L Vol. 116 No. 20 The Back Mountain's Newspaper Since 1889 May 15 to May 21, 2005 An honor for ‘Coach Nark.' SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS A CROWN FOR MARY FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK aria Khoudary, a student at Gate of Heaven School, Dallas, honors this statue of the Blessed Mother at a crowning ceremony May 11. The school holds its May Crowning each year. Maria was the May Queen and Michael Olenginski was the crown bear- er. Their names were drawn, one each, from the school's second grade classes. One of 50 best in Pa. business Jane Durkin will be honored May 23 in Harrisburg. By M.B. GILLIGAN Post Correspondent DALLAS — Dr. Jane E. Durkin of Shavertown will be honored as one of Pennsylvania's 50 Best Women in Business at a ceremony on May 23 at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg. While flattered by the recog- nition, Durkin is quick to share credit for her accomplish- ments. “I've learned the importance of the team and having key people in every spot,” she said. “Surrounding yourself with the right team is so much a part of the formula for success.” The awards recognize the impact that women business owners and business leaders have in creating jobs and build- ing communities in Pennsylvania. “I was quite surprised and I do feel honored,” Durkin said, noting that her “devoted” hus- band, David Brodhead, submit- ted her name to the committee. “You have to be devoted to complete that application.” Durkin is co-owner and pres- ident of Dallas Family Practice. She and two partners set up the independent practice after the Wyoming Valley Health Care System terminated all physician contracts in 2000. “My partners and I felt that it was important to continue on in Dallas. I felt connected to my patients and the communi- ty,” Durkin said. Her partners are Richard Oley, D.O., and Irvin Jacobs, M.D., the founder of the original Dallas Family Practice 41 years ago. Jacobs sold the practice to WVHCS in the 1980's. “The most remarkable thing was that we were able to do it without interrupting patient care at all,” Durkin said. They closed one office on December 31, 2000 and opened the new office at 16 Church Street in Dallas on January 2, 2001. FOR THE POST/M.B. GILLIGAN Dr. Jane E. Durkin, a partner in Dallas Family Practice, has been named one of the state's 50 Best Women in Business. advocacy for women in busi- ness. “We have about 15 employ- The top 50 award winners were selected by an independ- ent panel of judges based on several criteria including dedi- cation to business growth and See TOP 50, Page 2 V Inside The Post Lake-Lehman High School and Junior High honor rolls. BACK MOUNTAIN — A most of the time we forget DALLAS TOWNSHIP DEVELOPMENT Big box’ store not in the plan Developer unveils concept that includes shops and housing on former farmland. By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — The frantic pace of development in the township will be maintained if the projects reviewed by the Planning Commission at its May 10 meeting come to fruition. A “concept” for the 47-acre former Yalick farm near the intersection of Route 415 and 118 shows a mixed-use devel- opment of townhouses, shops and offices. That is a far cry from the “big Full-color box” store that developer J. Naparlo drawi ng of predicted two years ago, a plan that spawned visions of traffic jams and the concept. going-out-of-business signs. Page 3 Naparlo’s company, C&N Dining, bought the land in 1998 for $1.5 million. Since then, he said he’s invested hundreds of thousands more in studies and surveys, while obtaining most of the permits required to build a Wal-mart or similar store. But he said last week that was never his real intention. “You always put your worst-case scenario down” when seeking approvals, Naparlo said. That is especially true for a highway occupancy permit. Proposing a major retail development meant he had to conduct a traffic study, and ultimately buy a vacant gas station at the center of Dallas See BIG BOX, Page 3 TOBY CREEK PROTECTION 12 Pages, 1 Section Calendar : V¥ How To Reach Us News: 675-5211 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 Advertising: 829-7101 Subscriptions - and Delivery: 829-5000 group of people hoping to form an organization to improve and protect Toby Creek will hold their second meeting this week. They will gather Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m., at Pizza Perfect in Trucksville. Those arriving by 6:30 can take a short walk alongside the creek, with views of a historic stone-arch tunnel and an old mill founda- tion. “The creek runs alongside a major artery, the Cross Valley Expressway, and we can’t help notice it after a heavy rain, but about it even though we drive over it all the time,” said Gail Smallwood, a Dallas resident who is active with the group. At the first meeting, held in March, Josh Longmore, water- shed specialist for the Luzerne Conservation District, described how a watershed association can attract people from all walks of life. “The commonality among group members is that they are interested in the natural See CREEK, Page 2 Young men cited for help building hockey rink By CAMILLE FIOTI Post Correspondent JACKSON TWP. — Edward Hon and Patrick Deets, Back Mountain Youth Hockey volunteers, and parents of BMYH players were recognized for their exemplary com- munity service at the May 2 board of supervisors meeting. Hon and Deets volunteered their time and effort to build a new ice hockey rink at the township recreation field this winter. “They were instrumental, not only in putting the rink up, but acquiring the rink for us,” Supervisor Al Fox said. “We helped, but they told us how to do it. They knew what to do.” A large group of volunteers, including the hockey play- ers, their parents, and township employees helped build the rink. “Without the work of these two gentlemen, we probably wouldnt have had the success that we did this year,” Fox added. Crime ‘Watch chairman Edward Chesnovitch expressed disappointment in the low turnout at the last crime watch meeting on April 28. At that meeting, Luzerne County Sheriff Barry Stankus, accompanied by a search dog, pre- sented a new program to help find missing persons. “If you have a person in a building, rather than sending a whole S.W.A.T. team in there, they have the dog go in with a han- dler for backup,” Chesnovitch said. Another part of the program teaches kids what to do if they get lost. A fanny pack is handed out to children in See JACKSON, Page 2 Both the prom- ise and prob- lems of Toby Creek are evi- dent in this photo, taken in the streambed across Route 309 from Sheetz. Distinctive shale outcrop- pings are marred by fall- en branches and trash that have accumu- lated in the water's path. POST FILE PHOTO Election Day Café at Trucksville United Methodist Church On Tuesday May 17, Pennsylvania’s Primary Election Day, the members of Trucksville United Methodist Church will be offering light refreshments at their Election Day Café. There will be coffee and donuts and a light lunch menu of sandwiches, hot dogs and wimpies beginning at 7a.m. A special feature will be Lunch-to- Go, a choice of sandwich, chips, pick- le, a sweet treat and a beverage, all freshly made and ready for takeout. Indoor and outdoor seating will be available for those wishing to eat on- site. The café will remain open until 2 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Trucksville United Methodist Church’s Building Campaign. The church is located at 40 Knob Hill Road, Trucksville and is a newly designated polling place for Kingston Township. Everyone is welcome whether com- ing to vote or not. EN
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