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By DAVID WEISS dweiss@leader.net
 Sunday, February 04, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - Beefed up police patrols weren't able to stop someone from
smashing 32 stained-glass windows at a Park Avenue church, officials said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police said someone kicked in the windows on the doors leading to the
vestibule of St. Mary's Church of the Maternity sometime between Friday night
and Saturday morning, left four cigarette butts behind and burned some papers
and carpeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The act upset Mayor Tom McGroarty, prompting him to offer a $500 reward
from the city to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction
of the perpetrator. Anyone with information is asked to contact Capt. Tom
Merlie at 208-4203. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``That's a pretty bad thing to be doing,'' McGroarty said. ``What joy could
people get out of doing this to a church?'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police said the church caretaker opened the church at 8 a.m. Saturday to
prepare for a funeral when he discovered the damage. Police said 32, 10-inch
by 10-inch leaded, stained-glass windows in the three front entrances to the
church were kicked in. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Four cigarette butts, burned papers and burn marks on the carpeting were
found inside the church's foyer. The church was not entered and no other
damage was reported. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty said police patrols were increased because of recent crimes,
including damage to downtown parking meters. McGroarty did not criticize
police. He said the increased patrols played a critical role in catching a
convenience store robber last week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``You can't prevent it all,'' he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty said the $500 reward might seem like a lot coming from the city,
but ``we spent more than that on overtime (Friday) night.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Monsignor Alexander T. Kulik of St. Mary's Church could not be reached for
comment Saturday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 David Weiss, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 831-7397. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Church Vandalized Despite Patrols Mayor Offers $500 Reward In Case Of Damage To Stained-glass Windows At Park Avenue House Of Worship.