Burt 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

Burt Luckenbach was a park activist, who wrote this letter in 1992. Few remember sledding on that hill above the Log & Stone house, but I do. The open hill was located at the end of Lehigh Parkway South, near the intersection with Coronado Street. The Wagon Trail has been blocked off for years by several large fallen trees. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Luckenbach, but like to think that he would approve of my efforts regarding the parks.

Israel's Dilemma Fighting Martyrdom

Rockets fired from inside Gaza City

During the second world War, the United States had trouble wrapping it's head around the kamikaze attacks. There is a similar situation occurring in Gaza. Israel is not targeting civilians; Hamas has placed their rocket launchers in civilian sites, with public approval. The rockets are fired from playgrounds and rooftops. As of Sunday, Israel aborted twenty five air strikes because their pilots reported seeing civilians near the targets. The leadership of Hamas has spoken in the past of jihad and martyrdom. They stated that they form human shields of women and children. Although urban rocket launchers and civilian causalities serve the purpose of Israel's enemies and distracters, Israel must protect it's citizens.

The Mayors of Lehigh Valley

What can one say about The Three Mayors? Bethlehem's mayor John Callahan wants to enact an Amusement Tax. Vision Entertainment Group, which operates the Sands Event Center chose Bethlehem specifically because they didn't have such a tax. In reality, Johnny Callahan already has the ultimate Amusement Tax; This year Bethlehem received over $9 million dollars as their share of the Sands Casino pot. This windfall represents over 14% of the budget, but Johnny wants more. Easton's visionary, Sal Panto, now wants to increase their parking meters to a buck an hour. This is what other destinations, like San Francisco and Miami Beach charge, why not Easton? Sal admits, "Once it is in the budget, it is hard to get rid of." They already have an Amusement Tax. State Theater director Shelly Brown says "The tax adds a challenge." Well Shelly, here comes another one. Last, but not least, Ed Pawlowski thinks that the taxpayers should pay more for their air and water. In an incomprehensible arrangement with a private Trash To Energy & Cash Company, Allentown's trash and sewage will be combined into pellets from hell, and burnt. The technology, or lack of it, is opposed by environmentalists. The plant may also import trash from New York and New Jersey, for more fuel. Our water also will be sold to a preferred bidder. Let us hope he doesn't decide to harvest body parts.

Scrapping Our History

While surveying the progress of the 15th Street Bridge Project, our staff photographer made a depressing discovery. There, lying in the scrap metal area of the City Recycling Yard, was a former icon of Allentown. Once, in our not so distant past, these distinctive light stands symbolized the All American City. This particular light standard, and it's base, were in excellent condition. At one time these lights were so cherished that prominent citizens would use their influence to obtain one for their yard. One can be seen on the northwest corner of Ott and Parkway Boulevard, once home of a well known cardiologist. While the larger version, outfitted with flower bowls, lit Hamilton Street and 7th Street, smaller models illuminated the West End. When Allentown made it's recent plans for it's 250th anniversary, our meager sense of history was apparent. The best our imported mayor could think of was hiring someone to write new lyrics to the Billy Joel song. This city has a proud history, but it will take an archeologist to find remnants of it in the future.

Mobilizing Israel

Although the media is focused on the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, the fighting within Syria has been spilling over the Heights in Golan. Syrian opposition fighters have occupied villages bordering the DMZ, resulting in counter attacks by Assad's army. Israel must defend itself from the weapons of both factions. If

this wouldn't be enough for most military forces, Iran supposedly is much closer to their nuclear goal than previously thought. Although political decisions are second and third guessed in Israel, nobody disputes the the qualifications of their Defense Minister,former Chief of Staff and Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Barak is the most decorated soldier in Israel's history, which has been one fight after another for survival. Born on a Kibbutz, he commanded an important tank brigade during the Yom Kippur War. He led the commandos who freed a highjacked plane. He helped plan the raid on Entebbe in Uganda. As the Israeli Defense Forces mobilize on all fronts, they're directed by a steady hand.

The Obama Era

Once and a while you get to cover a few topics with one post, so it is today. This most compelling painting is currently on display at Lehigh University. The curator explains that the show of African art on Obama was not meant as political, but rather depicts the African art propensity to represent sources of pride. Nelson Mandela is also an often used subject. Although I haven't seen the show, yesterday I chatted with Bill Clark, retired art instructor at Cedar Crest. Clark spends much of his time in Africa, and was very much involved behind the scenes with this show. Because of the subject matter and timing, right before the election, the show was not without controversy. Lehigh art director Ricardo Viera addressed the issue.

"To me that is fine," he says. "I don’t run from controversy." He adds that if it has to occur, the place to be controversial is a university. He says the campus is where these things should be happening because students are supposed to be learning, discussing and seeing all sides of the ideological spectrum."This is about humanistic things," he says. "This is about a person. There are many things beyond politics."

Fordham University President Joseph McShane, as discussed in yesterday's post about Ann Coulter, could learn a lesson from Viera. With your permission, I will squeeze one more topic out of this post. Pride in Obama's ethnicity was not limited to Africa. Also controversial was the voter results from Philadelphia. Obama won every vote in 59 voting districts, with a tally of 19,605 to 0. Although the percentage, and the reported turnout of 90%, would normally fuel a demand for scrutiny, Obama's win was beyond the margins of doubt. As the world turns, my attention turns toward today and tomorrow. Israel is now defending itself on two fronts, with more enemies lining up. Resolution of the budget and tax cuts are crucial to our economy. My hope is that President Obama will fulfill the expectations of all citizens, regardless of who they voted for.