The LuLac Edition #664, Dec. 11th, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: FLOWERS SOLD FOR MANY YEARS AT RO-KAY FLORAL AND DOWNTOWN WILKES BARRE LOGO.

WB BUDGET A GO

City Council didn’t discuss Mayor Tom Leighton’s proposed 2009 budget on Tuesday, but is expected to approve the $40.86 million spending plan Thursday night. The public comments at Thursday’s meeting.
The budget calls for an increase in some taxes – a 23-mill hike in the property tax and a rise in the earned income tax to 3 percent. Northend Councilman Mike Merritt is opposed to both measures and cast the lone dissenting vote last week when council voted on ordinances regarding the increases in the property and earned income tax rates. Meritt's opposition is noteworthy because it marks the first time in a few years that there was a dissenting voice on WB Council.

BUSINESS HONORED

At tonight’s Wilkes Barre City Council meeting, a resolution will be passed honoring a Wilkes Barre resident who ran a successful business in the Downtown for over 52 years. The Resolution was written hy Wilkes Barre Community activist Pete Gagliardi.
Rose Gagliardi, one of the pillars of the business community in downtown Wilkes-Barre, passed away on November 17, 2008. She was a remarkable woman who leaves behind a legacy of compassion and service for other people. She had two children Patrick Gagliardi and Lucille Loyack, and two grandchildren Billy and Patty Ann Loyack.
Rose owned and operated the RoKay Flower and Gift Shop on South Main Street for over 51 years. She demonstrated a great love and compassion for people and she was an integral part of the city. She shared the joys and sorrows of life with us. When we ordered flowers for proms and weddings she shared our joy, and when tragedy struck she shared our pain while preparing flowers for funerals. She worked day and night, six or seven days a week to satisfy her customers because serving other people was her main purpose in life. Rose demonstrated how to run a successful business in downtown Wilkes-Barre and we can use her model for success as we rebuild the city. She was in business at a time when just about everyone left the center city and moved to the suburban malls to make additional profits. For Rose being in the city she loved and serving the people she loved was much more important than making more money, She never seriously considered leaving downtown Wilkes-Barre. While the city concentrates on the grand lofts and major entertainment areas, it is a good thing to look at the small businesses that make a downtown stable and enduring.