Vice President Kamala Harris In The Belly of the Beast

Last night, around 7 pm, I received a call from a Trump supporter who had just watched Fox News anchor Bret Baier "interview" VP Kamala Harris and thought she looked pitiful. I was able to find the interview (you can see it yourself above) on YouTube, and had a completely different take on it.

First, in stark contrast the Trump's portrayal of her as a dumb woman, she came across as pretty tough and far more knowledgeable than he or Baier.

Second, I give Trump credit for his willingness to go into hostile territory and face tough questions. But he often rambles when he answers. Harris has now demonstrated she has can go into enemy territory and respond with actual facts as opposed to blatant lies. Did she sidestep some questions? Yes, she was traversing a minefield. Overall, I thought she looked Presidential. 

Third, Fox Host interviewer Baier was mostly parroting Trump's talking points and repeatedly interrupted her when she tried to answer questions. I'm sure this was noticed by Republican-leaning women who watched the broadcast. 

NorCo Elections FAQs

Blogger's Note: Before every election, NorCo's elections office provides a FAQ on questions that commonly arise.  I believe this is extremely helpful. 

Who is eligible to register to vote?

·        To vote in the Presidential Election on November 5^th you must be a U.S. Citizen, be 18 years or older by Election Day, be a Pennsylvania resident, not confined in a prison, jail or other penal institution serving a sentence for conviction of a felony as of the date of the election and not have been convicted of a violation of a provision of the Pennsylvania Election Code within the last four years.

What if I recently moved into the area?

·        To register and vote in Northampton County, you must have resided here for at least 30 days prior to the election. If you’ve moved within 30 days of a presidential election, both federal and state law allow you to vote for President in your previous place of residence if you haven’t already registered at your new address.

 

How can I register to vote in Northampton County?

·        Eligible voters can register in person at the Elections Office located in the Lower Level of the County Courthouse at 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042. To register by mail, download a blank voter registration form at the vote.pa.gov website or fill out the online application there and submit it electronically. Your registration is not complete until it is processed and accepted by the County voter registration office.

 

What is the deadline to register to vote?

·        The last day to register for the presidential election is October 21, 2024. You can register at the Elections Office until 8:00 PM that night or file an online application at vote.pa.gov by 11:59 PM.

 

 How do I know my application has been accepted or if my ballot has been received?

·        Citizens who sign up on vote.pa.gov will receive emails about their application/ballot status. Voters who applied on paper can track the status of their ballot at vote.pa.gov.

 

After I register and my application is approved, how can I vote?

·        Ballot-On-Demand voting is available at the Elections Office, Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, and on Saturdays, from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM until Tuesday, October 29^th. On October 29^th, Ballot-On-Demand voting will end at 5:00 PM.

·        To vote via an absentee or mail-in ballot apply either in person at the Elections Office or online at vote.pa.gov by 5:00 PM on October 29^th.

·        To vote in-person, the polls will be open on Nov. 5th from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. If you are in line at 8:00 PM, you will be allowed to cast a ballot.

 

Do I need to present any identification at the polls on Election Day?

·        The first time you vote, or are a new voter to a particular precinct, you must bring a photo, or non-photo ID. Identification is not required from people who have previously voted at their polling place.

 

What if I have a disability which makes it difficult to vote on the machine at the polls?

·        The ES&S ExpressVote XL has accommodations for voters with macular degeneration or other hearing and visual impairments. Alert the poll workers if you need one of these accommodations.

What if I have a disability that makes it difficult to vote without assistance?

·        Registered voters who need assistance may bring someone with them to the polling place. You will be asked to complete and sign a Declaration of Need Assistance form. If you cannot take your mail-in ballot to a mailbox or to one of the County’s secure ballot drop boxes, you must designate someone, in writing, to deliver it for you by filling out a Designated Agent Form. Both forms are available at the Election Office or the vote.pa.gov website.

 

How can I be sure my mail-in ballot will be accepted?

·        Your ballot MUST BE enclosed in the YELLOW secrecy envelope and sealed. There can be no identifying marks or symbols on the YELLOW envelope. The return envelope must be signed and dated on the back in the appropriate yellow boxes.

What is the deadline to return my mail-in or absentee ballot?

·        The ballot must be returned to the Election’s Office no later than 8:00 PM on Election Night, Tuesday, November 5^th. Postmarks do not count. A list of secure ballot drop-off boxes is listed below.

Who should I call if I have problems or questions either before or on Election Day?

·        The Northampton County Elections Office: 610-829-6260 or elections@norcopa.gov   

 

Mail-in and absentee ballots may be returned to the Elections Office in person, via the U.S. mail (postage is included on the envelope) or in one of Northampton County’s seven secure ballot drop-off boxes. Accessing drop-off boxes does not require going through security at any location. Ballots MUST be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. Postmarks will not count!

 

·        Northampton County Courthouse (Rotunda):

669  Washington St., Easton, PA 18042

o  Monday-Friday from 8:30am-8:00pm

o  Saturdays: Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, Oct. 26 (from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm)

o  When dropping off a ballot, voters can park for free in the loading-and-unloading zone on Washington Street in front of the Courthouse or use the parking lot at the Wolf Avenue and Washington Street intersection.

 

·        Northampton County Human Services Building (Main Entrance Vestibule):

2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18020

o  Monday-Friday from 8:30am-7:00pm

o  Saturdays from 8:00am-2:00pm

 

·        Northampton County 911 Center (Main Entrance Vestibule):

100 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA 18064

o  Open 24/7

 

·        Bethlehem City Hall (Main Lobby):

10 E. Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018

o  Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm

o  Election Day (Tuesday, November 5, 2024) accessible from 7:00am-8:00pm

 

·        Washington Township Municipal Building (Main Entrance Vestibule):

1021 Washington Blvd., Bangor, PA 18013

o  Monday-Thursday from 7:00am-4:00pm

o  Fridays from 7:00am-3:00pm

 

·        East Allen Township Municipal Building (Main Lobby):

5344 Nor Bath Blvd., Northampton, PA 18067

o  Monday-Friday from 8:30am-3:30pm

 

·        NCC Fowler Family Southside Center (Main Lobby):

511 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem, PA 18015

o  Monday-Thursday from 7:00am-9:00pm

o  Fridays from 7:00am-8:30pm

o  Saturdays from 7:00am-2:00pm

Fed Ed Finally Apologizes

After having spent the past six years in an assortment of federal prisons, disgraced Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski is finally expressing remorse for the crimes he committed as Mayor. 

According to WFMZ-TV69, he is asking President Joe Biden to commute his 15-year sentence, and apparently realizes his only shot at getting any kind of relief is to accept responsibility for his misbehavior. 

I was highly critical of Fed Ed while he was in office and did my best to cast a spotlight on his misconduct. But even I agree he has been behind bars long enough. In late 2022, I sent a letter to the Pardon Att'y to request that his 15-year sentence be reduced. 

Whether it is genuine or not, he has now finally apologized. 

The People Who Knew Trump Best Do Not Support Him

Monday was Columbus Day, aka Indigenous People's Day, so several banks, government offices and the post office were closed. In NorCo, which was open, many people used the holiday to exercise their franchise and cast their "ballot by demand" at the county elections office. As we all know, many of them support Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. I support Harris and consider Trump totally unfit for any office, to say nothing of the Presidency.

I'm a bottom-feeding blogger, the lowest of the low. So what I think should mean little to most of you. But the image above should. The New York Times editorial board has a list of comments from his former staffers, the people who know him best.  

Bill Barr, his former Attorney General, said Trump "will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else … .” Gen. John Kelly, Director of Homeland Security and his Chiefm of Staff, calls him "a person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators.” From former VP Mike Pence to former Defense Sec'y James Mattis, the list is long and distinguished.

If you are a member of the Trump cult, this post is worthless. But if you are capable of looking at things a little more objectively. I'd hope you'd realize he is simply a terrible choice to lead this nation.

NorCo General Purpose Authority Approves Wilson Borough Transfer For Dixie Cup Development

In May, Skyline Investment Group representatives were at the NorCo's General Purpose Authority (GPA) meeting. Wilson Borough actually owns a small triangular piece shown on the tax map you see above as 1C-1. It is 0.35 acres located along the eastern side of 25th Street and is actually the beginning of a bike path that extends from the Palmer Bike path and hooks up with the Tatamy Trail. According to Claudia Robinson, who is actually a tax credit maven employed by an outfit called AreaProbe, Skyline plans to move the giant Dixie Cup currently on top of the vacant factory and plant it next to the bike path, where people could ooh and ahh at its wonder. 

But there's a problem. Wilson Borough is unable to convey directly to Skyline unless it first conducts an auction at which anyone could bid to buy the tract. This could complicate Robinson in her quest to attract private equity with promises of an historic tax credit. 

To foreclose the possibility that someone other than Skyline gets this tract, the Borough could convey to the county GPA, which in turn would munificently turn it over to Skyline. That way the law against this kind of insider dealing would be followed even though the spirit of the law would clearly be ignored. 

At their October 8 meeting, NorCo's GPA approved the land transfer by a 5-2 vote and without discussion. Voting Yes were Charles Dertinger, Paul Anthony, Ken Kraft, Ronald Donchez and Pamela Pearson. Voting No were Lori Vargo Heffner and Lance Colondo. 

Vargo Heffner is President of NorCo Council and Colondo is Nazareth's Mayor.

For Second Time, I Think Someone Stole My Cannondale Trail 5 - Part 2

A few years ago, almost immediately after completing the 330-mile ride from Pittsburgh to D.C., someone stole my Cannondale Trail 5 locked bicycle while I rewarded myself with lunch. Video showed the culprit, who was armed with a few bike tools and made an idiot out of me by simply disassembling part of the bike, slipping the lock off, reassembling and then riding off. A few weeks later, I had a new Cannondale Trail 5, which my grandson uses when we cycle the trails. I told you on Friday that I believed that bike was stolen from a bank parking lot in Bethlehem while my grandson and I ate at the Pho Bowl after our ride. I was wrong. 

Bethlehem police investigated and reviewed camera footage from the bank. That footage showed I had two bikes on my car when I left. 

From Bethlehem, I stopped at the Giant Food Store in Nazareth before returning home. I was there about 15 minutes, but I park at the far end of the lot so I can walk more. So it's possible the bike was stolen from that location. I have contacted Colonial Regional Police because Giant tells me that there are cameras all over the parking lot. 

Another possibility is that the bike fell off during my ride home. I highly doubt this because I have the bike strapped in pretty well and I definitely can hear it when the bikes move in any way.

In any event, I want you to know that no crime was committed in Bethlehem. I also want to tell you that I purchased a new bike for our Philly Bike Ride. 

The moral of this story is that I should really try to stay out of the car and on my bike. I probably would do so more often but am unable to ride two bikes together. 

"God's Acre" or "Indian Graveyard" at Nazareth's Indian Tower

It's called the "Indian Tower," and is the highest elevation (731.63 ft above sea level) in what was originally Nazareth's 5,000 acres. It never was a lookout tower but is the site of what Moravians call God's Acre or the Indian Graveyard. It was in use between 1744 and 1762, and is the final resting place of 67 Moravians, including four Native Americans. Only a few are marked in any way, but there is a slab of stone that must be a marker for at least one of these early inhabitants. As the weather gets cooler, I like to walk through here with my buddy, a huge Black Lab. That's during the day. Once it gets dark, it's good spot for teens and amateur astronomers to stargaze. 

Sometime on Friday or Saturday night, someone left an offering at the tumulus of one of the deceased Moravians. Two unopened cans of beer (Miller Lite and Yeungling Light), a flavored cigar and a bouquet of flowers. I think the American flag was already there. 

I don't know why, but I thought that was very nice. 

For the Second Time, I Think Someone Stole My Cannondale Trail 5

At the end of the day yesterday, I met my grandson at Sand Island and we rode the trails while there was daylight. After that, we met up at Bethlehem's Pho Bowl, my favorite restaurant and talked Phillies and Eagles. From there, I hopped into my car and drove home. But when I arrived in Nazareth, I noticed that my Cannondale Trail 5 was no longer on the bike rack. Not only was it secure to the back rack, but I use several straps to make sure nothing moves. So I believe my bike was probably stolen last night while we were eating.  

To avoid the Bethlehem Parking Authority Nazis, I park at the M&T Bank lot if it is after hours. A camera is trained on the cars, so police should be able to confirm today whether the bike was stolen. Whether they will be able to retrieve it is another story, although I was able to give them the serial number.

Police arrived within minutes of my call and were very professional and sympathetic. There is a slight possibility that the bike fell off during my ride home, but it was strapped in very well and I think I would have noticed. I retraced my ride home and saw nothing. When the video footage from the bank is observed, we'll know for sure. 

This will be the second time someone stole one of my bikes. The last time it was a Cannondale Trail 5 as well. I had just finished riding the 330-mile trip from Pittsburgh to DC and stopped for lunch. Though I locked my bike, the thief was able to disassemble the cockpit of the bike and slip it off the lock. There was video of that, too. 

This time my bike was unsecured. I spend a good five or ten minutes adding all kinds of straps to the wheels and noodles to keep the bikes from hitting each other or the car, so I never expected someone to be able to get everything off so quickly. 

My grandson and I are headed to Philly next Friday for the annual Philly Bike Ride. If you know of any decent bikes for sale, let me know. I am looking at a Trek Domane Al 2 or a Cannondale Synapse Sora, which are great low-end endurance bikes you can ride on a road or trail. But they are hard to find. 

My brother, who lives only a half block away from Pho Bowl, is an evil Republican. I told police he probably stole it. He says he was with Trump, eating dogs and cats.   

Judge Sletvold Taken To Woodshed By Superior Court Over Termination of Mother's Parental Rights

I've told you before about the federal civil rights suit filed by Lisa Tresslar, Northampton County's former Custody Master. She claims she was constructively terminated after blowing the whistle on the conduct of several Northampton County judges (specifically Judges Jennifer Sletvold and Paula Roscioli) in custody disputes.  Instead of seeking out evidence of danger to children, Tresslar claims these judges try to prevent its admission so that they are insulated from the public outcry that would ensue in the event that a parent with visitation or custody would harm a child. She even pointed to one instance in which she states that happened. Judges want her case tossed, and a hearing has been scheduled for November 21. This story is about a separate matter involving Judge Sletvold, who recently terminated a mother's parental rights without bothering to explain why. Pennsylvania's Superior Court blasted her. 

In an October 1 opinion penned by President Judge Anne E Lazarus, the Superior Court minced no words in its criticism of Judge Sletvold for terminating a mother's parental rights with no meaningful inquiry or rationale. She did so even though "[a] parent’s right to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of his or her children is among the oldest of fundamental rights.”

Instead of explaining why she ruled the way she did, she just adopted wholesale the findings of fact and conclusions of law submitted by one of the parties. "[W]e strongly disapprove of a trial court’s wholesale adoption of a party’s proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, without independent analysis, in a termination of parental rights matter," said the Court. "[W]e are faced with a trial judge who has completely abdicated her responsibility to provide an 'independent judicial analysis.'", adds President Judge Lazarus, who also accuses Judge Sletvold of "dereliction of duty." The Superior Court has ordered Judge Slevtold to explain herself within the next 30 days and has retained jurisdiction.

Last year, Northampton County voters decided to retain Judge Sletvold with 34,909 Yes Votes to 23,862 No votes.