Nazareth Police Officer Fred Lahovski: Our Very Own Robocop!

A few weeks ago, I emerged from my bunker after sunset to get a new keyboard for my computer. As I barrelled down a Nazareth street, I noticed flashing red and blue lights in my rear view mirror. They were coming for me!

"Bad boy, bad boy, what you gonna' do? What you gonna' do when they come for you?"

As luck would have it, I had a burnt out headlight. The officer gave me ten days to get it fixed instead of citing me. My brother popped in a new one later that week and I stopped by the Nazareth Police Department so they could check his handiwork.

The police officer who inspected my Jeep is Fred Lahovski. He's part of Nazareth's professional new police force, operating under the able supervision of Chief Michael Sinclair. I've seen Fred at both Nazareth block parties, where he makes it a point to say hello to everyone. But beneath this friendly and seemingly casual exterior is a very dedicated professional. He and other Nazareth cops have actually been working cases on their own time, something very unusual these days.

Lahovski is the cop who once stepped in front of a speeding vehicle to save a child from getting run over by a drunk driver during a block party. He's the officer who once tackled a 32-year-old man who sat with a gun pointed to his head for five hours, threatening to shoot himself. This ill man still shot himself, but it was nonfatal.

I've previously tried to get Lahovski to talk to me about the improvements I've seen in Nazareth, but he told me he is just part of a team. His opinion is that the entire Nazareth police department should be commended.

I'm always so busy snarking the bad guys that I never pay attention to the many dedicated public servants out there.

When I showed Lahovski my Jeep, he noticed a number of Stoffa campaign signs in my jeep. I was planting them all over the place at the time.

"Are those Stoffa signs?" he asked.

Uh oh.

I started sweating, worried he might be investigating the culprit who had been taping Stoffa signs to the hoods of their cruisers. But he let me slide. Instead, he frankly admitted he had some troubles of his own as a youth. Two people helped him to turn his life around - Barbara and John Stoffa. In fact, he even worked for them briefly.

On Sunday night, Lahovski was one of two officers who whisked a 9 year-old Nazareth boy to safety as that boy's distraught father fired on state troopers. We know one of these troopers is now dead. But Lahovski and another trooper saved a life that night. The life of a boy the same age as my grandson. The Express Times correctly called him a local hero.

Lahovski is our very own robocop, one of the good guys. They don't get enough credit.

Why Was Allentown Once Called Peanutville?

While researching my post about baseball Hall of Famer King Kelly, I learned that in 1894, Allentown was sometimes called Peanutville. Does anybody know why?

RenewLV: Support Regional Public Health on June 16

RenewLV, describes itself as "a diverse coalition of business, agriculture, environmentalists, urban, suburban and rural government officials, education and other civic leaders." Its members include PPL's now retired Bert Daday and Brown Daub's L. Anderson Daub. Many members are also part of the advisory committee behind the plan to widen Route 22.

I'm suspicious of its ties to the aristocratic and normally secretive Lehigh Valley Partnership, but they sure know how to put on a spread. During a rail summit at the Hotel Bethlehem in 2007, RenewLV supplied expensive cheeses and wines. All the foo-foos networked as a piano played ever so softly. RenewLV did it again during the inaugural meeting of the Lehigh Valley Health Commission early this year. This time, there were assorted pastries, left over cheese and coffee. No booze. Ron Angle filled his pockets and briefcase and later sold his stash in downtown Allentown.

As you may have guessed, RenewLV is a bit upset about the trouble Northampton County has in assembling a quorum for a second meeting of the LV Health Commission, which consists of the legislatures of Northampton and Lehigh Counties. Lamont McClure purposely blew it off and said he would do everything he could to kill this Health Commission. He must have eaten bad cheese.

Steve Bliss, RenewLV's Executive Director, is urging supporters of regional public health to attend and show their support. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, at 6:30pm at the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown [map]. It will be held in conference rooms 43A and 43B on the basement level. But even if 1,000,000 people are there, it means nothing unless there are five members from both Northampton County Council and the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.

So regional public health advocates would do better to contact their Commissioners and Council members, asking them to attend this meeting. Bliss makes the following points:

"1. Allowing the Board of Health to move forward does not commit the counties to actually establishing a regional health department. It simply allows the Board of Health to finish the work the counties appointed them to do.

"2. The start-up work of the Board of Health is being funded almost entirely by a generous $1 million grant from the Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust and the Two Rivers Health & Wellness Foundation. The counties do not have to use county funds for the planning efforts of the Board of Health.

"3. Your participation can make a difference, and county officials need to hear from you. Please consider attending on Tuesday and offering some brief remarks (during Citizens Input) as to the importance of allowing the Board of Health continue its work."

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Visits LVRamblings

I first met Easton Mayor Sal Panto nine years ago, when I was railing against Northampton County's $111 million megabond. I rented a room at Northampton County College to explain my opposition, and about forty bond foes showed up. We sharpened our pitchforks and took turns burning effigies of bond proponents Glenn Reibman and Jim Hickey.

Good, clean fun.

But Sal Panto, who was just a private citizen in the midst of all these bond foes, risked his life and defended the bond eloquently, at least that portion of it containing a grant for Easton's State Theatre. There were no reporters on hand to catch his words. He was also doing something that was politically unpopular, at least in that room. He and I had a heated exchange over the public funding of a private enterprise, but he held his own.

Naturally, we strung him up.

Not really. I was extremely impressed by Panto's courage, and we have been friends since that night. Like Northampton County Exec John Stoffa, Sal Panto is one of those rare public officials who is interested in doing the right thing. Unlike public officials who think government works best behind closed doors, Panto strives to be as open as possible.

Yesterday, I asked you whether Sal should cross a firefighters' picket line in Rhode Island at the U.S. Mayor's conference being hosted in Providence on Friday. Panto himself joined in the conversation, explaining why he's going. For those of you who don't read comments, let me share his thoughts.

"Please don't equate my willingness to cross to not knowing what it is like to be out of work. No one understands the constraints on people out of work better than I do. I was out of work for more than 7 months due to 'downsizing' in the private sector.

"However, this is not about crossing a picket line where someone is not working. These firefighters are not on strike, they are being paid, they are working. This 'picket line' is more of a protest line in which they are protesting the fact that they still do not have a 'negotiated' contract. That is much different than workers striking and not working.

"The city of Providence and the IAFF have been through binding arbitration hearings and the latest award is due in September. During that time they are still negotiating and an offer letter was sent to them by the Administration as recently as May 26th.

"The issue with municipal unions is management's need for the employees to pay some form of healthcare co-share. In Easton our non-union employees have been paying a co-pay for the last five years. The FOP (police union) just agreed to the same co-pay this year and we successfully negotiated their contract. We are asking for amounts far less that that paid by non-municipal employees. We are also asking them to take more ownership in their healthcare program. For example, a 90-day mail-in prescription saves both the employee and the city money but yet very few of our employees take advantage of this for their maintenance meds.

"Like Easton, the city of Providence, is facing tremendous financial difficulties. Municipal government provides the most needed services yet we have the most regressive form of revenue collections. We have a mandate to bring fiscal soundness back to Easton and we will hold true to that commitment. We will continue to support our 'Clean and Safe' program and do it in the most cost-effective manner possible. We will continue to be responsible to our residents."

An Internet Legal Resource

It's hard to ignore the near daily visitors to the courthouse, mostly woman, with black eyes, gashes on their face and looks of helplessness in their eyes. The Protection From Abuse office is right by the Recorder of Deeds, so I see firsthand what people can do to the ones they love.

Yesterday, in the law library, a woman was at her wit's end because her ex is thumbing his nose at a custody order. Like most women who has just left her husband, she has little money for an attorney. Carol Devlin, Northampton County's very helpful law librarian, referred her to a web page and I want to share it with you.

PaLawHelp is a guide to legal information and free civil legal services available for low-income persons and seniors in Pennsylvania. A variety of legal issues is presented, and there are even forms for people involved in custody battles. It's no substitute for a good lawyer, but it's a start.

Dertinger Alienates Some Bethlehem Dems

On Monday night, Charles Dertinger decided to drop in on a well-attended meeting of Bethlehem City Democrats. They've been upset by county endorsements and state mailings that are made on behalf of some, but not all, candidates. But they're also embarrassed by the divisions within their own party.

Charles Dertinger, playing the role of Boss Long's hatchetman, tried to snap everyone to attention. But instead of playing peacemaker, he alienated the very people he needs this election year.

He went after Bethlehem City Council member Karen Dolan from the minute she walked in the door. After her complaints during the last meeting, Dertinger had pledged she would lose. Not too surprisingly, a whisper campaign was orchestrated against her in the waning days of the campaign, but it backfired.

Armed with pages from this very blog, Dertinger slammed Dolan for airing her views publicly, instead of confining herself to backroom politics like him. He showed a complete disregard for any other opinions. Bossman Long was unusually subdued, but certainly went along with Dertinger.

Charles was unwilling to compromise or even pretend to address Karen or Willie Reynolds' (another Bethlehem councilmember) concerns. Essentially, to sum up his position, it was "Screw you guys, we're not going to address any of your concerns, we're going to declare you wrong, and you're going to leave here unhappy, AND still, you will be loyal and follow us." He faked outrage at Karen, got into it with Willie, and was outright dismissive of Northampton County Controller Steve Barron. He even took a half shot at Callahan in the meeting, complaining Callahan has never been to a county party meeting to pledge fealty. City Hall sources report Dertinger even called Callahan today. Lorraine Pasquali has hitched her wagon to Charles, while Bill Wallace is more concerned about unity.

Basically, Stoffa's solid victory has Charles running scared. He hurt himself Monday night. Snarking a popular Democratic Bethlehem Mayor during a meeting of Bethlehem Democrats is idiotic, and is certainly another nail in his coffin.

Bethlehem Dems are really upset that their meetings are turning into steel cage matches.

Should Shadtown's Sal Panto Cross That Providence Picket Line?

This year's 77th annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors is slated to start Friday in host city Providence, R.I. One hundred eighty-four mayors are pre-registered, including Easton Mayor Sal Panto. But Panto is being pressured by the LV Labor Council to stay in Shadtown.

Providence Mayor David Cicilline has tangled with union firefighters since his election in 2003, primarily over copays for health insurance. The International Association of Fire Fighters, which endorsed Obama, plans to picket the event. Rather than cross that line, Team Obama has elected to skip the event. "We have always respected picket lines, and administration officials will not cross this one," announces President Obama's spokesperson, Robert Gibbs.

Panto still thinks he should go, and this is what he told the Labor Council.

"Please be advised that I am attending the US Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Providence. As you are aware, I have been a member of two labor unions - Food and Commercial Workers Union and the Easton Area Education Association (where twice we picketed while on strike).

"However, these are difficult times and while I may understand that the Obama Administration may choose to not cross as a member I will be attending.

"In the last 18 months I successfully negotiated a contract with the FOP and we are currently in negotiations with AFSCME. However, on Monday we will commence Act 111 Arbitration with the IAFF. As I said these are difficult times and I inherited a city that was several million dollars in debt, pension deficits beyond $23 million and a healthcare budget unfunded by more than a million dollars. We have taken serious steps to bring our city into fiscal balance and must continue to do so. Remember, Easton residents experienced a 66% increase in property taxes under the former Administration. Our residents have had enough of the post retirement benefits, the excellent benefit package as well as a salary that rivals the private
sector. The end result is that past Administration have CUT POSITIONS. My goal is to hire more unionized employees to deliver the service that our residents deserve, and expect.

"I began this term with 52 police officers ands 4 code officers and today we have 58 officers with a goal of 64 and an additional code officer with 2 more being hired in the later part of this year (provided revenues continue on their current level.)

"We are currently short 3 firefighters. THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH MONEY. I CAN'T SPLIT THE PIE ANYMORE so depending on the arbitration award, the reality of adding those three positions is slim.

"Mayors across this country are saddled with the most important services our residents need and require yet we have the most regressive source of revenue.

"It will bother me to cross the line but I am the mayor for 28,000 residents and they deserve to have me learn as much as possible --- especially in these times.

"I am more than happy to discuss this with you further at anytime. (And if you could implore and encourage our local IAFF to be more reasonable in their demands it would be much appreciated).

"As always, I am available to help and support the Local Labor Council and look to a time when all employers will be able to give valued employees the wage and benefits they need and deserve."

Unsatisfied by Sal's salvo, Labor Council Prez Greg Potter is asking Panto to reconsider.

"Organized labor appreciates your commitment to negotiating in good faith the way that you always have. That is why we are so disappointed in your decision to attend this meeting and cross the picket line of the IAFF. Having been a union member, twice ---from different unions and locals, you certainly are aware of the dangers and mixed signals that can be perceived and realized by crossing a picket line. Crossing a picket line shatters the most sacred of values held by union members. Many have given their lives while attending a picket line. My union wears read every Thursday in memory of a member who was killed by the child of a NYNEX manager who broke our line and subsequently killed a member. We do not forget!!

"I believe that your negotiations with the IAFF would be enhanced by your decision NOT to cross the line in Providence and in fact could give you an advantage while negotiating with the Easton Firefighters. You would be leading by example, and from a negotiating standpoint, it would be difficult in principle to beat you up on this issue.

"As a fellow union member, I urge you to reconsider your decision and NOT attend this function. President Obama, politically has much more than you to lose by abstaining to attend this conference. I hope you can take some of his courage and choose to stay away from this venue in the name of decency. You have proved yourself to be a man of principle and I hope that you can choose to do the right thing on this important issue. This is your chance to lead by example and I hope that you don't miss this historic opportunity."

Bethlehem Boss John Callahan and Allentown Czar Edwin Pawlowski never planned on attending this conference in the first place, so they're home free on this one. Both Panto and Potter state their cases well. But what's the right thing to do? Should Mayor Sal cross that picket line or stay home? What would you do?

Dick Cowen: Why We Have No-Fault Divorce

Retired Morning Call reporter Dick Cowen has learned why we now have no-fault divorce. Here's his ditty.

There used to be a column labeled Out of Lehigh's Past that ran in The Call for a time. Here's one bit that was missed, tucked away in a Lehigh County divorce file that is tucked away at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Center (nee Lehigh County Historical Society):

In 1900, married couple Frank and Mary Ritter were no longer living together. She had her own place. A helpful young neighbor told the husband that Mary was letting people in her house "that had no business there. I told him he should attend to it and get a divorce." It seemed a chap named Knauss was a frequent visitor at Mary's, even helping to install a screen door.

The husband advised the helpful neighbor to talk to his (Mr. Ritter's) lawyer, T.F. Diefenderfer. "I told him (Diefenderfer) what I had seen. The lawyer told me to watch a little bit. I then did watch. I made it my business and then did watch.

"After that, I saw Mrs. Ritter and Mr. Knauss come home . . . about ten minutes after twelve on a Saturday night. They both went into the house. I soon saw a light upstairs in her front room.

"Then, I got a ladder, climbed up and looked into the window. The painter had left it (the ladder) in my yard.

"I put the ladder at the front of her house. I looked into the room through (the) fly-screen. The shade was about two or three inches from the bottom. There was a light in the room. I saw Mrs. Ritter undressed there and Mr. Knauss undressed. Then, Mrs. Ritter went into bed and Mr. Knauss, too. into the same bed. I did not wait to see what was going on further.

"I took the ladder away and sat down on my alley-step and put the ladder in my alley. I waited till Mr. Knauss came out. . .at a quarter to one o'clock."

So much for neighborliness.

Remember, you heard it first on WKAP

Allentown's First King

I often refer to Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski as King Edwin, but his monarchy pales in comparison to the original King of Allentown. King Kelly ruled in the summer of 1894. This is the story of his brief reign, which involves battles against towns all over Pennsylvania. Especially that dreaded Easton. Fishtown.

Mike "King" Kelly, the most popular baseball player in America, had just retired from Boston. Was he a great hitter? Good, but not great. Golden glove? Nah. He was fast as hell, able to round the diamond in 15 seconds flat. He's often credited with the hit and run and is the first catcher to give a pitcher signals. But his real specialty was cheating. In that category, he has no equal, not even to this day. Even his opponents had to admire his nerve.

His favorite subterfuge? Stealing, of course. Kelly style. He would have teammates distract the ump, and then dash from first to third, right across the pitcher's mound. Some fans cheered while others jeered.

He was one tricky Irishman. After sliding into third on a double by another player, he decided to steal home - stopped half way - and then ran towards the catcher. As the catcher tagged the King out, the second base runner slid between his legs and scored to win a game. That prompted a rules change.

In his final season, he leaped from the dugout to catch a foul ball, "Kelly now catching," he shouted. As you probably have guessed, that prompted yet another rules change.

After his final season in Boston, King Kelly came to Allentown, with his pet monkey perched on his shoulder. Only the baseball gods know why he chose Allentown, not a very tough town. It's hard to get a rep in a town with a nickname like Peanutville. What's worse, Kelly's very first game was scheduled against Easton, a thuggish river town known for its violence, on and off the field. Kelly had a few names for his team - Kelly's Killers, the Buffaloes, even the Peanuts. Easton coined its own name for Kelly and his aging ball players - fossils.

Easton at that time was populated mostly by convicted felons and lawyers. In a game against Hazleton that summer, about 500 fans poured onto the field, upset at an ump's call. After that confrontation, the ump decided he had made the wrong call, and things started going Easton's way. "South Easton roughs" began brawling anyway, and it spilled onto the playing field. Fists and knives went to work, and the result was a riot. Cops hid. But Judge Reeder, who happened to be passing by in his carriage, somehow ended the violence. It didn't matter. Hazleton players took off as soon as they were untied, even though that meant they would lose the game. When The Express Daily News condemned the violence, newspaper reporters began getting threats and jeers themselves. That still happens to this day.

Easton's biggest fights were always saved for Allentown. During a July 4, 1888 double-header played in both Peanutville (morning) and Fishtown (afternoon), Allentown's team was beaten twice - literally - by the fans. They sure as hell weren't playing by Little League rules.

But as the baseball gods surely knew, King Kelly was himself no stranger to violence. He would prove that later in the summer, knocking a Reading base runner down with a not-so-friendly closed fist. Whoops! What's even worse, the King believed in playing baseball on Sunday, a blatant violation of our blue laws. Like Satan, he even corrupted some Easton players to go along with this notion. A horrified Easton Daily Express thundered, "If the Honorable 'Mike' Kelly and his minions want to knock flies on the first day of the week, they had best do so in Jersey or Kalamazoo. If they try the Continental Sunday racket in Allentown, they will get hit by their own boomerang."

When Kelly's Killers faced Easton's sluggers on May 3, 1894, no one could be sure whether there would be a game or a riot. God himself might even hurl a thunderbolt at the blasphemous King. Naturally, everybody came. There were 1,500 people at what was then Easton's fairgrounds. Before the game got underway, the Phillipsburg Cornet Band played a few tunes. Every now and then, a fish horn tooted, a portent of a sound we now hear in sporting contests all over the country.

There were no riots that day. Just baseball, at least from Allentown. Here's how The Easton Daily Express lyrically sums up the 9 - 0 slaughter:

"Defeated! And by Allentown! ... Not only defeated, but whitewashed! Completely shut out without a run. Not even a base hit! King Kelly's 'centurions' proved a veritable band of gladiators. And the king was happy. So were the Allentown sports who bet their money on the result. But the Easton cranks? Their 'sonnies' were sick, their 'shiners' were gone, their 'shad'-ows kept shrinking, and many looked as though they had been scooped up as 'suckers.' It was a bad day for Fishtown."

Easton's days of diamond domination were over, as noted by The Allentown Critic in its coverage of a double header later that season.

"'King' Kelly's aggregation of ball tossers met the strengthened Easton team twice yesterday and whipped them so badly on the base-ball diamond that the Shadtowners are now willing to cry 'quits' on Peanutville. The Eastons must have had an attack of rheumatic gout, or perhaps they had blind staggers. Anyhow, they were crushed terrifically."

Not long after these repeated humiliations by Kelly's Killers, Easton did in fact call its quits. Not enough money, probably because owners refused to listen to the King and play on Sunday. King Kelly did slay the Dragon of the East.

Would this lead to a new era of Allentown domination, led by King Kelly? He never got his chance. That Fall, he developed pneumonia during a boat ride from New York to Boston. As he was carried off in a litter, he was accidentally dropped.

"That was my last slide," joked the King. And so it was. He was dead a few days later, and now is a long-forgotten hero of Allentown. In the meantime, the Dragon of the East has risen again.

Blogger's Note: I waded through newspaper archives to research this story, and can also recommend King Kell's autobiography, the first ever written by a professional baseball player. You can read it here.

Will LV Health Comm'n Ever Meet Again?

Last week's second ever meeting of the LV Health Commission was over before it ever started. Northampton County Council failed to provide a quorum. One of the absent members, Lamont McClure, refused to attend because the very idea of a regional health department annoys him. That's fine, but how about a little courtesy? McClure not only refused to attend, but refused to tell anyone he would be absent. As a result, four Northampton County Council members and seven Lehigh County Commissioners made a trip to downtown Allentown for nothing.

The meeting has been rescheduled for June 16th, but whether it actually occurs is anyone's guess. McClure has announced he will boycott any meetings as a LV Health Commissioner. Ron Angle is boycotting downtown Allentown, too, unless he runs out of Rolexx watches. The beating readers gave him over his comedy bit has really hurt his feelings. Diane Neiper, who has previously announced her intention to resign, has apparently already flown the coop.

That leaves six. Five are needed. Any bets?

Congressman Dent Spends Weekend in Iraq

Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent is a student of foreign policy. His undergrad degree from PSU is in Foreign Service and International Politics. In January '08, he actually called me from Islamabad. He was in the midst of a visit to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. He spent at least fifteen minutes describing the people of each country. His keen interest in foreign affairs is one of the strengths he brings to Congress.

For the third time since being elected to Congress, Congressman Dent has visited Iraq. Last weekend, he joined a bipartisan delegation of four Pennsylvania Congressmen to meet the Pennsylvania National Guard 56th Stryker Brigade and other Pennsylvania troops at Camp Liberty, located outside of Baghdad and in Taji, Iraq. He was briefed by Deputy Mission Chief Robert Ford and General Raymond Odierno, commander of the Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I).

The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, deployed to Iraq late last year, is one of six elite rapid-mobilization brigades in the Army, and the only one in the reserve component. Stryker Brigades assist in covering the Army's near term capabilities gap between heavy and light units in a range of environments from combat to humanitarian assistance.

Congressman Dent was joined by Rep. Tim Holden (D-17), Rep. Bill Shuster (R-9), and Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3).

“Pennsylvania’s fighting men and women have made great sacrifices in Iraq, and it was a great honor to spend time with them and thank them for their tremendous efforts,” said Congressman Dent. “The fact we were able to drive through the streets of Baghdad is a welcome development, and the briefings from General Odierno and Ambassador Ford suggest that the security situation has improved considerably. I was reassured that troop reductions will continue as planned.”

Jake of Nazareth Running for Congress

Until recently, Nazareth resident Jake Towne was an engineer in Shanghai. He now calls himself a "freedom writer" and intends to challenge Charlie Dent in the LV Congressional race. He tells me he is "unaffiliated and definitely not with either of the major parties." What this means is that he will lose.

This Nazareth High School and Lehigh University engineering grad explains why he's running.

"I have been personally outraged by what Congress, our Presidents, and the Federal Reserve has done over the last few decades and I deem their collective actions as oppressive and tyrannical. As there is no hope for my concerns and grievances to be addressed by the current government, I’ve decided to make myself available and talk and discuss ideas with whoever wants to consider me to represent them."

Jake appears to be a Ron Paul acolyte. He opposed Israel's recent military maneuvers in the Gaza strip, the result of constant missile attacks aimed at civilians. He supports an audit of the Federal Reserve. I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest he probably opposes Obama;s stimulus package.

I hope to sit down with Jake soon and find out what is motivating him. In the meantime, he explains his campaign's principles in an email.

1. Government exists to protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth, nor to grant special privileges, nor to interfere with the lives of individuals and their actions. The government of a free country, properly speaking, rests not in its elected officials but in its laws.

2. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Therefore, transfer of American sovereignty to supranational organizations, even if “benign,” is not permissible without a constitutional amendment.

3. The United States Constitution was written under the principle of "positive grant." This means the federal government is authorized to exercise only the powers which are specifically given to it by the Constitution, and nothing more.

4. Each individual is fundamentally equal under the law with all other individuals. The rule of law's framework of liberty ensures the greatest opportunity for individuals to explore their strengths and surmount obstacles.

5. A limited and decentralized government with inherent checks and balances results in more self-rule by local communities, and hence providing local diversity and overall greater satisfaction for individuals. Individuals can always vote with their feet, and move to areas not affected by laws they strongly disagree with.

6. Individuals have the right to live their own lives in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal rights of others.

7. The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression.

8. Rights belong to individuals, not groups.

9. Rights are not privileges, they are derived from the natural state of being human.

10. The Constitution merely acts to forbid the infringement of the federal government upon these rights.

11. The government's monetary role is to mint money and maintain the integrity of the monetary unit, not to commit fraud by debasement or to substitute counterfeits of paper for the constitutionally-specified forms of lawful money, coins of gold and silver.

12. However, individuals should be free to trade and exchange as money any mutually agreeable commodity or item as they wish.

Jake also has a Facebook page.

Scissorhands Severson' Preliminary Hearing Scheduled

Tom "Scissorhands" Severson, political consultant to the Joe Long Dems, is being prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Attorney General for deceptive campaign practices that extend from anonymous mailers to invoices designed to disguise his involvement on behalf of different candidates.

Severson's preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 13. But instead of being around here, it's in Harrisburg before Dauphin County Magistrate Marsha Stewart. A flurry of subpoenas has spread among Commonwealth witnesses. The burden of proof at a preliminary hearing is very low, but it's a good opportunity to see and hear some of the witnesses.

Sounds like a road trip for me.

Lehigh University: We Love it Here! Honest!

Last week, I wrote about Lehigh's Nutty Professor. A supposed intellectual, she may very well have "too much integrity for the Lehigh Valley," a cultural wasteland. Several of you volunteered to help her move. I asked LU's President, Dr. Alice Gast, why any LV parent should spend $51,000 per annum to send a son or daughter to a teacher with that kind of bias.

I now have a reply from Joanne Anderson, the Director of the Office of the President. She's writing on behalf of Dr. Gast.

"The views expressed on Dr. Thiele's blog represent her own personal opinions and views and not those of Lehigh University. As stated on Dr. Thiele's blog: 'The views expressed...are those of the author only and do not necessarily represent the opinions of her employer...'. Lehigh University is proud to be a part of the Lehigh Valley community and believes that the area is a wonderful environment and offers great opportunities to students, faculty, staff, and residents to study, work, and live."

Thanks, Doc!

IronPigPen: History of Allentown's Bicentennial Park

You might disagree with his political views, but no one can dispute IronPigPen's love for baseball. That's no surprise. He comes from Allentown. Their semi-pro Dukes defeated the vaunted New York Yankees in 1923 at Edgemont Field (2d & Susquehannah) by a score of 8 to 7. The Bambino himself went down swinging in the 9th with bases loaded.

IronPigPen has an interesting history of Bicentennial Park, which a cash-strapped Mayor would like to sell to LANTA. Here's an excerpt.

"EARL F. HUNSICKER BICENTENNIAL PARK, located where South Howard Street intersects with Lehigh Street on the city’s South Side, is a small, multi-purpose facility with an official seating capacity of 4,600. Perhaps the fact Bicentennial is literally squeezed into one of the city’s average, unassuming neighborhoods – not too rich, not too poor – adds to its charm and appeal. Knocking a ball out of that place involves the intentional litter of a citizen’s backyard or a public street.

"The place, Bicentennial, was actually first developed and opened as FAIRVIEW FIELD in 1939. It would be of interest to note that it was Alvin Butz’s construction company that built Fairview Field at that point in history. It was also at that juncture of time when Adolf Hitler’s Germany would storm Poland and officially set off the Second World War.

"IronPigs fans are well aware, of course, that the ALVIN H. BUTZ construction company that would, sixty-nine years later, in 2008, errect COCA-COLA PARK, the current home of the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs, on the East Side of Allentown.

"The inaugural tenants of Fairview Field were the Allentown Dukes, a minor league affiliate of the National League’s old Boston Braves. The Dukes (the third Allentown professional team in history, no less, to adopt the royalty-related moniker) were owned by Pete Weimer and played in the Class C Interstate League at the Braves’ behest. For these Dukes, the reign was short-lived, however, and they lasted but a single season.

"The Dukes did not exactly rule at the box office and Weimer, who was running with an empty wallet, got ole’ Alvin Butz himself to accept the Dukes team as completion of Weimer’s payment for the construction job. The team were rechristened the Fleetwings and a new affiliation with the National League’s St. Louis Cardinals was arranged for the 1940 season.

"'Dad always said it was the worst business decision of his life,' stated Lee Butz, son of Alvin Butz and current chairman of Alvin H. Butz, Inc., later. (The Morning Call, Jeff Schuler, 'Baseball Has Been Down, But Not Out' – March 30, 2008)

"Alvin Butz would, eventually, complete the sale of the Fleetwings with St. Louis Cardinals owner Sam Breadon at the 1943 Major League All-Star Game, which was held in Philadelphia that season. Lee Butz, then all of nine years old, was present for negotiations, but that’s another story. The Fleetwings would be rechristened the Cardinals to match their Major League sponsors for the 1944 campaign. Considering the anniversary of D-Day is in just two days, it is noteworthy that, during the course of World War II, the known-morale booster of professional baseball operated at the corner of South Howard and Lehigh Streets in Allentown.

"By 1948, however, the Allentown Cardinals had been moved to a new stadium, Breadon Field, which was a new ballpark with a capacity of 5,000 that had opened in Whitehall Township, which neighbors the city to the north.

"Baseball fans visiting Coca-Cola Park from the west of Allentown traveling US ROUTE 22 EAST heading west must pass the 7th Street / MacArthur Road exit and surely notice the Lehigh Valley Mall off on the left. The Lehigh Valley Mall would be the former site of Breadon Field, for those taking notes of such matters. Truth is, while the new ballpark for the old Allentown Cardinals was being built along the Seventh Street Pike, the US Route 22 highway, as current Lehigh Valley residents are accustomed to, did not exist.

"Meanwhile, Fairview Field got a face-lift in the middle of the 1970s and was re-opened as Earl F. Hunsicker Bicentennial Park to coincide with the United States of America’s two hundredth anniversary in 1976. Thus, if for that reason alone, the aging stadium is in every sense of the term a piece of both local and national history. And, therefore, no better nor worse than any other national icon, such as the Liberty Bell itself.

"(The Liberty Bell and Allentown is a another story for another day)

"More research would be required, but I seem to recall a semi-pro baseball team called the Allentown Wings who played at Bicentennial in the seventies for a little while. Harder to forget that, in the 1990s, an independent league baseball team posing as professionals called the Allentown Ambassadors came and went. More on that shortly.

"Nowadays, Bicentennial Park is home to the Philadelphia Force, a team in the National Pro Fastpitch league, which is women’s professional softball.

"As for Bicentennial itself, the ballpark can do nothing but project the image of a tiny little old stadium in desperate need of major cash infusion to cure many ills. The Philadelphia Force are fine people doing nice things. Unfortunately, however, the realities of situations see to it that women’s professional softball teams do not have piles of capital on hand all the time for renovation projects.

"There are people in the city of Allentown, from what I have read on the Internet, with some truly outstanding ideas of vision and growth involving a restaurant or two and a Bicentennial Park – Patriots Park softball complex."

Norco No Shows Explain Absence at LV Health Comm'n

Wednesday evening's scheduled meeting of the Lehigh Valley Health Commission was a bust because Northampton County Council was unable to produce a quorum. Prior to the meeting, Council Prez Ann McHale was called by Diane Neiper, who is preparing to move to Cumberland County, and Rev. Dowd, who is recovering from pneumonia. She expected Council's seven remaining members to be there. Ron Angle, John Cusick and Peg Ferraro made the trip. But as Angle noted last night, "we looked like a bunch of jerks." Charles Dertinger, Lamont McClure and Joe Capozzolo were MIA.

How good are these excuses?

Excuse No. 1 (Joe Capozzolo): I was Watching My Four Children.

Joe the Mayor's wife is out of town so he's watching his four children. He called Percy Dougherty on Monday, but never called McHale. He admitted he should have called her.

Excuse No. 2 (Charles Dertinger): Didn't You Get my Email?

"I had actually emailed Mr. Flisser [Council Clerk], responding to one of the emails I had about three days ago and unfortunately, I did not think to print that out today. ... I will forward the email that I sent to everyone here on council and then you can apologize at the following meeting."

Council Clerk Frank Flisser acknowledged that since the county's computer system switched, "things have been missed, things have been lost, things have come in triplicate, things have disappeared and we don't have a record of it. None of us has it. He may very well have sent it and none of us have received it."

Excuse No. 3 (Lamont McClure): We Don't Need no Steenkin' Health Commission.

"I had no intention of attending and have no intention of attending any others. Specifically, if I can grind the process to a halt - and five of you who support it can't get there - I now am very pleased to be able to try and do that.

"I support universal health care as a national solution. ... We want to form a bi-county health bureau using real estate tax dollars paid by people who won't be using it so that we can have - and it's an inconvenient truth - poor people treated at the health bureaus and get them out of our not for profit hospitals, who are sitting on enormous cash reserves. I'm just not willing to say to my constituents that you're going to have to pay more in real estate taxes to do that. It's not fair to them.

"We have a couple of very well endowed, not for profit, hospitals who should be treating poor people, quite frankly.

Stoffa: "Do you think it's wrong to make sure kids have inoculations? Do you think that's wrong?"

At this point, Stoffa and Angle began sparring over a favorable report prepared by the University of Pittsburgh. McClure claimed he read the report and his point was made in a footnote.

Stoffa: "Who said tax money was going to be used for it, other than you [Angle]?"

Angle: "You're full of crap if you think state money is going to fund it. ..."

Stoffa: "Read the report."

Angle: "You're full of crap."

Stoffa: "Get a couple of cigars and I'll read it to you."

Ron has agreed to let Stoffa come to his house Saturday night and read the report to him as a bed time story while taking his weekly bubble bath.

John Stoffa Can Build a $16 Million Birdhouse

After dragging its feet the past few months, Northampton County Council last night unanimously adopted a $16 million bond ordinance. Half of the money will go for juvenile justice center expansion ($5.5 million), parking deck repairs ($1.5 million) and bridge reconstruction ($1 million). The remaining half will refinance $8 million in existing debt. Council member Diane Neiper was absent, but the remaining members all support the bond. "It's amazing how successful this bond has become in the last two weeks," was Ron Angle's pithy observation following the vote.

Just two weeks ago, this bond was no sure thing.

Council member Charles Dertinger refused to accept realistic cost estimates that were actually prepared by engineers. He warned actual costs would be much higher. But Dertinger was mistaken. Public bids have since come in for these projects, and it turns out they are slightly lower than the cost estimates. Last night, Dertinger was unusually quiet.

Lamont McClure, usually a Stoffa critic, suddenly became downright complimentary. He was particularly impressed by Stoffa's pledge that eighty per cent of the labor would come from the Lehigh Valley.

But perhaps the best sign of Stoffa's financial stewardship comes from Standard & Poor's decision, made Wednesday, to raise Northampton County's bond rating from "AA-" to "AA." According to these credit analysts, "[t]he county's financial position continues to improve due to conservative budgeting and better-than-expected revenues." ... "We expect the county's management team will continue its strong financial performance and maintain its very strong financial position." The County's Financial advisor told council last night, "There are very few credits this strong in the Commonwealth."

Since coming aboard, Stoffa has insisted on a healthy cash reserve, with more than a little help from the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle. Unlike Allentown's Mayor Pawlowski, Stoffa has also strived to be realistic about revenue projections.

As a result, Northampton's new AA rating is higher than Lehigh County.

This increased bond rating is also a credit to Northampton County's very quiet Fiscal Affairs Director, Vic Mazziotti. When I told you he has found ways to save taxpayers nearly $10 million annually, that was no election spin.

The icing on the cake is the Internet Auction that took place on Thursday. The winning bid was a 3.50 interest rate. The county will save over $500,000 on the bonds it is refinancing, or seven percent of what would otherwise be paid. In addition, the county saves another $394,000 on the amount it had set aside to pay for debt service on the bond this year.

Charles Dertinger had previously complained, "We have an administration that can't build a birdhouse." Looks like John Stoffa builds a pretty good birdhouse after all.

Ron Angle Praises Downtown Allentown

A few weeks ago, when Ron Angle was warned he and fellow Norco Council members had to go to an evening meeting in downtown Allentown, he quipped, "Take off your hubcaps before you go." That simple joke resulted in a firestorm of angry comments, which ran from accusations of racism to demands for an apology.

Well, folks, before the Northampton County Bulldog invaded Allentown last night, he did remove the hubcaps from his truck. But I'm happy to report that he had lots of nice things to say about the Queen City on his way out of the downtown government center.

"The game is canceled - rain - but I got a good deal on a Rolex in the parking lot - $8 - and a girl in a miniskirt offered to show me the town for $20. It's a really nice place."

He explains the Rolexx deal in more detail in the video above.

Norco Council Members Get Lost on Way to Allentown

Last night's meeting of the Lehigh Valley Health Commission, scheduled for Allentown, lasted all of 92 seconds. Only four members of Northampton County Council bothered showing up, so there was no quorum. Several elected officials, unwilling to do their jobs, have forced these unfortunate consequences:

* Health professionals left busy practices for nothing.

* The LV Board of Health's Initial Budget remains unadopted.

* A financial intermediary who can accept some generous donations from the private sector remains unauthorized.

* The appointment of two members to the LV Board of Health will have to wait.

* Advertising costs for this meeting, which come out of your pocket, have been wasted.

* Missing Northampton Council members demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the time of Lehigh County Commissioners.

An unusually subdued Norco Council Prez Ann McHale announced, "This is embarrassing." Hey, that's Northampton County!

How did this happen? Council members Diane Neiper and Mike Dowd, to their credit, told Prez Ann McHale they would be unavailable. Rev. Dowd is recovering from pneumonia and Neiper is preparing for a move to Cumberland County. So they get a pass.

But where the hell were Council members Charles Dertinger, Lamont McClure and Joe Capozzolo? They never bothered to show. They also lacked the courtesy to call in advance. Some say they were at the casino. Others claim that Lamont and Charles were strolling up and down Hamilton Street as mariachis.

Lehigh County Commissioners sat with quiet looks of astonishment on one side of the room, but Northampton County Council members on the other side were a little more vocal. "Hey, I made it here driving on a donut," groused John Cusick. "That's why Lamont and Charles don't want payraises," noted Peg Ferraro. "Lamont and Charles are afraid to come to Allentown," explained Ron Angle.

Lehigh County Commissioner and Chair Percy Dougherty offered his apologies and suggested a "healthy discussion" among those members present. But Angle, no great fan of a bi-county health board in the first place, quickly put a stop to that notion. "In my opinion, you're having a workshop that wasn't authorized. I make a motion we adjourn." LC Comm'r Bill Leiner quickly seconded Angle's motion, which passed unanimously.

Game over.

Update: Joe Capozzolo explains his absence by stating he was home watching four children. He tells me he called Dr. Dougherty on Monday, although he failed to call McHale. Lehigh County taxpayers paid about $160 to advertise this meeting. The Northampton County Council members whose unexplained absence resulted in this lack of a quorum should be asked to pay that fee out of their own pockets.

Grucela Bill To Help Military Families Unanimously Passes State House

A bill (H.B. 592) to help military families, sponsored by State Rep. Rich Grucela, D-Northampton, passed the state House passed unanimously yesterday. It protects members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and other United States reservists, as well as their spouses, from losing college tuition or credit if deployed before the end of a semester. Current law already protects the service member, but Grucela’s legislation extends that privilege to spouses, too.

"Military families make many sacrifices when enrolling in the military, but this is a situation we can easily fix," Grucela said. "When a National Guard member or reservist is called to duty, their spouse's life is uprooted as well. The last thing they should have to worry about is losing credit or tuition. I thank my colleagues for giving their unanimous support to this bill, especially as we come off the Memorial Day holiday."

Grucela hopes the legislation, which the House passed last session but languished in the Senate, would be taken up immediately in the Senate and signed into law.

"This is the second session in a row that the House has passed this bill," Grucela said. "I hope this time the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee will move this legislation out of committee and allow the full Senate to consider it."

Under the legislation, if a Guard member or reservist was called to active duty, other than active duty for training, the educational institution in which the member is enrolled would grant the member or his or her spouse a military leave of absence from their education without the loss of academic credits earned or forfeiture of scholarships or grants awarded prior to the commencement of the military duty.

Educational institutions also would be required to refund tuition or fees paid, or credit the tuition and fees to the next semester or term when the member returns.

Grucela serves on the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Allentown Considering Webcasts

Allentown City Council member Michael Donovan reports that tonight, City Council took a step in the direction of greater transparency.

"Allentown council approved a resolution that will begin the process of researching options for broadcasting our meetings. We would like to open up the chamber to other public and non-profit entities that could use our "Government Access Channel" that is available through the cable companies.

"We will approach webcasting first, but are looking at other options, too.

"We have some enthusiastic volunteers who are helping us research costs and options. They felt having a resolution would help in showing support to the community."

The Nutty Professor

It cost about $51,000 to put your child through Lehigh last year. If you're lucky, your son or daughter has avoided Assistant Professor Aurelie Thiele from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. There's little question she looks down her nose at Lehigh Valley people. In a rambling blog, she laments that "[i]t takes some thick skin to live in this area when you make a decent living for yourself."

Did I mention she has a PhD from MIT?

"I might have too much integrity for the Lehigh Valley. I really liked it for the first 2 1/2 years but that was before I knew what kind of people lived here."

Maybe she met Ron Angle.

"I'm not going to pretend life is fun in the Valley for people who happen to take pride in being intellectuals. ... With my PhD from MIT, I'm so completely out-of-place it'd be hilarious if it weren't so sad."

I know how she feels. I'm a genius myself.

"I'm really keen on my title of snobby intellectual. It's a matter of pride for me not to be liked by people who don't share my values."

Another miserable bastard!

"The real issue is, if people at the top of the power scale care so much about looking good and people at the bottom are so bitter, maybe I'd be better off elsewhere, because here I'm well aware that I'm on my own. That's life."

Is she related to Marie Antoinette?

"I understand now why many young professors at Lehigh live in Lansdale (much closer to Philly) or off Route 78 in New Jersey. Several people have told me 'we need more people like you here,' but there's a big difference between need and want. The Lehigh Valley doesn't want people like me. I can't blame them - we're a disruption to the existing power order, especially those of us who look like students and turn out to be professors with too much idealism for their own sake."

Is she trying to tell us she's one hot mama? I could probably pass for a young college hunk myself. Just yesterday, someone was calling me juvenile.

"At some level, I'm not even sure the Lehigh Valley wants Lehigh University. The students are just a constant reminder that some people are well on their way toward a successful life away from here."

Like the one who knocked over a bank two years ago.

Here's a question for Lehigh. Do you really expect LV parents to pay you $51,000 to be insulted by some elitist snob?

McClure: Suspend Controller, Exec & Council Payhikes

Northampton County Council last March adopted long overdue salary increases for future county executives, controllers and council members. The Exec's salary will go from $65,000 to $85,000, starting in 2010. Council's salary will shoot from $7,000 to $9,500. The next Controller, elected in 2012, will see his salary go from $39,000 to $50,000. It will be their first raise in eighteen years.

But if council member Lamont McClure gets his way, that raise will be suspended. McClure opposed payhikes last year because of an uncertain economy. He added that no one who serves in elective office should be doing it for the money.

The Home Rule Charter prevents Council from giving themselves raises. They can set salaries for the next term of an elected official, but not the current one. Here's what it says.

"The County Council shall have the power by ordinance to set the salary of each elected official. No ordinance shall increase or decrease the salary of an elected official during his term of office. No ordinance which increases or decreases the salary of an elected official shall take effect less than one (1) year after its date of enactment."

Since the next term will start in January, less than a year from now, I'm uncertain that Council can get involved at all. If it does have the power to suspend a payraise, that will only go into effect in June or July of 2010. So the next county exec would start off at an $85,000 and see his salary plummet to $65,000 in six or seven months.

When Lehigh and Northampton County adopted Home Rule Charters in 1978, they set initial salaries for their execs and legislators. The full-time county execs were paid $30,000 (Lehigh) and $35,000 (Northampton) while part-time legislators were paid $2,500 (Lehigh) and $4,000 (Northampton).

If these 1978 salaries were adjusted just for cost of living, our local county officials would be bringing home a lot more bacon today. Northampton County Exec Stoffa would be paid $113,975. His Lehigh County counterpart, Don Cunningham, would gross $97,693. Northampton County Council members would receive $13,025 salaries instead of the current $7,000.

You get what you pay for, bippy. Local leaders like McClure will tell you they're here to serve, but a glance at their campaign expense reports makes you wonder just who is the master. Let's face it. Our current salary structure is designed to attract political hacks looking to advance themselves, or zillionaires who've lost touch with the common man. I've heard many very qualified private businessmen, state legislators, and others simply state they could not afford to live on the meager wages paid to local elected officials.

Northampton County Exec John Stoffa actually vetoed a proposed 2006 payhike. At that time, several union contracts were still being negotiated. Some employees had seen their wages frozen for three years. The timing was all wrong.

Now, all labor contracts have been negotiated. But McClure, who has consistently opposed payhikes, is undoubtedly concerned about raises at a time when taxpayers are losing their jobs. But if it's all about the notion of service, why not forego salaries completely? Why does McClure even collect his current $7,000 salary?

These raises have waited long enough.

Will Northampton County Council be Webcasting Anytime Soon?

When Diane Neiper told fellow Northampton County Council members that her resignation is imminent, she threatened to come back and attend meetings from time to time. "If our livestream didn't cost so much, you might be able to watch us," answered Council Prez Ann McHale.

Cost so much? What the hell is she smoking?

Livestreaming county council meetings was supposed to be part of the $650,000 in renovations to the star chamber. Members did get fancy little laptops for a paltry $10,294.57, but no web cams.

I spoke yesterday to Al Jordan, Northampton County's Director of Information Services. He's had a proposal since January '07. Since that time, Lehigh County has decided to webcast its meetings. In November, Council member Mike Dowd asked McHale what she had done, and she claimed they needed someone to operate the camera. That was news to Al Jordan, who told me no one from council had spoken to him.

I spoke with Al again yesterday. He told me webcasting could be done as cheaply as $500. But McHale is opting for a $17,000 production that saves meetings and even has a nice little index. The county has apparently applied for a grant to fund this project.

Here's an idea. Why not break down and spend $500 for a fricking webcam and livestream those meetings while you're waiting for that grant to be rejected? As Al told me yesterday, it's "inevitable." So why not bite the bullet?

If iCarly can do it, so can Ann McHale.

Lehigh County Seniors May Be Eligible For Farmers' Market Vouchers

If you live in Lehigh County, you might be eligible for a break on your food bill. Lehigh County’s Office of Aging and Adult Service will distribute Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers to eligible senior citizens from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, beginning June 3 at the Lehigh County Government Center’s Information and Referral lobby, 17 S 7th St., Allentown.

Vouchers are available to Lehigh County residents 60 years or older whose total gross household income is not more than $20,036 for a single person; $26,955 for married couples; $33,874 for 3 persons; and $40,793 for 4 persons. Proof of age, residency and a social security number must be provided. Participants will be required to sign that they read and understand their rights and responsibilities.

A single person is eligible to receive four $5 vouchers and couples eight $5 vouchers one time only. They will also receive a list of local farmers markets where the vouchers may be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The vouchers will not be accepted at grocery stores and must be used by November 30, 2009.

A Lehigh Valley Tour de Blog

Morning Call columnist Paul Carpenter may be "loath to look at, or even think about, blogs," but I love them. Here's a brief tour de blog.

Michael Molovinsky is getting quite a bit of feedback concerning his recent "Allentown Speak Out" Forum, in which LANTA's attempt to expand into beautiful Bicentennial Park was discussed. MM must have been pretty damn successful because the Villas are jealously impersonating him at the Topix Forum.

Allentown City Councilman Michael Donovan, who was there, has decided he can't agree to a sale of Bicentennial Park just yet. He thinks other options should be exhausted and more public participation should be sought. Donovan makes his points well, as evidenced by the slams he is taking from the Villas in the commentary to his post.

Over at Queen City Daily, Blogger Jarrett Renshaw suggests that financially distressed Allentown may want to sell this ball park so it can meet operating expenses. Kinda' makes you wonder what they'll be unloading next year. Pawlowski is obviously pitching screwballs.

Speaking of financially distressed Allentown, Pam Varkony describes King Edwin's 63,492-member "Blue Ribbon Budget Committee" as a big fat bullshit burger. She's a little more genteel about it, calling it a "smokescreen." Believe me, it's a big, fat, sloppy, greasy bullshit burger.

J. Black, just released after being waterboarded at the hoosegaw for a few days, is getting just a little fed up that black dudes are always identified as the Big, Bad Wolf in every false report that comes from a white woman. Well J, who the hell are they supposed to name, me? The cops would just laugh.

Joe Hilliard is blowin' oil because centrist Charlie Dent voted with the Democrats to support a hate-crime bill. He'll probably try to have Dent impeached or something, proving yet again just how out-of-touch the far right is from mainstream thinking.

Allentown is Nice continues to prove that Allentonians have special needs. I don't know where to begin with that dude.

Bill White, who actually used to write about local politics, apologizes for being on a "good news kick." It's probably just an allergic reaction to Ron Angle. Get ready for 1,500 American Idol and Movie Quote posts.

In the world of sports, Joe Owens offers possible replacements for Harry Kalas, but modestly excludes himself. IronPigPen continues his thorough coverage of the 'Pigs.

Swimming Pool Repairs Are Open Space?

Close your eyes for a moment and just think about these two words - "open space." What comes to mind? Pristine woodlands bisected by babbling brooks? Fecund farmlands filled with growing winter wheat, the greenest stuff you ever saw? A bicycle path rambling alongside a lazy summer river? I can see them myself. That's what we all see when we think about open space. What's not to like?

How about swimming pool repairs? Believe it or not, those are specifically included in Northampton County's Open Space Guidelines, first adopted in 2005. Open space money may be used to "rehabilitate existing municipally owned park and recreation facilities that are in need of improvement."

At the last meeting of Northampton County Council on May 21, Palmer Township was unanimously awarded $243,308 for repairs to its community pool, which consists of sandblasting, patching drain renovations, ceramic tile work, piping, etc. Williams Township was given $75,000 to replace climbing and play structures for the kiddies at Raubsville Park.

Both of these grants are for a good cause. Both comply with the 2005 guidelines. But I've still got three problems.

First, do these really seem like "open space" projects to you? Second, the larger townships seem to find out about these grants while struggling municipalities lack the manpower to play the grants game. Third, there is nothing in the grants process that gives a preference to municipalities suffering financial hardship. Williams and Palmer Townships, who can take care of themselves, get grant money financed in part by Easton taxpayers. Easton, which probably needs pool repairs and new playground equipment everywhere, is getting nothing.

Blogs Beneath Morning Call Columnist Paul Carpenter

His paper is going down the toilet, yet Morning Call columnist Paul Carpenter is "loath to look at, or even think about, blogs." I guess he prefers all those stories about fried pizza dough and the secret recipe to Hess' Strawberry Pie. Yeah, that's the ticket. Keep rearranging those deck chairs.

I read Carpenter's comment because another blogger, Michael Molovinsky, mentioned the column. Fortunately, most real journalists have a more tolerant attitude.

Will Anyone Challenge LV Congressman Charlie Dent?

In three successful LV Congressional bids, Charlie Dent first faced Philadelphia area carpetbagger Joe Driscoll, who considered the Lehigh Valley a "speed bump on his way to Congress." Then it was newly-elected Northampton County Council member Charles Dertinger, who complained during a debate that he had been "dragged into this race," kicking and screaming. Dertinger's words were played over and over on radio ads. Most recently, Dent faced Siobhan "Sam" Bennett, whose campaign was so laughable that even she had to ask TV producers to censor some of her comments.

The common denominator to these three lousy candidates? Dem party boss Joe Long. So it should come as no surprise that the DCCC has avoided the Bossman's "advice" about Dent opponents in 2010. The've been sniffing around, and are considering at least these three choices.

1) Lehigh County Dem Party Boss Rick Daugherty. - The antithesis of Joe Long, Rick is affable and inclusive. Here's what he tells me.

"My hope is that a top tier Democratic candidate will run for Congress in the 15th Congressional District. I will work with anyone who has an interest in running. I believe democracy works best when competing ideas are discussed, debated and put before the public. I believe I would be a viable candidate for Congress but right now I have not made any decision about running. I really enjoy the job I have now. And as a former District Administrator for Congressman Paul McHale, fully understand the demands and limitations on running for Congress and being a Member of Congress. My goal has always been to try to contribute to the community, have a job I enjoy, and be able to support my family. I have been very fortunate throughout my career in the Lehigh Valley, and the job I have now allows me to do that."

I think what Rick is saying is that he'll run if no one else comes forward. But this would be at tremendous personal sacrifice. He would almost certainly have to resign his position as Executive Director at The Lehigh County Senior Citizen Center.

2) Former Fighter Pilot Dave Haines. - He's a former fighter pilot, an Annapolis grad, a Boeing-777 International Captain, a Northampton Food Bank volunteer, an assistant soccer coach at Northampton High School and a Deacon at St. John's UCC in Howertown. He was also one of the applicants for a Northampton County Council vacancy created last year by Wayne Grube's death.

But this is one fighter pilot who ejected. After seeing the Joe Long Dems in action, Haines quickly bailed.

"This letter is written to extend a courtesy not previously afforded by the Northampton County Council.

"After personally experiencing the arbitrary manner in which the council conducts business at the December 4, 2008 meeting, and closely watching press reports of council business over the past six weeks, it has become obvious that council would appear to be a body, currently more interested in political theatre than in effectively serving the citizens of Northampton County.

"It has also become clear that no 'new member' will be able to materially change the tenor of council in the short time leading to the 2009 election. Fulfilling a tragic or comedic role was never what I envisioned when making initial application to county council, therefore, please remove my name from further consideration at this time.

"Best of luck in the selection process and the coming year."

If nothing else, Haines speaks truth to power. Gotta' love that.

3) Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. - Callahan is a first-tier candidate and represents a real threat to Charlie Dent. He replaced a brownfield with Emeril Lagasse. Bam! He did it without the KOZs so popular (and misdirected) in Allentown. How's that for kicking things up a notch?

On top of all that, he's really a nice guy. I saw him one cold December at Bethlehem's dog park. He doesn't know me from Adam, but knows Suki, my grandson's Jackapoo, quite well. What's a Jackapoo? That's a fancy word for mutt, but Callahan likes her anyway.

Little things like that go a long way with voters. One Democratic voter told a Bennett canvasser in the last election cycle that he was voting Dent. Years ago, when Charlie was goinjg door to door, the guy's dog ran off. Charlie ran down the street, got hiswdog, and brought him back.

People like that human touch. Both Dent and Callahan have it.

But does Callahan really want to gamble as much as he hopes everyone else is doing at the Bethlehem Sands? He'd be bucking the odds against a popular, centrist Republican who has even been courted by Obama. Unless Callahan announces Congressional intentions soon, it's a safe bet that he's holding.