The Spirit of Penn's Garden - February 1, 2017 by The Spirit

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WEEK FEBRUARY 1, 2017 VOL. 2 NO. 05

CASTRO TRIBUTE The Church of the Advocate hosts a tribute to deceased Cuban revolutionary 5

FCA MEETING Fairmount Civic Association discusses delinquent taxes and NFL draft at monthly meeting. 6

NEW PAL CENTER Strawberry Mansion to receive second PAL in April 6

CRIME REPORT Local muggings have residents abuzz on social media. 8

ACCU-REGGIE

alk into Kevin Blocker’s office and it looks just as you would expect the office of an auto shop to look. Papers and carbon copy strewn liberally, old CB radios stacked on top of each other, long forgotten CD ROMs, the 5 o’clock news playing on a small TV in the corner — a sort of wabi-sabi that makes it all feel in the right place. “Sometimes I’m like, ‘man, I’m ready to sell this dump!’” Kevin says affectionately about his shop, EKG Auto Sales Inc., located at 31st and Dauphin Streets. It is relatively new,

having opened in 2004, but Kevin and the Blocker family’s history of serving the people of Strawberry Mansion runs deep. Kevin’s father, James Blocker, started Strawberry Mansion Auto in 1976 at a garage at 30th and Dauphin Streets, just blocks away from their home at 33rd and Ridge. When Kevin was 13, he started helping his father around the shop, not knowing then that he would later follow in his Continued on Page 2.

7-day weather forecast for the region. 3

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Events and happenings in our neighborhoods. 7

HOT OFF THE

PRESS

resident Trump has had quite a bit to say about immigration and crime this week and Mayor Jim Kenney is having absolutely none of it. Trump’s recent call to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities including Philadelphia has left Kenney unfazed, and the City will not be scrambling to revise its immigration policy. “In my view, yesterday’s executive order did not even make clear if there were any significant funding streams that the Trump administration could cut off to Philadelphia, and we have no plans to change our immigration policy at this time,” Kenney said Thursday in a statement to Spirit

News. “Our immigrant population is not the source of crime. They are often the victims of crime or the witnesses to crime and driving them underground does not make the city safer - it only serves to destroy the community trust our police department has worked so hard to build.” Kenney insinuated that the executive order was an undue penalty to major cities, saying in his statement that “[...] punishing cities for trying to effectively police our own communities and for acting constitutionally is wrong.” Continued on Page 2.

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – February 1, 2017

Kevin Blocker stands inside of EKG Auto Sales in Strawberry Mansion./All photos by Sean Kearney

Continued from Page 1. father’s footsteps. “I was a fast learner when I was young,” Kevin said, “he’d show me one time and I got it. And I was fast. I never liked taking something apart and not putting it back together right. I don’t make no short cuts.” During this time for Kevin, his father and mother were not merely interested in him learning the business, but learning how to be a good member of the community as well. “My father taught me a lot. Taught me how to be a man, taught me how to raise a family. I’m blessed,” Kevin said, “My mom is a church-going woman, she raised us in the Baptist Church. We were going to church when we was little guys, you know. My mom taught me to respect people, to always do the right thing.” Once Kevin graduated from Overbrook High School in 1982, he enrolled in college. His academic plans, however, were suddenly put on hold. “I was in an accident—a car accident. So I stopped going to school because I had to get me a lawyer and stuff like that. And that took about a year because I was going through court and all that stuff,” Kevin said, “After that my mom was like ‘you gotta do something! You gotta go back to school or you need to pick up a trade,’ so I went with the trade.” Kevin enrolled in Lincoln Technical Institute to go back to his roots — auto work. Kevin had little trouble picking up the trade while at Lincoln Tech, saying he often felt that he already knew the automotive skills he was learning at school. It was not long before Kevin was back from school, working in the shop he grew up helping his father in. As his father got older, he passed Strawberry Mansion Auto down to Kevin. Not long after, Kevin’s brother Greg was coming up into the business too. Rather than hanging on to his loyal customer-base in the comfort of the family shop, Kevin gave Strawberry Mansion Auto to his brother and opened his own shop just a block away, EKG Auto Sales at 31st and Dauphin. As if Kevin’s big brother gesture of giving Strawberry Mansion Auto to his brother was not enough, he made moves to ensure his brother would be successful. “At first, it was a little tough because by leaving, [customers] came with me. So what I did was open another shop up in Germantown,” Kevin said, “that gave him an opportunity to build himself up.” Kevin stayed at his shop in Germantown for three years to allow his brother to gain his own foothold in Strawberry Mansion, referring neighborhood customers to his brother. Kevin says the plan worked. Thanks to Kevin’s stint in Germantown, the brothers enjoy a good amount of business for both of their garages with their own unique client bases. Now that Kevin and Greg have their businesses all set with regular clients, Kevin is the image of contentment. His role as neighborhood mechanic is one that he takes with great joy, “My favorite part is interacting with customers, dealing with my workers— it’s fun, I can work at my own pace at my own time. I like helping people in the neighborhood. I like to be there for them. In my business I do a lot. I do the collisions, do the repairs, I do tags, sales, I do everything. I offer a lot.” From our short time together, there is no doubting that Kevin likes to help people. As people filter in and out of the office, there’s a lot of laughter. The only negative thing I hear about Kevin all evening is how he should take a vacation sometime, a suggestion Kevin essentially ignores. “I’m blesse,d man! This business don’t owe me anything. I raised my family off of this, bought my house off of this — it don’t owe me anything.” •

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – February 1, 2017 FORECAST FOR PENN’S GARDEN

accu-reggie TWITTER: @ACCUREGGIE • FACEBOOK: ACCU-REGGIE

ell, we finally got colder, but the month of January was nearly 6 degrees above normal compared to average. Sheesh, that is some crazy blow torch weather! But the cold has returned, which means we are back in the running for a snow storm, even if the overall pattern still supports warm and rainy weather followed by cold and dry period. February is setting up to be a bit colder than normal, so we will see how long the true cold air lasts and along with it, our chances for snow. As a huge fan of snow, I’ve hated this pattern! But to all our warm-loving readers, this has been the winter for you! This week, we have a chance for light snow on Sunday.

This storm looks weaker and weaker, but I will keep an eye on it to see if it resurges on us. It looks like a 1-2 inch event now, at best. The storm set to start next week on Monday and Tuesday looks much larger, but it looks more wet than white. On a positive note, you may have noticed the days are getting longer. Yes, spring is not far away! Wednesday starts off the forecast period with seasonal temperatures. It will be cool, but not cold as temperatures top out in the middle 40s. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all cold days with temperatures in the 30s by day and 20s by night. No major storms are able to develop over the region and bring us snow, just a cold breeze and flurry here and there.

Sunday features more clouds and the threat of a snow event. This looks like a period of light snow that could drop an inch. Just enough to remind us it’s still winter. Monday will be continued cool behind the storm but the Arctic air begins to ease. A storm approaches the area on Tuesday, but the details are still cloudy (no pun intended!) Check the daily updates throughout the week on Twitter!). This storm has the chance of producing snow for the region but could just as easily be rain. If the past is any indication of the future — it’s gonna rain folks! •

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accu-reggie

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GRACE SHALLOW

SPENCER HOMAN

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ruthann alexander

mark brakeman

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JORDYN CORDNER

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – February 1, 2017

Page 4 Continued from Page 1. His sentiments are echoed by students and faculty of Temple University who have recently signed a “sanctuary campus” petition, urging university officials to protect students and staff who are unauthorized immigrants, in the wake of Trump’s executive order. This week, just after issuing the order, President Trump visited Philadelphia for the annual GOP retreat and was met with thousands of protesters gathered outside of the Loews Hotel, where the retreat was taking place. That night, Kenney tweeted: “Incredibly proud to be a Philadelphian tonight & grateful for the hard work of our first responders & our @PhiladelphiaGov public servants." Trump claimed during his speech at the Loews that, “here in Philadelphia, murder has been steady – I mean just terribly – increasing.” Kenney released a statement, via Twitter, commenting on the claim, succinctly calling it “false.” Kenney pointedly related the issue of crime to Trump and the GOP’s immigration and gun law policies. The public statement is as follows: “President Trump’s false statements today were an insult to the men and women of the Philadelphia police force—the very same men and women who are working long hours today to ensure his safety. Our police officers have worked tirelessly and with great personal sacrifice to get Philadelphia’s crime rate down to its lowest point in forty years, while also successfully implementing reforms to strengthen police-community relations and uphold the rights of all our residents. Our homicides are, in fact, slowly declining, and while we are not satisfied with even our current numbers, we are handicapped by Republican refusal to enact any kind of common sense gun control and by their obsession with turning our police officers into ICE agents – which will prevent immigrants from coming forward to report crimes or provide critical witnesses statements that can put dangerous criminals behind bars.” As for compliance, Kenney says that Philly will play by the rules as long as the federal government does, too, but makes it clear that he won’t be infringing on the people’s rights. “If the federal government obtains a warrant for an individual and asks us to hold them, we will comply. But to have somebody picked up for traffic violations and held for 72 hours against their will without a warrant or charges, to me, flies in the face of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” he explained in his statement to Spirit News. On Friday, Mayor Kenney spoke at a press conference in West Philly detailing You Earned It Philly, an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program seeking to award federal

funding to families in Philadelphia. The City partnered with the Campaign for Working Families and PathwaysPA to produce the second annual You Earned It Philly awareness campaign. Kenney is a strong proponent of fighting poverty and championing programs such as You Earned It Philly, which seeks to alleviate Philadelphians living in poverty. You Earned It Philly’s website and hotline are both multilingual, and they welcome unauthorized immigrants and non-English speakers to explore their options in the way of federal tax credits. Unauthorized immigrants cannot receive the EITC, but can receive Child Tax Credits. You Earned It Philly has locations all over the city, including spots in North Central and Strawberry Mansion. “More than half of unauthorized immigrants have U.S. born children, and those children are not going anywhere, no matter what someone says, because they’re U.S. citizens. So it’s important to support those families, and I’m so happy that the city [and partner organizations] are doing that,” said speaker Will Gonzalez of Pathways / Ceiba. “The impact that unauthorized immigrants have is huge in this city, believe it or not. According to the Migrations Policy Institute, there are 14000 unauthorized immigrants living in [Philadelphia]. I am so happy that our city recognizes the needs of immigrants [and is] supporting that.” Several speakers thanked Kenney, highlighting his commitment to the program and to the citizens of Philadelphia. In his own speech, Kenney urged residents to claim this money from the federal government “before they use it to build the wall.” The audience laughed, but Kenney wasn’t joking. “I’m serious,” he told Spirit News after the conference. “14 or 15 billion dollars is a lot of money.” The You Earned It Philly campaign is just one example of Kenney’s commitments, despite federal opposition, to making Philadelphia safe and welcoming to all, including those who are unauthorized immigrants. “The start of this administration has been disconcerting and sad. But we’ll see if perhaps some of the more moderate members of the Republican Party and the Democrats can forge some kind of coalition to fight back [against] some of the nonsense we’re hearing about.” After Saturday’s detainment of two Syrian families at Philadelphia International Airport, Mayor Kenney released a statement calling the detainment and ban of refugees “unjustifiably cruel[.] It also puts Americans at home and serving abroad at great risk. By refusing to allow entry to any immigrants from these seven nations, even those who have helped American troops as interpreters and fixers, we are enabling anti-American radicalization and endangering the lives of many.” The Temple News reported on January 31st one of the detained families was related to junior biology major, Joey Assali. Assali's family was sent

back to Qatar on a plane after three hours of detainment. On January 29th, Temple President Richard Englert issued a statement to faculty and students regarding Trump’s executive order. The statement acknowledged that the travel ban has caused uncertainty and anxiety for members of the Temple community and all of higher education. “We advise all nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen to consider delaying international travel at this time, as it is not clear how re-entry will be affected by the new regulations,” Englert said. “We hope the coming days and weeks will provide greater clarity, for the benefit of you as individuals and for Temple and other institutions of higher education. Kenney faces the challenge of being personally invested in taking care of Philadelphia’s citizens and presiding over a city which he calls politically “fair,” while the Trump administration domineers federal politics. “Well, we just started [working under the Trump administration], there's only been 7 days, so we’ll see how it plays out. I don't necessarily know if we’re liberal, I think we’re fair. We just try to be fair to everybody and that's what everybody should be, and that's what the federal government should be,” he stated. He summed it up well on Wednesday, tweeting:

“We are the City of Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection. All are welcome here. No matter where you’re coming from.”

If you are a Temple student affected by the immigration suspension, or are unsure of your situation, you are invited to reach out to the school's office of International Student and Scholar Services (www.temple.edu/isss; isss@ temple.edu) for information on travel outside the United States and to discuss additional specific questions resulting from the immigration suspension. •

Mayor Jim Kenney speaks at the Women's March on Philadelphia./Kaitlyn Moore

WRITTEN BY GRACE SHALLOW

Donna Bullock

REPRESENTATIVE BULLOCK APPOINTED TO FIVE COMMITTEES IN HARRISBURG onna Bullock was officially sworn into Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives for the 195th District and appointed to work on five committees on January 3rd. Bullock will be returning to the Appropriations, Aging & Older Adult Services and State Government committees. She is a new member on the Environmental Resources & Energy and Commerce committees. She said she hopes these appointments will allow her to look into issues that disproportionately affect people who “don’t typically get a seat at the table,” like environmental justice and opportunities for affordable housing. Environmental issues that Philadelphia is facing, like lead poisoning, is a result of bad policy, she said. “We are not investing in the industry in the way that can protect public health, air, water stream that makes community, adults and children safe,” Bullock added. She said she also wants to ensure that the “social safety net” doesn’t let citizens fall through the cracks by expanding the coverage area of programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Growing up with a mother as a welfare recipient inspires the policies she wants to help pass today, Bullock said. On all five of the committees she is a member of, there is a Republican majority. Bullock, a Democrat, said she hopes to coordinate with members of every political party in a time of increased partisanship. She said she has toured Republicans’ districts and attended baseball games with their families. “There’s opportunities to work with each other and to take opportunities to meet people from besides the aisle,” she said.

Bullock was also appointed to be the vice-chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and to work with Jordan Harris, who is the state’s representative for the 186th District and the chairman of the caucus. Bullock and Harris are also both members of the energy committee. Harris said Bullock has been a “valuable” partner as they’ve collaborated on setting the agenda for the caucus. He said, as a team, they are interested in issues like policing, criminal justice reform and education in Black communities. “She is a highly qualified, thoughtful and well-prepared legislator,” Harris said. “She is a wife and a mother. … It’s my belief that all of those experiences make her a great asset for Philadelphia in Harrisburg.” Bullock said interacting with her constituents is the most rewarding part of the job and what she anticipates the most. “They care about the neighborhood and care about community,” she said. “Those are the folks that make going to work more rewarding.” •

Donna Bullock

t g d r -

, e e r r

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – February 1, 2017

WRITTEN BY RUTHANN ALEXANDER

Castro Tribute

CHURCH OF THE ADVOCATE HOSTS TRIBUTE TO DECEASED CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY

hants of “Viva Fidel!” rang out in the gymnasium of the Church of the Advocate at 1801 Diamond St. this past Saturday at a tribute event for deceased Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. - At least 40 people turned up to honor and pay respects gto Castro with spoken word poetry, impassioned speeches pand music. Various local organizations came out to table at the -church including the Green Party of Philadelphia, the sMOVE organization, the All-African People’s Revolutioneary Party, the Workers World Party of Philadelphia and the tParty for Socialism and Liberation. - Those paying tribute voiced their discontent at the way US media regularly portrays Castro as a dictator rather than as a revolutionary hero. “We are all inspired by the revolutionary legacy of Fidel .Castro,” said Walter Smolarek, a member of the Party for gSocialism and Liberation. Smolarek believes that all people can learn from the example of Castro’s commitment to Cuban people. He disnagrees with the way American media portrays Castro and -claims it is different from the way the rest of the world -views the late Communist leader. @ “I think it’s completely ridiculous how he’s portrayed in dthe US media,” Smolarek said. “It’s out of step with how -the rest of the world sees the Cuban revolution.” Other countries appreciate the solidarity that the Cuban Revolution inspired among its people, Smolarek added. The All-African People’s Revolutionary Party supports Castro because he helped liberate many regions of Africa, said Yero Okite, a central committee member of the party. Okite, who has been a member of the party since 1976, praised Castro for opening doors to African-American people who were heavily targeted in acts of racial violence. “When African people in this country were in trouble here Cuba opened arms to them,” Okite said. He mentioned Assata Shakur, aunt of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, who currently lives in exile in Cuba. Kareem, a member of the MOVE organization, said the US never liked Castro. “Fidel Castro’s my man,” Kareem said. Now that the former Cuban leader is dead, he wants to know where his brother, Raul Castro, stands. Shani Akilah, one of the speakers with the Black and Brown Workers’ Collective, is descended from Haitians and spoke about what Castro meant to Haiti. Akilah said this question was important to her because he grandfather left Cuba to live in Haiti. While there, he built a school and married Akilah’s grandmother. In Haiti, Akilah’s grandfather was targeted because the people thought he was communist. “This is a time to call on every part of our beings, spiritual and all, so that we have everything we need to dismantle the system of white supremacy,” Akilah concluded. Minister of Communication for the MOVE organization, Ramona Africa, challenged the audience to emulate Castro in their daily lives. “Don’t just spout out words of respect for Fidel,” Africa said. “Follow his example. Don’t take the tyrant of this country laying down.”

She said the MOVE organization knows what it is like to be oppressed and to need to fight an abusive government. As the sole adult survivor of the 1985 government bombing of the MOVE house in West Philadelphia, she witnessed her family being killed by an oppressive system firsthand. Castro stood in solidarity with Chile and other South American countries, as Karla Martin, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, discussed. “He helped comrades in Chile by contributing weapons to the revolutionaries,” Martin said. “Fidel was the architect of a revolutionary society.” Gail Walker, the Executive Director of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, spoke about the contributions to education that Castro made to Cuba. One major contribution Castro made to education in Cuba was the scholarship fund for youth from underserved US communities to attend the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) in Havana, Cuba. The school was built on the site of an old naval academy, Walker said. Currently, 143 graduates from ELAM live in the US, and 100 more are expected to graduate this year, Walker said. Walker’s organization has been in constant solidarity with Cuba since the 1960s and has organized thousands of trips to Cuba in violation of the US embargo. She also spoke of the risks that come with such solidarity. “We have been under siege by the US government for the work we’ve been doing these 50 years,” Walker said. “The Internal Revenue Service stripped us of our non-profit status. But still we rise.” •

Ramona Africa addresses the legacy of Fidel Castro./Rachel Wisniewski

The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – February 1, 2017

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WRITTEN BY MARK BRAKEMAN

FCA Meeting

FA I R M O U N T C I V I C D I S C U S S E S D E L I N Q U E N T TA X E S A N D N F L D R A F T AT M O N T H LY M E E T I N G

axes and traffic were the main focus of remarks from two at-large Philadelphia councilmen at the January meeting of the Fairmount Civic Association on Thursday, January 27. Councilman Allan Domb said delinquent real estate taxes in the city total $492 million. He explained that those delinquencies are on approximately 8,900 properties worth a total of $134 billion and taxable for $91 billion. But he said 6,900 of the property owners owe less than $4,000. From a somewhat brighter angle, he noted that 55 percent of those in delinquency will pay the amount due upon the first delinquency notice from the city. He also said less than 0.5 percent of delinquent properties are in foreclosure. And he said delinquent taxpayers are in the distinct minority. Only eight percent don’t pay, while 92 percent do. On the flip side of money flowing from government coffers to citizens, Domb said few eligible Philadelphians take advantage of the Internal Revenue Service’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable tax credit for lowto moderate-income working individuals and couples, particularly those with children. Domb said there are 400,000 homes in Philadelphia in poverty, and 4,000 in extreme poverty, but most of the $100 million EITC money earmarked for Philadelphia by the IRS goes unclaimed. Domb, who was elected last year, also said he would like to eliminate the city’s Delayed Retirement Option

Plan (DROP) program, under which a city worker nearing retirement age can name a future retirement date and immediately start accruing pension benefits in an interest-bearing account, then collect that money when they do retire, in addition to their full pension. The move was made in 1999 during the Rendell administration to keep top talent on the job longer. But a study by Boston College found that DROP cost the city $258 million because some people were timing their projected retirement dates to be able to collect optimal DROP and pension benefits. Additionally, some people who had taken advantage of the one-time payout were returning to work after a short recess and drawing a full salary again. And in addition to those workers drawing wages, Domb said for every dollar paid to a city worker, the city pays 71 cents in benefits. City Councilman-at-large Bill Greenlee told attendees of the meeting that the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be blocked off the last weekend of April due to the National Football League’s draft, which will be held in front of the Art Museum’s steps. The draft itself will happen on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but the Parkway will be closed the entire week for events and exhibits for the public. He also said the League will reimburse the city for expenses incurred by the event including staging and infrastructure. Zoning variances for three properties in Fairmount were also presented to obtain a letter of non-opposition from the FCA to present to the Zoning Board. The owner of 926

N. 29th St. wants to turn a large two-story single-family home into a two-unit structure. But that property is zoned for single-unit homes only. At 837 N. 21st St., the owner wants to replace an existing free-standing deck behind the house with a small greenhouse. The owner of 2817 Parrish St. would like to add a second story to an existing single-story structure that extends behind the two-story house. In these two cases a variance is required because the remaining yard space is less than required by code. Although, that requirement is already breached by the existing structures. Because only a few immediate neighbors were present to offer their thoughts on the projects, a consideration of non-opposition letters was delayed until more neighbors could speak on the projects. FCA president Larry Reynolds said he had talked with City Councilman-at-large David Oh about claiming public parking spaces to be dedicated as restricted for electric vehicles. He said the same rules for claiming handicapped parking spaces would apply. That is, in a block with single-side parking less that 50 feet long, no more that two spaces would be allowed. Up to four such spaces would be in blocks longer than 500 feet. Reynolds said the dedicated spaces can be no longer than 20 feet, and he added that a typical parking space is 16 feet long. Some FCA members were concerned that an electric space could take away one of the permitted dedicated spots needed by a disabled person. •

WRITTEN BY MARK BRAKEMAN

New PAL Center S T R AW B E R RY M A N S I O N T O R E C E I V E S E C O N D PA L I N A P R I L

or 70 years, the Police Athletic League (PAL) in Philadelphia has been working to give kids alternatives to the streets in troubled neighborhoods. This April, the upcoming second PAL Center in Strawberry Mansion will offer that to local kids. Ted Qualli, PAL’s executive director, explained that the organization identifies at-risk neighborhoods for it’s facilities and that Strawberry Mansion had been an area of interest for some time due not simply to its crime rate, but also because of willing partnerships with local organizations and individuals to help run and promote the program.. Qualli said sports activities, which will include basketball, baseball, flag football, gymnastics, volleyball and others will be the Strawberry Mansion PAL Center’s primary focus. ”It’s what gets kids in the door,” he explained. But it will also have computer and homework clubs with professionals assisting with both programs. Aside from giving kids alternative ways to spend their free time, the center also offers them the chance to interact with police in ways they are not used to, Qualli added. Police officers are involved in all activities to foster constructive relationships with kids while building positive character traits and bridges between police at the larger community. PAL programs are available to boys and girls aged six to 18 years. The new facility will be the second PAL site in Strawberry Mansion, according to Tonnetta Graham, president of the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation. Graham told Spirit News that the North Penn PAL Center currently operates at 27th and York Streets, but she said the new center, in the former LP Hill School at 32nd Street and Ridge Avenue, will better serve the western side of Strawberry Mansion. LP Hill was closed by the School District of Philadelphia in 2013. Graham said she was excited to see an expansion of the use of the closed school, now called the Ruth Wright Hayre Educational Complex. She said PAL offers wonderful programs for young people and the new facility will allow them to provide services to a larger base of youth. With the help of City Council President Darrell Clarke, Qualli said funding was secured to put a new roof on the gym among other renovations, with supplies and labor to be donated by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). Improvements will include a new paint job, new lighting and the renovation of small, bare cinderblock-walled rooms with attractive wall board and attractive lighting to give the computer and homework clubs comfortable meeting spaces.

/Photo courtesy Philadelphia PAL

Qualli added BOMA will also construct bathrooms within the PAL area of the school so participating students will not have to wander throughout the building to find them.“It’s really going to be a first-rate facility,” Qualli said. “It’s going to be one of the nicest PAL centers in the city.” Don Haas, co-chairman of the BOMA Government Relations Committee, told Spirit News, “We’re really glad to be working with PAL. We’ve had great success with them.” The LP Hill project is BOMA’s sixth collaboration with PAL, he said.Their first was in 2010. Haas also said BOMA is still finalizing specific plans for the project, but Qualli told Spirit News that earlier estimations set renovations at 30-45 days and should start In early February. Qualli added that in the next four years, PAL plans to build 24 or 25 new PAL centers in the city . Qualli said it was with the help of the US Attorney’s office that PAL obtained use of the LP Hill gym. US Attorney Robert Reed said his office has reached out to the School Board of Philadelphia to reopen and re-purpose several

schools that had been shut down in order to offer needed services to those communities. Reed said he is optimistic about empty classrooms in the building eventually being filled with social services to aid Strawberry Mansion residents, but currently there are only two such programs. Since the summer of 2014 it has been home to an office of the Northeast Treatment Centers, an umbrella organization offering child welfare assistance, and that is the sort of neighbor that Qualli is looking for. Qualli said having social services in the same building where they were offered gym space provides avenues to create awareness within the community of PAL’s presence, and thereby draw volunteers. For although each center is staffed by a Philadelphia Police Officer who directs all programs of the center, volunteers comprise a large portion of PAL’s support staff. With that benefit PAL couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use the Hill School, Qualli said. •

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – February 1, 2017

COMMUNITY

calendar N E W S @ S P I R I T N E W S . O R G • 1 4 2 8 E . S U S Q U E H A N N A AV E • 2 1 5 . 4 2 3 . 6 2 4 6 February 1-25 ART EXHIBITION AT CERULEAN ARTS: CAROLINE FURR AND LINDA BRENNER The opening reception is 5-8PM February 3, and the artists host a talk about their work at 2PM February 12. For more information call (267) 514-8647 February 1-28 ART EXHIBITION AT RYBREW Local artist Selene Nunez-Cruz is bringing her art exhibition, titled “Hipsturbia Food,” to Rybrew (2816 W. Girard Ave) for the month of February. According to Nunez-Cruz, the exhibit is based on Rybrew ideology: great atmosphere for urban-zen generation seeking out palatable alternatives and drinks in a laid back, retro and authentic place. February 4, 12 - 4PM WAGNER’S WINTER WONDERLAND The Wagner Institute of Science is offering free arts, crafts, etc. aimed toward kids 6-12 and their families. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wagners-winter-wonderland-2017-tickets-30695510097 or call 215-7636529 February 7th, 6PM - 7:30PM MIGHTY SUPERHEROES AND VILLAINS (AGES 7-9) Superheroes! Supervillains! And, comic strips! Join Mighty Writers as they combine the three to help attendees create their own graphic works of art. Other dates available. For more information, contact Shamira O’Neal at soneal@ mightywriters.org or 267-405-2368 February 12th, 3PM - 5:30PM COCKTAILS AND PAINT PRESENTS A FUR-RAISER FOR LE CAT CAFÉ Come join us for a special afternoon of fun, painting and laughs while supporting Philadelphia’s best loved GreenStreet Rescue. Money raised is to help the stray cat population with health care, housing, feeding and adoptions. The event will take place on Sunday, February 12, between 3:00-5:30 PM @ Le Cat Café (2713 W. Girard Ave.) Tickets are $35.00 each and can be purchased at www.cocktailsandpaint.com This event is BYOB and you’re welcome to bring snacks. Cats will be walking freely throughout this event, please be advised if you have allergies. For more information about a fundraising events for your organization contact awine@cocktailsandpaint.com February 14th, 10AM - 12PM SIGHTS, SOUNDS & FEELS! Join Mighty Writers for a workshop with the Prometheus Orchestra. In this 90-minute workshop, students and their teacher will work on developing their writing skills in conjunction with a performance from the Orchestra. Other dates available. For more information, contact Shamira O’Neal at soneal@mightywriters.org or 267-405-2368 February 24th, 8:30PM STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW AT PERFORMANCE GARAGE On February 24th, Performance Garage (1515 Brandywine Street) is hosting a comedy show featuring headliner Shane Gillis. Gillis was named 2016 Philly’s Phunniest at Helium Comedy Club. In 2014 he was named Baltimore’s New Comedian of the Year at Magoobys Joke House. Shane has worked at several clubs including The Stand in NYC, Caroline's on Broadway, Helium Philadelphia, Punchline Philadelphia, and many more. Other featured comics include Michael Adams, Matt McCusker, and Chanel Ali. Doors at 7:30PM. Tickets are available on gillis.brownpaperticket February 25th, 11AM AFRO AMERICAN HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING Topic: How to Research African American Family History. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meeting will take place at Community College of Philadelphia, Northwest Campus, in room 244. Will begin promptly at 11AM. For more information call 215-747-2786. Mondays, 6-8PM TOUR AMBASSADOR STEWARDS TRAINING PROJECT The Strawberry Civic Association is looking for young and young at heart folks to come out to Mander Rec Center

(33rd and Diamond St.) to learn Philadelphia history, Fairmount Park history, museum and trail information, etc. Tourism is a lucrative industry…. Be prepared. For more call 215-765-9500 Tuesdays, 7-9PM OPEN MIC NIGHT Mugshots Coffeehouse (1925 Fairmount Ave.) hosts an open mic night every Tuesday. For more information visit Mugshots Coffeehouse on Facebook. Wednesdays, 5-8PM WEDNESDAY NIGHTS GAMEPLAY Every week there are different games to play in the galleries of The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Play with friends or with fellow visitors in friendly competition provided by the Museum. For further information contact Philadelphia Museum of Art

at (215)-763-8100 Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30PM MAKE STUFF A drop-in program to craft handmade objects or create art being surrounded by the art of The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Activities include sketching, knitting, Lego fun or even creating a puzzle. For further information contact Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215)-763-8100 Thursdays, 12-1PM COFFEE AND CONVERSATION On Thursdays, The Stephen Klein Wellness Center opens up for the community to talk about what they please while enjoying free coffee and snacks. Anyone can drop in.

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – February 1, 2017

Page 8

WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK

Academic excellence

GIRARD COLLEGE STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

n Wednesday, January 11th, five Girard College students were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) during a ceremony in the school’s chapel. Dr. Loretta Sweet Jemmot, Drexel University’s Vice President for Health and Health Equity, served as the ceremony’s speaker. Becoming a member of the NHS is no simple feat, especially at Girard College, where standards are particularly high since so few applicants are chosen. Applicants must have attended the school for at least one full semester and achieved or maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Each prospective member fills out an application which goes through two rounds of consideration before a final decision is made. Tahji Ellison, an eleventh grader at Girard College and one of the five inductees, is a bright, determined and well-rounded student with big plans for the future. An honor-roll student who participates in a number of extracurricular activities, she works in Girard College’s technology center and takes classes at the Community College of Philadelphia as part of a dual enrollment program. Ellison wants to study business administration and finance in college in hopes of one day owning her own business or working with high-level executives in the corporate world. She is excited to be a member of the NHS. “It’s an honor to be in the National Honor Society, and it’s a chance for me to give back to my community and do things for others,” Ellison said. The four other inductees were Zimira Jackson, Stanton Hare, Reginald Morgan and Tiffany Bass. Ramiah Hughes, the sixth and final member, was inducted last year. Established in 1848, Girard College is located at 2101 South College Avenue on the border of Fairmount and North Central. It is a college preparatory five-day boarding school initially created for poor, white, orphaned boys only. Now it is open to any child or adolescent who, for whatever reason, does not live with both of his or her biological parents. About 300 students are currently enrolled, and each attends on a full scholarship. The school is named after Stephen Girard, a shipping magnate from France who left his entire fortune to the city of Philadelphia after he died in 1831. •

Tahji Ellison, 11th grader at Girard College./Thomas Beck

WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK

Crime Report

L O C A L M U G G I N G S H AV E R E S I D E N T S A B U Z Z O N S O C I A L M E D I A

ccording to two posts on Nextdoor, two women in Fairmount have experienced muggings this month. In the first post, dated January 12th, the mugging took place at the intersection of Poplar and Pennock Streets. The assailant, reportedly a black man, who’d been walking down Poplar Street with a group of other black men, absconded with the woman’s messenger bag, which contained a laptop, a wallet and work-related documents. The police apprehended several suspects about 15 minutes after the incident occurred. One of the suspects was in possession of the woman’s laptop when he was arrested. The messenger bag and the rest of its contents still have not been recovered. The following week, in a post dated January 19th, another woman was mugged on Brown Street between 22nd and 23rd Streets. The two muggers pinned the woman to the ground while searching her coat pockets. They stole the bag she was carrying, in which were her wallet, her phone and several books. Both of the assailants were black, around five foot eight, and appeared to be in their late teens. They wore dark clothing at the time of the incident. The victim has reported this information to the police, and they are currently trying to track the assailants with the phone. If you have any information regarding these incidents, be sure to contact the 9th Police District at (215) 686-3090. •