PAA i 4 The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, May 8, 2005 OUR OPINION Let's capture the moment for greater cooperation ow! No better word could describe the stand- ing-room-only crowd that turned out for a pre- liminary presentation of a “comprehensive mas- ter plan” currently under development for the Back Mountain Area Council of Governments. Nearly 100 people filled the McGowan Conference Room in College Misericordia’s Bevevino Library — donated for the evening by the college — and they not only listened, they expressed their own hopes and visions for the area. The details are less important than the desire that was evi- dent not only for good planning, but for cooperation among the municipalities that comprise the Back Mountain. Audience members came from many towns and walks of life, but shared a common concern that the place they love not become just another strip-centered, traffic-congested, charm- less suburb. The COG has had its ups and downs since it began to form only three years ago. Its membership of four municipalities represent the lion’s share of the region’s population and com- merce, but the commitment of one major player, Kingston Township, has been lukewarm. Jackson Township and Franklin Township, less affected for now by growth pressures, have not joined, and the COG made a conscious decision to exclude Harveys Lake. That was a mistake and should be cor- rected. No matter what impressions we have of one another, there’s more chance to influence someone who is in the club than one who is outside. This plan, and the enthusiasm it generated at the May 2 presentation, should influence leaders in all communities to step up and support joint ventures that address regional issues such as traffic and development. The COG, even though nothing more than a loose confederation, is clearly the best avenue currently available to do so. Might COG membership cost a little money? Certainly, but the strength of numbers spreads that modest burden around. For example, grants that are paying for the planning study total nearly $200,000, but have cost the four members just a combined $50,000, allocated by population size. And the expenses might likely be offset by savings gained through greater inter-municipal cooperation. It is clear that the biggest issues we confront are not limit- ed to a single town or borough, they are regional. Traffic con- gestion? Flooding along our streams? Water supplies? Noise and light pollution? None of them respect boundary lines, and these and others become more worrisome each year and with each additional housing unit. Even if it’s not perfect, we have a vehicle that can be used to defend our communities against harm, and to enhance their attributes. We should take advan- tage of this tool. If your town isn’t on board and you think it should be, tell your officials as much at the next meeting. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel e On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Point in a remote corner of Utah, the presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific rail- roads meet and drive a ceremonial golden spike that connects their railroads and makes transcontinental railroad service possi- ble for the first time in U.S. history. In their eagerness for govern- ment land grants, the two lines had built right past each other and the final meeting place had to be renegotiated. * On May 14, 1948, in Tel Aviv, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaims the State of Israel, establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years. ¢ On May 15, 1958, the Oscar-winning musical “Gigi” opens at New York's Royale Theater. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the film starred Maurice Chevalier and Leslie Caron and included the hit songs “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” and “I Remember It Well.” ‘ ¢ On May 9, 1960, the Food and Drug Administration approves the world’s first commercially produced birth-control pill — Enovid-10, made by the G.D. Searle Company of Chicago. e On May 12, 1970, the Senate confirms President Richard Nixon’s nomination of Judge Harry A. Blackmun to the U.S. Supreme Court. Blackmun was regarded as a staunch conservative when he joined the high court, but all that changed in 1973 when he authored the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion in America. e On May 11, 1981, reggae legend Bob Marley dies of cancer in Miami Beach, Fla. Marley, born in Jamaica in 1945, formed his band, the Wailers, in 1963. In the early 1970s, the band’s music began to catch on outside Jamaica, assisted by Eric Clapton’s cover of “I Shot the Sheriff.” * On May 13, 1993, “Knots Landing” goes off the air after run- ning on Thursday nights for more than 13 years. The show was a spin-off of prime-time soap opera hit “Dallas.” “Knots Landing” outlasted its predecessor, as well as “Dynasty” and “Falcon Crest,” two other prime-time soaps of the 1980s. (c) 2005 King Features Synd., Inc. Letters are welcome Letters to the editor are welcome. Letters can be submitted by e-mail to: thepost@leader.net, or by mail to: The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711. 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 Say, B.B., what's the buzz? Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LIBRARY NEWS Two events are rousing successes We are pleased to report that both the Wordhorde, held on April 29 at the library, and the fundraiser for all of the libraries in Luzerne County, . held on May CAROL 1 at the KING Westmoreland Club, were out- standing successes. Congratulations to all those who planned the events and thanks to those who supported them. Brief reminders of the many programs Mrs. Bauman has planned for children and young adults. For more detailed infor- mation, call the library at 675- 1182. e Baby-sitters course, to be held on Saturday, May 21, from 10 am. to 4:30 p.m. for stu- dents age 11 to 15. The cost is $40, payable at the library in advance by check made payable to the American Red Cross. Class limited to 12 students. o “Doughnuts and Discussion” for ages 10, 11 and - 12. Meets four times in the. summer to discuss junior fic- tion books and enjoy refresh- ments. Registration starts on May 10. Organizational meet- ing to be held on Monday, May 23, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to decide on books, dates and times. e Young Adult Book Discussion Group for ages 13 through 18, in same format as “D and D.” Registration starts May 10. ¢ “Relax and Read” for young adults who read and review books, with chances to win a prize. Program begins June 1 and continues through August 5, [NN J The historical novel about the bubonic plague in a remote village in England in 1666, “Year of Wonders,” by Geraldine Brooks, won the unanimous recommendation of those attending the most recent meeting of the Book Discussion Group. While the topic is grim, the story is told in such a fasci- nating way, and the characters are so well developed, that the book captures and holds the attention of the reader to the end. There is a museum in the small town of Eyam that com- memorates the actual events of “the year of wonders,” when the townsfolk agreed to quaran- tine themselves so that those in other communities might be saved from the plague. (NN J : A second book discussion group has been formed because of the long waiting list of the original one. Details will be given later. Meanwhile, we solicit distinctive names for both groups. GUEST COLUMN Plan now for summer forest By ALLYSON MUTH Whether your goals are to create a trail, harvest some tim- ber, perform timber stand improvements, open a good pic- nic area, pick out an overlook site, enhance wildlife, or put in a new road, the best operating season for getting machinery in the woods is just around the corner. Successful forays into the woods require planning. Just as you have forest steward- ship objectives for your proper- ty, so should you have plans for your mid-summer activities. Three key points to keep in mind as you make your plans include: location, access, and outcomes. Location: Map out and flag sensitive areas to restrict access. These may include ephemeral streams (streams that are only there when it rains), wetlands or boggy areas, steep slopes, wildflower patch- es, etc. — whatever you deem important and do not want dis- activities turbed. Note on maps and flag out in the woods where activi- ties are going to occur. gis allows you and the equi t operator to know exactly where work will occur and prevents mistakes. Access: Go ahead and make See TREES, Page 5 70 Years Ago May 10, 1935 DALLAS MAN KILLED IN MINE ACCIDENT Nicholas Shields, 29, of Dallas R.D. 3, one of the seven men killed last Tuesday after- noon when a falling boulder crashed into the cage on which they were being ONLY : YESTERDAY foisted to the surface at South Wilkes-Barre Colliery of Glen Alden Coal Company, will be buried this morning. He is survived by his wife, the for- mer Helen Conklin. You could get: four pounds of bananas for 17 cents; a quart of ginger ale for 10 cents; four cans of spaghetti for 19 cents; cabbage for five cents a pound. 60 Years Ago May 11, 1945 GIRVAN WINS MEDAL AND PROMOTION Jospeh P. Girvan, 27, now home after twenty-two combat missions as a Martin Gunner with a B-24 Liberator Heavy Bombardment Group based in Southern Italy, has been award- ed the Air Medal for “meritous achievement” and has been pro- moted to the rank of Technical Sergeant. William Phillips, 21, seaman first class and a veteran of the invasions of Italy and France, has been killed in action in the Far Pacific Theatre of Operations according to a Naval Dispatch received the morning following V-E Day by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Phillips of Dallas. 50-Years Ago May 13, 1955 SATISFIED THIEF TAKES DODGE SECOND TIME FROM USED CAR LOT ~ “There’s nothing like a satis- fied customer,” according to L.L. Richardson who this week had the same 1939 grey 4-door Dodge Sedan stolen from his used car lot for the second time. Two local Councilmen, Warden Kunkle and Joseph MacVeigh, were honored at the third annual Testimonial Dinner of Luzerne County Local Government Officials at Wilkes College Wednesday night. Playing at the Dallas Outdoor Theatre: “Man Without A Star” starring Kirk Douglas, Jeanne Crain, and Claire Trevor; “Captain Lightfoot” starring Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush; “Sign Of The Pagan” star- ring Jeff Chandler and Jack Palance. 40 Years Ago May 13, 1965 USES FOUND FOR MATHERS BUILDING Trucksville’s “Little Cow Palace” or the Mathers Building, as it is formerly known, located across from the firehall on Carverton Road, adjacent to the highway, has finally found some likely ten- ants. One part of the building will be used to house a new Economy Store supermarket, and another portion will serve as a teen recreation and meet- ing spot. Caddie LaBar hesitates to guess that he has been robbed 40 times in the last ten years, but it is a fact that his gun dis- play over years has drawn more crooks than a porch light draws bugs on a hot summer night. You could get: tomatoes for 39 cents a pound, four cucum- bers for 29 cents, three 16 ounce packages of strawberries for $1 and a one pound box of Ritz Crackers for 19 cents. 30 Years Ago May 8, 1975 SKAMMER PITCHES NO-HITTER Sophomore Steve Skammer pitched the first no-hitter of the season in the Wyoming Valley Baseball League to lead the Mountaineers to a 11-0 victory over Wyoming Seminary. James H. Balmer, Dallas, was re-elected a director of the Tri State Mutual Agents Association at its 30th annual convention held at the Princess Hotel, Hamilton, Bermuda. On display at the Back Mountain Memorial Library is a collection of rare fossils from the collection of Noxen resident William Klose. Among them are a turtle shell from the bad- lands of South Dakota; a coral colony from Alpena County dat- ing back to the Upper Devonian period; a wild pig jaw from the ice age gravel found in Chicken, Alaska; and dinosaur footprints discovered in the Connecticut Valley representing the Triassic Period. : 20 Years Ago May 8, 1985 WENDY VAUGHN, 10, IS LITTLE MISS AMER) Wendy Vaugh, age 10, a fifth grade student at Dallas Intermediate School, won first place in Pennsylvania in the lit- tle Miss America Pageant held recently in Philadelphia. Mark Kunkle, manager! of Kingston Township, is expect- ed to submit his resignation tonight at the township super- visors meeting. Kunkle told The Dallas Post that he will withhold all comments until after tonight's proceedings. fq SES The Lake-Lehman Junior and Senior High School’s branch of the Pennsylvania Industrial Arts Student Association thas once again received top honors in state competition held at the Host Inn in Harrisburg on § iti 25, 26, and 27. : Only Yesterday q is compiled from +8 back-issue files | of The Post. i 3 \ 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers