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With the loss of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation high paying manufacturing jobs, and the changing demographics of the city, Bethlehem Pennsylvania, known as the Christmas City of the United States, has been struggling with its economic future. When Karl Fluck returned to Bethlehem several years ago after working in Washington, D.C., the Mayor appointed him to the Southside Task Force, which was an economic advisory body to the Mayor. Having served as the Executive director of an entity that worked with the Chief of Legislative Affairs of three Vice Presidents of the United States, Mr. Fluck managed and coordinated the Macro-economic Development plans for Technical Assistance from The World Bank for The Caribbean Basin, The Pacific Rim, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. Fluck began his investigation of the local economy by surveying over 2600 homes of Bethlehem Steel’s South Side. His conclusion was that as a direct result of the loss of the Steel jobs, the consistent transitory nature of the Spanish population (almost a one hundred percent turnover every three years), the departure of the middle class white population, the aging of the population, (Pennsylvania is the second largest elderly population in the country), the economic erosion of almost two generations and single family home ownership transience (home ownership hovers around the 20% mark), to multiple family residence for local college students, thus there has been a steady erosion of the tax base and the loss of discretionary income and therefore the economic indicators for The South Side were in grim shape. Economic development is not just about putting up a building or a strip mall to create new outlets for products and services. Economic Development, especially as it relates to urban renewal, must gather in its immediate neighborhood, including the residents and the pre-existing buildings and businesses. It is surely impossible to replace the might and power of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, but a series of smaller companies with a central theme could fill the void. Bethlehem Pennsylvania, as the Christmas City connotes two main themes, one liturgical and the other secular. The liturgical theme relates to the Birth of Christ in the Christian Faith. The secular theme relates to the commercial world of Christmas and toys. Both are strategically important to the economic development of the city. We have been the Christmas City since our founding on Christmas Eve in 1741 by Count Von Zinzendorf. The creation of Christmas City Crèche is part of the foundation on which the revitalization will be erected. Mr. Fluck’s conclusion was to create an organization that would revitalize all aspects of the South Side, while taking advantage of the untapped available resources of labor and real estate. Christmas City Crèche is the initial step to recapture the economic strength of the South Side. In the summer of 1999 Mr. Fluck created the original Christmas City Crèche as pictured. Mr. Fluck noticed an article in the local paper about Reverend Raymond Malec, the Pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church on Bethlehem’s South Side. The article mentioned that Reverend Malec and his wife Jane had collected over one hundred Nativity Sets from all over the world. Reverend Malec was known to Mr. Fluck as co-members of the South Side Task force and in fact had served together on some sub-committees over the years but Mr. Fluck had no idea that Reverend Malec was so involved in the collection of Nativity sets or “crèches” as they are also called. Mr. Fluck called Reverend Malec to show him his Christms Crèche, and would Reverend Malec critique his design. Mr. Fluck explained his concept of creating a liturgical production plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Reverend Malec was enthusiastic in his support and thus, the “heart and soul” of Christmas City Crèche was bound and established. Reverend Malec suggested that DiGiovanni® Heirloom Figurines be used for sale with our crèche because he had a relationship with the company through his church to sell the figurines in the “Chriskandlmrkt” during Christmas time here in the Christmas City. Reverend Malec and Karl Fluck, the co-founders of Christmas City Crèche, created the Easter Diorama and a local artist Daniel Kijak carved the Figurines. The Christmas Crèche and the DiGiovanni Heirloom Figurines® and the Easter Diorama™ and the Christmas City Figurines are the initial products that are being sold to establish Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as a center for liturgical sculpture. Mr.Fluck and Reverend Malec are very active in their community. Mr. Fluck and his family are active in Holy Ghost Catholic Church and serve in various ways and functions in other aspects of the community. Reverend Malec is Pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church where he as been for the past nineteen years. He is President of the Lutheran Academy and serves on the Board of Directors for the local “Meals on Wheels” program. Pastor Malec and his family are also active in many aspects of their community and have served on other committees and boards of various professional and civic organizations. All employees of Christmas City Crèche are encouraged to be active participants in their Church, with their family and their community. |
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