dallas Shopping Center. 5 SNA wo NE AY \ SE BEY 430 4 oe kn Hi. PSN i Er EN HH A03Y bi Bion a po -— EVP ET TL Lad SX on Snow on a barn, Hayfield Farm. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. GUEST COLUMN Take care, and time, when facing winter tree damage By JIM FINLEY Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry In the past few weeks, across some parts of the state, the woods have taken on a winter wonderland appearance. While ice in the treetops can be beau- tiful, it is also frightening. Ice changes the forests and the sounds of breaking limbs and falling trees lead to landowner uncertainty. Long after the ice has melted, the evidence of winter’s icing is visible, and landowners face important long-reaching decisions about how to manage their forests. The urge is to do something — to salvage the damaged trees. Do not act too quickly. Safety is a principal concern. Obviously the storms have left behind many hazards, such as hanging limbs and severely damaged branches. Working in the forest under these condi- tions is dangerous. Mark dan- gerous trees and leave working around them to the experts. What to do first? Start by doing a careful evaluation of the extent of damage. Consider paying a trusted resource pro- fessional to visit the site. Salvage might be one option; however, when working with hardwood or broadleaf trees it is often advisable to wait and see how they respond the next summer. Trees have an amaz- ing ability to respond to this type of injury. Many of our hardwood forests have experienced ice before. Oftentimes there is evi- dence by forks in trees across the stand that are all at about the same height in the canopy. Sometimes the forked trunk will split again somewhat high- er. This is especially evident on the Allegheny Plateau, where cherry stands exhibit ice dam- age from more than 50 years ago.’ 1" Spd The point is that hardwood trees have mechanisms for responding to ice injury. Dormant buds beneath the bark will typically sprout, form- ing new branches and leaves. So, if you have a hardwood forests with ice-damaged crowns, wait and watch. If we have a good growing summer like last year, your trees may respond well. : Standing trees with only par- tially ice-damaged crowns will retain their value long enough to more carefully plan your response. The biggest effect could be the stain that eventu- ally will enter the wounds. When trees are more severely damaged, having lost their crowns or having broken or split trunks, or have been uprooted, a salvage operation may be the right response. Don’t rush in+though: Hasty decisions, without proper road planning, can lead to site dam- age as well as residual tree damage. Wait and plan the har- vest when conditions are better recovering some of these tree from. natural disaster. The for logging in late summer. Softwoods, like pine and hemlock, unfortunately do not have the same adaptations as hardwoods. Severely damaged softwoods may show signs of insect damage and staining in the wood shortly after this win- ter’s ice. They can withstand some injury and have mecha: nisms for containing some of the negative impacts. However, if the damage is heavy, professional input and consid (gly this summer. 1 Most important, use caution when entering and working in ice-damaged stands, even into the summer months. Take advantage of the expertise of natural resources professionals, especially when thinking about helping your stands recover forests are an important resource to Pennsylvanians; their wise care and use is dependent on you. Take care. q 70 Years Ago Feb. 8, 1935 HOWELL EXPLAINS VALUE OF X-RAY The increased opportunities for fighting disease as a result of recent X-ray developments WwW ere explained by Dr. G. L. Howell of Shavertown in his talk before members of YESTERDAY Greater ONLY 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 1 SE nd Dallas Rotary Club last Thursday night. Dr. Howell brought a number of X-ray plates with him and showed graphically how the use of the equipment frequently uncovers physical weaknesses which have escaped the attention of physicians. Flames threatened to con- sume the building of the Harvey’s Lake Bottling Works early yesterday morning and caused a loss estimated roughly at $5,000. Chief James Besecker of the Laing Co. was enthusiastic yesterday in his praise for the Dallas men who turned out to make the trip to the lake in sub-zero weather at 1:30 am. About fifteen of the local firemen responded. C. Harold Wagner was select- ed this week by Dallas Borough Council to fill the office of Burgess, left vacant by the death of J. Harry Anderson. 60 Years Ago Feb. 9, 1945 PFC. CAVANAUGH WOUNDED IN BELGIUM Dorothy K. Worth of Trucksville Gardens has received word that her nephew, Pfc. Michael Cavanaugh, 22, a paratrooper, was seriously wounded in Belgium on January 10. Pfc. Cavanaugh pre- viously received the Purple Heart in June for wounds received during the invasion of Normandy. In an advertisement: “For prompt removal of dead, old, disabled horses, cows, mules phone Carl Crockett, Muhlenberg 19-R-4. Phone charges paid. We buy waste fats and cowhides.” With an A-20 Havoc Group in Italy:- (censored) Cpl. James G. LaBar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy LaBar, Dallas, received his most welcome Christmas gift of the year when on the morning of December 25, the veteran light bomb group to which he belongs received official orders award- ing it a War Department Citation, the highest organiza- tional honor bestowed by the U.S. Army. 20 Years Ago Feb. 4, 1955 MYSTERIOUS ‘QUAKE’ RATTLES DISHES IN SHAVERTOWN Origin of a mysterious earth trembler that vibrated dishes on luncheon tables and fright- ened residents of Shavertown about noon on Tuesday has been cleared up. The “earth- quake” was the result of under- ground blasting during well- drilling operations on Gerald Frantz’s property on Memorial highway where Whitesell Brothers are constructing a new store and apartment for Mr. Frantz. This was a wonderful week for Mrs. Bessie Jones, Shavertown, and her daughter Mrs. Williard Hoover as they watched young, 18-year-old Kenneth Roberts win the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout Competition on Monday night with a baritone solo. He also appeared on Godfrey’s morning show on Wednesday. La Cpl. John Hackling, Noxen, has been honorably discharged from the Signal Corps at Camp Gordon, Georgia. John, the son of Mrs. Sophia Hackling, is a talented musician, one of three organists at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Shavertown. 40 Years Ago Feb. 4, 1965 NOTED PEDESTRIAN STRUCK DOWN IN BEAUMONT Beaumont folks could tell time by watching to see when the Seipler brothers walked by along the highway, and this happened twice a day for many a year. Then Thursday night at 7:15, 70-year-old Howard L. Seipler crossed Route 309 toward his home up on the hill for the last time, and was struck by what turned out to be, ironi- cally, a slowmoving car on a treacherously icy roadway. Pfc. Stanley Parduski, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ignatious Parduski, Hillcrest Drive, Shavertown, arrived home last week from Okinawa, where he had been serving with the Marine Corps. The three-point field goal instituted by the Eastern Professional Basketball League this season is proving to be very popular with everyone. Most of the players have failed to score a three-pointer this season. The league leaders have averaged less than one a game. 30 Years Ago Feb. 6, 1975 DALLAS MEN ACTIVE IN WILKES-BARRE YMCA Two Dallas residents were reelected as officers of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA. Ronald D. Ertley, Country Club Road, Dallas, was reelected as presi- pi dent and Frank E Paczewski, 1 Pear Tree Lane, Dallas, @ reelected as vice-president. Carol Lee Evans, 17, a senior at Dallas High School, has been chosen to represent her school in the Good Citizen Contest sponsored locally by the Daughters of the American Revolution. : Claims for regular weekly unemployment insurance bene- fits decreased by 4,150 during the past week in the seven county area of Northeastern Pennsylvania according to Guy A. Solfanelli, District Manager, Bureau of Employment Security. 20 Years Ago Feb. 6, 1985 DALLAS POST FINDS TWO COUPLES WHO; TIED THE KNOT 61 YEARS AGO o In conjunction with Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s proposal to have the Sunday before Valentine’s Day designated Worldwide Marriage Day, the Dallas Post has searched for the longest married couples in this area, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Elston, Overbrook Road, Dallas and Mr. and Mrs. Williard Cornell, Meeker, are the winners. Both couples have been married for 61 years. : Glen Mazer achieved a goal every bowler dreams of last Friday night at Bonomo’s Sports Center in Dallas. Mazer rolled a perfect 300 game and at the same time, achieved his first 700 series which has been his ambition since he first start‘ ed bowling seven years ago. Danny and Frank Natitus of 161 Harris Hill. Ro Trucksville, were recently ® sented with a $75 savings bond as grand prize winners in the Kingston Twp. Halloween House Decorating Contest. v P
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers