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Sunday, June 15, 1997     Page: 1B

Caller rips Crestwood School Board’s newsletter
   
In a recent SAYSO, a caller complains that the Crestwood School Board is
spending $2,000 of taxpayer money for a newsletter to be mailed four times a
year. According to the School Board minutes, the cost is $2,000 per editionSo
our irresponsible and arrogant School Board majority is spending $8,000 of
taxpayer money on the publication that is poorly written and misrepresents the
facts in obvious attempt to justify their incompetence and fool the taxpayers.
    Editor’s note: The board has published two newsletters, each costing under
$2,000.
   
I’m just reading your Sunday paper on the SAYSO line. I would just like to
know what this person has or knows about Timothy McVeigh’s case that he should
have been found innocent. I would like them to put a piece back in to say what
they know that he should be found innocent.
   
I’m calling about the June 8 Steve Corbett column about the LCCC softball
team. He stated recently that he has no interest in competitive sports, and
judging by the article that I just read, he also has no knowledge of
competitive sports. As far as the coach being too tough on the players, I
don’t know what the case was, but judging from the record, he probably wasn’t
tough enough, because they were terrible. I think Corbett should stick to
writing about something that he knows about. I’m not sure what that is, but he
should try to stick to it.
   
I’m calling in response to that person that called in from Nanticoke about
the dog being put out in the rain. I don’t have any problems with my
neighbors, but we have a dog, and when it’s raining, snowing, whatever, we
have to put her out to go to the bathroom. We stand by the door until she’s
done, and then we bring her back in the house. Then we get a towel, we dry her
off thoroughly, and I was wondering if this person could be misinterpreting
the facts. I mean, our dog just does not know how to go on the toilet by
herself, and so she gets wet or a little bit of snow on her for a few minutes.
But if there’s a better way, if they can call in and tell me, I’d be glad to
try it.
   
I’m calling in reference to an article that was put in a SAYSO column on
June 2. The resident that was going to the Hanover Township board meetings.
Evidently this resident is blind to all the meetings. …He must be one of the
Aregood backers, because as you saw in one headline in the papers, the lawsuit
that’s against Hanover Township is going to cost Hanover Township. …And
there’s another six more lawsuits that are coming due to those five
commissioners that do not know what they’re doing, and do not know how to
handle any money. My thing is, all the taxpayers of Hanover Township have to
get together, because you’re going to be like Nanticoke if you don’t, and you
have to get Aregood and the boys out of there, because all he has are puppets
backing him up.
   
I have a comment regarding the ad for the Northeastern Eye Institute on
Page 7A of Sunday’s Times Leader. Most people would need corrective surgery or
a very strong magnifying glass to read the list of doctors printed at the
bottom of the ad.
   
I’m calling about Mayor McEgo, firing the city’s emergency’s dispatchers.
Word has it, he had a disagreement with one, and this was the end result.
…Public safety is an issue here. Now Wilkes-Barre taxpayers will have the
county handling emergencies. Come on SAYSO, do the citizens of Wilkes-Barre a
favor. Please print this.
   
Editor’s note: The McGroarty administration announced May 23 that the
city’s emergency dispatching system will be swallowed by the Luzerne County
911 system. McGroarty has promised the change will not bring layoffs of city
employees. Dispatching through the county should not affect safety, city
officials say.
   
I’m calling about Marilyn Litchkowski of Nanticoke complaining about $5 Per
Capita Tax she’s paid too much over the last couple of years. This is from a
woman who hasn’t paid her property tax in two years. What even worries me most
is that the people of this town almost elected her treasurer.
   
Editor’s note: County tax records show that Marilyn Litchkowski owes almost
$1,400 in back taxes for 1995 and ’96. Litchkowski, who ran unsuccesfully for
Nanticoke treasurer, has complained that the city has been overcharging the
per capita tax since the mid 1980s, if not earlier. The city was charging $15
instead of $10. City officials are reviewing her complaint.
   
I’m calling this morning about the picture in the paper of the Wilkes-Barre
police officers on the Torch Run. I mean, what a pathetic picture. Police
officers, you would think, should be in shape and should be able to catch
somebody. I mean, I doubt that these guys can walk one block without having a
problem. …Come on mayor, let’s put some real, real, real looking policemen
in there. We know you have a lot of them.
   
Editor’s note: Dick Tracy was busy.
   
I just want to say I love your recipes on the back page of your paper with
the weather. They are super!
   
In response to the SAYSO call regarding the New Democratic team. Yes,
hurray to the voters of Plymouth Township for voting in a new majority a year
and a half ago. We finally have people in office who are working on behalf of
all the residents of Plymouth Township, as opposed to a select few. I am a
Democrat, and in my opinion these people are doing an excellent job, whereas
the so-called New Democrats are the same old political hacks that ran Plymouth
Township into the ground in the first place. The team claims they want to take
our town back. I feel they want to take our town backwards and raise taxes.
Besides, I don’t remember anyone taking my town away from me in the first
place. Yes, Nov. 4 there is a general election, and I’m sure the intelligent
people of Plymouth Township will vote for continued progress, not higher
taxes.
   
I just took my annual ride down Mundy Street, I say ride, even though I was
driving my own personal car, because it’s more like a ride than it is a drive,
and once again I find it hasn’t changed a bit. I think it’s an embarrassment
to your city. I spend 10 days a year here on business, and once a year I’ll
take a ride down Mundy Street to see if it’s changed. Every year I go down
there I see businesses that are opened one year, and the next year they’re
closed. And I have a nice car, and I’m not about to tear it up on a terrible,
horrible street like Mundy Street. And frankly, whenever I run across clients
or business associates who are thinking about relocating to Wilkes-Barre or
opening an office up in Wilkes-Barre, the first thing I tell them is take a
ride down Mundy Street and be aware that street has been that way for 15 years
that I’m aware of.
   
If our wonderful Mayor McGroarty would stop worrying about the garbage and
nonsense, and get that road on Mundy Street fixed up, people wouldn’t be
breaking their cars and having such an awful time trying to get to the Vets
hospital.
   
Editor’s note: Most of Mundy Street is in Wilkes-Barre Township, not the
city.
   
I’m calling about an article about Mayor Walsh in Pittston. He is the mayor
until Jan. 5, and after 24 years of dedicated service, there’s nothing he can
say. He has been dedicated to the city, and I’d like him to know that.
   
Well, here it is summer again, and the area of night cruises. This includes
horn honking, screaming, vulgarity, bottle breaking, until 3 or 4 o’clock in
the morning. I’m glad these people have these places to go, because the people
that live in the vicinity have nothing to do but get up between 3 and 5
o’clock in the morning to go to work. Now you tell me, how are these people
expected to get some sleep? Call the police, it does no good, because they
chase them, the people come back. Why can’t the Kingston council … put a
curfew in Kingston. It’s the only place that doesn’t have a curfew.
Wilkes-Barre has one, Edwardsville has one, Larksville has one, but the people
that come here are from Hazleton, Scranton, Bloomsburg. Please, somebody help
us.
   
I’m a registered Republican who voted for Tom Ridge in 1994, but I won’t
make the same mistake this time. It’s dismaying to me that the Democrats are
being handed the governorship on a golden platter next year, and it appears
they’re going to blow it. Ridge, even with his $8 million to $10 million
contributions, can be beat. Remember, this is a guy who won with just over 40
percent of the vote in 1994. He’s turned his back on many groups who supported
him, including the sportsmen and even some stalwarts within the Republican
party. He possesses an anti-union bias, he ran the gas tax down our throat,
and he approved a pay raise for the legislatures, when he said he would not do
so when he was campaigning in 1994. This guy can be beat only if the Democrats
get their act together.
   
For several weeks now I have been complaining about the parking on the
Square in front of the Rite Aid pharmacy. On the pole is a sign that states
“Parking permitted — 6:30 p.m. — 2:30 a.m.” but it is completely ignored.
Wednesday morning about 11:30 there were three cars double-parked in front of
the drug store and the bank. The bus came and the driver had no choice but to
park alongside the three cars that were double parked, which meant his
passengers had to struggle to get up that high step to get on the bus. I
understand someone from the bus company has talked about this to our mayor,
and he has done nothing about it. Suppose something happens, there’s a
tragedy, someone is injured trying to get on the bus. I hope they sue the
city. If our mayor had a mother or a sister who had to struggle to get on the
22, 15, or the 14 bus, I’m sure something would be done, PDQ. Let’s get with
it mayor, and take care of the senior citizens of Wilkes-Barre.
   
I was wondering does anybody know what’s going on with the Pittston Area
teacher’s contract, or is it just going to be another big joke and strike
again come September? What a disgrace! Do the kids always have to suffer for
the greed of the teachers?
   
I was so glad to see Allison Walzer’s column back on the editorial page, on
Sunday, June 8. Please continue this practice. I love to read her
behind-the-scenes article.
   
Editor’s note: Thanks, mom.
   
I believe that “Archie” comics should be present in The Times Leader.
Archie is the spirit of a typical American. There may be murders, there may be
robberies, there may be arson, but the Funnies page remains the main issue
affecting citizens of the Wyoming Valley.
   
This is about the comic section. You run “Cathy” in Sunday comics, and if
I’m not mistaken she used to be in the daily paper. Why don’t you bring her
back? She was great! Pride and truth, stick with what you know.
   
Editor’s note: She is not available to us during the week.
   
I’m calling concerning the Brandon Stuchkus case. One of your callers in
SAYSO said some things that I’d like to respond to. I’ve been a foster parent
for over 10 years. Foster parents do not have legal custody of the children,
the county does. As foster parents, we have to ask permission for any medical
procedures. If we have to take them out of the county or out of the state on
vacation, we have to have permission, even from our case worker to cut their
hair. She also spoke about $19 a day that we are paid. If she did a little
math, she’d realize that’s 79 cents an hour, for 24 hours a day, 7 day a week,
52 weeks a year care. That is by a trained, certified caretaker, trained by
the foster system. And also the foster parents have no legal rights. But when
you think about 79 cents an hour, try to find a day care that would take care
of a child for that. And from that 79 cents an hour, a foster parent pays for
room and board, clothing, entertainment, birthday gifts, Christmas gifts and
all the other things you pay for your own child. The clothing allowance is
rather insignificant. Foster parents are much like prostitutes. We get paid so
that the parents of the children can abuse us, verbally, and so that the
Children and Youth Agency can treat us like dirt. We do it for the children,
not for the 79 cents an hour. Thank you.
   
I’m calling in reference to that new building that we have in Nanticoke,
the Kanjorski Building. It’s really a shame how those kids on those roller
skates or whatever they go on, they have really ruined that building. It’s all
chipped and all black marks where they were jumping on. I wish the mothers who
bought those roller skates for those kids would come down to see what they’re
doing to our building here on the Main Street in Nanticoke.
   
I’m reading the article “Charitable money from rich donors at the root of
much evil” by Thomas Sowell. I think it’s a fantastic article, but there must
be something missing, because two parts are not making sense.
   
Editor’s note: The column got mangled during the paste-up process. We’re
re-running the column on Monday, June 16. We apologize.
   
I’m calling about what probably borders on telephone harassment by
telephone sales companies. I’m a small business man and I probably get at
least one or two calls from other telephone companies trying to get me to
switch my service. This ties me up on the phone at work, and I’m sure a lot of
the other small businessmen in the area have the same problem. How about some
hungry attorney out there throwing together a nice class action suit against
these guys? One or two phone calls a year, maybe, but every day, this is
ridiculous.
   
My comments are directed to the publisher and the staff of The Times
Leader. As a veteran of World War II and the Invasion of Normandy, I regret
that I saw no item in your newspaper about the … anniversary of that
invasion.
   
I’m calling from Mountaintop, second time, Ms. Sacco, on the violation of a
law. Makowski had no business saying that she is exonerated. This is an issue
that should be investigated by our district attorney, or perhaps a call to
Harrisburg might straighten the issue out. She’s been on the force long enough
to know the rules and regulations about taking ballots home. This is a voting
violation, a law violation.
   
This is a message to Chris Ritchie. I just wanted to say Chris, lose the
“Rose Is Rose.” It’s horrible. To replace “Sylvia,” or whatever. And, oh my
gosh, it’s not even funny.
   
Editor’s note: Please send in your votes. Our calculators are waiting, but
we can’t promise that we won’t take the ballots home to count ’em.
   
In regard to the Greater Nanticoke Area School District. Mr. Perrone’s
statements leave a lot to be desired, and he’s just grasping for excuses. No.
1: He stated if the millage were raised yearly the district would not be in
the predicament it is in now. Great! Can you imagine what the millage would be
now? It would be business as usual, and none of the discrepancies with the
teachers would be known. No. 2: Mr. Perrone stated someone told the teachers
they could do a lot of the things they did. Some excuse. Sounds almost
childish. It amazes me that the teachers can’t interpret their contract as to
what they can and can’t do. These are the people teaching our children.
   
I’ve called several times on the same subject, but have yet to see an
answer. I’m concerned about whether Mayor McGroarty plans on having any police
patrolman walking the streets in Wilkes-Barre. Not riding on bikes or in
cruiser cars, but walking, the old-time patrolman. Is that out of date or does
he still plan on doing something like that? I think the senior citizens would
appreciate, also the businessmen on South Main Street and Public Square.
   
I’m calling about your comic on the editorial page on Monday, June 9. I
just like to say that I think that word says it all, and I hope that Timothy
McVeigh gets just what he deserves, and that the families all feel a little
bit better now.
   
I am a regular reader of The Times Leader and I’m kind of disappointed in
the fact that the main story of the weekend, which was the headline story on
Channel 22 news, was not reported in your paper. It was about the murderer
being caught in Sullivan County and I did not see it in your paper at all, and
I’m just really disappointed in that.
   
Editor’s note: Sorry, we often juggle stories at the last minute and that
one didn’t make it, in part because none of the parties involved were from the
area.
   
Radio Station WILK did me a favor when they took off G. Gordon Liddy. Now I
can listen to Fred Williams, Rush Limbaugh, and when their cheap imitation of
Dr. Ruth comes on, I can turn it off and get my work done.
   
I buy The Times Leader every day in Tunkhannock. There was a senior
spelling bee in Lackawanna County last Thursday, that was state level, not
only the county. I didn’t see anything in The Times Leader.
   
I’m calling about all of your complaints that come in for SAYSO about the
weather. God, it’s not enough that most people got what they wanted, but now
they want to know about the precipitation, and blah, blah, blah. Listen, you
can’t please everybody.
   
Your choice of wording for Thursday’s headline article about the arena was
pro-union. Given The Times Leader’s past history with its own labor force,
it’s saddening to see such a spin. Substitute headline: “Arena board approves
closed-shop construction” still true, still the same factual reporting. Or how
about, paragraph 7, “Contractors who utilize merit-shop workers expressed
their disapproval”? Finally maybe a re-write in paragraph 14, “Merit-shop
proponents also fear.” C’mon you guys, you of all people should appreciate the
power of print. Open shop contractors and their employees are asking not for
favoritism, just fairness.
   
We all like your weather on the back page, except there’s one real bad
thing about it. It doesn’t tell you whether it’s going to rain, any type of
precipitation. Cloudy or sunny doesn’t indicate much. And another thing is you
put other areas, distant cities, and so forth, and you give the weather
forecast there whether it’s going to rain. What about our area, doesn’t it
count?
   
Editor’s note: We added several cities and expanded the forecast for each
day.
   
I’m calling about your Tuesday morning paper on June 10. “Woman sues cat
food company after cutting finger on can.” This is the best one yet. For
heaven’s sakes, there wasn’t a warning on there about how dangerous it could
be when you’re opening up a can. Come on now, they have can openers. If she
knew how to do that, doesn’t she know that when you open up a can, that every
can, from when I was a little girl, and I’m far from being a little girl, that
there were raggedly edges on it. I mean, come on.
   
This is in regards to the county policy on employees of taking vehicles
home. You know, most people are sick and tired of this lame excuse “Well, we
have to take the trucks home in case there’s a blizzard.” It doesn’t snow in
June in Wilkes-Barre. I think some common sense should be used here. With all
the advanced weather forecasting that we have, yes, maybe they should take a
plow truck home when there is a storm forecast or a thunderstorm forecast, but
not 365 days a year.
   
First I’d like to say your print and graphics are very good, the new press
is clearer and much better color. Second, I don’t like the new back page, it’s
very inconvenient. The old back page was much easier. You could flip the paper
and read it a lot easier, follow stories easier. Third, I don’t like the fact
that we have so many pages of sports and only one or two pages of business
news. I think we could expand the business news, there’s a lot of interest in
the business community.
   
Yes, I think the Wilkes-Barre City NIT team, code enforcement, should go in
and make all the city schools come up to code, handicapped accessible. …Get
on the ball, NIT team, go after the city schools.