The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, July 3, 2005 OUR OPINION 59th auction year will be anything but ho-hum fter 58 years, you might think there’s not much more to be said about the Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction. After all, most of the ents and booths will be clones of the ones that pop up most years behind the library building; auctioneers will again do their best to coax high bids from the audience; the Rotary food booth will serve up the same delicious fare, and before it all begins ardent auction-goers will line up chairs to be their home-away-from-home for four days. To be sure, there will be some new attractions, such as a 50/50 drawing and a booth where teenagers — or those who want to act like one — can hurl wet sponges at authority fig- ures. One addition, a $5 bidding fee, may sound less pleasant, but only if you've forgotten the purpose of this remarkable event — to raise money that supports the library’s operations. So, if the auction is must more of the same old, same old, why go? That is such a silly question to anyone who has expe- rienced the fellowship, excitement and community spirit the auction delivers to thousands of people each year. And that’s not to mention the bargains! You could search far and wide but never encounter any- thing like this. Not only is the auction staggering in its scope and complexity, it is put on entirely by volunteers. Think about that. Scores of people and dozens of organizations come together to present a four-day show that would make any impresario proud. They prepare for months, gathering, sorting, cleaning and labeling hundreds of items. Some of them staff numerous tents for four days, while a dozen more take turns on the block, alternating between taking bids and spotting them. That food booth? All volunteers, serving up burgers, chicken and other tasty delights that were purchased with donated funds. Donations fill the new goods room, too, from local busi- nesses that do their part supporting the library by giving mer- ° chandise. Ditto for most of the plants. Individuals get into the act as well, donating used books and baskets that you can buy chances on. All you have to do is show up for the 59th installment of the auction, meet and mingle with old friends and new, and raise your hand now and then when an auction item catches your fancy. When bidding, remember that if it’s something you would buy anyway, paying a little over “retail” is your way of helping perpetuate one of the most unique, enjoyable and long-lasting fundraisers to be found in America. The auc- tion — and the library — belong to you, so come on out and support them both. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel e On July 8, 1776, in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell rings out from the tower of the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall), summoning citizens to the first public read- ing of the Declaration of Independence. Although the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, the Liberty Bell was not rung until it returned from the printer on July 8. ® On July 4, 1855, Walt Whitman's first edition of the self-pub- lished “Leaves of Grass” is printed, containing a dozen poems. Whitman revised the book many times, constantly adding and rewriting poems until shortly before his death in 1892. ® On July 5, 1950, Pvt. Kenneth Shadrick, a 19-year-old infantry- man from Skin Fork, W.Va., becomes the first American reported killed in the Korean War when he is felled by enemy machine-gun fire near Sojong, South Korea. ® On July 10, 1965, the Rolling Stones single “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” climbs to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. It was the British band’s first No. 1 hit in the United States. ® On July 7, 1976, women are enrolled into the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., for the first time in history. On May 28, 1980, 62 of those female cadets graduated and were commissioned as second lieutenants. ® On July 6, 1981, chemical giant Dupont announced plans to merge with Houston-based oil and energy titan Conoco Inc. Valued at between $6.5 and $7 billion, the deal then stood as the single biggest merger in U.S. corporate history. ® On July 9, 1993, British forensic scientists announce that they have positively identified the remains of Russia’s last czar, Nicholas II, his wife and three of their daughters using bones exca- vated from a mass grave. On July 16, 1918, three centuries of the Romanov dynasty came to an end when Bolshevik troops execut- ed Nicholas and his family. (c) 2005 King Features Synd., Inc. Letters are welcome Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: e Letters should not exceed 500 words. ® Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a daytime telephone number for verification. e Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear and verifi- able threat to the writer. 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. The POST TIMESeLEADER Community Newspaper Group 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 + 570-675-521 thepost@leader.net Patrick McHugh Ronald Bartizek PUBLISHER EDITOR Erika Calvert ADVERTISING Pat O'Donnell PREPRESS MANAGER Posies growing by a stone wall take on a painterly look when the digital image is manipulated. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LIBRARY NEWS Last-minute library auction notes Yes, it’s almost here: The 59th Annual Auction of the B a ¢c k Mountain Memorial Library starts on Thursday, July 7, and runs until Sunday evening, July 10. Mary Ann Finch, Master Gardener, Penn : State Extension Luzerne County, will be at the plants booth at 5 CAROL KING p.m. on Thursday, July 7, to answer your questions con- cerning gardening flowers and plants. The auction committee is still looking for baked goods to sell on Thursday evening. Please bring your goodies to the library on Thursday morn- ing between 9:30 a.m. and noon. If you haven’t already pur- chased your “Auction Alive in ‘05” button at the library, please do so! They're $2 each. Again this year, the auction committee makes a gentle, but serious, plea to auction goers to leave their dogs at home when attending the auc- tion. We appreciate the joy it gives you to show off your well-behaved dog in public, but last year there were so many dogs at the auction that their barking made it difficult to understand the auctioneer. There were other problems as well. We thank you in advance for complying with this request — others will thank you, too. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week, the library will be open only from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. One final reminder: the con- tinuous shuttle bus service between the library and the CVS parking lot next to the Post Office takes away all the hassle of getting to the auc- tion. Park your car at CVS and take the bus to the library and back, with no frantic searching for a parking spot on the street. The today’s Post will answer all your other questions. We’ll see you at the auction! supplement with) 70 Years Ago July 5, 1935 BURGLARY FOILED AT HOME OF MOVIE STAR'S MOM Burglars attempted to force an entrance to the home of Mrs. W.L. Tracey 0 f ONLY YESTERDAY Shavertown, mother of Lee Tracey, moving picture star, this week. They were fright- ened and fled after they had awakened Mr. Tracey and Miss Griffin. Hundreds of persons visited Beaumont yesterday to help that community celebrate Independence Day in tradition- al style. A basket picnic, two baseball games and a program of athletic events were features of the program, which was sponsored by the baseball team of the town. In Dallas the holi- day was observed quietly. Fernbrook Park had a large crowd last night to dance to the music of Ted Brownagle and his orchestra. The Kunkle family, associat- ed with the history of this sec- tion since its early years, held its annual reunion Saturday at Kunkle Community Hall. The person coming the longest dis- tance was Mrs. Caroline E. Boteler, of Waukasha, Wis. The youngest child present was Gerald Elston, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Elston. 60 Years Ago JuLY 6, 1945 JAMES APPOINTED TO DALLAS SCHOOLS POST Charles A. James, principal of Noxen Township Schools since April, 1944, has been elected supervising principal of Dallas Borough Schools at a salary of $2,700 a year to replace Prof. T.A. Williammee, who resigned some weeks ago. Mr. Ernest Gay, the former Marietta Emanuel of Orange, was elect- ed teacher of Home Economics. Another blue star in the Back Mountain Region’s service flag was turned to gold. News that First Lieutenant Francis Sidorick, pilot of a B-17 Liberator Bomber was killed in an airplane crash near Walgrave, England on Sunday, June 17, comes tragically with- in a few days of the time he would have returned to the United States for leave. In order that we and our employees may have a well earned rest as well as time to work in victory gardens, the Post will be closed all day Saturday during the months of July and August. 50 Years Ago JuLY 1, 1955 DRIVERLESS CAR RAISES HAVOC A driverless Ford sedan owned by George Jones, baby photographer, of Wilkes-Barre, created considerable excite- ment Tuesday afternoon in Elmcrest. Parked at the crest of the hill with brakes apparently none too tightly applied, the car moved across the road, mount- ed the left curb and knocked down a mail box in front of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Weber. The impact deflected the wheels sharply to the right so that the car recrossed the road, mounted the right curb and travelled several hundred feet across yards before crash- ing against Ralph Dixon's garage. Ray Prutzman, Jackson Township, lost his windmill rig, his pumphouse, and his gaso- line motor in a freak fire late Wednesday night, the second time within two months that Jackson Volunteers have answered a call to his property. Bob Cooper, fireman, said that the cause may have been a spark from the gasoline motor, used as a booster when the windmill was not adequate. The Star-Lite Drive-In in Tunkhannock featured “Dragnet,” starring Jack Webb, and “Destry,” with Audie Murphy on its weekend bill. The Himmler in Dallas was showing “Run for Cover,” with James Cagney and Viveca Lindfors. 40 Years Ago July 1, 1965 ECONOMY STORE OPENS IN TRUCKSVILLE The Back Mountain Economy Store and Snack Shop in Trucksville opened, offering cold cuts at 49¢ a pound and a free carton of Pepsi with a $7.50 purchase. The store was in the building that now housed Pizza Perfect. Dr. Charles L. Hosler; son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hosler, Parrish Street, Dallas, professor and head of the department of meteorology, has been appoint- ed dean of the College of Mineral Industries, Penna. State University, effective August 1. Members of the Lehman Volunteer Fire Company have dedicated the program of their 21st annual Lehman Horse Show to Walter E. Chamberlain Sr., Huntsville, who has served as secretary to the Company since its formation in 1944. 30 Years Ago July 3, 1975 LOCAL COUPLE: RECORDS IN NASHVILLE Barbara Marie and Rich Kowalski, Dallas R.D. 3, record- ed Barbara Marie’s original song, “Why I Got Two Daddies,” along with “Before I Met You,” at the Porter Wagoner Studios in Nashville, Tenn. The couple, who have entertained in the area under the name the Country Sweethearts made the record- ing for Brite Star records. On June 24, the -Dallas School Board approved a $4,861,837 budget and reached a settlement with members of the faculty, signing a two-year contract. The contract with the 180 teachers brought the salary system for 1975-76 to $8,400 to $15,900 and for 1976-77 from $9,100 to $17,300. range withing the Dallas School ® Mrs. William Shaner, presi- dent of the Rotary Anns and Mrs. Merton Jones, Rotary Ann and co-chairman of the library auction committee, donated an antique wicker wheelchair to this year’s auction. 20 Years Ago July 3, 1985 HILLSIDE FARMS ICE CREAM STORE MAKES DEBUT Sesame Street’s Big Bird was on hand to meet children and adults both at the grand open- ing of Hillside Farm Inc.’s Ice Cream Store on June 29. “From corn to cow to cone,” was how owner Will Conyngham humor- ously described the shop, which sells ice cream @ from milk produced by Hillside Farm cows. The Back Mountain wel- comed home the outgoing Miss Pennsylvania, Gina Major, who was completing a whirlwind year of activities that included competing in the Miss America pageant. The Lake-Lehman High School and Drexel University graduate spent the year traveling around the state, and was planning to enjoy a trip to Hawaii given by an airline. Rocky Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Davis of Harveys Lake, made water skiing look easy, even if he was only 13 months old. Rocky, whose mother and father are water- skiing instructors, was skiing on the living room rug when he was first able to stand. Post drop box in Dallas The building that housed The Post until October has been sold, and the drop off box there has been closed. A box at the Uni-Mart ‘in Dallas, across from the Dallas Shopping Center, remains open. News items, photos and other correspondence can be deposited there at any time. Please do not place cash or checks in the box. To assure that items reach us in time for publication, deposit items before 8 a.m. Wednesdays.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers