The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 12

THE MORNING CALL, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31. 2001 B3 COMMUNITY REPORT IN YOUR TOWN lollebu nry Twp. man charged affeir police grow mushrooms in seized Jasrs, OA says It was the irst time that crime lab workers had to cultivate hallucinogenic plants for arrest. By HAL MARCOVITZ Of The Morning Call Carol Sendecki doesn't know much about gardening, but when detectives showed up at her office with 29 mason, jars filled with dirt and spores and asked her to raise a crop of mushrooms, the director of the Bucks County Crime Laboratory knew enough to add some water and a little sunlight. Two weeks later, when tiny mushrooms pushed their way through the soil, police were able to make a narcotics case against a Solebury Township man.

On Tuesday, police arrested Travis Fluck, 21, and charged him with manufacturing a controlled substance. According to District Attorney Diane E. Gibbons, Fluck was running a psilocybin mushroom garden out of his home that was capable of producing hallucinogenic plants worth at least $10,000 a month. When police confiscated the jars they contained only dirt and spores, Gibbons said. Since the spores are not regarded as a controlled substance, Gibbons said, it was necessary for investigators to cultivate the crop to see if the spores would grow into the plants, which are known on the street as "magic mushrooms." The crime lab is responsible for analyzing drug evidence seized by police in Bucks County.

Sendecki said police have brought in psilocybin mushrooms from time to time for testing, but never before have they showed up with jars of dirt and requested the staff to grow the mushrooms. What the chemists found in the jars were spores from the mushrooms' mycelia the part of the mushrooms that grow underground. "They had obtained mushroom spores," said Sendecki, who has headed the crime lab since 1983. "All we had to do was open the jars and keep them in a warm, humid environment and wait for the mushrooms to grow." Although mushrooms are thought to grow best in dark places, Sendecki said, the crime lab staff checked gardening guides and determined that a little sunlight couldn't hurt. Once the mushrooms started growing, Sendecki said, the chemists ran regular psilocybin tests and soon determined the mushrooms were of the hallucinogenic variety.

"We needed to prove that he was manufacturing them," Gibbons said. "Once we were able to raise the mushrooms ourselves, we could charge him with manufacturing." Fluck also was charged with selling marijuana pipes and other drug paraphernalia at a glass store he manages in New Hope. In addition, officers- found marijuana at the store, police said. Fluck was arraigned by District Justice Robert E. Gaffney in New Britain on charges pf manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession and delivery of drug paraphernalia.

He could face a maximum of 19 years in prison. Fluck was released after posting $1,000 bail. Frank Dykes, chief county detective, said that once the mushrooms start growing the heads can be trimmed from the stalks every two days, and that the crop will usually last about a month before it has to be replanted. A single mason jar can produce several hundred dollars worth of mushrooms a month, he said. Easton building gets on register Historicfrat house cost $50,000 in 1910.

Today it is valued in the millions. The three-story Zeta Psi fraternity house on the Lafayette College campus in Easton has 30 rooms. It has a central staircase leading to the second and third floors where there are 10 two-bedroom study suites. The building has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. BETTY E.

CAULER The Morning Call Pennridge Senior Center at 815 Chestnut Street Perkasie, will hold its annual flea market and bake sale 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The Lutheran Community at Telford will host its 13th Annual Christmas Bazaar 9 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Saturday in the administration building on North Washington Street For information, call 215-723-9819. Bucks County Area Agency on Aging's APPRISE Health Insurance Counseling Program will hold town meetings to discuss Aetna US Healthcare's recent decision to terminate Medicare HMO insurance coverage in Bucks County. Seating is limited. A meeting will be held a.m.

Nov. 9 at the Upper Bucks Senior Citizens Center, 26 N. Fourth Quakertown. The Pennridge Senior Center will hold its meeting at the Perkasie Fire House, Fifth and Arch streets, Perkasie. For information, call 215-536-3066.

North Penn Senior Center in Lansdale will hold a free Healthcare Insurance Information Session 10 a.m. Monday. A free seminar and caregiver panel will be held 7-9 p.m. Nov. 7.

A free program on coping with tragedies will be held 10 a.m. Nov. 7 and 14. Call 215-362-7432 for information. The center is at 31 5 West Main Street.

Pennridge Senior Center at Perkasie will be closed Tuesday because of Election Day. Three 55-Alive Driving Refresher Courses will be offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 and 17 or Dec.

10 and 14 at West Rockhill's Grand View Hospital; or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6 at North Penn Hospital. Grand View is at 700 Lawn 215-453-4972.

North Penn is at 100 Medical Campus Drive, 215-361-4848. Cost is $10. The Salvation Army of Boyer-town in conjunction with Boyertown Multi-Services will accept applications for food baskets 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Nov.

16 at the Salvation Army office, 409 South Reading Ave. Required information includes identification for all family members, proof of income and ideas for gifts for children under 16. Call 610-367-4089 for information. Quaker-town's American Legion Post 242 will serve breakfast 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday. Donation requested is $2 for children. The post is at 610 E. Broad St. Trumbauersville Fire Company No.

1 will hold its seventh annual Sportsmen's Night 6 p.m. Nov. 7. The program about Pennsylvania elk will be presented by conservation officer Stephen Hanczar. Donation requested for the buffet meal is $1 5 per person.

Call Fred at 215-538-1880 for By MADELEINE MATH IAS Of The Morning Call The stately stone house at 49 College Drive may be approaching its century mark, but it remains one of the prime landmarks on Lafayette College's campus. The three-story building, home of Zeta Psi fraternity members since 1910, has earned a new distinction. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, marking it as a cultural resource worthy of preservation. The house, with barely any changes in its physical appearance in 91 years, was accepted by the National Register because of its architecture and historical significance. Bronze plaques, one at the front and the other at the back of the house, have been installed, marking the honor.

A dedication ceremony will be held either next month or in the spring. Donald Chubb, president of the Zeta Psi Tau Chapter Alumni Association, said the next step will be to establish a foundation to raise money to upgrade the Zeta House to college standards and then for its maintenance, restoration and preservation. "It's a grand old building," said cation to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which recommended the building for inclusion in the National Register. Chubb, a retired electrical engineer who worked for Hershey Chocolate Co. and Safe Harbor Water Power speaks affectionately of the building where he and many alumni spent most of their college years.

He said that during the early part of the 1900s, Zeta Psi, like other fraternities, was the center of social activities for many well-known Easton families. And when the house was completed on Feb. 2, 1910, 300 guests attended an afternoon reception and 200 attended a dance that evening. Chubb, who lives in Hershey. "We want it preserved, and being named on the National Register gives us a reason for establishing the foundation." Chubb said there are about 650 members of the alumni association living all over the world.

The current Tau chapter has 25 members. Easton's most famous architect, William Michler, helped design the building with James Barnes Baker of New York, both Lafayette College graduates and Zeta Psi brothers. The men's design was described as Period Revival architecture, chosen often by people in the early 1900s. Built and occupied only as a fraternity house, the original cost was $50,000. Today the Zeta Psi House, one of nine fraternity houses built on campus before World War is worth several million dollars.

Chubb, who graduated from Lafayette in 1950, said prominent families in Easton can be credited with the fraternity house's origin. He said the fraternity, the Tau Chapter, was organized in 1857 and met in different places in Easton until the brothers decided they needed their own house. As eye-catching as the exterior is, the interior is a home magazine's dream. A central staircase leads to the second and third floors where there are 10 two-bedroom study suites. "The building has 30 rooms," Chubb said, noting that the house has its original oak paneling and several fireplaces with Mercer tiles.

The three original pieces of furniture still in the house, Chubb said, are two oval tables and a partner desk where chairs can be placed on each side. The idea to seek National Register recognition, Chubb said, came from another Zeta, Steve Hartwell of the Class of 1936, who during the past year was president of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. A member of the Metropolitan Club in Washington, D.C., Hartwell said that that building was constructed about the same time as the Lafayette Zeta House and won historic recognition. The Tau Chapter sponsored the house's nomination and approved the hiring of Dennis Bertland Associates, historic preservation consultants of Port Murray, N.J., to prepare the documents. After researching the house and its origins, with help from such alumni as Norman Farrell of Easton, Chubb and a historical study done in 1989 by five Zeta brothers, Bertland sent the appli- Reporter Madeleine Mathias 610-559-2144 madeleine.

mathias mcall.com ublic hearing on proposed Conectiv plant scheduled nitrogen oxide and 439.3 tons of carbon monoxide a year. Bader said emissions can cause conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia. He said Bethlehem Steel created more pollution because the coke works released carcinogens. "I won't say this plant is better," Bader said. "It's like having a choice between getting stabbed and getting shot.

The choices are equally as bad." Wasman said the rates listed in the public notices are the "worst-case scenario," a plant operating 24 hours a day using a sulfuric fuel oil. The plant would probably operate 3,000 hours a year on natural gas, he said. DEP air-quality experts were at a conference Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. Partners President John Walsh said other parts of the plan need work. Conectiv is proposing a water-cooling system that would draw from the Lehigh River and return the water to the river after treating it.

Walsh said the river level during droughts is a concern. But Wasman said Conectiv has worked out an agreement with nearby reservoirs to release water when the river is low. Air-cooling methods are more typical in the Southwest where there is little water, said Doug Biden. president of the Electric Power Generation Association in Harrisburg. "No one is going to be willing to put in an air-cooling system unless they have to," Biden said.

"It can unnecessarily inflate the cost of electricity." It's "rare" in Pennsylvania and costs about $10 million to $15 million more, said Intergen environmental consultant Joel Epstein. Intergen is proposing the People can comment on the electric project at 7 Thursday night in Bethlehem City Hall. By NICOLE RADZIEVICH Of The Morning Call The public will get a chance Thursday to comment on a proposed $600 million power plant on Bethlehem Steel Corp. brown fields. The Department of Environmental Protection scheduled a hearing for 7 p.m.

at Bethlehem City Hall to take testimony about Conectiv's gas-fired, electric generating plant. The plant is proposed for 50 acres on Applebutter Road near Bethlehem's border with Lower Saucon Township. The plant, which would include six combustion turbines and a cooling tower, would feed power to the mid-Atlantic region. Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and most of Pennsylvania make up the region. Approval for the air-quality plan is the first of two steps Conectiv must take before getting project approval.

The DEP must also review the operating plan and equipment. "The type of plant we proposed is, in fact, state of the art and very environmentally friendly," Conectiv spokesman Lee Wasman said. Wasman said the proposed design is almost identical to a plant Conectiv built a decade ago outside Wilmington, Del. That plant was recognized by state and federal agencies for its innovation. Partners for Community Preservation, a group opposing the proposed Panda Energy International plant in Upper Hanover Township, applauded Conectiv's decision to choose a brownfields location, though the group questioned Pennsylvania's need for another plant.

air-cooling system in Chester County because Schuylkill River levels could be too low to cool a proposed 870-megawatt plant. Cooling systems are just one of Partners' concerns. "Emissions for any power plant should be as low as technologically possible," said Robin Hepler, secretary of Partners' board of directors. She suggested that Conectiv use a device called SCONOx to "significantly" reduce air emissions from the plant. Wasman said the "experimental" technology is used in much smaller plants and Conectiv prefers to use more reliable equipment.

Emissions levels concern Morris Bader, a retired chemistry professor who lives in Bethlehem. According to the public notification of the hearing, maximum emission levels from the plant would include 460.2 tons of Reporter Nicole Radzievich 610-861-3614 nicole.radzievichijimcall.com "The determination of charges depends on the circumstances surrounding the incident which the officer observes," said township Police Chief Bruce Fretz. on Kally Ridge Road; no value given; anyone with information is asked to contact Lower Saucon police at 610-317-6110. Charged A 16-vear-old boy; Friday with disorderly conduct; allegedly had a mariiuana pipe during a traffic stop on Wassergass Road; citation Issued. ALLEN TOWNSHIP Theft Reported Sept.

29 by Guv L. Chrlstman, 45, of 4945 Kreidersville Road; $1,100 worth of tools taken from garage; walkway lighting smashed; SI 50 damage. RED HILL Hit-and-run Reported at 8:15 p.m. Sunday after vehicle owned by Chad Lelght of Coopersburg and parked at 247 Main St. was hit by unidentified white vehicle; anyone with information is asked to call state police In Skippack at 610-584-1250.

while she drank beer inside a Palmer Township social club. Devon Mae Debias, 23, of 1040 Ferry St. was charged by Palmer police with leaving her two children, ages 1 and 2, asleep in her car while she went inside the Palmer Township Fire Company Social Hall on S. 27th Street around 11:45 p.m. According to township police, an anonymous caller alerted police to the presence of the children in the car.

Police said they found the children asleep in car seats in the vehicle. According to the arrest affidavit, Debias was inside the club and told police she had been inside just five minutes and drank one beer. Her statement was backed up by the bartender, the affidavit said. Court records also showed Debias told police she drank beer before going to the club. Debias was arraigned before District Justice Adrianne Masut of Wind Gap and released on $5,000 recognizance bail on two counts each of endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person and leaving children unattended in a vehicle.

She was also charged with one count of disorderly conduct. The incident was the second time in two days that township police charged someone with leaving children in a vehicle. Ravi P. Dadlani, 36, of 2547 10th Bethlehem Township, was issued a summary traffic citation Sunday night after police said he left his 1-yearold daughter and 3-year-old son in his car while he went into the Giant supermarket in the William Penn Plaza. Police said the car was running and unlocked.

The incident occurred about 7:20 p.m. Dadlani pleaded guilty Tuesday before District Justice Ralph Litzen-berger of Palmer and paid $94 in fines and ccts. POLICE REPORT LANSDALE 23-year-old hospitalized after beating outside pub A 23-year-old man was seriously injured when he was beaten by three men Saturday outside the Fifth Street Pub in Lansdale, borough police reported. Officers were called to the pub at 2:32 am and found Edward Barger lying in front of the pub with injuries to his head and face, police said. Witnesses told police that he had been beaten by three men who left the pub in two vehicles.

One vehicle is champagne-colored, and the other is a black four-door car, witnesses said. Barger was taken by ambulance to Abington Hospital On Sunday, he had been upgraded to stable condition. Call police at 215-268-1801 with information. EASTON Retired city fireman injured in fall from roof An Easton man was injured Tuesday in a fall from his porch roof. Easton fire officials said Howard Hill, a retired city firefighter, was injured in the fail around 11:15 a.m.

at his home at 422 W. Berwick St. on the city's South Side. Hill was flown to St. Luke's Hospital, Fountain Hill, by helicopter, which landed at Easton's Heil Park.

Hill, whose age was unavailable Tuesday, was listed in serious condition Tuesday night. PALMER TOWNSHIP Easton woman accused of leaving children in car An Easton woman was arrested late Monday on charges that she left her tvvjo young children in her car LANSDALE LOWER SAUCON TWP. Theft Reported Friday by Thomas Szulborski, 3805 Mockingbird Hill Road; $118.49 in unauthorized charges on his credit card. Charged A 16-vear-old Hellertown, girl; Thursday with disorderly conduct; allegedly used obscene language at Saucon Valley High School and was insubordinate to a teacher; citation Issued. Theft Reported Monday by Eagle Custom Builders of Hellertown; fireplace insert and 10 sections of chimney pipe takeifrom construction sitg Burglary Reported Monday morning by Fifth Street Pub; large amount of cash and safe taken; burglars forced open window and office door.

Theft Reported by Colmar Fire Department; portable two-way radio and red emergency dashboard light taken from vehicle behind Jefferson Street home..