The Times-Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania • 3

THE SCRANTON TIMES, TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1983 1 mm Mj vww mm WDAU-TV Head Denies Sa le Agreement Reached collapsed and the Megargee heirs filed Woods and A. Richard Benedek. However, while the FCC eventually gave its permission for the sale, the transaction was not completed, allegedly because high interest rates at the time made it impossible to raise the money. While the sale price then was $12 million, the complex agreement also involved the buyers taking over loans of $1,235,000 at Northeastern Bank of Pennsylvania to cover costs of the station's buying and renovating its new headquarters. However, that transaction eventually By JOSEPH X.

fLANNERY Times Special Writer A report bubbled to the surface today -that another agreement had been reached for the sale of WDAU-TV, but it was immediately denied by Mrs. Madge Megargee Holcomb, general manager of the station. The report, from a usually reliable source, was that an agreement had been made to sell the station to Philip Lom-bardo, owner of a station at Burlington, for $10.5 million. Lombardo could not be reached for comment but Mrs. Holcomb said that.

about selling it. "We still want to get out of the television business," she said. Up to last September, Lombardo was president of Corinthian Broadcasting a New York City-based firm which owns six television stations in various parts of the nation. However, he resigned that post and then purchased WEZS-TV, the Burlington station he renamed WVNY-TV. It is an ABC-TV affiliate, while the station here is tied to CBS-TV.

The Megargee heirs announced on Sept. 17, 1981, that the station was being sold for $12 million to three New York City investors, Robert Dudley, Charles while the station remains for sale and Lombardo is among the parties expressing an interest, no agreement on a sale has been made. It is known that Lombardo has made several visits to this city in recent months to look over WDAU-TV and its recently acquired headquarters in the former Kresge Store Building, 411-17 Lackawanna Ave. Lombardo moved onto the stage as a potential buyer after an earlier sale of the station to three New York City businessmen collapsed. That agreement is now the subject of a lawsuit for damages brought by the heirs of Frank Megargee, local radio pioneer who founded WDAU-TV 30 years ago.

Lombardo owns WVNY-TV, Burlington, which, ironically, has the same call nickname as WDAU-TV here. Both are known as Channel 22, a reference to FCC-allocation of airwaves. Mrs. Holcomb admitted that Lombardo has been here to inspect the station and that he is viewed as a potential buyer. "He's just one of many," she said.

She said she and other members of the Megargee family owning an interest in the station have not changed their minds the lawsuit against the New Yorkers Jan. 20. Despite that. Mrs. Holcomb said die" numerous persons interested in WDAU-TV include Dudley, who owns several other stations in the country and who came here once when he was in: line to become owner of the station to" talk to the Scranton Advertising Club about his plans for operating it.

It was after that optimistic report was made that the proposed purchase of it by his group collapsed. I Other Stores to Follow? Opening on Sunday By Globe Watched 'If. xfllll Hilton Officials Reveal Name of Hotel at Station The Erie Lackawanna Station will officially be known as The Hilton at Lackawanna Station following a franchise agreement finalized Monday between developers of the $13 million, 150-room hotel and Hilton officials. John Gilbert, program coordinator, and Thomas Dight, director of operations for Hilton, were in Scranton today to get their first on-the-scene perspectives of the renovation work, a major part of which is expected to be completed by December. Both officials, who work out of Tarrytown, N.Y., admitted being impressed by what they saw.

"This is quite a station," said Gilbert. "It ranks very high with other restoration projects with which Hilton has become involved." Gilbert was referring to the Quaker Square Hilton in Akron, Ohio, and the Choo-Choo Hilton, Chattanooga, Tenn. The Akron facility is in an old silo, while the Choo-Choo Hilton is in a former railroad station complex similar to this project. Hilton is involved in a third restoration project in Pensa-cola, but that facility, unlike the others, will have its rooms included in a newly constructed unit adjacent to the restored property. "Personally, I feel this station has more class than the Choo-Choo Hilton.

The exterior is radiant; outstanding," said Gilbert. "In addition, the woodwork in the interior is in incredible shape. Someone, obviously, took great care in seeing that the building suffered minimal damage over the years it was vacant." Gilbert also said he was impressed by the construction work on Lackawanna Avenue. "I've seen a lot of work being done on downtown streets and sidewalks. That's good and it appears to be very appealing," he said.

Dight echoed Gilbert's comments. "I'm very impressed. I saw the Quaker Station at about as early a stage as this project. I can see that this facility is going to be absolutely beautiful." Gilbert will have immediate input into the interior design of the project. He will oversee the creative design of the rooms to assure they meet Hilton standards.

Dight will oversee the operation of the hotel, once again to make certain Hilton's standards are met. The developer of the project, Erie Lackawanna Restoration Associates, will make an annual payment to Hilton for use of its name in addition to a daily room rate for each occupied room. In exchange for the fees, the hotel will benefit from Hilton's guest references. Although the station will be a Hilton franchise, its management will be bv Motor Hotel Management Inc. of Dallas, Tex.

By THOMAS K. STAFF Timet Staff Writer The Commercial Association of Scranton will be watching one of its members closely in 'the coming weeks to determine whether it should endorse the opening of downtown stores on Sunday. Ang Ciccotti, association president, said the merchants' group will wait to see the results of the opening of The Globe Store on Sunday before it makes a decision on whether to encourage others to do the same. J. Russell Preston, president of The Globe, said today that Sunday business has been "amazingly good." He said The Globe decided to open on Sunday as a means of "building a base" for the day when Steamtown A begins operating in the former Erie Lackawanna yards.

Preston pointed out that Sunday business at the store is better than officials expected. Yet. be explained, it has not detracted from other days of the week. "We're in this for the full haul, year round," The Globe executive declared. In discussing the Commercial Association's position, Ciccotti said, "Sunday has traditionally been a day of rest, not only for the merchants but for their employees, too.

It is a tradition that will be hard to break." The Globe Store has been open on Sundays since April 17. On the past two Sundays, Ciccotti said, special events in the downtown make it difficult to judge what effect the opening of the largest store in Central City has had. On May 15, Mercy Hospital conducted its anniversary festival in the former Oppenheim's department store, and last Sunday the downtown was crowded with spectators and runners in a race for Steamtown. The Mercy festivities attracted thousands of people while the race brought approximately 100 runners and many spectators downtown. Ciccotti, who said he is personally opposed to opening on Sunday, noted that The Globe Store is the type of business that could open Sundays regardless of what the other mer chants do.

The fact that The Globe is a department store that has its own parking garage and restaurant makes it an attraction in itself, he said. The Commercial Association will review the success of The Globe's Sunday openings before it makes a decision, he said. Preston said the new flea market in The Globe's parking garage had helped attract -people downtown. He said he and his staff" were considering other things that could; increase Sunday traffic. Meanwhile, Ciccotti said the past two Sun-days are additional examples of how thes.

former Oppenheim's store has been put to good use in the past year. "We're all kind of frustrated and we want to see the building filled, but under the circum- stances it is being put to good use," Ciccotti said. The building has been in the news lately, since Controller Joseph Corcoran released a monthly report which encouraged the administration to find a developer and stated that the maintenance of structure is costing the city an average of $324 a day. Security at the building is costing an additional $225 a day. The city has assigned policemen to the building around the clock to watch over a collection of railroad memorabilia on display there to draw public attention to Steamtown U.S.A., the railroad museum that is relocating from Bellows Falls, to Scranton.

Ciccotti said the city's signing of a contract for the Steamtown move, as well as other developments downtown, make Oppenheim's an attractive building for a developer. Cranston Development Co. of Pittsburgh had an interest in using the building for a galleria of shops but dropped its plans after. Mayor James McNulty delayed further talks with the firm because he was attempting to attract a department store to the building. "If nothing had happened downtown we would have had to settle for whoever wanted it," Ciccotti said of the building.

"We've waited this long, we can wait a little Developers of the $13 million hotel project at the Erie Lackawanna Station meet at the station with representatives of Hilton Inns which has agreed to franchise the hotel. From left, Paul Ricciuti, John Gilbert of Hilton; Campbell Bryce, Peter Bucheit and Thomas Dight of Hilton. (Staff Photo by Michael Mullen) School District Foresees Savings on Health Insurance Costs ture of $1.85 million for life and medical insurance. The decision to seek competitive proposals for health insurance was approved by the Scranton Federation of Teachers in its new contract. Article 61 of the contract will allow the SFT to reject any new carrier, if it so desires, but it appears Blue CrossBlue Shield will once again be awarded the contract.

"I'm almost positive we will go with Blue CrossBlue Shield," said Casey, who has chaired the board's health insurance committee since last September. "This time they will have to sharpen their pencil. They can't come in carte blanche and write their own check." While initial bid specifications were sent to about 25 prospective carriers, only two actually submitted bids Blue CrossBlue Shield and could come at the next meeting of the board, June 13. On another contract matter, the board rescinded a pact from G.R. Noto and Son Eynon, for an electronic security system in the amount of $62,573 for eight facilities in the district, and awarded a similar contract of $63,015 to the Burglar Fire Protection Agency, Old Forge.

District business manager Albert Belardi explained Noto wanted a change in the contract, which would have eliminated a $50 per day charge for liquidated damages. Belardi said such a move would, in effect, change the original specifications. "Noto also said his costs have increased $6,000 and that he couldn't do the job for any lower than that," said Belardi. In other action the board: By JIM COLLINS, Times Education Writer The Scranton School District could realize a savings of some $300,000 in the premium cost of health insurance for district employees because of competitive bidding on the nearly $2 million contract, according to Director Robert Casey. "Because of competitive bidding we have been able to hold Blue CrossBlue Shield (of Northeastern Pennsylvania I to a minimum increase." Casey said at Monday's board meeting.

"If we didn't do it, I believe it would have been raised sky high." The district spent $1.6 million on employee insurance last year, almost $200,000 over what was Related Story, budgeted. This year's budget calls for an expendi Volpe-Rogal, a self-insured plan with a guaranteed cap. A third bid from NEP Services, Sybertsville, Luzerne County, was more of an administrative program rather than an insurance program, resulting in its elimination. In general, the Blue CrossBlue Shield average increase over current rates is approximatley 3 5 percent. The self-insured proposal by Volpe-Rogal would reflect a cost increase of approximately 20 percent, less any earnings the funds may generate during the year.

Casey said Blue CrossBlue Shield is seeking a 14 percent overall increase in premiums. Should the request for increase not be approved by the state commission, the district could realize even greater savings, according to Casey. A resolution on the awarding of a contract Gave recognition to the Central High School Speech and Debate team which, under the direction of Eleanor Langan, won its fourth state championship. Named First State Bank treasurer for the district through June 30, 1984. Granted leaves of absence to Elaine Barrett, a mathematics teacher, and Janice Huylo, a fifth- grade teacher.

Awarded a $1,000 contract to Monahan Temperature Control Service for work at Audubon (42) and Kennedy (7l schools. Awarded general and janitorial supply contracts of $85,275, medical supplies in the amount of $3,444 and physical education supplies of $13,279. Engaged services of Dr. Marvin Brotter "to" render technical advice and assistance in connecf Do You Have a Second To Read This? Get the convenience 1 1 r4ssA--' Comment Joseph X. Flannery the 365 days from distorting our calendars, we add an extra day to February every fourth year and call it a "leap year." That simple move reduces the deviations to three days every 400 years.

Then, to correct that, we interrupt the cycle of leap years by eliminating three of them every four centuries. This is done in the first year of each century. For instance, the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years but 2000 will be. So you can go ahead and make plans for Feb. 29, 2000, that being the day added for leap year.

There are tiny variables in the speed of the earth's revolutions caused by tides, winds and the movement of the molten mass in the center of the globe. Those changes are the reason why tiny corrections have to be made occasionally in our time system. This sort of adjusting has been underway for centuries, with man attempting to be as accurate as humanly possible but with the job complicated by the tools available to him at any given time. The new correction was dictated by new quartz-crystal and atomic clocks that weren't available decades ago. The job was not done nearly as well centuries ago.

The Julian calendar, imposed by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. was used in most of the world until 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar. At the start, to correct an error in time that had added up to 10 days in those 16 centuries, be decreed that the day after Oct. 4 would be Oct. 15 a neat trick.

Though most of the Western world adopted the Gregorian calendar immediately, the British held off until 1752. By then, the error in time had increased to 11 days. So it decreed in all its territories that the day after Sept. 2, 1752, would be Sept. 14.

That was the shift that mixed up George Washington's birthday. Man's measurement of time will never again have such inaccuracies, unless, of course, the speed of Earth changes dramatically or some other celestial occurrence upsets all the factors that now go into our system. So when June 29 arrives and the day just seems to drag and drag, you'll know there is a good reason. It wont just seem longer than most days. It will be longer by a whole second.

We measure time in such a precise way that one might get the idea that at the moment that God finished creating the universe, he installed a clock somewhere and set both its hands at 12 all ready to start ticking. However, time or rather, the way we measure it is totally a man-made system. We created a calendar to measure time in large blocs and sundials, and later, clocks, to measure it in smaller segments. Without them, we could not record history or plan next Sunday's dinner. The periods we measure with time have to do with daylight, darkness and the changing seasons.

What causes such things, of course, is the direction Earth faces as it makes a complete circle on its axis once a day and as it goes around the sun once a year. But, as with most man-made systems, the one to measure time is not perfect. It has to be corrected occasionally. Centuries ago, such corrections involved large segments of time large chunks that were dropped from the calendar to get time calculations back in synchronization with such obvious things as the change of seasons. On one such occasion, when the calendar had to be adjusted, the birthday of George Washington was shifted.

The old one was Feb. 11, 1731, but the new one was Feb. 22, 1932. The change in the date of the month corrected an 11-day gap between two calendars and the change in the year reflected a switch in New Year's Day from March 25 to Jan. 1.

If that sounds complicated, imagine how confusing it must have been for Washington's friends and relatives who had to buy him birthday presents every year. We no longer have such big changes in our time systems. Now we are pretty much down to fine tuning which is what will happen on June 30 when an extra second will be added to the clocks of the world. Few persons will notice, I suppose, that on the final day of next month there will be one minute that will contain 61 seconds. One such clock that will be adjusted immediately will be the master one at the U.S.

Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, where the "official" time of our country is kept. That will be part of a worldwide adjustment in time originating from Greenwich, England the "time center1 of Earth. When our system of time was invented, the world was divided into 24 zones, with Greenwich in the middle. As one moves away from Greenwich in either direction there is a one-hour difference in each time zone. That also why we have an International Date Line, where it is always one day on one side and another day on the other.

If you have trouble understanding that concept, don't feel badly because I do too. To keep the rest of the world in accord with Greenwich time on June 30, identical localized adjustments will have to be made to insert the extra second into time calculations. Thus, at 7:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the 61-second minute will be observed around the globe. This sort of fine tuning is done whenever the international scientific community agrees that the rotations of Earth are running a little behind schedule.

They recently detected such a problem and decided that an extra second should be added to keep our 24-hour day in accord with Earth's revolutions. The last time that an extra second had to be added to clocks of the world was the last day of last June, so it's getting to be a habit. Such seconds are inserted periodically because the earth is gradually slowing down. The time it takes the earth to make a complete turn is about two hours longer than it was about 150 million years ago. But with extra seconds being added, there should be no appreciable change in our system of dividing our days into 24 hours for the next 150 million years.

So I am not going to worry about it. It takes the world 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 9.5 seconds for the earth to make a complete trip around the sun. To keep that extra time beyond at 35j SUSQUEHANNA SAVINGS wJkkf A DivitiOfi of 4rfnrc FlnmncM Federal SQRANTON 419 Spruce Street 346-7306 EYNON Sugarman Ptaza 876-4290 ESDC UrXOtR aM WH.KES-BARME NANTtCOKE EOWAROSVILLE PtTTSTOK M-tiOO 73S-JOOO 2SS-761I 655-4511.