Vol. 119 No. 17 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 April 27 - May 3, 2008 The DALLAS POST. SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS AND LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Marching into the future at Dallas High By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Dallas High School is striving to be the best area school in academ- ics, athletics and clubs and activ- ities. The school’s latest attempt to make that possible is revamping the marching band. “Enthusiasm. Excitement. School spirit. When you think of these things, the marching band comes to mind,” said Jeffrey Shaff- er, Dallas High School principal. David Smith serves as the new director for the band. Smith, who played in the University of Michi- gan marching band for four years, explained his plans for the new band on Wednesday, April 16, to students at two assemblies at the high school and one at the middle @ “We wanted to take a look at re- vamping our marching band to in- crease participation,” said Frank Galicki, superintendent of Dallas School District. All Dallas students in grades sev- en through 12 will be eligible to par- ticipate in the band, regardless of whether or not they take a band class or play an instrument. Stu- dents who do not play instruments can be color guards, drum majors, announcers, photographers, etc. “It seems like a fun thingtodobe- cause I thought you had to be in band (class), but now I know you don’t have to be,” said sophomore Christine Goodrich. Ninth-grader Desiree Roberts says when her friends laughed and commented that the assembly was lame, she told them to be quiet. “It's pretty awesome,” Roberts said. “I think it’s great. I want to do announcing or take pictures. This gives me an opportunity to try things I like and help my school.” At the assemblies, students lis- tened to three fight songs and were able to vote for their favorite based pon clapping and noise. Fight song . 2, which is Penn State’s fight song, won. The other two songs were the fight songs of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan. Students have the opportunity to write the lyrics for the district's new fight song as individuals or groups. Lyrics can be submitted on the marching band’s Web site, accessible through the district's Web site, dal- lassd.com, until April 30. To encour- age participation in the contest, Shaffer says if a high school student wins, he will give that student a park- ing spot inthe teacher lot and free ad- mission to all athletic events for the 2008-09 school year. The half time shows for the first two games have already been planned. For the opening day on August 30, the theme is “Reality TV.” Part one is called “So You Think You Can Dance.” The band will form a question mark and play “Proud Ma- ry” with Dallas students and mem- bers of the Back Mountain Dance Studio performing. “Dancing with the Stars” is part two where the band will form a star and play “Chi- na Grove” while the superintend- ent, president of the school board and four school principals each dance with a partner. Part three, called “Dance War,” consists of the band forming two blocks to play “Celebration” and dance one block at atime. “Video Games” is the band’s @: at the Tunkhannock home e on September 13. Band members will first form an “O” and play the “Halo” theme. Next, the See MARCHING, Page 8 098151200798 g o £ | CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Having fun setting up the rummage sale tables were Abby Bachman, Donna, Kelly and Rebecca Smith. The girls’ youth group at the Noxen Bible Baptist Church will use the proceeds to go to Newfoundland this summer on a mission trip. exico, here they come! By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com The teen missionary group at Noxen Bible Baptist Church is ready to spread the word and love of God to others. But doing so comes with a price tag that isn’t easy for a young person to meet. Nine teenagers ages 15 and up and three adults from the church will travel to Monterrey, Mexico this July on a missionary trip. Each person going must raise about $1000 to pay his or her own way. So far, the group has collected 30 percent of the money needed for its journey but, with less than four months before the de- parture date, there’s still a long way to go. According to Sandy Traver, who is handling finances for the trip, the group held several fun- draisers so far to assist with its travel expenses. The students make money by gathering used TQ video game systems, ink car- tridges and selling them. A pizza sale raised $740 and a rummage sale on March 8 brought in $413. Everyone planning to make the trip also sent a letter to relatives and friends, asking for their sup- port. Another ongoing fundraiser is the Hire a Teen program. People who would like help with house- hold work, such as mowing the lawn or raking leaves, may call the church to arrange for a teen to do the work. Teens will com- plete the task for a donation of any amount. Traver hopes the Hire a Teen fundraiser will take off in early spring. The teen missionary group went on its first expedition in 2006 to Monterrey and teamed up with a missionary organiza- tion called Ormundo Ministries. The group helped set a founda- tion for a new church, taught a TEEN i F A & MW oll cs SC} AAD fa 82 1 DJIVUNAKY UKAL Send donations to Noxen Bible Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1, Noxen, PA 18636. children’s club and played soc- cer with local residents. This year, the group is once again partnering with Ormundo Ministries for a trip to Monter- rey from July 16 through July 27 via a van owned by Sandy Traver and her husband, Tony. Main ex- penses include passports, fuel and food. Trip itinerary includes driv- ing to Knoxville, Tenn. where the group will spend the night at a church. The next day, they will drive to South Dallas, Texas and stay in a motel. On day three, the group will meet up with other missionaries in Mission, Texas and then all will proceed to Monterrey, Mexico. In Mexico, the missionaries Jonathan Wandell holds up two lamps that had just sold at a rummage sale to benefit his church youth group's trip to New- foundland. will host Vacation Bible School for children and events for teen- agers. “For me, it’s kind of exciting because I'm 31 years old and I've never been on a missionary trip at all,” Traver said. “I teach Sun- day School but to actually go to a different area outside of your territory is going to be a chal- lenge.” Donna Smith, 20, of Sweet Valley, will be attending the trip and leaving the country for the See MEXICO, Page 9 By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Living with cystic fibrosis On a sunny spring afternoon, Nicolas Matcho couldn't wait to play outside with his friend. The 8-year-old begged his mom for permission to do so while his 10-year-old brother, Andrew, sat nearby and petted the family dog as he waited for dinner to be ready. The brothers may sound like average chil- dren. But instead of only worrying about fin- ishing homework and going to birthday par- ties, the Dallas boys have to endure daily treatments, nebulizers, dietary supple ments and an abundance of pills. Andrew and Nicolas suffer from cystic fi- brosis. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Founda- tion, the disease is caused by a defective gene that affects the lungs and digestive sys- tem. Asaresult, the body forms thick mucus that clogs the lungs and impedes the pan- creas. The boys’ mother, Donna, their brother, David, 12, and extended family will take part in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Great Strides” walk at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. The older brother does not have the disease. The boys’ father, David, will stay home with Andrew and Nicolas. The Matcho family has been active with the foundation’s walk for 10 years. Andrew and Nicolas are not allowed to attend the walk because those with cystic fibrosis carry organisms that can be passed to others with the disease. Instead, the Dallas Elementary School Character Council, inwhich Andrew is a member, will conduct penny wars at the ar " = ot 1 § £ CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/FOR THE DALLAS POST Brothers Nicolas and Andrew Matcho, of Dallas, laugh as they wrestle for a bas- ketball. The boys suffer from cystic fibrosis and will take part in Penny Wars during the week of May 6 at their school, Dallas Elementary, to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The class that raises the most money will be treated to a pizza party. school. Andrew is a fourth-grader and Ni- cholas is a second-grader at Dallas Elemen- tary. A note will be sent home to parents ask- ing them to give pennies and other currency to their children to benefit the foundation. Students will take their money to school the week of May 6 and the class that raises the most money will be treated to a pizza party. Penny Wars were also held at the school last year, raising $1700 for the foundation. “We almost won the whole war (last year),” Andrew said. “It’s fun because you collect all the money and count it and won- der who's going to win the war.” Donna says one in 25 people have the cys- tic fibrosis gene. Both parents must have the gene for it to be passed on. Babies with two parents who carry the gene have a one in four chance of having the disease. Today, people born with cystic fibrosis can live into their mid-30s. When Andrew was born, Donna knew something wasn’t right. Her son was often in a beaded sweat and developed pneumo- nia before he was six weeks old. After being is a family affair Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Great Strides” walk Saturday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m. Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre Register online at http://great- strides.cff.org persistent with Andrew’s pediatrician for the first five months of his life, the doctor recommended a test for cystic fibrosis. It came back negative but, during a trip to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, it was decided to do a second cystic fibrosis test. This time, the results were positive. Nicolas was diagnosed with cystic fibro- sis through his mother’s amniotic fluid dur- ing pregnancy. He suffered an intestinal blockage while in the womb, which is likely related to the disease. Because of the disease, Andrew and Nico- las often have respiratory illnesses and have both been hospitalized several times. Some- times, Donna is unsure about whether or not she should send the boys to school. “If every time we have the sniffles we stayed home, we'd never go to school,” Donna said. Another major problem the boys endure is being underweight because cystic fibrosis makes it difficult for their bodies to absorb nutrients. As a result, both Andrew and Ni- colas take feeding supplements and vita- mins. Nicolas has a feeding tube that is con- nected while he sleeps. “People are surprised when they find out,” Donnasaid. “They don’t notice any dif- See CYSTIC, Page 6
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