Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Council 1301 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia PA 19122 (215) 427 3463 info@ksnac.org www.ksnac.org
NEWSLETTER FA L L 2 0 1 1
IN THIS ISSUE KSNAC By-laws vote passed! Upcoming meetings + events Fall Tree Planting Community Arts Festival (CAFe) Resources Litter-Free Lane Recycling Road Senior Street Vacant Land Strategies
We are pleased to announce that the restated bylaws were approved! AND KSNAC has a new name: SOUTH KENSINGTON COMMUNITY PARTNERS! Stay tuned for our big roll-out with the name and new website in November!
These changes were approved by a vote of the KSNAC membership. The vote was held on Thursday, September 8; the resolution to adopt the restated bylaws and new name was approved 36 in favor, 1 opposed. What is the South Kensington Community Partners (SKCP) all about? The mission of South Kensington Community Partners is to connect our community to resources and opportunities, the land, and each other. We act as, and encourage others, to become engaged stewards of the neighborhood. We advocate for responsible development that builds upon the physical, social, and economic fabric of the neighborhood. Who was considered a member? Residents and business owners, who have attended two or more meetings in the last calendar year, were eligible voters. Those eligible were sent letters, and contacted by email or by phone for those who do not use email.
How did we know who was eligible? That was determined through sign-in sheets. Plenty of folks come out all the time, but we could only verify attendance through the sign-in sheets. What is in a name? With the ever-changing landscape of nonprofits and governmental funding, the organization needs to grow and move away from exclusive association with the NAC contract.
What do these bylaws change? In short, the restated bylaws restructure the organization. The role of the current KSNAC Board will change to that of a Board of Directors role, an entity that will be the leadership of many committees, one of which is the Neighborhood Advisory Committee. The South Kensington Community Partners Board of Directors will be responsible for overseeing and implementing all programs, including those that are outside the scope of the NAC contract. An elected Neighborhood Advisory Committee will be charged with overseeing and implementing the programs of the NAC contract with the OHCD. South Kensington Community Partners Board of Directors The SKCP Board of Directors will be elected by the current NAC board. Future members will be elected by the SKCP Board of Directors. The majority of the Board of Directors will be required to live within the organization’s boundaries, defined as W. Girard Avenue to Berks Street and N. Front Street to N. 6th Street. The bylaws will also allow people who do not live in neighborhood to serve on the board, if they connect to SKCP’s mission and are willing to contribute their professional skills and experience to furthering our goals. All members will have a two-year term limit. The Neighborhood Advisory Committee The Neighborhood Advisory Committee will oversee and participate in the execution of the NAC contract between SKCP and the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The Neighborhood Advisory Committee members will be directly elected by the community every two years. At least, three members of the Advisory Board will serve on the Board of Directors. To be eligible to serve on the Neighborhood Advisory Committee, candidates must live within the service area defined by the NAC contract with OHCD; this does not represent a change to long-standing OHCD policy. Presently that is area encompasses the following census tracts: 128, 129, 142, 144, 156, and 157. NAC Contract 2011-12 and forward Per federal and local funding cuts, the status of KSNAC’s contract, and service area (census tracts) will not be known until late-October. NAC Advisory Board elections will be held immediately following OHCD’s announcement of which organizations receive funding and their designated census tracts to be served.
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KENSINGTON SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL
Fall 2011
MEETINGS + EVENTS Meetings + Events Calendar October 16 CAFe (Community Arts Festival) 12pm-4pm Crane Arts Building (1400 N. American Street) 19
Zoning: No October Meeting Meetings are typically the 3rd Wed. of every month. Projects and the agenda will be posted on the website, flyers, and in the weekly email; call the office with any questions.
25 Mural Dedication Hancock Recreation Center 1:30pm Hancock and Master Streets Refreshments and speakers! November 4 Arab American CDC Health Fair 12pm-4pm Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, 1501 Germantown Ave 16
Zoning: Agenda TBA 6:30pm, KSNAC Office
19 Fall Tree Planting 9:00am-12:00pm Location TBD – stay posted December 6 Family Portrait Day! 2pm-8pm Back by popular demand! We will begin taking appointments on October 16th at CAFe. Details will be on the website, and feel free to call the office. page 2
TREES! TREES!
Fall Tree Planting Sat. November 19th, 10am-12pm Meet @ 1314 N. 4th St. Help the South Kensington Tree Tenders plant 50 trees at various sites around the neighborhood. Tools, coffee and donuts provided. All skills levels welcome! Questions? Email greening@ksnac.org or call Lisa at 215-370-0099.
Family Portrait Day Save the date! Tuesday, Dec 6th, 2pm-8pm SKCP Office, 1301 N. 2nd St.
The talented photographer Sarah Miller will take lively, candid photographs of you and your family, all for an amazingly reasonable price. Perfect for holiday cards and gifts. And to top it off, all proceeds benefit SKCP’s projects and programs. Look out for more details soon! Urban Roots Community Celebration and Fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 22nd 4pm-6pm The Flats at Girard Pointe (1221-1233 N. 3rd St.) Join Urban Roots for a community celebration! Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. It’s your chance to meet and greet the urban topiary designers, paint a leaf for a new mural, and learn about upcoming mentoring workshops for high school students. This event is free. Kindly RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 19th to Cashman & Associates at (215) 627-1082 x106
KENSINGTON SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL
Fall 2011
MEETINGS + EVENTS New Programming at Hancock Rec! Hancock Rec is looking to expand upon its programming by starting two great new programs: Spanish Conversation Class for adults - all levels welcome. Opportunity to converse with neighbors and make new friends while practicing your Spanish! Looking for an instructor to lead the class - this is a paid position! Tumbling/gymnastics class for youth ages 4-12 years old (girls + boys). Great opportunity to get your child involved in a healthy and fun activity with an experienced instructor. Please call Stephanie at 215-685-9886 or email Natania at nschaumburg@ ksnac.org ASAP if you are interested in either class!
Mural Dedication October 25th, 1:30 pm Hancock Rec Center Join artists from the Mural Arts Program and Hancock Recreation Center staff for the dedication of a new mural and benches at the center. Refreshments provided. Contact Stephanie Gradel, Director of Hancock, at (215) 685-9886 for more details.
Fall Activities at Cruz Recreation Center Flag football begins at Cruz Recreation Center (6th and Master Streets) on October 31st. Open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Show up ready to practice at 6pm! Next practices will be on November 7th and 8th. Call John at (215) 6852759 for more information. Also: winter basketball will start in December. Stay tuned for details!
Men’s Basketball League (Ages 35+) Towey Rec Center (Berks and Howard Sts.) Begins November 14th Mon, Tues and Wed, 6pm-pm Registration open until Nov. 4th. Interested teams should contact Ryan Bonner or Pat Cain at 215-685-9892 to register.
Arab American CDC Health Fair November 4th, 12pm-4pm Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, 1501 Germantown The Arab American CDC is holding a health fair the in collaboration with Jefferson medical students and Villanova nursing students. They will be providing free health screenings, flu shots and breast health exams. Fall 2011
KENSINGTON SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL
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RESOURCES LITTER-FREE LANE CIRCULAR NON-DELIVERY If you are a resident or business who does not wish to receive hand delivered advertising circulars or handbills, you may contact Kathleen DuBeck of Licenses and Inspections at 215686-2507 to request to have a non-delivery request form sent to you. The KSNAC office also has copies in the office, so stop by to get one if that is more convenient for you. Once signed up for the program, residents/businesses will receive a sticker that can be placed on their door announcing that the property is a “circular free zone”. If a property owner or authorized lessee has a circular free zone non-delivery sticker visible and continues to receive circulars or advertisements from businesses, they may report this problem to Kathleen Dubeck (215-686-2507) who will issue a ticket to the responsible business as necessary. NO LITTERING SIGNS/CURB YOUR DOG Do you want to put a NO LITTERING or CURB YOUR DOG sign on the fence of a problematic vacant lot or elsewhere on your block? Contact Sandy Miranda of the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee at (215) 685-3985.
RECYCLING ROAD Save the Environment, Earn Rewards, AND Help SKCP The KSNAC office is fully restocked with recycling bins. Stop by M-F, 9-5:30, to get yours and to sign up for Recyclebank – the city-wide program that allows you to earn savings from hundreds of local and national businesses while saving the environment. And if that wasn’t good enough, we have an extra incentive to get you excited about recycling: KSNAC now receives $1 every time we sign someone up for the Recyclebank program, which goes towards the services and programs we provide for residents. Spread the word, stop by, or call us to find out how you and your neighbors can enroll! Green Schools Grants Recyclebank and Philadelphia Recycling Rewards are once again offering grants through the Green Schools Program. Got an idea for a green program at a school? Past projects have included: planting gardens and wildlife habitats, starting a composting program, and increasing recycling by purchasing bins and starting a program. Contact Denise Diorio McVeigh dmcveigh@recyclebank.com for more info. Recycle Your Plastic Bottle Caps and Waxed Cardboard! Waste Management’s new recycling processor can now recycle bottle caps and they be should be left ON the bottle. The balers that compact the sorted bottles are much stronger than the old ones, and can crush bottles with the caps still on. If the caps are removed, they’re so small and light that they’ll just end up in the trash at the end of the sorting line. Also new to the “Philly Recyclables Club”: Waxed cardboard milk & juice containers. That’s right, very exciting! The containers previously were considered “mixed paper” products and were not recyclable, but now Waste Management is able to break the cartons down.
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KENSINGTON SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL
Fall 2011
RESOURCES SENIOR STREET Get flu shots now! According to the CDC, the 2011-12 flu season will start in October and can last for more than six months. People at high risk of complications from influenza include adults age 65+ and anyone with diabetes, asthma, HIV/AIDS or cancer. To prevent the flu, the CDC recommends annual flu shots for all adults. It is especially important for people who are in high risk groups, health care workers and caregivers to get vaccinated. The 2011-12 vaccine will protect against the influenza A H3N2 virus, influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic. Most local pharmacies are offering the flu shot now; if you need help finding a local flu shot provider, call the SKCP office at 215-427-3463.
Medicare Telephone Scam The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging has been notified of recent telephone scams targeting Pennsylvania seniors. If you receive a call and are asked for personal information, such as your bank account or Social Security number, DO NOT give out this or any other personal information. To report a suspected scam, call the PA Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-356-3606.
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Seniors face the greatest property tax burden, as they live on fixed incomes but are faced with rising property taxes. The passage of the Taxpayer Relief Act is helping seniors and disabled residents remain in their homes and make ends meet through property tax relief. The income eligibility level for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been raised from $15,000 a year to $35,000 a year, excluding half of Social Security income, and the maximum rebate was increased from $500 to $650 for homeowners. Claimants or spouses 65 years of age or older; widows or widowers 50 years of age or older; and the permanently disabled 18 years of age or older may qualify for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Property Tax/Rent Rebate application forms and assistance are available at no cost from Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.The department is aware that a company is contacting older Pennsylvanians by mail, offering to prepare Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications for a fee. The KSNAC provides this service for free – please stop by and we will help you fill out your application.
Free Lung Cancer CT Screenings Available at West Philadelphia & Darby Hospitals Seniors with a long smoking history may qualify for a free lung cancer screening from Mercy Cancer Care. The screening takes less than five minutes and includes a non-invasive, low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. Studies have shown that CT scans can detect lung cancers during early stages and reduce deaths among smokers. A limited number of CT screenings are available at no cost (they normally cost hundreds of dollars) and will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Insurance is not required to receive the screening. To see if you qualify, contact Mercy Philadelphia Hospital in West Philadelphia at 215-748-9117 or Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby at 610-237-2525.
Fall 2011
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VAC A N T LOT S Vacant Land in South Kensington: Strategies and Struggles Through the Spring and Summer of 2011, the KSNAC office has been building a database of vacant land and nuisance properties throughout the neighborhood. We’ve been documenting conditions, researching the history and ownership, and mapping the results. We’ve been developing a strategy to coordinate different programs available to alleviate the problem in the short-term, while researching policy changes and proposals that will address the problem in the long-term. Among the goals of this work is to get a detailed overview of the problem neighborhood wide; to use this information in advocacy efforts and to attract limited resources to our neighborhood; to take advantage of volunteers who offer to do clean up projects; and, of course, to be able to respond effectively to individual neighbors’ complaints. On September 12th, KSNAC held a community meeting to share some of our findings and to address the issue of vacant land in the South Kensington neighborhood. More than 60 neighbors came to listen and share their concerns about properties near their homes and businesses, which in some cases are properties that they have been maintaining for many years as gardens or yards. While we were not able to provide all of the answers at that meeting, we hope we successfully communicated to neighbors that we are here to help them address these issues. Guest speakers at the meeting included: Patricia Sullivan, KSNAC intern, Temple student, and resident- Patricia has been canvassing the neighborhood, collecting data on the vacant lots, identifying property owners, and taking photographs of the current conditions of the lots to put together an accurate and up-to-date database. Dr. Susan Lucas, Temple Professor in the Department of Geography and Urban Studies -Dr. Lucas is an urban social geographer interested in changing land use patterns in cities. She has advised Patricia and the KSNAC office on how to conduct vacant lot research. Rochelle Smith, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services - MONS includes programs dedicated to improving the appearance of neighborhoods through the eradication of blight. KSNAC is working with the Vacant Lot Program, identifying weed and trash filled lots where owners who fail to comply with the City’s property maintenance codes can be identified, ticketed, and fined. Bob Grossmann, Senior Director, PHS, Philadelphia Green - Philadelphia Green works with community-based organizations and the City to transform vacant land into an asset for the community. The program stabilizes lots by clearing them, planting trees, and putting a fence around them. Mr. Grossmann is working with SKCP to identify a few “high-profile” lots that would benefit from a Land Care contract. Dylan Baird, Volunteer, Urban Tree Connection – UTC works with community residents to transform over grown, trash-filled vacant lots into gardens that can be enjoyed by everyone in the neighborhood. UTC became the first community group in Philadelphia to be granted conservatorship under the Pennsylvania Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act, which became law in 2010 – nonprofit groups or frustrated individuals can petition the court to be named conservators of an abandoned and blighted property. To meet the criteria, the property must also be considered a public nuisance, in need of substantial repair, and unfit for occupancy. (Con’t. on next page)
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Spring 2011
RESOURCES (Vacant Land - con’t. from previous page) In response to the intense interest in this subject, KSNAC is putting together a vacant land manual from the information we have gathered over the past year, which will provide neighbors with the most recent information on how to report vacant properties, have them cleaned, and/or transfer ownership to a more responsible owner. *We do not pretend to have all the answers. The issue of vacant land plagues neighborhoods citywide, policies and procedures city and state wide are changing, and getting answers and immediate action can be difficult. But the SKCP office acknowledges how large of a problem it is for neighbors’ quality of life, and we are doing everything we can to help! If you have questions or information about a nuisance lot or property in the neighborhood, please let us know! To serve you best, we ask that you contact the KSNAC office (215-427-3463, M-F, 9am-5:30pm), and set up an appointment with Natania - nschaumburg@ksnac.org. She will work with you to identify the address and owner of the nuisance property, and will help you to figure out what the next steps are, depending on your needs. If you and your neighbors would like to organize a clean up, we’d be happy to help you do that. We will provide you with the information for the Community Partnership Program, which lends out tools and bags for neighborhood cleanups. Again, just contact us and we’ll help get the ball rolling. Also, stay posted - we’ll be spreading the word when our Vacant Land Manual is complete, around midNovember. We’ll have lots of copies on hand in the office and information will be posted on our website.
Low-Income Home Eneregy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Grant Program opens on Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 You can get an application form by visiting one of PGW's customer service centers, or by requesting a copy from the SKCP office. Send in your application as soon as possible, so that you do not miss the opportunity to receive a LIHEAP grant. Please stop by the SKCP office or call 215-427-3463 if you need help filling out your application.
Spring 2011
Philadelphia Residents Eligible for Federal Aid to Recover From Tropical Storm (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA) Homeowners, renters and business owners in Philadelphia may apply for federal assistance to help recover from the effects of Tropical Storm Lee on September 3. FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program can provide assistance with temporary housing; uninsured personal property losses; medical, dental and funeral expenses; and other disasterrelated expenses/needs. Low-interest disaster loans are also available from the U.S. Small Business Administration for residential and business losses not covered by insurance. Individuals who suffered damages from the tropical storm may register with FEMA by calling 1-800621-3362 or go to www.disasterassistance.gov. Disaster Recovery Centers in Philadelphia: Packard Building (Center City) 111 S. 15th St. Belfield Recreation Center (Fern Rock Section) 2109 W. Chew Ave.
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“3rd Federal Bank takes care of every facet of our business.” They notice the little things that are important to our business that otherwise would go unnoticed by the bigger banks, who are more concerned about volume and less concerned with me. In the jewelry business, quality and service are everything. 3rd Federal Bank shines. Our customers know they are in good hands when they come to us, and we know we’re in good hands at 3rd Federal Bank. Kathleen Vaughn Owner Fishtown Jewelers
Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Council The FINANTA Center 1301North 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19122 (215) 427 3463 info@ksnac.org www.ksnac.org
The Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Council (KSNAC) is a non-profit, nondiscriminatory, nonpartisan organization with a mission to maintain and improve the neighborhood of Kensington South for the benefit of its residents.