The LuLac Edition #366, Dec. 11th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: SCRANTON MAYOR CHRIS DOHERTY AND CHEVY CHASE AS THAT KING OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTING, CLARK GRISWALD.

WE'RE INVITED!!

Got a phone message on the old machine tonight from Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty. He invited me and Mrs. LuLac up to Nay Aug Park to view the big Christmas light extravaganza. One thing I learned as a young lad just getting my license was the best way to get a girl in your mom's car was to take her to see Christmas lights. As a married adult, the best way to calm down a harried spouse during the holidays is to jump in the car and let her look at the Holiday lights. So Doherty was preaching to the choir in his taped messsage. But, as a politico, I look to the larger issue, why is Doherty extending his reach into a neighboring city? Or county? This Christmas invitation just might be the very first step in a Doherty statewide candidacy for Treasurer. We appreciate the invite Mr. Mayor, we'll be there when Mrs. LuLac starts snarling (usually after the battle with the tree stand, the tree and the needles) and yes, we'll remember you come primary day. If that in fact is your intent.

LOKUTA FIGHTS BACK

DAY 2

Attorney Susan Sernak-Martinelli was helping a family new to the country.
They wanted to get a name change for their young child who knew some Armenian and Russian.
And the case was assigned to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ann Lokuta.
When the case was called, Lokuta greeted them – in Polish.
But it wasn’t done in some kind of maniacal tirade, Sernak-Martinelli testified Monday.
“It was a welcoming gesture,” Sernak-Martinelli said. “They were relatively new to the United States.”
Lokuta went even further.
After court, she invited the family into her chambers.
They talked about their different cultures.
Their languages.
Their holidays.
Sernak-Martinelli’s clients loved it.
All of it.
So much, they even sent Lokuta a thank-you card.

I know I'll get in trouble for pointing this out, but if Lokuta was a bleach blond back mountain wife of a CEO or daughter of one of the politically connected, this wouldn't be happening. Personally, I know of many acts of kindness like these from the Judge. On "Corbett" today, the host said the old boy network was seemingly out to get her. Not if she wasn't short, near sighted and a bit frumpy.
As far as Lokuta speaking too loudly, that was addressed too.
The acoustics of the courtroom are “terrible,” witness Santora said. There’s no microphone, he said.
And that forces everyone, including Lokuta, to speak up.
But she’s not louder than anyone else.
She doesn’t scream and berate people, he said.
“Does she speak louder? No,” Santora said. “Everyone has to keep their voices up.”
There are two sides to every story, and I'm glad someone brought up the accoustics issue.

EDWARDS?

I'm thinking that with the dead heat goling on between Senators Clinton and Obama, the guy to watch in Iowa just might be former Senator John Edwards. If he can get his organization humming at a rapid rate, he just might pull off a big surprise come January 3rd.