The LuLac Edition #4,153, October 31st, 2019

NAACP FREEDOM FUND BANQUET DRAWS BIG CROWD

Over 180 people attended the NAACP Wilkes-Barre branch’s Freedom Fund Banquet. The event was well attended by the community, the Judiciary of Luzerne County, Law Enforcement and Education Leaders.
Highlights of the evening were the presentation of the President’s Award to long time Secretary Toni Mathis and Treasurer and former President Larry Singleton.
Charlotte Ledbetter of Scranton received the Diversity Leadership Award and was thrilled to speak to the crowd. All three recipients were both gracious and inspiring in their remarks.
The Keynote Speaker Brandon Flood told his tale of redemption from a life of crime to being the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Flood’s speech was a roadmap for anyone, despite their environmental situation on how to persevere and succeed.
First Vice President David Yonki urged common sense and civility in dealing with the political climate.
Banquet Chairperson Peggy Felton gave remarks as well as Youth Leaders, Jimel Calliste First Vi e President from the NAACP State Conference of Youth and College, and Latisha Jenkins from the NAACP Wilkes Barre Youth Council  #28AM. 

Morris Jackson from Prudential Insurance gave the audience a preview of the four seminars on financial wellness coming up in 2019 and 2020. 
Ron Felton gave a rousing call to action at the end of the program. Reverend Shawn Walker gave the Invocation and Benediction.
The Toast Master was Tonyehn Verkitus and music was by Moodswing.
Here are the links from the newspapers that covered the event.

https://www.timesleader.com/news/760011/naacp-keynote-speaker-highlights-importance-of-pardon-system#
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/state-s-pardons-chief-shares-his-redemption-story-at-naacp-banquet-1.2550877

Here is Diversity Leadership Award Winner Charlotte Ledbetyter at te podium thanking the NAACP branch for her recognition. (Photo: Joe Milcavge) 

 Here we see Brandon J. Flood from the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons giving the keynote speech. (Photo: Joe Milcavage) 

From left right, your blog editor,  NAACP Secretary Flora Jenkins, Peg Felton Ron Felton President, Brandon J. Flood, Keynote speaker, Melissa Rivers Third Vice President and Dr. Rhonda Rabbitt, Executive Committee member. (Photo: Joe Milcavage)

 First Vice President David Yonki, Morrss Jackson from Prudential and President Ronald Felton at the dinner. (Photo: Joe Milcavage) 


  LINK TO THE EVENT

Here’s the You Tube link to see the entire dinner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE8qXY0XS7M&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0b_7pyNl5efFNhEMYl-eWe_2XT8NBrwGfK8XkXfU4cmRHLy8zFkR_X8mk

LUZERNE COUNTY DEMOCRATS OUT TO ELECT ALL COUNCIL CANDIDATES

The Luzerne County Democrats are really fired up and want to elect their entire team of Democrats to the Luzerne County Council. Joe Sebastenelli, Pat Bilbow, Jane Waitjkus, Bob Snee, Tim McGinley as well as newcomer Anup Patel are waging an effort to win all those seats. Wednesday night over 150 people attended a big event at The Amber Palace in Parson to show their support. No less a figure than State Senator John Yudichak was on hand to cheer on the Dems.

 

Here’s our friend Ben Hoon (center) with Cameron Edward and Mr. Patel.

Then these three guys, P.J. Biscontini, fellow Knights of Columbus member Steve McGough and the ubiquitous Tim McGinley are seen here at the event.

CASEY, SENATE DEMOCRATS URGE CMS TO INCREASE CHILDHOOD LEAD SCREENINGS

SENATORS DEMAND CMS ADDRESS GAPS IN KEY DATA USED TO INFORM PREVENTION

U.S.Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

Following National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week last week, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined a group of Democrats in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to do more to address prevention, screening and treatment of children affected by lead exposure. In a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, Casey and his colleagues demanded an update on the steps CMS will take to address demonstrated gaps in data pertaining to blood lead level screenings and urged CMS to renew its commitment to ensuring appropriate lead screening for children at risk of lead exposure.

Right now, federal law requires blood lead screening “as appropriate for age and risk factors” for all children enrolled in Medicaid, including lead screenings at 12 months and 24 months of age. However, because the data is incomplete, CMS is impeding its own ability to address lead poisoning prevention. Lead exposure can lead to serious health consequences, including a lifetime of disease and behavioral challenges. Even as rates of lead poisoning are falling nationwide, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that children in at least four million households across the United States are currently exposed to high levels of lead – whether from paint, contaminated soil, water, toys or other household items.
“Childhood lead exposure remains a serious public health challenge for communities across the country. With Medicaid serving as an essential health coverage source for the nation’s children, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plays a critical role in the prevention, screening, and treatment of children affected by lead exposure. Accordingly, as we enter National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, we write to receive an update on the steps CMS is taking to address demonstrated gaps in data pertaining to blood lead level screenings and urge CMS to renew its commitment to ensuring appropriate lead screening for children at risk of lead exposure,” the Senators wrote.
Under the Obama Administration in 2016, CMS took a number of actions aimed at improving blood lead screening and testing for Medicaid-eligible children, including the collection of data to try and help ensure the delivery of blood lead screening. However, data on statutorily mandated blood lead screenings remains incomplete. As a result, it is unclear how many children at risk of lead exposure are actually receiving required and needed blood lead screenings in accordance with federal requirements and CMS policy.
The Senators are asking Administrator Verma to do more to increase screening rates, emphasize prevention, and facilitate early intervention.
The letter was signed by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests will be Meghan Loftus and Linda Robeson from Friends of the Poor in Scranton.
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

ECTV Live host David DeCosmo welcomes Michele Wheeler to the program during the week of November 4th. Michelle represents the Lackawanna College Environmental Center which will be holding an Open House to highlight some of the special training programs available at this rural campus. ECTV Live is seen on Comcast Channel 19 and is also available on the electric city television YouTube Page!
ECTV Live is seen 3 times daily on Comcast channel 19 and is shared on the electric city television YouTube page or viewing on your laptop or tablet.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:20 and 8:20 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1969

Our 1969 logo.

U.S. President Richard Nixon addressed the nation on television and radio at 9:30 p.m., Washington time, to announce his plans to American involvement in the Vietnam War. Nixon gave his reasons for rejecting immediately removing all troops, framing that option as the "first defeat in our Nation's history" that "would result in a collapse of confidence in American leadership, not only in Asia but throughout the world." Nixon instead reiterated his plan for Vietnamization, "the complete withdrawal of all U.S. combat ground forces, and their replacement by South Vietnamese forces on an orderly scheduled timetable" but added that he did not intend to announce details of the timetable. In closing, he described the people who would support his plan for a drawdown as "the great silent majority of my fellow Americans", in contrast to a "vocal minority" of protesters which, if their will prevailed "over reason and the will of the majority", would mean that the United States would have "no future as a free society…..

The era of transatlantic ocean voyages by ship came to an end as the luxury liner SS United States docked at the New York harbor after its final tour of Europe. The empty liner then moved into drydock, arriving at Norfolk, Virginia, on November 7, ostensibly in preparation for its next scheduled voyage on December 19. A week later, United States Lines announced the cancellation of its three scheduled trips because of increasing financial losses…At least 65 gold miners near Klerksdorp, South Africa, were killed by an underground dynamite explosion at the Buffelsfontein mine [10]. The blast happened a few minutes before their shift had been scheduled to end, and about half an hour after their employer had lowered 11 cases of dynamite into the mine shaft where they were working. Most of the dead were black Africans from the neighboring kingdom of Lesotho……in Scranton Eugene Peters defeats incumbent Mayor James walsh to become the city of Scranon’s Mayor and fifty years ago this week the number one song in America and LuLac land was “Baby It's You" by  Smith.

The Lulac Edition #4,152, October 30th, 2019

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo.

This week’s Write On Wednesday is from a long time journalist and radio talk show host was always controversial but along the way was great fun. Our friend Steve Corbett has written few book which you’ll be hearing about as well as some blog posts of his own. Today Steve takes a look at the Scranton Mayor’s race. Here are two of hid articles.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Opposing candidates for Mayor of Scranton can have their say, contact the blog or e mail me at yonkstur@aol.com.
In the meantime…….Here’s Corbett 

PULLING NO PUNCHES

Pulling a decent pint is a fine attribute for any Scranton mayor. Pulling a fast one on taxpayers is more in tune, though, with the characteristics of a city boss.a decent pint is a fine attribute for any Scranton mayor. Pulling a fast
Independent mayoral candidate Paige Cognetti’s ability to pour the perfect draft is admirable. But good citizens are more impressed with her vow to disrupt city monkey business as usual.
Former Democratic Mayor Bill Courtright is likely headed to prison after pleading guilty to three federal felonies related to his shameful public disservice.
The city political party he led pleads ignorance about his criminality that put huge rolls of cash in the pockets of a patronage pool of political bloodsuckers. Instead, city and county Democratic Party hustlers are supporting the anointed candidate who’s better suited to serve as a dull pencil-pusher than the city champion in a faithless, tainted town fighting its way out of a deep financial and moral crisis.
Almost-a-mayor Wayne Evans has thus far shown himself to be useless, a timid clerk rather than the gutsy leader we need to help us reclaim our integrity. In a city drowning in mismanagement and lawlessness, Evans awarded raises to select city workers instead of showing responsible fiscal austerity.
To make matters worse, under his watch a city gasoline credit card scandal is mounting and warrants a federal or state criminal investigation.
Did Evans call the cops?
No.
Evans allowed the city fire chief to audit himself after lying about not using a city credit card for gas while using a city vehicle dented during a vacation at the New Jersey shore.
The FBI or the state attorney general should open an inquiry or convene a criminal grand jury into what clearly looks like theft. Passing around gas cards like basket-of-cheer tickets at an Irish wake really is not that much to ask.
Cognetti promises to clean house.
That’s why I’m with her.
She should win the Nov. 5 special election because she dares fight the system and the devolved Democratic Party that hurts us all – at least most of us who lack shady political connections to go to the shore, get jobs for our kids and grandkids or pull in big cash reserves even if you’re a lousy lawyer.
And, I’m speaking as a longtime Democrat.
Fighting our way out of a Scranton political cesspool hurts. But think how we’ll progress once Cognetti requires accountability from all scofflaw city workers as well as those crafty lawyers and slick vendors. As a Scranton resident, senior citizen and taxpayer, I’m concerned about honest public service.
For example, not everybody in Scranton pays their garbage bills. A few years ago I spent a lot of time on my radio show talking about city cops and firefighters who pulled down exorbitant salaries from public coffers yet didn’t pay their garbage bills in years.
Nobody cared.
Courtright didn’t care. The fire chief didn’t care. The police chief didn’t care. They refused to take action to collect the money and make sure first responders – some who pull down almost a hundred grand a year – didn’t pull such a stunt again in the future.
Courtright served as city tax collector, city council member and mayor during this debacle that continues under the stewardship of Evans, a professional realtor who doesn’t even talk a good game. Evans is way over his head in his own hometown, still playing footsie with the fire chief.
People should vote for the candidate who will go to war with sharks and sharpies, political fixers who laugh at those of us who pay our bills.
Who among the mayoral candidates will best restore the public trust?
Not only will Cognetti serve us best, she can sure pour a beer.
As an added bonus, Cognetti will bring a bundle of joy with her into City Hall.
It’s called good government.

TWO SCRANTON GUYS TALKING

“So who’s the next Scranton mayor?”
“Paige Cognetti.”
“But she’s not from here.”
“Sure she is. She lives here. Moved here to be here. She and her husband will raise their family here. She’s more from here than you’re from here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“She’s enlisted in the tireless here and now effort we need to face our city’s challenges rather than reliving the bad old days over and over again.”
“That’s a definition of insanity, right?”
“Crazy, huh?”
“I hear she’s pregnant.”
“And?”
“How’s she gonna be mayor if she’s pregnant?”
“The same way a man serves as mayor only better.”
“Scranton never had a woman mayor.”
“Maybe that’s why our last elected mayor is a crook headed to federal prison, the current appointed mayor is too timid to call the cops about what sure looks like state and federal theft of city funds and city political bosses anointed a stuffy hand-picked company man to run as the endorsed Democrat in the Nov. 5 mayoral election.”
“So what if the boss picked a patronage pal? That’s Scranton politics, business as usual, the way it’s always been done around here.”
“Preferential treatment – patronage, nepotism, cronyism – shapes a big part of Scranton’s problems.”
“Yeah, we’ll this Paige isn’t even a Democrat.”
“She was a better Democrat than all these good old boy party lackeys put together until they forced her to switch to independent to get on the ballot.”
“Standing up to that pack takes guts.”
“Guts and brains. Paige has the courage to take on the corrupt politicians who keep Scranton looking backward rather than forward. She’s smart enough to beat them at their own game. They can’t scare her or buy her.”
“Yeah, the boys’ club doesn’t take care of anybody but their own.”
“Paige is one of us – the good citizen majority who care about honest public service.”
“So she’s willing to fight?”
“She’s already fighting.”
“Scranton’s a tough town.”
“It is.”
“Paige is tough, right?”
“Right.”
“Then she is from here.”
“She is one of us.”
“Vote Paige Cognetti for Scranton mayor.”

Here's Corbett's blog and book link:  https://bloodredsyrah.com/

The LuLac Edition #4,151 October 28th, 2019

LUZERNE COUNTY DEMS TO HOLD BIG EVENT 

Want to meet the Luzerne County Democratic Endorsed Candidates before election day?

This will be one of your last chances!

There will complimentary food and drinks as well as entertainment!

Wednesday, October 30th. 6:00 - 8:00

AMBER PALACE

228 George Ave, Wilkes Barre, PA

Luzerne County Democratic Party Endorsed Candidates:

PA Judges:

Dan McCafferty

Amanda Green Hawkins

Luzerne County Council:

Tim McGinley

Joe Sebastianelli

Jane Walsh Waitkus

Patrick Bilbow

Robert Schnee

Anup Patel

6th DISTRICT WILKES-BARRE HAS GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY PLANNED 

State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski and Wilkes-Barre Council candidate Mark Shaffer will hold a Get out the Vote Rally Friday evening, November 1st  at Rodano's. The event starts at 6pm and goes until 9pm.

BRUCE PHILLIPS 

Every person who knew Bruce Phillips, whatever their political stripe was devastated to hear of his untimely passing. He was respected and loved by all of the people who came into contact with him. To his father Jim and the rest of his family, we share in your grief and shock at this moment. As one of Bruce's brothers told me this afternoon, "He packed a lot of life into those 62 years". At least his family and friends will have that to hold on as we all face a future without the smiling barrister from Forty Fort. 

The LuLac Edition #4,150, October 24th, 2019

JOE BIDEN COMES BACK TO TOWN

Former Vice President Joe Biden arrived at Fox Hill Country Club on a stormy evening Tuesday night. He left the crowd with great hope that a normal person would once more lead this nation.
He left those who met him with lasting memories as well as the impression that he cared about people of all classes. For example, he profusely thanked a local pediatrician for the work she does with children. He thanked a fireman for his work. In effect, Biden validated those he met and touched. He also left with a good chunk of change for his campaign war chest which is in need of funds.
Oh, Joe is doing okay but his opponents are raising mega bucks as the year ends and the Iowa Caucuses loom. Iowa is not my favorite place for Presidential candidates because only 90,000 people caucus. They hold the fate of candidates who need to make a good showing for the media, the front page and for donors. Mr. Biden recalled his childhood here in The Lac as well as expounding on the values he carried with him. For more, here are links from the Citizens’ Voice.

https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/biden-reflects-on-roots-slams-trump-at-exeter-fundraiser-1.2549365
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/former-vice-president-joe-biden-at-the-scranton-cultural-center-1.2549584

MANY THANKS

Much thanks to a friend of this blog, Attorney Bill Vinsko for his help in having me meet Mr. Biden. His generous spirit was evident to others in the crowd that night. 

Here is Bill (in the top photo) and his family, son Wil, wife Paula, mom Joan and dad Bill in the back as they meet Mr. Biden.  Or as Bill stated, “The Next President of the United States”. 

MRS ELLEN CASEY

The former First Lady of the Commonwealth Ellen Casey got a great shout out from Mr. Biden. As a matter of fact he gave her a hug during his speech. It warmed the hearts of many on that night in Exeter as people remember the administration pof the late Governor Robert P. Casey.

TONY BROOKS EVENT

Wilkes Barre Councilman Tony Brooks attracted a crowd of about 100 people the other night at La Manhttan Bistro. Brooks touted his record of historic preservation as well as his work on City Council It was very notable that his fellow Council members Bill Barrett, Mike Belusko and incoming Councilman John Marconi attended.

CARTWRIGHT, MCKINLEY INTRODUCE BILL TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH HEARING AND VISION DISABILITIES

Congressman Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-08) and David B. McKinley (WV-01) re-introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve educational services for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Senators Ed Markey (MA) and Shelley Moore Capito (WV) introduced companion legislation in the Senate earlier this afternoon.
The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act, named after the first deaf student formally educated in the United States and the teacher of Helen Keller, respectively, would strengthen existing requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975 (IDEA) to provide the best possible education to students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. This bill would improve state reporting and evaluating measures for students with hearing and vision disabilities and guarantee that educational resources are appropriately targeted.
“This bill takes decisive steps to ensure that students with hearing and/or vision disabilities have the resources they need to thrive in school,” said Congressman Matt Cartwright. “Only by meeting these students’ unique learning needs can we hope to finally close the achievement gap that exists between them and their hearing and sighted peers.”
“Americans have made great strides since 1975 toward improving the lives of children dealing with hearing and sight disabilities but there is still more work to be done,” Rep. McKinley said. “We need to ensure the nearly-half a million kids with these disabilities have the same opportunity as other children to learn and develop skills. This is a common sense step to ensure we are helping these children.”
Specifically, the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act would amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975 (IDEA) by:
• requiring states to identify and evaluate children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind;
• expanding knowledge about the scope and quality of special education and related services provided to students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind;
• encouraging states to conduct strategic planning that guarantees all students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind receive the specialized instruction and services they need; and
• increasing the U.S. Department of Education’s responsibilities to monitor and report on states’ compliance with requirements relating to specialized instruction and services for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind.
The bill is supported by over 75 organizations including, the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) and the National Association of the Deaf.
“School systems have been required to appropriately serve deaf and hard of hearing students since IDEA was passed, however, many gaps in services remain,” said David Geeslin, the President of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). “Deaf and hard of hearing students can achieve high levels when their language, communication, and educational needs are addressed. The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act will help ensure that personnel and resources are available to support the success of these students.”
"In our country of opportunity for all, the Cogswell-Macy Act is a powerful bill that truly ensures opportunity and success for all children particularly those who are blind or visually impaired and those who are deaf or hard of hearing,” said Howard Rosenblum, Executive Director of the National Association of the Deaf. “The National Association of the Deaf asks all legislators to join in a bipartisan show of support for all of these children.”
Other organizations endorsing this bill include: American Association of the DeafBlind, American Council of the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, American Society for Deaf Children, Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization, Children's Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf, Deaf Focus, DeafBlind Citizens in Action, National Association of the Deaf, National Coalition on Deafblindness, National DeafBlind Intervener Initiative, National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB), National Intervener Association, Pennsylvania Partnership for the Deafblind, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDI), and The Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders.

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guests will be Eric Darling and Ed Faatz from Valhalla Veterans' Services.
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

ECTV Host David DeCosmo welcomes Erica Rogler from the DietricTheater/Wyoming County Cultural Center to the program during the week of October 28th. The theater has scheduled a long list of activities as the holiday season approaches, including several free movies and some special screenings along with classes and displays.
ECTV Live is seen 3 times daily on Comcast channel 19 and is shared on the electric city television YouTube page or viewing on your laptop or tablet.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:20 and 8:20 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1969

Our 1969 logo.
Convicted of espionage eight years earlier, American spies Morris Cohen and Lona Cohen, better known by their aliases as "Peter and Helen Kroger", were released from prison in Great Britain. Mr. Cohen had been serving a 20-year sentence at Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight, while his wife had been held at Holloway Prison near London. They were reunited in London, then taken to Heathrow Airport and put on a British European Airways flight to Warsaw, from which they would then be taken to live in the Soviet Union. ……Paul McCartney of The Beatles appeared in public for the first time since the "Paul is dead" rumor that had been circulating for several weeks, bringing an end to the speculation that clues to his apparent accidental death had been included in backward messages within Beatles songs, and images on albums. Paraphrasing the late Mark Twain, McCartney told reporters, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."…….Unbeknownst to the general public, 18 American B-52 bombers, each loaded with nuclear weapons, took off from the United States and flew a polar route toward Moscow and the Soviet Union, as part of Operation Giant Lance. For three days, in maneuvers designed to attract the attention of the USSR and to test their intelligence capabilities, the bombers flew close to Soviet territory in what a historian would later describe as "the only moment we know of when a president decided that it made strategic sense to pretend to launch World War III." [22] The operation was ended on October 30 by order of President Nixon.The Caribbean British colonies of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, comprising 31 inhabited islands, were allowed autonomy as the West Indies Associated States after 300 years of being governed by British colonial authorities…..In elections for Israel's Knesset, Prime Minister Golda Meir's Alignment of her Labor Party and Mapam lost seven seats, but retained a plurality, with control of 56 of the 120 Knesset seatsFuture U.S. President Bill Clinton was reclassified from "1-S" to "1-A" by his local draft board, losing the deferment for college students, after reneging on a promise to enroll in the ROTC program at the University of Arkans..and fifty years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Wedding Bell Blues” by the Fifth Dimension.
•

The LuLac Edition #4,149, October 17th, 2019

SCRANTON MAYOR’S RACE DEBATE

Here is a recap via You Tube of the debate the other evening at the Scranton Mayoral forum. This election is for the 2 year stint that will finish out former Mayor Bill Courtright’s term.

CANDIDATE’S NIGHT AT MT. ZION

From left to right, Councilman Tony Brooks, District B, Bill Barrett District D, Democratic candidate for District B Mark Shaffer, School Board candidate Terry Schiowitz, your blog editor, School Board candidates Beth Ann Owens Harris, Reverend Shawn Walker, Jim Atherton and Jody Busch. (Photo: Dr. Rhonda Rabbitt)

The NAACP Wilkes-Barre branch had its Meet the Candidates night at Mount Zion Baptist Church Thursday evening. I was very proud to serve as the moderator. School Board candidates who came to answer questions were Write In candidate Jody Busch, James Atherton, Reverend Shawn Walker, Beth Ann Owens Harris and Terry Schiowitz.

City Council candidates who came were those in contested races. Councilman Bill Barrett from District D was there. The hottest race in the city is between incumbent Tony Brooks and Mark Shafer in District B.

Ron Felton, President of the NAACP thanked the audience for coming. The entire 90 minute forum will be seen on Service Electric TV Channel #2 on Sunday night. We hope to get this up on You Tube and put up the link. Check back for it in future editions of LuLac.

Audience questions dominated the program. We thank those in attendance for posing great questions.

DEBATE RECAP

Another Democratic Presidential debate was held and once more Pod Cast producer Ron Williams got Chris Langlois, Dr. David Sosar and yours truly to chat about it. Here’s the link: https://eyewitnessnewspodcast.simplecast.fm/forty

SENATOR BOB CASEY GOES ON OFFENSE OVER HEALTHCARE, GUNS, TURKEY, AND IMPEACHMENT

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — U.S. Senator Bob Casey is usually pretty mellow, but not when he talks about some immediate issues facing the nation, especially health care.
“The Republican position, the official position, is to wipe out Medicaid expansion,” Casey told KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano. “So they are basically saying, they’re kind of giving the middle finger to about 750,000 people in our state who have insurance only because of Medicaid expansion.”
Casey’s talking about the Trump Administration’s effort, through the courts and other actions, to wipe out the Affordable Care Act.
“Take away all those protections, including pre-existing conditions,” Senator Casey said.
Casey worries Trump and the Republicans are succeeding.
“Census Bureau tells us 1.9 million fewer Americans have health insurance than when President Trump started, so the sabotage of the system, unfortunately, has worked,” he stated.
On gun reform, Casey criticizes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for not allowing a vote on House-passed bills on background checks and so-called “red flag” laws.
“If we do nothing, if we take no action, if we don’t even debate it in the United States Senate, we are surrendering to a problem,” Casey said.
Casey says the President’s green light to Turkey to kill America’s Kurdish allies endangers American security
“Now we have the possibility that ISIS will be reconstituted. That’s the real problem, that ISIS now could have a second act, in a sense.”
Delano: Are you worried about that?
Casey: Very worried about it.
On impeachment, Casey has criticized the President for withholding military aid to Ukraine and then asking them to dig up political dirt on an American opponent.
“The evidence there is as clear as day that the President abused his power,” Casey said. “I think it was a textbook case of abuse of power.”
But the senator insists he will await the evidence in a Senate trial before voting to remove Trump from office.

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

This week's guest will be Ron Felton President of the NAACP Wilkes Barre branch #2306 and Branch historian Constance Wynn.
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

ECTV Live host David DeCosmo welcomes Justin Behrens rom the Keystone Mission to the program during the week of October 21st. Justin will share the special needs of the area's homeless population as the cold weather comes.

ECTV Live is seen 3 times daily on Comcast channel 19 and is shared on the electric city television YouTube page or viewing on your laptop or tablet.

BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:20 and 8:20 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1969

Our 1969 logo.

The New York Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in Game 5 of the World Series, 5 to 3, to complete one of the most memorable upsets in baseball history……

Fourteen black members of the undefeated University of Wyoming Cowboys football team were kicked off the squad by head coach Lloyd Eaton when they came to talk to him at his office while wearing black armbands. The players had come in to talk to the coach at his Laramie, Wyoming office, about wearing the armbands as a protest during the next day's game against the all-white and all-Mormon Brigham Young University (BYU) team. Accounts of what happened next differ, but all 14 (including five starters), were barred from playing again during the argument that followed. A lawsuit by the players against Coach Eaton and the University would later be dismissed. As for the Wyoming Cowboys, they beat BYU the next day without the 14 players, and another team the following week, they would lose their final four games. Eaton would quit at the end of the 1970 season after the Cowboys finished at 1-9-0. Two of the players, Tony McGee and Joe Williams, would go on to careers in the NFL….Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence, painted in the spring of 1600 by Milanese artist Michelangelo Amerighi da Caravaggio, was stolen from the Oratorio di San Lorenzo in Palermo. Worth an estimated $20,000,000 now, the painting has never been recovered in the almost 50 years since its disappearance……..Robert H. Finch, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, announced a ban (effective January 1, 1970) on the use by food and beverage makers of the artificial sweetener sodium cyclamate, more commonly referred to as "cyclamates". After meeting with Finch, a representative of the 12 leading American soft drink manufacturers announced that the makers of sugar-free colas and other beverages would "immediately suspend production of low calorie soft drinks" containing cyclamates (which were more costly than saccharin) and that the companies would "turn their efforts to developing or reformulating other products... so that low calorie products can again be offered for consumption to those people who wish to make that choice." The drinks already bottled or canned could still be shipped to local distributors and retail outlets for the remainder of the year…..The agreement to create the Caribbean Development Bank was signed in Kingston, Jamaica, by representatives of 16 nations, along with the United Kingdom and Canada. The agreement entered into force three months later, on January 26, after 15 of the 18 nations had ratified the pact……The fourth largest automaker in the United States, American Motors Corporation (AMC), announced its acquisition of the Kaiser Jeep Corporation, which had only manufactured the Jeep military and consumer vehicles since discontinuing its line of Kaiser-Frazer automobiles in 1963. The buyout, capitalized at $10 million in cash, $10 million in promissory notes due in 1974, and 5.5 million shares of AMC stock, brought an end to the Kaiser Company's 24-year existence…..and fifty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town” by Kenny Rogers.
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The LuLac Edition #4,148, October 16th, 2019

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

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Wednesday" logo

Here’s a great take on how a state can look at basic rights for its citizens.

STATE SHOULD GUARANTEE BASIC RIGHTS

The Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments Tuesday on the remarkable question, here in 2019, of whether employers may freely discriminate against an entire class of Americans because of who they are.
Even more remarkable is that Pennsylvania law does not provide protection from the discrimination at issue, which should be resolved.
The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race and sex. But it does not specifically exclude discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. In recent years, several federal courts have ruled that the law bars such bias under the broad umbrella of sex-based discrimination.
It was not clear how the court would vote after Tuesday’s argument. But if the court actually gives it blessing to blatant discrimination against an entire class of Americans, Congress easily can correct it by amending the Civil Rights Act to cover sexual orientation and sexual identity. It has included such provisions in a series of laws on more specific subjects that have passed since the 1964 law, including the relatively recent Violence Against Women Act and the Hate Crimes Act.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania law does not specifically outlaw discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation or identify. At least 40 cities in the state, including Scranton, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Reading have ordinances outlawing such discrimination.
Bills to correct that have come close to passing several times over the last decade, with broad bipartisan support including from Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. And in August 2018, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission announced that it would accept discrimination complaints from LGBTQ residents under state law barring sex-based discrimination.
But as the federal case demonstrates, the law matters. Lawmakers finally should pass the specific provisions barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.

The LuLac Edition #4,147, October 15th, 2019

MEDIA MATTERS

KEVIN LYNN BACK ON WILK RADIO

Kevin Lynn was back on WILK Radio today and will return tomorrow filling in for the Conservative afternoon talk show host, former Democratic State Representative Frank Andrews.
Lynn was in rare form today calling out the Trump junkies and their inane opinions.
Hit it guys......

The LuLac Edition #4,146, October 13th, 2019

13 QUESTIONS

Our 13 Questions logo.

1. Do you think the recent revelations about The Ukraine and the President change the mind of his base?

Not at all. They will stick with him to the end.

2. Is Bernie Sanders through given his recent heart episode?

Yes. There are three factors against him. The field, the appropriation of his message, (everyone has a piece of Burn Baby Bern ’16) and his age. Not going anywhere.

3. Who will be the World Series Champ?

Too early to tell. But the Astros look tough and you can never, never count the Cardinals out but The Yankees looked good last night and Washington...well it just might be there time. .

4. What do you make of Pat Toomey’s comments regarding President’s Trump’s behavior?

Like many GOP Senators who come out of hiding and make a semi strong statement against the President, and then back pedal, I don’t put much stock in what they have to say. They rarely stick to the original statement when pressure is put upon them.

5. Do you think Mike Pompeo is now compromised as a foreign dignitary with his lies about not seeing the transcript on the Ukraine?

Big time. First he said he didn’t read it last Sunday on ABC, then on Wednesday it was revealed he was part of the phone call. This is a West Point grad who has no use, apparently for their code of honor. How can any foreign leader trust what he has to say? Now with the situation with The Curds and Syria, no ally will ever believe us until this puss filled pimple is out of office.

6. If Trump says he’s innocent, then why is he holding back documents from the U.S. Congress?

Maybe because he just isn’t and knows it. Look the man is a liar and a sub human. The “I’m innocent” ship has sailed.

7. Are you sorry the Indians not in the playoffs this year?

They were competitive for sure but even if they did make it, the Astros and the Yankees are way too powerful and would have eliminated them.

8. What do you think about the so called President’s support of Turkey putting one of our allies in jeopardy?

He has destroyed Foreign Policy. No nation should ever trust us again while he’s at the helm. Now we have 1,000 troops sandwiched between two marching armies, a reversal of the flawed decision and now a big crisis. It is a train wreck brought to you by the pig occupying the Oval Office. Oh sorry about that pig comment, I'm told those animals are smarter than maybe old Diaper Don. 

9. Would Hillary Clinton beat Trump if she ran?

First, she already did in the popular vote. I think so. The thing with Hillary is that she will win the battle of history. He will not.

10. Favorite fall food?

I hate fall because it is the doorstep to winter but I’d have to go with fresh apples.

11. How did you lose all that weight?

Cut out bagels, pizza, pasta and limited myself to about 1100 calories a day. At 189 right now. I had to buy new clothes which was an eye opener. Now the hard part is to try and keep it off. The last few weeks I’ve had some pretty emotional things happen that would be the perfect excuse to overeat but so far I haven’t. Thanks for noticing.

12. Will there be a next Podcast after the Third debate?

I’m pretty sure. I’ll let the readers know.

13. I really enjoyed your commentary on Harry West. Was he really your boyhood idol? Did you have a sports idol?

Yes indeed Harry was. I listened to him and even ha the nickname “Harry” in grade school. A friend of mine, well his father kept on calling me Harry until he died in 1978
As far as ports idols, I admired Zeke Bratkowski, the back up for Bart Starr and.

Gus Triandos who caught Bunning’s perfect game. My favorite Yankee was Clete Boyer. I loved watching the big guns like Mays, Mantle and Aaron but my guys were the ones who never got the big press.

The LuLac Edition #4,145, October 10th, 2019

NAACP CANDIDATE'S FORUM THURSDAY OCTOBER 17th 

NAACP WILKES-BARRE BANQUET COMING UP 

HARRY HAAS TO RUN FOR CARTWIGHT SEAT

Who's this guy with Harry Haas? Maybe it's a case of "That was then and this is now" (Caption: Matt Engel)   (Photo: LuLac archives) 

Longtime County Council mrmber Harry Haas has said he will run for the 8th Congressional District seat held by Congressman Matt Carttwright. Haas has been on County Council since its inception and has won an election every time out. A school teacher, he has won across the board garnering support from both parties.
Sounds good on paper but as Haas (who I know and like) will find out, Matt Cartwright has built a reputation as a reasonable middle of the road Congressman who has a smooth running operation dealing with Constituency service. A string of opponents from as far back as 2012 have not been able to come close to beating him. He beat a female business owner who is a right winger, a race car drive and businessman, a Coroner and a millionaire. Haas while likeable will just be the next victim the GOP leads to slaughter. Plus, running in 2020, Haas will face the same issues that John Chrin (the 2018 opponent) faced trying to defend the actions of one Donald J. Trump.

MEANWHILE AS FAR AS MONEY GOES….

CONGRESSMAN MATT CARTWRIGHT’S COH TOPS $1 MILLION

Congressmen Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives) 

Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA08) reports over $1 million cash-on-hand after 3rd quarter fundraising haul.
“I am incredibly grateful for our campaign’s supporters who know I am fighting to protect social security, provide affordable healthcare, fully fund veterans' programs, and create good paying jobs for the hardworking families of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Congressman Cartwright.
Congressman Matt Cartwright was named the 4th most effective House Democrat in Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking and his constituents know that he is fighting every day to move the 8th congressional district’s priorities across the finish line.

CASEY STATEMENT ON TRUMP DECISION TO ABANDON KURDISH ALLIES: THIS WILL MAKE OUR NATION LESS SAFE

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives) 

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria:
“Kurdish forces have been a steadfast U.S. ally and President Trump has shamefully betrayed them. Thousands of Kurds died in the fight against ISIS only to be abandoned by President Trump, whose fascination with authoritarian dictators, like Erdogan, seems to control U.S. foreign policy. Turning our back on the Kurdish people in their time of need will make our nation less safe. Potential allies will no longer trust our government. President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria also underscores the problematic nature of his continuing involvement in his business, the Trump Organization. Since President Trump has not fully divested from his private business, our nation is left to wonder whether the fact that the Trump Organization has dealings in Turkey impacted his decision.”

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN TV

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

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

ECTV Live host David DeCosmo welcomes regional Red Cross Director Bill Goldsworthy to the program during the week of October 14th. In addition to sharing some life saving suggestions Bill will explain why there's a "For Sale sign" in front of the agency's Scranton headquarters!

ECTV Live is seen 3 times daily on Comcast channel 19 and is shared on the electric city television YouTube page or viewing on your laptop or tablet.

\BUDDY RUMCHEK

Want to hear some great parodies on the news? Tune in to WILK Radio at 6:20 and 8:20 AM on Mondays. As Ralph Cramden used to say, “It’s a laugh riot!”

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

SUNDAY NIGHTS!

1969

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October 9–12 are known as Days of Rage: In Chicago, the United States National Guard is called in to control demonstrations involving the radical Weathermen, in connection with the "Chicago Eight" Trial………The Zodiac Killer murders Taxi cab driver Paul Stine in San Francisco, California…….Vietnam War: Hundreds of thousands of people take part in antiwar demonstrations across the United States called by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam……………………………. 

The rights to employ St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Curt Flood were traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of an exchange involving seven players Flood, however, didn't want to leave St. Louis, where he had built a profitable business as a portrait painter. He announced first that he intended to retire from baseball  but soon became the first player to challenge the nearly century long practice of teams trading players without the players' consent. Before the 1970 season was to begin, Flood would file an antitrust lawsuit that, while ultimately unsuccessful, would lead the way for the players to strike successfully for the right to free agency…… 

Don Hoak, 41, former third baseman and managerial candidate of baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates, died of a heart attack shortly after losing out on the manageril race. Hoak collapsed while driving his car, after giving chase to three young men who had stolen his brother-in-law's automobile………… On the advice of National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger, U.S. President Richard Nixon issued secret orders to the Joint Chiefs of Staff to commence "Operation Giant Lance", the sending of bombers armed with nuclear weapons toward Moscow in an effort to convince the Soviet leaders that he was not reluctant to launch a nuclear war in an effort to end the ongoing Vietnam War. A squadron of 18 B-52 bombers, each carrying nuclear bombs, would be sent out on October 27. "The mission was so secretive", a historian would write in 2008 after the orders had been declassified, "that even senior military officers following the orders — including the SAC commander himself — were not informed of its true purpose."  The cable from General Earle Wheeler, the JCS Chairman, to eight commanders, began with the words "We have been directed by higher authority to institute a series of actions during the period 130000Z — 250000Z Oct, to test our military readiness in selected areas world-wide to respond to possible confrontation by the Soviet Union…………. For the third day in a row, the USSR launched men into space as Vladimir Shatalov and Aleksei Yeliseyev were sent up on Soyuz 8. In addition to marking the first time that seven people had been in space at the same time, the mission of Soyuz 6, 7 and 8 became clear with the apparent plan for the three spacecraft to be linked up to form the first long-term space station to orbit the Earth [30] On October 16, Soyuz 6 returned to Earth, followed the next day by Soyuz 7 and Soyuz 8 after the failure of the mission……. In one of the first major acts of in the United States of the animal rights movement, activists broke into the Bio-Research Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts and released 3,000 hamsters that had been used in disease research. A spokesman for the Institute said that the act had ruined years of research into medical problems, in that none of the hamsters could be matched up with their testing record….and fifty years ago this week the number one song in LuLac land and America was "Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly & the Family Stone which was released curiously in the fall season.