Gracedale Residents Visit NorCo Council

Gracedale resident Alfred Kimpel, age 82

Uncaring teachers at Easton Area High School have been inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on students for the past several years. It's far more sinister and evil than corporal punishment. These poor kids are forced to attend Northampton County Council meetings. They have to prove they were there, too, but the pricks on Council refuse to sign attendance rosters until after the meeting. Most of these students emigrate to Canada after graduating.

Actually, despite my negative humor, I love seeing young people at meetings. I'd love to hear what the students really think about their experience, and what  government can do to be more responsive. Now that
school's out, Executive Lamont McClure extended an invitation to our seniors, another overlooked, segment of society. Specifically, he invited Gracedale residents, and about ten or so appeared. One of them spoke during courtesy of the floor and had four questions. She said she'd wait a week for answers before going to the state. She was tough!

Maybe I can get her to start a blog.

Alfred Kimpel, age 82, sat next to me. Council member Matt Dietz said he first meet Al at another nursing home. Since coming to Gracedale, Al's health has improved markedly. Al's a native of Queens in NYC. He spent 32 years in the Brooklyn Air National Guard, sold advertising for the Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly for two decades. But his most important role was in delivering first aid to many very ill Irishmen in the greater New York Area. He delivered cases and kegs of Guinness, Harp Lager, Irish Red Ale and Kilkenny. Those are like blood deliveries.

As of late last week, Gracedale's census was hovering at 670, which is very close to its max capacity

Also, in what is very good news for the nursing home's bottom line, it has received a $4 million Intergovernmental Transfer from the federal government. This is nearly twice the $2.2 million budgeted by former Executive John Brown.