No Firewall Pretense

The Morning Call has become an official sponsor of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The article in today's paper unblushingly declares them supporters of the NIZ and Allentown's redevelopment. A local business professor explains how this corporate affiliation benefits the community. I wonder what an old school journalism professor might think? On the sidebar of their webpage there's a video lauding Pat Browne as the architect of Allentown's renewal. I wonder what treatment a future political opponent of Browne's might receive? With the taxpayer's price tag approaching $1billion dollars for Allentown's Renewal, who will watching for, and reporting on any wrongdoing?

History Visits South Whitehall Commissioners

Covered Bridge Park in South Whitehall is anchored on either end by two covered bridges, Guth and Wehr. Last night, the two descendants of those namesakes appeared in front of the Commissioners, on behalf of saving Wehr Dam. William Wehr is the grandson of the mill operator, who built the current dam. He and Robert Schantz, Guth's descendent, presented the Commissioners with a petition of nearly 200 names. They requested that the dam be added to the new historic overlay district, a suggestion which I had also made previously. With over 300 names (including my petition) requesting protection, the time is approaching for the Commissioners to decide if this historic dam will continue adding to the magic and beauty of the park.

In other business last evening, the commissioners agreed to authorize a letter requesting a grant for Wildlands Conservancy to build a greenway in the park. Considering that there were only three commissioners present, no solicitor and no public notice or discussion, I will request that the authorization be postponed, until which time the public understands the consequences of this authorization. A greenway in Wildlands language means a wall of weeds, blocking both the view and access to the stream.

Please join me this coming Saturday, July 19th between noon and 2:00 pm at Pavilion 2, to help Save The Dam

photograph by K Mary Hess

A Dire Consequence Of Blind Dam Removal

In their indiscriminate haste to remove all dams in the Lehigh Valley, the Wildlands Conservancy is responsible for the massive fish kill this week at the Fish Hatchery. When General Trexler had the trout nursery built, they also built, just upstream,  a small dam, to insure and regulate a water supply for the nursery. Last fall the Wildlands gleefully demolished that dam, removing an important component of the trout nursery. Although the heavy storm Monday night occurred hundreds of times in the last century, this time the dam wasn't there to regulate the fast moving water. Over 1,400 fish were flooded out of the holding pools and died. Last summer, I watched the Wildlands Conservancy give a power point presentation to Allentown City Council on dam removals. When I invited City Council to Lehigh Parkway to defend the Robin Hood Dam, the Conservancy crashed my event, and asked the council members to come with them to the trout nursery dam, to see their wonderful plans. I hope yesterday that the Conservancy had the decency to help pick up the dead fish.

The lesson here is that not all dams are without purpose. Wehr Dam was built to help maintain as much water as possible by the Jordan's Disappearing Stream area. Without that dam the dry zone will be larger and more pronounced. Generations of valley residents appreciate it's beauty and history. Please join me this coming Saturday, July 19th between noon and 2:00pm at Pavilion 2, to help Save The Dam.

UPDATE: The Morning Call article on mcall Tuesday afternoon contained a paragraph describing how the fish hatchery workers believe that the dam removal factored into the fish kill. That paragraph was edited out of both the hard and soft copy editions Tuesday evening.

The Boat Landing

Getting to the Boat Landing, for six year old boys who lived above the park in 1953, was quite an adventure. There were three other wonderful WPA structures to navigate on the journey. Unfortunately,  poor foresight by a previous park director has erased some of the WPA's monuments in Lehigh Parkway. As the postcard from the mid-50's above shows, the Boat Landing (my name for the structure) was a source of pride for the city and park system. It is located at the end of the park,  near Regency Apartments. I use the present tense because remnants of this edifice still exist,  buried under dirt and debris. Other attractions lost in that section of the park include the Spring Pond near the Robin Hood parking lot, and the bridge to the "Island", plus the mosaic inlaid benches which were on the island. ( Island halfway between parking lot and boat landing). Neither the Mayor or the Park Director knows that these centerpieces ever existed. These are irreplaceable architectural treasures well worth restoring.

UPDATE: The above post was written in May of 2009. Later that year I organized a small group of volunteers, and we unearthed a portion of the boat landing. The next year I prevailed on the Allentown Water Shed Foreman, Michael Gilbert, to expose the remaining stones around the Spring Pond and remove the growth hiding the Miniature Bridge. Two weeks ago I asked John Mikowychok, new park director, to consider keeping these sites accessible. Karen El Chaar, director of Friends Of The Allentown Parks, reports those sites are now being cleared. The battle to preserve the heritage of our parks continues. Please join me this coming Saturday, July 19th, to help Save Wehr Dam. Pavilion #2, Covered Bridge Park, between 12 and 2:00pm.

Walking On Water

Sundays are a favorite day for park lovers to visit Covered Bridge Park, and enjoy the majesty of Wehr Dam. This particular Sunday, July 13th 2014, provided one of nature's tricks, geese walking on water. Because of the porous limestone creek-bed, during dry periods, the Jordan turns into a Disappearing Stream. Slightly downstream from the dam, the stream bed becomes completely dry, with the water only reappearing past Wehr Covered Bridge. A number of environmentalists have criticized the Wildlands Conservancy for the misinformation they provided to the South Whitehall Commissioners, concerning their plan to demolish the dam. With or without the dam, fish will not be migrating up the Jordan during dry periods, they don't swim well without water. Without the dam, the Disappearing Stream area would be significantly larger, and more pronounced. Please join me next Saturday, July 19th, as we Picnic To Save Wehr Dam, between 12 and 2:00pm at Pavilion #2, Covered Bridge Park.

The Middle East, A Quick Course

Radio Free Molovinsky

Yesterday was a difficult day with the broadcasting equipment. Although the usual channels are still out, the blog is back up with emergency equipment.

Yesterday, Bernie O'Hare and I were guests on Alan Jennings' Lehigh Valley Discourse radio program. Next week the program will be available for download from WDIF.

The list of supporters to save the Wehr Dam continues to grow. Various scientific and environmental types have come forward to support preserving this icon. Mary Ann Bungerz, creator of the Covered Bridge Tour and other promotions as Director of the County's Visitor's Bureau, has come forward to support the dam. The first pavilion at Covered Bridge is named after her devotion to the park.

Although I tried to rent Bungerz Pavilion for next week's Save The Dam picnic, that pavilion was already booked for the summer. Please join us in Pavilion 2 next Saturday, July 19th, between noon and 2:00pm.

Contributing To Change

I have no allusions concerning the amount of work and expense that it will require for me to go to Harrisburg. The incumbent sent no less than three expensive mailings against her primary opponent. However, if the residents of the 183rd District, and the greater Lehigh Valley, are to benefit from change, I'm willing to do the hard work, but must ask you to make a monetary contribution. If you live in the 183rd, the need for the change that I can bring is apparent, your town has been stagnating for years. I also ask for contributions from everybody in the Valley. Your representative is complacent. Many go unopposed, election after election. It's time to shake up Harrisburg, it's time to think independently. I ask that you make a check or money order payable to:

                                       Michael Molovinsky, Designated Account
 and mail it to:
                                       Michael Molovinsky
                                       1636 N. Cedar Crest Blvd.
                                       PMB 145
                                       Allentown, Pa. 18104

or contribute through paypal

Thank you!