Open Mike

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

A Woman of Letters

Barba-Del Campbell was in the hallway at the overflow Council meeting this past July on Cedar Creek Park. She handed me a handwritten letter which I put into my pocket. I met Barba-Del a few years earlier at the first meeting for the Lanta merchants. There were at least two passions in her life, activism and art; Apparently, she had a long relationship with both. This past summer, The Morning Call had a feature story about her role in commemorating Paul Robeson with a postage stamp.

I typed and printed Barba-Del's letter and faxed it along with my own to the Morning Call. Both our editorials appeared side by side in the paper. My effort resulted in a handwritten thank you note. Barba-Del didn't have a computer. I would print out pieces I wrote on the merchants or on the parks, and leave them at her "office", that would be the first table to the left at The House of Chen.

There will be a gathering this Saturday in her memory at the restaurant. Barba-Del is on the far right in photo above, which was taken after that Lanta meeting by participant Bernie O'Hare. Ann Elizabeth Schlegel and Heather Sincavage also remember this remarkable woman.

ADDENDUM:  I STOPPED INTO THE HOUSE OF CHEN TRIBUTE TO BARBA-DEL TO PAY MY RESPECTS,  THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.
Heather Sincavage reflects on the memorial service

The Bicycles of Allentown

produced by Gary Ledebur, East Coast Studio #3, Philadelphia
contains adult content


Click Here to see actual Fox Segment on Allentown, courtesy of O'Hare's Ramblings

reproduced from March 10, 2010

Timber, Blogs and MSM

Today in The Morning Call, Tim Darragh reports that the Pawlowski Administration is fighting reporter Jarrett Renshaw's request for information on the timbering plans for South Mountain. Pawlowski and Weitzel claim that they're only concerned about the health of plant and animal life, and it's premature to release information from the timber harvest report by CC Forestry, which cost the taxpayers $7,500. What has been lost in the forest, is that the newspaper learned of this contract FROM THIS BLOG. I first posted about the timber shenanigan on July 2, 2009. I have no doubt that when the reporter first made his inquiry for the Morning Call story on July 12th*, my allegations were dismissed as misinformation by a naysayer. Assistant City Solicitor Frances Fruhwirth is now arguing against the Right To Know request by stating "the tree inventory is not finished yet..."

This blog now hears rumors that contracts have already been issued for the tree harvest.

Another article in today's Morning Call speaks about the economic benefit Allentown can obtain from visitors by promoting it's beautiful park system. The beauty only remains, because for decades the parks have been spared from those arrogant enough to think that they can improve upon it. I am proud to be a naysayer.

* story in Morning Call archives, however, address too long for hyperlink (search CC Forestry)

The Fox News Interview

Two women reporters came to Allentown recently, and interviewed both myself and Bob Romancheck. It is my understanding that these short clips will appear this evening as part of Sean Hannity's Special, Waste 102. The program airs at 9:00 p.m.

Paving Paradise

Dig deep, Sweet Bulldozer
Coming to take my park away
Dig deep, Sweet Bulldozer
Coming to take my park away
I looked over Cedar
and what did I see
Coming to take my park away
A band of City Officials
Coming to take my park away

Park Director Weitzel, to gain support for the Trail Network Plan, has told various people, including some City Council members, that plans for the additional paths in Cedar Park have been tabled. Although the existing path is being both widened and blacktopped to accommodate cyclists, he would forgo the remaining planned paths which would have broken up the open green space into very small sections. This week the Bulldozer proves otherwise; A north/south path is being paved through the middle of the green. Ironically, the Council vote to approve the Trail resolution was cancelled last week because Mr. Weitzel was not available to give a presentation. Will the Council, after being misled about the paths in Cedar Park, finally have the courage for a no vote?

I would be amiss, if I did not once again remind Friends of the Parks and The Environmental Advisory Council, that they are nothing but pawns, who should be ashamed of themselves.