Zrinski Announces that New Parking Deck Construction to Start in October

At last week's NorCo Council meeting, Executive Tara Zrinski announced that work on a new parking deck for the courthouse campus will begin in October. This work was supposed to have started in July, but had to be postponed because the bidder failed to comply with the county's responsible contractor ordinance. 

This is a good time to consider a bus, bicycle or one of those dreaded e-bikes savaged on the season opener of South Park America. 

NorCo Council Increases Salaries for 26 Gracedale Nursing Supervisors

At Thursday night's meeting, Northampton County Council voted 7-0 (Ken Kraft and Tom Giovanni were absent) to increase the salaries of 26 nursing supervisors at Gracedale. The wage increases will go to 9 full-time, 8 part-time and 9 per-diem nursing supervisors. This was recommended in an outside performance audit of Gracedale nursing home back in 2023 and was recommended repeatedly by Council members over the past two years to attract and retain the county workforce and reduce reliance on outside agency nurses. 

Unfortunately, the Council Clerk failed to attach supporting documents to the agenda and thus it is impossible to tell you the exact amount of these increases. The paygrade is set with room for these career service employees to get step increases as they go through annual reviews. According to Executive Tara Zrinski, the wage starts at about $52 an hour. She indicated that previous administrations have been reluctant to give step increases and noted that long-time employees would get the same pay as people who are recently hired.

Council member Jason Boulette noted that his reading of Career Service Regulations and the Employee Policy Manual led him to believe that every career service employee who gets a positive evaluation should get a step increase. "Listen, I just got here," said Zrinski. She noted she could only state the past history, and said the budget does limit what can be done.

Currently, only two of these positions are actually filled by county employees. The rest are vacant. 

Council member Dave Holland asked about other front-line nursing positions and was told that this is just the beginning of the salary review process.  

Elder Abuse Charged at Moravian Hall Sqaure

As many readers of this blog are aware, I have been highly critical of the way that the county administration has responded to problems at Gracedale, our publicly owned nursing home. While it particularly bothers me to see elder abuse or neglect at a publicly owned facility, it can also happen in more private settings that get less attention. A case in point is Moravian Hall Square, which is often held up as the gold standard that everyone else should try to emulate. While that might be generally true, Nazareth police have charged a CNA employed there with elder abuse (abuse of a care dependent person).  

According to the online blotter known as Crimewatch, "On September 10, 2026, at 10:34 AM, Nazareth Police responded to a report of elder abuse at Moravian Hall Square, located at 175 North Street. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the reporting party, who stated that a resident's husband had reported observing bruises on his wife's body in the area of her wrist. An internal investigation was conducted by Moravian Hall Square staff, resulting in the accused being placed on administrative leave pending further notice. The police were subsequently contacted, and an investigation was launched, involving interviews with the alleged offender and others connected to the incident. The Northampton County District Attorney's office was notified of the allegations. Following the completion of the investigation, charges were filed against the accused individual.

The accused indicidual is Lindsey Roberts, age 43. According to LinkedIn, Roberts is a CNA at Moravian Hall Square. 

Interestingly, I am unable to locate this case in the Unified Judicial System Portal.

Zrinski Claims She Tried to Keep Grand Jury Report Secret Because It Contains "Lies" and "Perjury"

At last night's meeting of Northampton County Council, member Dave Holland asked Executive Tara Zrinski why she tried to suppress the Grand Jury Report concerning Gracedales made public by NorCo DA Steve Baratta on September 10. He did so in accordance with an Order of Court obtained from President Judge Craig Dally, which was issued after Zrinski had asked that the report be kept from the public and was given an opportunity to make her case. 

Zrinski had argued that an investigative grand jury can be convened only to investigate crimes, but as President Judge Dally observed, an investigating grand jury can also "propose recommendations for legislative, executive, or administrative action in the public interest based upon stated findings." Those findings included "sluggish emergency response times, the inconsistent presence of law enforcement, medicare inspection deficiencies, derelictions in resident care, troubling resident conduct, elopements, staffing shortages, and a reliance on outside nursing agencies."

Although Zrinski had earlier stated that she took the Grand Jury Report seriously, the opposite was apparent. 

She told Holland she tried to suppress the report because ...

"There were lies in testimony. There were people in that report that committed perjury, and there was no one holding them accountable."

Holland: "That's a pretty serious allegation."

Zrinski: "And I made it right here."

Holland: "Testimony is testimony, right?"

Zrinski: "I get it. I have made testimony under oath. I understand what it means."

She sure does. In a custody dispute from a long time ago, it was Zrinski herself who was sanctioned $2,750 by then Judge Emil Giordano for "perjury." (See NorCo Docket 2007-9468, Court Order dated 12/16/08, Paragraph 14). Ironically, the attorney who sought and obtained that sanction was Melissa Rudas, who is now the county Solicitor.

Now she's accusing others of what she did. 

What were the lies and perjury? The numerous DOH deficiency reports issued in 2025, for which the county was fined? The testimony of several police officers, including an officer who testified that she saw supervising nurses sleeping at their desks when called to the home at night?

What I also find interesting is that, though Zrinski told Holland that she attempted to suppress the work of the Grand Jury because it's full of lies and perjury, she at no time made that argument to the court. The argument that she did make, i.e. a grand jury can only investigate crimes, is legally frivolous.  

She said that "[j]ustice should do no harm. And therefore, that is why I asked for it to be quashed."

In addition to being full of lies and perjury, Zrinski added that the unwashed masses would be unable to judge for themselves how much weight to attach to a Grand Jury Report. "[I]t wasn't to hide the report per se, but just like anything else, the public doesn't have the capacity or the knowledge to discern what was true and what was not in those narrative statements. So, to them, everything was true."

Now you know. She thinks you're stupid, and she was only trying to hide the report to keep you from falling for Barfatta's bullshit.

After claiming the report was full of lies and perjury and that you're too stupid to distinguish fact from fiction, she took a passive aggressive shot at Baratta: "I'm not going to speculate what the DA's objective was, but he got his headlines." 

Holland thanked Zrinski for her explanation, saying he was asking them on behalf of the public. "I have to say, those questions were better than Bernie O'Hare's," she answered.

I agree. At at the time of her news conference, I was unaware that she actually had really tried to keep the report from the public. I discovered that later in the day, when I was able to read her full reply. So  Holland's questions needed to be answered, and they were probably better coming from him than me. But whether Zrinski knows it or not, and apparently, she does not, they have made her look worse

Zrinski Proposes Wage Hikes for 27 Nurse Supervisor Positions

Last night, Executive Tara Zrinski asked NorCo Council to approve wage hikes for 27 nurse supervisor positions at Gracedale. She described the proposal as part of an “Operation Stabilization Strategy" to restore stability, strengthen accountability, and secure the long-term future of Gracedale. She acknowledged that immediate action is required. 

In a recent visit, Zrinski spoke with several agency nurse supervisors who told her they would be willing to become Gracedale employees if only the county could offer competitive compensation.

The financial disparity is significant:

- Gracedale’s nurses are making approximately $34 per hour.
- The county is paying an agency approximately $31 per hour on top of the nurse’s compensation.
- The resulting cost to the county is approximately $91 per hour for an agency nurse.
- Zrinski said agency supervisors indicated they would consider becoming county employees if their compensation were increased by approximately 40 percent over what the county currently pays.

Her argument was that the county is already spending substantial amounts on agency personnel and could redirect some of that money toward better compensation for its own supervisory nurses. She believes a starting salary of $52 an hour is the "magic number" needed to attract and retain supervisory nurses who actually work for the county instead of an agency.

She is also planning revisions to the pay structure in her 2027 budget, including adding new steps and creating additional starting-salary opportunities.

The agency-supervision problem

Agency employees are currently supervising county employees. She has seen herself and has heard of supervisors on their phones while working, wearing Crocs and simply disregarding county policies because they were not county employees. She believes this upgrade in pay would both reduce reliance on agency nurses and make Gracedale safer and more accountable. 

Her point was that county-employed supervisors would have greater authority and accountability over Gracedale employees. Zrinski said having county RNs supervising county staff would therefore not only address the staffing issue but could also contribute to a safer and more accountable Gracedale.

Zrinski also addressed the District Attorney's Grand Jury report concerning Gracedale, which was released last week. She still tried to minimize the matter, noting it addressed deficiencies found in 2025. There have been 5 occasions this year in which Gracedale has been cited for patient assaults, an elopement and failure to provide care. 

She said the administration is taking the DA's findings seriously, while noting that the conduct described in the report occurred approximately a year earlier and had already been discussed with County Council on two previous occasions. But she acknowledged that the report has created an additional "sense of urgency." and said several times that the home is in "triage" mode. 

In particular, she said the report is affecting Gracedale's public reputation, referrals and overall ability to attract and retain residents and staff.

Zrinski emphasized that the county needs to act immediately rather than simply discuss the problems.

I agree and wonder why she has waited nearly a year to do so. 

Council member Dave Holland said that increasing nurses' pay made sense as a first step toward addressing the problems at Gracedale. Council member Jason Boulette added that the proposal could help address the longstanding issue of hiring experienced nurses at the lowest possible step.

While Gracedale Burns, What is NorCo Council Doing?

When a county-owned nursing home is run so poorly that it attracts the attention of an Investigating Grand Jury, it's time to pay attention. When the County Executive both minimizes the problems and actually tried to prevent the public from knowing what is going on, it's time to pay attention. While Gracedale burns, Executive Tara Zrinski has been fiddling with a long-range continuum of care concept, unmindful that unless current problems are fixed, there'll be no continuum at all. But what about County Council, who even Zrinski now agrees is the county's governing body? Last year's County Council raised numerous concerns. So did this year's County Council, which voted to establish a separate Gracedale oversight committee for the problem-plagued home on July 2. Since then?

Crickets. Sure, they voted to appoint a Continuum of Care Director, but there have been no Gracedale oversight committee meetings or reports about Gracedale itself. 

Why has nothing happened since then? Two words.

Ken Kraft. He is County Council President. 

When Council member Dave Holland, himself a former Gracedale Administrator, proposed a Gracedale oversight committee he received a lot of pushback from the usual suspects - Zrinski, Kraft and Council members Jeff Warren and Kelly Keegan. At first, they tried to table the matter. When that failed, Kraft argued that this new committee was "over-reaching our authority as a Council." When Keegan was told the committee would provide oversight, her response was "I don't understand. That's the administration's job." Jeff Warren agreed and said he had a "significant" problem with the word "oversight." So the administration is supposed to provide oversight over itself?

In the end the resolution creating this new oversight committee was adopted by a 6-3 vote. Even Warren voted for it in the end. 

Kraft, who tried to table this oversight committee and voted against it, has dragged his feet over the formation of this Gracedale watchdog, which has yet to meet. For a period of 10 weeks, the County Council website still fails to identify any members. But Zrinski let the cat out of the bag at her news conference last week. She said the committee, consisting of four members has been formed.

I've made some calls and have learned that the Gracedale Oversight Committee Chair is none other than Kelly Keegan, who voted against it. Kraft, who also voted No to the Committee, put himself on it. 

It's clear that Kraft and Keegan decided to disregard the will of a Council majority and just refuse to call a meeting. 

With the release of the Grand Jury report, they now will probably have to do something.

In my opinion, a Council President exists to preside over meetings.  He makes committee assignments as well, but there is nothing in the Home Rule Charter that gives him this authority. In this instance, he has clearly abused his authority and has defied the will of six members of County Council. County Council has the authority to reverse Kraft and appoint members who will provide real oversight of the beleagured home instead of the charade that Kraft has created.  

Why Taiba Sultana Will Never Be Elected Ever Again

This is what former Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana posted on the 25th anniversary of 9/11:

25 years ago today, 2,977 people were killed.

In their name, the U.S. launched a “War on Terror” that cost about $8 trillion in public tax money and directly killed more than 900,000 people across Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan. Count indirect deaths from disease, hunger, and displacement, and the estimate climbs to 4.5 million deaths.

We were told it was justice. It was for arms profits, oil, and imperial control.

Honoring the fallen means condemning the lies that sent so many more to their graves.

I SAID WHAT I SAID!!!

How Did PJ Craig Dally Handle Zrinski's Attempt to Keep Gracedale Grand Jury Report Away From You?

Last Thursday, NorCo District Attorney Steve Baratta released a 44-page Grand Jury Report (click on link to be able to read it for yourself) that found serious weakness in the way that Gracedale has cared for its nearly 500 residents, particularly when it comes to their physical safety. As a result of 14 deficiencies in 2025, the home's license has been downgraded from Regular to Provisional II. Immediately following this release, Executive Tara Zrinski attempted to minimize the issues presented during a defensive and evasive news conference in which she declined to answer a question whether the county has established any kind of protocol with Upper Nazareth police about emergency calls after an incident that occurred well over a year ago, when a mentally ill agency nurse assaulted a resident in the delusional belief she was possessed. Zrinski instead blamed everything on Gracedale's former Administrator even though most of these problems occurred after she had already resigned. Former Exec Lamont McClure played the same blame game in a response attached to the Grand Jury Report. In an over-the-top reply, he accused Baratta of trying to sabotage McClure's congressional hopes, although that election was over in May and the Report was only released in September. He also dismissed the 14 citations, for which the county was also assessed monetary penalties, as "isolated incidents."  What I did not know at the time of the release of this report or at Zrinski's news conference was that she actually tried to keep us from ever seeing it. She actually asked President Judge Craig Dally to seal it. He instead ordered that the matter be released in an Order and Statement of Reasons (linked here) that you can read yourself. 

In her attempt to suppress the report, Zrinski argued that grand juries have no authority to investigate non-criminal activity and only should look into crimes. The law says differently, according to Judge Dally. He notes state law specifically providing that an investigating grand jury can be convened to look into crime or to propose recommendations for legislative, executive, or administrative action in the public interest based upon stated findings." 

In short, her attempt to suppress the report is legally frivolous. It's also politically stupid. I think many people will actually be angrier at the attempt to suppress this report than they are by the report itself. It's an indication that she's listening to the wrong people. 

In fairness, Judge Dally did rule that some of the persons mentioned in the report, such as Zrinski and McClure, should be allowed to respond, and they did. The Court also agreed to redact the names of some residents. 

I got a late start for today's story. Tomorrow, I'll tell you what actions Northampton County Council has taken to provide oversight at Gracedale. 

Zrinski's Attempts to Minimize Grand Jury Report in Defensive and Evasive News Conference

Immediately after last week's release of a 44-page Grand Jury report calling for reforms at Gracedale, NorCo Executive Zrinski conducted her own high-noon news conference from inside the acoustically challenged rotunda of the courthouse. Her newly-appointed Continuum of Care Director and Gracedale's Administrator stood by her as she said the District Attorney's investigation should be met with "seriousness, transparency and resolve." While her resolve is beyond question, she has been far from transparent. She actually tried to have the report sealed (more about that later) so that the public would never see it. Moreover, instead of treating the probe with gravity, she minimized it and was both defensive and evasive when responding to questions. 

She started by tugging on heartstrings instead of facts. noting that Gracedale had cared for her mother and provided excellent care when Zrinski was a member of County Council. She has now told this story many times as a member of County Council and several times as Executive. I'm sure her mother did receive a high level of care because, after all, she was the mother of member of County Council. Funny thing, Gracedale's Administrator at that time was Jennifer Stewart, who has since been scapegoated for all the problems. In fact, right after praising Gracedale for looking after her mom, Zrinski said that many of its problem501c3 s came while Stewart was Administrator. 

Her solutions? She's issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a feasibility study on her "continuum of care" expansion. She's established a non-profit 501c3 to receive philanthropic support. She added that she would strengthen executive oversight with the hiring of a Continuum of Care Director whose background is therapeutic recreation and has no experience in nursing home administration.  

She also claimed to be improving communication and transparency. It must have been hard to talk about transparency with a straight face after her unsuccessful attempt to prevent the public from seeing the Grand Jury report. The improved communications have consisted mostly of feel-good stories about things like chair volleyball and a luau.   

When it came time for questions, WFMZ-TV69 had concerns about what steps were being taken to address how police should respond to 911 calls, which can be baseless when coming from residents with cognitive issues. This issue came to a head well over a year ago when 911 calls about an exorcist nurse were being ignored, both by police and even by Gracedale nurses. They claimed falsely to have checked on the matter but did nothing until after a third 911 call. 

A year later, Zrinski's response was "I don't believe I can address that right now." She then slammed Upper Nazareth police. "I'm sorry that answer could not be more clear, but it is ... um ... working with the Upper Nazareth police force has been somewhat challenging."

More than a year has passed since this incident, yet there still is no protocol on how to respond to 911 calls from a facility with 500 elderly and residents? 

While WFMZ-TV69 attempted to decipher exactly what Zrinski had just said, I had a question of my own. I pointed out that, in 2023, Medicare issued 3 minor deficiencies when Jennifer Stewart was at the helm. In 2024, there were just two. But in 2025, once Michelle Morton took the reins, there were 14 deficiency reports for serious shortcomings that extended well beyond a mentally ill nurse. They included residents who wandered off, poor security, physical assaults and failure to provide care that had been prescribed by doctors.

"Under these circumstances, how can you possibly justify keeping Michelle Morton as the Administrator of Gracedale, especially when her own testimony indicates that nurses like to eat their young?"

Zrinski: "I think you're assuming that everything in that report is accurate and true."

Me: "That is her testimony."

Zrinski: "I understand her testimony."

Me: "I understand that everything is true because those are the deficiency reports that are on the record. They're on record. Department of Health deficiency reports. Gracedale has paid significant fines as a result of these deficiency reports. There are 14 reports ...."

Zrinski: "I understand what you're saying, Mr. O'Hare, if you let me finish the question, I will respond to you. So there's an admissions process and there are individuals who are admitted years before [Morton] got there."

She went on to blame the McClure administration for increasing census. And she failed to acknowledge it, but the Grand Jury report shows that Morton was all about accepting new residents no matter how unsuitable they might be. Morton actually placed Jennifer Stewart, the Admissions Director, under a mandate to increase census, and even would override Stewart's admission denials. She slammed an "admissions director who let anybody in," which has been a common theme at Gracedale. Morton has managed to make the former Administrator, Jennifer Stewart, a scapegoat for her own admissions errors.  These errors were the result of a previous executive, Lamont McClure, who wanted quantity over quality.  Yet Zrinski insisted that Morton "has my confidence." 

Transparent Zrinski then went on to say she'd rather have questions from someone other than me. That's OK. But I was not done. 

Zrinski went on to slam DA Steve Baratta for bringing Gracedale "out in the public forum. ... This has been a public discussion in nearly every election cycle. Gracedale has been a political football. Sell it, save it. Sell it, save it, sell it, save it are always the priorities of candidates running. I want to take that out of the political sphere and make it more about care and treatment. It shouldn't be an open discussion that we're arguing about all the time. These are people's lives. These are people's jobs."

Me: "There are no county offices up this year. So where do you get the idea that this is some form of political football?"

Zrinski: "I said, in the history, it has been a political football. How many different rallies have you gone to or how many different discussions?"

Me: "Right now we're talking about what's going on at Gracedale, how we can improve it, what's wrong with it ...'

Zrinski: "Mr. O'Hare, I think you know better than anybody else that there are motivations that are political for anybody to put a report out about Gracedale."

Me: "So you are saying that DA Baratta had a political motive?"

Zrinski: "I'm not suggesting it. I'm saying it could possibly exist."

Me: "You're saying it could possibly exist?"

Zrinski: "Sure."

Me: "But it could also be that he genuinely desires to see Gracedale improve."

Zrinski: "He has no authority or experience to make recommendations for Gracedale."

Me: "You say he has no authority or experience. What is your background in administration.?"

Zrinski: "I am not making these recommendations. I am following the recommendations of other individuals who know how nursing homes run."

She was talking over me, but at that time I was pointing out that her newly appointed Continuum of Care Director and Administrator have backgrounds in therapeutic recreation.

Me: "Why did you speak against an oversight committee for Gracedale? When you're saying you want to be transparent, why would you oppose an oversight committee?"

Zrinski: "I'm not opposed to an oversight committee. What I was guarding was county council's overreach. When you create a continuum of care department, you're supposed to create a continuum of care committee. That should be the level of oversight. And it has four members on it."

Me: "Is County Council the governing body?"

Zrinski: "Yes."

Zrinski, who is used to bloviating at length, decided to cut the presser short. 

Tomorrow, I'll tell you how the court reacted to Zrinski's failed attempt to keep you from seeing the Grand Jury report.

McClure's Histrionic Reaction to Grand Jury Report

On Friday, I told you about an Investigating Grand Jury Report detailing serious resident safety concerns and poor leadership at Gracedale. Earlier today, I told you about NorCo Executive Tara Zrinski's defensive and evasive reaction. But that's nothing compared to former Executive Lamont McClure's histrionics. They are attached to the report itself (linked above).  McClure endorsed and contributed $10,000 to Zrinski's campaign to succeed him. He is currently employed by NorCo as an assistant Solicitor.

McClure calls the Grand Jury Report a "politically motivated hit job launched on [him] at a time when the current District Attorney believed he could damage [McClure's] Congressional campaign." He fails to explain how this report, published months after he came in third in a four-way primary, was somehow able to torpedo his Congressional ambitions. 

McClure also contends that Baratta "seeks to minimize his own incompetence and petty corruption as District Attorney." 

He calls the 14 deficiencies found in 2025, while he was Executive, "isolated incidents." 14 deficiencies in one year are "isolated incidents"? No, that's a pattern, and it's one that resulted in the home's license getting reduced from Regular to Provisional I status. When the home continued to decline, it was reduced again to Provisional II status. 

After attempting to minimize 14 deficiencies as "isolated incidents," McClure insists that "there is no demonstrated causal connection" that they were caused by the use of agency nurses or poor staffing levels. 

Excuse me? The exorcist nurse that prompted the grand jury investigation was herself an agency nurse. And at least one of the elopements was the result of Gracedale's failure to provide 1 on 1 care for an at-risk individual. 

Perhaps the most disappointing feature of McClure's response to the Grand Jury report was his attempt to savage and scapegoat Jennifer Stewart, the person he himself appointed Administrator. This is precisely what he did to County Administrator Charles Dertinger, after a botched election. She testified that she was increasing census pursuant to his directions and that current Administrator Michelle Morton actually reversed some of her denials. In paragraph after paragraph, McClure attacks the honesty and integrity of a loyal county employee who started as a CNA and worked her way up. He attacked a person known to have herself spent long evenings herself at Gracedale when the home was short-handed and who was willing to do the dirty work, including the changing of bed pans. He blames her for wanting to increase census but told County Council he made her his Admissions Director "because there hasn't been a county contribution [to the nursing home] from the general fund for many years. ... One of the things that we think is necessary in order to continue to be viable as a county-owned and operated institution is to continue not to have county contributions coming from the general fund..... Jennifer Stewart is an expert at getting the census up."

What he failed to tell County Council at that time was that there was a simmering crisis in which monies that had been set aside for retention bonuses were spent instead on other Gracedale expenditures. What he also failed to tell Council was that Gracedale actually did get a county contribution of $9.9 million in 2024, a point highlighted by the annual independent audit. 

So when McClure told County Council that there had been no county contribution in many years, was he lying? 

It appears that Jennifer Stewart, an unusual and special kind of person who actually care about the residents, was scapegoated and sent to Admissions. 

Investigating Grand Jury Releases Report Raising Serious Resident Safety Concerns and Poor Leadership at Gracedale

Yesterday, NorCo A Steve Baratta released the results and recommendations of a 44-page Grand Jury Report* concerning resident safety issues at Gracedale, the county-run nursing home. The grand jury found serious weaknesses in the way that the long-term care facility has cared for its residents, and jurors felt the gravity of these problems warranted public attention and corrective action. No single person was blamed. The report instead points to a combination of questionable management, the use of outside agency nurses, failure to provide appropriate care, poor security and a lack of accountability. 19 Grand Jurors voted to file the report, with another three absent. 

Interestingly, Executive Tara Zrinski, who likes to call herself the very model of a modern major Executive, actually tried to have the report sealed or quashed without the public ever seeing a word. She failed. That's another story, and I'll fill you in on that next week. 

The genesis of this Grand Jury probe was a Gracedale agency nurse who on 6/23/25 was attempting to perform an exorcism on one of three residents who share a room. Multiple 911 calls had to be made over 30 minutes before Upper Nazareth Tp police responded. In the second call, a nursing supervisor told 911 she had already checked the situation, (Pges 13-14). In a third, a nursing supervisor told 911 she was going to "take [the complaining resident's] phone away or something." Police finally responded when a nursing supervisor herself personally witnessed an agency nurse who wouldn't let anyone in or out of the room. (Pge 14). When Officer Zach Dugan arrived on scene, he could see that the agency nurse, festooned in PPE gear, had her hand and fingers inside the resident's mouth. She indicated the resident had "demons inside of her" and they needed to come out, along with a considerable amount of blood.  

Baratta said that the victim of this attack was severely injured and never recovered. She died not long after the attack, but from unrelated causes.

The agency nurse has been charged with a litany of crimes, and that matter is still pending. 

After this incident, DA Baratta sought and was granted permission to conduct a Grand Jury investigation, which was headed by Deputy DA Bill Blake and Detective Brad Jones. Baratta himself questioned Gracedale Administrator Michelle Morton. 

At a news conference announcing the report, Baratta warned reporters to expect "some pushback." That's putting it mildly. Not only was Baratta accused of interfering with the Executive branch, but he's also been accused of having a political motive. "My response to this is, read the report," he said.  

I did. It's devastating. 

Deficiencies. - It consists of a factual documentation of 14 state Department of Health citations in 2025, all of which occurred under the tenure of Gracedale Administrator Michelle Moton. This is substantially more than 3 minor inspection deficiencies in 2023 and just 2 in 2024, when Gracedale was administered by Jennifer Stewart. (Pges. 5, 6-12).  

These reports chronicle assaults that extend beyond the exorcist nurse and include resident-on-resident violence resulting in injuries.  

They include elopements, which are runaways by residents who've been identified as incapable of caring for themselves. One of them involved a man who was gone for more than 24 hours and was located by Upper Nazareth Police sleeping outside a convenience store. Another involved a wheelchair bound double amputee who was tooling along the local roads with no place to go. There was even a fellow who left Gracedale to visit his girlfriend at Fox's Gentleman's club. He was found in Moore Tp. 

Some of these elopements were supposed to be under 1 to 1 supervision.

They include failure to provide the medication or rehabilitative care prescribed by doctors. One resident with partial paralysis missed 19 days of prescribed exercises. Medication carts have been left unsecured.

Read the report. 

Witnesses. - The Grand Jury report includes summaries of testimony elicited from witnesses, including the officers who responded to the exorcist. Officer Clinton Wambold, a former Deputy Sheriff, said that Gracedale staff made "little or no effort" to stop the exorcist when she was assaulting the Gracedale resident. He also noted that Gracedale staff disposed of or cleaned all the clothing or gowns involved in the assault, making it impossible for him to collect physical evidence. (Pge. 19). Officer Danielle Petrucci testified of one assault involving two residents. The aggressor was supposed to be under 1 on 1 supervision but was not. The victim of that assault suffered a cognitive and physical decline, is now bedridden and unable to interact with others.  (Pge 20). She also testified that members of the nursing staff were found sleeping at their desks while police were present. (Pge. 22).

Michelle Morton, Gracedale's Administrator, was examined by Baratta. Affinity Health Services prepared a county council funded report in 2023 that conducted an analysis of the problems at Gracedale, but she told council on November 6 that she had never read the report. She still had failed to read it when she was questioned by Baratta on 12/30/25. 

With respect to the deficiencies found under her watch in 2025, "Morton's response to the claims was that an inspection is only a moment in time and not a reflection that overall, things were poor. She appeared to minimize the documented infractions, as well as her role in the prevention of those matters. She also denied that staffing shortages contributed to the documented deficiencies."  (Pge. 27)  

Her plan for recruiting new employees? Staff development and training initiatives. And she likes committees. She certainly seemed to accept that nurses can bully each other, telling Baratta that "nurses eat their young." (Pge. 29)

Jennifer Stewart, Gracedale's former Administrator, worked at Gracedale from 2005 until she resigned in 2026. She started as a CNA and worked her way up until she was appointed Administrator in 2019. As she approached retirement age, she decided to step back into her former role as Director of Admissions so she could act as a mentor to her replacement. When she attempted to help Morton, she was rebuffed. (Pge. 37). 

Although she had never been reprimanded in any way during her tenure at Gracedale, that changed when Morton arrived. Instead of asking for help, Morton gave Stewart a "Program Improvement Plan" mandating her to increase census to 525-530. Morton instructed Stewart to admit everyone. "Morton also usurped Stewart's authority as Director of Admissions by reviewing, and in many cases, overriding admission denials in cases where Stewart believed that the resident was not an appropriate candidate for Gracedale." (Pge. 38). She felt she was being micromanaged and decided to resign and accepted a position as Administrator at a nursing home in Bethlehem. 

"Stewart is extremely knowledgeable in the field of nursing home administration, and it is clear that Gracedale benefitted from her knowledge and leadership. She believes that Gracedale was thriving under the management of Premiere Healthcare, although she feels it took a step back under the administration of ray Soto. Stewart strongly believes that the prior county administration failed the residents at Gracedale by canceling the partnership with Premiere Healthcare, by forcing an increase in census at the expense of patient safety, and by forcing reliance on outside nursing agencies. It is clear to the Grand Jury that Stewart truly cares for the wellbeing of the residents at Gracedale and served the county effectively when she was Gracedale's Administrator."

The Grand Jury recommends that (1) Gracedale move away from agency nursing to county-employed personnel; (2) revise policies concerning administration; (3) Beef up security; (4) create a liaison or ombudsman with specialized training in proper administration of a nursing home; (5) require supervisors to physically check each 911 call and document each matter; (6) establish in-house training for CNAs; and (7) establish a protocol with Upper Nazareth police concerning 911 calls.  

Baratta made clear that he is making no recommendation that Gracedale be sold. 

"However, we have to also remember that government is designed to provide services and services to the medically needy, vulnerable, elderly people that need assisted care, needs to be reliable and safe. They cannot provide for their own safety. They rely on us to provide that care. So, my hope is that these recommendations, and the publication of these issues, will further spur discussion and debate, in county government, and in the community, and that in the long run, we're going to be able to make Gracedale a safer, more productive personal care facility. And be successful into the future."

Right after Baratta had finished with us, we sauntered down the hall for yet another press conference being conducted by Executive Tara Zrinski, who had tried unsuccessfully to suppress the Grand Jury's report. So much for transparency.

I'll tell you about what she had to say on Monday in response to some tough questioning by your truly. You can also read her attempt to quash the Grand Jury report because it's attached to the report. You can also read former Executive Lamont McClure's bashing of just about everyone who isn't named Lamont McClure.  He calls the report a political hit job designed to ruin his congressional bid even though the report was not released until well after the primary in which he finished 3rd of 4. 

Finally, I'll fill you in on how the court handled Zrinski's attempt to suppress a Grand Jury report being released precisely to provide the transparency sorely needed at Gracedale.     

*) You can read the entire report on my Google Drive. I tried to upload the Grand Jury Report to Scribd, but that third party hosting site is currently inoperable. 

NorCo DA Baratta To Release Grand Jury Report About Gracedale

At 11 am, NorCo DA Steve Baratta will unveil the findings of a Grand Jury report about Gracedale. He had previously told County Council the report's focus would be "issues of patient safety that we were made aware of over the past year."  

The home has been the focus of some bizarre happenings, from an agency nurse who attempted to perform an exorcism on a resident, a substance-abusing resident who was pocketing pain pills and several residents who wondered off and are retuned by police. 

Gracedale is the only county-owned nursing home in the state with a Provisional II license. It also has been flagged by Medicare for abuse. 

On the bright side, the home has been deficiency-free in five DOH (Dep't of Health) visits to the home since May 14. (The home has been visited 14 times by DOH this year).  

Following Baratta's news conference, Executive Tara Zrinski will issue her own comments. She will include her newly appointed Continuum of Care Director, who himself acknowledged during the confirmation process that he has no training in nursing. 

The Great Alan Jennings Responds to Toy Factory Story

The last time I spoke to the Great Alan Jennings was during the late Summer or early Fall of 2018. He made a point of telling me he was calling me from the beach, which I thought a tad odd for someone who proclaims himself as the voice of the voiceless. In our brief conversation, he churlishly berated me in a profane-ridden tirade over my coverage of Upside Allentown's corrupt facade grant program, in which insiders were awarding grants to themselves. Upside Allentown then operated under the rather large umbrella of Community Action LV, whose biggest accomplishment in recent years has been to change its name. Jennings, its former Executive Director, had responded to my inquiries and did have to amend one of his tax returns, but was nevertheless upset with me for giving a voice to two people who would otherwise have been voiceless. He got ugly in that call. 

Fast forward to the present. I recently wrote a story about Allentown's Toy Factory, in which Jennings plays a minor role as a member of Allentown's Redevelopment Authority (ARA). This vacant factory was purchased by the ARA in 2022 for $400,000. Hasshan Batts, a two-time convicted drug dealer who is nevertheless heralded by the increasingly irrelevant PBS as a hometown hero, proposed turning it into a mosque, and nearly succeeded. 

Nothing much happened since then until earlier this year, when the ARA finally got around to publishing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP), and the main purpose was to provide affordable or workforce housing. 

That's what Allentown developer Nat Hyman does, and without sticking his hand in the taxpayer's pocket for grants or LERTAs or TIFs. And he's been successful at it, having completed 41 projects with 1,480 apartments over the years. He submitted a plan to turn the defunct factory into 20 apartments with on-site parking. He also offered to pay $410,000 for the properties with no contingencies. 

Another developer, Warren Lim, gave the ARA two options. The first would be 6 apartments, a daycare and no on-sire parking. The second would be 12 apartments with no on-site parking. The ARA would lose between $50,000 to $100,000. And Lim's offer is contingent upon his ability to get a loan for $1.39 million. 

This seems like a no-brainer, right? But this is Allentown, land of pay-to-play, a former Mayor who went to jail for public corruption, and a city Council that very nearly ignored state law a few years ago to appoint hometown hero and convicted felon Hasshan Batts as Mayor. 

After a private meeting with LIM, the ARA has tentatively decided to go with him. Jennings actually insisted that Hyman should apologize to ARA. 

Allentown developer Nat Hyman has sued. That's another thing he does. 

This case is making its way through the legal jungle, but Jennings hates any form of criticism. He is more accustomed to adulation. He also occasionally pens condescending op-eds railing about numerous topics, including how to solve the affordable housing crisis. Hypocritically, when he had an opportunity to provide 20 affordable rental units in Allentown, he said No.  

His real schtick over the years has been to threaten banks and wealthy developers unless they give him money. When they do, he gives them cover like he has done with the NIZ. His approach has helped some people over the years, but there's no denying that his shakedowns are nothing short of legal extortion. 

He would have done well in the Mafia. 

In my Toy Factory story, Jennings was unable to take the public criticism. Like so many public figures, he is incredibly thin-skinned. 

Here's a few excerpts from that story, including what people said and how he reacted. 

Jennings once again proves he is the north end of a south bound jackass.

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

This stinks and doesn't surprise me that Jennings was involved!

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

All you have to say is “Alan Jennings” and you know the process is corrupt. That guy made a lifetime of fleecing people out of their money and doing nothing for the community. He thinks he’s important and that people admire him. Little does he know that everyone thinks he is do nothing asshole !

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Ok what the hell is Alan Jennings doing in that room? I swear, I have never seen someone try harder to remain relevant. Alan, you're retired. Enjoy it already.

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

There’s no bigger blowhard in the world than Alan Jennings. If you ask him, he knows everything ! A legend in his own mind.

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Nat is a decent guy- on the other hand, Alan Jennings has been a scrubber his entire adult life- I wish he would just go away!

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Hasn’t the First presbyterian Church of Allentown already erected a monument for Alan?

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Jennings: Anonymity is cowardice.

Me: That is more often than not true but they could be cowards who are still telling the truth. You, on the other hand, have been behind nearly every major mistake in Allentown, from your rabid support of Fed Ed to your role in the facade grants, and don’t get me started on other communities. Yet you think every time you fart. People should applaud.

Jennings: Speaking of cowards, it's pretty pathetic that you won't publish my response to the paranoid schizophrenics. And you take cheap shots knowing we can't comment on the substance of the lawsuit.

I know you're too smart to believe your bull shit. You know damn well that my salary was among the lowest in the nonprofit sector. You know damn well that I declined raises. You know damn well how modest my home is. You know damn well that I received countless awards from groups throughout the Lehigh Valley, from the Conference of Churches to the Chambers of Commerce, from the US Marine Detachment to the CPA's. You may not know that my papers are in the archives of the Lehigh County Historical Society and that I was inducted into the National Community Action Foundation Hall of Fame. Surely you can''t believe that all of these people are members of Sinister Creeps and Satan Worshipers of America's Lehigh Valley Chapter.

Despite my retirement I continue to volunteer my time working on a range of groups' agendas, including housing, the arts, children and community development.

You, on the other hand, have, for decades, been a mean-spirited loser, a malicious liar who takes pleasure in trying to smear good people trying to do good things for their community, trashing their motives because you hate that people could care for others if for no better reason than that it makes them feel like decent human beings.

So, come after me, you pathetic SOB, remind us what a small, ugly antidote you are for all that is good in our world.

Me: Alan, I have published every comment you submitted, from you patting yourself on the back to the vulgarities. Aren't you special!

Zrinski Plan to Save Northampton Boro Senior Center Falls Short

Back in July, NorCo Exec Tara Zrinski told County Council she was working on a "sustainable operating plan" to save the Northampton Senior Center. Earlier in the year, cuts in federal and state funding had already resulted in the closure of a dozen senior centers across Pennsylvania have already closed, with 40 more on the chopping blck..

She suggested that an autonomous community group could provide volunteers for a newly organized nonprofit like Neighbors in Need. to provide a safe setting fand social interaction or seniors. 

Her efforts fell short. 

"We tried," she lamented at last week's county council meeting. "We tried to make an agreement to provide a grant to the senior center in Northampton Borough. We even got matching funds and additional state support from Senator Nick Miller to operate one independently while hiring an individual to oversee the senior programming. But the Grace UCC Church voted the proposal down because "the complexity of getting grants and running a senior center would be too much responsibility," even if Northampton Borough agreed to operate it. 

"Good intentions often don't land where we want them to," she said. 

I believe Zrinski could find the funding for Northampton by merging two senior centers on south side Bethlehem that are within a stone's throw from each other. One is located at the Rooney building, and the other at the Hispanic center. At a time when we should be more inclusive and have even established a Human Relations Commission, why would we want to have separate senior centers for those who speak Spanish and those who don't? With the money saved by this merger, it might be possible to continue the senior center in Northampton.

Zrinski Warns NorCo Council a Tax Hike Next Year is Likely

At last week's NorCo Council meeting, Executive Tara Zrinski warned County Council that a tax hike is "increasingly likely" next year.

She acknowledged that neither taxpayers nor elected officials want a tax increase but said the county must balance the desire to keep taxes low with the responsibility to maintain services, support employees, and address long-deferred infrastructure needs.

She noted that the county’s millage rate has remained essentially flat at approximately 10.8 mills for many years, going all the way back to former Executive John Stoffa's first budget, in which he proposed a half-mill tax hike for a "pay as you go" open space program. After Stoffa, a one-mill tax hike was adopted when John Brown was Executive but was knocked back down to 10.8 mills when Brown was succeeded by Lamont McClure.

One of Zrinski's priorities will be to provide a meaningful cost-of-living raise to employees dealing with higher costs for groceries, utilities, healthcare and housing. She argued that competitive compensation is necessary to attract and retain employees. She highlighted particularly low wages among some county employees, including clerical positions paying approximately $32,000 annually and aide positions paying approximately $27,000. She also noted that employee benefits can cost approximately $21,000–$23,000 per employee, meaning the cost of benefits can approach the employee’s actual wages. "Wages have remained relatively stagnant, and for that, with the juxtaposition of the rising cost, we need to do something," she asserted.   

She also acknowledged that there's a real problem correctional staffing and the "culture" at the jail, which I believe can be translated to poor morale. She added that the Civil War era lock-up is deteriorating and the county needs to decide whether to continue throwing money at it or just build a new one.

She also slammed the 2026 budget she inherited, which she insists "left important needs unfunded," including the retirement funds, Gracedale, the jail and even the Sheriff's office. 

While pledging to keep the tax hike as low as possible, "We can't keep deferring investments in the people, buildings, equipment and systems our residents rely on. A responsible budget means making tough choices now." 

A tax hike is also being considered in Lehigh County.

Labor Day and the Molly Maguires

Today is Labor Day. Most view it as once last Summer picnic . Few recognize it as a day to honor American labor. Even here in the Lehigh Valley.

Before the Bethlehem Steel was allowed to organize in 1941, the answer to workers who sought a fair wage was a state trooper on horseback. During a 1910 strike, one of them got carried away and shot a Hungarian immigrant who was getting some wine for his ailing wife. No matter. Charles Schwab could never let a trivial thing like murder interfere with his plans to sell H-beams to the Imperial Japanese Navy and Czarist Russia. These two great nations would ultimately embark on military campaigns in which far greater numbers would die.

Slightly north of Bethlehem, along 309 North, is the site of the 1897 Lattimer Massacre. That's where 19 striking miners were shot and killed by a sheriff's posse. Evidence showed that most of those killed had been shot in the back. But the Sheriff and his posse were acquitted.

A few miles away is the site of the 1934 Kelayres massacre. That's where five Democrats were shot and killed when they dared march past the home of "Big Joe," the local GOP boss.

Before unions, there were the Molly Maguires, based upon an agrarian group in Ireland. Some say there really was a Molly Maguire. According to the story, she was a widow who refused to leave her cottage when authorities came to remove her as part of an attempt by England to populate Ireland with Scots.

A more likely explanation is that the leader would be a man dressed in disguise as "Molly." He would visit shopkeepers as a poor mother to demand fair prices for her children. If refused, "Molly" would instruct her followers to enter the store and help themselves. The merchant would be warned of dire consequences if they were reported.

In America, the Mollies were an active and violent labor force confronted by child labor, company towns, unsafe working conditions and lousy pay. In addition, they existed at a time when anti-Irish and anti-Catholic discrimination was rampant. As the Chicago Post then wrote, "The Irish fill our prisons, our poor houses. . . . Scratch a convict or a pauper, and the chances are that you tickle the skin of an Irish Catholic. Putting them on a boat and sending them home would end crime in this country."

Sound familiar?

Bethlehem Daily Times, 6/20/1877

During these dark days in coal country, 16 people would be murdered over a period of about 15 years. Most were mine bosses and foremen.

The Mollies were blamed and charged.

Based on the use of informants, 20 Mollies saw their lives end as they dangled from the gallows in Pottsville and Jim Thorpe. They went through a trial in which no Irish Catholics were permitted to serve as jurors. The prosecuting attorneys worked for the railroads and mines.

As the hangman tightened the noose, the Coal and Iron Police were at the jail in force.

These Mollies died, but 13 years later, the United Mine Workers was born.

This was too late for my grandfather on my mother's side. As a little boy, he lost a thumb and a finger working in the mines. Deprived of an education, he never learned how to read. But he was very proud of his signature, and often practiced writing his name.

He would die of emphysema. The mines eventually killed him.

I have many more relatives who died in mine collapses.

To those who say unions have outgrown their usefulness, I am sure the mine owners are smiling from hell.

(First published 2018).

Pa Commonwealth Court Tosses Tupone From Ballot in Pa. 07 Congressional Race

In what certainly is good news for Democrat Bob Brooks and bad news for Republican Ryan Mackenzie, the Pa. Commonwealth Court has tossed "Green" party candidate Andrew Topne off the ballot in the race for the Pa. 07 Congressional District. I will post the Opinion later tonight or tomorrow. 

Commonwealth Court jurist Stella M Tsai, in a 33-page Opinion, concludes that, to be a nominee of the Green party, he should have sought a nomination from that party.  

UPDATED: Comments Feature Fixed

Unfortunately, the comments feature of this blog is currently unable to work. I appreciate interactivity and am trying to resolve the issue. (It is on blogger's end, so we are at their mercy.) Thanks.

UPDATED 9/5/26: 8:20 AM. The comments feature is working again. I do have a third-party system ready if this lasted longer because I believe that interactivity is the best feature in a blog. 

UPDATED: BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL Describes Local Food Economy

Megan McBride of the Lehigh Valley's "Buy Fresh Buy Local" program gave NorCo Council an interesting overview of our local farm economy yesterday. Below are some salient details.

The average age of a LV farmer is 58, with over a third over 65. 

The number of farms a decreased from 1,002 in 2007 to just 823 today. 

Land development pressure has made it difficult for new farmers to buy land. 

Lehigh and NorCo have preserved 683 farms totaling 48,448 acres. 

Corn and soybeans make up 56% of all farmland production. 

Vegetables and fruit orchards produced $18.1 million in 2022 and are now down to just 3,000 acres. Vegetable and fruit orchards have declined 50% since 1997. 

Most farms are small, making less than $10,000 a year. 

Total agricultural sales in the Lehigh Valley in 2022 was $156 million. 

What prevents most farm products from reaching our tables is a lack of distributors, processors and wholesale buyers. 

If farmers switched from corn to organic wheat, they would get $18 a bushel instead of $3 a bushel.

Municipalities could change zoning laws to require developers to set aside a portion of every new development for agricultural use. These are called agrihoods. 

County-owned lands could be subdivided for new farmers at an affordable price. 

 Later in the evening, NorCo Council voted to award "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" a grant of $20,000. This organization is funded in part by NorCo hotel tax grants. 

UPDATED 10:30 AM: Due to an html error, I had to delete and reload this entry. 

Emrick Launches Negative Mailer Against Warren

Joe Emrick is the incumbent State Rep for the 137th legislative district. That includes Bethlehem Tp, Palmer Tp the Nazareth area and a slice of Hanover Tp. He's been challenged by Democrat Jeff Waren, a former Easton City Council member, Hanover Tp Supervisor and a current member of NorCo County Council. 

I recently received a negative mailer from Emrick about Warren, and I want to discuss ir because it is false.

I'm no fan of either candidate. Emrick refuses to speak with or even respond to media inquiries and is known for refusing to meet with constituents who are Democrats. Warren will talk to anyone, but that's his problem. He is a blowhard. 

During his stint on County Council, Warren was first a rubber stamp for Lamont McClure and now is performing that role for Tara Zrinski. He actually had a problem with an oversight committee for Gracedale and said he wanted that word removed, apparently completely unmindful that one his many roles on Northampton County Council is to provide oversight. He actually called Gracedale's provisional license a "slight mishap."

Despite this record, Warren has never been a proponent of higher taxes or more warehouses. Last year, he was among Council members who refused to go along with the suggestion that a tax hike was needed, even though it probably is. He also has opposed tax breaks for possible warehouses, though he supports them for luxury apartments. 

Emrick knows his negative mailer is false. He fails to cite a single instance of Warren supporting higher taxes or more warehouses. 

There are lots of reasons to attack Warren, but these are not among them.