A Modest Proposal

Currently, young people park at Robin Hood and begin playing disc golf at hole #1. In front of the first tee, appears to be a small swamp like pond.

What they're actually standing next to was one of the first features of Lehigh Parkway. In 1928 General Trexler and the city fathers starting acquiring different parcels in the Little Lehigh ravine. Disc Golf Hole #1 is over one of the important feeder springs of our water source.

In addition to now being used as a recreation feature, it is also a no mow zone for ecology. With a little modification, there is no reason why it cannot also be the beautiful, historic, architectural feature enjoyed by generations of Allentonians. There currently is one inch of sod covering the stones lining the spring pond. It easily pulls right off the top of the stones. I propose that the stones be exposed around the pond and on the short channel to the magnificent miniature bridge.








The grass on the stream side of the pond could be weedwacked one foot beyond the stones, helping to preserve the stonework. On the north side of the pond, the grass could be weedwacked two feet wide, allowing access to the bridge. Since the no mow zone is already interrupted by the pond and channel, this would involve only a total of three foot of weedwacking, and only a short distance into the zone, and only to one end of the bridge. Although a few lining stones are missing from the pond, I do not propose any renovation, it is not necessary.

We have lost two WPA structures in the park; The bridge to the Island and the Boat Landing, let us not lose a third. With Park Department approval, this minor work could be done either by the city or volunteers. A modest proposal.

Bert Luckenbach, Park Activist

`Green' Curtain Blocks Sledding And The View
January 09, 1992|The Morning Call
To the Editor:

Hold your sleds girls and boys! Others, too, on the alert! With the planting of a dense cluster of 60 evergreen trees and the erection of a "No Sledding" sign, creating a veritable iron curtain, the park and watershed people have once again undertaken their repetitive effort of the past 45 years to eliminate a most popular sledding slope in Lehigh Parkway. The motive -- crass self-interest in defiance of public good. The effect -- an impassable barrier and concealment of a magnificent vista of "one of the finest valleys in Eastern Pennsylvania."

Children and adults from the 400 homes with longtime and easy access to the slope and others arriving in cars have enjoyed sledding here after school and into the night and throughout the day and night on weekends. Yet sledding is but one of the attractions of this enduring slope. In summer children and teachers from Lehigh Parkway Elementary School have enjoyed a walk down the slope and into the park for a break from book and blackboard. Birders, joggers, hikers and others on a leisurely stroll engrossed in their particular interest have found the slope irresistible.

For a host of others, this opening into the park after a long stretch of woods presents a charming vista and urge to descend. Interest is immediately evoked by the sight of a mid-19th century log house (now tenanted by a city employee whose privacy is further enhanced by the closure of the slope) and a historic wagon trail leading past the site of a lime kiln to tillable lands of earlier times.

The view takes in an expanse of meadowlands, now groomed, to the Little Lehigh River and up the western slope to Lehigh Parkway North. Indeed, a pleasant view to be esteemed and preserved for generations to come. It was distressing on New Year's Day to see a family and their guests intent upon a walk down the slope suddenly stop in amazement and shock as the closure became evident.

The cost in dollars through the years of the park peoples' fixation on destroying the Parkway slope must be staggering indeed without dwelling on other deliberate depletions. Typically, the placement of the 1991 "No Sledding" sign employed a team of four men with three vehicles -- a backhoe, a panel truck, and a super cab pickup truck, the latter furnishing radio music.

BERT A. LUCKENBACH
ALLENTOWN

The wagon trail is the same one which we cleaned up several weeks ago. As the park system is currently being reconfigured as a recreational venue, there is interest in preserving it's ecology. It is also necessary to preserve it's history.

A Park Defender

An Insult To Sledders
December 17, 1987|The Morning Call
To the Editor:

While Mayor Daddona is confronted with resistance in his effort to deprive the people of their parklands, a less subtle and more effective deprivation has taken place. Parklands were effectively lost recently when park workers erected stout fencing and "No Sledding" signs on a slope in Lehigh Parkway where wholesome recreational activities have been traditional for five decades. Pathetic will be the frustration of kids, teeners, and adults who used the slope joyously day and night. Hikers, birders, and meanderers, equally frustrated, are likely to exclaim, "What knavery," some using a more juicy epithet expressing revulsion.

How and why did this miserable taking, a fait accompli without foreknowledge, come about? The motives of the perpetrators is clear. Grass cutting on the slope has suddenly become an impossible burden, patently beyond their capabilities. (Ron "Punkin" Miller handled the job for decades with supreme excellence). But the park management, with amazing stupidity, introduced a new mowing tractor equipped with heavy, sod-busting treads. Aghast, one observer inquired, "Are they going to plant potatoes in the ruts?"

The fencing and no-sledding mandate is just the beginning, however, of a heavy-handed intrusion militating against use and enjoyment of our parkland. The park people know the best way to eliminate grass cutting is to get rid of the grass. Ah, yes! To be sure. Pine trees. No grass, no leaves - the loss of a view? So what?

Three dozen pine trees already have been planted on the slope. If not removed, shortly there will be a thicket of pines, eliminating grass cutting, of course, but devastating an incomparable view and historic passage via the slope into the park.

What this town needs is for its citizenry to assert its basic rights and priorities over those public servants who perform with an assumption of proprietary interest, ignoring their true status.

BERT A. LUCKENBACH
Allentown

Mr. Luckenbach lived above the Parkway, in the twin homes, now called Little Lehigh Manor. As a child, I also grew up in that neighborhood, and we all sled on the hill (above the Stone and Log House). Luckenbach passed away in 2000 at the age of 99. In the previous post, although 92 years old, he was still defending the park.

Parkway Tears

Director Harms Lehigh Parkway
February 04, 1993|The Morning Call
To the Editor:

How much longer must park devotees put up with Allentown Park Director Donald Marushak's misuse of evergreen trees, no trespass signs, and wrecking tools to destroy cherished elements of the people's parks?

First Marushak closed off a much-used slope by planting a dense cluster of 60 evergreen trees across its width.

Next, four "No trespass" signs were posted to prohibit access to 30 acres of deciduous woodland with its magnificent understory of many species of plant life. Trespass, a legal term, is defined in a children's encyclopedia as intrusion on private land. The term has no application for restricting passage on public land.

The WPA in the 1930s created a three-acre island by diverting water from the Little Lehigh Creek. The island had remained a source of joy for birders, naturalists, and nondescript strollers. No one foresaw Marushak arriving on the scene with wrecking tools to rip up the bridge, terminating public access to the island. Three masonry piers remain in place. Also remaining are 12 discarded auto tires gathering silt in the small stream.

BERT LUCKENBACH
ALLENTOWN

17 years later......
Most people have long ago forgotten that there was a bridge to the island, although the stone piers still remain, obscured by overgrowth. The curved wall and landing of the Boat Landing, shown in the lower right of the photograph, are buried. Last fall, with help from others who appreciate our treasured parks, I had the privilege to rescue the steps which lead to the landing.

Men's Stuff, Clearing the Tracks

One of the challenges faced by The Lehigh Valley Transit Company was keeping the tracks cleared of snow during long winters. Special cars were constructed with huge plows for that purpose, plus some regular passenger cars had small plows mounted on the front for continuous cleanup. Shown above is a special plow car stored at the Fairview Yard.







The trolley system required much more infrastructure than later buses. Shown here is track intersection being constructed in center city Bethlehem. Corresponding electric lines would have to be constructed overhead to power the cars. For your viewing pleasure, here is an introduction to an available video by Gerhard Salomon on the service in Easton.



More information on The Rockhill Trolley Museum

O'Hare's Pole Dancing

Hosted at Poliblog

Al Bundy Museum to get $6.9 million Stimulus Money

Sal Panto's pet project, The Al Bundy High School Sports Museum, is on line to receive almost $7 million more in the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Stimulus money. Northampton County Council is scheduled to vote on appropriating the funds tomorrow.

Self Love

hosted at Poliblog

Men's Stuff, Freight Service

Lehigh Valley Transit Company began their freight service in 1908, using converted passenger cars. By 1912, they were purchasing cars manufactured for commercial hauling. Various train/trolley websites specialize in the exact specifications of these trolley cars, and trace the history of specific cars. It was not uncommon for a car to be used by three or four different companies, and retrofitted for various uses. Throughout the formative years, Lehigh Valley Transit acquired smaller companies and absorbed their freight operations; The Quakertown Traction Company operated between Perkasie and Quakertown. Lehigh Valley's freight operation extended to the 72nd Street Freight House in Philadelphia.

Several years ago, Allentown lost an expert on our local train/trolley history, Gerhard Salomon. Mr. Salomon was a partner in the family jewelry store, one of few remaining gems from Hamilton Street's past.

Men's Stuff, Freight Trolleys and Shenanigans

This was supposed to be a Men's Stuff post, about the working cars on the Lehigh Valley Transit Company. Doing research for the previous post on that company, I became fascinated that they operated a freight operation with the trolley cars. I started acquiring documentation and photographs about the working cars necessary for such an operation. They built power substations throughout the valley that generated electric, then converted the AC to DC for their use. The rolling stock required coal trolleys, wire stringing trolleys, snowplow trolleys, and etc. I will present these black and white photo treasures in future posts, because I got side tracked by a shenanigan; you know me. Lehigh Valley Transit operated out of the Fairview Carbarn, which Lanta still uses off of Lehigh Street. Despite a trolley fleet that covered the entire City, plus the remainder of the Valley (Bethlehem and Easton), all the Men's Stuff working cars, and trolley service to Philadelphia, Lanta now needs Bicentennial BallPark because they acquired five (5) new hybrid buses? Supposedly these five new buses require a special garage. Although the Fairview facility now handles 78 regular buses, the ballfield has to go because of the five new hybrids.

men only: enlarge freight trolley by clicking on image

Why Poverty Square?

Earlier this week, readers of the local blogosphere wondered why Mayor Pawlowski would want a low income, low-rise in Center Square? Although the question was never answered, curiosity now centers on who will win the Sestak-Specter race? Our short memories serve our elected officials well. Pawlowski wants the project because he is a low income housing advocate who is currently serving as Mayor. Pawlowski came to Allentown in the mid 90's and successfully turned the Alliance for Building Communities into a growth industry. In 1998, when then Mayor Heydt won a national HUD award for making low-income homeowners, much of the credit rested with Pawlowski.

The city three years ago identified the need for homeownership in center city and its collar neighborhoods, and has since worked with the various city departments, the Allentown Neighborhood Housing Services, Lehigh County, Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, the state Department of Community and Economic Development, Housing Association and Development Corp., Alliance for Building Communities....*

When Afflerbach, as a mayoral candidate, announced that he would appoint Pawlowski as Community Development Director, that decision was praised by the low income advocates.

Mr. Pawlowski intimately knows what it takes to make downtown a better place to live and work. It has been his organization's mission to help provide affordable housing in Allentown and five counties. ABC operates on a budget of $3 million and manages more than 300 apartment units. As a result of this experience, Mr. Pawlowski understands the issues, dynamics and financial aspects of housing, knowledge that will help him and the new administration improve the city's housing stock.**

As Director, Pawlowski shepherded the PennRose income restricted project to Center Square. Voters shouldn't be surprised when a Republican talking point slips out of Specter's mouth, or when Pawlowski advocates for low income housing.

*July 02, 1998/ by Joe McDermott, The Morning Call
** November 30, 2001/ The Morning Call

I'm Historical

Brian's Callaway's story on the Whitehall Historic District made me feel my age. I clearly remember when the buildings mentioned were brand new. The District lies between Allentown's border, at the bridge over Sumner Ave. on 7th Street, and Route 22.






The photo, by Monica Cabrera, which accompanied the story, showed a supermarket from the early 1950's. Disturbing, was the fact that the story didn't mention that the structure was built as a Penn Fruit Supermarket, known for the distinctive barrel roof design. Although several people were quoted in the story, apparently such historical facts predate them all. Perhaps I should buy the hair dye while I still have some hair.

A Tale of Two Cities

"We're a medium-size city

with big-city crime."
   -Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown

For those of us who grew up in Allentown, we always considered ourselves a medium-sized city with a small town feel. We were literally designated the All American City. One of the most amazing aspects of this transformation, is that our total population has essentially stayed the same since 1928, when we first achieved 100,000 people. Twenty years ago we lamented the loss of Hess Brothers and other symbols of our prosperity, now we mourn the loss of basic civility and safety.

A Lesson at Bucky Boyle Park

The Community Development Block Grant, as well as the Weed and Seed and all the other expensive programs, address quality of life issues in center city. None of the problems is more apparent, on a daily basis, than littering. On Sunday, Andrew Kleiner taught a dozen kids an appreciation of a litter free environment, at no cost to the tax payer. I know that Andrew would make an excellent teacher, but he better learn about budgets, appropriations, grants, complicating things and wasting money, if he ever wants to be a bureaucrat.

related article: The litter pickup at Bucky Boyle

School Safety Issue Discussion in Comment Section

The Community Development Block Grant

Each year Allentown is awarded a Federal Grant. Allentown allows service organizations to apply for funding, then decides whose been good and whose been bad. Once a town descends to a certain poverty level,and we reached it years ago, the funds can be used for infrastructure.

We must recover from being the victim of Political Correctness . We can no longer tolerate being a poverty magnet. The taxes and grants, both state and federal, must be used as originally intended; for the city’s infrastructure. Our current social programs are morally commendable, but unfair to the taxpayer. Social agencies should receive our gratitude, not our taxes.                                                    Molovinsky for Mayor, 2005

MM,you took a lotta heat for the poverty magnet tag and all of a sudden I now hear others singing the same tune.   Guy William

copies of the approved grant are available at the office of the City Clerk

submit any comments to the previous post,  Poverty Square

Poverty Square

City Council Wednesday evening continued supplying currency to the poverty magnet. If things go according to plan, there will be a new low income tower at center square. The new building would be directly across the street from the existing Pennrose project, another income restricted, tax free project. First let me correct some misconceptions, such as appears on Pam Varkony's blog today. City Council approved the plan 6 to 0, not 5 to 1; had Julio been present, the vote would have been unanimous.(there was an amendment to separate the funding for the Corporate Plaza low income housing project from the other development grants, it failed 5 to 1. In the final vote to approve the overall funding the vote was 6-0) Charlie Versaggi's suggestions, not unlike Michael Schlossberg's sentiments, are the problem, certainly not solutions or" voices in the wilderness." Allentown doesn't need better housing stock for the low income, apparently they find the existing stock attractive enough to keep moving here. I'm glad that the Versaggi's and Varkony's of Allentown are finally realizing that we have too many low income, now let me suggest some solutions. We must stop building shiny new low income projects; "Build it and they will come." City Council felt it had to approve the plan because it was tied to the other Community Development Federal Funds, and how can we, in these tough times, turn down funds? We should turn down these funds because each year the community keeps becoming poorer and poorer with them. Some CDBG, if the community qualifies through an overall poverty level, can be used for infrastructure; we qualify. We should not have built Overlook Park (former Hanover Acres and Riverview Terrace). The current funds are designated to acquire and improve existing housing stock. Federal renovation funds require too many income restrictions for the community's best interest. Even the current Stimulus Money to prevent evictions and homelessness is a problem; too often eviction prevention funds are used as" move in" money for more new arrivals. In 2007 I wrote;

According to The Morning Call, Federal grants for affordable housing are a windfall with no downside; nothing could be further from the truth. In the first place they promote the area's biggest myth, that there is a shortage of low-income housing. The constant migration of poor people to the Valley should convince any objective person that in reality we must have a surplus of cheap housing. What we do have, is highly successful professional advocates for the poor, funded by such grants, who have created a poverty magnet. At some point we must ask ourselves, is it possible to attract more low-income people than we have the capacity to support? Can our economic demographics become so bottom heavy that we decrease the quality of life for the overall community? If we ever truly wish to restore Allentown, the Lehigh Valley must learn to say no thank you to those funds that perpetuate  our demise

Men's Stuff, The Seabees

Armed Forces in WW2 were dependent upon the construction speed and skills of the Navy Seabees to move their efforts forward. In December of 1942, the 35th U.S. Naval Construction Battalion embarked for the South Pacific. They would divide into two teams and build airstrips on Espiritu in the New Hebrides and on Banika in the Russell Islands.









After a rehabilitation leave in New Zealand, the battalion returned to Banika before being reassigned to Manus in the Admiralty Islands. They would arrive on Manus shortly after it's capture from the Japanese, and build ammunition dumps, warehouses and The Naval Headquarters. After 24 months in the South Pacific war zone, they would return to San Francisco on Thanksgiving 1944 for leave.

Pawlowski's Magic Hat

Saturday's Morning Call, presented a story* outling a grant program designed "to help people at least give you a second look", according to Mayor Pawlowski. The truth is Pawlowski uses our money as the gift that keeps on giving. Two of the seven are restaurants which have received substantial aid from other city programs. Three are small startups which occupy space which appears to be owned or handled by the same realtor. One recipient, New York Urban, was a successful clothes retailer who opened a second shop. The city claims if the businesses stay open less than five years, they will try to recoup the money through liens; but only one of the seven is not a tenant, so that claim is baseless. Three of the shops have recently had their facade redone in an identical finish. Did we pay to remodel the building with facade grants and then provide tenants with these business grants? Coincidence or shenanigan? Talking of shenanigans, I must mention Pawlowski's peek-a-boo and hide-a-fund system**. One receiver of these new grants is Johnny Manana's. Yes, it's the same place that has been receiving grants since before Pawlowski was mayor. This joke is located in a KOZ and already pays no taxes. It was given a special low cost city sponsored liquor license. It appears this latest grant, $50,000, was virtually blackmail to open up, so our agency leaders could crow about how wonderful are their accomplishments. Another $50,000 went to the Cosmopolitan, not yet built, but named. The owner received the location for one dollar, the previous building was torn down at our expense, and of course he received the customary city discounted liquor license. I could say a few more things,but I will be polite. Some of the small shops, the ones with the redwood fronts, you better visit quickly. When the grant for their rent is up, so will they.
GRANT RECIPIENTS
Vickey's Sweet Spot 621 Hamilton St. $11,190
New York Urban 740 Hamilton St. $19,366
Total Office Solutions 915 Hamilton St. $20,000
Wireless & Beyond 965 Hamilton St. $20,000
Ileanette's Beauty Salon 913 Hamilton St. $20,000
Johnny Manana's 835 Hamilton St. $50,000
Cosmopolitan 18 N. Sixth St. $50,000

UPDATE:" Pawlowski said some of the remaining money ($155,000) could be used to promote existing restaurants"

*http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_5grants-r.6390799may10,0,6273080.story

**Allentown Economic and Development Corporation,Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority, Allentown Redevelopment Authority

reprinted from May 11, 2008

ADDENDUM: Since I wrote this post two years ago, both Vickey's Sweet Spot and Johnny Manana's have gone out of business. The Morning Call now reports that Pawlowski hopes to set up another recipient, a sports bar, in the Manana spot.

Light Rail, circa 1935

The Lehigh Valley Transit Company ran a trolley between 8th and Hamilton and just outside Philadelphia between 1901 and 1951. In 1913 the company completed the 8th Street Bridge, which remains one of Allentown's icons to this day.



The Liberty Bell functioned as a trolley as it stopped in Coopersburg, Quakertown, Sellersville and the different towns along the way, but approached speeds of eighty miles a hour on the open track between them. At the last station in Upper Darby, passengers could transfer to a different company to complete the ride into center city Philadelphia.










Here in the Valley the company transitioned to buses by the early 1950's, and became part of Lanta in 1972. Lanta and Easton officials might take notice that the Allentown Ticket Office, shown in above photo, is only 75 feet from 8th and Hamilton, which was the center of the business district. The intercity rail beds are pretty much gone now. The same people who now advocate light-rail, couldn't wait to tear up the tracks and make bike paths.

Jerry and The Cookie Lady

I'd usually pull in around 6:30 a.m., Jerry had the coffee made and maybe a deputy sheriff or two had already arrived. Downtown is nice in the early morning, most of the unsavory characters are not early risers. Jerry had opened the coffee and cold sandwich shop in around 2004 in the 500 Block of Hamilton Street. By 7:30 several City Councilmen, a few cops, a couple of gadflies and other assorted early morning types would be pontificating on solutions for Allentown. It sure didn't hurt Allentown to have twenty or so gainfully employed people start their day on Hamilton Street. Jerry had started his shop the old fashion way, with his own money. Toward the end of 2005, to accommodate several customers, Jerry made a few eggs on a flat George Forman Grill. Come 2006, the new regime insisted on a code compliant grill, exhaust and fire suppression system, for a couple eggs; The necessary architectural drawings alone would cost thousands. Because his location in the building didn't lend itself to a feasible exhaust system, Jerry was forced to relocate. Again, totally with his own money, Jerry moved his shop up to the corner of 7th and Hamilton. I'll spare all the details, but he could have built a nuclear reactor with no more bureaucracy. Jerry will never recoup his investment (his life savings) because the city closed the building in 2008 because of violations on upper floors which were not in use. That abuse of power is chronicled on several posts on this blog.

Vicky, the cookie lady, opened her very small shop about the same time the city was forcing Jerry out of business. Her shop, Vicky's Sweet Spot, opened in a building operated by one developer who received multiple facade grants from the city. These locations are easily identifiable from the same appearance, stained wood fronts. Although Vicky's shop is only about 250 sq. ft., only sold coffee and cookies, she received a $10,000 restaurant grant from The City of Allentown. Her grant and other similar ones are chronicled on several posts on this blog and of course she was introduced on Allentown Good News. I patronized her shop several times. The last time, right before she closed the business earlier this year, I noticed she was making eggs on a small grill.

I shouldn't have to elaborate on the conclusions, but there are so many apologists in this city, let me spell it out. One man invests his life savings, works his butt off, and gets nothing but grief from City Hall. Another person gets set up for a free ride at taxpayer expense. Vicky's, even after first opening, kept irregular hours and was often closed. I doubt if the whole show; rent, equipment, etc. used up the 10 grand; maybe that's why she called it the Sweet Spot.

reprinted from Aug. 18, 2009

related story: The Morning Call

Wagon Trail Report

The Wagon Trail cleanup in several ways remains a work in progress. Greg Weitzel and myself actually cooperated on this project. I agreed that no power or heavy tools would be used, and he arranged for the City to pick up the rubbish that would be collected. Andrew Kleiner, young liberal environmental science student, and author of the blog Remember, got to meet conservative Republican Robert Romancheck, who has a doctorate in Environmental Science. Joining Romancheck and Michael Schware doing the physical work, was the mystery woman. I only know her initials, and she insists on remaining anonymous. She has worked at previous park projects as well. What I suspected was a large rug covered in dirt, turned out to be a large pile of dirt with a few pieces of rug. All debris was removed from the trail. The large tree which blocks the last third of the trail remains. It's removal will require chain saws and City approval. The photo, taken by Andrew Kleiner, shows Bryan Kleiner on the left and Dr. Romancheck in the middle.

The Blogger, Part 2

We here in the Valley are blessed to have the THE BLOGGER EXTRAORDINAIRE to both inform and conform us. Tirelessly attending one meeting after another, five nights a week, at the midnight hour he bestows praise upon the deserving and criticism upon the weak. Bending the truth like putty, faster than a speeding Lanta Bus, all opposing comments are dismissed as non sequiturs, personal attacks and off topic.......to be continued

The above is a reprint from my post of September 22, 2009, but little has changed with Bernie O'Hare, aka here as Jimmy Olsen. Yesterday, no less than three bloggers came under attack; myself, Michael Donovan and LVCI. My attack resulted from taking one of his chosen to task. Conveniently, after bashing me, an anonymous commentator came on Bernie's site, and added insults remarkably resembling comments that Bernie himself has made about me in the past.

Bernie constantly flatters some favorites, and likewise criticizes others. Yesterday's news about Lehigh County not completely depleting it's reserve funds in 2009 far exceeds The Morning Call's report. Bernie features beloved Donny boy on his blog today; with his best picture, press release statements and charts. At the same time there is not a single word about Ron Angle's newest awkward lawsuit, against his own father's estate, when he slipped on the ice visiting his father in 2008. Rest assure Bernie will compose a spin to make us dizzy. I will be accused of attacking people's integrity and calling them liars. Of course Bernie is less concerned with my integrity or reputation. Some people will comment that they prefer not to read these blog wars; fine, stop reading, nobody is forcing you. My blog has a few missions, confronting hypocrisy is one of them.
ADDENDUM: Bernie O'Hare, on one of this recent posts, writes the following comment to me today

Your comments are no longer welcome on this thread. You are unable to stick to the subject being discussed bc you are always caught up in your personal vendettas an petty grievances. This is not the place for personal attacks against ......

This is the classic O'Hare double talk, double standard to which this post addresses. Count on Bernie to deliver a fresh example day in and out. Bernie linked to a post because it was his favorite flavor of blog candy; a blogger he likes, attacking a politican he doesn't like, for bad manners; but my questions about the blogger's manners are off topic?
click here for Bernie's double talk, comment 36

The Synagogues of Jerusalem

Except when barred by one conqueror or another, Jews had lived in Jerusalem since King David. Prior to Jordanian rule in 1948, there was a Jewish majority for 150 years. In 1864, eight thousand of the fifteen thousand population was Jewish. By 1914, two thirds of the sixty five thousand residents were Jewish. In 1948 the United Nations Partition Plan divided the British Mandate of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. Jerusalem was to be initially an international city, with access guaranteed for all. This plan was rejected by the surrounding Arab nations, which attacked Israel in concert immediately upon the UN vote. When the truce was declared, Israel had survived, but East Jerusalem(walled Old City) was in procession of TransJordan. The Jordanians subsequently destroyed over 50 synagogues in the Jewish Quarter, which dated back to the 1400's. For hundreds of years both Christians and Jews were prohibited from building higher than Muslim structures. The few synagogues which survived were the ones built mostly below street level. The oldest surviving synagogue, The Jerusalem Synagogue, was built by the Karaite Jews in around 900. Shown above is the Ben Kakai, a Sephardic Synagogue built in the 16th Century.

Perhaps the most famous synagogue destroyed by the Jordanians was the Ashkenazi Hurva Synagogue built in 1720, it's dome visible in the top center of this photograph from the 1920's. It's replacement has just been completed.

Jerusalem

In the city of awe-inspiring sites, the most imposing is The Dome of the Rock. The Dome covers the Rock from which Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven to receive a message from Allah. The Jews believe the rock is the Foundation Stone, from which the world was created. On it, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac and the Ark of the Covenant stood when the Temple occupied the Mount. The Mount and Temple was enlarged by Herod, during the lifetime of Jesus.

Jews pray at the retaining wall, The Western Wall, which survived the Temple's destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D. The bottom four rows of stones date from Herod, below current street level, there are 17 more layers.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is west of the Temple Mount. The first church was built on the site in the 4th century. Christians believe the church encompasses both the sites; where Jesus was crucified, and also buried and rose from the dead.

The Wailing Wall

Israel had hoped that Jordan would not join the Arab forces against them in 1967. It was not to be; their artillery opened fire on Israel. Israeli paratroopers fought with small arms in the Old City. They were ordered to use no artilley, which could damage Holy Shrines.

Although Israeli Jews and Christians were barred from both the Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the twenty years of Jordanian rule, Israel immediately opened access to all. Administrative control of the Temple Mount, upon which sits the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, were immediately given to the Jordanian Waqf (Islamic Trust).

The Wailing Wall is the Western Wall of the Mount, which is considered the closest and only remnant of the Second Jewish Temple, and is the holiest site in Judaism. No matter where in the world, all Jews have always prayed facing Jerusalem and the Wall.

Public Money Lovefest

Although everyone present at the train forum conceded that it was absurdly expensive and impractical, they wanted to proceed. The moderator, a professional consultant, preached resolve and grants. Between the $Billion dollar price tag, and the $12Million yearly loss projected, the Paul Marin inspired $250,000 report seemed like a bargain. The report, by the Systra Design Group, essentially said what everyone over 25 years old, or not a professional public money spender, already knew. Of course the sponsors of the event, LV Renew, are in the under 25 category. Most of the speakers were in the public spending group. One of my favorite targets and quotes is from my pal Panto; he sees tourist coming on the train. Imagine, New Yorkers getting on the train at Penn Station, to come to Easton's Al Bundy High School Sports Museum. If the train plan went full steam ahead, it would take to 2030 before we heard the actual whistle. By then, the Renew kids will probably be living in the suburbs, telling their kids to keep away from the city. Panto, and the public money spenders, will be in Depends.
related articles
Hartzell/The Morning Call
O'Hare/Ramblings

photo explanation; picture is from the future, 2035, The Poverty Express, bringing more needy to the Lehigh Valley

The Wagon Trail Cleanup

Most of Lehigh Parkway lies in a deep ravine. The slope up to Lehigh Parkway South, across from Robin Hood, is very steep, about 60 degrees. Unknown to many people, there is a diagonal trail on part of the slope, which comes out halfway up the hill behind the Stone and Log House.


We kids, who grew up in the Parkway, called it the wagon trail. I believe it was part of the Kemmerer Farm (Stone and Log House), which dates back to the late 1770's.
In the 1950's, the foundation of a small outbuilding or kiln was still visible on the trail. The recent years have not been kind to the old trail, it is no longer maintained by the Park Department. About halfway between it's entrance and exit on the hill, the trail has been blocked by a large fallen tree. People have dumped debris on the trail, and it has remained there for years.

A group of Allentown Republicans has volunteered to clean up the rubbish on the wagon trail. This is strictly a cleanup project, involving no tools. To help with the effort, take Lehigh Parkway South (sharp right after Park entrance) to the intersection with Catalina Ave. The Wagon Trail entrance is about 100 feet beyond the intersection, on your right. The cleanup is this coming Saturday, April 24th, between 9 and 11 a.m.

Rickshaw Rides at Mayfair

Mayfair 2010 will offer rickshaw rides on the newly completed bikeways on the western side of Cedar Park. The bikeways were created by widening and paving the former jogging path. Additional loops were added, which can accommodate up to 100 rickshaws. The rickshaws will be pulled by authentic Asians, actually Hamilton Street merchants, in need to supplement their income from losses suffered as a result of the Lanta bus route changes. The idea of a novelty concession isn't new at Mayfair. Years ago paddle boats were added to the island in Lake Muhlenberg. The land bridge to the island, created for that concession, resulted in lake stagnation and was scheduled to be removed this year. However, all environmental restoration projects have been cancelled, in deference to resumé enhancing construction projects.

The paths across Ott Street have been designed for two way speed cycling. How fast the rickshaws will go, will only be limited by the strength of the merchants. I was unable to contact Steven Schmitt, Director of the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation , for his comment on the rickshaws. Ironically, Schmitt is familiar with the merchant cart pullers. When they protested against the Lanta Transfer Terminal in 2007, he said, "They wanted something to complain about, basically."

The Ultimate Entitlement Part 2

Today's post hosted at LVPoliblog

Urban Safari

Exclusive to molovinskyonallentown; this blogger has learned that along with the golf course concession, the Allentown BrewWorks has received the first franchise to conduct urban safari's in Allentown. The evening excursions will begin and end from the safety of the municipal golf course parking lot, in the deep west end. Although still in the planning stages, sites on the tour will include 9th and Chew, gunfire epicenter of the new Allentown, and a drive-by of Trinkles Cafe. Within the safety of the armored Hummer, guests will visit an actual forensic site, and watch police officers search for shell casings. The guides will tastefully point out probable ladies of the night and merchants of recreational pharmaceuticals. The tour will include stopping in front of the home of an urban pioneer, where actual members of OAPA will wave from behind their windows. With special permission from Lanta, the excursion will drive through the bus yard, showing real passengers waiting on cold steel benches, eating stale donuts. For a VIP tour, actually driven by Mayor Pawlowski himself, contact the special events coordinator at Allentown City Hall or the Allentown BrewWorks. Jarrett Renshaw of The Morning Call did not contribute to this story.

reprinted from December 28, 2008

Rumors and Innuendoes

Regular readers of this blog know that I have been upset about the additional paths being added at Cedar Park. Although the previous gravel loop provided a nice exercise route, it also preserved open green space and the park atmosphere. Weitzel's new plans placed loops inside loops, to be connected by cross paths, and everything to be widened and paved. As I make numerous visits to the park to survey the destruction, I notice that the new paths do not conform to the plans, or even the revised plans, submitted to City Council. That contradiction didn't stop Council from passing the Trail Network Plan last week, again giving just lip service to oversight.

This blog, as perhaps the last watchtower between our park system and Weitzel's schemes, receives many tips about park shenanigans. I neither have the energy or time to check them all out. Last week a persistent tipper told me an interesting story. She claimed that Pawlowski tried to squeeze more property tax from Cedar Crest College, claiming that the snow slide hill behind the college, down to the park, was taxable land. The College responded by having their land surveyed. Lo and behold, they owned more land than either they or the City realized. Although a visit to the area did reveal surveyor posts, frankly, the story didn't interest me, until now.

Andrew Kleiner writes on his current post about his interview with Weitzel.

2. Extra paths have been removed, some at the request of Cedar Crest College.

Weitzel and the Administration demonstrated this summer they could care less about the requests of park neighbors. I have no doubt that part of a new path infringed on the College's newly discovered land, and that was the reason for the extra path removal. My conclusions;
1. City Council continues to approve and accept plans knowing their requests for oversight are ignored.
2. Weitzel continues to tell Kleiner and others half the story.
3. Pawlowski's overreaching cost the park some land.

The above is rumor, innuendo and speculation. I'll leave the facts to a reporter, I'm a blogger.

Baer vs. Simon, 1937

When Max Baer beat Primo Carnera for the Heavyweight Title in 1934, he became a celebrity overnight. In the year that he held the title, his nightclub carousing was legendary, including a Vanity Fair Magazine profile. His younger brother, Buddy, 6'7", decided he too would become a boxer. Between 1934 and 1937 Buddy fought40 times.



"On August 30, 1937 Buddy took on his first highly regarded opponent, New York's rising prospect, Abe Simon, at Yankee Stadium*. Baer won by TKO in the third. "Simon gave Baer a beating in the 1st round and had him in distress, but he came back in the next two sessions with a succession of blows to the body and head that had his huge opponent reeling when the bout was stopped" (New York Times). Baer then went on to beat Two Ton Tony Galento, setting himself up for a title shot with Joe Louis. Louis had called Galento the toughest man he ever fought. Like Simon, Buddy Baer got two chances at Louis. In the first fight he went 7 rounds, in the second fight, he got knocked out in the first round. Also like Simon, he would retire from the ring after his second Louis fight. Baer would later say, "The only way I could have beaten Louis that night was with a baseball bat."
*Buddy Baer-Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

The Brass Rail

The Brass Rail was a fixture on Hamilton Street for many decades. At one time, to the left of the front door on Hamilton Street, was the women's entrance. A woman could use the special corridor to avoid walking through the bar room, to get to the dining room at the rear of the building. The business owners had all the bases covered. The front grill provided their famous steak sandwiches, for the take out lunch business on busy Hamilton Street. The back parking lot and service window specialized in takeout pizza, long before separate pizza shops become the norm. In the 1950's, pizza was more less limited to the Brass Rail and the Paddock, another long time food tradition. Having gone for the Brass Rail pizza's so often, I easily recognized the back of the Philly's Sport Bar, on the Morning Call shooting video. I patronized the first restauranteur who purchased the former Brass Rail location, Wellington's, but I haven't been there for years. Reading the article yesterday, I felt sorry for the new owner. He is petrified that his Philly's Sport Bar will be classified as a nuisance bar, and shut down. He, as were the owners of other "nuisance" bars and clubs, are also victims; They are the victims of what this town has become, and who the businesses are reduced to dealing with.

Bulldozer Coming to the Parkway

As an defender of the Allentown Park System, Wednesday evening's City Council meeting was profoundly disappointing. As a native, being disappointed by our own Park Director and our own City Council, only adds to the exasperation. Imagine listening to Greg Weiztel, here in town for three years now, tell Council that this plan will improve property values in Allentown. Greg should tell that to the descendent of General Trexler, who lived on Honochick Drive across from Cedar Park. She already sold her house and moved in disgust. Greg, nobody wants to hear that their house will be worth more when a hundred times more strangers bicycle by, except City Council.

As Weitzel, from where-ever, regurgitated that nonsense from the Greenway Trail plan salesman's pitch, (whose based in North Carolina) he found willing ears on Julio Guridy.

''I think our role as council is to leave the city in a better place than we found it, and I think this plan does that,'' said Councilman Julio Guridy.

On Wednesday, in addition to approving the general plan, Council approved the segment in Lehigh Parkway. Weiztel and Guridy are going to make Lehigh Parkway better.

The End Of An Era

Much like this postcard showing Robin Hood in the 50's, the golden era of our park system ended last night. City Council voted 5 to 2 to pass The Trail Network Plan. Although reassurances were given at previous park meetings that all components of the plan would receive public input, last night council also approved two components (Lehigh Parkway and Martin Luther King Drive sections) of the overall plan, putting the proverbial cart in front of the horse, with no public input what so ever. Weitzel and the Administration told Council that the plan would take decades to implement, yet it needed passage immediately last evening? Council Peter Schweyer told new EAC member Andrew Kleiner that any plan could be held up with concerns from him, but after Andrew expressed concerns, Schweyer still voted yes. Council conceded that the Mayor generally keeps them out of the loop regarding the City; that Cedar Creek Plans got away from them, yet voted yes knowing that the paths already implemented at Cedar Park degraded that park. While the no votes came from Donovan and Eichenwald, Schweyer provided both the most hope and disappointment. On the plus side he introduced an amendment which would examine the 20 separate components of the plan in the future. Had they considered rejecting the overall plan and instead treated each component as a separate plan needing approval, they would have achieved the control they lost at Cedar Park. Most disappointing was statements by Schweyer and Guridy that they favor the plan so the park system evolves into something special in the future. Our separate parks are something very special right now. The challenge, especially with this Administration and Park Director, will be preserving what we got.

related articles
O'Hare's Ramblings
Renshaw/The Morning Call
Kleiner's Remember

Whose Parks Are They?

Denise Sanchez/The Morning Call/April 4, 2010

Shown above, Luciana Martucci, with her Barbie fishing pole, teaches her daddy how to fish in an Allentown park. Luciana is concerned that the Trail Network Plan will encourage many additional bicyclists, going much faster, which will make watching her daddy more difficult; He tends to wander when they walk on the paths. She doesn't understand why the paths are going to be dug up and paved to accommodate one particular set of users, at the expense of all others.

The parks are a nationally recognized heritage of all Allentonians, from one generation to the next. No one Administration, or set of Trustee's, is entitled to impose irreversible changes in its design or use.

photocredit:Denise Sanchez/The Morning Call/April 4, 2010

The Pride Of Allentown

After The Morning Call prints one of my articles on the parks, as they did yesterday, the phone always rings. Many of the calls are from older people, who always explain that they don't use a computer, or go to meetings, but appreciate what I'm doing. One of calls yesterday was especially gratifying. Anne Laubach Neitz lived on the second floor of the stone park house at Ott and Parkway Blvd. Her father was George J. Laubach, Superintendent of Allentown Parks. He was a hands on guy who worked in the park system his entire career, becoming Director in the 1950's. He took enormous pride when Look Magazine named Allentown one of the best park systems in the United States. Ann couldn't understand what these new paths were for. I explained that the path was being built to accommodate the LifeTrail Wellness Stations, created by Playworld Systems. It upset her, thinking about the pride her father took in the beauty of the park.

The new paths in Cedar Park demonstrate that constructing paths in either a environmentally, or aesthetically sensitive way, are not criterions of this park administration. Five years ago the Trexler Trust found it necessary to take the City to court, to make sure their funds were being properly used. Now, I believe City Council must likewise use it's NO VOTE, to ensure that our Park System is being properly preserved.

Too Many Improvements

click here> Molovinsky editorial in The Morning Call

French Hill

French Hill went straight up from the old mill along the Nashua River, in Nashua, New Hampshire. It was always a poor neighborhood, housing mill workers and immigrants going back over a hundred years. Almost all the buildings on the narrow streets were wood, except the churches. The name came from the many French Canadians drawn there to work. I lived on the Hill during the early 1970's, on the top floor of a triplex.

The old wooden three unit was heated by gas space heaters and the whole building would rumble and shake when a vehicle came down the street. In the morning I would walk down the hill, through the mill property and over a pedestrian bridge to the old main street, where I worked in a photography store. A google search tells me that the neighborhood now houses street gangs. Nashua is right over the border from Massachusetts, yet I would have never imagined such urban problems reaching so far north.


The above post is a reprint from 2010.  Years ago I also never imagined Allentown having gangs,  nor the shootings and stabbings which are now occurring.

Sheftel & Malenovsky

In 1920, two brother- in-laws, bought a truck and started dealing in cloth scraps from the many sewing factories in the Lehigh Valley. By 1950 the firm was called A. Sheftel and Sons, but scattered throughout the valley, were still buildings with the older Sheftel and Malenovsky banner painted on the side. Other families also traded in the by-products from the large local needle trade industry, mainly the Levines and Pearlmans. Although the factories declined locally, the Sheftel sons grew the business nationally, and today it is operated by the third generation. In the minds of old timers, the Sheftels and Malenovskys are still linked. By coincidence, less than 24 hours after a previous posting concerning my maternal grandfather's citizenship paper, I received a call from the Sheftel family. They had no real knowledge of me, much less my blog. They had discovered, that in their possession, was a copy of my paternal grandfather's citizenship paper, Aaron Moloviensky. My family, in the 1930's had attempted to "Americanize" our name, by changing it from Moloviensky to Molovinsky, it didn't work. Apparently, at sometime in the past, after a local Jewish History exhibit, someone had placed the Moloviensky document in the Sheftel-Malenovsky folder.

reprinted form Dec. 26, 2007