Vol.121 No. 51 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 January 30 - February 5, 2011 The DALLAS PosT. Serving the communities of the Dallas and Lake-Lehman School Districts | www.mydallaspost.com Absenteeism in schools will no longer be tolerated “When they have three unexcused absences, by the time they get the court hearing they bring in ex- By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com An attendance policy added to the state Department of Edu- cation code in 2006 is now be- ing enforced in Back Mountain public high schools. The policy, which states that students can lose their drivers’ licenses or learners’ permits for 90 days after three or more un- excused absences from school is having an effect on truant stu- dents at both the Dallas and Lake-Lehman school districts. The policy is part of the Com- pulsory Attendance and Truan- cy Elimination Plan issued from the state Department of Educa- tion in August 2006. It lists rec- ommendations districts can im- plement to deter students from being frequently absent. Dallas Superintendent Frank Galicki said the program is an option for districts to utilize in dealing with frequently absent students. Galicki said District Magist- rate James Tupper of Trucks- ville offered the idea to the Dal- las School District, and adminis- tration worked on implementing the policy immediately. The steps in the process for combating students who accu- mulate three or more unex- cused absences vary among the cuses.” District Justice James Tupper two districts. Attendance offi- cers said they call the student’s home and send letters to par- ents, but these actions do not always stop students from skip- ping school. “It's really a deterrent for kids,” said Galicki. The idea to implement the policy came from frustrated what else they could do to deal with certain students’ low at- tendance. Tupper said the problem lies in getting excuses to teachers on time. “When they have three unex- cused absences, by the time they get the court hearing they bring in excuses,” said Tupper. Norbert Swithers, home and principals who didn’t know school visitor for the Dallas School District, said attendance rates are stable within the dis- trict, and this policy just rein- forces that fact. “Our overall attendance is 95 percent to date,” he said. “We want to keep it that way.” He said informational flyers have been posted within the high school and he has spoken to classes and guidance counsel- ors about what the policy means. Swithers estimates that two or three students have lost their drivers’ licenses as a result of the policy implementation. See SCHOOLS, Page 12 NOTICE CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST A notice posted on the window of the front office at the Dallas High School explains the state- mandated regulation regarding unexplained student absences. A BALL WITH A CAUSE CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Susan Collini, right, one of the founders of Community Cares for Kids, greets guests as they arrive at the organization's annual Masquerade Ball at Newberry Estates. For additional photos, please turn to page 1. CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Mickey Finnet, of Pringle, and Joanne Race, of Dallas, dance to one of the songs at Ekklesia Coffee House.. 109815120079 Coffee house unites Christians in music By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com As members of the Scranton- based Breakfree Band prepped for their set at Ekklesia Coffee House on Jan. 14, the hassle of unloading and setting up equip- ment after their 40-minute com- mute to Lehman was the last thing on their minds. “It’s like home,” said lead sing- er Missyjean Barbuti. The Ekklesia Coffee House, an extension of River of Life Church on Outlet Road in Leh- man, features live Christian mu- sic and karaoke every Friday, as well as homemade soups, sand- wiches and dinner entrees — but that’s not all it offers. “We're a community of all dif- ferent churches and this is a place where we can all come to- gether,” said frequent patron Brenda Karpinski, of Plains. The Living Hope Bible Church mem- ber has been going to the Ekkle- sia Coffee House for “quite a while” - since it began in June of last year. Curt Strunk, organizer of the coffee house and worship leader at River of Life, said the coffee house is hosted by the River of See COFFEE, Page 12 Dueling Divas are delight to By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com From the cozy candles to the soft, dimmed lighting, one couldn’t tell the difference be- tween Really Cooking Café and Supper Club in Dallas and an in- timate New York City piano bar on a recent Friday. E.T. Gourmet, also known as 52-year-old restaurateur and cre- atively coifed Gregory Allen, en- tered onstage with gobs of blue eyeshadow, painted-on red lip- stick and a cheeky grin that al- most foreshadowed the entire Cabaret-style show called “The Dueling Divas of Dallas.” Allen and Judy Curtis, a classi- cally-trained opera singer and professor at Misericordia Univer- sity, spent the night vocally bat- tling not to deem a winner, but to elicit response from the audi- ence. And those in attendance re- sponded — from quiet chuckles to all-out guffaws as the mix of vau- deville and opera managed to put a smile on guests’ faces through- out the evening. Really Cooking has hosted Cabaret-style acts since it opened five years ago, and Allen said per- formers from Broadway have come to croon at the Dallas eat- ery in years past. “Dueling Divas” features a local flair that played on both Allen’s and Curtis’ tal- audience You can see E.T. Gourmet in action in Really Cooking Café and Supper Club's new series of Friday night performances, which will begin at 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 4. There is a $10 cover charge with a $10 minimum food and drink purchase. For more information, visit www.reallycoo- kingcafe.com. ents for song and showmanship. E.T. Gourmet is Allen’s stage name, but throughout the show he changes characters to give the audience a “behind-the-scenes” look at his performance. He writes all the original material in the hour-long act, which is filled with local references, pop culture attributes and double entendre. One of his creations is Sheila Steingoldbergstein-O’Brien, ' a Jewish-Irish hybrid who insists her stripper son get married, which seamlessly shifts into Yet- ta Timebaum, a sassy waitress at the Last Supper. “Jesus Christ, party of 13!” Yet- ta yells. Allen has been performing since he was 16 years old. He worked as a professional pianist for years before joining with Ge- orge Creel to open the restaurant just off Route 309. Allen never expected to bring his talent to the masses in the Back Moun- tain. See DIVAS, Page 12 CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Playing a Girl Scout, Gregory Allen entertains at a cabaret at Really Cooking in Dallas. Sign up now at nepadailydeals.com Get great deals every day!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers