`i Want To Make The Best Of It.' 
Cougar Swimmer Leaves 
The Baseball Diamond 
For Life In The Wet Lane

Accident Victim Listed `critical'

Saturday, January 04, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





McGroarty strikes vein of good will with coal drop &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If a chunk of coal dropped over Public Square and nobody saw it, would it
make a sound? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Count on something. If that had happened New Year's Eve in Wilkes-Barre,
you bet it would have made a sound. It would have made the sound of laughter
-- &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 and that laughter would have echoed from Scranton to Shickshinny, at Mayor
Tom &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty's expenseOf course that didn't happen. Thousands of people turned
out to watch the coal drop in Wilkes-Barre's festive New Year's Eve
celebration. And they laughed, all right, but with the mayor rather than at
him. Because spectators and city leaders alike all had a pretty good time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In other words, McGroarty took a personal risk in the hopes of inspiring a
little local pride. He risked the embarrassment of watching a pet project go
catastrophically wrong. For that he deserves great credit, especially in
Northeastern Pennsylvania, a region not known for risk-taking among public
officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty weighed the odds, made the call, then -- importantly -- took
steps to tilt the balance in his favor. The celebration featured fireworks but
no liquor, the better to make the crowd exclaim in delight rather than
disgust. A good publicity campaign spread the word on short notice, and a
heavy police presence helped keep order at the event. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Those things could have gone wrong, too. But they didn't, once again
testifying to McGroarty's well-channeled enthusiasm as well as the crowd's
admirable restraint. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This newspaper will go out of its way to praise politicians who get
results. Tom McGroarty did just that in Wilkes-Barre on New Year's Eve, and
may have started a delightful annual tradition to boot. Here's a tip of the
New Year's party hat to him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mcgroarty Strikes Vein Of Good Will With Coal Drop 
If A Chunk Of Coal Dropped Over Public Square And Nobody Saw It, Would It Make 
A Sound? 
Count On Something. If That Had Happened New Year's Eve In Wilkes-barre, You 
Bet It Would Have Made A Sound. It Would Have Made The Sound Of Laughter -- 
And That Laughter Would Have Echoed From Scranton To Shickshinny, At Mayor Tom 
Mcgroarty's Expense.