Vol. 116 No. 8 e’" Sunday gervice held at Dallas United Methodist. il SERVING THE COMMUNI L The Back Mountain's Newspaper Since 1889 February 20 to February 26, 2005 i) 50¢ TIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Six firms in running for school work Staff report DALLAS TWP. — Six architectural and engineering firms are in the run- ning to produce a feasibility study that could define future construction and renovation projects in the Dallas School District. At its Feb. 14 meeting, the School Board received bids from 12 compa- nies and agreed to ask six for a detailed presentation of their proposal. To make the choice, each board mem- ber had a chance to vote for their top four picks. According to Acting Superintendent Frank Galicki, the six highest vote-getters were: Quad 3 Group of Wilkes-Barre, seven votes; Borton/Lawson of Wilkes-Barre, four votes; The Palumbo Group of Scranton, four votes; Highland Associates of Clarks Summit, three votes; The Architectural Studio of Allentown, three votes; and Basco Associates of York, three votes. See SCHOOL WORK , pg 2 Rater for new development worries resident By CAMILLE FIOTI Post Correspondent “If I'm gonna get put down, they better put me under. | have too much going on.” Flossie Finn, Retired (sort of) teacher, guidance counselor and coach FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Lauren Collini, Sarah Skammer and Flossy Finn practice some basic pitching techniques. ‘Flossie’ keeps on keepin’ on Retired guidance counselor continues to coach softball, despite great discomfort. By CAMILLE FIOTI Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. — Carol Yezilski is worried about the negative effects the proposed Saddle Ridge development would have on the water supply in the surrounding areas. en not against building,” she said ¥0 the supervisors at their Feb. 15 meeting. “I just think we need to be conscious of what we are doing, espe- cially to the water table. I'm hoping that you take this seriously since you are the gatekeepers of what goes on out here.” The Department of Environmental See WATER, pg 2 Life has thrown a lot of curve balls at Flossie Finn. Despite undergoing numerous surgeries over the last 10 years in an effort to correct scoliosis, (curvature of the spine), like a batter with a 3-2 count, she keeps swinging back. The inability to stand for long peri- ods of time, and frequent intense pain haven't stopped the retired Lake-Lehman guidance counselor and girls softball coach. For the last five years she’s been teaching kids the basics of pitching, hitting, catch- ing and fielding every week at her games, she coached from a lawn chair. Her first surgery was in 1993. Metal rods were placed in her verte- brae to fuse her spine. “My spine was bending and it was affecting my lungs. Every one of my vertebrae is fused except two in my neck,” she said. She taught, counseled and coached many of her friends’, neighbors’ and relatives’ children, including her own during her years at Lake-Lehman. Her children, Beth, 35, and Chuck, 31, visited their mother in the guid- ance office just like other students. “They forgot I was their mother when they were in my office, and they really talked.” She also coached Beth in softball. “She took our team as far as they’ve softball and baseball training center in Shavertown, Flossie Finn's Dug- Out. Located in the old Shavertown Lumber Company building on the corner of East Center and Main streets, the center offers individual and group lessons to children ages 9 to 18. Finn, whose given name is Florence, began a teaching career in New Jersey in 1961, then accepted a position as an English teacher at Lake-Lehman High School in 1963. She later became a guidance coun- selor. She coached field hockey, Little League and dedicated 25 years to coaching girls softball, even after it became painful to do so. “My back was really prohibiting me from standing,” she said. Finn didn’t give up, though. When she could no longer stand through See FLOSSIE, pg 3 Cable TV i | rate hike in March Cable television supplier Adelphia says customers also will get more channels. By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN — Depending on what level of service they have, Adelphia cable television customers will be paying from 5 to 24 percent more for service beginning next month. Mark DeStefano, Adelphia general manager for this region, said the increases are necessary to cover high- er costs, and the new pricing includes more channel choices. “We're delivering new products and we're seeing price increases,” he said. The largest increases are in Adelphia’s digital packages, which are bought by about one-fourth of its cus- tomers. While the increase is 5.3 percent for Adelphia Classic Cable, which includes 70 channels but no digital service, the hike for the Commonwealth plans to launch competing service in spring. Page 2. “bronzepak” of 41 digital channels is 14.4 percent. The price of the broadcast basic service, with 12 channels, remains unchanged at $11.95 per month. The largest percentage increase is for Digital Basic, which goes from $10.45 to $12.95 per month. DeStefano said the digital increases are larger in part because the compa- ny intentionally underpriced digital service to drive demand when it was introduced a few years ago. Each higher level of digital service will now add a premium channel, such as HBO or Cinemax, with its multiple ver- sions. The increases are not a consis- See CABLE, pg 2 Iraq war veteran stops by to Spc. Matthew Lipo visits with Dallas third graders who wrote him while he was in Iraq. By M.B. GILLIGAN Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. — It all started with a brick. Dallas Elementary School celebrated this past Veterans Day by building a memorial wall out of cardboard bricks. Each brick had the name of a veteran or active duty soldier the students knew. Third grader Patrick Gelso put Specialist tthew Lipo’s name on one of those bricks because they e neighbors. Then, the class sent out a packet of cards and letters. In response, Spc. Lipo, a 1987 graduate of Dallas High School, stopped in to thank Michael Viglone’s third grade class last Wednesday. “They were great — definitely great,” Lipo said of the cards and letters he received from the class while he was on active duty in Iraq. “I got them right around Christmas Eve and that was nice.” Lipo, of Bravo Battery of the 109th Pennsylvania National Guard Field Artillery, spent the last 11 months in Iraq. Some of the time he lived in a tent or in small buildings specially built for the soldiers. “In August, I got a new job and moved to a palace in See VETERAN, pg 3 thank class FOR THE POST/M:B. GILLIGAN Third graders George Pfeiffer, left, and Andrew Scutt wait their turn to ask Spc. Lipo questions about his tour of duty in Iraq. “Scouting for Food’ will help to fill Back Mountain Food Bank The Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America will hold its annual Scouting for Food Program next week. This charity collects food and monetary donations over a one-week period. On Sunday, Feb. 27, from 1-3 p.m., and all throughout the week, Scouting for Food door hangers will be distributed in neighborhoods throughout the Back Mountain. The food will be picked up beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, sorted, boxed and taken to the Back Mountain Food Bank at the Trucksville Methodist Church. All food donations will be stay in the Back Mountain area. Pack 281 and Troop 281 of Dallas represent just a few of many organizations that will participate ¥ the drive. Uncollected bags may be dropped off directly at the food bank. Some items on the food bank’s wish list are: Cereal, juices, canned potatoes, beets, and carrots, coffee, tea and canned milk. Any non-perishable unopened food will be greatly appreciated. Please give generously. Visioning committee meets Feb. 22 The Dallas Community Visioning and Harvest Festival Committee will meet on Tuesday Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Dallas Borough Council Chambers, 25 Main St., Dallas. The agenda will include an update on recent developments in the region for the task force committees and the reorganization of the Dallas Harvest Festival Committee for the purpose of planning the 2005 festival, to be held on September 18. New volunteers and anyone interested in learning about these programs are welcome. Questions may be directed to the Dallas Borough administrative office by phoning 675-1389. Inside The Post High school sports roundup. ( ) Honor rolls. 12 Pages, 1 Section Calendar........ va. ss 12 Church shies 10 Crossword .... 0 uu. 8 Editorials... .i.cai mn, 4 Obituaries ..... ova 5 SChOOl: = in vii vivian y 1 SPOILS vive asin nse 79 How To Reach Us News: 675-5211 thepost@leader.net 15 N. 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