Local Current Artists: Alison Bessesdotter

Usually, when you meet a good artist who is prolific, they are also so versatile it's hard to define their work.  Among many other descriptions, it can be said that Alison Bessesdotter makes tranquil paintings and watercolors that resemble fabric. She also makes fabrics which resemble paintings. Her tools, paint, brush and sewing machine are used interchangeably, sometimes all on one piece. If that merging isn't enough, she also puts her art on wearables, both jackets and wristbands. Bessesdotter recently moved her studio from Hamilton Street to the Banana Factory in South Bethlehem.

Images of Allentown Past, #1

photocredit:molovinsky
Over the years my camera has caught many images which can no longer be seen. Some have been recent victims of the changing city, others not seen for decades.

Evil Eva's/South end of 8th Street Bridge/2005

The Gordon Street Paint Shop

As a boy growing up in Little Lehigh Manor, I vaguely remember the trolleys. The final switch over to buses occurred in 1953. Although the major trolley and bus barn was the Fairview facility near my house, the Lehigh Valley Transit Company also had other storage and work sites. The west end trolley barn, at 14th and Gordon Streets, also served as their paint shop. Although the location has been a wholesale plumbing supply business for many decades, until recent years the tracks leading into the current warehouse were visible. The photo above dates from 1938, and shows a freshly painted trolley.

Dam Removal Threatens Bridge

An on site engineering consultation made the following points.

Removing a dam is one thing, removing a dam next to a bridge is another. 

After the dam is removed, expect the creek bed to be several feet lower. 

The bridge piers must first be evaluated for depth and condition.

Did the Wildlands Conservancy provide the City of Allentown with the proper engineering studies to confirm that removing the dam will not have an adverse effect on the bridge?  Is the City of Allentown willing to jeopardize the citizen's iconic Robin Hood Bridge to accommodate a pet project of the Wildlands Conservancy? The dam removal will significantly increase the velocity of the stream and accelerate pier scour. Will the Wildland Conservancy indemnify the City for consequential bridge re-mediation or replacement?

Give A Damn, Save A Dam

The post card above dates from the early 1950's. Allentown's Lehigh Parkway, especially the Robin Hood area, attracted national attention for it's beauty and integration of the spectacular WPA structures. This occurred because two years prior to the WPA era, General Trexler had plans made up for the Parkway. Allentown, in the current vernacular, was shovel ready. The bridge, little dam, and double stepped structure provided the park visitor with both beautiful sights and sounds. The Wildlife Conservancy has received a grant for close to half a $million dollars to remove dams in Allentown's park system. Nobody is paying attention. Mayor Pawlowski, not too interested in the parks anyway, is consumed with his development projects. The Conservancy is politically correct in this era of ecology. The thing is that this park, and especially this area of the park, is not a wildland, but a historical icon of Allentown. Please help me save our heritage, help me save this little dam.

Junior Scientists To Alter Park System

The junior scientists of the Wildlands Conservancy have been given permission by The City of Allentown to remove four dams along the Little Lehigh and Jordan Creeks. These dams have been in place since the 1930's. Experienced fishermen worry that their removal will allow muskies and other large predators to move upstream and endanger the trout population. Between the opinion of fishermen and junior scientists, I'll take the fishermen any day. The park department is officially leaderless at the moment. While the former director moved on, the new one has not yet been confirmed. Although the Conservancy got a grant to remove the dams, how much would it cost in 2013 dollars to replace these dams? As a park walker, I can attest to the beauty and sound of the water cascading over these short one foot drops. The current administration should protect our park's history, until which time the citizens are in consensus with such drastic changes.
UPDATE: The new park director was confirmed at the last city council meeting. The Wildlands Conservancy was previously allowed to create riparian buffers in the park system, denying park users the traditional view and access to the streams, now the dam removals. I think the time has come for a discussion: Is the park system to be used as a laboratory for the Wildlands Conservancy, or an asset for the citizens?  Were the parks meant to be wildlands, or to benefit from landscape architecture as envisioned by Harry Trexler and others? Are these decisions to be made by a series of itinerant park directors or the citizens of Allentown? photocredit:The Morning Call/Donna Fisher

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Although Carmen Bell took advantage of the press conference and photo opportunity against the water lease, she was not willing to commit to being opposed. Instead, she suggested more opportunity for dialogue, and informing both the citizens and council on all the options. As the election draws nearer, three weeks, she has opted out of the anti-lease, anti-administration group. Melman, Todd and Velez will present themselves as a slate for transparency and responsiveness. The incumbents, Guridy, O'Connell, Glazier and Moto must stand on their record. Incumbent Joe Davis is running unopposed for a two year seat. Carmen Bell will join Daryl Hendricks as a stand alone candidate, but without his connections to the community.