Prendergast: Loser Wants to Be Winner

Over the past two years, Easton Attorney Tim Prendergast has lost 200 pounds. He should be quite proud of that accomplishment. But now, instead of losing, he'd like to win the District Judge seat vacated by Gay Elwell.

Like Antonia Grifo, Prendergast is also the son of a prominent Easton luminary. His father is the late Jim Prendergast, who was both an attorney and a State Representative from Easton.

After graduating from Dickinson Law School (that's where I went), Tim has practiced law in Easton for the past 10 years. He is also a part-time Public Defender.

I missed Tim's announcement. But he claims in a news release that his grandparents and sister, in addition to his father, were involved in public service. I'm embarrassed to say I don't know who these people are, but will try to find out.

Eight generations of his family were baptized at the former St. Bernard's Church, which was named after me.

In addition to fellow Grifo, this judicial slot is also being sought by Easton Code Officer Sharbel Koorie and Constable Lance Wheeeler.

Dent: An Argument For Bi-Partisanship

LV Congressman Charlie Dent (as quoted in The Morning Call): "When your house is on fire, you have to stop arguing about the escape routes," he said. "At some point you have to choose one and move forward."

Suicide by Hammer?

As ridiculous as it might sound, the conclusion was inescapable. Williams Township resident Michael C. Muretta was found in his basement, unconscious, on August 29. There was obvious evidence of blunt force trauma to his head, and he died later that day at St. Luke's Hospital. Obviously, foul play was suspected. But in a news conference yesterday, District Attorney John Morganelli reported that the death has been ruled a suicide. This is the result of a painstaking investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.

How did they reach this conclusion?

First, there was no sign of forced entry to the home, which was locked. There was an open window, but investigators found no evidence it had been used for access.

Second, a review of his cell phone, answering machine messages and neighbor interviews produced no evidence that anyone wanted to harm him.

Third, family members and his employer reported that he had been despondent in the days immediately before his death.

Fourth, had there been an assailant, DA Morganelli stated that there would be a "void" in the blood splatter evidence. Some of the blood would have splattered onto the assailant instead of the floor and wall.

Fifth, there were five or six hammer blows to the head, but they were all to the same exact spot. Had Muretta been murdered, there would likely be blows to different areas of the head and body, as the victim would have tried to evade the violence.

Sixth, Muretta had a history of emotional trouble. In 1986, he faced charges in New Jersey after entering someone's home and stabbing him in the abdomen. Muretta was acquitted as a result of insanity, and was committed for three years. He was seeing a psychologist over the last two years, but stopped taking medication prescribed for depression and schizophrenia. His family was growing increasingly concerned.

The records in this matter were reviewed by a crime assessment consultant in Montrose, who also concluded that this was a self-inflicted death.

Morganelli speculated that Muretta may have been experiencing delusions, which would include voices inside his head. People who experience that sometimes bang their head against a wall to rid themselves of the voices. Morganelli postulates that Muretta may have tried to remove the voices with a hammer.

If so, he succeeded.

"Mental illness is not rational," Morganelli concluded.

Mike Fleck Will Not Seek Re-Election to Easton City Council

Mike Fleck with his video guru, Mick Dee

For as long as I've been blogging, I've been picking on political and business consultant, Easton City Council member, Pawlowski campaign manager and occasional lounge singer Mike Fleck. So you can imagine my surprise when he invited me to visit him at his Allentown consulting biz yesterday. Ron Angle warned me it was a trap, and that once I walked in there, Pawlowski would jump out of a closet with a tomahawk. But aside from seeing my picture on a dartboard, the eleven people in that office were polite.

It was an expansive interview, and I'll share those details on Monday. But for now, I want you to know that Fleck told me he has decided against running for re-election to Easton City Council. "I have no desire to be an elected official ever again," he told me.

Part of the reason is his consulting business, which is taking up more and more of this time. Another big reason is his five-year old son, a basketball star in training. He wants to see his son play as he gets older, and I can understand that completely.

Every second we miss is a second we'll never get back.

Fleck added that he and his wife are seriously considering a move to Allentown, since that's where both of them work.

I'll have more on Monday.

I did check my car before leaving Allentown.

Are LC Comm'rs Taking Aim at Affordable Housing Trust?

Lehigh County collects and spends about $300,000 per year for its affordable housing trust fund. According to CACLV Exec Director Alan Jennings, Commissioners plan to kill it at their January 23 meeting.

Jennings has sent an email asking people to speak up for this program.

Friends –

Please do not put this aside without making sure you have placed this coming Wednesday, January 23, at 7:30 PM on your calendar.

That is the date and time of the next meeting of the Lehigh County Commissioners. The group who threatened to turn away federal funds that taxpayers had already paid and sent to Washington, that has turned away other grants, and is talking about abandoning the Green Future Fund that voters adopted by referendum by a margin of 2 to 1, is now proposing killing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

This fund was adopted more than 20 years ago after the state gave counties the authority to raise fees to record deeds and mortgages from $13.50 each to $27 each. That’s right, someone buys a property for $300,000 and the county tacks on all of $27 for affordable housing efforts in the county. This fee is not a burden; nobody could credibly argue that it hurts a single transaction. But it generates approximately $300,000 per year to intervene in a hellacious economy that denies thousands and thousands of people access to the housing market. It was signed into law by a Republican county executive (Jane Baker) and embraced by Republicans and Democrats alike for all these years.

Tom Creighton is the commissioner who is leading the way. It is up to us to block that way. PLEASE do not take this lightly!

I look forward to a strong contingent to attend the January 23 meeting of the Commissioners.

Alan

Bob Freeman: Keep Lottery Here

Which of these two just won the lottery?

Plans to privatize the Pennsylvania State Lottery system are being questioned by State Rep. Bob Freeman. He joined over 45 Democratic State House colleagues at a Capitol news conference this week to reiterate their concern about the governor's quick decision to award the management of the state lottery to a private firm based in the United Kingdom.

The Pennsylvania Lottery was first established in 1971. It funds older Pennsylvanians with the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, free and reduced-fare transit; low-cost prescription drug programs known as PACE and PACENET, long-term living services as well as 53 area agencies on aging and senior centers throughout the state. But Governor Corbett has stated that privatization will give him another $50 million for these programs.

Freeman is unswayed.

"There is no need to privatize the lottery," Freeman said. "The Pennsylvania Lottery is the most successful state lottery in the nation. With profits of $1 billion, that funding goes directly to programs for senior citizens. It has increased profits substantially in the last few years and has proven to be a well-maintained program.

"The expansion that Camelot, the private management firm, promises to develop is something that can be handled in-house. We don't need to divert funding from programs for Pennsylvania seniors to hire a private management firm to tell us how to run the operation. Instead of wasting millions of dollars on consultants, let's make sure that money goes to benefit senior citizens directly.

"Beyond these concerns, there are others, such as the limited legislative oversight and the many unanswered questions that still remain with the governor's contract. This week's Senate committee meeting was lacking in answers. I hope these items can be addressed when the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee explores the privatization plan next week," Freeman said.

Inky columnist John Baer has questioned why Governor Corbett would want to fix something that isn't broken.

Rate Obama's Gun Control Proposals

Before President Obama made his gun violence proposal today, VP Biden commented that he's "never seen the nation's conscience so shaken by what happened at Sandy Hook." And that's what we need to address. There is no way we can stop cRaZy people from being that way, so no one proposal is going to work.

Here are Obama's four legislative proposals:

1. Reduce high-capacity mags. No more than ten rounds. This will not stop the insaniac, but he'll at least have to stop to load instead of filling a Newton first-grader's body with 17 bullets. - I agree with this proposal completely. I would argue that the most ardent gun nut should agree with this. So should the NRA.

2. Close the gun show sale loophole to require criminal background checks for all sales. - Once again, this will slow down a murderer, giving him time to reflect and possibly cool down. I agree with this one completely.

3. Background check improvements. - As far as I am concerned, the states are going to have to take the lead here.

4. Assault rifle ban. - Although I can see no reason for anyone to own an assault rifle, I don't think the case has been made that this contributes to the gun violence. I do think the case has been made with respect to 50-caliber sniper rifles.

Where would you be willing to compromise?

Wheeler Makes it Three

Lance Wheeler, a constable and former courthouse security officer, yesterday announced his intentions to run for Gay Elwell's District Judge seat. This seat is also being sought by Easton Attorney Antonia Grifo and City Code Enforcement Officer Sharbell Koorie. Fighting off a cold, I missed Lance's announcement, but The Express Times has a good story.

How About Some Harmony?

During a time of partisan divide that extends from federal to local government, there's still barbershop harmony. The Lehigh Valley Harmonizers, a local chorus, is hosting its fourth annual Young Singers' Quartet Contest. The goal is to give students the unique experience of singing in a barbershop quartet and to offer an opportunity to improve their singing skills through the medium of close harmony a cappella singing. To date, ten quartets are entered from Freedom, Northern Lehigh and Phillipsburg High Schools. Deadline for entries is January 24th.

Each quartet will be asked to sing one song arranged in the barbershop style.The competition will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, January 27th, in Lipkin Theatre, Kopacek Hall at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem and is open to the public at no charge.

For more information, call 800-482-1548 or www.lvharmonizers.com

Brace Yourself! Geoff Brace Takes His Third Swing

He's taken two mighty swing and has had two mighty misses. Will his third attempt at Lehigh County's Board of Commissioners succeed? I'm talking about Allentown resident Geoff Brace, who is set to announce his campaign for Lehigh County Commissioner on January 28, 2013 at the West End Youth Center (848 North 20th Street, Allentown).

I've known Geoff since I began blogging, and he has always been interested in County government.

He first applied for appointment to an at-large vacancy in 2010. Commissioners chose Bill Hansell over him. Barely.

Then Geoff decided to run for the job in 2011, when four at-large seats were up for grabs. He finished a distant 7th (17,153 votes), as Republican won every seat.

Will the third time be the charm? He's running for a district seat this time, as opposed to an at-large seat, and one that includes a retiring Democratic incumbent, Dan McCarthy. Also, the pendulum appears to be swinging in the direction of Democrats. So I rate Geoff's chances as very high.

Brace will be joined at his announcement by State Representative Mike Schlossberg, former State Representative Jennifer Mann, Lehigh County Executive Bill Hansell and Lehigh County Commissioner Dan McCarthy.

“I am excited to bring my campaign for Common Sense to the voters of this district,” remarked Brace.

Jenn Mann is now in it for the money. After getting special tax breaks for the wealthy inside an Allentown business district, she's suddenly left a safe seat at the state house to become an ... a-hem ... consultant. Her successor, Schlossberg, is a Pawlowski toadie who distinguished himself on Allentown City Council mostly by being undistinguished. Once a nice guy, he's become arrogant

So I'm no fan of two of Geoff's supporters.

But I am of current Lehigh County Commissioner Dan McCarthy, who recently announced that he will not seek re-election to his District seat in Center City and the West End of Allentown.

Brace was born on the West End where his late-grandfather was a dentist. Brace and his wife, Sara Jane, are homeowners in Center City Allentown.

Brace now works for State Representative Schlossberg. Lucky him!

That's a step down from his previous experience managing successful non-profit organizations, including the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and Kutztown Community Partnership.

“As commissioner, I will bring my experience serving the people, helping small businesses grow and add jobs and supporting revitalization across Pennsylvania,” says Brace.

Despite the endorsement of Money Mann and Rubber Stamp Mike, Brace will likely be the best of all candidates seeking district seats in Lehigh County this year. In fact, he's one of those rare gems often overlooked by voters. though he's in this for all the right reasons.

Plus he's got a cool name. Geoffrey. Sounds like he belongs in the House of Lords with Wellington.

Two Things About King Edwin

1) In the banana republic known as Allentown, Edwin Pawlowski is, as blogger Michael Molovinsky has called him, Mayor for Life. All he needs is a frickin' uniform.

2) If he ever tries to run for election anywhere outside of Allentown, he'll be eaten alive.

Who's Got the Dirt on Upper Mt Bethel Tp?

Judith Henckel chairs Upper Mt Bethel Supervisors

To their credit, Upper Mount Bethel Supervisors have corrected a violation of the Sunshine Act. A week earlier, at a poorly attended meeting, they reorganized without allowing public comment. Not even from Ron Angle. That led to an Express Times Turkey and a stinging rebuke from Editor Jim Deegan. Even their own lawyer told them they screwed up.

So at last night's meeting, Supervisors did it over. But this time, instead of the usual two or three bobbleheads in the peanut gallery, there were 32 angry dudes, with about 64 teeth, and they all had something to say. The parking lot was full of their pick-up trucks, each of which had a gun racks. Dressed in NASCAR and Marine caps, they had read the news accounts, were unhappy, and wanted the Board to know they were unhappy.

Ron Angle, who does happen to live in Upper Mount Bethel Township, managed to speak about 400 times before the night was over. It didn't really change any votes, but it certainly was entertaining. Enough hot air came from that little meeting room to heat the entire Lehigh Valley for the rest of this Winter.

Doors to a men's room and ladies' room are right inside the meeting hall. This was a long meeting, but not one woman felt the need to use the facilities. For the guys, it wa a different story They were in there nonstop. And the acoustics were such that it was easier to hear the rush from someone's urinary tract than to hear Chairman Judy Henkel's soft voice. Since the sound of rushing water is supposed to be relaxing, this is probably a good thing.

Let me give you my take on some of the Supervisors.

rest rooms conveniently located

Judith Henckel - She is Angle's political foe and is probably among the worst Chairs I've ever seen. She is completely unable to run a meeting. But I like her and consider her a good Supervisor who cares about her community and puts in the time. She took quite a bit of heat for her stand on environmental issues, but she believes in something.

Larry Hallet. - This Supervisor, in his 80's, is concerned about Dirtgate - a Township practice of giving free topsoil to just about anyone who asks for it. In fact, it's even codified in an ordinance adopted 12 years ago. But under that law, only one or two loads is permitted. Not forty. According to some Township residents and Hallet, as many as forty loads of topsoil went to one residence in the Saddle Ridge development. Former Roadmaster Gerry Geake agreed that may have happened. But he disputed Hallet's claim that as many as 1,200 loads of topsoil have gone to preferred residents. "Only a fool would believe that," says Geake.

We need a few more fools like Hallet, if only to make sure everyone is doing the right thing.

The value of each truckload is unknown, although some place it as high as $500.

Gerry Geake - He's under a cloud of suspicion as a result of charges of sexual harassment made by a female employee. He's also a recent convicted drunk driver, and is the Supervisor most closely identified with the growing "Dirtgate" scandal. Need I say more?

Yes. I consider him their best Supervisor. He should probably be Chair. He is extremely knowledgeable about Township issues and basically keeps Henckel from going too far adrift.

He did serve as Roadmaster but voluntarily left that position when the sexual harassment charges were made. Last night he explained that was his decision, even though Angle reminded him he is innocent until proven guilty. He stated that he would stay away until the investigation is complete and will not ask for back pay either. He remained calm as accusations flew back and forth last night and never lost his cool.

Bob Gerwig and Joe Batillo were the quiet ones, so I'm unable to read them.

At last night's meeting, a Connecticut transplant told me it was the worst public meeting he's ever seen, so we've got that going for us.

Today, the Planning Comm'n; Tomorrow, the World!

Look out everyone! He's b-a-a-a-a-c-k. In a close, 3-2 vote, Ron Angle was named last night to a vacancy on Upper Mount Bethel Township's Planning Commission. He's certain to use this as a stepping stone in his evil plans for world domination.

Judy Henckel, who apparently prefers salamanders to Angle, tried to have the vote tabled because there was no letter of interest. Angle responded by tearing a sheet right out of my notebook, then walked up to Supervisors with a three word letter. "I live here."

It was spelled right, too.

Earlier that night, Angle told Supervisors that he has 32 years of government experience, wrote the Township's zoning ordinance himself, invented the "one good acre" concept and is very close to finding a cure for the flu.

After the vote was over, there was so much commotion that people had to ask who voted against Angle.

It was Judy Henckel and Bob Gerwig.

"You two just wait and see what happens when you have something before the Planning Comm'n," joked Angle.

At least I think he was joking.

Henckel then asked Angle if he'd like to serve on the Parks and Rec Board, too. "That's too much," he answered. "I'm semi-retired.,"

According to Fake Rev Mario Martinez, Angle is related to Satan in some way. I think they're first cousins, but Satan denied it.

Cartwright on Gun Violence Task Force

Congressman Matt Cartwright whose District includes part of the Lehigh Valley, has been appointed to a Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. This task force, established by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, is tasked with developing a comprehensive set of policy proposals to reduce and prevent gun violence.

“We need to take a comprehensive approach to cut down on gun violence,” said Cartwright. “I look forward to serving on the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and working to enact meaningful legislation that will help make our streets and communities safer.”

According to Easton Mayor Sal Panto, “This is a great opportunity not only for the Congressman to be in the forefront of this issue of national importance but also for Mayors and all Americans because Congressman Cartwright is a listener and cares about the people.”

A comprehensive set of policy proposals will be released by the task force in early February.

NorCo Council Reorganization Redux

Barb Thierry is another Council member who wants to revote

When Northampton County Council met on Thursday night, the thought uppermost in most people's minds was whether they would redo the leadership vote they botched on Monday. That's when three of its nine members picked a President and VP, with one of them voting by phone on the high seas. Council failed to reconsider its vote Thursday night, but inside sources tell me it will happen at the next meeting.

Bob Werner ended Thursday's meeting by distributing a "top ten list" to some (not all) members of the press, detailing the great things that have happened over the last year. He missed Monday's reorganization and was one of the five who voted against a do-overon Thursday night.

Well, instead of reading about how great he was, Werner opened up The Express Times on Saturday to see that his new Council has been awarded a Turkey:

"[A] nine-member board can’t muster more than four bodies for one of the most important meetings of the year. Did everyone have the flu? Let’s see the doctors’ excuses — or better yet, hold a re-reorganization meeting and elect leaders who have true majority support of their peers."

Lamont McClure did try, but it was a poorly phrased motion. He wanted them to go into recess and have the Clerk prepare a resolution and then come out and re-do the vote. Nobody was entirely sure what the hell he meant.

Ken Kraft voted against it, which blew my mind. Ken is the Council member who was denied the right to vote by phone when that same right was given to another Council member who asked first. Kraft, still shaking off a bad flu bug, was confused. He reportedly will be asking for a reconsideration.

This is pretty basic stuff. Forget the motion v. resolution crap. When a Council member is denied the right to vote on any issue, it is the people who are shortchanged.

Where was everyone on Monday?

Ken Kraft and Bib Werner were both quite ill. Barb Thierry though it was the next day and raced down to the courthouse, arriving there just as the meeting ended. Peg Ferraro was on a privateer, although she made arrangements to phone in. Bruce Gilbert was teaching.

It happens. It just all happened at once.

LVR Attends a Bridal Show

Kara Miller (L) and Christine Seiple (R) want that honeymoon at St. Lucia

You usually see my Bethlehem Press by-line next to all kinds of local government and political gatherings. Hot stuff. But I must have screwed up. Instead of a Mayor or County Exec, my editor recently sent me to cover the Lehigh Valley Bridal Expo at Lehigh's Rauch Fieldhouse. On Sunday, January 13. During NFL playoffs. "You'll love it," he assured me. If I win the 5-day honeymoon to St. Lucia, I'll agree. But for a guy, this is about as popular as a colonoscopy.

Now don't get me wrong. There were 3,500 people at this event. Most of them paid $6 just for the privilege of being there, too. But only a small percentage of those 3500 were guys.

"This is a girls' day," one future bride told me. Seriously, what the hell do we know about floral arrangements or wedding cakes?

Lovebirds Mark Prestifilippo and Andi  McCleland will tie the knot in May

There were some cool limos in there, along with the Brew Works. That was about it for us. I did see hoagies, but they were ruined with cucumbers. No ham No cheese. Just cukes.

John Orlicki, J and J Luxury, was watching the game from the limo

The place was packed with 125 florists, jewelers, DJs, wedding planners, travel agencies, reception halls and make-up artists. I asked one if she could do anything for me, and she aid she'd need a blowtorch.

Colleen and Terry Laky take an order for Macungie's Piece a Cake

I was almost denied admission. I told show organizers I was with the press, but had no credentials. I did have an index card, with the word "Press" filled out as a joke. Believe it or not, that got me in!

I'm going to try that at the NFL Superbowl.

For the bride and groom on a budget

LTCFs Rise 70% in NorCo Last Year

In his report to Northampton County Council on Thursday night, Executive John Stoffa described a disturbing increase in the number of LTCFs being issued. According to Stoffa, 4,627 gun permits were issued in 2012. That's a 70% increase over 2011. A new daily record - 87 permits in one day - has also been set.

When someone applies for a LTCF, the Sheriff only has 45 days to conduct a background check. Sheriff Randy Miller is using 2 full-time civilians, 2 full-time deputies and one part-timer to keep up with the applications.

Miller told Council that the County can only charge $20 for a LTCF, which has a five-year life. Stoffa pointed out that a dog license is more expensive.

Doing the math, it cost Northampton County approximately $250,000, in salaries and benefits, to pay for the cost of processing this mandated services, from which the County brought in $92,540.

A Letter to Easton Police

Good morning. I know that you have quite a bit on your plate, given the number of homicides in Easton last year. I am writing because I do not want to be one of those statistics.

By now, I am sure that most of you are familiar with Tricia Mezzacappa, [redacted], West Easton, Pa.  For over a year, she has been filing false reports with your department accusing me of numerous and sundry criminal offenses, from sexual assault to pig poisoning. Of course, these accusations are all nonsense, and I have sued her for defamation.

I have tried to address this civilly, without involving you or your limited resources.

On December 27, Judge Edward Smith issued a ruling determining that my defamation suit has validity, and Mezzacappa has grown increasingly erratic. She has published 20 blogs since that date at her blog, West Eaton Foot Print, attacking me, my attorney, or both of us.

On Tuesday, she appeared at the Northampton County Courthouse, where I am employed as a title searcher, to file papers in connection with the defamation office. I walked into that office in the course of doing a search, and upon seeing her, went immediately to a computer and sat down. I said nothing and did nothing until she left the office, and three Civil Division employees can corroborate this.

Nevertheless, she came to your department (and the Sheriff's Office) that same day to complain, falsely, that I was stalking her by doing my job.

The very next day, she filed a complaint in Court that falsely contends, in violation of 18 Pa. C.S. Section 4904 (unsworn falisification to authorities) that I "confronted" her and "purposely threw [myself] into the physical path of Mezzacappa." (see copy of verified complaint). These material statements are completely untrue and she has to know they are completely untrue, as three Civil Division employees can attest.

Sometime yesterday, she posted this statement on LehighValleyLive (The Express Times):

Tricia Mezzacappa
Hi Jimp, I dont usually respond to anons, but here it goes.
Maybe I'M scared, but I dont think I'm paranoid, or a gun nut. See, law enforcement doesnt always work for insignificant nobody's like myself. They dont always serve and protect, either. When armagedon comes a runnin towards my house, I stand armed and ready. I picture armegedon about 5 ft 9 and balding, little eyeglasses on the tip of his nose, and enough fat flaps to insulate a bull. Deep breath, aim, shoot, and....one hollow point goes right through his skull, he's dead before he hit the ground, kersplat....PERFECT

.
I happen to be 5'9", balding, do wear my glasses towards the tip of my rather substantial nose and recently lost a great deal of weight.

I believe this threatening remark, along with her numerous false reports, needs to be addressed by law enforcement. She has engaged in a course of conduct and has repeatedly communicated false reports and an implied threat that demonstrate an intent to both place me in reasonable fear of bodily injury and cause substantial emotional distress to me.

If you need to speak to me about this, my cell phone number is [redacted] Thank you.

Werner's 2012 Top Ten List for Norco Council

Buzzer Beater Babs

Council member Bob Werner was sick as a dog on Monday. In fact, he was so sick that he missed Council's reorganization, in which just three of nine members were miraculously able to elect a President and VP. He must have had a sore arm because he sure as hell spent a lot of time patting himself on the back at last night's meeting.

Last October, Werner "chided" the press for its failure to spread the Good News about Northampton County. Last night, he had a Top Ten list of Great Things that Council accomplished last year. He made sure he provided a copy of that Letterman List to the Morning Call reporter who thinks Lehigh County's conservative Commissioners are "wackos."

He missed me for some reason.

As a bottom-feeding blogger, I failed to take detailed notes. But I can't bear another chiding from Werner. So let me fill you in on Council's 2012 accomplishments.

10) A guaranteed energy savings project (GESA) (This was actually approved by the previous Council, but let's not split hairs)

9)  A 2012 bond.(Yep, he's proud of borrowing money).

8)  A vending machine in the basement that no longer steals your quarters. (Just dollar bills).

7)  Getting Captain Kangaroo as the new County Mascot.

6)  A basketball team, the NorCo Nuckleheads, captained by Bruce Gilbert. This team edged out the Lehigh County Wackos in double over-time last March with a buzzer beater coming from Babs Thierry after Lamont McClure predictably fouled out. The team would later fall to a 4th grade CYO team in which Ken Kraft was beaten to a pulp by Sister Mary Raymond, OSF. (Don't EVER pick a fight with a nun, even if you're a Marine).

5) A NY Times Best Seller, "Inoffensive Opening Prayers," penned by John Cusick. It contains interfaith gems like this: "O God and Holy Spirit: Ease our suffering during this Council meeting; verily, verily we say unto You, Mother Earth. And Yea, in the Valley of Darkness, we shall fear no Angle or the White Whale. Om Mani Peme Hung. If I were a rich man. L'Chaim." Cusick is going to cut an audio tape this year for insomniacs.

4) A translator for incomprehensible Tom Dietrich, who has mastered the art of using a maximum number of words to say absolutely nothing. (Unfortunately, the linguist committed suicide after just one meeting).

3)  A symposium on the evils of alcohol, sponsored by Scott Parsons, at Detzi's Tavern. Council plans to meet there this year. "It's lot more fun than Tic Toc," says Peg Ferraro.

2) Birdhouse building classes, under the supervision of Executive John Stoffa. "It's very Zen," claimed Stoffa, before falling into a coma.

1) A Ron Angle portrait, painted by Ron Angle, to be hung in the Council shitter.

Planners Approve 1.75 Million Sq Ft Warehouse at Commerce Boulevard

In a perfunctory, twenty-minute, meeting on January 10, Bethlehem planners unanimously gave their blessings to a 1.75 million sq ft warehousing facility on the north side of Commerce Center Boulevard, located near the Route 78 exit. It's located at Majestic Business Center, a sprawling 442-acre tract that was once owned by Bethlehem Steel. If built, it will certainly be among the largest warehousing facilities in the Lehigh Valley.

Engineer Carly Patterson told planners the warehouse will include 325 parking places for its workforce. In addition there will be 339 trailer space for trucks coming in and out of the facility along a ring road that will surround the lot.

Facility manager Eric Scheler acknowledged that, at this time, no tenant has been identified.

In addition to approving the facility, planners quickly adopted four waivers to various impervious coverage and landscaping requirements.

Scheler agreed to pay up to $50,000 for upgrades to a pumping station, a $93,700 recreation fee and $75,000 for landscaping and trees in other areas. He added that, if a tenant is found, it could result in 175 jobs.

This meeting marks the first that Bethlehem Planners have conducted since October.