W-b Wants To Turn Down Crossing Beepers

Airport Board 
Usair Express, Comair Adding Flights To Schedule

By MELISSA M. DONOVAN; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Saturday, January 17, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE- Decorative banners edged with advertisements are expected to
be flapping from downtown light poles this spring. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The seasonal designs are likely to include the city seal, which was
featured on a hot-pink, 24-by-72-inch prototype Mayor Tom McGroarty displayed
at a press conference Friday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McGroarty plans to sign a two-year contract with Community Banner Service
of Rochester, N.Y. The only cost to the city would be the time Public Works
employees spend changing the banners twice a year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The deal includes four vertical banners welcoming motorists to the city and
four horizontal street banners to promote events such as the Cherry Blossom
Festival. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Downtown Business Association urged the mayor to erect the banners and
will be involved in designing them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Aesthetically, I thought it would enhance the city," said Christina
Kinsman, an association board member. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Community Banner Service has sold about 30 of the minimum 75 banners needed
to make the program work. Customers who signed on at $395 per banner per year
include Boscov's Department Store, Mellon Bank and ALLTEL. The city does not
receive any of the money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Up to 150 banners are scheduled to be erected in April. Sponsors can select
the locations of their banners. The banners will be hung in areas that have
red light poles. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Businesses can call 1-800-398-3029 for

Mayor, Downtown Business Group Eye Banner Year Up To 150 Promotional Messages Could Be Up And Waving In The Breeze By April, According To Plan