Peter Crownfield shares his reading. If we aren’t reading, we aren’t learning and growing. Please share your reading.
———–
Hello everyone, Mike Ludwig here, this week, dozens of journalists and news publications, myself and Truthout included, signed a statement citing the thousands of scientists who say we are currently living through a climate emergency. Together, we have agreed to use the term “climate emergency” in news stories about climate change, so you will start seeing that term pop up at major news outlets that actually grasp the severity of the crisis. Of course, Truthout has been using the terms “climate crisis” and “climate emergency” for years now; we’ve been trying our best to warn people that it would get this bad.
Now, this podcast is not about politicians, it’s about the people who are doing something about the climate emergency from the ground up. On our last episode, we took a look at the direct action movement, which uses civil disobedience to block construction of oil and gas infrastructure and keep fossil fuels in the ground. We spoke with supporters of one of the longest running arial blockades in US history, which blocked construction of the mountain valley pipeline for some 900 days — if you missed it, I definitely recommend checking that out.
This time around we are looking at another current within the grassroots environmental and climate movement, the Rights of Nature Movement. Activists often argue about whether it’s possible to create meaningful change from within the existing legal and political system — but Rights of Nature, which is inspired by Indigenous thinking, has a novel
proposal — why not change the system itself, so nature is recognized to have legal, enforceable rights, much like a corporation or a human being?
I am not accepting contributions from the 7 or 8 largest developers in Bethlehem. Economic development projects must stand on their own merit, not the size of a campaign check.
In 1999 I was one of the City administrators that negotiated tax-increment financing and the HUD section 108 loan which allowed many of the improvements you see over here today to happen. If you elect me Mayor in May, I will take the same negotiating skills into economic development projects today where we preserve history and development fits in our city.
Most of the Swift Team are reticent about and reluctant to talk about money.
Not The Gadfly.
The fund-raising stalled a long time ago.
So what will the Swift kitty be used for, you ask?
Originally, some of the money was ear-marked for the additional cost to developer John Noble to save the chimney rather than just leveling the whole site.
Not so any longer.
Developer John Noble is, as they say, eating the additional cost to his project so that the GoFundMe can be used for education purposes.
At the Forum last week, John said, “This is one of these things that I personally have a passion for. The GoFundMe site, I think, at this point is one of those things best used for education. We’ve also talked about putting cameras in the site so people can see in real time what is going on. So, from a future standpoint, everything that we do on this GoFundMe is going to be purely ear-marked for education and actually taking it and putting it toward cameras. This is kind of a project that both me and my family are just so excited to do that it’s irrelevant of the cost. It’s that fun. Everyone in my family is excited about it. And we’re going to make sure that we not only do it right but that we educate the entire community on what’s going on there.”
Now, that’s absolutely remarkable!
Lehigh Valley Audubon Society president Peter Saenger said of Noble, that his engagement in such a project is “extremely unusual, almost unheard of,” and what Noble just said about the importance of education “almost made {him] cry. . . . John is probably less than 1% of developers that you will run in to, he’s golden, and so unique, it’s incredible. . . . If we could only get half the developers to have a tenth of his spirit, this world world would be so much better. Incredible. And shocking. And wonderful.” (Picture of Noble in his spare time.)
And what might an educational project look like?
Jennie Gilrain is already “cooking up” an educational project! She’s going to bring local poets into her 4th grade class at Freemansburg Elementary, at least one bilingual, so the students will write poetry about the Swifts as they learn about them and join with students in Peru and Bolivia (joining the two poles of the Swift migration!) in a bilingual poetry reading inspired by the Swifts. “We don’t quite have the funding all lined up yet,” says Jennie, “but we’re going to do it anyway.”
We gotta help out with this Jennie-project and other projects that will arise, right?
Gadfly hesitates to use the blog for fundraising. He thinks he remembers asking you to sponsor him on the 10-mile Christmas Peace Walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem a year or two ago that LEPOCO was involved in — but probably not much, if anything, else.
But this is a worthy cause, a Bethlehem community cause.
Gadfly doesn’t pay attention to his blog statistics, but he happened to notice that The Gadfly had 600 hits Monday. Not sure if that was a good day or a bad day. But think of the good that 600 x $5, 600 x $10, 600 x $25, 600 x $$$ can do.
Brothas and sistas, can you spare a few bucks?
And Gadfly bets that you have Swift lovers in your families and on your social media networks, even if they don’t know it yet.
Dear Friends of the Swifts–John and Lynn Noble, Wilbur Mansion Development Team, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, Sierra Club Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem City Council and Environmental Advisory Council, Lehigh University Environmental Initiative and Southside Initiative, Freemansburg Elementary School, Artefact Inc., Poets, Journalists, and Concerned Citizens,
Wonderful news! The swifts are back! And they are using the Masonic Temple chimney as a roosting site for spring migration on their way from South America to the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada! I watched 400-500 swifts enter the freestanding chimney on the Wilbur Mansion property yesterday evening, April 27th around 8:00 PM. It was a beautiful sight to see!
Congratulations to the Bethlehem S.O.S. Save Our Swifts team!
Tremendous thanks to John and Lynn Noble for carefully preserving the 45 foot high 5 foot square chimney while demolishing the Masonic Temple in the course of redevelopment of the Wilbur Mansion property. (See photo above taken a few months ago). Many thanks to the Bethlehem City Council for naming the Chimney Swift the official Bird of Bethlehem and to Lynn Rothman and the Environmental Advisory Council for supporting the effort to protect the swifts. Thanks to Scott Burnett and Peter Saenger of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society for educating us about these amazing birds and leading the charge to save them. Thanks to the Lehigh Valley Engaged Humanities Council for funding and the Bethlehem Area Public Library for hosting Public Forums to engage citizens in the effort to embrace the bird that has adapted to our urban habitat. Thanks to Freemansburg Elementary School students for speaking out on behalf of the birds. Thanks to Lehigh University professors and students for continuing to work for habitat preservation and restoration. Thanks to The Bethlehem Gadfly and all the wonderful journalists who continue to tell the story of the birds of Bethlehem.
Jennie Gilrain
———–
Gadfly wonders (and worries a bit) about the impact of the proposed plans for widening Rt 378 on the site. Perhaps we will hear from Mr. Noble about that.
On April 21 Masonic Temple developer John Noble kicked off the last forum in the S.O.S. Save Our Swifts by Saving their Urban Habitat: Telling the Story of the Chimney Swifts and their Connection to Our City series hosted by the Bethlehem Area Public Library and the Audubon Society.
Noble’s immediate commitment to this project suggested to him by Jennie Gilrain is absolutely remarkable.
Listen to his philosophy of developing in general and his passion for this project of saving the Masonic Temple chimney for our Swifts.
I personally have always felt that conservation and basically nature was part of any element you do in life, so anything I’ve tried to do I’ve actually tried to create balances so it didn’t impact surrounding neighbors, nature, and everything else.
One of the thing I’ve always strived to do . . . No matter what I did, you ultimately had to improve how it impacted the community, the neighbors, and nature.
When I brought the property, there was a minimum amount of trees. When we get done with this project, it’s actually going to be a lot more harmonious with how nature, birds, and wild life, and people can live in that area.
As a developer, it’s always important not only to create different structures and uses but also create a better environment for the neighbors and nature. It’s a big balance and you have to do it.
We’re going to make the environment a lot more natural [doubling the number of trees].
I already had a vision for the property and how to make it better. . . With the phone call I got from Jennie [Gilrain], it was pure enlightenment. . . . It was kind of a fun phone call. . . . She sent over the video. . . . And all of a sudden the project became something that was not only going to benefit the community and be fun to do, it also became a passion — how do we do something that most people wouldn’t think to do, which is to save these birds. . . . It became that much more fun.
For probably two weeks after that phone call, I learned more about Swifts, birds, and chimneys than I could ever have imagined in my lifetime.
The ultimate outcome of this thing was we kind of created awareness in the entire town, in the community, my own personal awareness, and it became a real challenge, how do we save this chimney, and save this habitat so that these birds have a good probability of using it.
When we get done, right now we’ve actually saved the structure, but we’ve also totally redesigned the building to accept the load of this chimney, so when we’re done . . . we’re going to have that chimney as literally a focal point
It’s one of those big time bonuses that everything fit together.
When you come in, when you drive on our site, probably the first thing you are going to see is a big chimney. It’s going to be pretty cool.
“I’m an organic gardener. At home we are very focused on sustainable living.” Hillary Kwiatek
“I personally take the opportunity to advocate in my daily life to people around me. . . . Being a teacher is always with me.” Kiera Wilhelm
“I like to consider myself a Lorax, I speak for the trees.” Rachel Leon
“My kids and I, pretty much all of our clothes are from gently used stores.” Grace Crampsie Smith
“The biggest thing that I do in my personal life . . . financial backing as much as I can . . . I’m a big supporter of Tara and Congresswoman Susan Wild.” Bryan Callahan
“I’m that guy out on the trail who’s picking up litter.” Dana Grubb
At the Environmental Advisory Council meeting at which the candidates for election appeared, Breena Holland posed some good questions appropriate for today, Earth Day.
What have you actually done personally to protect the environment?
Hillary Kwiatek
Involved in protests
support climate action candidates
walk to work
organic gardener
very focused at home on sustainable living
lives in 1860s home
picking up trash at Higbee playground
captained playground bill to clean up park
Kiera Wilhelm
voting record of support
walk to work
use own grocery bags
if use plastic bag, wash it
advocates in daily personal life with people around her
a teacher, teaching young people about environment was important part of her past
Rachel Leon
she’s a Lorax
life revolves around environmental issues
environmental studies career path (student At NCC now)
environmental justice subcommitee of Climate Action Plan
Sierra Club
president of Climate Action Network at NCC
monthly clean ups
does Earth Day events
global environmental issues at UN
Afros in Nature
working with school in Puerto Rico
Grace Crampsie Smith
has always supported the EAC
grew up close to the environment in a small town near Jim Thorpe
spent young years at Glen Onoko Falls, Mauch Chunk Lake
gave great appreciation for the environment and the land
instilled compassionate care for environment in her children
recycles, no plastic
cleanups
clean up at Musik-Fest
reusing items
clothes from gently used stores
clothes at Cancer Boutique
walks and bikes
car with almost zero emissions
Bryan Callahan
Mauch Chunk lake every year
avid camper and hiker
regular upstate New York
lot of time on our trails
South Side Little League clean up
biggest thing is financial supporter of officials like Tara Zrinski and Susan Wild
Dana Grubb
Drives Subaru, made in zero-waste facility
executive committee of Boutique at the Rink
Sierra Club
picks up litter on the trail and in parking lots
canvas shopping bags, no plastic
huge recycler, waste stream is limited
walks the walk
Councilman Reynolds, could you give some priorities in the Climate Action Plan? What do you think is important, and what do you think you
can actually get done and how?
Willie Reynolds
enormous undertaking
building 6-7-8 different roads at the same time
need coalition as big as possible
building codes, internal city operations
priority is creation of sustainability office
Green Ribbon Commission
Climate and Environmental Justice Council
biggest thing we can do is education and show people we are serious
“Emma’s like our own Greta Thunberg with a smile.”
Added recently to tonight’s panel is Freemansburg Elementary 4th grader Emma Huertas, a member of Jennie Gilrain’s class (see creative work by the students in the current issue of Sustainability Lehigh Valley) that has taken the Swifts under their wing, so to speak.
“When swifts fly, it’s like a paintbrush gliding through the air. . . . When the Chimney Swifts are flying it’s like a princess is dancing in a ballroom,
because it is super dainty and elegant!”
Emma
Council candidates: Callahan, Crampsie Smith, Kwiatek, Leon, Wilhelm
———-
“Given the state’s control over many potential initiatives that might limit us in taking a forward looking view on our community’s environmental impact, what steps do you see as possible to help us now take a leadership role in protecting our environment?”
Grace Crampsie Smith
“We are a role model . . . We can impact policy upward.”
Rachel Leon
“We need to address our air quality and lack of green spaces.”
Kiera Wilhelm
“Working groups will be the perfect candidates to advocate for the program.”
Bryan Callahan
“I have a 100% voting record for environmental issues.”
Hillary Kwiatek
“Building that framework, that structure within City government, we are well poised to take advantage of the opportunities to move on things.”
Community Cleanup/Earth Day celebration
Marvine Pembroke Area
April 24, 2021, 10AM – 1PM
Sign up to be a volunteer —-> https://forms.gle/qGHiF7Z8eZ9DnFEv5
Cesar Cordova: ccordova@basdschools.org
Meeting Place for Volunteers:
Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem (1430 Fritz Dr, Bethlehem, PA 18017)
Stream clean up
Johnston Park/Colonial industrial Quarter
459 Old York Rd.
April 24, 2021, 9-12
Bethlehem Environmental Advisory Council
Gadfly recommends curling up with the beautifully done Spring 2021 issue of Sustainable Lehigh Valley this dreary. rainy Sunday afternoon.
From its acknowledgment of the Lenni Lenape, on whose original land we now live,
to the directory of organizations whose mission it is to maintain our heritage,
you’ll find essays, poems, art work by local talent that wrap you in the Alliance’s vision of “a sustainable, regenerative society, based upon enduring wisdom and
careful stewardship.”
“As spring seeps into our valley, we’re reminded we’ve been living for more than a year now in this liminal, pandemic-induced reality. It exposed our societal weaknesses, exacerbated already-existing disparities, and pushed the climate emergency to the back burner — making it increasingly clear that we need to commit ourselves to creating an equitable, healthy, and sustainable post-pandemic society. While the gravity and existential nature of our problems can be overwhelming, we need not look further than the contents of these pages for hope and optimism about our future — and it’s encouraging to see that so many people are informed about the various economic, environmental, and social issues we’re facing.”
Tara Fitzpatrick
———–
The Alliance welcomes contributions to future issues of Sustainable Lehigh Valley from student to senior.
This popular market, based at 1 Farrington Square on Lehigh University’s campus is back after a yearlong hiatus due to the pandemic.
Opening day will be April 29 and the market will once again be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, May through October, offering fresh local produce, lunch items, baked goods and more.
Location: Historic Rose Garden, Eighth Avenue and Raspberry Street
Details, vendors: The market, held in arguably one of the prettiest spots in the Valley, will be back with more than two dozen vendors (with at least eight new ones) offering organic and humanely raised chicken and beef, produce, baked goods, peanut butter, nuts, vegan yogurt, dairy, flowers, kombucha and microgreens as well as soaps and women’s and children’s clothing. This market is also moving to the circle in the park, a more central location to enjoy all the scenery.
Shoppers may notice a lot of improvements at the park this year thanks to a state grant that has funded the addition of walking paths connecting the site of the market to the children’s play area and bandshell.
Looking further ahead, the market will be part of Rose Fest, which is planned for June 26 and will be a rededication of the park and mark the 90th anniversary of the garden.
Southside Arts/Missy Hartney Greenway and Hayes Street Saturday, April 10, 10AM-1PM Please email me at Missy@southsideartsdistrict.com if you can join us!
It’s a mess –significant help needed!
Next Saturday April 17
Sand Island Trail Clean Up Sand Island-between Ice House and Basketball Courts SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2021 AT 10 AM EDT – 12 PM EDT
The Rose Garden folk are also looking for help “the next several weekends, first to move some of the existing roses, then to prepare the center beds for the new roses and plants coming and then, finally, what you’ve all been waiting for, the new roses!!”
Christine Ussler, Architect and Founder, Artefact, Inc.; Professor of Practice, Art, Architecture and Design, Lehigh University; Board Member, Pennsylvania Historic Preservation; Advisory Board Member, South Bethlehem Historical Society
Scott Burnet, Chairman of the Habitat Committee of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society (LVAS)
Peter Saenger, LVAS President, Ornithologist at Muhlenberg College Acopian Center for Ornithology
Mary Foltz (moderator), Director of South Side Initiative and Professor of English, Lehigh University
Scott Burnet visited the Masonic Temple redevelopment site in South Bethlehem on December 11, 2020 to consult with developer, John Noble, and Architect, Christine Ussler, about the potential relocation and design of the 40-foot-high 5-foot square Masonic Temple chimney. Christine Ussler will tell the story of the changing form and function of chimney structures throughout Bethlehem’s history. Scott will connect our human (his)story to the story of the swifts’ adaptation from hollow trees in old growth forests to masonry chimneys in urban environments. We will invite the audience to reconceptualize our relationship with nature to acknowledge the interconnection between human and natural history.
Jennie Gilrain moderated as Peter Saenger from the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society presented a brief overview of the Swifts (video, mins 17:40-33:30) and then answered questions from Jennie, Josh, and the audience.
Here is an audio clip of Peter’s presentation with a few of his slides, but see link to the full video above.
Can you see the bird’s claws?
Swifts are not physically made for walking but for clinging.
Nesting
Inside the chimney
Far travelers
If they have no chimneys . . .
Art work — something to think about if we foster towers in our parks
Frankly, the fund-raising has stalled. We’ve run out of gas at $8325. Gadfly likes even numbers. He’s going to make (another) contribution right now to try to crank up the momentum. Who will follow? Can you help? Can you encourage someone else to help? Perhaps the Swifts would make a nice home for a piece of an income tax return.
——————–
No more Masonic Temple! Only the Wilbur Mansion and the chimney! All that is left of the Masonic Temple is the concrete railing structure. The chimney now stands alone, supported by a few steel beams. John Noble and his demolition team have succeeded in demolishing the entire building while leaving the chimney standing tall. Now the immense job of stabilizing and repairing the chimney to make it safe as a freestanding structure. The chimney wall that faces the camera is the wall that was against the building.
Rebuilding crumbling stormwater infrastructure and adopting innovative new practices to reduce flooding is finally gaining the attention it deserves. The City of Bethlehem has hired a lead engineer to head up the Department of Public Works effort to manage stormwater runoff. The result will be a stormwater management plan to tackle long-standing flooding hazards and beautify streets and public areas while finding the best ways to respond to expanding state and federal regulations. This work will be paid for by a stormwater fee added to residential and commercial water bills.
To find out more, sign up for and attend one of the two virtual meetings hosted by Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley on April 1 and 6th. Register at www.watershedcoalitionlv.org/Bethlehem for “Bethlehem Presentation: Stormwater Fees – What Residents Need to Know.”
“Starting this spring, Bethlehem City residents will see a small monthly stormwater fee charge on their utility bills. Join this webinar to learn more. The presentation will cover the basics of urban stormwater management and why more municipalities are approving fees to help rebuild crumbling stormwater infrastructure and create innovative new practices to reduce flooding. Learn how cities and towns are tackling long-standing flooding hazards and beautifying their streets and public areas while finding the best ways to respond to expanding state and federal regulations. There will be a chance to ask questions, with answers posted online afterwards, along with a recording of the presentation.”
Jane Cook
Monocacy Creek Watershed Association
Stormwater is also on the agenda for the open-to-the-public Public Works Committee meeting Thursday at 5:30.
On a grayish, blustery March 1 afternoon, Gadfly visited the Chimney Swift Tower that Elijah Sivick built for his Eagle Scout project.
It’s on a still snow-covered tract on the north side of the First Presbyterian Church on Center Street.
The Swifts, as Gadfly and his followers now know and as Elijah wrote in his project report, have been “designated as Near Threatened since 2010” and “have experienced a 70%+ decline over the last 50 years.”
The First Presbyterian chimneys “are unable to be sufficiently cleaned with the amount of swifts currently occupying them,” said Elijah in his proposal, and so “the swifts require a new home, and a tower must be constructed in order for the swifts to begin leaving.”
We don’t want to lose those Swifts.
Residents in nearby Kirkwood Village report fondly watching the Swifts at the Church site for years and years. Just like good neighbors.
Elijah’s project was designed to help to start the Swifts migrating from the Church to the tower.
A saving act just like Jennie Gilrain initiated at the Masonic Temple.
Elijah’s tower was completed last November.
Such Scout projects by Elijah and Emily exemplify for us that there is ample know-how available to spur much more in the way of constructing habitats to help protect the Swifts, which are now our official Bethlehem City bird.
We’re keeping alive Councilman Colon’s suggestion that Swift towers could be erected in our parks perhaps as Scout projects to educate the public on the value of the Swifts.
Tip o’ the hat to Elijah!
———–
A reminder that we’re still in need of funds for the Masonic Temple chimney project
Tip o’ the hat to Ilhan, who remembers the Swifts as his favorite birds from childhood in Turkey. He remembers a children’s book based on this Byzantium story translated into Turkish.
A priest becomes convinced that nymphs are living in a cave and seducing his parishioners, so he blocks the cave’s small mouth and tries to starve them. While waiting for them to starve, a woman — Mary — arrives and transforms the nymphs into birds.
————–
The Swifts are the official City Bird of Bethlehem
They need your help
The Swifts are now the official City Bird of Bethlehem!
Join us at the Bethlehem Area Public Library (virtually) for the first in a 3-part series of presentations in partnership with Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and the South Side Initiative entitled S.O.S. Save Our Swifts by Saving their Urban Habitat: Telling the Story of the Chimney Swifts and their Connection to Our City. This series is supported by the Lehigh Valley Engaged Humanities Consortium (LVEHC) Mellon Grant for Public Forums.
Scott Burnet, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society (LVAS) Chairman of the Habitat Committee
Peter Saenger, LVAS President, Ornithologist at Muhlenberg College Acopian Center for Ornithology
Jennie Gilrain (moderator), LVAS Member and Bethlehem Area School District Teacher
Peter Saenger and Scott Burnet will educate the public about these unusual birds. Swifts originally roosted in hollow trees of old growth forests, but since the Industrial Revolution, have adapted to live in chimneys in urban environments. Approximately 2,200 birds were counted entering the Masonic Temple chimney in South Bethlehem in August 2020. Scott Burnet estimates that tens of thousands of chimney swifts use this roost yearly. Since the Masonic Temple was built in 1925 (95 years ago), it is reasonable to assume that up to 95 generations of swifts have called this chimney home. Peter Saenger and Scott Burnet will tell the story of how these aerial acrobats have cohabitated with the people in multiple roosts in Bethlehem since the Industrial Revolution.
Latest in a series of posts on the environment 
Latest in a series of posts on the environment 
Ok,
and what Noble just said about the importance of education “almost made {him] cry. . . . John is probably less than 1% of developers that you will run in to, he’s golden, and so unique, it’s incredible. . . . If we could only get half the developers to have a tenth of his spirit, this world world would be so much better. Incredible. And shocking. And wonderful.” (Picture of Noble in his spare time.)
Inc., Poets, Journalists, and Concerned Citizens,
Inside the chimney
Department of Public Works effort to manage stormwater runoff. The result will be a stormwater management plan to tackle long-standing flooding hazards and beautify streets and public areas while finding the best ways to respond to expanding state and federal regulations. This work will be paid for by a stormwater fee added to residential and commercial water bills.
Such Scout projects by Elijah and 