Vol. 116 No. 42 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 October 16 - October 22, 2005 50¢ SERVING FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Elyse Ide, Dallas, blood donation at St. Terese's Church in Shavertown is much appreciated. By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor - SHAVERTOWN - As the communications director for the Wyoming Valley chapter of the American Red Cross, Molly Dalton has probably heard doz- ens of creative excuses about why people don’t donate blood. : . But most of the time, it’s very simple. “Most people say that no one ever asked them to donate,” said Dalton. “We're certainly asking them now.” The Red Cross held two blood drives in the Back Moun- tain earlier this week — one at St. Therese’s Church in Shaver- town and the other at the Church of Christ in Sweet Val- ley. Although the “blood sup- ply right now is the best it’s been in months” says Dalton, members of the commuinity are encouraged to continue donat- ing. ) “Blood is a perishable com- modity. We need people to re- plenish what we send to hospi- tals,” said Dalton, who added that 400 units of blood are needed daily. There is no sub- stitute for blood. You never know when a loved one, a friend or even you might need blood. Most people don’t think about it until someone they know needs it.” Mark Holtman of Trucksville says he donates blood to help people. For many local residents, donating is in their blood Anyone age 17 or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in good health is eligible to donate blood. Donations may be made every 56 days. “I'm a regular. I've been giv- ing for 40 years,” said Dallas resident Ed Brace. “I started when I was down in Virginia. They have me down as a 6 gal- lon donor but I'm really a 10 gallon plus donor because they didn’t count those years in Vir- ginia.” Giving blood is a relatively simple process, said Dalton. “I used to tell high school students that stubbing their toes hurts more than giving blood.” Trucksville resident Mark Holtman agrees. “This doesn’t scare me at all,” he said while donating blood at St. Therese’s. “I (been giving) every 56 days since 1997.” That kind of loyalty doesn’t go unnoticed — or unappreciat- ed. “We have some very wonder- ful, faithful blood donors,” said Dalton. “They’re the base of our donors. But we're grateful for everyone who donates. The people of the Back Mountain have been wonderful. They re- ally support the program.” Dallas resident Ed Brace has donated more than 10 gallons of blood during the past 40 years. Donations of food are always welcome. Any- one interested in orga- nize a food drive should call Louise Hazeltine at 696-2917. Food drives will be held Oct. 31to Nov. 1 at Dallas Middle School and Oct. 31to Nov. 4 at Dallas High School. ~ Whole Berry Cranberry Sac Volunteers Jennie Hill and Wally Gosart prepare food orders. By CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Post Correspondent TRUCKSVILLE — In the wake of Hurricane Katri- na, the Back Mountain Food Pantry finds itself low on food and resources. Though September is traditionally a tough month for the food pantry, the hurricane that devas- tated much of Louisiana and Mississippi has divert- ed food and local funds so that the pantry is excep- tionally low on supplies, says coordinator Louise Hazeltine. Additional food drives, collec- tions and donations are needed to restock the shelves at the pan- try, which is located in the Trucksville Methodist Church’s educational facility on Church Road. Sponsored by 10 member churches of the Back Mountain Ministerium, the pantry serves people from nine communities within Dallas and Lake-Lehman school districts. Pick up day is on Fridays and, on average, approximately 10-15 fam- ilies will pick up bags and boxes of food. “The people are so grateful, happy that they are getting something,” said volunteer Jennie Hill. “We try to put special goodies in bags that we know are See FOOD, Page 7 Back Mountain food pantry volun- teer Wally Gosart holds one of the last cans of cran- berry sauce. Hurri- cane Katrina has diverted local do- nations, making the Back Mountain pantry very low on supplies. gi FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK | Back Mountain food bank coor- dinator Louise Hazeltine goes through some of the many requ- latory forms the pantry has to file. Students continue watershed study ‘DALLAS TWP. — Fifth grade students at Dallas Elementary School have been work- ing with teacher Angel Bestwick to study the scientific process, the water cycle, and the watershed. The students have used their observation skills to study their school- yard environment and its wa- Student essays, Page 6 the schoolyard watershed and showing the predict- ed path of water flow. The students watched weath- er reports for rain in the forecast, eager to venture outdoors during a rain shower in order to prove their hypotheses correct. tershed. The students wrote and il- lustrated poems about some of the topics. An activity that generated much excite- ment among the students was one in ich they surveyed the schoolyard wa- $e. when it rained. Each student drew a map illustrating > hed during a dry day and made predic- tions as to where the water would flow After a long wait, the students went outside during a rain shower to see where the water flowed. They went back into school and created new maps show- ing the actual path of the flowing water. Shawn Rybka, a watershed specialist from the Lu- zerne Conservation District, visited the classroom with Enviroscape, which demonstrates how pollu- tion enters the watershed. After the demonstration, Rybka answered questions from the students. The students will be visiting Toby’s Creek in the near future to test for water quality and examine the aquatic life in the stream. Students created drawings of the watershed. ¥ Inside The Post 12 Pages, 1 Section CRIBNABE .....csiurinsisassivensts 12 CIUYCHY.ovhuretativsisansosseisnesess 2 SCHOOL.....neneiisliiiovsnirsenins 8 i Sports... TARA 9 ¥ 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 | | | | | |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers