The Table of Knowledge

Lump's Deli, located at the corner of Center and Goepp Streets, is the oldest deli operating in Bethlehem. The snow has hurt most other businesses, but not this one. The worse things get, the more people come. "They know it's a working man's store," owner David "Lump" Sanders told me. "They can came in with their dirty boots." But that's not what drew me. I had to visit this place to see and sit at the Table of Knowledge, which nearly every City Council member mentioned in awe when Sanders recently applied for a vacancy on City Council.

Ordering two chili dogs, I sat at the table, waiting for the knowledge to ooze in. There was nothing at first, then Dave told me that City Parks workers had just won $1 million at the lottery. This was hours before the story hit the papers.

I was waiting for more knowledge to sink in, but instead of that, I heard the door open and the deep, booming voice of one of my most fierce enemies, Democratic party strongman Joe Long.

"I can smell him," Long roared, as he made his way towards me. I told Long to leave me alone because i was trying to gain knowledge. "That's not going to work on you, Bern.. You have a blister on your shoulders instead of a head."  

Then suddenly, more knowledge came.

"Why don't we stop electing County Executives and just hire consultants to run the County?" asked Sanders, referring to the controversial Deana Zosky contract that ultimately failed.

Then Long, try as hard as he could to keep his mouth shut, told me that Jay Paterno was running for Lieutenant Governor, hours before it hit the papers.

This really is a Table of Knowledge. And the chili dogs are pretty good, too.

Unfortunately, when I left, all my tires were flat. Long stood at the door, laughing.

Sanders with his great-grandson, 2 1/2 yo Leo Garcia

Sanders and Jack Lightcap at table of Knowledge. "What have you learned?" I asked Jack. "That's a good question," he answered.