Sour Grapes

A trade bill amendment passed this week by the U.S. Senate will aid the growing local winter grape import business, but still leaves shippers with an annual political battle on their hands. The Senate, by a unanimous voice vote Wednesday, amended the trade bill to limit the U.S. Agriculture Department's power to restrict imports of table grapes. The measure was sponsored by Sens. John Heinz, R-Pa., Frank Lautenberg, D- N.J., and Pete Wilson, R-Calif. Winter grape imports from Chile have grown in the last five years to a $45.7 million business on the Philadelphia waterfront, accounting for 25 percent of the annual longshoremen's working hours.

He almost had Haley Joel Osment's career. And he was Harry Potter - for one day. But 14-year-old Liam Aiken says he's most at home among the narrow escapes and dark forebodings in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," the weekend's top movie. Adapted from the first three "Snicket" kids' books, the movie stars Jim Carrey as Count Olaf, a seriously weird would-be actor who adopts the industrious Baudelaire kids (Liam, 15-year-old Emily Browning and 2-year-old twins Kara and Shelby Hoffman)

Jonathan H. Newman, who as chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board helped transform a much-maligned state monopoly through new ways to sell wine and liquor, resigned yesterday, citing differences with Gov. Rendell. Within three hours of the news, Rendell had replaced Newman with board member P.J. Stapleton, who promised to continue improving the 643-store system. Newman's decision stemmed from a public flap with Rendell over the administration's push last month to appoint former State Sen. Joe Conti (R., Bucks)

Joe Paterno tried walking a tightrope yesterday during his weekly teleconference, which was dominated by discussion of controversial officiating in games involving Penn State, including Saturday's overtime loss at Michigan. Each time he caught himself leaning too much toward one direction, Paterno used his balancing pole to keep from falling. But try as he might, the 75-year-old coach couldn't help but make it obvious he believes the Nittany Lions have gotten the short end of the stick.

A former volunteer firefighter's proposal to create a third fire company in the township has angered some of his old colleagues, who say sour grapes have fueled his actions. Ken Collins Jr., who was a member of Williamstown Fire Company No. 1 until he was let go last fall for unspecified reasons, has proposed starting a new fire company to serve businesses and housing developments in the northeastern part of Monroe. The station would be located on Herbert Boulevard near Lake Avenue.

RE ANN Berlinger's letter about Gov. Rendell's reference to Barack Obama in his tribute to Harry Kalas: Since when is it inappropriate to mention the name of the president of the United States? There was no attempt to be political. It was simply meant to bring some levity to a very sad occasion. The writer's comments smack of sour grapes, truly Bush league. Shame on you, Ann Berlinger. Harry Delaney, Reading

Bill Lyon's column "It's hard to root for these Mets" sounded like sour grapes. Did Tug McGraw act "with a nonchalance that suggests heck, we do this sort of thing all the time" when the Phillies won the World Series? No, he did exactly what the Mets are doing, and Philadelphia fans loved him for it. So why down the Mets? Mary Jane Robus Philadelphia.

You may have heard it through the grapevine that drummer Buddy Miles has had some troubled times. This former member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Electric Flag even served a prison term for grand theft. So it's made some people sit up and take notice of that lead raisin a- rhumba-ing to "Heard It Through the Grapevine" in that hip commercial for the California Raisin Board. Animator Will Vinton modeled the "claymation" character after Miles, 40, who actually sings "Heard It Through the Grapevine" for the commercial.

Fieldsboro Mayor Edward G. Tyler, on trial in Burlington County after having been charged with an election-law violation that could cost him his job, testified yesterday that he believed that he had parked a van - with his name written with white shoe polish on the side - just beyond the required 100 feet from the borough's polling place. "I thought I was within the law," said Tyler, who won the 1986 mayoral race by one vote. Tyler, 44, is charged with electioneering within or about a polling place, a misdemeanor.

When the chief negotiator for the embattled Chester-Upland School District boarded a plane for New Orleans yesterday, he was waved off by 18 teachers participating in what they facetiously described as a "bon voyage party. " With his school district still on strike, Donald Tonge appeared somewhat embarrassed. He was on his way to a school board conference. As he waited in line at an Eastern Airlines gate at Philadelphia International Airport, the teachers chanted songs and wore signs, including ones that read "Stay for Mardi Gras" and "You Can Fly But You Cannot Hide.

WHEN I WOKE up Wednesday morning, it was dark. There was something ominous about that midweek morning, something that I hadn't felt in many years, something that I hadn't even felt when my father died decades ago. It was sense of intangible, yet visceral, loss. Barack Obama will have four more years to lead this country. Millions are happy about that fact, millions worked to make it a reality, millions would have wept had Mitt Romney won the election. I understand that I am on one side of a deep divide, a polarization that is similar in nature - if not in degree - to that which existed during the Civil War. We aren't ready to shoot our brothers and sisters who disagree with us, thank God. But there is a certain level of enmity that can't be chalked up to political difference.

The three Montgomery County commissioners, nearing their 100th day of governance, are getting along beautifully. At meetings, during dozens of votes, there hasn't been a single no vote among Josh Shapiro, Leslie Richards, and Bruce Castor. Also, no fights, no name-calling, no drama. Such good will! Last week, when evidence of spring first bloomed, the trio served water ice outside to government employees that was paid for, along with contributions from other top officials, out of their own wallets.

ST. LOUIS - Can you see the baseball, baby, standing in the shadows? That little turn on a Mick Jagger lyric characterizes an issue some of the Cardinals have created since late in the season, and they turned up the decibel level on the matter following their 3-2 loss to the Phillies Tuesday in Game 3 of the National League division series. Albert Pujols was the most strident among the players who criticized the 4:07 p.m. central starting time for Game 3, a time when a band of sunlight between the pitcher's mound and home plate carved through a shadow covering the infield for the first few innings, making it difficult for the batter to see the ball.

New Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn says he was looking for a change, and that is what led him to leave the Tennessee Titans after 12 seasons. Washburn was not made available to the Philadelphia media Wednesday after his hiring was announced, at his request, the Eagles said. He reluctantly agreed to an interview with Jim Wyatt, of the Tennessean in Nashville, yesterday. Washburn wanted to make it clear that he left with no hard feelings or regrets, and that he was eager to get going with the Eagles.

Cruel world, showbiz. You get a bit-part audition in Hollywood, you can't even land it. Yet this other guy, a no-talent smooth face with a prep-school chin and endless hair, lands the line-screaming action-hero lead for $2 million-plus. And you're the "professional" actor. So back to New York, and maybe it's not so bad after all - you land on Broadway. OK, as an understudy. But did it have to be as the understudy for the same overblown film-boy, now triumphing on the Big Stage for his movie-star rep?

RE ANN Berlinger's letter about Gov. Rendell's reference to Barack Obama in his tribute to Harry Kalas: Since when is it inappropriate to mention the name of the president of the United States? There was no attempt to be political. It was simply meant to bring some levity to a very sad occasion. The writer's comments smack of sour grapes, truly Bush league. Shame on you, Ann Berlinger. Harry Delaney, Reading

IF THE conventional wisdom in the media has it right, the only way Hillary Clinton can win the nomination is by destroying Barack Obama. If this is true, and if she's pursuing this route, she also destroys herself - something she may already have done with some Democrats and independents. How many Pennsylvania Democrats will follow her over the cliff? Sam Osborne, West Branch, Iowa Wid . . . an apology! So Joe Vento plans to sue the city because they took him to task over his sign unless he gets an apology from Mayor Nutter.

IRESPECT and enjoy the work of sportswriter Dick Jerardi. But I find it interesting that, writing about John Chaney, he says that if someone like me doesn't "get him" it's my "loss. " He justifies it by telling a story about how Chaney gave a ride in a snowstorm to the referees from the game his team had just lost. Then, the next day, Jerardi writes about Bobby Knight's being on the cusp of the all-time win record and how there isn't any hoopla about it because of how Knight has coached and treated people over the years.

Jonathan H. Newman, who as chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board helped transform a much-maligned state monopoly through new ways to sell wine and liquor, resigned yesterday, citing differences with Gov. Rendell. Within three hours of the news, Rendell had replaced Newman with board member P.J. Stapleton, who promised to continue improving the 643-store system. Newman's decision stemmed from a public flap with Rendell over the administration's push last month to appoint former State Sen. Joe Conti (R., Bucks)

Perspective doesn't come easy to 12-year-olds. Council Rock Newtown's players will some day look back fondly on their colorful experiences at this 59th Little League World Series. But after two straight losses, the only color they're likely to remember in the immediate future is blue. And all their frustrated manager could see was red. Maitland, Fla., scored twice in the first inning and added a third run on a long fifth-inning homer by Dante Bichette Jr. in a 3-1 triumph last night that all but ensured that the Bucks County youngsters will not advance into the next round of this 16-team international tournament.