Jack Smith 1924-2011

 Jack Smith has died. 

I've known Jack for over 30 years. From retired prizefighter to bail bondsman, I covered it all. Jack was known as the , "Mayor of South Main Street." in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Late in life he would sit in his office directly across from The Max Rosenn U.S. District Courthouse and hold "court."

I don't know how this started but every time I would encounter Jack, he would swear up a storm. There was not a single bit of malice in it. But it was intense. And Jack did it for one reason only; it would make me roar. And they weren't your run-of-the-mill swear words, not for Jack. He marched out the big-leaguers. 

The longer it took me to laugh, the worse it got.

I remember covering a proceeding at Federal Court. Jack was sitting in his office watching everything and uttered not a word. I knew something was wrong. I ran over and said, "Hello," and checked on him. He said he wasn't feeling well. He then told me to, "get out."

Jack added an extra couple of words I won't use here.

With his passing, another of the colorful figures in Wilkes-Barre is gone. He won't be forgotten.

So readers, forgive me as I say good-bye to an old friend, the only way I know how.

"Rest in Peace, Jack and $#*!@%&!"

Happy Holidays!

I'm not one of those. You will not hear me complain when someone, with the best of intentions wishes me, "Happy Holidays."

It's time we got over this idea that to wish someone, "Happy Holidays," is somehow disrespecting Jesus Christ.

Happy Holidays.

Holidays is the way we now say, "holy days."

So to wish someone, Happy Holidays," is to recognize that indeed Christmas, December 25th is a Holy Day when we celebrate the birth of a Savior.  And so is January 1st, when Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of Mary.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

Seasons Greetings!

Have a Cool Yule!

Happy Hanukkah! I'm not Jewish, but right back at ya!

Happy Kwanzaa. I'm not an African-American, but the same to you.

If someone you know, or even someone you don't know, goes out of his or her way to send you a  holiday wish consider yourself truly lucky and if you believe, give it right back.

So from me and mine to you and yours, have a Merry, Blessed and Joyous Christmas surrounded by family and friends and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Time for a Change

The Luzerne County Commissioners have approved a measure that will mean county employees will now "clock-in." A biometric system that will rely on palm recognition will be used.

I was fortunate to have (for the most part) wonderful employees when I worked for the county Board of Election. 99.99% of the time, employees were on time. Most arrived early. Workers were required to sign their name to a daily attendance sheet with the time of their arrival.

And because they were early, they served citizens who came to the office before the "official" start of the day at 9:00 AM. I was never asked to compensate employees who found themselves working before the work day began. Please note that legally some business could not be transacted before 9:00 o'clock but that didn't mean employees couldn't get much of the preliminary work accomplished and then time stamp documents once the day began.

The vast majority of Luzerne County workers are dedicated public servants who take their jobs very seriously.

I cannot wait for the first complaint brought by a citizen who is unhappy because workers would not serve them before 9:00.

Be careful for what you wish.

Passings

Rev. Daniel D. Hitchko has died. Father was the Principal at Central Catholic High School from 1968-1974. He was particularly close to my graduating class, the Class of '74. He was beloved and admired  In our last year at "Central" the name of our high school was changed to Bishop O'Reilly. We all hated the name and some of us got in big trouble after we complained in writing to then Bishop J. Carroll McCormick. 

At our graduation dinner, Father Hitchko gave each of us a special gift. It was a small snifter. On it were the words, "Central Catholic High School, Class of 1974." It's the only thing I have from my graduation that says, "Central Catholic."

Requiescat in pace, Father.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about Kaiden Abul-Ela and his courageous battle against a rare form of brain cancer. Kaiden passed away this morning in the arms of his parents. There is a group on Facebook that was dedicated to following his story. (Let's Help Kaiden) His father writes poignantly of his son's death.

Kaiden was just two years old.

Rest in Peace.

Moral Terrorism

Army Specialist Dale J. Kridlo will be buried tomorrow at Arlington National Cemetery.

Members of a radical Baptist Church from Kansas had threatened to protest outside his funeral at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Pittston today.

They did not show up.

Thank God.

The mere threat led a crowd, estimated at between 500 and one thousand, to show up. They ringed the church, hoping to shield Kridlo's family from the vile bile of the protesters.

And the radicals won. Even without stepping foot in Northeastern Pennsylvania, they manged to be interviewed on radio and television and their story was carried in every news account of Kridlo's funeral.

I cannot imagine the anxiety and heartbreak of Kridlo's family. They did not know if stepping out of a car or leaving church would be the trigger that set off the protesters. I hope the overwhelming support of their neighbors and friends was a comfort.

Would the supporters have shown up without the threatened protest? I would like to think so.

Members of the Kansas church have shown up at other funerals. Families have sued them. The case is now before the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

At issue: Freedom of Speech.

It's one of the freedoms Dale Kridlo gave his life protecting.

I wonder what he would think?

If A Tree Falls...

If a tree falls in the Luzerne County Courthouse,

And no one is there to hear it,

Are we paying too much in taxes?

Whatsoever You Do for the Least of My Brothers...

Within the last two weeks, two defendants in the Luzerne County Corruption Investigation have been sentenced to probation and community service. Part of each sentence includes working at the St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre.

The Kitchen, a project of Catholic Social Services of Wyoming Valley, serves hot hearty meals to the needy and disadvantaged.

I'm sorry, but doing God's work should not be punishment.

In fact, it is not outside the realm of possible that some of the people who use the kitchen have had their own troubles with the law. Some may be on probation and prohibited by their own sentences from consorting with known "felons."

Come to think of it, who is really being punished here?