edited by: Lisa Mossie,
Pennsylvania Editor
Hope you don't mind, but like all grandfathers, I'd like to do a little bragging about my grandson.
A biographer has asked me for information concerning the friendship between my father and author Kurt Vonnegut. My brother, a pack rat, produced a letter that Vonnegut wrote to his own family, not long after he and my dad were released from a POW [...] 
Jane Ervin and Don Cunningham, former political foes, will let bygones be bygones this Wednesday. Ervin, now CEO of Community Services for Children, will join the Lehigh County Executive Cunningham for a joint news conference on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. They've received a $1' [...] 
This group has included blacksmiths, bankers, lawyers, plantation tutors, derivatives salesmen and professional politicians. Many served in seemingly modest offices like Northampton County Recorder of Deeds. One became our Governor. Another, a U.S. Senator.
When the Northampton County taxman cometh in January, you'll be surprised to see that your bill is no larger than it was last year. Despite all the dire warnings of an impending 9.3% tax increase in recent weeks, Council and the Stoffa administration came up with an' [...] 
As President Barack Obama kicked off a national listening tour about the economy last week in the Lehigh Valley, the setting of his keynote speech communicated volumes about the very institutions that are poised to fuel our country’s recovery.
Blogging buddy Rylock gets very upset whenever I write about Pelosicare, LV Congressman Charlie Dent, Congressional wannabe John Callahan, Moveon pep rallies or boy scouts. Yesterday's post about Callahan political trickster Jonathan Shall was the final straw. He ominously warned' [...] 
Is it fair to judge a Congressional candidate by his campaign manager? Probably not. But that's me!
Percy Dougherty is the chair of Lehigh County's highly regarded Board of Commissioners, arguably the best legislative body in the Lehigh Valley. A big reason for that is him. His affable style of bipartisan leadership makes Lehigh County as efficient as Northampton County Council is dysfunctional.
Below you will find the Complaint DA John Morganelli has filed, seeking Ron Angle's ouster from Northampton County Counil.
Since Congressional wannabe and Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan is so reluctant to talk about federal issues, dismissing them as hypothetical questions, the Charlie Dent campaign has decided to ask Hizzoner about his Bethlehem stewardship.
Despite warnings of bad weather ahead, about twenty-five people took their chances and attended last night's LV Health Department community forum at Bangor's Washington Elementary School. RenewLV and the League of Women Voters (Northampton County) hosted a panel who spoke in mostly general terms about [...] 
Last week, Northampton County Council and Bangor School Board member Ron Angle fired off a letter to the LV delegation to the state legislature. He asked them to review our antiquated School Code, adopted before Home Rule governments like Northampton or Lehigh County even existed. The [...] 
I'm told Ron Angle's election to Bangor School Board is very controversial. But you wouldn't think that had you attended last night's swearing-in ceremony, which occurred during an unusually lengthy reorganization meeting.
RenewLV and the League of Women Voters (Northampton County) will host a community forum tonight in an effort to build public support for the controversial Lehigh Valley Health Department and the benefits of public health services. It should be one helluva' show because Northampton' [...] 
Back in the day, when men were men and Democrats were still Democrats, Fred B. Rooney was the Lehigh Valley's Congressman. He served from 1963 to 1979. A friend of my father, he'd often drop by, after which my father and he would simply vanish. My' [...] 
Auditor General Jack Wagner, running for the Democratic nomination in the Pennsylvania Governor's race, told a Camp Hill crowd on Saturday night that he opposes President Obama’s recent decision to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Wagner is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran [...] 
Bethlehem luminary Larry Kisslinger has sent out one of his famous mass emails, asking his numerous friends and acquaintances to buy Concrete Charlie, the latest reminiscences of Eagles legend Chuck Bednarik. As hard as the steel then produced in Bethlehem, Liberty High grad Bednarik is a [...] 
In addition to pizza, we got art, baby!
The following is the text of President Barack Obama's speech at Lehigh Carbon Community College:
Northampton County Council member Mike Dowd last night proposed the creation of a committee to study how Gracedale stacks up against other county nursing homes, as well as privately owned facilities. "We want to be sure that the residents are taken care of in the best" [...] 
Tiny Nazareth is home to six different Italian restaurants. We also have two Chinese restaurants, a Japanese sushi bar that replaces a taco house, a bakery that specializes in Moravian sugarcake and a Brazilian steakhouse. On the outskirts, we even have an Indian grocery. But one [...] 
Last night, Northampton County considered a $10,000 grant request to the LV Iron Pigs for next year's AAA Minor League Baseball All Star Game. The money would come from hotel taxes, and Lehigh County has already committed $25,000 for this event. Council member Lamont McClure initially [...] 
I was unable to attend last night's hearing, but Queen City watchdog Lou Hershman has called me to report that Mayor Pawlowski's fairy-tale budget was adopted by Allentown City Council. Sure, they rejected it, but because Michael Donovan and Tony Phillips amendments failed, Hizzoner's spending plan goes [...] 
When I attended college, several centuries ago, the last thing on anyone's mind was the future. It was a different time, when the focus was on developing a well-rounded education instead of manufacturing prospects for the corporate world.
Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent has released the following statement in reaction to President Barack Obama's proposal to bolster troop presence in Afghanistan:
Right before his primary loss to Hillary Clinton, this is how Barack Obama summed up Pennsylvania voters. "[T]hey get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them." Now he's decided to make Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley the very first' [...] 
I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when a Lehigh County election analysis suddenly fell from the sky and hit me on the head. The raw data, which I've attempted to load as a spreadsheet, is quite informative. It lists election results both' [...] 
Northampton County Democratic bossman Joe "Bossman" Long is affectionately referred to by lame duck Charles Dertinger as "chairman for life." But if truth be told, he's been an unmitigated disaster. I want to tell you how it happened.
Sooner or later, it had to happen. Tonight's the night. Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle and I team up on Business Matters (Channel 69, WFMZ-TV, 8 PM) for a cage match against Michael Donovan and former Obama campaign worker Jude-Laure Denis.
Most sports junkies I know subscribe to Direct TV so they can catch every second of their favorite team in action. Well, if that's you, I've got some good news. I can't help you in any divorce actions that may be pending, but might be able to [...] 
Northampton County Council member Ron Angle has proposed a one-year moratorium on open space funding. This will reduce next year's tax increase by half, but is contrary to the popular will expressed in a referendum. It's even contrary to the sentiment expressed when County Exec John Stoffa [...] 
Several years ago, Northampton and Lehigh County both overwhelmingly adopted referendums to approve public funding for farmland preservation, county and municipal parks and environmentally sensitive land. It's what we call open space.
We could be the turkey.
Northampton County's seal contains just two words - "mercy" and "justice." Those lofty words are there to remind us, better than any mission statement, of the County's core responsibilities.
Rumor has it that Paul Marin once wowed his house guests by donning a matador's costume. But in many ways, he has been very much like those flamboyant showmen, considered both artists and athletes, who are willing to face the bull alone.
I've always thought foxes are supposed to be clever and sly. One of my distant cousins, Dessie O'Hare, was an elusive IRA member nicknamed the Border Fox. He would slip through the grasp of police ... until he got caught. Well, this story is about another [...] 
When Sam Bennett ran against LV Congressman Charlie Dent last election cycle, she would often tell her listeners "Charlie's a nice guy, but I'm a nice guy, too, and have better hair." I'm guessing that was a mistake. But let's face it. That is Dent's' [...] 
Relying on realtors for news about the housing industry is kinda' like letting the foxes tell you how many chickens are in the hen house. But amazingly, news organizations routinely accept these housing industry reports as gospel.
Over the past two weeks, I've been regaling you with stories about a female inmate at Northampton County's jail. Her name is Lorena. She claims to be a victim of medical neglect and to have even witnessed what certainly appears to be physical abuse. A drug' [...] 
Northampton County may be increasingly Democratic, but you wouldn't know that from the election results. Bossman Joe Long's heavy handed machine style of politics, in which candidates are pre-selected by some small group and foisted on the rest of us, has been an unmitigated disaster. Thankfully, [...] 
This year alone, LV Congressman Charlie Dent has conducted seventeen town halls with his constituents. By tomorrow, it will be nineteen. He has a town hall scheduled for both today and tomorrow.
It's located here, and provides meeting dates, actual minutes and useful links to other public health resources. Once (or should I say if?) a bi-county health department is established, this website will serve as a central location for information on public health services that will [...] 
When I told you that Easton activist Dennis Lieb was waging a write-in campaign against Mike Fleck for city council, one of the first comments posted on my blog was this: "Didn't Bernie O'Hare torture and/or rape a girl in 1990? I heard about a federal" [...] 
If there were any doubts in my mind about DA John Morganelli's intention to remove Ron Angle from County Council for purely political reasons, they were erased at last night's County Council meeting. Morganelli lackey Lamont McClure made sure of that. Before the night was over, [...] 
In his most recent news release, independent Congressional candidate Jake Towne is now suggesting we pull out of Afghanistan and treat al-Qaeda like Barbary pirates. Here's an excerpt.
Just a few weeks ago, Northampton County DA John Morganelli was crying to County Council he's broke. He's so cash-strapped, he actually turns down 75% of extradition requests from other states. "We can't afford to go get them." With an expanding caseload and rising expert witness' [...] 
Life's not fair. Pennsylvania state representative Bob Freeman will be facing Hellertown wingnut Ron Shegda for the third time in the battle for the 136th legislative district. In his first effort, a write-in campaign, Shegda was beaten 50 to 1. He vows to [...] 
Beaten, but unbowed, Allentown Watchdog Lou Hershman has been attending every city council budget hearing. For that alone, he deserves a People's Purple Cross. Here's his latest report.
DA John Morganelli has announced his intention to file quo warranto proceedings against Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle, challenging his right to sit on Northampton County Council and the Bangor School Board. I'll have details later.' [...] 
Last Thursday, Bethlehem Mayor and Democratic Congressional candidate John Callahan wandered from city hall to participate in a health care reform demonstration outside Congressman Charlie Dent's office. He bravely announced he was "proud to stand with the hard working members of SEIU so that'" [...] 
State rep. Joe Brennan, a former Northampton County Council member and strong advocate of government transparency, has a challenger to his state House seat. It's right-winger David Molony, a prominent acupuncturist, who wants to stick it to him. Molony and his wife, Ming Ming, are [...] 
"When I was raped for the first time by my uncle at the age of eleven, my aunt told me to smoke a joint to feel better."
Lou Hershman may have fallen short in the vote count department on November 3rd, but his interest in Allentown is as intense as ever. The day after his defeat, this 73 year-old was at a city council meeting, sitting in the peanut gallery.
Jarrett Renshaw's Morning Call story about the war between an aspiring Eagle Scout and Allentown's largest municipal union, has hit the big time. Apparently, clearing a walking path in an east Allentown park is a function that can only be performed by Service Employees International [...] 
At last week's Northampton County Council meeting, Ron Angle suggested selling Gracedale, the county's nursing home. Suffering from declining numbers and escalating maintenance costs, it's become a financial nightmare. But for some reason, it remains very attractive to potential investors. Sale proceeds could be used [...] 
Northampton County's population is estimated at 294,787. Did you know that ten percent of its population - around 30,000 people - are getting medical assistance from our mandatory Medicaid managed care program, called HealthChoices (HC)? That's what a program administrator told Northampton County Council during [...] 
The state Department of Health is conducting free clinics this weekend to administer free H1N1 vaccines to at-risk individuals.
Despite the headline, this story is about law enforcement. Honest!
When Northampton County's new Council is sworn in next January, seven of its nine members will be Republican. It's a safe bet that Democrat Ann McHale will lose the presidency.
A few weeks ago, some Lehigh County Democrats were sure that Dean Browning was positioning himself up as the new Strongman on the Board of Commissioners. But Dean believes the Board needs a "Chairman who has substantially more time to devote to the position than I" [...] 
"She's on TV so much she's going to need an agent."
Earlier this week, I told you about Controller Steve Barron's audit pointing to overtime abuse at Northampton County's jail. Although no fraud is alleged, Barron's job was certainly made more difficult by the destruction of daily time sheets. At the time Barron's report was released, I [...] 
At 4:00PM today, Moveon.org will rally outside LV Congressman Charlie Dent’s Bethlehem office to criticize his NO vote on Pelosi care, which squeaked through the U.S. House on Saturday. They are outraged, outraged I tell you.
Allentown's favorite conservative, Scott Armstrong, posted an essay here last week questioning the basic intelligence of Allentown's Democrats. In a little ditty called "Are Allentown Dems Stuck on Stupid?," Scott questions how people who know how to drive cars and get their children to school, could [...] 
LV Congressman Charlie Dent's NO vote on Pelosi care has drawn the ire of some of his constituents. In the Morning Call letter-to-the-editor, one reader chides Dent for caving in to Big Insurance. And blogger Rylock is convinced Charlie has sold out to Big' [...] 
Karen Armstrong is no educated theologian with Doctor of Divinity degrees. She's actually a former Catholic nun who ended up working in televising. She has unconventional religious views, believing that all major religions share an emphasis on the importance of compassion. Intrigued by a story on' [...] 
Something very strange happened at yesterday's budget hearing. Northampton County Council actually listened to Ron Angle.
An audit report released yesterday by Northampton County Controller Steve Barron reveals a stunning 76.1% overtime (OT) increase since 2004. What's even more amazing, as he revealed during a budget hearing later that day, is that "Lehigh County's around seventy percent. So both counties have seen some" [...] 
Last election cycle, LV Congressman Charlie Dent's detractors claimed he was in the pocket of Big Oil. This time, the refrain is that he is a slave to Big Insurance. Ironically, if that were true, he would have supported the Pelosi care legislation adopted on Saturday.
Late Saturday, the U.S. House narrowly adopted health care reform legislation that will provide health care to nearly everyone while simultaneously imposing tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. This measure now heads to the Senate, where survival is no sure thing. It will be paid [...] 
If you ever visit the judges' new palace in Easton, be prepared for a rude awakening. You'll circle the campus, searching in vain for a place to park. Eventually, you'll just run out of gas and abandon your car. That's when the real problem starts. You [...] 
Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan, scheduled for deployment to Iraq, went on a rampage at a military processing center in Fort Hood opn Thursday, fatally shooting 12 and wounding 31. Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent has released this statement:
Northampton County Exec John Stoffa told County Council last night that the list of Sheriff applicants has been whittled down to five, and he'll be meeting with President Judge Kim McFadden to determine which of these candidates is the best fit for the job.' [...] 
No tax increase budget passes in northampton county. Details to follow. 
