We regret to inform you...

I’ll admit my disappointment after learning that Renita Fennick, our executive director of the Luzerne County Republican Committee, has decided to join the staff of congressman-elect Tom Marino.

The thing is, ever since the local money men and the behind-the-scenes Republican honchos put her in that position, Luzerne County has felt like a competitive two-party county. And as we all know by now, a one-party county leads to graft, corruption and tone deafness on the part of the party with the unflinching stranglehold on power.

I’m sure she’ll be replaced, but I‘m hoping that her replacement will be as dedicated, energetic, outgoing and as easily approachable as she was.

From the Coughlin High bowling league all the way to Congress. Who could have thunk it?

Okay, so minority commish Steve Urban has decided to jump ship by becoming a Democrat. And as could be predicted, many from within the ranks of the local Republicans are crying foul, with the big Republican committee going as far as demanding that he resign his position.

While Urban cites legal precedent that he can serve as the “minority” commissioner along with the two other Democrats, it doesn’t smell right when you vote for a Republican and get a Democrat after the electoral dust settles. It just doesn’t.

While he claims this move was prompted by a lack of support from the local Republican power brokers, personally, I am not buying that. I see this as more of a triangulation going forward, rather than anything in the rear-view mirror. He’s positioning himself for a run at yet another elected office before Home Rule takes effect on January 2, 2012.

Off the top of my pointy little head, I’d say he fancies himself as the mayor of Wilkes-Barre.

Speaking of Wilkes-Barre, there's a lot of noise being made on the Internet, both pro and con, about this $1 million award going to the city's firefighters. This is an expense the city can ill-afford during this protracted economic malaise. This is the way I see it.

In short, we are still paying very dearly for the gross mismanagement of the city's prior administration. Both our police officers as well as our firefighters will now receive generous stipends for NOT servicing our parking meters. Meanwhile, we created 3 new employees to replace the one man who once-upon-a-time serviced the meters. Make any sense?

All I can tell you is, our former mayor hailed this move as an enhancement of public safety. You're paying for it, you figure it out. The illogic, I mean.

And yet, very, very many of you wondered aloud as to why I was railing against that woebegone administration.

We regret to inform you…

Dear Marc,

On behalf of PCT magazine I want to congratulate you for being named a finalist for the 2010 PCT Technician of the Year Awards.

During the past 30 days our panel of judges evaluated this year’s nominees. For this year’s competition a total of 19 finalists were chosen (8 commercial, 8 residential and 3 termite) out of the hundreds of nominations we received. So as you can see, by being chosen a finalist you are a member of an elite group.

This year’s PCT Technicians of the Year are:

Commercial: Jim Bailey, Orkin, Columbus, OH
Residential: Mariano Acosta, Arrow, Lynbrook, NY
Termite: Todd Walker, B&B Exterminating, Jacksonville, FL

Once again congratulations on being named a finalist. You are to be commended for your hard work and dedication to our industry.

Best regards,

Brad Harbison
Managing editor & Internet editor
PCT Magazine & PCT Online

Oh, well, it was soooo close. Although, considering this competition was industry wide, I’ll take a top 3 finish.

By the way, PCT is Pest Control Technology, my industry’s bible.

Later