Constable Seeks Judgeship in Freemansburg, Bethlehem

Jon Whittington

Liz Romig is perhaps one of the most admired and respected magisterial district judges from Northampton County. She was much smarter than her brother, Jerry Seyfried, and managed to keep things together on the front lines of justice in a high-crime district that included Pembroke Village. Police officers and defendants both thought she was fair, and attorneys knew she would listen. When she was forced to step down after turning 70 (she tells me it was 40), her daughter Patricia Romig-Passaro stepped in to fill the void. Unfortunately, she was forced to resign. Although she sounds great, she is suffering from vascular dementia, and has been told she has only 5-10 years left.

Though Romig has stepped down, her husband, Jon B. Whittington, has announced his candidacy.

Whittington is known as a constable, but his real background is in the tool and dye industry. He worked there for 22 years, and this gives him a perspective on what it's like to be a hard-working blue collar worker.Beinmg a constable has given him an understanding on how the courts work.

He has volunteered as a Big Brother, has sponsored families at the New Bethany Ministries and participated on Christmas Day celebrations by serving them. He has also coached soccer for many years.

He tells me he decided to run because he thinks he can make a difference. He has a powerful ally behind him. They Seyfried family has been a force in Bethlehem since the '20s, when Floyd "Skip" Seyfried was active. His son Jerry went on to become NorCo Executive, and his daughter Liz and granddaughter Pat both distinguished themselves on the bench.

Jerry claims his cousin Amanda got her good looks from him.

Freemansburg Mayor Yob Seeking Another Four Years

Mayor Yob serves the people literally

During Freemansburg's popular National Night Out in early August, you'll find him behind the grill, cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for hungry people. He's at every parade and borough event. And on NorCo's Gaming Authority, he's a quiet but very effective voice for Freemansburg's 2,600 residents. A few short years ago, he persuaded his much bigger neighbors to fund a grant for a modern police station.  It's little wonder he's been Mayor there for 36 years, following 12 years on Council. Believe it or not, Gerald Yob wants to run for one last term.

Yob believes his biggest accomplishment in borough government has been its police department.. He'd like to beef it up a little in his last term. But in contrast to some other boroughs, Yob made clear that the Mayor and Council should help he police department, b ut stay away from telling it how to do its job.

He's 87 years old and looks 20 years younger His mother lived until she was 102 and his father died at age 93.

Combining his years on Council and as Mayor, Yob has served Freemansburg for 48 years.

But West Easton Mayor Gerald Gross has him beat. When he retires at the end of this year, he will have spent 52 years as Mayor and Council member.

Freemansburg Celebrates Nat'l Night Out

National Night Out, held on the first Tuesday of August, is a chance for police and other first responders to get together with the local residents they serve and show them that they are here to serve. Though Freemansburg has one of the tiniest communities in the Lehigh Valley, it has one of best of these community gatherings. Where else can you go to get a hot dog grilled by Mayor Jerry Yob? A hamburger flipped by Council Council member Justin "Peanuts" LaBar? All washed down with a root beer poured by Council member Ed Smith? And the price is right, too. Free, which explains why at least 500 people crowd into the Municipal Park.

Though it's a community celebration, it starts off every year with a sad reminder that some police officers never come home. Even in tiny Freemansburg. Five years ago, Officer Robert Lasso was gunned down while responding to what should have been a minor neighborhood squabble. He had a wife. Two children. That blue life mattered pretty much to them and many others. Every year, National Night Out starts with a moment of silence in Lasso's honor. Palmer and Forks Townships lent their ladder trucks to lay out a gigantic American flag for the brief ceremony.

Families and kids making their way to the Municipal Park were greeted by a cornucopia of police vehicles, firetrucks and ambulances. And the police officers and firefighters were bearing gifts. Police Chief Jonathan Itterly and Officer Stacy Smith prepared ID cards for children, which they loved While the kids have probably already lost their cards, police have a record of each child who participated in case something unfortunate occurs.

Kids cleaned up at the fire department, too. Each child was provided with a bag, coloring books, crayons, pencils, bracelets and best of all, their very own firefighter helmets. The girls in particular loved it.

Alexis and Savannah Cintron, age 5 and 7, are happy to pose with their firefighter helmets, bags and stickers.

Sadly, there was no dunk tank this year. Council member Jim Smith is usually volunteered for this honor, but nearly drowned in the tank last year. Chilled by all the dunks, he was forced to go home and consume some boilo for medicinal purposes.

Of course there was the usual tractor pull, but the pièce de résistance included firefighters from Freemansburg, Palmer and Forks. They first took an old junk car and demonstrated the jaws of life. Then they set the junker ablaze. As clouds of black and white smoke billowed into the sky, you could actually hear explosions from inside the car.

Girls may have loved the coloring books, but the boys (large and small) were mesmerized by the fire, especially the popping sounds.

Then firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 20 seconds.

It was a great event, but I must say that the ride home was a little rough. My car was still smoking.

Bottom Feeding Blogger Finally Arrested

Well, it's finally happened. Some of you were sure that Nazareth police were going to get me, after I've been tweaking their noses. Others of you thought it might be Easton, where I recently pissed off Sal Panto. Actualy, I piss off just about everyone, sooner or later. Last night, I met my comeuppance in Freemansburg, on charges of being a bottom-feeding blogger. I was nabbed during National Night Out, and have the story below.

Nat'l Night Out Tells Freemansburg Residents They Matter

Councilman George Wilson will give you a burger today!

What is National Night Out? Held on the first Tuesday of August, it's a chance for police and other first responders to let us know they are one of us. It's a chance for us to let them know we're one of them. It's an opportunity for a community, young and old, rich and poor, to get to know each other. Freemansburg has never had this kind of celebration, but thanks to Chief Todd Pantuso and a host of borough volunteers and generous sponsors, this is certain to become an annual tradition. At least 400 people were treated to free hot dogs and burgers served up by Mayor Gerald Yob and Council member George Wilson, as well as pastelillos from Miriam Castellano of Miriam's Take Out. But it was more than the food that attracted people. A tiny borough was telling its residents they matter. And before long, everyone was smiling.

DA John Morganelli remembers officer Robert Lasso

The evening started out with a memorial service for Robert Lasso, a Freemansburg police officer killed in the line of duty two years ago, responding to what should have been a minor neighborhood squabble.

"I remember that night very well," said District Attorney John Morganelli, who paid tribute to the fallen but not forgotten officer. He noted that we tend to take for granted the work that police officers do, but "their lives are always on the line. They never know if they're going to come home." Calling Lasso's widow and his two young children "salt of the earth," Morganelli stated that Lasso "will be remembered, will be in our hearts and thoughts. When he finished his tribute, Jim McAteer of the Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums played Amazing Grace.

Jim McAteer, from the Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums, performs "Amazing Grace"

After this somber reminder of the ultimate sacrifice first responders make, the fun began.

Borough Councilman Jim "Lightning" Smith doesn't think you'll dare take him down.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dunk an elected official? Borough Council member Jim Smith was giving everyone a chance to take him down. Mayor Yob tried, but was unable to hit the target. But he had a ringer. Benjamin Casellas, after getting some pitching advice from his dad, took the Councilman down in three pitches.

In three pitches, Benjamin Casellas turned  Lightning into Thunder

Smith, who graduated with Morganelli from Liberty High School, was a track star. "We used to call him 'Lightning', said the DA. He was more like thunder as he would crash into the dunk tank time and again until, waterlogged, he called it a day.

With the thunder, comes a tidal wave

In addition to food and drinks, there was also a raffle. Every person who came got a ticket, and 16 prizes were awarded that included gift certificates to Ocean, Apollo's, Sicily Pizza and other local merchants.

Of course, police cars and fire trucks were on display. Every officer volunteered to be there, as well as numerous volunteer firefighters.

Alexandria (Alex) , a 6 yo Belgian Malinois K-9, with trainer Don Wilcox 

Devin Shellhammer delighted to meet Alex

But the star of the night was a Belgian girl named Alexandria (Alex). She's a 6 year-old Beligian Malinois raised by K-9 specialist Don Wilcox. Though a two word command will prompt her to launch into an attack, Wilcox uses her for search and rescue missions. She's participated in 100 cases over the past five years, including water rescues and collapsed building searches.

Despite the fearsome reputation of her breed, Wilcox called her a "lover." She basked in the attention as child after child petted her, and wanted to play with a Shiatsu named Butchy, about 1/10th her size. but when it was time to work, she worked. Her mission was to find a "lost" child, also named Alex, who was hiding in the bed of a pick up truck several hundred yards away. Through a process known as air scent searching, in which her sensitive nose can pick up the 40,000 skin rafts that humans shed every minute, she was able to find the girl in about a minute. She barked her discovery, and then returned to Wilcox and led him to the girl.

The idea for this National Night Out originated with Chief Pantuso, who was involved in the program as an officer in new jersey since 1997. He expressed his deep appreciation for the numerous sponsors who participated in making the 1st Annual Freemanburg National Night Out a night to remember for those who came. They left knowing that they matter. Next year, there will certainly be more.

Butchy, a spunky Shiatsu, tells Alex that size doesn't matter

Alexandria and Alexus, the "lost" girl found in the bed of a pickup truck.

Would you like a burger cooked by Mayor Gerald Yob?

Officers Bob Wieder, Rich Weichand and Jonathan Itterly

Laila Williams tests her strength

Miriam Castellano (L) of Miriam's Take Out, with Jennifer Rodriguez, offer Spanish fare

Borough Manager Judy Danko is the rose between two thorns, Chief Todd Pantuso (L) and DA John Morganelli (R)

Freemansburg Chief Brings Dr. Suess to Local School

Freemansburg Police Chief Todd Pantuso, with Things One and Two

The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
so they sat in the school
all that cold, cold, wet day.

Savannah Quezada (mask) and Serra Enisla have lots of questions

But students at Freemansburg Elementary School recently had a treat. Police Chief Todd Pantuso and Officer Ray Mead paid a visit to read Dr. Suess as part of "Read Across America." And they brought Thing One and Thing Two, too, who said, "How do you do?"

Things One and Two were actually teachers Lindsey Artim and Kelsey Kalamar.

After reading Dr. Suess, curious second graders peppered Freemansburg's finest with questions.

"Did you ever catch any bad guys?" .

Chief Pantuso reading to second grade class

"My brother wants to be a cop."

"If you get three tickets, do you go to jail?"

"Have you ever gone onto the highway when there's a crash?"

Chied Pantuso, who plans to have students visit the station this Spring, called his visit a "positive interaction" with children. According to Principal Kathy Quigney, 400 students attend Freemansburg Elementary.

Dressed in PJs, Freemansburg second grade class says bye. 

Slain Freemansburg Officer Receives Nathan Ogden Award

Jennifer Lasso

Last year, 173 police officers throughout the United States were killed in the line of duty. Four were from Pennsylvania. One of them, Robert Lasso, was a Freemansburg police officer responding to a disturbance call. He left behind a wife, Jennifer, and children Frankie, age 5, and Rose, age 7. On June 6, the Northampton County Chiefs of Police Association named him the recipient of their 12th annual Nathan Ogden award.

Northampton County Deputy Sheriff Nathan Ogden was the first police officer in this country to make the ultimate sacrifice for his community. In 1771, while attempting to execute an arrest warrant in Hanover Township, he was killed. In his memory, the Northampton County Chiefs of Police Association annually honors a police officer who distinguishes himself and his profession.

The Nathan Ogden award

Sheriff Randall Miller, who made this year's presentation during a Chiefs' meeting at the 911 Communications Center on the Gracedale campus, called it the "fastest decision" they've ever made. He stated that Lasso, a 9-year veteran, "loved the job" and "served the citizens of Freemansburg honorably until his death."

Lasso's killer was convicted of first-degree murder last month. He's been sentenced to death.

Lasso's widow, Jennifer, accepted the award on behalf of her deceased husband. She smiled when she saw the statue of a police officer holding a child.  It reminded her of her husband's own love for children.

The presentation this year, and for the last twelve years, is made during National Police Week. William Hillanbrand, a Northampton County Emergency Management Planner and former Deputy Sheriff, pays for the trophy every year out of his own pocket. His father and grandfather were cops.

Robert Lasso: Fallen, But Not Forgotten

DA John Morganelli with Pat Tallarico, Lasso's mother-in-law

August 11, 2011. Freemansburg police officer Robert Lasso was shot and killed in the line of duty. He left a widow and two young children. They will never know their father.

Today, Bethlehem police hosted a 5k in Lasso's honor. Over three hundred runners - many of them from the law enforcement community -participated. Some brought their dogs, or pushed babies in strollers.

One bottom-feeding blogger ran, too.

Having years of experience running from cops, I expected to win. But my grandson's dog, Suki, kept slowing me down.

The little mutt couldn't keep up.

On top of that, two NorCo deputies had keeled over in the final mile. So I had to sling them over my shoulders and finish the race with them and the dog.

When I crossed the line, DA John Morganelli was standing there, grinning. He had beaten me by two minutes. So had Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan.

But Hizzoner's pretty daughter beat us all.

The overall race winner, I believe, was Freemansburg Mayor Gerald Yob. He ran in his suit.

The big hit at this race?

The mounted police, of course. Pharo was eating up all the attention from kids and moms.

The Two Mayors:

John Callahan and winner Gerald Yob! He didn't even break a sweat!

Pharo Loves All the Attention!

Hey! What About Me?

I ran the frickin' race, while fleabag Pharo took it EZ. 

Robert Lasso: R.I.P.

It's tragic to read about a homicide in the tiny canal town of Freemansburg. It's even sadder to learn that the victim is a police officer.

Tiny Freemansburg Big Winner in Casino Impact Grants

"I am confident in the gamblers of the Lehigh Valley that they will do their committed duty and spend at the Sands Casino."

Those were the marching orders of Stephanie Hoppes-Kovacs, Hellertown's representative on Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Authority, which on October 25 made their first award of gambling impact grants, totaling $1.3 million, to three municipalities.

Instead of taking our money, the one-armed bandits at Bethlehem's Sands Casino are finally finally giving back to places hit hardest by gambling. The grand prize - $825,000 - went to tiny Freemansburg (population 2,063) for a police processing and holding facility. Other big winners were Hellertown (population 5,738) and Lower Saucon (population 10,000), who received the balance of the $1.3 million awarded for police officers, law enforcement training, cruisers, ambulances, pedestrian crosswalks and traffic light signalization.

Bethlehem Township (population 20,000) is larger than Hellertown, Lower Saucon and Freemansburg combined. But it was still the big loser. Despite three applications for an ambulance, police cruisers and a traffic signal device - items similar to what were awarded Hellertown and Lower Saucon - it kept rolling snake eyes. Bethlehem Township failed to supply the documentation provided by other municipalities.

Thomas Nolan, Bethlehem Township's voice on the Authority, repeatedly complained that many of the grants being awarded to Hellertown and Lower Saucon are "budgetary line items" and "annual operating expenses." Then, when he attempted to justify a ambulance for Bethlehem Township, Authority Chair Jay Finnigan turned Nolan's argument against him. "Shouldn't that be part of the budget process?" asked Finnigan.

Northampton County also lost out on a $480,000 criminal justice sharing system despite an impassioned plea from Bethlehem Assistant Solicitor Joe Kelly, who argued this would "better arm police officers" and "make the Lehigh Valley a better place."

During a 2 1/2 hour hearing, the nine-member Authority actually rejected ten of the seventeen applications. Kovacs, a tireless advocate for Hellertown, tried very hard to convince Authority members to go along with a new dump truck. Failing, she wisecracked that they'd now need "sled dogs to get to the casino."

Now the Authority has a more daunting task. It must review 57 applications for grants that require no casino impact. "I don't think we can hear 57 applications," warned Authority Chair Finnigan. So they decided to form a three-person subcommittee to "prescreen" requests. Authority Solicitor Scott Allinson advised that this subcommittee need not meet publicly, but Bethlehem's spokesperson - Joe Kelly- recommended that all meetings be conducted in the open.

Authority members also plan to review the criterion by which they rate grant applications. Alicia Karner, who has been collecting the data, advised there is a too wide a discrepancy in the ratings.

The Gaming Authority will meet again on November 22, 5:30 PM, at the Northampton County Courthouse.