The LuLac Edition #2085, June 10th, 2012

Tony Antonello. 

STAY IN YOUR AREA, TONY!! 

When I was a kid in high school I worked at Detato’s Supermarket in Pittston. One of the guys I worked with was Harry Antonello. Harry went on to work for the state pf Pennsylvania and had a family. On the day that Mark Ciavrella was convicted, a young guy sat next to me and introduced himself. He was doing some independent reporting on his own as well as helping out various media outlets there. Turns out he was Harry Antonello’s son Tony. Now Harry and I never discussed politics but we sure talked a lot of sports. In all my interactions with Tony, I’ve yet to find out who his favorite sports teams are. Tony is a new breed of community activist and new media reporter who makes the scene when the occasion warrants it. Saturday Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives came to town for a wedding. Mrs. Pelosi was the college room mates of Ceil Lynett Haggerty. Ms. Lynott Haggerty is one of the members of the Scranton Times Tribune Media dynasty. The former Speaker also attended a fundraiser for a local Congressional candidate. Antonello had his trusty Tony cam with him and decided he wanted to ask a few questions. Here’s what happened:  

 
Antonello is filling a vacuum in the world of media today. With news budgets being cut and weekend TV news being relegated to stabbings, fires and car accidents (forget about local radio, you’d be hard pressed to get a news headline until the Tarone Show at noon on WILK!), Antonello is filling a void. In addition to providing a historical record, Antonello is asking the tough questions he believes should be answered. It is up to the politicians to decide whether they want to engage him or not. I respect Nancy Pelosi for her method of handling the Democratic Majority when she had it. I think she on a single handed basis passed the Affordable Health Care Act and might have accomplished more if she had a stronger President that didn’t undercut her efforts. But since this type of news gathering is not going to go away, politicians like Pelosi better get used to this type of questioning. And Tony, a little advice, next time wear a tie (I got plenty I could give you) and you might not get yelled at to “stay in your area”. Good job though kid.