`mediplex' Plaza To Remedy Eyesore 
Waterfront Professional 
Park Scheduled To Open In July

3 Sought In Abduction Of Shickshinny Man

By BRIAN MALINA; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, January 07, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WRIGHT TWP. -- With rumors of nude dancing already swirling throughout the
Mountaintop area, township supervisors took a step to stop the dancing before
the clothes come off. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The supervisors decided last week to put the question to the voters. A
referendum will appear on May's primary election ballot asking residents if
they want to ban "bottle bars." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Supervisor Daniel Frascella described a bottle bar as an establishment
wherein patrons pay a cover charge to see nude dancers but bring their own
alcohol. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By not serving alcohol, the business manages to avoid state laws that
forbid nude dancing at bars that sell alcohol, Frascella said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Molly McGowan, spokeswoman for the state Liquor Control Board, said dancers
at clubs that sell alcohol must be partially clothed. "All genital areas and
the nipple must be covered." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But a "Bring Your Own Bottle" can skirt the rules -- allowing the dancers
to prance naked, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Frascella said heard the rumors through anonymous phone calls to the
township municipal building. He said he did not know who wanted to open the
club. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nescopeck Borough Council Chairman Ted Smith, who has watched his borough
spend thousands of dollars fighting an adult club, said Wright Township is on
the right track. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They better do it before they get it in there," warned Smith. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Smith, a Republican, said the borough has spent more than $20,000 in a
four-year court battle with "Sammy's Hide-A-Way," a bottle bar that features
nude dancers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The borough passed an ordinance in 1992 banning nude dancing after Sammy's
opened. At the time the ordinance passed, Smith claims, Sammy's was operating
a bar that served alcohol and featured semi-nude dancers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Smith said he never entered the establishment and could not show proof the
bar operated as a strip club. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It wasn't until the ordinance was passed, Smith said, that the club stopped
serving alcohol and started showcasing nude dancers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sammy's owners have ignored the ordinance, contending their business is
grandfathered, Smith said. Three calls to Sammy's on Monday were not returned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGowan said Sammy's still owns a liquor license but has not used it since
Feb. 18, 1993. The liquor license is owned by Judy D'Angio, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to Frascella, the movement to stop bottle bars from opening has
spread to another Mountaintop community -- Fairview Township. None of the
Fairview Township supervisors could not be reached Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rice Township Supervisor Elmer Schuler, a Republican, said the township has
not considered taking action to prevent bottle bars. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Nothing has ever come up. We're just about all residential; there's really
no buildings for them to move into." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Voters To Decide Strip Bar Concern 
Rumors That Club Featuring 
Nude Dancers Is Targeted For 
Wright Township Prompt 
Supervisors To Take Issue 
To Electorate

Voters To Decide Strip Bar Concern Rumors That Club Featuring Nude Dancers Is Targeted For Wright Township Prompt Supervisors To Take Issue To Electorate