i) Vol. 116 No. 15 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 December 18 - December 24, 2005 2 S i 3 50¢ SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS AND LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE POST/M.B. GILLIGAN Elementary school students Jackie McNeill and Ali Hood listen as Mary Dalpiaz of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania ex- plains the health issues of asthma. Dallas students learn about healthy lifestyles By M.B. GILLIGAN Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. - Fourth and fifth grade students in the Dallas School District recently participa- in the Health Fair at the Wycal- s Elementary School. Represen- tatives from nine local health and human service organizations par- ticipated in the program, which is held every two years. “We are trying to encourage and promote a healthy lifestyle,” said elementary school nurse Linda Burd. “Hopefully, they’ll come away from this learning some- thing about healthful living.” The program ran in the morn- ing for students from Dallas Ele- mentary and in the afternoon for Wycallis students. All students were divided into small groups that rotated from station to sta- tion. “Pour hundred-forty four thou- sand people a year die from ciga- rette smoking and chewing tobac- co has four times as much nico- tine,” registered nurse Therese Kosek, from the Rural Health To- bacco Prevention program, told the students. She showed them pictures of the affects of smoking and chewing tobacco and made quite an impression when she passed around a bottle filled with a tarry liquid. “Someone’s going to offer you a cigarette someday and I want you to remember this bottle of tar,” she told them as she handed out pen- cils that were printed with the words: “I pledge to be smoke free.” James Carey from the Depart- ment of Health also made an im- pression on the students. He passed around a 5-pound brick of fat and proceeded to discuss the benefits of a healthful diet and ex- ercise. Mary Dalpiaz from Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania edu- cated the students about asthma. “In cold weather, people with asthma need to cover their neck and mouth with a scarf to prevent the cold air from entering their brachial passage,” she told them. She showed pictures and dis- cussed the affects of asthma on adults and children. Several stu- dents raised their hands when asked if they either have asthma or know someone who does. “I am very pleased that our chil- dren get to learn from these ex- perts,” said Dallas Elementary principal Paul Reinert. “I am very proud of our faculty and that the community and the school come together for this.” Another speaker. was Kathy Capitan, who works at Drs. Wat- kins and Medura’s dental offices in Dallas. She warned students about how sweetened drinks af- fect the bacteria in one’s mouth. “The very best thing you can drink is water,” she said. “After a game you can have a sports drink, but drink it right down. Don’t sip on it all night. “I love this program because ev- erything is building on each oth- er,” said Capitan. “Kids are learn- ing about bacteria over at that ta- ble, and I'm talking about how bac- teria affects your teeth. In addition, they are learning about using inhalers for asthma and that also affects your teeth. This is a great program.” Other agencies represented at this year’s program included the Luzerne County Cooperative Ex- tension, Wyoming Valley Drug and Alcohol, the Association of the Blind, and NE Highway Pro- gram. a Kathy Capitan, a representative from Drs. Watkins and Medura dental offices, give a tube of toothpaste to Dallas Elementary School fourth-grader Brenten Pennell. ¥ How To Reach Us News: 829-7248 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre PA 1871 Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000 V¥ Inside The Post 10 Pages, 1 Section Church........ 2&5 HONOF ROIS. ..coivniciiveieeioruns 3&9 Only Yesterday .......cccceveernernns 4 Puzzles ~ 2 School 3&10 Sports 78 FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK The Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus performed a variety of songs during a special concert at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. In harmony with the season By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor ALLAS TWP. — Bob Carey says there’s a simple reason why barbershop harmo- - ny music has been popular with people of all ages for more than a century. “It’s pleasing to the ear,” said the 90-year-old Dallas resident. “People enjoy listening to the harmony.” Carey should know. He’s been a member of the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus for 43 years and is one of many Back Mountain residents who are members of the organization. The chorus recently performed a concert at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Route 118. “I keep singing because I enjoy it,” said Carey, a Forty Fort native who moved to the Back Moun- tain 40 years ago this month. “We sing the old songs. It’s great fel lowship.” The Wyoming Valley Barber- shop Harmony Chorus is enjoy- ing its 54th year. The organiza- tion has more than 50 members and is part of an international or- ganization with more than 30,000 members. Although the chorus performs at a variety of functions through- out the year, this is an especially busy time of the year. The group has been busy singing at area churches, nursing homes, schools, Christmas parties and fund-raisers. “It’s a unique type of art,” said Shavertown resident Ted Reben- nack, who has been a member of the chorus for 42 years. “You have to have an ear for barbershop- ping. I really enjoy it. I've sang all of my life, in church choirs, in quartets. I get a kick out of it.” Rebennack enjoys singing at local schools and seeing the reac- tion from students who are sur- rounded by hip hop and rap mu- sic. “We go to the schools to reach the younger generation,” he said. “Once they listen to it, they like it. That happens a lot, especially with the kids. People who never thought they would like barber- shop music end up really enjoy- ing it.” Barbershop music is a four- part harmony that is sung a cap- pella — without musical accompa- niment — with four types of sing- ers. The lead sings the melody, the tenor harmonizes above the mel- ody, the bass sings the lowest notes, and the baritone com- pletes the chord. The melody is not sung by the tenor or bass, ex- The Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus meets from 7:30-10:30 p.m. each Monday at St. Clement & St. Peter Episcopal Church, 70 Lockhart Street in Wilkes-Barre. cept for an infrequent note or two. “You have to get used to sing- ing it,” said Carey, who sings lead. “It’s not difficult, but every- thing is memorization. Everyone sings their part.” And the result? “It’s beautiful music,” said Ca- rey. The concert at St. Paul's was the first time the group had per- formed at the church. But the Rev. Charles Grube hopes it won't be the last. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Some of the Back Mountain residents who are members of the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Har- mony Chorus are Bob Carey, Earl Loch, Phil Brown, Ted Rebennack and Charlie Davenport. “It was very nice,” said the church’s pastor. “The people real- ly enjoyed it. There were a lot of positive reviews. They sang a mix of traditional Christmas car- ols and secular music. It was more of a concert than a worship service. “But I think it’s a great thing for a church to do. We have the space and the acoustics are very good. We look forward to having more things like this at our church.” And if the Wyoming Valley Bar- bershop Harmony Chorus makes a return visit, Carey hopes to be part of it. “T'd like to keep singing as long asI can. And as long as I enjoy it,” he said. “I started doing it in 1962. I like to sing, I like the mu- sic, and I like the group. They're a great bunch of guys.” Area dancers chosen to perform with Moscow Ballet BY GENELLE HOBAN Post Correspondent From pirouettes to leaps across the stage, approximate- ly 70 dancers - including 18 from the Back Mountain — were eager to perform their hearts out and take advantage of a unique opportunity Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes- Barre. The 18 local dancers from the Joan Harris Centre were sched- uled to perform with profes- sional dancers from the Mos- cow Ballet in an unforgettable performance of “The Great Russian Nutcracker.” The mu- sical has been captivating audi- ences every holiday season for decades. Whether audience members enjoyed the Dance of the Sugar- plum Fairy or when Clara kiss- es the Nutcracker Prince and he became human, the Nut- cracker is a holiday classic be- loved by many. “This is the fifth year the Moscow Ballet has come,” said See BALLET, Page 5 Eighteen Back Mountain residents were recently chosen to perform with the Moscow Ballet. The local dancers, from left, first row are Alyssa Burcker, Dallas; Nicole Slavoski, Shavertown; Madalyn Bozinski, Shavertown; Krista Zimmerman, Dallas; Anna James, Shavertown; and Jessica Hiscox, Dallas. Second row: Katrina Weiskerger, Trucksville; Sarah Tomayko, Lehman Twp.; Aubrielle Smith, Dallas; Corrine Matusiak, Dallas; Irina Ackerman, Dallas; Katelyn Reinert, Trucksville; and Lauren Boyle, Lehman Twp. Third row: Alex Kijek, Trucksville; Kristen Justice, Dallas; Jessica Szezechowicz, Dallas; Lee Riccetti, Shavertown; and Caprice Sola; Shavertown. oh
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