Vol. 117 No. 26 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 June 25 - July 1, 2006 50¢ Thousands enjoy annual Marl } A day at the market By GENELLE HOBAN Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. — With clear blue sunny skies, organizers couldn’t have asked for better weather at this year’s 22nd an- nual Market on the Pond at the Meadows Nursing Center on West Center Hill Road. Hundreds of shoppers from all over the Wyoming Valley pur- chased everything from jewelry to homemade bake goods to pot- tery at more than 120 vendor stands last weekend. Members of the Meadows Nursing Center Auxiliary began organizing the day in January and sponsored the event. The pro- i ceeds will benefit the center’s res- "= | idents. “We hoped to top last year’s sales of $12,000,” said Betty Sor- chik, co-director of resident and community services at The Susan Woodling and her mother Vivian, of Leh- man Township, sold their hand- made baby dresses and hats. Adam Belenski of Harveys Lake arrived early to sell wares at the market. Meadows. “This year we raised PHOTOS FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK ‘The Market on the Pond at The Meadows Nursing Center raised more than $13,000, the most in more than 20 years. more than $13,000. It was the most we raised in 22 years. We couldn’t have done it without the 75 wonder- ful volunteers we had. We are so grateful to them. “We had so many interested ven- dors this year. We even had to put people on a waiting list.” One of those waiting list vendors was Andrea Chaney, a native of Southern California, who received a phone call the Wednesday before the event after another vendor canceled. “I am brand new to the area and I was talking with someone who told me about this event and how good it was,” she said. The Hanover Township woman specializes in one-stroke decorative painting sold floral painted boxes, detailed ornaments and flowerpots at the market. Another vendor, Stefanie Rybitski, said she was happy with the business she was doing at the Market on the See MARKET, Page 5 eit : Ja a ¥ Inside The Post 16 Pages, 1 Section CIVIC NEWS... ioiernnnnns 10 PCIE csiiiiieseresevsnuiniant 12 DIDHUBIIES vi iviispeansiiniisent 4 BCNO0.,.... oi ic irinsadbnn 8 SOOFES rovnssemeirssssisssrains 13-14 v How To Reach Us News: 829-7248 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18711 Advertising: 829-7101 - Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000 School board holding meeting By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor the 22 mills will be used toward the begin- ning phases of construction and building improvements, including renovating the Fred Parry isn’t happy with a proposed 22-mill tax hike proposed by the Dallas School Board. And he says he’s not alone. The Dallas Township resident says he will make his feelings known at Monday night's school board meeting. And he hopes he’s not alone. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Dallas administration building, which is lo- cated next to Wycallis Elementary School. The proposed tax increase amounts to ap- high school and Dallas Elementary School at an estimated cost of $32 million. The con- struction of a new high school and football stadium would exceed $28 million. “I think (the meeting) is a unique oppor- tunity for people to let our school board know how we feel,”said Parry. “How much more of this are people willing to take? The people on the school board need to know that we voted for them to represent us. proximately $125 per household. Nine of See TAXES, Page 5 FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Florence Weaver was greeted by friends and relatives during her 100th birthday party at the Center Moreland United Methodist Church. This Old Maid wins game of life By LAUREN COLLINI For The Post There are many people who com- monly joke that age 40 is the begin- ning of “oldness.” Well, imagine being 100 years old and everything you might have lived through. For Florence “Til” Weaver, these fantasies have become a reality. The Center Moreland resident cele- brated her 100th birthday Wednesday, June 14 with a party at the Center Mo- reland United Methodist Church. Her nephew, Whitey Schoonover, and church pastor Mary Jean Simonin or- ganized what was supposed to be a surprise birthday party for Weaver in the basement of the church on Cream- ery Road. More than 100 people at- tended the event. However, Weaver confessed she knew something was in the works. “I slowly caught on to what they were planning, so it really wasn’t much of a surprise,” she said. “Every- one had a nice time and it was so nice to see all of my friends once again. Ev- eryone liked the buffet too; there were lots of good cookies.” Weaver was born to parents Clar- ence and Ida Brunges Weaver in 1906. She was born in the same Center Mo- reland house she lives in now and has lived there almost her entire life. Growing up with five sisters, Weaver was the second to the youngest. The sisters attended a one-room school- house with 15-20 kids of all ages in their class. After a certain point, how- ever, the Weaver sisters had to discon- “I've lived this long and stayed this healthy because I've remained an ‘old-maid’ my whole life." Florence "Til" Weaver tinue their educations in order to get jobs to help out their father. In 1923, Weaver began working for Commonwealth Telephone Company. The cost of a monthly telephone bill was $1.75, said Weaver. “Back in those days, we had to walk to work and back, lick envelopes and write letters by hand,” she said. “We didn’t have the things they have to- day.” Throughout her years at Common- wealth, all Weaver could dream of was owning her own car. Midway through her career, she saved up enough to buy her first car — her very own Chevrolet. Weaver continued working at Com- monwealth for 48 years until she re- tired. Weaver has experienced many of the world’s most horrific tragedies throughout her lifetime. Although The Great Depression, World War 1 and II were sad, the most devastating were the terrorist attacks on 9-11, says Weaver. The uniting of the United States after 9-11 reminded her of World War I because after each trage- dy, flags were placed in the windows See BIRTHDAY, Page 5 THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SNAKE The Noxen Volunteer Fire Co. held its annual Rattlesnake Roundup last week. The snake hunt is part of a four-day event, which includes are food, music, games and amusement rides. Started in1973, the event is the fire company's largest fund-raiser. This year's four-day crowd was estimated at more than 4,000 people. Poisonous and non-poisonous snakes are hunted during a two-day pe- riod. About two dozen rattlesnakes and a dozen snake handlers were in a 30-by-30-foot pen last Sunday afternoon. A 3-foot-high fence kept the snakes from slithering out of the pen. Prizes were awarded for the snake with the most rattles, the largest dark and light phases of timber rattle- snake, the hunter who collected the most species, and the hunter who collected the largest non-poisonous snake. Award winners were not available at press time. While in captivity, the snakes are provided with areas of shade and sun, cover from the rain, and water to drink. And because they are tagged and the location is recorded when they are caught, the snakes are returned to the exact place they were found. The hunters have 24 hours to return the snakes to the original location. Be- low, a crowd of onlookers stare, admire and take pictures of a 39-inch rattlesnake during the annual Noxen Rattlesnake Roundup. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK
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