Wilkes Rallies For Win/ Down Nine Points, The Lady Colonels Take Charge And
Defeat Misericordia

Airport's Eatery Plan Gets Defender/ A Smaller Facility Might Well Have To
Build A Restaurant For A Tenant, A Harrisburg Airport Official Says

Thursday, December 08, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE - Denise Carey had taken her battle over the closure of a
Heights area fire station to federal court, filing a lawsuit Wednesday that
seeks to force the city to reopen the station. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cynthia Pollick, Carey's attorney, filed the suit on behalf of Carey and
other Heights section residents who Carey says have had their safety
compromised by the closure. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The suit is the second Carey has filed in federal court. In October, she
filed a suit alleging the city violated her First Amendment right to free
speech by seeking more than $11,000 in legal fees from her in connection with
a failed petition drive she launched to reopen the station. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The latest suit names the city and Mayor Tom Leighton as defendants. It
claims the city's closure of the East Station on East Northampton Street
earlier this year violated a city ordinance that prohibits the closure,
elimination or consolidation of city fire stations. The closure was made with
"blatant disregard" for the welfare of Heights residents, "effectively
stripping them of their ability to defend themselves against fires," the suit
says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 William Vinsko, the city's attorney, said the allegations the closure
violates a city ordinance is "absolutely, unequivocally and grossly false." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Vinsko said the city had the right to close the station because it was in
deplorable condition and unsafe for habitation. He also took issue with what
he says are false and misleading statements about residents' safety. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There is no thread to the safety of residents. Our fire chief has
confirmed that numerous times," Vinsko said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In addition to seeking to reopen the station, the suit also seeks monetary
damages for emotional distress, as well punitive damages and attorneys fees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Firehouse Tiff Goes To Federal Level