PAGE 4 THE POST EDITORIAL Sunday, September 3, 2006 ~ School bus safety tips can help keep kids safe With the school bell set to ring in the start of another school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be alert for school buses and for chil- dren walking or biking to school. “It’s important that motori- sts remember that the summer routine is ending and more kids will be walking streets and sidewalks on their way to school,” said PennDOT secre- tary Allen Biehler. “Responsib- le drivers need to watch for students who are boarding or getting off school buses, and they should watch for crossing guards who are working to make sure children are safe as they cross streets.” Motorists in both directions must stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and a stop arm extended. Violators of the state’s school bus stopping law face a 60-day license sus- pension, five points on a driv- ing record and a $250 fine. PennDOT also cautions motorists to watch for children who may dart into the street without looking and children playing around bus stops. Driv- ers should be extra alert when backing out of a driveway or garage. Last year in Pennsylva- nia there were 491 school bus crashes that caused 578 in- juries. Along with school bus safety, motorists also need to obey school zone speed limits, which are posted at 15 miles per hour. PennDOT offers the follow- ing school bus safety tips to help kids be safe: - Stay out of the street while waiting for the bus * Do not shout, yell, or sing while on the bus; it can distract the driver - Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before exiting - Wear bright clothing and allow extra time to walk to the bus stop - Walk 10 giant steps in front of the bus so the driver can see you - Never retrieve anything that falls under the bus - Remain seated at all times while the bus is moving - Keep aisles clear and stow school bags under the seat - Wait for the driver’s signal before crossing in front of the bus. Be sure to look left-right- left to see that all cars have stopped. To help improve safety for children, Gov. Ed Rendell in- troduced the Safe Routes to Schools initiative. The pro- gram works with school dis- tricts and local governments to make physical improvements that promote safe walking and biking to schools. Since the start of the program in 2004, the commonwealth has award- ed $25.9 million to 75 projects. For more information about Pennsylvania’s school bus stop- ping law visit PennDOT at www.dot.state.pa.us and click on the school bus. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel ® On Sept. 7, 1776, during the Revolutionary War, the American submersible craft Turtle attempts to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe's flagship, Eagle, in New York Harbor. It was the first use of a submarine in warfare. ® On Sept. 5,1882, the first Labor Day holiday is celebrated as a tribute to the toil and achievements of the nation’s workers. Labor Day became an official holiday in 1894. ® On Sept. 6, 1901, President William McKinley is shot at point- blank range by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposi- tion in Buffalo, N.Y. McKinley lived for another week before succumb- ing to a gangrene infection on Sept. 14. * On Sept. 8, 1926, silent-film star Greta Garbo stands up her fiance, actor John Gilbert, at the altar. The Swedish actress had made her U.S. film debut in “The Torrent” a few months earlier. Despite Garbo's cold feet, their romance continued for another three years. ® On Sept. 9,1939, audiences at the Fox Theater in Riverside, Calif., are treated to a surprise showing of “Gone with the Wind,” which the theater manager shows as a second feature. David O. Selznick sat in the back and observed the audience reaction to his highly antici- pated film. The movie was released a few months later. ® On Sept. 4,1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus enlists the National Guard to prevent nine black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock. Faubus took the action in violation of a federal order to integrate the school. ® On Sept. 10,1977, at Baumetes Prison in Marseille, France, Hami- da Djandoubi, a Tunisian immigrant convicted of murder, becomes the last person executed by guillotine. The decapitation machine gained fame during the French Revolution, when more than 10,000 people lost their heads by guillotine, including Louis XVI and Mary Antoinette, the former king and queen of France. (c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc. STRANGE BUT TRUE * |f you're like the average American adult, you sleep for 6.85 hours every night - or day, if you work the third shift. That's nearly seven hours, which doesn’t seem too bad, does it? Well, consider this: 80 years ago adults slept an average of 8.77 hours. e Aldous Huxley, celebrated author of “Brave New World,” once defined an intellectual as “a person who has discovered something more interesting than sex.” Makes you wonder how many intellec- tuals agree with that estimation. ® You've probably seen the game show “The Price Is Right” at some point in your life - it seems like it's been on television forever. Reruns of old shows are aired from time to time, but you won't see any of the very earliest episodes on TV. The host, Bob Barker, won't let them be shown - he now objects to the use of fur coats as prizes way back before the animal rights movement had the recognition it has today. ® The directors and producers of “The Twilight Zone" originally wanted Orson Welles to be the host. * |[t was 1920 when women were granted the right to vote, but that wasn't anywhere near the end of the battle for equality. For instance, it wasn't until 1983 that the Supreme Court ruled retirement plans can't pay women less than they pay men. Thought for the Day: “When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.” - Eric Hoffer judge, whose appetite is for symmetry and perfection rather than the gourmand’s base desire for satisfaction. Either way, it's a Mi it's destined for a salad, slaw or a snack straight from the nature's cupboard. Perhaps it's for the scrutinizing eye of a county fair bountiful harvest. Ricochet’ one of the books added to library shelves The following new books have been added to the collection at the Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary, 96 Huntsville Road in Dal- las. For information about donat- ing a book in someone’s memory or honor, call the library at 675- 1182. EXPRESS (1 week) : “Ricochet” by Sandra Brown “Cover of Night” by Linda Ho- ward : “The Foreign Correspondent” by Alan Furst “The Garden of Eden and Oth- er Criminal Delights” by Faye Kellerman “Pegasus Descending” by James Lee Burke “Helen of Troy” by Margaret George FICTION “Ricochet” by Sandra Brown “Cover of Night” by Linda Ho- ward “The Expected One” by Kath- leen McGowan “Grief” by Andrew Holleran NEW BOOKS “The Pale Blue Eye” by Louis Bayard “Final Truth” by Mariah Stew- art “Everyman” by Philip Roth “Crisis” by Robin Cook “Winter's Bone” by Daniel Woodrell “Schrodinger’s Ball” by Adam Felber “Smitten” by Janet Evanovich “Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral” by Kris Rad- ish “Telegraph Days” by Larry McMurtry “The Garden of Eden and Oth- er Criminal Delights” by Faye Kellerman “Pegasus Descending” by James Lee Burke “The Abortionist’s Daughter” by Elisabeth Hyde “Helen of Troy” by Margaret George “You Made Me Love You” by Joanna Goodman “Between the Bridge and the River” by Craig Ferguson “Resurrection” by Tucker Ma- larkey NONFICTION “Now It’s My Turn” by Mary Cheney “Marley Legend” by James Henke “In Pieces: an anthology of fragmentary writing” edited by Olivia Dresher “Dreamweaver 8” by Michael Meadhra “Windows XP for Seniors” by Addo Stuur “The Bipolar Handbook” by Wes Burgess “Our Constitution” by Donald A. Ritchie “The Read-Aloud Handbook” by Jim Trelease “Ghost Hunters” by Deborah Blum “Stumbling on Happiness” by Daniel Todd Gilbert SCIENCE FICTION “The Begotten” by Lisa Tawn Bergen “Dzur” by Steven Brust “Sorcerer’s Moon” by Julian May NONFICTION “How to Plan a Great Second Life” by Gordon Burget REFERENCE “The Pennsylvania Militia” by Samuel J. Newland “The Hospital Phone. Book” 2006-2007 edition : “U.S. National Debate Topic 2006-2007: national service” BOOKS ON CD “Hit Parade” by Lawrence Block “Blue Screen” by Robert E. Parker y “The Saboteurs” by W.E.B Griffin “Dusty and Lefty” “Ricochet” by Sandra Brown “Three Junes” by Julia Glass | “The Lazarus Vendetta” by Robert Ludlum A ThE POST TIMES©LEADER Community Newspaper Group 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18711 ® 570-675-5211 thepost@leader.net Richard L. Connor David C. Konopki PUBLISHER EDITOR Trish Roe ADVERTISING FRANCES SLOCUM ADDS BIRD-WATCHING AREA Frances Slocum State Park in King- ston Township recently opened a new location to watch wild birds. Visitors can see birds like the Red Winged Black Birds, American Goldfinches, Black-capped Chickadees and Cardi- nals in addition to many others. The bird viewing area, which includes sev- eral bird feeders, was donated by Wild Birds Unlimited owners Craig and Ka- ren Yarrish. After installation of the bird viewing area, park officials added benches so observers can be comfort- able as they watch the birds. Wild Birds Unlimited is located in the Dallas Shopping Center in Dallas. Frances Slocum State Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sundown WYOMING CO. 4-H GROUP WINS STATE TITLE The Wyoming County 4-H senior horse judging team recently won the state championship at the Penn State 4-H Achievement Days in State College. Members of the team included Cody An- derson, Erica Bolthouse, Carrie Klein- hans and Amanda Singer. Tunkhannock resident Stacey Doty coached the team. Being a member of the team teaches youth to evaluate horses and horse per- formances. Students on a horse judging team gain experience in analytical and critical thinking, judgment and commu- nication. The win qualifies the team to represent Pennsylvania at the All-Amer- ican Quarter Horse Congress youth judging contest in Columbus, Ohio in Qc- tober. Members of the team, from left, are state program leader Marilyn Car- bin, Anderson, Bolthouse, Kleinhans, Singer, coach Joe Staco and Doty. f
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers