Reading This Blog Might Get You Fired in NorCo

Archie D'Isidore, Dir. of Court Services

If you're a Northampton County employee, reading this blog could get you fired. Big Brother is Watching. And if some County boss does not like what sites you visit or emails you send, you might find yourself without a job. That's what happened to two Register of Wills employees last Thursday, who were sacked with one hour's notice after a two-year investigation into their Internet use. Let me tell you the story.

In the swirling seas of confusion known as Northampton County, the Register of Wills office has always provided an island of serenity. But not long ago, Register of Wills Dot Cole retired. Third-floor administrators replaced her with one of their own, ignoring both Dot and the courts. And now, things just got worse. This vital row office is now both short-handed and inexperienced, thanks to what appears to be an arbitrary termination of two good workers.

As recently as a month ago, Director of Court Services Archie D'Isidore told one of these employees she was doing fine. He failed to mention that he was actually at the tail end of a supposed two-year investigation into her email habits.

She and a colleague were fired because of private emails they sent to each other, complaining about different people at the Courthouse called "Snake" and "Little Snake." Detective D'Isidore spent two years following the clues and identified these reptiles. He has printouts and everything. He also has hard evidence they engaged in email exchanges with boyfriends and ex-boyfriends, some of them vulgar and hostile.

Horrors!

Now these workers have likely violated some policy against using county computers for their personal business, but it's absolutely ridiculous to suggest that this amounts to "harassment" or "workplace violence." And this is a firing offense?

There is little doubt in my mind that both of these ladies will get their jobs back.

I also have to ask what kind of person spends two years snooping into the private emails of courthouse employees. Is Archie D'Isidore a Director of Court Services or Inspector Clouseau? And why does he spring this now, with a controversial new Register of Wills in place who has had no chance to learn her own job?

But D'Isidore, Director of Administration Tom Harp and other third floor muckety mucks sat there and piously canned these women for doing precisely what each and every one of them does himself.

Shock waves are still rippling through the row offices. One courthouse worker told me on Friday that she was afraid to speak to me on the phone for fear that her calls were being monitored. Another was actually afraid to talk to me in a hallway, fearful someone might rat her out.

In the meantime, six couples were waiting in the Register of Wills Office for their marriage licenses. One of them joked with me that there must be a special. I have never seen people jammed up like that in all my years at the courthouse.

This termination in the Register of Wills is a poor decision that follows another bad decision in naming the new Register without consulting the courts. Some think Director of Court Services Archie D'Isidore is trying to show everyone who's boss. He's going to find out, sooner or later, that it's not really him.

Right now, the County should be worried about its own liability. A recent New Jersey decision concludes that employees retain a legitimate expectation of privacy in personal emails. I think we're all entitled to a little privacy in our private emails, even if a public computer is used. In addition, the Office of Open Records has determined that personal emails, even on public computers, are not public records.

Hanover to Offer Free Electronic Recycling

Sr. Bonnie Marie, O.S.F.

Hanover Township will host a free electronics recycling day on September 29 from 9AM-Noon. Everything from a cell phone to a refrigerator will be accepted. There will be a small fee for batteries ($.75 per pound) and fluorescent lamps ($.25 each). This event will take place at the municipal complex, located at 3630 Jacksonville Road.

Supervisor Jack Nagle made this announcement during a brief meeting of Supervisors on September 11, following a flag retirement ceremony.

Supervisors also granted My Boys Baking permission to operate its biscotti biz at 310 Stoke Park Road. This unanimous decision follows an August 28 hearing in which Attorney Joe Piperato clearly established that no one is offended by cookies.

In other business, Hanover Supervisors approved plans for a Traditions of America residential development on Bridle Path Road, located next to the St. Francis Retreat Center. Sister Bonnie Marie, O.S.F., thanked supervisors for their work in creating a conservation easement along the Monocacy Creek. "This will preserve the integrity of our land for generations to come," she stated.

Traditions of America is planning to build 204 homes on 68-acres for adults 55 years of age and older.

Hanover Supervisors will meet again on September 25, 7 PM, at its Municipal Building at 3630 Jacksonville Road.

A Weekend Along Monocacy Creek

I'll likely miss this because I'm cycling to Lower Mac for a football game on Saturday. But I'll make an effort to get there later in the afternoon. If you go, drop me a line.

Lafayette's Crew on the Lehigh

Every Autumn and Spring, Lafayette students descend from College Hill to Lehigh River, twice a day, to do some sculling. At one time, they ran there and back, but I think they drive to and from practice these days. They had a good afternoon yesterday.

Ott, Schlossberg to Debate Constitution

At High Noon this Monday, the Lehigh County Gang of Three will step off their train at Cedar Crest College campus for a showdown against an unwitting Democrat, State Rep.-to-be Mike "Poof!" Schlossberg. But instead of bringing six-shooters, they'll all be packin' Constitutions. You see, this is a Constitution Day debate.

Squaring off against Schlossberg will be none other than Lehigh County Comm'r Scott "Scrappleface" Ott, He might debate. Then again, he might break out his guitar and start singing. Or tell us Jesus is swell.

Rumor has it that Schlossberg will make a last-minute withdrawal to give his successor on City Council a chance to get ready.

If you'd like to go, please contact the Cedar Crest College Campus at 610-740-3791 by 4 pm today. Otherwise, you'll get no refreshments.

CACLV Whistleblower Backed By LC Controller

Back in June, as reported in The Morning Call, a former homeless shelter employee, Elisa Castillo, sued Community Action Center of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV). She contends her termination is a retaliation for reporting that Allentown's Sixth Street Shelter was padding the caseworker hours for one of its supervisors. What I've just discovered is that Castillo has an unlikely ally, the Lehigh County Controller.

Before Castillo's lawsuit was filed, Lehigh County Controller Glenn Eckhart audited the Sixth Street Shelter to see if it had, in fact, inflated caseworker hours charged to Lehigh County in 2011. (You can find the audit here under General Reports for 2012, #12-03). Using four different tests, the Controller concludes that the caseworker hours submitted are "inconsistent" with the actual documented client contact.

That's a polite way of saying that Sixth Street Shelter, an arm of the CACLV, was padding its hours.

Eckhart's audit includes a strident response from the Sixth Street Shelter's Director, Marsha Eichelberger. She claims the County was actually under-billed, so there. She also takes a shot at Castillo, referring to her as a "disgruntled former employee who was terminated for just cause." She never bothers to address the finding that caseworker hours were submitted for one employee that were not actually worked.

Where I come from, that's called stealing.

Alan Jennings, CACLV's Executive Director, was a lot more conciliatory. "It's embarrassing," he told me. "I'll be the first to say it." Jennings added that his administrative costs are only 8% of CACLV's entire budget. He also offered to compensate Lehigh County.

Allentown's Controller passed on auditing the Sixth Street Shelter, by the way.

Jennings is obviously unable to discuss the lawsuit filed by Castillo, but questioned whether one had really been filed. "I haven't seen it," he told me, noting that CACLV has yet to be served.

The lawsuit, which has been filed, is below.
Whistleblower Complaint v. CACLV

Armstrong: The Case Against Obama's Marxist World View

Allentown conservative Scott Armstrong is known for his strong opinions. As you might have guessed, he opposes what he calls Obama's Marxist world view.

In the race for re-election, team Obama portrays itself as the champion of the “middle class”. Average Americans more concerned with daily activities like holding a job and paying bills might mistake this rhetoric as a heartfelt concern for their plight as hard working folk just trying to get by. However, the truth is starkly different and becomes clear if one takes into account Barack Obama’s Marxist world view. According to this perspective the middle class is the 21st century’s proletariat; in other words, this is a class of people who must be protected against the exploitive nature of the capitalist system.

The American left/Democratic Party’s intent is to equalize economic opportunity and outcome. Their ultimate goal is for everyone (excepting themselves as leadership) to be middle class/equally poor. They would achieve this by wealth redistribution. Confiscatory taxes on achievers would be used to fund increased government programs, benefits, services… for the proletariat/middle class. In a nutshell, this is European style socialism. Although the continent is in the process of imploding as a result of these same policies, the Democrats and the president are true believers and are prepared to take the USA down the same road to ruin.

Clever politicians can hoodwink a beleaguered populace with well spun rhetoric. American’s workers would be well advised to keep this in mind when they hear the president’s siren song of protecting their middle class interests. They need to understand that the president does not view them as middle class in the American sense, i.e. as people working hard to make a better life for themselves and their children, but as proletarians who cannot save themselves or improve their own lives without government help.

Obama’s wish is to replace our free market/ capitalist system with what Marxists call a dictatorship of the proletariat, in other words, the state/government control. Sadly, history informs us that workers/proletariats in a Marxist system are mere wards of the state. Conversely, Americans have a robust history of profiting and advancing on the opportunity and desire to determine their own destiny. This tenet of the American way is foreign to Obama and the Democratic leadership. They simply don’t believe it. They see government as the solution to every problem while it is America’s history to see government as the problem.

Barack or Mitt? A Hobson's Choice

I voted for Barack Obama. His commitment to transparency and willingness to reach across the aisle appealed to me. I viewed him as a pragmatist, not an ideologue. I loved the way his candidacy energized minorities. My grandson, who is half black and half Asian, proudly planted an Obama sign in his front yard. On a cold January day, he attended Obama's inauguration.

Unfortunately, Barack the candidate and Barack the President are two different things. He rammed Obamacare down the throats of an unwilling American public. While sparring over that issue, he and Congress have both allowed our economy to deteriorate to its worst state since the Great Depression.

And don't get me started on Israel. Obama has managed to alienate our closest ally.

I'd vote for someone else, but Mitt Romney is an embarrassment. Not just as a GOP candidate, but as an American. His attempt to politicize the tragic murder of America's Ambassador to Libya tells me all I need to know about him. There comes a point when we should stop being Democrats or Republicans and start being Americans.

This is certainly no ringing endorsement of Obama or his policies. But Romney? In a country of 300 million people, is this the best we can do? If anything, this Hobson's choice tells me something is seriously wrong with our Presidential election process.

Updated 11 AM: Non-partisan FactCheck.Org makes clear that Romney's foreign policy criticisms are factually flawed. In addition to being unnecessarily divisive, he also happens to be just plain wrong.

Hanover Township Remembers 9/11

Dr. Alfred Khallouf

As it has done for the last eleven years, Hanover Township remembered. Though September 11 was a busy weekday, Supervisors Boy Scout Troop 352 and about fifty residents paused to reflect on what Supervisor Glenn Walbert called his generation's Pearl Harbor. Following a brief ceremony, scouts retired hundreds of used American flags under the supervision of Scoutmaster Michael Caffrey.

Doctor Alfred Khallouf, a Township resident who spent nine years in the Air Force as a dentist, was in his first week of active duty the Twin Towers were hit. When his parents moved here from Syria, they had nothing. "This country gave us the opportunity to turn nothing into something," he said.

Although Dr. Khallouf participated in no firefights, "I was saving the world, one tooth at a time."

LTC Tim Brooks, who served both in Iraq and Afghanistan and is currently with the Allentown National Guard, watched as flag after flag was fed into twin pyres that provided a brief reminder of the conflagration at the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001.

LTC Tim Brooks, an American hero.

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Gracedale's Family Fest - Kindness On Display

Gracedale Gardens Gazebo

Northampton County's nursing home, Gracedale, was originally home to a Moravian farm called Gnadenthal. That means Dale of Grace, or Kindness, in English. This quality was in abundant supply on Patriot Day, when residents and their families were treated to the 18th annual Family Fest Day.

Over 500 people poured onto Gracedale's Upper Nazareth campus to enjoy an outdoor picnic prepared by the nursing home's staff. On a beautiful afternoon, residents were treated to chicken and corn pie, pizza, hot dogs, pierogies and even waffles and ice cream. Family members and friends purchased tickets from the nursing home's new Administrator, Millard "D" Freeman.

As the Lehigh Valley Italian American Band serenaded residents, fest goers could sit at tables or inside the eye-catching gazebos at Gracedale Gardens.

Lehigh Valley Italian American Band

In honor of Patriot Day, numerous smiling volunteers - many of them retired Gracedale staffers - were festooned in red, white and blue. Even D Freeman was dressed for the occasion.

Gracedale Administrator Millard "D" Freeman is selling food tickets

Council members Scott Parsons, Peg Ferraro and Bob Werner attended the fest, along with Gracedale's first volunteer coordinator, Lorita Musselman.

Scott Parsons, Peg Ferraro, Lorita Musselman and Bob Werner (L to R)

Resident Virgina Pappas has attended the last three Family Fests. Asked which one was her favorite, she answered, "All of them."

Residents Evelyn Simon (L) and Virginia Pappas (R) are all smiles.

The red, white and blue decorations were certainly a nice touch. But even more fitting were the smiles that soon adorned volunteers, family members and residents alike.

Volunteer Rocky Cahill drove up from South Jersey

Moravians would be proud to see this kindness on display.

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Unusual Gas Odors in Nazareth Last Night

Half of Mauch Chunk Street's residents were driven from their homes last night by a strange gas odor. Nazareth firemen were looking all over the place for the source.

Looks like I'm going to have to skip the baked beans for the next few days.

Charlie Dent on 11th Anniversary of 9/11

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) issued the following statement from his Washington Office on the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States:

“Today, we remember those who perished 11 years ago in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. While the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, forever changed our nation, they could not weaken the American will or diminish our spirit. Please take a moment today to honor the many innocent Americans who lost their lives on 9/11, thank members of our Armed Forces and first responders for keeping us safe, remind family and friends how important they are to you, and consider volunteering some of your time to improve your community.”

Philly Hate Blogger Charged Over Death Threats

Philly hate blogger Joshua Scott Albert has been charged with criminal solicitation to commit murder, terroristic threats and harassment. These were filed as a result of Facebook pages Albert created, advocating the murder of police officers, the DA and, for some reason, Mitt Romney.

Locally, West Easton blogger Tricia Mezzacappa is facing harassment and disorderly conduct charges after she barged into Borough Hall, ripped information from a community bulletin board and threatened to drown the Borough Council President.

To prove harassment, there must be evidence of an intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm. Her blog is Exhhibt A. She has just reposted a controversial video of scantily clad women shooting guns, followed by a coffin and the West Easton Borough web page. It appears she has the requisite intent.

I won't link to her blog or the video.

The NIZ's Red Herring

There's another name for a bond issue's Preliminary Official Statement. It's also called a red herring. So when a NIZ POS forecasts massive new development, here comes the baloney. Pass out the bread and we can all have sandwiches.

The NIZ Preliminary Official Statement (you can review it here) contains a tax revenue forecast that just happens to be the work of the same outfit that performed the feasibility study. It claims that the Allentown arena complex will become "the preeminent multi-purpose event and entertainment venue in the greater lehigh Valley region."

This claim is simply insane. It completely ignores the Sands and its Event center, as well as the Steelstax. It instead looks at other arenas in other areas of the country. it blithely claims that Allentown's median income is $57,130, which will be news to most of the Queen City's residents. It concedes that it;'s an older population. you know, the kind that like to stay at home once the sun goes down. Yet it claims that the demographics are "very favorable."

Morning Call Biggest Biz in the NIZ

Back in June, I suggested that The Morning Call's location in the middle of NIZland might have some impact on its coverage, especially since I had just heard that developer J.B. Reilly was talking to the newspaper about leasing some of its vacant office space. I'm still waiting to hear from the newspaper's public relations guru on that one. A paper that is supposedly all about transparency in government is strangely reticent to answer questions about its own operations.

Now that the Preliminary Offering Statement for the NIZ bonds has finally been released, there have been two Morning Call articles about it. One points to a real lousy bond rating for the project. The other reports predictions that it will create 7,500 jobs, almost overnight.

Neither article bothers to inform you, however, that the Preliminary Offering Statement lists The Morning Call as the biggest business inside the NIZ, with 207,615 sq. ft. of rentable space. It is also the third highest taxpayer.

More office space than anyone else inside the NIZ, as well as a good tax base. It's pretty clear to me that the paper is considering its options. After all, it's in business to make money.

There's some question whether it's still in business to report news. Its Sunday paper has been coming out on Saturday as a "Sunday Early Edition" over the past three weeks. Blogger Michael Molovinsky has likened its content-free Monday paper to a "grade school Weekly reader."

Courts Want Say in Selection of Row Officers

She's one of the genuinely nicest people who's ever worked for Northampton County. Dot Cole retired recently from her position as Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court. The question of her successor, however, has raised questions about the powers of the Executive and Judicial branches of government. Executive John Stoffa has appointed a replacement. But as I understand it, the courts are reluctant to swear her in. Let me fill you in.

Unlike most counties, Northampton County appoints its row officers, from Sheriff to Recorder of Deeds. Jerry Seyfried, who has served as Executive, member of Council and Director of Court Services, explains why.

"Today, Northampton County promotes and compels competitive testing for all these positions. Career Service Regulations, updated periodically,assure that we get the best individuals to head these departments. All the positions under the Department head are also filled by testing. Highest test results usually result in getting the promotion. Most of our Department Heads have years of on hand experience. Under the Row Office Election system, it was a popularity contest and the newly elected official gave out the jobs in those respective offices to political hacks. That doesn't happen anymore in Northampton County. There is also a grievance procedure in place for any individual who feels they were passed over for a promotion. There is an independent Board of arbitrators who will hear the case and they have the authority to override the decision of the appointing authority. There are also safeguards as to posting of all test scores to eliminate someone with a low test score being interviewed before someone with a very high test score. Northampton County is the leader in this field. I don't want to bore you with lots of details, but I do want your readers to know that Northampton County has a great staff of employees. Most of this is because we no longer elect row offices."

Most of the time, when a new row officer is appointed, there's little or no fanfare. But the question of Dot's successor has the courts concerned. Although the Administrative Code places this office under the control of the County Executive, judges feel they should have some control over those row offices.

A little over a year ago, judges convened an emergency hearing about delays, primarily in the criminal division. Convicted defendants who belonged in state prison were sitting in the County jail. Appellate courts were firing memos at judges about delays in getting records. A logjam of paperwork prevented judges from even arraigning criminal defendants, and getting that all-important plea.

This delay was the result of a criminal division staff embroiled in office squabbles since the arrest of a Deputy for embezzlement. Because they're all members of public sector unions, there's little that Stoffa or his Director of Court Services could do, except impose overtime. Had these workers been judicial employees, they could have been fired, union or not.

Some Council members, like Ron Angle, pushed to have the entire Department of Court Services placed under the control of the courts, where it really does belong. There was some question whether a Home Rule Charter amendment should be considered, but the push for better accountability ended with Angle's term.

Courts work closely with the Criminal Division, Civil Division and Register of Wills. But if they select the Register of Wills, there's another problem because they are often called upon to review Register decisions.

On the other hand, count administrators have no clue what goes on in that row office. The test prepared for that office came from people who might have a combined five years of County service.

Ideally, this is a matter that should have long ago been considered by Council's Legal and Judicial Committee. But Lamont McClure, its Chairman, has convened no meetings this year. Or last year. Or the year before.

Now, with Dot Cole's appointed successor waiting in the wings, the question has risen again and is very much on the front burner. Courts feel that they, and not the Executive, should make these appointments. They, not the Executive, receive the nastygrams from appellate courts when records are delayed. They, unlike the Executive, also have the hammer to deal with petty office in-fighting.

As you might have guessed, this new appointment is rather controversial for another reason. Someone outside of the office has been selected. This has raised a lot of eyebrows. But my focus here is not to review the merits of an appointment already made, but to discuss whether the courts should at least have a say in the appointment of someone who works closely with them. They get that with the Sheriff's appointment. I'd argue they should have total control over the criminal division, civil division and register of wills.

A Miracle at Easton Rotary Field

Hannah McGovern (R) sings National Anthem

It was built and they sure came. Over five hundred people were on hand for Opening Day at Easton Rotary Field on September 9. Right next to Charles Chrin Community Center on Greenwood Avenue in Palmer Township, it's a $750,000 astroturf baseball diamond. There's a teletron in left center field, stands, and most importantly, lots of ballpark franks. But this is no ordinary ballfield. It's a miracle.

You see, this ballfield was built for kids whose physical and intellectual challenges prevent them from playing in the local little leagues. On Opening Day, 105 of them had an opportunity to be real baseball players, thanks to the efforts of hundreds who donated their money or services to the Northampton County Miracle League.

The stadium itself is a miracle. No bonds were needed. It was built in just 133 days. Not one dime is owed to anyone.

Dave Colver: He built it and they came.

This is largely due to the efforts of Dave Colver, Chair of Palmer Township's Board of Supervisors. His Board authorized this project in 2010, when it was just a dream. Then he volunteered to act as Project Manager.

"Dave, you built a miracle," said Miracle League President Rick Agretto before the ceremonial first pitch was tossed. Colver, known in the community as "Mr. Palmer Township," credited the many local businesses and people who provided money or, just as importantly, their time.

Easton Rotary kicked in the first $100,000, and after that, it all snowballed. Charles Chrin served as site contractor. No charge. Finelli Consulting Engineers did the designs. No charge.

Kevin Benton, Jr., enjoys a ballpark frank

There are 250 Miracle league fields in the United States, including one in nearby Schnecksville. But Colver explained that what might seem like a short trip to many can be an ordeal for a family with special needs children.

Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, who serves on the Miracle League Board, summed up the sentiments. "There are no strikeouts here," he said. "Only winners. May the miracles continue for years to come."

After the dedication ceremony, there was a double header. Everybody won. Every athlete saw his or her name on the teletron. And the last batter of every half inning hit a grand slam. Everyone left with at least one ballpark frank.

And a smile.

Rocky Mo Davis hits a grand slam.

Connor Francis escorted to first after belting out a single.

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Blogger's Note: It was a pleasure to meet Untouched Takeaway at this event. She was there to cheer on a friend's son. I also had the privilege to meet a few readers. Some of them even agree with me!! But I forgot to ask if I could mention them.

Fleck Denies Involvement in Allentown's Water Deal

Mike Fleck

On Friday, in a somewhat half-baked post, I told you that Mike Fleck has dived, head first, into Allentown's water and sewer deal. Since Fleck just happens to be Mayor Ed Pawlowski's campaign manager, I thought you should know.

Now I never confirmed any of this with the Fleckster, primarily because I never expected him to return a call. My relationship with Allentown's so-called elite is somewhat shaky.

But on Friday morning, Fleck called me!

He told me my story is wrong. This led me back to my original sources, and I'm inclined to agree.

As I told the Fleckster during another phone call on Sunday night, I do like to beat him up. But I like to beat him up with the truth. Some of my story from Friday is inaccurate, and this is a clarification.

What I Got Wrong:

1) Fleck's Involvement. - Fleck tells me he's had no contacts with anyone concerning Allentown's water and sewer lease. He claims that early in the process, he was contacted by an interested party to work as a consultant, but after discussing it with the Mayor, he decided to stay out of it. He adds this party never submitted a proposal.

2). Marcel Groen and National Development Council. - On Friday, I claimed that Groen represents National Development Council. But that's inaccurate. My sources contacted me later that day to tell me they had that wrong.

What I Got Right:

1) Marcel Groen does represent one of the bidders. I have heard two possibilities, but will wait until I am certain.

2) Fleck and Groen are friendly. According to Fleck,they still discuss politics and other matters, but have had no discussions concerning the water and sewer deal. Fleck denies knowing who Groen represents.

3) Groen's client, whoever it is, has the edge. According to what I hear, it's already a done deal. Those supposed public hearings are window dressing, as most so-called public hearings are with Pawlowski.

4) Fleck was involved in an insurance program for water and sewer ratepayers, but it was killed when the city decided to lease the facilities. It might be resurrected at some later date, but that will depend on whether the successful bidder already offers those kinds of warranties.

Rain Ends Car Free Days at 15

Some of you have asked whether I'm still car free. After fifteen days, my car free days came to an end last week during Tuesday's rainstorm. I spent the next three days on a bike, but broke down again on Saturday because I was uncertain whether I'd beat the rain home after a football game in Bethlehem.

Yesterday, the crisp weather was great for cycling. While many in the Lehigh Valley fretted during a nailbiter between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, there was still a large contingent of cyclists riding Sand Island on Sunday afternoon.

You can ride from Allentown to Easton along that trial and never have to worry about traffic or hills, but I'll take the road. Trails are full of blind spots, which can lead to collisions. And yesterday, I nearly did a header after going into a slide in what I thought was a small mud puddle. I nearly ended up in the canal.

Still, you can't beat views like the one below.

Mezzacappa Summary Trial Scheduled

Tricia Mezzacappa, who's been charged with disorderly conduct and harassment as a result of her behavior at West Easton Borough Hall on August 22, will be tried before District Judge Yetter on October 17, 2 PM. Yetter's courtroom is located at 1710 butler Street in Easton.

Mezzacappa will be represented by Phil Lauer, one of the Lehigh Valley's top criminal defense attorneys. In March, Mezzacappa called him "Pansy Lauer" on her blog.