& Post Correspondent Vol. 117 No. 29 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 July 16 - July 22, 2006 50¢ SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS AND LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Auction draws record crowd Inaugural Family Night, design by Jay McCarroll highlight 60th annual event By GENELLE HOBAN ALLAS TWP. — Most of the items were going, go- ing, gone from the big red barn at the 60th annual Back Mountain Memorial Library Auc- tion, which wrapped up last week. A sea of people from the Back Mountain and surrounding com- munities — and even surrounding states — flooded the library grounds on Huntsville Road each night during the four-day event to bid on their favorite items like sliver tea sets, china and statues. “Everything went very well,” Carol Sweeney, chairwoman of this year’s event, said. “We had a record-setting amount of crowds. The Family Night also was really busy and successful. Lots of fam- ilies enjoyed it.” Family Night, which was held the first day of the auction, was new this year. The Dallas Rotary Club sold hot dogs and soda at amily prices. There were also many children-related events and activities. At press time, library officials weren't sure how much money was raised during the auction be- cause some bills still have to be paid, according to Sweeney. The auction is the library’s largest fund-raiser of the year and ac- counts for approximately one- third of the library’s operating budget. “We won't know the totals for a couple of weeks,” said Martha Butler, library director. “The fund-raiser is critical for the li- brary each year because the pro- ceeds go to the daily operating budget. We use it to buy books, keep up the building and pay the electric bill. The money is vital and we really depend on it.” This year’s auction featured a special design created by Jay McCarroll, a Lehman Township native and winner of Bravo Net- works’ first season of “Project Runway.” ost “He sent us a special shirt and matching purse with his logo on it,” Sweeney said. “It was a really neat collectible. We even had a few phone calls from out-of-town- ers who wanted to know when the bidding would take place.” Sweeney strutted down the “runway” in a Persian suede coat and sunglasses “hamming it up” while modeling McCarroll’s de- sign. The design was bought by a Dallas resident for $115. “I hope we start a tradition out of having a designer make some- thing for us to auction off each year,” Sweeney said. “We are so lad and grateful (McCarroll) did it. Maybe next year we can have him come (to the auction) be- cause this year he couldn’t. He is designing his new clothing line.” See AUCTION, Page 8 Jill Vanderhook was one of three students who painted a scene at the auction. PHOTOS FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Georgia Be- secker works at the plant booth during the auc- tion. Former rivals are now members of the same team By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor Willie Weber remembers watch- ing a changing of the guard ceremo- ny at Arlington National Cemetery during a senior class trip. But other than thinking it was a nice ceremo- ny, Weber didn’t give too much thought to his surroundings. “I never knew what it meant,” said the 2003 graduate of Lake-Leh- man High School during a recent telephone interview. “I was always patriotic, but I knew very little about the sacrifices people have made for this country.” That certainly has changed. The 21-year-old Weber is a mem- ber of the United States Marine Corps Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team stationed in Norfolk, Va. The former Lake-Lehman wrestling standout joined the Marine Corps in February 2004, motivated in part by the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11, 2001. A LS ET See MARINES, Page 8 PHOTO COURTESY THE LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE/ED VASGERDSIAN Willie Weber, a gradu- ate of Lake- Lehman, and Perry Coolbaugh, a graduate of Dallas, are members of the United States Marine Corps Fleet Anti- Terrorism Se- curity Team. ¥ Inside The Post 8 Pages, 1 Section CiviC Driefs ..iuncaecicsnns. 3 Church briefs................... 6 Obituaries cu c.civiienniasi 6 PUZZIES .....coi asercessvipivasionss 2 SPOTS Lai ieismirnsiinss 7 ¥ 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
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