The LuLac Edition #372, Dec. 18th, 2007

PHOTO INDEX: SIMON AND GARFUNKEL'S AWARD WINNING DEBUT ALBUM "THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE", WILK'S STEVE CORBETT WHO IS EXPERIENCING THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE THESE DAYS AND WILKES BARRE COUNCIL PERSON KATHY KANE.

HELLO DARKNESS MY OLD FRIEND

It seems that WILK Radio's Steve Corbett is experiencing the "Sounds of Silence" Luzerne County style. Corbett has been pleading politely, asking, cajoling someone from somewhere to talk about the recent elevation of Tom Leary to the exalted post of President of LCCC. No one is talking, no one is getting back to him. All he wants to know is if there was a search, how much money the guy is going to make, what makes him qualified and what his plans are for the gigantic responsibilities thrust upon him. No one from the Board of Trustees has contacted him, no one from the county has uttered a word and Leary certainly hasn't come out of hiding and said something. Jeez, you'd think if you got a big job like that you'd want to do some crowing about what you'll do. Silence can be deafening but also dangerous. Silence leads to the belief that something good is bad. Silence means that there's a secret to be kept somewhere. Silence means that if no one comes forward to let the sunshine in, there is something dark going on. We know nothing about the process, the selection, the man chosen or what the long term plans he has for the institution. Only speculation runs rampant these days in Luzerne County and because of the credibility problem with the government and public officials, we can only guess and conclude something is shady, something begs to be hidden for a sinister reason. A caller to Corbett's show tonight said that Tom Leary was a nice guy. The guy then launched into an attack on Corbett. He told Corbett what he knew. He had no other information about the job search or Leary. What I know about this situation is this: most people I've talked to said Tom Leary owned a bar in Kingston. They told me they had no idea or not whether he was qualified for the position. A few told me they thought he was an arrogant jerk. That's all I know, that's all I can share. I'm not trying to be derogatory of a man who recently got a new job with big responsibilities. But that's all I have to go on. I'd tell you more but the "Sounds of Silence" prohibit me, like Steve Corbett, from learning more.

KANE RECOGNIZED

Kathy Kane has been a public official in Wilkes Barre City for over a decade now. Her work ethic and political personna is being compared to forerunners Ethel Price and Marge Bart, both breaking gender barriers in the sixties who served with distinction on Wilkes Barre City Council. But unlike those two who succeeded spouses, Kane has staked out a political career on her own. Recently, Gov. Ed Rendell has appointed Kane to the Local Government Advisory Committee of the state Department of Community and Economic Development. The 57-year-old Democrat who represents the city's District C, was named to the state committee in November. Kane is one of two women on the 14-member committee chaired by Lt. Gov.Catherine Baker Knoll. Kane said she is charged with making recommendations to the governor regarding the needs of local governments. Kane was mentioned as a Mayoral candidate in 2003 and you can bet with her newly added expertise in community development, she can be a formidable candidate for higher office is that's desire.