Trump's True Believers in NorCo

Jason Banonis

In June, a local Black Lives Matter group arranged a protest in Pen Argyl to draw attention to the murder of George Floyd. Nearly everyone, white or black, Republican or Democrat, was horrified by the way a Minnesota police officer slowly squeezed the life out of a black man. But not Northampton County GOP Chair Gloria Lee Snover. She organized a dueling counter-protest. Her Vice  Chair, Frank Freidel, Jr., resigned. But believe me, Trump has plenty of true believers in the county of "mercy" and justice."  You can see them in action at numerous flag rallies throughout the Lehigh Valley. You can see their yard signs. A Trump supporter will usually have two or three, the bigger the better. His worshipers will blindly support everything he does, no matter how absurdly ridiculous. They were out in full force in Lower Saucon at Town Hall Park on September 17. They might call it a rally. I'll call it what it was - a superspreader.  This was made possible by Lower Saucon Tp Council member Jason Banonis. Until very recently, he was the Vice Chair of the NorCo GOP party. 

Lower Saucon Township, you may recall, hosted a recent Northampton County GOP's rally in honor of accused felons Mark and Patricia McCloskey. They are the St. Louis couple who allegedly pointed guns at protesters outside their home, and then altered the handgun brandished by Patricia so they could claim it was inoperable. 

This event was originally scheduled for Palmer Township's Fairview Park, but was rejected because the crowd size would be too large. Banonis obviously used his influence on Council to get a permit. Lower Saucon made a pavilion at Town Hall Park available for this gathering. When point-blank asked at Council's October 7 meeting,whether he threw his weight around, he answered with "I have no comment on that."

NorCo GOP boss Lee Snover applied for and received a permit to rent the pavilion at Town Hall Park. Had she wanted to rent the entire park, she could have applied for an event permit. In her application, she estimated the crowd size at 100, knowing full well that the event would be much larger. In a revised application, the estimate was increased to 150. A township rule bans the "[p]osting or displaying [of] any sign, banner, or advertisement of a political or commercial nature." Snover assured officials, in writing, that "[w]e will only display our organization banner and American flag. No trump [sic] flags or candidate signs will be displayed." 

Snover broke her promises. On the day of this superspreader, the true believers took over the entire park even though they had only rented the pavilion.  They parked everywhere, including grass and walking trails. They ripped tables out of the pavilion so people could sit at them. CDC guidelines concerning masks and social distancing were ignored. And of course, there were Trump signs everywhere.

Banonis' jeep

Banonis refused to confirm whether he was at this shindig. "What I do in my personal time is really no business of Council," he snarked at Council's October 7 meeting. Unfortunately for him, Saucon Shenanigans has a photo of him making his way to the rally.  I have also been sent a picture of his bad-ass black Jeep, parked right in the middle of the walking trail.

Fuck the walkers.   

In addition to taking over the entire park, the true believers also attempted to ban the press from covering their superspreader. "This is a closed-to-press event," announced a McCloskey handler from the Trump campaign. "This is not for the media." 

No sooner did he make this announcement that the true believers spun around and began shouting "Go! Go!" and "Hit the road!" to the reporters who were there. One of them purposely coughed in the face of a reporter. Others made a point of waving Trump flags or standing directly in front of anyone attempting to videotape the event, including at least one member of the public. (Her video is here.)  

Lower Saucon Tp taxpayers are on the hook for $1,939.02 for police coverage and $1,068.06 in cleanup costs. 

At Lower Saucon Tp's October 7 meeting, Banonis demonstrated his own disdain for both the press and even members of the public speaking at courtesy of the floor. He tried  to prevent PBS reporter Ben Stemrich from speaking. He interrupted members of the public and condescended or mansplained to Council members Priscilla deLeon and Kristen Stauffer. Though he supposedly represents the Lower Saucon taxpayer, he did his best to torpedo any effort to collect these expenses. 

Banonis stridently defended this illegal gathering. By the way, he at the time happened to be the Vice Chair of the NorCo GOP. 

According to the rumor mill, this Allentown civil defense lawyer, defender of big insurance money everywhere, may have recently given up his Republican post. Given his didain for both the public and press, he has ignored my email to him on this topic. I'm told his resignation was prompted by Lee Snover's recent, and very public, complaint that Trump has refused to visit Northampton County. She apparently thinks Northampton County will be the deciding factor in whether Trump is re-elected. 

West Easton Borough Constable's Bail Revoked

I told you earlier this week that West Easton Borough Constable Tricia Mezzacappa was a no-show on Tuesday morning for her trial on making false reports to the Pennsylvania State Police. Her lawyer, respected criminal defense barrister John Waldron, advised the Court that he had instructed her to be present. He later filed a motion to withdraw as her attorney, citing "irreconcilable differences."

If a jury panel was brought in, and she failed to show as a result of her usual irrational piques, then she inconvenienced many people, to say nothing of the cost to the county. 

Whether she made any attempt to explain herself to the courts is unknown to me, but I think it unlikely. I say this because President Judge Michael J Koury, Jr. has revoked her bail. 

According to sources in West Easton, she's hiding. Her house is dark except for a light in the back. She has stashed her silver Cadillac on some side street. Tricia, they know.  

If you see her or know where she is, contact the Sheriff's tip line at (610) 829-6527. 

Gerlach & Siegel Vote No To 11 New Allentown Police Officers

Me-Me Gerlach

On Wednesday evening, Allentown City Council was asked to approve 11 new police officers. This would put the department at full strength, but not for long. In December, as many as 30 officers will be eligible to retire. 

Of the 11 new officers, four are woman. One is not only Latin, but fluent in Spanish. Another understands sign language. It's a diverse bunch.

Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach, of course, had a few questions. She wanted to know whether these new hires has been vetted to determine if they belong to any hate groups or are white supremacists. She was assured they were thoroughly investigated. Then she asked whether any of the new hires had backgrounds as teachers or in social services. She was told a number of them have college degrees and were in other fields before becoming police officers.

Then she voted No. Council member Josh Siegel also voted No, and without explanation, to a measure at the very core of what a city government does. Its primary function is to protect the people who live there.

Fuck the police. 

Gerlach and Siegel, both of whom want to be Allentown's nest Mayor voted No in an obvious attempt to pander to felons like Hasshan "Fuck the Police" Batts as well as misguided circus clowns like Black Lives Matter's Justan PBarker. If a few people die because a cop's not around, so be it. 

As I've mentioned some time ago, Allentown business owner Nat Hyman, who actually has lived in the Queen City his entire life, is seriously weighing a run for Mayor himself. I asked him what he thought of these No votes, which might be the first time any Lehigh Valley municipal official has said No to giving a police department the manpower it needs. Here's what Nat told me:

"It is terribly disconcerting  when an elected official puts politics or the own agenda ahead of the safety of the citizens they have been elected to represent. At a prior City Council meeting, Gerlach and Siegel likewise voted to not accept $110,000 from the federal government for our police department, which came with absolutely no strings attached.  They are making political statements with the tax payers’ money and, in the process, showing a wanton disregard for the best interests of our City, the safety of our citizens and common sense governance."

I'll end this with a little story about Ce-Ce. When the pandemic first hit, and there were shortages of just about everything, she called Nat Hyman and asked if he could get her a few bottles of hand sanitizer for the homeless.  He got her a pallet. She never said thank you, and later refused to sign a commendation praising Hyman for his Allentown sign. 

That's why I call Ce-Ce Me-Me.

Happy National Pierogi Day

 

Incidentally, the plural of pierogi is pierogi. 

Mike Pence: Lord of Flies!

 

Bullshit draws flies, so it's no surprise that at least one of them spent a good few minutes walking around on Mike Pence's perfectly coiffured hair during last night's Vice Presidential debate with Kamala Harris at The University of Utah's Kingsbury Hall. I think he eventually swallowed it. The Lord of Flies offered a pale imitation of Donald Trump's by repeatedly interrupting Harris and talking way beyond his allotted time. Harris ducked a question about packing the Supreme Court by asserting that Trump has been loading the courts with incompetent ideologues. Pence also evaded questions about pre-existing conditions and the Rose Garden superspreader, choosing instead to flail away at points made by Harris. 

I entered into this debate being less than thrilled with Kamala Harris. That changed last night. She was engaged and deftly copied Biden's tactic of looking directly into the camera to address the viewers. 

Moderator Susan Page was terrible. She allowed Pence to interrupt all too frequently and failed to insist he answer the questions posed. 

Harris delivered some great lines.

When Pence insisted that the  Trump administration's response has been effective, she countered with "You respond to the American people when you tell them the truth."   

Harris pointed out that both Trump and Pence were aware on January 28 of the severity of the pandemic, but failed to warn the public.

She later pointed out, "There was a time when our country believed in science.

She also effectively established that, while Trump claims he will have some still imaginary health coverage for pre-existing conditions, he is in  the Supreme Court right now trying to gut them.

"If you have a preexisting condition—heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer—they’re coming for you. If you love someone who has a preexisting condition, they’re coming for you. If you are under the age of 26 on your parents’ coverage, they’re coming for you.”    

On foreign policy, she noted that Trump "has betrayed our friends and has embraced dictators over the world." She later added, "He doesn't understand what it means to keep his word."

For his part, Pence drew flies. 

Legislators Seek Impeachment of Pa. Supreme Court Justice

Pennsylvania State Rep. Frank Ryan from Lebanon County plans a resolution to impeachment Pa. Supreme Court Justice David Wecht. (Read his memo here). So what did Wecht do? Did he take a bribe? Abuse lawyers arguing cases? Act intemperately? Boozehound? Nah, none of those things. Justice Wecht's impeachable penned opinions with which Ryan disagrees. What I find offensive is that, in addition to Ryan, there are over 30 co-sponsors to this nonsense. This included the Lehigh Valley's

Ryan MacKenzie. Usually, the judiciary ignores this partisan noise. Not this time. Several jursists have responded, including the evil Justice Wecht. 

  Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Thomas G. Saylor: “An independent judiciary is a cornerstone of our constitutional democracy. Threats of removal directed against judges based upon their decisions in selected cases are an affront to judicial independence.” 

Middle District of Pennsylvania Chief Judge John E. Jones III: “This effort by some members of the Pennsylvania legislature is just the latest bid in what seems like a national trend -- threatening to impeach judges because of disagreement with their decisions.  This challenge, like the others, is a direct threat to a bedrock of our constitutional democracy -- an independent judiciary.  Judges need to decide cases based on their understanding of what the law requires, without worrying that they might be removed from office if political actors don’t like their decisions.    “The good news is that impeachment as retribution for decisions is almost never successful.  Ever since the failed attempt to remove Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase in 1805, we have operated under a norm that judicial decisions should not be a basis for legislatures to remove judges from the bench.  I hope that the General Assembly as a whole appreciates the grave harm that would result from ignoring that norm.”  

Justice David N. Wecht: “In the United States of America, we do not impeach judges with whose opinions we disagree.  We are a nation of laws, not a nation of mobs.  When anyone, including legislators, attempts to intimidate our judges, they threaten our liberties and the rule of law.  It is ironic that here in Pennsylvania, the cradle of our nation’s liberty, some would forget our history and the tradition of judicial independence that has safeguarded our people’s freedoms.” 

Constable CrayCray on the Lam?

West Easton Borough Constable Tricia Mezzacappa was scheduled to face the music yesterday on a charge that she gave a false report to the Pennsylvania State Police. But when her case was called, she was nowhere to be found. She is represented by respected criminal defense lawyer John Waldron, Esq., but he's apparently had enough. He told the Court this morning that he was filing a motion to withdraw as her lawyer, and added he had advised her to be in court.

Mezzacappa has a long history of refusing to appear in court and missing deadlines.

The false report charge relates to an incident from on February 11, 2019. She called state police to report that a black man with a gun had assaulted her as she parked her vehicle outside her home. She claimed to have responded by pulling out her own gun and firing at this guy as he darted in and out of a nearby house. State police responded in force, but were unable to find any evidence she had fired her weapon at anyone. What they did learn is that, earlier that night, she went ballistic at that nearby neighbor because his car's exhaust system was too loud.

This was her way of getting even. She must have figured that since her neighbor is black, police would believe her. But investigation revealed that her weapon had not been recently fired and no neighbor could remember hearing a shot. There was no call about a shot being fired. Police were unable to find any shells or spent rounds. Her gun was sent for expert analysis, and the conclusion was that she had not fired it.

Her report took four or five troopers away from their duties in a rather large patrol area.

A few years ago, I sued her successfully for defamation. It appears she has learned nothing.

According to the District Attorney's office, a bench warrant has been issued for her. I do not see that in the online docket, but that usually takes one or two days. If she showed up later in the day with some half-assed explanation, I doubt the court would imprison her. But if she just thumbed her nose at a court appearance, she will be getting an attitude adjustment.

Mezzacappa, incidentally, is an avid Trump supporter who organized all kinds of flag rallies and reportedly brandished a knife at a bunch of high school kids at one of some dueling protest this summer. She refers to Democrats as the "crime party."

Perhaps she should look in a mirror.

Isn't It a Bit Early To Start Running For Allentown Mayor?

Right now, we are in the middle of an important election cycle that might very well be the battle for the soul of a nation,. Incumbent Donald Trump, who is infected with the very disease he downplayed, is waging his typically ugly and mean-spirited campaign to retain power. In addition, we have a local Congressional race between Susan Wild and Lisa Scheller, to say nothing of several state house seats. Common sense would dictate that those considering local office next year would keep their powder dry until we at least know who won the current races. But that's not the way Matt Tuerk, an economic development guy rolls. He announced on Facebook yesterday that he's running for Mayor, and has Charlie Thiel as his campaign guru.

I heard Thiel's name mentioned quite a bit during the trial of disgraced Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski.

The last thing Allentown needs is a transplant from another area who promises to rejuvenate the city with someone who promises to create a city "truly open for business, creating jobs and bringing prosperity to every corner ... ."

Turek spent the past eight years with the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. In that time, he could have helped create a city "truly open for business, creating jobs and bringing prosperity to every corner ... ." If he failed to do it when his sole job was economic development, he certainly will fail as a Mayor with considerably more to do.

Like digging Allentown out of the financial mess it's in.

No doubt there will be a plethora of pretenders and contenders. Only one of them can read a budget. Only one can put the Queen City back on a sound financial footing. Only one understands that Allentown has already had too many economic development types at the helm. Only one has created affordable housing without asking for a LERTA, TIF, KOZ, NIZ, CRIZ or any of the alphabet soup of handouts that government falls all over itself to provide to rich guys.

That person is Nat Hyman.

And he's actually from the City.

Expect an announcement. But expect it after the current election, so everyone can catch their breath.

Is NorCo GOP the Real Crime Party?

Accused felons pose with NorCo GOP Chair

Übermensch Donald Trump likes to refer to the Democratic party as the crime party, but that's certainly untrue here in Northampton County. One of his fiercest cheerleaders, Tricia Mezzacappa, failed to appear in court yesterday on false report charges. Another of his myrmidons, GOP Party boss Gloria Lee Snover, actually organized a rally to honor a St. Louis couple who brandished firearms at protesters who marched past their home in the wake of the George Floyd killing. That couple, who were also featured speakers at the Republican National Convention, has been charged by a St. Louis Grand Jury with brandishing their semi-automatic weapons and tampering with evidence. These are felonies.

These weapons were pointed at the protesters, and Mrs. McCloskey had her finger on the trigger. The McCloskeys insist these protesters were trespassers who threatened them, but the prosecuting attorney found they were peaceful and unarmed protesters.

Updated: Trump Undermines Covid-19 Response

I was genuinely sorry when I learned that President Donald Trump contracted Covid-19. I wished him well as he entered a hospital. Then, on Sunday night, he paraded in a black Chevy SUV in front of his worshipers, This endangered the lives of Secret Service agents who have since been ordered to quarantine themselves.  Upon his release from the hospital on Monday night, he defiantly ripped off his mask and marched into the White House, exposing everyone around him.

His cavalier attitude towards a pandemic that has now killed 210,000 plus Americans is simply appalling. 

Update: Trump has even begun making flu analogies again. At 8:03 am, he tweets this: "Flu season is coming up! Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu. Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!"

Blogger's Note: Originally published at 12:00 am.

Easton's West Ward Shootings To Be Discussed at Community Park on Wednesday

I've told you before that Easton's west ward, which incidentally includes the courthouse, has been subjected this summer to an unusually large number of shootings. According to DA Terry Houck, this is NOT the product of gang activity. He has instead called these shooters "thugs and punks" out to settle scores. "What is ultimately going to happen here is a child is going to be killed in the cross-fire," he warned.

What is happening in the West Ward appears to be part of a nationwide trend in US cities. At last week's debate, President Donald Trump blamed "Democrat cities." It's certainly true that Democrats tend to run city governments. But according to The New York Times, violent crime has been increasing in Republican strongholds as well.

On Wednesday, at 4:45 pm, there will be a community event concerning these shootings at Centennial Park, located at 1216 Ferry Street. Elected officials will pontificate. Nothing will happen.

This happens to be precisely where a friend of mine named Thich Huynh was shot four years ago. He was out for an early evening walk, and was shot when a group of four teens ran through the park, blasting away. Only one of these four was ever apprehended. Huynh never received notice when this punk pleaded to some bargained down offense. Huynh was never compensated in any way. To this day, he is afraid to walk in Easton.

Four years ago, Lance Wheeler, a long-time West Ward activist and local constable, asked why there were no cameras in the park.

"The Mayor wants to ban guns in parks. How about installing cameras? If there were cameras, police would already have the shooters."

Noting that the City recently received a grant from the County for things like landlord training, Wheeler thinks a better use of that money would have been for cameras.

"They have cameras everywhere downtown. Why not the West Ward?"

Four years later, are there any cameras? Of course not. But there will be plenty of hot air. Mayor Sal Panto is listed as one of the speakers. He probably thinks West Ward is in Bethlehem.

Grandpa Armstrong Gives LC Voters a Tour of Mail-in Ballots

Fellow blogger LVCI beat me on Grandpa Armstrong's latest update, but I have to post about it anyway. This time, he actually put on a tour director's hat as he gave a tour of the voting process. Mayor Tommy Shanks would be proud. Here's a brief summary of Grandpa's tour:

* 63,000 people have so far requested mail-in ballots. Mailing started on Monday.

* Be sure to place your ballot inside a secrecy envelope, and then place that envelope inside a postage paid envelope. You must sign and date the voter's declaration.

* You can vote now at the Lehigh County Government Center.

* Lehigh County will have five drop boxes throughout the county, as noted by LVCI.

Toomey To End Political Career?

Just yesterday, I told several people that US Senator Pat Toomey would be running for Governor instead of seeking re-election. According to several news sources, it will be neither. We can hear from Toomey himself at 10 AM.

McClure Introduces Third No-Tax Hike Budget in a Row

For the third time since taking office as Northampton County Executive, Lamont McClure has proposed a budget that holds the line on real estate taxes. His $440 million spending plan for next year, which he introduced on October 2, is 11% lower than this year's budget. It keeps the tax rate at 11.8 mills, where it's been for the past seven years. A home assessed at $75,000 will receive a tax bill next year for $885. The budget is also balanced.

This budget will be reviewed by County Council in a series of five budget hearings. Council can accept the budget as proposed, make changes or reject it. In an oddity of the county's home rule charter, a thumbs down would mean the spending plan as proposed would go into effect automatically.

The biggest impact on the current year's spending plan is something no one even considered when it was adopted. That was the Covid-19 pandemic. Northampton County suddenly found itself the custodian of $27.6 million in CARES Act money to distribute to other municipalities, nonprofits, school districts and small businesses hit hard by an economic shutdown. Over the past few months, Northampton County has distributed most of this money, which includes $8.6 million to nearly 700 small businesses in the form of $15,000 grants. Whether the County is tasked again with distributing more relief depends on Congress.

McClure's spending plan includes a $3 million commitment to fund open space. This is accomplished by purchasing conservation easements under which farmers agree to never develop their land. In addition, the county purchases environmentally sensitive land and both creates and maintains parks. In his budget message, McClure states his object is to both preserve green space and limit warehouse proliferation.

In past years, Gracedale has often required a county contribution to stay afloat. The county's nursing home is the largest in the state. But no county contribution is needed this year and none is projected for 2021. McClure said his budget will continue with technology and automation improvements at the home designed to counter the impact of Covid-19.

The proposed budget also calls for a crosswalk to a newly constructed parking lot across the street from the courthouse; finishing touches to a state-of the-art forensic center in Upper Nazareth Tp; and funding for recent election changes mandated by the state.

Best Wishes for President and Melania Trump

Both President Donald Trump and the First Lady,  Melania, have tested positive for Covid-19. The President is reportedly experiencing mild symptoms. While readers of this blog know I detest him as President, I hope he and his wife recover quickly.

We can keep professional basketball players safe inside a bubble, but that's impossible for a President seeking re-election. 

If Trump becomes seriously ill, he or the cabinet can designate VP Pence as Acting President under the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution. Pence has tested negative.

The line of succession would be Pence (VP), Pelosi (Speaker), Pompeo (Sec'y of State), Mnuchin (Sec'y of Treasury).

NorCo Exec Proposes No-Tax Hike 2021 Budget

I will update this post once Executive Lamont McClure finishes his budget address.

NorCo Council Approves Additional $2.4 MM in Covid-19 Relief

This warning against ballot harvesting is at
every drop box. 

At their October 1 meeting Northampton County Council voted to spend $2.4 million on a wide variety of projects aimed at mitigating the damage done by Covid-19 as well as the corresponding state shutdown. This includes $684,185 in Covid-related grants to ten municipalities; a $648,256 grant to prevent homelessness; $800,000 to Northampton County's four colleges; and $279,500 in grants to 22 small businesses. This money is part of $27.6 million in CARES Act funding. It must be out the door by year's end. According to Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron, the Council still has about $1.5 million left to spend.

In addition to this spending, Council also decided to reinstate hazard pay at Gracedale. This money also comes form the CARES Act, but is part of a separate funding stream. All nursing home employees will get a 20% payhike, retroactive to September 20. Employees in units with two or more Covid-19 patients will get 25%, and those working in the isolation ward will be paid 30%.

Department of Community and Economic Development Director Tina Smith reported that the Council's previous decision to award $800,000 in CARES Act funding for internet vouchers at area school districts will have to be limited to whatever can be spent this calendar year.

In other business, Executive Lamont McClure advised Council that Human Resources Director Elizabeth Kelly has resigned. "I relied on her mightily," he said. He has named Kelly's Deputy, Kathleen Wedge, as Acting Director. There are 2,200 county employees.

Drop-box at NorCo rotunda

In addition to the switch on Human Resources, there's been a change in the Office of Veterans Affairs. Alex Carrillo, a US Army veteran who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, will take over for recently departed Freddie Ramirez, Jr. Carrillo is already a county employee working in Children, Youth and Families.

In preparation for the upcoming Presidential election, McClure advised Council that 62,561 applications for mail-in ballots have now been received, and 52,000 have been mailed. He added that, thus far, there have been 303 early voters.

"You've got no excuse to not vote in Northampton County," he added.

Council member John Cusick expressed some concern about ballot harvesting, a practice under which one person collects and files ballots on behalf of several people. "It will be a crime to do that," remarked McClure, who added that notices are posted at drop-boxes indicating that only the person who voted may deposit a ballot unless he fills out a form authorizing someone else to do so. He noted cameras are trained on every drop-box. "It'll be on a camera so you're gonna' go to jail," he warned would-be law breakers.

MC/Muhlenberg Poll Shows Trump Has Three-Point Lead in NorCo

A Muhlenberg College Morning Call poll released today shows incumbent Susan Wild with a substantial (52-39) lead in the Pa. 7th Congressional District. This comes as no surprise, given its overall Democratic population. What I find disturbing about this poll, which cautions it has a 5.5% margin of error, is that it gives President Donald Trump a 49-46 lead over former Vice President Joe Biden in Northampton County. I have repeatedly warned that Northampton County is poised to vote for him again.

The poll was conducted among a sampling of 412 "likely voters" between September 21-24. Likely voters are newly registered voters or those who have actually voted in one of the last four general elections, and who say they are likely to vote on November 3.

In Lehigh County, Biden has a 56-39 lead. He's ahead in Monroe County, too, at 50-48.

Low-Income Seniors and Vets Might Be Eligible for Free Internet

From Northampton County: Internet vouchers are now available in Northampton County to low-income veterans and seniors. Recipients must meet HUD income guidelines to be eligible for twelve months of free basic internet services. The vouchers can only be used for new and Internet First (federally subsidized program for RCN or Service Electric) customers. Internet service must begin by November 30, 2020.

To apply for an internet voucher, call Northampton County:

· Seniors can call Area Agency on Aging at 610-829-4540

· Veterans can call Information, Referral, Emergency Services at 610-829-4800

In July, Northampton County Council approved $175,000 to purchase Wi-Fi annual vouchers and electronic equipment for underserved senior citizens and veterans within the county.

NorCo Has had 215 "Early Voters" as of September 30

This area is set aside for voters to complete ballots. 

There are three ways to vote in Northampton County. First, you can vote at your polling precinct on election day. Second, you can apply for a ballot and vote by mail. If you distrust the mail-in ballot option yet hate standing in line. there is a third way to vote. It's called early voting or ballot-by-demand.

If you'd like to vote this way, you can do so at the courthouse (669 Washington St, Easton, Pa)  anytime between 8:30 am and 8 pm on weekdays, or between 8 am and noon on Saturday. 

As of 2 pm on September 30, 215 people have exercised this third option. I imagine there will be many more as election day approaches.