The LuLac Edition #49, August 18th, 2006

PICTURE INDEX: (Bottom photo) the old Planters Peanuts building is razed as the image of "Mr. Peanut" stands helpless as the building gets chipped away brick by brick and (top photo) the late Terry McNulty posing with Mary Ann Yonki, the pineapple and Mary Carrano. By the way, the Planters photo was taken by Mary Ann Yonki on Saturday, August the 12th, the day the building started to get torn down.


"MR. PEANUT” BUILDING IN RUINS
Just as the city of Wilkes Barre was celebrating its 200th bicentennial with a huge parade demolition experts began tearing down the historic Planters Peanuts building which has been a local landmark since the early 1920s. The owner of the building said he obtained the permit the day before blasting began. It is ironic that the building’s demolishment began as the parade took place in the city last Saturday.
Planters Peanuts had their headquarters in Wilkes Barre for many decades before it was bought by Kraft Foods. The history of Planters is a true American story of immigration, hard work, tenacity and success. The corner stone of that success was the “Mr. Peanut” mascot that has entertained folks and sold the product to generations of snack food lovers.
What began as a small undertaking with only one $4.50 peanut roaster in 1896 became the Planters Nut & Chocolate Company in 1906. Peanut specialists Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi founded Planters after developing and perfecting a system for blanching whole roasted peanuts.
Mr. Peanut was born in 1916, the brainchild of a 14-year-old Virginia boy who entered a Planters-sponsored trademark contest. The boy's winning drawing - a peanut with arms and legs and labeled 'Mr. Peanut' - was later enhanced by Planters to include the top hat, monocle and cane.
This unique "spokes-legume" became an important icon for the Planters brand and has made notable appearances on billboards in New York's Times Square and in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Mr. Peanut helped the brand celebrate its centennial year in 2006 with a variety of festivities, including a Planters Nut Mobile cross-country US tour and a special nostalgic collector's series of Planters Cocktail Peanuts cans.
Debate on saving the building has been fast and furious. Many say the building is still in good shape but city officials maintain water damage has claimed some of the plumbing. Local businessman Thom Greco has been advocating for a Planters Peanut museum with “Mr. Peanut” featured in a prominent role. There is even a fundraising campaign to see if there will be enough local support for it. Other city residents argue the building is old and that the parent company of Planters, Kraft should take an interest in the project. The feeling from that corner is that if the national parent company doesn’t think Wilkes Barre is important enough to house a “Planters” museum, then why should residents and city tax payers even bother with the project.
All that said though, it was kind of heart breaking to see that building knocked down and the image of “Mr. Peanut” eroding in front of your eyes. Another childhood memory becomes a victim of the wrecking ball.

TERRY McNULTY DIES AT 70
Terry McNulty, “The Big Fella” from WARM Radio died last week at the age of 70. McNulty was a newsman and personality on the station for more than 38 years. He also worked at WSCR in Scranton and ended his stellar career on WNAK. McNulty was one of the most kind and gentle men that ever worked in the medium of radio. He was a true paradox who was very shy and reserved in person but a wildly entertaining man on the radio. To read more about Terry McNulty, go to this link and read what many of Terry’s co-workers and peers had to say about him. Here's the link, http://www.radio-info.com/ click on boards, then go to Northeastern Pennsylvania and click on that.


MARCHING ED
Governor Ed Rendell seems to be walking off those cheese steak sandwiches by marching in parades across the state. The Governor marched in the Little League parade in Williamsport Thursday night, the Wilkes Barre Bicentennial parade on Saturday and this coming Saturday will march in the Pittston Tomato Festival parade. The Governor is holding a very commanding lead in the polls over challenger Lynn Swann.

CASEY/SANTORUM RACE TIGHTENS………..Just as predicted, the U.S. Senate race has tightened with Senator Santorum closing in on Robert Casey Junior’s once huge lead. The Santorum ad blitz has helped a great deal and you have to admit the commercials are very effective. Casey has yet to advertise on the scale of the incumbent. The entry of the Green Party candidate was factored into the polls but until they are truly analyzed, no one can say what the impact of that spoiler candidacy will be. Some say it hurts Casey in the northeast but hurts Santorum in the central part of the state. In the meantime, this race is garnering national attention and is expected to go down to the wire.

CONGRESSIONAL ADS START……….Democrat Chris Carney’s ads have started in this market. Effective, simple to the point, playing on decency in government. Carney is the Democrat running against Congressman Don Sherwood in the 10th Congressional district. Meanwhile in the 11th, Republican Joe Leonardi has unveiled his ads against incumbent Democrat Paul Kanjorski. To view his ads, here’s the link. http://www.leonardiforcongress.com/. The ad concerns the Susquehanna River and is very effective. The good Doctor has been very media savvy for years utilizing mass marketing to build a successful practice. His supporters hope that media magic can translate into votes for November.

THE PRESIDENT VISITS PENNSYLVANIA………..The recent visit from President Bush to raise money for Lynn Swann in the Governor’s race prompted this e mail from the Rendell campaign.
Dear DAVID, George W. Bush's White House handpicked Lynn Swann to run for Governor. Then they forced the more experienced and moderate Bill Scranton from the Republican primary.Today, George W. Bush steps up for Lynn Swann again, traveling to Pennsylvania to raise campaign funds for Swann at a $10,000 per person event -- money that will be used to attack Governor Rendell, distort his accomplishments and stop all of the progress Pennsylvania has been making.Do you support George W. Bush's choice for Governor of Pennsylvania? If not, show your opposition to him and his handpicked choice by supporting Ed Rendell and contributing $100 today. That's just 1 percent of what it costs to attend Swann's "meet and greet" with George W. Bush.Click here to contribute now. Ed Rendell has stood up for our priorities as Governor and the results are already showing. Today, Pennsylvania has the highest number of jobs in its history, our unemployment rate has consistently been below the national average, tens of thousands of more seniors have access to affordable prescription medications and schools are making progress in both reading and math. Pennsylvania voters twice rejected George W. Bush and Republicans are desperate to make headway here for 2008. That starts with getting Lynn Swann elected in 2006. But do we really want someone who has said extensively campaigning for Bush in 2004 was "one of the bright spots of [his] life"? Or who can't answer even basic questions about what he would do as Governor? If not, please support Ed Rendell once again. http://tools.rendellforgovernor.com/page/m/730px9b55yx/hKUPL7.
All right then. I saw the President on PCN and his stump speech for Swann was very animated and even bordered on the articulate. However, I was struck by what I perceived to be forced and tepid applause.

MEDIA WATCH.......L.A. Tarone’s show on WLYN very popular. His tribute to Terry McNulty was very professional, recent guests included WILK’s Sue Henry and State Representative Todd Eachus……………..Look for more local political ads to start peppering the local airwaves soon. This is the time of year media sales people love, especially in contested races.

HOLTZMAN UPDATE…………Even though former local resident Marc Holtzman didn’t even make the Colorado ballot in his quest to be governor, he still is making political mischief for the guy who won the race. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez exulted in the unity of the state party on election night, but some supporters of former candidate Marc Holtzman say they are still not feeling the love.
Holtzman endorsed Beauprez for governor six weeks ago, but his backers say they have been given the cold shoulder by the Beauprez campaign. Holtzman has yet to make a public appearance with Beauprez, and none of his staffers is working on the campaign.
"I haven't been contacted (by Beauprez)," said Sean McCarthy, a Pueblo Republican activist who supported Holtzman. "I was certainly disappointed. I think Beauprez is a good, decent fellow, but there is no fire from the campaign to really pull people in."
Other Holtzman supporters are more angry. "I'm not really happy with Beauprez," said Connie Harn, a Jeffco Republican activist who worked on Holtzman's campaign. "Until the Republican party gets back to basic principles, I've about had it with the party. The Republican party is out of touch with what the voters want and Bob Beauprez is part of that."
Republican political consultant Katy Atkinson, who supports Beauprez, said she's not surprised there are hard feelings from the primary. "I've never seen anybody trash Republicans the way Marc Holtzman did," said Atkinson. "He said the party was corrupt. They ran a scorched earth campaign. It was as nasty as can be." Atkinson noted that it was Holtzman who first tagged Beauprez as "Both Ways Bob."
A spokesman for Beauprez insists that the campaign is trying to appeal to Holtzman supporters. "We've reached out and worked with Marc to reach those folks," said John Marshall.
Marshall said Beauprez is working with Holtzman to arrange a fundraiser for the campaign.
"We've been in touch with him." Holtzman declined comment, but one high-level insider in his campaign who asked not to be named said Beauprez hadn't bothered to contact Holtzman to ask for his support until earlier this week. "We were all prepared to join behind the nominee," said the source. "They've made it clear they don't want us."