PAGE 4 THE POST COMMUNITY Sunday, January 7, 2007 STRANGE BUT TRUE * You may not realize it, but Abner Doubleday, the man generally credited with inventing the game of baseball, was a Union general during the Civil War - he even played a leading role in the Battle of Gettysburg. e |t was author and noted humorist Roy G. Blount Jr. who made the - following observation: “Doctors and lawyers must go to school for years and years, often with little sleep and with great sacrifice to their first wives.” : e Have you ever engaged in lip-clap? Chances are, you have - and if you haven't, | feel terribly sorry for you! “Lip-clap” is simply a little- used term for kissing. e Last year, someone made a very generous donation to Goodwill - and didn't even realize it. This unknown philanthropist dropped a painting off at a donation center, but he obviously didn’t have much of an eye for art. Fortunately for Goodwill, one of its employees did recognize the potential value of the watercolor. The painting was auctioned for more than $165,000, the proceeds going to the char- ity. e Most of the caffeine in sodas comes from the leftovers from the process of making decaffeinated coffee. * The lemon shark grows a new set of teeth every two weeks. Con- sidering that the shark would have to be alive to grow the teeth, | certainly wouldn't want to have been the one given the task of figur- ing that out. * In 1949, Popular Mechanics magazine stated, “Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” * An acre of hemp can produce as much paper as four acres of trees. ® 0 Thought for the Day: “Work is of two kinds: first, altering the posi- tion of matter at or near the earth's surface relative to other mat- ter; second, telling other people to do so.” - Bertrand Russell (c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc. MOMENTS IN TIME The History Channel e On Jan. 10,1901, in the town of Beaumont, Texas, a 100-foot drill- ing derrick named Spindletop produces a roaring gusher of black crude oil. The first major oil discovery in the United States, the Spin- dletop gusher marked the beginning of the American oil industry. e On Jan. 13,1928, television sets are installed in three homes in Schenectady, N.Y. RCA and General Electric installed the sets, which displayed a 1.5-inch-square picture. e On Jan. 12,1932, Ophelia Wyatt Caraway, a Democrat from Arkan- sas, becomes the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Cara- way, born near Bakerville, Tenn., had been appointed to the Senate two months earlier to fill the vacancy left by her late husband, Thad- deus Horatio Caraway. ® On Jan. 1,1949, on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C., the cornerstone is laid at the first mosque of note in the United States. Intended to serve as a national mosque for all American Muslims, the Islamic Center was built in a traditional Arabic architectural style, complete with a 160-foot minaret. e On Jan. 14,1952, the “Today” show introduces the morning news format. Hosts over the years have included John Chancellor, Hugh Downs, Florence Henderson, Barbara Walters, Tom Brokaw, Bryant Gumbel, Jane Pauley, Matt Lauer and Katie Couric. The show's fe- male anchors were once called “Today girls.” In1953, “Today” also featured a chimpanzee named J. Fred Muggs. ® On Jan. 8,1966, rock 'n' roll television variety show “Shindig” on ABC airs its last episode. “Shindig” had debuted in September 1964, featuring acts including the Everly Brothers, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys. * On Jan. 9,1993, Elvis Presley becomes the first rock musician featured on a postage stamp. The stamp, which showed Elvis as a slim young rocker instead of an older, heavier singer, was issued on what would have been his 58th birthday. (c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc. CHILDREN HELP TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM The children of the Sunday school at Dallas United Methodist Church recently collected toys for the Toys for Tots program. Each child brought in a new toy to be given to someone during the Christmas holiday. The church's congregation also partici- pated in the collection of new toys, which were picked up at the church by members of the U.S. Marine Corps. Among the chil- dren who participated in the event, from left, first row are Tan- ner Manzoni, Emily Crahall, Alexis Lanza, Jacob Chesonis. Sec- ond row: Tyler Manzoni and Taylor Manzoni. Third row: Katie Jobson, Krista Zimmerman, Melyssa Goode, Emily Jobson and teacher Karen Justus. Foose paint, fallen clapboard, and tatty fabric. The passing of time is marked by things other than timepiece or calendar. Its constant erosion is there always to see, though we only notice on the occasions when we take notice - a birthday, a reunion, a chance encounter, perhaps the moment sunlight passes, bringing our attention to one more day gone by. The Dallas Post TIMES® LEADER Community Newspaper Group ¢ 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18711 ® 570-829-7248 news@mydallaspost.com Richard L. Connor PUBLISHER David C. Konopki EDITOR Liz Ayers ADVERTISING 70 YEARS AGO Jan. 1, 1937 DALLAS CONSIDERED FOR POSTAL DELIVERY A move to secure city postal delivery service for Dallas is be- ing launched by a group of inter- ested Dallas residents who believe conditions are ripe for the estab- lishment of such an im- provement here. Al though no attempt to bring about the change immediately is being advocated, the proponents of the plan will, it is understood, urge that the community ac- quaint itself with the conditions upon which the post office de- partment would base any change, so that the town can pre- pare itself gradually for delivery service. At present, town folks call for their mail at the post office. Only on the Rural Free Delivery routes, outside of the town, is the mail delivered. ONLY YESTERDAY 60 YEARS AGO Jan. 3, 1947 DALLAS WOMAN FENDS OFF ATTACKER Held up by a blue bandana- wearing masked bandit as she left her home at Hay’s Corners on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Ralph Balut, the former Ann Le- gosh, put up a terrible struggle and warded off her attacker until she could run away screaming and crying across Country Club Road to the Gordon residence for assistance. The attacker es- caped. Mrs. Balut was attempting to take her automobile from the ga- rage to visit her husband, who is a patient at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. Recounting her experience to State Police, Mrs. Balut said she heard footsteps behind her as she left the house, entered the garage and turned on the headlights of her car. Thinking it might be a neighbor, she turned and saw the bandit in the beams of her flashlight. After she tried to officer the bandit her purse, he refused and attempted to push her into the automobile. Mrs. Balut rebelled and fought her way past him and out of the narrow garage. He caught her and grappled with her in front of the house, but she screamed and beat him with the flashlight. State police were still without clues Monday to a series of rob- beries committed in Beaumont late Friday night or early Satur- day morning. Thieves stole a 1941 green Dodge sedan belong- ing to Kingston High School teacher Mary Jackson from a ga- rage within 100 feet of her home on the Tunkhannock Highway. The newly-opened service sta- tion belonging to Stephen Kozak was entered and silk hosiery, candy and cigarettes were piled on the counter. But it is believed the intruders were scared away before they could get away with the loot. Assurance that repairs made to three pumps of the Dallas- Shavertown Water Co. this week will prevent further interruption of service to local consumers was given by manager Leslie Warhola yesterday. The Spencer, Parrish and Shavertown wells were crippled over the holiday when pumps broke and, despite the efforts of workmen who tried to restore the supply, many fam- ilies were without water during the holidays. Mr. Warhola worked 39 % con- tinuous hours without sleep to fix the Spencer pump and spent another 19 hours fixing the Par- rish pump. It was the first time in two years that the local water company had a serious break- down. Two private pumps were also out of commission during the holidays because of break- downs. 50 YEARS AGO Jan. 1, 1957 LAKE SILKWORTH FAMILIES WIN LIGHTING CONTEST The Kazakas and Strenfel fam- ilies, working together on their Christmas display at Lake Silk- worth, won first place for the sec- ond year in the Lehman outdoor lighting contest. The display on R.D. 2 Lake Silkworth, past the Lake, and the first house to the right below the Catholic Church, was unanimously approved by the judges, who made their rounds Friday night, and were later entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ellsworth. Placing second was Doyle Campbell, Idetown, whose dis- play featured a large star on the peak of the roof, and below it on the ground, the manger scene. Third place went to the Stu- dent Council of Lehman-Jack- son-Ross, which had arranged a manger scene in front of the school. Mrs. George Taylor was again given a prize. Three local educators attend- ed the Pennsylvania State Edu- cation Association annual meet- ing in Harrisburg during the ho- lidays, December 27-29, joining 850 delegates who represent 65,000 teachers of Pennsylvania. Attendance of teachers other than delegates brought the num- ber up to nearly 4,000. Edgar Hughes Jr., president of Area 6; and Robert Dolbear, for- mer president, now represent- ing Area 6 for Luzerne County, are from Dallas-Franklin-Mon- roe Township schools. Anthony Marchakitus is principal of Leh- man-Jackson-Ross High School, and former president of the School Educators’ Association. All three men report that speakers were excellent, and that a more complete under- standing of bills to be brought before the legislature was ob- tained. “Christmas Moods,” Dallas Borough grade school’s Christ- mas program drew a capacity crowd of parents and friends. Carolers in white robes and red vestments on the stage marched down into the auditorium while carolers in blue and white streamed up through the center aisle. Seven fifth and sixth grade students opened the program with instrumental music, play- ing three carols. 40 YEARS AGO Jan. 5, 1967 DALLAS COUNCIL LOWERS TAXES Dallas Borough council at an adjourned meeting Thursday night became the first munici- pality in the Back Mountain to lower the millage in anticipation of revenues from the 1 percent wage tax. This will lessen the burden for taxpayers three mills, a drop from 12 mills to 9 mills. In other business, police chief Russell Honeywell received an increase of $400 per year and all hourly workers were given a 15 cent per hour rate increase. Council president Harold Brobst presided over the meeting. An old single block two-story family home was burned to the ground in Loyalville on Satur- day, despite the efforts of the Harveys Lake and Sweet Valley fire companies to save the struc- ture. The fire at the home of Ros- coe Harrison and five children was discovered shortly after noon on the last day of 1966. The roof had fallen in and the center of the dwelling was an inferno by the time firemen arrived. Fire chief Richard Williams said the intense heat and com- plete consumption precluded firemen from saving the home, although 20 men from Harveys Lake and an equal number of men from Sweet Valley stayed at the scene for more than an hour. The Dallas High School bas- ketball team will open another North League season on Friday night when they take on the Ash- ley-Sugar Notch Comets at the local gym. The defending league champions from Dallas posted 22 wins and two 1-point losses to District 2 champion Plymouth last season. The Mountaineers will feel the effect of the loss of All-Stater Mike Wilkes, who is playing at the University of Vir- ginia. Head coach Clint Brobst says this year’s team will feature a well-balanced attack with all 10 players capable of scoring. Lake- Lehman will also be battling for top positions in the league stand- ings. 30 YEARS AGO Jan. 6, 1977 LAKE GRANT NOT APPROVED Dallas Borough and Harveys Lake Borough were not among the municipalities approved for funding by the federal govern- ment under the Public Works Act, according to Howard Gross- - man, director of the Economic Development Council. Only nine of the 246 North- eastern Pennsylvania municipal- ities or counties who applied for grants received approval. Gross- man said that the borough’s only hope was for a second round of funding approved under the new administration. What does 1977 hold in 9 for the economy of the country and our Back Mountain Area? The tempo of business might pickup, no boom but some im- provement in our economy, a snapback with the stock market probably finishing out the year on a strong note. Those are some of the predictions made by repre- sentatives of some local invest- ment companies and a CPA who resides in Dallas. ] George Kulp, a stock broke with Elkins, Stroud, Suplee, said he doubts if a tax cut promised by the new U.S. administratj would have any impact on une ployment conditions. He sees a gradual rise in economy—no boom but some improvement. Thomas Dombroski, commit- tee chairman for the Back Moun- tain Medical Center, has been in- formed by Charles Welsh of the Department of Commerce of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that the department had identi- fied the Back Mountain Medical Center to the Appalachian Re- gional Commission as a “back- up” priority project. re He also informed Dombroski that in the event funds became available during the fiscal year the department would submit the medical center’s application for funding. Welsh said the noti- fication was not a funding com- mitment but an “encourage- ment” for more planning. 20 YEARS AGO an.7,1987 @ SUE HAND WINS MINIATURE ART PRIZE The Miniature Art Society of Florida recently announced that Dallas artist Sue Hand has won second place in the human figure category in the largest exhibit of miniature art in the United States. This internal competition held each year in Clearwater, Fla., is exhibited at the famous Kapok Tree Inn. Only a few hundred works are selected for the juried show out of thousands of entries from around the world. 7, The Kingston Township Board of Supervisors, at a special meeting held Friday, Jan. 2, 1987, appointed William L. Tip- pett of 63 Pioneer Avenue, Sha- vertown to fill the unexpired term of the late Willard Piatt. The newly appointed sup sor will serve through Jan. 9, 1988. Tippett is a 40-year resi- dent of Kingston Township. i it
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers