Too Many Winter Drivers Forget To Scrape Off Snow 
Hot Chocolate? Bring It On. Sledding? Anytime, Anywhere. Snowball Fights? 
Count Us In.

Admire Austen On Area Screens 
The Arts And Entertainment Network Presentation Of ``pride And Prejudice'' 
Tonight Leads The Way For The Jane Austen Revival In Northeastern 
Pennsylvania.

By P. DOUGLAS FILAROSKI; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Monday, January 15, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Lee Namey thanked his family, his political colleagues and
the people who worked on his staff. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then, reflecting on his eight debate-filled years as Wilkes-Barre's mayor,
Namey had grateful words for people he said called his office or "rolled down
the car window" to lend support. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "To all those people over the years, I say `thank you' -- because, believe
me, in this job, you need it," said Namey, addressing 500 people who attended
his farewell dinner Sunday night at the Genetti Hotel &amp; Convention Center in
Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A panel of local dignitaries paid tribute and poked good-natured fun at
Namey, who served 12 years as a city council member and two terms as mayor
before retiring earlier this month. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Namey was remembered as a strong leader, a devoted family man and a tight
fiscal manager. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 State Rep. Kevin Blaum, D-Wilkes-Barre, elected to City Council the same
year as Namey in 1975, said Namey was among the first mayors in the state to
see the importance of reining in government spending. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "(He knew) you got to be able to say no, you got to have a lot of guts, you
got to be a leader. That's Lee Namey," Blaum said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For his tight control of spending, Namey suffered a great deal of criticism
in recent years from city workers and some of his constituents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In light of recent attacks, Namey talked about how he successfully managed
the city's finances. He discussed the millions of dollars in infrastructure
improvements performed during his administration and a $2 million surplus he
built while not raising taxes for eight years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bill Brace, a longtime city clerk, joked with Namey that people are more
friendly to him now that he has left office. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "People are starting to wave to him now -- and they're actually using the
whole hand," Brace said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The city clerk, who sources say will become the city's chief administrator
under new Mayor Tom McGroarty, also passed along some good-natured advice he
said could help any politician. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If you ever need a friend, buy a dog," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 With his wife, Juanita, sitting nearby, Namey thanked all his family
members, including his children, Angela and Tara. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They're the ones who make the sacrifices, they're the ones who unselfishly
stand by," Namey said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty attended the dinner briefly, thanked Namey for his years of
service and then left, he said, to conduct business in Allentown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Brace presented Namey with a proclamation; Blaum gave him citations from
state legislators; and city attorney Bill Finnegan handed him a plaque from
workers at City Hall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I look out at this crowd, and I see a collage of faces," said Namey, who
will return to his career as an art teacher. "Each face brings a memory. And
for those, I thank you." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lee Namey &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

500 Pay Tribute To Ex-mayor Namey Recognition Follows His Just-ended Stint As Mayor And Earlier Service As A City Council Member