The LuLac Edition #959, Sept. 30th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: LACKAWANNA COUNTY COMMISSIONER COREY O'BRIEN AND 1964 PHILLIES HATS.

O’BRIEN TO ANNOUNCE

In an e mail this afternoon Corey O’Brien Lackawanna County Commissioner has said he’ll make an announcement about his political plans this Saturday at 10AM at his boyhood home in Dunmore. Our friend Gort broke this story last April. Corey isn’t going to be on the porch opining about the fall foliage. Here’s a recap of his public career. As an 18-year old Dunmore High School senior, Corey successfully lobbied for a $600,000 federal appropriation to build a community center in Dunmore. Today, residents of Dunmore enjoy a $4.5 million state-of-the-art community center that mirrors Corey’s early vision of providing residents with a multi-generational community center. Corey O’Brien continued his civic involvement in college. While attending Penn State University, Corey testified before a Pennsylvania House Education Sub-Committee promoting affordability of higher education. After college graduation, Corey interned in the Clinton White House and was later appointed to a position in the United States Agency for International Development. After serving in the Clinton Administration, O’Brien attended and graduated in the top of his class from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Corey is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the District of Columbia. Corey is also licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court and other federal courts. After 10 years in Washington, D.C., Corey and his family moved home to Northeastern Pennsylvania. After being back in Pennsylvania for only four months, Corey launched the public affairs television show, The Pulse with Corey O’Brien on FOX56. After only one season, The Pulse with Corey O’Brien was recognized by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters as an Outstanding TV Public Affairs Program/Series. The Pulse was also recognized by the Electric City newspaper as the region’s top public affairs television talk show. In addition, Corey served as a political analyst on the ABC-affiliate, WNEP-TV 16, and WILK News Radio. Corey also hosted a radio program, Corey O’Brien Now on WILK News Radio. In 2007, Corey O’Brien was elected to the post of Lackawanna County commissioner in an unprecedented landslide victory, with Corey and his running mate winning in all of Lackawanna County's 163 precincts. Corey O’Brien resides in Moosic, Pennsylvania with his wife, Atty. Michelle R. O’Brien, and their two young children, Kate and Casey.

LEIGHTON AIDE LEAVES

Bridget Giunta, Wilkes-Barre city’s administrative coordinator during the Leighton administration, is leaving her position at the end of business Wednesday. Giunta has accepted a position as associate director of alumni relations at Wilkes University. She starts her new job Thursday. Seems like short notice to me but I have a viable replacement for her, one who knows the city, is a great communicator and is passionate about the Leighton administration. As a taxpaying member of the city of Wilkes Barre I nominate Mark Cour. He’ll do a good job expounding on the merits of the Leighton initiatives and few would be hard pressed to disagree with him because of his powers of persuasion. It would be kind of like Harry Truman meets Spin City.

45 YEARS AGO: THE COLLAPSE

Sept. 30th, '64 Phillies.

Former Phillie Curt Simmons wins his 18th game beating Jim Bunning in an 8 to 5 Cardinals win over the Phils. Philadelphia falls further behind 2 and 1 games behind the front place Cardinals. Tim McCarver homers off Bunning while Bill White drives in his 97th run and Ken Boyer drives in his 117th of the year.

SEPTEMBER

As the month ends, let’s go out with a legend:.