The LuLac Edition #3949, December 6th, 2018

THE BUSH FUNERAL AND THE GUY SITTING AT THE END OF THE PEW

What can you say about the George H.W. Bush funeral? It was a four day goodbye to him but perhaps to the way we used to do business here in America. One can’t help but wonder what those former Presidents were thinking as they sat relaxed listening to the scripture, homilies and eulogies as they reflected on 41's life. They had to wonder just how low the Presidency has sunk under the current occupant as he sat hunched in his toilet like stance. The saving grace is that he was invited by the Bush Family and thankfully behaved like an adult.
Juxtapose this week with the underlying events that are about to stain this Presidency of Donald Trump forever. This week was a split screen of the majesty we were and the garbage our politics has become. There are no two ways about it. The Trumpites have been silenced for a while but a few numbskulls with no life have been posting stuff no one cares about this week on Social Media.
The Bush funeral gives us a glimpse to see how things should be done. The underlying current of how Donald Trump committed crimes is simply how you shouldn’t lead a country. Service to the country, not service to thyself and spawn. 
As I watched the funeral on delay, I know this. Like George Bush survived his defeats, we will survive the events that started on January 20th 2017 and horrible end when God deems it. But unlike George H.W. Bush, our scars will take at least a generation to heal.
The late President Bush and the other Presidents, 39, 42, 43, and 44 proved you could govern all of the people, not just your base.
Donald Trump was seen listening to the words about the 41st President, the days ahead will tell us exactly what he heard.

TED WAMPOLE BIDS FAREWELL

Outgoing Wilkes Barre City Administrator Theodore Wampole. (Photo: Citizens' Voice)

This week Ted Wampole exited his position as Wilkes Barre City Administrator. He’s also a former Killer Bee Softball player. Here are the text of his remarks that to me should serve as a model for all those who choose to leave the private sector and enter government.
“Thank you for allowing me a few minutes to address council and publicly thank you, the Mayor, our administrative team, all city employees, and the media for truly making the past 2 1/2 years the culmination of a dream I had as a 22-year old intern in the city clerks office in 1982. I have fulfilled a dream of a lifetime, serving the residents of the city of Wilkes-Barre as their Administrator.
Wampole channeled the remarks from Former President George HW Bush, 41st President of the United States on Public Server.

“There is no higher honor than to serve free men and women, no greater privilege than to labor in government beneath the Great Seal of the United States and the American flag,” he told senior staffers in 1989, days after he took office.
I appreciate the confidence and trust Mayor George entrusted in me when he appointed as City Administrator in May 2016. It is a duty that I never once took for granted and I have given every ounce of energy to serving the residents of the city and never once took anything for granted.
It has truly been an honor to serve the residents of the city of Wilkes-Barre and to honor those that have come before me.
To be clear, this is not an easy time right now as we all work to improve this city we all love so very much. But, I didn’t take this job because it would be easy.
I TOOK IT SO I COULD HOPEFULLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE , and hopefully leave it better than when I got here.
I believe we are on the right path. I also believe, as you’ve heard me state many times, that there are still some very difficult decisions ahead of us to be made. I know we will be experiencing some short-term to the pain, but I also believe that will lead to long-term gain.
Our “Taking it to the Streets” initiative is a big step in helping improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, but there is still lots of work to do. Hopefully, we will soon have our own LandBank which will help in this endeavor.
The financial struggle we are in has shown signs of Improvement, but we still may have to ask for help, if we are to reach our ultimate goal of LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY.
Dealing with the media has been something I’ve enjoyed during my time in city hall. To be sure, they have proven themselves to be impartial and fair........ ok, for the most part anyway...... but I recognize they have a job to do, too. I think we’ve respected each other professionally and thank them for the respect they have shown to me.
I will miss this team. I will miss all the city employees...... from Fire and Police to DPW and non-uniformed. It is a fine group. Ultimately, I hope I have helped to drive the point home that it really is the residents and businesses in our city, our customers, who we serve.
I will miss the relationships I have made with the various neighborhood groups, whether it be crime watch or neighborhood associations. Again, I have built friendships within these groups that I hope to take with me and continue throughout the rest of my life.
The relationship between these groups and city hall must continue as it has helped, I believe, strengthen the understanding and communication between the residents and city hall.
I will miss my almost-daily conversations with our city council. What will my morning coffee visits to my moms house be like now without an email with accompanying picture from Bill Barrett at 7:45 AM regarding a complaint in his district?
What about the almost daily exchanges with Tony Brooks over all things dealing with historical architecture.......... and trees?
And, of course, let’s not forget the daily calls from Mike Belusko making sure I am well aware of the issues in South WB....... every...... single...... issue..... Solomon’s Creek..... potholes...... street signs....... storm drains..... blighted properties........
I love this job! I love working for Mayor George! I love leading our outstanding team! I love dealing with the media! I love the various interactions with the residents.
I hope I am leaving it better......... I know I tried........
And I can’t thank you enough for allowing me this opportunity.......
I will leave you with this..........
Despite some of our differences on issues, I want to believe we all want what’s best for the city.....
My wish is that some of the personal issues that define us these days hopefully begin to fade so that those outside the city can see what makes this a great place to live, work, and raise a family......
THAT is what I want people to see.......
As Tony Brooks and I have repeated over and over again.......
We are BETTER than this!!!
Let’s start showing that we are.......
One final thought..... something I posted to social media earlier today.....
"Christmas gift suggestions
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."
— Oren Arnold, American novel
Thank you, and God Bless all of you!!
It’s been a great ride!!!”

CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES WINNER OF THE 2018 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. House of Representative Matt Cartwright announced the winner of the 2018 Congressional App Challenge. Students Andrew Dey, Lauren Engel, and Dylan Keegan from Pocono Mountain West High School were named the winners for their app Jumper.
The Congressional App Challenge is a bipartisan initiative started by leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Internet Education Foundation to encourage high school students to explore computer science and STEM. To participate, students design and code an app on a topic of their choice. They also create a demonstration video describing the app and complete a series of short answer questions.
“As a Member of Congress, I appreciate the opportunity to foster an environment where students can excel and become the next generation of leaders and innovators,” said Rep. Cartwright. “The young people who participated in this year’s challenge presented an impressive group of apps, a true testament to the bright futures ahead of them.”
This year, the apps were judged by ChannelApe, an ecommerce business headquartered in Scranton. The winning app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for 12 months starting in the spring and on the House of Representatives’ website, House.gov.
“I am always amazed at the talent shown by our high school students in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Cartwright. “I look forward to seeing participation in the Congressional App Challenge continue to grow significantly in future.”

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guest is Bold Gold's Michael G. Stanton. He'll discuss his upcoming "Shower for Charity" 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.

ECTV LIVE

Winter isn't here yet although we've had a taste or two already. James May of PennDOT will join ECTV Live hosts Rusty Fender, David DeCosmo, and Director Mark Migilore during the week of December 10th. May and Mike Taluto handle Public Information for Northeastern Pennsylvania so we expect to hear about Winter preparedness and plans for Highway work during the coming New Year.

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.

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!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1960

 

Our 1960 logo

Richard Paul Pavlick, a 73-year-old postal clerk from New Hampshire, loaded his car with dynamite and then parked outside the Kennedy family estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and prepared to kill President-elect John F. Kennedy, waiting for Kennedy to depart for Sunday mass. Pavlick changed his mind after seeing that Kennedy was accompanied by his wife and two small children.  Pavlick was arrested four days later by Palm Beach city police.

The most commonly used Spanish-language version of the Holy Bible, the 1960 revision of the Reina-Valera, was released. The original version had been published in 1569. A more recent, but not as popular, revision was released in 1995....In news about  the U.S. presidential election, the Texas board of canvassers awarded all 24 of that state's disputed electoral votes to Democratic Party candidate John F. Kennedy, bringing his total from 249 to 273, three more than the 270 required to win. The decision came two hours after federal judge Ben C. Connally rejected a Republican lawsuit seeking a recount.....While Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia was visiting Brazil, his Imperial Bodyguard staged a coup d'etat, taking many of the Imperial staff hostage, including Crown Prince Asfa Wossen, who was proclaimed as King (rather than Emperor). The coup failed within a few days, and Haile Selassie reigned as emperor until another coup in 1975United States presidential election, 1960: The five member electoral board of Illinois, with a majority of Republican members, unanimously certified the results of the November 6 popular balloting, and awarded Democrat John F. Kennedy the state's 27 electoral votes. The board had considered Republican charges of voter fraud in Cook County and denied a request for a further election recount. Before the award of the Illinois block, Kennedy had 273, three more than the necessary 270 needed to win…in Harrisburg Governor Lawrence lights the Christmas tree…..in Luzerne County as the holidays approach excitement grows as happy Democrats make plans to charter buses to the JFK swearing in and fifty eight years ago this week the number ore song in LuLac land and America was “Lonely Teenager” by Dion.