Walking With Cynthia Mota

During my failed attempt to save the dam at Robin Hood in Lehigh Parkway, I invited members of Allentown City Council for a private tour. Although only Cynthia Mota and Jeff Glazier accepted the offer, it was an hour well spent. I had spoken to Glazier several times in the past, but had never met Mota. I found her genuinely interested in the park, and intrigued by the neglected WPA sites that I pointed out. She did let me know that she felt that she had been treated unfairly on this blog in the past.  During a large portion of the walk, Mota was being pitched  two opposing points of view about the riparian weeds, one by John Mikowychok, the new park director, and the other by myself. Mikowychok told Mota that he believes the stream is more enticing if you only can see a glimpse of it, here and there. Apparently, Wildlands Conservancy and Mikowychok have a new arrangement, and the Conservancy is to begin replanting the buffers, wider than ever. Although it was an appropriate opportunity for Mikowychok to mention the upcoming  Wildlands buffer project,  he didn't say a word.  Motta needn't be concerned about me,  but she should worry about Mikowychok concealing important park plans.

School Director To Stay

Joanne Jackson has decided to rescind her resignation to the Allentown School Board. Jackson is a former teacher, well liked by the teachers and students. Her resignation resulted from tension with some other board members, a situation which apparently she has decided to accept as par for the course. I'm personally glad she came to this conclusion. It serves the school district best to have board members with divergent points of view. Shown above, Joanne is giving the commencement speech at Dieruff this past spring.

Drag Races At Queen City

During the 1950's, for a summer or two, city sanctioned drag races were held at the Queen City Airport. Dopey Duncan, radio personality and racing car enthusiast, was instrumental in organizing these events. The airport and large hanger seen in the background was built by Consolidated Vultee, to produce airplanes for the war effort.

The Depreciation Of Our Parks

John Mikowychok, the new park director, suggested that after the dam is demolished an interpretative sign could be placed there, with a photograph of the former dam. John, like his predecessor Greg Weitzel, likes interpretative signs. John and Greg have the same background, they both have graduate degrees in recreation from Penn State. Both were hired by our city manager from Philadelphia, and neither have a special feeling for the Allentown park system. Although there will be no measurable improvement to water quality, Lehigh Parkway will be depreciated in both beauty and ambience. While picture postcards used to show the beauty of the parks, now interpretative signs will show what we neglected and demolished.

photocredit:molovinsky

The Mighty Atom

Years ago, at the Allentown Fair, as one would push through a sea of carney delusion, tucked back by the 4H animals, was an island of reality. There, in an old battered truck, an ancient Jewish strongman performed incredible feats of strength, to sell only homemade kosher soap. Standing on a platform on the rear of his truck, flanked by photographs from his performing youth, he would bent horse shoes and bite through nails. Many years earlier, my mother as a little girl in Bethlehem, saw him pull a truck uphill with his hair. Even as an old man, like a reincarnation of Samson, his grey hair was still long.
In the summers of 1964 and 1965, myself and a friend,(Fred Schoenk, retired Allentown art teacher) made and sold printed tee-shirts at the fair. We had the honor to know Joseph Greenstein(The Mighty Atom) and his wife. For those interested, there are various articles on the Mighty Atom and even at least one book. Enjoy the fair!

reprinted annually during the fairweek

History Passed By Obama Today

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