2 The Dallas Post Sunday, February 20, 2005 CABLE (continued from page 1) tent percentage, he said, because of changes in the channel offerings within each one, which he described as “repackaging.” The “goldpak,” for example, will add 16 channels instead of the present 13. Its price will rise by 7.9 percent. The most expensive digital option, “ultimatepak,” will cost $48.95 monthly, a 7.7 per- cent increase. All digital pric- ing is in addition to the analog service, plus a $4.50 monthly charge for a converter and remote control. In a mailing the company sent to customers last month, Adelphia suggested “an excit- ing change” in packages that costs $86.82 per month to replace one that is now $75.98, a 14.3 percent increase. After being notified by Adelphia of the pending increases, which will take effect with the March billing cycle, the Kingston Township supervisors voted at their February meeting to send a let- ter of protest. But since cable suppliers, unlike public utili- ties, do not need governmental approval for rate changes, the vote was little more than a token reaction. Adelphia pays Kingston Township a 5 percent franchise fee for the right to operate. That brings in nearly $60,000 per year, said township Manager Eddie O'Neill. Other municipalities collect only 3 percent, including the “An exciting change” will cost 14.3 percent more per month municipalities in the Abington Council of Governments, in the Clarks Summit area. But David O'Neill, South Abington Township Manager, said the fee is simply an additional tax on residents, since it is tacked on to the price of service. “Adelphia cable does not pay us to be here,” O'Neill said. “Our residents are paying us to keep them here.” The Abington council nego- tiates a contract with Adelphia that covers all 14 member municipalities, but does not get any better prices than the Back Mountain, although it does receive free service in public buildings and a pledge to upgrade service to match what is offered other places. DeStefano says Adelphia is aware of dissatisfaction with rates, but is trying to keep them as low as possible. “This is a fiercely competitive indus- try,” he says, with the company battling for customers with satellite service providers such as Dish Network and Direct TV. That competition will con- tinue to grow, he said, as the companies expand their offer- ings into voice over internet and video on demand services, which he says Adelphia is now exploring. Without other Adelphia service, $59.95.) silverpak with internet Starz/Encore/Cinemax. chise fee paid to municipalities. Adelphia rate increases Adelphia has announced new rates for cable television service, beginning in March. Here are selected examples, with the old and new monthly prices, and the percentage increases. Service Old Rate New Rate % Increase Broadcast basic (12 channels) ~~ $11.95 $11.95 - Classic Cable (channels 2-71) 4594 48.37 5.3 bronzepak 10.45 11.95 14.4 silverpak @ 20.45 22.95 122 ultimatepak © 45.45 48.95 77 Digital converter/remote 450 450 = (Required with all digital packages.) High-speed internet 4295 4295 = (Requires classic cable service. With lower Adelphia cable service, $54.95. 53.40 (1) Replaces digital basic, adds 41 digital channels. (2) bronzepak plus any one multi-channel premium service. (3) bronzepak plus all four multi-channel premium services, HBO, Showtime, Notes: All “paks” are in addition to analog service. Prices do not include fran- 5790 8.4 Commonwealth plans ‘bundle’ PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Harveys Lake resident Robert Costigan has teamed up with Helen Cummings of Trucksville to write an account of Costigan’s experiences as a combat medic in the Vietnam War Lake man pens memoir of Vietnam War experiences By GAVIN ROBB Post Intern Harveys Lake resident Robert Costigan recently teamed up with local writer Helen Cummings of Trucksville, completing a man- uscript based on Costigan’s experiences as a combat medic with the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War. According to Costigan, the manuscript, built around U.S. paratroopers from the 173rd, focuses on his real life strug- gles as a medic in the jungles of Vietnam, trying to keep his platoon alive under adverse conditions. “The book depicts surviving in a jungle amongst animals, disease, and the enemy,” Costigan said in a gravelled voice. Costigan, a barrel-chested 57-year-old standing over six feet tall, said he served three tours of duty in Vietnam, from 1968 through 1970, acquiring a long list of awards, including two purple hearts. He said his wartime nickname of “Doc Zoo,” which also serves as the manuscript’s title, was derived from a humorous interaction with one of the jungle’s more frightening inhabitants. Cummings said that although the manuscript does deal with the horrifying reali- ties of war, light-hearted anec- . dotes, such as the acquisition of the “Doc Zoo” nickname, play a key role in telling Costigan’s story. “A lot of the books out now are filled with gore,” said Cummings, “That’s not what this book is all about. We give descriptive accounts, but there’s also lots of funny sto- ries.” Cummings said that she and Costigan have spoken with sev- eral publishers and are hoping for a late fall release. Costigan also will be fea- tured in a documentary pro- duced by Richard Briggs, titled “Voices from Vietnam,” which is scheduled to air March 30 on WVIA-TV. “It’s all local vets” said Briggs, “They all have interest- ing stories to tell and Bob is one of them. I was quite hon- ored to speak with him.” Briggs also spoke of the fierce conditions Vietnam com- bat medics faced, trying to ful- fill their duties as soldiers and give aid to the wounded while under enemy fire. “Bob was a warrior medic, so he did a great deal of fight- ing as well as healing,” said Briggs, “To be a combat medic is one of the most intense experiences anyone could ever face, and these guys were 18, 19 years old. It’s amazing.” with Dish Network TV service DALLAS TWP. — Soon after Adelphia’s price increases take effect in March, the cable television supplier may face new compe- tition. Commonwealth Telephone is planning to launch a bundle of services that will include satellite television service “in the May timeframe,” said David Weselcouch, a Commonwealth vice presi- dent. The local telephone company has formed an alliance with Echostar, which markets the Dish Network brand. Commonwealth is planning to offer a “one-bill” service of its local and long-distance telephone services, high-speed internet and digital video. “Customers will be able to deal with us as one point for cus- tomer services,” Weselcouch said. And he promised aggressive pricing. “We’ll be ready to compete with cable,” he said. While he was not ready to be more specific, he said the price for digital video would be less than if someone purchased the Dish Network separately. Channel choices are expected to be compara- ble to cable. “The Dish Network is a very robust digital video offer- ing,” he said. Commonwealth had hoped to introduce the package in March, but is holding up until it can integrate the billing into its present system. Marketing materials and plans are also in the works, so that the package can be launched throughout its service area. Weselcouch would not say what variations, if any, would be avail- able, such as phone and Dish Network or internet and Dish Network. — Ronald Bartizek SCHOOL WORK (continued from page 1) The board wants one of the companies to study existing buildings and possible future needs, then recommend any new construction or renova- tion. The most pressing proj- ect would renovate the high school, the only classroom building that hasn’t been touched in recent years. Galicki said there is no timetable for the firms’ presen- tations. “I would hope that it would be soon,” he said, but it will not be at the March work session. The board agreed to tour the Luzerne Intermediate Unit’s Auditory/Oral Center before the March 7 work session at the request of Sue Zerfoss, who heads the center. The pro- gram is housed in the district’s former administration build- ing, and Zerfoss wants to dis- cuss expansion plans that would include remodeling the building. Homeowner seeks help ® In adding garage at lake By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff HARVEYS LAKE — Jack Smulowitz asked council mem- bers for help in navigating the borough’s construction codes as he attempts to build a garage for his home at pole 51. Smulowitz told the council at its Tuesday meeting that his wife is ill, and the garage is designed to contain a lift that will help her to get into and out of the house. But Smulowitz said he has had difficulty working with the firm that oversees the bor- ough’s building code. All municipalities in Pennsylvania were required to adopt the Uniform Construction Code last year, and Harveys Lake contracted with Atlantic- Inland, a Wayne Pa. firm, for inspections. “I just had an absolutely hor- rible time with Inland,” Smulowitz said. Smulowitz said because of the snags, he missed “the win- dow of opportunity” to begin construction before winter. He did not argue with the dozen points raised by Inland, but with their attitude and respon- siveness. “I have spent an enormous amount of money with design- ers and architects attempting to comply,” he said. “I didn’t get the feeling they were work- ing with me.” Chairman Bernie Ozovek apologized for the delays and referred the matter to council member Betty Jane West, who is the borough’s liaison with Inland. “T'll contact them tomorrow and request all the files,” West promised. Mayor Richard Boice said two arrests had been made and “some are about to be arrested” for breaking into three homes in the Hanson's area of Lakeside Drive. Boice said the break-ins occurred in daylig hours last week. The sta police assisted in the investiga- tions. In other business, the coun- cil: ¢ Appointed Joseph Tierney, Matt Ross and Gary Evans to the zoning appeals board, and Justin Mazur as alternate. e Voted to raise the fine for contractors violating borough regulations from $50 to $250 plus court costs. e Appointed Jason Boice as chairman of the Environmental Advisory Council. WATER (continued from page 1) Protection requires a letter from at least one public water supplier stating that it will pro- vide water to the development, according to township engi- neer Thomas Doughton. He said that John Halbing, the principal developer, has com- mitment letters from two sup- pliers. “That’s it for us, we can’t go any further than that,” he said. “The P.U.C. (Public Utility Commission) regulates those water companies, and they're saying they have the capacity to serve him.” According to a preliminary plan, Saddle Ridge, located between Lower Demunds Road and Wyoming Road, would place 101 lots on about 73 acres of land. It would have public water and sewer serv- ice. In other news: e Robert Besecker Jr. and Daniel Jones were appointed to fill the two empty seats of the five-person planning commis- sion. e The board approved the hiring of part-time police offi- cers Todd L. Adams, Mark J. Liparela and Robert J. Odgers. Pending completion of the requirements of t Pennsylvania Municipal nil) Officers = Education an Training Commission, the offi- cers will receive an hourly rate of $13. e The spring cleanup pro- gram will run from May 2 through May 7. Vice Chairman Frank Wagner said there would be a charge this year. “We ended up with nine more dumpsters than we did any year so far. We have to put a limit on it.” The fee for a load the size of a small pickup truck will be $15, and $20 for any load eight feet or larger. He said the fee is comparable tg what Kingston Township Dallas Borough are charging. ~ Dallas Borough Christmas tree pickup Due to the recent winter conditions, many of Dallas Borough’s residents Christmas trees have not been collected. Because of the snow and icy conditions the trees are now frozen and snow cov- ered. In order to facilitate collection, the borough is asking resi- dents to uncover the trees and free them from the frozen areas. The Dallas Borough Road Department will collect trees that are uncovered and placed at the curb. The trees remaining beneath the snow will need to be left until early spring. Residents may call the road department at 674-5362 to pick up a tree or with ques- tions pertaining to the tree collection and removal. Need extra copies of this week’s Post? They are on sale at local newsstands through Saturday Dallas Lions welcome new members The Dallas Lions are looking for new members. Anyone interest- ed in joining the club should contact any club member or they can contact Frank Rollman at 675-4485. Since 1976 Tunkhannock, PA WN S 5-10 H 836-5686 or 1-800-SHEDS-30 Epg FEBRUARY SALE ON SHEDS & GARAGES Best Quality Best Price Life changes. Your insurance should keep up. That's our stand. Call me today for a complimentary financial and insurance review. (570) 696-0380 TEIGEV ELITE 405 N MEMORIAL HWY DALLAS a010182@allstate.com © Allstate You're in good hands. Subject to availability and qualifications. Insurance offered only with select companies. Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, and Allstate Life Insurance Company: Northbrook, Illinois ©2004 Allstate Insurance Company. Coverage Area: The Post covers the “Back Mountain” area of Luzerne County, including the Dallas and Lake-Lehman school districts, and southern Wyoming County. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers