You Can Get Crafty At The Denison House 
The Denison Advocates Will Hold A Craft Fair From 11 A.m. To 5 P.m., Sunday, 
July 21, On The Grounds Of The Historic Nathan Denison House, 35 Denison St.

Acting Up 
Youngsters Discover The Work Behind The Glamour Of Stagecraft

By ANTHONY COLAROSSI; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, July 12, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE -- The "Mayor of Sambourne Street" and his constituents
gathered on their porches early Thursday morning to discuss what they feel is
a problem house on their block. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Frank Casey and his neighbors say they have watched the police respond
repeatedly to calls at 101 Sambourne St. And they have observed people making
quick visits to the home at all hours. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And on Wednesday, shortly before midnight, they watched a young man crash
through the front window of the home. The man scaled the porch railing,
stripped off a Venetian blind that he carried through the window with him, and
ran down the street as he was chased by about six men, witnesses say. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We can't sit on the porch at night anymore," said Casey, 73, whom
neighbors call the "Mayor of Sambourne Street." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm afraid if something isn't done, you're going to have a vigilante down
here," Casey said. "It's the good people that are suffering." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After a couple of telephone calls, "Mayor" Casey and about 25 of his "good
people" got a visit Thursday morning from Mayor Tom McGroarty and his
entourage of administrators, code enforcement officials and police officers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Casey and others said they suspect drug dealers and prostitutes frequent
the address. Many of the block's residents hoped city officials would condemn
the property. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But after visiting 101 Sambourne St., officials issued several citations.
Repairs must be made to the dwelling's back porch, the broken front window,
exposed wires inside and plumbing in the second-floor bathroom, said Phil
Koval, city code enforcement officer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Officials also forced the home's tenants to remove several bags of garbage
from the back yard and move a moped from the side of the house. The moped was
apparently emitting a strong gasoline odor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There's problems, but it's not bad enough to shut down," McGroarty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Koval said the property is owned by Stephen Demczak of Roselle Park, N.J. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police confirmed Thursday they are frequently called to the block from
neighbors complaining about noise and disturbances at the house. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Edward Washington, 35, who lives in 101 Sambourne St., rebuted neighbors'
allegations and said drugs were never dealt out of his home. The man who
jumped out his front window was involved in a fight, Washington said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I didn't want him to get out," Washington said. "If he didn't, he'd be in
a funeral parlor right now. The fight was that he disrespected me, and I'm old
enough to be his father." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty said police know who jumped through the window. They are seeking
the man for questioning, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Washington said he planned to move out of the home soon. "They won't have
to deal with me for long. I don't like living like this." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Koval said Demczak intends to evict Washington and make the necessary
repairs. Demczak did not return a message Thursday from The Times Leader. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Two of Demczak's properties on Myers Court were condemned last spring by
city officials, Koval said. He said repairs are being completed at both of
those homes. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He's normally cooperative," Koval said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But all the promises do not comfort 75-year-old Loretta Collum, who
witnessed the crashing glass and the late-night chase with her granddaughter
and great-grandson. Collum lives next door at 99 Sambourne St. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They're not scaring them. They're not afraid of anybody," Collum said of
her next-door neighbors. "My kids are scared now. They don't want me staying
here nights." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After the Wilkes-Barre mayor left, Casey said there is only one solution to
the problem house on Sambourne Street. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We have to have good neighbors move in," Casey said. "We all want to live
in harmony. This used to be the nicest street in the city." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/RICHARD SABATURA &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mayor Tom McGroarty speaks to tenant Edward Washington, who stands near
broken glass from the window in his front porch. Someone ran out of
Washington's house through the front window Wednesday night. The incident at
101 Sambourne St. sparked concern from neighbors on the block. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/RICHARD SABATURA &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mayor Tom McGroarty and city officials talks with residents of Sambourne
Street who say they are concerned about repeated problems at the home located
at 101 Sambourne St. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scene Sparks Sambourne Meeting 
Residents Get Together With 
Mayor Mcgroarty To Discuss Their 
Concerns About One House On Their 
Wilkes-barre Street After A Man 
Came Flying Out Of The Front Window 
And Was Chased Down The Block

Scene Sparks Sambourne Meeting Residents Get Together With Mayor Mcgroarty To Discuss Their Concerns About One House On Their Wilkes-barre Street After A Man Came Flying Out Of The Front Window And Was Chased Down The Block