The LuLac Edition #2429, May 23rd, 2013
UP IN THE AIR
If anyone thinks local elections aren’t important, they should take a gander at some of the close races county wide and in smaller communities. The marquee races like Scranton Mayor, Lackawanna County Common Pleas Judge, and the two nomination battles for Luzerne County Controller were not nail biters. But in the race for District Justice in the greater Pittston Area, Attorney Alexandra Kokura and Red O’Brien are separated by 8 votes. On the GOP side, Attorney Gerald Mecadon by a mere 26 votes. And the trend continued in small towns. In Sugar Notch, incumbent Mario Fiorucci came within 9 votes of being re-elected in a tight race. For those who do not participate, you are missing out on the greatest reality show on earth. And that’s too bad because it’s only about your future community.
LUZERNE COUNTY CRASHES
I’ve always thought we have become spoiled by technology. When the LuLac computer goes down, I find myself going crazy trying to occupy my time. (Thank heavens Mrs. LuLac is a great IT person!) When my IPhone is misplaced, (usually by me) there is panic. On Tuesday night, when the Luzerne County website went down, during the election returns, all hell broke loose. The working press, those of us blogging that night as well as interested parties were transported back to the 80s when returns were gathered around a big table under the rotunda. I felt a great deal of sympathy for the new Voter Registration head, Marisa Crispell-Barber because she has had a hard act to follow in the person of Lenny Piazza. But when you have 50,000 people trying to get on the site at once, you’ll have this. We lived to tell the tale and know who won and lost, just not as fast.
ARTHUR DALESSANDRO
It was Christmas Eve 1971 when Governor Milton Shapp appointed Arthur Dalessandro to become a Luzerne County Judge. Dalessandro was known as a tough Judge in his time on the bench and was known for his even handed approach to Justice. But then in the late 80s, an investigation ensued regarding allegations that the Judge got unclaimed revenue from a car dealership owned by his cousin Gene Lispi. Dalessandro pleased to felony counts and spent less than a year in jail. He got a break when the State Superior Court advised Dalessandro did not commit crimes against his office. As part of a plea deal, the Judge agreed not to run for re-election. He was 86.
CARL ZAWATSKI
If you were traveling up River Street on Wednesday evening and encountered a traffic jam, it most likely would have delighted the man responsible for it. That evening, former Sheriff Carl Zawatski was being waked at Mikelski’s and hundreds came out to pay tribute to the former law enforcement officer. In 1995, Zawatski succeeded the late Frank Jagodinski who served as Sheriff for 24 years. Zawatski was controversial but fair. After losing a bid for reelection in 1999 to Barry Stankus, Zawatski remained active in law enforcement. He was 78.
MEDIA MATTERS
ECTV
ECTV Live hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will welcome Bernie McGurl of the Lackawanna River Corridor Association to their program during the week of May 27th to discus the Riverfest 2013. A full day of river activities, music, food, educational and environmental displays will be available during the annual event which are available to spectators free of charge. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast Ch19 in northeastern Pennsylvania and is show daily on Electric City Television.
JEFF RUBEL
We were distressed to hear of the passing of former Scranton Chamber of Commerce official Jeff Rubel. Rubel was one of the very first building blocks for the success of Public Television in this area. For years Rubel was a mainstay on WVIA'S ACTION AUCTION 44 the first week of every June. He was a dedicated Auction volunteer and always made sure the radio guys got some food during those long nights. He will be missed.SUNDAY MAGAZINE
This Week on Sunday Magazine Brian Hughes speaks with Dr. Ralph DeMario from Hospice of the Sacred Heart about their 10th anniversary and the history of hospice. Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with James may and Michael Taluto from PENNDOT about staying safe for the Memorial Day Weekend. And in honor of Memorial Day, Sunday Magazine features a story on the Fisher House Foundation, which supports wounded warriors and their families. 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.
THE PARTY ZONE
Catch the new extended 70s, 80s, 90s oldies show "The Party Zone" with Shadoe Steele beginning this Saturday from 6 - midnight on 50,000 watt powerhouse WAVT-FM - T-102. ... and on line at www.t102radio.comLINK TO CITIZEN’S VOICE
Our thanks to the Citizen Voice’s Mike Buffer who reached out to us to give our thoughts on the Luzerne County Controller’s primary race. Here’s the link to that story:
http://citizensvoice.com/news/commentator-cites-party-loyalty-for-bednar-griffith-victories-1.1493990
SUE’S FRIENDS
WILK’s Sue Henry recently had a busy couple of days hobnobbing with celebrities in the political and music world. Sue met Carl Bernstein of Washington Post fame as well as Rock and Roll legend Marshall Krenshaw, Here are the photos of her activities on the media path she has been trailblazing for as long as both of us care to remember.
Sue with Marshall Crenshaw. (Photo: Sue Henry Facebook page).
 |
Sue with Carl Bernstein. (Photo: Sue Henry Facebook page).
1976
In Washington, D.C. Concorde service begin. Rebounding from a bruising losses in Southern States, Gerald Ford defeats challenger Ronald Reagan in 3 Republican presidential primaries: Kentucky, Tennessee and Oregon. On the Democratic side, California Governor Jerry Brown makes a late entry into the Democratic race to try and halt the Jimmy Carter bandwagon……. Indianapolis 500-Mile Race: Johnny Rutherford wins the (rain-shortened) shortest race in event history to date, at 102 laps or 255 miles (408 km). • Syria intervenes in the Lebanese Civil War in opposition to the Palestine Liberation Organization, whom it had previously supported…in Pennsylvania, Governor Milton Shapp says that when he was campaigning for President, the state was in good hands with his Ltn. Governor Ernest Kline. Shapp said that he thought Kline would make a formidable candidate for Governor two years hence……in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, Memorial Day takes on special ceremonial significance with memorial services featuring a Bicentennial flare with Fife and Drum Corps as well as reenactments of Colonial soldiers…and 37 years ago the number 1 song in LuLac land and America was “Get Up and Boogie” by the Silver Convention. THAT’S RIGHT!
posted by David Yonki @ 6:06 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
50,000?????????
Was that a real figure???¿???
Because if it is, it is bullshit. Bring back Lenny, another casualty of the ******* known as Walter.
Hey Yonk,
I got a strange feeling when I saw Carl's picture on your blog. It looked like
an older version of a guy who worked security at Pomeroy's when I did (around
1971).
He was Plain's Twp detective. Sorta easy going, deceptively nonchalant,
competent, understanding, a quick smile and sense of humor. I think he smoked
cigarettes. I learned a lot about cops-as-people listening to Carl when we
talked. May he rest in peace.
I never know what to expect when wandering LuLac.
Dave, nice job on your 1976 feature. Also I have to tell you how much I appreciate you remembering Mr. Jeff Rubel. What I love about LuLac is the way you give so much credit to what others have done years before.
Your institutional memory is amazing. Lulac is a community asset and treasure.
The horrific scenes on a London street yesterday where Islamic terrorists butchered an unarmed soldier left me with more questions than answers. But maybe not the obvious ones.
So what happened yesterday? What could possess a crowd to watch two men with knives and machetes hack to death another human being? And why was the only reaction to pull out phones and shoot pictures and video? How could these people then wait 20 minutes for the police to show up without any attempt to take down these terrorists?
It took most of the day for me to reach my conclusion, but I have arrived at something that is really quite uncomfortable - more so because we here in the United States are currently headed down the same path as England. We might be 10 or 15 or even 20 years away, but unless we change direction then we too will simply record an event and do nothing to try and save another human being.
What am I talking about? Some of you might call it socialism, but whatever label you give it, Britain is now a country that is completely dependent on government. Government will take care of me; government knows best; government has my best interests at heart; government will be here in 20 minutes to deal with these terrorists.
And look out. If you dare to suggest that slain soldier might be alive today if only there were some good guys with guns on the scene at the time, you are told “we don’t want to live in the wild west", or my personal favorite "a good person wouldn't have a gun. The armed trained police need to have guns and that's it" You might also be called a "retard" and a moron for pointing out that the "armed trained police" took 20 minutes to get there.
I don’t understand the “roll camera” mentality when someone is being butchered before your very eyes.
There’s one picture I’ve seen of one of the terrorists with at least 17 people in the background. All I can think of are the last heard words of 9-11 hero Todd Beamer on Flight 93.
"Are you guys ready? Let's roll"
He wasn’t talking about video cameras.
More and more I hope those around me are also legally "carrying".
BTW: getting almost impossible to find hollow point 9mm and 38's.
The fact is that I carry where I go. I recall thinking the other day that I was just going down the street for gas when my second thought was, yeah but what if? Can't find a hollow point, in desperation, file an "+: on the tip of what you have. Isn't as good but better than nothing.
The election day blow up at the Court House was just another blonder that probably would have been avoided under the leadership of Len Piazza. I am more of a fan of Len Piazza than I was when he was the Director of the office. I guess it is as simple as taking excellence for granted. Len was outstanding was destroyed by Walter Griffith's doing everything but his job. A friend reminded me that Walter Griffith made a mistake in his first Primary run county election and had to pay a small fine and re file his expense report.... Apparently Walter has a long memory because of all the people in the county who were not told directly that their position did not require use of the time clock, Walter went after Piazza. That could have been handled by Lawton meeting the Board of Elections and clarifying who Piazza reported to and what he was required to do but Walter as he always did, went for the headline and no mercy on his target. It all goes round Walter so say goodbye to your fifteen minutes of fame.
Dave, the Voice reported that Dallesandro got the job Dec. 31st. You say Christmas Eve. Which one is right?
11:55
{file an "+"} Didn't know that. Hope I don't need it but good to know. Thank you.
Marshall Crenshaw got old. Great musician, though.
IN RESPONSE
Dave, the Voice reported that Dallesandro got the job Dec. 31st. You say Christmas Eve. Which one is right?
BOTH. ON CHRISTMAS EVE 1971, ON A FRIDAY A JOINT STATEMENT WAS RELEASED BY SENATOR MARTIN MURRAY AND T.NEWELL WOOD SAYING BOTH SENATORS WOULD SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF DALESSANDRO AS A JUDGE. SHAPP THEN MADE THE APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE DEC. 31ST SO THAT DALESSANDRO WOULD HAVE ONE FULL YEAR AS A JUDGE BEFORE THE 1973 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS.
IN RESPONSE
Anonymous Pope George Ringo said...
Marshall Crenshaw got old. Great musician, though.
YOUR HOLINESS, WE ALL HAVE GROWN OLD. WE'RE JUST NOT GREAT MUSICIANS!
Post a Comment
<< Home