The LuLac Edition #671, Dec. 19th, 2008
PHOTO INDEX: OUR "VOTE" AND "1968" LOGOS.WHINERS GET THEIR WAY
The judge who granted a preliminary injunction that blocks staffing cuts in the court system agreed with the court’s position that “immediate and irreparable” harm would be caused if the stay were not granted. The injunction, signed by specially appointed Senior Judge C. Joseph Rehkamp of Perry County, also requires commissioners to fund the courts at the same level as the 2008 budget. Attorneys for Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella sought the injunction, contending the court order was necessary to ensure the status quo is maintained pending resolution of Ciavarella’s suit that challenges court cuts contained in the county’s 2009 budget. That from the Times Leader. This thing is far from over and a hearing will be held in late December to get this issue resolved.
2009 RACES
The judge who granted a preliminary injunction that blocks staffing cuts in the court system agreed with the court’s position that “immediate and irreparable” harm would be caused if the stay were not granted. The injunction, signed by specially appointed Senior Judge C. Joseph Rehkamp of Perry County, also requires commissioners to fund the courts at the same level as the 2008 budget. Attorneys for Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella sought the injunction, contending the court order was necessary to ensure the status quo is maintained pending resolution of Ciavarella’s suit that challenges court cuts contained in the county’s 2009 budget. That from the Times Leader. This thing is far from over and a hearing will be held in late December to get this issue resolved.
2009 RACES
Looking ahead to 2009, here are some races up for grabs in Luzerne and Lackawanna County. In Luzerne, the office of Prothonotary will be up for grabs with an embattled Jill Moran being the incumbent. The Controller’s seat is up and a few Democrats have expressed interest like Wil Toole, former Pittston City official, former Valley West School Director Augie Piazza, PA School District official Tony Rostock and former Controller and Commissioner Tom Pizano. The Pizano candidacy is very strange to me. The guy was elected Controller, jumped ship to become a County Commissioner and left the office to Andy Reilly who was defeated by Steve Flood. If Pizano had stayed where he was at, there would be no Steve Flood and the Dem majority would still be going there merry way. But his ascension made Steve Flood and his various lawsuits against the Democratic majority possible. Now he wants back in according to sources. He’s strong on the West Side and might make a return to his electoral roots. On the GOP side there seems to be a great deal of support for Bob Sypniewski from the Back Mountain while Wilkes Barre City Tax advocate Walter Griffith has signaled his intentions for a run.
In Lackawanna County, Evie Refalko McNulty will run for a new term as Recorder of Deeds. Linda Munley wll go for another term as Register of Wills The Sheriff of Lackawanna County John Syzmanski is set for another go at that office while DA Andy Jarbola goes for another term. Other offices up are Scranton and most Borough Mayors, three Scranton Council seats and three Scranton School Board seats.
LEGALS IN THE LAC
Luzerne County is not the only place where the Judiciary is upset with the Commissioners. The Scranton Times reports that an Archbald district judge refuses to be quieted after budget cuts by county commissioners pushed one of her clerks out the door the day before Thanksgiving.District Judge Laura Turlip Murphy, in recent letters obtained by The Times-Tribune, took the majority commissioners to task for what she says was funding of discretionary agencies instead of others mandated by the state — specifically the courts.In reply letters and in interviews, commissioners Michael Washo and Corey O’Brien weren’t pulling any punches either, regarding Judge Murphy as simply unwilling to see the dire economic times facing the county and its residents. Commissioners eliminated more than 100 positions since taking office in January to balance the 2009 budget without a tax increase. In the last month Midvalley judges Murphy and John Pesota lost one of three clerks in their offices.
Judge Murphy questioned the commissioners’ actions: “Court funding should have priority in the budgetary process, as many other goods and services are discretionary, including: giving raises to selective employees; creating new positions in certain agencies ... just to name a few,” she wrote. Commissioners gave salary increases to their directors of communications and human resources. They also hired two support staff for the communications office.See folks, the difference here is that while the Archbald Judge is being critical, she is not trying to stop the budgetary process and the very vital kink of County government. That’s the legacy of the Luzerne County Court En Banc.
LULAC ORGINS
Got a wonderful e mail on the name of our blog, LULAC. Here is it:
Hello Mr. Yonki,
I wanted to comment on your use of the name 'LuLac' in your newsletter. I do not know if you are aware, but back in the late 60's an oil company was established in Pittston ... that oil company was 'LuLac Oil', and it was owned and operated by my late grandfather. He created the name 'LuLac' ... so, the name has a special meaning to me and has been coined for many years before your blog. Just thought I'd pass that information along.
I am very much aware of the LuLac Oil Company. As a matter of fact when I was naming this site, I checked to see if LuLac was still around. As a young boy, I listened to the LuLac oil company commercials on WPTS Radio and remember those LuLac trucks. Please think of the site name as a homage to that great company that served Luzerne and Lackawanna County well for so many years. I swiped the name but did so with a warm place in my heart and a great deal of pride.
LEHMAN STRIKE
The greed of the local teacher’s unions once again raised its ugly head, this time in the Lake Lehman School District. The teachers who are paid way above the local average are bitching about health care. Seems they have to pay a portion of it. And then there are those working poor, some of them parents of the overpaid educators who can’t afford even basic health coverage. Once again, people doing well seem to have a tin ear when it comes to the economic mess the rest of this region, state and country are in. Happy striking. Don’t get frostbite.
1968
China's Mao advocates that educated youth in urban China be re-educated in the country. It marks the start of the "Up to the mountains and down to the villages" movement……..President Johnson holds Christmas receptions at the White House as he closes out his term in office….in Pennsylvania Congressman Richard Schweiker prepares to take over the U.S. Senate seat held by Joseph Clark. In 1969, Pennsylvania will have 2 GOP U.S. Senators….State Senate Librarian, former Senator Harold Flack announces he will give us his appointed job of $15,000 a year in the state……County employees are granted a $500.00 tentative raise by the team of Crossin and Wideman, Luzerne County Commissioners….The Luzerne County Prison Board approved a program to train prisoners in computers and data processing and the number one song in LuLac land and America 40 years ago this week was “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.
posted by David Yonki @ 12:14 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Almost got '68 wrapped up, Yonks.
Mission Accomplished! I expect there will be a sum up edition before years end. I enjoyed the feature and am curious to see what replaces it on the sheet. Tough to match '68, clearly a pivotal year in so many ways. I appreciate your efforts regarding local history and would like to read more along those lines. Great job on 1968 and 2008. We wish you well in all of your future endeavors.
Take on 2009!
The 1968 feature was awesome despite what that old girlfriend of yonk's from Duryea thinks. And I have to tell you that the county government fiasco in Luzerne County is why people hate politics. Let's hope little Markie C. is throwing a tantrum somewhere else by this time next year. And the damn school teachers, I saw them on the news walking out with their little bags of teacher's aides going wee wee all the way like that fairy tale, um what was it, oh yeah, THE THREE LITTLE PIGS! To the LL school board, do what NW area did, cut the health care while they are striking. Stand your ground. That's why you were elected!
On the 2009 races, where is Pete Gagliardi in the mix? He is too much of a powerhouse to be ignored!
Yonki: I have to tell you that your alalysis on the county is right on. Gort on his blog says it was a jobs program for the county. hese guys wouldn't know what to do if they had a real job.
On another subject, looks like Dec of 68 were the salad days for Motown. Three number ones in a row.
Two compliments: one to you and one to Petrilla. You trashed Maryanne last year when she let go of your gal Kathy Bozinski. What's with the tall chicks Yonk??? But to your credit, you have been defending her and her actions. Unlike County officials who are elected, you see the forest before the trees and don't hold grudges when the good of the community is at stake. As far as Petrilla, she has shown herself to be a couragious leader who is just trying to save the country from becoming "distressed". How would these ying yangs under the dome like to submit itself to the state under the label "distresed"? Think they'd like being under their thumb? Petrilla AND uBRAN have shown a true profile in courage. I'd follow Petrilla into the fires of hell if she asked me because shock of shocks, she's doing the right thing. And you my friend have recognized it!
It is amazing to me the arrogance of the county courts. These people are elected too and to tie the hands when people are hurting, it just shows that a judge was a lawyer was a slug was a thug before they came up in the world. But the sheeps in the Democratic party will vote YES to keep these jokers and vote for a whole set of new ones because grandpa did it 60 years ago. The hysterical thing is that voters in the county are so used to bending over, that the judges have their way with them even during budget time. Democratic voters better smarten up because they are the ones getting SCREWED by the candidates they hung signs for, went to cocktail parties for and voted for. I'm wondering who is more pathetic.
Hello: One of the things I like about your site is that it is so entertaining. Your features are great, like 1968, are we doing another year soon? I particularly like 13 questions and maybe i'm amazed. Hope to see more of those in the future. And how 'bout the women we love feature which i know you got from Esquire or GQ. Will we have a year end? This stuff makes the rotten news coming out of LuLac land a bit more tolerable. One more move by the judges and the folks with the pitchforks will be storming the dome. The thinking ones anyway.
K GIRL
Good morning Yonki!!!! Good stuff. One of the things that has struck me about this County Judge lawsuit is this: the complete lack of public support on this thing. I listened to Sue Henry Friday, Corbett the other day and no one has love for the Judges. It is true they function as a conduit between law and order. But you mean to tell me that they can't make concessions? Your suggestions are on the mark. (no pun intended there!) Everybody else is cutting, why can't they? Petrilla is making 1/3rd of these jokers and is doing a bang up job. Even kevin Lynn who is a friend (self proclaimed) of the President Judge is hard presssed to defend the Judge's actions with much passion. The people are speaking and they aren't in favor of the men in black on the third floor. Maybe in a few years they will speak with only one word when it comes to retention: NO!
Helen Fulbright
Yonk: Weren't the LuLac Oil trucks brown and white or maroon and white? I seem to remember brown.
IN RESPONSE
You trashed Maryanne last year when she let go of your gal Kathy Bozinski. What's with the tall chicks Yonk???
ALWAYS LIKED THE TALL CHICKS SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.
As far as Petrilla, she has shown herself to be a couragious leader
I AGREE 100%.
Democratic voters better smarten up because they are the ones getting SCREWED by the candidates they hung signs for,
I'M BY AND LARGE A LIFELONG DEM BUT I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THE MENTALITY OF VOTING STRAIGHT DEM EVEN WHEN THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE OF ARROGANCE, STUPIDITY AND TERRIBLE JUDGEMENT.
Your features are great, like 1968, are we doing another year soon? I particularly like 13 questions and maybe i'm amazed.
YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THOSE FEATURES WHEN I CAN GET TO THEM. ANOTHER THING WE'RE GOING TO BRING BACK ARE TRANSITIONS.
On another subject, looks like Dec of 68 were the salad days for Motown. Three number ones in a row.
YES INDEED. I STILL GET GOOSEBUMPS WHEN I HEAR THE TEMPTATIONS TEAMING WITH THE SUPREMES.
Weren't the LuLac Oil trucks brown and white or maroon and white? I seem to remember brown.
I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT. I SEEM TO REMEMBER BROWN AND WHITE BUT I'LL FIND OUT AN ANSWER FOR YOU.
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