Woman Accused In Endangerment Case Keeps Job

Archery Contest Hits The Spot 
Show Director Tom Austin Unabashedly Calls It The Largest Indoor 3-d Archery 
Contest On Earth.

Saturday, January 25, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Lights! Camera! Action! at downtown W-B theater &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Is it a risk? You betBut not all risks are the same. Prudence and planning
can turn major risks into reasonable ones. And some situations cry out for a
little risk-taking, because doing nothing would be more dangerous still. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Downtown Wilkes-Barre is in such a situation today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's why we strongly support the 12-screen movie theater/parking garage
plan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Thursday the Wilkes-Barre City Council hired architects MOS Design Inc.
of Scranton to begin designs for the proposal. The new facility would be built
on or near Public Square, and would feature a 350- to 400-space parking garage
built around space for the proposed theater. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This major project could turn out to be a white elephant. The garage could
stay empty, the theater could remain unbuilt, and the whole thing could turn
into a major embarrassment for the city. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But we don't think those things will happen. Here are some of the
ingredients that give this recipe a good chance of succeeding. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The leadership. The folks behind the downtown Wilkes-Barre project are
doers. They're leaders who make a habit of success -- and like all habits,
that one's hard to break. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Upon taking office, Mayor Tom McGroarty faced the same decrepit Stegmaier
Brewery that other mayors had faced before him. Today the construction cranes
over the old brewery are swinging, and Wilkes-Barre's next mayor will inherit
a showpiece rather than an eyesore. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Likewise, the mayor's Neighborhood Impact Teams have successfully tackled
the glaring problem of an aging housing stock. His College Town initiatives
are helping turn the image of Wilkes-Barre around. The Riverfront Parks plans
promise to bring tourists to the shores of the long-neglected Susquehanna
River. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So when he talks about the benefits of having movie theaters in downtown
Wilkes-Barre, people should listen. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We're also glad to see Al Boscov offer his support and guidance to the
project. Boscov's endorsement carries unmatched credibility because of his
proven business instincts. People who pooh-pooh Al Boscov's support should ask
themselves this question: How many multi-million dollar downtown department
stores have you run lately? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And if the answer is "none," they should rethink their criticisms. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Other Northeastern Pennsylvania lawmakers (including Congressman Paul
Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke) have been involved in the project as well. We take
issue with these officials often, but salute their recent success at bringing
Exit 46, the Luzerne County arena and other projects so far along. We'll
happily give them credit if the new parking garage/theater complex becomes a
feather in each of their caps. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The experience. A similar garage and theater opened some months ago in
Scranton. That project, with Al Boscov and MOS Design Inc. among those at the
helm, has been a remarkable success. We see no reason why that success can't
be duplicated here. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The need. The Times Leader knows something about the need for parking. As a
business employing several hundred people in downtown Wilkes-Barre, we're
caught in that squeeze every day. We know the lack of parking has hurt
development in downtown Wilkes-Barre; we're sure the presence of more parking
would help it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And with two growing colleges gracing downtown Wilkes-Barre, the movie
theater seems a natural as long as the parking garage is assured. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The project is a risk, all right. And it's about time. Downtown
Wilkes-Barre has stagnated for too long. It needs a risk like this to shake
off its doldrums, and to do whatever it takes to bring visitors downtown
again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lights! Camera! Action! At Downtown W-b Theater Is It A Risk? You Bet.