oThe Vol.121 No. 28 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 September 16 - 22, 2012 DALLAS POST. WILKES-BARRE, PA. www.mydallaspost.com AN EDITION OF THE TIMES LEADER Dallas senior citizens will get new home - finally! By MEGAN SCHNEIDER mschneider@mydallaspost.com The long-awaited news that the senior center in Dallas is scheduled to reopen in the Twin Stacks Center on Memorial High- way came this week. After receiving several re- sponses to its latest request for proposals, the Luzerne & Wyom- ing Counties Area Agency on Ag- ing presented and gained approv- al for the lease of the new senior center from the Luzerne County Council on Tuesday evening. Lynn Banta, owner of the Twin Stacks, said she responded to a request from the agency because the senior center is an important part of the community. The agen- cy then performed on-site visits before deciding on which loca- tion to send before the county council for a vote. The agreement on the new lo- Lynn Banta, owner of the Twin Stacks, said she responded to a request from the agency because the senior center is an impor- tant part of the community. The agency then performed on-site visits before deciding on which location to send before the coun- ty council for a vote. cation is fully funded by a state block grant through the Pennsyl- vania Department on Aging, at a cost of $2,608 per month, effec- tive until June 30, 2013, with an option for a four-year renewal. The previous Dallas Senior Center, which was located at 22 Rice St. in Dallas for almost 25 years, was closed earlier this year due to safety concerns. Issues with faulty flooring and a tight parking lot caused the Area Agen- cy on Aging to begin the search for a more suitable location. The center served approxi- mately 300 meals a week, accord- ing to the Area Agency on Aging. The Dallas Senior Center served its last meal on March 7, 2012, and since then, many Back Mountain seniors have been making trips to the Edwardsville Senior Center on Russell Street. The new location will open just in time to save the older drivers the sometimes difficult winter com- mute in the coming months. According to Trula Hollywood, executive director of the aging agency, the center is expected to be open and fully functional for See CENTER, Page 15 Remembering and teaching By MEGAN SCHNEIDER mschneider @mydallaspost.com When members of the Dal- s High School Student Lead- hip and Civics Club real 1zed that many students in grades nine through 12 have no memory of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, they focused their Patriot Day Commemoration Program not only on respect and mourning, but on education. “We're at the age group now where not everyone knows what 9/11 is,” club president Marcus Wagner said of the program held Tuesday in the Dallas High School auditori- um. Wagner, now a senior, told his personal recollection i not understanding what f ®. happening but knowing something was wrong. Principal Jeffrey Shaffer opened the event, stating “Our seniors were in first grade, our juniors were in kindergarten Members of Dallas Boy Scout Troop 281 present the colors at a September ith commem- oration at Dallas High School. “We're at the age group now where not everyone knows what 9/M is.” Marcus Wagner, president Dallas High School Student Leadership and Civics Club and the rest of our student body hadn't even started school yet.” Shaffer went on to share a personal story of the loss of a friend and explained to the students the impor- tance of remembering the events of 9/11. All members of the Student Leadership and Civics Club and Boy Scout Troop 281 par- ticipated in the event. Speech- es were made by Wagner, vice president Blake Donovan, sec- retary Nora Tidey, treasurer Rebecca Schnable and mem- bers Rudy Georgetti and Skyl- er Velazco. The National Anthem was sung by Civics Club member Rebecca Darling. Students Pa- trick Newhart and Kristian Dyrli performed “Gone With- out Goodbye” written by Brian Littrell. The program included a vid- eo montage, created by mem- bers of the Civics club that presented a timeline of events of that day depicting the ter- roristic strikes against the Pentagon and the Twin Tow- ers in New York City, as well as the fate of Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. There were also explanations of the short and long-term ef- fects of the tragedy, a detailed description of the memorials at Ground Zero and examples of how people around the country have handled the grief process. “My piece is focused on why we remember,” said Donovan, whose speech closed the pre- sentation. “The biggest part of remembering is understand- b » ing. BILL TARUTIS PHOTQS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Dallas students watch a commemoration of the September ith attacks at the high school auditori sk > JASON RIEDMILER/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Back Mountain residents who recently participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Scranton are, from left, Chris Ostroski, Rick Ostroski. Second row, Jocelyn Mattingly, Alexandra Strobel, Riley Wren, Shelby Pocono, Reagan Woytowich, Michael Bufalino, Nathan Ostroski, Cara Pocono. Third row, Jennifer Mattingly, Carly Kappler, Tegan Ostroski, Lisa Strobel, Kim Markowski, Pam Mac- Neely, Cari Machulski, Maria Aliciene. Fourth row, Amy Wren, Leah Kappler, Megan Palfey, Diane Pocono, Maggie Baker, Tina Romanow- ski. Fifth row, Samantha Bufalino, Kathy Bufalino, Brian Bufalino, Susan Woods, Allen Woods, Madison Woods, Brendan Woods. By CAMILLE FIOTI Dallas Post Correspondent The largest private team in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Scranton last week- end included about 35 Back Mountain residents. Spon- sored by the Ice House Pub in Mountaintop, the 170-plus member “Stop Cancer Cold” team included breast cancer survivors Chris Ostroski and Kathy Bufalino, both of Sha- vertown. Over 10,000 people took part in the annual 5K run/walk event to benefit breast cancer patients. The Ice House Team raised over $5,000, said Os- troski, 43. After posting the event on Facebook, Ostroski said the number of people wanting to join the team grew rapidly. “I invited people and those people invited people,” she said Ostroski, who was diag- nosed with breast cancer four years ago, credits early detec- tion for saving her life. “The key is early detection,” she said. “If you find a lump, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to go to the doctor. There are so many advances in medicine, and it may be something that can be treated very easily.” Friends, family run toward a cure A decade ago, Ostroski and Bufalino were neighbors when they both lived in Plains. When Ostroski heard through mutual ac- quaintances that Bufalino, 44, also had breast cancer, she invited her to be on the team. A decade ago, Ostroski and Bufalino were neighbors when they both lived in Plains. When Ostroski heard through mutual acquaintances that Bufalino, 44, also had breast cancer, she invited her to be on the team. Diagnosed last February with the beginning stages of breast cancer, Bufalino also credits early detection for sav- ing her life. Comparing past mammograms, which Bufalino has undergone annually for the Schneider joins Dallas Megan Schneider has been named Staff Writer /Editorial Assistant at The Dallas Post, announced Editor Dotty Martin. A native of White Haven, Schneider is a graduate of Crestwood High School. She received an associate’s de- gree in Journalism from Lu- zerne County Community College in May 2012. While at LCCC, she served as treasurer of the college’s ACLU chapter and designed a website for the Broadcast Communications Depart- ment of the college. She resides in Nanticoke with her husband, Brian, and their daughter, Evelyn. At The Dallas Post, Schneider will be responsib- le for covering Back Moun- tain school board and munic- ipal meetings as well as writ- ing feature stories about Back Mountain residents and organizations. She can be reached by phone at 970-7436 or by email at mschneider@my- dallaspost.com. Post staff Schneider last four years, doctors noticed a small change in the most re- cent test. “There were calcifications in a grouping,” she said. “Thank- fully, it was caught early.” Bufalino participated in the race as a way to “give back” to the Susan G. Komen Founda- tion. After undergoing a lump- ectomy and radiation, she re- ceived physical therapy a few times a week at Allied Services John Heinz Institute of Reha- bilitation Medicine. Persistent swelling in her arm delayed Bufalino’s return to her job at Apple Tree Nursery and Pri- mary School in July. To aid in the swelling, Bufali- no’s therapist ordered several compression items, costing roughly $300. “I was overwhelmed when my therapist said they’d be cov- ered by the Susan G. Komen Foundation for first-time can- cer patients,” she said. “It brought tears to my eyes.” $f L Po a ———— an a =
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