Vol. 120 No. 35 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 August 30 - September 5, 2009 The DALLAS POST. Serving the communities of the Dallas and Lake-Lehman School Districts | www.mydallaspost.com Boy Scout spruces up Legion building Brian DeLuca is working toward completion of his Eagle Scout project. By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Brian DeLuca, 17, is renovat- ing landscaping in the front of the Daddow-Issacs American Legion Post 672 in Dallas to ful- fill the community service re- quirement of his Eagle Scout project. The son of Phillip and Denise DeLuca, of Dallas, DeLuca is a Boy Scout in Pack 281 Dallas sponsored by the Dallas United Methodist Church. He is cur- rently at the rank of Life Scout and was approved an Eagle in progress by Scoutmaster Ronald Santora. “It’s the highest honor in the Boy Scouts and I worked for it for years,” said DeLuca, who has been a Boy Scout since he was in the third-grade. “It helps you with college and whatever you want to do in the real world.” “We're going to have the nicest looking legion around.” Clarence Michael Past commander of American Legion Post 672. As part of his project, DeLuca will add a water feature, sprin- kler system, focal point, path- way lighting and craft a new sign with a lighted message board. He will also plant a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar Tree, a Butterfly Japanese Red Maple Tree, Knockout Roses, Box- woods, a Neon Flash Spirea, Hamlin Grass and Stella de Oro Daylilies. DeLuca completed a blue- print of his plans with the help of Donald Appleby from Rave Landscaping and Design in Dal- las. Groundbreaking for the pro- ject was held on August 8 and the work is almost complete. DeLuca got the idea for his project while looking at an old sign his parents have behind his house. DeLuca knew the Dallas American Legion was in need of a sign and initially hoped to give his parents’ sign to the Legion; however, he had a new sign made instead with the help of a carpentry class at West Side Ca- reer and Technology Center. “We're going to have the nic- est looking legion around,” said Clarence Michael, past com- mander of the American Legion Post 672. “When he first started this, I had no idea the depth of it. It’s just something that’s go- ing to brighten up the post and the entire community. The wa- terfall and the stone work and the plants have uplifted the en- tire building and we appreciate that because it all goes back to honoring our veterans.” According to Michael, the Boy Scouts, especially Pack 281, have been very helpful to the legion over the years. Scout An- drew Santora has done several history projects, including D- Day and the Battle of the Bulge, on panels and hung them in the legions foyer. Santora also at- tended legion meetings and ex- plained his projects. Another Boy Scout once refur- bished the cannon in front of the legion as part of his Eagle Scout project. A third scout re- stored a veteran’s memorial sign on Memorial Highway near the entrance to Elmcrest. Michael says scouts from Pack 281 and Pack 232, Gate of Heaven, are also active with helping the legion put flags on gravestones and they attend flag See LEGION, Page 14 Brian Deluca, 17, is renovating landscaping in the front of the Daddow-Issacs American Le- gion Post 672 in Dallas to fulfill the community service require- ment of his Eagle Scout project. 7 ane} Rallying to help a friend in need By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com The Rev. Drew Cottle is used to praying for and visiting the sick. That's part of his job as pastor of Center Moreland United Metho- dist Church. But Cottle wasn’t expecting ill- ness to strike his own family. His wife, Donna, is currently battling a brain tumor. Donna Cottle, 44, underwent a brain biopsy on July 6 at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. She was diagnosed with a stage three ma- lignant brain tumor that is inop- @- Following complications after the biopsy, she was a patient at the John Heinz Rehabilitation Center in Wilkes-Barre and is now a patient at River Street Ma- nor, Wilkes-Barre. She is current- ly undergoing radiation and che- motherapy treatment. The Rev. Drew Cottle says from all of the literature that he has read about the tumor, “a one- year anniversary is a major victo- ry.” He says his wife is expected to finish radiation on September 30 and their goal is for her to re- turn to her home. “There are good days and bad days,” said the Rev. Drew Cottle. “I've been constantly redefining Chicken and biscuit dinner to benefit Donna Cottle Friday, Sept. 1 Northmoreland Township Volun- teer Fire Co. Hall, Center Moreland Takeouts start at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Reservations are required and must be made by Monday, Sept. 7, by calling Meg Venn at 333-1016. The cost of the dinner is a dona- tion. what hope is now that it is entire- ly apparent that hope does not in- clude full recovery. It hurt to see Robert Novak die last week be- cause Donna has the same tumor that he did. And I watch Teddy Kennedy very carefully right now because he also has this tumor.” (Senator Kennedy passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 25, after Cottle was interviewed for this story.) Members of the Center More- land United Methodist Church and the community will hold a chicken and biscuit dinner to benefit Donna Cottle on Friday, Sept. 11, at the Northmoreland Township Volunteer Fire Co. hall. Takeouts will begin at 4:30 p.m. and dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. See FRIEND, Page 14 FIRST DAY JITTERS % NH CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST The first day of school can be frightening for a kindergarten student. But a big smile, especially when that smile is on the face of a teacher, can make things a lot easier. Here, Dallas Elementary School kindergarten teacher Lucy Callahan gives Hannah Blazure, of Franklin Township, a big hug as Hannah arrives at school on the first ay. Looking on is classmate Maggie Ropietski. For more first day of school photos, please log on to www.mydallaspost.com. te A CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ DALLAS POST FILE PHOTO Allyson Sebolka, Caitlyn Metz and Megan Mancinelli decide to travel together in a routine from "Tales from Around the World" during the 2008 Arts at Hayfield festival. Cl ig na ¥ 34 Arts at Hayfield’ celebrates 25th anniversary By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Several decades ago a commit- tee called the Back Mountain Cultural Center formed and searched for a place to hold com- munity activities. Alice Niskey, of Dallas, was an original member of the group. Niskey says the group, started by Howard Grossman, found a home for numerous arts festivals at College Misericordia, includ- ing a large bicentennial event complete with a parade in 1976. But, eventually the events went downhill because enough volun- teers were available to make them run smoothly. According to Niskey, Priscilla Allison was institutional in bring- ing the group to Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Cultural events 25th Annual Arts at Hayfield Today from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus Off of Old Route 115, Lehman Town- ship university provided faculty and staff to do much of the necessary work. The Arts at Hayfield Summer Festival was born and, in its first year in 1984, 25 crafters and sev- eral performers participated. The 25th Annual Arts at Hay- field, set for 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today on the campus of Penn Satte Wilkes-Barre, will feature more than 100 artisans, musi- cians and crafters as well as mul- tiple food vendors. “It’s huge compared to what it were possible there because th oy VEER started with,” Niskey said. “We probably had 25 to 30 crafters and thought we were doing great. We have over 100 now. We had a few food booths, but we really have a full menu of different kinds of foods now. The whole thing has grown tremendously.” A $2 donation is requested from adults to support various non-profit arts causes. They in- clude an annual achievement award to an arts-oriented Penn State Wilkes-Barre student, do- nations to public performances offered by the F.M. Kirby Center, Misericordia University, the Fine Arts Musical Program at the Sha- vertown United Methodist Church and to Great Books at Penn State Wilkes-Barre as well as occasional support for arts-ori- ented projects at local libraries and programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. “It’s just to underscore the fact the whole purpose of the festival is to highlight the creativity of the college environment and their individual enthusiasm,” said Janis Winter, event chairper- son. “It’s just basically to cele- brate American ingenuity and craftsmanship and expression.” New for this year are special demonstrations from various art- ists, including wood carver Dan Levitsky, of Dallas; Project DJ quilting group from the Trucks- ville United Methodist Church, lute maker Martin Korchnak, of See HAYFIELD, Page 14 Co es HAE LL dol " f
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