Vol.122 No.2 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 March 11 - 17, 2012 eo he ALLAS POS 50¢ WILKES-BARRE, PA. www.mydallaspost.com AN EDITION OF THE TIMES LEADER Fire companies debate territory boundaries By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com The board of supervisors’ new meeting format ended with the township’s two fire companies exchanging heated words about disputed territories on Tuesday. Dallas Fire and Ambulance ad- dressed the board about contest- ed boundaries within the town- ship after two former supervisors did not approve suggestions made by both the fire companies and Luzerne County 911. Last August, Luzerne County 911 approached the township to redistrict the dispatching territo- ries due to a new computer-aided mapping system that would re- place the old paper system. According to Andrew Zahor- sky of Luzerne County 911, the county wanted boundary clarifi- cation on streets both fire compa- nies served. He said there were a few dis- puted areas within the township, and though he had suggested ways to resolve those issues, two former supervisors, Phil Walter and Glenn Howell, did not ap- prove them. The map was finalized in Octo- ber, and Zahorsky said Luzerne County 911 started using the new technology last week. Zahorsky said Kunkle Fire Chief Jack Dodson, who did not attend the work session, was op- posed to surrendering one of the intersections to Dallas Fire and Ambulance, and Karri Dodson, of Kunkle Fire Co., said there were benefactors who lived in that ar- ea. “So the financial is more of an issue than public safety,” said Christopher Good of Dallas Fire and Ambulance. Conrad Higgins of the Kunkle Fire Co. said the fire company is willing to work out the issues, though he felt Kunkle’s territory has been depleted over the last 50 years he’s been a part of the com- pany. “Because of this type of atti- tude, that’s why these fire compa- nies are fighting all the time,” said Higgins. “One is no better than the other, so let’s end it now.” Zahorsky said the system can- not be changed for at least a year after the maps are live, and the county is willing to work with the current map if the supervisors deem no change is necessary. Supervisor Frank Wagner, who was on the board in August, said the fire companies work well to- gether and should settle the mat- ter on their own. Zahorsky said the supervisors have the final say in the matter. In other news, the board dis- cussed changes that will need to be made to the township’s zoning ordinance to comply with Act 13, the recently enacted state law governing the natural gas and oil industries. Jack Varaly, the township’s planning consultant, said the new law supersedes local zoning laws. The township approved comprehensive regulations on natural gas activities in October as two companies pursued gas fa- cilities within the township. Varaly said there are a few ar- eas the law does not address, such as buffer zones and lot sizes, the township could use to streng- then its ordinance. He said the township does not need to be in See BOUNDARIES, Page 8 By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com cience projects and chap- ter books and summer fun vendors, oh my! The Second Annual Family Fun Expo at Dallas Elementary was held on March 1, and about 600 people gravitated to the event. Family Fun Expo features science, book fairs The three aspects of the expo — the science fair, book fair and community vendors — were once held separately throughout the year, but due to low attendance at a few of the events, the parent- teacher organization decided to jam all the fun into one night. “It keeps getting bigger and better every year,” said Melissa Chrusch, Dallas Elementary li- brarian. Students clamored for the lat- est titles at the annual Scholastic Book Fair, the proceeds of which help fund new book purchases for the library. “I have a list of books the kids really want us to get,” said Chrusch. Tina Tomkins, of Dallas, browsed the chapter books with her son, 6-year-old Logan, and 5- month-old daughter, Gwendo- BILL TARUTIS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Dallas Elementary School second-grader Mia Linder, 8, right, and kindergartener Nina Angeli, 6, measure the voltage of a potato. A fun family affair lyn. “We read every night,” she said. “This is a great way to en- courage kids to get away from the computer.” Logan Tomkins was looking for a book on kung-fu. “lI get excited when I think about reading,” he said. “I look forward to it.” See FAMILY, Page 9 J CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Lehman-Jackson Elementary kindergar- tener Jace Hynick listens intently to Dr. Seuss stories during Dr. Seuss Day at the school. J students celebrate Dr. Seuss By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Lehman-Jackson Elementary students and staff celebrated Dr. Seuss Day as part of Read Across America Week on March 2. Classes completed activities, watched a showing of Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax” and sang silly songs to commemorate the day. Lake-Lehman Superintendent James McGovern read aloud the tongue-twisting “Pox in Socks,” by Dr. Seuss, sometimes stopping to take a breath or catch his bear- ings. “It’s not about how well or fast you read it, but having fun while you're reading,” McGovern told the students. After the reading, students also enjoyed a Silly Seuss Sing Along led by music teacher Jenilee Kukuchka, who dressed as Fox in Socks. Kukuchka and art teacher Se- lena Mazzella, who dressed as the Lorax, prepared the Dr. Seuss celebration this year. “Ever since I was little I loved to read, and I still read whenever I get a chance,” said Mazzella. “The key is to start when youre younger and to find something you're interested in.” The students also completed several dif- ferent Dr. Seuss activities within their classrooms. Students were asked to dress in red, white and black, and some classes even had a theme. One second grade class dressed as “Things,” and students were numbered ac- cording to how many students were in the class. Principal Marilyn Glogowski said the in- teractive day shows children that reading can be fun. “Reading is important not only today, By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com within the district, which in- clude Dallas Borough and Dal- las, Franklin and Kingston town- ships. Officer Frank Ziegler of the 8 Dallas community pays to keep D.A.R.E. in tac Local governments and the Dallas School District are still footing the bill for the DARE. Kingston Township Police De- but every day,” she said. “It’s very vital. (Drug Abuse Resistance Educa- partment has instructed the pro- Children remember programs like this tion) program in the Dallas ele- gramin fifth and eighth-grades at more than the curriculum.” mentary and middle schools, Dallas Elementary, Wycallis Ele- though costs have increased in mentary and Dallas Middle ifficult economic times. School on a voluntary since 1995. This year, the cost of maintain- He also taught the class at the former Gate of Heaven School. “I believe you have to educate hg the D.A.R.E. program at Dal- las increased by nearly 25 per- cent, a cost shared by the district and the municipalities located CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST E. J. Williams poses with the D.A.R.E. lion, Darren. Kingston Twp. Police Officer Frank Ziegler reaches out to stu- dents at Dallas Elementary through the D.A.R.E. program. 6 See D.A.R.E., Page 3 0981512007984
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