Easton School Board Kills Angle Nomination as NCC Trustee

Northampton Community College is governed by a Board of Trustees that currently includes 14 members. There should be 15. Bangor's former School Board President, Pam Colton, was a trustee, but her term expired in June. Unanimously, the Bangor Area School Board selected Ron Angle to succeed her. But his nomination was killed. All school boards contributing to the college have a say. All but two had no problem with Angle. Bethlehem and Easton did. Because they kick in more money than other school districts, their No votes outweighed everyone else.

As you might imagine, Bangor's School Board resented having their choice rejected. Though Angle is an ornery bastard, he's their bastard.. That's who they want to sit on the Board of Trustees. So unanimously, the sent his name in again. Once again, this choice was fine with all but two school districts. Bethlehem said No, and at Easton's School Board meeting last night, the motion to nominate Angle died for a lack of a second.

Robert Fehnel, an Easton School Director, is the Chairman of Northampton Community College's Board of Trustees. The trustees, who enjoy their lobster dinners and filet mignons, are concerned that someone like Angle might spotlight what's really going on.

what's really going in is that Northampton Community College is sitting on a ton of money. Yet all the school districts it serves have to kick in every year. Bangor is paying close to $500,000. Other school districts pay more. This money was certainly needed when the college was first formed in 1967, but is it needed now. Angle has questioned this funding formula, along with former school director Bob Cartwright. Given the importance of education, this funding may still be needed. But you need people who will ask the tough questions.

A last night's school board meeting, there was no discussion of agenda matters. Items were lumped together and voted on together. This is because they were discussed in the back room or possibly at a committee hearing. When Angle's nomination came up, there also was no debate. Though one member did nominate him, it's pretty clear to me that Fehnel blackballed him in private discussions.

Ron was there, dressed in suit and tie. He spoke in support of his nomination, saying he would bring his knowledge of finance to the community college. One board member actually laughed at him.

Under state law, "The composition of the board of trustees shall be representative of the geographical area to be served by the college and shall include members of the professions, business, industry and other organizations or lay persons." Thanks to the weighted votes of Bethlehem and Easton, the slate belt is being denied representation. The board is also short of entrepreneurs. It's also short of true fiscal conservatives. The college hypocritically brags that it promotes "diversity and inclusion," but that pious platitude has no application to conservative viewpoints.

Hazardous Waste Drop Off This Saturday

Superior Court Special Session at NCC to Honor Veterans

Boys & Girls Club Dean Young (L) and Judge Jack Panella (R) 

Earlier this moth, I attended a fascinating lecture at Lafayette College concerning the one and only time the United States Supreme Court has ever conducted a criminal trial. It happened in 1906, when a Chattanooga Sheriff thumbed his nose at a Supreme Court Order. Justice John Marshall Harlan intervened in the scheduled hanging of a black man who was convicted in state court of raping a white woman on evidence that was woefully inadequate. The Sheriff, a former Confederate soldier, would rather hand him over to the mob than a federal judge. And that's what happened.

Since there was no federal homicide statute at the time, the best feds could do was charge the Sheriff with contempt. He spent 90 days in federal prison for his involvement in the murder of a black man, and returned home to a hero's welcome in Chattanooga.

It might sound like a meaningless case to you, especially since the Sheriff only got 90 days, which he could do standing on his head. But it might be among the High Court's more significant rulings.

It was the first time a black lawyer was permitted to argue a case before the Supreme Court. It was the first time that the Supremes ruled that they have jurisdiction over claims that federal constitutional rights have been violated in state court proceedings.

This terrific lecture was sponsored by Superior Court Judge Jack Panella and Northampton County Judge Leonard Zito.

After bringing the law to Lafayette, Judge Panella is bringing it to Northampton Community College. Literally. This is no lecture, but an actual session of the Pennsylvania Superior Court, both today and tomorrow.

The state superior court is a 15-judge appellate court that hears appeals from county decisions. Although the Supreme Curt occasionally will review their decisions, that is rare So their decision is the final word in most cases.

It's an extremely busy bench that still rides the circuit. Judges bounce from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, and each jurist averages at least one opinion a day. But there are times when President Judge Cory Stevens (a coal cracker) will allow cases to be heard at colleges and county courthouses. And he's given Judge Panella permission to conduct a session, both today and tomorrow, at Northampton Community College's Lipkin Theatre.

Both court sessions will begin at 9 a.m. each day during which a panel of Superior Court judges will hear oral arguments on appeals from local civil, criminal and domestic trial court cases. Tuesday’s session will be preceded by a first-of-its-kind opening ceremony to honor veterans that will include a presentation of the colors and pledge of allegiance. It is open to the public.

Judge Jack A. Panella will be the presiding judge on a panel that will include Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen and Senior Judge William H. Platt. Judge Panella served on the Northampton County Common Pleas Court prior to being elected to Superior Court. Judge Platt served on the Lehigh County Common Pleas Court, where he used to scare the hell out of me. Judge Allen hails from Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, and won despite all odds.

“Honoring veterans is meant to acknowledge that our government — and especially our armed services — have fought to maintain the high standards of judicial freedom and independence that our Constitution requires,” Judge Panella explained.

I was invited, but unfortunately, I'll be in the court of first guess tomorrow in Northampton County.

Should I avoid the gallows, I'll drop in on Wednesday and try to give you all a first hand report.

Pa. Superior Court Special Session - NCC by

Despite Threatened Protests, Local Gov't Seminar at NCC Still On

Frickin' amazing! Who the Hell organizes a protest for a seminar about local government? Last I heard, doctors are prescribing them for people with insomnia. But some people are just plain batshit cRaZy. Especially religious kooks like Fake Rev. Mario Martinez, who insists Angle is Satan and I am his little helper.

Yesterday, I told you that Fake Professors Ron Angle, Sal Panto and Jose Rosado and I have been invited to participate, as panelists in the "local government" segment of a 3-day Citizens' Academy being hosted by Northampton Community College. We're scheduled to make our presentations on Thursday at 6 PM. I was invited to participate, not because of my opinions, but because I do attend a lot of local government meetings.

And I do.

Over six years of active blogging, I've managed to step on a lot of toes. Most of my victims, especially elected officials, are pretty good about the criticism and even better at giving it back to me. But there are a few people out there who confuse me with what I'm saying. They think that attacking me personally somehow negates an otherwise valid argument. So when I make a point, they'll respond with all kinds of hate, from idiotic comments about the size of my penis to my 1985 (yes, that's 1985) suspension as an attorney. They engage in email campaigns to warn any person I discuss here, and have even started a knock-off blog in the vain hope that they can dilute my message.

They've failed.

The latest stunt pulled by these trolls was to publish a blog claiming, falsely, that the Citizens' Academy had been canceled. Fake Rev. Mario Martinez did that because he thought someone from the Gracedale crowd, preferably him, should have been chosen as a panelist. "We The People [he refers to himself like that] could speak with experience relating to 'fostering civic awareness and government engagement' much better then the two misfits [that would be Angle and me] can...because we are aware, and we did engage - and we WON."

When I saw this, I called Northampton Community College. I learned the program was still going to be held, despite (or perhaps because of) the numerous complaints being made about Angle and me. I was also told that the Gracedale people were made aware that the show was going on. Basically, the Fake Rev., the dude who claims God is on his side, lied to you. Because he was afraid of what Evil Ron Angle or I might say, he deliberately deceived his readers.

Fellow blogger Untouched Takeaway, unwilling to accept what anyone says at face value, decided to check it out herself. She called NCC, and learned that the Fake Rev (Mario Martinez of Forks Township) was indeed being untruthful. When she challenged this phony, he deleted her comments and now is accusing me of impersonating her.

She tells you about it here.

Since I love her writing style and humor, I don't mind being accused of being her. It's a big step up from being accused of posting as Brenda. Tricia Mezzacappa, aka The Wicked Witch of West Easton, used to post here using that name. I've also been accused of being Monkey Momma, the Banker and Retired ASD Teacher.

They're all much smarter than me, so I don't mind.

But Untouched Takeaway, a fashionista who can distinguish between Balenciaga and balaclava, is a bit miffed at being called a bottom-feeding blogger like me.

Can't say I blame her. I wouldn't want to be called me, either.

Now they are claiming that Angle must have purchased the minimum number of registrations himself. This is also untrue. They want County Council to deny funding to NCC. They are even threatening a demonstration outside the hall.

Ron would love that.

The Fake Rev, through his lies, has created a lot more interest in this seminar than it otherwise would have received.

Updated 9:05 PM: The Fake Rev. claims that my quotation from him comes from an email he sent to NCC.  How did I get it, he asks, and then claims that staffers there must have sent it to me. Actually, the quotation in question comes from his own blog, dated 2/28, the one in which he falsely claims that the seminar has been canceled. Now he is falsely accusing NCC officials of leaking emails when the language in question appears on his own blog.

Dumbass.

Call Me Professor

In addition to being a Fake Reverend, I'm also a Fake Professor.

This Thursday, I'll be one of four panelists discussing local government during Northampton Community College's 3-day Citizens Academy. I'll be joined by Fake Professors Ron Angle, Sal Panto and Jose Rosado. Class starts at 6 PM, and I have a pop quiz ready.

My appearance, as one of four panelists in a two-hour discussion of local government, has some people very upset. "It's outrageous, and sad, that you'd host Bernie O'Hare at Northampton.edu on March 1," claims one person in an email to NCC bigwigs.

Today, these truth manipulators actually lie to you with a Gracedale blog post claiming that the event has been canceled.

NCC Cancels Workshop

Citizens Academy - An Inside Look At How Government Works...CANCELED!!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen of NorCo, the planned course scheduled for March 1st, 2012 has officially been canceled, and while a lack of interest has been deemed the reason for the cancelation, the full truth may be that NCC received much negative feedback regarding two presenters 1) the ousted - Ron Angle, and 2) the disbarred Bernard Ohare.

The three week course was designed to assist We The Peopleunderstand better our local, state and federal government, as if we don't understand government well enough already. 

It's sad to see outright lies being posted on another blog, even a hate blog, in an attempt to deceive you. But it's no surprise.

They lied about Gracedale, too.

I'm looking forward to Thursday. The class will take place as scheduled.