Dead Video

Blockbuster closed more than 200 stores in the third quarter of the year.  Another 100 go in the last quarter of 2009, including this store in Old Forge.  The company reports revenue dipped by more than 20 per cent.  Yikes!

I haven't set foot in a video store in ages.  There's no need.  If you have cable or satellite, you can get the latest releases on demand.  Netflix delivers them to your mail box.  It seems there's always someone standing at the "Redbox" video dispensing machines near supermarkets.

Blockbuster is old school, dated technology, passe'.

I'm sorry for the people who work there.  You try your best, but there are so many things out of your control.

You have to wonder how long the other stores in the chain will hold on.

Guest Photography Monday

After a lot of my bad photography, it's time for a couple nice shots.  They come from old friend Phil Yacuboski of WBAL TV in Baltimore.

Phil is a Luzerne County native.  He tells me the photos were taken in late October, in a place called the "Mocanaqua Loop."

The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a.k.a the Berwick Nuke, rises above the river fog in the first photo.  It's more river fog in the second.

A nice way to begin a week...  Thanks, Phil.

Shifting Gears

Yes, TV stations even do bumper stickers.

I don't know when I acquired the WOLF sticker.  Clearly, it was before the station moved to channel 56.

WYOU had its bumper sticker campaign prior to my 1990 arrival.  I'm guessing the sticker campaign was mid to late 80's, just after a new company called "Diversified Communications" took over the operation.  On the back was a "Play it Safe" pledge.  In other words, you promised not to be an idiot behind the wheel.  There was also a contest entry blank.

There were two ways to win.  If your sticker was spotted, and your plate number read on the air, you had to call the station to claim a daily prize.  There was also a grand prize drawing with the mailed in entry blank.

If memory serves, WYOU bumper stickers were all over the place.  Viewers, on the other hand...

Black Friday

I'll spare you my usual, annual anti Black Friday rant today.

Instead, a visual update on the Main Avenue, Taylor Walmart construction.

It seems like it took this one an eternity to get up and running.  Now, it appears to be moving along quickly.  The walls are just about complete.  The roof comes next.  We've been told the store could be open in the spring.

The site as a lot of retail history.  For many years, it was the site of a discount store called "Wayne." It was also called "Neway" for a while.  I'm not sure which came first.  Walmart used the building as a temporary home about 12 years ago, after the company grew tired of boulders rolling down a hill in Dickson City, and smashing into the back of the store.

Dealing with Walmart is like dealing with a utility company.  You're just about forced to do business with them.  For me, the stores are close.  They're open all the time, and when you work odd hours, you find yourself walking through the doors quite a bit.

I've heard local horror stories about how Walmart treats its workers.  On the other hand, I do see a lot of Walmart employees wearing badges proclaiming they've been with the company for decades.  I honestly don't know.  I never worked there.

The company's growth has provided a lot of construction and retail jobs.  These days, any job is a good one.

Stores and roads will be crowded today.  Be patient and be careful.

While I'm not doing the rant, I will enlighten you in the form of a pet peeve.  Today is NOT the busiest shopping day of the year.  If you hear a news reporter or anchor say that, they are uninformed.   While today will be extremely busy, the biggest shopping day of the year is actually the last Saturday before Christmas.

There is one oasis in the sea of Black Friday madness-- the supermarket.  I usually make a stop Friday morning to stock up on things I need for work-- diet soda and pretzels.  The store was empty this morning.  I understand that's a 180 degree switch from Wednesday.

Thanksgiving

You can read the economic reports.  It's a lot different when you see it in person.

There was a line of cars, several blocks long, Monday morning on Washington Street in East Stroudsburg.  People were arriving for the annual Salvation Army Thanksgiving food distribution.  Approximately 500 families signed up for help this year.  It's about a 20 per cent increase over last year.

We heard stories of job losses, illnesses, and other unexpected issues that led people to the Salvation Army for help.  Thank you for sharing a part of your life.  Your experiences may be the inspiration for others to seek help, people who don't know assistance is out there.  It might also help spur donations and volunteering.

As you know, the Salvation Army is one of my favorite organizations.  It all started as a kid, when my mom always make sure I had some change to toss into the red kettles before Christmas.  I still do what I can.

I will go back to what a friend and photographer taught me at the Salvation Army in East Stroudsburg nearly 20 years ago.  We walked out of a Christmas Eve dinner for the less fortunate.  I was depressed.  The photographer told me I should be happy that there are people here to help.  I should also be happy for the people in need, who were getting a chance to experience a little Christmas cheer.

The head of the East Stroudsburg effort told me Monday that helping the community is a "privilege."  He added no matter how tough times are, they always wind up with enough donations to make sure no one goes hungry.  That feat was referred to as "miraculous."

And as is inevitable any time we do a story on people in need receiving assistance, there is a backlash from those who claim there are people scamming the system.  You know what?  They're right.  There are always people out there looking for something for which they are not entitled.  There's a saying in the legal business:  "It is better to let a thousand guilty men go free than to convict an innocent man."  I'd prefer to let some scammers get away with it, rather than let someone legitimately in need go without.  Have a heart.

I'm a firm believer that no matter how awful things are, you can always find something, tiny as it may be, for which to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

OMG! They Did Something Right!

It's easy to pick on Scranton, Lackawanna County, and PennDOT, plus various designers, engineers, and architects.  Let's face it.  It's fun.

However, I'm a fair individual, and I have to  point out the good, as well as the bad.  Today, the good.

The new West Lackawanna Avenue bridge opens today, a project a year and a half in the making.  I stopped by to take a look and snap a few photos yesterday.  It's beautiful.  The top of the bridge replicates the look of the old.  It's an attractive, wide and bright entrance to the downtown from the west side.

Above is a view of the old bridge from July 21, 2008.  The old arches were too far gone to be saved.  It's unfortunate, but understandable.

I didn't realize how much I used this bridge until it was closed.  It's good to have it back.

And today, the day before Thanksgiving, is said to be the bigest travel day of the year. Although it's been said many times, many ways, please be careful today-- and the rest of the long holiday weekend.

The above picture is Interstate 80, looking east from near the East Stroudsburg exit.

See you Saturday morning.

Ego Trip and a Little Help, Please

Cars used by the Luzerne County Sheriff's Department got a spiffy new look this year.  Green and gold, one of my favorite color combinations.

The following point is moot, but indulge me.  I'm headed in that direction anyway.

The cars feature the name of the sheriff above the back door.  Why?  They're not his cars.  They're yours.  County owned property shouldn't be part of an elected official's ego trip and re-election campaign.

Sheriff Michael Savokinas resigned in September, less than half way through his four year term.  I told you today's blog is a moot point.

I hope someone in charge, whether it be in the commissioners' office, the sheriff's office, or some other county department, has the common sense to keep an eye on what's going on.  The personalized cars should never have been allowed to happen.

But then again, we could go in the other direction.  The county's in debt.  It needs money.  Badly.  We could sell the naming rights to the Sheriff's Department cars, much the way Mohegan Sun bought the naming rights to the arena.

I can hear it now on the nightly news... "Mr. Palumbo was taken to the Luzerne County Jail in the Mohegan Sun Prisoner Transport Vehicle..."

It could work.

On another topic, I came across this paragraph in a newspaper story on the arena naming rights deal.

But Naming Rights Committee Chairman Dave Palermo said one big difference between the old and new agreements is that Mohegan Sun will make annual cash payments to the authority, whereas Wachovia Bank made payments in lieu of fees.

Can someone please tell me what it means?