Hazleton Sayso

Sunday, September 14, 2003     Page: 1B

TO THE PEOPLE who put the Funfest parade on, you did a wonderful job. The
parade was wonderful. And seeing the Mummers from Philadelphia, that was
really great. Mrs. Kreisl, your tribute to your husband was absolutely
beautiful. And to the Hazleton (Area) High School Band, you really make old
Hazleton High School alumni very proud. You are great. Good job.
   
I’M A TENANT for the past 14 years living in one of the Caputo family
properties. I had to call about the recent SAYSO that mentioned the Caputo
family. In my opinion, the caller is a jealous vindictive liar. The Caputo
family may own a lot of properties, but that’s because every one of them is a
hard worker. If every landlord in Hazleton took the same degree of care with
their properties that the Caputos do with theirs, Hazleton would look a lot
better and our neighborhoods would be in a lot better shape. The Caputos
maintain their properties, they pay their taxes and they’re good neighbors.
Hazleton needs a lot more people like the Caputos.
    YOU KNOW WHAT really makes me sick about this country? Everybody makes
excuses. Everybody wants to say what the person they believe in is doing is
right. The bottom line, Bill Clinton had an affair, that was wrong. George
Bush lied to this country, lied to the world, killed a bunch of innocent men
and children, whether he did it by his own hand or because of his lies to take
over the Middle East, it was wrong. Just like now Arnold Schwarzenegger …
dropping hints has his issues with South Africa and what he’s said and what
he’s done in his past. It doesn’t matter whether you like or dislike the
person. If they did something, they did something wrong. That’s the bottom
line. What Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Clinton did didn’t kill anybody.
What George Bush did got people killed.
   
IT’S SO TYPICAL of the current presidential administration and their oil
company buddies. They jacked up oil prices by 15 or 20 cents over the last
couple of weeks. Now the prices are going down by a nickel and everyone is so
happy and grateful. Sometimes people deserve what they get.
   
I ATTENDED AN in-service (Sept. 2) at the high school. (Hazleton Area
School District Superintendent Frank) Victor gave a very nice welcome back
speech and filled me with optimism for the future of the School District. That
optimism quickly faded as I walked through the halls and saw Mr. Tom Chirico
strutting around as a new vice principal. These kinds of promotions only fill
me with dread. I wonder what is going to become of us. It just doesn’t feel
good.
   
I’VE ALWAYS FOUND (Standard Speaker) reporter L.A. Tarone’s comments to be
off the wall, really radical and right wing. I just discovered he is a big
Mopar freak, that is a fan of Chrysler-built automobiles. Him being a Mopar
guy explains everything.
   
I’M A NEIGHBOR of (a School District administrator). I’m just wondering if
he’s going to be running as many trips to Atlantic City on school days like he
does now. Whoever goes, they park all over the place, and I’m tired of not
finding parking near my home because the bus leaves from his house. Everybody
that goes on the trip parks all around his house. He runs these trips on
school days and takes days off to go to Atlantic City. … How will he be
(administrating) if he takes all these days off to go to Atlantic City?
EDITOR’S NOTE: Please make note of the days the trips are run, call back with
those dates and we’ll check into it.
   
I’M CALLING ABOUT an editorial in (the Sept. 1) Standard Speaker. It says
we’re supposed to welcome all the newcomers into the area because our
grandparents were newcomers. They said these people aren’t even foreigners,
that they come from New York City. Well if they’re not foreigners, why don’t
they talk English and why do we have to hire so many interpreters and tutors
in our schools to try to teach them? I thought New York City is part of the
United States and if they come from there, they should know how to speak
English. So I think somebody’s a little confused.
   
THIS RECALL IN California, I’m totally for it. They said they’re worried
about the recall issue, that it would spread to other states. I hope it
spreads to political parties because the first one I want to see go is
(Angelo) “Joe Pie” Spadell. And these are (some of) the people in his own
party.
   
I DON’T THINK it’s fair that the taxpayers have to foot the bill for all
these special language classes and interpreters. And I really don’t think it’s
fair when people go overseas and adopt a child and bring it back here and we
have to hire a teacher to teach that child whatever language they come over
here with. There’s nothing wrong with adopting; you want to adopt, fine. But
why should taxpayers get stuck paying for this? And you know, Times Leader, I
don’t care if you think I’m prejudiced. I’m not prejudiced. My ancestors came
over here, they learned to speak English. The taxpayers can’t afford it. Maybe
you people make big money, but there’s guys in plants around here trying to
own a home and pay their taxes. And if they keep on doing this, nobody’s going
to be able to afford a home.
   
HISPANIC PEOPLE keep saying the people here won’t accept them. Yes, we will
accept you. You do what you’re supposed to do. Learn English, keep the town
clean, don’t cost us more tax dollars, and yes, we’ll accept you.
   
THIS IS DIRECTED to the person in McAdoo who issues permits for remodeling.
I would like to know why there are people on the west side of town … who did
not get permits for putting up a fence. And I understand there’s someone on
(name of street deleted) who I believe put central air in. Did that person get
a permit? It’s just unfair for those who do follow rules and regulations in
the city and who are honest enough to do it. We feel it’s unfair that some
don’t and the rest of us do. Would that person please look into it? EDITOR’S
NOTE: Records on the issuance of work permits are public records. If you want
to be sure people are paying their fair share, you can inquire from borough
officials whether work permits were issued for those residences. If they
weren’t, you can file a complaint. If the complaint is ignored, call us with
more detailed information.
   
I WOULD LIKE TO thank the Times Leader for publishing the deeds recorded in
Luzerne County, especially the Hazleton area’s Laurel Gardens home sales. Now
I want to register a complaint to the Standard Speaker. They rarely print the
deeds recorded. And when they do, like in today’s paper, Sept. 5, they did not
print any Laurel Gardens transfer of deeds such as the one the Times Leader
printed in the Sept. 2 paper. Why is this? Is this a conspiracy between the
Laurel Gardens gas spill residents and the Standard Speaker? Once again, these
Laurel Gardens residents are asking for another three-year tax abatement grant
since the previous one just ended, which amounted to $300,000 per year. For
three years, it amounted to just under $1 million. These people are selling
their homes for a decent amount and our school taxes are needed for all the
additions necessary because of increased enrollment and building deficiencies.
I believe every deed in Luzerne County should be printed so the public can see
who is moving in and out and also the market value of real estate to see if it
is going up or down.
   
IT’S AMAZING HOW Banks Township supervisors could go around tagging cars
that are abandoned while a township supervisor’s (relative) has an abandoned
car and his isn’t tagged. Explain that. EDITOR’S NOTE: If you call back with
the location of the car and the name of the owner, we’ll check into it.
   
SOMEONE SAID WE should put Gerry Walck on the Democratic ballot for council
in McAdoo. I don’t think so. I think Gerry Walck was … afraid to stand up
and do the right thing. The only time he did anything was when it suited him.
He never cared about the people, only his own agenda.
   
I GET AWFULLY tired of hearing the anti-public school crowd constantly
asking what don’t kids know, what don’t the teachers know. Maybe we should
start asking what parents don’t know. I’m often shocked to find out how many
parents don’t know the names of their children’s teachers. Some of them don’t
know what grade they’re in, unbelievably. Some parents don’t even know what
subjects their children are getting until the first report card comes out, and
even then they don’t know. This is the real problem behind public education,
it’s apathy. And it’s not apathy on the part of the students or teachers. Of
course, politicians will never say this because too many parents vote.
   
I’M CALLING FROM the Hazleton area. I went to make a phone call at 8:23 and
heard Connie Francis singing “Where the Boys Are.” I was just wondering if
anyone else in the Hazleton area gets WILK radio over their telephone.
   
I LOOKED IN the paper today and I saw the comment (School Board member
Carmella) Yenkevich made about the qualifications of hiring Mr. (Dan) Diehl
over Mrs. (Jocelyn) Podlesny from vice principal to principal. Come on, Mrs.
Yenkevich. Mr. Diehl had six months of experience under the tutelage of Mr.
Barletta. The only reason Mr. (Joseph) Barletta got the job is because Robert
Schnee, his … friend, gave it to him. Mr. Barletta went from a teacher to a
vice principal to a principal within a year. This seems to be the same M.O.
Come on, Mrs. Yenkevich, you’re running for school director. I’m certainly not
going to vote for you and I hope all the readers of the SAYSO column in the
Times Leader realize the same thing. How could you not be livid that Mrs.
Podlesny, who has been a wonderful educator and fabulous vice principal, was
overlooked by this young pup who was a football coach. And how about the Times
Leader? Let’s call a spade a spade. The only reason he got hired is because (a
district employee) has the board. Now you’re not going to write … maybe you
should be as good as the Standard Speaker. They actually investigate their
stories. And when a story is found to be invalid, they don’t put it in. That’s
what a newspaper is supposed to be. You guys are like a tabloid in California.
Let’s just sell newspapers. (Garbled sentence.) Well here’s (garbled) about
Mrs. Yenkevich. She’s been had. EDITOR’S NOTE: Regarding Barletta’s
appointment, one School Board member can’t give a job to someone; a board
majority must vote to approve the hire or promotion. Barletta was appointed
vice principal in August 1996 and principal in April 1997. Schnee was a board
member at the time. We didn’t print the name of the district employee because
Yenkevich denied your accusation. We have repeatedly said that SAYSO is an
opinion column, not a forum for disputing facts. If you have the guts to make
your accusation on the record, we’ll investigate further, interview all
parties involved and print it. Furthermore, we maintain that our reporters do
attempt to investigate the facts for their stories. Can you specify a story we
printed that you think was “invalid” and provide reasons why you think so? Our
editors or reporters would be happy to discuss your concerns with you. And if
you prefer the reporting of another newspaper, why haven’t we seen anything
printed in that publication regarding your accusation?
   
I TAKE MY HAT off to the person who called about Ray Saul’s remarks in the
Standard Speaker about Hazleton’s newest citizens being like the Italians,
Irish and Polish of 100 years ago. I will add this much, though. If they did
come over here the same way the Italians and Polish and Irish came over here
100 years ago, they would not accept welfare if it was around then. And let me
add that the Times Leader seems to think that people are not entitled to their
opinions about what is going on in the Hazleton area. I don’t know if any of
the people who are employed by the Times Leader live in the Hazleton area. So
if they want to have a SAYSO column, they should take the people’s word for
it. EDITOR’S NOTE: Several of our employees live in the Hazleton area
including Times Leader staff writers Steve Mocarsky, who writes most of the
stories published in our Sunday Hazleton section, and Jennifer Learn-Andes,
who covers Luzerne County government. We think everyone is entitled to their
opinion. Sometimes, though, we think it’s important to present different
perspectives of an issue or even dispute what callers have to say if we’ve
observed evidence to the contrary.
   
THE SCHOOL BOARD members who are against opening up the Castle, when voting
time comes, they will not get our votes.
   
I JUST HEARD they renamed Funfest to Barletta’s La Fiesta. EDITOR’S NOTE:
The influx of Hispanics to the Hazleton area seems to be becoming a major
issue in this column. With election time less than two months away and the
tendency for an increase in attacks on candidates, we think it would be most
fair to print future calls on this issue only if people can provide specific
reasons for their opinions. We’re not sure why you think the mayor is
responsible for what you apparently believe is a problem.
   

   
WHEN I NEED SPORTS coverage of Notre Dame and other colleges, I have to buy
the Times Leader. According to the other newspaper, they only know one team –
Penn State.
   
I GET THE IMPRESSION that when people are elected to public office,
especially the School Board, they think they’re elevated to the position of
royalty. I’ve been down by the Church Hill Mall a couple times and twice I’ve
seen former School Board directors parked in the fire lane by the store. Two
of these guys … seem to have no regard for public safety. It’s just that
they feel they’re privileged and they shouldn’t have to walk from the parking
area to the store. They can park in the fire lane and no one’s going to mind,
no one would have the nerve to tell them about it.
   
I’M A PROUD American. On Thursday night as I got ready to sit down and
watch the beginning of the football season, the president of the United States
was talking. With all that’s going on in our country, with the declaration of
May 1 with the war in Iraq, the outrageous gas prices, no one still knows what
caused the blackout, I guess they’re too busy pointing the finger at each
other. The only thing the president was worried about is, `America, are you
ready for football?’ Come on, get real. I couldn’t be prouder to be an
American as I was then.
   
ONE OF THE ITEMS the president failed to mention in his speech Sunday night
was the fact that we still have not located the weapons of mass destruction
that were poised at our throats that could have been deployed in a matter of
hours against our troops and against our country. This was the primary reason
we went to war in Iraq. It was supposed to be for self defense, a preemptive
strike that would prevent him from attacking us. Now there are some Bush
defenders suggesting that we may have already found the weapons or some
indication that a weapons program existed and the information is being
withheld so it can be used as a surprise right before the upcoming
presidential election. If they’re doing this kind of stuff, it’s absolutely
disgraceful. You don’t withhold information specifically so you can try to
embarrass people. We’re entitled to know what’s going on over there because
it’s our friends and neighbors who are dying and we’re paying for this.
   
READ THE OP-ED page of Aug. 31 in the other paper. Someone really ruffled
Ray Saul’s feathers claiming he was partly responsible for bringing Hispanics
to Hazleton. In his statement, he came across as a sensitive individual and
quite emotional. If nothing else, it will take his mind off ex-President
Clinton for a while, whom he likes to run down every chance he gets.
   
I WAS AT FUNFEST Sunday and I also saw in the other paper that they had
some pictures from Funfest weekend. They only have six pictures, but I notice
the one picture they had to put in was the mayor, Lou Barletta. You can tell
it’s an election year, because I think with all the stuff going on and the
wonderful floats in the parade, they could have picked better pictures from
the parade to put in than Mayor Lou Barletta. So I guess the Standard Speaker
is behind him in the election and I guess that’s why they put the picture of
him in.
   
HAZLETON AREA former Superintendent Geraldine) Shepperson is really patting
herself on the back saying she is a trail blazer, an innovator and a role
model. Here’s another one. She is a political hack and a has-been. She seems
to like poems. Here’s one especially for her. Sometime when you feel that
you’re going would leave an unfillable hole, just follow this simple
instruction and see how it humbles your soul. Take a bucket and fill it with
water, put your hand in up to your wrist. Pull it out and the hole that’s
remaining is the measure of how you will be missed. Goodbye, Shepperson, and
good riddance.
   
MS. WATCHDOG Demetria Deakos, whose main source of income is derived in
this country, refuses to pledge allegiance to the American flag. Why doesn’t
she move to Greece and find employment there?
   
GOING TO WAL-MART eastbound on the Airport Road as you’re turning into
Wal-Mart, there used to be a yield sign there. The opposite people have an
arrow to make a turn. Why don’t they put up a yield sign back up again? I
don’t know if it’s PennDOT’s problem or Wal-Mart’s problem, but somebody ought
to put that yield sign back up.