The Lu Lac Political Letter

The LuLac Edition #516, July 8th, 2008

2008-07-08T21:04:00.001-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: CURRENT LACKAWANNA COUNTY CONTROLLER KEN McDOWELL, THE PA. TURNPIKE SIGN, AND LUZERNE COUNTY DA JACKIE MUSTO CARROLL.

CALLING KEN!!!

The Scranton City Council has "come a calling" for Lackawanna County Controller Ken McDowell. The august body in the Electric City wants to question McDowell on his tenure as the city tax collector. Scranton City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to subpoena former Tax Collector Ken McDowell. The vote came only after the panel formally requested an investigation into Mr. McDowell's activities over the past six years, when he administered the Single Tax Office. The action also came after the majority on the panel expressed frustration with the lack of answers from Mr. McDowell about $12.2 million in undistributed tax funds found in the office earlier this year by the current tax collector. McDowell would do well to appear before Council and answer their questions. There are some who say that McDowell though well educated does not have the political or rhetorical skills to answer questions from the famously rambunctious legislative body in the land of Lac. What's worse is that Council is getting no answers from the current administration. Back in May

Marilyn Vitali-Flynn, the current tax collector went before council in May to answer questions about the Single Tax Office. However, during that meeting, Councilman Bill Courtright was told by Mrs. Vitali-Flynn it was "none of your business," when he asked about the interest earned by the account holding the $12.2 million. This Council which has been factionalized in recent years voted straight up with no opposition to get answers. Someone better provide them because right now non answers are under penalty of law.

McDOWELL AT A GLANCE: Age: 36.

Occupation: Lackawanna County Controller.

Education: Scranton Preparatory School, 1989;

bachelor’s degree, public administration, University of Scranton,1993.

Family: Single; daughter, Kelly.

PIKE SPIKE

Mixed in with the ads for Presidential candidates and cable network convention coverage will be a full scale media blitz on behalf of the Pa. Turnpike. Undeterred by the recent rebuff by the State Legislature, the private group that hopes to manage the Pennsylvania Turnpike is still committed to winning the support of politicians and the public. A multimillion-dollar public relations blitz will begin this month. It will include radio spots and a direct-mail campaign that will place 4 million to 6 million pieces of literature in mailboxes. Field teams will promote the proposal at selected fairs and festivals around the state. That's right, dress up a couple of hotties and strategically place them in state fairs around the state sand you have yourself a campaign. The Legislature must sign off on any plan to lease the turnpike, and the plan faces a fight in Harrisburg. The Abertis group has offered $12.8 billion to operate the turnpike for 75 years. The mailings will tout the benefits of that cash to the state, along with planned safety and road improvements. Meanwhile Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed leasing the turnpike to a private operator to generate more money for roads, bridges and mass transit. Radio ads are set in late July to compliment the mailings. TV spots may not be far off.

FORE!! (corrected) FOR THE DA!!!

On Friday, August 8, 2008 the District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll Invitational Golf Tournament will be held at Blue Ridge Trail Golf Course in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania. Tee time is to begin at 1:00 p.m. with a shotgun start. Registration fees are $125 per person. If you would like to attend the dinner only, the cost is $50.00 per person. Please register as soon as possible to secure your place in the event.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Platinum, Gold and Silver Hole Sponsorship indicates a monetary donation from an individual or organization in support of the event in one of 3 levels:
* Platinum Level Hole Sponsorship: $500.00

* Gold Level Hole Sponsorship: $200.00

* Silver Level Hole Sponsorship: $100.00

If anyone is interested in helping to sponsor the event, please contact Sal Bernardi at 570-820-8459.

Golf tourneys have long been successful fundraisers for non profits, media partners trying to make their goals for the corporations that own them as well as politicos. Musto-Carroll has so far recieved high marks for her tenure in the DA's office and grateful appreciation from local TV news reporters for her ability to articulate the summary of an arrest, indictment or conviction in understandable language.

The LuLac Edition #515, July 7th, 2008

2008-07-07T21:00:00.000-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: THE LATE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR AND MAYOR THOMAS LEIGHTON OF WILKES BARRE

SYMBOLISM

The Democratic party convention organizers are gearing up to have a special program in Denver at the National Convention. Word is that Senator Obama will give his acceptance speech on the 45th anniversary of the Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream" speech. Many will say that this is politicizing an event and the memory of Dr. King. But King was heavily involved in the political process despite his independence and essentially played with and torked off both parties. I think it would be a fitting tribute to the memory of the non violent King and the late Bobby Kennedy who said in 1968 shortly before his death that, in his estimation, in 40 years there would be a black President.

WEBB OUT

Virginia Senator Jim Webb has taken himself out of the Veepstakes today. In a statement, Webb said he had no interest in the position. Democrats see Webb who won a Senate seat just barely in 2006 as the best hope to hold on to that seat in the old Dominion.

PLATFORM PRATFALLS

No one really takes a party platform seriously except those insiders of a party who are trying to make a point or reshape their party. John McCain may have some troubles with the right of his party at the September convention in the Twin Cities. The G.O.P. platform currently is a 100-page-long decree that mentions George W. Bush's name at every right-wing turn of page. The entire platform will have to be rewritten to lessen the imprint of the President, who has the highest disapproval rating of any White House occupant since Richard M. Nixon. Conservatives are itching for a fight saying they'll challenge McCain priorities as global warming, stem cell research, immigration reform, and campaign finance restrictions.

CALENDER OF EVENTS

This is what will happen the rest of this Presidential year. Mark your calender:
AUGUST 2008 25-28
Democratic National Convention in Denver.
SEPTEMBER 2008

Sept. 1-4 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul .
Presidential debate in Oxford, Miss. Sept. 26th.

OCTOBER 2008
Vice Presidential debate in St. Louis, Mo. Oct. 2th.
Presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 7th.
Presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y. Oct. 15th.
NOVEMBER 2008
Election Day Nov. 4th.

LEIGHTON SPEAKS

Mayor Tom Leighton was on WILK this morning talking about some new plans for the city. The Mayor who is working hard to revitalize the city should make more of these public appearances to let the general public know just what is going on with his efforts to rebuild the city. Reports are the Mayor recieved a favorable response to his comments.

The LuLac Edition #514, July 6th, 2008

2008-07-06T13:44:00.000-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: SENATOR BARAK OBAMA AND GOVERNOR ED RENDELL.

OUT OF SIGHT

During news broadcasts this holiday weekend, we heard what Senators McCain and Obama were doing for the Fourth of July. Nary a word on Senator Hillary Clinton. Out of sight, out of contention, out of mind.

PROTESTS!!

At a Fourth of July swearing in for new citizens on the forth of July, our President was called a war criminal. Some would say "it's about time!" People lined up to be sworn in as new U.S. citizens were unwitting witnesses Friday to a constitutional object lesson at President Bush’s expense on the grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Protesters interrupted Bush’s brief speech several times with calls for his impeachment, and the president calmly responded with this reaction: “To my fellow citizens to be, we believe in free speech in the United States of America.” On his final Fourth of July as president, Bush said he was honored to be present for the naturalization ceremony, saying “I’ll be proud to call you a fellow American.” Bush was calm under some pretty heavy fire, I'll give him that. By the way, the President turns 62 today.

A BUDGET!!!

A state budget that boosts education spending and borrows for energy, infrastructure and economic development projects easily passed the state Legislature on Friday and was signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell. The 2008-09 state budget — and a flurry of other legislation — was approved four days into the new fiscal year which is a record for the Rendell administration.

GET HAPPY

John F. Kennedy had Frank Sinatra singing "High Hopes", Bill Clinton had Fleetwood Mac singing "Don't Stop Thinking of Tomorrow". Senator Obama has a song entitled, "Get Happy." From YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoM2FvH0LNs.

No word yet if this is sanctioned by the Obama folks.

The LuLac Edition #513, July 4th, 2008

2008-07-04T00:04:00.001-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: LADY LIBERTY AND FIREWORKS.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

The LuLac Edition #512, July 3rd, 2008

2008-07-03T17:34:00.004-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: BASEBALL, (THE 2008 ENDWELL NEW YORK LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPS COACHED BY MY OLD FRIEND AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST COMPADRE DREW WASHKO,) OUR 1968 LOGO, ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S PROMOTION OF HOT DOGS (THE ROOSEVELTS SERVED HOTDOGS TO KING GEORGE OF ENGLAND DURING A VISIT DURING WWII), APPLE PIE AND THE GM LOGO.

TOOLS OF THE 4TH

Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. As we head into a four day weekend Americans still love the game of baseball. Multiple games at all levels will be played across America, hot apple pie will be on many menus on the picnic table, hotdogs will be a mainstay (my favorites are Sabretts and Hebrew National) and many will be wondering about the fate of Chevrolet with GM's stock at less than $10.00 a share, the lowest since the year I was born. And they say we aren't in a depression! Anyway, with all of the challenges we face, enjoy this weekend with all the tools of the Fourth you can muster. It'll make you feel good....for a while.

VIVA WATERMELON?

A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth ofJuly cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra- but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks up all night long. Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists inTexas. Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems. Todd Wehner, who studies watermelon breeding at North Carolina State University, said anyone taking Viagra shouldn't expect the same result from watermelon. Actually if you take a look at the prices of Viagra and Watermelon, they're both comparable.

GOP OFFICE OPENS

The state and national Republican Party will open campaign offices throughout Pennsylvania in July, including one in Luzerne County. Pennsylvania Victory, a state organization operating on federal party funds, has begun work with the local GOP and Congressional candidate Chris Hackett. Hackett's campaign has rented the space at the Dallas Shopping Center and Hackett staff members will man the office. No word yet on new County GOP Chair Terry Casey's progress on putting together a local GOP party office in the downtown.

THE LAC'S LOBBYIST

The Lackawanna County commissioners voted 2-1 to hire a Washington-based lobbying firm for $120,000 to help obtain federal funding.The name of the firm, Alston & Bird LLP will provide services on a monthly retainer basis. The firm will work in conjunction with federal legislators to lobby government agencies and look for funding opportunities. Commissioners O'Brien and Washo are once again on the cutting edge here, realizing that lawmakers like Bob Casey represent other counties too. This targeting may find some money in the bowells of the huge immense federal government structure. And a lobbying firm, which wants their contract renewed will have incentive to advocate for more monies.

DUNKIN IN LULAC

Downtown Wilkes Barre and Scranton are getting Dunkin Donuts which is a delight to Mrs. LuLac who loves their coffee. Stores will open in the fall.

1968

The Phoenix Program was a military, intelligence, and internal security program designed by the United States (CIA) and coordinated with the South Vietnam security apparatus during the Southeast Asia war. It was implemented on this day 40 years ago......Two teens were killed at Lake Herman Road in California. They were the first (known) victims of the Zodiac Killer........ Presidential candidates Humphrey, McCarthy, McGovern, Nixon and Rockefeller took a break during the Fourth of July...Statewide, the Commonwealth purchased Lily Lake for $150,000 for use by the State Game Commission.......on the County level, the Joint Airport Board terminated the contract with Dutch Pantry food service...in Wilkes Barre city, residents took to displaying flags and cooking on the grill to celebrate the Fourth On the fourth of July, I traveled to Huntington, Pa. In a white panel truck with my dad and my uncle Andy Dziak. We were going to pick furniture from my cousin Barbara's apartment and bringing it back to West Pittston after her 1 year stint as an educator in that district. (She later taught in the Abington Heights School District for many years). It was muggy, warm and the van overheated but we made it back in time for a grand fourth of July cookout......and the number 1 song in LuLac land this week was Merilee Rush's "Angel Of the Morning". Here it is from YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y16Ac9O9Alc&feature=related.

The LuLac Edition #511, July 2nd, 2008

2008-07-02T20:15:00.000-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: THE FAB FOUR, THE BEATLES CIRCA 1964 AND SENATOR CLINTON AND FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON.

VOLUNTEERS?

While trying to negotiate with former President Clinton about getting his support, Senator Barak Obama has embarked on a JFK type crusade that will bring joy to Clinton's heart. Obama's plan, which encourages Americans to serve at home and abroad to address issues such as education and climate change, is part of an overall agenda to press Americans into service to show "the world the best of our nation." Obama made his proposal in conservative but young Colorado, a state he has visited three times thus far. Colorado has been in the GOP column the last few Presidential elections but has made some surges and gains including a Democratic takeover of the Governorship and State Assembly. Colorado is regarded as a battle ground state and the host state of the Democratic National Convention which will be held in Denver.

McCAIN MAKES CHANGES

In a move reminiscent of the 1980 Reagan campaign, Senator McCain has told the media that adviser Steve Schmidt would take over day-to-day operations of the campaign. The Bush campaign veteran will report to Davis, but the rest of the campaign will report to Schmidt, who will be in charge of everything from messaging and communications to the political structure, organization and scheduling. Davis will work on the vice presidential search and on planning matters such as the Republican National Convention. Schmidt's top priority, according to a senior aide, will be to stop "unforced errors in the campaign." I saw the guy on TV this afternoon and if you ask me, this guy reminds me a lot of Lee Atwater, George Bush 41's mastermind who got him the nomination and election in 1988 by savvy and tough campaign moves.

BAD RADIO

So next time you're paying obscene gas prices at the pump and feeling the economic pinch, don't you worry my friend because Rush Limbaugh is rich enough for all of us. You can even believe his crap that we are not bad off economically and that most people are just making up losing their health care and homes. See, closing in on his 20th anniversary as talk radio’s most dominant force, Rush Limbaugh has signed a lucrative new deal with Premiere Radio Networks that will keep him on the air until 2016. Premiere wouldn’t disclose details, but Limbaugh told The New York Times in an article to be published Sunday that he would be getting a nine-figure signing bonus and would make about $38 million a year. Limbaugh’s three-hour show, broadcast from his office in Florida, is heard on some 600 radio stations across the country. When he first started, I thought the guy was entertaining. Now he is a latter day Father Coughlin and shill for the right wing of this country. Wonder how much he gives to charity? Rush is heard locally on WILK NEWSRADIO.

GOOD RADIO

Just because Limbaugh is polluting the airwaves with his poison, there is a little bit of sunshine in the local radio market. WQFM, 92.1 FM which used to be Oldies 92, then went into a "QFM" format has been playing Beatles music non stop. I'm thinking this might be a promotion as they change the format. This is the same station that in 1996 went all disco before switching to Oldies. All week long you've been hearing me complain about all the stuff taken away from our boomer generation, at least for a while, we have the Beatles, non stop as if they were playing on our old 45s and hi fis in the 60s. All You Need Is Love, Baby............

The LuLac Edition #510, July 1st, 2008

2008-07-01T21:32:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: A VISUAL AID FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER TODAY, A WAD OF CASH THAT SEEMS TO NEVER SATISFY THE GREED AND DECEIT OF AMERICAN BUSINESS AND FORMER PORN STARS SHARON MITCHELL AND NINA HARTLEY. THEY GOT SCREWED TOO BUT UNLIKE MOST AMERICANS TODAY, AT LEAST THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THEY ENJOYED IT.

LESS IS MORE

The other night I had dinner with an old college friend. The guy ran for Council in Wilkes Barre city twice, is intelligent and has a lot to offer. Our discussions centered on the state of the economy and how Corporate America seems to be running roughshod over the American people. "You know Dave", he said, "when we were growing up, we knew businesses had to make a profit. Businesses provided a product to the citizen, the consumer paid a fair price, with the product they improved their quality of life and the business made a profit. But somewhere in the last ten years, American business was not just satisfied to make a profit, they needed to make mega profits, even if they made them up. And the consumer became expendable. Years ago companies were scared to death about losing customers, today they'll just raise the prices and say to the remaining suckers-take it or leave it".
I thought about that today when I heard that Americans are now getting less for their money. Hey, we all knew that but here's what the food companies are doing to us now. Kellogg's started shipping Apple Jacks, Cocoa Krispies, Corn Pops, Froot Loops and Honey Smacks containing an average of 2.4 fewer ounces per box. Tropicana orange juice containers are shrinking from 96 ounces to 89; Wrigley's is dropping the 17-stick PlenTPak in favor of the 15-stick Slim Pack; Dial soap bars now weigh half an ounce less, and that's even before they melt in the shower. Containers of Country Crock spread, Hellmann's mayonnaise and Edy's and Breyer's ice cream have all slimmed down as well. "People are just more sensitive to changes in price than changes in quantity," says Harvard Business School Professor John Gourville, in an interview with CNN. "Most people can tell you how much a box of cereal costs, but they have no clue how much is actually in it." So instead of raising the prices, those cowards of American business are cutting down on quantities thinking the American people are too stupid to figure it out. So not only are they screwing us at the check out counter, they think we're too stupid to notice. Next time you buy your chips or cereal, like always, you the American consumer are getting less. I will bet my left arm though the corporate cowards who sit on the board of directors of these companies are getting more, not less. It may not happen in my lifetime, but remember that old adage, "pigs eat, hogs get slaughtered".

GAS WARNING

I found this out tonight at dinner with another friend. If you use your American Express card to buy gas, they automatically put a charge of $100.00 on your card. So if you try to conserve and put 30 bucks in 4 times a month, your card balance will have $400.00 on it even if you just got $120.00 worth of gas. They reconcile it later but in the meantime if you check your balance, the bastards at "don't leave home without it" say you owe more than you do. Creeps. Revolutions have been started for way less.

The LuLac Edition #509, June 30th, 2008

2008-06-30T17:30:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: WILK'S KEVIN LYNN AND FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE GENERAL WESLEY CLARK.

KEV WAS FIRST!

Yesterday as I was watching retired General Wes Clark respond to a question about Senator John McCain's ability to respond to an emergency in an attack or lead a country in war, on "Face The Nation", I thought I was hearing Kevin Lynn. Clark responded that being in a prison camp does not necessarily give you the tools to be a war time leader. Clark pointed out that McCain spent much of the generation shaping Vietnam War in a prison camp and inferred that he was just a victim of circumstances. WILK's Kevin Lynn has been saying the same thing since January. Clark's comments have unleashed debate from both the Obama and McCain campaigns.

IT'S JOE

Governor Rendell has named Attorney Joe Musto to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. The seat became vacant when Judge Michael Conahan retired. This is ironic since it was Conahan, a Hazleton Magistrate who beat Musto in both primaries in the nineties when Musto was a sitting Judge. Conahan's campaign characterized Musto's appointment back then as nepotism since Musto's brother was a former Congressman and State Senator. What goes around comes around I guess. It will be interesting to see the campaign Joe Musto mounts for retention this time.

A BUDGET

Wonder of wonders, the State has a budget before the June 30th deadline. That means no layoffs for unessential employees and the state parks can be open on the Fourth of July. Major items in the budget, a rededication to energy policies in the state, no tax increase (hey its an election year) and major state government investment in Pennsylvania's crumbling infrastructure. Also there was added funding for aging dams and municipal water facilities.

The LuLac Edition #508, June 29th, 2008

2008-06-29T00:45:00.001-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: THE INTERIOR OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SLOVAK CHURCH, PITTSTON, CIRCA 1960s AS I KNEW IT AS A YOUNG BOY AND THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY 2007.

FAREWELL

I’ve always been told that my generation, the Baby Boomers are the luckiest in civilization. Unlike our grandparents, we were born in a country that was free, prosperous and abundant in its riches and opportunities. Our parents, those immigrant grandparents’ children, worked hard to establish the things for us they never had growing up. Education, a good nurturing neighborhood, steady discipline and team work (I think they call that family values now) and the freedom to dabble in questioning everything they taught us were the gifts my generation received. Even though most of us came from working, middle class families, our parents never let us go without anything we needed and more times than not, with sacrifices we never realized until adulthood, the things we wanted.
We went to church every Sunday and thought that was going to last forever because we were told your church would be there as long as you were. And we saw the continuity with our own eyes; pastors who served in prior years were buried with great pomp and ceremony from my church. Grandparents, aunts and uncles who through their contributions built the church went to their final reward from our church. We were baptized there, had the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation administered and were educated there. Like a wide eyed bride, we fully believed we’d grow old with our church and have it survive us.
But a funny thing happened to the Boomer generation on the way to our parent’s age. Things began to change and not for the good. Core items we took for granted began to be taken away from us. Oh they were given euphemistic words like “downsizing”, “right sizing” and “givebacks” but it all amounted to the same thing, we were losing things we thought would last forever in this great country. Sports records like Maris’ 61 and Jim Brown’s rushing titles were cherished but we knew someone bigger and stronger, some day would overtake them. After all, it was only sports. Then our careers took a u turn. Coming from parents who worked in the same place for decades, we thought we’d be afforded the same opportunity. But we weren’t, mainly because of world economic factors and things beyond our control. So the Boomers justified the elimination of jobs, career moves, and various salary dips chalking it up to the economy. Even the realization that we were getting less bang for our bucks than mom and dad did in the 60s didn’t seem to bother us. At least we had that place where we could come to as a remembrance of the times we had growing up - our church. Standing like a bulwark in a sea of uncertainty, at least as parishioners or visitors, we could drink in the spirituality that molded us. It should have come as no surprise to the boomer generation that this would also be taken away from us. Our generation has always been labeled as one of entitlement (uh, have you ever talked with a 30 year old???) and whining when things don’t go our way. Specious argument if you ask me. We’ve had things taken back from us that were givens in our parent’s prime years. This generation has had to take a lot of hits from a world market that crushes competition, a corporate philosophy that thinks if your boss gives you a candy bar instead of Christmas bonus they are treating their employees like kings and a government that doesn’t even have the decency to steal behind your back. But with all of those things, we thought we’d never lose our churches. But we are, one by one in an insidious attack on everything we ever believed in or knew.
Today, at 2PM, the church my grandparents on both sides of my family helped build with their contributions is closing for good. My grandparents and many other immigrants sacrificed so that they would have a church where they could worship God in the language of their childhood; a church that would honor their traditions and offer stability and moral leadership to their children and grandchildren. After today, St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church will be no more. We will be told that “change is difficult”, “the church is only a building” and that “we must follow” as good Catholics. Take your pick of any cliché. Try to justify it in your mind. Look at it as a new beginning, a test of your faith. Yeah, yeah, yeah! Here’s the bottom line: the closing of this church, like many of the other ones in the Greater Pittston Area this year and others in our area to come is immoral. It is an insult to the memories of all those parishioners who built those structures with the promise that it would be there for generations to come. That promise today will be broken. Not kept by a church that preaches to us that we should always honor our word. The changes in the Catholic community the last few years have not been good. And the excuses we received from the church hierarchy have been insulting at best, devious at worst. It may not be in this lifetime, but those people who are closing our churches, schools, and treating fellow Catholics (I’m talking about the parochial school teachers here) like the coal miners of yesteryear will have a day of reckoning. At some point they will have a lot to answer for.

NEVER FORGOTTEN

Even though I have belonged to another church since 1982, I wanted to put together a final tribute to St. John the Baptist Church. This was the church I was baptized, confirmed and educated from in the 50s and 60s. My grandparents on both sides, my father and countless relatives were buried from St. John the Baptist. Never being super religious or spiritual, it is surprising to me and others in my life how personally I am taking the closing of this entity. I do believe though the story of the life and now death of this church needed to be told. My intention was to have a historical record of this century old bastion of faith. Through the miracle of the internet, the history of the church and those who built it will live on. It will only take 6 minutes of your time to view. Here’s the link to YOU TUBE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qVjWyBNOqw.

The LuLac Edition #507, June 27th, 2008

2008-06-27T20:34:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: SENATOR VINCE FUMO, THE TV SET AS WE USED TO KNOW IT AND OUR 1968 LOGO.

FUMO FAINTS

State Senator Vince Fumo, under indictment and under fire had a spell in the Chambers of the Senate this week. Fumo was taken to a hospital Thursday after he became dizzy and fell down during a session in the chamber. Fellow senators rushed to the aid of the Philadelphia Democrat when he collapsed around 5 p.m. during a long closed-door budget hearing. Paramedics put Fumo on oxygen and wheeled the pale-looking senator out of the chamber in a wheelchair. "The budget's going well," he joked on his way out. Fumo resisted going to the hospital, but paramedics overruled him. Fumo, 65, had surgery for a heart attack in March. "He seemed a lot better after a few minutes," said Senate Democratic Whip Michael O'Pake, D-Berks. O'Pake said Fumo was talking to Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, when he collapsed. Observers said Fumo complained of feeling lightheaded and dizzy, but did not report feeling any chest pain. Among those helping to tend to the stricken senator before ambulance crews were called was Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland, a registered nurse. Fumo has been a key player in this week's round-the-clock negotiations on the state budget as well as one of the strongest backers of casino gambling and same sex marriage. Senator O'Pake told the Harrisburg Patriot that Fumo looked ashen in a meeting of the Democratic caucus shortly before the incident, and complained that he hadn't been getting any rest. Fumo is to face trial in federal court in September on a battery of corruption charges.

CHANNEL 61

This coming Tuesday, Channel 61, Scranton's public access television channel, will continue under new management. Mayor Chris Doherty said Electric City Television - ECTV -- was chosen from among three contenders to take over the station's programming. Doherty appointed a three-member panel to screen proposals: Thom Welby, advertising consultant for WNEP-TV; Mark Monahan, a former WYOU-TVcameraman; and the Rev. Reginald McClain, of Shiloh Baptist Church. The three applicants for the management contract were: Scranton Today, the current station operator; NEPA Public Access Project; and ECTV. ECTV won the day despite furious public lobbying by long time Scranton Today supporters, most notably Annette Palutis, a former volunteer for WVIA TV in its pioneering days.

1968

After the death of Senator Robert Kennedy, members of his campaign tried to form an alliance with Senator Eugene McCarthy in facing Vice President Hubert Humphrey at the Democratic convention in Chicago. The Kennedy backers finally persuadecd Senator George McGovern to pick up the RFK standard at the convention and allow his name to be placed in nomination for the Presidency.....Meantime President Johnson signed a bill that would put a 10% surcharge on income to help pay for the Vietnam War....Statewide, former Governor Arthur James, a Plymouth native recalled a bill he proposed that would ban fireworks in the state....Wilkes Barre's Model Cities Program was told they would recieve $900,000 in grant money from the feds for its first year action plan...Recent graduates of St. John the Baptist Grade School had a mock convention at the Wyoming Monument and selected Nelson Rockefeller as the GOP nominee and Edward Kennedy as the Democratic nominee. The polling was very unscientific with the winners names being picked out of a straw boater...and the number 1 song in America and LuLac land this week was "Reach Out of the Darkness" by Friend and Lover. Here's the link from YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eppq4QJgS-Q&feature=related.

The LuLac Edition #506, June 26th, 2008

2008-06-26T19:17:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: A SAD MARIA SHARAPOVA, SENATOR CLINTON AND OBAMA AND A GUN, SOME AMERICAN'S BEST FRIEND.

MY MARIA

My girl Maria Sharapova was defeated today in one of the opening rounds of Wimbledon. She was upset by a newcomer. I petitioned Mrs. LuLac to give me permission to fly to England and console the distraught, young athlete. I even offered to take my good friend David Dellarte, a tennis aficionado along as a chaperone and WILK Morning Talk Show host Kevin Lynn, a former tennis pro as my wing man. Predictably, the answer was nay.

GUNS

The Supreme Court’s ruling that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting was the opening salvo in what will be a long legislative battle over how strictly cities and states can regulate firearms sources in the know said today.
The court’s 5-4 ruling, its first ever addressing the ambiguity and fuzziness of the Second Amendment, upheld an appeals court ruling that struck down the District of Columbia’s 32-year-old ban on handguns. The decision went further than even the Bush administration had sought, but it probably leaves most firearms laws intact. It also struck down Washington’s requirement that firearms be equipped with trigger locks or kept disassembled, but it left intact the licensing of guns, and it upheld longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill. Americans love their guns. I used to work for a guy who was a gun owner as was his whole family. One day when I came into work, I saw he was upset and I asked him what was wrong. “Jimmy got in a fight on Sunday at the Woods and the guy he kicked the crap out of is going to press charges. If they stick, do you know what that means, he won’t be able to exercise the most precious right Americans have if he is convicted on a felony count. Do you realize what that means?” he said. I replied, “He won’t be able to vote?” “Hell no” the guy said, “he won’t be able to carry a gun!”

HILBAR/BARHIL

It appears Barak Obama has won over more than half of Hillary Clinton's former supporters, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll that finds party loyalty bypassing hard feelings less than three weeks after their bruising Democratic presidential contest ended. You’d never know it talking to Mrs. LuLac or callers to the Steve Corbett Show on WILK Radio. But
the poll suggests time is beginning to heal some wounds from the primary campaign and that the New York senator's endorsement of Obama carried weight. The poll was taken in the days after Clinton suspended her campaign and said she was supporting her rival. Obama's acceptance by Clinton supporters is steady, yet far from complete. More than one in five who had backed the New York senator now plan to support Republican John McCain in the fall, a boost for McCain. Last night we went to the Blue Ribbon Dairy in West Pittston for some ice cream and a thirty plus something “mom” was there in a McCain tee shirt. She told me she had supported Senator Clinton in the primary. We shall see how this turns out. But my feeling is that if the Dems want a slam dunk, pick Hillary for Veep and Barack can sit on his front porch and plan his Cabinet the rest of the way to November.

The LuLac Edition #505, June 25th, 2008

2008-06-25T21:18:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: THE LATE SENATOR FROM THE 20TH DISTRICT T. NEWELL WOOD, MAX OF THE GOP, AND THE LATE SENATOR MARTIN L. MURRAY FROM THE 14TH DISTRICT. BETWEEN WOOD AND MURRAY, THEY TOOK THE STUFFING OUT OF THE GOP PARTY IN THE LATE 60s AND 70s. FORMIDABLE ALLIES.

CASEY AT THE BAT

So the Luzerne County GOP has a new Chairman. He’s Terry Casey and he has a mountain of work ahead of him. We wish him the best. As noted in our LuLac Edition # 376 of Dec. 21, 2007, (you can pull it up in our archives by accessing Dec. 2007) the County GOP needs help.
Casey has come up with good ideas like hiring an Executive Director and staffing an office in Downtown Wilkes Barre. However, it will take more than that to rejuvenate the Republican Party locally. First off, he has to get those Executive Committee members like Mr. Flack and the Sordonis to become more involved as power brokers. They must treat the registration depleted 6th District just like they would their own backyard. Money poured into races, and no deals with the opposition no matter how tempting and a bona fide effort to increase registration would be a good start. In a news article Casey referred to the fact that the GOP has to field better candidates. I disagree. There is a contingent of dedicated candidates who if they had the backing would win in a walk. In Wilkes Barre city alone in ’07, the GOP had 4 articulate, professional Council candidates. They were the best kept secrets in Pennsylvania politics. Save for geographic location, what’s the difference between a Karen Boback winning a State Rep seat and a Christine Katsock losing one? Registration, registration, registration. Terry, you have the candidates, it’s not like the old days where the late cigar chomping Harold Williams ran just because no one else wanted the job. Give them the money, and you’ll see competitive races. The Congressional race of 2006 was a travesty right down the line from the national GOP to your local outfit. I attended two Joe Leonardi events and the representation from the party leaders was pathetic, make that non existent. Don’t put the blame on candidates in this decade, when your party could not even defend two multi term incumbents like Barry Stankus and Mary Dysleski when they came under mild political fire. A few thousand bucks in retaliatory advertising and you’d have those two offices retained.
Even though there is a long row to hoe, the time is ripe for a GOP take over. But let’s not underestimate the GOP’s ineptness in trying to take advantage of the Democrats shortcomings. In 1968, the Democratic party in the County was divided after the death of Dr. Dorris. As a matter of fact, there were two factions, one headed by Senator Martin Murray, the other headed by the people at the Courthouse. How did the GOP take advantage of that split? 20th District Senator T. Newell Wood made deals with Murray to get a few jobs for his cronies and the Dems sat fat and happy for years. Casey alluded to the treatment former County head Guthrie Conyingham received at the 1982 GOP county convention. Conyingham, a well known businessman and philanthropist was associated with the Newell regime and even though he was a decent man, he as Chairman was painted with that brush. The Trinicrats saw Conyingham with tunnel vision, only as part of the Wood era. It wasn't his fault as chairman but during the time Conyingham served, only one row officer was a Republican and he even lost that election and served by court order!!! (The Late Joe Tirpak ran for County Controller, defeated Steve Yanoshak who was an incumbent but never served because he held a financial position prior to his election. Yanoshak, defeated, served until 1975 when he was elected Minority Commissioner). The reason why Frank Trinisewski wanted his own chairman, Ted Warkomski, was because he feared another GOP deal in 1983. Frank Crossin Senior had died, his son Frank Junior was just finding his footing and Edd Brominski was under fire for various and sundry developments in his reign including a brewing Human Services scandal. Trini and Phillips won two terms as Republicans (Trini became a Democrat in 1988, not the next year after his first majority election as Commissioner) but each time they ran, they had opposition within their own party. What is it with the GOP and primaries? When Charles Lemmond retired in the 20th, you had an heir apparent, Lisa Baker with two decades of experience, yet 5 other people jumped into the race. One of the secrets of the Dems rise to power is no primary. Now, as the Dems under the dome are openly contemptuous of each other and there are multi faceted investigations going on in almost every department, it would appear that the Courthouse is ripe for the picking. Maybe the local GOP will get smart, united and funded and the third time will be the charm. But given the past history, maybe is a gigantic word. Terry Casey needs to build from within, blow it up and start over (the roster of district chairman is a good start) and get the local power brokers to stop giving big bucks to the likes of Dick Cheney when he blows into the Back Mountain and start funding candidates who believe in GOP principles. To date, those local candidates have been pretty much hung out to dry. Good luck and God speed Mr. Casey. All political observers are pulling for your success. If you succeed, then that means good government (or hell, I’ll even settle for “not so bad government” ) has half a fighting chance again in Luzerne County.

The LuLac Edition #504, June 24th, 2008

2008-06-24T18:08:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: CHARLES LINDBERGH 8 DECADES AGO YESTERDAY WHEN HE LANDED AT COXTON YARDS.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Once in a while, we'll do a special feature on this site celebrating a local historical event in depth. God knows, none of the local newspapers do it anymore so someone has to. Our story is about when Charles Lindbergh had to make an emergency stop at Coxton Yards in Pittston. My father alluded to this incident many times but was fuzzy on the details since he was only 14 and working in a butcher store to help support his family. But years later, as a railroader he was headquartered out of Coxton Yards, the same place where Lucky Lindy landed. About a year ago, an old neighbor and world's greatest barber, Barry Prandy gave me the details. We worked on the story but held it until the 80th anniversary.

“LUCKY LINDY” LANDS

BY DAVID YONKI with BARRY PRANDY

Celebrity. Fame. It is something today that can be purchased very inexpensively. Andy Warhol said every American was destined to have their 15 minutes of fame. With today’s Cable News saturation, you could become famous just for spilling hot coffee on yourself or if you a modern day starlet, get five days of news commentary if you unwittingly or purposely forget to wear underwear. TV and Radio Talk shows have segments called “Your brush with Fame” where us regular folk tell the tale of how we met our favorite celeb.
Back in the twenties, there were a handful of famous people. Movie stars had to work long and hard before they could become a famous name that would roll off your tongue. The top tier were Baseball’s Babe Ruth, Football’s Knute Rockne and Red Grange, American business moguls Rockefeller and Mellon, politicos Hoover, Coolidge and Smith. A new addition to this “wall of fame” was aviator Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh had become world famous by the end of the twenties for flying his “Spirit of St. Louis” plane clear across the Atlantic Ocean in what was then a death defying leap of faith and courage.
The celebrity of Charles Lindbergh intruded on the good people of Pittston Junction on June 23rd, 1928. Lindbergh was flying from Detroit to New York and was forced to land because of heavy fog at 7:45PM that evening. He was flying a near replica of his “Spirit of St. Louis” plane, a machine called a “Ryan monoplane”. Lindbergh was traveling easterly toward New York City when he ran into heavy fog banks at the junction of the Lackawanna and Susquehanna Rivers. He circled a large field at Coxton Yards seven or eight times before he landed. The field went from Duryea to the Railroad roundhouse at Coxton. Lindbergh was flying very low as he tried to find a location that would not damage his plane. According to news reports of the day compiled by Frank Nealis and Harold Myers, Lindbergh found a spot that was dead center in the marshy field of dense hay grass vegetation.
Once on the ground, Lindbergh found himself in a similar position as when he landed in Paris from New York: he was alone. Inspecting his plane, the aviator had a few moments of solitude, until being approached by a railroader from the Roundhouse. The state police at Wyoming were notified of the impromptu visit and in a matter of minutes, hundreds of Greater Pittston residents began to storm the field to catch a glimpse at “Lucky Lindy”.
One of the assembled multitude elbowing into the farmer’s field was a young eighteen year old girl, Josephine Knowles who lived on Cliff Street in the Junction section of Pittston. Josephine loved to take photos with a Kodak Box camera purchased by the family. When she heard Lindbergh had landed, she grabbed her younger brother, Arthur, then three at the time and headed toward Coxton Yards. Tall for a girl her age and that era, the young Josephine took long strides while her brother tried to keep up. Arriving at Coxton Fields that was right next to Coxton Yards, Josephine used her height to scope out the terrain. A plane landing on a warm summer night was an event in and of itself in Pittston for a young teenager but this was as they say in today’s vernacular, “huge”. Josephine steadied herself, and despite noise and confusion from the emerging crowd (the State Police already had put up a rope line) she aimed and took a few pictures.
When the film was developed, Josephine had herself a beautiful side profile view of Colonel Lindbergh and his plane. Over the sands of time, some interesting aspects of that photo emerge. There is a hand crank that was used to start the engine. Look at how “Lindy” was dressed, in a suit, vest and tie. It is a clear contrast to today’s airline passengers that favor Velcro band sneakers, running suits and sweats. Since there is no evidence that telephoto lens existed at the time, it is apparent that young Ms. Knowles used her height, her skills and plain old luck in snapping the photo. As any professional photographer will tell you, she was in the right place at the right time.
Looking at old newspapers of the day, the enormity of Lindbergh’s accomplishments and daring are just too much to comprehend. On the same day the Scranton Republican reported “Lindy’s” spur of the moment visit, its front page reported on the death of an Air Mail pilot in Emporia, Kansas and the demise of an Aviatrix in Norfolk, Virginia. The weather, Lindbergh’s own good common sense and skill as well as fate were on his side that summer day in Upper Pittston.
When Josephine Knowles took that picture back in 1928, she, nor could anyone in her family ever imagine that the photo she snapped would be accepted by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Archives Division. In a letter from Patricia Williams, Acquisition Archivist to Barry Prandy of Pittston, the Museum gladly added the photo to the National Collection where researchers could view it. More than eighty years later, a young girl’s random act of teenage enthusiasm and “celebrity star gazing” is now part of our national history. Young Josephine’s brush with early twentieth century fame, was not only a story she could share with her relatives through her life, but an enduring historical addition to the archives of our nation.

The LuLac Edition #503, June 23rd, 2008

2008-06-23T21:00:00.001-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN McCAIN, THIS BLOG EDITOR, FORMER WARM PROGRAM DIRECTOR GREG FOSTER, DON IMUS AND FORMER WARM SALES MANAGER AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST BOSSES, GREG STROM.

McCAIN ON THE WAY

Finally GOP Presidential candidate John McCain is making a stop in Wilkes Barre. The date July 23rd. The venue, TBA. Dan Meuser, president of Pride Mobility, said he will serve as chairman of the event – a luncheon somewhere in Wilkes-Barre . Meuser ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Congress in the 10th, losing a close race to Chris Hackett. Two things I'm wondering, how much will it cost, (these are GOPers after all who are short on money) and what kind of seat will Chris Hackett get.

AGAIN? JEEZ!!

One of the things about hiring a shock jock is that you have to deal with what comes out of his mouth. Don Imus has done it again, same thing, sports, same deal, commenting on race.

When one of Imus's on-air partners, Warner Wolf, discussed Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones' legal troubles, Imus asked, "What color is he." When told that Jones is African-American, Imus said, "Well, there you go. Now we know."The full transcript is below.
Wolf: "Defensive back Adam 'Pacman' Jones, recently signed by the Cowboys. Here's a guy suspended all of 2007 following a shooting in a Vegas night club."
Imus: "Well, stuff happens. You're in a night club, for God's sake. What do you think's gonna happen in a night club? People are drinking and doing drugs, there are women there, and people have guns. So, there, go ahead."
Wolf: "He's also been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005."
Imus: "What color is he?"
Wolf: "He's African-American."
Imus: "Well, there you go. Now we know."

What type of fallout comes out of this is anyone's guess. PacMan Jones is a bad boy and not as beloved as the women's basketball team Imus dissed the last time he got in hot water. Also, maybe some people will just ignore it as the ramblings of an old guy that is 15 years past his prime. In addition, Imus is no longer on a network but on WABC in New York. My reactions were as follows, "sad", "who cares" and "deal with him if you want". Any intelligent person will know many black athletes party without incident just like many white athletes. And why I think Imus is losing it is because any casual football fan, even Mrs. LuLac, knows Pacman Jones' ethnic background. You're telling me Iman didn't know? If that's the case, then there's no show prep and for the money he's making, I'd can him for not knowing about Pacman Jones. Here we go again with the Iman. No surprises here.

The LuLac Edition #502, June 22nd, 2008

2008-06-22T11:09:00.002-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: ONE OF THE PAVILLIONS AT FRANCES SLOCUM STATE PARK AND PA. HOUSE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WHIP KEITH McCALL.

THE OLD ADAGE

As a young boy on summer Sunday nights, I would take my trusty left hander’s mitt (obtained by selling Stanley tooth brushes in the neighborhood) along with a big rubber ball and bounce it against the steps in front of my house. More times than not, I caught the ball coming back on the bounce. But on the times I didn’t, I’d eavesdrop on the conversation my father had with his railroad cronies (who were mostly his brothers and brother in laws) talking about the state of the world. One of my uncle Andy’s favorite bromides was, “if you knew the world was going to end, you’d want to be here in Luzerne County because it’ll take 20 years before it happens”. I thought of that the other day when I read in the Citizen’s Voice and heard on Corbett’s radio show that a former deputy in the County Sheriff’s office had behavior unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. It seems that a deputy under the reign of Barry Stankus took a photo of a fellow female Sheriff’s Department employee taking a shower and passed the nude photo around to co-workers. Needless to say there is a lawsuit which will cost county taxpayers money. But the sad and at the same time hysterical thing about this is that once again Luzerne County lags behind, even in deplorable conduct. I guess when Clarence Thomas almost had his Supreme Court nomination derailed by a few little details about a hair on a can of Coke or when Senator Robert Packwood resigned a distinguished three decade plus career because of his roaming hands, Luzerne County politicos were oblivious to that news. Look, what happened here should have been preventable. What type of screening process was there to hire this individual? Was he made aware that this type of thing was against all standards of decent human behavior? (I mean I’m told that those “swinger’s clubs” in the 70s had changing rooms for heavens sake!) And if this guy was in law enforcement for eight years, what other complaints or misuse of authority are out there that we have not yet heard about? And how about passing on the photo to co workers in that department? Were they at all appalled? The story tells us that not all was on the up and up in the Stankus administration, a regime I vigorously defended when challenged by current Sheriff Mike Savokinas. The offending deputy was canned by the new lawman and the woman will get a boatload of county money that could’ve been used for a program at the Area Agency on Aging or the CEO food bank. But the sad part of this story is that, as the kids say nowadays, “that is so yesterday!” We all passed photos of disrobed women in our lifetimes to our friends, but the major difference is we were only 12 years old and not deputy Sheriffs with a public trust. One must wonder what in the world is going to crawl out next from under the dome on River Street.

PORCHVILLE, PA.

Time is flying by and in just a few days we will be blessed with a three day Fourth of July weekend. Thanks to Leap year, the fourth falls on a Friday and many local residents, tired of being sodomized by the Bush administration’s oil policy and high gas prices might want to vacation close to home and take in the beauties of Frances Slocum State Park or Thornhurst State Park, Ricketts Glen, take your pick. But as ESPN commentator Lee Corso is fond of saying, “Not so fast my friend…”An impasse in approving a state budget by July 1 could stop them from enjoying the park system. If the state Legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell do not agree on a budget, nonessential state employees could be furloughed, and state parks such as those in our area could be padlocked.
In 2007, after the Legislature and the governor could not agree on a budget on time, employees were furloughed and the state's 116 parks were closed, some entrances were barricaded until an agreement was reached days later. Reservations for park facilities, such as cabins and camping spots, were canceled and reservation payments refunded.
If budget talks reach an impasse and employees are furloughed, the state will again barricade its parks, ask campers to leave and cancel reservations until the 2,300 employees of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are back to work. Once more, the working stiff who just wants to use the services paid for with his tax dollars will be screwed by a State Legislature and (you know I admire Big Ed) a gamesmanship loving Chief Executive who can’t get a budget passed by July 1rst. It will never happen in my lifetime but I think the State Lawmakers should have their salaries dinged every day they don’t pass a budget. Just put this big calculator over the Capitol in Harrisburg and have the numbers flash, “today you are now losing your per diem and one day’s salary.” You’d see how fast they’d get the thing done. In the meantime though, if the budget does not pass and the state parks close, it’s “Porchville, Pa.” for the rest of us who work for a living.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF?

Again, you know I love Big Ed but can’t he control or won’t he control some of the aftermath of his 2004 slots bill victory?
A legislative bill to earmark slots revenues for a broader category of economic development projects has surfaced just in time for the finale of the state budget debate.
House Majority Whip Keith McCall, D-Carbon, sponsored the measure to provide $760 million from a slots money pot to finance a range of “legacy” infrastructure projects to aid tourism, private colleges and universities, hospitals and projects by municipal authorities and economic development agencies to spur economic development. Yeah, as if what’s been done has given this area jobs with a working wage of more than 7 bucks an hour! Included is installing or upgrading water, sewer and electric power systems, natural gas pipelines and transportation facilities such as airports and parking garages. Wait a minute, I thought slots was supposed to be for property tax relief only. I thought the crumbling infrastructure in the state was supposed to be handled by the obscene gas taxes we pay at the pump? McCall’s bill begins a belated debate in the Senate about how to deal with a second generation of slots-financed projects. The 2004 slots law earmarks five percent of annual slots revenues to a fund for economic development and tourism. I’m all for economic development but first, let’s get the homeowners property tax relief, on which slots was predicated. If you can’t get a tax rebate on property taxes to every Pennsylvania homeowner, than you have no business “earmarking” the money someplace else. Maybe Pennsylvania residents should repeal slots by casting out lawmakers like McCall. Or have them (the Legislature and yes, even the Governor) all grow a set and pass a universal sales tax where everyone, from the junkie buying his rubber bands to shoot up to the person buying a starter car for their kid has to pay something. Let the debate begin, I have no problem fixing the infrastructure, but let's always keep in mind that property tax relief has not been forthcoming as promised. We're still waiting!

WE GET LETTERS

So last week I recieved two letters in the mail. One from John McCain asking me to contribute. Highest rate I could give (and "the ask" was in this letter 5 times) $2300.00. I got a letter from Barak Obama, highest contribution request $250.00. There was a tad bit of desperation in the McCain missive but that's what happens when you are behind a hundred million in the Presidential fundraising race.

The LuLac Edition #501, June 20th, 2008

2008-06-20T08:36:00.003-04:00

PHOTO INDEX: THE LATE PHIL McCABE, MOVIE STILL FROM G MEN AND OUR 1968 LOGO.

PHIL McCABE

Former Wilkes Barre City Councilman Phil McCabe died the other day. McCabe served on Council for 16 years and was a vigorous voice for fiscal responsibility in the city. Winning four terms on council, McCabe always finished near the top in each election he competed. His base was local labor but as time went on, he built a base of citizens that supported him because of his independent stance on many issues. Although he was a political ally of Mayor Lee Namey, he did not hesitate to disagree with a Mayoral decision if he didn't think it was in the best interests of the city. McCabe chose not to run for a fifth term on Wilkes Barre Council a few election cycles ago.

INNOCENT

It appears that Chuckie Costanza is innocent on 11 counts of conspiracy, aiding and abetting interference with commerce by threats of violence and money laundering. Prosecutors alleged that Charles Costanzo and Philip Forgione extorted more than $300,000 from Alicon Environmental Inc.

The case centered around payments that Mr. Costanzo and Mr. Forgione received from Alicon. In 2004, Lackawanna County paid Alicon about $1.8 million to remove about 20 tons of pigeon dung from the Courthouse, along with removal of lead paint and restructuring of that impressive looking bell tower. The central element of the case revolved around whether thepayments were a finder’s fee for helping Alicon get the county work or an illegal kickback. Former Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert Cordaro's name came up during the trial when prosecutor's said that Costanza could use his influence to steer work toward the company in question. Cordaro, guest hosting on WILK this week said the ceiling collapsed as the company was holding a meeting with county officials and that Alicon stepped in immediately to take care of what turned out to be an environmental and health disaster at the Courthouse.

G MEN

The FBI came a calling on late Thursday afternoon at the Luzerne County Courthouse annex and they didn't just want to get a good parking spot to have lunch at Genetti's popular Oyster Restaurant. Nope, they took financial records relating to placement of juveniles going back to 2002. The Director of Administrative Services, said the feds took records relating to placements, including Pa Child Care and Western Pa Child Care, formerly owned by Butler Township attorney Robert Powell. The Times Leader reports that billing statements and records of the number of children who were placed at PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care. Even though a warrant was issued for the records, it should be stated that these are all open to the public. Some have speculated that the FBI signature on this search signals that the feds are looking into the business dealings of the Child Care Center. The Times Leader is saying that the search is the latest development in the county’s long, convoluted and often controversial dealings with Powell and PA Child Care. Most recently, Powell’s relationship with President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, a senior judge, came under scrutiny after it was revealed the three had current or former ties to W-Cat Inc., a real estate development firm building a townhouse project in Wright Township.
Conahan and Ciavarella each listed financial ties to W-Cat on the statements of financial interest filed for 2007. Powell has acknowledged he was part owner of W-Cat, but has said he sold his interest to Luzerne County Prothonotary Jill Moran in 2004. Moran is a partner in the Powell Law Firm. The revelation of the financial ties prompted commissioners Maryanne Petrilla and Stephen Urban last month to call for an investigation to determine if that relationship influenced the decision to utilize PA Child Care. Our take on it is this: if you are associated with this company, or any company doing business with the county government, you do not want records seized by the FBI. Even if things turn out clean, and there's no evidence of irregular billing, the stigma of an FBI seizure does not bode well for the people associated with the business. Reports have circulated for years that the FBI was looking into the dealings of the Judiciary under the dome. There is even a media watch going on to see if there will be major indictments. Whatever happens with this thing that happened Thursday, it is sure to change the political landscape of the County and once more give voters pause to reflect on the ethics of their already battered county government.

HOMETOWN BOY

Paul Kanjorski's new TV ads are up. Running frequently on TV. Shows the Congressman stepping out in matching royal blue with his wife, meeting a neighbor walking a tiny dog. Saying he's a hometown guy that never forgets his roots. In my opinion, an okay ad but they should so something with the closing shot. It does not look dynamic in my humble opinion.

1968

Former Alabama Governor George Wallace resumes his presidential campaign which was suspended after the death of his wife Lurleen in May…….Atty. Robert Casey Senior of Scranton begins to gear up for his race for Auditor General in the fall criss crossing the state attending fairs and picnics……Locally, Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas rejected Dallas Borough’s suggestion that a 50 cent license fee on each electric light pole in the municipality be enacted into law……and in Pittston, this blog editor began the summer with the knowledge that he would return no more to St. John the Baptist Grade School as a student and forty years ago this week, the number one song in America and LuLac land was “Yummy Yummy Yummy” by the Ohio Express proving not all the music was superb in that summer. Here’s the link from You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozqfOzqMvlQ.