Boscov’s shoppers, including some Bloomsburg University students, are now waiting to see if 79-year-old Albert Boscov, who recently came out of retirement to take over as CEO and chair, can turn things around. One BU student, Annie Carper, recalled a pleasant shopping experience at the Steamtown Mall in Scranton.

“I bought my first prom dress from Boscov’s and I couldn’t have been happier,” said Carper. “I easily found a nice dress for a decent price. The employees were so helpful and seemed genuinely interested in assisting me. I remember the cashier telling me a story about her daughter’s “quest” for the perfect prom dress as I checked out. I couldn’t imagine having the same experience anywhere else.”

The Boscov’s in Scranton is not listed among the five Pennsylvania stores slated for closure.

After nearly a two-hour hearing in late November, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Delaware approved the $300 million sale of most of the assets of Boscov’s Inc. to family members Al Boscov and his brother-in-law, Ed Lakin. The sale received a guaranteed amount of $35 million in federal loans.

After retiring from the company in 2006, Boscov and Lakin constructed a recapitalization plan, which allowed them to sell their interests and turn over management to other family members. Boscov was the former chairman and CEO. Lakin served as president. Lakin’s son, Kenneth, has been chairman and CEO of Boscov’s 49-store company since 2006.  Lakin said the downturn in the economy and consumers spending, along with the credit crunch, “have put severe pressure on our company’s financial position.”

Many Boscov’s shoppers were surprised when hearing about the company’s plans to close a significant number of stores around the area. “I wasn’t aware so many stores were closing, let alone how many are located right here in Pennsylvania,”  said BU student Druann Welsh. “If that many have closed already, then it may only be a matter of time before more in the area close.” 

Meanwhile, company officials are putting a positive spin on the reorganization.

“As we move toward the completion of our restructuring process, Boscov’s will be well-capitalized and have the resources to build a stronger and more competitive business,” said Lakin in a statement. “Boscov’s ability to reach this point in our restructuring, in the face of an economic recession and one of the most challenging periods the retail sector has ever encountered, is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our co-workers, the loyalty and encouragement of our customers and the support and belief in our company among the vendor community.”

Boscov has also asked the city of Scranton, to help him secure a federal loan to help save the city’s downtown Boscov’s store. He made a personal appearance at Scranton’s city council meeting in February of this year. Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty had promised a $3 million loan in federal money under a plan to revive the struggling department store chain.

Boscov said his 39 stores, including the one at the Mall at Steamtown are at stake, and without that anchor store, the mall could also collapse. “We would hope it doesn’t happen but if Boscov’s closes its store at Steamtown, I don’t think the mall could survive. We’re a major anchor,” said Boscov.

Image Courtesy of Google Images

Boscov family members are investing $53 million in the purchase, Gov. Ed Rendell stated in late November. The company also is borrowing other money from various lenders, which include Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co. and GE Capital.

Rendell announced that the state would direct $35 million of federal money to help Boscov complete the purchase. Without the state-guaranteed federal loans, Boscov would not be able to secure the necessary financing, leaving the company no choice but to liquidate its assets, affecting 5,000 employees and closing 25 stores in the state.

The Russian government awarded Irena’s great-grandmother, grandmother, and sister three month allowances to exit the communist establishment and visit the aging brother in Pennsylvania. Before making the journey across the ocean, Irena’s sister discovered that she was expecting a baby. Because she was pregnant, Irena’s sister could not accompany her family members on their trip.

Martin and Irena’s family lived in the small village of Nizna Hutka, which is located right outside of Kosice, the second largest city in Slovakia.  At the time, the only airport was in Prague, so Irena’s uncle went with them on the train from Kosice to the airport in Prague.

“The entire train ride they kind of noticed a man who stood out from everyone else. In a creepy sort of way, I guess” recalls Pastor of his mother’s story. Pastor said his family had to stay in a night in Prague, which is where his uncle ran into the same man from the train and offered to buy him a drink.

“Well, he got the man drunk and found out that he was a KGB spy sent to keep my mom from getting on the plane.”

The next day at the airport, the KGB spy stopped Irena as she began to board the plane. He allowed her to board the American bound plane, but told her that he would be waiting for her in that same spot when she returned in three months. He gave her three months to the day.

Three months had passed and Irena did not return to that airport as she was supposed to.  Being from a small village in a controlled country, Irena’s family was shamed and her belongings confiscated.  Soon after, letters arrived demanding Irena’s immediate return and imprisonment.  She stayed, then soon after, in 1986, Martin came along.
In 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. Czechoslovakia was no longer part of communist Russia.  This was accompanied by a letter of good-will to the young mother Irena, allowing her safe return and a pardon of her previous sentence. 

Slovakia declared independence in 1992 and in 1993, Pastor and his mother traveled back to Slovakia to stay.  A year passed and Martin and Irena made the trip back to Pennsylvania. 

“We came back to Berwick to sell everything we owned and settle in Slovakia for good,” said Pastor.  “However, once we were there for a couple of days, we decided that the opportunities and education here were better.”
In 2004, Pastor graduated from Berwick High School.  On Saturday, December 13, 2008, he graduated from Bloomsburg University.
Pastor plans to pursue his musical career and take advantage of all that life has to offer. 

Pastor’s mother’s biggest dreams came true for her son, making everything she risked and fought for all worth while.
“Her name is Irena Davis,” said Pastor. ”I don’t know what my mom’s dreams were when she came over.  I’m sure the sky was the limit for a young girl in her 20’s coming from a poor village in Eastern Europe.”

“For me, I’ve always hoped for happiness with whatever I did in life,” said Pastor. ”Music does it for me. It takes me away from the stresses of life. I try to extend that to others by creating a moment with the audience; a moment that no one can touch or take away; it’s magical and I love it.”

In discussing his relationship with his mother, Pastor stated, “My mom has been the best when it comes to role models. Her life story goes much deeper than any story that I could tell. Whenever I feel doubt in something, I just look to her and she knows just how to turn the weight of the world into a feather.”

The SECA campaign is a statewide annual drive devoted to encouraging state employees to give back to their communities, country, or beyond.  This year’s event pulled in $35,919.16 (around 90 percent of their goal total of 40,000) from Sept. 9 to Oct. 31.  

The kickoff event was held Sept. 18 outside the Students Service Center, the same day that Constitution Day was held.  Even though the current economic crisis has given charitable drives and foundations a dramatic decrease in revenue due to people saving more and spending less, BU faculty and staff made sure their wallets wouldn’t stay shut and gave back to people in need.  

The Bloomsburg University SECA campaign, along with the United Way of Columbia County, supports many agencies including the work of eight specific participating organizations including: America’s Charities, Community Health Charities of Pennsylvania, Wildlands Conservancy, Christian Service Charities, Independent Charities of America, United Negro College Fund, and the United Ways of Pennsylvania.  

One of the interesting aspects of the SECA campaign is that donors can choose which organization they would like to give to, which includes 1,400 international, national, and regional agencies.   Many local agencies, which fight night and day to help our community - its families and individuals in need - greatly benefit from this drive each year.  Some of these agencies include: United Way of Columbia County, American Cancer Association (Bloomsburg Chapter), American Red Cross (Bloomsburg Chapter), Bloomsburg’s YMCA, Library, and Children’s Museum to name a few.  The amount of pride of giving back to one’s community is undeniable, and the BU faculty and staff came to the challenge.

SECA began in 1977 as the only charitable campaign allowed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in its offices statewide.  And to its credit it gives minimal workplace disruption and administrative costs.

Many local businesses, that everyone at this school utilizes one time or another, donated employee incentive prizes.  Places like Quaker Steak and Lube, The Inn and Turkey Hill, Rita’s Ice, Steph’s Subs, Bloomin Bagels, and the University Store all made sure their money was put into something greater than themselves.  

“I think it was very successful,” said Kristina Wood, Chairperson for this year’s drive, “I’m so thankful and glad we have such an extremely generous staff.”  Each year the co-chair of the event in the previous year steps up to the plate to lead the event throughout campus.  I applaud all Bloomsburg Faculty and Staff for donating to this year’s event even though times are tough on everyone; especially the ones SECA strive to help.

The Anxious Voter

            A fidgety man waits impatiently in the everlasting line to vote. The middle-aged, tall business man seems frustrated and it is as if he is losing patience with every passing minute. He is dressed in a blue button down shirt, a matching tie that has been loosened at the neck, and black dress pants; this man looks like he has come straight from work. He is checking his silver rolex watch on his right wrist every other minute and uneasily grins at the rapidly growing line behind him. He is surrounded by students, elders, and even children, he seems annoyed, and unapproachable as if he is in a hurry.

           As I quietly stand in line behind him I begin to think of what might be making him so distraught on this exciting and incredibly important Election Day. The people around me were waiting in the same long, slowly moving line and from the derogatory remarks coming from the elderly couple behind me I can tell I am not the only one who notices this man and his irritable attitude.

          An hour passes as we continue to get closer to the voting booths and the impatient man in front of me has not spoken a word, it must be obvious to him people are getting annoyed with his edgy attitude. I knew the line was tiresome and quiet boring, especially if you were alone, but what could be so much more important than voting for our next president? I tried to think positively to myself “he must have had an exhausting day at work and is looking forward to spending time with his wife and children, while enjoying a warm home-cooked meal.”    

         The exact second that the optimistic thought left my mind he hurriedly exited the voting booth; a beaming white smile appeared on his face. As he brushed passed me and the people he had been standing in line with, he turned around and said “I apologize for my lack of patients, but one hour ago I became a grandfather, and I’m on my way to meet my first grandson!”

photo from thedenverchannel.com

The event turned up a variety of different students, with different backgrounds and experiences, and not everyone at the slam was an English major. They all simply shared something in common: their love of poetry. Whether they wrote poetry, recited it, or just admired it, each and every student shared that one love.

Poetry is considered one of the free ways to express emotion, whether it be personal or shared. It is a way for a writer to play with words; the placement of words or the choice of words often play into the final presentation of a poem. As Charles Simic once said, “Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them.”

Each student who recited their poetry had a spectacular performance. Every poem was heartfelt and meaningful to the author, and it took a lot of courage to share their poetry to a large group of strangers.

Lloyd Ebersole, a sophomore and creative writing major, states “It was really interesting to hear the different forms and variations of poetry.”

One poet in particular, Dante, was considered the most popular with his smooth rhythm and heartfelt poetry. He shocked the audience with his ability to memorize and recite his sincere poetry. The audience asked for encore after encore from Dante.

Alexandra Martinez, president of Sigma Tau Delta, will try to organize a poetry slam monthly. Slams will be held in Bakeless 102. Keep an eye out for flyers around campus with further information about upcoming poetry slams.

For all others who enjoy poetry, a large poetry festival, Dodge Poetry Festival, will be running this weekend in Stanhope, NJ from Thursday the 25^th to Sunday the 28^th. For further information, visit their website at: http://www.dodgepoetry.org/.