Yard Sign 101: A Humorous Update

Written by Roberta Biros

After publishing my blog post last week titled “Yard Sign 101”, I received photos from friends of some additional yard sign examples that should be included in my list of political yard sign lessons. Here are two.

Lesson #1: If you have to ask yourself “should I use duct tape to make this yard sign usable”, the answer should always be NO. (illustrated in the photo below).


Lesson #2: The purpose of a political yard sign is for people to see them. It usually helps if the signs are upright in order for this to occur. (illustrated in the photo below which was taken from a moving car)


Please keep the examples and photos coming. It is providing me with some much needed comic relief!

As always, just my opinion.

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Yard Sign 101

Written by Roberta Biros

Yard Signs are part of politics. Some would say that they are an important part of running for office, and others would say that their actual impact on a political race is negligible. We can all agree, however, that political yard signs can offer some amusement.

First, I’m constantly amused when yard signs are clustered together on highways and intersections. It is impossible to read any of the signs as your eyes are confused by the insanity of it all. For that reason, we make every attempt to keep “BIROS for Mercer County Treasurer” signs separate and unique (much like the candidate that they represent).

Second, I find it equally humorous to see yard signs stuck in the weeds and in ditches because the people placing them couldn’t find actual “yards” to put the signs in. I prefer to have signs placed in nicely trimmed and cared for yards, but I seem to be in the minority in that preference.

Third, there is a right way and a wrong way to install a yard sign. The photos below provide a few examples. The first sign is installed on a properly fitted frame and the sign is inserted squarely into the ground for a clean and fresh appearance. The second sign is mounted on a wire frame that is several inches too big so that the sign has no chance of hanging properly. I’ve seen this technique used on many signs that are posted around Mercer County this year. In some cases attempts were made to fasten the ill-fitting sign to the frame with string or duct tape which was especially entertaining to see.

ABOVE: GOOD SIGN

BELOW: NOT-SO-GOOD SIGN

The most interesting part of political yard signs is who puts up signs for whom. A perfect example is illustrated in the photo below.

The political sign has been displayed in a property that is currently for sale. According to the public records of the Recorder of Deeds, the property is owned by Mercer County District Attorney Robert Kochems . . . a Democrat (and a member of the Mercer County Democrat Executive Committee). The sign is (interestingly enough) in support of the Republican candidate for the stated office. If I recall, District Attorney Kochems found himself in a bit of a pickle earlier this year when he confused his “political” hat with his “District Attorney” hat. At that time he explained that it is, perhaps, inappropriate for a person in his position to be overly political, but it seems that he no longer cares to separate the appropriate and inappropriate. I suppose if you asked the District Attorney which “hat” he is wearing now, he’d have to admit that he is wearing his “Republican Hat”.

Since this political season is nearing its end, we can all look forward to the menagerie of signs soon disappearing . . . but the next election cycle is just around the corner!

As always, just my opinion.

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Comments Regarding Campaign Finances

Written by Roberta Biros

I’d like to think that my campaign for the office of Mercer County Treasurer has been significantly different than most. From the beginning, I’ve considered myself to be a political outsider. I’m not running for office as a ‘politician’. Instead, I’ve made it clear that I am simply a concerned citizen that is committed to serving the people of Mercer County. After all, the Office of County Treasurer is a public service . . . not a career.

Unlike most political candidates, I have made a special effort to conduct my campaign without the use of outside funding. Thus far, I have not solicited or accepted any donations from individuals or from political groups in any denomination. Those political contributions that have been received have been returned to the contributors un-cashed and voided along with a letter of sincere thanks for their generous offers. I’ve done this because I’m committed to taking the full personal, professional, and financial responsibility for my campaign.

This week campaign finance reports will be filed by political candidates throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The data for candidates running for state-wide office will be published on-line [CLICK HERE to go to the Commonwealth of PA website]. The data for candidates running for county-wide and municipal offices in Mercer County (and others) will be available from the County Elections Bureaus. Some will be reported in the press and other media, and some will be ignored. If the information regarding candidates of interest is not made available to you, I encourage you to visit the Elections Bureau and ask to see the details. It is important for educated voters to realize the expense that is involved in running for public office, and it is equally important to be knowledgeable of how those expenses are financed.

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Chili Cook-Off: Hot, Hot, Hot!

Written by Roberta Biros

Mmmmmm . . . Chili! What says "Fall" more than a bowl full of hot (temperature) and hot (spicy) chili?

My husband and I enjoy spicy food. Tobasco is a standard condiment on our dinner table, and we purchase Frank's Red Hot in the institutional gallon size jug. It should not, therefore, be a shock that I can whip up a pot of pretty hot chili. I've always thought that my chili was tasty and "heart-warming" (or some would say "heart-burning"), but I've never really tried my secret family recipe on anyone else. This weekend was a first. I entered the Chili Cook Off that was organized as a fundraiser for the Sharpsville VFD.

I love to cook, and I've watched endless cook off shows on the Food Network, but I've never considered entering one myself. Sure, I can throw together a pot of chili with my eyes closed, but how easy would it be to make a batch of chili to feed a LARGE crowd? I used a little common sense and was able to quintuple the basic ingredients from my standard recipe, but adding the "heat" was a little more complicated. We started cooking at 5:30am, and I fine tuned the seasoning for the next 4 hours. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

The Cook Off was held at Sharpsville High School and it was a great opportunity to get together with the folks from the community for a common goal . . . raising money for the Sharpsville VFW. The organizers put together a wonderful event that included the Chili Cook Off, Bake Sale, and Chinese Auction. In the end, they managed to raise $1,200 for a great cause. It was a fun day from start to finish, and I was honored and humbled in the end to take home the first place ribbon.

The Herald was on hand to document the event with a full write up [READ HERE] and photo (displayed below).

I'd like to thank the volunteers and organizers for all of their hard work in putting together a wonderful event. I'd also like to send out a "high five" and "fist bump" to John Wolfe, the 1st place winner in the kid's division, as well as all of the other contestants with which I spend a fun-filled Saturday.

Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY. It was a blast!


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The State Budget: Who Should Be On The Chopping Block?

Written by Robera Biros

Lynn Saternow of the Sharon Herald is something else. Back in the spring Lynn made the precious statement “Who in their right mind would vote for Roberta Biros for county treasurer”. It was an entertaining editorial considering the Herald claims that they are unbiased in their comments. I have a sense of humor and made the best of the comments. I’ve even joked with Lynn personally about it. No hard feelings, right? I figured that Lynn just had a momentary lapse of judgment.

Last weekend I had the realization that Lynn didn’t just have a lapse of judgment several months ago . . . no, I think that Lynn may just be plain stupid (sorry Lynn).

On Saturday, Lynn had an editorial titled “Palin’s book sparks satire and a stab at state politicos” (READ HERE). In it he suggested that Mercer County voters should “fire” State Senator Bob Robbins, State Representative Dick Stevenson, State Representative Michele Brooks, and State Representative Mark Longietti due to the inability of the General Assembly to pass a State Budget. Lynn was so busy bloviating that he completely lost track of the facts. Painting with such a broad brush is just wrong, so I’d like to fill in the details for all of you . . . my loyal readers.

First, if he’d do his homework, Lynn would know that there is a hierarchy of blame for our lack of a budget. The finger pointing should start at the top and work its way down. Governor Rendell is at the top of the pyramid, the Republican leadership in the Senate comes up second, and the Democrat leadership in the House pulls up the rear. Are SOME of the names that Lynn mentioned worthy of blame? Sure. Should all of our legislators be fired? . . . that is simply ridiculous. Allow me to explain how each of our legislators is involved in the budget process.

Senator Bob Robbins

Senator Robbins is the Senate Republican Caucus Secretary. In the hierarchy of the Senate majority, he is #7. He is a supposed to be a high-ranking official. Is he ineffective? Yes. Has he been in too long? Yes. He keeps a low profile in hopes of squeaking through another re-election in 2010 after nearly being kicked to the curb in 2006 after his involvement in the “pay raise” fiasco. Senator Robbin’s days are numbered, and his inability to step up as a leader in Harrisburg is proof of that.

Senator Robbins HAS power, but he hasn’t used it to LEAD during the budget crisis. Does he deserve to be ‘fired’ because of his lack of action in the budget negotiations? I think so, but that is just my personal opinion.

Representative Dick Stevenson

While Rep. Stevenson is simply a member of the rank and file in the House of Representatives, he has a direct relationship with the budget fiasco in that he is on the Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee controlled the budget since May of this year, and they can easily be blamed for our lack of a budget now. Rep. Stevenson’s power in the committee is limited as the Republican Party is in the minority in the House and it should be noted that he is not part of the leadership in the committee. He has had a front row seat to the excitement (or lack thereof) in the budget battle, but he is not necessarily to blame.

Does he deserve to be ‘fired’ because of his lack of action in the budget negotiations? Although he has a front row seat, I don’t think Rep. Stevenson holds blame in this situation. He may be a bit ineffective, but he doesn’t deserve to be fired because of it.

Representatives Mark Longietti and Michele Brooks

Reps. Longietti and Brooks are simply members of the rank and file in the state legislature. They have been waiting all summer for a budget to vote on, and they have been as disappointed as we are. They are both young, focused, and driven to appropriately represent their constituents. They will both become more effective as they work their way up in the ranks.

Do they deserve to be ‘fired” because of their lack of action in the budget negotiations? Not by a long shot. While Lynn shows an obvious lack of originality by throwing a shot at Michele Brooks, he demonstrates some level of insanity by taking on Mark Longietti. Lynn is not the first person to criticize the “love/hate” relationship that some have with Rep. Brooks; but Rep. Longietti has no problem with the “love/love” relationships that he has with his constituents. To openly state that Rep. Longietti needs to be fired falls under the category of “fightin’ words”. I can only compare it to spray-painting the words “egg my house” on your garage door a few days before Halloween.

Perhaps Lynn’s only purpose in writing his weekly columns is to annoy the readers in the valley. He demonstrated that this spring, and he is reinforcing his commitment with his latest rant. If that is the case . . . keep up the good work. You are doing a fine job, Lynn.

In Closing . . .

According to the press (and press releases from ‘some’ legislators), the budget process may be moving forward.

EXAMPLE ONE: On October 6, Senator Bob Robbins posted a press release to his website (although he did not send out an email message to his constituents) stating “Senate Sends Responsible Budget Package to House” [READ HERE].

EXAMPLE TWO: Similarly, Rep. Mark Longietti published a press release on his website (again no email) stating that he had “voted to approve the budget” [READ HERE and HERE].

EXAMPLE THREE: Today, The Herald printed a small story titled Pa. Lawmakers Could Get Budget Today. It was a short story, but the title summarized the content and the view from the Governor's Office.

OTHER EXAMPLES?: Unfortunately, Representatives Michele Brooks and Dick Stevenson have made not official announcements by email or through their websites regarding the current status of the budget battle.

While the legislator announcements and newspaper “snippets” are useful, I’d prefer to do a little research on my own. A quick review of PennsylvaniaVotes.org shows that a budget DID pass the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 7th, but it passed strictly along a party-line vote . . . again. There may be a budget moving along, but it is not one that looks potentially non-partisan. CLICK HERE to see the details of the October 7th budget vote. I have a bad feeling . . . and I truthfully HOPE THAT I’M WRONG . . . but I predict that they can paint a shiny smiley face on this, but the budget problems in Harrisburg may be far from over.

As always, just my opinion.

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State Rep. Mark Longietti votes to approve 2009-10 state budget

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCMENT from the office of STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARK LONGIETTI

HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 – State Rep. Mark Longietti released the following statement on the $27.8 billion General Fund budget the House of Representatives passed tonight:

"The budget is long overdue, but it reflects wise use of taxpayer money during this nationwide recession. It would spend less than last year, but would continue to make important investments, including many that I hope will benefit Mercer County.

"One of those areas is basic education funding, where House Democrats kept a pledge to add $300 million – important not only for students, but also for keeping property taxes in check. As part of this budget, an important education program, Science, It's Elementary, would be kept whole. This budget would also keep whole funding for important early childhood programs, including Head Start and Pre-K Counts.

"Hospitals, like Sharon Regional Health System and UPMC Horizon, would receive more than $300 million in supplemental payments in state and federal funds instead of taking very significant cuts under this budget. We also preserved important funding for job training and economic development programs that were facing steep cuts.

"Child Care Assistance, which helps fund day care centers, was funded at 90 percent of last year's level and we were able to add a small amount to Mental Health Services. Although it's a 0.2 percent increase, every little bit helps.

"Some areas, unfortunately, would be cut. Weed and Seed, which funds Sharon/Farrell Weed and Seed, would take a 63 percent cut. But we were able to keep some funding instead of eliminating it as was proposed.

"Another program that suffered is Mercer Community Education Council. I hope it's able to reopen based on the fact we secured $2 million for Community Education Councils.

"Meanwhile, House Democrats worked hard and succeeded in removing the taxes on small games of chance. That tax was unfair to nonprofit community organizations that provide scholarships and help meet community needs.

"Now I hope the Senate will join us in passing this budget so it can go to the governor's desk quickly."

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Rep. Mark Longietti Reminds Residents that LIHEAP to take applications beginning Nov. 2

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE MARK LONGIETTI

I'm writing to let you know that Pennsylvania's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will open about a month earlier than expected because of a recent increase in federal funding.

The Department of Public Welfare considered opening LIHEAP on Dec. 1 due to funding concerns, but a recent increase in federal funding will allow it to open Nov. 2.

The program provides cash and crisis assistance grants to help families heat their homes. In these tough economic times, I'm sure there are families in our community that can benefit. A family of four with an annual income of up to $33,075 can qualify for assistance.

Once the program opens, applications will be available at the Mercer County Assistance Office, local utility companies and community service agencies. The toll-free number for the county assistance office is 1-800-747-8405.

Starting Nov. 2, the application will also be available on the state Department of Public Welfare's Web site.

As always, if I can be of assistance, contact me.

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A Dog's Prayer

This was forwarded by a friend and I just couldn't resist sharing. The intensity of the dog's face shows more sincerity than most people!



PHOTO CAPTION:

'Dear Lord: Thank you for bringing me to Timmy ' s house, and not to
Michael Vick’s -- AMEN! '

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If You Aren't Concerned . . . You Should Be!

If you don't believe that we are bankrupting our children and our children's children, watch this video . . . then stop and do the math. It is troubling.

If you can't view the video above, CLICK HERE to go directly to YouTube.