Vol. 120 No. 36 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 September 6 - 13, 2009 The Paras Post. Serving the communities of the Dallas and Lake-Lehman School Districts | www.mydallaspost.com Harveys Lake event organizers want to know where profits landed Chris Concert and Sandra Serhan, involved with Harveys Lake Homecoming, question whereabouts of profits. By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Two past organizers of the Harveys Lake Homecoming are wondering what happened to the profits realized by the event in recent years. Chris Concert, who grew up in Harveys Lake but now lives in Swoyersville, was active in plan- ning the festival from 2005 through 2008 and estimates that $7,000 in profits were made from the festival during those years. The money was supposed to go to the Harveys Lake Beautifica- tion Fund and Concert wants to see paperwork to see where that money is now. “Where that money is now, I have no clue but I wish there could be an audit done,” Concert said. “That money is not to go to the general fund; it’s not to go to Harveys Lake Borough; it’s not to go to anything except what was advertised which was the Harveys Lake Beautification Pro- ject.” Susan Sutton, secretary for Harveys Lake Borough, says the money from the homecoming is in a separate borough bank ac- count. Sutton says the account contains $4,862.67, money made from all of the homecoming fes- tivals held so far. In addition, Sutton says the ac- count is public record and the amount in it is reported at every monthly borough council meet- ing. PNC Bank documents for the “Harveys Lake Homecoming Weekend” show the following amounts in the account: Decem- ber 2005 - $3,295.91; December 2006 - $4,671.55; December 2007 - $6,760.35; and December 2008 - $4,862.67. There was no Harveys Lake Homecoming this summer for the first time in five years. Bor- ough councilwoman Carole Samson began making the ar- rangements for this year’s event but other borough officials did not support it. Samson says council members wanted Har- veys Lake Fire and Ambulance to take over the event, but the orga- nization agreed only to sponsor Kids Day. The homecoming was revived in 2005 as a way for residents to socialize and share memories of the lake and proceeds from the weekend-long event held every August by Harveys Lake Bor- ough benefited the Harveys Lake Beautification Project. According to Samson, the bor- ough intends to bring the home- coming back next year and will hold onto the funds to use for the 2010 homecoming. Lifelong Harveys Lake resi- dent Sandra Serhan started Har- veys Lake Day in 1980 which was later turned into the homecom- ing. Serhan says borough offi- cials insisted they have a liaison with the volunteers running the event. “Pm heartsick,” Serhan said. “It was my brainstorm to start this years ago to the point where See PROFITS, Page 10 CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Sandra Serhan, an organizer of the Harveys Lake Homecoming, is questioning the whereabouts of profits realized from the event. 90 years later, Davis Fire Co. continues to thrive By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Albert Davis made an offer to the citizens of Idetown they could not refuse. The year was 1959 and Davis was willing to purchase a fire truck at a cost of about $15,000 for the residents of the area if they agreed to form a fire com- pany. Davis also offered to lease his carriage house as a station for the company for $1 per year. As a result, the Jonathan R. Davis Volunteer Fire Co. was born. A 1959 Chevrolet pumper fire truck was purchased which still remains at the fire house today. Although the truck is no longer in use, department members hold onto it for senti- mental reasons, considering it the cornerstone of the compa- ny’s inception. The Jonathan R. Davis Vol- unteer Fire Co., also known as the Idetown Fire Co., will hold an open house in celebration of its 50th anniversary from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at its fire hall at Route 415 and Idetown Road in Lehman Township. Activities for the open house include a special presentation by Rep. Karen Boback and a memorial service for those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, deceased fire company members and Idetown resi- dents who died in the line of service for their country. Ad- mission and parking are free and refreshments will be served. “It’s the 50th year for the fire department being in service and we just wanted people to come out and see the place, see what equipment we have, just give back to the community,” said Fire Chief Joseph Blaine Jr. Fire company officials say the department has experi- enced several hardships over the last few years. Many senior members retired, some mem- bers relocated and volunteer hours and funds declined. The department has 15 members, but only about seven are active. According to Blaine, the de- partment is financed partly by Lehman and Lake townships but also relies on fundraisers and donations, including an an- See DAVIS, Page 10 BIKE PARADE STARTS SUNDAY SCHOOL SEASON Yate) a A J ti CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Courtney Wallace, of Dallas, wears a highly-decorated helmet to the bike parade signifying the start of the Sunday School season at the Lehman-ldetown United Methodist Church. For more photos of the bike parade, please turn to page 5. Rival athletic teams come together to help classmate with cancer Dallas and Lake-Lehman field hockey teams will conduct 5K fundraising walk to benefit 15-year-old Corey Ehret. By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com The Lake-Lehman and Dal- las field hockey teams are the ultimate rivals on the field. But on Sunday, Sept. 13, the girls will come together to hold a 5K fundraising walk be- ginning at 4 p.m. at the Lake- Lehman Junior/Senior High School track. The walk will raise money for Corey Ehret, a 15-year-old Dallas High School sopho- more. Ehret was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of childhood cancer, in his left cheek muscle in June. Ehret underwent proton ra- diation and chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospi- tal in Boston until Friday, when he returned home. Ehret is the son of Douglas and Mary Ehret. He has two brothers: his twin, Christoph- er, 15; and Brenden, 13. “One of the things Doug and I are really thankful for is Co- rey was diagnosed very early,” Mary Ehret said. “Most kids have Rhabdomyosarcoma for six months period of time be- fore they get any treatment. This type of cancer, no one can tell us where the cancer came from. And that’s scary in it- self.” Jean Lipski, a Lake-Lehman Junior/Senior High School teacher and head field hockey coach, organized the walk to help Ehret and his family. *C ’ d neighbor of mine since we were young,” Lipski said. “I have three children of my own and, when I heard about this, I am just so sympathetic to the parents who have to go through this because I can’t imagine....” Walkers may seek sponsors or donate money in any amount to participate. Walk- ers who raise $50 or more will receive a free t-shirt. T-shirts will also be availa- ble for purchase at the event. Walkers may also choose not to complete the entire 5K. Athletic groups, civic groups and churches are invit- ed to put up a stand to sell food, merchandise, have games, etc. Groups are asked to donate a portion of their profits to Ehret. “We thought we’d ask them to share their profits with Co- rey so we can both benefit and lot more fun for peo- iia SE g FEE Fundraising walk for Corey Ehret Sunday, Sept. 13, 4 p.m. Lake-Lehman Junior/Senior High School track ple to come so there'd be things to do besides just the walk,” Lipski said. Several organizations have already committed to doing stands and helping out. T he Wyoming Valley West ju- nior high field hockey parents are doing a basket raffle. The Dallas mini football leagues are having a stand and are trying to do a dunk tank with administrators and coaches from Dallas and Lake- Lehman. Lehman United Methodist Church and St. Paul’s Luthe- ran Church are also hosting stands. In addition, the Lake- Lehman field hockey parents will run i fand with homemade food. “For something like this, you come together even though on the field you're so competitive,” Lipski said. “When it comes to something like this, you have to band to- gether.” Mary Ehret says Corey Ehret was able to start school on Au- gust 24 with the assistance of a tutor in Boston. Survival rates for his cancer are good, compared to the 1970s when they were slim. He will continue to endure che- motherapy until the spring. Ehret is also part of two re- search studies through the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). “Ithink when you’re ready to throw the towel in and you know all of these people are thinking about you, you have to take a second look at the sit- uation and be more positive,” Mary Ehret said. “Iwanttosay the community here, we’re ve- ry connected. We’re very lucky that this type of childhood can- cer is also very connected so everybody can learn from the last diagnosis and treatment. As we look at the families that are going through similar things that we are, we're very happy to help families who are going through this (pediatric cancer) deal with it.” To register for the walk or to set up a stand, call Lipski at 675-3533. Rebecca Bria, a staff writer, may be reached at 970-7436. 200 ¢'"M09815 79ullg
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