The LuLac Edition #838, June 5th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: A 5 GUYS CHEESEBURGER AVAILABLE IN BOTH THE SCRANTON AREA AND NATION'S CAPITOL, BRREZES RESORT IN THE BAHAMAS AND OUR 1964 LOGO.

WATCH DOG EXTENDED

The state Senate this week approved legislation to extend the life of the Health Care Cost Containment Council until 2014. The measure now goes to Gov. Ed Rendell, who is expected to sign the bill into law. The council was to expire at the end of June, but GOP Senators pushed legislation to keep alive the organization. It was created in 1986 to provide comparative data to health care consumers on issues regarding quality and cost.

TIPPING POINT

Every media and political watcher have been waiting for the other shoe to drop regarding Judge Michael Toole. The Times Leader reporting that a subpoena was issued to his tipstaff Tom Marino indicates there might some movement soon. Pittston Politics reported this week that Toole’s schedule was cleared but gave no reason. A court tipstaff is a judicial assistant or second in command who oversees juries, organizes court matters and assists the judge with other procedures and schedules. Marino neither confirmed nor denied his receipt of the document.

BUNDLERS BONUS

Even though Barack Obama promised change, in Washington sometimes it’s the same old song. The President named three money bundlers to ambassadorships following in the path of previous administration that rewarded money men with juicy foreign soil appointments. Donald Gips (nominee for Ambassador to South Africa) and Nicole Avant (Bahamas) both raised more than half a million dollars for candidate Obama, and David Jacobson (nominated for Ambassador to Canada) bundled between $50,000 and $100,000 for President Obama. I can understand shelling out bucks for the Bahamas but Canada?

OBAMA AT 5 GUYS

If you’ve ever been to 5 Guys on Route 6 in D.C., Dickson City you’ll understand why President Obama got a craving for a burger when he was being visited by NBC’S Brian Williams. 5 Guys is a long time Washington institution and became a popular franchise on the East Coast. 5 Guys has been across from the Viewmont Mall for about 4 years now. When I venture to the mid valley, I usually order a mini burger with raw onion and cheese. No frills like pickles or mayo, just an honest to goodness juicy burger. (The big ones are too hard for me to handle after my operation last summer). Here’s President Obama at the 5 Guys in D.C. placing his order. Note to Senator Casey or Mayor Doherty, if the President ever visits your ‘hood, take him up the Eynon for a burger or one of those big beef hot dogs!


1964

Five million shares of stock in the Communications Satellite Corporation (Comsat) are offered for sale at $20 a share, and the issue is quickly sold out…….After the win by Senator Barry Goldwater in the GOP California primary, National moderate Republicans begin to scramble for an anti Goldwater candidate. Michigan Governor George Romney and Pennsylvania Governor Bill Scranton are mentioned most often. A delegation of middle of the road Republicans meet with former President Eisenhower in Gettysburg to see if he’d weigh in on the movement away from Goldwater…..in Pennsylvania, former Governor David Lawrence, Governor Scranton’s predecessor blasted Harrisburg insiders saying that “Scranton was being sold like Jello”. Lawrence said, “Since January of 1963 we have become accustomed to a state government committed to the concept that advertising and press relations are more important than program and performance. Needless to say the advertisements carry the Governor’s name and the press releases shout his glory in the obvious hope that what Madison Avenue has done for Jello, could be done for Scranton as well”. Lawrence also pointed out that Scranton had not yet won any primaries and finished well behind perennial candidate Harold Stassen in a few Presidential primary races…….The 1964 Phils go on a west coast swing and post a 2-4 mark winning two games against the Dodgers put losing the last game in L.A. and then getting swept at Candlestick against the San Francisco Giants. Relief pitchers Jack Baldshun and Ed Roeback fail to hold leads for starters Jim Bunning, Art Mahaffey and lefty Dennis Bennett in the Frisco series. Maybe this is the reason why Gene Mauch pitched Bunning and Short so often down the stretch in the fall…..Locally The Crestwood Motel, a 22 unit facility has its grand opening with over 300 people attending the event. A reception at the BMB Restaurant followed. The motel was built by Mountaintop businessman Sam Abod…..and 45 years ago, the number 1 song in LuLac land and America was from Motown’s Mary Wells with a tune written by Smokey Robinson. Here’s “My Guy”…….