SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013 THEDALLAS POST PAGE 3 LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT Students receive honors, question curriculum By SUSAN DENNEY Dallas Post Correspondent The Lake-Lehman High School Ii- brary was packed with students receiv- gd honors for sports, music and Histo- Day competitions. But a small group of high school sophomores questioned the board about the elimination of the humanities class from the curriculum. Director of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Tracey Halowich said the humanities program no longer fits the needs of younger high school stu- dents who take Keystone tests based on government and American history rather than the course matter of the world history-based humanities course. She invited students to meet with her about the proposed changes. Board member Andrew Salko said he was a humanities student who felt the benefits of the course. “I'm going to fight and be the advocate,” he said of the course. Halowich’s title was also changed at the meeting. She has become the As- sistant to the Superintendent with no change in salary or benefits other than those specified in the current Act 93 agreement. Higher taxes look likely for property owners living in the school district, even though two Lake-Lehman school board members voted against the dis- trict’s proposed final budget which in- cluded a tax increase. The proposed $27 million budget calls for a millage of 9.671 for those taxpayers living in Luzerne County and a millage of 51.1882 for those living in Wyoming County. A mill is a $1 tax on each $1,000 of assessed property value. In addition to the tax increase allowed by the state, the district applied for ex- ceptions to raise the taxes even higher. After the meeting, board member Bo Kreller said he voted against the tax hike because he’s hearing that tax- payers are tired of tax increases every year. “Theyre tired of having to pay the highest rate allowed,” he said. “I believe there are other areas where we can be cutting.” Karen Masters joined Kreller in vot- ing against the proposed budget, say- ing, “I feel the same. There are other concessions we can make.” She added that residents are being taxed out of their homes in this economy. All other board members voted for the budget except James Welby who was absent from the meeting. The board unanimously approved a new bond issue. When a resident questioned the move, school officials explained the bond issue had a two- fold purpose. One is to refinance dis- trict debt at a lower rate and the other is to improve energy efficiency at the district. Over the 15-year period of the loan, the energy efficiency project guarantees a net payback of $400,000, including the debt service on the loan. Karen Muldoon, of Dallas, was ap- pointed as a school nurse for the dis- trict. The board also authorized the Human Resources Department to ad- vertise for several teaching positions and an athletic director. Head coaches for the fall and win- ter seasons were also appointed at the meeting. The board recognized the retirement of Lehman-Jackson Elementary School principal Marilyn Glogowski. It also recognized History Day Coordinator Michael Novrocki as the recipient of the Patricia M. Behring State History Day Teacher of the Year Award. By ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER BACK MOUNTAIN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: CRYSTAL VISION CENTER Bg ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER PHOTOS/THE DALLAS POST ABO certified optician Danielle Sweeney, Dr. Shelley Eskin and optician Lisa Gennusa work together as a team to provide patients and customers at Crystal Vision Center, Dallas, with a welcoming atmosphere and professional service. Ibaumeister@theabingtonjournal.com Ithough Crystal Vision Center in Dallas has been open for about five months ow, the staff can’t recall seeing a grumpy or unhappy face enter its doors yet. “People are great here,” said optician Dani- elle Sweeney. “Everyone’s friendly and happy when they walk in the door.” Dr. Shelley Eskin added that she likes the new Dallas location because it is right in the center of the town’s activity. The Dallas office is one of seven in a pri- vately-owned and operated business which began 21 years ago. It offers a wide range of services and products, including comprehen- sive eye exams for ages 4 and up, screenings for prevention and detection of eye diseases, contact lens fittings, designer eyeglasses for the whole family, eyeglass repairs and more. Sweeney and optician Lisa Gennusa em- phasized their enjoyment in working with people and serving their customers. Gennusa’s favorite things about her job are “helping people, listening to their needs and maximizing their insurance benefits.” She ex- plained the business accepts most insurances and even those who don’t have insurance re- ceive good deals, as all the eyeglass frames are priced 40 to 70 percent off the national retail. Misericoria University faculty, staff and students also receive a special discount. Gen- nusa enjoys helping customers find the per- fect pair of glasses for the best price possible. yewear brighten the room at Crystal Vision Center, Dallas. A display of children's e Meet the doctor: Shelley Eskin, of Shaver- town Cg Family: Husband, Marc Pensak, optom- etrist and owner of Crystal Vision Center; Daughter, Rebecca, 22, attends law school in Virginia; Son, Ethan, 19, attends college at Westchester University; and dog, Gabby. Hobbies/interests: Tennis, exercising and collecting antique glasses. Dream vacation: Sitting on a tropical beach. Glasses or contacts? Both. “I just love people,” she added. Sweeney and Gennusa work to help cus- tomers through the process of picking out their frames, educating patients on the lens options to best meet their needs, making sure the glasses fit perfectly and the perscriptions are correct and taking care of all the details. as The staff at Crystal Vision Center, Dallas, en- joys helping customers find the perfect pair of classes to fit their needs and wants. The business has its own on-site lab, which helps fill orders fast. Overall, the duo said, the goal is for everyone to leave happy. Eskin, who has been in practice for 29 years, said her favorite parts of the job are “helping people see better, matching their needs with their lifestyles and mostly just dealing with people on a day-to-day basis.” KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Supers table 4-way stop sign Issue By GERI GIBBONS Dallas Post Correspondent Township supervisors tabled a motion to establish a four-way stop sign at the intersection of East Center and North Main Streets, pending a traffic study completed by Borton Lawson, township engineers. In making the motion for the study, Chairman Jeffrey Box said it is necessary for the town- ship to have a full understand- ing of safety issues and traffic patterns affecting the intersec- tion before voting on the issue. “Personal opinions aside, I think we should have a traffic study done and I believe it will reflect the need for a four-way stop “Personal opinions aside, | think we should have a traffic study done and | believe “it will reflect sign at that the need fora intersection,” four-way stop said Kings- sign at that ton Township jntersection.” Chief of Police Kingston Jim Balavage. = Township Chief Shavertown of Police Jim Fire Chief Balavage Gary Beisel voiced con- cerns in regard to the sign, saying it could re- sult in increased traffic conges- tion and affect traffic flow from Route 309. Box said the board would again discuss the matter at its June meeting, pending comple- tion of the traffic study. The board also tabled a mo- tion to make South Main Street a “one way,” pending further clarification of its content. In another matter, the board approved the adoption of Windy Street and Avalon Court within the Slocum Estates Sub- division. The board ratified Laura Slocum as tax collector for the township effective March 4. The board approved the Lands at Hillside Farms Fall Festival to be held on Oct. 5 and 6. The next meeting of the Kingston Township Board of Supervisors will be held at 7:30 p.m. on June 12. Sherman named new chief financial officer for = © Jeff D. Sherman has been appointed ‘asthe first chief financial officer of the ‘newly-formed Civitas Media, it was an- miounced May 1 by CEO and President fiche! C. Bush. The appointment was ‘effective April 22. : Civitas Media is the owner of The Times Leader, the Abington Journal, ‘The Dallas Post, the Sunday Dispatch ‘and the Weekender. © Bush said Sherman is a detail-ori- ‘ented, results-driven professional who understands how important it is to pro- vide great customer service. “We are pleased to have someone with Jeff’s financial acumen join our team. He will play a key role as we transform the local community infor- mation business,” Bush said, “and it is especially nice to have an executive fa- miliar with the Charlotte area and busi- nesses join us as we establish our new headquarters there.” Sherman said the decision to join Ci- vitas Media was an easy one. “I really felt that my strengths in terms of bringing things together and streamlining operations from an ac- counting background fit well with the company’s vision for the future,” he said. A graduate of The Ohio State Uni- versity with four years of service in the United States Navy, Sherman most re- cently was the Senior Vice President of Finance for the Harris Teeter Corpora- tion, a group of more than 200 grocery stores. He is a past president of Big Broth- ers/Big Sisters in Ohio, is the imme- diate past chairman of the YMCA and a former treasurer of the Matthews Health Clinic in North Carolina. “I think it’s important to give back to the community,” he said. “I've been very blessed with what I've been given and I think it’s my obligation to help along the way when I can.” Sherman and his wife, Lisa, have two children, a son, Ian, 21, a student at New York University; and a daugh- ter, Emily, 15, a high school student in Charlotte. “Pm excited to be here and work alongside Michael and my goal is to get out and meet as many people as I can Civitas Media in as short a time period as possible,” Sherman said. “Nothing happens at my desk level, it all happens out there in the field and that’s what I want to see.” Civitas employs 1,650 people at 99 locations across 12 states in the Mid- west, Mid-Atlantic and South. The me- dia company serves its communities through its dedication to the delivery of local information including news and advertising solutions, across a va- riety of platforms.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers