Sewer Leak Problem, Maybe

I was a smoker for over 40 years, so I don't smell much, but I can smell the odor from the water on the other side of the cofferdam, shown above. This is a difficult post to write, because both the construction company and the city say there's no leak, no problem. I can tell you that the water on the northern end of the trench, shown above, is greenish and putrid. Water on the southern end of the trench, being dug for a new storm sewer line, is much cleaner and doesn't smell. I can tell you that the green putrid water is being pumped out by a long hose, across the creek, where it is being treated by a large filter device, just south of the amphitheater stage. It is my fear that perhaps a sanitary sewer line was either nicked in the excavation, or a previously leaking line was unearthed. As an advocate for the parks, I feel compelled to shine a light on this situation, awkward as it may be. If my fear is unfounded, which I hope it is, my apology to any offended parties. The Allentown drinking water is taken from that creek, about a mile downstream.
UPDATE: Both the title and text of this post have been revised.
UPDATE Wednesday July 17, 2013: Further inquires indicate that there is NOT a sewage leak. I hope to be able to write a separate, conclusive correction to this post in the near future.

Sabotaging Our History

Glenn Solt, Director of Public Works for Lehigh County, is used to getting his way. During the Cunningham era he had quite the run at replacing bridges. First he started with the bridges that needed replacing, then he continued on to other bridges, after establishing a relationship with certain engineering firms and contractors. Shown above is the Reading Road Stone Arch Bridge, built in 1824. It was completely refurbished in 1980, with a pedestrian bridge added at that time. Although state inspectors deemed the bridge satisfactory, Solt set his sights on it anyway. It's historical aspect means absolutely nothing to him. He told a blogging associate that those old stone bridges are filled with crap on the inside. Although the County Commissioners saved the bridge by not authorizing the release of the funds for the engineering contract, Solt is trying to have the last say by denying normal maintenance to the historic structure. The bridge surface has not been sealed in years, the inside stones have not been pointed, nor has the rusting beam on the pedestrian span been painted. Lehigh Valley has a bad habit of neglecting maintenance on any structure that ever had any discussion concerning replacement. That is exactly why Allentown's 15th Street Bridge was allowed to rust away. Perhaps it's the Public Works Directors that need replacing.

Jewish Das Boot

The Israeli submarine fleet consists of three small boats, German made diesel-electrics, named Dolphins. The boats are early 1990 design. Two are stationed in the Mediterranean, and one supposedly in the Red Sea. Three more Dolphins are on order, and expected to arrive by 2013. Military analysts consider these Israel's second strike weapon, and may be armed accordingly.

reprinted from September 2011

UPDATE: There is speculation that a Dolphin submarine was used by Israel in a recent attack on a missile cache in Syria.

Zeppelin Over Jerusalem

The German airship LZ127 Graf Zeppelin was in service from 1928 to 1937. Two of it's 590 flights were over Jerusalem. The first occurred on March 26, 1929. It was a night flight, during which they dropped mail into the German colony at Jaffa. The second flight, pictured above, was from Cairo on April 11, 1931. The ship hovered above the Church of Holy Sepulchre for several minutes.

reprinted from May 2011

Tough Summer For Union Terrace

Union Terrace was the last major project completed by the WPA in the Allentown park system. The City, in the process of replacing the Union Street bridge over the Cedar Creek, has leveled the last thirty feet of the terraces, and taken down the WPA stone retaining wall, on the terrace's south end. I've been told that upon completion of the project, estimated at two years, the original stone will be used to face a new concrete wall. Under that section of the creek, under the former bridge, both a water and sewage main are buried. More on those issues in a future post. Although we are spending close to $300 million on the hockey arena, not one cent has been spent on the WPA stone work. The double stairwell, leading from St. Elmo Street to the terraces, needs immediate work. The top of the wall is starting to crumble, and stones are missing on the steps. Allentown, a city with misplaced priorities.

UPDATE: Years ago when Mr. Berman placed the art work in the Allentown Park system many of the citizens were outraged.Now a generation later the Park System infrastructure is falling down and there is no outrage.What a change of priorities.     submitted anonymous comment

click photo to enlarge

Lehigh Valley Railroad

The Lehigh Valley Railroad began as an carrier of anthracite coal in 1846. At it's peak, it stretched from the docks of New York harbor to Lake Erie. Although mostly a freight carrier serving the hearths of Bethlehem Steel, it operated a well known passenger line from New York City to Buffalo, The Black Diamond. As a child in the 1950's, I would sit in the car with my father waiting for the long freight trains to cross Union Street. A train watch tower stood over the busy crossing. By 1976, remnants of the railroad were absorbed by Conrail. Shown above, from the late 1930's, is the streamlined engine of the Black Diamond.

reprinted from January 2011

UPDATE: The track running along Allentown's new proposed riverfront development is the "Old" main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.