`concert For Karen Iv' Planned For April 24

After A Health Scare, Colonels' Tough Guy Is Back On The Job

By JOLYN RESNICK jolynr@leader.net
 Thursday, January 24, 2002 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C 





WILKES-BARRE - On Feb. 2, area youngsters will have a new place to go for
alcohol- and drug-free entertainment - an under-21 dance club called The
HipSpot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The city Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday granted a special approval
request by Victor Matthew Barberio to operate the club at 39 E. Northampton
St. The club will be open from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday during the winter months. The club will be open during the same hours
on Sundays in the summer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barberio said after the meeting that he's aware of an 11 p.m. curfew in the
city, but added that it's rarely enforced. He also said he would encourage
younger patrons to leave before 11 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre Police Lt. Alan Bogdon said the curfew is enforced. He said
youngsters 15 and under must be off the street by 11 p.m., and those who are
16 and 17 years of age must be off the street by midnight. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The only exceptions are if the teenagers are with a parent or guardian or
in a vehicle with somebody who has a valid senior drivers license. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board member John Yencha cast the only dissenting vote against the club.
After the meeting, he declined to discuss his vote. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board Chairman William Breslin said he would rather see the youngsters in a
supervised area than skateboarding on the streets until the early morning
hours. Also, he said, the building has been vacant for years, and having a
tenant provides tax benefits to the citizens of Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Barberio said patrons will pay a small cover charge to enter the club. He
also said there would be beverages and snacks available. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said the customers will be patted down as they enter to ensure alcoholic
beverages are not smuggled in. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Customers will pass through metal detectors, he said. To provide an
additional measure of safety, there will be six security people on site until
about 3 a.m., including women for the female patrons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One security officer will patrol the outside, the rest will be inside,
Barberio said. The officers will be aided with security monitors and mirrors
throughout. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Barberio assured Dave Hurst, who owns the property next door to the club,
that there will be additional lighting outside the building and that patrons
of the club will not damage Hurst's property or leave trash scattered in his
rear parking lot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jolyn Resnick, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Under-21 Club Zoning Approved