The LuLac Edition #5, 275, March 19th, 2025

 

WRITE

ON

WEDNESDAY

Our “Write on Wednesday” logo

This week’s WOW contains letters to the editor from readers of The New York Post about Canada and its economy. Notably, the New York Post was a strong supporter of the President in the ’24 election.

 

They can cripple multiple economies and hit the most vulnerable Americans — the ones barely making ends meet.

R.H. Bredin

Toronto, Canada

 

It’s shocking that our friends in Canada are outraged over tariffs on their goods while ignoring the imbalance in their own favor.

Canadians are fine with imposing tariffs on US products but furious when Washington does the same.

If they were such good friends, why wouldn’t they support eliminating tariffs on both sides?

Michael J. Felicetta

Lavallette, NJ

 

Trump acts like he has no understanding of the insalutary effect of tariffs, and underestimates those who will kick him back in the teeth.

Sadly, all Americans will get kicked.

Lou Maione

Manhattan

 

When Trump’s tariff wars worsen — and they will — remember that Canada didn’t start this.

When Americans face higher prices there will be one man to blame: Donald Trump.

Chris Robertson

Stony Plain, Canada

 

It doesn’t seem like Trump checked the dictionary for the word “tariff,” so maybe he doesn’t realize that it is the consumer who pays the tariffs on imported products (“Trump’s Irish up on E.U. tariffs,” March 13).

It is not the nation that manufactures and exports its goods to us that pays: It’s us, the buyers! Meanwhile, he’s alienating our traditional friends and allies, leaving us isolated.

Nicholas S. Molinari

Brick, NJ

 

The LuLac Edition #5, 274, March 18th, 2025

 

PITTSTON ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER

Had a wonderful time back in Pittston this evening at The Banks with my boss Mayor George Brown who presented the Pittston Friendly Sons Man of the Year, Mayor Michael Lombardo with a provocation but a key to the city of Wilkes-Barre.  

The event was well attended and brought back the diner to the city of Pittston after a hiatus.

Here’s Mayor Brown and yours truly before the event. 

Then a shot of the Mayor giving the key to Mayor Lombardo.

The first guy I ran into was former St. John’s Evangelist High school classmate Jimmy Dessoye  Jim reminded me that we were in kindergarten together too. 

 Next  look at these guys! Magisterial Justice Joe Carmody (St. John’s class of ’69) P.J. Melvin, Msrk Noble (class of 84 and Joe Strubeck of the Friendly Sons leadership team.  Then there was Joe Valenti, my Facebook sparring partner now that Joe Leonardi is in Hawaii.

Joe and I are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, we disagree on 99.7 % of EVERYTHING political l but still respect our mutual interest in the way the country is going and both of us are not afraid to express it……and still remain talking to each other. (Joe I owe ya a lunch!)

Was honored to meet and greet former President Judges Joe Augello (who I understand traveled up from Florida for this) and West Pittston’s Tom Burke as well as Judge Joseph Saporito.

 

The LuLac Edition #5, 273, March 18th, 2025

 

IN THE LU

COUNTY COUNCIL RACES FOR PRIMARY SET

 

County Republicans and Democrats will each pick five nominees in the primary.

The 10 primary nominees will face off in the Nov. 4 general election, when all voters are free to pick five of any affiliation.

On the MAGA side are : Thomas Dombroski, Dallas; Ronald D. Knapp, Nanticoke; Kevin Lescavage, West Pittston, Jackie Scarcella, Hazle Township; Brian Thornton, West Pittston; Stephen J. Urban, Kingston; and Bob Viars, Slocum Township

The Republicans running with the MAGAs are Council Chair John Lombardo and Greg Wolovich, Hanover Township.

I make this distinction because the eight listed in the second paragraph are MAGA Insurrection supporters that are essentially cult members. Some are rude rabble rousers at Council meetings. Then there is Lying crying Brian Thornton who COST the taxpayers TONS of money by torpedoing the first selection of the current manager Romilda Crocamo.  If you recall, the vote was set at 9 to 2 but lying crying Brian put a stop to it  and hired Randy Robertson who stayed a hot 6 months. Robertson later characterized the Republican majority as not very smart people. At least in Lombardo and Wolovich, there is a consistency of normality  and dedication to the county.

Lescavage, Lombardo, Thornton and Wolovich are incumbents. The fifth seat expiring at the end of this year is filled by Chris Perry, who is not seeking re-election. Chris Perry will be missed, and Lombardo deserves another term.  But the other ones…..not so much.

On the Democratic side, the candidates are: Chris Belles, West Pittston; Steven M. Coslett, Forty Fort; Tony Perzia, Luzerne; Johnny Price, Dupont; Dawn Simmons, Wilkes-Barre; Emily Singh, Fairmount Township; and Denise Williams, Kingston Township.

Whoever prevails, the Dems better be united in the fall campaign. As usual they shot themselves in the foot by NOT backing ALL of the candidates. By cutting (for whatever stupid reason they had or whoever they were listening  to) a candidate they could have had the majority and spared us from Lying, crying Brian Thornton and Lescavage his flunky. Out of respect to the candidate they cut, who has moved on and continued her community service, I won't reveal her name. But the people behind it know what they did. 

Council members receive $8,000 annually. In addition to adopting a budget, their duties and include approving larger contracts, appointing members to outside county boards. (Times Leader, LuLac)

 

THE LAC

SCRANTON

MAYOR’S RACE

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti faces multiple potential challengers in her bid for re-election this year. She will be going up against perennial candidate Bob Sheridan. Gene Barrett who us a Democrat   said he’ll run as an Independent  because with a three person race, he felt he’d lose.

On the Republican side, first-time political candidates Lynn Labrosky and Patricia Beynon and trucking business owner Bob Bolus filed petitions by the deadline Tuesday to run in their party's primary. This trio almost guarantees a win by Cognetti or Barrett. I heard Labrosky on the radio, not impressed because all she did was bitch  about crime, the homeless and the roads, three things a mayor is a victim of circumstance of but can’t control. Same with Bryon who complained about taxes and that people need to have a voice. Does she not have heard of Council meetings? Then there’s Bob Bolus who is pure MAGA and a bus bully. I’m not sure he can serve through given issues of his past.  He is though a person who provides meals for the community during the holidays. Bolus though might benefit from the two ladies facing off.

Scranton voters are not known as ticket splitters in local races but if Barrett runs as an Indy and one of these three GOP candidates don’t get a groundswell of support, Cognetti might be in for a test .(WVIA FM, LuLac)

 

The LuLac Edition #5, 272, March 17th, 2025

 MONDAY MEMES 

Gertrude of Nevilles

The LuLac Edition #5, 271, March 16th, 2025

 

CANADA SINGS OUT PROUD AND LOUD

A 51^st U.S. STATE?

NO

 

The LuLac Edition #5, 270, March 14th, 2025

 

BIG EVENT ON MARCH 26^th

NO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SCREWS THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS

Once more, the most ignorant man on the planet has decided that we don’t need a Department of Education. Last night, half of the staff was fired. Trump says that local school districts are in charge of curriculum. That is true but the story is not complete. For a guy that went to Wharton (I still want to see his grades!) the closure does no favors for students from poor and middle-class families who aspire to a better life.

The department in its modern form was established by Congress in 1979 to level up access to education, to help working families pay for college, to boost student achievement and to pave pathways to good middle-class jobs. In his 1980 campaign Ronald Reagan campaigned against it but changed his mind once he saw (as a struggling college student in the 1920s) how important it was to poor people.

Department grants help close to 26 million children from poor families get extra support to reach their full potential.

It helps meet the individual needs of more than 7 and a half million children with disabilities. It provided tens of millions to help the over 5 million English learners in U.S. classrooms improve their proficiency and assimilate into our communities. And it provided nearly 9 million students with the financial aid they need to attend college or trade programs, including work-study programs.

It appears that Trump and  Elon Musk want to steal steal that money, which Congress appropriated for children, to pay for tax breaks for the rich and corporations.

Indeed, much of the department’s total annual budget helps Americans trying to secure a college education. Why does Trump want to make it even harder for the children of low-income and middle-class families to cover skyrocketing college and university costs?

Again, if you are a MAGA parent or grandparent with middle school kids or have one with disabilities., severe or otherwise, GOOD JOB. You just let two rich guys screw you over and deprive your kids of education benefits to make their lives better. And if you’re child is disabled? Yeah, well thank your boy Donnie for that.

 TRUMP ENDS SOCIAL SECURITY REGISTRATION AT HOSPITALS

The Trump administration has ended the practice where if you had a newborn baby you could get the infant a social security number.

Doing paperwork – even for something as important as a Social Security number for your newborn – is probably one of the last things you want to do. We’ve made it easy. If your child is born in a hospital, the most convenient way to apply for a Social Security number is at that hospital before you leave.

There are many reasons why your child should have a Social Security number. You need a Social Security number to claim your child as a dependent on your income tax return. 

That will end with this mandate. The Trump administration is using this as an opening salvo on the attack on Social Security.

 

GOP MAGAS IN GOVERNMENT SHUN

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM

This year’s annual Legislative Breakfast will be held on March 22, in the Wilkes University Ballroom.  The Ballroom is on the second floor of the Student Center (building #46 on the campus map); park in lot #5 on the map. 

We have invited all our County’s legislators; come by to enjoy brunch and discuss issues important to you and your family.

Here is the thing though. ONLY TWO LEGISLATORS ARE COMING. Eddie Day Pashinski from the 121^st and Jim Haddock from the 118^th. At post time, NO REPUBLICAN MAGA is coming. There are people saying “where are they?”

THEY ARE IN HIDING. Cowards like Meuser, Rinkavage, Walsh and Bresnehan can’t defend the actions of Trump. What galls me is before they used the League to get out their message. Like the selfish fake they keel before, they ignore the invite from the League to discuss what is important. LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT.

Bottom line is THEY HAVE NONE.

Registration ends on Monday March 17^th at this link. WB-LWV: Legislative Brunch RSVP 

 

CRACKING THE CODE

 

For years I struggled with trying to explain the MAGA talking point that defended Trump as “a successful businessman”. I wondered how he was depicted that way when he went bankrupt 6 times.

Now I know the answer. Just look what he has done given his own devices on screwing up this government.

The sock market is tanking because he has no plan. He changes things every other day on a whim. When he makes a decision, he never sticks to it. He isn’t loyal to anyone and has the mentality of an aggrieved, spoiled third grader.

That’s cracking the code. He went bankrupt because he is incompetent.

But when he went bankrupt, foreign banks saved his ass. Now he is making America bankrupt in civility and the very cores of our democracy. He will ultimately fail again but the sad part is the bastard will try to take all of us along with him.

 

I WON THE LOTTERY!!!

Well now that I have your attention, I’d like to inform you that the Trump administration wants to “look at” the Children’s school breakfast program.  There are people who want to eliminate it. That means 30 million children will not get subsidized meals. BTW more than 90% of the students in the WBASC are on this type of program. So, when you pick your county and school district officials this fall, and you see that this program is reduced or cut, remember it was the MAGAs in this county who voted for this. Taking food and nutrition out of the mouths of ALL kids, party notwithstanding.

Why blame the local GOPers? They stood and, in some cases, still stand with this administration.

 

BRESNAHAN VOTES TO FUND GOVERNMENT, PREVENT SHUTDOWN

Representative Rob Bresenehan (Photo: LuLac archives)

 U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. voted in favor of H.R. 1968, Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, which passed the House by a vote of 217-213. The continuing resolution provides funding to operate the Federal government through September 30, 2025.

“I came to Washington to make life better for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “My vote today will ensure we can stay on the path of securing our borders, making life more affordable, and protecting our communities and country. I look forward to continuing to advocate for what is best for my district and fighting for Pennsylvania’s Eighth Congressional District.”

Pennsylvania’s Eighth Congressional District is home to more than 10,000 federal employees, or 2.94% of the district’s population.

Key provisions of H.R. 1968 include but are not limited to:

1.   Protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients from the disruptions and confusion a shutdown will cause.

2.   Contains an additional $6 billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund to treat veterans with service-related exposures to toxic substances.

3.   Reduces discretionary spending.

4.   Extends DHS’s ability to operate counter-drone technology through the end of the fiscal year.

1.   Extends expiring health care programs through September 30, 2025, including:

1.   Community Health Centers and other public health programs.

2.   Medicare add-on payments for ambulances, certain low-volume and Medicare-dependent hospitals, and rural providers.

3.   Medicare telehealth flexibilities.

4.   Delay of scheduled Obamacare cuts to Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH).

5.   DEA scheduling authority for fentanyl-related substances.

 

 

 

CHILD CARE CENTER DIRECTOR CALLS FOR ACTION, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR GOVERNOR SHAPIRO’S INVESTMENTS IN THE CHILD CARE WORKFORCE

 

“TEACHERS IN OUR CLASSROOMS ARE WARRIORS... AND IF WE CONTINUE TO LOSE OUR LICENSED TEACHERS DUE TO THE INABILITY TO COMPETE, WE RISK BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES. AND WHEN WE CAN'T PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES, THEY CAN'T GO TO WORK.”

 

Governor Josh Shapiro (Photo: LuLac archives)

 

Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal(opens in a new tab) delivers commonsense solutions to strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce, including a $55 million investment in workforce recruitment and retention grants for child care workers in the Child Care Works (CCW) Program. The grants would provide an additional $1,000 annually per employee working for a CCW child care provider, ensuring more families can access quality child care.

Building on his commitment to making child care more affordable and accessible, the Governor has already expanded the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit – saving 218,000 families over $136 million – and created the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit to help businesses support employees’ child care needs.

Governor Shapiro has called on the General Assembly to join him in solving workforce shortages in critical industries.

 

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

 

GOOD LUCK CHELSEA STRUB

Chelsea Strub signed off WNEP TV a week ago. She was a great reporter and weekend anchor staple for the station. We wish her well in her future endeavors and I personally will miss chatting with her about eye wear. Best of luck and love.

 

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.

 

THE LULAC TIME MACHINE

March 12^th, 1939

This week in 1939, Pope Pius XII was crowned the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic church. Eugenio Pacelli was the Secretary of State for the Vatican.

Pope Pius XII held his position as Bishop of Rome from 1939 to 1958. During his papacy, Pius was notable for the active role in foreign relations played by the Vatican. Some of this has been criticized, but he has also been praised for these 'Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs.'

Pius is particularly remembered for the Reichskonkordat, in which an agreement of neutrality was signed with Germany during World War Two. Yet also during this time, the Vatican under his control was involved in the German resistance and saved some thousands of Jewish lives.

He received an award from the World Jewish Council for this, "in recognition of the work of the Holy See in rescuing Jews from Fascist and Nazi persecutions." Still his relations with Germany during this period have been criticized and interpretations of his role remain controversial.

Throughout his papacy, Pius was strongly opposed to communism. Indeed, he went so far as to describe the fight against communism as a holy war and excommunicate all members of the Communist Party.

He saw communism as fundamentally opposed to Catholicism, and in political terms subscribed to a domino theory: "[if] the Communists win in Rome, in Italy, it will cast a shadow on the entire world: France would become Communist, and then Spain and then all of Europe."

Pope Pius XII declared in 1950, “The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”  While this is a revealed truth (we could not know this without God’s revelation), it naturally follows from an understanding of the Immaculate Conception. “She, by an entirely unique privilege, completely overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and as a result she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body “ Pius died  in 1958 at the age of 82  from  heart failure and this week in 1939 the number one song in LuLac land and America was Judy Garland’s classic “Over the Rainbow”.