A Call to Peace, From Nazareth to Bethlehem

Dimitri Schwartz, at the vanguard, leads the 10-mile pilgrimage

When Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem two thousand years ago, as claimed in the Gospel of Luke, they covered approximately eighty miles. On December 8, in memory of that journey, approximately 150 people made the shorter, 10-mile, trip between Nazareth and Bethlehem here in the Lehigh Valley. Called the Christmas Peace Pilgrimage, it's the 53rd time this group has made the trip, walking with simple star and peace signs. It's an annual reminder of the true meaning of Christmas - peace on earth.

This year's trek, which started at the Moravian Church in the Nazareth Circle at noon, slowly made its way along Route 191 and into Bethlehem, stopping at three churches along the way. It ended, as darkness fell, with Christmas carols at the Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. Although most participants were from the Lehigh Valley, they included people from the coal regions, Maryland and Ohio.

Some have been making this an annual expedition since the '70s. As Grant Stevenson explains, "Somebody's gotta' be for peace." A sign at First Baptist Church, a rest stop along the way, refers everyone to Christ's message: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Lanna Melchiorre, Hillary Frigm and John Bergdoll join pilgrimage from Nazareth race track

Nick Butterfield, Tom Stimmet and Grant Stevenson join hike about 2 miles into trip

Russell Fry, age 8, walked the entire 10 miles. 

After three miles, group rests at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lower Nazareth Township

It's a family affair for Bethlehem resident Rick Dow. His wife manned the sag wagon. His daughter forgot the camera.

After 6 miles, Colleen Gahman and Rhonda Mitchell are still smiling

Cindy Yost waves as she makes her way to First Baptist Chruch

Rita Skechus comes from the Scranton area to walk 10 miles for peace

In Bethlehem, pilgrims stop at First Church of the Nazarene for vigil candles

Sgt John Karr, one of Bethlehem's finest, provided traffic control

This is what it was all about - a call to peace

You can see more pictures here.

South Side: A Community That Still Has a Soul

Despite a bone-chilling rain, over fifty people attended a candlelight vigil in South Bethlehem on Friday night, just a few feet from where six people were shot the previous weekend. After a volley of thirty bullets, Yolanda Morales, age 23, is dead. Her killer and another shooter, still hospitalized, have been charged. But that was little consolation to the people who came to wonder why.

Kim Carrell-Smith, a Lehigh University History Professor who lives on the South Side, pointed to the where the shooting occurred and said, "That is not who we are. But this, the community gathering, is who we are. We're the South Side."

Kim Carrell-Smith (L) and Lorna Velazquez (R)

Those attending the vigil included Evelyn Rivera, President of the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society, where a minor argument escalated into a gunfight outside. "There's not much you can do except cry," she said, as her daughter, Jaclyn, consoled her.

Jaclyn Rivera consoles her mother, Evelyn

Police Chief Jason Schiffer, who helped light candles, said his force is proud to partner with a "community that still has a soul." He stated his force would never have been able to piece this together without them. "We're standing here together, and against what happened," he said.

Police Chief Jason Schiffer mourns with the rest of the community

Northampton Community College's South Side Campus Dean, Paul Pierpoint, stated we are all "shocked and saddened at the senseless violence and loss of precious life that occurred on this street." He attributed it to "our current gun culture. None would have died here last weekend if guns were not present." Guns "exacerbate our flaws," he said. "Maybe guns don't kill people. But angry or frightened people with guns far too often do." Pierpoint dreams of an "island" without gun violence. "But it is only a dream so long as our island is surrounded by an ocean of guns."

Bearded Paul Pierpoint listens to other speakers

Twins Brigid and Stephen White, age 9, attend the vigil with mother Sheila.

A saddened State Rep. Steve Samuelson said little, and spent most of his time at the vigil in prayer.

City Council member J. Willie Reynolds, in brief remarks, said that despite geographical divisions, there is only one Bethlehem. What happened last weekend is unacceptable, he claimed.

Bethlehem police help light vigil candles.

Bethlehem South Side Shootout Leads to Charges Against Two Men

DA John Morganelli grew up on the south side

Yolanda Morales, age 23, died in a hail of gunfire during the early morning hours of December 2. She was killed just after leaving the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society, a club located at 205 E. Third Street. Five others are hospitalized. Altogether, six people were involved in the most bloody episode of the South Side's history since the 1910 Bethlehem Steel strike. But unlike the violence in 1910, which involved workers' rights and wages, this fight appears to have started over nothing. "It should have never reached this stage," said veteran District Attorney John Morganelli, who grew up on the South Side himself.

On Friday, Morganelli announced that two of three shooters in this gunfight, both Allentown men, have been charged. Rene Figueroa, age 32, faces homicide and related charges, including the use of a stolen .45 caliber pistol. Javier Rivera-Alverado, age 38, has also been charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault. Neither man possessed a license to carry.

Both remain hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and are under guard.

A third shooter, Orialis Figueroa, age 38, and no relation to Rene Figueroa, will face no charges. According to Morganelli, he was defending himself and others. "His actions may have saved other lives that night," stated Morganelli.

Am incidental bumping inside the Puerto Rican Beneficial Club is what led to the shooting, according to court documents filed by Bethlehem police.

None of the participants in this firefight are club members, but were there for an "open night."

The two charged shooters - Rene Figueroa and Javier Rivera-Alverado - were at the club together and were concerned by another group that was supposedly eyeing up Rene Figueroa's gold jewelry.

This other group consisted of Orialis Figueroa, who was at the club with his brother, Angel Figueroa, age 35, and his nephew, Luis Rivera, age 24. Orialis was also accompanied by his girlfriend and her friend, Yolanda Morales. They are from the Easton area.

Lieutenant Mark DiLuzio, Criminal Investigations

Orialis Figueroa bumped into a group of men that included the charged shooters, and words were exchanged. One of them threatened him, saying, "Te voy a Disparar" (I'm going to shoot you.")

After the threat, Orialis Figueroa decided to leave, and waited at the club's front door for his girlfriend. Because the club was ready to close, and she would likely leave with a crowd that included the same people who threatened him, Orialis retrieved a baseball bat from her car for protection. But as he turned around along the sidewalk, he was ambushed by Rivera-Alvarado.

Pointing a handgun at Orialis Figueroa's head, Rivera-Alvarado taunted him and fired several shots into his legs.

Just as this happened, Yolanda Morales and Angel Figueroa approached. Rivera-Alvarado turned and fired at them, too. "I'm hit," said Morales. Rivera-Alvarado then turned and shot Luis Rivera.

While Rivera-Alvarado was turned, Orialis Figueroa, despite his wounds, managed to strike Rivera-Alvarado in the back of the head with the baseball bat. Rivera-Alverado collapsed to the ground.

Orialis Figueroa took Rivera-Alvarado's handgun and went to assist Angel Figueroa and Yolanda Morales. Rivera-Alvarado's friend, Rene Figueroa, was trying, with a handgun he had taken from his waistband, to get a clear shot at Angel Figueroa. Yolanda Martinez inserted herself between Rene and Angel Figueroa. Rene Figueroa just shot her. After that, he gunned down Angel Figueroa and began shooting at Orialis Figueroa, who was returning fire.

Rene Figueroa then ran back into the club and ran around the metal detector in all the chaos, giving his handgun to someone to hide for him, after which he collapsed from his wounds. Bethlehem police found it inside the club's bathroom. It has been reported stolen from Jones Gun Shop in Allentown. They continue to search for the person who hid it. The other handgun was retrieved from underneath the hood of a car.

In addition to witness statements, Bethlehem police have retrieved surveillance video from the club. District Attorney Morganelli praised them for their "excellent job piecing this together." He has assigned prosecution of this case to First Assistant DA Terry Houck.

According to Morganelli, it is too early in the prosecution to say whether the Commonwealth will seek the death penalty against Rene Figueroa.

Rene Figueroa has faced criminal charges before. In 1999 and 2006, he was charged with several firearms offenses, and entered pleas. In 2004, he entered a plea to drug offenses.

NorCo Adopts No-Tax-Hike Budget, Looks For Repeat Next year

With minor amendments, Executive John Stoffa's no-tax hike budget was adopted tonight 8-1, with the sole dissenting vote coming from Tom Dietrich. This was more or less expected. But Fiscal Affairs Director Doran Hamann supplied the surprise of the night when he predicted there will be no need for one next year, either. He did caution, "We don't know what's going to happen in the next 365 days."

According to Hamann, this is for three reasons. First, the County has begun using its self-insurance fund to pay benefits. Second, it borrowed money to pay off part of the swaption instead of dipping into reserves. Third, as a result of bond refinancing, it was able to avoid a debt service payment due on October 1.

Hamann was proud to report that the County has managed to retain its AA bind rating.

But there are still clouds on the horizon.

Hamann noted that Gracedale, the County-owned nursing home, is in need of "Major repairs." Council President John Cusick noted that the County will still be paying $4 million for operations at nursing home next year. Despite a private management firm, it continues to lose money.

In addition to Gracedale, Hamann noted that 2/3 of the County's revenue comes from the state and federal governments. The state, in particular, has made substantial reductions in payments for human services.

Council President John Cusick noted that, despite a declining tax base, the annual pension cost next year will be $12.5 million. Fifteen per cent of the County's real estate tax revenue will have to pay for the pension.

In addition to these concerns, the County is looking down the barrel of $19.6 million in bridge replacements and repairs over the ext three years, which will almost certainly require a bond. Council member Lamont McClure argued against including these cost projections in the capital plan, but Cusick countered, "Repairing bridges has been a core function of government since the Roman Empire."

This budget appears to include (I'm not entirely sure) an across the board 2.25% wage hike for its non-union staffers.

Here's a sampling of some of the wages:

position	2012       salary	2013 salary
county council solicitor	$50,124	$51,252
controller solicitor	$18,360	$18,773
county solicitor	$55,533	$56,782
first ass't cty solicitor	$47,268	$48,332
ass't cty solicitor (4)	$40,686	$41,601
assistant das (7 pt)	$43,377	$44,352
chief public defender	$55,399	$56,646
first ass't public defender	$55,260	$56,503
ass't public defender (14)	$43,377	$44,352

Full-time Assistant DAs and public defenders will have a salary that ranges between $61,901 and $92,080, depending on years of service. Cabinet level officials will be paid between $81,594 and $121,373.

Northampton County's Shrinking Tax Base

In 2012, $85.9 million in real estate tax revenue was budgeted. But last night, when Northampton County Council adopted its no-tax hike budget, they had to revise their real estate tax revenue projection downwards, from $85.37 million to $84.97 million.

It's going the wrong way.

According to President John Cusick, that's a first for him. "Some of you might want to think about reassessment," he suggested.

Karl Longenbach to Resign as NorCo Solicitor

Karl Longenbach Resigns as NorCo Solicitor

Gay Elwell's Funeral Arrangments

Easton Eccentric has the details.

Att'y Blake Marles Argues Against Single Waste Hauler in Bethlehem

After several years of watching municipal bodies, I can tell you with some certainty that you'll be hard put to find a better advocate before them than Bethlehem Attorney Blake Marles. He's a good guy to have in the foxhole with you. His patrician appearance alone will give your cause gravitas. He knows the Municipalities Planning Code inside out, and prepares.

Isn't that cheating?

Sterner Sanitation, a fourth generation trash hauler with 3,000 customers in Bethlehem, has retained Marles to represent their interests in connection with Mayor John Callahan's proposal to centralize trash collection under one hauler. His most troubling argument, at least to me, is that the City may lack the legal authority to take a slice of the single hauler contract to help pay for its underfunded pension. He calls it "legally suspect."

Here's the letter he sent to Bethlehem City Council:

Marles Argument Against Single Waste Hauler in Bethlehem

Voters May Get Last Word on Allentown's H2O Privatization

The Lehigh Valley's three cities have all been stung by a budget-busting pension crisis. So in Easton, Mayor Sal Panto pushed through an unpopular commuter tax that he himself hates. In Bethlehem, Mayor John Callahan is the midst of a full court press for a single trash hauler and the money it brings into City coffers. But compared to Allentown, this is penny ante stuff. In the Queen City, Mayor Edwin Pawklowski wants to unload his water and sewer systems with a long-term lease. With $150 million, he'll be able to fund that pension debt and build every city employee a man cave to boot.

Environmentalists have concerns. Will water quality suffer? One of the bidders has purchased water elsewhere to supply to frackers. Will rates skyrocket? In power points and video, Pawlowski insists that won't happen, but many of his usual supporters are skeptical.

One of these supporters is "Camera Dan," or Dan Poresky. He, Glenn L. Hunsicker, Glenn S. Hunsicker, former Controller William Hoffman, and former Council member Michael Donovan have formed a petition committee to give the voters a direct say in this question.

As a rule, I tend to oppose direct democracy, sometimes called initiative and referendum, especially on complicated matters like this. People let their emotions, and not the facts, dictate their votes.

But this is Allentown, where democracy is dead. Three of its seven Council members have not even been elected. Of its 63,806 registered voters, it took just 7,908 of them - a scant 12.4% - to elect Edwin Pawlowski to his second term as Mayor.

Instead of a democracy, Allentown is an urban growth regime in which politicians and select members of the business world co-opt each other, not for the benefit of the community, but to advance their own business interests.

So in this instance, I'd support giving the voters a direct say in the privatization of its water supply.

Poresky and friends have already announced they have enough signatures, but that means nothing unless the City Council Clerk agrees. Last night, I was surpprsed to learn that he does.

Poresky's announcement follows:

The Petitioners Committee that was formed October 12, in response to Mayor Pawlowski’s attempt to privatize Allentown’s water and sewer system, received notification December 4, from City Clerk, Michael Hanlon, declaring that petitions submitted to him on November 28, by the committee, have been declared sufficient. Sufficient is a term used in the city charter meaning that the petitions have met all legal requirements.

One hundred-one petitions containing over four thousand signatures were submitted to the city clerk on November 1. The petition asks that City Council establish an ordinance that requires the city to go to the voters for authority to sell or lease any city property or asset valued at $10 million or more.

According to Mr. Hanlon, the initiative will be introduced at the City Council meeting December 21. Council then has 60 days during which it can act. According to Section 1007 of the Home Rule Charter, Council has three options. It can pass an ordinance consistent with the intent of the initiative. Council can also choose to decline to create an ordinance or do nothing. In either of those two instances the initiative goes to the voters as a ballot question in the May election.

Dan Poresky, a member of the petitioners’ committee stated, “We encourage council to adopt the initiative as an ordinance without delay. Doing so would require any proposed water/sewer lease agreement to go to the voters as early as May 2013."

Poresky says, “The petitioners' committee is preparing action to prevent the city from finalizing a lease agreement until their initiative becomes an ordinance. The ordinance could be created either by Council’s action in the next couple of months or, should they not do so, then by a successful ballot question in the May 2013 primary election.”

Dent Naturalization Bill Passes U.S. House

Congressman Charlie Dent is no friend to undocumented aliens, but has nevertheless pushed a bill through the U.S House that opens a door to citizenship for those who are serving our country. Here's what his office syas.

Today the U.S. House of Representative adopted H.R.6223, a bill introduced by Congressman Charlie Dent, removing hurdles faced by individuals classified as Legal Permanent Residents who are providing translation, interpretation and security services to the Department of State or at our embassies.

Under existing rules, these dedicated individuals are unable to become naturalized citizens due to the fact that the vital services and duties they are rendering America overseas preclude them from meeting the residency and physical presence requirements of individuals who desire to become citizens. (Individuals who want to become naturalized citizens are required to maintain a continuous physical presence in the United States for one full year.)

Currently, for example, a Legal Permanent Resident, who desires to become an American citizen, but serving at our Embassy in Iraq providing security protection to Department of State personnel would be unable to meet the residency and physical presence requirements necessary for them to realize their goal of citizenship.

“These dedicated individuals are doing America a great service, often under dangerous conditions and in highly volatile environments,” said Congressman Dent.

“As Americans we know it is unfair that people who so greatly wish to become American citizens should be penalized bureaucratically while they are making critical contributions to our country in the war against terrorism across the globe,” said Dent.

The positive impact of Congressman Dent’s bill, should it become law, will certainly be felt by at least one resident of the 15th Congressional District he represents.

George Bou Jaoudeh, from Bethlehem, is a Green Card holder of Lebanese descent. He experienced a disruption of his naturalization process because his work – with the Department of State in Iraq providing security for diplomats – prevented him from maintaining a one-year long continuous presence in The United States. Bou Jaoudeh performed with distinction while in Iraq. Ryan Crocker, our Ambassador at the time, credited the Bethlehem man with saving his life on more than one occasion.

Representative Dent thanked and praised Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for the role that Chairman Smith played in helping move the sensible measure through the House. “This could not have been achieved without Chairman Smith’s assistance,” said Congressman Dent. Dent had first introduced this bill in 2010.

For his part, Chairman Smith was glad to be able to help usher this bill through the House:

“I thank Congressman Dent for his work on this bill that honors the legal permanent residents who serve the United States in critical capacities in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world. This important bill makes a common sense change to our immigration laws to facilitate their path to citizenship.”

Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) has introduced a companion bill S.3643 in the Senate.

Molovinsky, Morganelli & TR on Gun Violence

If you talk to the Mayors of any of the Lehigh Valley's three cities, you'll hear that crime is a really just a "perception" problem. Things are fine. Really! But Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli has a different view.

He called a news conference on Monday, in the wake of a weekend of carnage in Northampton County. Easton just had its fifth homicide of the year. And in a South Bethlehem shoot-out, five people were seriously injured and a woman was dead

Morganelli spoke of the "night people," a culture of young "macho" males who use guns to "take care of business." While he stated that Bethlehem and Easton are still safe cities, he adds this caveat: "When it gets past midnight, it's not a good idea to be walking anywhere." At another point, he said, "A lot of these crimes occur after midnight."

Blogger Michael Molovinsky, who has been visiting gun stores in recent weeks to sell his target shooting guns, has noticed they are "now full of very light weight, highly concealable, high caliber pistols, supposedly sold for i>defense." He also notices that our lenient LTC laws "now permit anybody a gun, for any or no reason."

Why is this happening?

Bigots will claim that this is what we should expect from those people, whom they will call "animals."

But Theodore Roosevelt, of all people, is the person who predicted this, on October 14, 1912. He was running for President at the head of the Bull Moose Party, had just finished one speech and was on his way to another. While standing to waive to the crowd, a man armed with a Colt .38 shot the Trust-Buster in the chest.

Instead of listening to his friends and going to the hospital, Roosevelt insisted on delivering his next speech. "[I]t takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose," he told the crowd.

Now for the prediction.

"Friends, every good citizen ought to do everything in his or her power to prevent the coming of the day when we shall see in this country two recognized creeds fighting one another, when we shall see the creed of the "Havenots" arraigned against the creed of the "Haves." When that day comes then such incidents as this to-night will be commonplace in our history. When you make poor men - when you permit the conditions to grow such that the poor man as such will be swayed by his sense of injury against the men who try to hold what they improperly have won, when that day comes, the most awful passions will be let loose and it will be an ill day for our country."

Roosevelt was half-right. Violence is becoming all too commonplace. But as Michael Molovinsky told me in a conversation yesterday, the "Havenots" are not just taking on the "Haves." They're attacking each other, too.

Steve Barron, Controller or Union Organizer?

Some people never learn. Northampton County Controller Steve Barron is one of them.

In 2010, Barron marched on T-Mobile's Lehigh County call center with union organizers, demanding to see the customer service VP, making sure to tell him that he's the Controller, damn it. When a security guard turned him away, Barron asked the guard to tell the VP "that if he needs anything from Northampton or Lehigh County, we're going to remember this day and we'll make sure that it will be part of the negotiations."

So he used the authority of his office to threaten someone. Barron was censured by County Council and awarded an Express Times turkey, but T-Mobile eventually decided to pull out of the Lehigh Valley, taking 600 jobs with them.

I guess he showed them.

Fast forward two years. Steve Barron is a guest on Business Matters, defending teachers' right to strike, claiming they "made me become the person that I am today."

Since he managed to fail the Pa. bar exam and was rejected as a "fraud expert" in a recent criminal case, I agree.

But amazingly, Barron acknowledged during the program that he assists union members and business agents during contract negotiations with the County. And on a publicly broadcast television show, he accused Northampton County of repeatedly lying during contract negotiations. Here it is, in his own words:

"The big problem I have is when I have union members and business agents who come to me as the Northampton County Controller, and say, 'Are we being given a fair deal? Can you open up the County books for me?'

"And then I show them what we have in our coffers, and what we're spending, and what goes in and out, and I say, 'Boy, I think you guys can do better.'

"They were lied to by the management. They weren't told the full financial story of the County, and that disturbs me quite a bit. And it happens - several unions on more than one occasion."

I was unaware that Barron was elected as business agent for the unions. I thought he was the people's Controller.

Executive John Stoffa watched Barron von Footinmouth in action, and has asked for an explanation:

"Steve, last night I watched Business Matters. During this show, I thought I heard you say that this administration or someone in it had "lied" about County finances. Is this true? If so, who was it? Doran? [Director of Fiscal Affairs] Tom Harp? [Director of Administration] Pat Siemiontkowski? [Director of Human relations] When did this occur? This is a serious accusation to make against someone, especially on a local television show. Unless you can prove this allegation, you owe the accused an apology. It is so preposterous to me that you would even say something like this when all fiscal records are available for public scrutiny and are audited to death. Did I mishear what you said?"

Maybe Barron von Footinmout will address it during the next Council meeting. He likes to monopolize Courtesy of the Floor, a time that should be reserved for regular citizens.

AVL: Making Do With Less in Bethlehem

Over the last three years, in the face of a looming pension crisis, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan has reduced the size of his workforce by 69 people over the past three years. Yet they're getting more done. How is this possible?

I'm sure there are several answers, but one of them is a system called Automatic Vehicle Location, or AVL.

Here's how that works. The City installed tracking devices in each of its vehicles, and has installed software enabling it to track all of them on a dynamic real time map, as well as reviewing operations over the past thirty days.

Once that was installed, road crews immediately become more efficient.

Pre AVL, a street sweeper did 20 miles per day. Now it's 28. Pre AVL, a city truck could mount 17 Christmas trees per day. Now, it's 30. Pre AVL, a leaf collector did 18 miles per day. Now it's 22.

This is a product of Callahan's Continuous Improvement (CI) innovation, in which City employees brainstorm and come up with ideas that improve efficiency.

Northampton County Loses Another Starter

The original miserable bastard

Like me, my father was an alcoholic. He'd be fine for weeks, sometimes months, and then would just disappear. He might stop at the office for a few minutes, but by the time I got to it, the only trace left of him would be the smoke from a dying Pall Mall cigarette, curling its way from the ash tray to the ceiling.

Ordinarily, my father was a beer drinker. But on one binge, he was hanging with a real lowlife - a Catholic priest - and the two of them were drinking Irish whiskey.

After getting sufficiently schnockered at some Bucks County watering hole, my father began making his way home along the lonely and winding back roads. He took a corner too fast and his car catapulted off the road and into a nearby field. Distraught neighbors summoned the constabulary and a state trooper came onto the scene.

Surveying the situation, the trooper asked, "What happened, Barnie? Were you in an accident?"

"No, I'm a fuckin' stunt driver," was my Dad's snotty reply. He was a miserable bastard.

Naturally, he was charged with drunk driving. This was before the days of ARD or other special programs for first offenders. In his lifetime, he had prosecuted them and defended them. Now he was one of them himself. A real expert.

My Dad, who fought over everything else, quietly plead guilty. The judge who accepted his plea and sentenced him to twenty years in the electric chair was Isaac Garb. He sat on the bench in Bucks County at that time.

Despite this, or perhaps because of it, my Dad always liked Garb.

As a Senior Judge in Northampton County, Judge Garb was stuck with my lawsuits concerning the $111 million bond. He ruled against me in two suits, although I did manage to get him reversed on one for a pyrhhic victory.

I liked Judge Garb, too.

He was a no-nonsense bastard who still took the time to talk to anyone. Even me.

It's sad that, on the same day that District Judge Gay Elwell died, so did Isaac Garb. Though technically from Bucks County, Garb was a fixture in Easton, and he liked to work.

In one day, Northampton County's judicial system has lost two of its starters.

Gay Elwell: Judge, Lady and Friend

Gay Elwell

She'd kill me if I told you this, but she was always a hottie to me. I got to know her back in the day, when I drank too much and frequented The Garrison Bar. That was the watering hole for young reporters and lawyers. Everybody hit on Gay Elwell back then. You see, in addition to being quite attractive, she had a brain and could hold her own with the best trial lawyers.

In my cups, I am certain I proposed to her several times while attempting tp impress her with my skills at PAC-MAN and ASTEROIDS. She always let me down gently.

GAME OVER.

I remained a buffoon and went on to get my law license suspended. She, like most others, grew up and became The Morning Call's Northampton County Courthouse reporter, succeeding the great Peg Rhodin.

Matching Peg Rhodin would be an accomplishment for anyone, but Gay was not finished. She went on to become a District Judge, and a pretty damn good one at that.

She made one mistake. She remained my friend, even though I gave her ample reason to deny ever having known me. When I started blogging, she actually helped, shooting me an email now and then to point out my numerous spelling and grammatical errors. You see, she was still a writer.

And a voracious reader. I bumped into her at The Easton Public Library every week. I'd grab historical biographies, while she preferred trash. Must be why she read my blog.

Her brother went missing a few months ago, and I know that really ate away at her. But she put on a brave face. "Cheers, my dear. Keep your chin up," she'd tell me as I complained about this and that.

Easton has lost a good front-line judge with lots of common sense. I call them mini-judges, but they are often the only thing that prevents an urban area like Easton from breaking out in riots.

I, and many others at the courthouse, have lost a friend.

I'll miss you, Gay.

NCC Wants to Double Campus Housing

Mardi Closson, NCC's Dean of Students

At Northampton Community College's sprawling campus, twelve apartments and a residence hall provide housing for about three hundred students. But by the time school starts in 2015, college officials would like to double its housing component. That's what Mardi Closson, the College's Dean of Students, told Commissioners at their December 3 meeting.

Closson, along with Attorney Bill Murphy and Facilities Director Mark Culp, pitched the expansion before a receptive Board, arguing that this would actually reduce traffic to and from the campus. She added that there already is a long waiting list for housing, which is determined by weighing distance, grades and disciplinary problems.  The college is the only facility in the state that offers funeral service education, and one of few offering a dental hygiene program. She denied any plans to convert from a two-year to a four-year college.

Commissioner Tom Nolan, who lives near the campus and has opposed expansion in the past, told College officials he is now sold. by their "good track record" and "history with the Township."

Agreeing, Commissioner Marty Zawarski noted there are only 11 incidents per year with police. He did, however, complain that college students crossing Green Pond Road to the main campus are "wearing blinders," and don't stop for or notice traffic.

President Paul Weiss, noting that 89% of Northampton Community College graduates remain in the Lehigh Valley, stated that the college "has been a good neighbor."

After getting an informal green light, college officials will now pitch their expansion to the Planning Commission in January.

Bethlehem Township Balks at 2.5% Increase in Engineering Fees

Comm'r Marty Zawarski

Bethlehem Township Commissioners unanimously tabled a proposed rate increase in engineering fees at their December 3 meeting. The Pidcock Company, which provides engineering services, has proposed a 2.5% rate increase next year, under which the hourly rate for professional services would vary between $48 and $108 per hour. Its current rate schedule has been in place since January 2011.

"With the state of the economy, I can't see that the engineer raised its bills at this time," complained Commissioner Martin Zawarski. He also groused about the mileage being charged, noting that Pidcock is located near Route 309, a forty mile round trip from the Township. "There are very, very good engineering firms within ten minutes of here," he observed.

Rather than outright reject the proposed rate increase, Commissioner Michael Hudak suggested reaching out to Pidcock to ask for an explanation. "We don't really know why a rate in crease is being proposed," added Commissioner Phil Barnard.

"I'm on the fence with this, noted President Paul Weiss, who would also like to hear from Pidcockk

Although he went along with tabling the pay hike, Commissioner Tom Nolan cautioned that changing township engineers is a "monumental task." He added that most of their fees are charged to developers, not the Township.

Would You Like to Be King Edwin's $2500 Sugar Plum?

According to the 2010 census, 23.9% of Allentown's population is below the poverty level. The average per capita income is a scant $18,143. When King Edwin solicits $2500, or 14% of this small sum, he's being a pig. There's just no other way of putting it.

Clearly, he has no interest in Allentown's residents, but is instead courting the movers and shakers he thinks will take him to the next level.

People like Marcel Groen, for whom Hizzoner rammed through an unpopular trash to cash boondoggle. Or NIZ developer J.B. Reilly, who can build another indoor basketball court in his Upper Saucon palace.

But not the people who actually live and work there.

A Charter High School For the Business-Minded

The Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School, located at 601 East Street in West Easton, is looking for students. Below is a very lengthy overview, prepared by Mark Lang. I am publishing all of it. If this is something you are considering for your son and daughter, I know you'll take a close look at it, especially after you see a video of the above young entrepreneur from Allentown, who worked on a business with skateboards.

"This is my time to shine," this young man said.

You can contact Mark Lang with any questions at 610-691-8459.

Summary

The Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School is pioneering a new paradigm for education that engages students through hands-on, meaningful project activities and helps the students achieve their full potential to advance business and society in the ways they are gifted. We are leveraging the best lessons from entrepreneurs to address all the education needs and opportunities of the 21st Century's global creative economy within the context of today's social challenges.

A culture of learning is created by helping each student understand and develop his or her natural abilities and passions. The resulting environment supports engagement and fulfillment, which makes learning meaningful. Students master the core academic subjects through specially selected, team-based and student-directed projects. In this way students learn to research the information needed for a given task or project, critically evaluate what is important, and communicate and collaborate with peers and other resources to co-create outcomes that address goals. Further, all students learn to solve problems creatively just like entrepreneurs by engaging in challenging, multidisciplinary "incubator" projects to the point of creating their own innovative businesses and social initiatives that address real issues for real customers.

The project-based approach provides a learning environment that naturally engages and develops a wide variety of students with diverse abilities and interests. This includes academic standouts bored with traditional schools; to hands-on learners who are disconnected from book learning; through kids who have not had the role models and opportunities to be all they can be. Each has the opportunity to contribute in his or her own unique manner and to take the projects as far as he or she wants to go, so there is no need for separate advanced placement courses. By working together students experience the power that diverse people with different skills and abilities can bring to a productive collaboration. Finally, all students learn to lead within the context of their own gifts and personal styles.

Need for New Education Paradigm

It is widely recognized that in the 21st Century we face an economy globally integrated to an unprecedented degree, along with unimagined advances in science and technology. Hungry people in faraway lands are ready and able to take on any job that is predictable and routine enough for them to master, if it is not automated first. This includes the vast majority of jobs within the traditional middle class. U.S. based organizations must constantly move the bar forward by innovating to survive. The knowledge and skills required for adults to achieve their full potential as citizens, employees, leaders, parents, volunteers, and entrepreneurs in this world are dramatically different from those in prior ages. People require real mastery in English, math, science, and other school subjects so they can apply their understanding to new situations. Further, business and political leaders are increasingly asking schools to develop such skills as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, leadership, and even innovative problem solving―often referred to as "21st Century skills."

Recognizing that schools in the U.S. are falling behind on measures such as international tests and dropout rates, new testing regimens have been forced on public schools to hold them accountable for performance. We believe that the targets for these assessments and the education reform movement in general are misplaced because, even if they are achieved, schools will at best satisfy basic content learning in the tested subjects―leaving out the range of newly important 21st Century skills and, in particular, the need for regular innovation.

Educational Philosophy

The Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School is being designed from the ground up to address all of the education needs dictated by the 21st Century global economy, as well as various societal challenges that get in the way of learning. That includes:

1. Engaging students in learning so they have the motivation to stay involved;
2. Identifying and building on the strengths and styles of each individual student so he can achieve his full potential as gifted;
3. Getting beyond memorization of facts and formulas so that students truly master the core academic subjects and can apply them to any situation; and
4. Developing the innovation and leadership skills to question, think, collaborate, and creatively address problems and opportunities (the 21st Century skills).

It is pretty obvious that changing or improving the current education system cannot accomplish such ambitious learning goals. This effort requires an entirely new paradigm of learning that integrates all of the goals.

The new education paradigm being pioneered by the Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School involves hands-on, student directed learning organized around real projects that are meaningful to students. First, the curriculum includes specific activities to help each student identify his or her natural strengths and interests. Every person is born with unique skills (things he or she can do better than many others) and interests (things that invoke passionate responses). We help each student get in touch with his or her specific life purpose, where he or she is gifted and passionate, and then to develop the knowledge and skills he or she will need to achieve their full potential in that purpose. Second, we teach the majority of core academic subjects (broadly reading and writing, math, science, and humanities) through hands-on projects. We select key questions that are interesting to the students and also require specific knowledge they need to learn, and have students work on projects in teams to develop the answers. In this way students learn the important content as it is used to address real and meaningful applications. At the same time the students are developing 21st Century skills including critical thinking, collaboration, communications, creativity, research, and project management. Finally, we have all students work on challenging, multidisciplinary projects chosen largely by the students where they develop innovative solutions to real problems and opportunities in business, school, or community. Students learn initiative, innovation, dealing with ambiguity, learning from failure, and related advanced skills while they incubate new businesses and social initiatives.

The Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School has been launched with significant support from business leaders and entrepreneurs within the community. We expect them to help the school keep aware of dynamic business and human resource requirements. Further, many will interact with the students as project mentors, hosts for interns, and sponsors of projects students undertake for specific organizations.

This learning approach borrows from several national education models including High Tech High in San Diego and the Buck Institute for Education in Novato, CA. It also incorporates extensive knowledge from the school's principals and supporters on entrepreneurship and the non-linear innovation process practiced by creative entrepreneurs (called "lean entrepreneurship" in many circles today). Our new education paradigm emerges at the integration of entrepreneurial innovation and leadership. We expect it to become a national model for the future of education, and we expect to develop extensive tools, guides, lessons, and support for the approach that we will share with other Lehigh Valley schools as well as nationally.

Who Will Benefit

The curriculum of the Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School, which includes mastery of the core academic subjects, advanced 21st Century skills, and even innovation, represents the full range of knowledge and skills cited by every major recent government and business survey of education requirements. All students will graduate with confidence and understanding of themselves, with a mastery of core academic subjects, with an understanding of business and the free market system, with experience to research and address new issues, and with experience and understanding of how to collaboratively find creative solutions to problems and opportunities. For that reason, the school aims to be a model for how other public educational institutions can transform to finally address the needs of the global creative economy.

More specifically, we see several student constituencies for which the Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School is particularly suited. First, students who now do well in the current academically focused institutions but may be bored because they are not fully challenged, can greatly broaden the value of their education. The projects provide a vehicle to take the learning as far as a student is capable, and teaches him to collaboratively apply his academic knowledge to address real problem situations and to creatively solve problems. This kind of hands-on experience will prepare the student to be productive in any job setting or to get the maximum advantage of higher education. Second, students who are turned off by the highly structured academic environment, with its focus on learning the right answers, will thrive in our hands-on, project-based approach, where questions are welcomed and work is largely student directed. Third, we have made a special effort to address students who are lost because they have not had the role models, opportunities, encouragement, and support within and beyond the school. We will engage them and open their eyes to their specific gifts, help them catch up where they may have fallen behind with project activities and individual computer-based learning, and provide opportunities for them to develop those gifts while getting the education they need to achieve their full potential.

Students with the natural interest and drive to start businesses will graduate not only with relevant knowledge about business and entrepreneurship but also with real experience in starting and growing a business. Those whose purpose is focused more on improving society or contributing to an existing organization will graduate with the confidence, fundamentals, initiative, innovation, and leadership skills to help any employer or colleague constantly advance through innovation.

Particulars

The Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School is a publicly supported alternative for high school students in the Lehigh Valley under Pennsylvania's charter school law. Thus, there are no costs to attend. We plan to open in September 2013 with approximately 150-200 students in grades 9 and 10. Additional classes will be added in the next two years until the school covers grades 9-12 with approximately 400 students. If demand is as expected, attendance will also be expanded in each grade to reach 600-800 high school students. The school is located in a facility in the Wilson Area School District (West Easton) newly renovated for our use. However, students from any district in the Lehigh Valley and beyond may apply, and transportation will be provided by the home district for districts up to 10 miles from the school. As required by law, if demand exceeds available slots, students will be selected from the applicant pool by a qualifying criteria or lottery system yet to be determined. We expect the focus of the school to be the hand-on projects and other related activities that will incorporate much of why students at traditional schools look to extracurricular clubs and activities. However, students who desire can participate in sports programs and other extracurricular activities offered in their home districts, if not provided by our school.

How to Apply

The Business and Entrepreneurship Charter High School is currently seeking applicants who are interested in registering for either the 9th or10th grade starting in September 2013. Please complete the online form at the website at www.busacad.org. This form gets a student on the list for application but does not commit him or her to attend. You can also find contact information for questions at the website, and additional material will be added as development proceeds.

Morganelli Reacts to a Weekend of Carnage

DA John Morganelli

After a rare weekend of gun violence that started in South Bethlehem and ended Easton, leaving two people dead and five wounded, District Attorney John Morganelli conducted a news conference on Monday to provide a progress report on both investigations and assure the public that these are not random shootings.

Puerto Rican Beneficial Society shooting

Yolanda Morales, died early Saturday morning during a hail of gunfire, down the street from the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society. Five others are hospitalized. Six people were involved in a shooting incident that started over what Morganelli calls an "incidental, minor" contact. "It spilled over into the streets, and obviously went way too far," stated the prosecutor. He has no evidence that drugs were involved.

The argument that led to the shooting started inside the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society, a club located at 205 E. Third Street. Morganelli explained that the club had an "open night" that evening. The six people involved in the shooting, four from the Easton area and two from Allentown, were not members of the club. These Easton and Allentown factions are responsible for the thirty-bullet fusillade that occurred.

The club has a metal detector and secuirity personnel, so Morganelli theorizes that the guns were retrieved outside, after the two factions had left.

Yolanda Morales, who was with the four-person group from Easton, actually ran towards the gunfire when the shooting started. There were three shooters. At this point, it is believes that one of the Easton faction picked up a gun, possible in defense of himself or others. Except for Morales, the other participants were male.

Two weapons have been retrieved, a .45 and a .40. One was found by police in the street. The other was picked up and brought inside the club, where it was later found by police.

It is believed there were three shooters, one of whom is cooperating with police. According to Morganelli, the two individuals from Allentown have a criminal history.

According to Morganelli, police are still interviewing witnesses, but he expects to be able to make arrests by the end of the week. "We're not there 100%," he cautioned, noting that they only get one chance and have to be right when they charge.

One of the non-shooters wounded in this melee, according to Morganelli, might be paralyzed.

Morganelli has no reason to believe that the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society is a nuisance bar. "It's not on my radar," he stated, noting that he has moved swiftly to close bars he considers troublesome. He added that officials at the club have been cooperative and have provided surveillance video. "It's been there for fifty years," he added. "I get more complaints about Starters," he said, referring to sports bar on Bethlehem's south side.

At this point, it is undetermined whether the guns used were legally purchased or whether the shooters had licenses to carry firearms. "It's very rare that a criminal gets a license to carry," noted the prosecutor.

Wyandotte Street shooting

A few hours after the shooting at the Puerto Rican Beneficial Club, Shelton Powell opened fire on three persons sitting on a porch along Wyandotte Street. According to Morganelli, this incident is totally unrelated.

Easton shooting

On Sunday evening, a NYC man was shot to death on an Easton south side sidewalk, giving that City its fifth murder this year. Police in that matter have much less to go on, according to Morganelli. But he believes it is likely driug-related. "A lot of this, in Easton especially, is drug-related," he stated.

Are Citizens Safe?

Morganelli wants citizens to know that they are safe, whether in Easton or Bethlehem, before midnight. After that, there's what he calls "the night people." He described a culture of young males who "have guns and aren't afraid to use them." Witnesses themselves are "street people" who refuse to cooperate and must be brought before a grand jury.

"When it gets past midnight, it's not a good idea to be walking anywhere," the DA cautions.

One Week in the Hate World

Most of you don't look at the hate blogs. Why should you? In addition to being full of venom and outright lies, they are poorly written. I refuse to link to them. But, like a person who can't turn his head from an accident, I check them out regularly. Though I hold no office and have no influence beyond this blog, I find that I am the most frequent object of their bile. They really should aim a little higher.

Anyhoo, let me give you this little rundown.

Lehigh Valley Rumblings. - This imitation blog, written anonymously, was supposed to set everyone straight about John Stoffa, Charlie Dent, Ron Angle, John Callahan, Sal Panto,all Republicans and yours truly. It is thought to be written by a Glenn Reibman or Lamont McClure flunkie. But last week, it suddenly went Poof!

Saving Private Gracedale. - This one is also anonymous, although Forks Township resident and Fake Rev Mario Martinez has at times claimed he is the author. Last week, he ragged on the Express Times for not publishing a story that recognizes him for his many accomplishments. He posted a blog explaining how he has managed to endure in the face of Evil, as reflected by Ron Angle and yours truly. His latest is a bizarre claim that John Stoffa has instructed me to criticize him. Alrighty then.

West Easton Foot Print. - Two weeks ago, Tricia Mezzacappa (the blog's author) was convicted of disorderly conduct for threatening to drag West Easton Borough Council President Kelly Gross to the Delaware River and drown her. After that, she bragged the Second Amendment is alive and well and that she was on her way to Cabella's.  She's also published a chilling video about guns that includes pictures of a coffin and the West Easton Borough webpage. Her latest is a picture of Kelly Gross, over which she has superimposed a skull and cross bones. Amazingly, this wing nut has a LTC. She's also pondering a run for County Exec on the GOP ticket. I'm sure they're thrilled.

These three sources provide a steady stream of anonymous hate to this blog. Last week, a concerted effort was made to hijack the blog, but it failed, as it always does. Sometimes I delete. Sometimes I don't.

They get help. West Easton Foot Print has stated that a mysterious "Blog Mentor" has encouraged her, and has published documents with the initials "BV."

Bethlehem Tragedy: Should Guns Be Allowed in Bars?

It's too early to know exactly what happened in the early morning hours at the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society in South Bethlehem. But I'm unable to think of any incident anywhere in the Lehigh Valley in which there has been so much carnage. Six people shot! One of them, a 23-year old baby named Yolanda Morales, is dead.

I doubt these were angels. Morales, for example, plead guilty to disorderly conduct in Bethlehem over a year ago. She was ordered to make $25 payments bi-weekly, but suddenly stopped in September 2011, leaving a balance due of $213.50. I don't know whether a bench warrant was ever issued. The case is simply marked "inactive."

Based on what DA John Morganelli told the press, I suspect that some of the wounded might also be the shooters.

Here's my question. Regardless whether you have a LTC, should you be able to tote a gun into a bar? Isn't this just asking for trouble? I represented someone who, years ago, and on the South Side, shot and maimed two guys who were taunting him inside a bar. And this is after he had already beaten them up. And no, he wan't Hispanic, so let's drop that they're animals argument before it starts. With enough booze, we're all animals.

What do you think? Is it time to require bar patrons to go through a metal detector? Doesn't it make sense to ban firearms inside any facility where alcohol is served?

Wouldn't it make sense for the state and or locality to impose such a ban? Instead of adopting illegal cell phone ordinances or legislating for a transgender's right to use the ladies' room, doesn't it make sense to adopt a law that will prevent people from shooting each other?

Instead of doing that, our state legislature is currently considering a law that will make it the sole authority over guns, pre-empting the right of local government to impose stricter rules.

Updated 5:45 PM: I learned during a news conference today that the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society does have a metal detector, as well as security personnel. So to those who argue that tighter laws won't help, you have a point.

So What's Going On With the Chrin TIF?

A little over a year ago, a "TIF" was approved for a massive , 689-acre industrial park in Palmer Township owned by Charles Chrin. That's a special tax tool under which the owner will continue paying the same real estate taxes on the property for ten years. Municipalities lose nothing. But during this time, the owner can use the increases in the tax base, which results from construction, to finance additional improvements. In this case, Chrin is using the TIF savings to finance the costs of an Interchange at Route 33 in Tatamy.

So what's going on?

While Chrin continues work on the Interchange and excavation at the site, between 70-75% of the tract is now under agreement to several developers, I'm told.

It has been estimated that this development will bring 5,000 jobs to Northampton County. That's why Easton Mayor Sal Panto spoke in favor of the project. "[T]he first thing we need are jobs. Everywhere I go, people are asking me for work, and I feel really badly about them. A lot of people we put out of our jails are coming back in because they can't find work."

The sole Council member to vote against it was John Cusick.

Lehigh Valley BatWorks Hits a Home Run

These maple and ash planks await their metamorphosis into baseball bats

From Little League through the college level, aluminum and carbon-fiber composite bats reign supreme. With names like Voodoo, Stealth and Attack, manufacturers attempt to instill some baseball magic into these metal and plastic bats. Coaches love them. Parents, not so much. They can cost $450. But what about the kids?

Given the opportunity, they'll most often drop the plastic or metal for the cheaper wood bat. The ball might not travel as far. It's definitely harder to hit. But no plastic or metal bat, despite their magical names, can replace the sharp crack of a piece of lumber sending Mr. Spalding over the fence ... or through someone's window. It's the sweet sound of Spring. Real magic.

Zach Reidy, age 5, is ready to swing away.

So not surprisingly, wood bats are making a come back, especially in tournament play. Pennsylvania Legion baseball is returning to the wood. This is where Lehigh Valley Bat Works, enters the picture. A wood bat manufacturer with a new batting facility located near the diamonds at East Allen Township's beautiful Bi-Centennial Park, it's going gangbusters.

At a recent open house, proprietor Steve Toth demonstrated the 10-day process involved in making a wood baseball bat, from beginning to end.

The finished product, waiting for a good home

First, the lumber - solid cuts of ash and maple - is weighed and carefully examined for defects. "Every bat we make is a pro quality bat," Toth claims. After that, the bat goes on the lathe for shaping, with a tolerance of 0.002 inches. From there, it's a sander. Finally, the bat is stained, painted and personalized for the hitter. Just as Roy Hobbs burned "Wonderboy" and lighting bolts into his "very special" bat, so can every Little League ball player, who can come to Bat Works and get fitted for the kind of bat that best suits him.

The best part is the price. A youth bat can be as cheap as $40. A heavier piece of lumber, and one that could be used in the Show, will range between $65-85.

LV Batworks' Steve Toth has hit a home run with his wood bat business

Amos a Big Hit at Moravian Holiday Luncheon

Shirley and Howard Cox smile for the camera, as Dick Claussen loads a plate with mashed potatoes

Thanks to fifty volunteers from Moravian College, over two hundred people in need were treated to a "seasonal feast" at Bethlehem's Cathedral Church of the Nativity on Saturday, December 1. Guests were treated to turkey with all the trimmings, and were serenaded by Delta Omicron, the College's Music Fraternity. But for the kids, the best part was a visit from Amos, Moravian's Greyhound Mascot, along with the coloring books his helpers handed out.

This is the 14th consecutive year that Moravian College has hosted a holiday luncheon for Bethlehem residents who might otherwise not be able to enjoy a seasonal feast.

Kate Cohen '14, a work study student at the Center for Leadership and Service, led the planning. "The College is grateful for an opportunity to serve the community," she said. Katie Dantsin, director of leadership development, called it an "honor."

Tickets for this holiday luncheon were distributed to needy families by New Bethany Ministries, Victory House, Trinity Episcopal Church, Fountain Hill School Family Center, Fowler Family Center, Turning Point, and Clearview Elementary School Family Center.

Jose Luis, 4 months, takes a break with Amos

Brian Velavdo, age 2, exchanges "high five" with Amos

Amos' little helpers, Nadia and Evonna Strickland

Amos' big helpers, Kylie Larrison ('16) and Krystal Dering ('15)

Amos left after this

Musical entertainment, courtesy of Delta Omicron fraternity