Ky Levin headed C of C campaign in ‘61

Pittston Dispatch // Peeking into the Past

Peeking into the past

July 26

With Judy Minsavage

Question:

Officers and enlisted men of the 28th Division 109th Infantry Regimen of the National Guard departed for a two-week training camp in Virginia in July of 1961.

Rumors were circulating at the time the men might be called into federal service. If so, their tour would be extended for a possible two years.

What countries were involved in the threats to world peace, in July of 1961?

1961 – 48 years ago

Carol Pascoe, Barbara Goman, Theresa Yudin, Sandra Zudock, Anvela Mulhern, Mary Ann Konnick, Sara Jean Wallace, Joan Marie Foster, Rita Murphy Joan Neyser, Marian Kotok, Theresa Orloski and Judy Botwell were all contestants in the Polish American Radio Day beauty contest held at Rocky Glen Park.

A variety show featured the Sammy Tremont dance studio students.

The first annual Knights of Columbus golf tournament was planned for the Happy Valley Golf Course, Exeter. Members Don Cavanaugh, Joseph Burke and Jerry Loughney were pictured with Jimmy Oliver, course owner.

Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce drive chairman Ky Levin and President Joseph K. Schiffman lauded division chairmen, captains and workers for helping their drive to surpass 600 memberships.

Highest division was under chairman William F. Medico, highest team was that of Charles Medico and highest individual score was compiled by Fred A. Ramage.

1971 – 38 years ago

Aldo Santi of Pittston and Charles Vullo, a local tire dealer, purchased Wintermute Island, described as 35 acres of land in the middle of the Susquehanna River, across from the Pittston Hospital, to a point near the Wyoming Bridge.

Pittston Hospital was being forced to close its maternity ward in 1971. It was reported in a local newspaper that babies were not being born in Pittston anymore.

A letter to the editor of the Sunday Dispatch pointed out that prospective mothers are going to specialists who direct them to the Wilkes-Barre hospitals when the babies are due, and in fact, seven babies were born in the hospital just a week before.

Another letter to the editor came from Pittston native, SPS. Joseph F. Novak Jr. a soldier in the U.S. Army stationed in Vietnam.

He stated he missed keeping up on all the Pittston news, and hoped he could have the Dispatch mailed to him every week.

Editor William A. Watson Sr. thanked the GI for taking time out from his dangerous duties to send the letter and promised to have the Dispatch sent to him regularly.

Today the Dispatch has approximately 264 mail subscriptions sent to locations across the United States.

Oakwood Park Town Houses on Route 315, offered condominium townhouses starting at $21,990, with no closing costs if deposit placed by August of 1971.

Exterior maintenance and convenient location were important features along with property tax and mortgage interest write offs on federal tax returns.

Classes were forming at the David Blight School of Dancing in the American Theatre Building for Baton Twirlers. Instructor Gail Kosik would be teaching the latest twirls and techniques.

Peter Petroski head of Peter’s Shoes in Wyoming received a citation as retailer of the year from the President of Brown Shoe Company for his outstanding service, dedication to excellent fitting and personal service.

The manufacturer of such brands as, Buster Brown, Air-Step, Life Stride, Roblee, Pedwin and Miss American Shoes, headquartered in Clayton, Missouri operated the 1,100-store Famous Footwear chain.

1981 – 28 years ago

After a year of construction, the Anthracite Apartment Building opened to elderly, handicapped or disabled residents.

The 120 unit building, replaced twelve buildings, occupied by Bobby Reed’s Tavern, Mr. John’s Hair Fashions, Bufalino Studio of Photography, Bantell’s Paint Store, Michalec’s Variety Store, Pittston Hotel, Pittston Poultry Market, Pittston Sewing Center, The Nook and The Corner Shoppe.

The 10-story building was developed by Grosek Inc. and constructed by Sordoni Construction at a cost of approximately $4.2 million.

The Pittston School of Nursing expected the incoming class of 1981 to be the largest freshmen class since its inception.

The American Hospital Association projected over 100,000 job openings in the nursing field that year. Director of the school, Rosemary Zurla, indicated six men were among the entrants, which exhibited growth in a field previously dominated by females.

The annual Albert E. Leonard Memorial Golf Tournament and Clambake was held on July of 1981 at the Emanon Country Club and Garden of Eden Grove.

Bernie Girman was the winner in the Scratch Division, Sal Montagna won the handicap division and other individual flight winners were John Coleman, Tom Brown Sr., Leo Scoda and Mike Chiampi.

Question #2:

Emanon Golf Course can be looked at another way.

When founders had difficulty coming up with a name for the new course, they finally settled on Emanon. How can it be looked at differently?

Bill Klimek a veteran of World War II with service in the Pacific Theatre of Operations and a member of the Exeter VFW and Exeter Hose Company was sited for his outstanding dedication in taking care of the World War II monument in front of the Exeter Borough Building. For over 35 years Bill planted flowers and landscaped the area, keeping the area in top shape.

DJ Joe DeSanto posted the top Disco hits for July of 1981:

1. Give It To Me Baby, Rick James;

2. Lady You Bring Me Up, Commodores;

3. Try It Out, Gino Soccio;

4. Dance, Night Force; and

5. Remember Me/Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, The Boystown Gang.

Four young girls from Jenkins Township Kim Clarke, Carey Lazevnick, Erin Rowan and Mary Oliver won the mile relay event at the Mid-Atlantic Junior Olympic competition held at Ambler, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. The girls left their mark at the meet by winning several other medals and ribbons.

1991 – 18 years ago

“An accident waiting to happen” was the consensus of Exeter Borough officials after firefighters spent 11 hours battling a fire on the Coxton Bridge, the second in a six-month period. Creosote a petroleum based wood preservative fueled the fire and the unstable bridge decking prevented firefighters from entering onto the bridge. Boats and special amphibious craft provided by Tilbury Volunteer Fire Department and Plymouth Township and served as floating water pumping stations. Officials were seeking legal advice as to owner, Pocono’s Northeast Railroad, responsibility for the fires and bridge security,

Wyoming Area School District planned a 25th anniversary celebration. Representatives from each of the graduating classes since 1967 were asked to attend a meeting to represent their respective class in the planning. Events included a golf tournament, tennis tournament, performance by the Wyoming Area High School Band and Northeast Philharmonic.

Professional Bass angler Ray Cichocki of Dupont was the subject of Spotlight in the July 1991 issue of the Dispatch. His penchant for fishing, particularly bass fishing, produced several tournament wins. Sponsored by local businesses Ray’s Bait Shop, and Pittston Tire, Ray caught a world record Musky in 1989 while ice fishing in Brady’s State Park Monroe County. His record has since been broken, but he was named to the Fishing World Record Hall of Fame.

Top ten movies for July 1991 were:

1. Terminator,

2, Naked Gun,

3. Regarding Henry,

4. City Slickers,

5. Problem Child,

6. Robin Hood,

7. The Rocketeer,

8. Backdraft,

9, Jungle Fever, and

10. Dying Young.

Top five country songs: 1. Somewhere in My Broken Heart, Billy Dean; 2. Here’s a Quarter, Travis Tritt; 3. She’s in Love With the Boy, Trisha Yearwood; The Moon Over Georgia, Shenandoah; and Lord Have Mercy on a County Boy, Don Williams.

Answer: #1

Russian Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev threatened nuclear war after breakdown in negotiations with President John F. Kennedy regarding the unification of the city of Berlin under Communist rule. Further tensions led to the building of the Berlin Wall by the East German Government in August of 1961.