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Peeking into the past

McDonald-Murphy a double play combo in ‘71

With Judy Minsavage

In 1971, President Nixon imposed a national mandatory freeze on wages and prices. The measure was unprecedented in peacetime. What did the government hope to achieve with this action?

1971 – 38 Years Ago

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It was December of 1956 when these neighborhood kids got together at the Haley house in the Junction. They are, from left, Thomas "Coo" Haley, Charles Solano, and Nicky "Flappers" Solano. Second row, Michelle Haley, Karen Alpa and Maryjo Haley. Flappers, who submitted this photo, got his nickname from the hats with ear flaps that his mother made him wear. Maybe that’s a Christmas doll that Maryjo is holding. These days Michelle lives in the St. Louis area where she gets the Dispatch.

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Pittston and Wyoming area teachers were affected by a wage-price freeze set by President Nixon. Contracts including pay increases and fringe benefits were affected by the action. School board members were looking into the legalities of establishing retroactive payments to the teachers once the imposed freeze ended which was set for November of 1971.

For its high standard of service to the community, the Sunday Dispatch was named a “Blue Ribbon Newspaper” by the National Editorial Foundation in Washington DC. The Foundation established in 1956 was dedicated to the improvement of Journalism and Journalism Education. The evaluation process reviewed excellence in writing, editorials, and reproduction as they refer to a community service newspaper.

Joe McDonald of Inkerman and Ed Murphy of Pittston, two local baseball players on the Swoyersville team, helped cinch the team’s third place spot in the Wilkes-Barre Central League. Shortstop McDonald and second baseman Murphy turned in 41 double plays out of 44 games ensuring the team a trip to the play-offs. The Reds and the Phillies scouted both boys.

Carmine DeCurtis, resident of Pittston and World War II Army Veteran, was named Economy Champion of the Month at Tobyhanna Army Depot. DeCurtis, an electronic equipment repairman, was honored for his suggestions to improve productivity at the plant. He had also received a dozen letters of appreciation for his work.

1981 – 28 Years Ago

After learning some years before, that the borough of Avoca was named after a river in Ireland, Jack Kurland, a former resident of Pittston, had always been curious as to the location of the river. Mr. Kurland encountered an Irish gentleman in New York by the name of Pat Casey who hailed from County Killarney, Ireland. Mr. Casey was quick to satisfy Mr. Kurland’s curiosity with the location of The Sweet Vale of Avoca River which is located 10 miles south of Dublin off Beach Road.

West Pittston Mayor Merle Bainbridge organized a committee to handle the preparations for the 125th anniversary celebration of the borough.

Jean Ostrowski, Kathy Pitcavage, Jackie Cegelka, Beatrice Karcutski, Joann Piccillo, Betty Jackloski, Marion Heck and Dorothy Matani, members of the Christian Mothers Altar and Rosary Society of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in West Wyoming, were involved in the planning of their annual fall social.

The 100 bed Pittston Hospital, which had closed in April of 1981 was sold to John J. Yendrick, president of ACS Industries Inc. The facility, which also housed the Pittston School of Nursing, was to be renovated to accommodate the business while retaining the school as a tenant.

In September of 1981 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied hearing a case brought by local opponents of the Montage Project, now known as Sno Mountain Ski Resort. Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company initially introduced development of a large amount of watershed land. Opponents argued the loss of the natural water purification delivery system would result in Greater Pittston and surrounding areas being supplied with artificially filtered water and a carcinogenic threat to the public health.

1991 – 18 Years Ago

Martin L. Mattei Middle School, corresponding with a national movement to implement new homework procedures, offered a Homework Hotline and Math Helpline for parents and students. Parents could call and check on daily assignments given to their child. A call to the Helpline provided a math teacher who supplied assistance to students having trouble with math assignments.

The Holy Mother of Sorrows Polish National Catholic Church, Dupont observed its 75th year. The parish was organized in 1916, separating from the Roman Catholic Church to join the Polish National Church. A provisional chapel was built in April of that year. Festival committee members were Stanley Kotula, David Petrosky, Matilda Drost, James Frits, David Fritz, John Kokinda, and Marie Borc.

Dorothy Larnerd of Pittston Township won her fourth Ladies Club Championship at Fox Hill Country Club in a 54-hole medal play tournament. Runner up Eleanore Rusnak of Pittston took three titles in 1982, 87 and 88.

In September of 1991, Senator Raphael J. Musto announced that 50,000 additional elderly Pennsylvanians were eligible for Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly or PACE, a lottery funded prescription program. Income eligibility ranged from $13,000 for single and $16,200 for married couples. Started in 1984 the Program enables senior citizens 65 years and older to purchase medications for no more than $6.00 for generic and $9.00 for name brands.

Question #2

Today, approximately 300,000 Pennsylvanians are enrolled in the PACE, PACENET Plans. What are the present income levels under which an elderly resident of Pennsylvania 65 and over can enroll?

2001 – 8 Years Ago

Still reeling from the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States of America, residents of Greater Pittston and writers for the Dispatch, weighed in on where they were at the time of and their immediate reactions to the attacks in New York, Washington and near Pittsburgh.

GinaAckerman of Pittston, was to be honored as an Angel of Adoption by Congress during a three-day stay in Washington DC. She, her husband Bill and their three children, Irina, Masha and Yuri were special guests at the White House and were being escorted on a tour of the facility by Congressman Paul Kanjorski. They were evacuated upon learning of the ongoing attacks. On their return trip home they learned the airliner that crashed near Pittsburgh, Flight 93, was most likely headed for the White House.

A dozen volunteer firefighters from Exeter Park Volunteer Fire Department traveled to New York to aid in search and rescue operations at the twin towers. Deputy Fire Chief Dale Skursky and firefighter Paul Dezinski Jr helped rescue a New York City transit officer buried in the ruble of the World Trade Center.

Joel Skursky of the Hughestown Volunteer Fire Department told the Dispatch “no state or federal agency requested their assistance, firefighters traveled to ground zero on their own.

George Gulla of Pittston placed flags throughout Pittston, Bruno’s Supermarket organized a relief fund,

Sunday Dispatch columnist Jim Gilmartin wrote, “We heard the news and we had a difficult time believing not only what happened, but believing it took place on our own soil. But it did, and Americans will heed the warning so it doesn’t happen again.”

Maria Capolarella Montante wrote, “Let us never forget that we are so blessed to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Tony Callaio wrote, “Under a national crises we must and will stand by our leader. Politics will be pushed aside and freedom will triumph over evil. It has to! It must!

Sunday Dispatch editor Ed Ackerman described a prayer service he attended at Luzerne County Community College. Two hundred people gathered, half of them staff members. Few pleasantries were exchanged, a nod of the head, a close-lipped smile, hardly anyone spoke, and then only in a whisper.

Answer #1

The president and most economists felt the action would bring inflation under control. It had risen to an intolerable 6% in 1971 and then leveled at 4%. The freeze which was to last only 90 days, remained in effect 1000 days and was deemed a failure.

Answer $2

Currently the income levels under which a senior citizen can enroll in the PACE programs is $14,500 for a single person and $17,700 for married residents.