`baby Jesus' Kidnapped 
From W-b Public Square 
Annual Nativity Scene Missing 
An Important Player

Loretta Christie 
Nov. 20, 1992 
Loretta Christie, Of Main Street, Inkerman, Jenkins Township, Died Friday At 
Home.

By JIMMY MASS; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Sunday, November 22, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1F/9F QUICK WORDS: WINE 





n explosion in domestic wine sales could result if France quashes the trade
agreement reached late &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Friday by the U.S. and the 12-nation European Community. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "The domestic wines, in my opinion, will just see a big boom in sales,"
says Fred Hamilton, director of marketing for the Pennsylvania State Liquor
Control Board. "And there's a lot of values in the domestic wines versus the
imported wines." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Imported wine fanciers were quite nervous over the Bush administration's
threat of 200 percent tariff on European Community goods, including white
wine, unless Europe agreed to end subsidies to its farmers. The United States
and Europe settled on Friday a bitter fight over the subsidies that had
threatened to set off a global trade war. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While the farm subsidy issue has received all the attention over the past
two years, there are sizable differences still remaining in many of the other
areas under negotiation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The agreement was coming under heavy fire from European farmers, who had
staged violent protests at the U.S. Embassy in Paris last week. France is the
EC's biggest farm producer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 French Agriculture Minister Jean-Pierre Soisson said the agreement was "not
acceptable" but he said his government would not decide whether to try to
block the deal in some way until after consulting with the French parliament. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Germany, Britain and other big EC members had pressed for the agreement,
but France could veto it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If France scuttles the agreement, the Bush administration has threatened to
go ahead with the 200 percent tariff, which would triple the cost of a bottle
of imported white wine. The tariff would take effect Dec. 5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 With the holidays just around the corner, some area residents aren't too
thrilled about the possibility of higher prices on imported wines. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think there is a lot more involved than just the tariff, which will
affect importers here and exporters over there," says Roger Dullard, of
Wilkes-Barre. "It's just a warning shot for what could eventually happen." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ron Fredericks of Wilkes-Barre says the tariff would hike the cost of the
imported wine he plans to give as gifts this holiday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The tariff would not apply to imported wine already in U.S. stores.
However, some liquor store officials say they will simply stop ordering
European white wine if the tariff takes hold. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But is the domestic market ready to fill the void? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Oh, yeah! They're ready," says Dick Murphy, a local wine consultant.
"We've always been ready. We've been competing with the French to take on that
market." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "People automatically buy French wines, but when they're no longer
available they'll get into California wines," says Murphy. "They'll realize
that California wines are just as good, or better, than French -- and at a
better price." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fredericks agrees with Murphy's assessment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The difference is probably prestige," he says. "A lot of us are hung up on
status and symbols of status." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Come Dec. 5, some customers may decide to forgo prestige. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I don't think that people are going to go to $16, $18 or $20 for the
average (imported) wine," says Murphy. "They could get something out of
California, Yugoslavia, Chile or anywhere for one-quarter the price." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think it's going to be to the consumers' advantage in the long run
because they'll be exposed to other alternatives," says Murphy, who
periodically teaches wine appreciation courses in the community. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Consumers will be able to taste the character of the grape more in
California wine because the soil is much better, the climate is much better,
and the vines in general are newer, Murphy says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hamilton says that Pennsylvania's wines are not yet well known, so they
will not immediately reap the benefit of higher-priced imports. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Restaurant owners are also bracing for the fallout of the trade war. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "What's going to happen is everybody is going to be forced to buy American,
which might be a good idea," says Tony Macri, owner of the Overbrook
Restaurant in Dallas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The competition created by the European wines has kept domestic prices low,
but if the tariff takes effect, domestic wine prices will also increase, Macri
belives. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I don't know how we (restaurant owners) can recoup the cost of selling the
wines to our clientele without hurting them," he says. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to a state Liquor Control Board official, the tariff won't effect
prices in Pennsylvania's system of state stores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We don't plan to order any of the new merchandise at the higher prices,"
says Hamilton. "We don't want to invest triple the money on items, or charge
consumers triple the price." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hamilton believes local state stores should have adequate supplies of the
imported wines on hand to last throughout the remaining holiday season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fans Of Wine Imported From Europe 
Hope For Finalized Trade Agreement 
************************* 
Times Leader/fred Adams 
Tony Macri, Owner Of The Overbrook Restaurant In Dallas, Says The Possible 
Tariff Will Force Customers To Buy Domestic Wines 
*************************

Fans Of Wine Imported From Europe Hope For Finalized Trade Agreement ************************* Times Leader/fred Adams Tony Macri, Owner Of The Overbrook Restaurant In Dallas, Says The Possible Tariff Will Force Customers To Buy Domestic Wines *************************

Fans Of Wine Imported From Europe Hope For Finalized Trade Agreement * Times Leader/fred Adams Tony Macri, Owner Of The Overbrook Restaurant In Dallas, Says The Possible Tariff Will Force Customers To Buy Domestic Wines *