Sunday, November 18, 2007 COMMUNITY THE POST PAGE3 Taylor Whitaker, left, and Rachael Alles, eighth grade students at Dallas Middle School, are presented with poppies by Bonnie Tho- mas and Kep Gottshalk from the Daddow-Issacs American Legion Post # 672 in Dallas at a Veterans Day ceremony. Students at the school raised over $300 selling poppies. Poppy sale Commander Clarence J. Mi- chael of the Daddow-Isaacs American Legion Post 672 sa- luted the student body of the Dallas Middle School after he was introduced by Student Council President Andrew Santora and stated, “It is al- ways a pleasure to visit the Dallas Middle School each year on Veterans Day and see what spectacular program will be presented . The deco- rum of the students shows a respect that has been instilled by the administration and the faculty. The program again this year was outstanding.” Commander Michael re- viewed past programs which consisted of a lovely Veterans Garden which was dedicated three years ago and last year’s ie of raising $H onors vets $982 in a penny collection which was sent to the Amer- ican Legacy Fund. This fund provides scholarships to chil- dren who have lost a parent on the field of battle. The theme of this year’s Veterans Day program at the Middle School dealt with the poppy. Mr. Anthony Martinelli, school principal, related the history of the poppy and read the famous poem, “In Flan- ders Fields,” venerating the poppy. He acknowledged the American Legions Ladies Auxiliary which was repre- sented by President Bonnie Thomas and its unique role in distributing poppies. Eight hundred poppies were given to Mr. Martinelli and the auditorium was CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Clarence Michael, commander of the Daddow-Issacs American Legion Post #672 in Dallas congratulates Andrew Santora, president of the Student Council at Dallas Middle School, on his essay about Veterans Day. awash with the distinctive red color. Students raised over $300 in donations which will help hospitalized veter- ans. The Dallas chorus gave a heartrending edition of “God Bless America” while the highlight of the program was the reading of essays and po- ems by selected students. The theme of the program was “Boots” and a large screen pictured boots and crosses at a gravesite, adding to the emotionality of the pre- sentations, The students had also filled a huge box with packages of gum and other re- quested items to be sent to a unit serving in Iraq. The ele- mentary school students made special decorated cards to include in the box. In addition to Commander Michael, Kep Gottschalk, John Emil Sr. and Robert Hines represented Post 672. Mr. Martinelli, Mrs. Holth- aus and the entire faculty at the Dallas Middle School take great pride in presenting these programs and the audi- ence appropriately concluded the proceedings by singing a rousing rendition of “Proud to be an American.” Mr. Martinelli was so en- thused by the wonderful stu- dent cooperation that he did Chris Os- trum, a stu- dent at the Dallas Mid- dle School, sports his poppy and an appropriate shirt during a Veterans Day ceremo- ny. his traditional cartwheel as Commander Michael whis- pered to a fellow legionnaire “I'm glad we know CPR!” yO By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Anthony Usavage of Dallas Township is fed up. Construction began with an erred permit on East Fallbrook Avenue behind his property in the early summer. Once the construction was stop- ped by the township, the land left excavated and a mess. bw, Usavage and his neighbors on Midland Drive whose yards are adjacent to the site have an abandoned eyesore and a danger- ous hole to worry about. According to Dallas Township Zoning Officer Leonard Kozick, a building permit was issued in er- ror by the township to Michael Garrity of Garrity Realty in Har- veys Lake. Garrity allegedly told the township he had a subdivi- sion, but that subdivision was from 1987 and was void. The township revoked the permit af- ter construction had started. “Personally, I pay my taxes. I respect local governments if they do their job and do their job prop- erly,” Usavage said. “If I caught them (Dallas Township) doing something wrong in my back- yard, then how many jobs were done wrong prior?” Because the construction site has been vacant for over 90 days, project has township residents worried about kids’ safety REBECCA BRIA/ THE DALLAS POST Rainwater fills a hole at a construction site on East Fallbrook Avenue in Dallas Township. The pro- ject was abandoned after the township pulled the developer's building permit because of a void sub- division and drainage issues. Neighbors are worried children will get hurt. the Dallas Township Building Code requires that the large hole be filled in. Kozick says the town- ship was scheduled to send a let- ter by certified mail to Garrity on November 13, ordering him to fill in the hole. Because children are OPEN 4am to OPM Black Friday ? ie Platters 100 Morning BLT* Buy one Breakfast Sandwich & get the Black Friday Only 11/23/0 Baskets known to play in the neighbor- hood and the rear of a Little League field is close to the site, neighbors are concerned a child will fall in and get hurt or drown in the meantime. “There are too many little kids = second 1/2 off. 675-3004 New York Water Bagels Gore n- fine? os on Applies www.bagelart.com =~ Bagels, Cookies, Loaf Cakes, Cheesecake, Muffins, Reg. & Flavored Cream Cheese, Kaiser Rolls, Wraps, Homemade Desserts, Croissants, Combination Baskets, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Specialty Sandwiches, Plus Much More! Delivery Available and somebody’s going to get hurt,” Usavage said. Another reason construction was shut down on East Fallbrook Avenue is because the developers are in violation of the township's storm water management ordi- i ~ Luzerne county Saturday, December 1, 2007 \§ | Ds \ Fe Your : enient transportation from : nance. Kozick says a new storm water management plan is need- ed in addition to a new subdivi- sion before a permit could be ap- proved. Usavage says Garrity tried to get him and the previous owner of Usavage’s home, a wom- an who is now deceased, to sign an easement allowing a storm water drainage system to pass through the yard of the property. Neither homeowner would sign the paperwork. Garrity says he is a co-owner of the land on which he started to build and plans to continue the construction. “Pm looking into re-doing some drawings for the township and still building there,” he said. According to Garrity, the land was subdivided before he pur- chased it as five separate parcels. If he gets a new permit to build, Garrity plans to construct five new homes. Usavage says his attorney put the township on “point of taken,” which, he says, means the town- ship will be legally responsible for any damage that may occur to his property as a result of the con- struction site. “I believe in doing things the right way because I'm a contrac- tor myself,” Usavage said. “And if I don’t get the proper permits in sf Experience why so many students and their parents oh to the school as these towns, they don’t let me work. “If you want to build some- thing in my backyard, you better make sure it’s legal, the ‘I's dotted and the ‘t’s crossed,” he added. Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a good PAIR OF SHOES! MEPHISTO FINEST WALKING SHOES * - BIRKENSTOCK eoos] MERRELL. 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