Sunday, December 18, 2011
THE DALLAS POST
Waste takeover
ET
a ——
Customers will pay less with
DAMA's new solid waste
collection program.
By SARAH HITE
shite@mydallaspost.com
The Dallas Area Municipal
Authority approved its budgets
for 2012 on Dec. 8, resulting in a
net savings for customers due to
its takeover of solid waste col-
lection.
Solid waste and recycling cus-
tomers will see a $30 decrease
per household per year because
the authority is preparing to
switch from utilizing contracted
services to maintaining its own
system.
Sewer customers will see a
$20 increase per household per
year in services. Larry Spaciano,
executive director of DAMA,
said this is attributed to costs
incurred during tropical storms
Irene and Lee as well as other
upcoming projects.
DAMA serves Dallas Borough
d Dallas, Jackson, Kingston
d Lehman townships. The av-
erage household currently pays
$260 a year for solid waste col-
lection and $330 for sewer fees.
Spaciano said the authority
had been mulling the idea of
self-collection about six months
prior to making a final decision
on the matter.
The board approved the mea-
sure in July. Nine full-time em-
ployees have already been hired
for the new program and the
eneans savings
authority is currently waiting on
the delivery of four 30-yard gar-
bage trucks and one 10-yard
truck via the state’s purchasing
program.
Spaciano said the board also
plans to hire three or four more
part-time employees, as well.
DAMA most recently con-
tracted J.P. Mascaro & Sons,
based in Audubon, for solid
waste collection. Spaciano said
in the past there have been ser-
vice issues with various con-
tracted collectors.
“Our primary focus is provid-
ing the best possible service to
our customers,” said Spaciano.
The program is set to begin
on Jan. 2. Spaciano said there
are a few changes for customers,
including a switch in the recy-
cling pickup schedule. He said
the program will include single
stream recycling, which means
any type of recyclable material
such as glass, paper, aluminum
and plastic, can be mixed in
bins. Recyclables will be collect-
ed every other week.
Spaciano also said special ar-
rangements, such as collection
services for customers with long
driveways, will no longer be
available for insurance purpos-
es.
“It’s going to be a little bumpy
in the beginning, but were go-
ing to advertise these changes
to ensure there’s a minimal im-
pact,” he said.
In other news, the board also
changed its meeting schedule
for 2012 to 7 p.m. every second
Tuesday of the month.
ance.
Meeting the big guy
oungsters were able to meet Santa Claus and
Mrs. Claus at Misericordia University’s 13th an-
nual Brunch with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 3. Lit-
tle ones posed with jolly St. Nick and shared their
Christmas wish lists. Brunch was served for families
and activities were also provided for children in attend-
CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST
Jessica DeSanto, of Kingston Twp., and her mom, Gail Humko, of Harding, use their most persuasive powers to entice young Made-
line DeSanto into Santa's lap for a picture at the annual Misericordia University Brunch with Santa.
SE
Grace Jeffery, of Wyoming, has an earnest conversation with
Santa.
J Dow
Amber Kelley, left, and Victoria DeCesaris perform at the Lake-
CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST
Amid horns and tubas, Ronald Simmons-Wells practices for the concert.
Lehman Junior High School Concert.
Sounds of
the season
he Lake-Lehman Junior
High School Annual
Winter Concert was held
with the less fortunate in mind
as members of the band asked
those planning to attend the
concert to bring a non-perisha-
ble food item to help a family in
need within the school commu-
nity.
Students creativity, leaders
achievements are recognized
By SARAH HITE
shite@mydallaspost.com
Students were lauded for
their creativity and district ad-
ministrators were applauded
for their achievements at a
Lake-Lehman School Board
meeting Tuesday evening.
Artwork created by six ele-
mentary students was chosen
to adorn holiday greeting cards
sent to Lake-Lehman employ-
ees past and present, as well as
to neighboring school district
employees.
Superintendent James
McGovern said the Christmas
card contest is his “favorite
time of the year” because it dis-
plays the creative efforts of stu-
dents.
Mikayla Kidd and Jade Fry of
Lake-Noxen Elementary, Chris-
topher Ash and Laurel Traver
of Ross Elementary and Madi-
son Siley and Nicole Barto of
Lehman-Jackson Elementary
will all have their artwork sent
to schools throughout the area.
McGovern also awarded
plaques to the four district
school administrators. Junior/
Senior High School Principal
Doug Klopp, Lehman-Jackson
Elementary School Principal
Superintendent James McGov-
ern said the Christmas card
contest is his “favorite time
of the year” because it dis-
plays the creative efforts of
students.
Marilyn Glogowski, Lake-Nox-
en Elementary School Princi-
pal Nancy Edkins and Ross Ele-
mentary School Principal Do-
nald James, were recognized
because their schools met state
requirements for adequate
yearly progress.
Individual schools are award-
ed AYP only if requirements for
attendance, academic perform-
ance and test participation are
met for two consecutive years.
McGovern said Lake-Lehman
is one of only three districts in
the area to have all its schools
meet the requirements. The
other school districts who re-
ceived AYP locally are Crest-
wood and Dallas.
The board designated
McGovern as the district's
agent in applying for FEMA
funding to recoup losses from
Hurricane Irene damage.
McGovern said the district is
applying for about $15,000 for
various damages sustained
from the late August storm.
Lacrosse coaches Mark Yaple
and Alex Wilson provided the
board with an update on the
growth of the sport nationally
and locally. Yaple said the
teams will have more freshmen
next year and asked the board
to consider budgeting bus
transportation for away games.
In other news, the board...
e Approved leaves of ab-
sence for elementary teachers
Eileen Coslett, Jaclyn Krogul-
ski, Melissa Smigielski and
Carrie McDonald and appoint-
ed Michelle McHale as a dis-
trict substitute.
e Appointed Gerald Gilsky
as the physical fitness director
for the 2011-12 school year,
working no more than 10 hours
per week and John McDonald
as substitute for the position.
e Accepted a letter of retire-
ment from maintenance em-
ployee Joseph Luketic and au-
thorized the advertisement for
a maintenance employee with
heating, ventilation and .air
conditioning experience.
e Approved Albert Melone
and Co. as the district’s busi-
ness manager with a monthly
See STUDENTS, Page 12
BILL TARUTIS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST
Santa visits Kunkle
very hungry Santa Claus made an appearance re-
cently at the Kunkle Volunteer Fire Department
o take part in the department’s annual Breakfast
with Santa.
AT LEFT: Dominic Schultz, 3, left, and his brother, Raymond, 7,
both of Harveys Lake, are thrilled to visit with Santa.
AT RIGHT: Five-year-old Lia Oshirak, left, of Beaumont, sits on
Santa's lap as elf Rusty Coolbaugh, of Kunkle, assists at the Kun-
kle Volunteer Fire Company's Breakfast with Santa.
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BILL TARUTIS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST