L Vol. 122 No. 6 THE BACK MOUNTAIN’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 SUNDAY APRIL 14-20, 2013 The DALLAS POST . ILKES-BARRE, PA. www.mydallaspost.com AN EDITION OF THE TIMES LEADER CKSON TOWNSHIP End of tax collection woes for Jackson Township By SUSAN DENNEY Dallas Post Correspondent Jackson Township solicitor Jeffrey Malak announced at the April 8 su- pervisor’s meeting othat township rev- enues are finally caught up after diffi- culties caused by the Don Wilkinson/ Centax agency. Supervisor Allen Fox added, “Since Berkheimer took over, there’s been a big improvement.” Fox pointed out three other indica- tions that things are improving in the township and started by reporting that recycling is going well in the township. The township's recycling center is open from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Fox said compost is available at no cost to residents and that many are tak- ing advantage of this resource. He also reported that the construc- tion of the township playground will resume and that a soccer field will be created at no cost to taxpayers as the cost of creating the field has been do- nated by a township resident. Jackson Township supervisors an- nounced the winning of a gaming grant they applied for in conjunction with Lake-Lehman School District has been awarded. The grant will provide for improvements to district’s sports facili- ties, including a walking trail and new turf for the district’s football field. Fox pointed out to residents that skillful grant writing ensured the proj- ect would be completed at no cost to township residents and that all fees had been included in the grant. In regular business, supervisors authorized the township engineer to advertise for bids for a stormwater improvement project on Timbergrove Road. The supervisors also approved the See COLLECTION, Page 9 LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT LL board to Increase energy efficiency By SUSAN DENNEY Dallas Post Correspondent Teammate to some, friend to all CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Susan and Jim Schilling, of Dallas, receive a framed baseball shirt (#31) from Dylan Pilger and members of the Dallas baseball team. The Schillings’ son, Jason, a former member of the team, was killed in a car accident in December. REMEMBERING JASON By DOTTY MARTIN dmartin@mydallaspost.com ason Schilling had such an impact on his Joi High School baseball teammates that his memory is guiding them through their current season. Schilling was an outfielder for the Dallas High School baseball team for three years. His jersey - No. 31 - was not issued to any player for this season and his teammates will hang the jersey in the dugout every time it plays a game. A 2012 graduate of Dallas High School, Schil- ling died Dec. 1, 2012, when the automobile he was driving crashed into a tree on Carpenter Road in Dallas. His friends have created a living memorial at the tree. Prior to the Mountaineers’ game against Lake- Lehman last week, members of the team invited Schilling’s family to be part of a sideline cere- mony where they were presented with a framed t-shirt made to look like a Dallas High School baseball jersey with the No. 31 on it. The jersey has Schilling’s initials and the initials of Ron Noyalis on the sleeve. Noyalis, father of former DHS baseball standout Marc Noyalis, was killed last year while clearing trees. Jim and Susan Schilling and their son, Ste- The tree on Carpenter Road in Harveys Lake that Jason Schilling crashed into has been made into a living memorial by his friends. phen, were all on hand at the informal ceremony. “It was very emotional,” Jim Schilling said a few days later. “To me, it’s clearly a testament to the kids and the coaching staff. The gesture speaks to the goodness in their hearts and the compassion they have for Jason.” Schilling admitted that being present at the Lake-Lehman baseball field was difficult for him and his family but couldn’t say enough about his son’s baseball teammates. “They all gathered around us and patted us on the back,” he remembered. “It was very moving, very memorable. “The reality of it is that he is no longer with us,” Schilling continued, fighting back tears. “But these kids have made it their cause to keep him with them and they have brought some sun- shine into our lives.” Schilling also reported that team members sold stickers with his son’s inititals on them to players who wanted to wear them on their bat- ting helmets. The more than $100 raised was do- nated to the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, an organization near and dear to Jason Schil- ling’s heart. See JASON, Page 9 The Lake-Lehman School Board will enter into a win-win contract to increase energy effi- ciency at the district’s buildings. At its April 8 meeting, the board of education approved the execution of an agreement with CM3 Building Solutions for a guaranteed energy performance contract. This type of contract provides energy-saving equipment. Under the contract, the equipment is guaranteed by the state to pro- duce savings equal to or greater than the amount of the amortiza- tion payment on the loan. Energy efficient boilers, windows and lighting might be part of the en- ergy savings package. The board hired Stevens & Lee, P.C. as bond counsel for the project and PNC Capital Markets LLC as project underwriter. The board also accepted the $65,000 bid of All American Tracks of Amherst, Ohio for re- surfacing of the athletic field’s running track. Superintendent James McGov- ern had lots to brag about in his remarks. He honored three stu- dents from Ross Elementary who were state winners of the Zaner- Bloser writing contest. Sarah Bednarek, Andrew Jubis and Kar- lee Kreller received certificates from the district. In a special moment, McGovern called board member Bo Kreller up to present his daughter Karlee with her cer- tificate. McGovern also acknowledged the winning History Day team at the high school. The superintendent also gave credit to a number of Lake-Lehm- an school district employees and volunteers for pulling off a minor miracle in gaining a $500,000 gaming grant for improved sports facilities. McGovern said the districts grant writing process was only begun on Dec. 10, 2012 with a deadline of Dec. 31 of the same year. He praised Lori Bednarek, special projects coordinator for the district, for the success of the grant. According to McGovern, the district is committed to provid- ing all new facilities and improve- ments asked for in the grant even though the district had requested more than $800,000. McGovern announced that Sat- urday community work days will help make up the discrepancy in funds. He also said the district’s large fundraiser, the Knight of Mayhem, will still take place on June 1 even though the cost of the new turf is being provided by the grant. Ashbridge remembered as Prince of BMT Library Auction, advocate for public good 2s Post Correspondent Pf the red sliding door to the auction barn behind the Back Mountain Library was open, more than likely Ernie Ash- bridge was in there - moving furniture, dusting and -care- fully arranging the over 600 ® BARTIZEK antiques the library planned to sell in July. Ashbridge would wave guests in, gently and jovially in- viting them to look around and ogle at the treasures he found during the year. All were wel- comed, strangers and friends. “Just be careful not to bump RRL iy hing,” he would say. This will be the first time in more than 57 years Ashbridge will miss the event to which he devoted so much of his life. Ashbridge died Tuesday, April 12 at the age of 82. Ashbridge was passionate about helping the library make as much money as possible from the sale of the antiques. Though a registered profes- sional auctioneer since 1978, he cared little for the limelight on stage, preferring to work behind the scenes, “gathering things” as he called it. He would sometimes bid on an item himself if he didn’t think the auctioneers were get- ting a high enough price. He knew the value of the antiques he had bought and would wince when the price was too low. Ashbridge served on the board of directors of the Back Mountain Memorial Library and several times as its presi- dent since the early 1980s. “Ernie was a person that made everything run smooth- ly,” said Martha Butler, direc- tor of the Back Mountain Me- morial Library. “He took care of all the details but was not afraid of big decisions either See ASHBRIDGE, Page 4 (5 CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Ernie Ashbridge, a long-time volunteer for the Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction, died this week. <r The board also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Mary Slaby, a language arts teacher; Nancy Walters, elementary/ remedial reading teacher; and Catherine Wolfe, a language arts teacher. The teachers were praised for their contributions to the district. The board’s next regular meet- ing will be held at 7 p.m. on Mon- day, May 13 in the library of the Junior-Senior High School. 6c "R098 15120079%g
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