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Kopechne’s potential was never fully realized
While the late Sen. Ted Kennedy is being lauded as a “legend,” let us not forget that Wilkes-Barre area native Mary Jo Kopechne also might have become a legend herself – and not for having drowned as a passenger in the Massachusetts senator’s car 40 years ago.
Mary Jo’s work as a campaign worker for Bobby Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign is only part of the story. She was a college graduate and an intelligent woman who was very passionate about politics. She seemed to be a person destined to become more than a campaign worker; perhaps she would have become a staff member, aide, adviser or even attained elected office or other high-level government position.
Unfortunately, thanks to Ted Kennedy’s irresponsibility and selfishness, we’ll never know what Mary Jo Kopechne might have become.
Mary Jo Kopechne’s lost potential – not the end of Ted Kennedy’s presidential quest – is the real tragedy of Chappaquiddick.
Ex-Make-A-Wish official remembered as mentor
I am writing to share my experiences with Jessica Hardy with your readers.
While I do not condone her actions (as former head of the area’s Make-A-Wish Foundation) that have resulted in a lengthy prison term, I thought it would be fair to present the picture of the Jessie Hardy I knew as a young King’s College student and recent graduate.
I met Jessie Hardy when I needed a work-study job as an undergraduate at King’s College in the early 1980s. She welcomed me into the department of public affairs and taught me the ropes about working in public relations. When I graduated from King’s, I went with her to the Wyoming Valley Mall, served as her assistant public relations coordinator and received enough training to move on to a mall in Allentown, where I worked as the public relations director for a few years. I grew up, married, had children and pursued graduate education. I am now enjoying a successful career.
Though I lost contact with Jessie more than 20 years ago, I’ll always remember her as dynamic, encouraging and someone of a good-hearted nature.
I felt extremely sad when I learned that Jessie had made an unfortunate choice to take money that wasn’t hers. She is serving a prison sentence that seems justified based on the charges. What dismayed me even more, though, is the one-sidedness of the characterization of Jessie Hardy. When I worked with her I saw another side.
Raised a Christian and schooled at King’s College, I’ve always understood that forgiveness and healing are at the heart of Jesus’ teachings. It is in that spirit that I offer a portrait of Jessie Hardy as the dynamic, generous and warm co-worker I remember.
I have faith that Jessie will emerge from prison stronger than before and I remain grateful to her for her mentorship when I was just starting out.
Accountability should be guest at courthouse bash
I am writing about the Aug. 28 article highlighting the public birthday celebration planned for the Luzerne County Courthouse. It will receive a giant 100th birthday cake on Sept. 25. The public is invited to attend.
Let’s serve up a plate of “accountability without complaints” and add two scoops of integrity, topped by 1 million fluffy swirls of justice for the innocent victims of the “kids for cash” scandal. Party decorations should include banners for newly elected row officers who will be there to oversee efficient spending of our hard-earned tax dollars.
The Luzerne County Courthouse is a beautiful building. The art is wonderful. I will be there with my camera to add to my collection of photographs!
It is sad the dark clouds over the courthouse stay around. Hope and a glimmer of sunshine will soon arrive. The recent investigations have revealed the waste and abuse of our tax dollars.
I hope our row officer candidates are there to celebrate this event. Meet the public face to face and eat cake. Openly talk to us about your methods for accountability and honesty in the courthouse.
I will be glad to shake your hand and have a chat.
Committed parishioners can save St. Rocco’s
This letter is directed to the parishioners of St. Rocco’s Church in Pittston.
To be more specific, it is addressed to the “so-called parishioners.” You know who you are.
You carry on, crying, “the bishop is closing my church!” Wrong.
This does not have to happen! If you want St. Rocco’s Church to be around for years to come, there is a way!
1. If you do not participate at Mass on Sundays and holy days and you do not contribute financially to the support of the church, start doing so this Sunday.
2. If you do participate at Mass, but at another area church, please come back to your parish.
What will the officials of the Diocese of Scranton see when they read the statistics for St. Rocco’s parish? Will they see an increase in Mass attendance and a rise in financial contributions, or will they see a further deterioration of both?
The future of St. Rocco’s is in your hands.
School bureaucracy rules in Hazleton Area
The recent administrators shuffle at Hazleton Area School District looks like the good-old boys feathering their retirement nests and rewarding their toady stooges.
Hazleton has fallen a long way from the days when the word “principal” meant “principal teacher” and now too often means “political hack.” If a dentist performed brain surgery and a chiropractor performed heart transplants, they’d be jailed for malpractice. Yet this is the way of public school administration.
The system breaks down when it comes to administrators. What does an elementary principal know about cutting-edge educational technology? What does an elementary certified football coach hear when he observes a German, French, physics or calculus class? How wide and deep can a “director of curriculum” oversee such a complex and specialized system of learning and teaching? At one time such all-knowing and all-seeing was ascribed only to God.
Is too much administration the true reason why our schools are failing and classroom teachers are only the scapegoats for the bad decisions of the unqualified? And where do these administrators get their credentials? At diploma mills where credits are handed out for do-nothing, learn-nothing courses?
The insiders take their cut off the top in the form of $100,000 “positions” of dubious need. The practice is spreading like a cancerous growth through Pennsylvania’s public school system and is draining resources from the classroom. Do all 501 school districts need their own directors of elementary and secondary education at a cost of a hundred million dollars?
It is this bureaucratic cancer that the governor wants to stop by consolidating local school district bureaucracies.
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