Sep 30, 2013

A Case Of Favoritism

New York Fashion was one of Hamilton Street's most successful merchants. The side by side store fronts in the 700 block were packed floor to ceiling with merchandize. Relocated by the arena to 7th Street, they spared no expense in renovating a distressed property and creating that street's new shopping destination. The new store, large as it is, is also packed to the brim. Space doesn't allow displaying each shirt on hanger, but shirts are neatly stacked by size and color. I showed the proprietor my blog post yesterday about the Archive store's monopoly on uniform vouchers,  and the supposed reasons for it submitted by comment. He could only shake his head and say It's favoritism. Although I will not reveal what they spent on uniform inventory,  it was a substantial investment. They literally have thousands of school shirts in stock, in every size and color. They also have a full inventory of pants, socks, belts, shoes and all items specified by the new school policy. They have serviced customers who couldn't find what they needed at the Urban/Archive store(s). This story gets more unfair. They invited school officials to see their inventory and approve them for vouchers. Although a representative came to the store, they never heard back. It's a case of favoritism.

Ted Kohuth Next Police Chief

The new police chief will be Ted Kohuth. This coming Thursday, October 3, the public can meet the four finalists, but why isn't clear to me. If Pawlowski didn't care for your opinion about the water you drink, or the air you breath, why would he care who you prefer for police chief? Kohuth is well qualified and was a good choice.

Sep 28, 2013

Allentown School District Gets F In Business Ethics

Although the students have been responding well to the new uniform dress policy, molovinsky on allentown has learned that the School Administration has been misbehaving. School vouchers for the uniforms, which up to 25% of families have requested, can only be used at one business, New York Urban or it's sister store, Archives, both owned by the same party. Urban/Archives happen to be a City Hall favorite. All other merchants, some even displaced from Hamilton Street by the arena, will not be reimbursed for the vouchers. The unlevel playing field is nothing new to City Hall, but it's sad to see it employed by the School District. One merchant gets to stay on Hamilton Street, receive grants, and now have over 4,000 customers* sent to him, while everyone else has to compete in the free marketplace. Only in Allentown. 

*25% of 17,000+ Allentown school students

Sep 27, 2013

Tom Muller Spits On County History

Tom Muller demonstrated yesterday that he would gladly sacrifice part of Lehigh County's history to take advantage of any political opportunity. This past year Lehigh County Commissioners decided to spare the historic Reading Road Bridge, after the county already had replaced fourteen other bridges. The Reading Road Bridge was built in 1824, and is the oldest stone arch bridge in the county. In 1980 the bridge was totally rehabilitated, and a pedestrian walkway was added along it's southern side. Both the Hamilton Street and the Union Street bridges are less than half a block away, on either side. The historic stone arch span compliments the adjoining Union Terrace Amphitheater. Earlier this week, Penndot decided to close the bridge. Although nothing has changed about the bridge recently, they arbitrarily decided to downgrade all bridges with a 3 Ton weight limit to a closed status. This closed status also effects Reading Road's younger sister bridge, Schreiber's Bridge, built in 1828. Since Schreibers had been carrying the load for the closed 15th Street Bridge under construction, I'm sure the City of Allentown will challenge Penndot, rather than use the closure as a political prop. Yesterday, Muller repeated, word for word, language used last winter to justify replacing the bridge,  a brick shell filled with rubble, dirt and rocks, is insufficient against the hydraulics of Cedar Creek, of course it has been sufficient for 189 years. In a unguarded moment last year, the county project manager Glenn Solt, told blogger Bernie O'Hare that these old bridges are filled with crap. I don't know about the bridges, but it certainly applies to the politicians seeking to advance themselves at the expense of our history.

Sep 26, 2013

People Who Need People Are The Nicest







I was just reading about ReNew Lehigh Valley and sustainable communities. People who need people are the nicest people in the world! These types of organizations spend $millions of dollars in grants to see what the ten yuppies in the valley want to improve their quality of life. Is it a $million dollar a mile train track to NYC to catch dinner and a show? Is it a valley wide health organization to supplement ObamaCare? Should we buy some more farms to make sure we don't lose any of the 33 million existing acres of farmland in Pennsylvania? Meanwhile, step on no toes. Don't say anything about fracking or burning sewage and trash to make energy. Spend grants on surveys and public input meetings, but don't support efforts for a public referendum. People who need people are the nicest people in the world.

UPDATE: I was misinformed,  my apology, now that these organizations are halfway through a three year, $3.4 million dollar grant to get our input (and their salaries) I must man up and admit that I was wrong,  I should have said People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.

Lehigh Valley Railroad Piers


In this era of class warfare, while we worry that the rich are only paying 35% income tax, instead of 39%, let us be grateful that once upon a time we had the Robber Barons. In this era when we have to give a grant for some woman to open a small cookie shop on Hamilton Street, let us be grateful that men built railroads with private money. Let us be grateful that incredible feats of private enterprise built piers, bridges and trestles. Trains allowed us to move vast amounts of raw and finished materials across America. This network allowed us to protect ourselves during two World Wars, and provided the prosperity upon which we now rest.

The Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks extended from their piers in New Jersey to the shores of Lake Erie. The Mile Long Pier in Jersey City was the scene of German sabotage in 1916. A train full of munitions, awaiting shipment to Europe, was blown up on July 30th of that year. In 1914, the railroad built the longest ore pier in the world, in Bayonne. The ore would come from Chile, through the new Panama Canal, for shipment to Bethlehem.

reprinted from February 2011

Sep 25, 2013

Switching Channels

I was very disappointed with Anthony Bourdain's treatment of Israel on his premiere CNN show.  My opinion on that show can be found  by clicking here on The Morning Chronicle.

Sep 24, 2013

The People's Candidate

In the late 1970's, neighbors would gather in the market on 9th Street to complain and receive consolation from the woman behind the cash register. Emma was a neighborhood institution. A native Allentonian, she had gone through school with mayor for life Joe Dadonna, and knew everybody at City Hall. More important, she wasn't shy about speaking out. What concerned the long time neighbors back then was a plan to create a Historical District, by a few newcomers.

What concerned Emma wasn't so much the concept, but the proposed size of the district, sixteen square blocks. The planners unfortunately all wanted their homes included, and they lived in an area spread out from Hall Street to 12th, Linden to Liberty.* Shoving property restrictions down the throats of thousands of people who lived in the neighborhood for generations didn't seem right to Emma. As the battle to establish the district became more pitched, Emma began referring to it as the Hysterical District.
Emma eventually lost the battle, but won the hearts of thousands of Allentonians. Emma Tropiano would be elected to City Council beginning in 1986, and would serve four terms. In 1993 she lost the Democratic Primary for Mayor by ONE (1) vote.

Her common sense votes and positions became easy fodder for ridicule. Bashed for opposing fluoridation, our clean water advocates now question the wisdom of that additive. Although every founding member of the Historical District moved away over the years, Emma continued to live on 9th Street, one block up from the store. In the mid 1990's, disgusted by the deterioration of the streetscape, she proposed banning household furniture from front porches. Her proposal was labeled as racist against those who could not afford proper lawn furniture. Today, SWEEP officers issue tickets for sofas on the porch.

Being blunt in the era of political correctness cost Emma. Although a tireless advocate for thousands of Allentown residents of all color, many people who never knew her, now read that she was a bigot. They don't know who called on her for help. They don't know who knocked on her door everyday for assistance. They don't know who approached her at diners and luncheonettes all over Allentown for decades. We who knew her remember, and we remember the truth about a caring woman.

* Because the designated Historical District was too large, it has failed, to this day, to create the atmosphere envisioned by the long gone founders. Perhaps had they listened to, instead of ridiculing, the plain spoken shopkeeper, they would have created a smaller critical mass of like thinking homeowners, who then could have expanded the area.



UPDATED: I reprint my post of Emma as we approach the election of 2013. For mayor the Republican party failed to field a candidate. The City Council election ended in the primaries, as again the Republicans didn't offer any candidates. Emma ignited a passion in Allentown politics, which has been long extinguished.

Sep 23, 2013

Donovan's Chances Come November

This November, Allentown voters will be choosing between incumbent Ed Pawlowski and Michael Donovan, running as an independent. A month ago, with Pawlowski being able to use the arena as a giant photo opportunity, I would have considered running against him a fool's errand. Since that time, it has been revealed that Pawlowski is simultaneously running for Governor, giving Donovan an unexpected issue with which to challenge Pawlowski. Also, there is an organized constituency disenchanted with Pawlowski over the sale of the water system, and permitting the trash to energy plant. These factors certainly add up to a starting point for Donovan. When it comes to campaign funds Donovan will be at a distinct disadvantage. When it comes to media balance, that remains to be seen.

photograph from The Morning Call

Sep 22, 2013

The World Of Mirth


Allentown at one time had two very productive railroad branch lines; The West End, and the Barber Quarry. The Barber Quarry, for the most part, ran along the Little Lehigh Creek. It serviced the Mack Truck plants on South 10th, and continued west until it turned north along Union Terrace, ending at Wenz's tombstone at 20th and Hamilton Streets. The West End, for the most part, ran along Sumner Avenue, turning south and looping past 17th and Liberty Streets.

The Allentown Economic and Development Corporation has received a $1.8 million grant, toward a $4 million dollar project, to restore a portion of the Barber Quarry branch to service it's industrial building on South 10th Street. This building housed Traylor Engineering, which was a giant back in the day. Recently it housed a fabricator who President Obama visited on his Allentown photo opportunity mission. The business has since closed, but let's not have that reality stand in the way of grants. Last summer, I fought against Allentown's Trail Network Plan, which catered to the spandex cyclist crowd. The new trail was to be built on the Barber Quarry track line. Not only didn't the AEDC oppose the plan, it's director was an advocate. Now they will be funded to develop that which they wanted to destroy. Where do I begin in Allentown's World of Mirth?

The wonderful photograph above shows the World of Mirth train at 17th and Liberty. World of Mirth was the midway operator at the Allentown Fair during the 40's and 50's. In the background is Trexler Lumber Yard, which burnt down in the early 1970's. The B'nai B'rith Apartment houses now occupy the location.
photograph from the collection of Mark Rabenold

UPDATE: The Barber Quarry branch was not the primary railroad access to the Mack plants on South 10th Street. The branch only provided service to Mack Plant #2 on South 10th and Mack Plant #1 on 7th and Mill Streets which both closed for manufacturing in 1924 in favor of Mack #3,3A,4 and 4A on South 10th. These were served by the Reading Railroad Mack Branch. There was a switchback that connected the Barber Quarry to the Reading west of Traylor Engineering and Manufacturing Co. Yet, that was built by the Reading to serve Traylor and did not provide access for the LVRR to Mack #3,3A, 4 and 4A.

Also the western terminus was not wenz's on Hamliton Street. The branch crossed Hamilton and served several businesses including Yeager Fuel on North St Elmo, several silk mills and Pepsi Bottling at 2100 Linden Street. The bottling plant closed in 1963 which then became a city parks department building. The LVRR sold and removed the track north of Hamilton street in 1969. Accordingly, in 1970, the Wenz company became the western most shipper and receiver on the branch. update information from anonymous comment in November of 2010

reprinted from June of 2011

Sep 20, 2013

Ed Pawlowski's Opportunity

I've learned that Ed Pawlowski, candidate for Mayor and Governor, did indeed call City Council members and ask for their opinion about the Robin Hood Dam in Lehigh Parkway. Most of them accepted the Wildlands Conservancy's slick powerpoint about improving water quality by removing the historic, beautiful dam. My claim that removing the dam was just environmental tokenism, because of sewage leaks, was ignored. They claimed that they had a DEP report that showed no fecal coliform in the water. In reality, they were ignoring the EPA report, which confirms the sewage problem. Since Council's meeting, The Morning Call did an article on the EPA report. While the dam still stands, while Pawlowski still has an opportunity to save it's beauty, sound and magic, I now provide proof of my claim. Shown above, 500 yards upstream of the dam, is the meadow full of feces and toilet paper surrounding the manhole cover,  sprinkled with lye. This is the meadow where runners gather and stretch before races, where families play. In heavy storms the manhole covers overflow with sewage. The Park Department covers the mess with lye to control the smell and bacteria. The mess is allowed to dry, and then mowed, re-mowed and mowed again into small particles, which are absorbed by the meadow and creek. This picture and that reality aren't nice. This post isn't about solving the sewage dilemma. It's about the Wildlands Conservancy picking and choosing their science to deceive City Council and the Mayor. It's about saving the historic dam, an place of beauty enjoyed by generations of park users.

Sep 19, 2013

The Bricks Of Allentown

Years ago, on the quiet clean streets of Allentown,  the mornings belonged to the milkman, until people got up for their jobs. The streets are still quiet in the mornings, but they're not clean, and very few people get up for a job. Over the decades, center city became entrenched with the professional low income, migrating from the bigger cities. The Historic District, and other endeavors, served only as a finger in the dike for the middle class. As welfare rules tightened, the under-motivated became dependent on Social Security Disability, a life long de-motivator. On Monday, as the Budweiser Clydesdales walked down the street at noon, half the city's population was still asleep. As Allentown builds a shiny new arena, hoping for a revival, those very people they hope to attract have moved on and away from that urban malady, not inclined to return.

Sep 18, 2013

Mayor For A Block

                                                                    photograph by michael molovinsky
Although I've titled this image Mayor For A Block, I could have just as easily called it The Future Mayor. When the Budweiser Wagon left the staging area on 10th Street, and rounded the corner down Hamilton, Julio Guridy had the seat of honor. Although I do not believe that Pawlowski will succeed in his try for the governorship, we now know that his ambitions extend beyond Allentown. When he does leave City Hall, Julio is the likely successor. Regardless, I have enjoyed using the Budweiser Wagon as a vehicle for my photography.

photocredit:michael molovinsky

Click on photograph to enlarge.

Sep 17, 2013

The Budweiser Clydesdales Visit Allentown

                                                                   photograph by michael molovinsky
                                                                     photograph by michael molovinsky
                                                                    photograph by michael molovinsky

photocredit:michael molovinsky

click photographs to enlarge

Can Allentown Round The Corner

                                                                               photo by michael molovinsky
At 11:00a.m. yesterday10th Street, between Walnut and Hamilton, looked very middle class. Suburban Allentown came downtown to see the Budweiser Clydesdales. As I stood on the front porch of a once nice apartment house, one by one, the sleepy residents came out. Yo, how the fu-k ya supposed to sleep with all this sh-t going on? I don't think Mr. Sleepy head, aka Mr. Nods, actually has a night job, but probably does business at night. I don't know what Pawlowski is going to do with Mr. Nods once the arena opens, but he won't make a good city ambassador.

photocredit:molovinsky 

UPDATE: I will post more Budweiser Clydesdale photographs this afternoon.

Sep 16, 2013

Allentown Arena Anticipation vs. Reality

In Ed Pawlowski's stump speech for Governor, he talks about the transformation of Allentown, and the four thousand new jobs he created in the city. Talk about miscounting chickens before they're hatched!!! Try as I may, adding up the announced new companies, I cannot even exaggerate it to 1000 jobs, but I'm not running for Governor. Anticipation alone hasn't earned downtown business owners one extra dollar. Although Pawlowski and Associates keep harping about the restaurant revival, several expensive ventures have already failed. I can tell you that the street life and people surrounding the Arena District are harder than ever. I believe that Pawlowski is running now, because he knows that the anticipation is better than the reality.

Sep 15, 2013

Did Allentown Lease It's Brain?

When Allentown leased it's Water and Sewer Systems to LCA, did our knowledge and memory go with the lease? We learned recently that Allentown must now form a new department for the storm sewer system, which was part of the water and sewer departments. When West End Theater District residents complained last week of the recent flooding, Public Works Director Richard Young told WFMZ that the new Storm Sewer Department would survey the system, and have a plan within one year. Holy memory Loss, this is the same man who directed the departments last month, before the lease. Holy memory loss, this is the same man who works in the same building, with all the city plans and blueprints of all the pipes. LCA is now operating the water filtration plant, will it take them a year to figure out how to purify the water? Will the residents of the West End Theater District accept this nonsense as a legitimate answer?

Sep 13, 2013

Ungrateful Bastards Of The West End Theater District

The West End Theater District just had their street-scape redone, but those ungrateful bastards are now complaining about the overflowing storm sewer pipes. Just given the run around by City Officials, they may find that a real solution to their problem isn't in the cards. Richard Young, Director of Public Works, told the wet, angry crowd that it may take a year just to study the problem; That of course is nonsense, after 80 years the city is well aware of the problem. Although the Morning Call article identified Andrew Street as the problem, the pipe under Early Street, the other alley between Liberty and Allen, is also undersized. On that street, the manhole covers between 18th and 19th Streets overflow even during a moderate rainfall. The neighborhood and pipes were constructed around 1930, my photograph   (click on photo to enlarge) from the late 1920's reveals no houses at that time. I'm afraid that I even have worse news for my friends in the District; Allentown and the surrounding municipalities, rather than make costly improvements to their pipe systems, have been instead insisting that property owners remove their basement floor drains. The floor drains were installed as a safety net, if an inside pipe broke, or something overflowed. Although collectively they contribute only a minuscule amount toward the problem, government would rather have thousands of homeowners spend their money and compromise their safety system, rather than correct the real problem, undersized pipes. Pawlowski and the City recently took credit for the new sidewalks on 19th Street, now let them do a project decades overdue, and fix the storm sewers.

UPDATE: This morning I spoke to a former employee of the engineering department, who confirmed that, indeed, the city has known about this problem for decades.  This city's administrators like the ribbon cutting, photo opportunity projects, not the nuts and bolts of maintenance.

Prince William's Great Grandmother

Long before Prince William walked down the aisle yesterday in Westminister Abbey, his great grandmother, Princess Alice (Princess Andrew of Greece), walked there during the wedding of her son Phillip, to Princess Elizabeth. Princess(Alice) Andrew, later at the Coronation of Elizabeth, wore the habit of a nun. An extraordinary woman, she had founded a nurses order composed of nuns in Greece. She modeled the order after one started by her aunt and mentor in Russia, whom she had visited many years earlier. Born Princess Alice of Battenberg, she married Prince Andrew of Greece in 1903, assuming her new title.
During the Second World War, she hid a Jewish widow and her children in Athens, saving their lives. In accordance to her wish, she is buried in Jerusalem, next to her cherished aunt Duchess Fyodorovna, in the Russian Orthodox Church of Maria Magdalene.

reprinted from April 2011

Sep 12, 2013

Minority Opportunities In The NIZ

When Allentown started acquiring properties for the Arena, I suggested that the displaced Asian merchants could end up with the rickshaw concession on Hamilton Street. Recently, I suggested that as a Community Benefit Agreement, our downtrodden be allowed to sell peanuts at the Arena. Low and behold, our inspirational leaders did make room outside the new hotel for the underclass, they can operate food carts. "There's a lot of exciting opportunities right now," said Shannon Calluori, operations manager for the city's Department of Community and Economic Development. "Food vending is one of many." Julio Guridy, City Council President added, "It could also be a good opportunity for minority-owned businesses." Who knows, perhaps leather shoes will make a comeback, and the community college could provide training in shoe shining.

Sep 11, 2013

Lehigh Valley Not Much For History

The Lehigh Valley isn't much on history, neither Allentown or Lehigh County. The 1824 stone arch Reading Road Bridge is only still standing because of my efforts. It's sister bridge from 1828, Schreibers, may now be closed by the State. Since the 15th Street Bridge(Ward Street) was closed for replacement, Schreibers has taken an incredible beating. Although posted for 3 tons, it has been battered by tractor-trailers no less than half a dozen times. In a further assault to the bridge, Allentown dropped the ball, and allowed the State to make Oxford drive/24th Street bridge one way for repairs, increasing the burden on the old stone bridge.

The Lily Ponds



Although it's been a few years since the ponds at the Rose Garden have been rebuilt, the water lilies were never replanted, except for one small plant in one pond.

Sep 10, 2013

Pawlowski's Sendoff

I wasn't motivated to to attend Pawlowski's sendoff yesterday, but find the local news reports interesting. Apparently, Mike Fleck had his entire stable of candidates  there, and one by one they mouthed platitudes, but some didn't look that enthusiastic in the photos. In this bizarre era of partisan politics, Allentown holds it's own in that department. As Pawlowski launches his trial balloon for governor in the rented RV, one wouldn't know that he's also running for mayor. The calculus for that contest seems to be that it can be won blindfolded, with one arm behind his back. The Republicans didn't tender an opponent, and the independent is running an abbreviated campaign. Shown in the photo is Cynthia Mota, up and coming  City Council member, also managed by Fleck.

photocredit:Harry Fisher/The Morning Call/September 9,2013

Sep 9, 2013

May of 1933

In May of 1933, the wife of Pennsylvania's Governor, Mrs. Gifford Pinchot, came to Allentown to lend support to striking textile workers. At that time,  Allentown housed close to 100 garment factories. In 2013, the sewing factories are all gone, and Mrs. Pawlowski wants to be the governor's wife.

Sep 8, 2013

Does Pawlowski Have Courage

Last week Ed Pawlowski gave the Wildlands Conservancy permission to remove the scenic dam in Lehigh Parkway. Earlier that week I explained to the Park and Recreation Committee that Wildlands, despite their slick presentation and parade of experts, was ignoring the 800 pound gorilla in the proposal to remove the dam. While the Wildlands was spouting cookie cutter platitudes about dam removal improving water quality, they were ignoring the over flowing sewer pipe that runs along side the creek. They were ignoring an overriding problem affecting the Little Lehigh, so that they could utilize a grant and demolish the historic dam. Today, the Morning Call ran a feature story about the sewage problem. The EPA had given Allentown and the LCA until 2014 to correct the sewage affecting the creek. If the Wildlands demolishes the dam we will lose the beauty, sound and magic it provides to Lehigh Parkway, but still have a major water quality issue from the sewage. Does Pawlowski have the courage to reverse himself and save a treasure in the park?

photocredit:molovinsky

Buffalo Soldiers Visit Block Party

The Buffalo Soldiers came to support Ce-Ce Gerhart's Fundraiser. The Buffalo Soldiers were black cavalry regiments who gained fame during the Indian Wars, following the Civil War. The units existed until the army ended segregation after WW2. About twenty members of the Pocono Mountain Chapter of The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club made the ride to Allentown.

photocredit:molovinsky

Sep 7, 2013

Ce-Ce Rocks The Block

Ce-Ce Gerlach rocked South 16th Street this afternoon with a block party to raise funds for school uniforms. The block was packed with people enjoying several carnival attractions, music and food. From all reports, the new Allentown school uniform policy seems to have gotten off to a good start, but one issue is the cost of the  clothes.  With a large, low income student body, this can become a family hardship.  I'm sure Ce-Ce's organizing abilities  will help with this problem.  I've had a couple of conservations with Ce-Ce this past month, and I believe she will be a factor in Allentown's future.
To donate to the school uniform fund, make check payable to RCDC, 144 N. 9th St. Allentown, Pa. 18101.   Write Uniforms on memo line.

Sep 6, 2013

Gary Olson, Professional Israel Hater

It's possible to be a professional Israel hater, you become a college professor. Gary Olson has done some fellowships in the Muslim world, and has learned their point of view very well. In his latest attack on Israel, he states that the initial pressure* for a response to the nerve gas attack in Syria came  from the pro Israel lobby, and is meant to prolong human suffering. When it comes to Israel bashing, The Morning Call has once again displayed it's double standard. While the defenders of Israel must provide the editors with substantiated facts,  it's critics are given a green light to spew their anti-zionist propaganda.


*AIPAC does now support Obama doing what he said we would do, but they were not a factor in his initial decision.

Notice Is Hereby Given



Pawlowski formally began his march to Harriburg today with the creation of the Pawlowski For Governor PAC. I suspect as a candidate running for his third term as mayor that he will downplay his larger ambition, at least until after the upcoming November election.

UPDATE: This story was picked up off this blog about 11:30 Friday morning.  How did I know before the Morning Call when the legal notice was printed in the Morning Call? Legal notices and classified ads are placed through the Tribune office in Chicago.  The press page layout is computer delivered to the printing presses during the evening, and the paper is printed for early morning delivery.  The legal notices are not included in the digital edition.  Do the local reporters read the hard copy paper at 5:00 a.m., much less the legal notices,  as does this blogger?  By 7:30 Friday morning Pawlowski challenger Michael Donovan thanked me for the post.

The Jews of Iran


In 539 BC, when the Persian King Cyrus defeated Babylon, the Israelites were free to return to Jerusalem. Many instead ended up in that part of Persia which constitutes modern day Iran. Despite the current political climate between Iran and Israel, over 25,000 Jews still live in Iran. It has remained the largest Jewish population in a Muslim country since the creation of Israel in 1948, and among the most ancient of Jewish communities. Although certainly a minority in what could be perceived as an awkward situation, the community takes great pride in their Iranian history. Shown above is the Tomb of the Prophet Daniel, revered by both Jews and Muslims, in Susa, Iran.

reprinted from March 2011

Sep 5, 2013

Ezekiel's Tomb


Ezekiel's Tomb is south of Baghdad, in Al Kifl. The tomb dates back to the 6th Century B.C., during the Babylonian exile. Prior to creation of Israel in 1948, 100,000 Jews still remained in Iraq; Today, there are eight.

Last year Hebrew lettering was covered over in fresh plaster, in a process to turn the ancient Jewish shrine into a mosque. Fortunately, word leaked back to Israel and to the Jews of Iraqi descent. That community's history in Iraq spanned 2,700 years, 1,000 years before the birth of Islam. The renovation is now under international scrutiny, and hopefully the Jewish elements will remain. The photo shows Iraqi Jews in front of the tomb in 1932.

Conflicting reports: There are conflicting reports, both about the condition and intentions for the shrine. Here is an article from The Jerusalem Post, dated May 2010, which claims that there has been no damage (recent) to Jewish inscriptions.
NY Times recent article, Oct. 19, 2010

reprinted from November 2010

Sep 4, 2013

Walking With Cynthia Mota

During my failed attempt to save the dam at Robin Hood in Lehigh Parkway, I invited members of Allentown City Council for a private tour. Although only Cynthia Mota and Jeff Glazier accepted the offer, it was an hour well spent. I had spoken to Glazier several times in the past, but had never met Mota. I found her genuinely interested in the park, and intrigued by the neglected WPA sites that I pointed out. She did let me know that she felt that she had been treated unfairly on this blog in the past.  During a large portion of the walk, Mota was being pitched  two opposing points of view about the riparian weeds, one by John Mikowychok, the new park director, and the other by myself. Mikowychok told Mota that he believes the stream is more enticing if you only can see a glimpse of it, here and there. Apparently, Wildlands Conservancy and Mikowychok have a new arrangement, and the Conservancy is to begin replanting the buffers, wider than ever. Although it was an appropriate opportunity for Mikowychok to mention the upcoming  Wildlands buffer project,  he didn't say a word.  Motta needn't be concerned about me,  but she should worry about Mikowychok concealing important park plans.

Sep 3, 2013

School Director To Stay








Joanne Jackson has decided to rescind her resignation to the Allentown School Board. Jackson is a former teacher, well liked by the teachers and students. Her resignation resulted from tension with some other board members, a situation which apparently she has decided to accept as par for the course. I'm personally glad she came to this conclusion. It serves the school district best to have board members with divergent points of view. Shown above, Joanne is giving the commencement speech at Dieruff this past spring.

Drag Races At Queen City

During the 1950's, for a summer or two, city sanctioned drag races were held at the Queen City Airport. Dopey Duncan, radio personality and racing car enthusiast, was instrumental in organizing these events. The airport and large hanger seen in the background was built by Consolidated Vultee, to produce airplanes for the war effort.

Sep 2, 2013

The Depreciation Of Our Parks

John Mikowychok, the new park director, suggested that after the dam is demolished an interpretative sign could be placed there, with a photograph of the former dam. John, like his predecessor Greg Weitzel, likes interpretative signs. John and Greg have the same background, they both have graduate degrees in recreation from Penn State. Both were hired by our city manager from Philadelphia, and neither have a special feeling for the Allentown park system. Although there will be no measurable improvement to water quality, Lehigh Parkway will be depreciated in both beauty and ambience. While picture postcards used to show the beauty of the parks, now interpretative signs will show what we neglected and demolished.

photocredit:molovinsky

Sep 1, 2013

The Mighty Atom


Years ago, at the Allentown Fair, as one would push through a sea of carney delusion, tucked back by the 4H animals, was an island of reality. There, in an old battered truck, an ancient Jewish strongman performed incredible feats of strength, to sell only homemade kosher soap. Standing on a platform on the rear of his truck, flanked by photographs from his performing youth, he would bent horse shoes and bite through nails. Many years earlier, my mother as a little girl in Bethlehem, saw him pull a truck uphill with his hair. Even as an old man, like a reincarnation of Samson, his grey hair was still long.
In the summers of 1964 and 1965, myself and a friend,(Fred Schoenk, retired Allentown art teacher) made and sold printed tee-shirts at the fair. We had the honor to know Joseph Greenstein(The Mighty Atom) and his wife. For those interested, there are various articles on the Mighty Atom and even at least one book. Enjoy the fair!

reprinted annually during the fairweek