The LuLac Edition #1141, Apr. 4th, 2010

PHOTO INDEX: THE BIG HOLE WHERE ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SCHOOL, CONVENT AND GYM USED TO STAND. NICE HOLE, ISN'T IT????

HAPPY EASTER

To those celebrating, reflecting, contemplating or just going to church because you always did, have a nice Easter Sunday. My boyhood memories of Easter involve my late god mother getting us these huge chocolate airplanes and spending time in church. My adult tastes for chocolate have graduated to Take 5 bars and a Bailey’s once in a while. The church I worshipped in has been reduced to cavernous hole on William Street in Pittston. But Easter is a time for reflection and thanking the spiritual entity you believe in for your life. Hope your time is spent with family and friends.

AFTER EASTER

You’ll see the political races really start to heat up after Easter. The Governor’s race is still a mere shadow of the 2002 contest between Bob Casey Junior and Ed Rendell. But I have a feeling someone is going to get on TV soon and start making a dent in the undecideds in this race. I noticed a lot more road and yard signs starting to pop up too. You might see some modest ads in the newspaper from the candidates this Sunday. Most likely with their families. But after the Holy season, watch the gloves come off.

BERNARD PODCASY SENIOR

Retired Judge Bernard Podcasy died Saturday. The Judge was elected in the early 70s after serving as County Prothonotary. Podcasy was a low key candidate who was surrounded by the raucous Democratic machine of the late 60s in Luzerne County. While the Commissioner team of Crossin and Wideman were at constant loggerheads and the party had more chiefs jockeying for leadership positions Podcasy brought a type of calm and competency to his short time in his row office.
Podcasy was a bonafide war hero. He served with the 45th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War II where he was wounded three times. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and Combat Infantryman’s Badge and was promoted from the rank of private to captain. Podcasy received his law degree from Georgetown University Law School. Podcasy ran for Luzerne County Judge in 1971 against incumbent Judge Albert Aston Senior who had been appointed by Governor Shafer to fill the seat of the late Jacob Schiffman. Aston was an incumbent and very popular but the Democratic machine as well as Podcasy’s low key friendly style played well with voters in the County. He was retained for a second 10-year term in 1981. After retiring in 1990, Podcasy was appointed as a Senior Judge to preside over the 1992 trial of Lackawanna County Coroner William Sweeny and his former solicitor, Michael Eagen. While serving as the administrator of Michael Oscinsky, Sweeny transferred $145,000 from an estate account into Eagen’s trust fund. Checks were then written by Eagen to himself and Sweeny until less than $20 remained in the trust fund, according to investigators. The two men pled guilty to theft charges and Podcasy placed them on five years probation. Podcasy was appointed to hear the case by the state Supreme Court after all Lackawanna County judges disqualified themselves. I used to see Podscasy at the King’s College gym on his lunch hour. He’s be on the StairMaster (the only one they had back then) and talk to him when he did a turn on the recumbent bikes. He was proud of his Eastern European heritage and always met the gym rats with a ready smile and friendly wave. Check the local paper for funeral arrangements.

THE PLATE SPINNER

James O'Meara Senior released a video this week talking about his candidacy for State Representative. O'Meara, Sr.is Candidate for Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly District 121 - Ashley, Hanover Township Ward 02, Plains Township, Wilkes-Barre City, Wilkes-Barre Township. He'll face off against Eddie Day Pashinski in the fall.


YUDICHAK GETS BACKING

John Yudichak, Democratic State Senate candidate in the 14th Senatorial District, received the unanimous endorsement of the Northeast PA Building and Construction Trades Council. The announcement was made April 1st by Mike Rozitski, Business Manager for the Trades Council. “John Yudichak has an outstanding voting record on labor issues,” said Rozitski. “He has always been very union-oriented and a true friend of labor. Our endorsement of John was unanimous and extremely enthusiastic.” The Northeast PA Building and Construction Trades Council represents 15 different construction industry unions and approximately 15,000 union members. This coveted endorsement for Yudichak follows last week’s unanimous endorsement by the Fraternal Order of Police, Wyoming Valley Lodge No. 36. More major endorsements of Yudichak will be announced in the coming days. “I am honored to have received the unanimous endorsement of the Building and Construction Trades Council,” said Yudichak. “My father was a union miner and my mother was a lifelong AFSCME member. At an early age, they instilled in me an appreciation for the American labor movement and the principles of fair wages and working standards that unions hold dear. I have always stood with the labor movement and I always will.” During his past 12 years as State Representative, Yudichak was instrumental in creating many good paying jobs for Building Trades members in northeastern PA, including the currently-under-construction Culinary Institute at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, which is being built with a 90% union workforce. Last week, Yudichak launched his first campaign TV spot, which addresses government reform and the culture of corruption in politics (view the spot at www.yudichakforsenate.com). The 14th Senate District encompasses parts of Carbon, Luzerne and Monroe Counties in Northeastern PA. Pennsylvania’s Primary Elections will take place Tuesday, May 18th.