Wyou-tv Dismisses 3 Top Staffers 
Move Comes Three Weeks After 
Ownership Of Station Changes Hands

Alex Bouika Jr.

By JOHN-ERIK KOSLOSKY; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Monday, July 08, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Less than a year after masses of Japanese Knotweed choking
Olmsted Trail were cleared away, the tall weeds were back, encroaching on the
trail once again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fortunately for hikers and bikers who frequent the city's Kirby and Nesbitt
parks, volunteers were back to remove the bamboo-like weeds Sunday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It is a continual process," said Debbie Vaida, project director of the
Riverfront Parks Committee, shortly after she emerged from the weeds carrying
a small scythe she referred to as a "weed stick." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 About a dozen volunteers worked for three hours Sunday morning removing
trash and clearing Japanese Knotweed growing near the trails. The non-profit
committee sponsors the weekly cleanups. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Amazingly, there is not that much litter anymore," Vaida said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The more tiring task is clearing away the weeds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As its name suggests, Japanese Knotweed is native to the East Asian
islands. Kenneth Klemow, associate professor of biology at Wilkes University
said the herbaceous plant was brought to the area as an ornamental plant more
than 50 years ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Because the plant grows so quickly and spreads primarily through the roots,
and not by seeds, it is difficult to control, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Vaida said she has heard various stories about the weed's introduction to
the area, but she is not sure which is correct. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What she does know is that the weeds can overrun sections of wilderness,
suffocating streams and trails and inhibiting the growth of smaller
vegetation. If left unchecked, the weeds grow tall and block the view of the
river for those on the park trails. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They get to be 10 to 12 feet high," she said. "We have to continue cutting
to maintain a nice clear view (of the river)," said Vaida. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cutting the weeds is an increasingly important task as more people take to
the outdoors for fun and relaxation, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "More and more, we see joggers and families and bikers down here," Vaida
said. "Our goal is getting people in here to appreciate what's here. It's
wilderness in an urban setting." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The non-profit committee works in cooperation with the city to maintain
Kirby and Nesbitt parks. Vaida said the group's efforts are concentrated on
maintaining the Kirby Park Natural Area, while the city maintains the
"manicured" areas of the parks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's our job to help them out in the natural areas as much as we can to
take the burden off them," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER\DON CAREY &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 John Maday of Wilkes-Barre clears away Japanese Knotweed in Nesbitt Park on
Sunday morning. He was part of a group of volunteers helping to clean up the
riverfront parks area in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Volunteers Untie Knotweed View Of River Restored For Hikers And Bikers At Kirby And Nesbitt Parks