The LuLac Edition #1778, September 29th, 2011

Wilkes Barre Area School Board aspirant Kathy Grinaway.

Senator Robert Casey. (Times Tribune Photo)
School board candidate for Wilkes Barre Area, Dr. James Susek.

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WILL THEY EVER LEARN?

One of the hallmarks of the Republican party is the fact that they tend to cannibalize each other in primaries. Even when they have sure fore winning candidates, the party organization goes out of its way to endorse someone else. The last Republican set of Commissioners in Luzerne County were Frank Trinicewski and Jim Phillips. Do you realize that in the two terms they ran for in the 80s, neither was endorsed by the party organization! Okay, I could see the first time around, but the second time when they are incumbents? And look at this spring’s Wilkes Barre Mayor’s. Three candidates fighting it out for a nomination that had a vote total worth about 1000 votes combined. Well it appears this is turning into a statewide affliction too.
As many of you know Bob Casey Junior is up for re election next year. For at least 14 months the Statewide GOP was scrounging for a candidate to take on Casey. Now there appears to be a plethora of candidates itching to get into this race. Dan Hirschhorn of Politico reports that
Steve Welch, a biotech entrepreneur from the vote-rich Philadelphia suburbs, and Tim Burns, a former software executive from western Pennsylvania, are the favorites to divvy up support from top-level party operatives and officials. Sam Rohrer, a former state lawmaker and local tea party favorite who ran an insurgent primary campaign for governor last year, promises to be a thorn in the GOP’s side again. And Tom Smith, a wealthy former coal executive and rural Pennsylvania tea party leader, is putting together a team and strategy that he hopes will bring together establishment and tea party figures that have often been at loggerheads.
Four underdogs, including former Rick Santorum aide Marc Scaringi, are also running.
Burns and Welch both have unsuccessful congressional runs under their belts: Welch twice abandoned runs in two different suburban districts last year when more viable candidates entered the mix, and Burns was the party’s nominee in the closely watched special election to succeed the late Democratic Rep. John Murtha. The two met recently in the hopes that only one of them would run, but neither came away persuaded to stay out.
So Casey will face a GOP opponent but no one can gauge just how strong or weak that nominee will be after all that infighting among the state GOP.

A BULLET IN THE BRAIN

Convicted killer Mike Simonson who brutally murdered Donnie Skiff a few years ago escaped from the Lackawanna County prison Thursday afternoon. This piece of crap was being held in the county prison. In prison he beat a prisoner senseless and head butted anyone he could get his hands on. My friend and Topic A co host L.A. Tarone nearly had a stroke last night on TV because tough guy tattoo man was in a county facility. I predict folks it was all about the money. This dirt bag should have been in a state prison. But because they are so overcrowded, I bet the Lackawanna County prison was being paid to house him. This is just a guess. But it’s better than thinking that this animal was living among local prisoners who might be up on less serious charges. In order to make sure this guy doesn’t get out of line again or worse yet, on the streets where he could have hurt innocent people, let’s try a true deterrent to his actions: a bullet to the brain. Put him down like the rabid dog that he is. Now!

WB SCHOOL BOARD

GRINAWAY ON THE GO

There are a few fundraisers in the works for Wilkes Barre Area School Board members. Kathy Grinaway will be having an event on Sunday October 9th at 1pm at the Plains Polish Americans Veteran’s club. That’s at 25 South Oak Street. Admission is ten dollars. Grinaway is trying to get a win. Technically she’s on the ballot as a Republican but pulled a more than respectable vote in the Democratic primary. Grinaway brings a solid business background to the race, has two college age children and is really connecting with many of the voters she has met on the campaign trail. Her event again, Sunday October 9th, 1pm at the Plains AMVETS club.

SUSEK EVENT

Dr. Jim Susek is holding a campaign event in Plains.
The Committee to Elect Dr. James F. Susek to the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board will hold a breakfast fundraiser from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 15, at the Plains Ambulance banquet facility, 90 Maffett St.
Tickets are $25 and can be obtained at the door or by calling 570-826-1583. Susek served on the board prior to this election go around earlier in this decade.

MOLLY MEET UP

The committee for judicial candidate Molly Hanlon Mirabito will hold a meet-and-greet from 5 to 7 p.m. this Friday at the Elks Lodge 109, 39 Evans St., Pringle. The event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be served.

SOROKAS RALLY ON TAP

A rally for Luzerne County council candidate Eileen Sorokas will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Polish-American Club of Hudson, Gibbons and Martin streets, Plains Township. Snacks and beverages will be served. The rally is free and open to the public.

MEET BROMO NIGHT

The Friends of Edd Brominski will have a meet-the-candidate night from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Swoyersville American Legion. Refreshments will be served and there is no charge, but donations will be accepted at the door.
Political Scene will run Mondays until the Nov. 8 general election. To submit campaign information, email eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, call 570-821-2072 or fax 570-821-2247.

HUGHES PICNIC

The committee to elect Dick Hughes for Judge is hosting a picnic from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Plains Lions Pavilion, Clarks Lane, Plains Township.
Picnic food, beverages and entertainment will be provided. Suggested donation is $20 per person, with children under 10 admitted free.
Call 570-331-8853 for information.

KELLEHER EVENT

Meet and Greet for Gene Kelleher Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 6 PM
Republican headquarters on South Main Street Wilkes Barre, next to Mid-town Village and across the street from Tony's Restaurant.
Donation of $10 (BMMEG members free) Pizza - soda - cake. (And I bet the cake was baked by Walter Griffith's wife!) Just guessing!.

ALLEGED LOOTER RE-ARRESTED

The Times Leader reports that Wilkes Barre City City police rearrested William Gronosky on Tuesday on charges he burglarized a house in an evacuated flood zone. Gronosky, 28, of Carey Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, was arraigned in Wilkes-Barre Central Court on charges of burglary and criminal trespass.
Police allege Gronosky and Kevin Williams Jr., 29, of Philadelphia, forced open a rear door to a house on Brookside Street on Sept. 11. They fled the house when they saw police and were captured in the rear yard, according to arrest records.
Gronosky allegedly told police he was asked by a friend to check on the house for flood damage. At the time of the alleged break-in, the Brookside area was evacuated due to flooding. The initial case against Gronosky was dismissed at a preliminary hearing on Sept. 20 when the arresting officer, Stanley Wychock, did not appear.
Police said Tuesday that Wychock was never notified of the hearing.
The Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office approved refiling of the case against Gronosky, who was apprehended by police investigating an unrelated incident on Carey Avenue at about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Gronosky was jailed at the county prison for lack of $1,000 bail. Bail on the initial set of charges against Gronosky -- those that were dismissed -- was $10,000.
A preliminary hearing for Gronosky is scheduled on Oct. 6 in Central Court.
Williams, who remained jailed at the county prison for lack of $10,000 bail on Tuesday, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 4.

QUESTIONS FOR FRANK

During the Wilkes Barre Mayor’s primary race on the GOP side, south Wilkes Barre businessman Frank Sorick said repeatedly on the radio that if nominated, he (Sorick) “was going to be Mayor Leighton’s worst nightmare”. Sorick is now managing Lisa Cope’s campaign for Mayor. My two questions are;
a). What did you mean you were going to be Tom Leighton’s worst nightmare?
b. Did you share any of that information with Lisa Cope so that she could try and mount a credible challenge to the Mayor and perhaps be his worst nightmare?
If it was campaign rhetoric, I understand. I get that. But if Mr. Sorick had some grand strategy of defeating a two term incumbent and keeping him up nights, (which I see no evidence of observing the well rested Mr. Leighton on a few occasions this campaign season, except of course during the flood crisis) he owes it to his candidate and party to share that information.

TEEN PREGNANCY RATES

Teen pregnancy rates declined between 1991 and 2005 but are on the rise again.
The teen pregnancy rate reached an all-time high in 1990 with an estimated 116.9 per thousand and an all-time high birth rate of 61.8 births per thousand in 1991. By 2002, the pregnancy rate had dropped to 75.4 per thousand - a decline of 36%. However, a December 2007 report by the Centers for Disease Control shows a 3% increase in teenage pregnancy from 2005 to 2006. Out of all teen pregnancies, 57% end in birth. Another 14% end in miscarriage.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT


MEDIA MATTERS

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Shadoe Steele presents “Saturday bNight Live At the Oldies” this Saturday on WILK AM & FM from 7pm to midnight. Shadoe’s guest this week is Kiki Dee.


STORM POLITICS

Tiffany Cloud’s guest this week on Storm Politics on WYLN TV 35 is Sandy Fonzo. Fonzo is one of the parents that called out former Judge Mark Ciavarella on the day of his conviction. Storm Politics can be seen on WYLN TV, Service Electric Channel 7 in the Wilkes Barre Area.

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts Judge Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will welcome David Williams to their program for the week of October 3rd. Mr Williams operates the Pennsylvania Farm Country Radio Network which is broadcast on more than 20 radio stations in several states. He'll be discussing the impact of recent heavy rains and flooding on agriculture in the area and how that will affect consumers in northeastern Pa. ECTV Live is broadcast on Comcast Ch19 and is seen each day at Noon and Midnight

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine, Brian Hughes interviews Dr. Donald Palmisano, the former head of the American Medical Association about patient’s rights and alternatives to the Affordable Care Act. Brian speaks with Dr. John Leonard and cancer patient Helen Anbinder about blood cancers and the Light The Night Walks to increase awareness to Leukemia and Lymphoma.
And an encore of Magic 93’s Frankie in the Morning interview with Ann Marie McCauley from the St Vincent DePaul Kitchen in Wilkes Barre about how you can help the kitchen in serving the needs of the poor in the Wyoming Valley.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5:30am on JR 93.7 & 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:30am on Magic 93 and 9:30am on WARM 590 AM

1972

The first publication reporting the production of a recombinant DNA molecule marks the birth of modern molecular biology methodology..Alex Comfort's bestselling manual The Joy of Sex is published………U.S. Senator Hugh Scott says that President Nixon’s trips earlier in the year to China and Russian not only insure his re-election but his place in history as well. Scott makes the remarks in his weekly radio address to citizens of the Commonwealth…….The Wilkes Barre Redevelopment Authority begins the planning process of trying to rebuild the downtown. City Council approves a plan that would drastically change the traffic patterns around Public Square and thirty nine years ago the number 1 song in LuLac land and America was “Beautiful Sunday” by Daniel Boone.