Local Briefs
Friday, November 02, 2001 Page: 17A
WILKES-BARRE
Public a no-show
at budget hearing
Mayor Tom McGroarty opened his public hearing on the proposed 2002 general
fund budget at 7 p.m. Thursday, and closed the hearing about 10 minutes later.
That’s because only city Administrator Jim Hayward, city Redevelopment
Authority secretary Marie McCormick and the media showed.
McGroarty surmised that residents failed to come because they’re happy that
he has not raised taxes again this year, despite a hefty increase in city
expenditures.
The budget was introduced Oct. 15. At that time McGroarty proposed
eliminating two nuisance taxes. In a press release Thursday, the mayor said he
plans to attend the public meeting required by council. That meeting should
take place by Dec. 1.
Also, McGroarty said he will attend the Nov. 15 council meeting to answer
questions concerning the proposed budget.
WILKES-BARRE
State sets meeting
on watershed rules
William F. McDonnell, Northeast Regional director of the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, invited citizens to attend a meeting
at 7 p.m. Thursday about setting watershed environmental priorities.
The meeting will be in DEP’s Northeast Regional office, on the second floor
of 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. McDonnell said DEP spent the past few months
determining the causes of environmental problems and how they should be
addressed and now it needs help from citizens and organizations in the
watershed to set its priorities.
WILKES-BARRE
Work under way
for parking garage
Site preparation for the new South Washington Street parking garage began
Thursday, blocking access to surface parking spots near Dyer Lane used by
Commonwealth Telephone Co. employees.
Humford Equities, which leases the Wilkes-Barre Center Building on Public
Square to Commonwealth, rents 350 parking spaces at various lots from the
city. Rent proceeds will be used to offset construction costs.
The roped-off spaces should reopen the week of Nov. 12, according to a
release issued by Mayor Tom McGroarty, and alternate spaces have been provided
to those employees affected by construction.
Plans are to locate a movie theater below the parking garage.
WILKES-BARRE
Old telephone books
will be collected
Old telephone books will be collected Nov. 6-9 during each neighborhood’s
regular garbage collection day.
The collection is listed in the city calendar. Residents are asked to place
the phone books atop their blue garbage bags. The books will be collected
separately and recycled.
WILKES-BARRE
Building renamed
in honor of Henrys
Wilkes University dedicated its newest building in honor of Frank M. Henry,
chairman of the Frank Martz Coach Co., and his wife, Dorothea.
The university’s student union was renamed the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry
Student Center on Thursday. The building, located at 84 W. South St., is the
central hub for students gathering for study and entertainment.
The dedication was made in recognition of the Henrys’ years of service to
Wilkes University, including a recent significant gift to the Endow the Future
Capital Campaign. The Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Gymnasium was named in May
Frank Henry has been a member of the Wilkes University Board of Trustees since
In addition to their support of Wilkes, the Henrys contribute time and
resources to numerous other area organizations. Frank M. Henry serves as
chairman of the Geisinger Health System board of directors, where he and his
wife founded the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger
Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
