The LuLac Edition #2161, August 16th, 2012

Former Lackawanna County Commissioner Mike Washo.  

WASHO PARKED 

Where oh where do old politicians go in LuLac land? Well unlike many of us, they always seem to land on their feet. The latest one to do so is former County Commissioner Mike Washo who is now a trouble shooter for the Scranton Parking Authority. Washo is getting paid $100 an hour to be the receiver. What that means is a Judge gave Washo the power to have total control over the financially troubled agency. Mayor Doherty’s good buddy, the Executive Director Robert Scopelliti is already getting paid more than 80,000 a year. The Scranton City Council blames him for the problems at the Parking authority. Washo will be paid $100.00 an hour to save the place. Here are a few questions, how in the world can a parking authority that charges an arm and a leg to park in the city have financial problems? Have a relative that pays over $90.00 a month to pay for parking. Mrs. LuLac was charged 6 bucks for under two hours. The meter maids pounce on every car that has a meter running out. How in the name of God can this place be losing money? Oh wait, could it be that they are paying a guy over $80,000 to screw it up and another guy $100.00 an hour to figure out what was wrong? Washo by the way declined to run for County Commissioner because “he wanted to spend more time with the family”. Anytime a politician says that, you know there are “42” other reasons why that may not be true. Anyway, Washo has landed in a nice cushy job and he’ll most likely be walking around with his head in his hands telling you how hard he is working for the Benjamin per hour. And the sorry ass Scranton Parking Authority will go on raping whatever is left of the consumers and workers that come to the city.

Our Nepotism logo. 

WHY THEY DO IT 

The Citizen’s Voice tells us the Wilkes Barre Area School Board is going to implement a new hiring policy. But not before hiring a bunch of school director’s kids and wives. None of that happened yesterday because the Secret Service showed up and took a seat. They also served some papers on the administration asking for e mails regarding the payments to Tony Lupas and the new solicitor Atty. Wendoloski. That seemed to stop the nepotism train. Here’s the lowdown though. The wives of Robert Corcoran and Louis Elmy have applied for full-time positions. Right now they are part time. Another adult child of a board member has applied for a Math position. School board members in Wilkes Barre get elected to get jobs for the family members. I guess it’s okay if you realize your family can’t get hired anywhere else, but c’mon, when is enough enough? Elmy was the low man on the totem poll last primary election. The South Wilkes Barre political mafia got a scare when GOP candidate Kathy Grinaway nearly took both nominations in the primary against their hand picked hack. Grinaway lost in the General against Elmy because local gadfly Sam Troy ran as an Independent. He took away votes from Grinaway in a quixotic and harmful attempt at winning a seat on the board. So we get Elmy and the nepotism we obviously vote for and deserve. Elmy was on TV last night saying with a straight face that his wife was the most qualified for the job. No word if the Wilkes Barre Fire Department was called out to extinguish his Dockers. 

NOT A GOLD WATCH 

Wilkes Barre Area Superintendent Jeff Namey got a going away present Thursday night. A gold watch? A plaque? Nope, it was a subpoena from the FBI regarding the doings of Attorney Tony Lupas. Maybe the feds want to ask Namey about the sudden jump in Solicitor’s bills from about $58,000 a year to over $300,000. And while we’re at it, why should school solicitors get paid so much when very few of them represent the School Districts in a legal action. They hire an outside lawyer. Do you really need a law degree to do that? And about Lupas, gee his condition just keeps on getting worse and worse every time you see him in a court appearance. What’s he going to show up with next, an iron lung? 

LAWTON’S BUDGET 

County Manager Bob Lawton made an appearance before the County Council Tuesday night and told them he was going to balance the budget one way or another. Lawton was certainly very tactful in assuring the county employees that he wasn’t going to swing an ax. Yet. But he did say that he was going to meet with managers and union members to see if things could be worked out. A warning to the unions, don’t screw with this guy. The union leaders already have a horrible reputation with the general public, Lawton is giving you a chance to work it out. If you decide to think you are a 21st century John L. Lewis, you’re going to get shut down. Fast. And taxpayers in the County will not be shedding a tear. Right now Lawton is consulting with everyone. He is asking for input just like Tom Pribula did. But Lawton has the final say. He has the backing of the Council. Because he is permanent. Let’s hope he takes a hard look at all the jobs, as well as the funding streams for local services such as Drug and Alcohol, Library Services and Social Services that were cut by the Republican troika in Harrisburg. 

THE CAT’S MEOW 

This is a story that could only happen here. A grown man goes walking his cat. Another cat comes and attacks his cat. He wisely gathers his cat and takes it to his home. Then he goes outside and gets attacked by the same cat. He claims he has an immune disease and the cat could have done him harm. So he stabs the cat. The cat goes limp but is not dead. So to put the cat out of its misery (which by the way he inflicted) he stabs it to death. Charges are brought, the news people cover it and still another story in the annals of LuLac land becomes a news oddity. The main question is, who the hell walks a cat? 

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT 

MEDIA MATTERS

Saturday Night Live’s Shadoe Steele. 

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 

This week Shadoe Steele presents “Saturday Night Live At the Oldies” on WILK AM and FM. Steele’s guest this week is Doug Clifford, drummer and co-founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival. 

ECTV LIVE 

ECTV Live hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will be discussing all of the free fun events associated with the "Wally Lake Fest" on their show the week of August 20th. Keith Williams, Manager for the Lake Wallenpaupack Visitor's Center, which is part of the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, will be their guest. The Festival begins on August 24th this year and runs through that weekend. ET Live can be seen on Comcast Ch 19 throughout the Greater Scranton and Pittston areas. 

LEONARDI APPEARANCE 

Joe Leonardi recently appeared on the Dave Madeira Show on the Talker, 94.3FM. If you would like to access the show, here’s the link from the good Doctor’s link: http://thedavidmadeirashow.com/2012/08/the-dms-episode-45-hour-3/ 

OF NOTE

A hearty welcome back to WBRE TV’s Shannon Murphy who is back from a leave of absence. It was good to see her back on the tube this week. Meanwhile, our condolences go out to WBRE anchor Candace Kelly on the death of her grandfather. 

ELVIS 

It was 35 years ago today that Elvis Presley died at the age of 42. I was just starting my shift at WVIA FM and was checking the news wire. Bill Kelly was walking through the hallway taking a short cut through the studios to his office. The bulletin bell started to ring. We both looked at the wire and it said “Presley”. I thought it was about a tour or something but then we both caught a glimpse of the word “DIES”. We both took the copy and he announced it on the TV side and I announced it on WVIA FM. That’s what I was doing when the King passed away.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE 

This Week on Sunday Magazine, Brian Hughes speaks with Debra Kellerman from St Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkes Barre about their “Dog Days of August” food drive, and how you can help. Brian speaks with Joe Rigalski, President of the Plains Boys Car Club about their “Helping Hands Car Cruise” coming up Sunday August 26th from 1 to 6pm at the Polish American Veterans Club in Plains. And an encore interview of Brian’s January interview with Michael Hanley of United Neighborhood Centers about asset testing for food stamps in Pennsylvania. Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on Great Country 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on magic 93, and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.

Our 1967 logo. 

1967 

West Germany receives 36 East German prisoners it has "purchased" through the border posts of Herleshausen and Wartha. o A truce is declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. o The People's Republic of China announces that it has shot down United States planes violating its airspace. o In Pennsylvania, Senator Joseph Clark criticizes the policy of the Johnson administration on the Vietnam War. Clark says that the war is going to be taking a dangerous path in the next year……..in Scranton Mayor James Walsh makes his presence known in the neighborhoods by appearing at area church festivals and events…….and 45 years ago this week the number one song in America and LuLac land was a Carole King penned hit by the Monkees, “Pleasant Valley Sunday”.