The LuLac Edition #827, May 22nd, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: OUR 1964 LOGO, CONGRESSMAN PAUL KANJORSKI PICTURED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AT A BILL SIGNING, SUZANNE KELLY, WILK'S KEVIN LYNN, SUE HENRY AND STEVE CORBETT ON THE SET OF "THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA", WILK'S SUE HENRY AND WBRE TV'S ERIC SHEINER.

NEPA -TISM

WVIA TV's “State of Pennsylvania” hosted the WILK talkers on Thursday night. Kevin Lynn, Sue Henry and Steve Corbett joined in the discussion of nepotism in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Fielding questions from callers, e mailers and audience members the WILK staff were kept on their toes regarding this issue. Can nepotism ever become a thing of the past in LuLac land? At this point, the answer is “who knows”. But “who knows” is much better than “who cares!” And in my humble opinion I think we’re making progress. Voters and citizens are rebelling against the “same family cliques” dominating elective office. Just look at the two top vote getters in this week’s judicial race. Bill Amesbury became Magistrate in 2001 mainly because South Wilkes Barre voters did not want another member of the O’Donnell political clan in office, even if she was related only by marriage. Amesbury and Tina Polachek Gartley won this week because voters rejected the “name” candidates whose families were involved in politics generationally. In the 2006 State Representative race to succeed Kevin Blaum, voters picked Eddie Day Pashinski over another O’Donnell family member and Clerk of Courts Bob Reilly. Furthermore, earlier this year the appointment of former Mayor Jim Connors’ son to a plum job in the Doherty administration raised such a public outcry that the young man stepped aside. Nepotism still exists but it is on the run due to more vocal citizens, an active and competitive media and a more independent and thoughtful electorate.

JUDICIAL MEDIA REVIEW

We’re still dissecting the Luzerne County Judicial race and in today’s edition we present to you an opinion from Scott Cannon, a well known video and visual arts technician. Cannon has started a blog site and in one of his latest offerings he critiques the media of the candidates in the primary for the office of Judge on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. Here’s his link:

http://videoinnovation.blogspot.com/.

BUMPER MUSIC

There is a mini debate going on in the hallowed halls of WILK Radio. The topic, bumper music. For those not familiar with the term, “bumper music” are the tunes you hear when a show comes back from commercial break. The morning show’s producer on WILK, “Bosco” and I have been on the same wave length regarding tunes. Some of the songs “Bosco” has used mirrors our 1964 and 1968 editions where we present a top tune of that week in that year. The wily producer has even reached back to the 1950s much to the delight of morning host Kevin Lynn and myself. Sue Henry’s show features an eclectic blend that can go from Dinah Washington to the Talking Heads. Henry lets “Bosco” have at it letting him dredge up obscure offerings like Gloria Woods’ (she of “The Woody Woodpecker theme) “Hey Bellboy”. Steve Corbett has been known to feature local artists, has now gotten into lounge acts singing at a make believe going away party for Judges Conahan and Ciavarella as well as having Polka Fridays. A few days ago morning co host Nancy Kman opined that she would prefer newer music say something like from the late 80s or 90s. My personal opinion is that Kman cringes at songs from her high school days which is only natural. However she is not the only one who has urged us oldies aficionados to get with the new century when it comes to music. Eric Sheiner from WYOU TV used to beseech me to put some newer music on my You Tube features and no less an authority than Mrs. Lulac has pointed out to me that the music I regularly listen to with the top down is older than the music my parents listened to when I was growing up. She says, “You didn’t hear them pine away for “The Charleston” like you do for “The Limbo” do you?” She has a point! Anyway, since this is a slow, lazy hazy Memorial Day weekend, I figured I’d throw this out for discussion. Is Nancy Kman on the right track when she says the “bumper music” should be modernized or do lovers of the music of the baby boom era like Bosco, Kevin Lynn and me have the stronger argument? And if you were producing a radio talk show, what songs would you use? Let us know. And to give you an idea on how things can progress, let’s take a look at two videos featuring the Meri Wilson song, “Telephone Man”, then updated to “The Internet Man”. I suppose if she could update, Bosco and I can too!

IN THE LOOP

Congressman Kanjorski, Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, joined President Obama at the White House for the bill signing of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act. The legislation includes two of Chairman Kanjorski’s provisions to help people remain in their homes and protect the viability of their credit unions. Chairman Kanjorski’s first provision will work to stem the increase of home foreclosures by allowing mortgage servicers to modify loans without the fear of legal action from investors who oppose changing loan terms. His second provision aims to recapitalize the credit union deposit insurance system to ensure the long-term stability of the credit union system. “Foreclosures hurt everyone – the neighbor, the servicer, the investor, and most importantly, the homeowner,” said Chairman Kanjorski. “My provision aims to decrease the number of foreclosures nationwide by making it easier for lenders to take losses earlier in the process, enabling people to stay in their homes, and preserving our neighborhoods. By passing this provision, Congress has taken a giant step towards helping to gain control of the increasing number of foreclosures.” Chairman Kanjorski added, “Furthermore, without including the language from my credit union stabilization bill, two-thirds of credit unions would have negative earnings in 2009 as a result of the need to rebuild deposit insurance reserves because of recent losses. But, with the inclusion of this provision, credit unions will be able to recapitalize over seven years and continue to provide needed credit to their members, an essential element which could help to revive the economy during these difficult times.” According to Realty Trac, in April 2009 alone there were 98 foreclosures in Lackawanna County; 46 foreclosures in Monroe County; and 28 foreclosures in Luzerne County. The bipartisan Kanjorski loan modification provision will help to reduce the foreclosures in these counties, throughout Pennsylvania, and around the country by limiting the ability of disgruntled investors to bring lawsuits against servicers who modify a mortgage in order to keep a family in a home.

1964

New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller defeats Barry Goldwater in the Oregon Republican primary, slowing but not stalling Goldwater's drive toward the nomination………Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru dies; he is succeeded by Lal Bahadur Shastri…….Statewide, hearings on 561 absentee ballots get underway in the city of Philadelphia. Similar challenges began to take place in Lackawanna County. There are 361 votes disputed in the Scranton area. The controversy is surrounding the close U.S. Senate nomination between Judge Michael Musmanno and Internal Affairs Secretary Genevieve Blatt. When this process started Blatt held a lead of 640 votes over a million cast………………………the 1964 Phillies lose two out of three to their cross state rivals the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pirates pitchers Vern Law and Bob Veale best Phillies hurlers Chris Short and Ray Culp……in Wilkes Barre, School Board member George Ritchie, a Wilkes Barre city attorney pressed the board for a motion against the proposed merger of city schools. Dr. David Kistler, also a board member said a majority of the school board felt the merger was a good thing. Ritchie’s motion lacked a second and died in the meeting……….and 45 years ago the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was the Ray Charles singers doing their version of “Love Me With All Of Your Heart”. The You Tube version calls it as a number 3 hit but it did make it to the top of the heap for one week according to my records.


We may be taking a little break for the Memorial Day weekend. It will depend on the news cycle. I'm trying to finish the ever elusive third book which again has been hurled back at me from the editors for the ninth time. So we'll be dealing with that this weekend. Have a safe holiday in case we don't post this weekend. But stop by and visit anyway.