The LuLac Edition #3543, June 30th, 2017

EMAIL TO L.A. TARONE 

To: LAT58@cruising the universe.ca.org

From: LuLacPolletter.com

Hey L.A.:
I know you’ve been traveling in another place and time since last Sunday night at 7:06PM. But what a week it was. I bet you never realized you’d create such a stir by leaving us so soon.
The airwaves and on line remembrances would have blown up that Blackberry you tried to show me how to work at Guardian. Thursday night your combined families of WILK, WYLN TV 35, the Standard Speaker, the city of Hazleton and your listeners/viewers joined your blood family in celebrating your jam packed life.
Plus your Sunday Night Hall of Fame was blaring in the background. Everybody from a Wilkes Barre tow truck driver to a Lackawanna County Commissioner showed up.
Today more people came to the Church on Vine Street to say another goodbye. I’m sure you looked in once in a while and just shook your head.
Personally as far as LuLac goes, we’re going to do one last wrap up of your time with us. I’ve been off line since Sunday because quite frankly bud, nothing was worth writing about this week except you. Don’t gag because you hated it when I got sentimental on ya, but you’ll be remembered as well as treasured.
Tomorrow LuLac we'll get back to writing the opinions you used to love to hate. But every day since Sunday, it was all you man.
Back to work for me L.A., if the world you live in has senses, I hope wherever you,  the Diet Doctor Pepper is ice cold, and the food is as tasty as a Third Base Hoagie or a Jimmy’s Hot Dog. I pray the convertible top is always down and the soft breeze you might feel comes from all of us still blowing kisses to you from down here.

See you when I see ya. 

Your exasperating friend,

Yonki

THE WEEK THAT WAS TARONE

This was the week of Tarone in Northeastern Pennsylvania. L.A. unlike many of us could take a compliment. When a caller would praise him, he’d always respond with a robust “Thank you”.
WILK had remembrances through the week. Mrs. FB said that on Monday’s Sue Henry Show it was like an on air wake. The comments continued through the week.
Thursday night at the Moran Funeral home that sits in the shadow of the studios of WYLN TV hundreds came to pay their respects to L.A. People started lining the one way street at 5:15Pm. A flag and proclamation from Congressman Barletta and a display of Tarone’s favorite ensembles flanked Tarone’s remains.
Throughout the night old friends, public officials, co workers, neighbors, viewers, fans and just plain folks stopped by and visited with his Uncle and Aunt, his niece Crystal and nephew Charles. Blaring on a corner table was l.A.’s Sunday Night Hall of Fame Show from WKAB. Again Mrs. FB commented that this was the first vitiation where the deceased was still speaking to us. In another area were the TV clips.
It was bittersweet but filled with love and respect for the dean of Talk Show hosts here in our little section of the world.
There were some tears but for every one of those there were 25 smiles or stories about Louis Alfred Tarone. I’m sure L.A. would have grudgingly approved. With one exception, he'd most likely want us to crank up the music. B sides included of course!

THE MASS FOR L.A. TARONE

Today at Queen of Heaven Parish at Our Lady of Grace Church on Vine Street in Hazleton about 75 people said goodbye for the final time to L.A. Tarone. As the hymn “Amazing Grace” chimed, mourners walked into the elegant church with the sturdy oak pews. L.A., always on time in life followed form. He was there waiting for us. The pageantry of Roman Catholicism (which we debated for years) was on full display.
His co worker Paula Deignan read a passage from John 14.2 which resonated with me. At my father’s funeral and on his tombstone are the words, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”. How fitting was that passage for L.A. whose voice and visage occupied many a room in all of Northeastern Pennsylvania. As L.A. was fading from this life, those many houses and rooms showed him the great amount of love that was due him.
The homily by Father Anthony Generose was was a poignant remembrance of L.A.’s life. 

Father told the story of the Resurrection and how it relates to death in this modern society. The Priest wondered out loud how L.A. would cover Christ. What questions he would have for him and the Apostles. You could only imagine an intrepid Tarone in the after life tracking those storied saints down and asking his questions relentlessly. Later Mike Moran in a Eulogy with Sue Henry began by saying “Father I can assure you that L.A. Tarone is right now working on Jesus to get that story”. Nonplussed, the Priest shot back, “And I can assure you that Jesus is working on l.A. too right now”.
After Communion, his dear friends Mike Moran and Sue Henry gave remembrances. 

It was a flawless tandem of short stories giving the church goers much relief among the pain. Sue read a lyric from a Rolling Stones song showing off his love for that band. The lyric urged us all to sing the songs we chose.
The end of the service ended with Moran asking for group participation. He asked everyone to join in the classic Tarone sign off, “If you can do it, it ain’t bragging”.
The church erupted in the chant.
Mrs. Palermo, a friend of L.A.’s from his beloved hometown asked what was the phrase, my wife repeated it for her.
She leaned back in the pew and smiled and said “Oh yes!”.
L.A. was laid to rest later this morning. 

(Photos: LuLac archives, Mrs. LuLac) 

The LuLac Edition #3542, June 25th, 2017

L.A. TARONE

(all photos: LuLac archives)

L.A. Tarone lost his courageous battle with cancer last night at the Guardian Skilled Nursing Facility in Nanticoke. First diagnosed with lung cancer in November of 2015, Tarone has been fighting this affliction with every ounce of strength in his body.
On this warm Sunday summer evening, his body just gave out. But not before he sought treatments at Fox Chase, and vowed he would win this. When he first received the news, he told me that the first weekend for him was hell. Holed up in his house, he felt frustration and disbelief. But then he said that he needed to work. He wanted to work through this. So for 18 months, L.A. Tarone got up every day and went to work. He was doing the thing he loved the most, talking on the radio.
When Tarone first worked weekends at WILK, he was offered a weekend gig on a Sunday which he relished with gusto. I was doing a Friday afternoon show with him at his main job back then, News Director at WYLN TV 35 in Hazleton. After a year or two, Tarone said he was offered a night time talk show at the station replacing syndicated Andy Dean. I was thrilled, he was apprehensive. Tarone said he wanted to do it but was afraid nighttime talk in this region would be unsuccessful given how most people plant themselves in front of the TV for night time recreation. I reminded him of the old WBAX where a talk show called “Speak Up” was all the rage. That was broadcast from 10 p.m. to 1a.m. and hosted by the late Jones Evans. I reminded him that with his “ahem”, interesting way of looking at things, he’d have people turning off that TV and listening to him. Turned out he took the job and I was right. And I never let him forget it!
During his time at WILK, Tarone became one of the most popular talk show hosts in the history of local radio. The phone lines were frequently jammed and L.A. agreed, screamed, yelled, disagreed and cajoled his callers, in some cases all at the same time. I’d be a guest on his show and we’d scream and yell and then during the commercials talk about sports. The last time I was on the air with him was his Christmas show of 2016 where he played terrific holiday tunes of years gone by. We chatted about Holiday music as well as his health. He then asked, “When are you going to stop calling my President names?” I said, “2017 was a new year and I would try”. I did, I really did.
I heard Tarone on Good Friday and he was talking about the religious observance of the day. He shared with listeners stories about his family’s religious leanings and how some incidents impacted him. I was happy to hear him sound in great spirits. That was L.A., the consummate professional. I was told today on the way out of the facility that he was in constant pain in his back and side but soldiered on.
The staff at WILK visited him at Fox Chase and brought thousands of cards, and envelopes which included car magazines and snacks. When he came to Nanticoke, I had the opportunity to visit him before he passed on. One Friday afternoon, I brought him snacks as well as a poster of Kate Upton. I pulled it out and showed it to him. He waved it off and said, “What do ya want me to do with that?” I told him, I’d hang it up or take it back if he didn’t like it. “He looked at it again and said with a sigh of resignation, “leave it”. That afternoon we sat on the back patio at the old St. Stan’s orphanage and nursing home. I gave him the history of the building and we spoke of baseball, music and then sports in general. He was as sharp as ever and filled in the blanks when I was trying to think of an obscure incident or stat. We talked about one of the great Philadelphia deejays, Dr. Don Rose. Tarone recounted how when Rose had cancer his listeners rallied around him. I replied, “Just like your listeners are doing for you!” He smiled and said, “There’s a lot of stuff, I don’t know where I’ll put it when I get out of here”. I told him he’d find a way.
Then there was silence until he said, “You going to admit you were wrong about the President”. I started to give him an answer but then the doors swung open and we were ushered back into his room.
Sunday we watched baseball as he ate fruit pieces. He told me that he yearned to get back on the air, that he could do the show from his room if he had the equipment. I agreed. I’m not sure he bought it.
This weekend I saw him, and L.A. was on another journey. As I sat there watching him sleep, I thought of my own trip with him.
Like many things Tarone and I disputed, it should come as no surprise that we disagreed on how we met. L.A. said we met in the early 80s when as station manager at WRKC FM, the King’s College station, he drafted me to do a Friday night show. I did it and it was great.
However, my story is different. When I was working at WVIA FM and TV, one day in 1978 a fresh faced kid from Hazleton came in to the FM side and wanted a tour. We were looking for volunteers and this guy was interested in broadcasting. After showing him the Automation unit he’d be running (at the time WVIA FM only had live news and George Graham’s “Mixed Bag”) he asked if he’d be talking on the radio. I told him no. “Not even the weather?” he asked. “Nope”, I replied, “It’s taped.” He told me he was going to start at King’s and I said this job would be perfect for him since he could do all his homework and term papers here while he babysat the automation unit. He thanked me and I never heard from him again until that phone call in 1980.
Tarone was a Station Manager at WRKC and worked very well in making it a leader in college radio in this area. He lived on Jackson Street as a student and was well known in the local music and band scene. As a matter of fact he has a CD of songs called The River Street Rumble, The RST Anthology which I am proud to own.
After college, Tarone worked at old WSCR in Scranton. When it morphed into Q13 and was run by former WARM legend Bob Woody, Tarone cut his teeth on news and on the air. Starting in 1990, Tarone was News Director as well and hosted a daily controversial issues talk show. He also did street reporting, anchoring and was the Program Director at this station which he flipped from a full service Adult Contemporary station to news/talk.
For 11 years he was a news reporter for the Hazleton Standard Speaker, primarily covering Government and Politics as well as writing columns on politics, sports and music. I dare say if they asked L.A. to write a column on Band-Aids, he’s research it and jump at the chance.
I became reacquainted with him when I’d see him do Editorials on WYLN TV 35. “I know that guy, I thought”. Little did I realize how well I’d get to know him. After the newspaper, (where he was Union rep) he went on to become news director of WYLN TV 35 in Hazleton in 2008. He served there until 2013 when he went to WILK. It was at WYLN TV 35 that he and I reconnected. After WYOU TV ended their interactive news, Tarone asked me to work on Election Night coverage. Shortly thereafter, he asked if I’d do Topic A with him. Topic A was a daily show he did on TV. It was a precursor of his radio show. Every Friday he and I would take polar opposite positions on issues. It was the most fun I ever had in broadcasting.
L.A. Also wrote a book that should be used in the Hazleton Area Schools. It was called “We Were Here Once," a history of Northeastern PA in general, and Hazleton, PA specifically. It is a not-always-pleasant look at, as the subtitle says, "successes, mistakes and calamities in Hazleton history."
Tarone also appeared on PCN, The Pennsylvania Cable Network on “Pa Books” but also was invited to be a panelist on their prestigious “Journalists’ Roundtable” program.
In addition to all of this, he served as a co-host of a daily sports program "The Game Plan," the local sports talk show on WHBS-FM on the now defunct Sports Hub.
That was LA. Tarone’s multimedia public body of work. As I sat with him, my thoughts wandered away from this tremendous body of work by my good friend. There was a public side, but a private side too. L.A. helped raised a niece and a nephew. He helped anyone who wanted a start in the business or needed a project promoted. Personally, when we’d work in some of those Hazleton winters, L.A. would be certain I’d get in and out of the station safely. He was loud and brash in public, and kind, gentle and caring in private.
Today I returned essentially to say goodbye. The time for the fight was over. He was surrounded by some members of the WILK staff, (Nancy Kman, Karyl Zubris, Jake Rattle and Roll and his mom and dad, Fast Freddy, Bob and Paula Reynolds and Jim Doherty) his family, aunt and uncle, cousins, and friends. Sue Henry and Mike Moran who were the pillars of the L.A. Tarone Support team were there when he passed on. Thanks to the persistence of our good friend and fervent L.A. Tarone listener, Kathleen Smith, a minister and his wife prayed with L.A. and his family in the morning. In the afternoon, a priest from St. Faustina’s gave him the Last Rites of the church.
On one of the days I visited him, I broached the subject that this thing (the hospital stay) could go south, he scowled at me and said, “It won’t.”
I thought about that today driving home from his room. How do you sum up the life of L.A. Tarone, the public figure, the private man?
He got his share of criticism, but he never whined. He carved out a career in an unflinching and uncompromising way. He took risks and was nicer to some people than they deserved. Tarone was a complicated guy.
I struggled with this one but I think I found the right quote from the right man. It was from a Republican of course. I’d get no scowl on this one from L.A. Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
All of us who knew and loved L.A. were honored to be part of the triumphs and the losses of his life. In my estimation, the wins heavily outweighed the losses – except for this defeat by this insidious disease. We’ll miss him and remember him for as long as we are alive. He was the stuff of broadcast legends. And he was a good friend.
L.A. Tarone died at 7pm June 25th. He was 58. 

L.A. IN PHOTOS

  L.A. taking Topic A on the road with former Congressman Kanjorsksi. 

"You be nice to Barletta" L.A. warned before the interview. "I'm always nice to Lou" I said. You judge.  

 One of the first Election Nights with WYLN TV 35 with L.A. From left to right Don Pachance, Joe Zoba, Kim Zorbay and the man himself. That night L.A. had the end seat because he kept running out to get the returns. 

Tarone had a half hour commentary show on WYLN TV.  It ran once a week but was repeated several times. 

Show prep for "Topic A" was us yelling at each other. Director Joe Maggio seemed to calm us down. 

 This was a memorable photo at the Coal Street Rink. Karel Zubris (center) actually got L.A. on skates on the rink. He did very well. Tom Grace from the Pens hosted the station.

This was around 2010, spring primary night with L.A. Lisa and Joe on The Late Edition set. 

At some point during our "Topic A" show, there would be an outburst of joy. Or something. 

One of my most prized items of clothing is a WYLN TV 35 windbreaker he somehow scrounged for me. He offered me a heavier parka but I told him I needed something for the rain. Every time  I wore it, I'd email him and I'd get, "You could've had the damn parka!" Here I am in that rain slicker just before he was diagnosed.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE WARDROBE! 

 L.A. would buy a lot of his clothes in various venues. I never asked where.  He claimed this one came from a Russian Czar, said was the guy's smoking jacket.

I'm told this one got a "say what?" from station management. I think it was the caption not the coat.  

You think these are pinstripes? Plane stripes maybe. "It's a classic" he says. 

He even dressed colorfully for radio! 

He even influenced me. A bit. A little bit. 

 "You have a job interview today?" I asked when they took this photo of a toned down ensemble. 

But this was my favorite.

L.A. never strayed away from his WRKC FM roots. Here he is at Father Tom Carten's Radio Home Visitor's 40th anniversary event. Dressed to what he considered "a casual affair" he hangs with Shivaun O'Donnell and Patrick Fadden. 

L.A. was a work, work, work type of guy but on this night, Twig, Pat and I got him out for  bite at the Hollywood Diner.

L.A. and I doing a remote for WYLN TV surrounded by one of the things he loved most, vehicles. 

TOPIC  A GREATEST HITS 

You can check out our "Topic A"  shows on my You Tube Channel but here are two of my favorites. 

In this episode, L.A. was doing the weather and pretty much everything else.

On a Good Friday, we had a debate on Wine Kiosks. Turned out I was the Conservative. 

FAREWELL MY FRIEND!
We'll talk again! 

The LuLac Edition #3541, June 25th, 2017

PETER BUTERA’S REAL ENABLER

By now you have all heard the story of Wyoming Area Senior Peter Butera who was the Valedictorian of his 2017 class. Butera went off script in his prepared remarks before the graduation class citing the fact that Wyoming Area faculty and administration did not give students more of an opportunity to be leaders in the school. Butera’s perspective came from having been elected Class President four times. This is the gist of his remarks:
"At our school, the title of class president can more accurately be class party planner. Student council's main obligation is to paint signs every week."
"Despite some of the outstanding people in our school, a lack of a real student government combined with the authoritative attitude that a few teachers, administrators and board members have . . .prevented students from truly developing as true leaders"........
Butera was cut off in his remarks by school officials. They literally cut his microphone. By doing so the school administrators gave this more attention than it would have received had he went on uncensored. Here’s why:
1. The people in the audience had no investment in what he was saying. I’m sure they would have had an opinion but then if only they were listening intently. I doubt that was the case because they’d be more concerned about their own graduate than worry about what Butera said.
2. People at these events tend to be polite toward the speeches. But with 200 people graduating, there were essentially 200 constituencies.  I’m sure Peter would have his following BUT for the most part the assembled multitude were there for their kids.
3. How many of us have thought about other things in a sermon, a speech, a lecture? We tend to listen but not hear. I bet a majority of that crowd were listening but not hearing. Until they HEARD the microphone being cut. They heard that and then wanted to know what they missed.
So for those who chastise both sides in this remember one thing. If Butera gave this speech without interruption, if the Wyoming Area administration not been so heavy handed, the entire incident would have been a blip on the radar screen.
But Jimmy Kimmel, nationwide newspaper coverage, the lines burning up on Talk Radio, that’s all on Wyoming Area who really made a bad decision.
Peter Butera might have gone rogue uncensored and we’d have hardly noticed.
By Wyoming Area going Mussolini on this…………everybody noticed.

REPUBLICANS DEFENDING THE 
UN-DEFENSIBLE

Pa. REPUBLICAN Chair Val DiGiorgio (Photo: Philly.com)

I got this in the e mail bag the other day and pretty much laughed my ass off. Once again, the REPUBLICAN ATTACK and LIE machine is in full mode.
Here's what Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Val DiGiorgio said, our responses are in red. 
“Obamacare is in a death spiral. Even Democrats acknowledge its grave problems, yet they have offered no solutions of their own and refuse to participate in the process to replace this failed law or even offer their own plan.
Exactly what Democrat has said it is in death spiral. There is no evidence to support that any Democrat said this was in a death spiral.
Do you know who said Obamacare was in a death spiral? Aetna Insurance. See, the big insurance companies are supposed to pay 70% of their earning to the insured. That means a cap on multi million dollar salaries, golf outings and retreats.
The American Academy of Actuaries itself disputed the “death spiral” claim Monday. The group provided a statement from its senior health fellow asserting that high premium increases in many states this year “do not necessarily indicate that a premium spiral is occurring” and could be a one-time adjustment.
Sadly, in an effort to cover his left flank, Bob Casey has doubled down on this destructive healthcare system and embraced a strategy of obstruction. Pennsylvanian’s deserve better.
First off, let’s compare the actions of our two Senators. Pat Toomey is hiding like a little baby chick in a rainstorm. He has not held town meetings about this and has barely uttered a word. Casey is not covering his left flank by speaking out. He is representing Pennsylvanians who will have to pay the burden of taxes when Medicaid cuts come. This REPUBLICAN plan would roll back years of progress that drastically reduced Pennsylvania’s uninsured rate and expanded coverage options for seniors, the disabled and those seeking treatment for a substance use disorder
It will eliminate healthcare coverage for middle class families while encouraging insurance companies to increase executive salaries.
"On the other hand, Senate Republicans fulfilled their promise of bringing relief to struggling families. They have drafted a bill that increases access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans.
Increases access but for what type of plans? The new Health Care Act would give Insurance companies the power to not offer a full comprehensive health insurance plan. Access, affordable? Not so much.
Without immediate action to repeal and replace Obamacare, Pennsylvanians will continue to be saddled with higher costs, burdensome taxes, and fewer healthcare choice.
The higher costs come from the insurance companies. The burdensome taxes? What specifics is this guy talking about? Like is there a tax on a blood test?
It’s time for Bob Casey to end his obstruction and work with Republicans to fix our broken healthcare system.”
Bob Casey and the other Democrats were not even invited to the table. SHIT, only 13 REPUBLICAN WHITE MEN sat at that table.
Remember if this plan happens, you should hold Val DiGiorgio, Chairman, Republican Party of Pennsylvania responsible for issuing this line of bullshit about your health care.

The LuLac Edition #3540, June 22nd, 2017

DEMOCRATS 0 FOR 5

I am really getting tired of this hype about Special Elections and how the Democrats might have a chance to win them. Tuesday's results in Georgia and North Carolina were close but that won’t mean a thing because in politics it’s about the numbers. The great Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells would say, “You’re only as good as your record.” Right now the Dems are 0 for 5.
I know that there will be people saying “they came so close” and Trump is going down but that’s whistling near the grave yard. Instead of spending money on “hopeful” races, the Democratic Congressional Committee should start building organizations in at least 40 Districts. They need to:
1. Get new DEMOCRATIC registrations.
2. Attract viable candidates who will not have a primary challenge.
3. Run on the policies of Trump and not against him.Face it, there is a widespread acceptance that this country elected an idiot. It appears that he is the new standard. To point that out is pretty much redundant and white noise at this point. +
Plus they need to get rough. Not with the President or the Republicans but with their own party.
 In the Georgia 6th the GOP voters turned out in a driving rain. The Democrats, not so much. Maybe that term snowflake is not that mean.
If Democrats think a march on a Saturday afternoon is enough but can’t get 20 friends to vote, then maybe they deserve a Trump Presidency.
After 0-5, you can’t blame Hillary or the GOP attack machine. Because that machine will be relentless and it will come for anyone with a D after their name.
It might be time for the Democrats to look in the mirror and ask, “Do we really want to return to power and how bad do you want it? 
The time for building is past due. The time for "Wishin' and Hoping'" is over! 

THE GOP AND HEALTH CARE

The REPUBLICAN Senators are rolling out their new health care plan in a secret meeting with their own members and lobbyists. Not Democrats, not even citizens. Lobbyists.
The Senate bill is also expected to repeal the individual mandate and all or most of the ACA's taxes, phase out the Medicaid expansion as well as change how the Medicaid program is funded, establish a system of tax credits to help people buy insurance if they choose, and make it easier for states to opt-out of the ACA's mandates for preexisting conditions and minimum insurance coverage mandates.
What this means is that disabled people in Wisconsin will have training programs cut because they are funded by Medicaid. The big things are the mandates for pre-existing conditions as well as installing minimum coverage mandates. That means companies are not bound to offer comprehensive plans but can offer and charge whatever the hell they want.
The bottom line is that the REPUBLICANS, by repealing the whole thing are offering tax credits for the 1% by abolishing the mandates. Then they are screwing the middle class.
To all those whiners who had health care and bitched about their high premiums, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Your premiums will rise, and when you or an older family member run out Medicaid funding after you outlive it, you are the only one to blame.
Enjoy your new Health Care under your REPUBLICAN party.
Just close your eyes and bend over.

AFTERNOONS WITH TARONE

L.A. and your blog editor back at WYLN TV 35 (Photo: LuLac archives)

L.A. Tarone is back in the area at a Skilled Nursing Facility. He is in the fight of his life with lung cancer. I had the opportunity to visit him last week. We had wide ranging conversations about radio, baseball and even sauntered into some politics. The politics, gingerly.
My intention is to have many more.
Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
In the meantime continue to send those cards to WILK, Highway 315, Pittston, Pa 18640 and contact me by Facebook if you’d like to visit.

SHINE PROGRAM GETS PLAUDITS

Congressman Lou Barletta (Photo: Barletta office)

Congressman Lou Barletta recently joined with national experts on workforce development to highlight the success of the SHINE, or “Schools and Homes in Education,” afterschool program during a House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing. The hearing focused on the implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was signed into law during the 113th Congress and contained provisions similar to Barletta’s America Works Act, H.R. 497, to encourage states and localities to prioritize federal spending on education and training. Barletta discussed the role afterschool programs, like SHINE, play in helping students to succeed in school and develop the skills necessary to land jobs.
Louis M. Dubin, Chairman of the Maryland Governor’s Workforce Development Board and the main expert witness at the hearing, applauded SHINE’s efforts to connect students with technical and career experts. SHINE is a successful educational program in Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties that Barletta has championed.
“Congressman Barletta, the SHINE afterschool program in your district is an example of a rural afterschool partnership that is preparing our students for the future,” Dubin said. “Partnering with the Carbon Career and Technical Institute and the Lehigh Carbon Community College, SHINE provides an innovative educational model by teaming technical experts with academic teachers and through hands on career projects connects students to math/science with a real world application.”
Barletta echoed Dubin’s praise, stating that, given its record of proven success, SHINE could be a model for other afterschool programs across the country. Barletta stated that one of SHINE’s many strengths is connecting students with career and technical experts so that they are exposed to job opportunities at an early age.
“We all know that we must bridge the skills gap to help more of our constituents realize good-paying jobs and help our local businesses thrive,” Barletta said. “This is good for our communities, and it’s good for America. But I believe we must also work to remove the stigma that’s associated with non-traditional, technical careers. Studies show that educating students about their options at a young age is central to this goal.”
Dubin pointed out that afterschool programs, such as SHINE, help students develop “soft skills,” or the personal attributes necessary to land and maintain jobs – something that Barletta said he often hears from employers in his district.
“I had a local employer approach me just a couple of weeks ago and said he had 100 good-paying jobs, but cannot find people to fill them,” Barletta said. “In fact, his biggest hurdle he said was getting people to pass the drug test. And I hear this more and more often, and it is discouraging when there are so many people unemployed. There are so many jobs that are available, and we know what we’ve got to do to teach the skills. But I think somewhere we’ve got to go back to teach basic skills, like showing up to work on time.”
Dubin said that Maryland spends “considerable resources” helping students to develop soft skills, often called “employability skills,” which include punctuality, dependability, maintaining a positive attitude, and communication skills, among other attributes.
“Soft skills are important,” Dubin said. “Not everyone had the advantage of growing up with people around them that taught them the things you need to be successful. And so I’m also a big proponent of soft skills training, and we see those big success stories all the time because that little element of soft skills gives someone the ability to go and do an interview and get a job.”
Barletta has been consistently recognized for his work on behalf of afterschool programs, such as SHINE. Last Congress, Barletta was instrumental in saving the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, which provides nearly 50 percent of SHINE’s funding. As a result of his leadership in saving federal funding for afterschool programs, Barletta was the only House member to receive the 2016 Congressional Voice for Children Award from the National Parent Teacher Association. He was also named an “Afterschool Hero” by the Afterschool Alliance, and earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network named Barletta an Afterschool Champion for his commitment, dedication, and outstanding work on learning programs.

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV 137
THE PARTY CHANNEL

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guest will be Maureen Gray from the NEPA Youth Shelter. Tune in Sunday morning at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400-The Game, NEPA's Fox Sports Radio and 106.7 fm; and at 7:30 on 105 The River.

SUNDAY MAGAZINE

This Week on Sunday Magazine.
Brian Hughes speaks with Peterlyn West from Cultural Homestay International, and Jackie Savage, who hosted Tyler, a Chinese foreign exchange student for the past 10 months, and they discuss their experiences with the program.
Brian speaks with Dr. David Fisher and his patient, Lani about joint pain and osteoarthritis in women occurring more often in women in their 40's and 50's .
And Brian speaks with Bob Valiante, co-ordinator of the 35th annual Scranton Catholic Charismatic Conference, which will be held at the University of Scranton August 4th thru the 6th.
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 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.

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. 104.9 FM and 100,7FM in Wilkes Barre! Plus Bobby V has a brand new website, check it out at www.doowopsockhop.net.

1977

Our 1977 logo

Apple Computer ships its first Apple II computers…James Earl Ray (Martin Luther King's killer) escapes from prison..International Labour Organisation and United Nations meet to discuss apartheid in South Africa and potential actions to prevent further violence and state repression…… 109th Belmont: Jean Cruguet riding Seattle Slew wins in 2:29.6…. Main Street Electrical Parade premieres in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World…."Pippin" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 1944 performances…..23rd LPGA Championship won by Chako Higuchi… Groundbreaking ceremony for John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum…….in Pennsylvania began to be the site of the filming of an ever increasing number of major motion pictures. Slapshot and The Deer Hunter were among the first of these productions……in Scranton work the Police decide to crack down on nuisance bars in the city and 40 years ago this week in LuLac land and America was “Angel In Your Arms” by Hot.

The LuLac Edition #3539, June 21st, 2017

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo

TRUMP AND HIS BASE

It seems incomprehensible that a President has such a low approval rating but his political base remains firm. But that is the case of Donald Trump. Last Friday a gentleman asked just what his most ardent supporters like or I dare say love about the President. He posed some interesting questions and that’s our Write On Wednesday for today.

SO TRUMP SUPPORTER, WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT HIM?

By

JOHN PAVLOVITZ

So, I see you’re still supporting Donald Trump.
Look, I know you have your reasons, but thought maybe you could narrow it down a bit and just give me one biggie.
Tell me what you love the most about him, as I’m genuinely curious:
Is it that he’s trying to take away healthcare from 24 million Americans including the sickest and most vulnerable?
Is it that he’s removing fundamental protections for our air and water?
Is it that his first Tweet after the deadly London terrorist attacks was to hawk his failed Travel Bans?
Is it that he and his Secretary of Education want to defund public schools?
Is it that he was an uneducated, ill-mannered, global laughing-stock at the NATO Summit?
Is it that he shoved the Prime Minister of Montenegro for a photo-op there like an insecure bully?
Is it that he sold 12 million dollars of weapons to a country he accused days earlier of funding terrorism?
Is it that he is repeatedly trying to ban Muslims from countries whose citizens haven’t committed a single act of terror on American soil in 40 years?
Is it that he wants to steamroll Native American sacred lands in order to run oil lines?
Is it that he removed protections for LGBTQ people at work and in school?
Is it that he likely fired FBI Director James Comey for looking into Russian interference in the US election?
Is it that he publicly threatened the former Director in advance of his public testimony on the matter?
Is that he is under federal investigation for obstruction of justice?
Is it that he wants to take away disability benefits from the elderly?
Is it that he exited the global Paris Climate Agreement, seemingly because it contained the word Paris in it, and not Pittsburgh.
Is it that he attacked the mayor and London, the American media and judiciary via Twitter, and is quickly alienating our greatest allies??
Is it that he speaks so respectfully of and to women?
Is it that his budget proposal contained a 2 trillion-dollar math error?
Is it that he is fatally allergic to the truth regarding the election numbers, well-known figures of speech, his 100 day resume?
Is it that his senior advisor is a fake news-generating White Supremacist who has said he admires Satan?
Is it that he regularly publicly berates the Judiciary protecting our Constitution?
Is it that he attacks our Free Press whenever it criticizes him?
Is it that he fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for upholding our legal system with integrity?
Is it that he publicly accused President Obama of wire tapping him, without the slightest shred of evidence?
Is it that his EPA Chief disagrees with Science?
Is it that he wants to eliminate funding for PBS and NPR and the National Endowment for the Arts?
Is it that he canceled whale and sea turtle protections?
Is it that he is earning the ridicule of foreign leaders?
Is it that he Tweets more often and incoherently than your ninth grader?

The LuLac Edition #3538, June 21st, 2017

TO THE FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF SUMMER!
LET'S GET IT STARTED!

Kate Upton enjoying some ice. (Photo: GQ) 

The LuLac Edition #3537, June 20th, 2017

STEVE SCALISE’S WOEFUL RECORD ON GUNS

First off, I am very sorry that Representative Steve Scalise was gunned down at a baseball proactive. He is in my thoughts and prayers and I wish him the very best.
That said, Scalise has not had a very “Christian” record on gun violence in America. I saw this on Facebook from one of my friends, David Macekura and wanted to share it. (He gave me his permission). While Scalise is a human being who did not deserve what he got, perhaps the other victims since he took office in 2009, whose safety was opposed by his polices, deserved the same.
Fact: In remarks on the House floor in 2013 after a gunman killed 20 elementary school children and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut, Scalise called the Second Amendment “incredibly sacred.”
“It’s unfortunate that some try to take advantage of disasters to go and try to chip those rights away,” Scalise said.
Fact: Scalise voted along with other House Republicans in January to reverse a federal rule aimed at preventing people with serious mental-health problems from buying guns. The measure succeeded following a Senate vote, and the repeal was signed by Trump in February.
Fact: Scalise is among 148 co-sponsors of a bill to loosen restrictions on silencers that had been set for a hearing Wednesday.
Fact: Over his congressional career that began in 2008, Scalise has introduced four times a measure to ease interstate firearms sales. He has supported bills to repeal gun-control measures in the District of Columbia and to allow people with state-issued permits to carry concealed weapons do so in other states.

MEANWHILE BARLETTA SAID TOWN MEETINGS SHOULD BE CURTAILED

Congressman Lou Barletta (Photo: LuLac archives)

Congressman Lou Barletta recently said that members of Congress should cut back on hosting town hall forums after an Illinois man shot House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and three others on a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia.
Barletta  was on WILK and host Sue Henry asked him if members of Congress should "curtail" town halls "until we agree that we need to be more civil."
"I think absolutely. There's no question," Barletta answered.
I heard the interview and Barletta said that his emotions were running high on that day. I get that. 
He continued, "I've been at the end of some of those town halls where the police had to carry people out and I get concerned not only for your own safety, but for the safety of the people who are there, who actually come to be heard and even if you have an opposing opinion, that's great. That's what these events are for, but there's a level, you know, when people cross a line to actually inciting other people and when individual safety becomes an issue then the purpose of doing it is lost."
Barletta, who earlier this year said he felt that in-person town halls had become a "circus." went on to say that he'd tried to find other ways to hear people's concerns, but added that town halls "have become such really, just targets for people to try to incite other people and it's not good."
Barletta who castigated Paul Kanjorski in his run against him in both 2008 and 2010 for having phone meetings (Kanjo had plenty of face to face turnouts) now says face to face contact with his voters should be curtailed.
Really?
Barletta hasn’t had a non controlled face to face for years. His events are carefully screened.If you added up the time spent in front of Pennsylvanians by REPUBLICANS Pat Toomey, Tom Marino and Barletta, (I'm being generous here) I bet they wouldn't total 48 hours. 
Just saying.

The LuLac Edition #3536, June 19th, 2017

GOP LIE MACHINE UP AND RUNNING IN GEORGIA

Brad Carver, GOP official in Georgia (Photo: rawstory.com)

Tomorrow night is the special election in Georgia 6th Congressional District for the seat of Tom Price, The Health and Human Services Secretary. Democrat Jon Ossaff is in a run off with Republican Karen Handell.
A GOP backed PAC is running an ad saying that if a left wing Liberal wins, Georgians would be endorsing gun violence against Republicans.
A Republican party official in Georgia said, “I’ll tell you what: I think the shooting is going to win this election for us,” Carver said this weekend at a get-out-the-vote rally for Handel. “Because moderates and independents in this district are tired of left-wing extremism. I get that there’s extremists on both sides, but we are not seeing them.”
As if this wasn’t an extreme position. This is the way REPUBLICANS think. One of their own was gunned down but chewy decide they’ll use this to win. They don’t care about his condition, they don’t care about anything else but winning.
The LIES, the REPUBLICAN LIES are coming. Watch for it.
It’s all they do, it’s all they know!

THE COSBY DECISION

Cosby and one of his team members. (Photo: AP)

The Bill Cosby verdict was in my estimation overshadowed by the theatrics of Cosby’s team. First off, let me say a few things about the case. I’m torn that the case was brought after a settlement was made nearly a decade and a half ago. What good is a binding settlement when this happens?
On the other side I am appalled at the sheer number of women coming after Cosby. One, two or three but 60? There’ not only smoke and fire, that is a three alarm blaze.
The day before the Hung Jury was announced, Cosby thanked the jury and the system for doing their duty. But the next day after the trial ended, Cosby’s spokespeople went on a rant against the Judge, the DA and the media. One of his loudmouths even said that the Judge was in collusion with the Prosecution. Really?
Judge Stephen O’Neal was the one who ruled that other women could not testify. Are they that stupid in the Cosby team reading Camille Cosby’s statement? With such rage?
If there is a new trial, it will be the same Judge. Cosby might have dodged a legal bullet this time but he might be getting cannon balls thrown at him at a re-trial.

APPROPRIATIONS BILL CONTAINS PRIORITIES CHAMPIONED BY REP. CARTWRIGHT

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

Last week, the House Committee on Appropriations passed a bill that included several priorities championed by U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright, a member of the committee. The FY18 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) appropriations bill included robust funding for suicide prevention, opioid abuse treatment, and homeless assistance for veterans.
The MilCon-VA appropriations bill funds the construction of military facilities and housing, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and maintenance of military cemeteries and battlefield monuments.
“Our servicemembers and veterans sacrifice so much for our national security, and they should receive the best care possible,” said Rep. Cartwright. “I am pleased that this bill included robust funding for the prevention of suicide, homelessness, and drug addiction among our veteran community, and encourages improvements in rural health care and equality at the VA.”
The provisions pushed by Rep. Cartwright are:
Suicide prevention among veterans
Bill language included $186 million in suicide prevention outreach. Report language accompanying the bill highlighted the importance of the veterans’ crisis line and the need to continually improve it as a service.
Opioid addiction treatment options for veterans
Bill language included $55.8 million for opioid addiction prevention. Report language accompanying the bill highlighted the importance of prescription information sharing between the VA and states battling the opioid epidemic.
Homeless veteran assistance programs
Bill language included $7.3 billion in treatment, services, housing, and job training for homeless veterans. Report language accompanying the bill encouraged the use of HUD-VASH (Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) vouchers, a rental assistance and supportive service program for veterans.
Innovation and development of VA use of telemedicine
Bill language included $250 million in rural health initiatives. Report language accompanying the bill encouraged further development and implementation of telemedicine.
Improved treatment for female veterans at VA facilities
Report language accompanying the bill pushed for improvement in addressing the needs of female veterans and highlighted specific concerns of female veterans, such as their higher risk of suicide and their unique problems faced in homelessness..

The LuLac Edition #3535, June 18th, 2017

THEY WERE BROTHERS BEFORE THEY WERE FATHERS

This photo was taken in 1966. My father is on the left, my grandfather John Charles is in the center and my Uncle Paul is on the right.

This photo was taken at our wedding in 1982. From left to right, Lenny, Joe and Timmy Pribula.

(Photos: LuLac archives)

It was March 5, 1975. I was in a Philosophy Class at King’s College. The only thing I was philosophizing about that day was to figure out a strategy on how to ask out the blond girl working in the King’s College Bookstore. After I left class, I went home and started to hit the books. It was after 3pm. The phone rang and it was my Uncle Paul. He worked side by side with my dad on The Lehigh Valley Railroad.
He was sobbing on the phone. Uncle Paul never sobbed, at least not around me. His nickname was “Philco”. (The legend has it that the neighbors in the Junction said of him as a young man, “The Yonki family has two radios, one they plug in and one that walks around”.) My uncle was a sunny side of the street guy. So I was stunned. He told me that my father suffered a heart attack and was rushed by a co-worker to the Wyoming Valley Hospital on Dana Street. He said things were touch and go but he was alive. He continued to cry. I’m not sure what I did after that phone call but I remember it to this day. 
Then upon reflection, usually in church, I realized that these men who were our fathers were brothers before. Now that might sound obvious and silly. (I’m sure the haters who read this site are smirking now but they do that every day.) But in my family on both sides, the bond of brothers was very strong. They just happened to be fathers of my cousins.
I never had a brother. Having won the family lottery, I have the greatest, most generous sister in the world. So I observed the exchanges I saw between brothers. But I also observed the behavior of my uncles as brothers. They are ingrained in my memory as testimonials in what it means to be a good man.
My uncle’s reaction to my father’s illness was not the first time the Yonki brothers came through in the clutch.
In 1967 my Uncle Mike had a car wreck that broke his neck. Every night, my father and my uncle changed out of their work clothes and sat with him at Pittston Hospital. These were the days when hospitals kept you for weeks not just a day or two.
1976 brought the knowledge that an Uncle I never met had passed away in Elizabeth, New Jersey. My Uncle Paul and my father brought him back in a station wagon provided by a local funeral home. Even though I never knew John Yonki, I do have a relationship with his daughter Barbara from New York City. People asked my uncle why didn’t our family let the Funeral Director handle the return of John's body? I’m paraphrasing here but I think he said something like, “He might have died there without us but his family is bringing him home one last time”.
There were 5 Yonki brothers, Joseph aka “Zeke” who died in 1952, John aka “Percy” who passed away in ’76, Stephen, my father aka “Jake”, Mike aka “Dealer” who died in 1999 and Paul, aka “Philco who died in 2004. Their nicknames were as outstanding as their personalities.
On my mother’s side, the Pribulas, there were 5 brothers and 8 sisters. My uncle John was bed ridden for as long as I can remember. A former Police Chief of Exeter and Tax Collector he had numerous walking issues. (My friends say I got the “Uncle John arthritis gene all by myself!) But his brothers as well as the nieces and the nephews made the trek up the stairs to the bedroom where he held court. He insisted my mother learn how to drive and dispatched the youngest in the family, Lenny to teach her. She learned. My uncle John died on the night John Kennedy came to this area. I remember so many people at his funeral.
My uncle Andy was the oldest in the family. I remember visiting him in Exeter and he was soft spoken and into baseball. He passed away in 1965. My memory of that is how my Uncle Tom told me in no uncertain terms what it meant to lose a brother. I was only 11 but saw both the pain and pride in his eyes.
I remember my Uncle John and Uncle Andy as brief flashes of my childhood that I cherish. The common denominator of their passing was in effect that they never really went away. That was in large part due to the other three Pribula brothers who were part of my life into adulthood. All three constantly told stories of Andy and John.
My Uncle Joe was my Godfather and loved to build houses with my building blocks with me. My Uncle Tom, a Wyoming Area School Director took me to various events with him when I was a kid. My uncle Lenny, the long time steward of the President John F. Kennedy Knights of Columbus Council, managed all the social affairs of the family. Births, showers, weddings, graduations, funerals, Uncle Lenny handled them all.
A side note here, four of the brothers, Andrew, Joe aka “Lefty”, Thomas aka “Timmy” and Leonard aka “Lenny” were all members of the Knights. After years of urging from my friend Wil Toole, I decided to join that organization as a tribute to my uncles. (I certainly didn’t join for the reduced price beer but they do serve a nice orange juice.)
From the age of 6, I saw these three Pribula Brothers in action. They’d help each other and family members without hesitation. Even though my mom got her driver’s license in 1960, we never had a car until 1969. They were always at the ready in case we needed a ride.
For the most part, with those three, you could count on them individually and collectively. All three were veterans and saw war. All three had that bond of being the last three boys in that huge family of 13. Each one of them had their own skill set they imparted on me.
Timmy died in 1990, Joe died in 2011 and Lenny died in 2013.
Now you know the story of the brothers Yonki and Pribula. I think of these guys often, but especially on Father’s Day. They were from two different families, two different towns. But they cared for each other and helped each other. By example, they showed their children as well as their brother’s children what family meant. It just wasn’t good times at Christmas and fun in the summertime. Being in a family meant commitment, concern and sacrifice.
All those brothers I mentioned were different people for sure. But I took from each one of them insights and gifts that are immeasurable.
This Father’s Day…..I remember the brothers who were also fathers. Whatever their titles, each one of them made me a better man.

The LuLac Edition #3534, June 17th, 2017

WATERGATE @ 45

(Photos: Washington Post, Time Magazine)

It was a Sunday night and just a few scant days before the great Flood of 1972. I was preparing to leave home and go to broadcasting school in Washington, D.C. in July. I sat down on this June 17th and watched Garrick Utley on NBC broadcast a story about a break in at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. involving the Democratic headquarters. As I watched, I sensed that there was a potential for some dust up but little did I know that in the next two years my life, as well as those of many Americans would be intertwined with this saga.
When I got to Washington, the re-election of Richard Nixon was well in hand. There was some talk of Watergate but that was only because two dogged Washington Post reporters were digging. Nixon won big that year and my candidate that year, Hubert Humphrey was throwing the Democrat’s vanquished nominee under the bus touting the other Senator from Minnesota (Walter Mondale)  as a possible contender four years out. He was going that on election night on CBS!
The new year began and Nixon was inaugurated. Then things started to unravel. James McCord got a stiff sentence from Judge John Sirica and wrote the Judge a letter telling him he wanted to talk. That opened the floodgates and a Senate hearing began.
By that time I was starting my job at WVIA FM and was in the thick of Watergate locally for the next 18 months. WVIA FM broadcasted the hearings, we did Midnight Newscasts at the time before sign off.  When I went to the mornings before school on the station,  there was always a Watergate story report, The transcripts of the tapes came out later in the and again WVIA FM put hem on the air. 
I was working Saturday night when President Nixon fired Archbald Cox as well as his Attorney General. We sat there dumbfounded as these events unfolded. 
The crescendo came on the night of August 8th when Richard Nixon resigned. George Graham, TV engineer Frank George and me watched in the Control Room as Nixon resigned. I lived Watergate. As a political junkie, I would have been fascinated. But  as a young man it was part of what I was hired to do. It was an opportunity that I will always appreciate it. Now four and a half decades later, I am appreciate that I saw history in action. My regret is that I fear we have not learned a lot given our political climate. 
All the earmarks of another Watergate are right in front of our faces. The only difference is the quality of the President in terms of knowledge and civility. But that's a discussion for another day.  For now, we look back at a significant event in our country.
Because Watergate was so comprehensive, we couldn't possibly tackle it here and give it justice. Here’s a great link from The History Channel. http://www.history.com/topics/watergate

Then a movie was made about it.

Then there was this documentary.

Tonight on MSNBC at 9PM, check out Watergate @ 45.