The LuLac Edition #3483, April 30th, 2017

WENDY COMINSKY MAKES RUN FOR LUZERNE COUNTY COUNCIL

Wendy Cominsky (Photo: Facebook)

Wendy Cominsky is a mother, small business owner, hair stylist and writer. She motivated, diligent, passionate and persistent. Cominsky is running for Luzerne County Council and has been a bundle of energy since her announcement.
The thing that I like about Cominsky is that she is very passionate as well as Independent. Now I know that since the County Council started that we’ve elected some Independent minded people without previous experience. But some proved to be less than stellar and obstructionists. But Cominsky seems to be the real deal. She has no big organization or cronies backing her up and that’s good enough for me. Here is Wendy in her own words from her Face book page.
I know doing the right thing is seldom easy and yet I do it anyway. I always keep future generations in mind when making decisions today. I support the working class, because I am the working class.
Over the years I have, on numerous occasions, stood up for the greatest good of our community. I have fought to protect our local environment, property values, the safety and education of our children. I don’t need to tell you I “will” fight for what’s right because I have been fighting, for many, many years. I will be able to do more for our county as a whole by being elected to Luzerne County Council.
There are many issues that need to be dealt with in Luzerne County and I believe the empowerment of our communities is the first step of progress. One way to do this is to lower, if not, abolish crime. We need to increase the number of our full time police officers instead of making them work double shifts. Any person willing to risk their life to protect ours is worth investing in. This also goes for fire fighters, paramedics military and prison guards.
Another way to lower crime is to create a prison system that “rehabs” inmates thereby preventing repeat offenders. By doing this, we will lower overpopulation of the prisons and future crime rates. Another way to lower crime rates is to unite neighbors. I believe community gardens are great start and asking the Agriculture board to work with the Recreational Facilities and redevelopment boards will combine resources and increase efficiency.
Reaching out to experienced, non-profit organizations for guidance to achieve these goals is also important. For instance the HandsOn Network is “led by a dynamic and diverse team that blends business smarts, network experience and passion for the sector.” Their mission is to make the world a better place through volunteering.
Luzerne County is around $300 million in debt. The county has been making progress in paying it down, however, I believe it can be done faster. The standard practice of making budget cuts and raising taxes, although effective, is crippling our community. We need to start thinking outside the box to raise revenues that offset or prevent more tax increases. We have beautiful seasonal landscapes, a plethora of outdoor activities, diverse spectrum of cultures, minor league sports teams, wineries, multiple artistic events, music venues and small town family oriented communities, all of which are helpful for tourism and attractive to families looking to make roots.
Instead of alluring more big box stores, I would love to see the development of locally owned small business. Towns like Jim Thorpe, Manyunk and Ithaca are perfect examples of what I envision. With dedication and hard work I believe Luzerne County is capable of this, in a short period of time.
We have three universities and two colleges in the greater Wilkes Barre area and should be working with them to broaden our resources and development throughout the county. Thirty years ago the hillside of Scranton was a very dangerous place, since the expansion of the University of Scranton, neighborhoods are safer and small businesses are booming. We need to “get more bang for our buck” if we want to increase revenue for the county and local businesses. I believe working with these universities and college will help our county achieve that. For instance, most businesses don’t realize students are seeking internships for “experience” to put on their resumes upon graduation. Many businesses and local government agencies would benefit greatly with interns. Wilkes University has the Small Business Development Center, we should be working with them to create growth of small businesses throughout the county. LCCC Architectural programs could be working with the Redevelopment Authority in coming up with new, innovative ideas for restoring or rebuilding abandoned properties. Also, working with trade schools and unions would offer hands on training while allowing students to work on smaller county projects. These are simply “ideas” for a starting point, we should reach out and ask these institutions what ideas they have to efficiently create prosperity in our communities.
We also should be considering alternative energy as well as protecting what is left of our natural resources. Apparently some people did not learn their lesson from the coal companies. Tunkhannock is seeing a dramatic drop in local business since the gas drilling craze is fading. When we run out of gas, like the coal mines, those companies will be gone and many people will be without jobs and many businesses without customers. This can cause economic collapse and we need to prevent it. Everybody was sold on gas because it would bring jobs to the area and lower energy costs. Here’s the exciting news: so will the development of renewable energy sources! By shifting our focus to renewable energy, we will lower costs and still have fossil fuel energy to rely on in times of crisis. Environmentally speaking, I believe that clean water will become more valuable than gold in the not so distant future. We absolutely need to protect our natural springs as if they were our children, because frankly, our children will pay the price if we don’t.
A challenge I have noticed is that our local government has been doing the same thing over and over and over while expecting a different outcome. Over the next few months I will be tackling individual issues the county faces and posting them in the notes section of this page so that you will be able to cast your vote confidently. There are so many innovative ideas I have for growth and progress in Luzerne County, I hope you will give me a chance to show you that this area, our home, is truly capable of great things.
Here’s a link to her Facebook page for further information on her candidacy.
https://www.facebook.com/WCominskyLCC/

BLOG FEST RETURNS

SATURDAY

MAY 6th

Blogfest returns May 6th at 5pm at Old Tyme Charlie’s in Plains. There was a plan to invite all the U.S. Congress and Pennsylvania State Legislature. But there was an issue with accommodations in the basement of Charley's to house that many lawmakers. Plus Security issues would even strap the Casino funded rich township who wanted no part of of dead weight in their town.Blog fans, bloggers, candidates and the lackeys they employ will also be on hand that night. Come one, come all. 

BARLETTA ON CNN'S SMERCONISH

Congressman Lou Barletta was on The Michael Smerconish program yesterday essentially spouting the Trump party line about the President being a builder and yeah we need the wall.  Barletta said that he's worried about illegal immigration AFTER Trump leaves office. That was said after Smerconish said that perhaps people were afraid to illegally come in because Trump was carrying a big stick. 
The fact is that illegal immigration has been decreasing through the last 8 years but no REPUBLICAN will ever concede that. At the end though, Barletta gave a shout out to Senape's Bakery Pizza nationwide. Smerconish, whose mother is from Hazleton and father is from Auden Ried knew the product. Lou held up a box and both laughed. 
Now I like Lou, hate his policies though. As for the pizza, I've said it before. I think Senape's is soooooo overrated. To me, (and whatever friend I have left in the Hazleton area after this election will disagree), you might as well take a piece of Wonder Bread, throw ketchup on it, sprinkle Kraft Cheese on it and that would taste better. My opinion. 

Anyway, here's Lou and Mike with the iconic pizza box. 

The LuLac Edition #3482, April 29th, 2017

TRUMP’S NON ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 100 DAYS

(Photo: CNN)

President Trump travels to Pennsylvania today to essentially try to compete with the White House Correspondents Dinner. The thin skinned leader decided he couldn’t take the barbs of a free press. Trump has even said that the 100 days marker was no big deal but he promised so much in that time frame.
He did pick a Supreme Court Justice and got him confirmed but really THE REPUBLICANS stole that seat from President Obama. That said, here’s what he promised and didn’t do.
1. Embark on a massive $1 trillion effort to rebuild the country's infrastructure, including airports, roads and bridges.
Not even started. A lot of talking but virtually no action and no plan. The great builder has done squat. I’m not joking here, James May from PennDot could give him more of a plan with details than anyone he has at his disposal in private or the public sector.
2. Slap a 35 percent tariff on goods from companies that ship production abroad. Force companies like Apple and Nabisco to make their products in the US.
That hasn’t happened. But hey Trump, go for it and we’ll be paying a thousand bucks for an IPhone and 20 bucks for a pack of Lorna Doone’s.
3.Announce his intention to renegotiate or withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The great negotiator seems to have lost his stones on this one.
4. Pass a tax overhaul with a plan that would reduce rates dramatically both for corporations and the middle class.
Not even begun. He offered an outline with tax cuts for the very rich but nothing else. If whatever he proposes doesn’t get done, remember he has the majority in both the House and Senate. So far, nada.
5. Cancel payments to UN climate change programs and pull out of the Paris climate accord.
This he will do because it will damage the future environmental balance of our planet in the years to come.
6. Designate China a currency manipulator, setting the stage for possible trade penalties.
No, didn’t do this. The Chinese leader was nice to him and ate his delicious chocolate cake so that was good enough for Mr. Tough Talk to cave.
7. Immediately suspend the Syrian refugee program.
Tried but the courts blocked him the first time. Then the administration took it out of the second action which is still stalled in court. But he did bomb Syria because he saw children getting gassed. However he still won’t allow them in the United States.
8. Inform his generals they have 30 days to submit a new plan for defeating the Islamic State terrorist group.
And how’s that going? Tick tock! 60 days overdue.
9. Build an "impenetrable physical wall" along the length of the southern border, and make Mexico pay for it.
Not happening, never will. I’ve said this from the start when he brought up this preposterous idea. There are private property owners on each state’s borders as well as county wide building codes. And Mexico will NOT pay for it.
10. Cancel visas for foreign countries that won't take back criminals deported by the US.
No word on this yet.
11. Propose a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress.
Uh, he should think about term limiting himself!. But if he wants to try and do this, maybe his friends at The Freedom Caucus will have something to talk about.
12. Negotiate the release of all US prisoners held in Iran, even before taking office. Renegotiate or leave the Iran nuclear deal.
No prisoners released. Still there.
13. "My first day in office, I'm going to ask Congress to put a bill on my desk getting rid of this disastrous law and replacing it with reforms that expand choice, freedom, affordability. You're going to have such great health care at a tiny fraction of the cost."
First bill went nowhere. Second bill, same place.
Health care at the fraction of the cost? Does he even know how Insurance companies work?
Here’s what I don’t understand. The REPUBLICAN Congress voted numerous times to repeal Obama care under President Obama. But they can’t or won’t under their own guy? Maybe the REPUBLICANS should not be trusted with Congress.
14. MelaniaTrump will join him at The White House after her son Baron’s school year ends.
NOPE. According to Today on NBC, As First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump has revealed that she won't be following her husband to The White house; instead she will continue to reside in New York City. The reason for this decision has been widely debated with many believing it was to keep her son in school. Although her decision will in fact mean this, the admission from Melania about her newest business has shocked many.
Here’s her deal: After fighting a personal battle for many years over the negative effects aging was having on her skin, Melania decided to take matters into her own hands by producing her own range of anti-aging creams. Core Anti-Wrinkle Complex and Core Advanced Eye Treatment are now available worldwide and Melania feels it necessary to stay in New York and oversee the day-to- day business.
So Eleanor Roosevelt was FDR’s legs as she traveled near and far to give him reports on the state of the nation and the world. Jackie Kennedy restored The White House, Lady Bird Johnson tried to beautify America. Nancy Reagan fought drugs. Betty Ford raised awareness on breast cancer. Both Barbara and Laura Bush promoted children’s literacy. Michelle Obama advocated for childhood nutrition.
This one wants to end the plague that are facial wrinkles with her own business? Really? This confirms many suspicions that this marriage is pretty much an arranged sham. It also confirms the talk that EVERY member of the Trump family wants to enrich themselves while he’s President.
The Trump administration’s first 100 days have been a sad, pathetic joke on America. The ironic part is that United States voters wrote the punch line.

The LuLac Edition #3481, April 27th, 2017

NANCY BERG

(Nancy Berg in her Hatchy Milatchy days. (Photos: WNEP TV archives)

People of a certain age here in LuLac land are all children of TV. Most of us born from 1949 through 1960 had a TV set. My experience with it has been well documented on this site. My father would be watching news conferences on TV and I’d sit right along with him as leaders of the free world rambled on in sentences I couldn’t comprehend. But I knew it was important and exciting.
Right around the time I was four though, I saw someone on TV that I understood. Impeccably dressed and groomed as well as friendly and assuring, Nancy Berg became my daily visitor to 37 Dewitt every morning. I’d have breakfast and then sit at a small table in a matching wooden chair waiting for the opening. God forbid if the Channel was not changed in time from The Today Show (which I also caught but wasn’t clear on yet) and I missed even a moment of "The Land of Hatchy Milatchy."
Nancy opened the gates and this program was Sesame Street before there was Sesame Street. There was the big clock. Big. If you couldn’t tell time by the end of the first few months, well let’s just say you had an issue Nancy couldn’t solve. There was the giant tooth brush looming reminding you of a responsibility that at times you hated. Then there was that podium where you just knew someone was going to do or say something important.
Books had always been in my family thankfully. But Nancy’s book was huge and when she opened it you stepped into a land of make believe. But the blockbuster for me was when I heard and saw my name on the TV for the very first time.
It was February 19th, 1959. The folks at HM (God I can imagine the late Hal Berg yelling “What the heck is HM???”, okay, "Hatchy Milatchy," ran a type of promotion where if you drew something, they’d put it on the air. Then when it was your birthday, it was shown on the screen with your name. Pretty good, huh?
Wait, it got better!
Then Nancy intoned, “We understand that David is a nice boy and because it is his birthday today, he should look behind the blue couch in the parlor and he’ll have a surprise!”
Hold it. First she says my name and then she knows the color of the blue couch. We just got that couch in January! 

Tearing into that room, there was the present just like Nancy said. And here I am with said gift!
Now this was all pre arranged by my parents and the good folks at "Hatchy Milatchy". But I didn’t know that and that was the magic of it all.
Years later Nancy left the show and so did I. Nancy went on to work with her late, great husband,  Hal in Advertising. When I worked at United Way she was on a few committees and was very cordial. I never brought up my blue couch gift because we had all moved on to another era.
But when I heard about Nancy's death, that’s all I could remember. My encounter with her via TV. It is telling that I remember it to this day. But truth be told, as much as I enjoy remembering it, Nancy Berg was a luxury for me.
I always said that the biggest lottery you could win in your life is the family you are born into or be adopted, whatever the case may be. My parents and Nancy made my magic happen.
But Nancy Berg's true contribution were to those children of my era that weren’t as lucky as I was. These were the kids who needed that imagination, that smile, that assurance.
Nancy Berg meant a lot to me but I’m guessing that there were countless kids my age, lonely, afraid and unloved, that looked at Nancy Berg's visits as a Godsend. It was those kids that Nancy Berg meant the world to! 

Here’s her obituary.

Nancy Berg, original hostess of The Land of Hatchy Milatchy on WNEP-TV during the late 1950s and early 1960s, passed away peacefully at her home in Lancaster County on Tuesday evening, April 18, 2017.
Mrs. Berg moved from Kingston, Luzerne County to Lancaster County on her retirement to be near family. During the 1950s she was an on-air personality at WILK radio and along with her husband, the late Hal Berg, co-hosted the Song Shop evening show. 

The couple were pioneers in the local television industry, co-hosting Hal 'n Nancy's Carousel on WILK-TV. Mrs. Berg was perhaps best known as Miss Nancy, the original hostess of The Land of Hatchy Milatchy on WNEP-TV in Wilkes-Barre before she moved on to host The Land of Ziggy Zoggo on WBKB-TV in Chicago, also as Miss Nancy.
After retiring from broadcasting Mrs. Berg and her husband were the proprietors of Hal Berg Advertising Agency in Wilkes-Barre for many years. Nancy Berg continued running the ad agency after her husband died in 1976, until her retirement in 1997.
She is survived by her daughters Robyn (Ben) Lazarus of Lancaster and Jody (Robert) Leidigh of Pittsburgh, grandchildren Matthew (Julia) Lazarus of Philadelphia, and Alexander Lazarus of West Chester. She is also survived by Kate, Marty, Barbara and the whole Quinn family.
A life celebration service will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17604.

IVANKA HISSED IN GERMANY

Turns out that First Designer Ivanka Trump was hissed in Germany on a recent trip. The reaction came when the Designer Daughter said her father was a tremendous champion of supporting families. If they can see through him, Germany, why can't we? Oh wait they've had experience with megalomaniac leaders. Yep, waiting fopr Fox News to say there were paid hissers. You watch. 

2018 FORECAST: NOT A SLAM DUNK FOR DEMS

AOL reports that 68% of Republican voters in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania — all states that went for President Barack Obama in 2012 and President Donald Trump in 2016 — think the president intentionally lies or exaggerates the truth.
A survey of likely voters in the four swing states released on Tuesday by public affairs firm Firehouse Strategies found that 31% of Republican voters believe he doesn't lie, while 51% say that he exaggerates only with good intent.
Exaggerates only with good intent? These are the same dumb ass voters who believed Hillary Clinton lied at every turn. These are the same voters who know he's full of shit but give him a pass.  Who exaggerates with good intent? Bullshit is bullshit!
Notably, an even larger majority of voters believe Trump is no worse than other Republican politicians. 84% believe congressional Republicans lie or exaggerate and fewer of these voters believe that Republican lawmakers never lie than that Trump never lies.
In addition, most Republican and independent voters say they will still vote for Republican candidates in the 2018 midterms, regardless of whether they are able to keep major legislative promises between now and then. Less than 10% of these voters said they would not vote Republican in 2018 if the administration fails to build a border wall, and just 15% said they would not vote Republican if Trump fails to pass tax reform.
But here's the thing. The Democrats will not have a cakewalk because the districts are gerry mandered and people, even those smarting from the hurt the Trump administration might refuse to admit that they were taken for fools. 
Never underestimate the vanity as well as the stubbornness of the American people. 

WAGNER HOLDS SIZABLE LEAD IN GOP PRIMARY IN BOTH 2-WAY AND 3-WAY BALLOT TESTS AGAINST POTENTIAL OPPONENTS. WAGNER HAS A RAPIDLY GROWING STATEWIDE BASE DESPITE NEVER RUNNING STATEWIDE

. State Senator Scott Wagner (Photo: Papolitics.com)

The Scott Wagner for Governor campaign committee released findings from a recent internal poll conducted by the campaign on the state of the 2018 GOP Gubernatorial Primary.
The poll, conducted by McLaughlin and Associates, confirmed what the campaign has been hearing and seeing on the ground since Senator Wagner announced his candidacy.
Republican voters across the state are lining up in support of Scott Wagner’s candidacy.
“Scott Wagner is the clear front-runner in the 2018 GOP Gubernatorial Primary. He holds sizable leads among all opponents in different matchup tests and has a solid base of support across the Commonwealth that no other candidate can lay credit to,” explains Campaign strategist Ryan Shafik.
The exact findings can be found in the pollster memo below or by clicking here -
http://wagnerforgov.com/gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/PA-Statewide-GOP-Wagner-4-24-17-Executive-Summary_V4-3.pdf

BLOG FEST RETURNS 
SATURDAY 
MAY 6th

Blogfest returns May 6th at 5pm at Old Tyme Charlie’s in Plains. There was a plan to invite all the U.S. Congress and Pennsylvania State Legislature. But there was an issue with accommodations in the basement of Charley's to house that many lawmakers.  Plus Security issues would even strap the Casino funded rich township who wanted no part of of dead weight in their town.Blog fans, bloggers, candidates and the lackeys they employ will also be on hand that night. Come one, come all.

HAGGERTY FOR DISTRICT JUDGE HOLDS MEET AND GREET ON APRIL 22ND

The Haggerty for District Judge Committee has held a “Meet and Greet” at Konefal’s Restaurant, 458 Main Street, Edwardsville on Saturday, April 22nd. The event was well attended.
Haggerty is a candidate for the District Judge seat which serves Edwardville and Kingston. The five-term Mayor of Kingston will be on both the Democratic and Republican ballots in the May 16th primary election.

GREAT AMERICAN CLEAN UP

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine.
Brian Hughes speaks with Bob Borwick and Mary Beth Allen from Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity about their 2 big events coming up next weekend.
Brian speaks with Dr. Willie Lawrence about high blood pressure and how it could lead to heart problems and stroke.
Magic 93's Frankie in the Morning speaks with Caitlin Dunbar from Candy's Place about their 20th Annual Walk, coming up on Saturday May 20th at Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre.
And Brian speaks with Brian Kursonis, who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers Disease at the age of 54, and his efforts to draw awareness to the disease.
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 6:25am on Magic 93.

ECTV

ECTV Hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender welcome Michelle Wheeler of the Lackawanna College Environmental Center to the program during the week of May 1st. Ms Wheeler will outline special programs and projects to be offered at the Center this Summer. ECTV Live can be seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) and is aired during the Noon, 6pm and Midnight hours each day of the week.
Following Monday's Live program the show will become available on Electric City Television's YouTube channel which can be viewed on your computer.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests will be Peter Ouellette and Eric Bieski from RepresentUs. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA Sports Radio-The Game 1400/1440 am and 106.7 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. The show will run Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on WILK, and on KRZ, Froggy and Max 102 early Sunday morning.

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 he heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris. 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

Bobby's show is back again live this Sunday @6PM on The River.

1977

Our 1977 logo.

Bloody riots in Soweto, South Africa…….HCC, Hobby Computer Club, forms in Netherlands….. 28 people are killed in the Guatemala City air disaster…… Christopher Boyce convicted for selling secrets…..Andreas Baader and members of terrorist group the Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Gang) jailed for life after a trial lasting nearly 2 years in Stuttgart, Germany……… The Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure is signed…..Billy Graham beats Bruno Sammartino in Baltimore, to become WWF champ…… Ron Cey sets record of 29 RBIs in April……. State Senator Mike O’Pake says he would not run for Governor but would certainly look at the second spot if offered in the coming 1978 election…..in Lackawanna County the GOP team of Lugar and Pettinato seem to be coasting toward a win in the GOP primary for County Commissioner and forty years ago the number one song in "LuLac land" and America was “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer.

The LuLac Edition #3480, April 26th, 2017

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our "Write On Wednesday" logo

HATE TRUMP BUT DON'T HATE HIS VOTERS

Mrs. LuLac made sure I read this article by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. As a matter of fact, she actually watched me read it. The columnist has some very valid points and I'd like to share it with you. I never thought Trump was the one to lead this country. He is dangerous, intellectually lazy and not familiar at all with his responsibilities. His voters made their choice. I have criticized them but I respect their choice. I just hope that there is a meeting in the middle of this Presidency at some point. That's what Kristof seems to want but this is a divided country. Trump has done little to unite it. But time, like all things will tell.
Here's the article along with the link.

MY MOST UNPOPULAR IDEA: BE NICE TO TRUMP VOTERS

When I write about people struggling with addictions or homelessness, liberals exude sympathy while conservatives respond with snarling hostility to losers who make “bad choices.”
When I write about voters who supported President Trump, it’s the reverse: Now it’s liberals who respond with venom, hoping that Trump voters suffer for their bad choice.
“I absolutely despise these people,” one woman tweeted at me after I interviewed Trump voters. “Truly the worst of humanity. To hell with every one of them.”
Maybe we all need a little more empathy?
I wrote my last column from Oklahoma, highlighting voters who had supported Trump and now find that he wants to cut programs that had helped them. One woman had recovered from a rape with the help of a women’s center that stands to lose funding, another said that she would sit home and die without a job program facing cutbacks, and so on. Yet every one of them was still behind Trump — and that infuriated my readers.
“I’m just going to say it,” tweeted Bridgette. “I hate these people. They are stupid and selfish. Screw them. Lose your jobs, sit home and die.”
Another: “ALL Trump voters are racist and deplorable. They’ll never vote Democratic. We should never pander to the Trumpites. We’re not a party for racists.”
The torrent of venom was, to me, as misplaced as the support for Trump from struggling Oklahomans. I’m afraid that Trump’s craziness is proving infectious, making Democrats crazy with rage that actually impedes a progressive agenda.
One problem with the Democratic anger is that it stereotypes a vast and contradictory group of 63 million people. Sure, there were racists and misogynists in their ranks, but that doesn’t mean that every Trump voter was a white supremacist. While it wasn’t apparent from reading the column, one of the Trump voters I quoted was black, and another was Latino. Of course, millions of Trump voters were members of minorities or had previously voted for Barack Obama.
“Some people think that the people who voted for Trump are racists and sexists and homophobes and just deplorable folks,” Senator Bernie Sanders, who has emerged as a surprising defender of Trump voters, said the other day. “I don’t agree.”
The blunt truth is that if we care about a progressive agenda, we simply can’t write off 46 percent of the electorate. If there is to be movement on mass incarceration, on electoral reform, on women’s health, on child care, on inequality, on access to good education, on climate change, then progressives need to win more congressional and legislative seats around the country. To win over Trump voters isn’t normalizing extremism, but a strategy to combat it.
Right now, 68 percent of partisan legislative chambers in the states are held by Republicans. About 7 percent of America’s land mass is in Democratic landslide counties, and 59 percent is in Republican landslide counties.
I asked the people I interviewed in Oklahoma why they were sticking with Trump. There are many reasons working-class conservatives vote against their economic interests — abortion and gun issues count heavily for some — but another is the mockery of Democrats who deride them as ignorant bumpkins. The vilification of these voters is a gift to Trump.
Nothing I’ve written since the election has engendered more anger from people who usually agree with me than my periodic assertions that Trump voters are human, too. But I grew up in Trump country, in rural Oregon, and many of my childhood friends supported Trump. They’re not the hateful caricatures that some liberals expect, any more than New York liberals are the effete paper cutouts that my old friends assume.
Maybe we need more junior year “abroad” programs that send liberals to Kansas and conservatives to Massachusetts.
Hatred for Trump voters also leaves the Democratic Party more removed from working-class pain. For people in their 50s, mortality rates for poorly educated whites have soared since 2000 and are now higher than for blacks at all education levels. Professors Angus Deaton and Anne Case of Princeton University say the reason is “deaths of despair” arising from suicide, drugs and alcohol.
Democrats didn’t do enough do address this suffering, so Trump won working-class voters — because he at least faked empathy for struggling workers. He sold these voters a clunker, and now he’s already beginning to betray them. His assault on Obamacare would devastate many working-class families by reducing availability of treatment for substance abuse. As I see it, Trump rode to the White House on a distress that his policies will magnify.
So by all means stand up to Trump, point out that he’s a charlatan and resist his initiatives. But remember that social progress means winning over voters in flyover country, and that it’s difficult to recruit voters whom you’re simultaneously castigating as despicable, bigoted imbeciles.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/06/opinion/my-most-unpopular-idea-be-nice-to-trump-voters.html

The LuLac Edition #3479, April 25th, 2017

ELLA @ 100!!!!

(Photo: jazzbeat)

 (Photo: Musiciansallthatjazz.com)

 (Photo: Planetbarbarella.blogspot).

Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born on this day 100 years ago! In my youth, Fitzgerald was a staple on variety shows that populated the TV landscape at the time. I’d see her with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and regarded her as a presence.  She was known to the older generations of my family but was not entirely embraced by my generation, including me. I'd see her on Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas but I  only had a passing interest.
It wasn’t until my days at WRKC FM 88.5 Wilkes Barre during my Tuesday afternoon Jazz show days that I fully began to appreciate her as an entertainer. When I started working at WVIA FM I began to get an education in her importance as a jazz legend. Then when I worked in sales for Rock 107 and WEJL/WBAX AM (when the dual stations ran the American Popular Standards format) did I get a total experience of being an Ella fan.
She was the consummate American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella. She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing.
After tumultuous teenage years, Fitzgerald found stability in musical success with the Chick Webb Orchestra, performing across the country, but most often associated with the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Fitzgerald's rendition of the nursery rhyme "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" helped boost both her and Webb to national fame. Taking over the band after Webb died, Fitzgerald left it behind in 1942 to start a solo career that would last effectively the rest of her life.
She virtually built up the label Verve Records based in part on Fitzgerald's vocal abilities. With Verve she recorded some of her more widely noted works, particularly her interpretation of the Great American Songbook.
While Fitzgerald appeared in movies and as a guest on popular television shows in the second half of the twentieth century, her musical collaborations with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and The Ink Spots were some of her most notable acts outside of her solo career. These partnerships produced recognizable songs like "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "Cheek to Cheek", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", and "Time After Time".

In 1993, Fitzgerald capped off her sixty-year career with her last public performance. Three years later, she died at the age of 79, following years of decline in her health. After her passing, Fitzgerald's influence lived on through her fourteen Grammy Awards, National Medal of Arts, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and tributes in the form of stamps, music festivals, and theater namesakes.
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book was the only Songbook on which the composer she interpreted played with her. Duke Ellington and his longtime collaborator Billy Strayhorn both appeared on exactly half the set's 38 tracks and wrote two new pieces of music for the album: "The E and D Blues" and a four-movement musical portrait of Fitzgerald (the only Songbook track on which Fitzgerald does not sing). The Songbook series ended up becoming the singer's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful work, and probably her most significant offering to American culture. The New York Times wrote in 1996, "These albums were among the first pop records to devote such serious attention to individual songwriters, and they were instrumental in establishing the pop album as a vehicle for serious musical exploration."

Days after Fitzgerald's death, The New York Times columnist Frank Rich wrote that in the Songbook series Fitzgerald "performed a cultural transaction as extraordinary as Elvis' contemporaneous integration of white and African American soul. Here was a black woman popularizing urban songs often written by immigrant Jews to a national audience of predominantly white Christians."
After Pete Kelly's Blues, she appeared in sporadic movie cameos, in St. Louis Blues (1958), and Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960). Much later, she appeared in the 1980s television drama The White Shadow.
She made numerous guest appearances on television shows, singing on The Frank Sinatra Show, The Andy Williams Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom, and alongside other greats Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Mel Tormé, and many others. She was also frequently featured on The Ed Sullivan Show. Perhaps her most unusual and intriguing performance was of the "Three Little Maids" song from Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta The Mikado alongside Joan Sutherland and Dinah Shore on Shore's weekly variety series in 1963. A performance at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London was filmed and shown on the BBC. Fitzgerald also made a one-off appearance alongside Sarah Vaughan and Pearl Bailey on a 1979 television special honoring Bailey. In 1980, she performed a medley of standards in a duet with Karen Carpenter on the Carpenters' television program Music, Music, Music.
Fitzgerald also appeared in TV commercials, her most memorable being an ad for Memorex. In the commercials, she sang a note that shattered a glass while being recorded on a Memorex cassette tape. The tape was played back and the recording also broke the glass, asking: "Is it live, or is it Memorex?"

Very few singers changed the world of music in the 20th century. Fitzgerald did and it is fitting that she be remembered on the Centennial of her birth. (wikipedia, PBS, LuLac).
Here's a few of our favorites. Thank you Ella!!!!

The LuLac Edition #3478, April 24th, 2017

CARTWRIGHT MEETS THE PUBLIC

Cartwright meets his public. (Photo: Ben Hoon)

Unlike the other two REPUBLICAN Congressmen representing LuLac land, Congressman Matt Cartwright met the public last Tuesday in Plains and essentially gave a primer in how to be a responsible public official.
The discussion was wide ranging with Seniors asking about coverage for hearing aids as well as Social Security.
The hearing aid question essentially will tell you everything you need to know about how a Democrat like Cartwright thinks and how the current Republican majority feel about the challenged.
Cartwright said he introduced a bill to include hearing aids in Medicare coverage, but getting it passed is “a huge uphill climb” because it would cost “an enormous amount of money. Right now in Washington … the people who are in control … are against spending money, and a lot of them are against spending money even when it makes sense.”
He said he introduced the bill because “there’s a pendulum in Washington. Sometimes it swings to the Republican side, and sometimes it swings to the Democratic side,” and when it swings back to the Democratic side, he said he wants to be in a position where he can “push the issue.”
Here are my thoughts on the hearing aid issue. I wonder how many deluded seniors who voted for Trump realize that he, Barletta or Marino won’t even deal with this issue! This stuff about government being too big was a lie that Republicans told and some bought it. Seniors, citizens of this area need to know that Congressman Cartwright is the only official who “gets” that help can come from government when people are in need. Why Trump voters who BENEFITED from Educational aid, Housing, Social Security, Veterans pensions, disability and other things the REPUBLICANS decry abandoned their benefactors is beyond reason as far as I’m concerned.
The other interesting deal was Cartwright’s addressing of manufacturing jobs. Take a look at this passage from Steve Mocarsky’s article in The Times Leader.
Cartwright said he visited south Texas five months ago, partly to see the immigration situation. Five miles south of McAllen, over the Mexican border, he said, are maquiladoras — assembly plants. American companies ship parts to these plants, where they are assembled and then shipped back to the United States. Workers there are paid about $2 per hour.
He said one assembly plant there makes television sets. “That assembly plant used to be in Dunmore. All of that happened because of NAFTA — the North American free Trade Agreement,” Cartwright said.
When you hear the fact that jobs are going away, it is not the fault of the American worker, it falls on the greedy corporations who won’t pay a living wage. The sneaky business bastards buy a plant near the border, get cheap labor and then don’t have to pay the worker.  It is true Trump campaigned on the halt of jobs being exported to other countries but let’s remember it was the companies that did that. Let’s watch and see how many of these $2.00 an hour job deals are stopped by the President’s economic team.
Cartwright continues to be the only principled member of Congress in our neck of the woods. Those who are thinking about opposing him and voting for a REPUBLICAN like his last three foes better think twice.
It is evident that Matt Cartwright is one of the few political forces that stand between the REPUBLICAN agenda of middle class destruction and the good but sometimes witless folks of this region.

WOLF SLAPS DOWN STACK 

During Pa. Budget address, Tom Wolf and Mike Stack. (Photo: AP)

The AP reports that breaking decades of precedent, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is stripping the state’s lieutenant governor, Mike Stack, and his wife of state police protection following complaints about the Stacks’ treatment of troopers and other state employees.
Wolf released a three-sentence letter Friday addressed to Stack informing him of the decision. The move dropped jaws in the state Capitol, since lieutenant governors have had state police protection for decades in Pennsylvania, and have occasionally had to step in to serve as governor.
Wolf also told Stack in the letter that he would limit cleaning, grounds keeping and maintenance staff at his fellow Democrat’s official residence near Harrisburg, and only under supervision at pre-arranged times.
During the 2014 campaign thanks to the help of Bill Vinsko, Cassaandra Coleman and Evie Refalko McNulty, I had the opportunity to attend many Wolf events. I had many interactions with him and I also observed him closely. I saw that Wolf had no patience for bullshit and did not suffer fools gladly. I saw in Wolf kindness as well as efficiency. When he recognized me from a previous event, or made a connection, there was the question about either the McNulty family's health or about how the race was going. Cordial, polite, to the point but always, always gracious and warm.
The difference between a Tom Wolf and a Mike Stack is the fact that Wolf as a private businessman knew he needed to validate his workers. Those are/were the people who supported his efforts.
Mike Stack being on the public dole in the political class all his life just never got that.
Good call by a good man on this foolishness and arrogance by a so called political pro.

The LuLac Edition #3477, April 23rd, 2017

THESE “LOSERS” ARE SORE WINNERS

Rock, Palin, Nugent (Photo: New York Times)

Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, two rock and rollers, one pretty good and the other a washed up has been visited President Trump at The White House. Former Governor Sarah Palin also was there. It appears the winner of the last election decided to pay some debts.
A little about the these three.
Kid Rock in both March 1991 and September 1997, faced misdemeanor charges stemming from alcohol-related arrests in Michigan.
In February 2005, Rock was charged with assault on DJ Jay Campos in 'Christies Cabaret' strip club. He pleaded no contest and was sued for $575,000 by Campos. Rock was charged with assault on Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee at MTV's 2007 Video Music Awards, he pleaded guilty. In October 2007, Rock was involved in a brawl at a Waffle House in Atlanta, Georgia and charged with simple battery.
Who the hell gets pissed off at a Waffle House????
Ted Nugent who spouts his gun toting pride, actually was a scared cowardly little man during the Vietnam War. While other Trump supporters who are Veterans of the war were fighting and losing limbs, Nugent was trying to get out of it.
In interviews, Nugent has provided varying accounts of how he avoided a seat on a troop transport to Southeast Asia. In a 1977 High Times interview, he claimed to have stopped bathing a month before his draft physical, adding that he showed up for the exam with pants “crusted” with urine and feces. “I was a walking, talking hunk of human poop,” said Nugent with pride.
Then there was Sarah Palin who quit her term as Governor of Alaska in 2009, couldn’t answer a basic Foreign Policy question, (shit she couldn’t answer a question about what magazines she read) was there too. Also this family values proponent also had a knocked up daughter who also posed for Playboy.Then the baby's father, Levi Johnston's sister gets into a knocked out, dragged out fight that spilled over into the magazine when SHE posed for it and used it as an opportunity to knock the Palin family. Can we say trailer trash here? No, we can't because that would be an insult to both trailers and trash alike.
Yep, these are the characters that THIS President invites into YOUR White House.
Well I suppose that’s change. Or lowering the bar some.
But putting all I wrote aside, the trio posed in front of a picture of Hillary Clinton. Tells me they are sore winners but in reality losers who had to get invited to the kid’s table at the White House to get paid for their support of this President.

TOOMEY OFFICE COMING TO WILKES BARRE

Senator Pat Toomey (Photo: LuLac archives)

Our friend Lonnie Miller shared this on his FB page, thought it might be interesting to share.

SENATOR OFFICE NEWS.

Toomey Moving NEPA Office to Wilkes-Barre

Allentown, Pa. - Effective May 5th, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey's (R-Pa.) NEPA office will be located in Wilkes-Barre’s Stegmaier Building.

Currently, there are no full-time congressional constituent services offices in Wilkes-Barre. By moving his NEPA operations to the city, Senator Toomey’s office will now fill this void.
Senator Toomey's state staff has been researching suitable and available space in NEPA since May 2016. Federal law states that senators' home state offices must be in a federal building or federally managed space if a suitable location is available. The Stegmaier Building is managed by the General Services Administration.

The new address will be:

Stegmaier Building

7 North Wilkes Barre Blvd.

Suite 406

Wilkes Barre, Pa. 18702

Now Toomey has had a pretty poor record of meeting with constituents in town meetings, let's see if he shows up in town once in a while to meet and greet the people paying his office rent. 

The LuLac Edition #3476, April 22nd, 2017

MEDIA MATTERS

WILK'S Sue Henry the unofficial co spokesperson, (Mike Evans is the other) of Record Store Day. (Sue Henry FB page).

CELEBRATING RECORD STORE DAY

Saturday April 22nd is also Record Store Day. Our friend Sue Henry was waxing poetic about vinyl on her show yesterday. My first two 45s were these:


My first albums were, (hold on your hats people) I was a pretty weird kid, Mario Lanza and Frankie Valli.


Our good friend Mike Evans is celebrating the day with a special radio program. Here’s his message:
Saturday is RECORD STORE DAY. Saturday morning from 9am until noon, I'm doing a VINTAGE VINYL take-over show on Marywood's VM-FM 91-7. Normally, I spin stuff burned onto CD from vinyl. But Saturday, we're firing up the decks and bringing in the records. All original pressings -- on the radio.

EARTH DAY 2017

Now that we have a President who is doing everything in his power to destroy the earth, it is very important that we commemorate and pay attention on this day.
Trump has set up a hatchet man to get rid of regulations that keep the earth clean. He has disregarded climate change but can’t tell you why. Well, it’s like that with pretty much issue he tries to comment on. Just like we need to be vigilant against this no nothing thug, we need to take care of what we have on this planet. Remember in the next ten years if you see a decline in the quality of life in your camp grounds, rivers, lakes and recreations areas, you blame THE REPUBLICANS and TAHFQ.
A little bit about Earth Day.
Ever wondered how Earth Day started? This observance arose from an interest in gathering national support for environmental issues.
In 1970, San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. McConnell chose the spring equinox (March 21, 1970) and Nelson chose April 22.
Millions of people participated, and today Earth Day continues to be widely celebrated with events on both dates.
The most common practice of celebration is to plant new trees for Earth Day.
Started as a grassroots movement, Earth Day created public support for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and contributed to the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Water Quality Improvement Act, the Endangered Species Act and several other environmental laws.
This year, the environmental advocacy group Earth Day Network (EDN) has joined forces with the March for Science to organize a rally on the national mall in Washington, D.C. "The day's program will include speeches and training with scientists and civic organizers, musical performances and a march through the streets of Washington, D.C."
I will bet anything that if there is a large crowd in D.C. the President will Tweet that all the people gathering were paid. Book on it.

The LuLac Edition #3475, April 20th, 2017

MEN AND WOMEN OF LULACLAND:

IF YOU THINK BILL O'REILLY WAS RAILROADED BECAUSE……

 (Bill O'Reilly (FTTVline)

The Media came after him and made up lies,

The women lied, all of them, lied about him being an aggressive predator….

He was treated unfairly because of his politics….

You believe and support the President for saying he shouldn’t have settled….

You refuse to believe that there was never a pattern here….

If you think Bill O'Reilly should stay….

If you believe that Bill O'Reilly left because of “unfounded claims”……..

Then just admit that you pretty much hate women and disrespect women.

GEORGIA REDUX

The 6th Congressional District in Georgia did not quite turn Democratic. It was close with Jon Ossoff winning 48% of the vote. The nearest Republican challenger Karen Handel didn’t even break 20%. This was a tough race to win because of the number of Republican candidates splitting the vote.
Ossoff was at 55% at 9pm but his lead decreased by midnight. This was NOT A WIN.
The Democrats need to reconvene, double down on getting the same vote out as well as counter attacking the Hollywood Vs. Georgia theme the President as well as the REPUBLICAN ATTACK MACHINE will spout.
This District used to be Newt Gingrich’s. It hasn’t gone Republican in years. Hopefully it will in June.

TRUMP’S BUY AMERICA JUST ANOTHER PHONY PHOTO OP

The President (Photo: CNN)

Donald Trump goes to Wisconsin yesterday and signs a “Buy American First” Executive order. White House officials told reporters that the "Buy American" section of the executive order will look to reinforce stricter adherence to laws requiring the federal government to purchase American-made products when possible.
But in reality the two-part order will direct the Departments of Labor, Justice, Homeland Security and State to review the H-1B visa program, which allows foreign workers to obtain employment in high-skilled "specialty occupations," and make recommendations that can be achieved through administrative or legislative changes.
Senior administration officials, who described the current H-1B visa program as a lottery system that gives work visas to contracting firms that replace domestic employees. It’s all about immigrants. Here’s the thing, with this lottery system, what if the guest worker is more qualified than the American worker? Just saying.
Plus while Trump was flapping his gums about American jobs and goods, he and his daughter have not received that message. Hypocrites all!

GOVERNOR WOLF ANNOUNCES $39 MILLION INVESTMENT IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN NINE COUNTIES

Governor Tom Wolf (Wolf website)

Governor Tom Wolf this week announced the investment of $39 million for 12 drinking water, wastewater, storm water, and non-point source projects across nine counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).
“Today marked another special day for the PENNVEST program and for the citizens of Pennsylvania. By approving almost $40 million in funding for clean water projects across the commonwealth, the PENNVEST Board continued its commitment to improve the quality of our rivers and streams, the health of our families and the economic prosperity of our state”, said Governor Wolf. “Together we will further the achievement of these goals and make Pennsylvania an even more desirable place to live and work for this and future generations.”
Of the $39 million, $18.2 million is allocated for low-interest loans and $20.8 million is awarded through grants.
The funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to PENNVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards. Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST.

CARTWRIGHT, DEGETTE, POLIS, AND SCHAKOWSKY INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT FROM OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT RISKS

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U..S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-17), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Jared Polis (CO-02), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) introduced their Safe Energy Future Plan, a package of five bills that will protect public health and the environment from the risks of oil and gas production, including hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking.”
“Our country’s water and air quality should not be compromised by drilling and fracking,” the four legislators said. “Oil and gas development has expanded in the past decade, while environmental protections haven’t kept pace. Our legislation will close loopholes and exceptions that have been made at the expense of public health and safety. They will hold the energy industry to the same nationwide standards as other industries in this country must meet. After all, air and water pollution have no respect for state lines.”
The FRESHER Act (Cartwright) closes the loophole in the Clean Water Act that endangers water quality near oil and gas production sites, and requires oil and gas producers to obtain the standard permits necessary for activities that increase storm-water runoff and risk water pollution.
The CLEANER Act (Cartwright) closes the loophole in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that exempts waste materials from oil and natural gas production from requirements for the safe handling, transport and disposal of hazardous waste.
The FRAC Act (DeGette) closes the so-called Halliburton Loophole, enacted in 2005, thus ensuring federal regulation of fracking under the Safe Drinking Water Act. It would also require public disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking.
The BREATHE Act (Polis) closes loopholes in the Clean Air Act that currently exempt the oil and gas industry from essential protections from toxic air pollution. The bill would require that toxic emissions of multiple related small sources be aggregated to determine total emissions, just like other industries have to do.
The SHARED Act (Schakowsky) prevents drinking water contamination by requiring baseline water testing of sources near planned fracking sites, along with public disclosure of the test results, before the sites are approved for operation.
"We support mineral extraction as long as it's done responsibly,” the lawmakers noted. “But the current patchwork of regulations and loophole-filled laws doesn’t ensure that this is the case. For the safety of all our communities, we need to ensure that the oil and gas industries are held accountable.”

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine.
Brian Hughes speaks with Emily Taylor from the River Run Rehab & Nursing Center about their 3rd Annual River Run and Walk, coming up on Sunday April 30th at Kirby Park in Wilkes Barre to benefit the American Lung Association.
Brian speaks with Eduardo Verona from the USDA about invasive pests as we prepare for Spring gardening and outdoor activities.
And Brian speaks with former Wall Street insider Leland Faust, about his book "A Capitalist's Lament", on how Wall Street continues to fleece ordinary investors.
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 6:25am on Magic 93.

ECTV

ECTV Live hosts David DeCosmo and Rusty Fender welcome Scranton YMCA CEO Trish Fisher to the program during the week of April 24th. Ms. Fisher will outline plans for "Healthy Kids Day" at the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre YMCA's!
ECTV Live is seen on Comcast channel 19 (61 in some areas) three times daily during the week at the Noon, 6pm, and Midnight hours. After its initial live broadcast Monday at Noon the program will also be available on Electric City Television's Youtube page each week. Previous episodes are also available on the ECTV Youtube channel.
ECTV Live is produced and hosted by David DeCosmo. Rusty Fender co-hosts and the program is Directed by Mark Migilore.

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests are John Aciukevich, Executive Director of Luzerne County CASA, and volunteer advocate Annie Ellis.
Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on NEPA Sports Radio-The Game 1400/1440 am and 106.7 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. The show will run Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. on WILK, and on KRZ, Froggy and Max 102 early Sunday morning.

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 he heartwarming comments on the issues of the day on Webster and Nancy with Karel Zubris. Congrats to Karel on her coverage of the Eric Frein trial. Great job!

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP!!!!!

Bobby's show is back again live this Sunday @6PM on The River.

1977

Our 1977 logo

"Side by Side" by Stephen Sondheim opens at Music Box NYC for 390 performances….. Alex Haley, author of "Roots", awarded Pulitzer Prize…The supreme Court rules "Live Free or Die" may be covered on NH licenses Billy Martin pulls Yankee line-up out of a hat, beats Blue Jays 8-6… Cincinnati Reds tie record of 12 runs in 5th inning beating Braves 23-9…. C Strouse & M Charnins musical "Annie" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 2377 performances....Dr Allen Bussey completes 20,302 yo-yo loops…

Opening of Studio 54 in New York, N.Y……Senator John Heinz tells his constituents that he will do walking tours throughout the state during his term to get information straight from the citizen…..in Lackawanna County a Democratic battle for Mayor reaches a fever pitch between James McNulty and Gene Hickey for the office of Scranton Mayor and 40 years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Hotel California” by The Eagles

The LuLac Edition 3474, April 19th, 2017

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our "Write On Wednesday" logo.

WRITER SAYS CORBETT A CHECK ON TRUMP

Weeks after Steve Corbett left WILK there are still people who are writing Letters To the Editor and expressing their dismay at his departure. This letter by Ashley resident Jim Spock makes the point that Corbett was the check against Trump the candidate. He's right. People are so blinded by the President's tweets and cries of fake news that someone like Corbett is needed to call out the nonsense that so many people are buying hook, line and sinker. Many will say that there is virtually no distinction between Trump the candidate and Trump the President.
Here's Spock's letter:

WILK MADE AN ERROR ON CORBETT

Editor: It’s quite unfortunate that the management at WILK Radio saw fit to remove Steve Corbett from the local airwaves recently. In doing so, they have pulled the plug on one of the few consistently progressive voices in our local media in recent years. And they have replaced him with more right-wing, pro-corporate opinions plus a happy host who wants to avoid saying anything negative on the air.
If there are politicians, business leaders or other negative forces doing bad things in our region, our country or the world, I don’t want to listen to more media people pretending all is well and being afraid to say anything negative.
I want to hear the truth. Then we can confront these people, these organizations and these issues so we can work to solve all the problems facing us, not bury our heads in the sand or blindly follow some pied piper who is nothing more than the world’s biggest con artist.
Lord knows, since Donald Trump has assumed power and brought his dangerously biased views about our country and the world into the White House, along with an open-door policy for his billionaire cronies and their apologists, we need more anti-Trump people like Corbett to sound the alarm. And we need more citizens to stay informed, become activists and do our best to limit the damage being done while Trump is in power.
From human rights, workers’ rights, women’s issues, economic and racial justice, environmental problems and especially the looming potential catastrophe of unchecked climate change, Mr. Trump’s warped vision presents a clear and present danger to our democracy, our way of life and the future of our planet.
Now, I must admit that I did not always agree with Corbett on every issue, nor did I always like his style. But he, and other political gadflies like him, serve a vital role in a democratic society. They challenge our assumptions, our preconceived notions and our ideas and beliefs on so many issues. And part of becoming an educated person and an informed citizen is to listen carefully to other opinions, other points of view and to rethink even our most cherished beliefs.
I hope Mr. Corbett will continue to speak out and express his views, regardless of how many feathers may be ruffled in the process. And I think we all would do well to follow his example.

Jim Spock

WILKES-BARRE