WHO'S PETE?

   TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH., 2019
                      WHO'S PETE?

     In my never ending search for "unusual
holidays" I've come across February 26th
which, it turns out, is "For Pete's Sake Day."
     I've heard that phrase used as an
expression from time to time but never
gave it much, well actually, any thought.
     By the early 1900's the expression became
commonly used when someone was annoyed
or angry, frustrated, or disappointed in
something.
     It's thought to be a substitute for
profanity so, it that sense, it's served a
rather useful purpose.
     But the question remains. Who's Pete?
     The limited information about the day
suggests the name refers to Saint Peter.
But there's no real documentation to back
that up.
     Rather that used in a negative fashion
perhaps you can think of somebody named
Pete in your list of family or friends and
so something special for them today. You
know, for Pete's sake."
     If not then, for Pete's sake just get out
there and enjoy the day!
     And Pete or no Pete I hope all your
NEWS is good!

LET'S TALK AWARDS!

   MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH., 2019
              LET'S TALK AWARDS!  

    It's hard not to notice that Hollywood
occasionally turns to old movies to come
up with "new material" so I've reworked
a previous blog for today's presentation.
    I watched the Academy Awards last

night. Well some of it anyway.

    My wife and I have seen some pretty

good movies lately and we were anxious

to see if the Academy members agreed

with our choices. It did with regard to
"Green Book" as best picture.

     Of course I must admit I'm still a

little miffed at the Academy for failing

to consider my role, short as it was, in

 "All In Time" a couple years back

     Apparently they did not have a separate

category for "Best New Old Actor In

A Supporting Role."

     If I'm ever lucky enough to get an

Oscar it would be the second in our

house.

     My wife got one a couple years

back and her roles have all been limited

to home movies! Still, when we visited

Hollywood on one of the tours we host

I came across an Oscar labeled "World's

Greatest Wife." She was the obvious

winner so I got it for her!

      Hope my next role comes soon and

that all your NEWS is good!

    

MAKING THE ROUNDS!

  SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH., 2019
           MAKING THE ROUNDS!

    Heading out for a long weekend ride
is usually reserved for top down summer
drive on the Miata. But after home bound
weeks following her foot operation we
figured it was time my wife and I hit the
road.
     An article about a new sandwich and
pastry shop had us heading for Mountaintop
to see if it was open. It was and we went in.
We weren't disappointed!
      Afterwards we decided to head to my
old home town to stop by Snape's Pizza
Bakery. Unfortunately it had closed a
half hour before our arrival. We were
disappointed.
       Seemed like we had a few good miles
left in the day so we headed off to Nescopeck
to check out our favorite ice cream shop.
They're not always open at this time of the
year. But on this day they were. We weren't
disappointed.
       Two out of three isn't bad!
       Hope we catch the Pizza place next
time and that all your NEWS is good!

THE RECYCLING RACE!

   SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD., 2019
            THE RECYCLING RACE!

   I was sleeping in Friday morning
waiting for the radio alarm to announce
9am. Instead, at about 8:15, my sleep
was disturbed by the sound of a heavy
truck passing somewhere close by.
    Somewhere, deep in the recesses of  my
brain, memory and current affairs thoughts
collided and electrons sent an impulse
that forced my eyes open. Well, partly
open anyway.
      This was the last Friday of the month!
Around my place this is recycling day. It
only comes once a month and I hadn't put
my recycling out for pick up!
       Firefighters would have been proud
of my instant reaction! I jumped out of
bed, grabbed my blue jeans and a handy
sweatshirt. slipped into my unlaced, but
ready, sneakers and rushed outside to
grab the recycling can to carry it out
front.
        I got there just in time to see the
collection truck turning the corner at
the bottom of my block.
        Lost? No way!
        Though still half asleep my mind
recalled all those cowboy westerns I used
to see on those long ago Saturdays before
anyone every heard of recycling.
          When somebody was getting away
all you had to do was head them off at
the pass!
           I moved the can from the front of
the house to the side where no one ever
puts out their trash. But you couldn't miss
it there. And they didn't!
            My recycling was picked up and
I still had time to go back to bed for about
30 minutes to dream about all those old
movies. Who'd believe they'd come in so
handy someday?
              Hope I've helped save the
environment and that all your NEWS
is good!

A NICE RIDE...SO FAR!

  FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND., 2019
          A NICE RIDE...SO FAR!

   Long before I started this daily blog
my good friend David Yonki started
the Lulackpolitical newsletter, a blog
that covers all sorts of community and
political matters. On Thursday David
honored me with a tribute for my 6
decades of broadcasting. I'd like to
share it with all of my friends by
reprinting here today.

Here he is in great form and better than ever on ECTV. 

(Photos: DeCosmo blogsite)

Long time broadcaster David DeCosmo is celebrating 6 decades in broadcasting this year. 60 years. He started hanging around radio station WAZL at he age of 15 and things in broadcasting have changed since then. Now most anyone can get sound from an IPhone but Davis first assignment was to tape a presentation by then Congressman Dan Flood. For those of us who remember the dulcet tones of Flood, it was almost impossible to keep up with the ebb and flow of his vocal levels but somehow DeCosmo brought back a finished product that could air. 
 Starting out as a teenager in Hazleton Area radio has led to Dave becoming  a veritable institution in this radio and TV market. For years he was the News Director of WILK in Wilkes Barre and a well known fixture in County government covering meetings and the like. During the 1972 flood DeCosmo helped found the Agnes Flood Radio network putting together a string of local radio stations that provided vital information at time of crisis. 
David was also the very first President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Media Association. Those meetings, which I was a part of were seminars conducted by the broadcast and news print greats of NEPA.  DeCosmo also served twice as President of the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
In 1973 he went on to WMJW and won many broadcasting awards there as News Director. DeCosmo later shifted to TV where he and the late Kevin Jortdan were the premier news duo for WYOU TV. DeCosmo stayed at the station covering a myriad of stories that bordered on the national corners of the news realm.
He was the last witness to testify at a Coroner's inquest regarding the Teddy Kennedy-Mary Jo Kopechne situation.  He has been an educator of students wanting to get in the media and his wealth of institutional knowledge is untouchable.
Not content to sit on the sidelines, DeCosmo still does a weekly TV show on ECTV which we promote weekly here on LuLac. 
David and his wife's wedding was announced on National Radio by none other than Paul Harvey on ABC when Harvey was detailing the number of marriages that stood the test of time. Dave ad his wife Leona were barely newlyweds when Harvey bestowed  that honor. Plus I'm sure Harvey is smiling somewhere knowing that the "two kids" he mentioned years ago are still together and thriving.
For me, he has been a mentor, friend, confidante and supporter of every endeavor I have undertaken. He was the best damn softball pitcher my softball team, The Lady Killers ever had. 
On 60 years of excellence and dedication, we salute David DeCosmo and hope you will too. 

  Thank you David Yonki! Wish I was still pitching too! Hope all your NEWS is good!

SPIT IT OUT!

    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST., 2019
                      SPIT IT OUT!

      I believe I first heard that phrase, "Spit
it out," sometime during my illustrious Grade
School career. It later evolved into something
I heard in the movies as Detectives interrogated
a witness or suspect holding out on important
information.
       I mention this because today is "The
Great American Spit Out!
       Unlike my experience with chewing
gum in school or Hollywood's police
cliché this day is dedicated to a campaign
to get people to stop using smokeless or
"chewing" tobacco. In this case they'd
like people to "spit it out" before it's ever
chewed!
        I'm not sure why anyone would take
up this habit on purpose. I've had a cigar
or two in my day and the taste of the
tobacco leaves were never especially
appealing. I'd rather have raw spinach.
And I hate spinach!
         The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention states that some 75% of
all mouth, lip, tongue, throat, nose and
larynx cancers are due to the use of
smokeless tobacco. All that and a
lousy taste! What a combination!
          I'm going to lend my endorsement
to this unusual "holiday" and suggest
that those who are using this stuff try a
good pack of Juicy Fruit gum!
          Hope they do and that all their,
and your, NEWS is good!
          

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW!

    WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH., 2019
             I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW!

   After a rather sleepless night I sentenced
myself to the couch for most of the day
Tuesday. Then, around 3:30, cabin fever
set in and I talked my wife into a short
ride towards Mountaintop.
     As the sun lowered in the afternoon
sky the layers of dirt on the front windshield
showed up all too well. I hit the washer switch
then watched as the wipers sent streaks of that
dirt across my vision!
      It was pretty clear, if you'll excuse the
expression, I was in need of new wipers.
      Minutes later we passed an Automotive
Supply Shop and my wife suggested it would
be a good place to stop. I agreed and would
have pulled in immediately had I not realized
how close we were to the Abe's Hot Dog
Restaurant and how close it was to our
dinner time.
        We pulled in for a couple of dogs, held
the onions on this visit, then got back in the
car.
       I would have immediately returned to
the Auto Supply Shop had I not realized
how close the hot dog place is to the
"Milk House," Mountaintop's newest
Ice Cream Shop, Everybody deserves
desert!
        So we stopped in and enjoyed some
delicious ice cream then returned to the
car.
         I remembered the Auto Supply
Shop and made sure I headed directly
there.
        My wife wanted me to ask the
guy behind the desk if he might possibly
install the new wipers. I must admit I was
reluctant to ask. After all I could do the
job myself in 6 or 7 hours.
         When he came out with me, however,
 my wife gave me one of those..."See, I told
 you it wouldn't hurt to ask" lines.
           I just smiled. You see I never had
to ask. He volunteered to do the installation
as I made the purchase!
            And, I can see clearly now!
            Hope all your NEWS is good!