The LuLac Edition #430, March 2nd, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: THE NEW YORK YANKEE LOGO AND THE SERVICE ELECTRIC TV LOGO.

THANK YOU!!

After about three years of begging and pleading, Service Electric in Wilkes Barre has given Yankee and baseball fans the YES network. Personally, I wanted this network because I am a baseball fan and believe in order to be a true observer of the game, you must know what the number 1 franchise in baseball history is up to. I have made numerous calls, some acrimonious, some nice to the management asking for this service. I know that the local franchise had to do some chucking and jiving to get this thing accomplished and it is very much appreciated. Service Electric has demonstrated that it does indeed listen to its customers. I urge those who in the past few years who, like me, bitched about the lack of the YES network on Service Electric, to call them or drop them a line profusely thanking them for responding to the wants of the consumer. Thank you again!

CHALLENGES

If you can't beat 'em, try to get 'em thrown off the ballot. This seems to be a mantra going on for the State Representative races in both counties. In the Lac, Commonwealth Court Judge Renee L. Cohn held a hearing Thursday at Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown on a Scranton couple’s petition to knock Rep. Frank Andrews Shimkus and challenger Kevin Murphy off the April 22 ballot in the 113th District. The judge has up to 10 days to issue a ruling. Joseph and Joanne Pilchesky filed separate petitions challenging Mr. Shimkus on a residency issue and Mr. Murphy for filing an amended statement of financial interests. Both Mr. Shimkus and Mr. Murphy said they consulted with lawyers to make sure their nominating papers were in order. Judge Cohn will preside over a hearing Tuesday in Allentown on another ballot challenge to Mr. Murphy filed by a Taylor couple, Diane and David Visoki. This challenges the validity of signatures on his nominating petition. I am especially curious about this challenge to Mr. Murphy, why a Taylor couple and what are the motives? We shall see on this one.

Meanwhile in the Lu, a ballot challenge to Russ Bigus, of Dallas Township, the lone Democratic candidate in the 117th House District, was withdrawn. Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, and James May, of Northmoreland, are vying for the GOP nomination in the district that covers parts of Luzerne and Wyoming counties. The Bigus challenge was not even continued because with the huge GOP registration, there are some who felt "what's the point?" and even more who feel that Bigus, while characterized as a qualified and compentent individual is on a fool's errand in this district.

BUT WE LOVE HIM!

The local Lackawanna County Commissioners have weighed in on the Presidential race on the Democratic side. He’s an agent of change,” Mr. Washo said in an interview Friday. “So are we.”Mr. O’Brien said he is impressed with the way Mr. Obama has energized Americans of all ages to participate in the political process. The sentiment is not unanimous among area Democrats. Mayor Chris Doherty and Congressman Paul Kanjorski have come out for Senator Clinton as well as Governor Rendell. If Pennsylvania is a factor after this Tuesday's race in Ohio and Texas, you might see both Dems in Northeast Pennsylvania on the trail.

KANJO'S SORRY

Paul Kanjorski has apologized to Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta for linking him with former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Kanjorski sent Mr. Barletta a formal letter of apology Friday afternoon. “I did not say you are a racist and did not mean to imply it,” the one-page letter, signed by Mr. Kanjorski, concludes. “I meant you no offense, and I am sorry if it appeared that way.”Mr. Barletta accepted the apology. “I respectfully accept his apology and commend Paul Kanjorski for recognizing that inflammatory rhetoric is not what voters of the 11th Congressional District want,” Mr. Barletta said Friday. “Hopefully this will be a turning point in this campaign, and the congressman and his Washington, D.C., team will stop the negative and baseless attacks and focus on the issues facing the taxpayers.”The dispute began when Mr. Kanjorski told a reporter for the political news Web site Politico.com, “What David Duke was to civil rights, my opponent has done that with immigration. ... He’s used that issue the same way Duke used the civil rights issue.” This race is just heating up despite the apology. Barletta is going to be fighting for his political life in this race and you can be sure there will be more on this and other issues despite the nice comments after this incident.

ANOTHER CHANCE

Lackawanna County will have at least an additional 30 days to formulate its official complaint in the lawsuit against the insurance company at the heart of the amphitheater roof saga. In effect, there seems to be a chance for a "do over".
Judges Carmen Minora and Robert A. Mazzoni ordered the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange and Foxco Insurance Management Services Inc. to produce documents requested by attorney Larry Moran on behalf of the county. Attorney Frank Ruggiero must provide a copy of the cancellation language in the insurance policy that may have covered the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain when the roof collapsed during a snowstorm in February 2007. Mr. Moran filed a lawsuit Feb. 7 citing breach of contract, insurance bad faith, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence on the part of the defendants. The action was filed on behalf of majority Commissioners Mike Washo and Corey O’Brien and in cooperation with minority Commissioner A.J. Munchak.