The Harhart Emergency

The taxpayer paid postage incumbent Julie Harhart has been making hay with soft campaigning, masqueraded as state business. In August, she will be holding an Emergency:Be Prepared Seminar and Expo at a middle school in South Whitehall. The real emergency facing local residents is Harhart's stagnation in Harrisburg. She has initiated only one piece of legislation in 20 years, but did manage to vote herself a 50% pension increase for life. Although she presents any money coming the district's way with great local fanfare, none of it resulted from any advocacy on her part. It's time for the residents of the 183rd to think independently.

Lehigh Valley's Emergency Ordeal

The recent full page advertisement promoted Lehigh Valley Hospital as rated tops in ten different medical specialties. We've seen promotions for their new fitness center at the arena. What we don't read about is patients lying on gurneys in hallways, waiting up to 24 hours to be admitted through the emergency room on Cedar Crest Blvd. What we don't read about is patients being transferred from Chew Street to Cedar Crest, because of limited diagnostic procedures and services available at the Chew Street location. Although I'm no expert on this situation, I do know that sitting in an emergency room for five, ten or twenty hours doesn't help anybody's condition.

There's plenty of room at the new fitness center,  at the emergency department, not so much.

History Threatened In South Whitehall

The history of South Whitehall was threatened this weekend when an overweight truck went over Wehr Mill Covered Bridge. The Township has taken necessary precautions, and closed the bridge until it can be inspected. Unfortunately, another historic aspect of that location is still under threat. The Wildlands Conservancy is still using it's influence to convince the township that Wehr Mill Dam, next to the bridge, should be demolished. Last year, Lehigh County wanted to demolish Reading Road Bridge, a historic stone arch bridge from 1824. The misguided public works director said that it was obsolete, and not designed for today's vehicles and traffic. Imagine if he also wanted to demolish Wehr's Covered Bridge, for the same reason. The township commissioners apparently appreciate the value of Wehr's Covered Bridge. Let us hope that they also come to realize the historical value of Wehr's Dam.

Blogger LVCI opines on Wehr Mill Dam

Radio Free Molovinsky

As an early baby boomer I grew up in the era of Radio Free Europe. People would contribute to the enterprise to help spread truth and the American way to the oppressed people behind the iron curtain. The microphone image shown here I lifted from the WDIY webpage, Bethlehem's NPR station. Although Bernie O'Hare and I were guests on Alan Jennings' Lehigh Valley Discourse, the broadcast was never put on their website, as is their normal practice. As an outspoken independent candidate for State Representative, it's becoming apparent that I must solicit contributions for Radio Free Molovinsky, to bring truth to the oppressed people of Lehigh Valley. Your consideration is sincerely appreciated.

The Fish Kill Coverup

The fish kill last week at the Hatchery has now developed into a full blown coverup, with blame being assigned to the rain runoff from the medical office park, across from Lehigh Valley Hospital. The director of the Fish and Boat Commission says that all dams should be removed, of course his agency signed off when the Wildlands Conservancy demolished the Trout Nursery Dam, which was the real cause of the fish kill. Pennsylvania has removed more dams than any other state.  Justin Simmon's office says that they would pass along the deleted paragraph

Reggie Rickard an Allentown resident who has been volunteering at the hatchery for 45 years said the fish kill is probably the worst in the hatchery's recent history. Initially, he estimated as many as 2,000 may have been killed, but the final tally was about 1,400.

Fish have been lost in other heavy rains storms, but Rickard said this was a major fish kill. He and other volunteers who joined city workers in collecting and counting the corpses Tuesday believe the death rate may have been exacerbated by recent upstream dam removals on small streams.

from last week's Morning Call fish kill story, but as a state office, they cannot take a position on the issue.  That's news to me, that a State Representative cannot take a position on an issue, which might involve a poor decision or coverup by a state agency. I suppose that's the sort of diplomacy necessary for a young man to make a career out of Harrisburg. Although I'm also running to be a State Representative, I'm not interested in learning such a skill; I'd rather tell it like it is, think independently.

photo:April Bartholomew/The Morning Call/July15,2014

A State Of Apathy

Nobody thinks that Pennsylvania is doing very well. Because of that discontent, Tom Corbett may become the first one term governor in many years. Despite the reality of the state's paralysis under both parties, as of today, including myself, there are only three unaffiliated state house candidates throughout entire Pennsylvania. Although people know that they must think outside the box if progress is ever to occur, old patterns are hard to change. Please take a small step today, and help me challenge the status quo.

A Partisan Nation

Knocking on doors to gather signatures to run for office is certainly an educational experience. The vast majority of people quickly proclaim that they're either a Republican or Democrat, and vote that way. Never mind that Harrisburg has been broken a long time,  under both parties. Never mind that my area is in a new state house district, and most people don't even know who the candidates are. Although getting people to think independently, much less vote that way will be a challenge,  running as an R or D would be too bland for me. Help me send a message to Harrisburg.