The LuLac Edition #2626, March 30th, 2014

HAGGERTY TO FOES:

YOU THINK “7” IS UNLUCKY?

State Representative Kevin Haggerty. (Photo: LuLac archives).

One of the most interesting and ballsy politicians to come down the pike is mixing it up with his primary opponents. Kevin Haggerty who is serving in the 112th District is being opposed by current Representative Frank Farina from the and Bob Munley. Haggerty wants debates in each major town in the district, the other do not. And no wonder, Farina bombed on the radio in his initial run against former County Commissioner Randy Castellani (Farina won that race in the 115th and went to Harrisburg and Munley is regarded as a spoiler for this race. )Anyway, Haggerty has put these guys on notice that he wants to debate more than once. Here’s what he wrote on social media.
Letters have been sent out to Bob Munley and Frank Farina, who are challenging my seat as Representative of the 112th District. (7) debates are being organized, not including the League of Women Voter's debate on May 6th. I have asked civic organizers and our local media to serve as independent moderators and also asked the media to broadcast these debates through the channels they have available. It is only fair to hold these debates in each part of the district. Debate 1: Throop 2: Olyphant 3: Scranton 4: Dunmore 5: Archbald 6: Blakely 7:Jessup
(If you would like to see these debates please share this)
If you ask me, Haggerty is right on this one. Gerrymandering took a Representative out of the equation and the least any candidate could do is man up and do all the seven debates.

YESTERDAY WAS……..WHAT?????

We know all about “The Walking Dead”, Walter White and the plane that has been missing for three weeks. But yesterday was Vietnam Veteran’s Day and barely anyone noticed or cared. Kind of like a rerun f how Vietnam vets were treated when they came home. But just in case you’re interested, President Obama offered up this proclamation in 2012.

Presidential Proclamation -- Vietnam Veterans Day

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

On January 12, 1962, United States Army pilots lifted more than 1,000 South Vietnamese service members over jungle and underbrush to capture a National Liberation Front stronghold near Saigon. Operation Chopper marked America's first combat mission against the Viet Cong, and the beginning of one of our longest and most challenging wars. Through more than a decade of conflict that tested the fabric of our Nation, the service of our men and women in uniform stood true. Fifty years after that fateful mission, we honor the more than 3 million Americans who served, we pay tribute to those we have laid to rest, and we reaffirm our dedication to showing a generation of veterans the respect and support of a grateful Nation.

The Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds, colors, and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission. It is a story of Americans from every corner of our Nation who left the warmth of family to serve the country they loved. It is a story of patriots who braved the line of fire, who cast themselves into harm's way to save a friend, who fought hour after hour, day after day to preserve the liberties we hold dear. From Ia Drang to Hue, they won every major battle of the war and upheld the highest traditions of our Armed Forces.

Eleven years of combat left their imprint on a generation. Thousands returned home bearing shrapnel and scars; still more were burdened by the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress, of Agent Orange, of memories that would never fade. More than 58,000 laid down their lives in service to our Nation. Now and forever, their names are etched into two faces of black granite, a lasting memorial to those who bore conflict's greatest cost.

Our veterans answered our country's call and served with honor, and on March 29, 1973, the last of our troops left Vietnam. Yet, in one of the war's most profound tragedies, many of these men and women came home to be shunned or neglected -- to face treatment unbefitting their courage and a welcome unworthy of their example. We must never let this happen again. Today, we reaffirm one of our most fundamental obligations: to show all who have worn the uniform of the United States the respect and dignity they deserve, and to honor their sacrifice by serving them as well as they served us. Half a century after those helicopters swept off the ground and into the annals of history, we pay tribute to the fallen, the missing, the wounded, the millions who served, and the millions more who awaited their return. Our Nation stands stronger for their service, and on Vietnam Veterans Day, we honor their proud legacy with our deepest gratitude.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 29, 2012, as Vietnam Veterans Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the Vietnam War.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

LULAC EDITION #2623

A week ago we did a story on the late Jim Ward who died twenty years ago this month. Joe Klapatch, an area photo journalist added a few more photos to that story. Here’s the link to that edition. http://lulacpoliticaletter.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-lulac-edition-2627-march-22nd-2014.html

MIKE ROGERS EXITS

Congressman Mike Rogers. (Photo: CNN)

Congressman Mike Rogers who is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee dropped a political bombshell on Friday when he announced he would not seek reelection. Rogers who has represented the 8trh Congressional District from Michigan plans to embark on a talk radio career with Cumulus Broadcasting. Rogers has been in Congress since 2001 and was mentioned for a run at a Senate Seat or to be in line for a position as head of the FBI or CIA under a Democrat or Republican administration. Although a critic of President Obama ‘on most domestic issues he has been a strong supporter of the National Security Agency’s surveillance policy.
Rogers was a mainstay on the Sunday TV talk shows on all networks and was regarded as fair and logical in his arguments. Rogers who told reporters Friday that he believed in a Citizen Legislature (he was a former FBI agent) said that it was time to step aside. And of course hat is his prerogative. But one must wonder who will replace Rogers in this position in the Majority as the National GOP party gravitates toward the Tea Party and Ted Cruz crazies.

The LuLac Edition #2625, March 27th, 2014

MAKING HISTORY AGAIN?

Attorney General Kathleen Kane. (Photo: lehigh valley rumblingsblogspot)

When Scranton Attorney Kathleen Kane won her election in 2012 as not only the first elected female Attorney General in the state as well as the only Democrat to obtain that office in its 32 year history, there was no doubt Kane was making history. Her victory made the barrister an instant political comer on the Pennsylvania scene. Speculation of a run for Governor ran rampant and Kane supporters did little to put out the fire. Despite cries of political opportunism and scant experience by her detractors, Kane was being mentioned as the presumed front runner to oppose incumbent Pat Toomey in the 2016 Senate election.
But in the last year the rising star of Ms. Kane has started to fall.
There was criticism of her handling of the Samdusky/Penn State investigation and the politicizing of the lawsuit regarding the Affordable Health Care Act. But that could be chalked up to political ideology.
What has people buzzing about Kane's latest action could spell danger for her tenure as the State's top prosecutor. Kane stopped a three year investigation into political corruption in the city of Philadelphia. The investigation had corrupt officials on the run but inexplicably Kane stopped it. Then she hired a Philadelphia attorney to speak on her behalf regarding these actions.
This just doesn't look good. A prosecutor does not drop a case unless there is a serious miscarriage of Justice or lack of evidence which didn't appear to be the case in Philadelphia. Plus when you make a decision like that you don't hire a lawyer to speak for you no matter how innocent you think your actions are. When you don't speak for yourself, you open invitations for all types of unwelcome speculation.
And speaking of speaking...I find it extremely interesting that Kane's spokesman Joe Peters reigned as her Public Relations person. Peters, a one time candidate for Statewide office has always been a stand up guy. Plus Peters is the third Press Secretary to resign in under a year. There is a reason for this. Kane a law school graduate must realize Harrisburg isn't Scranton where you could get things
fixed by snapping your fingers and telling people you are a lawyer. The Peters resignation tells me that maybe the seasoned politico sees something I see.
Kathleen Kane just might make more history like being the last elected female Attorney General and last Democrat in Pennsylvania to hold that office in a generation if she keeps this up.

SHOOTING THE GIFT HORSE
(Cartoon: Harper's Bazaar).

There are certain people and communities that look a gift horse in the mouth. That’s pretty bad. But how about a community that tries to shoot the gift horse in the mouth.
I thought of that this week when some local business owners were whining about how Mohegan Sun Casino and Entertainment Complex is taking customers away from their local concerns. Okay, a few things here.
1. Mohegan Sun has been a community partner. They have been involved in many charitable efforts. They saved the Race Track and brought a big boost to the economy. I don’t gamble. I think it is just as bad as fishing. Boring and really what’s the point? I ate there twice. Not impressed. But people go there and enjoy themselves. People make choices and in this tight economy, there is only so much money to go around.
2. The local businesses say their money is taken by Mohegan Sun and they can’t compete. No,  the money they are not making is because of this economy and income stagnation that is the norm rather the exception in LuLac land. It is about choices. I’m not a Casino guy and it is easier for me to eat at a local eatery with a big parking lot.
3. That said, maybe said local businesses can do something to attract customers like maybe partnering with the Casino, promoting it and themselves, making an egg the way a consumer requests it (it is possible to make a scrambled egg and sunny side up one side by side,) improve customer service by instructing your wait staff that when the Rigatoni sauce is burnt and the consumer tells you about, don’t have them shrug their shoulders and walk away. Maybe firm up the pizza dough so that it can support your sauce. And to the business “entrepenuer” who got a cool 6 million dollars in tax money for  the broken down train station from the County, let me say this, “Are you kidding me?”
I swear to God, if Jesus walked into this area and knocked on everyone’s door giving each household a million dollars someone would complain that the guy was wearing sandals and had funny looking toes. We not only look a gift horse in the mouth, we kick it in the ass.

MUSTO MADNESS

A contrary view on the Ray Musto situation if you please. I'm most likely going to get a world of hurt from everyone on this including Mrs. LuLac but here goes.
1. Ray Musto has been charged but not tried. I agree with the observation time period he is undergoing ordered by Judge Caputo. But that time should not be extended. If they don't know what's what with Musto yet,  they will never know.
2. To keep Musto in that facility without a conviction borders on criminal misconduct on the part of his accusers. You can't confine anyone without a trial.
3. They say Musto is very ill. Some say let's show mercy. Others say he was corrupt and stole from the public trust. Musto lives in house he grew up in. From all the reports I heard none of the Musto kin are living large.
I say before you make a judgement and condemn this man to die...show me the money.

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright. (Photo: dems.org)

CARTWRIGHT ON THE JOB

Cartwright Offers Amendment to Support Environmental Protections
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced an amendment to the Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America act (H.R. 2824). Cartwright’s amendment failed by a vote of 225-196. Cartwright is a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
H.R. 2824, the underlying legislation, seeks to accomplish several things: to write into statute a stream buffer rule promulgated in December of 2008 by the Bush Administration and to prohibit the Obama Administration from working on writing a new stream buffer rule for at least 5 years while also precluding States from issuing stronger rules.
“Mountain-top removal coal mining is a destructive process which reshapes landscapes, rivers and communities. It has buried over 2,000 miles of streams throughout Appalachia, contaminating surface and drinking water, and destroying wildlife in Appalachia communities,” said Cartwright. “States need to be free to enact environmental protection and should be able to maintain the ability to adequately protect their natural resources and the health and safety of their local coal mining communities.”
Just last month, the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia handed down a decision vacating the 2008 rule because the Bush Administration refused to consider the impacts of coal mining on threatened or endangered species in writing the rule. As a result, the rule that H.R. 2824 would write into statute no longer exists.
“Safe drinking water should be a right for everyone, and should not be subject to the federal loopholes and preemptions this bill would insert,” said Cartwright.

MEDIA MATTERS

BOLD GOLD’S “COMMUNITY FORUM”

Sunday on Community Forum Mike Remish visits with Dr. Brain Conniff from the University of Scranton and Marie Hastings from LIFE Geisinger. They'll discuss an upcoming seniors event at the U.
CF airs at the following schedule:
6:00 am on 94.3 FM The Talker
6:30 am on The Game 1340/1400/1440 am
7:30 am on 105 The River

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will be discussing a Major Health Care Conference that's scheduled to be held at the University of Scranton on their program during the week of March 31st.
Their guest will be Maria Hastie, outreach and enrollment coordinator for Life Geisinger. She is coordinating the (FREE) portion of the conference that is for the general public area senior citizens and their care providers. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast Ch19 each day at Noon and Midnight.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning interviews Tom & Noreen Clark from WNEP-TV about "Bowl For Kids Sake", coming up next Saturday at Stanton Lanes in Wilkes Barre, to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Pa.
Frankie also speaks with representatives from Family Service Association, who discuss their "Spring Gala", coming up on April 12th.
And Frankie speaks with members of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute about "C.A.S.U.A.L. Day", coming up on Thursday March 27th to raise awareness for colo-rectal cancer screenings.
And Brian Hughes speaks with David Chen, the CEO of Strikingly.com about the 4 ways workers may be harming their careers online.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93 and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION

Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

KAREL ON THE STREET

Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

Our 1974 logo.

1974

The world population reaches 4 billion people estimated by the United States Census Bureau…..French president President Georges Pompidou, dies of cancer at 63. Alain Poher succeeds him immediately and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing wins the presidential contest in May …The 46 Annual Academy Awards took place in L.A. and While David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor to present the award for Best Picture, a streaker named Robert Opel ran out from backstage, a moment which showed David Niven's natural aplomb as he quickly quipped about the man's "shortcomings"….Best picture was “The Sting”, Best Actor was Jack Lemmon for “Save The Tiger” and Glenda Jackson won Best Actress for “A Touch of Class”. Best song was “The Sting” by Marvin Hamlisch….in Pennsylvania incumbents Milton Shapp and Ernest Klein start a 6 week campaign blitz even though they have no opposition by getting out their record to the Commonwealth…..in Luzerne County Representative Ray Musto gears up to defend his seat after serving his first two years term as the State Representative from the Greater Pittston Area……and forty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Dark Lady” by Cher.

The LuLac Edition #2624, March 24th, 2014

Our “Maybe I’m Amazed” logo.

 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..at how stupid and selfish some “sportsmen” are. Take those two cats from Hunlock Creek who went ice fishing on a 50 plus degree day and fell through thin, melting ice. The idiots were rescued but I think they should be fined for putting the lives of first responders at risk. Anyone of those on the rescue unit could have died saving these “sportsmen”. And the kicker here is they aren’t kids either, one is in his 60s and the other in his 70s. As a reader of this site and a friend of mine is fond of saying, “You can’t fix stupid”.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that finally one politician told the truth about jobs. Congressman Matt Cartwright in an interview with Times Leader columnist Bill O’Boyle said a Congressman or Congress doesn’t create jobs but rather partners with various institutions to improve the economy. This is another reason why Cartwright has won respect through his first term.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that the first spam message was sent by telegraph in 1864. It was an announcement regarding a Dentist’s office hours in England.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that this Malaysia Flight story will turn into cottage industry for years to come. It is a story that will resonate through the next few years. As a follower of the news, it the narrative also points out just how foolish it is to predict stories on New Year’s Eve for the upcoming year. The news if nothing else is unpredictable.
MAYBE I'M AMAZED.....that when The Canadian group The Guess Who played for President Nixon in the 70s First Lady Pat Nixon requested they not play "American Woman". Quite frankly I think Mrs. Nixon was more of an Archie Bell and the Drells fan.

MAYBE I'M AMAZED...that people attending the Wilkes Barre St. Patrick's day parade were told they could park at Penn Plaza but in reality they could not. Parade goers cars were towed. Wonder if they will be reimbursed for that massive amount of misinformation. But that little hiccup did not deter this year's parade from being remembered as the biggest and best ever in Wilkes Barre.
MAYBE I'M AMAZED...that Pepsi is advertising little cans when Coke has had these things out for years.
MAYBE I'M AMAZED...that Napoleon Bonaparte was really not that short. In fact he was five foot seven which was the average height for males at the time he was
alive.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that after all these years Bobby Vinton still has the staying power as an entertainer. Vinton is set for another appearance at the FM Kirby Center this May. Vinton is in his 6th decade of incredible popularity. From 50 years ago:

MAYBE I’M AMAZED……….that a kid got up to the top floor of the New World Trade Center by persuading a Security Guard to give him a ride up to the top of the finished work area. Then he climbs up to the broadcast tower. Great security. Thank God it wasn’t a terrorist.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……..that I have never seen such a horrible backlash against a New York City Mayor in my lifetime as I have with Bill deBlasio. Starting with his Swearing in ceremony where he allowed his supporters to trash the outgoing Mayor and a few other miscues, you have to think this guy might be a one term Mayor. David Dinkins redux?
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….but not really that Luzerne County Controller Michelle Bednar’s office completed several audits and is proposing more, including of bail forfeiture, the Bureau of Elections, district attorney's office drug forfeiture money, fuel log usage and petty cash funds. Mmnnnnn. And this is the person who was not supposed to have a clue about Financial management and audits right? There are observers who are using the old adage regarding her performance so far as “slow and steady goes the race”.

The LuLac Edition #2623, March 22nd, 2014

JIM WARD-20 YEARS ON

EDITOR’S NOTE: Last week after we published our LuLac edition writing about the 20th anniversary of Jim Ward’s death, a former employee and well known broadcast photo journalist Joe Klapatch contacted me with these wonderful photos. I was trying to locate them but was having little success. But these photos really help tell the Jim Ward story and we are grateful for Joe for his help.

These are pics from the Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade. I would guess around 1979 as I graduated that year from High School.
The top photo is Jim and Bobby Gunther Walsh talking to an unknown person.
The bottom pic is the group of us that marched in the parade. Jim decided to have a promotion where people along the parade route would have signs with "WARD Radio" written on them. We collected the signs and drew a winner from signs collected. That's Jim's car with huge magnetic signs he got for the occasion. He was also the designer of our outfits which was a large piece of material along with a pair of scissors made just before we headed to the parade. Left to right....Bobby Gunther Walsh (Now at WAEB-AM, Allentown), Jim Ward, Sam Liguori in the car, Cliff Eshbach (left WARD to WLYH TV Lebanon and is now a Lutheran minister in the Lancaster area) and myself. (Caption and photo by Joe Klapatch).

Jim Ward was a TV spokesperson for car dealerships as well as Giant Markets.  According to Joe Klapatch, Jim would be doing the hard sell for those Giant generics. (Photo: from Joe Klapatch). 

The Pittston Sunday Dispatch used to have a feature pullout in its weekly paper called "Spotlight". On April 16th of 1978, Ward's station and staff was featured. Sam Liguori is in front...standing l to r is Jim, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Cliff Eshbach and Marge Stefaniak...who later went as Marge Stevens on WILK. (Caption and photo from Joe Klapatch.)

Early photo of the late Jim Ward. (Photo, Find A Grave.com)

It was a Tuesday in March and it was something we were all expecting. But when people who knew Jim Ward heard the news, there was a stunned type of silence and shock. Jim Ward's bombastic personality and booming voice were silenced by death. I have always told people that I’m proud to say that I was one of the last people Jim Ward hired. In my interview with Jim, I was surprised to learn that he grew up on Union Street in the Junction the son of a milkman. He even pinpointed the house he had lived in.
I joined the Sales team in 1992 along with the late Dave Stroud. Sales manager Buzz Boback hired us to sell the Radio Home Shopper which was a forerunner of some of the barter promotions you hear on radio stations, TV channels and newspapers today. Pay 15 bucks and get $30.00 worth of product. It’s called “Deal of the Day” now but for Jim Ward, it was The Home Shopper. 

The thing about Jim Ward was that he was always three steps ahead of everyone else. In the 1960s he had was doing Talk Radio sandwiched in between popular music on WBAX. It was a station he bought into with Frank Henry and Paul Phillips two prominent businessmen. Ward took to the airwaves from 10am to noon doing a Talk Show billing himself as The Morning Mayor. Later on in the evening Jones Evans and Clint Morse did a 10pm to 1am program that captivated the Wyoming Valley.
Ward also was the premier sales person convincing local advertisers that people would storm their stores. When Ward would broadcast from an event you would think thousands were lining up to get in the business.
There were the slogans, “The Boys From ‘BAX”, the contests “Baxto”, the Goody Golden Ice Cream promotions where twenty people would battle the phone lines for a half gallon of ice cream, a contest called “Heart of Gold” as well as a thing called “The Stork Club.” The latter was an announcement of new babies and the tag line was “Welcome from the Boys from ‘BAX to our newest citizens”.
All night disc jockey Dick Whitaker would routinely call local hospitals at around 4am to see if anyone got shot or if there was a major accident. An aunt of mine who worked at Pittston Hospital marveled at how such a man sounding so full of good cheer wanted to know if something bad happened. But that was the local connection, an art perfected by Jim Ward and his broadcast properties.
Where did area listeners hear the first snippets of the Woodstock album on local commercial radio? WBAX. Ward did a hybrid format in the late 60s with Talk and The Garage Sale in the Morning and then Progressive Rock at night. In 1969 Jim Ward decided to take a flyer on broadcasting Major League Baseball. He chose the New York Mets who won the World Championship that year. When Jim Ward went to a Talk format on WARD, he put on a failed disc jockey from Pittsburgh formerly known as Jeff Christie. Rush Limbaugh was an instant hit on WARD but Ward jettisoned him from the station in late 1988 when Limbaugh made a comment Ward deemed not suitable for his radio station.
Then there was the “Polka Weekend”. At WBAX and then later at WARD Polkas were king. Ward claimed that the inspiration for polkas came to him in the night during a dream. Ward was very proud of his polkas and wanted to make sure if you were playing them, you treated them with respect. He made that message clear to many young broadcasters starting out in radio. 

Some of the Polka Music Library from WARD. (Photo: courtesy Scott Sanfilippo.)

When the 20th anniversary of Jim Ward’s death was approaching, I contacted three young WARD radio protégés who shared their thoughts about Jim Ward and how they were influenced by him. Not to show partiality here but I’m doing this in alphabetical order. First words from Dr. Joe Leonardi who worked at WARD while in school in the late 80s.
"I worked at WARD for a brief period of time in the late 80's as a part time Polka Weekend host. One thing I always remember about Jim Ward is how he personified "Theater Of The Mind." I don't recall what business the remote was for, but listening to it on the air, you would have sworn there were thousands of cars jamming the streets to get to the business. I was asked to run something up to Jim after my shift was over. I was expecting delays as I traveled to the remote, while the place had a good crowd, I was more than surprised that there weren't long lines of traffic clogging up the streets, and I was in and out within minutes. Jim Ward was a master of creating an image using only words."
I’m sure that Scott Sanfilippo won’t mind me sharing this with you but the day of Jim’s funeral, Friday March 25th Scott, Dave Stroud, Rob Neyhard, Sam Liquori and a few of us others took turns crying. When one stopped, the other started. It was just so sad to see this exciting guy cut down so cruelly by cancer. Scott worked at WARD in a number of reincarnations and here are his thoughts:
"I grew up listening to WARD and the unique shows the station aired, like Sam Liguori in the morning with the Gripe Line or the Talent Show. Then at 9 the Garage Sale could come on followed by Jim Ward, Ed Walison, Robb Neyhard and the rest. Whenever there was a remote going on, I'd have my parents drive me there to meet the personality. I became friends with Jim and he more or less took me under his wing when I was 14 or 15. I would go to the different remotes he was at and would help him lug the equipment around and help setup and tear down.
One Sunday, when he was doing a remote at Voitek's in Kingston, he said to me... "when you're 16 I'm going to hire you." I was obviously thrilled. I didn't know he knew when my birthday was, but on my 16th, the phone rang and my mother said, "Scott, Sam Liguori is on the phone for you." Sam called me up and said Jim asked him to call and say Happy Birthday, you're hired! I started working the "last shift" at the radio station that weekend and stayed there for over ten years.
Most of my time was spent doing Polka Weekend and doing fire company and church bazarrs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the summer. I worked nights during the week for a spell running the board and trying to stay awake while Tom Snyder put everyone to sleep. Always wondering why we were even going through the motions of keeping a station on the air with 500 watts when the signal barely left the transmitter building!
Jim and I were close friends, even though some of the things I did at that place drove him absolutely insane! I'd say something on the air and wait for the hotline to ring - even if it was at midnight, the guy would be listening. He'd often scare the crap out of you when you thought you were the only one in the building then all of a sudden you hear a Kurlancheek commercial booming from the production room at 10pm on a Thursday night, and look to see what was going on and there he was cutting a spot that needed to air first thing Friday morning.
When Jim was in declining health he would come in, sit in the studio with me and just talk. Not about radio, but about life, his daughters and his grandson. I'd visit him and Dorothy at their home as he got worse and he was always "on" no matter how bad he felt.
Working for Jim was incredible. I cut my teeth in a radio station that was unline any other I went on to work for before realizing that there was more money to be made doing something different! But working there was fun. It was often times challenging as Jim would have an idea for a format change at 2pm and at 5pm it was done. No meetings, no questions, just change it. He was full of ideas... most of them didn't work well, but we tried them! When he started the Radio Home Shopper, we all joked about how crazy an idea it was... but heck, that was the radio version of Groupon before there was Groupon. He was a visionary and wasn't afraid to try something different without engaging radio consultants or so called experts to tell him what to do.
I'm constantly thinking about the time I spent there and am grateful I had the opportunity to "learn radio" from one of the best in the business. I know Jim would never admit he was the best, but heck, we know he was. He was more than a boss... he was a friend and a mentor to me and for that I’m grateful.
When Jim died and the station was in flux, I knew it was my time to leave and move on. It just wasn't the same place to be without Jim. It was hard for me to say "I’m done" but WARD without Jim just wasn't WARD anymore.
We all have our Jim moments - my favorite was during the blizzard of 96. The snow started when I was working and was piling up quickly. My relief called off and I managed to work his shift, then the next guy called off and it went on and on. I ended up working 72 hours straight as nobody else could get in and Jim said, just keep the station on the air. He would call in every few hours to check in to see if I was still alive, and by hour 60 I started begging him to let me turn the transmitter off and just go home. Instead of telling me no, he asked me to go into his office and empty the bucket that was collecting water leaking from the ceiling. 

This is a photo of the young Scott Sanfilippo on WARD. I’m including this not because of Scott’s youthful good looks back then (not to mention hair) but to give you a view of the Control Room. The TV you see up to the left was one that brought in Newswatch 16 at 6 and 11. The radio station simulcasted WNEP and it was quite successful because many people driving tuned in to Newswatch 16. When the little cable from the TV to the broadcast board got loose and we lost the connection, we’d get the calls. I did my stint when Bobby Hafner the night time broadcaster took his vacations. Below was the scanner and then the turntables. Behind Scott was the commercials and Public Service announcements WARD ran. The walls were covered in a brownish carpeting that I swear was there when IK worked at WPTS Radio in the early 70s. (Photo: Scott Sanfilippo.)
A broadcast institution for a long time, Shadoe Steele has his memories of Jim Ward and that great radio station. Steele was very young and just up the road from those Foote Avenue studios as a youth.
“I met Jim in September of 1975 at WNEP-TV when he began hosting the wildly popular "Bowling For Dollars" at 7 PM weeknights while I was visiting a few engineer friends of mine at 16's old airport studios.
The next year he took over the WPTS-AM radio station on Foote Avenue in Duryea, about 10-blocks away from my folks' home.
We'd run into each other now and then when I was the night DJ on WAZL-AM/WVCD-FM in Hazleton as "Dale Michaels." He wanted me to do a talk show on his station as he was getting ready to abandon his "all request" Top-40 format in 1979 - Jim changed formats more than most people change socks.
In 1979 I was hired as evening engineer at WBRE-TV and didn't start work until 3 PM so I took him up on his offer and called the 10 A - 2 P talk show "Town Meeting", an open-line/anything goes call on show with no electronic delay - you just put the callers on live and hope they don't swear! It followed his "Coping
Connection" show featuring listeners with real-life problems, calling in for advice from other listeners - another zany but popular show. You have to remember this was still before the big FM stations came into town in 1980 and AM was still a money-making commodity. I remember him telling me, "Be controversial - get on there and say the Pope loves nuns!" I thought this guy was crazy.
I did the talk show for about 6-months until my shift changed to days at Channel 28, working for Jim 3-times... in 1979, from 1983 - 1985 and from 1987 - 1988.
I was then hired by the NBC Television Network in New York City, so my last two go-rounds involved hosting the incredibly successful "Polka Weekend" with Sam Ligouri, Rob Neyhard, Ed Wallison and "Jolly" Scott Sanfilippo. I went from playing the Rolling Stones to Happy Louie!
In 1989 Jim pioneered yet another format based on his "Garage Sale" show of 1986 which allowed listeners to sell household items over his airwaves; additionally Jim would have his sales staff cold-call local businesses and obtain gift certificates for products and services in exchange for promotional mentions -
brilliant... another format which cost him only the light bill!

The logo for the WARD in the early 90s.  (LuLac archives).

Every few months Ward put another inception of one of his creations on the airwaves and in 1990 was granted a frequency change from 1440 AM to 1550 AM improving interference between other stations broadcasting on the same dial position - the nearest was in Towanda. This kicked his power and coverage area up a notch and increased his dawn-to-dusk numbers. Ward was never afraid to try anything, he was a visionary who always had something brewing!
His "Garage Sale" gave way to the radio version of the "Home Shopping Network" full-time with the music of Jolly Joe and Joe Stanky and the Cadets on the weekends and we all continued on.
Working for Jim Ward who knew the business and had soul was fun -listening to the medium was entertaining - kind of like working for Barnum & Bailey without the elephants."
I first met Ward when I was 12. My family was at the Midway Shopping Center and Jim Ward was broadcasting live from the little vestibule of Pomeroy’s Department Store, later to become The Bonton. He was standing behind the microphone with his Morning sidekick the late Johnny Margas. Watching him intently, I tentatively made my way up to Ward after he got off the air. He asked me if I wanted to pass out records to the folks coming through the doors. He said, “You’ll be one of the Boys from ‘BAX tonight!” At the time I was bitten by the radio bug and this was huge. At around the 7 o’clock hour after Mutual News Ward beckoned me over and asked me if I wanted to tell the folks on the radio my name and tell them they had time to still come down to the new Pomeroy’s Store at the midway. He stuck that microphone in my face and my broadcast career, such as it turned out, was off to the races. Ward was also a fixture on TV too co hosting the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy telethon and doing those Kurlancheek commercials. He was everywhere. TV was a natural medium for him. 

Here is a photo of Ward when he was involved in the MDA Telethon. Jim is in the rear on the left with his arm raised in triumph after a successful effort. (Photo: Carl Abraham, WNEP TV).
Earlier in his career he was known as “Buckskin Jim”. Mrs. LuLac actually was on his show. 

Earlier photo of Jim Ward as the TV character so beloved by a generation. (Photo: Find a grave.com.)

Our friend Joe B. sent this photo of Jim Ward during his TV days at WILK TV. Here’s what he wrote and see the photo below: 
Dave: Reading about Jim Ward and Buckskin Jim I had to send you a picture. Knew right where the picture was located. My wife, Barbara Argenio from West Pittston, made the show also. Barbara is standing next to Jim on his right. Maybe someone might recognize themselves when they were there also. Bet there are many picture like this one in a lot of albums in the WV. Joe B.

When I started working for Ward, I knew he was sick but I had no idea he was battling prostate cancer. I remember him sitting in his office, looking fit but concerned, impeccably dressed and doing his thing. He was positive, cheerful and friendly. But he was also fighting for his life on the phone with Doctors in Pittsburgh trying to get a newer and more powerful treatment to get himself healed.
In the summer of ’93 Ward’s presence at the station diminished. And he began his final battle. The night Ward died, 20 years ago today, I was traveling back from Millersburg Pennsylvania and heard a taped announcement from Jim’s lifelong broadcast companion Sam Liguori. Sammy said, “Our friend and boss Jim Ward is with God tonight. May he have peace”. Twenty years later that wound for some has healed but the memories of a good man and a true broadcast icon remain. 

OTHER VIEWS

Here are two articles written by two different reporters from the Times Leader regarding the broadcast career of the late Jim Ward.

PIONEER BROADCASTER JIM WARD DIES

By ANNE KAROLYI; Times Leader Staff Writer

Thursday, March 24, 1994 Page: 2A QUICK WORDS: PIONEER BROADCASTER JIM WARD DIES

DURYEA -- For a few seconds Wednesday in a WARD-AM radio studio, his deep voice resounded again: strong, quick, and smooth. Jim Ward's voice was made for the airwaves.
"Of course, this is just short, just recorded for an ad," said Sam Liguori, WARD operations manager. "But, boy, he had a voice. A powerful voice."
Ward, one of Luzerne County's pioneer broadcasters, died Tuesday at age 65 after a five-year battle with cancer. Behind the microphone and the cameras, he was a man of fast-talking, familiar sales pitches and popular shows. But there was more to Ward than his slick voice, friends and co-workers said.
"The word `character' comes to mind," said Frank Labarr of WVIA-FM. "He had such character."
In 1947, Ward got his first break, talking the morning away at WBAX-AM in Wilkes-Barre. He left for a morning show at Wilkes-Barre's WILK-AM, where fans called him the "Morning Mayor."
"Everybody liked what he had to say, and he said, well, I'll call myself the mayor then," Liguori said. "He became the mayor of all of Northeastern Pennsylvania."
In the early 1950s, Ward tried television, becoming Buckskin Jim. In a fringed buckskin suit, he introduced westerns, announced birthdays, and gave his young audience chocolate milk and bread. He also was Captain Orbit, launching space shows from WILK's Channel 34.
"He would do parades, and they'd have him strapped to the front of the fire engine, with this cape on," Liguori said. "He was always doing something for the community."
At WBAX-AM, Ward raised money for fire victims, delivering the cash in person. He started the first Cherry Blossom festival in Wilkes-Barre. In the mid-1960s, Ward heard about people starving in the mountains of Kentucky and sent them a truckload of donated clothes and food, Liguori said.
When he bought radio station WPTS-AM -- which Liguori suggested he call WARD -- he personally recruited employees, got to know them, advised them, and became their friends.
"He always had a smile, and you always left him feeling good," said David Stroud, a WARD sales consultant.
For it all, Ward wanted no credit, no accolades. A private man, he treasured his wife, Dorothy, and his four daughters, and lived a happy life in their Kingston home. He built it for Dorothy, as a surprise, after returning from serving in the Air Force in Korea, Liguori said.
"He said, Dot, do I have a surprise for you," Liguori said. "And there was their house."
Ward had offers to leave for bigger cities, and the talent to try it, Liguori said.
"People would say, leave, you have great talent," Liguori said. "But he would say no, no, this is my home."

AREA BROADCASTING PIONEER JIM WARD GAVE THE VALLEY ITS VOICE

RADIO AND EARLY LOCAL TV PERSONALITY BUILT HIS

CAREER IN THE REGION HE ALWAYS CALLED HOME

By JOHN ERZAR; Times Leader Staff Writer

Sunday, April 07, 1996 Page: 1B

His voice will echo forever in the minds of radio listeners in the Wyoming Valley.
It was smooth ... energetic ... powerful ... charismatic ... and, at times, dramatic to a fault.
It made Jim Ward one of the most memorable voices on the air.
A little more than two years have passed since Ward, 65, died after a five-year battle with cancer. He is remembered as one of Luzerne County's pioneer broadcasters as well as an innovator in area programming as owner of WARD-AM radio in Duryea.
Whether it was radio or television, he was a man of fast-talking, familiar sales pitches who could be heard on popular shows.
Listeners will recall the Wilkes-Barre native and former Kingston resident as a man whose local roots were so deeply entrenched that he turned down bigger and better opportunities in larger markets. And he also will be remembered as a man who truly cared about this area.
"People would say, `Leave, you have great talent,' " Sam Liguori said shortly after Ward's passing. Ligouri was Ward's operations manager at WARD-AM at the time.
"But he would say `No, no, this is my home.' "
Buckskin Jim
In the early 1950s, Ward tried television, portraying a character called Buckskin Jim. He was sort of a forerunner to Miss Judy of the popular Hatchy Milatchy show on WNEP-TV Channel 16.
In a fringed buckskin suit, he introduced westerns, announced birthdays and gave his young audience chocolate milk and bread.
Longtime local radio and television broadcaster Tom Bigler remembers Buckskin Jim and his friend, Jim Ward. "He dressed in western garb and he put on a show. Jim and I worked together for many years at WILK," Bigler said recently.
Ward also portrayed Captain Orbit, launching space shows from WILK's Channel 34. He appeared in parades as the character.
Ward's best-known television work might have been during the Muscular Dystrophy-Jerry Lewis Telethon. As one of the emcees for many years, Ward's heartfelt, passionate requests for donations could melt the least charitable of hearts.
It was just part of his commitment to the Wyoming Valley -- his home. He served on the board of directors of the Family Services Association of Wyoming Valley for many years as well as on the advisory board of the Salvation Army of Wilkes-Barre. He assisted with activities at St. Michael's School, and with fund-raising efforts for St. Joseph's Hospital and the United Way of Wyoming Valley.
There was more.
While at WBAX-AM, Ward raised money for fire victims, delivering the cash in person. He started the first Cherry Blossom festival in Wilkes-Barre. In the mid-1960s, Ward heard about people starving in the mountains of Kentucky and sent them a truckload of donated clothes and food.
His caring spread far and wide, but always seemed to come right back to the Wyoming Valley.
"He was a public figure and knew how to be a public figure," Bigler said.
Radio days
In 1947, Ward got his first break, talking the morning away at WBAX-AM in Wilkes-Barre. He left for a morning show at Wilkes-Barre's WILK-AM, where fans called him the "Morning Mayor."
"Everybody liked what he had to say, and he said, `Well, I'll call myself the mayor then,' " Liguori said in 1994. "He became the mayor of all of Northeastern Pennsylvania."
Eventually, Ward became more.
In 1971, WBAX was purchased by the Merv Griffin Radio chain. Ward, who had served as general manager and vice president under WBAX's previous ownership, was reappointed general manager. He eventually became vice president and part-owner.
The job put Ward on the road quite a bit. While he gained some satisfaction with the travel, he also gained a new appreciation for family and friends.
"One day I was crossing the George Washington Bridge," Ward said in a 1981 interview, "when I realized I wasn't cut out for more than a small town."
Becoming an owner
In 1975, Ward purchased WPTS-AM in Duryea for $250,000 from Rose Fiorani. He made sweeping personnel changes and, at Ligouri's suggestion, changed the call letters to WARD.
The new WARD scrapped its oldies and ethnic programming format to switch to a middle-of-the-road style. Ward also initiated plans to re-engineer the station and add advanced broadcast equipment.
Still, all the changes didn't add up to success for Ward or his station. By 1980, WARD was struggling in the highly competitive Wilkes-Barre/Scranton radio market.
The struggle took an abrupt upturn.
Coping to make it
In a 1982 interview, Ward said he was down to his last $700 when, in a last-ditch effort to survive, his station launched an all-talk format. He personally spearheaded the programming change, hosting a late-morning show known as The Coping Connection.
"The real reason we did it is because we had tried everything else, and it hadn't worked," said Ward shortly after the show became an instant hit. "I figured that if we were going down, we might as well go down helping people."
The Coping Connection, debuting in October 1980, saved a sinking ship. The call-in show offered help for people to cope with various problems. If a caller had a problem, Ward and other callers would try to find a solution. So would psychologists and other expert guests.
The new format boosted WARD's sagging ratings. The station quickly went from a 1.2 percent audience share to a 4.1 share in the Arbitron ratings. By comparison, WNAK-AM in Nanticoke was the area's No. 1 radio station with a 10 percent share.
Eventually, Ward added a Together Line that became a hit with the audience. Listeners looking for companionship could describe themselves and their interests with hopes of meeting that special someone. In the first week, about 400 people called. By the following Monday, Ward had already heard stories of successful matches.
Ward and broadcasting were a successful match.
Bigler said Ward was always enthusiastic and that today's broadcasters could benefit from his example.
"I think they could have that kind of innate optimism he had. It gave you hope for tomorrow that isn't always evident," Bigler said.

COMING SOON

Video of the history of WPTS, WARD and WKQV AM and FM.

The LuLac Edition #2622, March 20th, 2014

I HATE ‘DA STINKIN’ GOVERNMENT

Yep we hear it all the time from people who claim that government is too big, too corrupt, can’t get out of its own way and is just plain stupid. Let’s do it on our own, get rid of those agencies that just oversee everything and make life so complicated. Well, let’s take a look at the area of the world where they turn off radar at night for air flights, don’t have enough planes to intercept a flight they know is going wrong, where they dither before they announced the flight was missing, delayed looking at the pilots as suspects, let two people with stolen passports get on the flight without checking the International data base and then never released the information that the flight that was from their own country was missing in a timely manner. Yep, this is a perfect example of what a government that is unprepared and under funded can do. But let’s slash those government programs and kiss the Tea Party asses because taxes will cost us our freedom. Hey Tea party….wanna go to Disney World? Fly Malaysia!

AN HONOR UPGRADE

(Photo: Army.com) 
This week President Obama righted a wrong concerning minority veterans who did not receive the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the White House, more than twenty soldiers were honored but only three were alive to get the Medal of Honor.
The U.S. government corrected the oversight when the President honored 24 Army veterans with the Medal of Honor. It is the country’s highest honor for those who display "gallantry above and beyond the call of duty ". The medals were handed out to veterans or their survivors from Vietnam, Korea and World War II.
Of the 24 honored, 10 never made it home.
One of those who posthumously received the award is Leonard Kravitz, an assistant machine gunner in the Korean War. He is the uncle and namesake of actor and rock musician Lenny Kravitz
Melvin Morris was a 19 year old who joined up to follow in the footsteps of his family. the Army Green Beret "charged into a hail of fire" to save his injured comrades and retrieve the bodies of the fallen, even though he was shot several times and bleeding. The Army would later say his actions on the battlefield that day showed "determination possessed by few men.
Santiago J. Erevia was profiled on NPR’s Morning Edition this week. He was a radiotelephone operator from Texas who in Erevia took out three machine gun bunkers with grenades and gunfire.
Another man Jose Rodela, who, actually , "was wounded in the back and head by rocket shrapnel while recovering a wounded comrade," according to a military commendation. Still he single-handedly assaulted and knocked out a mortar position before returning to lead his men.
Morris, Rodela and Erevia wore Army uniforms as they accepted the medal, which was placed around their neck by Obama.
"In the thick of the fight all those years ago, for your comrades and your country, you refused to yield," the President said.
In a war that never met its veterans at the airport with streamers and banners, never gave them parades or called them hometown heroes for doing their duty, this action by the government gives us hope that the sacrifices of those veterans fighting in unpopular wars will not go unnoticed and unappreciated.
CNN, AP, LuLac sources.

CARTWRIGHT COMING THROUGH

Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: LuLac archives).

Cartwright Announces $8.8 million in HUD Funds for Public Housing Agencies in NEPA
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a total of $8,879,813 through its 2014 Public and Indian Housing Capital Fund Program to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) throughout Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district.
The Capital Fund Program provides funds to PHAs on an annual basis for the development, financing, and modernization of public housing and for management improvements.
“Ensuring that northeastern Pennsylvanians have access to safe, affordable housing is a high priority of mine,” said Cartwright. “The funds are an investment in our community. They will help fund programs that meet the needs and priorities of our neighborhoods.”
The following is a list of Capitol Fund Program recipients and the amount provided:
Carbon County Housing Authority - $172,948
Housing Authority – $740,504
Housing Authority of the City of Pittston - $403,619
Housing Authority of the City of Pottsville - $581, 718
Housing Authority of the County of Luzerne - $1,450,253
Lackawanna County Housing Authority - $1,297,812
Northampton County Housing Authority - $93,301
Schuylkill County Housing Authority - $716,291
Scranton Housing Authority - $1,595, 150
The Housing Authority of the City of Carbondale - $413,072
The Housing Authority of Monroe County - $362,476
Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority - $1,052,687

MEDIA MATTERS

ECTV

ECTV Live Producer and co-host David DeCosmo rejoins Tom Munley for the programs 206th show during the week of March 24th. Their guest will be Jennifer Moran of the West Pittston Public Library who will outline plans for several FREE public events scheduled at the facility. And one of those events will involve an evening of news coverage recollections featuring Judge Munley and DeCosmo! ECTV Live can be seen on Concast Ch19 each weekday during the Noon and Midnight hour.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning interviews Tom & Noreen Clark from WNEP-TV about "Bowl For Kids Sake", coming up next Saturday at Stanton Lanes in Wilkes Barre, to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Pa.
Frankie also speaks with representatives from Family Service Association, who discuss their "Spring Gala", coming up on April 12th.
And Frankie speaks with members of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute about "C.A.S.U.A.L. Day", coming up on Thursday March 27th to raise awareness for colo-rectal cancer screenings.
And Brian Hughes speaks with David Chen, the CEO of Strikingly.com about the 4 ways workers may be harming their careers online.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93 and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION

Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

KAREL ON THE STREET 

Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

Our 1974 logo.

1974

March is not a good month for the Nixon administration as the dominoes begin to fall in the Watergate scandal. Nixon personal counsel Herbert Kalmbach pleads guilty to two charges of illegal campaign activities......"Watergate Seven" indicted. Former Attorney General John Mutchell, Chief of Staff h.R. Haldeman, Presidential Counsel John Erlichman, Charles Colson, Robert Meridian, Gordon Strachan and Kenneth Parkinson are charged with crimes related to Watergate……Dwight Chapin convicted of lying to a grand jury……in Pennsylvania Senator Dick Schweiker says that the Watergate scandal is going to do little to help electoral prospects for Republicans in the fall elections. Schweiker urged Americans to look at the records of all individuals running……..in Luzerne County there is talk of forming a Home Rule Commission to loom into changing the government in the County and forty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was John Denver’s “Sunshine On My Shoulder”.

The LuLac Edition #2621, March 19th, 2014

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo.

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

CONGRATULATIONS TO A CHAMP

There’s a lot of negative stories out there, from the missing plane that is the latest national and international obsession to the polarization that is American politics these days. But recently our area was treated to the spectre of having an Olympic Champion in our midst. Stephanie Jallen has won a pair of bronze medals at the 2014 Paralympics which were also held in Russia. Today’s “Write On Wednesday” is about courage, inspiration and overcoming the odds.
Dr. Joe Leonardi penned this article when Stephanie Jallen was embarking on her dream a year or so ago. I’m sure that it will give us more insight and admiration for the champion among us. After reading this, you’ll see it’s all about the opportunity not the excuse.

“Handicapped is a mental state!”

by: Joe Leonardi

Last December, I wrote a column describing a very inspirational moment. I saw a young person who was missing her left arm and leg ferociously training with the look and intensity of many champion athletes I have met over the years. At the time I didn’t know her story. I didn’t even know her name.
Since that happened, I have had many people tell me about the incredible Stephanie Jallen. During a meeting with Senator Ray Musto and his wife, Frances, I was encouraged to have a face to face with Stephanie. I made a phone call to the Senator’s Pittston office and within hours I received a return phone call from Stephanie’s proud and supportive mother Deborah Jallen.
In the course of my life, I have had the chance to train with champion bodybuilders and strength athletes, I have broken bread with multi-millionaires, talked politics with national and state elected politicos and I even had the chance to campaign with the great Lynn Swann. The people I have met are all impressive in their own right, however compared to Stephanie Jallen ... well, there is no comparison — Stephanie is in a league all her own.
This impressive person will make you forget that she has just embarked on her teenage years. She answers questions and discusses her life with the poise and confidence of someone who has spent eternity in the limelight.
I asked Stephanie how I should refer to her in this column.
Should I say she is handicapped?
A special needs person?
I wasn’t sure what terminology to use.
She told me I should refer to her as normal, and that is when she uttered the title of this column.
Prior to skiing, Stephanie had been involved in basketball and soccer. Then a little over four years ago, she received a letter inviting her to a PA Center for Adapted Sports Clinic. There she discovered skiing. Instructors wanted Stephanie to ski in the seated position, but the nine year old Miss Jallen would not hear of it. She insisted, and obviously got her way — she would ski standing up.
A chance meeting with personal trainer Ernie Baul, occurred at a fundraiser that would impact her future training. Stephanie’s congenital condition caused her left side to be underdeveloped, leaving her arm very short, tapering down to one digit. Her left leg had to be amputated when she was an infant. Ernie focuses her training on underused muscles and works especially hard on keeping her hip, leg, knee and ankle strong and stable.
Stephanie told me that Ernie’s training program has translated into a dramatic improvement in her performance.
In the last year, the fiercely competitive athlete entered her first international competition — the Huntsman Cup in Utah.
How did she do?
How does three gold medals and a bronze sound?
Stephanie is a talented skier who is on track for the 2014 Paralympics to be held in Russia. Her ability has led her to be competing above her age level.
She is not limited by her lack of a full left arm, nor by her lack of a left leg.
She can, however, be limited by funding.
It is not an inexpensive endeavor Stephanie has undertaken. Unlike the professionals, USOC and corporate sponsors that dominate the Olympic games, the Paralympics have no such financial backing in place. Several fundraisers have been held, but money can become a limiting factor.
In today’s sports environment we glorify steroid bloated baseball bashers, but sometimes true sports heroes are here at home.
Stephanie is getting help with her training thanks to the generous spirits of the before mentioned Ernie Ball, who trains her at no charge. Larry Danko has shown his heart fills his massive chest by allowing Stephanie pro bono use of his first class facility. We are the valley with a heart and it is my hope that we adopt Stephanie’s journey as our own.
The news continues to give us many people to be ashamed of — Stephanie Jallen is someone of whom we can be very proud!
I do not think of Stephanie as a handicapped athlete.
I don’t think of her as a special needs person.
When she wins the gold at the Paralympics, I won’t think of her as a Paralympic Medalist.
She is — Stephanie Jallen: Athlete; Stephanie Jallen: Champion.
Dr. Joe Leonardi, D.C. is the president and CEO of Leonardi Chiropractic Wellness Office, PC and BetterLife Seminars by Fat Then Fit Now, INC. He is the author of the life-changing book "Obesity Undone, Fat Then Fit Now 2nd edition" and "Sometimes The Bastard Returns; A True Life Account of Obesity Relapse." He has a B.S. from University of the State of New York and his Doctor of Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College.
He is an adjunct faculty at Luzerne County Community College teaching Anatomy and Physiology. He has acted as the team chiropractor for the Arena Football League 2’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, the semi-professional football teams the Scranton Eagles and the NEPA Miners, the women’s roller derby Coal City Rollers and has provided chiropractic care at powerlifting and strong man events.
He has made numerous television, radio and internet appearances to discuss the topics of fitness, wellness, obesity, childhood obesity and how childhood obesity relates to bullying.

The LuLac Edition #2620, March 17th, 2014

BIDEN’S BOILER PLATE

Vice President Joe Biden at the Woods tonight for the Pittston Friendly Sons Dinner.

Vice President Joe Biden broke precedent with past speakers at the Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick’s Day Dinner tonight at the Woodlands. He actually began his remarks early. In the past the Friendly Sons had to wait sometimes for Presidential candidates who were “en route” but tonight Biden , in town since this morning stepped to the plate early.
Biden gave a twenty minute speech that touched all the right notes for this Friendly Sons crowd. He spoke of his late mother, growing up in Scranton and outlined how important family was to him. Biden made many appearances here through the years but tonight was one The Friendly Sons of Pittston celebrating 100 years will long remember.
The Vice President called out the Pittston Mayor, joked with the crowd about the first St. Patrick’s Day in Pittston in decades and a few other quips. But he was earnest and connected with his remarks. Perhaps no American politician can connect with people like Biden can. He is unabashedly joyful and optimistic. It might have been his brush with the death from an aneurism or just the innate cheeriness that was a trademark of his youth in Scranton back in the 50s.
There are some who will say that Biden, on his way to Europe was just going through the motions and doing the standard boilerplate speech typical of politicos. But many in attendance will disagree. Like Biden’s remark to President Obama when the Health Care Law was passed, “This was a big ______deal!
Congrats to the Pittston Friendly Sons for an event that was well planned and orchestrated.

The LuLac Edition #2619, March 16th, 2014

NOT HANGIN’ IN THERE!

John Hanger thought this might be the year to make a serious run for Governor of Pennsylvania. After all, John Hanger is a serious man and is serious about the issuers he cares about. During one of the Gubernatorial debates John Hanger showed people just how serious he could be. But his wonkish candidacy was buried by money. Alas, 2014 isn’t John Hanger’s year.
His exit from the race is not the first one. Prior to Hanger’s announcement this past week, three others dropped their bid. Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz, minister Max Myer and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawloski quit when they saw the handwriting on the wall.

THE FINAL FIVE

So the Governor’s race is now down to a final five. The front runner Tom Wolf has spent millions on introductory TV ads. Hanger attributed Wolf’s media blitz to his inability to raise donor money. State Treasurer Rob McCord has been crossing the state and has made inroads especially getting a huge union endorsement from the state teacher’s union. But that could be a double edged sword considering how some people feel about the state of Education in the Commonwealth.
U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz who is giving up a Congressional seat to make this run was supposed to be the front runner but Wolf took care of that. The entrance of former Rendell Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Katie McGinty has turned out to be a sure fire guarantee to split the women’s vote.
That leaves former Auditor General Jack Wagner. Wagner is totally underfunded in this campaign and there are many who think he started too late. All that said, Wagner is a known name in the State. He has a very good reputation as Auditor General. Plus the Western part of the states tends to coalesce around a Western candidate. 
Here’s a scenario to look at. While Wolf has spent money on media, in primaries the ground game counts big time. Wolf needs to translate those good polling numbers into real votes cast for him. McCord needs to make clear he is more than the Union candidate. If these two fail at those deficits, and Schwartz and McGinty split the vote, Jack Wagner just might wind up as the Democratic nominee for Governor.
Hanger’s exit might seem like a mere footnote to this campaign but if Wagner adopts some of Hanger’s supporters as well as his issues, you might see that the West might prevail in the Democratic primary.

The LuLac Edition #2618, March 14th, 2014

THE FEDS IN WILKES BARRE

When the Feds come knocking on your door, that is not good news. And this week the political establishment in Wilkes Barre (whether they want to admit it or not) is buzzing about the investigation into the Wilkes Barre Employee Credit Union, the untimely death of its manager along with the fact that Luzerne County DA has asked for help from high authorities in Gas Gate. The significant thing about “extra help” is this. The Feds really don’t care about how much money you have, they don’t care about how hard you worked to get where you are in life and they sure as hell don’t care about how rich you are. Keep I mind that when investigations stall and the feds get involved…things move. Just ask Mike Conahan, Mark Ciavarella and the other thirty individuals who went to jail.
Another thing to keep your eye on is how City Council reacts. Especially watch the Chair of Counci,. Maybe there’s nothing going on…………but if there is, those are the things to watch.

BIDEN AT THE WOODS

Vice President Joe Biden makes tracks this Monday to the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at the Woodlands. The Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick celebrate 100 years and how fitting that a local boy who made good, real good comes to give the address. Dinner starts at 7PM.

DOBASH ASKS FOR AUDIT

Luzerne County Council member Kathy Dobash has written a letter to the Auditor General requesting an audit of uncollected funds in the Courts office. Dobash is also asking for information on Probation Fees: costs, fees, fines, and restitution accounts. I’m not sure this is within the purview of the Auditor General’s office since court funding is a system unto itself. But this will be interesting to see where this goes.

ON THE SIDE OF THE UNEMPLOYED

Cartwright Introduces Legislation to Enact Foreclosure Moratorium Due to Recent Congressional Inaction

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright introduced the Stop Foreclosures due to Congressional Dysfunction Act with the support of 55 colleagues.
The legislation would impose a 6-month moratorium on foreclosures for individuals who have lost their emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) due to recent congressional inaction.
The legislation would require that the Federal Housing Finance Agency direct the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – to establish a 6-month moratorium on foreclosures of GSE-guaranteed mortgages for borrowers provided that the borrowers were in good standing before losing their unemployment insurance.
“I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation. Since December 28, due to the inaction of Congress, more than 2 million Americans have been cut off from emergency unemployment insurance,” said Cartwright. “In my district, people have been particularly impacted by the expiration of these benefits. These Americans worked hard, played by the rules, and lost their jobs through no fault of their own. They should not lose their homes as well due to congressional dysfunction. This legislation would support struggling Americans who have demonstrated their willingness to repay their mortgage loans.”
This week, Cartwright joined his colleagues in signing a discharge petition, led by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), to bring up the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (H.R. 3546), championed by Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI). The bill would extend emergency unemployment insurance for nearly 5 million Americans looking for work through the end of the year.
Cartwright and Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) have also drafted a letter to FHFA Director Mel Watt urging him to adopt the aforementioned policy in the event of congressional inaction on Cartwright’s legislation. The letter will be delivered once Congress reconvenes.

ON THE SIDE OF BUSINESS

U.S. Chamber Honors Barletta with Spirit of Enterprise Award

Pennsylvania Lawmaker Recognized for Pro-Business Record for 3rd Time

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania with its annual Spirit of Enterprise Award Wednesday in recognition of his support of pro-growth, pro-jobs policies during the first session of the 113th Congress. This marks the third time Rep. Barletta has been honored with the award.
“2013 was challenging, but Congressman Barletta worked to pass legislation and enact policies that will keep our country moving forward economically,” U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said. “The Spirit of Enterprise Award recognizes legislators like Congressman Barletta who have demonstrated their commitment to supporting pro-growth policies in the 113th Congress.”
The Chamber’s prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Award is given annually to members of Congress based on their votes on critical business legislation outlined in the Chamber publication, How They Voted. Members who supported the Chamber’s position on at least 70% of those votes qualify to receive the award.
According to this year’s scorecard, Barletta received a 92% rating with the Chamber in 2013 and has a cumulative rating of 95% for his tenure in Congress.
“As the economic recovery continues to be sluggish, it is more important than ever to support policies that encourage businesses to grow and hire more employees,” Barletta said. “I am honored to be once again chosen by the Chamber, because we really have the same goals in mind – a better, stronger and more prosperous America.”
During the first session of the 113th Congress, the Chamber scored members on eight Senate votes and 13 House votes, including those to reopen the federal government and raise the national debt ceiling, reform the nation’s broken immigration system, delay enforcement of the employer mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act, and ease approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Also scored were votes on a number of other issues including trade, transportation, legal reform, and the budget.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations

MEDIA MATTERS

KILARNEY KAPERS

Jim Riley, Bobby V and Mike Remish host Kilarney Kapers beginning at 10:30AM and bring you all the color and pageantryof the second largest St. Patty's Day Paradein the country.
Hear it all on NEPA SPORTS RADIO - THE GAMEat 1340,1400,1440 AM or 100.7 and 106.7 FM,on your RadioBOLD app oronline at www.NEPASportsRadio.com! This is a long standing broadcasting tradition and these guys do one heck of a job.

MIKE SISAK TO NEW YORK

Citizen’s Voice reporter Mike Sisak is on his way to the AP in New York. I spoke with Mike a few times during the Corruption trials and he was always very knowledgeable and cordial. Our best to him.

ECTV

ECTV Live host Tom Munley will again be joined by veteran broadcaster Rusty Fender during the week of March 17th as the program welcomes Dr. Paulette Merchel of Marywood University to discuss the school's FREE Children's Theater which will be presented the first week of May. ECTV Live is shown on Comcast Ch19 and is offered throughout the week with primary showings scheduled for Noon and Midnight,

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Tonya Oliviani from Big Brothers/Big Sisters on Northeast pa. about "Bowl For Kids Sake", coming up later this month.
Brian Hughes speaks with Bridget Purcell about the Pat Purcell Memorial Scholarship 5 K Run, coming up on Saturday May 3rd at Nay Aug Park in Scranton.
And an encore of Brian's January interview with Scott Cannon & Duke Barrett from the Gas Drilling Awareness Association about a recent state court ruling and its possible impact on gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM, 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X, 6:25am on Magic 93 and 7am on True Oldies 590, WARM.

SUE HENRY’S SPECIAL EDITION

Tune in to Sue Henry's "Special Edition" this week as Sue recaps the week's news. Special Edition is heard Saturdays and Sunday on these Entercom stations, WILK FM Saturday at 2pm Sunday at 6 am on Froggy 101 Sunday at 7 am on The Sports Hub 102.3 Sunday at 7 am on K R Z 98.5 Sunday at noon on WILK FM 103.1.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:40 and 8:40 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

KAREL ON THE STREET

Tune in Wednesdays on WILK Radio for Karel on the Street. Hear some of the funniest and heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris.

Our 1974 logo.

1974

Most OPEC nations end a 5-month oil embargo against the United States, Europe and Japan…………Vice President Gerald Ford defends embattled President Richard Nixon as pressure mounts on the White House to have the White House release more information……..The President meanwhile spends a quiet St. Patrick’s Day celebrating his wife, First Lady Pat Nixon’s birthday……also in 1974 first term Senator Joe Biden reflected on the big business of big money in campaign financing. Here's what he said on a PBS program called The Advocates: “We were told that we politicians, as the young kids say, rip off the American public. I think the American public, in a way, rips off we politicians by forcing us to run the way they do. To raise $300,000 is no mean feat. And unless you happen to be some sort of anomaly like myself, being a 29-year-old candidate who can attract some attention beyond your own state, it’s very difficult to raise that money from a large group of people.” in Pennsylvania Senator Hugh Scott the Senate Minority Leader says that President Nixon should just come clean regarding Watergate……in Lackawanna County, Robert Mellow prepares to seek a second term as Senator in the 22nd District. Mellow is heavily favored to win a re-election bid although GOP candidate Gene Garvey says he will give the one term incumbent a spirited fight and forty years ago this week the number one song in America and LuLac land was a duet by recently married Carlie Simon and James Taylor entitled “Mockingbird”.