The LuLac Edition #1144, Apr. 7th, 2010

PHOTO INDEX: GOP WOMEN LOGO AND THE LATE ED WALLISON.

ED WALLISON

The first time I saw Ed Wallison was when I was peering into the WBRE AM broadcast booth at the Hotel Sterling. For family celebrations our Pittston clan ventured to the Sunday Brunch at the Hotel Sterling. The food was good, I remember the desserts being rather gooey but I will always see in my mind's eye the smiling face behind the booth. It was Ed Wallison who had the Sunday morning show followed by Bill Guest in the afternoon. WBRE AM was in the lobby of the Sterling and you could see the likes of the late Guy Randall, Dan Stenger and a few others. Years later I met Wallison when we were both working on a project at LCCC. (I also had the pleasure of working with Bill Guest as an adult). When I'd meet Wallison in later years at various community events, we both agreed that radio was a disease and once it was in your blood, it never got out. Wallison died the other day. He is survived by wife, the former Gertrude Adamchick; who I met numerous times at events with Ed, children Edward Jr., Houston, Texas; Joseph, Los Angeles, Calif.; Diane Mack, Harveys Lake; Mark, Philadelphia; grandchildren Skip, Mack, Stephen, Diana and Taylor Wallison; John, Thomas and Michael Wallison; sister Dorothy Durkin, Macungie; brother Larry, Los Angeles, Calif.; sister-in-law Ruth Wallison, Tucson, Ariz., nieces and nephews.

GOP WOMEN TO MEET

Luzerne County Republican Women currently serving in political office will be honored on Saturday, April 17th at 10 A.M. at the Ramada Hotel, Wilkes-Barre. Sponsored by the Luzerne County Council of Republican Women: State, County and local elected members will be introduced at this GOP Women in Politics Breakfast. One of the main purposes of the Women's Council is to seek out and encourage qualified women to run for public office. This event will recognize County Republican women who ran successful campaigns and currently hold office. Spouses, family, friends and GOP Candidates are invited to attend. After expenses, all proceeds will be donated to the Women's Council Scholarship program. For reservations, call Donna Baloga, Council Secretary at 239-9404. The cost is $15.00

LEIGHTON ON TOLLS

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, candidate for state senate in the 14th District Democratic primary, today applauded a decision by federal highway officials to ban the tolling of traffic on the I-80 interstate in Pennsylvania. He further called on his opponent, state Rep. John Yudichak, to reverse his previous position supporting tolls and not try to overturn the decision. “There may be attempts to appeal this federal decision or pass additional legislation to allow tolling. There have been some suggestions of that publicly. I hope Yudichak will see the wisdom of reversing his previous position and follow the wishes of many hard-working people and college students in Northeastern Pennsylvania who use I-80 everyday as part of their daily commerce. “I call on Yudichak to promise drivers, especially in the Carbon and Monroe parts of the 14th District, that he will abide by the federal decision,” Leighton said. On July 17, 2007, Yudichak voted for Act 44, which converted interstate 80 into a toll road. The bill passed, 124-79 and was signed by the Governor. [HB 1590, Concurrence w/ Senate, 124-79, 7/17/07]. “I’m opposed to raising revenues on the backs of our regional drivers to fix roads in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The legislature must find another, fairer, solution for funding the repair of highways in the state. “I-80 is a vital thoroughfare for workers traveling to their jobs and schools, for tourism and for many businesses, particularly truckers. This is especially true in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Tolls would have put an additional financial burden on them at this time when the economy is already strained,” Leighton said.