`virginia Woolf' More Than Just Misery

Agnes Gorski 
January 27, 1998 
Agnes Gorski, Formerly Of Espy Street, Hanover Section Of Nanticoke, Died 
Tuesday At The Birchwood Nursing Home, Middle Road, Nanticoke.

Thursday, January 29, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 10A 





Caller more concerned about road conditions than air quality &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 SAYSO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As a citizen and taxpayer and war veteran of this country, I'd like to know
about that new emissions test that's scheduled in 1999. Luzerne County air
quality is checked and there's nothing wrong with it. Why are we going to get
some kind of a test in 1999? How about fixing all these horrible roads here in &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Northeastern Pennsylvania. They haven't been fixed, some of them since
World War II and the Korean War, and they damage of our cars. All these years
there have been millions of dollars in damage here in Northeastern
Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: The federal government adopted the Clean Air Act amendments
that is reducing emission standards. The state is phasing it in, having
already begun in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The test in Luzerne County will
be less exhaustive, involving a stationary test gauging the emissions from the
tailpipe. It will be up to individual garage owners, as opposed to centralized
stations as supported by previous Gov. Robert Casey, said Mark Carmon,
spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection Agency. The cost is
estimated at $20 to $30. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I have a question for Mayor McGroarty. Tom, I live in East End. Why are you
tying up a police cruiser to take a police department employee back and forth
to work, several times a week? A police car picks her up ... in the morning
and brings her home in the afternoon. I see it three to four times a week. I
believe helping out someone in a jam, but this is ridiculous. I don't want to
pay my taxes to run a taxi service. Come on Tom, let's get down to business. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: The mayor's office is looking into it. If you have more
specific information, call Police Chief Bill Barrett at 826-8101. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since Governor Ridge has just decided to run for a second term, I'd like to
find out with all his drumming up of business for the state, why he contracts
the state employees health care coverage and dental and vision, to companies
outside of the state of Pennsylvania? You would think he should keep all the
business in the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: That's not accurate, says Jerry Feaser, a governor's
spokesman. Dental is with Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, formerly known as Pa
Dental Service Corp. in New Cumberland. Health care is through Blue Cross-Blue
Shield out of the Harrisburg area. All benefits are negotiated by the
Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund, an independent body made up of
management and labor unions. These plans apply to state employees, who fall
under the governor's jurisdiction. The prescription plan was with a New Jersey
firm but will be carried by a Pennsylvania-based company, Feaser said. Vision
is handled by a New Jersey-based company called National Vision
Administration. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Coverage for the auditor general, attorney general and treasurer offices
may be different since they do not fall under the governor's jurisdiction. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's Sunday, Jan. 25th. I wanted to call to let the public know an incident
I had concerning the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. I had the privilege of
meeting an Officer Boos this morning. My son's visitation with his mother was
up at 8 a.m. Unfortunately when I went to pick him up, she wouldn't let me see
him, never mind let me take him home. I went home to get the court order, and
I called the police. The response was quick. I explained to the officer the
problem and showed him the order. He was polite, proficient and professional.
Too often the Wilkes-Barre police are portrayed in a negative light. I found
the police officer to be courteous and helpful. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The only thing better then watching this slithering snake of a president be
forced out of the White House is knowing that his power grubbing tag-along
wife is going to be forced out the door, right behind him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I just read someone saying about the "Feet Of Clay" comic was stupid, I'd
like to disagree. I appreciate it, I hope you don't listen to them and keep
it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm a Wilkes-Barre taxpayer, and I want to know more about how the overtime
works for the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Is it true if they work 15
minutes, they get paid four hours overtime? And another thing, I think too
many of them are talking and hanging around the square too much, instead of
doing their job. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: Not exactly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The union contract calls for officers to receive four hours overtime if
they are called to work on their off hours. It is designed to compensate
officers who are called back to work after a full shift or are awakened at
night. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But in November, an arbitrator ruled that officer Henry Royal was not
entitled to the extra pay after starting work a few minutes early. In 1996,
Royal arrived at the station a few minutes before his shift began and was
asked to start work a bit early. Estimates of the extra time he put in range
from five to 20 minutes. Royal filed a grievance when the city refused to pay
the four hours overtime. He lost. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Is there anybody out there who could give me information on how I can get
tickets to attend the NFL draft in New York? I'd appreciate it very much if
maybe somebody could call in and tell me how I can go about doing it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: You show up and go in. This year's draft is set for
Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. It will be held in a small arena
inside Madison Square Gardens. Seating is limited to about 2,000, and is on a
first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, you can call the NFL
offices at 212-578-1500. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm calling to ask, since I've not seen anything in your paper or the other
paper, why in the past football season Bryan Bellas of Bishop O'Reilly wasn't
even mentioned in any all-star selections in either paper or even in the state
small school all-stars? You didn't even as much give him honorable mention for
all the things that he did. This is sure an injustice to a boy who broke
almost every record, including only one shy of one state record. We talked to
your sports writer about this, and none of them would even give an answer. Can
someone please comment on this, since nothing has been said? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's Note: The all-state team is selected by a committee which receives
votes from around the state. Both of our writers voted for Bellas on their
all-state ballots, but he was not selected. He didn't get selected because he
didn't get enough votes from around the state. This was explained to numerous
callers who contacted us. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As for the team which appeared in our all-star tab, it was comprised solely
of Wyoming Valley Conference players. Bishop O'Reilly isn't a member of the
WVC, so Bellas wasn't eligible for the team. This was explained to numerous
callers who contacted us. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm a resident in Wilkes-Barre, and I'm calling The Times Leader wondering
if they could check in and find out how much it's costing the taxpayers of
Wilkes-Barre to have the department that picks up the garbage and the
newspapers and the bottles, how much are we paying to have them pick our
bottles and recyclables up at quarter to 6 at night? I live on Sambourne
Street, it's 10 minutes to 6 at night, and the truck just came down the street
to pick up the bottles. Now, I don't know where Wilkes-Barre is saving money.
When they're paying overtime to these drivers, they've got to be getting
overtime pay. I'm really curious to know what it's costing the taxpayers of
Wilkes-Barre to have them do this. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: Mayor Tom McGroarty has often described recycling collection
as a challenge. New routes adopted a few months ago cut down on the overtime
costs, McGroarty said this fall. McGroarty went so far as to have a private
investigator tail videotape workers collecting recycling. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm calling to see if other people are concerned about second-hand smoke in
the workplace. My spouse works for Nabisco in the Hanover Industrial Park, and
because Nabisco is connected to R.J. Reynolds tobacco, they allow smoking in
the workplace, which is very rare these days. Are they going to wait for a
class-action suit when somebody becomes sick with cancer before they do
something about it? It's not fair that other people who don't smoke day in and
day out are exposed to this. I'd like to know if other people are concerned
about this? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I'm calling about smoking in the workplace. At Nabisco Brands in Hanover,
the employees are allowed to smoke everywhere in the building because of
Nabisco's connection to RJR. This is unfair. It's scary. Is there anybody out
there that feels the same way? The people are afraid to complain because they
might lose their jobs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: Ann Smith, a Nabisco spokeswoman, said it is not true that
smoking is allowed everywhere in the building. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Smoking is prohibited in areas where food is prepared, processed and
evaluated and where finished products are stored. It also is prohibited in
medical areas and the elevators. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It is allowed in office areas. The company tries to accommodate both
smokers and nonsmokers by grouping seating smoking employees together. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She also said the company's policies are developed by Nabisco and not
influenced by R.J. Reynolds tobacco, part owner of the holding company that
owns Nabisco. Nabisco is not a part of or directly connected with R.J.
Reynolds, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The company's policies comply with federal, state and local laws regulating
smoking in the workplace. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We encourage smokers and nonsmokers to respect each other's preferences
and work out compromises." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To the person who called in about Dawn Timmeney. Are you jealous, jealous,
jealous? Dawn, you are a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maybe someone at The Times Leader can clarify something for me. Is The
Times Leader a Wyoming Valley newspaper, or is it a Wilkes-Barre city paper.
It seems from their form, columns, opinions and from their editorial
standpoints, they seem to favor Wilkes-Barre city heavily over the rest of the
ring towns. Please inform me if it is a Wilkes-Barre city paper so I can order
another paper that serves the Wyoming Valley. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: We cover much more than the city. Call us with ideas for
stories from your area, 829-7176. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I would like to comment on the person who spoke about Adelphia Cable
Company. I think Adelphia customers are all asleep. You can call that company
all you want, you won't get nowhere. They're one of the worst cable companies
around and they're far behind all the others. I believe the only way you can
get them moving is for all the customers to get together and start a petition
with all their signatures and send it to the company, or you people will be
stuck with 37 channels forever. Tell the company if they don't provide us with
all the channels or the service we want and need, then they should kick them
out of the area and bring in a new company that can. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: Bob Hymson, general manager of Adelphia Cable Communications
offered the following reponse: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Thanks again for the opportunity to respond to your reader's comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Since the time Adelphia Cable purchased the former Northeast Cable, Inc.,
we've been steadily expanding and rebuilding the existing cable facilities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Our focus has been two-fold: First, extending the reach of our cable
system, so that we may provide cable television services to previously
unserved homes; second, to upgrade the coaxial cable system to
state-of-the-art fiber optics. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To date, we've rebuilt about half of our almost 800 plant miles. This year
we'll rebuild about 180 miles more. The remaining mileage will be completed
the following year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The fiber we have deployed improved system reliability and picture quality
in the areas where it has been installed. Until now, however, we have not been
able to take full advantage of the deployment to add more channels. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We've been constrained by the limited channel capacity of some microwave
equipment, which we use to link to various community hubsites. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We are right now completing a separate project, whereby we're installing
additional fiber to link the hubsites previously served via these microwaves.
We anticipate completing this project in April. Upon completion we will be
adding 12-14 channels in the rebuilt areas." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This is in response to Paul DeFabo criticism of Commissioner Jones. One
wouldn't know Red Jones was a commissioner if it weren't for his picture in
the paper. When Jim Phillips was commissioner, the public knew what was going
on at their meetings, because he wouldn't go along with their nonsense and he
would give his opinion on important matters. Republicans, wise up and get
competent candidates the next time around. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I was taught when I was a little child, what goes around, comes around. And
I believe that cliche so much, especially in Ann Lokuta's case. How many
lawyers and even policemen that were trying cases that she was the judge, she
would humiliate them and embarrass them. I believe what goes around, comes
around, and Ann Lokuta should look in the mirror and say to herself, "What am
I doing right?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I see in Friday mornings paper that Ron Felton wants Service Electric TV to
carry BET. Well if only 500 people want BET carried, I'd like to know how many
subscribers this Service Electric has, because if only 500 out of a couple
thousand people want it, this isn't right. I don't think that I should have to
pay more then I'm paying now for a station, a cable station that I have no
interest in, whatsoever. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sincere thanks for responding to my question concerning residency of
Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo's recent appointees. I regret, however, that
I'm not satisfied (with) that, and I quote your SAYSO response. "They are not
all Pittston residents. Those who are not have law offices in Pittston or have
some other tie to the city." I believe that he who serves the city of
Pittston, should live in the city of Pittston, and I'm also curious to know
what "some other ties to the city" means. If you could be more specific, I'd
appreciate it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: According to the telephone directory, the five lawyers
either live or work in Pittston. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mayor McGroarty's idea to have the city pay for background checks for
Little League coaches. Could it have anything to do with the fact that his
brother, Gerry, is a District 16 Little League official, could it? These
background checks are mandatory for coaches and should be paid for by those
involved. McGroarty should stay out of the affairs of the local leagues. They
aren't run by the city. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: The city has taken no action on the matter. Gerry McGroarty
is involved with the Little League, but there's no evidence his role prompted
Mayor Tom McGroarty to raise the issue. In most Little Leagues in the area, it
is the volunteers who are picking up the tab for background checks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Monday, Jan. 12th, in your Times Leader paper on the front page you have
an in-line skater, skating through Public Square. Well, what's up with that? I
thought they weren't allowed to in-line skate or skateboard anymore on Public
Square. How could you print a picture of that, and then it's against the law? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: In-line skating is legal. Skateboarding is not. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This past spring, the city considered adding in-line skating to the ban on
downtown skateboarding. But the move was shelved after vigorous protest.
Shannon McNulty, spokeswoman for Mayor Tom McGroarty, said she has not heard
the issue mentioned in months. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I was wondering if Mayor McGroarty purchased new police cruisers for the
police department? I was recently driving by the public works garage yard on
Pennsylvania Avenue and Conyngham Street and I seen all these brand-new Ford
cars and one is a Lumina sitting in the yard. And another thing, if Mayor
McGroarty says that the city is running out of money and he might have to
raise taxes, what is he doing hiring another attorney? Isn't one attorney
suitable? And I also understand that he's going to Philadelphia and consulting
with attorney's in Philadelphia. Mayor McGroarty, are you spending all our
money and blaming it on the police department? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Editor's note: In a written statement, McGroarty said, "The police cars the
caller saw are parked at the Northeast Fire Station on Conyngham Avenue, not
at the DPW garage. They are designated for the police to use in the event of a
snowstorm. The cruisers are equipped with chains on tires and filled with
fuel. We have had challenges in the past when police cruisers were not
prepared for storms and could not be deployed during weather emergencies.
These vehicles ensure we have cars ready. This is a worthwhile investment
considering the snow emergencies we have experienced in the past." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The position of assistant city attorney has been in the Wilkes-Barre
budget for many years. The city had two solicitors under the Namey, McLaughlin
and Lisman administrations. Although the position was not filled during my
first two years as mayor, it remained part of the city budget. I filled the
position this year to focus on the legal issues related to public safety which
is priority for my administration. They Philadelphia attorney the caller
refers to is out labor counsel, Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhodes. They
were retained under the Namey administrat

Caller More Concerned About Road Conditions Than Air Quality 
Sayso 
As A Citizen And Taxpayer And War Veteran Of This Country, I'd Like To Know 
About That New Emissions Test That's Scheduled In 1999. Luzerne County Air 
Quality Is Checked And There's Nothing Wrong With It. Why Are We Going To Get 
Some Kind Of A Test In 1999? How About Fixing All These Horrible Roads Here In 
Northeastern Pennsylvania. They Haven't Been Fixed, Some Of Them Since World