The standards promote critical thinking and application of knowledge, which Roy said he supports. Most of the push back the state is receiving is about the loss of local control rather than concern over the actual curriculum, Roy said.

For now, the state is encouraging districts to prepare as though Common Core will be in place in the fall. Roy said that's what Bethlehem will do.

For years, there’s been a high incidence of crashes on Basin Street, particularly the section between Union and Auburn streets. The low-lying, winding stretch frequently holds water, creating a perfect storm for head-on collisions, some of them fatal.

It’s become such a problem that the state Department of Transportation has taken notice. On lists of hazardous local roads in the region, that stretch of Basin Street has been ranked the 22^nd worst. Statewide it’s somewhere in the 140s.

So naturally, when federal money became available, PennDOT earmarked some of it to fix the problem on Basin Street. A thorough analysis of traffic patterns, the road’s curvature and crash history was conducted, and last week, engineers presented their final recommendations to Allentown City Council.

Their plan? Paint.

Plans also call for them to resurface the roadway with a treatment that is supposed to improve skid resistance and add a couple new signs would be added to warn drivers of the curve. But mostly, the plan relies upon paint.

For a few minutes, council members were receptive. Then Vice President Ray O’Connell stated the obvious.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to put up a concrete median strip?” he said, cautioning that he isn’t an engineer. “Painted lines don’t stop cars.”

Everyone took a moment to let that sink in.

It turns out PennDOT had considered that very same idea. Concrete would indeed stop the head-on collisions, said Karen Colello, an engineer on the project. But, there’s a timing issue, she said. To get the federal money for the road work – budgeted at $437,000 – it must be bid by October.

And officials weren’t confident they could move that quickly with the concrete barriers, she said.

O’Connell stared back at the officials, wide-eyed.

“But painted lines don’t stop cars,” he said. “Concrete stops cars.”

The defenses started flowing. Several crossings would be blocked by barriers, officials said. There would be water problems and icy spots in the winter if the barriers weren’t drained properly. And concrete would increase the load bearing on a county-owned bridge, said Rich Young, city director of public works. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission would never approve that in time.

Then there was one more tidbit. The mayor wasn’t happy about the idea, said Chuck Richards, the other official presenting the project. He felt it would slow traffic flowing toward the development downtown.

Oh.

(Young caught me after the meeting to make sure that I knew the mayor didn't oppose concrete. He just didn't like the PennDOT proposal which would have reduced traffic to one lane in each direction to accomodate the concrete.)

Councilwoman Jeanette Eichenwald piped up. 

“I fully recognize this won’t make a difference, but this isn’t a good process,” she said. “We already know before we do this that it’s not the right way to do it.”

“I believe it’s an improvement to safety in this corridor,” Richards said.

“I have no doubt it’s an improvement,” Eichenwald said. “The question is ‘Is it the best?’”

Members of public jumped on board.

“Concrete barriers stop cars,” resident Ken Heffentrager testified. “I used to drive tractor trailer. Hell, they stopped me once.”

“If we have to, let’s contact the legislature,” said resident Ernie Atiyeh. “We’ll ask for an extension. But let’s get the thing done right the first time.”

The engineers gathered their oversized poster board and headed for the exits.

O’Connell shook his head as the meeting ended. The next day I called him on completely unrelated issue, and he brought it up again. Wasn’t that bizarre, he said.

“Painted lines and reflectors, OK, that’s great,” he said. “But concrete barriers do stop head on collisions.”

I believe you, Ray.

Photos: Crews respond to crashes on Basin Street in 1998, 2005 and 2010.

“The results he achieved as executive are impressive, and the other candidates lack the experience to be an effective leader for the County," Nodoline said in a statement. "This position is too vital to the success of the County, so that is why I am endorsing Glenn Reibman for Northampton County executive..."

The tournament is Saturday at the Allentown Municipal Golf Course with registration at 7:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m.

Proceeds from the tournament are donated as follows: 50% to Angel 34 (national organization committed to supporting children and their families in their fight against childhood cancer) and 50% to the McKinley School Activities Fund that is used to support field trips and school activities and supplies.

Telesha, 12, died last month after a nearly five year battle with bone cancer. He was known for writing the "Hero Up!" comic book during his fifth grade year.

It's hardly surprising that Martin would weight in in favor of Browning over Republican Scott Ott, who angered Martin with his proposal to cut $5 million in spending from personnel during the 2013 budget season.

Martin argued that the $5 million cut would damage the criminal justice system and compromise public safety.

Browning said Friday that he's honored to have Martin's support.

 Reynolds, a 31-year-old teacher and former legislative aide, against Donchez, a legislative aide and retired teacher in a campaign that has taken several bitter turns.

Donchez, who was elected to council in 1995, cast himself as the candidate of experience and emphasized his focus on public safety. The son of a police officer, he had gotten the endorsements of the Fraternal Order of Police and former police chiefs. His campaign chairs are Sen. Lisa Boscola and Northampton County District Attorney John Morganellil.

As of last week, he had more than twice as much cash on hand as Reynolds and had mailed several negative pieces attacking Reynolds’ maturity and record.

Reynolds had zeroed in on those negative mailers at several debates, questioning Donchez’ maturity for sending out mailers with a photograph of Reynolds as a teenager. At one debate, he held up the mailer to Donchez and asked him to explain his actions.

The Democrats have similar records on council.

 Reynolds has described himself as a grassroots leader, proposing some council seats be elected by districts and forming neighborhood committees to take on certain projects and community discussions.

 Donchez has said he would convene a volunteer task force to look at making City Hall more efficient and suggested that those recommendations could lead to reopening the 2014 budget.

The foundation will have a booth at Mayfair, which runs Friday though May 27, at the Allentown Fairgrounds.

Student artwork will be displayed and sold at the booth to raise money for the foundation. The frames will be used for the artwork.

“The children in the Allentown School District create artwork of such beauty and creativity that whenever we’ve exhibited the art, people ask how they can buy pieces. So we’ve decided to start selling reprints as a fundraiser,” Deborah Roberson, president of the foundation, said in a press release.

Bring frames to any People First Federal Credit Union branch by Wednesday. The locations are: 451 Chew St., Allentown; 2141 Downyflake Lane, Allentown; 1530 Eighth Ave., Bethehem; 4066 Jandy Boulevard, Nazareth; 6900 Hamilton Blvd; Trexlertown, and 3862 Crescent Court East, Whitehall.

“We are running a grassroots campaign and I couldn’t be prouder to be endorsed by over 40 fellow public officials from every corner of Northampton County,” Callahan said in a statement. “Having worked closely with many of the people who have endorsed me, I am honored to receive such enthusiastic support.”

Here's the full list:

1. Ed Rendell, former governor of Pennsylvania
2. Matt Cartwright, U.S. Rep. (PA-17)
3. Sal Panto Jr., mayor of Easton
4. Jerry Seyfried, former Northampton County executive
5. Steve Samuelson, Pennsylvania state Rep. 135
6. Rich Grucela, former Pennsylvania state Rep. 137
7. T.J. Rooney, former Pennsylvania state Rep. 133
8. Bob Werner, Northampton County Council
9. David Perusso, mayor of Wilson Borough
10. Richard Fluck, mayor of Hellertown Borough
11. William Molchany, mayor of North Catasauqua
12. Tony Bassil, Easton City Controller
13. Elinor Warner, Easton City Council
14. Roger Ruggles, Easton City Council
15. Jeff Warren, Easton City Council
16. Frank Pintabone, Easton Area School Board
17. Baron Vanderburg, Easton Area School Board
18. Jim Smith, Freemansburg Borough Council
19. Justin Labar, Freemansburg Borough Council
20. Michael Romano, Roseto Borough Council President
21. David DePalma , Pen Argyl Borough Council
22. Jack Herbst, Nazareth Borough Council
23. John Yanek, North Catasuaqua Borough Council
24. David Stankovic, Walnuport Borough Council
25. James McGowan, Wilson Borough Council
26. Janis Krieger, Wilson Area School Board
27. William Holmes, Allen Township supervisor
28. David Willard, Lower Saucon Township supervisor
29. Ann Marie Panella, Palmer Township supervisor
30. Michael Mitchell, Palmer Township supervisor
31. Michael Recchiuti, Bethlehem City Council/chairman of the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee
32. Eric Evans, Bethlehem City Council president
33. Karen Dolan, Bethlehem City Council
34. Jack Burke, former chairman of the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee
35. Joe Long, chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Northeast Caucus
36. Aurea Ortiz, Bethlehem Area School Board
37. Shannon Patrick, Bethlehem Area School Board
38. Basilio Bonilla, Bethlehem Area School Board
39. Sudantha Vidanage, Bethlehem Area School Board
40. Michael Faccinetto, Bethlehem Area School Board
41. Kaija Farber, Bethlehem treasurer

But that’s not the case with Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s latest report.

In the first four months of this year, Pawlowski managed to spend a whopping $105,000 -- more than half of the $189,000 he had in his campaign coffers as of January. That was enough to outweigh his aggressive fundraising efforts this period – he brought in $77,000 -- and bring his campaign fund total down to $137,000.

So what is a man running unopposed in the upcoming Allentown mayoral primary doing with all that cash? Pawlowski has repeatedly refused to rule out a bid for governor even as the field has begun to narrow, and if the two-term mayor’s campaign spending this period is any indicattion, he still has his eye on that prize.

Those services were on top of the $43,500 Pawlowski paid this period to Fleck Consulting, his usual campaign strategist.   

Campaign records also show Pawlowski’s spent plenty outside the Lehigh Valley. Expenses were racked up in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and State College to name a few.

Philadelphia trips were recorded on Jan. 11, Feb. 8 and 22 and April 14. Pawlowski was in Harrisburg on Jan. 15 and again for the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit March 1-2. He also had a lunch meeting there in April. The Pawlowski campaign covered a host of expenses for his trip to Washington, D.C. for President Barack Obama’s inauguration including $980 for hotel and food expenses and $305 for inaugural ball tickets.

More recently, Pawlowski was in State College on March 25 where he expensed $3.54 for beverages. During the last weekend in April, Pawlowski was in Pittsburgh, charging the campaign for gas, a $48 lunch meeting at The Terrace Room and $2.13 for a cup of coffee. One day later, a stay at the Penn Stater Hotel was recorded for $171.49.

Busy guy, that Ed Pawlowski.

Photo courtsey of Techpinions.com.

Now, the Allen High School graduate is getting the opportunity to speak on a much larger stage.

Lamb, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, was selected to speak at the school's College of Arts and Science graduation ceremony on Sunday night at Franklin Field.

The honor came as somewhat of a surprise to Lamb, who hasn't participated in a speaking competition in years.

"I sort of imagined my graduation day being a little bit more relaxing," Lamb, 21, said. "Versus having to do arguably the most difficult thing I've ever done."  

Lamb made such a strong impression on one her teachers when she gave a presentation in a global health class that she was nominated to be the college's speaker at graduation. After drafting a speech and competing with 14 other students, the health and societies major was selected as the one and only student speaker.

Her speech will remind students about the uncertainty they had when they first came to college and that they will face the same challenges after graduation.

"I think what I'm trying to convey is that I think most people who get into Penn come into Penn thinking that you're so smart and you have it all figured out, and then you realize that you don't," Lamb said. "The uncertainty is really difficult to deal with, but it's also the uncertainty that pushes us to learn and pushes us to bond with each other."

After graduation, Lamb is coming home to Allentown for the summer. In September, she has a job waiting for her at a management consulting firm in Boston.

The Northampton County executive candidate raked in nearly $200,000 during the two-month reporting period ending in March, according to his campaign.

According to Callahan's campaign, he has $129,333 in the bank, compared to $5,943 for Reibman. McClure is $16,000 in debt.

"It is important to note that Callahan not only outraised his opponents, but he did so relying on contributions from 320 individual donors  a large number for an entire campaign, let alone a single reporting period, the campaign said in a statement.

The document, introduced by Director Debra Lam, resolves that the Allentown School Board urges it's state legislators to support legislation to "correct the tuition and pension payment inequities under the current charter school funding formula so that the funding received by the charter school reflects the true cost of educating the child."

Currently, the formula is based on the sending district's budgeted expenses per student from the previous school year, rather than the actual cost for a cyber or charter school to educate the student.

Fixing the funding formula would relieve the financial burden charter schools place on school districts and ensure that local taxpayers aren't overpaying for the services cyber or charter provide, according to the resolution.

Allentown has paid more than $60 million over the last five years in charter school expenditures, according to the a district projection. It's received only $5.4 million in state reimbursement and none since 2010-11. according to the resolution.

David Finnerty, who serves as 10th grade principal at Allen, will earn $130,000. A start date has not been set, school officials said.

Finnerty of Pottsville has an engineering degree from Lehigh University. He went on to earn a master’s degree in math and his teaching certification at Kutztown University. Finnerty also served in the U.S. military as a specialist combat engineer, the press release said.

He taught math for six years at Schuylkill Haven High School and one year at Raub Middle School in Allentown.

“David demonstrates commitment to students and community, strong leadership background, and advanced data skills that will serve our district well,” said Dr. Lisa Andrejko, Superintendent.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated the length of Finnerty's tenure at Raub Middle School

Bangor Borough Councilmen David G. Houser and Craig N. Roberts, Wilson Tax Collector Dorothy Klass and Wilson Area School Board President David Seiple backed Reibman this week, according to the news release.

Reibman tackled upgrades at the county prison, Houser said, saving the county money by completing the upgrades before the county was forced to do them by the state.

Jaindl Properties bought the dormant building nine years ago, long before there was talk of a NIZ or Allentown renaissance.

Lehigh County Commissioners applauded the reuse of a historic building for something other than office space.

Jaindl representatives said the facility would seat between 150 and 250 people, and they expect to book  between 50 and 100 events a year, including weddings and corporate events.

The rear of the trust building faces the plaza between the county government center and the Hamilton Financial Center, which is also county-owned. Jaindl will use the space for a second entrance and for an elevator at the new event facility.

A Facebook page for a venue at that address indicates they expect construction to wrap up by September and be open for business in October. The venue, called Vault 634, boasts a marble dancing floor, crystal chandeliers, Victorian stained glass ceiling and basement cocktail lounge.

David Melman, Alfonso Todd and Kim Velez, all challengers, will combine efforts in the final days before the May 21 primary, according to a news release distributed Monday. All three will run on a campaign of “government transparency, community inclusiveness and city engagement,” the release states.

Last month, Melman, Todd and Velez also joined forces to oppose Allentown’s proposed water and sewer lease. Challengers Camen Bell and Daryl Hendricks are also on the ballot seeking four-year seats on the board.

Incumbent candidates include council President Julio Guridy, Vice President Ray O’Connell, Cynthia Mota and Jeff Glazier.

Like his opponents Lamont McClure and John Callahan, Reibman said he would hire a director of the county's community and economic development department. Executive John Stoffa never filled the position, which he estimated saved the taxpayers roughly $1.5 million over two terms. He added that economic development hadn't suffered because the county has its own economic development staff and partners with the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.

Reibman also said he would work with state and federal officials to create new tax incentive programs and to utilize existing programs, such as the NIZ, KOZ and LERTA.

Reibman announced his economic development and job creation plan at a news conference on Commerce Center Boulevard, a road he called the "linchpin to the greatest economic development project in the history of the Lehigh Valley."

Reibman's administration spread a $111 million bond issue around the county. South Bethlehem owes much of its redevelopment to the millions of that money it used to open development access to remote parts of former Bethlehem Steel land.

He and Callahan, mayor of Bethlehem, sparred at an April debate over credit for that redevelopment.

Reibman took exception to Callahan's campaigning on the success of redevelopment in south Bethlehem. Reibman said he laid the groundwork for revitalization and that former Mayor Don Cunningham's administrations did the heavy lifting so Callahan could "do the groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings in Bethlehem."

He said the city needs to foster such businesses and continue working with tools, like LERTA and KIZ, to attract and retain business investment in the community.  He also called for public-private partnerships like the PI building

“I believe it will be my job as mayor to be the leader who makes sure this progress and job creation continues,” Reynolds said. “We cannot afford to slow down the progress we have made in Bethlehem. Now is not the time to cut back, as my opponent would have us do. Action now to stimulate growth is the best way to assure the jobs for our citizens, vibrancy in our neighborhoods and prosperity for our city.”

 He also called for efficiencies in city government, creating a centralized accounts payable department and explore the conversion of street lights to LED.

 On Wednesday, Robert Donchez staged his announcement in front of Crystal Signatures in LVIP I. The homegrown business stayed in the city even after it was time to expand. Donchez said he would use it as a model of what the city should do.

 He called for creating a Christmas City Economic Development Committee, which would supplant BEDCO. The new committee would possibly merge with the Redevelopment Authority. He promised to bring back the façade and Fund for Revitalization and Economic Development programs under the city’s umbrella and appoint a city employee as a point-person for all economic development questions.

 “Making the changes outlined here, my administration will be able to reinvigorate a very important municipal function for the betterment of our community as a whole, that of economic development facilitator.”

For months, city officials have been tangling with a Washington, D.C.-based environmental group over the release of statements of qualifications from prospective bidders on the lease, the first step in the now complete bidding process. An appeal of a right to know request for the documents is under reconsideration with the state Office of Open Records.

But last week, after details of the dispute were publicized in The Morning Call, a few of the documents began to materialize.  LCA’s bid letter and best and final offer letter were posted on the city’s website shortly before council’s vote on the lease last week. And just today, LCA’s 98-page statement of qualifications also appeared.

The vote has already been taken, Sam Bernhardt, statewide organizer for the group, said in an email Monday.

"Waiting until just after the City Council voted on the matter to make public the Lehigh County Authority's plans for leasing Allentown's water system is the pinnacle of cynicism and disdain for transparency and good government,” he said. “This is Mayor Pawlowski actively thumbing his nose at the people of Allentown. Even those in favor of the water lease should be furious."

Full bid documents for all of the bidders have yet to be disclosed. The statements of qualifications for other groups that were interested in the lease have also not been publicized.

Councilman Cynthia Mota has been hospitalized in Venezuela for nearly a month and is still not well enough to return to the U.S., council President Julio Guridy said Wednesday.

Mota was originally stricken with shingles, a painful skin rash caused by the chicken pox virus. That led to complications with her gallbladder, and she had to have surgery to have it removed, Guridy said.

Mota’s doctors are now concerned that she is not healing properly from the surgery because she suffers from sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder that creates abnormally shaped blood cells. The abnormal cells can block blood flow, cause damage to organs and increase the risk of infection.

Guridy said earlier this month that he expected her to be back for the vote, but her condition has not improved enough yet, he said.

“It’s not that good yet,” Guridy said. “We need to keep her in our prayers.”

“I appreciate all the support these officials are providing,” Reibman said in a statement. “It’s inconsequential to me how big or how small these communities are. They are proud communities and they all are part of Northampton County, and they all play a role in what makes this County strong, productive, and a great place to live, work, and play.”

Gerald Gross said he was impressed that Reibman was reaching out to officials from the smaller boroughs that are often overlooked.

“We tend to get lost in the mix being situated next to a city as large as Easton, so I fully support Glenn since he has proven to me that he will represent everyone in Northampton County equally," he said in a statement.

Gallich, a tax collector, said that Reibman's desire to share services with neighboring counties and within Northampton County were appealing and necessary because of declining local revenue.

Callahan, who is running for Northampton County executive, said the county needs to get back in the economic development game.

Callahan praised CF Martin & Company's mix of new technology and old world craftsmanship, while CEO Chris Martin said he's been a longtime fan of Callahan at a news conference Wednesday.

Callahan, like Democratic opponent Lamont McClure, said he would hire a director of community and economic development. The position has been vacant for eight years under Executive John Stoffa.

"I think it's clear that that was a mistake," he said, "and the county needs to get back in the economic development game."

He referred repeatedly to the revitalization of the Bethlehem Steel site, which he has called the largest brownfield site in the country, as a model.

The development on Bethlehem's South Side gets a lot of headlines and accolades, Callahan said, "but I've always believe that economic development is much more than a home run, it's more of a singles and doubles game."

Callahan called for more direct collaboration between the county and its smaller municipalities, which may not have the resources to identify opportunities for economic development and carry it out on their own. On a smaller scale, he said, the county will partner with those smaller communities to rehab individual properties for mixed use.

For broader impact, he said the county should use economic development tools, such as tax increment financing, Keystone Opportunity Zones and Community Development Block Grants, to encourage private investment.

The candidate also spoke of the need for a skilled workforce to entice new businesses to the area. Without that, existing businesses won't expand and other businesses won't relocate in Northampton County.

Reliable infrastructure, too, is necessary to attract new business, Callahan said. He pointed to the county's record on neglecting infrastructure, namely bridges.

"I have continually watched Scott Armstrong and his unprofessional behavior. He belittles people, talks to them in a condescending tone and then has the audacity to glare at people when they make statements or ask questions that he disagrees with or challenges his point of view," Schafer wrote in a message she said was solely from her and not on behalf of any other person or entity. "He may well be an intelligent, professional man trying to do what he feels is best for ASD and its students. It is one thing for him to treat adults with sarcasm but seeing him treat children that way is appalling. These are some of the very students he has been elected to protect and educate. He is being an abusive bully."

Schafer could have been referring to the April 11 meeting. A student representative suggested the administration transfer a principal from Dieruff High School to one of the elementary schools to avoid elementary buildings sharing principals. With a strong emphasis on the word "doctor," Armstrong asked the student if she honestly believed that superintendent Dr. Russ Mayo hadn't already thought of that.

Armstrong read Schafer's letter out loud at the April 18 meeting and said such correspondence "should be beneath the professional dignity" of the teachers union.

"This letter plain and simple was an attempt by the union to intimidate this board member because I am an outspoken opponent on cost issues," Armstrong said.

Schafer responded earlier this week, saying the email had nothing to do with her place of employment.

"My email was also not about trying to stifle or change Mr. Armstrong's views," Schafer wrote.

Schafer said the intent of the email was to bring attention to Armstrong's interaction with students.

"The student reps are there to learn the process and functions of the school board," Schafer wrote. "What better way to learn than to be able to ask questions and share their thoughts and ideas? They should, however, be able to do those things without fear of reprisal, public humiliation and deflated egos."

Teachers are planning a rally from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. prior to Thursday's school board meeting and are asking teachers to give up their seats inside the administration’s building after they speak, so that more teachers can enter. The meeting is at 31 S. Penn Street in Allentown.

"We have a right to be heard," teachers union president Debbie Tretter said. "No matter how long it takes and no matter how uncomfortable it may be."

The district is considering its second round of massive staff cuts in three years and its worst-case budget scenario calls for eliminating 144 teachers and 12 administrators. Class-sizes would increase across the district and related arts programs would be reduced or eliminated.  

Last month's meeting was held in Trexler Middle School in front of packed auditorium.

The crowd that turned out for the 5:30. p.m. meeting was less than half of what discussions on Mayor Ed Pawlowski's proposed water and sewer lease have attracted lately, and those that were there just seemed, well, deflated.

Former Councilman Lou Hershman spoke early in the evening and let council know why.

"The way I read The Morning Call the other day, you all have your minds made up," Hershman said, the crowd grumbling in response. "And we're standing here for nothing."

Four of the nine candidates on the ballot seeking four-year terms are sitting council members. They'll have to vote on the issue before the May 21 primary, and that has the potential to be very ugly.

Almost all of the changing candidates on the ballot have come out against lease and residents have been threatening to oust anyone who votes for it. No one was in a hurry to throw their support behind it publicly.

Incumbent Ray O'Connell addressed the awkward situation before saying that the lease will have his vote.

"Do I tap dance?" he said. "Do I say 'Well, maybe let's wait for the vote."

Incumbents Jeff Glazier and Julio Guridy concurred, although Guridy defended his statement at Monday night's meeting, saying he's only "leaning toward," saying yes.

Leaning or not, that seemed to be enough to take the wind out of many opponents sails.

A vote on the lease has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.