Sep 26, 2007

Your Fanny May(be sorry)

Those of you familiar with real estate know that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government agencies which insure home mortgages. Before becoming Afflerbach's main man, Pawlowski headed the Alliance for Building Communities, whose mission is to make low-income home owners. An article in today's Morning Call outlined Allentown's investment in the Alliance's latest project. The mayor is quoted as saying "Having more homeowners helps to stabilize neighborhoods,...They'll have more of a stake in their neighborhood(by) reducing litter...." The story centers around a woman who came to Allentown way back in 1999 from South America and mentions most of the buyers need "credit repair". Allentown taxpayers contributed $200,000 toward the cost for five rowhouses in an alley.(Law Street) The houses have been redone, including granite counter tops. In an era of sub-prime defaults should The City of Allentown still be subsidizing homeownership for those who do not qualify for conventional mortgages? Could we be better off putting that money toward the costly refinancing of bonds, or maybe hiring a few more police officers?

Sep 25, 2007

The Mohican Markets


Once, before the malls, there were three thriving cities in the Lehigh Valley, and some merchants would have a store in each of the downtowns. Some of the buildings still exist, and have been reused; the Allentown Farr (shoe) Building is now loft apartments. Two of three Mohican Market buildings, famous for baked goods, no longer exist. The Easton location, on S. 4th St., was victim to fire. The Allentown store now is the parking lot behind the new Butz office building. The Mohican Markets were owned and operated by Bernard Molovinsky. Below is the Mohican recipe for chocolate chip brownies, revealed for the first time in 35 years.(you may want to make less brownies)
Chocolate Chip Brownies
#1 Yield (2) Pans.
5lbs. Sugar
2lbs. M.F.B
2oz. Salt
8oz. Glucose
2oz. Milk Powder
2lbs. Egg Whites(1qt.)
8oz. Water(1/2 pt.)
3lbs. 8oz. Cake flour
-----------------------
#2
2lbs. Chocolate Chips
------------------------
#3
4lbs. Dough
4oz. Sugar
4oz.Cocoa
8oz. Water(1/2 pt.)

Place no.1 in small machine bowl and mix smooth. add no.2 to no.1 and mix until chips are well incorporated.
Remove 4 lbs. of dough and mix with the sugar, cocoa and water
Deposit into Baking sheets with no.3 on top to make marble effect.
Bake - 375 degrees

Sep 18, 2007

Lanta and the Three Amigo's


Today, less than a week after Rendell, Cunningham and Pawlowski lauded the the new Lanta Terminal, passengers and merchants joined forces at the facility to protest the inconvenience for riders and damage to the business community. Having interviewed many of these merchants in the past, I can assure you only dire circumstances would propel them to demonstrate. Although the new terminal provided many bureaucracies the opportunity to expand their domain, is not Lanta's purpose to first serve the public? Let the little people eat cake!(or Dunkin Donuts)

Sep 16, 2007

Open Mike


This posting is intended to provide an opportunity to comment on any topic, or on an earlier posting.

Sep 15, 2007

"Were a different city" says Pawlowski


After reading of the latest shooting in Allentown, it was less than consoling to learn Mayor Pawlowski is seeking outside help to create a strategy to combat crime. He wants to spend $100,000 for a consultant to talk with residents and identify problems. Mayor, here's a freebie, "Too many scumbags are moving to Allentown, and your too worried about affordable housing and hanging banners. Please, before the last middle class resident moves, stop the destruction of our city and the waste of our money. Stop making the police chief attend your endless press conferences and let him fight the predators." Its time for tough love, its time to shut the door and save the city. Its not our responsibility to solve the national issues of crime and poverty. The emphasis must be on restoring a quality of life for the existing homeowners.

Sep 8, 2007

Greg Weaver Art Scene


For about ten years, mid 70's to 80's, Allentown was graced with a one man art machine. Greg Weaver studied at Carnegie Mellon and then returned to the Valley to become artist, promoter and inspiration to dozens of local artists. His large studios, which moved from one low rent location to another over the years, became hubs for innovation and social activity. He was very prolific with his work, and generous with his encouragement. A typical monthly bash involved perhaps a poster by Mark Beyer( now an internationally known underground comic) performance by a jazz group such as Gary Hassey,(Greg also had a band) and perhaps a new showing by a local artist, such as Barnaby Ruhe. The loft parties were always mobbed, by many of the same people who now attend the Museum social events. This art "scene" cost the taxpayers nothing, it was done by artists, and it was real. Greg suffered from diabetes, and eventually lost his sight. Although blind he continued to produce art and inspire people until his death. Several of his works are in the Allentown Museums' permanent collection and his memory is in the hearts' of his friends. The image here is from Mark Beyer, representing an invitation to a Weaver event.

Sep 5, 2007

City of Delusion


There is business in downtown Allentown, its not glamorous, its mostly poor people buying cheap items. Our mayor, and other deluded bureaucrats, instead of working with the reality in hand, choose to think that our theatre, school and museum is a thriving art district. To that end, they have built a new parking deck to service the additional patrons they imagine their new banners will attract, and harvested a state grant for Lanta to help finance the illusion. The city and Lanta have moved most bus stops off Hamilton Street and adjoining corners, centralizing them along side of the new deck at 6th and Linden. At the remaining stops they have removed the benches, and placed signs explaining seating and other conveniences can be found at the new central terminal. This will hurt the many merchants who sell a soda or snack to the waiting passengers. While our mayor hopes for upscale gourmet, the majority of our taxpaying merchants are denied their customer base.