The Grey Gods and Exploding Targets

Last week, I told you that a Pennsylvania State Trooper is the person who was responsible for a series of three explosions in Upper Mount Bethel Township on March 18. He confessed that he was responsible the next day, and said it would never happen again. Upper Mount Bethel Chair John Bermingham has acknowledged on his Facebook page that someone confessed, and that someone is a state trooper. I reached out to this trooper, but he never returned my call. Instead, I received comments that attempt to trivialize what had happened, like "He didn't break any laws, moron." This matter was initially reported to the state police. They had "no information" concerning it. Yet across the river, in New Jersey, the Blairstown Police Department strangely knew all about it, calling it a series of "three controlled explosions" in Upper Mount Bethel. Nothing to see here. Move along.

A Northampton County Grand Jury has condemned a state police policy that allows it to investigate itself. Its 4,000 troopers are "not above the law," at least in Northampton County. The grey gods, as they are sometimes called, even attempted unsuccessfully to shut down a grand jury that criticized their arrogance. This opinion is shared by numerous local officers. They do acknowledge that the state police have superior resources.

What happened in Upper Mount Bethel on March 18 was three uncontrolled explosions that scared people to death and did shatter a few windows. Things could have turned out far worse.

"It was like nothing I ever heard," one resident tells me. The first explosion rattled resident's windows and popped ears. The third, and biggest explosion "sounded like a 747 landing on the house. We thought something hit our house."

This was all the handiwork of Trooper Daniel Jones, who admitted his involvement to township officials. He is described by some as arrogant. It is said that when he starts drinking, he likes to shoot. Nice combination. I gave him ample opportunity to respond to me and give me his side of the story. He never did. But he apparently is telling others that he was training.

I am aware of no law enforcement agency that uses exploding targets.

Under Pennsylvania law, a person is guilty of the third degree felony of risking a catastrophe if he creates a risk of catastrophe through the use of explosives. Given that 30 pounds of tannerite (a binary explosive) ere used, this person created the risk of setting off a fire that could have spread to people's homes.

Wildfire Today has documented several instances in which exploding targets have caused fires and injured or killed firefighters and others.

In Pennsylvania, State Rep. Dom Costa, Pittsburgh's former police chief, has authored a bill to ban the possession, transportation, and sale of exploding targets. He notes that the residue of binary explosives has been found at terrorist bomb sites. An FBI memo warns that "…exploding targets can easily be converted into improvised explosive devices (known as IED's)."

They've been banned in Maryland.

The NRA lists exploding targets as one of the seven ways children can have fun at the firing range. "These are on the top of the 'fun' list. The resounding 'BOOM' and puff of smoke is fun to see, hear and smell.

NorCo's Open Space Chair Faces Conflict Allegations

Ron Angle unswayed by Judy Henckel

Judith Henckel is a well-known environmental activist who currently serves as the Chair of Northampton County's Open Space Advisory Board. Before that, she led a "save or pave" drive supporting a 2007 referendum in which Upper mt Bethel taxpayers agreed to a 0.25 tax hike dedicated to preserving open space. That year, she also won a six-year seat on the Board of Supervisors, where she pursued an environmental agenda that included the 2008 purchase of  a 300-acre quarry owned by Eastern Industries, financed with a $2 million bond. That purchase was criticized by Ron Angle, who charged that the Township was buying "barren land" that could never be developed. But Henckel countered that the move was essential to protect the "Mount Bethel Fens."

And bog turtles.

But is it really about the fens and bog turtles? Or is the green pursued by open space activists the kind they can take to the bank?

Based on a tip from Ron Angle, Upper Mount Bethel Supervisors have spent the past month looking at records of payments made to Urban Research and Development, a well-respected Bethlehem-based firm that employs prominent landscape architect Leonard Policelli. Supervisor Anthony DeFranco revealed at last night's meeting that Urban Research has been paid $360,000 in that time period for different projects, including the development of a community park spearheaded by Policelli.

According to the Pennsylvania Ethics Act, a conflict or conflict of interest exists when a public official uses the authority of her office or any confidential information received through that office for the private pecuniary benefit of herself, a member of her immediate family or a business with which she or a member of her immediate family is associated.

"If in fact her son was getting a pecuniary benefit, there could be a conflict," said Solicitor Ron Karasek. "In all due respect, I was not aware that Mr. Policelli was Judy's son."

This relationship was also a surprise to Angle until last month. "Nobody in this audience has attended more meetings than me over the past ten years," he said. "Never once was this ever brought up by her or by him [her son] that 'By the way, there could be a potential conflict and we just wanted to let you know.' They just kept doing the same-o same-o."

Angle told Supervisors that Henckel should be barred from participating in any boards that decide on grants for her projects. He added that, when she was a Supervisor, she steered the Board away from farmland preservation, in which conservation easements are purchased. "Now I figured out why she never wanted farmland preservation," said Angle. "There's no money to be paid to the guy who does the farmland preservation. You just write a check."

Chairman John Bermingham, himself an open space advocate who was elected with Henckel's help, attempted to minimize the problem. "We live in a small town," he said. "It's gonna' happen here and there." He did agree that there "could" be a conflict, but that he and DeFranco have only been on the Board since January.

"She lobbied for these things," countered Angle, "knowing that a close relative would benefit."

For her part, Henckel denied that she opposed farmland preservation, and noted that three Upper Mount Bethel farms are in the process of being preserved now. She also denied that the community park, in which her son and his firm were involved, is open space. She called it a "municipal facility" given to the Township by Reliant Energy, and before she was a Supervisor.

At that time, though, Henckel was nevertheless a public official because she served on the Township's Environmental Advisory Council. She stated that she disclosed the relationship. "A lot of people knew," she explained, though she conceded she "did not advertise it." She indicated her son had just been successful that day in getting a $20,000 grant for trees at the park.

Henckel also questioned the $360,000 figure, indicating that Urban Research had done other work for the Township aside from the community park.

In a conversation during the meeting, Henckel told me may have voted a few times for projects that would benefit her son'e company, but just never thought about it. She also indicated that she spends untold hours working for the benefit of the Township, not expecting anything.

Where things go from here is unclear. Angle believes the District Attorney or Ethics Commission should investigate, but Supervisors took no action at this point.

The open space movement appears to have created its own industry in which "land preservation boards' or "environmental advisory councils" are formed in which members vote to preserve each other's properties at taxpayer expense.

Much more oversight is needed than currently exists. That's why watchdogs like Ron Angle in Upper Mount Bethel and Vince Foglia in Williams Township are essential.

U Mt Bethel Supervisor Relents on Evicting Waitress

Yesterday, I told you that Upper Mount Bethel Supervisor Dennis "Jonesie" Jones was attempting to evict a waitress who has a valid $600 a month lease with him because she refused to sign a new one increasing her rent to $1000. I'm happy to report that he's had a change of heart and will allow her to stay at the already agreed upon rent. Good on him.

A Truce in Upper Mount Bethel's Shitwars

Marie Stoutland, Maude Davis, Olav Sandes and His Eminence, Ron Angle

Since late last year, Upper Mount Bethel has been in a state of war. The Evil One, Ron Angle, has been fighting with pretty much everyone over his plans to spread shit, referred to as Class A or Class B sludge, on his farmlands. He's was trying to spare local farmers the cost of fertilizer. But all the people who moved next to those farms, before the Recession hit, went ballistic. Many people died.

"So No to Sludge" signs were plastered all over the Township. When those didn't work, it was "Say No to Toxic Waste", with a few stolen pictures of my bowel movements. The sight of those alone caused several people to hurl themselves off Kitattinny Ridge.

Cell phones were flushed, a Supervisor resigned in disgust, the local IRA mobilized, lawsuits were threatened and 500 or more people at a time would cram into meetings, demanding Angle's head.

"Why the hell do you do this?" asked Ron's pretty wife, Sharon.

"It's my hobby," he told me, noting he does not golf or bowl.

Angle agreed to stop the sludge if Supervisors would set up a program to provide conventional fertilizer to farmers who would take the no-sludge pledge. They agreed, but then, they reversed themselves.

This is Upper Mount Bethel.

Angle lost it and hurled himself off Kitatinny Ridge. Luckily, I caught him on the first bounce.

Along the way, many of the people who started out hating Angle began to understand that this had nothing really to do with shit, and everything to do with the farmer.

According to a Greater LV Buy Fresh, Buy Local report, not only is farmland disappearing; but so is the farmer. Between 1930 and 2007, there have been some dramatic changes.

* The Lehigh Valley has lost 80% of its farms dropping from 5,032 farms to just 1,002.

* Farmland has diminished by 53%, from 323,000 acres to 153,000. Since Americans require an average of one acre of farmland per person every year, 153,000 acres will only sustain about 25% the Lehigh Valley's population of 647,232.

* As might be expected, the farmer is disappearing, too. The number of farmers under the age of 35 has dropped by 37% over the last decade. Only 17% of farmers actually own the land they farm because land values are prohibitive.

Angle felt and still believes that sludge is one way to save the farmer. But he sat down with some sludge opponents who consider it unsafe, but agree something most be done to save the farmer.

Maude Davis wants to Heal the Land

One of these persons is Maude Davis, who is nothing like Ron. She is quiet, unassuming consensus builder. But she knows farming inside out. She owned a farm in Arkansas that raised everything from rice to water buffalo.

She suggested that the community pitch in and establish a fund to help the farmer with cover crops, which serve the same purpose as fertilizer, but are much less toxic. She, Angle and fish oil businessman Olav Sandes each kicked $2,000 to form a nonprofit and purchase cover crops. Marie Stoutland also made a contribution for a fund called Heal the Land, which Davis is going to establish as a 501c3 nonprofit.

This year's cover crop will be wheat, which will be planted in August and plowed under next Spring, enriching the soil in the process.

Sludge proponents Olav Sandes and Ron Angle and sludge opponents Maude Davis and Marie Stoutland are willing to come together to help the farmer in what is probably the County's most beautiful Township.

I think Angle's check bounced.

If you'd like to help preserve farming, as opposed to farmland, send a contribution to Heal the Land, P.O. Box 355, Mount Bethel, PA 18343.

Maude would also like to organize a picnic and auction to raise funds.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Along Came Jones

In February, I told you about the shitstorm that erupted in Upper Mount Bethel when Bangor School Director Toni Lynch pranced into the Mount Bethel Diner and began showing off his new cellphone, which he had programmed to play Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyres." He insisted on playing it in front of local bastard Mark Thatcher, who warned Lynch the Valkyres would soon be riding right into the toilet if he didn't knock it off. Lynch refused to let up, so Thatcher grabbed the cellphone, marched off to the can and drowned the Valkyries. 

Kerplunk!

The second Ron Angle heard something go into the toilet, he went flying in there himself. There might be sludge. He considers that black gold, even with the occasional piece of corn. Angle had some buddies fish the phone out and tried to dry it out in a bowl of rice. But the Valkyries would sing no more. They had gone on their last great ride.

Furious, Lynch marched off to the state police, who promptly charged Thatcher with murdering Lynch's cell phone.

Despite Angle's offer to speak in Thatcher's defense, he wisely pleaded guilty.

Story over, right?

Wrong.

Yesterday, Lynch walked into the Mount Bethel Diner with his new cell phone. He had programmed this one to play, "Along Came Jones", and insisted on playing it repeatedly to fellow School Director Dennis Jones.

Jones apparently hates those damn cell phone songs as much as Thatcher. He grabbed the phone out of Lynch's hand, and threw it against the wall.

There goes Jones.

With the phone shattered in pieces, Angle tells me he's bringing duct tape into the diner tomorrow to fix the phone for Lynch.

Is Gerwig Resigning in Upper Mount Bethel?

Supervisors Robert Gerwig may be resigning his post as Supervisor in Upper Mount Bethel Township. But he's not talking about it. Not exactly.

When i heard the rumor yesterday, i gave him a call and told him I heard that he submitted his resignation to Supervisors following their Monday night meeting. Apparently, it was right after they unanimously voted to make Mr. Hankey the official mascot in Upper Mount Bethel.

I tracked Gerwig down on the phone.

"Howdy Ho, Mr. Gerwig!"

- "Who the Hell is this?"

"This is Bernie O'Hare, the Christmas poo. Actually I'm a blogger."

- "What the Hell is a blogger?"

"I write stories, kinda' like a reporter. ... Except everything I write is bullshit and I do no research."

- "Did Angle put you up to this?"

"Heavens, no. I hate the guy. He wants to spread shit everywhere. Anyway, I'm tracking down a rumor that you'e resigning and gave Supervisors your letter of resignation on Monday night. True?

- "Not exactly. I don't speak to the press. Good night!"

Women hang up on me all the time, but this is a first from an old fart. He probably sensed I was about to hit on him. But he called me a member of the press. That hurt.

I'm a bottom-feeding blogger, damn it!

My conclusion?

Gerwig is calling it quits, but the rumor is "not exactly" correct.

Gotta' love the complete lack of transparency, though. How do these guys get elected? Oh yeah, we just elected a Northampton County Executive who acts the same way.

So who will take over? Well, Ron Angle is wearing his Commodore outfit again. I thought that meant Brown was appointing him Sheriff, but I think he'd prefer Supervisor so he can make Upper Mount Bethel a shit friendly place to live.

Att'y Orlando: Pick Loren Rabbat in Upper Mount Bethel

Slate Belt Attorney Anthony Orlando is making a pitch for Loren Rabbatt as Supervisor in Upper Mount Bethel Township.

"As many of you know - and others have forgotten because we are all very busy - this Tuesday is Primary Election Day in PA. First, I want to remind everyone to get out and vote. I know that its just a primary in an off-year for most races. However, this year we are electing two members of the Board of Supervisors (BOS). For those of us who were particularly concerned a few months ago about the prospects of a prison being located in our Township, you are well aware that the Supervisors would literally have been our only defense had this project gone forward. The willingness of some Supervisors to even entertain such an ill-conceived scheme (and some apparently were) speaks to the necessity of ensuring that the members of the BOS understand how we feel about sensible economic development. I have looked closely at the Supervisor field and have personally concluded that the person who most aligns with how we think about this issue (based upon on what I have read and discussed with most of you) is Loren Rabbat.

"I know that many of you, particularly long-time residents, are already familiar with Loren and have supported her in the past. I hope you will do so this time as well. For newer residents like myself, you may not be as familiar. I have taken the time to speak with Loren and have gotten to know her record and views on key issues affecting our Township - particularly on appropriate economic development. Many of you know that Loren has a sound environmental record and supports protecting our open spaces and natural resources - she was a founding member of the UMBT Economic Advisory Council (EAC). Loren is also a strong proponent of recreation facilities - she was founding director of the UMBT Community Park Foundation and has helped to secure necessary funding for our new park. Loren has also served our Township previously as a member of the Zoning Board and as a member of the BOS. Most important to me were Loren's views on economic development, since this is really the problem that has led to fights against the Marshfield development and the GEO prison. Loren recognizes the need for the Township to take a pro-active approach to ensure responsible commercial development that will enhance our tax base and promote jobs. However, she is committed to doing so in a way that will preserve the beauty and serenity of our Township. I know that is going to be a challenge, but I think that Loren can be counted on to work hard and do what is necessary to ensure our community remains vibrant.

"I know that Loren is very eager to earn your support and would be more than happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have . You can reach her at (570) 897-6166 or on Facebook.com at "Political Buzz in Upper Mt. Bethel".

"In an off-year primary, EVERY vote will count. So don't forget to make time to get out to the polls on Tuesday (they are open from 7AM - 8PM). I will be voting for Loren Rabbat for Township Supervisor and hope you will consider doing the same. Thank you."