Images Of Allentown Past

Tillie's Bakery, on the narrow 900 block of Liberty Street, was actually a family factory outlet store. Behind the house, whose living room served as the store, facing an alley called Fountain Street, was Long's Bakery. Long's produced small plastic wrapped shoefly pies and breakfast cakes, which were distributed in local grocery stores throughout Allentown. Tillie Long would open the bakery store several hours each day, and the small selection of wrapped bake goods would quickly be snatched up by knowledgeable neighbors. Peter and Tillie operated the factory and bakery front for the better part of a century. Afterwards, the business was operated by their son, William. The bakery building on Fountain Street is now apartments.

reprinted from May of 2013

ADDENDUM JANUARY 5, 2023:After a week of bashing Allentown's current administration and newspaper, I'm drawn to the serenity of a historical post. Nowadays, such posts tend to be reprints, because so little of Allentown's past remains. Furthermore, I'm drawn to write about that which I knew and experienced, such as Tillie's Bakery. Sometimes, I even have the pleasure of using my own photography from back in those days.

I'm aware that new places are making new memories, for Allentown's new residents. In the future, some young man who has grown older in Allentown will print his images of Allentown's past.

Newspaper Hubris

I watched a panel discussion on mainstream news, which placed the blame for George Santos on the declining size of the press.  The panel did note that a small weekly paper on Long Island had investigated Santos' fabrications, but the story was never picked up by larger venues. Their premise was if the current larger papers still had larger staffs, Santos would have been exposed before the primary elections.

As a longstanding observer of the Morning Call, third largest paper in important Pennsylvania, I take issue with that panel's conclusions.  I saw a corrupt mayor evade Morning Call scrutiny for over a decade. I see a very questionable development plan (NIZ) not only not scrutinized, but even promoted! The Morning Call has always ridden with the local establishment, never upsetting the local sacred cows. Just like the larger papers in New York didn't acknowledge the small weekly that reported Santos' misrepresentations, the Morning Call has no use for local bloggers and the stories we break.

While the Morning Call is much smaller than years ago, their ego remains large.

former Morning Call building shown above

19th Street Theater District Goes Loud

Last night Allentown city council decreed that the noise complaints against the Maingate were actually racially based against the changing demographics in the city. That distorted logic played well with the hundred or so supporters that the Maingate owner brought with him. Candida Affa testified that her gay bar had experienced the same intolerance years ago.

Residents of St. George, 18th, Liberty and Allen Streets might be surprised to learn that hardly anybody will be adversely effected by the Noise Exemption District. These are the invisible people who conduct neighborhood cleanups and hold street fairs on 19th Street. There was no polling of the residents, and some only found out about the proposal yesterday. Many others do not yet even know that City Hall just arbitrarily compromised the quality of their lives.

Conspicuously missing from the contorted map of the new district is the Wert's Cafe complex. Although Police Chief Granitz stated that he will abide by council's decision, his concerns about equal enforcement of law were apparent.

Allentown doesn't belong in the bar business, especially choosing winners and losers. It's always interesting and disappointing to see the new council members trade their ideals for a seat on that dais.

 above reprinted from February 20, 2020 

ADDENDUM JANUARY 3, 2023:Despite Allentown creating a special district to allow the MainGate to avoid Pa. Liquor Board loud noise scrunity, their license was suspended July 20, 2022. I do not know their current status, nor do I care. Although I went to bat for that neighborhood on that absurd city favoritism to the Maingate, I stood there alone in front of council that night... Blatant case of municipal corruption and neighborhood apathy.

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 safaris 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. 

above reprinted from December 28, 2008 

ADDENDUM JANUARY 2, 2023: After ending the year beating up current city officials, it was my intention to start this year nice. Although I'm not creative enough to find something currently nice to write about, I have an extensive archive, stretching back a decade and a half. 

However, waking up to the news that four youths were shot by the East Side Youth Center took the nice out of me. Over the weekend, both the mayor and newspaper editor wrote about good news and hope. Those of you who need to dose on those delusions might find comfort with their greeting card type writing. Since neither of those gentlemen have any use for me, I will provide no links to their nonsense. 

Maybe next year, I can start off nicer.

I Dreamt I Was Invited To The Pat Browne Lovefest

In the dream not only was I invited, I got to sit with all the guest speakers. J. B. Reilly thanked Browne for making him a $Billionaire, and he did somehow seem taller than those $Millionaires in attendance. Alan Jennings thanked Browne for whatever peanuts were thrown the way of his organization.

Also in attendance, but at a separate table, was Ed Pawlowski, who was furloughed from prison for the occasion. Pawlowski was seated with Satan himself, who was the featured speaker.

The Devil, and all the lessor speakers, all pretty much said the same thing... Thank you Pat for bringing the NIZ to town, and making Allentown at least appear prosperous.  Mayor Tuerk said that the NIZ has attracted over $1 billion in new development investment in the city of Allentown. Let us hope that he really understands that the attraction is that diverted state taxes are used for the mortgage debt service, on privately owned buildings no less. Besides that, not one private or other red cent has been invested in Allentown. He then explained that Allentown plans to dress up a Gateway down Hamilton from the west. Only those coming in from the north, east or south will realize what a sham the NIZ actually is.

When I woke up from the dream,  I was grateful that it was just a dream, and that I wasn't really at that table with those delusions about Allentown.

above rendering of new gateway from west Hamilton Street

Defending George Santos

Congressman elect George Santos has ignited a storm of criticism by having embellished his resume, including misrepresenting his Jewish heritage.  Among the offended includes the Jewish Republican Coalition, which will not invite him to future events. The Democrat he defeated wants a rematch!

I am one Jew who is not offended. In two short years Santos will be up for re-election. If the voters of his NYC district are not satisfied with his performance, or cannot forgive his exaggerations from this past election cycle, they simply need not continue his employment as their representative. 

As a local pundit I have seen numerous elected officials misrepresent in office. I have seen them exaggerate their accomplishments for constituents, and pander for re-election. I have seen them praised, despite what I consider unethical behavior. This baptism by fire might actually make incoming representative Santos more responsive to truth than his colleagues, when he actually serves. 

It's no surprise that this pre-inauguration protest is coming from more Democrats (Santos is Republican), and that the Democrats are also criticizing the Republican Party for not proposing harsher punishments for Santos. I think that all Santos' critics should be put under the same microscope.  

We don't condemn exiting politicians from becoming lobbyists, which is at the bottom of the ethical barrel.

*****Five Star Post: Occasionally I have the pleasure of writing a post that I know will be appreciated by no one.  I suppose it's a result from being an independent. While I'm politically a non-partisan independent, I'm also socially independent. The last group I belonged to was the Cub Scouts, over seventy years ago.  Specifically, in regard to this post, so many of your elected officials(both R & D) are lying sacks, who you have elected over and over again. If I have offended you, you may request a subscription refund.

ADDENDUM: I wrote this post several days ago. Since then both the number of investigations of Mr. Santos, and the public outcry, have been steadily growing... That growth and/or scapegoating, allows both you and your elected officials to feel better about the myriad of ongoing deceptions in your district.

Back To The Future With Wehr's Dam

Future students of local history will only find revisionism about saving Wehr's Dam...except for this blog. Last year, the Morning Call wrote a whitewash of the story. I label it a whitewash, because the reporter knew the truth. I had given her the true sequence of events, and the supporting documents, yet she reported the version given her by those who plotted against the dam for years. Although the Morning Call supported the plotters' position* all along, I was still surprised by that final compromise of journalistic integrity.

What brings me back to the dam today is a new story on the reconstruction by Lehigh Valley News. com. Their reporter inadvertently rehabilitated one of the plotters... Matt Mobilio is quoted in the new piece saying I appreciate it, and I think it's beautiful... In reality, he fought against honoring the voters' referendum to save the dam, and wondered out loud how they could get out from under the obligation to keep the dam.

Back in the beginning, when the Wildlands Conservancy was planning to demolish the dam,* the Morning Call's Bill White joined their effort and wrote that he took his dog there every day, but wouldn't allow him to swim in that dirty water. He was referring to the silt filled pond behind the dam. Bill never explained why he went there everyday, when he lives next to Allentown's Trexler Park. Bill went there to enjoy the unique beauty of the spot... The only place that you can see water flowing over a dam and under a covered bridge at one vista. Bill is correct that the pond is full of silt.

The Wildlands Conservancy spent over $200 thousand on studies trying to strongarm the township into demolition. That money could have been constructively used to dredge out the silt.

Although I no longer attend public meetings, or even venture out much any more, I hope to attend a township meeting by spring. I will express my gratitude to the new commissioners for honoring the voters' referendum to save the dam, and request that they consider having the silt removed from behind the dam.

* Those interested in the complete story of saving Wehr's Dam can use the search engine on this blog's sidebar. Type in Wehr's Dam, and numerous posts will appear.

photocredit:molovinsky/Wehr's Covered Bridge

Allentown Black, White and Pale

I was surprised when the president of the local NAACP recently accused the Allentown school board of racism. The last two superintendents were Black, as is the newly hired interim one. 

However outlandish as that accusation seemed to me, the women of the local NAACP (W.I.N) go further, and complain that a white board woman is masquerading as Hispanic, by using her husband's name.  Further yet, they complain that black children are oppressed by the board, because a committee is composed of only white members. 

ALLENTOWN NAACP: Jennifer Lynn Ortiz (AKA) Jennifer-Hartnett-Ortiz is an Allentown School District Board Member. And we, the Women in the NAACP Allentown Branch (W.I.N.), believe she intentionally allowed the community of the Allentown School District to think that she was a person of color through the use of her married name in a recent Allentown School District Board election.

On Thursday, December 1, 2022, at the Allentown School District Board meeting election, ASD Board members voted 5 to 4 against Lisa Conover continuing her role as VP of the Allentown School District Board. The white members voted for Nancy Wilt to step down from the board's presidential position to take the VP position away from a Black woman. It’s a diverse school district. Now the executive committee has no Black member. Why wouldn’t they want a diverse executive committee? We have received numerous phone calls complaining about Lisa Conover’s being voted out of office by the rest of the board, who happen to be all white, believing that Ortiz’s vote, as a Latino, would most likely have been cast in Conover’s favor. The public is demoralized because they credited Jennifer Ortiz as Latino, who actually voted for an all-white ASD Executive Board that has oppressed our Black and Brown children. The high volume of complaints caused by Jennifer Ortiz’s misleading identity must be publicly expressed. Jennifer Hartnett-Ortiz is not a Latino. Jennifer Ortiz is a white woman who married a Latino male and is sporting his last name, “Ortiz.” We believe Jennifer Hartnett-Ortiz won her seat on the board largely because the community thought she was Latino and anticipated a diverse board because of that. Jennifer Hartnett-Ortiz (AKA) Jennifer Ortiz joined the board in 2021 and has Brown children in the district. She claimed she ran for the board to make ASD a better place for everyone. Our children do not benefit from her votes. They are actually harmed by them. For instance, she voted against Dr. Stanford without providing any reason. She voted against a diverse board, turning it into an all-white executive board, and is in the process of voting against a 30-year forensic audit, which could have helped the school system identify problem areas. Jennifer Ortiz also sits on several committees which have not been beneficial to our children. At the same Allentown School Board meeting, Jennifer confessed that she has been, and continues to be, coached under the leadership of Audrey Mathison, the third-time elected ASD Board president. This is the same Audrey Mathison, an Allentown resident who ignored the opportunity to teach in the Allentown School District, which had and still has, a shortage of teachers, to teach privileged Parkland School District students for 40 years before retiring. Throughout those 40 years, we are not aware of Parkland experiencing a similar shortage of teachers. For the last six years, Mathison has retreated to Allentown's underprivileged district to make decisions that resumed the oppression of our children. The Allentown School District, Mathison's home district, wasn’t acceptable for her to educate our children, so why is Mathison here now making decisions for our Black and Brown children? She fought like hell for the Parkland School teachers’ union. Why is she not fighting like hell for a 30-year forensic audit to position the Allentown district in a more positive direction? The Women in the NAACP (W.I.N.) want to know the rationale behind the board members’ votes. They seem to make a great effort to avoid explaining. The Women in the NAACP (W.I.N.)

Their current statement led a reader on facebook to think that the board had no minority members, when in fact four members are Black. The NAACP women (W.I.N) apparently only see color, not one word about student success or failure. 

Perhaps they feel that the school district will improve when the board is purged of all pale faces. What is really necessary for the school district's improvement is an obsession with success, not race.

You will not find many, if any, articles elsewhere critical of the local NAACP. Between living in the Valley of Sacred Cows, and the growing Minority Majority population, such articles would be deemed off limits by other publications. However, this blog is not monetized, but rather a labor of compulsion, by an independent, graying and outspoken blogger.

Hope and Promise For Allentown

Hasshan Batts years ago augmented his social services salary by dealing drugs, now he deals Democrats... And it's much more lucrative.  

Newly re-elected Congressman Susan Wild just delivered the goods for Batts, over $1.5mil!!!.  Batts is the new Hope and Promise for Allentown. We're putting our faith in his mentors, rather than our police department. 

In this era of victims and sympathizers, Batts and Company Inc., offers one stop shoppers a place to feel good about themselves. Fortunately for Batts, Wild and Tuerk, in this valley local government delusions are only reported upon by a couple of bloggers.

Wild's gift is the fruit of the just passed federal budget of $1.7 Trillion!!! Add that to the Stimulus money, and we have a new generation of non-profit goldbrickers.

For those of you who came here today looking for the hope and promise, I apologize for the post's title. I further apologize for such reality bombs during the season of joy.

A Reflection On Christmas Lights

When I was a child, when it came to Christmas lights, more seemed better. I recall my father taking us to see a house out on Union Street, beyond Union Terrace, which decorated lawn, house and roof. The home owner continued that tradition for many years, until he became too old to perform that labor of love. 

When I became older and more visual, I found less decorations more tasteful. Not only was I drawn to less, but also older. Over the years my camera would turn to the retro decorations, especially those faded and shopworn. The film elmusion has held up better than my memory...I can only guess where the photo above was taken. 

Today's inflatables are not, in my opinion, camera worthy.

reprinted from previous years

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 23, 2022: This is the second reprinted post this week that mentions the big light show of my youth, just west of Union Terrace on Union St. I also again complain about the inflatable decorations. Originally, these posts weren't presented the same year, much alone the same week. 

My distain for the inflatables has only deepened. The gentleman on Union Street had to work...Lights, ladders, muscle power and storage. Today, the pile of inflatables is spread around, and the pump turned on. Even complaining about it takes more effort and creativity than required for those displays of vinyl future litter. 

Nevertheless, even if you put up an inflatable, I wish you a Happy Holiday! 

Fotografia

In 1969 I bought my first 35mm camera, a Mamiya Sekor 500. The 500 referred to the top shutter speed. My new digital camera's top electronic shutter speed is 32,000. Although I have been doing photography for over fifty years, I have no idea what use I would have for any speed over 1/2000 of a second. Truth be told, I have no idea or use for 98% of the function choices on the new camera, nor in the editing programs.

After grade 16, and a short stint doing audiovisual for a school system, I worked in a camera store in Nashua, N.H.. Photography was popular then, and Massachusetts' residents saved the sales tax by crossing the state border.

I returned to Allentown, and operated a small custom darkroom on 8th Street for a few more years. Although I stopped doing my own darkroom work, I continued taking pictures. I reluctantly gave up film emulsion for digital about twenty years ago. 

I have the pleasure of using my own photography in many of my blog posts. For social media size purposes, today's cell phone cameras can duplicate the quality of my old Mamiya Sekor 500, but they don't command the same commitment to the image. 

photocredit:molovinsky/Nashua,N.H./1974

Molovinsky Christmas Tour

Yesterday I posted about Bill White's recommended Christmas Light tours.  I hope that caravans of  new SUV's are taking White's tours, because he publishes his recommendations every year.  Bill, after all these years,  has his job down almost on autopilot;  Christmas light tours,  Eating his way through Musikfest,  Cake contest at fair, Grammar columns,  Hall of Shame, Worst sentence writer. etc., etc.

Anyway, I recommend that nobody take my light tour,  it's in the hood in center city Allentown. Actually, the block shown has had its share of crime in recent years. The alley is narrow,  so there is no passing another car.  The double parkers get very annoyed if you beep your horn.  Best to stick with White's tours out in suburbia, with the inflated decorations that are flaccid during the day.  Personally,  I prefer the center city house decorations.  There is something so much more inspiring about decorating a low income house, many of which are rentals.  It makes me feel better and more hopeful about downtown.

reprinted from December of 2017

Bill White's Christmas Lights

I was never on Bill White's Christmas Lights tour, but all I could think of was Chevy Chase, putting together the plug in his Christmas Lampoon Movie. I imagined that in Bill's mind, the more the better, aesthetics beside. Yesterday the newspaper showed photographs of some of the houses; Yep, I was right. Now, I understand the appeal of wattage, especially for children. As a child, my father would drive us by a house on Union Street, just beyond Union Terrace. It was a ranch house with easy access to the roof. This man did the whole shebang; roof outline in lights, Santa sled and reindeer on roof, and lots of lawn ornaments. As the gentleman and his display aged, less would appear each year. Fortunately for children, Santa, although no spring chicken and fat, never gets too old to deliver. Blogger's Note: Christmas lights are enjoyed by people of all ages and faiths. Bill White and his crew have spent many hours locating those houses which best give what he calls the gift of WOW. Pictures and directions for the light tour can be found on The Morning Call Website.

reprinted from December of 2010

Christmas Time In Allentown

The other day Kenneth Heffentrager announced that he was interested in being appointed to the Redevelopment Authority. Ken has a dilemma; Such appointments are made by the mayor, and Ken is a grass roots street level organizer. Pawlowski historically has appointed certified yes men to his boards. It is for that reason that often one person will serve on several boards in Allentown. Although Ken is a founding member of the Allentown Tenant Association, he has also been somewhat of a thorn in Pawlowski's side, advocating for more housing inspectors. Although he is completely qualified for the position he seeks, this blog post isn't really about him.

Ken made his pitch for appointment on facebook. One of the readers wished him well, but then commented that she did not want to concern herself with such matters during the Christmas season. Politicians count on such reactions. Add in those that concentrate on Thanksgiving, Easter and their summer vocation, and you can end up electing an indicted mayor.  Another reader, who herself was appointed by Pawlowski to another commission, wondered if Ken would be able to function objectively,  considering his past tensions with the mayor.  I think that citizens should wonder if someone who is an avid supporter of Pawlowski could function fairly in such a position?

While my interest in local politics isn't reduced by holidays, the recent election results were very discouraging. Perhaps that is why this blog has been concentrating on its other component, local history. On that note,  I have used this old A-Treat Seasons Greetings as today's illustration. The A-Treat Company, after closing several years ago,  has been purchased and restarted by the Jaindl family.

above reprinted from December of 2017

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 19, 2022: Readers of this blog lately have seen more reprints of my history based posts. When it comes to the political component, I'm becoming more and more subdued. With a corrupt mayor like Pawlowski, I had one abuse after another to expose. Tuerk, although not corrupt, is more of a pied piper.  Playing his flute, his followers are so flattered by the cultural tune, they're willing to overlook litter, crime and a declining quality of life. Council now would rather fund and empower hope and promises, rather than hire more policemen for more enforcement. 

In this blog's earlier years, I would attend city council meetings and speak out against such shortcomings. Now, it seems that both council, and enough residents to re-elect them, are satisfied with the status quo. 

There are those of us who still remember when Allentown had different values.

Markets Of Allentown's Past

When I was growing up my parents lived on two ends of Allentown, first the south side and then the west end.  I was fortunate to have experienced two great independent markets of Allentown's past.

The Lehigh Super Market had a great section of small inexpensive toys for a small boy.  An easy walk from Little Lehigh Manor,  I could keep my Hopalong Casidy six shooter in caps, and replace my lost water pistol each summer.  The ice cream fountain featured hand dipped Breyers.  While the kids took a cone, the parents would have a quart or gallon scooped and weighed to take home.

Before  Food Fair was built farther west on Lehigh Street,  my mother would do all her shopping, except for meat,  at Lehigh Market.  Although I didn't pay too much attention, I do remember the cookie selection.

In the late 1950's my parents moved to the west end, and my times at Deiley's West Gate Market began.  Although too old to notice the toy selection,  the soda fountain became a hangout.

In addition to numerous corner markets, every section of Allentown had a popular larger independent, like Lehigh or Deiley's.   A few like Hersh's Market, have survived to this day.

photo of Deiley's Market in 1938

reprinted from April of 2020

The Butchers Of Allentown

photograph by Bob Wilt

A&B (Arbogast&Bastian), dominated the local meat packing industry for almost 100 years. At it's peak, they employed 700 people and could process 4,000 hogs a day. The huge plant was at the foot of Hamilton Street, at the Lehigh River. All that remains is their free standing office building, which has been incorporated into America on Wheels. Front and Hamilton was Allentown's meatpacking district. Within one block, two national Chicago meatpackers, Swift and Wilson, had distribution centers. Also in the area were several small independents, among them M. Feder and Allentown Meat Packing Company.

Allentown Meat Packing was owned by my father and uncle. The area was criss-crossed with tracks, owned by both LVRR and Jersey Central. All the plants had their own sidings. This is an era when commerce was measured in factories and production, not just relocated office workers.

Molovinsky On Allentown occasionally takes a break from the local political discourse to present local history.  My grandfather came to Allentown in 1891 and lived in the Ward on 2nd Street. By the time my father was born in 1917, they lived on the corner of Chew and Jordan Streets.

reprinted from previous years

Two Butchers From Allentown's Past

Those coming here today looking for a story about sloppy civic leadership will be disappointed. This post is literally about butchers, more specifically, some butchers at Allentown Packing Company.

A few days ago, while at the Fairground's Farmers Market, I learned that Bobby had passed away. Bobby was the "kid" who worked at my father's meat market on Union Street. Bobby grew up in an orphanage, a hardship which my father respected. One meat cutter that I knew nothing about was Lamont, other than he lived at the West End Hotel. He was a bear of a man, who could carry a beef quarter from the cooler with no effort. I never saw Lamont in the market portion of the shop, he always remained in the back, either in the large cooler or the adjoining cutting room. While my father insisted that people working on the counter change their meat coat and apron several times during the day, no such rule was imposed upon Lamont. Although he would look over the trays of meat before being taken out to the display cases, he never spoke.

Last time I spoke to Bobby, he told me that he appreciated that my father had taught him a trade, which he used throughout his life.

reprinted from previous years

Rittersville To Be Renamed Reillyville

When I was a kid growing up, the area of the State Hospital was called Rittersville.  Ritter had been a large landowner, and towns named after such were plentiful in Pennsylvania.

Paul Muschick, columnist for the Morning Call, has an article in the paper that the State Hospital won't be forgotten, because they're erecting a plaque about it. Paul must take those plaques much more seriously than the rest of us. 

What they should do is rename that area Reillyville, and erect a plaque about how J.B. Reilly got the parcel for a fraction of its value, in a swan song move by Pat Browne.

Allentown's Race For The Drain

Allentown will be funding a mentor program for the tune of $1.5 Million, that pairs former bad boys with current bad boys, hoping to make them good boys. In former days, Allentown would instead invest such money in a few more police officers. However, we are now progressive enough to try the programs that have failed in the larger urban centers. This year the city will use its American Rescue Plan dollars, while Ce-Ce Gerlach hopes that in the future years, it will a routine item. 

The Credible Messengers Program will be administered through a division of Promise Neighborhoods.  That organization and administrator represent the Defund The Police mentality.  For this mentality to be endorsed by the mayor, and condoned by the police chief, is a sad indicator of Allentown's future.  In my opinion, both of them might themselves need mentors.

Years ago such youth were helped by Big Brothers. Now everyone, instead of volunteering, wants to be paid through supposed non-profits. Bad behavior has become a growth industry.

With posts like these I won't be invited to the Community Pat On The Back Fests.  But, someone has to wave the Caution Flag.

ADDENDUM DECEMBER13,2022: Bernie O'Hare visits mentor program.

Allentown's $10 Million Dollar Joke

Allentown is embarrassed about the Gateway appearance entering downtown Hamilton Street from the west.  Allentown has a lot to be embarrassed about, but the condition of the sidewalk is the least of its problems.  People are concerned about the lack of people on Hamilton Street, and more so, the character of the ones that are there!

Our city leaders and planners are taking about a new sidewalk and new trees. Over the years I have seen them reconfigure that sidewalk at least half a dozen times. Add trees, cut down trees, wrong trees, right trees, add bricks, remove bricks, and never have those things mattered.  

What's sad is these planners know that it doesn't matter, that it's a joke, yet they still do it.

If the new buildings in the above rendering of the new Gateway sidewalk/tree project look lifeless and nondescript, it is because those new buildings are lifeless and nondescript. If I have offended any of the planners, then we're even.

The Night Hamilton Street Died

What was once a thriving block of Hamilton Street will now be turned into a ghost down. Even now, although not the golden age shown above, the block between 7th and 8th does business. Still hosting three chain stores, the block had survived, despite one arrogant mayor after another. The Family Dollar Store is one of their most successful branches. Rainbow (jeans) and Rite Aid also anchor the block, along with successful independents. In a night of shame, one of the most shameful acts was Julio Guridy, interrupting the merchants so that Mayor Pawlowski could educate them. Pawlowski said that the arena could attract up to 1.5 million people a year, and that everyone will benefit, even relocated merchants. Considering that the hockey team only actually attracts 3,000 people to 40 home games, Pawlowski is off by about 1.4 million. In reality, the stores that remain on the south side of the street will now face an empty arena and much less foot traffic. The upscale restaurants, such as Sangria and Cosmopolitan, will suffer, because their patrons will avoid the nighttime traffic congestion. Lou Belletieri told Council that he operated a restaurant across from the Wilkes-Barre Arena, and did no business, what so ever, from it. Councilman Michael Donovan said that although he feels for the merchants, he owes the other 118,000 citizens The Pawlowski Palace of Sport.* He actually owed them the courage to say no to this ill conceived plan.* 

*Palace of Sport is a borrowed term coined by a blog reader. Donovan was joined by five other councilmen in his yes vote. 

above reprinted from May 11, 2011 

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 8, 2022: As it turned out, the arena was a pretense for the Browne/Reilly NIZ. Although there is now a $Billion dollars of new construction (owned by one man), Hamilton Street is deader than ever. The arena sits empty almost all year, and the hockey games draw only a fraction of the 2011 estimate. Although, as an advocate for the former merchants, the 2011 post above is very tough on Guridy and Donovan... Allentown benefited from both of them, and their service as councilmen.  

Opposition to the NIZ scheme, and a continuing chronicle of it, were/are limited almost exclusively to this blog.

Sign Of The Times

As Allentown eagerly awaits the opening of the Cosmopolitan Restaurant and banquet facility on 6th Street, lets go back in time. Before the former Sal's Spaghetti House was demolished on that parcel, preservationists from Bucks County saved the historic sign. Had the couple been somewhat more familiar with Allentown's history, they may have realized that the sign was neither very historic or iconic.

Before Hamilton Street was bi-sected architecturally by the now gone canopy, the street was lined with large neon signs, many of which were much more elaborate than Sal's; That sign became historic by default. Interestingly, the Sal's sign for most of it's


business days, said Pat's. Pat's and the sign go back to the mid 1950's. In the late 70's, the business was taken over by Sal, and the P and T were simply changed to an S and L. But time goes on; Sal's family is now in the sauce business and have a most interesting website.

1963 Pat's advertisement courtesy of Larry P
Hamilton Steet watercolor by Karoline Schaub-Peeler
photo of Sal's sign by molovinsky                                                 

reprinted from 2010

ADDENDUM JUNE 17, 2022: The Cosmopolitan proved to be too cosmopolitan for Allentown. While the owner's deep pockets kept it open for a few years, even the next more modest reincarnation couldn't complete with the new NIZ subsidized competitors. 

A recent article in the Morning Call heralds the $Billion dollars invested by J.B. Reilly's City Center Realty on Hamilton and adjoining Streets...That money of course is diverted state income tax, and is our investment, not his, but he gets to own it. Although this blog was hoping to restrict itself to history for a spell, the Morning Call's omission on this and other matters compels me to retain this blog's political bureau.

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 7, 2022: I have learned from local photographer Christopher Elston that in addition to the Sal's sign, the Colonial Theater sign also was salvaged. Both signs are apparently in the city warehouse on S. 10th St.. Elston recently rescued the Beachhead Comics sign.

Allentown's Hole

Allentown doesn't have much of a political memory. The Morning Call changes out its reporters about every 6 months, and most political activists eventually have lobotomies out of frustration. Never the less, some of you may remember Heydt's hole. After he torn down Hess's, the hole sat there for 18 months while a group of investors failed to find financing for a amateur hockey arena. (The one built later in Bethlehem folded and now is for sale) Now, eight years later, Pawlowski has a hole. Announced with great fanfare, a local developer would build the Cosmopolitan on the site of Sal's Spaghetti House. It makes me nervous when they name a restaurant before they built it. Anyway, Pawlowski bought Sal's, and the city paid for the demolition.(Through one of its Authorities) Then the city gave the Cosmopolitan a $50,000 restaurant grant. Yes, we gave a brick-less name $50,000. I think some of the city puff bloggers were even making reservations for dinner. Back to the hole; as a sidewalk supervisor I was surprised to see the excavators dig under the adjoining Sovereign Building and pour pylons under its footers. Perhaps they were mining, mining for grants. Those pylons have enabled the developer to remove his equipment. and let that hole sit there now for over two months, with no danger to the adjoining building. I'd say about $50,000 worth of work has been done. Last month the city applied for a low cost Liquor License for the Cosmopolitan. Last week, after the Pawlowski Administration had an embarrassing "no comment" in regard to Johnny Manana's, a backhoe was moved back to outside the Cosmopolitan site. Is that backhoe a Pawlowski Prop? Does the developer sense the time is ripe for renewed grants? Does Pawlowski need a new ribbon to cut? *

* There could be legitimate reasons why construction has halted on the Cosmopolitan. However, last month the developer's attorney declined to comment on an explanation.

reprinted from August of 2008 

UPDATE March 7, 2017 The developer(s) would go on to build the high end restaurant with their own capital. It was built pre-NIZ, and represented more faith in Allentown than many others shared at that time, including this blogger.

ADDENDUM OCTOBER 24, 2019: This will be my final post of a three part series about the former short lived Cosmopolitan Restaurant.  In 2008 and 2017 this post was titled Pawlowski's Hole.  I have changed the title to address a downside of the NIZ...modern buildings, such as the PPL Plaza and the Cosmopolitan,  cannot compete against the tax subsidized NIZ and are vacant.  Of course the real problem is that the NIZ is not just tax subsidized, but rather paid for completely with our state taxes.  So, while the NIZ has created a real estate empire for one man,  despite a $billion dollars of new buildings,  Allentown residents still had a 27% tax increase.... That is one bad joke on the taxpayers.

photo/molovinsky

Molovinsky, The Morning Call, and News

The article about Hooks Seafood restaurant closing states that this type of failure isn't unusual in an urban renewal area, according to experts. So says the Morning Call.  The article also states that The $6 million renovation of the long-closed Sal's Spaghetti House included a crystal chandelier from Hess's department store.... As you can see from my photograph above, Sal's wasn't renovated. The long closed former spaghetti house was demolished, and a new building was constructed in its place.  Now, I can understand the paper not knowing this, after all, the building is over a quarter block away from the newspaper building.  Assuming that people at the Morning Call read the paper, apparently nobody caught the error, twice. This was the second time in about a week that this misinformation was printed. However, this post is about the important part of the story, not covered by the paper.

The restaurant was built pre-NIZ. Save for a $50,000 city grant, the entire cost was borne by the owner. It happens that the owner and his wife were retired from a very lucrative business, and always wanted to own a high end restaurant. Opened as the Cosmopolitan, it was high end indeed.  When that failed to attract enough well heeled, it was transformed into the more price friendly Hook Seafood. However, with the NIZ and Reilly's hospitality group of eateries, the market was now over-saturated.

The owner of the restaurant when asked about lack of foot traffic downtown stated, "I'm not going to get judgmental or say anything negative." Those are traits that nobody accuses this blogger of having.

photocredit:molovinsky- site of the former Sal's Spaghetti House being prepared for new foundation

reprinted from March of 2017

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 5, 2022: My photo above is from August of 2008. Today's reprint is based on correcting the historical record. The Morning Call's premise of Sal's being rebuilt was used on Wikipedia, and yesterday that misinformation was recycled on Allentown Chronicles, a facebook group that I administer...There was nothing rebuilt about the Cosmopolitan, it was a completely new building, including the foundation.

Morning Call Fog

Those of us who still subscribe to the Morning Call are used to seeing the same stories, over and over. They even use the same opinion writers, over and over.  While I think that it would be fair to call me a critic of the paper, even I was surprised by a recent article on a restaurant closing.

The article went into what the menu had been, and where they had sourced the ingredients. They clearly took the article about the opening, and did some reverse writing, like reverse engineering on some electronic product. 

Defenders of the paper, if there are any, might say but you too use reprinted posts. But please remember that this blog is the very early morning musings of an aging troublemaker. And, last time I checked my mailbox, nobody is being charged for a subscription here.

My addendum on yesterday's reprinted post, about the abuse the former merchants suffered under the Pawlowski administration, takes us back to the recycled Opinion Writers at the Morning Call. Alan Jennings took great exception to my description of his recent editorial, opening and closing his comment by calling me a liar. He insisted that he wants market priced housing, not affordable housing (he used the term low-cost housing in his editorial), after sections of Allentown are cleared of the current obsolete substandard housing.  He doesn't detail who would pay for the acquisition of those buildings and their demolition. Currently, converted row houses are selling for about $125K per apartment, so a three unit row costs $375k...A block of them would easily cost $5million dollars. 

In addition to Alan Jennings, the Morning Call Opinion stable includes Don Cunningham. Although Cunningham himself was a former General Services Director in Harrisburg, he hasn't said or written one word about the State Hospital outrage. That is where the state spent $20million to tear down buildings, so that Reilly could purchase the parcel for $5.5million.  I suppose in Jennings' world, the taxpayer would pay untold $millions to clear away the downtown Allentown tenements, so that ?market rate/low-cost? housing could be built.

Hailstorm At City Hall

Sara Hailstone, Allentown's Director of Community Development, was expecting to meet with several business owners concerned about being relocated by the hockey arena. Instead, she was confronted by a conference room full of merchants and several of their representatives. She started the meeting by questioning the presence of the Morning Call reporter, Matt Assad. Several merchants said they requested his presence. Hailstone got an earful from merchant after merchant, complaining of everything from poor communication by the city, to alleged outright intimidation by the strawbuyer, Summit Reality. She conceded that the City is the undisclosed buyer, and agreed to proceed with more respect for the merchants. I'll leave more details of the meeting to Assad's coverage, presumedly tomorrow. I'd like to mention an irony that only an old timer, like myself, can appreciate. Over the years we have invested untold $millions on Hamilton Street. We put up the canopies, we took them down. We have reconfigured the parking spaces endless times. We have created a Parking Authority that charges meter rates as if we were a destination. We burdened the merchants with endless regulations concerning their signs and their security gates. At the end of all this, what we essentially have, are those that were in the room today. Save for them, we would have no downtown. We have rewarded their lifetime of work, loyalty and investment with deceit and threats. UPDATE: Matt Assad's article in today's paper pretty much tells the story of the meeting, but softens the tone present. Assad must maintain some working relationship with Hailstone, I do not. The merchants were very annoyed by tactics utilized by the city agent. A Korean daughter spoke of the pressure inserted on her father, and the effect on his blood pressure and health. A hispanic woman told of her 11 year old sister being harassed on the phone by the strawbuyer. She even wondered aloud if their minority status encouraged the disrespectful attitude. As the merchants revealed their resentment, Hailstone's body language and replies stiffened. Sam Hong, of New York Fashion, would like the Mayor to visit his store. Although two stores wide, and a major merchandizer on Hamilton Street, Pawlowski has never visited. Considering that he has been Mayor for 5.5 years, and Community Development Director for 3 years before that, perhaps he's not coming.

above reprinted from April of 2011

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 1, 2022: Alan Jennings recently retired from his leadership at Community Action Lehigh Valley. His career was largely based on influencing and connecting with large donors to fund his social agency. On his facebook page, he's currently complaining that the Lehigh Valley isn't represented on Shapiro's transition team. On his recent Morning Call editorial, he's complaining that Allentown lacks affordable housing, despite all the new construction. It's obvious that J.B. Reilly, the NIZ Czar, had the ultimate connection in Harrisburg. Perhaps connections and influence don't always serve the highest public interest?

I fought against the NIZ since it was first announced over a decade ago. I defended displaced merchants and others against its inequities. I still see it as a private bonanza for a few, and a future case study in the lack of government ethics. Occasionally, I get a call from a student studying the local WPA. On that topic, most of their searches come down to this blog. I expect future students studying the NIZ, will also be calling me.

photocredit:molovinsky

7th Street As The Combat Zone

Years ago, in addition to being a blogger, I was also an activist.  I fought against the dislocation of the former Hamilton Street merchants, as their properties were being assembled for the coming NIZ.  They were threatened with eminent domain and other heavy handed tactics by City Hall.  Those interested can find the stories here in this blog's archives, but not in the Morning Call, which was part and parcel of the NIZ from the get-go.

While those merchants were considered a "cancer" on Hamilton Street, the same merchants are now called a "success story" on 7th Street. On a recent post, someone comments that they will no longer patronize 7th Street,  which they now consider rude, crude and dangerous. 

In the 1970's, downtown Boston had a section called the combat zone.  There, the riff-raff could enjoy themselves, and not despoil the upscale shops elsewhere in the city. We have created a combat zone in Allentown, called 7th Street. Credit a street manager with doing a great job dressing up the buildings, but the double parking attitude remains. 

Unfortunately for Allentown, no upscale shopping has taken hold on Hamilton Street. But, actually, the Hamilton Street NIZ wasn't really meant as an urban renewal project, but rather a privately owned, publicly financed, real estate bonanza for a few connected individuals. Again, it's a story you'll only find in this blog's archives.

photocredit:Boston Combat Zone/molovinsky

Allentown Police Believe This Is An Isolated Incident

Early Sunday morning there was a shooting at the VIP Lounge in Allentown.  Police issued what has become their standard disclaimer... Police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community. 

In reality, this was neither an isolated incident nor not a threat to the community. As these shootings become more commonplace, we need an administration which does not attempt to normalize them. Mayor Tuerk has been flirting with the Hispanic community... They have been in turn very flattered. The current chief, Charles Roca, is both of Guatemalan descent and a native Allentonian...Politically, that is as good as it gets from Tuerk's POV.  However, Roca became chief by default. Those ahead of him in rank became Chief For The Day, and then left Dodge while their reputation was still intact. If Roca isn't really up to the position, Tuerk will have to man-up and replace him, politics aside. 

What I just wrote above is of course heresy in Latino Allentown...but that's why I'm a blogger.

photocredit:WFMZ69

UPDATE: The first version of this post misindentified Roca as Puerto Rican 

A Bastard Blogger and Lights In The Parkway

As dusk falls, cars start entering Lehigh Parkway to enjoy the annual Christmas light display.  In the darkness they drive past the top of the Double Stairwell, built by the WPA in 1935. It was designed as the signature structure in the park. In daylight they would see that the top landing is breaking up, and the subsequent landings down the double stairs are even in worse condition. These cracked landings allow seeping water to undermine the steps below them,  jeopardizing the entire structure.  I have been reporting these deteriorating conditions to the Park Department for six years. While nothing has been done to rehab this irreplaceable structure, the department is actively seeking grants to build another new park, near the old incinerator plant off Basin Street.

As a long time public critic of the former Pawlowski administration,  his park directors may have dismissed my criticism of park policy as political discontent. However, with the current mayor and park director I have a long time rapport, but to no apparent avail.

When I drive through the park I don't see the pretty lights, but a sad situation. I see crumbling WPA structures. I see neglect and misplaced priorities.

reprinted from December of 2019 

UPDATE DECEMBER 2020: The Park Department did repair the vertical surfaces on the stairwell structure this past summer through a Trexler Trust grant, but not the landings. Because the landing surfaces are essential to maintain the structural integrity, I will keep up my campaign for such repair.

UPDATE DECEMBER 2021: In a few weeks we'll have a new mayor, but this old blogger will to continue to focus on the same shortcomings to our park system. Rather than seeking outside grants for the WPA structures, they must become main park budget items. They must be given the priority their place in our history deserves.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 28, 2022: Another year has passed, and the landings on the Double Stairwell  have still not been repaired. The city has announced that this will be the last year for the Christmas Light display. While at this point it has almost become a tradition, I remember when the attraction was new and controversial. Electrifying the park didn't sit well with park traditionalists, myself included. Long traffic lines, wrapping back and over the stone arch bridge, didn't sit well with neighbors. However, things become old, including the lights and bastard bloggers.

Covid Corruption

I'm not qualified to opine on the value of the Covid-19 vaccine, but the stimulus money which followed the pandemic has been squandered in wholesale fashion.  Even so, there is still more to dispense than they know what to do with. The most recent plan in Pennsylvania, to fund homeowner repairs up to $50,000 each, is a testament to the weak minds of our elected officials.

The decision to allow chosen, so called non-profits, to pick who the lucky homeowners will be, is a testament to our embrace of corruption.

Before they realized that they had more funds than they could find uses for, even the infrastructure projects were compromised. For instance, here in Lehigh Valley, rather than widen traffic-logged Rt. 22, we're building a special exit, to create a new warehouse complex for a connected developer.

While the virus stubbornly continues on, hopefully Washington will be cured of the ill-advised spending.

Molovinsky and Wehr's Dam

On June 26th, 2014 the Parkland Press reported my initial presentation to the South Whitehall Commissioners to save Wehr's Dam.  I knew from previous experience with the Wildlands Conservancy that they would seek quick approval, and even quicker demolition, when they obtained the green light. The commissioners had already approved a new park master plan, which called for the dam's removal. 

My efforts alerted others, including descendants of the dam's original builder and owner, to join the battle. The commissioners, for political purposes, went through various insincere gestures in response to the public outcry to save the iconic dam. They sponsored a referendum in 2016, never expecting it to pass, tying it to a tax increase.  Although the referendum did pass, the commissioners managed to stall committing to the dam for another five years. 

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the Widlands Conservancy interacted with Harrisburg, using their influence to mandate repairs five times more complex and expensive than necessary,  attempting to undo the referendum by cost limitations. The previous commissioners never ceased trying to accommodate the Wildlands Conservancy.  During this period I had become a persona non grata at the Morning Call, and they refused to print my submitted letters on the situation.  When I finally prevailed upon editor Mike Miorelli to assign a reporter to the topic,  they ignored Right To Know information I provided them, and then white-washed the entire conspiracy against the dam.

While I was barred from the Morning Call (I still am), I continued to advocate for the dam here on this blog, and revealed the culprits working against the dam. I'm happy to report that all involved in the conspiracy are now out of office, and also out of the township's administration. The dam is now being repaired for state approval. While the reconstruction is much more extensive and expensive than it needed be, at least future residents will still be able to continue enjoying both the beauty and history of the park's landmark feature...water flowing over the dam and under the covered bridge!

ADDENDUM: Those interested in more details about the conspiracy can refer to my previous post on the dam. Those with still further interest can type Wehr's Dam into the search engine box on this blog's  web version sidebar. That search will yield over a dozen posts on the topic.

Shootings In Allentown No Threat

Yesterday Allentown was assured by the police and Morning Call that the shootings on 5th Street were no threat to the public.  While the victims were hauled off on the conveyor belt to the ER by the EMS, life continues in center city as usual.

We have a mayor, about Hispanic as a Taco Bell sandwich, telling everybody in Spanish that he understands both their language and sentiments. 

We have a school board that only hires Black people, who in turn only hire Black people, so that they look like the brown people that they're supposed to teach.

We have a local NAACP calling everyone racist.

We have a newspaper who proved that they wouldn't know corruption if it occurred under their nose for over a decade.

artwork by Mark Beyer

Growing Up Allentown

Life in Allentown during the 1950's was pretty easy, compared to nowadays. Whether you were an office worker or factory worker,  there were plenty of jobs. Whether you lived in the west end or center city, all the neighborhoods were clean, well maintained and relatively crime free. The school system was the envy of the county, and people finagled to get their children enrolled in it. Allentown High School had championship teams in multiple sports, and the football stadium was one of the most lavish high school stadiums in the country. The park system was the subject of numerous picture postcards. Likewise, downtown was widely known, with Hess's being a destination. All the above attributes would stay in place throughout the 1960's, into the early 70's.

I bill this blog as the intersection of politics and history in Allentown, and the greater Lehigh Valley. Although I will continue to speak out on current events of concern, I suspect that this page will turn more and more to history. Perhaps nostalgia is so appealing because the current reality is so disillusioning. 

Although my archive of older Allentown pictures is extensive, I invited Ozzie and Harriet Nelson to illustrate this post.

reprinted from July of 2016

Lunch At Allen

Up to the mid 60's, students at Allen High could leave the building for lunch. Scattered in alleys around the the school, garages had been converted into lunch shops and hangouts. The Hutch was in the alley between 17th and West Streets, in the unit block between Hamilton and Linden. Suzy's was behind the Nurse's Dormitory, between Chew and Turner. Another was across Linden from the Annex. They all had the same basic decor, a few pinball machines, a few tables and a small lunch counter. Most of the business was during lunch period, and before and after school. It's my understanding that occasionally a kid or two would skip school and hangout all day. Today these garages, turned into luncheonettes, have long ago reverted back to garages. Most of the current residents of West Park probably don't even know about this commercial history right behind their houses. I missed photo day at Allen for my yearbook, but if anybody has a picture of the gang from the Hutch, I'd appreciate a copy.

reprinted from previous years

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER21,2022:This year I was tempted to retitle this post Allen Out To Lunch. While I was a delinquent at Allen, that designation now appears to belong to the School Board. They hired a supposedly interim superintendent, but now are allowing her to indulge in full blown press coverage, more than normally allotted to a permanent hire. In my day, a student who acted like the board would have been sent to the principal's office, but at Allen they now paddle the principal!

The Hamilton Street Bridge

The current Hamilton Street Bridge was completed in 1959, replacing the former steel trestle bridge. With the new Hamilton Street entrance ramp aligned further to the south, a small portion of front street and a few houses were vacated. Additionally, an entrance ramp was added from Union Street, which previously ended at Front Street. The photo above shows a portion of the earlier bridge and the former A&B meat packing plant, beyond their office building.  The office building has been incorporated into the America On Wheels Transportation Museum.

lower photo shows entrance to former steel trestle bridge, with entrance ramp skirting A&B Packing House.

above reprinted from May 2013

Velcome To The Vendig & Allentown Photographic

In 1933, with the end of Prohibition, my grandparents(maternal) started operating the Vendig Hotel. They were the working partners, another immigrant family, here longer, were the silent backers. The hotel was directly across from the current Main Street Depot Restaurant in Bethlehem, which was the old New Jersey Line Terminal. With my grandmother cooking, they became well known for crab cakes and other shelled seafood. What wasn't known, was that she was strictly kosher, and never even tasted anything she prepared. As some may recall, my grandparents came from Hungarian Transylvania (now Romania) in the early 20's. Family lore says Bela Lugosi visited the hotel. Lugosi was born in the same area of then Hungary, and started his acting career playing Jesus in Passion Plays. In 1931, after immigrating to America years earlier, he got his big break playing Dracula. Typecast as a villain, Lugosi was reduced in later years to drug addiction and playing in low budget monster films. He died in the mid 50's and was buried in his Dracula cape. My last uncle, who as a boy lived above the hotel, had no recollection of Lugosi. The partner families would later merge through marriage and 40 years later come to own the old vaudeville theater in South Bethlehem known as The Globe. It too is gone. My experience with Allentown Photographic in the late 70's, at 12 N 8th Street, was not unlike my grandparent's with the Vendig Hotel. Neither were particularly successful, both only lasted a few years, but provided many memories. Now, Bela Lugosi never came into my shop, but my custom darkroom did attract numerous characters. I printed negatives supposedly smuggled out of Russia of the Romanov Family, while my strange anonymous customer watched by the door for KBG agents.(If they were real, I made no copies, nor did I keep the negatives) I once rented the darkroom to the local Porno King for his art directors to produce Puritan Magazine. His former building is now becoming the new Mayflower Condominiums. I snuck into a local high school to photograph an old circus juggler perform his act, one more time, on the stage. This photo gem, of a midget skating between legs, is from the jugglers' memento's. 

posts combined and reprinted from July 2008

The Shadow Returns

In 2009, I presented a series of posts as the Shadow Mayor. I contended that I donned a janitor outfit and worked undetected in City Hall, where I was able to ascertain secrets and shenanigans concerning the Pawlowski Administration.  Whether that disguise was real or fictional, this blog's disclosures, along with those of blogger Bernie O'Hare, became of interest to the FBI years later, in their investigation of Allentown.

The Shadow retired during Ray O'Connell's time in the fifth floor, but now is coming back, to monitor Matthew Tuerk. I must clarify that I suspect no shenanigans or illegality from Tuerk, whatsoever, but rather think that his policies need surveillance. 

I have been told that he has run out of flags to raise from the Caribbean, Central and South America, and now is looking to Africa for sister cities. He also supposedly wants to make Genderfluid Identity Support a cabinet position.

I apologize for being a dinosaur, and thinking that Mayor Tuerk is too concerned with things beyond the proper scope of city government.  Although I will not reveal my new disguise, I will admit that I have dyed my hair. Although Tuerk wants to protect every possible type of personal choice, I heard that regard for the elderly isn't high on his priority list. In Tuerk's younger and younger City Hall, my gray hair would have given me away.