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Peeking into the past

Jenkins Twp. doubled garbage fee in 1987

With Jack smiles

Question: a store opened at 61 South Main Street the first week of February in 1987. The city had been without such a store since the previous October when a store at 48 South Main closed. Mayor Tom Walsh, Senator Ray Musto and Rep. Tom Tigue were pictured cutting the ribbon.

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The Great Ice Flood of 1904 along Susquehanna Avenue in West Pittston. (See West Pittston News, page 39.)

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What kind of store was it?

21 years ago – 1987

In their January meeting the Jenkins Township supervisors discussed the increasing cost of garbage disposal. The supervisors were forced to double the yearly garbage fee to residents for 1987. Fearing the cost would continue to soar and looking for an alternative, during the first week of February the supervisors and some citizens went to Harrisburg to check out a garbage incinerator there.

At a hearing in Exeter Township a couple who operated a residence for hard luck veterans asked the supervisors for a permit to expand their business by renovating a garage into four additional units.

Some of the 30 citizens at the hearing objected saying that men living at the facility wander onto Rt. 92 and urinate in public.

The operators countered that there had been only one police report concerning the facility and that it was certified and licensed by the VA and the welfare and labor and industry departments.

Joe Keating was an on again, off again fire chief early in 1987. He resigned in January, then asked to be reconsidered and was rehired in February at a “budgeted salary of $21,650.”

Paul Orzel scored his 1000th point for the Seton Catholic basketball on January 29 in ’87. He scored a basket at 3:37 of the third quarter in a 50-49 win over Dallas.

The Pittston Area boys won two one-point games the last week of January. They beat Valley West 64-63 and Nanticoke 71-70. Nanticoke had a Division I scholarship player (Wichita State) in Paul Guffrovich. After he scored 40 in the first three quarters, the PA coach Stan Waleski went to a diamond-and-one defense with Tom Brady and Alex Brogna taking turns shadowing Guffrovich. It worked. He didn’t score in the fourth.

The PA girls swim team was 6-3 after beating Tunkhannock 99-73. Kris Williams and Kelly Avvisato were triple winners and Sharon Morris was a double winner.

31 years ago – 1977

In the January 30 issue in 1977 there was a weather story. It said the high temperature that day was expected to be seven degrees and the overnight low minus five. That didn’t stop a radio personality from WARD radio in Pittston from spending the night outside. Sam Ligouri, 38, started at 4 p.m. Saturday to spend 24 hours outside in front of Lispi Chevrolet on Rt 315.

He wore thermal underwear, two sweaters, a full-body hunter’s outfit with hood, and a full-face ski mask. He ate peanuts, honey, soup and hot coffee. He was allowed to use a men’s room in an unheated trailer.

January of 1977 would be the coldest on record here. Schools were closed for a week all over the state by order of Governor Shapp.

The Antosh family of Rt 92 in Harding usually kept their dog outside. But the last week of January in 1977 they let him sleep in the house because of the cold and that may have saved their lives. The house caught fire, the dog barked and woke the family up and they got out just in time. The house was gutted and all possessions were lost.

An eight year old Pittston girl won Superior Miss Talent at the Superior Miss Pageant in Florida. Susan Charney won the title for her classical jazz dance.

Two Pittston Area swimmers set school records: Teri Geneczko with a 28:59 in the 50 freestyle and Jackie Musto with a 160.65 in diving.

Just before the schools were closed by the weather, Wyoming Area beat Pittston Area 90-81 in boys basketball. Jerry Fedorsha scored 34 for WA and Steve Hoover scored 16. George Aldrich scored 27 for PA.

At Bernie’s Luncheonette at the Pittston Plaza beef or pork bar-b-q sandwiches were 95 cents.

41 years ago - 1967

There was a new bar/restaurant in Pittston the first week of February in 1967. Roman’s Lounge at 7-9 Spring Street had a grand opening on February 2, 3, and 4. It was described as “a deep carpeted lounge complimented by rich cherry wood paneling and soft indirect colored lighting.”

“Jason and the Argonauts” was in the Wyoming Theater. The American had “The Fortune Cookie” with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.

In high school basketball Pittston Area, in its first season of basketball, beat St. John’s 67-66 in an exhibition game. The Patriots were outscored from the field by 12, but got to the free throw line 35 times and made 21. St. John’s made 8 of 13.

Tribbet scored 17 for PA. Finnerty had 20 for St. John’s.

Wyoming Area was in the North League and finished the first half 7-0 by beating Sugar Notch 129-49. Adam Savitsky scored 32.

Wyoming Area started a girls basketball program. They opened their nine-game exhibition schedule on January 30.

The Gramercy was offering wedding packages with one-hour of cocktails, beer and soda before during and after dinner, a wine toast, seven course dinner, and four piece band for $4.50 per adult and $2.50 per child.

51 years ago – 1957

A former Pittston woman who moved to New York City and was having her story told in a TV drama was on the front page of the February 3 issue in 1957. “The Story of Mary Devlin” told how Mary Devlin aided the rehabilitation of a 14-year-old who was responsible for the death of her son Bobbie, 12.

The movie was shown on “Telephone Time” a CBS Sunday night show from 1956-58. Actress Thelma Ritter played Mary Devlin.

City police caught up with two boys who were breaking into parking meters and stealing nickels for two weeks.

The American Theater was daring girls to sit through a movie called “Mighty Konac.” The ad said girls who sat through the movie would win “a full dram of famous perfume.” The perfume was said to be a $20 value. “Mighty Konac” was a gorilla. The ad said a real gorilla was going to roam the aisles during the movie.

Answer: A State Liquor Store