The LuLac Edition #2796, December 18th, 2014

WHY GIVE AWAY MOON LAKE?

   (Photo: The Citizen's Voice).

The Luzerne County Council is hellbent on just giving Moon Lake Park away. The park for years has been a mainstay of recreation in the County. For years campers and individuals have used it for its location, convenience and great natural surroundings. Only one vote needs to be changed and I can recount many of the reasons here for you. Instead let me release for you e mails from Wil Toole who has given the Council members his own proposal (written previously here) for the revitalization of the park. Some council members responded, others did not. Here’s a few missives as to why we should not give away this resource:
To: Morelli: There is no reason that this property should be given away at this time. Lackawanna received 1.8 million and the fact that there is limited funding in the state under Corbett does not mean it will remain so. There is no way you can say the sate can do a better job when if fact they have made it clear that they have no money to invest in the property. They can't even commit to a boat launch for five years. There is no reason to make this commitment right now and as an elected official, giving away a county asset is just plain wrong. You don't have to do it and you don't have to stand on your decision to sell it just because you said you would. You can most certainly change your mind and allow the property to remain a county asset. Why are you forced to give it away now?
To Williams: The proposal I sent to each of you as well as Lawton and the local newspapers addressed the ability to create a well managed facility. the state has no money to do what is needed and considering that Lackawanna county was paid 1.8 million why should we give it away like it is something dirty we need to rid ourselves of? What is the difference if we maintain ownership and perhaps sell it to the state later or give it away now and still nothing will be done? You made a decision to give the land away but that decision is not written in stone. I just don't see how any elected official can make a decision to give away a county asset. It is simply wrong and I ask that you change your position and allow the property to remain in our hands till a better situation comes along.
To McGinley: Once the properties are given away, they are gone. Considering Lackawanna county "sold" their property to the state there is no reason on God's earth we should give ours away. Even if my ideas were not implemented the property should be held till the state can pay for it. We have a new governor with a totally different view of how things should be done.
To Sorokas: (on naming rights): The only thing I can say is that it is amazing that the collective wisdom of all concerned is that "no one" would pay to put there name on the park yet "no one" with authority has asked! The Arena has a name on it and there were several who wanted the opportunity and it went to the high bidder. (Sorokas replied she wanted to keep the park and the Tubs).
To Haas: Mr Brominski brought my Moon Lake proposal up and again not one member of council or the county manager would take the time to even acknowledge my efforts or show any interest. In the mean time, the only idea being considered by council is to give the park away. Haas replied writing:
I have not personally seen any deeds associated with the Moon Lake lands.
What I do know is that some parcels were deeded over to the county from private citizens; others were purchased via Project 70; some further came out of theta land.
Further, the land was used as collateral by the commissioners for a bond issue.
And concern over the fracking of state lands and what that could potentially mean for Moon Lake has come up in conversation.
That being said, my concern is that we know the park's full and accurate history in order to lay out the options. Ideally, I would like to keep the park in county hands and search for private streams of revenue to fund it, but unfortunately past decisions might have handicapped what we can do.
These are just a few of the exchanges with Council members. A few thoughts here.
First off slowly but surely I believe Luzerne Coiunty will grow out of this hole. But you don’t get there by giving something away.
Second: Tom Wolf is going to have a financial mess on his plate. The state does not have the traditional funding now to take this over. As Mr. Toole stated, give this “unconventional “ Governor the time to figure this out with the County Council.
Third: Toole and the late Cliff Madrack were city and borough administrators. Mr. Madrack ran the park. I truly feel it might be a great idea to at least heed the words of Mr. Toole and the late Mr. Madrack.

WOLF NAMES INAUGURATION OFFICERS

COLEMAN ON INAUGURAL TRANSITION

Exeter Mayor Cassandra Coleman. (Photo: Oprah Magazine).

Governor-elect Tom Wolf announced Governor Ed Rendell as Honorary Chair of his Inaugural Committee and Mary Isenhour and Reid Walsh as Co-Chairs.
"Today, I am proud to announce Governor Ed Rendell as Honorary Chair and Mary Isenhour and Reid Walsh as Co-Chairs of my Inaugural Committee," said Wolf.
Locally Exeter Mayor Cassandra Coleman and Wolf campaign Deputy Director was named as the only local to the Inaugural Transition Committee.

RELATIONS WITH CUBA IMPROVE

The more than fifty year ban on relations with the little island 90 miles away from us has been lifted. President Obama opened up diplomatic relations with the six decade protagonist of American Foreign policy.
We almost blew up the world over Cuba in 1962, there is proof we tried to kill the Dictator Fidel Castro a few times but instead wound up with our President dead. The men in power who fretted over Fidel Castro have long died but Fidel still is rocking on. We’ve treated other nations who have done worse to us better so I think it’s about time. A few weeks back I bought a sport coat that I had my eye on for a while. I looked at where it was made and it said, “Product of Vietnam”. I cringed remembering how that country and its war nearly tore this country apart at the seams. So I understand how some people who lived through the Cold War and Cuba's part in it feel. But this decision on Cuba brings us into this century.
One of LuLac’s Congressman Lou Barletta says this is not a good idea.
“I join all Americans in celebrating the release of Alan Gross after years of unjust imprisonment. It is in keeping with our tradition of leaving no one behind.
That said, the negotiated release should have come about without normalizing relations with the same nation which has oppressed its own people for decades. These are enormous concessions extended to a country that does not allow its citizens simple, basic freedoms that we, as Americans, too often take for granted. Instead, I fear this will only embolden the dictatorship, and teach others the lesson that all oppressive regimes need do is wait until the United States tires of standing firm for freedom. Further, I am concerned that the Obama Administration will use this move as the pretext for closing our facility at Guantanamo Bay, which would cause either the release of known terrorists, or the housing of them within our own borders.”
Well Congressman, I get what you’re saying but we’ve been in bed with countries for years that have oppressed its people. Maybe this will bring an end to the grip the Castro family had on this little island nation.

MEDIA MATTERS

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Colin Riccobon from the American Red Cross about the need for blood donations during the holiday season.
An encore of Brian's interview with David Adler from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation who discusses open enrollment to sign up for health insurance in Pennsylvania.
An encore of Brian's interview with home improvement expert Danny Lipford on keeping your home safe before, during & after a winter storm.
And an encore of Brian's interview with Dr. Mary Dundon about Flu Season.
Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X and Sports Radio 590, WARM, and 6:30am on Magic 93.

ECTV

Host David DeCosmo (left with Joanne Arduino, Director of the Dance Studio at the Ballet Theatre of Scranton. (Photo: ECTV LIve).

ECTV Live goes on location during the week of December 22nd as host David DeCosmo visits with Joanne Arduino, Director of the Dance Studio at the Ballet Theatre of Scranton, on stage at the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Preforming Arts at Marywood University. For the 39th consecutive year the Ballet Theater will present a series of free public performances of The Nutcracker! DeCosmo and
Ms. Arduino chat on stage as performers and stage hands prepare for a Dress rehearsal. ECTV Live can be seen several times each day on Comcast Ch 19 (61 in some areas) The Nutcracker Ballet will be presented at Marywood on December 26th., 27th., and 28th with two performances each day. Although
free, tickets are issued for each performance. They may be secured at the box office an hour and a half before each performance. The Ballet will be presented at 2pm and 7:30pm on the 26th., 27th., and 28th.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

WARRIOR SUMMIT OUTDOORS TACKLES NEPA VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

SSG (Retired) Erik Olson (right) ) and SGM (Retired) Mark Baylis (left) (Photo: WYLN)

Episode 6 of Warrior Summit Outdoors hosted by three tour Iraq/Afghanistan combat veteran SSG Erik Olson, Retired is set to premiere this week on WYLNTV35. In this episode, SSG Olson takes 23 wounded warriors on the buck hunt of a lifetime, an exclusive invitation-only veteran hunt held on the grounds of the State Correctional Institute (SCI) Dallas—the first time the grounds have been permitted to hunt in 15 years, this is followed by discussions about homeless veterans in our region.
Among the veterans on the hunt, SGM (Retired) Mark Baylis, a Special Forces Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran and co-founder of Valor Clinic Foundation. Valor Clinic Foundation is a 501C3 non-profit organization committed to improving access to veteran benefits, PTSD support and food, clothing, shelter to homeless veterans as they work towards the transition to civilian life.
In November, Valor Clinic Foundation fed and clothed over 120 homeless veterans. They host events frequently, providing necessities to hundreds of homeless veterans each year across northeastern PA. Two months ago, they took their mission further: they opened the Major Paul Syverson Veteran Sanctuary in Jonas, PA. The sanctuary has 13 rooms to house veterans for 90-120 days at a time to get them on their feet and transitioned back into civilian life. Many of the homeless veterans it serves are found by SGM Mark Baylis himself as he treks through woods and scours under bridges across NEPA for our nation’s forgotten heroes. The veteran sanctuary is named after a soldier who served with SGM Baylis and was killed in action.
Following the deer hunt to open this episode, SSG Olson and SGM Baylis cook up a venison meal in SSG Olson’s home and enjoy the holiday meal along with a combat veteran Valor Clinic recently accepted as a resident in their veteran sanctuary.
SSG Erik Olson and his wife, Tiffany Cloud Olson, co-executive producer of Warrior Summit Outdoors, are big supporters of Valor Clinic Foundations work and run a PSA about their organization in every episode of Warrior Summit Outdoors in order to raise local awareness about veteran homelessness. To learn more about the work of the non-profit Valor Clinic Foundation and what you can do to help our nation’s forgotten, homeless heroes this holiday season, go to www.valorclinic.org
You can see Warrior Summit Outdoors on WYLNTV35 all month these days/times: Wednesday 9PM, Thursday 6:30PM, Sat 1:30PM, Sunday NOON and 10PM, Monday 6:30PM and the show can also be watched on Lehigh Valley Cable and Communications covering the Allentown marketplace and you can live stream the show during these regular viewing times on WYLNTV.com. To learn more about the show go to: www.couragehealsthesoul.com and check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/warriorsummitoutdoors

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.

CORBETT’S SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME

Every Wednesday at 5PM, Steve Corbett shines the light on a Public official with his “Somebody’s Watching Me” segment. Corbett picks an alleged public servant to eye ball and observe. Batten down the lawn furniture in the driveway and that e mail machine. There is nowhere to hide when “somebody’s Watching”. Wednesdays at 5 on WILK’s Corbett program.

Our 1974 logo

1974

Nelson A Rockefeller sworn-in as 41st VP…………

Ethiopia becomes socialist one-party state.. George Harrison releases his "Dark Horse" album in UK..."The Godfather Part II", starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, is released……It is ironic that forty years later Cuba and the U.S. are coming to terms for an understanding in its complicated relationship. Cuba was a focal part of GF II..........

Raiders RB Clarence Davis somehow catches the game-winning touchdown pass among "the sea of hands" of three Dolphins defenders with 24 seconds left in the game, eliminating Miami from the playoffs after they had made it to the Super Bowl in each of the last 3 seasons……in Pennsylvania Governor Shapp says that his second term inauguration will highlight the strengths of Pennsylvania business…and in Luzerne County party Chair Robert Loftus says that he believes the team of Crossin and Wideman will once more be running as a team in the '75  County elections despite various disagreements in their second term together and 40 years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Get Dancin”, a wild and raucous song by none other than Disco-Tex & his Sex-O-Lettes.