TOREEETEEE Sunday, October 31, 2010 THE ‘DALLAS POST PAGE 3 BACK MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Members of the Back Moun- tain Community Partnership are working together to make fund- ing community projects a reality. The group plans to apply for state grants as a whole rather than in- dividually, and members feel this will only help their chances for project funding. One of the proposed grant ap- plications discussed at a meeting on Oct. 21 was for a water study to be conducted within the six participating municipalities. Lehman Township Supervisor Ray Iwanoski said that interest in natural gas extraction is helping communities become more aware of water safety issues and some water supplies are contam- inated even before drilling oc- curs. Lehman supervisors were re- cently asked to consider a ban on all drilling within the township. “These are legitimate con- cerns,” he said. “If we didn’t have (drilling), we wouldnt know.” The partners, along with the Dallas Area Municipal Authority, also plan to include sewer piping and storm drainage updates with- in the grant application. The grant is offered by the state De- partment of Economic and Com- munity Development. Jackson Township Supervisor John “Jay” Wilkes asked the part- nership for aid in the township’s continuous effort to find funding Another grant-funded project, Conservation Works!, is set to begin in Kingston Township, Lehman Township and Dallas Borough. The project aims to make municipalities more energy efficient and save more money. (Joe) Chacke (of NEPA Alliance) said the bids for the project are currently being advertised, and he hopes they will be awarded by Nov. 12. to replace a fire engine that serves communities across the county. Wilkes said three previ- ous attempts to replace the en- gine were futile, even with the support of several local organiza- tions and state Sen. Lisa Baker. “Pretty soon we won’t have this service available,” said Wilkes. Joe Chacke of the NEPA Alli- ance announced that Kingston Township and Dallas Borough were successful in receiving grants to purchase Tasers for the municipalities’ police depart- ments. Another grant-funded project, Conservation Works! is set to be- gin in Kingston Township, Leh- man Township and Dallas Bor- ough. The project aims to make municipalities more energy effi- cient and save more money. Chacke said the bids for the pro- ject are currently being adver- tised, and he hopes they will be awarded by Nov. 12. The partners also discussed the details for a speed trailer equipped with radar purchased by five of the six participating municipalities. The members will discuss a schedule, payment plan and resting place for the trailer at the partnership’s next meeting. In other matters ... ¢ Kingston Township Supervi- sor James Reino Jr. made a point to discuss the natural gas extrac- tion severance tax with other lo- cal leaders. He said the partner- Partners work together to fund community projects |] ship should begin writing letters to local representatives about the tax, which did not pass through state Congress this year. Reino feels the money should be fo- cused in areas where drilling is occurring. “The bulk of the money should stay here,” said Reino. ® The partnership also resolv- ed to work with the state Bor- ough Association and Pa. State Association of Second Class Townships to let legislators know how its members feel about the tax. The next meeting of the Back Mountain Community Partner- ship will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18 in the Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall at Mi- sericordia University. EMBELLISH OPENS ON MAIN STREET Embellish, a new home accents store, opened on Oct. 4 at its Dallas location on 12 Main St. The store features “something for everyone,” said owner Connie Dorrance of Franklin. Town- ship, shown here. Gifts include antiques, lamps, pillows, candles, clocks and other home acces- sories. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the business is manned by part-time employees, including Dorrance's daughter Erin. The new business will hold its grand opening and a Christmas Open House Nov. 19-21. For more information, call 674-7565. CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Winter parking ordinance in effect Kingston Township Police Chief James Balavage reminds residents that the Township Winter Parking Ordinance goes into effect November 1 and runs through March 31, 2011. Under this ordinance, resi- dents are prohibited from parking vehicles on township streets between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. The chief also reminds resi- dents that vehicles are not permitted to be parked on township streets during snow- storms or for eight hours after the end of a storm. The ordinance is designed to keep township streets open and clear so that snow remov- al measures can be effectively. undertaken by the public works department. Residents with questions about the ordinance may con- tact Chief Balavage at 696- 1175. The Kingston Township Board of Supervisors has an- nounced the Yard Waste/ Bagged Leaf Pickup has been scheduled for November 8-19. Residents are advised to have yard waste and bagged leaves placed at the curbside for pick-up. Yard waste con- sists of sticks and twigs bun- dled three feet in length and one foot in height and one foot wide. There is a limit of two bundles. Large limbs will not be accepted. Township crews will con- duct the pick-up between the hours of 7 am. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The township asks the coop- eration of residents in refrain- ing from sweeping leaves into gutters and roadways. The leaves block storm drains and pose a serious maintenance problem for the public works department. A township ordi- nance also prohibits this prac- tice. Residents are reminded that bags must contain only leaves and no grass clippings. Resi- dents are also reminded that Ordinance 2004-4 prohibits the burning of leaves. Residents may drop off leav- es without bags and yard waste at the composting site located behind the public works facility. Anyone with questions about the Yard Waste and Bagged Leaf Pick-up is asked to call the township adminis- trative office at 696-3809 or the public works department at 696-3650. Dallas High School students seek community service, internship opportunities for projects Changes in senior projects result in students needing internships, service. Students in the Dallas High School are seeking job-shad- owing and community service opportunities to fulfill re- quirements for their senior completion projects. Students in ninth through 12th grades at the high school are working toward their portfolio-based projects and need to fulfill job-shadowing and community service hours. Businesses or organizations interested in working with high school students on a non-paid basis are asked to contact Sarah Kashatus, En- glish teacher at Dallas High School, by phone at 674-7230 or by e-mail at skasha- tus@dallassd.com. THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS MONDAY, NOV. 1 Jackson Township 2211 Huntsville Rd., Jackson Twp. Supervisors will hold an early meeting at 9 a.m. in the munici- pal building. Franklin Township The supervisors will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. in the fire hall on 329 Orange Rd. in Franklin Township. Dallas School District 2000 Conygham Ave., Dallas Twp. The Dallas School Board will hold a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting at 7 p.m. in the adminis- tration building next to Wycallis Elementary. Dallas Township 601 Tunkhannock Hwy., Dallas Twp. Supervisors will hold a meet- ing at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal building. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 3 Kingston Township 180 E. Center St., Shavertown There will be a public hearing concerning the 2011 Kingston Township budget at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building. THURSDAY, NOV. 4 Kingston Township 180 E. Center St., Shavertown There will be a public hearing concerning the 2011 Kingston Township budget at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building. 7436. SEND US YOUR HOLIDAY NEWS Calling all holiday happenings! Send The Dallas Post information about your festive gathering and we’ll get the word out about Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties and more. E-mail Sarah Hite, Dallas Post Staff Writer, at shite@mydallaspost.com or call her at 970- HARPIN' ON THINGS Don't you hate it when t was pointed out to me by my son that I had made a mis- take in the last column re- garding the episode where Bugs is a matador and the bull swal- lows a gun. I thought the bull fired the bullets from his tail but my boy in- sists they were fired from his horns. There was only one way to set- tle this since my son was raised with those car- toons which are totally different from the mind-numbing, hypno- tizing, “baby sitter in a box” ones of today. Plus, he’s probably right! Not wanting to concede the Heffernan find the Bugs VCR tape among the boxes stacked in the cellar still sealed from the move south in 1993. Once found, we also had to locate the wires to hook the contraption to the television which were in another box marked, appropriately so, “wires.” Opening the box, which sport- ed my handwriting but which I have absolutely no recollection of ever packing, I broke into a sweat at the many different col- ors and lengths of wire. There was no way to figure out which ones would work. Fortunately, my son knew what wires would work and it wasn’t long before the cartoon in question was play- ing. The Pavlovian response of gig- gling started when the jingle leading into the cartoon played and immediately escalated into full-blown howling as it pro- gressed. By the end of the car- point too quickly, 1 insisted we toon, we vere almost on the the kids are right? Can you laugh about it? floor when the front door flew open and the Mrs. appeared. “What are you two doing in- ...Oh gawd, not THOSE car- toons! I'm going back to garden- ing,” was blurted out, followed by the door closing, making us laugh even harder. She is the on- ly person I know who can keep a straight face while Bugs, Red Skelton, Benny Hill or the Three Stooges play, yet laughs hyster- ically when I injure myself dur- ing a project from the ever-in- creasing “Harp Do” list. Following our father and son time, my boys and I parted ways and I ventured outside to see how bare the trees have become and start the mental countdown calendar to Spring. Without leaves and weeds, I noticed the fence needs fixing and a pile of rocks has yet to move itself. It’s amazing what you see at this time of year. Going through Centermoreland last week on to be a large, five-foot mushroom in a yard. Not one to be shy, I in- quired and met Joe Sideski, who makes contemporary sculpture from natural and manmade ma- terials. His unique creations are scattered around his yard and he was preparing for an art exhibit in Maryland. Being nosy, I learned that the Centermoreland Grocery Store has come under the ownership of Alan and Sharlene Weidner. They have a nice deli counter for lunch, which guys from a nearby job site frequent and Rachel’s smile will keep you coming back every day. Jim Sickler from Centermore- land Concrete is just around the corner and he is close to the Cen- termoreland Garage, which al- ways has a full parking lot. Up the road a bit is Moss Machinery with its bright blue tractors and Kurt Fetterman, owner of Foot- paths and Landscapes, has his Route 292, I noticed that looked red trucks with Ned, Danny and \ Sam on the run every day. The Northmoreland Fire Com- pany puts on an awesome roast beef dinner for a great price, usu- ally once a month, along with other fundraising events. We would be in trouble without the volunteers from all our fire and ambulance companies. Don’t you love little country towns? I have been going by these places for the last three months on the way to work but never took the time to really see. The next time you drive through any of our Back Mountain com- munities, take the time to actual- ly read the signs and look at the businesses. You will be amazed at what's here. The Atta Girls of the week go to sisters Jill, Janine and Jen, owners of Bernie's Pizza, a staple of the Back Mountain. The girls took over the business in 2002 and moved it next to the Dallas Car Wash. Of course, I didn’t re- alize they moved until I whipped the car into the NAPA parking lot, narrowly missing the tele- phone pole that once planted it- self into the passenger door of my 1972 Charger. But that’s an- other story. Good job, ladies. Keep that pizza coming. On a sad note, the Wyoming Valley will deeply miss past Wyoming Seminary president Dr. Wallace Stettler. He was the president when I attended Sem in 1972 and I'll never forget see- ing him and his family all muddy, cleaning up areas on the campus after the Agnes Flood. People of Dr. Stettler’s caliber do not come around very often. He will al- ways be remembered. Harp Heffernan was the associate publisher, outdoor editor and chief photographer of the Sunday Inde- pendent, a newspaper that was in his family for 27 years in Wilkes-Barre. You can e-mail him at news@mydal- laspost.congy
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers