The LuLac Edition #907, Aug. 14th, 2009

SNAPPLE "REAL FACT" #764, the muzzle of a lion is like a fingerprint-no two lions have the same pattern of whiskers.

PHOTO INDEX: OUR 1964 LOGO, THE WOODSTOCK COUPLE TODAY AND BACK IN 1969 AND THE LATE LES PAUL.

HE’S A WALKIN’ MERICLE

Prominent area developer Robert Mericle has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of failing to report a felony, The announcement came from Acting U.S. Attorney Dennis Pfannenschmidt. According to the charge, Mericle failed to disclose his knowledge that former judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella had accepted kickbacks in exchange for rulings that favored two juvenile detention centers that Mericle built. More than a few people are upset at this plea bargain saying the 2 million dollar gesture for disadvantaged youth was the developer’s way of buying himself out of trouble. Others say that he will do federal jail time for his role in this whole affair. Either way, he making his way to jail with this plea, even if some say he’s walkin’ instead of doing hard time.

TOOMEY UP

A Rasmussen poll released Thursday showed former Congressman Pat Toomey beating Senator Arlen Specter by 12 points in a head to head 2010 Senate matchup, 48 percent to 36 percent. In the same poll, Toomey would beat Congressman Joe Sestak, newly entered into a primary fight against Specter by 8 points, 43 percent to 35 percent. Toomey’s surge might be a dangerous undercurrent for Democrats in the State and even nationwide. In past polls Toomey, an arch conservative did not do well at all but this new uptick might be a sign that Pennsylvania voters are tired of the “status quo” politicians in Washington. It will be interesting to see if Toomey gains anymore in future polls given the grassroots anger at Senator Specter for his party switch.

HISTORICAL EXHIBIT

A new exhibition entitled Coal and Water: Life Forms from the Coal Age to the Present, by Artist Gene Moyer will be opening at the Anthracite Heritage Museum on Sunday, August 16th and be in place through Sunday, September 13, 2009. The exhibit will illustrate how carbon and water interacted to form ancient life, with an emphasis on the creatures of the Coal Age. Life forms that began to evolve prior to and during the coal age (the Permian, Pennsylvanian, Mississippian, Devonian and Silurian eras) will be featured, with a particular emphasis on aquatic and semi-aquatic creatures. The exhibit will bring related life forms to the present. These will be depicted through 100 wood sculptures created by Mr. Moyer. The exhibit has broad family appeal. In addition to being a creative art sculpture exhibit, the works also present science in a fun and interesting way to children through the realism of Mr. Moyer’s skillful work. The exhibition is supported in part by The Overlook Estate Foundation, the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Iron Furnaces Associates. The Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum and the new Snö Cove Water Park in Scranton are partnering this summer as part of Snö Mountain Resort’s Museums on the Move Program. Please contact the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum at 570-963-4804 or Snö Cove at 570-969-7669 for more information when planning your visit. You may also visit websites on the worldwide web at www.anthracitemuseum.org and www.snocove.com. Mr. Moyer has also generously offered two of his wood sculptures for raffle through the Museum Store. One will depict a “Coal Age Landscape” and the other will be a carving of two “Coal Age Sharks.” Raffle tickets will be sold in the Museum Store this summer through September 13th, 2009 with the drawing to be made on September 14th. Proceeds will be used to help support the Anthracite Heritage Museum. This exhibit is great for tourists, day trippers, children’s centers, and school field trips ranging from middle school all the way to high school. The Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum is located in McDade Park, off Keyser Avenue, in Scranton (Exits 182 or 191B off I-81, and Exit 122 from I-476). The museum is open year-round Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Admission is charged. Please call the Anthracite Heritage Museum at 570-963-4804 for more information.
To recap: When: Sunday, August 16, 2009 through Sunday, September 13, 2009.
What: Exhibit: Coal and Water: Life Forms from the Coal Age to the Present.
Where: Anthracite Heritage Museum, McDade Park, Scranton

WOODSTOCK ANNIVERSARY

I was too involved in the summer of ’69 to go to Woodstock. With my first writing job, (as a rock and roll columnist for the Pittston Sunday Dispatch), a part time job at a supermarket as well as trying to catch up on some summer courses (I was ill for a large part of the third quarter of Freshman Year) my plate was overflowing. But I watched it eagerly on the news, envying the thousands of young people going to Yasgur’s Farm in upstate New York. And as a teenager in the 70s, I dutifully bought the three record set complete with the Country Joe McDonald “Salute”. Now 40 years later, WKRZ FM’s Shadoe Steele has tracked down the couple on the front of that iconic “Woodstock” album and interviews them from their home in New York. Their names are Nick and Bobbi Ercoline and they live in Pine Bush New York, married 40-years as well and captured in that iconic photo!. And this Saturday at 8PM on KRZ FM 98.5’s “Saturday Night Live At the Oldies” you can hear them with Shadoe.

LES PAUL

Les Paul, acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor, passed away today from complications of severe pneumonia at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York, surrounded by family and loved ones. He had been receiving the best available treatment through this final battle and in keeping with his persona, he showed incredible strength, tenacity and courage. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the thoughts and prayers from his dear friends and fans. Les Paul was 94.

1964

Vietnam War: In a coup, General Nguyen Khanh replaces Duong Van Minh as South Vietnam's chief of state and establishes a new constitution, drafted partly by the U.S. Embassy…….Politically Lyndon Johnson plays a huge guessing game with the press on his choice for Vice President on the Democratic ticket. Although Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey is the front runner, LBJ is talking up Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut as an alternative candidate. Johnson though was using Dodd as a ploy to build interest in the upcoming Democratic convention…….Statewide, with a U.S. Senate race looming against incumbent Hugh Scott, Democrat nominee Genevieve Blatt kicks off her campaigning touting her candidacy as the one that will recognize that innovations are needed in the Pennsylvania economy in order to make it competitive…..The '64 Phils take two out of three from the Cubs with Chris Short winning his 12th victory and Johnny Callison getting his 72nd RBI of the year............in Plymouth angry housewives stopped trucks from Pagnotti Enterprises. The company was using Beade and Ferry Streets as detours. The Plymouth Council agreed to the demands after the citizenry pointed out that the trucks were too big and rendered the neighborhood unsafe……in Wilkes Barre City Public Works Director Bob Brader said that surface drain neglect by the city is going to cause a problem for the city’s future infrastructure if not addressed and 45 years ago today, the number 1 song in America and LuLac land was “Because” by the Dave Clark 5.