The LuLac Edition #2644, April 27th, 2014

BLOGFEST SPRING '14 A HIT

Thanks to all who made it out to The Red Mill for the semi annual Blogfest. The event was well attended by political candidates, observers and bloggers. It was great actually getting to this one and staying for a majority of the time. The fall 2013 Blogfest was great but I left early because of a family commitment and in the spring of '13 I was still dealing with the aftermath of an operation for the neurological thing in my life. One thing that struck me was the diversity of ages in the people who attended. That's a good ting. 
Hot topics of conversation were the passing of Senator Ray Musto, the sentencing of Developer Robert Mericle, the 2014 Governor's race, The Affordable Care Act, the job performance of Attorney General Kathleen Kane as well as the surprise motion by County Council member Edd Brominski asking Manager Robert Lawton to step aside in the latest Luzerne County Home Rule saga. Many people asked about our colleague Gort 42 and expressed dismay at the fact he wasn't able to attend. There is a good reason but I feel I'm not the person to say why.
Two events that I heard about before I could post anything about them were significant. Both happened on Saturday the 26th.
The first was a Custody4Cash Rally at Courthouse Square in Scranton. The event was held to inform, educate, and inspire the community to get involved and demand meaningful change in the court system. Special Guest speakers were  Jesse Epps Senior a Civil Right inductee and Roxanne Pauline.
Epps appearance came in reaction to the film release of the movie regarding the Judicial Scandal in Luzerne, and the recent sentencing of former Lackawanna County Guardian Ad Litem Danielle Ross who admitted to a felony. These two events prompted this event to attempt to get community leaders to work side by side to eliminate judicial corruption in family courts.
In Wilkes Barre on a lighter note, the NAACP sponsored a barbecue Dinner Sale from noon to 5 at the corner of Wilkes Barre Blvd and Hill Street. It was held Sunday too. The barbecue featured ribs or chicken. After a long work week and the event Friday night I was pretty much beat so I hung out at home but Mrs. LuLac surprise me for lunch stopped by and picked up a few items and wow....it was delicious.
Here are some photos of the event:

Blogfest technician and organizer Harold Jenkins and this blog editor. Harold is on WBRE's Pa. Live every Tuesday doing a rundown on local blogs. 

I had a great conversation with Maria Montero Governor Corbett's Executive Director for the Commission on Latino Affairs and Commission for Women. Montero was there because Bill Goldsworthy seems to be giving her the tour of the best places to eat in Pittston. Plus we had great discussions on the role of women in government policy making.

Here's Harold Jenkins with Michelle Hryvnak Davies greeting people at the door and making sure the event ran smoothly. Harold left a bit early to give a literary presentation on some of his poetry in Scranton that same evening. 

State Representatives Gerry Mullery (from the 119th and Mike Carroll from the 118th) were on hand. Mullery's daughter was celebrating a birthday and I loved it when he told me the meal of choice for her birthday dinner that night was Sanitary Bakery Pizza. 

 Jim O'Meara Senior, one of the co-hosts of this coming Saturday's Issues and Eggs at the Dupont VFW had quite the conversation with GOP candidate for the 117th Congressional District Matt Connolly. Come to think of it, so did I.

Former Congressional candidate, Author, Educator and head of Better Life Seminars stopped by and chatted with Bill Goldsworthy from Governor Tom Corbett's office. 

State Representative candidate in the 120th on the GOP side Arron Kaufer made the rounds.

State Representative from the 118th Mike Carroll and I had a lot to talk about.

120th Democratic candidate for State Representative Ellen Cipriani and me.

Luzerne County Republican Chairman Bill Urbanski, me and 120th District Representative candidate Aaron Kaufer.

Here I am engaged in a conversation with Democratic candidate for the 117th District seat Laura Dickson. Dickson is running hard and gave me some fascinating facts that were pretty sobering. She told me that 78% of the students in one of the high schools in her district qualify for the student free lunch program. That is staggering in this day and age and should make the Chamber of Commerce types who tell us they are "good" job creators hang their heads in shame.

11th Democratic Congressional candidate Andy Ostrowski, Doctor Leonardi and I go over the expansive 11th now represented by Lou Barletta.

It wouldn't be a party or a political event withput the West Side's Jimmy Dennis.

Luzerne County Council member Rick Williams came to the event.  Sorry I did not get a chance to speak more to him. (File photo). 

Exeter Mayor Cassandra Coleman was at the event. Coleman is one of the organizers for the Tom Wolf For Governor in the region. Hey Mayor, someone stole my Wolf For Governor sign out of the yard. I need another. I'll be calling you. (File photo)

Two refugees from the storied Pittston Sunday Dispatch get together and talk about books, music and the Beatles. Here I am with Jack Smiles who now is a contributor to Pittston Politics.com.

PHOTOS: Pittston Politics.com, Harold Jenkins and Mrs. LuLac.