: L April 8 - April 14, 2007 Vol. 118 °The No. 14 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 DALLAS POST. SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS AND LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS “I think everything we've been through has strengthened my faith.” Debbie Natitus e By DAVE KONOPKI Dallas Post Editor INGSTON TWP. — After all she has done for him - the cooking, cleaning, staying by his side dur- ing many hospital stays — and af- ter everything she’s been through — the diagnosis, the surgery, the che- motherapy — shaving a little hair off his head was the least Frank Natitus could do for his wife. Three months ago, Debbie Natitus was told she had breast cancer. Two weeks later, she underwent a lumpectomy, followed by a mastectomy. Then the chemotherapy began. And the long, dark brown hair that once hung down to the small of her back was gone. “She’s been through so much,” said Frank, himself the victim of a debilitating disease that has taken the use of his left arm, leaving him in constant pain. “It’s a helpless feeling when something like this happens to some- one you love. You can’t help them. You can only give them comfort and support. That’s why I shaved my head.” For years, it was Debbie who was offering comfort and support. Almost 10 years ago, bone fragments broke off near Frank’s neck, causing brachial plexo- pathy — damage to the brachial plexus. That evolved into Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and later Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a chron- ic neurological condition that usually affects an arm or leg. People with RSD live with in- tense, daily pain. Debbie never left his side. Now, it’s Frank’s turn. FOR THE DALLAS POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Husband Frank, right, and son Dan, left, shaved their heads in support of Debbie Natitus, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. An Easter story “I couldn’t have been able to go through this without him,” said Debbie, who works at the College Misericordia bookstore. “I've gotten so much support from family and friends, but he’s been my rock. I feel sorry for people who have to go through something like this without anyone.” Dr. Mark Polin made the diagnosis and Dr. Dan Kopen performed the surgeries. After having gone through everything with her husband, the news of Debbie’s breast cancer was even more dramatic. “I couldn’t believe it could happen to me,” said Debbie, 53, who met her longtime sweetheart at a holiday dance in Allentown in 1972 when she was a student at Allentown See NATITUS, Page 9 Dallas students @ce challenging Richard the IIT By GENELLE HOBAN Dallas Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. - The acting was authentic and the set perfectly detailed. In addition to that, the recent production of “The Final Trial of Richard the III,” held March 30 and 31 at Dallas High School, received a $3,000 grant from the American Board of Trial Advocates, a group dedicated to preserving the right toa jury trial. The group occasionally sponsors plays that involve a jury trial. “We chose this play because it was one that the American Board of Trial Advocates sug- gested, and I had enough talent to pull it off,” said Harry McKeown, director of the produc- tion. “The Shakespeare language in this play was the most challenging for the actors be- cause there are several scenes right out of ‘Ri- chard the III.” The play, written by Mary W. Schaller, puts he of England’s most infamous regents on ial for the alleged murder of his brother, two princes and his wife, all in a quest to take and keep the throne for himself. The Dallas High School production includ- ed 18 actors and 10 crew members. McKeown said high school productions typically manage to break even financially, with box office sales covering costs of royal- ties, scripts, costumes and sets. In the case at Dallas, the extra money from the $3,000 grant helped fix a problem the school has been hav- ing with the soundboard and cables. “Theatre is a chance for all of us to get to- gether and meet new people,” said Brie Bol- ton, 15, who played the bailiff in the produc- tion. “The hardest part for me was that I had to hit a girl across the face. She is such a nice FOR THE DALLAS POST/ CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Richard lll, played by Chris Jayne, has words with Mike Policare, who por- trayed Thomas Moore, in the Dallas High School pre- sentation of "The Final Trial of Ri- chard IIL." The play was sponsored by the American Board of Trial Ad- vocates. girl, I didn’t want to do it, but eventually we got it.” The play progresses with a scholarly debate as to whether Richard committed all the hei- nous acts depicted by Shakespeare, or if it was part of a smear campaign by his successors from the house of Tudor. Chris Jayne, who played Richard the III, said he felt good after he found out he was cast for the lead role. “I thought it would be a complicated role because of all the English history you have to See RICHARD, Page 9 Four-year-old Emily Crahill, of Dallas, is thrilled with her choice of books at the Dallas Elementary Scholas- tic Book Fair held to benefit the school library. Books, volcanoes teach students at Dallas Elementary Students from the Dallas Elementary School participa- ted in their annual Scholastic Book Fair/ Science Expo recently at the school. The Book Fair, held every year in the library, provides an opportunity for students and their parents/caretakers to purchase quality books. Members of the PTO offer assistance in setting up the fair and assisting the students with their purchases. Stu- dents visited throughout the week during their library class time and a Family Night was held to give parents additional time to shop with their children. All profits from the Book Fair are used to purchase books and other educational materials for the school library and to fund library-related programs and contests. The annual Sci- ence Expo, which was held for the 12th consecutive year, featured real live guinea pigs and rubber ducks involved in projects ranging from Surface Tension and Testing a Dog’s Cranial Nerves to Rainbows and Animal Tracks. Students learned how to produce a volcano-like explo- sion and study the results of such an event. Michael Krakowski, left, and Joshua Ferris show their amazement with the results of an experiment show- ing the effects of an erupting volcano at the 12th annual science expo held at Dallas Elementary School. Below, second-grader Rachel Habib uses a rubber duck to show how water rises in her experi- ment during the Expo. ¥ Inside The Post 12 Pages, 1 Section CIVICIOWS iil iid itil ities svemnssanseipee Sige 3&5 4s RT We a ee a A A A 2&9 ONY YESLEITRY orvvverisusstsinssassssrssssastansisissassbssonshsess 4 SCROO i aiiniibatiindisiliieciiistnssveibysbutsbibisiss 6&8 DIO ES ier sak ssevesseresraranssntossnsiossssnesonvinbossuseseese svonsrse 7 ¥ How To Reach Us News: 829-7248 news@mydallaspost.com 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 1871 Advertising: 829-7101 Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers