The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, April 17, 2005 OUR OPINION Let's get together and control our destiny o meetings that took place simultaneously last week illustrate the potential and perils facing our region. In one, at the Dallas Township municipal building, developers struggled to meet minimal planning and zoning requirements for projects that may add nearly 250 Louseholds. At the other, in Shavertown, frustrated citizens and officials tried to make sense.out of a study of flood pro- tection measures that offered few concrete paths to improve- ment. What was lacking at each was a connection between the two topics, development and flooding, the latter being a symptom of the former’s effect on our environment. Both the proposed 101-lot Saddle Ridge and the 145-lot Goodleigh Manor will increase storm water runoff into Toby’s Creek. In the case of Saddle Ridge, water that runs down from the north side of the subdivision will enter a small stream near Wyoming Road, which flows into the headwaters of Trout Brook. As it makes its way downstream, that water will be joined by runoff from the southern side of Saddle Ridge, which the plan shows being directed into Trout Brook in a pipe that will run under Lower Demunds Road. Trout Brook, is a major tributary of Toby’s Creek, so its increased volume has a direct effect on the frequency and severity of flooding in Shavertown. The disconnect between these two linked issues illustrates the critical need for an authority that can cross municipal boundaries as effectively as do flood waters. To an extent, we should expect the Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies to play that role, but judging by the results of the flooding study, they are not up to the task. That leads to the obvious conclusion that the Back Mountain Council of Governments, now in its infancy, must be nurtured and fortified with greater cooperation and support so that it can act in the best interests of all of the region. The strains of increased population, housing and commer- cial development are not going away; if anything they are increasing at a more rapid pace. The combined power of con- cerned citizens and officials from multiple municipalities can give us a fighting chance to harness these forces instead of allowing them to overwhelm us. You can help give us a fresh face Once in a while, opportunities come along for us to give a little help to the place we live in and care about, without expending a great deal of money or even of effort. One of those times is looming this Saturday, when volunteers throughout the Commonwealth will pull on garden gloves, grab hold of trash bags and set out to clean up unsightly litter that has been callously tossed from the windows of speeding cars, dropped along roadsides by uncaring bicycle riders or has blown in from some other locale. There will be at least three venues here in the Back Mountain where we can do good for ourselves, our neighbors and the environment we all share. The work might not seem like much — removing discarded shopping bags from tree limbs, picking up beer and soda cans or raking leaves — but it can make a big difference in how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us. There's probably no better indica- tor of community self-image than the volume of trash lying in plain view. If there is none, we assume the people who live nearby take pride in their surroundings, and in themselves. But if roadsides and stream banks are marked by ugly refuse long after the snow has receded, we — rightfully — think no one in the town cares a whit about the responsibility they have to their environment or their neighbors. You don’t need to make a big commitment to be part of this attack on visual blight — even if you show up for just an hour you will be helping to make our hometowns a little cleaner and more respectable. You can help even if you don’t pick up a single scrap of rub- bish. Just as with a disease, the easiest way to address the lit- ter problem is to prevent it in the first place. So, please, wait until you get home to toss out that gum wrapper or empty bottle. Every little bit makes a difference. Letters, columns and editorials Editorials, which are the opinion of the management of The Post, appear on the editorial page and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. Any artwork represents the opinion of the cartoonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, sub- ject to the following guidelines: ® Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. e Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. ® The Post retains the right to accept or reject any letter, and to edit letters for grammar and spelling, as well as to eliminate any libel, slander or objectionable wording. Letters can be sent many 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. Always include a daytime phone number for verification. 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 Erika Calvert ADVERTISING Pat O'Donnell PREPRESS MANAGER Can't resist a peek at the photographer. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. Emergency Medical Service Award nominations due April 25 professionals from Geisinger’s Emergency Department that will review the nominations and choose the award recipients based on merit for heroism and community service. Heroism is defined as the use of extreme personal measures in an effort to help save a per- son’s life. Community service is described as providing outstanding serv- ice while serving in the capacity of EMS provider by providing leadership, com- mitment, and education in the commu- In recognition of National Emergency Medical Service Week, Geisinger Health System is accepting nominations for the 2005 Emergency Medical Service Awards. Nominations must be complet- ed and sent to or dropped off at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Emergency Department or the Geisinger Medical Center Emergency Department by April 25. For the second year, Geisinger will recognize emergency services providers who have made significant contributions in heroism and community service while providing essential care every day as the medical front line. Multiple winners will be chosen by an awards committee and honored at a presentation during EMS week, May 15-21. The winners will be selected by a panel of judges comprised of healthcare nities they serve. able online at Members of any local emergency med- ical service, including paramedics, emer- gency medical technicians, first respon- ders, dispatchers, firefighters and police are eligible. Nomination forms are avail- www.geisinger.org/ ems. pdf. or in Geisinger’s Emergency Departments. Corrections and clarifications An entry in the Only Yesterday column published April 3 contained the incorrect spelling of a name. Taken from the April 6, 1945 newspaper, the item stated that Marine Pvt. Joseph Rushinko of Beaumont had been killed at Iwo Jima. The correct last name is Rusinko. The error was made in the 1945 paper. An entry in the column published March 20 regarding the resignation of Mary Reistetter Ehret as food service manager at Dallas High School, while taken entirely from an article that appeared 20 years earli ¢ er, could be read to imply a link between he ) resignation and a telegram that announced the cafeteria union workers’ intention to begin selective strikes. Ehret said last week that she left Dallas to take another job and to pursue a career in dietetics. 70 Years Ago April 19, 1935 - GRUDGINGLY, DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ADOPTED Adoption of Daylight Saving Time in the valley will force B ac k Mountain communi- ties to observe the same Sys- tem, begin- ning on unday, ONLY YESTERDAY April 28. There has been some opposition to the plan in this section but it is believed that the majority of towns will approve. Thirty-five other Pennsylvania cities and towns, ten less than last year, will go along this year. Responding to the Post's Trade Expansion Contest, read- ers brought news items to the newspaper and won points in a contest with prizes totaling $650. Among the tidbits: The oldest man to present himself at Dallas Dairy was Peter Culp, 93; Edward R. Tinklebaugh wore the largest hat of anyone to visit Charles Gregory's, size 7 3/4; the oldest car registered at Oliver’s Garage was a 1923 Dodge coupe owned by George Norton; Jane and Wayne Perrin, age 2 years 7 months, were the youngest twins at Devens. Representatives of the Department = of Interior, National Parks Service, have been making surveys in the vicinity of Kitchen Creek and securing options on farms, dwellings, and nearby proper- ties. Appraisals have been made of much of the property in the vicinity, but most owners have considered the offers “too low.” 60 Years Ago April 20, 1945 MISSING FLYER REPORTED SAFE Mr. and Mrs. Albert Burkhardt, of Hunlock Creek R.D. 1, have received word that their son, Cpl. Edwin A. Burkhardt, who has been miss- ing since his flight over Germany on December 17, 1944, is now back with American Forces. Sunset Hall on Lake street, familiar Dallas landmark for five generations, has been sold by the owner, Mrs. Morgan A. Wilcox to Geroge Uebe, textile importer-exporter of Boonton, N.J. Technician Sergeant Charles Billing, 33, died April 3, on Luzon according to a War Department message received yesterday morning by his wife, the former Elizabeth Frantz, whose home is at 4 Brook Street, Shavertown. 50 Years Ago April 22, 1955 STORE OPENS IN CENTERMORELAND Stacy Schoonover, DeMunds, has opened the Center Lumber & Hardware Co., in the former James Winters store building at Centermoreland. Westmoreland High School was represented at the Northeast District State Band in Hazleton by two band mem- bers, Joan Sickler and Keith Yeisley. Joan plays the flute and Keith plays the cornet. John Parrish, Wyoming R. D., has a crew at work dismantling the 46-room Jennie house at Skytop. Built in 1847, it was, until 1953, used as an annex to Skytop lodge. Mr. Parrish has found many interesting things while razing old structures in the past, such as letters dated as late as 1828 and human skeletons. 40 Years Ago April 15, 1965 REESE MAKES RUN FOR TAX COLLECTOR Thomas E. Reese, a lifelong resident of Dallas, announced his candidacy for the position of tax collector, being vacated by Arthur Dungey, who has held the post for 32 years. If elected, Reese said he would establish an office at 65 Main Street. A pan left over the burner of a kitchen stove was responsible for a fire in the kitchen of the Russel Montedonico home, W. Center St., Shvertown, on Thursday evening. Golfers could sign up for the 1965 Amateur Sweet Valley Open Handicap Golf Tournament, to be played at the Sweet Valley Golf Course. The entry fee was $1, and clubs could be rented for 25¢. 30 Years Ago April 17, 1975 LEGION POST SLATES ‘POLACK NIGHT’ The Dallas American Legion Home Association planned its annual “Polack Night,” featur- ing Polish delicacies and a band. Bill Motyka was chair- man, assisted by Al “Ciccarelski,” Ted Kostrabala, Gus Shuleski, Harold “Brobstski,” Tom “Reeski,” and Bud “Shanski.” Lehman School District may Library Auction, it has been Scott Slocum won the mile and 880 yard runs as Dallas opened the track and field sea- son with a 98-52 pasting of Northwest. John Majewski won the high jump with a leap of 6’6”. : A substantially expand | summer recreation program fo all boys and girls in the Lake- well bring cheers from both the youngsters and their parents. James Mahon was hired as proj- ect manager, assisted by Sandra Ashton and Richard Gorgone. 20 Years Ago April 17, 1985 SEVEN VIE FOR SCHOOL DIRECTOR POSITIONS Seven Dallas residents are seeking one of the four avail- able seats on the Dallas School Board. The voting will take place in May as Dallas voters will choose four of the follow- ing seven candidates: John Cleary, Dr. Mahmoud Fahmy, Dr. William D. Camp, Tom Landon, JR., Jim Richardson, Tex Wilson, and Pat Gregory. Monty Evans of Dallas has® been named chairman of the 1985 Back Mountain Memorial announced by members of the Library Board of Directors. Ed and Bernadine Weiss, the Dallas couple who repeatedly have been the victims of van- dals, suffered yet another attack on their home. Twenty friends and neighbors accompanied the Weisses to a Borough Council meeting last February, in which discussion centered around starting a neighborhood crime watch Fresh Air Fund planning 2005 summer visits The Fresh Air Fund is seeking volun- teers and host families for the summer 2005 visits of children from New York City. Each summer, more than 5,000 chil- ~ dren, ages 6 to 18, spend two weeks or more with host families in suburban and small-town communities in the northeast and Canada. Local Fresh Air Fund volun- teers recruit and interview prospective host families, check references and coor- dinate activities. For more information or to volunteer, call Denise Moskaluk at 674-3707. To learn more about The Fresh Air Fund, visit www.freshair.org. ® Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Post
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers