W-b Diamonds Shine In Debut Against Slamm

4 Players Hit Double Figures As Altoona Downs Hazleton

Sunday, January 11, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Hope glows in Pittston &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stand on one of Pittston's familiar streets on a warm summer night and you
might hear soft strains of Sinatra wafting from an open windowCool fall air
brings a move inside, perhaps to one of the remaining social clubs, where
espresso and anisette mixes as well as any place in the world. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Winter black hats and matching topcoats accompany the old-timers who remove
their fedoras as they enter sacred St. Rocco's, walk slowly to pews they've
known since childhood, bless themselves and genuflect. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And, spring sends young black-haired mothers proudly pushing new babies in
strollers past neighborhood guys leaning on parking meters, cracking gum,
boasting, smoking and joking. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Seasons change. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Life goes on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although the Irish and other groups also live there, Pittston forever will
be Italian- a timeless place, for better or worse, where families operate
mostly according to the old rules. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This place of mozzarella-filled green olives, Sicilian street slang and fat
homegrown tomatoes is where the soul of Luzerne County's future lies. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Festivals, food and an inner strength born in the old country will guide
Pittston through the tough times and put it back on track. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Of all the towns in this terribly tribal region, there's a chance for
change in Pittston. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For years, things have been out of control. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Good citizens moved away, stores folded and everyday people grew tired
before their time. Gangsters intimidated. Elected officials pandered to
patronage and nepotism. Innocent people suffered. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And politics was a dirty game played mostly by fools, connivers and con
men. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Now life could be different. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 New Mayor Michael Lombardo stands away from the cagey crowd that for too
long turned Pittston government into the biggest crapshoot in the county. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To uphold his duty, though, Lombardo, 33, must honor promises he made
during the campaign. If he succeeds, he'll become the strongest leader in the
history of one of the toughest little cities in America. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Good fortune has blessed him already. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For starters, longtime city Clerk/Administrator Wil Toole is gone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toole's legacy shows just how not to run a city. To hear Toole, 53, tell
it, he put in more hours working at City Hall than Columbus took to discover
America. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toole claimed more than 5,000 hours in overtime since 1990 to be converted
to 747 sick days. City officials then cut him a check for $36,000 to take
along when he hit the road. That check combined with Toole's regular $40,000
salary boosted his 1997 pay to $76,000 and increased his yearly pension to
$38,000 per year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Even without the investigation Lombardo has ordered, more than enough
reason exists for Toole to return the money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But don't count on a virtuous resolution. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toole's hard core. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Officials likely will have to use courtroom leverage or a crowbar to pry
the check from his hands even if they conclude that he erred. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maybe they won't ever get their money back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But that's OK. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Start fresh. Make Pittston a brand-new city. Do it right this time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Use that deep Italian and Sicilian heritage to rally people to a town
bustling with faith, courage and the best of the old traditions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Irish and others can help. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But let Toole and everything he represents fade like bad beer down a saloon
drain. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Forget about him and yes-men cronies such as council member Ken Scaz, who
authorized Toole's overtime w

Hope Glows In Pittston 
Stand On One Of Pittston's Familiar Streets On A Warm Summer Night And You 
Might Hear Soft Strains Of Sinatra Wafting From An Open Window.

Hope Glows In Pittston Stand On One Of Pittston's Familiar Streets On A Warm Summer Night And You Might Hear Soft Strains Of Sinatra Wafting From An Open Window.