`dawson's Creek' Has Enough Steam To Melt Most Viewers

3 Field Hockey Stars Named All-americans

By VAN ROSE; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Monday, January 19, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





You could call it a classic case of miscommunication. Or perhaps a vendetta
against Gov. Tom Ridge. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At the very least, a standoff. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Scranton Times and Ridge find themselves at odds over $8 million in
state funding for renovation of the Scranton Cultural Center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For the past week, the newspaper has taken Ridge to task by running a
year-old picture- every day. The photograph shows Ridge presenting a
ceremonial check for $8 million to Cultural Center officials last January. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The newspaper continues to run the photo, even though the center and Ridge
administration reached an agreement Wednesday to move ahead with the
renovation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Re-construction work is scheduled to begin in June, and it's going to be
funded by the state," said Jo Ann Fremiotti, executive director of the
Cultural Center, who said the project had been on hold since September. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the good news for the center apparently isn't good enough for The
Scranton Times, which has vowed to run the photo every day until the state
hands over the cash. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Our position is that until the check shows up, we will continue to run the
picture," said Joe Dowd, assistant managing editor of The Times. "Or until the
Cultural Center tells us to stop running it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fremiotti said the state funding, which was originally approved under
former Gov. Robert P. Casey, won't come in the form of a check to the Cultural
Center. It will go directly to contractors involved in the actual renovation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fremiotti said she's pleased with the arrangement. However, she does not
plan to ask The Times to stop running the Ridge photo. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm very appreciative of The Times keeping this matter in the public eye,"
Fremiotti said. "I didn't ask them to run the picture and I'm not going to ask
them to stop running it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fremiotti said she did speak with a Times repo

Scranton Times Not Bouncing This Ceremonial Check Off Its Pages 
Newspaper Says It Will Continue Using Year-old Photo Of Gov. Ridge Presenting 
$8 Million To The Scranton Cultural Center Until The State Shows Them The 
Money

Scranton Times Not Bouncing This Ceremonial Check Off Its Pages Newspaper Says It Will Continue Using Year-old Photo Of Gov. Ridge Presenting $8 Million To The Scranton Cultural Center Until The State Shows Them The Money