The LuLac Edition #5, 130, June 20th, 2024

 

WILKES-BARRE

6^th DISTRICT DEMS TO HOLD SUMMER PICNIC

 

WHY TRUMP SHOULD BE JAILED

Donald Trump will be sentenced on July 11^th. The crime he committed for a normal business transaction should not be one that mandates a prison sentence. White collar crime like this never warrants jail time. But it appears the Manhattan DA’s case was strong enough to warrant a jury to believe that this was a crime that was predicated on trying to change the result of an election. There are those who say the severity factor just isn’t there, after all no one was maimed or killed. But the reaction to this trial and ultimate verdict by the defendant is cause enough for jail time. Here are the reasons why:

1.  Behavior and abuse of the Judicial process. My late friend Wil Toole used to say that “in a courtroom, the Judge is king”. Even hardened criminals I’ve seen in magisterial hearings and criminal cases were polite and deferential to the court. Donald Trump was not.

He acted like a petulant child and was held in contempt 10 times! If it were any other defendant or lawyer, he or she would be jailed in a heartbeat.

2. Trump did something in the trial that no one has ever done. Talk to the public about the case. Impugn the reputation of the Judge’s child as well as the Judge himself. He bashed the system saying he was the victim and held court as if it was a bad Perry Mason episode. Even O.J. Simpson and his lawyers had enough common sense to shut up.

3. There was no remorse. After the verdict and before sentencing, Trump has been insulting to the rule of law.

4.  Finally, Trump, even though he is technically a first time offender has shown a pattern of criminality. His company has been investigated and can’t do business in New York state. His company can no longer have a charitable foundation because they weren’t charitable! He has been twice convicted in a sexual assault case where he owed millions to the plaintiff. Trump has three other indictments hanging over his head that have yet to be adjudicated because of Merritt Garland’s inaction and a biased Judicial slow roll. Then there is the storming of the Capitol where Trump incited the riots.

This Judge can cite all of the above as mitigating circumstances. Plus, Trump was never held accountable for his contempt charges. All ten of them. It would be perfectly justifiable to add that as part of the sentence.

Now the Judge might hesitate because he might get blow back from the Trumpanzees. The bottom line here is no matter what this Judge does, he can’t win with these people. The well is already poisoned.

Trump compares himself to Al Capone. Al was jailed for an offense that by and large didn’t carry a heavy jail sentence. Trump should get jail because unlike Al, he never, ever shut up whining and complaining like the big baby he is.

House arrest, incarceration, put him away for a while. And if his followers choose to riot, JAIL THEM TO.  The law should be followed and not attacked by a bunch of wanna be thugs.

 

STEVE BANNON’S THREATS OF VICTORY OR DEATH

 

That fashion show plate Steve Bannon proclaimed at a Trump rally, Victory or Death.

The former senior counselor to former President Trump, closed his remarks at the 2024 Turning Point Action conference in Detroit, saying, "Are you prepared to fight? Are you prepared to give it all? Are you prepared to leave it all on the battlefield? ... Ladies and gentlemen, it's very simple: victory or death!" During his remarks, he talks about what would happen if Donald Trump wins the 2024 election, including holding the Justice Department under President Biden "accountable."

This is a threat. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought public officials weren’t supposed to be threatened. This is NOT free speech. This is INCITEMENT. THIS IS TREASON and this ugly prick should be JAILED NOW.

 

 

REP. CARTWRIGHT ANNOUNCES LIST OF FY25 COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING SUBMISSIONS

Representative Matt Cartwright (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, this week announced he has submitted 15 Community Project Funding requests to the House Appropriations Committee for funding consideration ahead of the fiscal year 2025 congressional appropriations process.

All five counties in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District are represented in Cartwright’s selections.

“As a Member of Congress, one of my top priorities is to deliver federal tax dollars back to the people I serve,” Cartwright said. “In the three years since Community Project Funding was reintroduced, I’ve successfully brought home more than $87 million in Community Project Funding dollars for Northeastern Pennsylvania. These projects will make a real difference in our district by strengthening infrastructure, creating good-paying jobs, supporting public safety, and boosting economic development.”

In 2021, the House adopted a submissions process for Community Project Funding (CPF) requests by individual Members for specific projects that will benefit the communities they represent.

Since then, Cartwright has secured funding for every single project he has submitted to Appropriations.

In Fiscal Year 2022, he successfully secured $19.6 million for his district; in Fiscal Year 2023, he brought home another $52.7 million; and in Fiscal Year 2024, he procured $15.35 million.

 

 

CASEY STATEMENT ON FAILED RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT VOTE

CASEY: “ONCE AGAIN, REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS ARE SHOWING THAT THEY ARE TOO EXTREME AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.”

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives)

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement on the failed Senate vote on the Right to Contraception Act. Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, several states have restricted access to some forms of contraception. The Right to Contraception Act would protect and guarantee the right for people to obtain and use contraception nationwide.  

“Since the fall of Roe, women’s reproductive rights have been under attack, including access to contraception and IVF. The need for this bill is not hypothetical. Women around the Nation deserve to know that their right to access birth control cannot be ripped away by the whims of state legislators. Once again, Republican politicians are showing that they are too extreme and cannot be trusted when it comes to women’s reproductive health.”

 

 

CASEY, FETTERMAN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO COMBAT STUDENT HUNGER, EXPAND ACCESS TO FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL MEALS

BILLS WOULD ADDRESS CHILD FOOD INSECURITY BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL MEALS

Senators John Fetterman and Bob Casey (LuLac archives)

U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced two bills that would expand access to free or reduced-price meals for millions of American children. When children experience food insecurity, they face unique barriers that affect their ability to do well in school. The bills expand criteria for individual students to receive free or reduced-price school meals, lower the threshold required for districts to offer free school meals for all students, and increase reimbursements for schools to cover meal costs without compromising students’ access to meals.

“Children should be able to focus on learning without worrying about where their next meal is going to come from. Senator Fetterman and I are introducing these bills to fight for the 13 million children in our Nation who lack consistent access to food,” said Senator Casey. “I will keep pushing to ensure that all children have enough to eat.”

 “Ensuring that our children have enough to eat is one of the most fundamental responsibilities we have,” said Senator Fetterman. “It’s simply unacceptable that children in our nation suffer from food insecurity because of excessive red tape and petty political games in Washington. We must do more to cut through bureaucratic hurdles and improve our nutrition programs. Both of these bills would go a long way to create a healthier, more equitable future for all of our children. I’m proud to partner with Senator Casey on this critical issue.”

The School Hunger Elimination Act would expand student access to free or reduced-price school meals on both the individual and district levels. Direct certification—a process used to identify and enroll students in free or reduced-price meal programs—would expand so that a broader number of students could qualify. The bill would also work on a district level by amending the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)—a tool that allows schools in high-need communities to provide free school meals to all students. For a district to qualify for CEP, a certain percentage of the student population must be individually eligible for direct certification. The bill would also require that districts that adopt CEPs be reimbursed at a higher rate to help schools cover the costs of free meals.

 The Nutrition Red Tape Reduction Act would reduce the threshold for districts to qualify for CEP from 50% of student participation in the district to 25%. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ruled to expand the CEP to 25% in 2023. This bill would put the USDA’s ruling into law and increase the number of schools who are eligible to provide free meals to all students.

Both bills work together to address the critical child hunger issue by expanding access to free or reduced-price meals while also providing districts with sufficient reimbursement to cover costs of providing more meals at a reduced rate.

 

SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION HIGHLIGHTS GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT FOOD ACCESS FOR OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA

Governor Josh Shapiro (Photo: LuLac archives)

Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh visited The Factory Ministries (or "The Food Hub") in Lancaster to highlight new investments in Governor Josh Shapiro's 2024-25 proposed budget to support Pennsylvanians facing hunger. The Food Hub is a location of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health's Food Farmacy program that supports access to life-sustaining food for people navigating both health issues and food insecurity. The Governor's proposal includes what would be the first investment of state funds to increase the minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit for older adults and people with disabilities, while also aiming to boost programs that help Pennsylvania's kids during the summer months.

"As a physician, I have seen first-hand how food can be medicine, especially for people navigating or at risk of chronic health conditions that are impacted by diet. If people are going without meals or if nutritious food is inaccessible due to cost, there is a direct negative impact to their health, including higher health costs and avoidable hospitalizations," said Secretary Arkoosh. "Governor Shapiro's proposed budget seeks to invest in the health and dignity of our older adults, people with disabilities, and our youngest Pennsylvanians, by increasing the minimum SNAP benefit and helping provide meals to students during their summer break."

 

 

MEDIA MATTERS

WALN

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

You'll hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30 am on 105 The River.

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP

 

STEVE CORBETT’S SCRANTON CITY NEWS

Here's the link: News – The Outlaw Steve Corbett (theoutlawcorbett.com)

 

BEATLE EDD’S FAB FOUR MUSIC HOUR

Tune in every week to the Home of Rock and Roll for a jam packed, unpredictable hour starting at 9am Sundays. Host Edd Raineri gives you facts and great music from the immortal Fab Four on ROCK 107.

 

1984

Our 1984 logo.

Senior Tournament Players Championship Men's Golf, Canterbury GC: Arnold Palmer wins 2nd straight Champions Tour major by 3 strokes ahead of Peter Thomson of Australia…..Lydia Garrett, 24, crowned 17th Miss Black America….Prince releases his "Purple Rain" album… 1st flight of Shuttle Discovery (41-D) scrubbed at T -4….Barbara Streisand records "Here We Are At Last”……Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways commences operations with flight from Gatwick to Newark….Joe Morgan sets career HR mark for 2nd basemen with #265…. Calvin Griffith signs letter of intent to sell ownership of Twins and  Carl Pohlad becomes CEO of Minnesota Twins……and the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Dancing In the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen.

The LuLac Edition #5, 129 June 18th, 2024

 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Our “Maybe I’m Amazed” logo

Donald Duck Edition

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that Donald Duck, the erasable Disney character turned 90 on Sunday. My how time flies. Even in Dick time.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that Donald is what the psychologists call an anthropomorphism That is is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that Disney created the character to supplement the main star, Mickey Mouse. The story line of Mickey was always positive and damn near perfect. Disney in his brilliance wanted to create a foil to life’s trials and tribulations for those of us not that cheerful 24/7. (Although I have been accused of the latter).

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..Donald is known for his semi-intelligible speech and his mischievous, temperamental, and pompous personality. Along with his friend Mickey Mouse,

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that  Donald was included in TV Guide's list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time in 2002, and has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has appeared in more films than any other Disney character.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that Donald's first appearance was in The Wise Little Hen (1934), but it was his second appearance in Orphan's Benefit that same year that introduced him as a temperamental comic foil to Mickey Mouse.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that In the 1930s, he typically appeared as part of a comic trio with Mickey and Goofy and was given his own film series starting with Don Donald (1937). These films introduced Donald's love interest and permanent girlfriend Daisy Duck and often included his three nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. After the film Chips Ahoy (1956).

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that After the film Chips Ahoy (1956), Donald appeared primarily in educational films before eventually returning to theatrical animation in Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983). His last appearance in a theatrical film was in Fantasia 2000 (1999). However, since then Donald has appeared in direct-to-video features such as Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004), television series such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016), and video games such as QuackShot (1991) and the Kingdom Hearts series.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…that In addition to animation, Donald is well known worldwide for his appearances in comics. Donald was most famously drawn by Al Taliaferro, Carl Barks, and Don Rosa. Barks, in particular, is credited for greatly expanding the "Donald Duck universe", the world in which Donald lives, and creating many additional characters such as Donald's rich uncle Scrooge McDuck.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….but not really that the character of Donald Duck is portrayed as a very impatient, immature, and arrogant duck with a pessimistic attitude and an insecure disposition. In addition, his two dominant personality traits are his fiery temper and his upbeat attitude to life. Many Donald shorts start with Donald in a happy mood, without a care in the world until something comes along and spoils his day. His rage is a great cause of suffering in his life. On multiple occasions, it has caused him to get in over his head and lose competitions. There are times when he fights to keep his temper in check, and he sometimes succeeds in doing so temporarily, but he always returns to his normal angry self in the end.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that the Donald's aggressive nature has its advantages, however. While at times it is a hindrance, and even a handicap, it has also helped him in times of need. When faced with a threat of some kind, for example, Pete's attempts to intimidate him, he is initially scared, but his fear is replaced by anger. As a result, instead of running away, he fights. In fact, his anger can make him powerful enough to defeat ghosts, much stronger individuals, sharks, mountain goats, giant kites, and even the forces of nature.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that despite all of these flaws, Donald is a snapshot into our own human nature and behavior. We always get a comeuppance when we get too nasty or arrogant.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that animator Fred Spencer said this about double D, “ The Duck gets a big kick out of imposing on other people or annoying them, but he immediately loses his temper when the tables are turned. In other words, he can dish it out, but he can't take it.” Mmmmm…..that reminds us of another buffoon character named Donald.

The LuLac Edition #5, 128, June 17th, 2024

 MONDAY MEMES

And the beat goes on.n

The LuLac Edition #5, 127, June 16th, 2024

 

 

 FACTS ABOUT JAKE

 On this Father's Day, I'd like to share with you a few facts about my father. 

 

He was born in June of 1914 and was named Stephen. He acquired the nickname "Jake" from working in a butcher store in the early 30s. The catch phrase of the day for something going right was "Everything's Jake". Yonki family legend has it that since he was a dependable employee everything was "Jake". 

My father taught my sister and I to drive even though he never had a license. We both passed on the first try. 

When my father was courting my mother, he grew up in the Junction section of Pittston and she lived in Exeter. They went to fairs, eaters and movies. But he had no license thus no car. However every time he'd knock on the door at 1297 Wyoming Avenue in Exeter, he'd walk my mother down the steps and out of nowhere came the late Frank Piontek of Duryea in a spiffy vehicle. Frank would stop and say, "Where ya headed Jake?" And my father would tell him the destination and he'd say "Isn't this a coincidence". My mother told me years later that after the fourth date she had figured it out but never said a word. 

My father took me to see John Kennedy in Pittston when he was running for President. I was 6 and it was a thing I would always be grateful to him for. 

My father always tipped his hat in front of every church he passed. 

I only saw and heard my father sob and cry once. That was when I was 5 and hit my head against a radiator mimicking a bull. I was bleeding profusely as he ran down the steps to a neighbor's car and we sped off to Pittston Hospital. 

My dad was a voracious reader of newspapers. We got 4 every Sunday. The Sunday Dispatch, the Independent, the Philly Inquirer and the New York Daily News. 

He was a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and Chicago Cardinals football fan. But he said you had to follow East Coast sports teams because you lived in the East. 

When I was dating after college, if a woman was divorced, he'd refer to them as "widows" Never could endorse divorce I guess. 

He encouraged all of us to get education and he was proud when we graduated higher education. He had to leave school after the 8th grade to help support the family in the Depression. He'd say, "If I went to high school, I could have been a Philadelphia lawyer. 

I never really got it that he was loved in the neighborhood. When he passe away at the age of 66 on January 6th, 1980 his make neighbors came to the house and sobbed. My mother passed away on June 15th, 2008 on what would have been their 65th wedding anniversary. I like to think Frank Piontek was driving them someplace up in heaven that day. 

My father was pleased I never drank or smoked but told friends that eventually women would kill me. Although I came perilously close a few times, well a lot, that didn't happen. 

He worked as an essential employee in WW2 and was on  the Lehigh Valley Railroad until 1975.  He would be thrilled to see the railroads operating again down the street from our house. He'd walk to work every day, leaving Dewitt, going down the alley, across North Main (where we saw JFK) and on to Coxton YARDS.

 The Reverend Paul McDonnell's dad Tommy would always tell me how proud my father would be of me now. People come up to me now and say at my age and build am the spitting image of him. Even though I can't bring him back, miss him terribly, on this Father's Day how could anyone ask for more. 

The LuLac Edition #5, 126, June 15th, 2024

 

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL JUNETEENTH IN THE BOOKS

Sunshine,  fellowship and proving diversity matters! Very proud to be part of this Daryl Lewis production and the NAACP unit.

Working at the registration desk with Toni Mathis(courtesy of our friend Karel Zubris.

In this photo Megan Kocher, Thom Shubilla, me, Eddie Day Pashinski and Tony Thomas enjoying blue skies and sunshine.

Here are two great Democratic ladies Victoria Dunbar and Carin Pientka with John Campo and then seen promoting bi-partisan registration.

The Wilkes Barre Police made the scene doing community outreach. Special thanks go out to Officer Jamie Sheridan and Tim Pierce for their help.

 

Last but not least it was great to see a former Hanover Area student Tamika Harris.