It wasn't just Another Day in Catasauqua

I went for coffee this morning at WAWA in Whitehall - usually you go in and come back out and that's about it, this morning it reminded me the coffee shop that use to be in Catty.  Everyone was talking about the storm.  One person mentioned Coplay, another said - you should see Catty.  I was at work in Allentown when it all happened.  We had some heavy rain, but nothing like at home.  Parke called during the storm - he had heard glass crashing he went up to the third floor found one window smashed.  The hail started pelting the roof, he said the noise was deafening.  We have a cat that lives on the third floor affectionately called, Cat.  Cat virtually has no contact with us normally but she and Parke both stood there looking at the ceiling like, what the heck is going on.

Pine Street Bridge

I left work early - there were reports of street closures and a tree on the Pine Street Bridge - yes on the bridge.  I have been on that bridge in a storm and it is scary.  There are trees on each side and the tree tops bend over the top of the bridge in high winds.   I came home via Race Street - turned on to 14th and when I got the Sheckler School I was in awe - the trees in front of the school were all split in half - looked like they were literally ripped apart.  Going farther on 14th it looked like a Tree Bomb when off - leveling and breaking trees.  Crazy.  I turned onto Walnut Street only to find it closed.   Tried Bridge Court next - closed.  I went back out to Race Street and crossed my fingers and went up to Wood Street - clear - woo hoo - went up to Howertown Road to my house.  Oh my,  trees, leaves and people everywhere.  The PPL truck was parked at my house.

My 3rd Floor windows

Damage to my house consists of many window panes broken in my attic, my tomato garden looks like it was flattened and leaves everywhere.  Not bad, it could been worse and it was all over our town, Whitehall and Coplay.  It is weird turning on the Eyewitness News and hearing them mention Coplay and the size of the hail. The hail in Coplay was 1.75 inches in diameter. Wow.

The best video of the storm on Facebook is that of Ben Ferenchak - who was crazy enough to be out on his porch and taking video of the storm.  If you can check it out - please do.

Walnut Street - the reason I couldn't go home this way

This just in from Catasauqua - The Catasauqua Park was hit pretty bad during the storm yesterday. Officials are asking that you stay out of the Park for safety reasons until further notice. Also, the Pool will be closed and Park activities will be suspended until further notice.

I saw video of the park last night on facebook - lots of trees down - some on the playground equipment, some on the different courts, the one basketball court was covered with trees.

I am sure we will be cleaning this mess up for a while.  I know tonight I will be cleaning up my lawn.  Last night we had tickets for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, since we did not have electricity we decided to go to the game, even if it was just to eat and get a free t-shirt.  Turned out to be a good game so we did not get back home until 10:00 PM. I would say that only about half the people attended - our whole section was missing people.  I think a lot of people just stayed home.  

On my way to work this morning it was sad to see how many trees had to be cut down or how many huges branches were down just in my few blocks. I guess you will have this in a "Tree City" town.   It seems like we might of had more damage this time than we did with Hurricane Sandi or a least comparable.  This was quick, Hurricane Sandi was a whole long night.  Hurricane Sandi was wide spread - this was locked into Coplay, Whitehall and Catasauqua.  The Airport reported winds of 65 miles an hour.  

I haven't heard that anyone was hurt, just property, I think that is a good thing.  All in all it was a day to remember.  I am sure we will be talking about this storm for quite a while.  

Let's hope we don't have ..........Another Day in Catasauqua....like this one for a long, long time.

A mural in Catty?

I would like this mural outside my back door!

One of my BFF's at work, Barbara just mentioned that there was an article in today's Morning Call about a proposed mural on Front Street.  I was like .....what?

Here is an excerpt from the article:

"Catasauqua plans to beautify the Pine Street gateway to the borough with a large mural.
The painting is one of several improvements planned at the intersection of Pine and Front streets, where many commuting motorists cross the Lehigh River on their way to and from the borough each day.

The old brick facade, next to the Lukoil gas station, contains several bricked in windows. Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder said borough officials mused that the windows could serve as "windows to the past," featuring elements from Catasauqua's history, such as the George Taylor House and other notable sites. However, such an element is at the discretion of the chosen artist and his or her proposal.
Goldfeder said the goal of the mural is to beautify the gateway to the borough. It would be placed amid a growing commercial stretch (*I thinking that's stretching it a bit)  along Front Street to the Pine Street Bridge and beyond.

The mural is the most obvious improvement of the entire gateway," Goldfeder said.

The work will be funded with a $40,000 matching Community Development Block Grant. Lehigh County is allotting $36,000 and the borough is kicking in $4,000.

Goldfeder said the mural is expected to cost $10,000 to $12,000 with the rest of the funds for such possible items as new streetlights, lighting for the mural, crosswalks, benches or even a bus shelter."

I don't know - a mural really - I am all for new streetlights, crosswalks, benches or even the bus shelter.  How about beautifying the town with flower planters or some nice trash containers?  I am always impressed with Hershey, Pennsylvania when the girls and I go for a Joyce Meyer Convention every year.  That have huge flower planters and hanging flower pots that just brighten up the city. 

Who knows, maybe I will love the mural, I hope so I will pass it every day once the Pine Street Bridge opens again. 

What I think Catty should do to raise some money is sell tickets for the chance to be the first one over the bridge when it reopens - I would pay for the chance to do that.  OH, PINE STREET BRIDGE HOW I MISS YOU.

and that's another day in Catasauqua.

Spring, Bridges and Flowers in Catty

As I was preparing for dinner, I sat on the front porch snapping beans.  It is amazing, has spring truly sprung, or as Parke says when I ask him if he is going to put the snow shovels away, "I am waiting for the big one."

I watched cars go by with the top down.  I saw ants on the pavement.  Bugs are flying around already.  My flowers are gorgeous.  Is mother nature pulling a trick on us, or is the winter that never really happened?

I am loving it.  I hope this is not a precursor to a really hot summer.  Let's not even think about that and just enjoy the beautiful weather in Catasauqua.

Took a walk with Parke after supper and was armed with the camera.  Do you know that on March 27th last year I attempted to get pictures of flowers and I had a hard time, not today.  Hyacinths, Daffodils and even something that looks like tulips are already in bloom.  A few more days and the Magnolia Trees will be in full bloom.  I can't believe it.

AND SPEAKING OF THINGS I CAN'T BELIEVE - the Race Street bridge will have lane restrictions this Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 3pm, for bridge inspection.  What if it doesn't pass, are they going to close it?  Duh, they couldn't do this before they closed the Pine Street Bridge?   I am off on Monday, so I won't have to deal with it, but I work Tuesday and because I work such strange hours it will affect me one way or another.   

When it comes to the Pine Street Bridge closure what bothers me the most is that it is almost time for BASEBALL - mainly Iron Pigs Baseball and I usually go down Race Street to Canal Road to go to Coca Cola Park.  Have you tried that at 5:00 PM yet, omg, you just inch along.  Hate that! 

Well enough whining, have a great evening, get out and enjoy this beautiful weather because it's another day in Catasauqua.

Bye Bye Pine Street, Hello Traffic

Well, if you live in Catasauqua I guess you know this by now, but in case you don't the Pine Street Bridge will be closed starting tomorrow, March 6 until a projected date of July 7.  Oh my.

The Pine Street Bridge project is part of a more than $33 million Lehigh County bridge repair and replacement program of three river crossings slated to span the next four years, according to Director of General Services Glenn Solt.

Later this year the county will replace the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge connecting Lehigh Street in Whitehall to Eugene Street to North Catasauqua. The replacement of the Coplay-Northampton Bridge will begin once the Lehigh Street span reopens.

At least one of the bridges will be closed through 2016, Solt said.

So, I guess we will be learning a lot of new traffic patterns!  I am not sure which way I want to go.  Going the Hokey Bridge is out of my way.  Going the Race Street Bridge is more direct BUT have you ever seen the traffic on Race Street at 5:00 PM!  Now, this is the only time you will hear me say this but I am glad I am laid off part-time because I go in at different times everday and sometimes these are not peak times, coming home could be a different story though.  I guess I could come home the Tilghman Street Bridge to Canal Road then up through the development to the light at Race and 14th Street.   My guess is we will all be using tricks to get around. 

Good luck everyone, try not to develop road rage, stay calm and that's another day in Catasauqua.