The Dallas Post NEWS Sunday, May 1, 2005 CLEANUP Continued from Page 1 Foley’s project will include planting trees around the bor- ough, including along the pro- posed greenway that was the site of last year’s cleanup. The cleanup netted 24 bags of assorted trash, much of it apparently thrown from the windows of cars speeding down the highway. A blanket of ciga- rette butts remains, and Mayor Timothy Carroll suggested they might be easier to pick up with a leaf vacuum once the ground dries out. Among the more interesting finds was an old Pa. Route 115 sign, still on a post. Dave Krisanda, spokesperson for PennDOT, said maps from 1959 showed the road marked as both Pa. Route 115 and U.S. Route 309, so the sign likely had been in the creek for 40 years. The volunteers were careful not to disturb a pair of mallard ducks that have made a home near a small pool formed behind some rocks in the creek’s path. Ron Yablonsky, Watershed Manager for the state Department of Environmental Protection, congratulated the volunteers, and had an idea for how to make it easier and more effective next time. “If 25 percent of the people who live around here come out, they'd each just have to walk down to the creek and back.” Maria Carr holds the bag open for Andrea Carr. Dallas Girl Scouts, including their daughters Andrea and Christina, were cleaning the stream to earn an environmental badge. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Joanne Stiff, Jackson Township, brought along a garden hoe to get at debris in the streambed. yellow. Katie O'Neil and Michael Kukatchik, students at College Misericordia, helped with the cleanup. Also pictures is Gary Williams, Shavertown, in Emerging group aims to restore and protect Toby's Creek By JENNIFER JUDGE YONKOSKI Post Correspondent At one time the waters of Toby’s Creek powered sawmills and gristmills. Later it determined the path of rail- ways and highways. Now it is largely ignored. “The creek is one of the defining features of the Back Mountain,” Gail Smallwood, a Dallas resident and member of the just-forming Toby’s Creek Watershed Association, says. “The creek runs alongside a major artery, the Cross Valley Expressway, and we can’t help notice it after a heavy rain, but most of the time we forget about it even though we drive over it all the time.” Ignoring the creek is some- thing the members of the asso- ciation hope Back Mountain residents will stop doing. The health of the creek says a lot about the health of the land, Smallwood explains. “We need to be able to take care of it. If the creek stays healthy, we know the land is staying healthy. If we put something in the land that shouldn’t end up in the creek, then it proba- bly shouldn’t be in the land either.” Smallwood is not an expert on conservation, but she got involved in the project because she saw a need. “When The Post did the series on Toby’s Creek, I contacted the editor and said I would be interested in getting involved with the group,” she explains. “The creek runs not that far from my house and there’s a lot of history there.” According to Josh Longmore, watershed special- ist for the Luzerne Conservation District, groups like this one need people from all walks of life. He has worked with organizations that included factory workers and farmers, professional peo- ple and retired people. “The commonality among group members is that they are interested in the natural resources of that watershed,” Longmore explains. “I've had environmentalists working next to lifelong sportsmen. They're local volunteers whose focus is on conserva- tion of their watershed.” Longmore will assist the What am | doing for Lunch? In hurry? No time to cook? Don't want to clean up? We'll take care of your lunch needs fast with no problems. Quick pasta dishes, great salads, sandwiches and wraps. Oh yeah, and the best pizza and white pizza and your favorite homemade soups. "You can always count on great food & friendly service.” — Margaret Baloga, Shavertown "The chicken noodle soup was excellent." — John Nicks, Dallas And to make lunch even more enjoyable: $2 off your total bill Minimum bill before discount $10. With this coupon. One discount per table. Not good with any other offer. Expires May 15, 2005 THE DOUGH Rt 309 Dallas 675-7347 COMPANY (Justpastthe Dallas Shopping Center) group as they organize. The group held its first meeting in March and agreed that the creek is too important to the Back Mountain to be left unprotected, noting its historic value and natural beauty, along with its role as a catch basin for storm water run-off. The group hopes to secure grant money to per- form a formal assessment of the creek, but for now, no defi- nite plans have been made. “Each creek has different issues,” Smallwood says. “Agricultural runoff might be an issue for some creeks but not for others.” Longmore predicts that runoff will be Toby’s Creek’s most significant issue. “It’s likely that improper storm water management as part of growing land development is going to have a significant impact on the creek,” he says. As fields are developed into residential neighborhoods, water that used to be absorbed becomes runoff. This can lead to pollution flowing directly into the creek, flood- ing and streambed erosion. But Longmore also notes that residents of the Back Mountain are on the right track to conservation, citing Dallas Borough’s proposal to create a greenway along the creek. “The greatest potential the creek has is its advocates,” he says. The Toby's Creek group plans to hold its next meeting Wednesday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at Pizza Perfect. During this open session, they hope to gather more members so they can write a mission statement and propose group goals. A short walk along the creek, with views of a historic stone- arch tunnel and mill founda- tion will precede the meeting. “We are trying to find peo- ple who are interested in working to preserve and pro- tect Toby’s Creek,” Smallwood notes. “We hope to have repre- sentatives of the different municipalities. The watershed area is quite large, spreading into Jackson Township, Dallas Township, Dallas Borough, and into Edwardsville where it drains into the Susquehanna. All the land use comes into play; whatever we do comes into play.” Got an apartment to rent? Post a vacancy with Apartments.com and gain access to thousands of potential renters each and every day. ETN TIMESLEADER com K PENNSYLVANIA'S HOME PASE A surprising find near® | Back Mountain Trail By CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK the Back Mountain Trail Post Correspondent Council, said he was told the . machines had been reported KINGSTON TWP. — Six stolen from the basement of abandoned computer cash reg- {,e restaurant, where they had : isters, once apparently used at peep stored after being } a restaurant, were found April repjaced. i 16, dumped over the edge of “There is a $300 fine posted an access road that leads to right here for dumping i the Back Mountain Trail in things,” said Albrecht, organiz- Kingston Township. They er of the annual spring cleanup were spotted by a regular on the trail. “We'll get rid of walker of the trail, Bill these computers, but whoever Hottenstein. : put them here should be pros- The Micros machines carry ocyted.” menu selections and serial Albrecht and Judy Rimple, numbers. After inspecting Si executive director of the them, the company that origi- Anthracite Scenic Trails nally sold the registers, Digital Association, while surprised at Control Systems, in Plains, this type of dumping, admit gave Kingston Township that opening the trail has police officer Ed O'Hara the caused refuse issues. Still, they name of a Wilkes-Barre restau- 40 not want to gate the trail rant where the company said and restrict access. they had been installed when The other four machines new. were removed during the April Mark Albrecht, a member of = 93 cleanup along the trail. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Mark Albrecht, from the Back Mountain Trail Council, loads onc of six cash registers dumped along a trail access into a Kingston Township police car. Officer Ed O'Hara is investigating the source of the abandoned machines. Send your news to The Post by e-mail. thepost@leader.net Digital photos welcome, too! Deadline for submitted news is Wednesday at noon. PIKES CREEK PARK Rt. #118 (6 miles west of Dallas) 477-3188 wer! fother's Day Breakfast Bu * Go-Carts 1-8pm Sat & Sun » Mini Golf Open All Day Open 7 days a week 7 AM - PM NEW MENU ¢ FULL RESTAURANT Breakfast All Day Personal Pizzas * Choice Top Round Cheesesteaks [is Full Arcade (take outs Available) * Private Party Room Life changes. Your insurance should keep up. That’s our stand. Call me today for a complimentary financial and insurance review. (570) 696-0380 Edward Donahue (9) 405 N MEMORIAL HWY = os Allstate FLOR OR RSACES El (=Relolnnl Subject to availability and qualifications. Insurance offere Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity C ) Company, and Allstate Life Insurance Company: N 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. We try to get to as many events as possible, but staff and space limitations make it impossible to cover everything. If you have news about your family, town or organization, please send it to us and we'll try to get it in. Photographs are welcome. You may send items to the address above, or drop them off at the Uni-Mart in Dallas near the intersection of Routes 309 and 415. E-mail is the best and most timely method for submissions. Send items (digital photos, too) to: thepost@leader.net Deadline is noon, Wednesday prior to publication. ; Corrections, clarifications: The Post will correct errors of fact or clarify any misunderstandings created by a story. Call 675-5211. Have a story idea? 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