The LuLac Edition #2869, April 2nd, 2015

THE IRAN DEAL

There is a deal in place for that Iran deal. Negotiators have until June 30 to finalize an agreement but, while technical details remain to be worked out, the broad framework of the deal is in place. See I always thought a deadline was a deadline. But that’s me.
Iran has agreed to tight restrictions on its nuclear program that will close off any pathway to building a nuclear weapon, and it has agreed to intrusive inspections to verify compliance. In exchange, major world powers, including the United States and the UN will lift certain sanctions on Iran.
Okay, we’ll see how this goes. I’m not going to go as far as Senator Bob Menendez who is sponsoring a bill to oppose it. My two objections are this, I don’t trust Iran to do the right thing regarding the U.S., the West and Israel. Second I fear the agreement will not be worth the paper it is written on. I hope I’m wrong.

LAWTON’S NEWS

Luzerne County Manager Bob Lawton stood in the rotunda of the Courthouse the other day and declared that Luzerne County has some good news financially. Standard & Poor’s, a nationally recognized rating organization gave the thumbs up to the county. What this means is that this credit rating will enable the county to restructure its debt. The county hasn’t had its own credit rating for at least two decades because past administrations were buying costly bond insurance and paying higher interest rates.
What the rating does is give the County breathing room to restructure and pay down the debt. No one had expected this to come this soon and even Lawton says it surprised many. The thing people need to understand about this restructuring is that we are paying down the debt. This Council and its two managers were thrown under the bus by previous administrations who thought they were dealing with play money. As Lawton said it is a step in the right direction. But it’s still all about the debt. And the debt needs to get paid down. So this is a good thing. There will be those who will accuse Lawton of grandstanding. But twenty years is the number to remember. Hate all you want but twenty years.

ONCE A WISE GUY…..

(Photo: pyxurz.blogspot.com)
So if you heard actor Paul Sorvino with WILK’s Steve Corbett the other day, you heard him give a soliloquy that surprised even the most ardent fans of both the actor and Mr. Corbett. A few years back Sorvino said he would make a movie set in Scranton called “The Trouble With Calli”. Former Lackawanna County Commissioner Bob Cordaro was reportedly credited as a producer. The County, the Lac, not the Lu kicked in half a million dollars to support the effort. The County never got the money back or even a hint of what was in it for them other than Cordaro’s credit and the economic boost that came with the few days of filming.
The intrepid Corbett who had Sorvino’s cell number from a previous encounter when Jason Miller was still alive decided to call him and ask the actor if he was planning to do reimburse the County Treasury for the investment. Sorvino when reached earlier advised Corbett he’d call back at 335pm.
When Sorvino called back, The Wise Guy was prepared. He told Corbett in no uncertain terms that he promised the city and county a movie and he did just that. He made a movie. Period. He then told Corbett that he and Chris Kelly of the Times tribune killed the movie and he just found out earlier in the day that any plans to distribute the movie were now dead. When Corbett started to ask him questions The Wise Guy hung up on him but not before calling Shamus’ boy a “son of a bitch”. This all made for sensational theatre and clearly illustrates the power and entertainment of local talk radio. But if anyone thinks the money is coming back, it isn’t. For those who blame Sorvino for scamming the public and Corbett and Kelly for killing the movie, you are wasting energy and breath. Meanwhile Sorvino has gone on the offensive nationally. Check out this link: https://news.yahoo.com/paul-sorvino-bad-publicity-killed-taxpayer-funded-film-142036733.html
The people who should be accountable are those in the Lackawanna County government. But those guys are in jail. Sorvino unless otherwise noted somewhere in a contract did everything he said he was going to do, make a movie. If there is no record of the transaction (Mr. Durkin who is supposed to keep track of this stuff can’t even find the bloody paperwork) then Sorvino is not liable. He may not be the saint to some that he was but there is no smoking gun to accuse him of fraud. At least now.
Earlier in the day when Corbett first called Sorvino, he asked politely if it was a bad time. Sorvino said yes but would call the talk show host back. But not before coming up with a viable excuse that had a germ of truth. When he was called on it by Corbett he turned it around and went on the offensive. Then played the victim, then played the punk. There’s a reason they call them wise guys. Sorvino has played plenty of roles like that but Tuesday afternoon I have a feeling he wasn’t acting.

BUY BONDS AGAIN

Congressman Matt Cartwright. (Photo: LuLac archives).

As a kid growing up, my parents bought bonds for my sister and me. hey were currency that later on matured. Congressman Matt Cartwright has been working on legislation regarding this American financial tradition.
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright re-introduced the bipartisan Save Access to a Valuable Investment Needed to Generate Savings (SAVINGS) Act with the support of 16 colleagues.
First introduced by Cartwright during the 113th Congress, the SAVINGS Act would prohibit Treasury from discontinuing the Tax-Time Savings Bond Program for five years unless the Department implements a universally accessible non-electronic alternative.
Currently, the only means of purchasing paper bonds is through the U.S. Treasury’s Tax-Time Savings Bond Program which allows individuals to use a portion of their federal tax refund to purchase savings bonds. Treasury has committed to maintaining the Tax-Time Savings Bond Program through the 2015 tax season only.
“Savings bonds represent a powerful and patriotic savings vehicle for millions of American families,” said Rep. Cartwright. “Treasury’s decision to end this program would severely restrict access to savings bonds for many low-income families. Every family deserves access to an affordable savings vehicle and an opportunity to achieve financial security.”
The termination of the Tax-Time Savings Bond Program would restrict the purchase of savings bonds to online purchase only, which would cut off savings bond access to the approximately 20 percent of Americans who lack internet access, and the more than 10 million Americans who do not have a bank account.
"Generations of Americans have given and received US Savings Bonds as an act of patriotism and thrift,” said Timothy Flacke, Executive Director of Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund, “and by supporting the SAVINGS Act, members of Congress can ensure tens of millions of Americans continue to save, invest and build financial security."
Supporting Organizations: American Forest & Paper Association, Aspen Institute, Baltimore CASH Campaign, Consumers for Paper Options, Corporation for Enterprise Development, Doorways to Dreams Fund Maryland CASH Campaign, Michigan Economic Impact Coalition, National League of Cities, Nehemiah Gateway, Rural Dynamics

MEDIA MATTERS

RELIGION AND POLITICS ON PA LIVE



SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine

Brian Hughes speaks with Nina and Mary from Leadership Wilkes Barre about "Team Positive Prescription",

and their upcoming fundraiser in Pittston next Saturday.

Brian speaks with Gayle Voytush Klink, about her film project based on the life of Donna Garze of Schuylkill County, who became one of the top female amputee golfers in the U.S.

And Brian speaks with travel guru Chris McGuinness about the Best Travel Deals for Spring.

Sunday Magazine, Sunday morning at 5am on NASH-FM 93.7, 5:30am on 97BHT, 6am on 97.9X & Sports Radio 590, WARM and 6:25am on Magic 93.

ECTV

Jennifer Moran of the West Pittston Library joins ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender to unveil the libraries lineup of special Spring activities. ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast Channel 19 several times each day throughout the week. Scheduled showings are at Noon and Midnight each day with additional 6pm screenings on available dates.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

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.

1965

Our 1965 logo

Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 to state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama...A car bomb explodes in front of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, killing 22 and wounding 183 others...US ordered the 1st combat troops to Vietnam…………37th Academy Awards - "My Fair Lady", Rex Harrison & Julie Andrews
win……Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Ray Shafer says it is too early to speculate on the 1966 Governor’s race but did not deny he would seek the top job after current Governor Bill Scranton’s term runs out….and fifty years ago this week, a (March 26th) truck loses control down Moosic Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania, killing the driver. This accident later inspired the 1974 Harry Chapin song, "30,000 Pounds of Bananas"……………

plus fifty years ago the number one song in America and LuLac land was “I'm Telling You Now” by Freddie & the Dreamers.