Wyoming Area School Board 
New Majority On Board Makes Reassignments

Alleged Incident With Knife Sends W-b Woman To Jail 
18-year-old Pulls Knife On Another Woman Outside Of Inn In Tunkhannock, State
Police Say.

By JENNIFER LEARN Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, December 07, 1999 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - Dressed in a homespun St. Nicholas costume, Charles
``Brown'' Karazia marched into the Luzerne County Commissioners office Monday
morning and tossed handfuls of gold chocolate coins onto the commissioners'
desks and carpets. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The secretaries ``oohed'' in surprise when Karazia pitched coins at them.
He was completely concealed beneath a fur coat and beard, but the secretaries
didn't ring security because they recognized his familiar booming voice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It wasn't the first time Karazia had portrayed St. Nick at the courthouse.
Seven years ago, the 72-year-old Wilkes-Barre man brought the commissioners
coal for their decision to lay off county workers before Christmas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This time, Karazia brought chocolate coins to show his appreciation that
commissioners support his plan to donate a new flagpole to the county. He said
he picked Monday - St. Nicholas Day - to announce his pledge to purchase a new
pole because St. Nicholas is his patron saint. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Karazia, a World War II veteran who still fights many causes, said he will
use real savings, not candy coins, to buy the pole. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Karazia has begged commissioners for nearly 20 years to raise the height of
the courthouse flagpole used to fly national flags of other countries. That
pole is just half the height of the 35-foot pole that flies the American flag,
and Karazia worries that people from other countries might feel slighted. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Commissioners ignored or snickered at Karazia until 1996, when they
promised to erect a taller pole to give foreign flags equal status. County
Engineer Jim Brozena said the commissioners want to fly the flags at an equal
height, but haven't found money in the budget to buy a new pole. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Karazia said the new pole will cost several thousand dollars. The former
Central Slipper shoe factory employee said his is a worthy cause. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to tradition, St. Nicholas secretly gave away gold coins to a
poor nobleman ready to abandon his daughters because he couldn't afford proper
dowries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Monday's St. Nicholas gig cost Karazia more than $100, but he said he wants
to give out compliments as generously as criticisms. He brought fruit babka
bread and cookies for people confined to jury duty and released 13 pigeons
toward the flagpoles. ``They are doves of peace,'' he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Later in the day, Karazia gave out coins and plastic poinsettias at the VA
Medical Center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sweating profusely, Karazia stood in the lobby and stripped down to his
street clothes after he distributed the coins. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His ensemble, a fake fur coat and a red dress intended to resemble a
cardinal's vestment, cost about $40. The accessories- a long beaded necklace,
tinsel and tiny pillows adorned with crosses - came from a dollar store. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One of Karazia's most publicized battles has been his push to force the
government to pay for ailments he says were caused by prolonged exposure to
polyvinyl chloride liquid at Central Slipper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Karazia also has asked Wilkes-Barre City Council members to move their
flagpole from the side to center of Public Square. He also is angry that the
council did not respond to his complaints that city trash barrels are painted
red, white and blue. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``In France (where the national flag's colors are also red, white and
blue), you would be hung for putting those colors on a garbage can.''

`st. Nick' Delivers Coins In Praise Of Commissioners 
Charles Karazia, Dressed As Santa, Brought Them Coal Seven Years Ago, But This
Year He Thanked County's Leaders For Their Actions.

`st. Nick' Delivers Coins In Praise Of Commissioners Charles Karazia, Dressed As Santa, Brought Them Coal Seven Years Ago, But This Year He Thanked County's Leaders For Their Actions.