The Weekly Loop

When I was in high school we would drive the circuit. The circuit was from the Ritz at the fairgrounds down Hamilton Street to 6th Street, and back up Linden Street back to the fairgrounds. 

Now that I'm a senior citizen, operating an adult day care blog, I drive the loop. On the high school circuit we looked for girls, on the senior loop I look for signs of civility. The loop is down Tilghman Street from Ott to 2nd, and across and back up Linden, back to Ott St. Going down Tilghman I encountered a young man doing a wheelie on his motorcycle in the 900 block. Farther down in the 500 block a pickup truck double parked, tying up traffic in both directions. Going east on 2nd, I was passed by a scholar on the left. The scholar stayed in the left, against the oncoming lane for several blocks. He was very pleased with himself.

Back in high school on the circuit, I was never very good at meeting girls. Now as a senior citizen, I'm not very good at finding quality of life in center city Allentown.

On the quality of life topic, last week the city celebrated the renovation of the amphitheater at Joseph Daddona Park. While I usually insist on using the traditional names of our historic venues (Union Terrace), I'm using the Daddona name because his house has just been approved as a two-unit by the zoning board. That house has a lot of history, starting out as a trolley office, to a favorite mayor's pride and joy. I hope the zoning application received the proper scrutiny.

Lehigh County Blues

A Lehigh County Commissioner is blaming his arrest on the man. The commissioner, Cole-Borghi, claims that the charges and disclosure of such are political, emphasizing that he is a black man. Worse for us county taxpayers, another commissioner, Jon Irons, seconds Borghi's contentions. 

Last time I checked, two law enforcement entities were under the commissioner's purview, the Sheriff Department and the District Attorney's Office. While Borghi may be innocent of the drug charge, he is guilty of using politics and race as an excuse. Even the Lehigh County Democrats have distanced themselves from the contention that Borghi's race was a factor in his indictment.

If not for Borghi and Irons, I would probably not be making a County Executive recommendation. But, in light of how far off center the Commission has become, my vote will be going to Roger MacLean.

Morning Call Gatekeeper

Before I started this blog in 2007, I was a letter writer to the Morning Call. My letters were not well received, more often I heard back nothing. When pressed, the opinion page editor, Robert Orenstein, would usually respond that my submission was either too long or too short. While Orenstein allowed an open door for the establishment, independent voices like myself had to fight tooth and nail for some column space. 

In 2014, the then South Whitehall Commissioners tried to green light demolishing Wehr's Dam for the Wildlands Conservancy. I managed to get it postponed for public comment. Their next tactic was a disingenuous referendum, where they tried tying preserving the dam to a tax increase. When I fought against that conspiracy, Orenstein claimed that my letter was just my opinion. Imagine, sending an opinion to the opinion page?

Orenstein and some others at the Call ended up taking an early buyout offer from the Tribune. They now produce a newsletter that you can subscribe to. While they promote themselves now as journalists, they don't tell you how their gatekeeping helped keep a corrupt mayor in power, and promoted a still ongoing real estate scheme.

The Boat Landing Revisited

In 2009 and 2010, myself and half a dozen volunteers dug out the Boat Landing, buried in the 1980's by a then long standing park director. The buried stonework was in excellent condition. We dug out the steps and part of the landing at the base.

 Last week I returned to see how the structure was holding up. While the steps remain clear, several inches of silt has built up on the landing. Silt has also built up on the island, bringing it closer and closer to the landing. 

Those interested in visiting the structure can park in the small lot at the end of the parkway. That lot is just beyond the concrete bridge, above the stone arch Schreiber's Bridge. Those wanting some excerise can park at Robin Hood, and take the path to the end. You will see the top of the steps to your right.

Birthday Doodle Distraction

The amount of news coverage and analysis of a doodle from one womanizer to another is distressing. With all the disruption of government service in the name of efficiency, how can the doodle matter, and if Trump drew and sent it or not? Talk about fiddling while the city burns!

On the topic of burning cities, it's distressing to see ICE recruiting from our undermanned local police forces. An adult administration would be working toward more police officers for our communities, not offering them sign on bonuses to arrest workers at car plants and outside Home Depot.

This is not an adult administration. It has reduced previously respectful institutions to divining nonsense, because substance is no longer on the table. We'll get past it, and there will even be a presidential library, but with comic books and doodles.

The King Has Abdicated

In 1958 my father had a food stand at the fair. It took him about an hour to realize you cannot sell hot dogs in the King's back yard; Yocco, the Hot Dog King. When Yocco's claimed last year they were not at the fair because their canvas ripped, I was skeptical. This year it's official, they have abdicated their spot. Tonight the fair was jammed. In Ag Hall the granges still compete in vegetable canning. A wiseguy still incites you to dunk him. The world's smallest horse hasn't grown. Maybe Yocco's is gone, but the fair is still much more like 1958 than any other aspect of Allentown.

REPRINTED FROM AUG.28, 2007

UPDATE 2016: Yocco's has announced that they have closed their original location in the 600 block of Liberty Street. 

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER 9, 2025:As I push toward eighty, I often write about things which very few of my readers remember. While we all remember and know the fair, few will remember Louis Kane's restaurant. Mr. Kane mostly operated his traveling restaurant at the fairs in the south. However, being from this area, he would also set up at the Allentown Fair, at least up to the early 1960's.

Kane's restaurant had a glass and stainless steel front, complete with glass doors. Tables were set with table cloths and silverware. Service was by waiters.  He set up across from the side entrance of the Farmers Market, on the west side of the fairgrounds. Although very successful in the south, here in Allentown the locals stayed loyal to their church and civic association tents, which were on the eastern side of the grounds.