The Pennsylvania Progressive

Flight 93 Families Buying Land For Memorial

The families of the Flight 93 victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks are purchasing land from a coal company to complete plans for a memorial on the location of the plane crash.  Flight 93 was headed towards Washington, D.C. that fateful morning when the passengers commandeered it back from the Al Qaeda terrorists.  It crashed in Somerset County.

The area is filled with underground coal mines and the families are buying 1 1/2 square miles of land after PBS Coals Inc. and DEP came to an agreement for treating mine water drainage.  The National Park Service will eventually purchase the land for a memorial.

I was traveling south on I-81 that morning towards Hagerstown, Maryland when Flight 93 went down.  I have vivid memories of the experience and all the Pennsylvania State Police cruisers parked in the median facing west, seemingly looking for the plane.

Catching Up

I was in meetings all day so I need to catch up on the days news and events.

Both campaigns have now contacted me about advertising.  I'm not charging much, basically nominal rates.  I don't want anyone accusing me of "selling out."  Thanks to the Obama campaign for reaching out!

The Clinton campaign sent this video about their crowds:

I'll balance it with this one:

Hillary picked up two of those big endorsements today when Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato announced their support.  Thanks to the readers, again, for providing interesting links for the Obama effort.  Here's information about Michelle Obama's campaign stops earlier this week.  Isn't this woman fabulous?  I have no doubt Barack Obama is going to be a great president someday and Michelle may be another First Lady with the cred to be President on her own merits.

First term House member Frank Andrews Shimkus was tossed off the ballot for re-election because he misrepresented his address on his petitions.  This is a very stupid mistake and the Judge had no choice in this matter.  That means we lose one of our incumbents where we only have a one seat majority in the state House.

Sen. Scarnati had thyroid cancer surgery today and expects to return to Harrisburg next week.

Pennsylvania teens tried convincing the Commonwealth they should be allowed to vote April 22nd.  The 17 year olds who will be 18 by November are allowed to register and vote then but not in the primary.  State election law requires you be 18 at the time of the election.  It illustrates the interest young people have in this year's elections.

Sen. Obama finally sought some separation from his minister's offensive sermons.  Let's recall that guilt by association isn't a hanging offense.  I got a few emails about this.  Yes, he should have spoken about this earlier just as Hillary should have spoken about Geraldine.  Let's keep it in context however.

What homeland security?  We don't have any six years after 9/11 when the FBI can't even protect its equipment.  It's time to rethink where we're spending our security dollars, here or Iraq.

Kanjorski Announces New Boreholes

Congressman Paul Kanjorski has announced the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has finished two new boreholes to help control flooding in Hanover Township.

“I am pleased that there has been such a rapid response to the collapsed borehole in Hanover Township,” said Congressman Kanjorski.  “I spoke with many of the people living in and around the Dundee Apartments and the flooding took a toll on many of them.  OSM worked quickly and efficiently to rectify the flooding problems by drilling new replacement boreholes. These boreholes should provide a permanent solution to prevent future flooding in the area.”

OSM confirmed that they drilled a 22 inch borehole on Tuesday in Hanover Township off Dundee Road to alleviate flooding problems at the Dundee Apartments caused by excessively high mine pool water levels.  OSM will complete a second similar borehole in the area by this afternoon in hopes of achieving a significant flow of mine water, thus accelerating the dewatering of the elevated mine pool.  Since the completion of the first borehole on Tuesday afternoon, the overall mine pool has dropped a dramatic 5 feet, showing the immediate impact of the first borehole.

The new boreholes will rectify flooding that occurred from a collapsed borehole in early January, which caused the build up of mine water and triggered flooding in Hanover Township. Recent floods in the area due to weather conditions also contributed to the elevated mine pool water levels. 

“We have been working diligently over the past two months designing and constructing a project that will correct this very unusual problem that has caused flooding in Hanover Township,” said Mick Kuhns, Wilkes-Barre Director of OSM.  “The new boreholes will protect the land and homes around the Dundee Apartments and prevent more floods from occurring in the area.” 

Kanjorski Providing Assistance for Economic Stimulus

Congressman Paul Kanjorski's office is providing assistance to those people in northeastern Pennsylvania needing it to receive their economic stimulus check.  If you have questions about the process they are offering advice.  This advisory is from the Congressman's office:

Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) and staff from his office will provide assistance to senior citizens and disabled veterans throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania who have questions about receiving payments from the economic stimulus package.* 

It is important to note that seniors and disabled veterans who receive the majority of their incomes from Social Security and/or veterans disability benefits must file tax returns in order to receive their payments from the stimulus package. 

Those interested can walk-in without appointments or they may call either of Congressman Kanjorski’s offices at (570) 496-1011 or (800) 222-2346 to make an appointment.  Staff members will help constituents prepare the stimulus payment tax returns for those who did not have to file tax returns in 2007.

DETAILS:

Friday, March 14

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Berwick Senior Citizens Center

1401 Orange Street (Rt. 93 at intersection with Mercer St.)

Berwick, PA 18603

Wednesday, March 19 – Congressman Kanjorski will be present

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Wilkes-Barre Senior Citizens Center

5 East Market Street (just off of Public Square)

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

Thursday, March 20 – Congressman Kanjorski will be present

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Hazleton Senior Citizens Center

24 E. Broad Street

Hazleton, PA 18201

**Please note that this event is full and will not accept appointments.  Constituents are advised to contact Barbara Gennaro at the Hazleton Senior Citizens Center at (570) 459-1441 x3605 to schedule appointments at subsequent dates.**

Thursday, March 27

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Carbon County Courthouse Annex

Hazard Square

Jim Thorpe, PA 18229

Gravel Defecting to Support Green

Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel is defecting from his Party to support a Green for President.  He has announced his support for Jesse Johnson according to the DC Statehood Green Party.  You can review my coverage of last July's national Green Party convention (in our archives) for more information about their candidates.  It was a rather amusing several days speaking with their strange assortment of presidential contenders.  I think Gravel fits in with them.

Update:  Andrew Sullivan is linking to this and the Politico.com did so yesterday so here's a link to my article about the Green Party presidential forum last summer.  It's interesting.

Security At Events

During the recent Texas primary there were some reports of security at the presidential events being not as secure as some wanted.  After attending two Clinton events let me assure you security is very serious.  They are quite thorough and are very serious about insuring everyone's safety.  Bomb sniffing dogs, complete scans with hand wands, they even turned on my computer to be sure it was real.  They searched my computer bag and I emptied all of my pockets.

This is serious security folks so there's no need to fret or worry about this aspect of these events.  Go, leave as much of your coins, keys and stuff in your car that you can and enjoy the events.

Schwartz Calls on EPA To Clean Our Water

One of the hallmarks of the Bush administration has been the complete evisceration of the Clean Air and Clean water Acts.  Now we've learned our drinking water is full of pharmaceuticals.   Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz is calling on the EPA to establish a task force to study the situation and recommend, if necessary, legislation to insure safe and drug free drinking water.

Remember, drugs have an inordinate effect on children and infants so even trace amounts could affect some people.

Washington, D.C. – In response to an Associated Press investigation that found trace quantities of pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of 41 million Americans, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) today called upon the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a national taskforce to investigate this situation and make recommendations to Congress on any legislative actions needed.

Congresswoman Schwartz released the following statement along with her letter.   

“Like many, I was taken aback this morning to hear that the drinking water of over 41 million Americans contains quantities of pharmaceuticals. On a local level, it is particularly upsetting that 56 different pharmaceuticals were discovered in the drinking water for the City of Philadelphia.   

“The EPA should establish a national taskforce to not only investigate this situation, but make recommendations to Congress on what actions must be taken to protect public health and the environment.“

“All Americans deserve nothing less than clean, safe drinking water, and the EPA has a responsibility to investigate this matter.” 

News & Notes

Several thoughts on smaller topics, lumped together for brevity....

Gary Redner, an executive of Redner's Warehouse Markets, was slain over the weekend.  Not much news is seeping out from this story but Redner's is a large supermarket chain in central Pennsylvania.

Need a fix?  Go drink the water.  Reports that public drinking water supplies contain trace amounts of many pharmaceuticals is no surprise.  This has been previously reported.  The news here is how many different drugs are in this stuff.  Estrogen, antibiotics, mood stabilizers, hey, no need to go to the doctor any longer, just take a nice, long swig.  Philadelphia's water had 56 different drugs.  Ahhh, the advertising ideas are flowing like water through my sick mind.  Maybe I need a quick hit...

Another child, this one a twelve year old, was shot and killed because we prefer to protect our guns instead of our children.

During the presidential race don't forget the local and regional primaries in some areas.  The 3rd, 18th and 5th Congressional Districts all have Democratic primaries.  These are seats held by Phil English, Tim Murphy and the retiring John Peterson, respectively.

Letter to the Editor

I just received this letter to the editor for the blog.  Thank you Mr. Osborne and welcome to the Pennsylvania version of Iowa.

John

Dear Editor:

The campaign of Barack Obama has excited a whole new generation of previously disinterested young Americans.  And though this swelling involvement of youth should set Democratic Party members singing “Happy Days Are Here Again, a few older  members seem averse to joining with them and instead expect these young people to temper their idealism and switch allegiance to a candidate of their elders’ choosing.

This wave of change is not going to happen if the incipient enthusiasm of these young people is squelched; the bulk of the newly involved will drift into the dead center of an apathetic public that has little faith in any political party’s capacity to set this nation on a path that bodes a more promising and inclusive future for working and middle class, and destitute Americans.

Before any of us good old Democrats let this happen, best we remember John F. Kennedy’s inaugural charge to the American people of his time:  “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.”

The only experience that means much of anything to these young people is the thrill and sense of accomplishment that has come to them from being involved in this inspirational campaign to bring real change to what has become vested-interests business in Washington.

The nationwide campaigns of Obama and Clinton are respectively the largest, most complex, resource consuming, people motivating, and open-ended efforts over which either one of them has ever before presided. Obama’s has been an inspirational model of good governance; Clinton’s is a fractious mess that has desperately resorted to openly smearing her opponent and anonymously spreading innuendo.

How come Clinton’s highly touted experience did not make a difference from day one and has now prompted her to mire the Democratic campaign in the dirt?

 

Sam Osborne

West Branch, IA 52358

Rendell on "Real Time"

Governor Rendell appeared on "Real Time With Bill Maher" Friday evening and was super.  He clearly articulated his reasons for being a Democrat, spoke about Stevenson and Eisenhower, and mused on his recent controversial statement about racism in Pennsylvania.   He sort of missed Maher's point about the size of Obama's crowds confusing it with the levels of enthusiasm, but he represented Pennsylvania quite well.