The LuLac Edition #2670, June 5th, 2014

D DAY AT 70

President Ronald and First Lady Nance Reagan in 1984. (Photo: Reagan Library).

Tomorrow marks the 70th anniversary of D Day. This will perhaps be the last commemoration where a good number of the men who stormed the beach at Normandy will still be alive.
The significance of the day is enormous. If the operation had failed, the German forces would be in a position to overrun the Allies. The strategic genius of General Eisenhower and the risk taking of President Roosevelt as Commander In Chief were paramount to its success. But that gain was in the long term. On that very first day, German casualties on D-Day were around 1,000 men. Allied casualties were at least 12,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. But the important thing is that a foothold was established and the Germans knew the Allies were united and would do anything it would take to win. The price for that confidence was paid in blood. But the future of the fee world was saved on that fateful day.
The real success came from the unmitigated courage of young men who knew they might not come back. That is true courage. As the last remaining veterans make the trek to France for perhaps the last time, we salute their valor and thank them for saving what we take for granted. Every two bit politician will beat their breast and talk about how our freedoms are threatened today. This was real. Not empty chest thumping. Our collective asses were literally saved on that day.

BROMO SHINES AT “CODGER STADIUM”

Luzerne County Council member Edd Brominski. (Photo: LuLac archives)

The temptation for many in Luzerne County is to regard Luzerne County Council Vice Chairman as the old codger who bitches about everything. And there were some cases where the former Commissioner might have overplayed his hand. BUT there is no denying that the developments regarding the LCTA Ridership would never have come to light had Brominski not pointed the media and investigators in the proper direction. Sue Henry from WILK dug this thing up with a great deal of effort but it was Brominski who smelled a rat and made the case. Brominski might be regarded as a codger by some but he’s a smart old codger regarding this instance.

THE BONACCI MURDER CASE

Just an observation on the Frank Bonacci murder case where Jason Dominick was convicted of third degree murder in last month and Neil Pal is just starting to go on trial this week in Lackawanna County. Allegedly they killed Bonacci over a woman. Too bad someone did not have a time machine that would give these three a glimpse into their lives in forty years. What they became and how they aged. Not to sound sexist, but especially the woman. Bet no one would be standing trial, in prison or dead.

NEPA FREETHOUGHT SOCIETY TO DELIVER SECULAR INVOCATION AT JUNE 12, 2014 WILKES-BARRE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The NEPA Freethought Society — a social, educational, activist, and philosophical coalition of atheists, agnostics, humanists, secularists, and skeptics predicated on support and community which upholds the separation of church and state and promotes critical thinking — will deliver a secular invocation at Wilkes-Barre City Council’s 6:00 PM June 12, 2014 meeting.Justin Vacula — NEPA Freethought Society Spokesperson and Co-organizer — will deliver a secular invocation as an alternative to the Judeo-Christian government-led prayers offered by Councilwoman Maureen Lavelle at each council meeting.
Vacula has voiced objections to council’s prayers and council’s refusals to include alternative perspectives to prayer, both religious and non-religious, during several council meetings. Councilman Tony George, at a May 29, 2014 council meeting, although refusing time for Vacula to speak during openings of meetings, permitted Vacula to provide a secular invocation during five minutes of the public comment section.
Vacula, on June 1, explained his rationale for providing a secular invocation, “Wilkes-Barre City Council continues to exclusively provide government-led Judeo-Christian prayer during its meetings despite objections. Since council will not allow citizens to speak during openings of meetings, the proper response is to offer a secular invocation during the public comment section as a form of protest and an inclusive model which council can utilize.”
The secular invocation will not denigrate believers, critique religious belief, or rebuke members of city government Wilkes-Barre Mayor Thomas Leighton described as “people of faith” at a May 2013 council meeting, but rather will provide an inclusive message which council members and citizens can reflect upon to inform their thought processes and discourse. A voice for non-Christians delivering an alternative to Judeo-Christian government-led prayer, for what might be the first time, will be represented at Wilkes-Barre City Council meetings.
Members of the public — both religious and non-religious — are also encouraged to attend the June 12 council meeting and future council meetings to offer invocations of their own as alternatives to Judeo-Christian government-led prayers. Prospective attendees must arrive prior to start of meetings (preferably 15 minutes) to complete a provided speaker form lest they are not permitted to speak.
More information about the NEPA Freethought Society can be found on their new website located at www.meetup.com/NEPAFreethoughtSociety.

Cartwright Introduces Resolution Recognizing the Need to Address Domestic Water Availability and Use

Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: LuLac archives).

Representative Matt Cartwright introduced a resolution that addresses the challenges of “peak water”, a concept used to refer to the growing constraints of water availability, and use.
“I urge my colleagues to re-affirm the role of Congress as stewards of our natural resources. Presently, there are serious physical, environmental, and economical limitations on the availability of water,” said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. “We must utilize water in a responsible and sustainable manner to ensure that water resources remain available for current and future generations’ use.”
The resolution expresses the need to better understand water availability, sustainability, and security at a national scale. The legislation also highlights the urgent need to prioritize an assessment of the quantity and quality of water resources within the country.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, Choose Clean Water Coalition and Friends Committee on National Legislation have endorsed the legislation.

MEDIA MATTERS

PA LIVE AND D DAY

We’ll be on Pa Live tomorrow speaking about the 70th anniversary of D Day. Pa Live starts at 4pm on WBRE TV.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Brian Hughes speaks with Tara Lynn Koval about a problem brewing within the Pa. court system that could rival "Kids for Cash". It's called "Custody for Cash", and Tara will discuss her experiences with the courts.
Brian speaks with Rob Ohler and Chuck Edwards from the Chinchilla United Methodist Church about the 2nd annual "Ride for the Homeless" coming up on Saturday, June 21st.
And an encore of Brian's interview with Camile Fioti and Betty Sorchik about the 30th annual "Market on the Pond" event next Saturday at the Meadows Nursing Center in Dallas.
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.

ECTV

It's time for the annual "Roots & Rhythm Festival in Honesdale and ECTV Live Host David DeCosmo will welcome spokesmen Randy Kohrs and Brian Fulp to the program during the week of June 9th to talk about this year's entertainment lineup and plans forthe festival in general. The program is Live on Monday on Electric City Television whichis seen on Comcast Ch19 throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. It is also recorded and played back throughout the week at approximately Noon and Midnight each day.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

Sunday morning on Community Forum Mike Remish talks with Anna Cervenak and Jeff Box from the NEPA Alliance. You'll hear the program at 6 am on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA Sports Radio-The Game at 1340/1400am and 100.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.

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

On the 30th Anniversary, General Omar Bradley was the only commander living of the seven SHAEF commanders. Once more Bradley officiated at the D Day ceremonies in Normandy substituting for President Nixon who was having domestic issues of his own at home. This was not the first time Bradley was in this position, ten years earlier Bradley stood in for President Lyndon Johnson who was preoccupied with the Civil Rights battle in Congress……….

General Omar Bradley. (Photo: AP) 

Penn Central freight train derails inside mile-long Haverstraw Tunnel on ex-West Shore line; chemical fire breaks out in derailed tank cars that burns for three days before finally being extinguished with water cannons……..in Scranton new Council person Grace Shimmelfinig, the first woman elected to Scranton City Council continues to make the mark on the City’s legislative body….and forty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Band On the Run” by Paul McCartney and Wings.