NorCo Council Spends $260,400 to Save the Lizards

Ron Angle's son graduated from Bangor High School last night, so he was absent from County Council. For some, and that certainly includes most of his fellow elected officials, it was a cause of joy and celebration. For those interested in good government and fiscal responsibility, it was a disappointing night.

Just two weeks before, Angle managed to persuade Council members to table a resolution that would throw $260,400 in taxpayer money for swampland in Upper Mount Bethel Township, where Angle lives. But last night, Council forgot about fiscal responsibility and listened instead to people like Ellen Lott of the Nature Conservancy.

"I am here to speak for the trees because they have no tongues," she claimed, quoting from Dr. Seuss. As the Fake Rev claims to represent "We, the People," Lott claims that she also spoke for the salamanders and frogs, even though they have tongues. Occasionally beating back tears, she begged Council to fund "a place where raptors soar overhead and water trickles down."

After the meeting, a few lizards denied she really speaks for them.

Environmentalist Constance Volker (spelling?) claimed this marshy habitat reminds her of the disappearing Amazon rain forest, and begged Council to save "the salamander family."

These lizards camp out on two tracts.

One of them, owned by Kirkridge, consists of 108 acres. The County would kick in $199,400 (40%) of a $501,100 grant, which translates to $4,638 per acre. The other property, located next to the Kirkridge tract, is 22 acres owned by David Broad. The County would kick in $61,000 (40%) of a $152,500 grant, which translates to $6,932 per acre. The other contributors would be DCNR (50%) and Upper Mount Bethel Township (10%).

Two weeks ago, Angle told Council that he doubted that the Kirkridge tract would pass a perc test for two sand mounds on the entire 108 acres. But Charles Reiss last night told Council it's a place of "wellness" that serves all Christian lizards. Jewish lizards, too, added Kirkridge's Alice Murray.

Two weeks ago, Angle also questioned the amount of money being spent. "It's not a fair price for what's there to buy."

"I've been in the real estate racket for forty years. I wouldn't give you $400 per acre. ... This is craziness but this is what you will get from [the Environmental Advisory Board]."

He challenged Council members to look at the tracts, pointing out that no swampland disappears but farmland is being gobbled up every day. The matter was tabled, with Council members grumbling that they'd like to see a second appraisal.

Last night, Council was told that there would be a second appraisal when DCNR approves the grant request. Nobody seemed to mind that, instead of getting an independent valuation, the state would just rely on the Nature Conservancy to get the numbers. Eleven people addressed Council, and told them to quit "nickeling and diming" this proposal. Farmland Preservation Administrator Maria Bentzoni added she's been looking at appraisals for nine years, and this one is not "outrageously ridiculous."

So last night, Northampton County Council struck a unanimous blow for the salamanders.

Dent Proposes Medical Liability Reform

LV Congressman Charlie Dent, to the chagrin of many trial lawyers, has always been been an advocate for medical liability reform. Yesterday, he and Congressman Erik Paulsen, a Minnesota Republican, introduced legislation aimed at decreasing health care costs through comprehensive medical liability reform.

“The 2010 health care law missed a critical opportunity to enact meaningful medical liability reforms,” said Rep. Dent in a news release. “Our medical justice system is a major cost driver for health care spending and it impacts the ability of patients to receive high quality care. We expect doctors to make decisions based solely on what is best for their patients, not on what is best to defend against frivolous lawsuits. Across the United States, the lack of comprehensive reform has affected where qualified doctors practice, what fields of medicine they pursue, and the services they provide. As Congress continues to discuss ways to reform and strengthen our health care system, advancing the common-sense policies included in H.R. 2205 will help reduce health care spending and ensure access to quality care.”

“The reality is medical liability does contribute to increased healthcare costs. Healthcare professionals practice defensive medicine for fear of frivolous lawsuits and end up ordering billions of dollars in extra tests and treatments,” added Rep. Paulsen. “The current environment not only increases the cost of care for patients, but also discourages highly skilled and dedicated physicians from providing important services. Three out of four emergency rooms have reported shortages of specialists, and many orthopedic surgeons have chosen to retire early or scale back their surgical duties, because of liability concerns. These reforms are needed to protect patients, reduce healthcare costs, and ensure that this nation continues to produce the world’s greatest healthcare professionals.”

The practice of defensive medicine – when doctors order tests and treatments in order to protect themselves against frivolous lawsuits – is estimated to cost as much as $200 billion annually. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analyses indicate comprehensive medical liability reform would save the government $54 billion over the next decade and cut national health care spending by 0.5 percent per year.

Dent's leislation will encourage states to adopt effective alternative medical liability laws that reduce the number of health care lawsuits initiated, reduce the average amount of time taken to resolve lawsuits and reduce the cost of malpractice insurance. The legislation will also enact nationwide reforms to stabilize compensation for injured patients, hold parties responsible for their degree of fault, ensure that meritorious claims are swiftly resolved, encourage compliance with accepted clinical practice guidelines, and guarantee that medical care is available to those who need it the most by providing protections to safety-net providers.

17 Lehigh Valley Residents Going to U.S. Service Academies

This has got to be one of the best parts of his job.

Today, at 3:30 PM, LV Congressman Charlie Dent will host a "send-off event" for 17 local high school grads that will enter the U.S. Service Academies this Fall. They come from 12 area high schools.

They were nominated by Dent last December, after an extensive nomination process that included interviews with the Congressman’s Military Academy Nomination Board, comprised of local residents with ties to the military and veteran communities.

This will take place at Dent's Lehigh Valley office, located at 3900 Hamilton Boulevard in South Whitehall.

Here's a list of the cadets:

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

Samantha Dasilva, Saucon Valley High School
William Draves, Boyertown High School
Rico Goldstone, Parkland High School
Nathan Howe, Apex
Collin Parry, Souderton High School
Maika Polamalu, Pottsgrove High School
Adam Wydra, Central Catholic High School

U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY

Dillon Curtis, Nazareth High School
Patrick Ellison, Easton High School
Meaghan Ellison, Easton High School
Craemer Hedash, Northern Lehigh High School
Travis Holihan, William Allen High School
Austin Semmel, Parkland High School
Aaron Spikol, Parkland High School

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

Brandon Haines, Emmaus High School
Ryan Turner, Central Catholic High School

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY

Frank Sysko, Nazareth High School

Independent Auditor Gives Northampton County Clean Bill of Health

Back in February, The Morning Call published a Lamont McClure Op-Ed insisting that Northampton County is sitting on a $60 million mountain of cash, so there's no reason to be worried about Gracedale, the County's nursing home. In a dueling op-ed, I argued that we really only had about $15 million to spend on day-to-day expenses.

Which one of us was right?

According to LarsonAllen, the County's independent auditor, that would be me.

Manager Michael Palazzo, a CPA, in a review of his firm's 2010 audit at yesterday's Finance Committee hearing, stated that the the general fund undesignated balance at year's end was $16 million, which represents 18% (or two months) of general fund expenditures. Palazzo told the Finance Committee yesterday that future financial statements will footnote the total fund balance to prevent future misunderstandings.

McClure, who attended no Committee meetings at all last year and has to attend one this year, might want to think about doing the job he was elected to do instead of misleading the public. If he did that, he'd learn the following:

* LarsenAllen gave the County an "unqualified opinion," which is the highest level of opinion an auditor can give. It's often referred to as a "clean" opinion.

* At a time when cities like Allentown and Bethlehem are drowning in red ink, Northampton County finished 2010 in the black by $989,200.

* County debt decreased $4.7 million during 2010, as bond issues are paid down.

* Real estate tax revenue went from $81.7 million to $82.8 million, a 1.4% increase. This is the result of the Sands Casino TIF agreement negotiated by Executive John Stoffa, Council member Ron Angle and Bethlehem.

* But total revenues decreased by 0.1% as a result of declining grant money from the state and federal government.

* Hotel tax shot up 17.6%, from $1.17 million to $1.37 million.

* Gracedale cost the County $2.5 million in 2010.

* 77% of the County's workforce is union, spread out among 11 different bargaining units. Five union contracts expired in 2009, and another two expired at the end of 2010.

Gilbert Attends Committee Hearings

It's been a rough few days for Bruce Gilbert. Some speculated he'd disappear for awhile. But yesterday, when Northampton County's Personnel Committee met at 4 PM, he was there. He remained for the Finance Committee Meeting that immediately followed, although the Express Times reports that he's decided to resign from that and focus on Ron Angle's Long-Range Planning Committee.

ReDistricting, Northampton County Style

If you are even just an occasional reader of this blog, you already know that here, in the People's Republic of Northampton County, we screw things up all of the time. But there's one thing we do right, at least so far, and that's the redistricting of Council Districts.

According to our Home Rule Charter, after every ten-year census, the four council district boundaries must be re-established. "The population of each district shall be substantially equal; each district shall comprise compact and contiguous territory and wherever feasible shall follow municipal boundaries."

For legislative and Congressional districts, you can expect redistricting to precipitate lawsuits as quickly as Phil Mitman can shout "Fore!" But in Northampton County, the job has already been done.

Ten years ago, Council Clerk Frank Flisser came up with new boundaries, and he's done it again so that every district follows contiguous municipal boundaries. Best of all, each district is within 0.001% of each other in terms of population.

There will be three changes.

District Two, where Mike Dowd currently serves, will lose Williams Township to District Three, where Lamont McClure is the incumbent. McClure will lose Freemansburg to District 1, which is currently served by Anna McHale. He'll also lose Bath to District 4, which is currently served by Ron Angle.

These changes will have to be approved by Ordinance, and will take effect next year.

A Brief History of "Food Stamps"

From LV History: "[I]n 2009, there was a 40% increase in use of food stamps by the residents of Northampton County and a 23% increase in Lehigh County. In 2010 12% of the population in Lehigh County received food stamps and 9.2% in Northampton County. This is a direct result of more people suffering from unemployment. In Northampton County unemployment rose 63% affecting 9.0% of the residents and in Lehigh County it rose 57% leaving 9.2% out of work in 2010. Second Harvest formed a partnership with Bethlehem food banks such as New Bethany Ministries, Holy Bethlel Pentecostal, Concordia Lutheran, Trinity Episcopal, Moravian Food Bank and many others to feed thousands of our neighbors each day. The Animal Food Bank Services in Hellertown takes care of the pets during hard times for their owners."

Did It Feel Good to Get Gilbert?

"Character assassinated. Nomination withdrawn. It's got to feel very rewarding."

That's one of the anonymous criticisms directed at me yesterday for my report about Fiscal Affairs Director nominee Bruce Gilbert. County Exec John Stoffa pulled the nomination after learning that Gilbert no longer had five votes.

The truth is that I feel pretty bad about it. I happen to like Gilbert, and despite my report, think he has been a productive, smart and dedicated member of Northampton County Council.

He also has five great kids. I'm sure these revelations hurt them.

But I also feel this story was necessary. Despite all of the negative financial information, compounded by Gilbert's lame explanations, five members of County Council were still ready to vote for Gilbert last week.

Even Monday, after a disappointing Gilbert news conference, Council President John Cusick told the Express Times' Sarah Cassi he'd still be voting for the embattled nominee.

Tuesday, Cusick suddenly reversed course. "The totality of it was so shocking," he now hypocritically claims.

What a difference a day makes!

What was really so shocking to Cusick was the public firestorm. That happened only because the press, despite lost profits and reduced manpower, did its job. Had there been no Patch, Express Times or Morning Call, this would have been a power play. Cusick already had his sights set on Gilbert's replacement.

If there were no press, Patch or even blogs, it would not be long before part-time Council members would be earning $100,000 a year.

It's by no means rewarding. Ask any reporter. But in a representative democracy, it is very necessary.

Veterans Affairs Appropriation Sails Through House on Flag Day

By a 411-5 vote, the House yesterday voted to provide $72.5 billion for programs that benefit military personnel, veterans and their families.

LV Congressman Charlie Dent, who supports the appropriation, called it "the type of legislation the American people expect Congress to produce.” In a news release, Dent added that, "As a nation, we have a responsibility to provide the highest quality housing, training and medical facilities for our service members and guarantee our veterans receive the benefits and care they’ve earned. I voted for H.R. 2055 because it saves tax dollars without compromising the needs of our military personnel and veterans.”

This appropriation includes $378 million for 48 new family housing projects, as ell as the replacement of 80 dwellings and improvement of over 200 existing units. In addition, there's $1.1 billion for military medical facilities around the globe. For veterans, there's $127.8 billion to fully fund VA compensation and benefits, education benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and housing loan programs. Finally, $45.8 million is set aside for the Arlington National Cemetery (an increase of $700,000 from FY11 levels) to address years of mismanagement that led to hundreds of cases of misidentified or misplaced remains.

Maybe now, those vets will stop shooting me.

Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa: Congressman Dent's office has emailed me with two corrections. One of them is a typo in Dent's statement, which has been corrected. The other notes that the $72 billion figure reflects discretionary funding, while the $120+ billion for vets benefits is mandatory spending. I apologize for not getting it right.

Northampton County Goes to DEFCON 1

Ever vigilant, Northampton County was ready for anything during yesterday's dedication of Armed Services Park in Hanover Township. They must have heard I'd be there.

On Flag Day, Hanover Township Dedicates Armed Services Park

Not many of us realize that June 14, a Tuesday, was Flag Day. But if you were in Hanover Township at about 3 PM, it was impossible to miss the 270 people on hand for the dedication of Armed Services Park. They braved threatening storm clouds and occasional downpours to open a small park that honors deceased, former, active and future members of the United States Armed Forces.

Built on land donated by Jaindl Land Company, the centerpiece of this park is a simple memorial, surrounded by the flags of the different branches of the Armed Forces.

From Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. DeSousa (PA Army National Guard) to Major General Gerald C. Still (Ret.) (US Air Force), there were lots of speeches.

But the most stirring moment was a mournful rendition of Taps by Dan Deysher, who stood alone at a far corner of the park.

"All of us gave something," said Colonel DeSousa. "But some of us gave everything."

Hanover Supervisors Color Coordinate Again

Not again!

At their May 24 meeting, Hanover Township's Supervisors, Township Manager Jay Finnigan and even the press, were all attired in matching Navy Blue jackets. Believe it or not, at their June 14 meeting, everyone was wearing a red polo shirt, including the press. Next month, the dress code calls for black and white checkered coats.

Dress code out of the way, Supervisors embarked on a busy agenda. They granted conditional use approval to Lehigh Valley Academy for the expansion of this K-12 Charter school, located at 1560 Valley Center Parkway.

They agreed to allow Ting Cheng, owner of the Mi Chong restaurant at 5560 Crawford Drive, near Weis Markets, to install a walk-in cooler at the rear of the building, a former Rite-Aid Pharmacy. Supervisor Mark Tanczos, noting that seven businesses will be going into that site, suggested talking to the owner about parking at the rear of the building.

Supervisors also authorized a gaming grant contract under which the Townshi will receive $179,000 in casino money for pedestrian safety signs throughout the Township.

They also approved "hold harmless" agreements with the following Hanover residents for fences that encroach on drainage and utility easements in their side yards: Jason and Mackenzie Fetterman, 839 Clearview Lane; Michael S. and MaryAnn J. DeFazio, 5320 Stenton Drive; and Michael J. and Natalie Baran, 5216 Harriet Lane.

Weiner to Stick it Out

I tweeted NY Congressman Anthony Weiner yesterday in rehab. He told me he's not resigning just yet. "I plan to stick it out a little longer," he said.

Despite Financial History, Gilbert Certain He'll Be Confirmed

At a hastily called news conference late yesterday afternoon, Northampton County Council member Bruce Gilbert addressed concerns about his qualifications to serve as the County's new Fiscal Affair Director. Nominated by Executive John Stoffa earlier this month, Gilbert is scheduled for confirmation by Council on Thursday. But questions about his personal finances were raised in an Easton Patch column just a few hours earlier.

During the news conference, Gilbert explained the details of seven small judgments filed against him between 1988 and 2007. He also discussed bad check charges filed in 2003, as well as a 2001 citation for failure to pay EIT in Palmer Township, where he resides.

In the case of two credit card companies who filed judgments in 1988 and 2007, Gilbert's explanation is that interest rates went up, and he fought the extra fees. But there is no record of any Answer or other pleading in which he raises this defense. In an earlier conversation, he claimed to have never owned a credit card, but one of the judgments is only against him.

He blamed accountants for a $9,895.57 federal tax lien filed in 2002, as well as the 2001 EIT citation.

A $12,360.30 judgment by Ford Motor Company, filed in 2005, is the result of an excessive leasing fee that Gilbert claims he still disputes. Yet he filed no appeal.

According to Gilbert, the bad check charges were the result of someone stealing his checkbook from his unlocked car, and passing checks at numerous local businesses. Yet, in response to a question from Easton Patch editor Tom Coombe, Gilbert admits he never filed a police report. "I ended up paying that. When you work in that industry, you can't have that," explained Gilbert.

"Is it financially responsible to leave your checkbook in a car?" asked a reporter.

"It's supposed to be locked. Let's put it that way."

"So that's an indication of financial irresponsibility, correct?" continued the reporter.

"No, It's not. It's completely irrelevant. It has no impact on the ability to be the Director of Fiscal Affairs."

Unless you leave a County checkbook in the car.

According to Gilbert, publication of his financial troubles has only "intensified" his support from other Council members. He told The Express Times' Sarah Cassi he's "certain" he has five votes. In response to further questioning, he said he was unsure he had the support of Council's two Democrats. He later conceded he has not asked 5 Council members directly whether they will vote for him, but he has a "good enough commitment or understanding" that he will get five. He added he is "supremely confident" and will move "full speed ahead," even if he lacks the requisite support by Thursday.

Other County officials tell a different story. Gilbert does have the support of Council Prez John Cusick, who wants to replace Gilbert with someone he can control. He can also count on Council member Barb Thierry. But Democrats Lamont McClure and Ann McHale are solid Nos, as is Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle. The rest are wavering.

The Morning Call's Peter Hall has a third version of how the votes will do down. (Yes - Cusick, Thierry, Dietrich; Leaning No - Ferraro and McClure; Undecided - Angle; Unavailable - Dowd and McHale).

It's never easy predicting how Northampton County Council will vote, but my guess is Bruce is toast.

If Gilbert's intention in calling yesterday's news conference was to reassure people about his ability to manage County finances, it's safe to say he might just have made them even more concerned.

1.7% Tax Hike Approved For Bethlehem Schools

Even though one of them was participating by phone, all of Bethlehem's nine school directors managed to weigh in on next year's budget at their June 13 meeting. As children and televisions blared in the background, Director Rosie Amato phoned in a Yes to a $203.8 million budget that makes nobody happy. It imposes both a 1.7% tax increase while simultaneously furloughing 49 teachers, as well as another 48 workers. The remainder of the 145 total positions eliminated are the result of attrition.

"I hate this budget," declared Director Michael Faccinetto, placing the blame on himself. "The blame cannot go any further than this room." Then he voted for the budget he hates.

So did Director Aurea Ortiz, who complained about the loss of 16 bilingual staffers in a school with a heavy Hispanic contingent.

They were joined by President Michele Cann and Directors Bill Burkhardt, Gene McKeon, and Rosie Amato.

Amato hung up as soon as he cast his vote.

Karen Becker, a professor at The College of New Jersey, slammed Faccinetto for his vote. "If you didn't like it, you shouldn't have voted for it," she chided, adding that he just approved a budget that will have an adverse academic impact. In the Middle Schools alone, there will now be 45 additional lunch hours and 60 less instruction hours.

Three Directors - Loretta Leeson, Irene Follweiler and Benjamin Tenaglia - voted No. Explaining her vote, Leeson noted taxes have already risen 11% over the past two years "in the worst economy we've ever seen."

As approved, the budget eliminates high school resource officers and guidance counselors, teaching teams and co-ed soccer at the middle schools. It also dips $1 million into the $2.6 million budgetary reserve. The pre-school SPARK building will be closed and leased.

A 1.7% tax hike means $57 more from a homeowner assessed at $75,000.

Patch: Dark Clouds Over Gilbert Appointment

Easton Patch details some serious problems - from passing bad checks to credit card judgments - with Bruce Gilbert's appointment as Northampton County's new Director of Finance. If he is unable to manage his own finances, can he be trusted with a $300 million County budget?

I sat on this story for over a week, hoping that Gilbert would realize that he's just not right for this job. Instead, he used the time to solidify his support among Council Republicans.

It's certainly true that Gilbert's Republican colleagues owe him some loyalty. It hurt me to write that Patch column because I know Bruce is a good man and consider him a friend. But primary loyalty should always be to the taxpayer. This is a bad appointment in an area where no mistakes can be tolerated.

Tea Party Exonerates Bottom-Feeding Blogger

It did not look good.

When I walked into Chrin's Community Center and Star Chamber for my trial before the Lehigh Valley Tea Party on Friday night, there was a table set up at the front of the room with two presenters, i.e. prosecutors, and a "presiding officer" who himself had already made up his mind that I was guilty as hell.

There were actually supposed to be three prosecutors. King of the Tea Party, Joe Hilliard, was going to step down from his throne and act as Grand Inquisitor. But as the clock ticked closer and closer to 7 PM, Hilliard was nowhere to be found.

He was probably off somewhere, toppling some County government with a slice of pizza. So it fell to the LV Tea Party Unofficial Blogger, Wayne Schissler, to assume the role of Chief Hangman. To his credit, he really tried. He brought his laptop and must have spent hours preparing a damning power point presentation that showed beyond all doubt that I have poked fun at the LV Tea Party, especially the pompous and self-important blowhards at the top.

Yes, I did call Queen of the Tea Party, Kim Schmidtner, the Queen of the Tea Party. I even called her the Queen of Mean. Yes, I did question their complete absence of ethnic diversity. Sure enough, I did slam them when they wanted to have a book banned at Easton School District. Yep, I did question how long it would take before these supposed "patriots" trample all over the First Amendment and censor ideas simply because they disagree with them?

I've certainly been very critical, but I've also been very complimentary. Most members are no different than you. They're actually much nicer than me, and are by no means extremists. But they are upset about the direction of this country, and are doing something about it. People like Stan Bialecki now attend every Lehigh County Commissioners' meeting and is known as its 10th member. Donna Rovito, a freelance writer and editor at Liability and Health News Update, has thrown herself into health care reform and is probably the most knowledgeable person I know on that topic, left or right. Mat Benol, to my consternation, was inspired to run against LV Congressman Charlie Dent. As much as I admire Dent, I was impressed by Mat's self-effacing attitude and pragmatism, and so was Dent. The two became friends.

Whatever you might think of the tea party nationally, it has been a positive influence here locally.

But the thought control police were after me. In addition to the nebulous charge of "acts that could harm the reputation of the Organization," they adopted a resolution telling their press dude to stay away from me, even though I just might be the only local blogger who has actually said something nice about them.

The prisoner's box was a seat at a table facing my prosecutors, but I turned my chair around to face my real judges - rank and file tea party members.

My defense was basically that their "9 principles" trumps their goofy by-laws, and one of them specifically provides, "It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion."

Before the hearing got under way, Presiding Officer Tom McFadden told everyone that the proceedings are "confidential" and must stay in the room. I was told that's in the by-laws. The same ones they were already prosecuting me for violating.

Well, as it happens, that's not part of their by-laws at all. That's just what Hilliard, who must subscribe to Paranoia Weekly, was using to control the membership.

During the course of the hearing, the persecutors were forced to admit they had waited an awful long time, more than a year, before going after me. They had never given me any warnings, either. Some people in the leadership had falsely told rank-and-file members that I had been warned.

I pretty much acted like what I am, an asshole. If it were just me, my head would be on a pike in Hilliard's front yard right now. But I was very fortunate that some people in the rank-and-file, like Rovito, Benol and Ronnie Del Bacco, spoke on my behalf.

They understand that the First Amendment even protects bottom-feeding bloggers.

This exoneration sends a message to the Tea Party leadership. Its membership is unhappy with the direction being set by its King and Queen, Joe Hilliard and Kim Schmidtner.

In recent weeks, King Joe has publicly complained that the group's hard-working Secretary is a "bit dense," that there's a "very tiny minority" with a "dangerous agenda." Like Captain Queeg (Caine Mutiny), poor Hilliard seems to be the victim of constantly disloyal officers.

I'm sure he'll find out who stole the strawberries.

Anthony Weiner After Rehab

Democrats all insist that NY Congressman Anthony Weiner must quit. I'm not sure if it's for the inappropriate tweets, or because he's so idiotic that he managed to get into all kinds of trouble without actually having sex with anyone.

I can see both points.

Woody is now doing the rehab shuffle, and who knows, he'll probably meet lots of hot babes there.

We all know what Anthony Weiner looked like before rehab. Well, at least parts of him. This is what he's projected to look like after his release from rehab.

He's going to learn to stop sexting people and just be a regular stalker.

Who Will Replace Mitman at LVEDC?

A Sunday Express Times editorial claims it's time for LVEDC CEO Phil Mitman to say good-bye, not so much for the tweet heard 'round the world (and first reported on this blog), but his lousy attempts at damage control.

"In a clumsy damage-control effort, Mitman was at a loss to say whether Williams was fired for misrepresenting the organization’s 'TGIF' policy — or for leaking the truth. Either way, it created an 'oops' moment for a private tax-supported group with a record of shielding its business from the public."

As it happens, Mitman's contract is set to expire next year. Around that time, two people will be looking for a job. One of them is Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. The other is Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham.

Hanover's Armed Services Park to Be Dedicated Tuesday

Armed Services Park Dedication