The Spirit of the Riverwards - August 24, 2016 by The Spirit

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WEEK AUGUST 24, 2016 VOL. 13 NO. 32

MANTRA LOUNGE Mediation studio fueled by Mantras and travelling monks now open in Fishtown. 5

WITH + WITH YOUTH Norris Square Neighborhood Project hosts youth art showcase centered on homelessness. 6

FISHBOX 2.0 Fishtown start-up delivers a solution to a familiar problem. 8

QUESTION OF THE WEEK We ask community members how they’ve been holding up in the summer heat.

n his ten years at Northeast Catholic High School, Michael Marrone observed a disturbing pattern of failure among the at-risk students he taught. Time and again, outside factors such as crime, poverty, and drug abuse took them out of his classroom and into the street. Rather than dismiss these students as collateral damage in a struggling city, Marrone worked to address the root of their problems. As an educator, he could not do much to reverse the cycle of socio-economic hardship and neglect that has plagued Philadelphia’s poorer neighborhoods for decades. However, he could offer those neighborhoods a different kind of education, a new kind of school. "The idea for Liguori came from my interactions with students and their families,” Marrone said. “At its core, I wanted to help students find success in a way that fit them individually. Students don’t fit any particular mold and neither should their education.”

The Liguori Academy, a new private high school at Emerald and Allegheny, will open September 6, 2016. The school’s mission is to get disengaged, at-risk students from underserved communities back on track toward college and the workforce. Assessing the unique needs of each student is a difficult task. Liguori plans to implement technology to expedite this process. The preliminary stages of the school’s educational model are centered around a piece of software called Mission Control, a high-performance data management system that charts students’ work and study habits in real time. The program monitors student work in real time and the data it collects determines whether each individual student is ahead, on track, or behind in their skill level. More importantly, it pinpoints exactly what Continued on Page 7.

ACCU-REGGIE Seven day forecast for the Riverwards. 3

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more. 12-13

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ichelle Biloon is a 16-year survivor of the comedy business. Now that she's in Philly, the locally-based comic is gearing up for one of her biggest breaks yet. But as far as being funny (and knowing it) goes, comedy has always been part of Biloon’s identity. “Ever since I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be funny,” she said. “My older sister was very funny, I remember wanting her to think I was funny.” A taste of sibling rivalry and a hard diet of David Letterman and Janeane Garofalo formed Biloon’s dry and sarcastic comedic palette. In college at the University of Wisconsin, she was writing and participating in two public access skit shows, “Mad City” and “The Eric Castrada Show.” However, she didn’t dive into stand-up comedy until moving to a new city

where she didn’t know anyone. That city was Austin, Texas. “I went to open mic at the Velveeta Room in Austin,” Biloon recalls. “I think it was November or December of 1999. Then February of 2000 was when I did my first open mic. I did really well, which is what a lot of people who are funny do when they first go on stage.” At the time, Biloon was working as a web developer for early popular websites like DrKoop (a competitor of WebMD) and later went on to work for sites like MTV, Spike TV and the NFL. In 2004, she found herself in Los Angeles crashing with comedian Maria Bamford, who currently stars in the Netflix series “Lady Dynamite.” Continued on Page 4.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 THE

local lens

et’s consider the empty house on the street where I live. The house is empty because the owner, Sammy, a guy about 30, suddenly moved out after living in the place for three years. I remember the day he moved in. He came with his cars and bikes after his suburban parents bought the house for him. During his first weeks here some of the neighbors went out of their way to say hello, but Sammy was aloof. He obviously didn’t want to be bothered to get to know the people on the block. What Sammy did for a living was a mystery, but his pattern was to leave the house every day around noon and return in the early evening. Sammy could have been living on a mountaintop because he never made eye contact with neighbors. You could pass Sammy in the street and he’d have one of those Village of the Damned straight-on stares, like he was sleepwalking. Sammy’s house was a large space with interesting room patterns. I know because I used to be friends with the couple, Walter and Betty, who lived there before their move to Washington State. Walter, Betty and I didn’t become friends until their last two years on the street. Who knows why it took us so long to strike up a friendship. One day they invited me to dinner, so I got to sample Walter’s gourmet cooking. On warm summer days, Walter would invite me over for a swim in his pool. The pool was a fairly deep above-ground monstrosity with a sturdy wooden deck, set among some of the largest trees I’ve seen in the neighborhood. After a swim, we’d drink iced tea while Walter talked about his favorite poet, Gary Snyder. I wasn’t happy when Walter and Betty announced that they were moving west. I was getting used to going over there for dinner and swimming in their pool, and then inviting them over to my place for patio parties. Friendships like this don’t come easily. You can say hello to neighbors, even chat with them on the street for years and still never be invited over to their place. When Walter and Betty moved out, the house wasn’t empty for long. One day I spotted a suburban-looking couple talking with the realtor. The couple had driven up in a Lexus, which spelled M-O-N-E-Y. A week or two after that a big moving truck appeared, and Sammy appeared with his bushy black hair and an army of friends. The friends, all men, were scruffy in a hip way, although they all had the same type of manufactured beard. They moved in quickly and within days held a massive outdoor party around Walter’s old pool. Sammy’s friends built a large bonfire and started a barbecue. The party lasted until the wee hours. Then, at around 4 or 5AM, I was awakened by a suburban girl, one of Sammy’s party guests, crying under my bedroom window. She was so drunk she found it hard to put together sentences. However, I tried to make out what she was saying. In the end, I couldn’t decipher her drunken valley-girl up-talk, although it seemed that some boy had dumped her. I was curious about Sammy for a short time, but after a while I stopped caring. There was no reason to say hello, especially if his response was going to be something like a smug nod. Sammy’s outdoor parties were becoming more and more frequent. Party guests, driving in from the western Main

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Line, were double-parking on our tiny street. Sammy acquired strings of Japanese party lights and strung them along the tree branches so that from my house his yard looked like a massive house boat in New Orleans. The parties got progressively louder and wilder. I found it fascinating to see how every party began as a low-key event, but as the night wore on, and as more alcohol was consumed, the voices got louder and louder. Eventually the voices became so pitched it sounded like 20 men screaming at one another. If the screaming prevented me from falling asleep, I assumed that many of my neighbors were experiencing the same thing. I’d turn on the AC or put fans in my bedroom window to muffle the noise, but like the racket from a plague of locusts, the voices would always resurface. And among these voices there would always be the sound of a woman crying. . “That makes four crying women in 30 days,” I’d tell friends. “What do they do to women over there?” Sammy acquired a succession of roommates to help pay the mortgage. Generally the roommates were in their twenties and never stayed long. At first the roommates were part of Sammy’s social circuit but then I noticed a change. They seemed to be living independently, especially the lost-looking Irish guy who seemed to be terrified of strangers and whose large dog seemed to be his only friend. He would sit glum-faced on Sammy’s stoop staring into space. For a time I thought he was hearing-impaired. Some of Sammy’s roommates moved out in the middle of the night, although they were very quickly replaced with new roommates. At one of the parties, the invited guests double- and triple-parked on the sidewalk up and down the street, upsetting the neighbors. Somebody called the police and ten of Sammy’s party guests got parking tickets. “These people have no idea how the city works,” I told a friend. Sammy acquired so many roommates I lost count. Prohibitive housing and rental costs were really impacting people in their twenties, and Sammy’s house was proof of this. Nobody could afford to live on their own. I called Walter and Betty and told them that their former home had become a gigantic hipster commune complete with dogs, motorcycles, bonfires and beautiful women in long dreadlocks. “It’s a sight to behold, although nobody on the street has made friends with them because they don’t seem to want to get to know anybody.” I told Walter and Betty that Sammy had decided to get rid of the pool and chop down the oldest and grandest tree on the property. Walter and Betty were meticulous homeowners, but very soon Sammy began to let things slip. After all, it really wasn’t his house. His parents found the house for him. They were the ones who appreciated the house, but they probably had high hopes that Sammy would come to appreciate it someday. It wasn’t long before the house began to look shabby, although all the women who visited or lived there seemed to be the same type: They were tall and elegant-looking with long beautiful hair. They also dressed like fashion models, mostly in long flowing dresses. Even if beautiful women are not your thing, no one could deny the astounding beauty of these creatures. They seemed to go in and out of Sammy’s house at all hours. The men, by contrast, were doughy-looking with thick Clark Kent glasses and hairy necks. “This is proof,” a comedian friend of mine commented, “that pretty women like money and power.” For a period of a year, especially in winter when there were no leaves on the trees, anyone walking on the sidewalk could look right into Sammy’s front window and see somebody watching Homer Simpson. The parties continued, the beer kept flowing, and the male chorus of voices kept getting louder and louder. Sometimes I could make out what was being said. There were stories about work but more often than not there was no smooth narrative at all, just discombobulated half sen-

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tences with long pauses as well as the overuse of the word ‘like’ (let’s not forget beer burps), and finally unexplained yells as if someone had inadvertently sat on a possum. “Like... I mean, but like... Yeah, you know. What the fuck!” (Repeat 50 times and you have the party conservation). A few neighbors, eager to build bridges, continued to attempt to make contact with Sammy, but to no avail. Two weeks ago, in a bizarre replay of three years ago, the suburban parents returned in the same Lexus. Standing in front of the house, they whispered to one another before knocking on Sammy’s door. The parents had to knock a long time before one of the roommates answered, although he didn’t open the door but talked to them through an open slat. Some sort of negotiation seemed to be in progress, but what? The very next day at least two of the roommates moved out and the day after that it was Sammy’s turn. Sammy left on his bike, never to be seen again. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 S E V E N D AY F O R E C A S T F O R T H E R I V E R WA R D S

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his past week brought more heat and humidity before nicer weather finally prevailed. This month has delivered day after day of sweaty and sometimes unbearable 90+ degree weather. However, Monday and Tuesday were absolutely perfect weather days a t 80 and sunny. What will the rest of the forecast period bring? Will it be more monster heat or more “normal” summer weather? We will hit 90 again this week, but it won’t be as consistently hot as last week. It will be in the 80s most of the time with generally lower humidity levels. Honestly, the weather this week will be kinda boring: no front with strong thunderstorms, no extreme heat and no early ar-

rival of fall weather. It’s time for some typical summer weather in Philly — weather that is perfect for doing anything outside. We continue along with our dry summer, as the only significant chance of rain comes on Tuesday. Oh, and keep an eye on the tropics this week: A hurricane may form in the Atlantic and try to move towards the Southeast US or up the Gulf of Mexico! Wednesday will feature plenty of warm sunshine coupled with temperatures in the upper 80s. Thursday stays warm and a bump up in humidity, but we keep temperatures just south of 90. The heat and humidity surge back on Friday as we get

back to the lower 90s. No, not again! Saturday is warm with plenty of sunshine! Overall, a perfect weekend is coming your way! The heat gets cut short this time. Sunday is much like Saturday with sunshine and warm temperatures. The humidity won’t be oppressive either! Monday is hot with increasing humidity as warmth from the South tries to surge North. We get back to the 90s on Tuesday and add a shower or thunderstorm chance as well. The weather winner of the week is the Weekend; the weather loser is Friday. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016

Continued from Page 1. “I was really lucky. There was a huge comedy boom that happened probably 2006-2007,” Biloon said. “I was just in the middle of this post alt comedy kind of a thing where I was actually able to find my way in.” It was during this time that Biloon really started to hit her stride. In 2006 she started a popular podcast “Walking With Michelle”, which featured guest comics like Doug Benson and Maria Bamford. The podcast was like an early version of "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee" and ran until 2011. It was also around this time that Comedy Central’s Comedy Bang Bang, then called Comedy DeathRay, moved to the new United Citizens Brigade Theater in Hollywood. “UCB was a crazy playhouse,” Biloon recalls. “The first time I did Comedy Death-Ray, Louis CK was the host. You know what I mean? Chris Hardwick and Mike Firman had their band, Hard and Firm, and they were the house band. It was a great time and I learned a lot. That was kind of my comedy school and where my fandom was.” After getting married in 2010 and having a child, Biloon stopped doing stand-up. Her peers thought she was done with it and, admittedly, so did she. “‘Oh, I can make so much money by doing these mom tours and write books about my daughter. NO! That would be miserable! That would be the work idea ever,’” she jokes to herself. “When we moved [to Philadelphia], I just said, ‘you know, I'm considering this time here as my comedy renaissance.’ I said, ‘now I don't have a job, this is a totally new place, my daughter was a year and half when we moved here, I don't need to be so careful with her,’” Biloon said. Biloon’s first foray in the Philly comedy scene was an open mic at Helium in March 2014. While she shares her time between New York and Los Angeles as well, Philadelphia has become home base. Locally, in 2015 Bardot Cafe in Northern Liberties approached her to do a monthly comedy showcase on the first Wednesday of every month called Northern Comedies. Each comic gets a 10 minute set— it’s kind of like a comedy roulette. It’s also a hit by all accounts — sometimes it gets so packed that people have to stand in the back to watch. “I like to use [Northern Comedies] as a reason to work on material when I do shows around. But here you can step out in ways you can't in New York and LA. The scene here is great, the comics are just hustling, you know?” Biloon said. Northern Comedies brings out some of the underground comedy acts from around the county right to Northern

Michele Biloon perfroming at Northern Comedies. /All photos by Megan Matuzak

Liberties, including David James, a friend of Biloon’s who’s been doing comedy for a decade. “[Biloon] is already established in LA and has been around,” James said. “She was already really funny and really cool. She’s a friend of mine we always see each other at the clubs or doing comedy shows.” “It started as something small we talked about to have fun and see where it went. We didn’t expect it to be as big as it has become,” Matt Wertz, manager and bartender at Bardot said. “Michelle works hard to put together an amazing line up each month, which is why I hear our regulars and new faces talking about it. Aside from Northern Comedies, Biloon has some more local fun lined up around the corner. Punch Line Philly, the latest local addition to the LiveNation empire, opened it’s doors this summer. As soon as Biloon got wind that a comedy club was opening here in the neighborhood, she reached out to some of the venue’s organizers. Her initiative paid off, as she will be the featured opener for Miss Pat from September 1st-3rd. The talent booker of the Punch Line first heard of Biloon about a decade ago when she played the San Francisco Punch Line. Once the booking agent learned that Biloon lived in Philadelphia, she was immediately booked. A representative from Punch Line Philly says that the new com-

edy club is committed to supporting the best local comedians and Biloon fits the bill. Looking even further down the line, Biloon has her sights on doing legs of gigs around the country with the working title, “The Biloon Tour.” It’s a name that fits Biloon’s comical style: She’s making fun of how her name resembles the word balloon, as well as identifying that this tour will be a self-made venture. In the meantime, you can catch Biloon on the “Douglas Movies” and the “2 Dope Queens” podcast, at Northern Comedies or up in clubs around the country. •

WRITTEN BY AMY STRAUSS

mantra lounge

N E W F I S H T O W N S T U D I O F U E L E D B Y M A N T R A M E D I TAT I O N A N D T R AV E L L I N G M O N K S

antra Lounge wants to help you free your mind. The new mediation studio nestled along Girard Avenue is dedicated to live music mantra, which — through a session of collective call and response-style music — aims to decrease stress and anxiety in one’s life. Curious and intrigued by the art of kirtan — what they call mantra meditation — I visited the new studio on Friday, Aug. 12 for its kick-off event. Mantra Lounge is fueled by an inspiring, energized group of volunteers who have been active within Philly’s mediation and yoga scene for years. They have even hosted on-going events at Bikram Yoga on Sansom Street, among other locations. Positioned as a large street-level studio with one mediation room as its focal point, I popped by on opening night and was immediately requested to pass off my shoes and find a pocket of space on the floor, where I’d join over 60 others as they chanted the “Hare Krishna” mantra. The repetitive, rhythmic mantra was led by the beat of a bongo drum. The group of words in the Sanskrit (the primary sacred language of Hinduism) is believed to have psychological and spiritual powers. At my first-timer event, I uncovered that Mantra Lounge’s celebration of mediation can be easily compared to yoga. In comparison, yoga postures help to relax, strengthen and tone your body, where as mantras act as a revitalizing tonic for the mind. The word “mantra” literally means to “free the mind” and the term itself can be dated back to the special sound vibrations found in the ancient yoga texts. An on-going part of the studio’s culture is to host visits and interactive discussions with traveling monks. For day one, they acquintated the Fishtown community with Devamrita Swami, a monk in the Krishna bhakti tradition, who has spent his last forty years traveling the world to share sharing the teachings and lifestyle of bhakti-yoga. A once-attendee of Philly’s Central High School and a Yale grad, Swami’s goal is to speak to modern problems while drawing wisdom from ancient yoga texts. Not only did the traveling monk discuss the price of il-

/Photo by Amy Strauss

/Photo by Patrick Clark

lusion on Mantra Lounge’s opening night, but he also led city-wide discussions throughout this week on topics of desire, love, finding happiness and living spirituality through sustainability. If you’re like me, unaccommodated with mediation in general—especially that involving mantra chants, consider exploring Mantra Lounge’s regular programming that

will begin as of Aug. 22. The community-fueled studio also hosts regular workshops off-site and out-of-the-city retreats. For more information, visit mantraphilly.com. Find Mantra Lounge at 312 E. Girard Ave. in Fishtown. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016

Birthday Ponies: Kensington’s Indie Rockers According to vocalist/bassist Alex Tilson, Birthday Ponies’ sound rests somewhere “between Fugazi and indie rock.” This Kensington-based post-indie band also calls their neighborhood “musician heaven.” “There are at least three great DIY venues that are so close to us that we could bring our gear there with a hand truck. That's amazing,” elaborates Tilson. “There are great venues throughout the city, of course, but right now there is a lot going on here.” Birthday Ponies debuted last September, but the band has been in the works for quite a bit. Tilson and guitarist Mike Saah met in high school and have previously worked on other ventures. They later recruited drummer Matt Jernigan, a Boyer jazz student. “As soon as I found out that house shows and DIY venues existed, they became a staple of my life,” said Saah. “Philly DIY is weird and magical… Philadelphia definitely has that crackling creative energy.” The band’s sound packs a punch, catchy elements built into a big brick wall of sound. “Lyrically,” said Tilson. “I'm interested in the experience of coming into adulthood, or even just being an adult, in the modern era. Having to confront the absurdity of life, the ambiguity, the beauty, the horror… There are some aspects which are new for our generation, and some that aren't.” The band is planning to release their new EP, titled "Truth", on October 14th, and will be releasing live videos from Germantown’s Sleepless Sound Studios. Those subscribed to Birthday Ponies’ email list will get an early glimpse at their long-awaited, long-requested cover song, and fans should check social media for an EP release show date.

Says Saah of the band’s goals, “I wanna be so big that Apple has to force our shit onto Bono’s iPhone.”

their music, reminiscent of hearing old live demos from bands of the past generation. They have three demos available on Bandcamp. For a surfy, soulful, shoegazey good time, catch this show in the coming weeks. •

Show Preview: Line Leader, Kaz Mirblouk, We Have Ghosts, Magic Deal at KFN Upstairs Philly’s beloved lo-fi pop champs Line Leader will be joined by California surf-rocker Kaz Mirblouk (Lollipop Records), Philly shoegaze urbana We Have Ghosts, and locals Magic Deal, who call themselves “three bluesy rockers, but who really cares about that stuff.” The show will take place on Thursday, September 1st at Kung Fu Necktie (upstairs.) There’s a $6 cover and a 21+ age requirement. Line Leader, from North Philadelphia, released a surfy, feel-good single, “Bubblegum,” on Bandcamp back in July. They are a mellow, catchy garage-rock three piece who are, according to Facebook, finishing up their next album. They gig often in Philadelphia and can be found anywhere from basements to bars. Kaz Mirblouk is currently touring the US on a run that ends in mid-September. Their sound is slightly psychedelic, definitely tinged in blues, but is unmistakably punk. The three-piece put out their second release, a full length titled “Imitate, Intimidate,” in August. Locals We Have Ghosts not only released their second EP this past spring, but state that the “release also marks the beginning of Main Lake Records, a label we are starting in order to release more of our own music and the music of our friends.” Their sound is dreamy, their lyrics grounded. We Have Ghosts recorded the release, titled “EP2,” in quite the DIY fashion: recorded in a livingroom, mixed and mastered on Garageband. Magic Deal incorporates elements of classic rock into

Birthday Ponies /Photo by Shan Cerrone

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HANISCO

With + With Youth

NORRIS SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT HOSTS YOUTH ART SHOWCASE CENTERED ON HOMELESSNESS

he Norris Square Neighborhood Project (NSNP) recently hosted a youth art showcase, titled "With + With Youth" in Kensington’s Las Parcelas Garden. The showcase, which featured silkscreen artwork, homemade crafts, and original performances, explored the theme of homelessness in Kensington and throughout Philadelphia. High school students worked with teaching artists Saul Zayas and Calo Rosa on various projects during the summer. Attendees of the Friday night showcase were treated to complimentary limbers (a Puerto Rican water ice treat) and had the opportunity to purchase homemade soaps, candles, and silk-screen t-shirts, all designed and created by NSNP students. During the performance portion of the night, students took to the mic to read poetry and original pieces centered on the theme of homelessness and society’s reaction to it. The event culminated in a screening of a 12-minute documentary produced by the students called "We Are Human." The film features candid interviews with homeless Philadelphians. It focuses not so much on the complex socioeconomic issues surrounding homelessness, but on the human beings who are directly affected by it every day. The interviewees were asked about their situations; how they ended up on the streets, what their lives were like before homelessness, and how they want to be understood. Saul Zayas has been involved with NSNP for almost 10 years. He started participating as a student and worked his way up to assistant and finally teaching artist. I spoke to him about the "With + Without Youth" showcase and his students’ reactions to tackling such an important issue. “The students were all for it,” said Zayas, when the topic of homelessness was introduced. “It’s something I think about personally in my own life. We have a list of things we want to tackle, but we can only do one thing [at a time] and since I was already thinking about it…we chose the theme of homelessness and the other teaching artist [Calo] was all for it too,” he said. However, there was some initial hesitation from the youth when it came to approaching interview subjects and offering to hear their story. “When we first went out to start doing interviews, the youth were a little [reluctant] to approach people and ask if they wanted to do interviews and talk to them…but once the students saw how friendly people are, it wasn’t something to be afraid of, they started going out and doing their own thing,” he said. “It was really good to see them evolve like that,” he added. The students’ evolution was the perfect embodiment of the theme the documentary tried to convey, according to Zayas. He was happy that the students could come to see the homeless population for what they are: individuals – human beings with thoughts, feelings, dreams, hopes, and fears. “At the end of the day, if you were to strip it down yourself, from all the luxury things, the person that you’re looking at, that you’re so afraid of is just a reflection of yourself – is just like you. You know, once you strip off the expensive sneakers and all that — the car, it’s just you. Material

/Photos by Michael Hanisco

things make no difference. Everyone’s the same, everyone’s human,” he said. The students gave the homeless more than just a voice this summer. They also offered their time by volunteering weekly at the St. Francis Inn, which offers food, clothing, and hospitality to Philadelphia’s homeless population on daily basis. “My supervisor Gabby [Sanchez] got connected with them and wanted the youth to experience hands-on helping, to serve, and to do volunteer work there,” said Zayas.

In addition to their volunteering, the students also had a chance to help the St. Francis Inn monetarily. Ten percent of all the proceeds from the art showcase and craft fair were donated to the Inn on behalf of NSNP. The Norris Square Neighborhood Project was founding in 1973 and promotes positive change through youth education, community leadership, greenspaces, the arts, and the celebration of Latino culture. NSNP offers a number of summer initiatives, after school programs, and urban gardens. You can learn more at myneighborhoodproject.org. •

Rock to the Future Accepting New Students for MusiCore After School Program Rock to the Future is currently accepting applications for the MusiCore after school program, which runs for the length of the academic school year. The co-ed program teaches contemporary music to underserved Philadelphia youth grades six through 12. Active Monday through Friday from 3PM to 6PM, students learn their choice of instrument (guitar, bass, drums or piano), form bands with their peers, write and record original music, participate in a vocal ensemble, perform live before an audience and much more. Additionally, the program provides daily homework help and tutoring for every student, as well as college application assistance. The MusiCore after school program has been active for six years. This year, the program will expand to serving forty students, which is the most the MusiCore program has ever held. Enrollment will be open through the first week of September, while the program itself will take begin on September 12, 2016 and run until June 12, 2017. Rock to the Future's MusiCore program takes place in the Fishtown/Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia and is provided at no cost for participants. To learn more and apply for Rock to the Future's MusiCore after school program, please visit RocktotheFuturePhilly.org or call 215-302-9633.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 Continued from Page 1. the individual is struggling with and how much time they spend on task. Instructors can meet with each other at the end of the day and determine which students struggled with which concepts. Then they can put students into small groups and have teachers focus on the concepts they’re struggling with. “Basically what it does is it raises your hand for you,” said Aaron Spruce, the school's Director of Administration. “You never have to feel embarrassed that you don’t know the answer. And the teacher ends up with a room full of twenty students, each working at their own pace, specific to their needs.” In a joint effort between teacher and software, coursework is reformatted to benefit each particular student. “We analyze the data at the end of every school day,” said Rebecca White, Liguori’s Chief Operating Officer. “What each individual does today determines what they do tomorrow.” Mission Control was tested in a pilot, deep remediation program across six Philadelphia schools this past year. Participating schools included, Freire Charter Middle School, First Philadelphia Charter School, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, Blessed Trinity Catholic School, Tanner G. Duckrey Elementary School and Robert Morris Elementary School. The flagship program offered reading and math remediation. According to White, after only 12 hours of on-task work, some students progressed as much as three and a half years in reading comprehension and as much as one and a half in numbers, operations, and algebraic thinking. Many others were able to be brought up to grade level. “This is a great confidence builder,” said White, “because students are working at their own level, whereas when they’re in the regular classroom, they’re not always seeing success.” The software was developed in-house by Wright Solutions Group, a educational management firm and partner of the Liquori Academy. The firm’s president, Pat Wright, also serves as Liguori’s Director of Educational Planning. After Mission Control helps bring students up to speed, the next step of Liguori’s program is to equip students with a specific career skill set. The school offers four different “industry clusters” or sets of curriculum specific to a career path. Students decide on their area of focus in their sophomore or junior year, similar to the way one chooses

Left to right: Aaron Spruce, Director of Administration; Kim Christidhis, Chief Academic Officer; Rebecca White, Chief Operating Officer; Joe Dollard, Mathematics Teacher./John Henry Scott

a major in college. Clusters include: Energy, Health and Life Sciences, Information Technology, and Business and Professional Services. Prior to this decision, students will be involved in individual and group projects that expose them to each of these areas of focus. “We live in a project-based world so project based learning prepares our students for the workforce,” said Joe Dollard, a mathematics instructor at Liguori. Liguori retains companies from each of these areas of industry as sponsors. These companies not only provide financial support to the school, but they also aid Liguori instructors in reverse-engineering entry level positions, creating a curriculum that will provide students with exactly the right skills to be eligible for jobs in their chosen field. “We’re trying to combine the knowing and the doing,” said White, “to apply information in practical way. So have we have businesses telling us, these are the things we need people to be able to know how to do.” In their senior year, students can take advantage of internships opportunities with some of these Liguori

sponsors, a chance to actually work in their field of study. “They’ll graduate not only with a diploma. They’ll also have workforce credentials,” said Spruce. The inaugural class at Liguori will contain just 45 students. This number is slated to grow in the following years but the staff does not plan on admitting more than 200 students at a time. “We want to be small by size and intent,” said Spruce. “That being said, we’ll partner with whoever wants to partner with us to get this program into other schools and after-school programs.” Michael Marrone is excited to see the fruits of his labor. He has been working on the Liguori concept since 2007, overcoming many financial hurdles and logistical concerns. Now, almost ten years later, he is preparing to welcome the incoming class of fall 2016. “We want to meet them where they are and walk with them to find the boundless opportunities that lay before them,” he said. More information on The Liguori Academy can be found at LiguoriAcademy.org. •

Mercy Surgical Associates at Nazareth Hospital welcome another great doctor to the neighborhood.

Because I believe that health care is all about you. Mercy shares my passion for providing excellent care for our patients. This dedication ensures that you get seamless care every step of the way. With a surgical practice specializing in general, minimally invasive and bariatric surgery, we are able provide our patients with a widerange of services. Our treatment plan focuses on understanding you as a complete person, not just an illness or condition. We focus on how we can achieve the best outcome for our patients. Our work-friendly appointments and personable staff are the beginning of a positive, patient-centered experience. I spend time listening to what matters most to you, so appointments aren’t rushed. We get to form a real connection. But don’t take my word for it. Let’s meet. I’m accepting new patients and would love to get to know you.

Mercy Surgical Associates phone: 215.331.8897 Abhiman B. Cheeyandira, MD, Charles Schafer, MD, and Arthur Barnaby, MD 2701 Holme Avenue, Suite 104 Philadelphia, PA 19152 Contact Dr. Cheeyandira at Mercy Bariatrics at 215.335.2090.

Find your closest connection by calling 1.877.GO MERCY or visiting mercyhealth.org

Page 8

The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HANSICO

fishbox 2.0

F I S H T O W N S TA R T- U P D E L I V E R S A S O L U T I O N T O A FA M I L I A R P R O B L E M

ast year we introduced you to Napoleon Suarez, a Fishtown entrepreneur with a plan to solve a familiar problem for 9-to-5 workers in the Riverwards: the frustrating experience of missing package delivery attempts during work hours. His solution was Fishbox, an after-hours delivery service for Philadelphia. The idea behind Fishbox is simple. Users sign up online and are given a dedicated address to use for internet purchases. Users are notified when their package arrives at the Fishbox location and then they schedule a time to have it delivered when they are actually home, between the hours of 7PM and 10PM. I recently caught up with Suarez to get an update on Fishbox and find out what the future holds for its founder. As Suarez explained when we started the interview, this isn’t his first rodeo. A 2004 graduate of Notre Dame, he’s worked in a number of different industries, gaining knowledge and learning lessons along the way. He’s also been involved in a number of start-ups with varying degrees of success. But there was an important distinction when he launched Fishbox. For the first time, he knew he was addressing a real problem that people encounter on a frequent basis. “Previously, I created things because I wanted to be like the next Mark Zuckerburg or whatever. So, I had the solution before I had a problem. And that doesn’t work in start-up life. The best start-up ideas come from people who solve their own problems, because you know it’s [probably] a problem for others too,” Suarez explained. Walk around Fishtown or Northern Liberties during the early afternoon and you’ll likely encounter more than a few missed package notices taped to doorways. Even when packages are delivered, there’s no guarantee they’ll land in the right hands. Neighborhood Facebook pages are rife with complaints and warnings about packages being stolen from mailboxes and doorsteps. Enter Fishbox. Suarez could be the poster boy for start-up culture. He’s an energetic and enthusiastic entrepreneur with loads of charisma and a way with people. Our conversation about his business often segued into questions about my own life: my likes, dislikes, and hobbies. This is a man who genuinely cares about others. Over the course of our hourlong conversation, he spoke not so much about numbers and figures, but about memorable interactions he’s had with individual customers. It’s this dedication to his customers that helped Suarez through a rough patch a few months back. The long hours and challenges involved with starting a business from the ground up had begun to wear on him. He had doubts about continuing. He sent a newsletter update out to his customer list informing them that Fishbox might soon close up shop. Within minutes, he was receiving emails from bewildered customers, pleading with him not to shut it down. They had grown too accustomed to the convenience that Fishbox offered. The immediate and impassioned reactions gave Suarez a second wind and Fishbox a second life. “Having people reach out to me like that, telling me how much they appreciated the service made me feel like I had to keep it going,” he said. He redoubled his efforts and stuck it out. On July 1 of this year, Suarez launched what he considers “Fishbox 2.0” with a new pricing structure that he thinks is better for his customers and Fishbox’s sustainability in the long run. While putting together the new structure, he sought and received advice from Jesse Kaplan, CEO of Parcel, a wildly successful after-hours delivery service in New York City that recently transformed its service model to cater to business-to-business clients. Though Suarez sometimes has help and collaborates

with like-minded start-up personalities in the area, Fishbox very much remains a one-man operation. “95 percent of the time, I’m the guy that shows up with your package at the door,” he said with a smile. Suarez hopes to change that in the near future as his customer base expands beyond its current capacity. He has plans to hire a dedicated delivery employee by the end of 2016 and will seek funding from investors in early 2017. He is about to outgrow his delivery vehicle for the third time and anticipates that the holiday shopping season will stretch him pretty thin. “Holiday season for us last year was absolutely insane. And it’s going to be crazier this year. Amazon is actually changing how they warehouse things, so they’re going to be able to fulfill more orders, more quickly and I want to make sure I ramp up and I’m ready for that, late November to the end of January,” he said. Two recent partnerships have expanded Fishbox beyond the sphere of online shopping. Suarez recently teamed up with Fishtown Pharmacy to set up a local, after-hours prescription delivery service. The agreement is beneficial to both parties. ´Fishtown Pharmacy is able to attract younger clientele who might not be home during the day to pick up prescriptions, while Suarez is able to reach a new audience and introduce them to the idea of Fishbox for their

online purchases. He also has a similar agreement in place with Crawford Organics, delivering crops after-hours to local participants in their crop-sharing program. As Fishbox grows and will soon be adding employees, Suarez is cognizant of the company culture he wants to instill. “Our business is mission driven. I want to help people and also help the environment. This is such a big problem that there are going to be other competitors that come in. If people want to help their community and help the environment, I think they’ll stick with us when that happens,” he said. To that end, he has launched two programs that he thinks will benefit the community and differentiate Fishbox from any potential competitors coming into the area. “We partnered with the Philadelphia Furniture Bank in Kensington. So, if anybody has any used furniture items, we’ll [pick them up and] donate them on their behalf. We also pick up boxes. People have all these boxes — so instead of throwing them in the trash, we’ll take them, pick them up, tie them together, and recycle them for free,” he said. Spirit News readers who want to learn more about Fishbox can head to GetFishbox.com. The exclusive promo code RIVER16 will get you your first package delivered for free. •

SPIRIT DISTRIBUTION NOTICE As much as we wish we could print Spirit News MORE often, we are human beings (surprising, right?) and need a little vacation time off to reenergize and recharge ourselves. In order to do so, Spirit News will be closed on Labor Day week and will not print a new issue on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. We will still be updating our social media and checking our emails over course of our break. Feel free to call our office (215-423-6246) or email us at info@spiritnews.org with any questions. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Page 9

The Spirit of the Riverwards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; August 24, 2016

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 W R I T T E N B Y PAT R I C K C L A R K

Question of the Week H O W H AV E Y O U B E E N H O L D I N G U P I N T H E S U M M E R H E AT ?

Arun Marsten and Lucy Dengere: “Yeah we’re definitely ready for the summer to end. We’ve been trying to stay indoors. Went to the beach the other day but it was really hot. Stopped drinking hot coffee… I got sunburn just walking around yesterday so I’m not a fan of this.”

Sterling Pennington: “I love the weather now but I’ve always been a Fall guy… I’ve been hiding inside for the most part. Leaving town when I can.”

Katherine Christian and family (Christopher Brown, Isabella, Suzette): “I don’t like the heat and this summer was brutal. We have a kiddie pool and the girls love it. Saves electricity too since we don’t have to run the air conditioner. Just throw em’ in the pool.”

Michael Baker: “It’s like a hot, wet blanket out here… I’ve been swimming a lot. I swim out in the woods up in Wissahickon sometimes. Just gotta keep an eye on the water reports. But really anybody’s pool that I can convince to let me in.”

Lauren Collins: “I’m planning on going down to the shore on labor day, which I guess is the official end of the summer. I had my first baby six weeks ago so I really didn’t get much of a summer, but I’m really enjoying the semi-cooler days now that it’s 88 instead of 112.”

Homeownership is important. We’re here to help homebuyers navigate the mortgage process and make buying a home affordable, even if you have little money for a downpayment, little or “less-than-perfect” credit history or have had a recent job change. And, for a limited time, M&T is providing loan subsidies to homebuyers that can exceed $10,000 in downpayment, closing cost and interest rate assistance in certain areas. To find out how M&T can help make homebuying easy and affordable, call 1-888-253-0993 or visit mtb.com/mortgage.

George Hubbard: “No I’m not really looking forward to Fall. I’m an existentialist. It is what it is. It’ll get here when it gets here… Being a creature of nature, you avoid heat. I’m not obsessed with it. If there’s shade, I’ll get in the shade.”

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 WRITTEN BY AMY STRAUSS

podcast fest

C A L L T H E F O O D N E T W O R K , P O R T R I C H M O N D P O D C A S T E R N I C O L E YA T E S I S O N T O S O M E T H I N G !

n 2013, Nathan Roman Kuruna and his wife, Teagan, launched the first-ever Philadelphia Podcast Festival. The city’s podcast scene was small then, with 12 radio-savvy hosts laying down the internet groundwork for what would become a quick-growing community of indie digital-audio storytellers. Now in its fourth year, Kuruna reports that 33 local podcasters have signed up to participate in the festival. For the annual event, podcasters take their shows out of the online oblivion and allow listeners a chance to put a face to their audio and catch them daringly unedited. The fest has even expanded to four venues — Tattooed Mom, Art Church, Moonshine and Amalgam Comics — and two back-to-back weekends (Aug. 19–21 and 27–28). For the fest’s first weekend, we hit Frankford Ave.’s Amalgam Comics to catch the raw action. The comic book-flooded venue acting as the backdrop for seven live podcasts including Port Richmond’s own "DidjaEat?" hosted by stand-up comic and six-year food blogger, Nicole Yates. The 40-year neighborhood vet took to the stage with a select group of equally funny guests to talk food memories, Wawa vs. Sheetz and regional culinary stalwarts. The food-blabbing crew even underwent a live taste-test of gimmicky foods that are currently hitting grocery aisles. Of Yates’ guest host posse, we became acquainted with Philly comedians Aubrie Williams and Samantha Russell and BenFM & WMMR DJ and Northern Liberties resident Kristen Herrmann. The female pack, each with seemingly unique food quirks and obsessions, barreled through an hour-long discussion that was cushioned with Yates' questions that were targeted for the always-hungry. “What summer foods have you enjoyed this season” and “what one dish did/does a member of your family do best?” were floated out among the many. Yates started the podcast two years ago as an offshoot of her food blog with the same name. “Food makes the world go round,” she said in response to sticking with a talkingfood shtick for her podcast. “At first, the podcast was just about food,” she said. “Now, I talk to people I find interesting — but food is still always in there.” The "DidjaEat?" podcast has hosted an impressive guest list through its short two years, including NYC’s Katz Delicatessen owner Jake Dell, the Grey Lodge Pub’s Mike "Scoats" Scotese, Miss Rachel's Pantry’s Rachel Klein and Tony Luke Jr. Food snobs, be warned: this podcast takes a lighter approach. “While I am extremely serious about a small number of things, I don't take anything seriously — including myself,” said Yates. “While I love food, almost to a fault, I also like to find the fun in it and that’s just like in my stand-up, where I go with the silliness in everyday life. When I started the podcast, I figured I would just be me and the humor came along for the ride.” During the live podcast, Yates and troupe busted out good-humored topical discussions like drawing the comparison of Wawa to Democrats and Sheetz… “well, that gets into Trump territory,” Yates remarked. We discovered that it is possible to eat 25 of Charlie’s Hamburgers, a Delaware County staple, in a weekend and that you could identify bread and butter pickles as the “General Tso’s chicken of the pickle world.” We even learned it is possible to have an embarrassing collection of Hi-C Ecto Cooler “like you’re saving it for a Ghostbuster apocalypse” and apple butter is just plain confusing. “It's not a butter, it's a jam,” they collectively said. Then, there was one of the sweeter moments of the podcast, about Yates’ grandmother having made one of the planet’s best German potato salads. “It had big chunks of bacon — that's why she is dead,” she chuckled. If you’ve spied Key Lime Pie Oreo cookies, maple bacon or Orange Crush Pop-Tarts or feta-flavored Wise Kettle Cooked Chips and were curious how they tasted, you’ll have to tune into The DidjaEat?’s episode for the cast’s pro review. You can also catch all Yates’ 21 episodes on iTunes (search “The DidjaEat? Podcast”) or visit didjaeat.com. You can still catch the second weekend of the Philly Podcast Festival, unfolding Aug. 27–28. For the full schedule, visit www.phillypodfest.com. • DidjaEat? Live Podcast /All photos by Amy Strauss

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016

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

meet ing s NKCDC OPEN OFFICE HOURS NKCDC is hosting open office hours in the 19134 zip code at two locations. They will be at the Firm Hope Baptist Church on Tulip and Auburn Streets every second Wednesday of the month from 4-7PM. They will assist you with signing up for benefits like SNAP, connecting to housing counselors for any housing needs, rent and property tax rebates, food referrals, health insurance and safety or quality of life issues in your community. For further information contact Tess at tdonie@NKCDC.org or 215-427-0350 x 139. AL-ANON AT HOLY NAME CHURCH HALL Meetings are held every Monday night from 7-8PM at Holy Name Church Hall at 701 Gaul Street. Anything shared at a meeting stays there and everyone is welcome to attend. Al-Anon meetings are free, anonymous and confidential. Monday, September 19 from 6:30-9:30PM EKNA MEMBERSHIP MEETING Join the East Kensington Neighbors Association at Philadelphia Brewing Co (2440 Frankford Ave) and contribute to your community. Tuesday, September 20, 7PM FNA ZONING MEETING 1600-18 E. Berks St – St Laurentius Church Proposal for combining 7 lots into 2 lots. All existing uses in the rectory and school remain, and the church is to be converted into (23) residential dwelling units. This meeting will take place at the Holy Name Church, 701 Gaul St. All residents and business owners in Fishtown are eligible to vote. Please bring proof of residence or business ownership in the form of a driver’s license or a photo id and a lease, utility bill, or recent piece of mail addressed to your home or business. NETWORKING MEETINGS Philadelphia Mastermind Group – Every Friday, 8-9:30AM, B2B Networking at Front Street Café (1253 N Front St.) HAPCO/DIG/GPAR – 2nd Thursday of the Month, 12:001:30PM. Lunch & Learn, real estate meetup at the Greater Philadelphia Association of realtors (341 North Delaware Avenue, Suite 200) DIG/HAPCO – 3rd Wednesday of the Month, 6:30-8:30PM. Philly Riverwards Sub-Group, Diversified Investors Groups meet up at Front Street Café (1253 N Front St.) For more information contact Joe Scorese 215-290-5108 or jscorese@firstrust.com.

events June 27-September 1 2016 EVA RUBIN MEMORIAL WINDOW BOX AND PLANTER CONTEST Once again the FNA is holding a window box and planter contest to reward the best flower boxes helping to keep the neighborhood green and beautiful. The contest entry deadline is September 1st. Submit entries to beautification@fishtown.org, or to FNA’s Facebook or Instagram page with the tag #FNAFlowerBox. Be sure to include a photograph and the address. August 19-28 NIGHT OUT RESTAURANT WEEK The Third Annual Night Out Restaurant Week begins this Friday at more than 20 Northern Liberties and Fishtown restaurants. Restaurant Week diners will be able to score multi-course meals for $20-$35 per person. After dinner, Restaurant Week attendees are invited to bring their receipt to SugarHouse Casino to receive a $25 Match Play coupon. For more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit nightoutrestaurantweek.com. Wednesday, August 24 7:30PM FREE GROUP WORKOUT SESSION Erik Strassman will be conducting a free workout in the Piazza at Schmidt’s Commons. The goal is to focus on quality of movement and all fitness levels are welcome. To sign up go to thecoachstrassman@gmail.com

Wednesday, August 24 PAPER DOLLS Philadelphia artist Jessica Libor is throwing a free exhibit-party on Aug. 24 at WeWork Northern Liberties. A collection titled "Paper Dolls," created through collage and watercolor, will be on display. The exhibition takes place at WeWork (1010 N Hancock St.) from 6-9PM. Thursday, August 25-September 25 CAT-A-STROPHE AT THE PAPERMILL THEATER (2825 ORMES ST.) Cat-A-Strophe is coming to Philadelphia August 25: A new play written by playwright Yoel Wulfhart will premier at the Paper Mill Theater. Cat-A-Strophe is what would happen if Samuel Beckett, Dario Fo and Hannoch Levin cowrote a sitcom. Tickets are $15. For more information, contact the Papermill Theater at thepapermilltheater@gmail.com. Thursday, August 25 DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE NIGHT Tall Short People will be performing The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in its glorious entirety. 4 Lads Insane will bring their eclectic sound and interpret songs from throughout Bowie's career. The event will take place at Ortlieb’s (847 N 3rd St.) at 8PM. For more information and for tickets, visit ortliebslounge. ticketfly.com. Thursday, August 25 8:00PM MOVIE NIGHT - THE HEATHER’S Join the community at Schmidt’s Commons to enjoy a classic viewing of The Heather’s. There will be food and drink to purchase but you are asked to bring your own chair or blanket. Friday, August 26 7-10PM SALSA NIGHT AT THE PIAZZA Siempre Salsa Philly is collaborating with The Philadelphia Dance Foundation for Salsa Night. There will be free dance lesson at 7:00PM and live music will begin at 7:30PM until 10PM. Saturday, August 27 12-3PM SOMERSET NEIGHBORS FOR BETTER LIVING COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY At the intersection of Ruth Street and Hart Lane in Kensington, Philadelphia 19134. There will be a Motivos Talent Show, a boxing ring provided by Rock Ministries, food music and more! The rain location will be Rock Ministries 2755 Kensington Avenue. Saturday, August 27 from 10AM-12PM LEARN TO RIDE A BIKE Would you like to teach your child how to ride their bike, or have the help of someone else to do that for you? Or maybe just improve their skills? Or become more confident in maneuvering their bike? Well we're here to help you. Come on out to the Hackett Schoolyard on All parents must stay with their children during instruction and bring their child's own bike, helmet, and any other appropriate safety gear. Bottled water and light refreshments will be provided. Saturday, August 27 from 11AM-4PM EL FLEA MARKET Come out to Fishtown's only monthly outdoor flea market right under the El at Fishtown Bikes and Beans (1321 N. Front Street). Join a community of awesome artists, entrepreneurs, foodies, musicians, performers, crafters, makers, and people looking to just get rid of stuff. Interested in vending? Email 215elflea@gmail.com. Sunday, August 28 BROOKLYN BREWERY TOUR Explore Philly’s hip Northern Liberties and Fishtown neighborhoods with a pop-up shop called the The Trailhead. By checking in there you will receive coupons for the various restaurants, bars, galleries and stores throughout the neighborhood. Brooklyn Brew and Timberland are joining together to show you the beauty of these neighborhoods and their special collaboration. Tickets can be purchased at brooklynbrewerymash.com.

Monday, August 29 from 5-7PM MARTHA MONDAYS Come meet Brad, owner and winemaker at Pinnacle Ridge Winery. Located in Kutztown, PA, right in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch county in the hills of the Appalachian mountains, Pinnacle Ridge is a small family winery making wines using traditional methods and minimum intervention, focusing on allowing the grapes and the land to express themselves through the wines. Delicious, complex wines grown and produced less than 100 miles from here. The tasting features 1/2 a selection of his wines, and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. The tasting takes place at Martha, 2113 E. York St). Friday, September 2 from 7-10PM LIQUID ART Come check out the Liquid Art of Dan Kiselev at the finest glass art shop in Fishtown. There'll be a live demonstration around 9PM, along with beer and BBQ throughout the evening. The exhibition takes place at Head Games, 5 W. Girard Ave. Wednesday, September 7 from 9-11PM NORTHERN COMEDIES Same great comedy. Same great drinks. Same great food. Same great fun. Don't miss the September Northern Comedies. It is always the first Wednesday of the month. The show takes place at Bardot Cafe, 447 Poplar St. Thursday, September 8 from 6-7:30PM ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES This workshop will provide tips for making powerful connections: Understanding how persons with dementia communicate using attitude, tone, facial expressions and body language and learn to decode verbal and behavioral messages and connect in new ways. The event will take place at Lutheran Settlement (1240 Frankford Ave.) Register by September 1st by calling 800-272-3900 or emailing sharon.jarnette@alz.org Friday, September 9 5-10PM AMERICAN STREET FEAST The South Kensington Community Partners (SKCP), LISC, Spiral Q and Philadelphia Photo Arts Center have put together the American Street Feast: A Celebration for our Neighborhood on North American Street. Those of South and Old Kensington are welcome to join in the festivities of conversation and a family style meal. Saturday, September 10 from 4-7PM BLACKSTONE COMICS LAUNCH Fishtown Philly based indie comic book company, Blackstone Comics, will be celebrating its launch with free comics and swag . The event will be sponsored by the brewery, 2SP, and will feature a tap take over of beers of their choosing. The launch will take place at Interstate Drafthouse, 1235 Palmer St. Saturday, September 10, 8AM FLEA MARKET Flea Market at the Bridesburg Rec Center (4600 Richmond St.). Spaces $15/2 for 25 For more information call 267-738-5414 Saturday, September 10 PENNY PARTY AT BETHESDA METHODIST CHURCH (2820 E. VENANGO ST.) Doors open 11:30AM, starts at noon. Cost $5, includes 25 tickets, tea, coffee and dessert. 2 packs of tickets $9, 3 packs of tickets $12. Hoagies, hot dogs, soda, water for sale. Saturday and Sunday September 10-11 COMMUNITY GARDEN DAYS AT GREENSGROW Join local gardeners at 2501 East Cumberland St. to learn more about community gardening and managing a nursery. Come out and meet other local gardeners.Come out this fall weekend to get goods for your community garden. Community Gardeners will receive 10% off of purchases made for their community garden. Your garden must be preregistered to receive the discount at the time of purchase. Discount applies to nursery items only–produce and other food items are not included. For more information, visit greensgrow.org.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 Friday, September 16 5:30-8:30PM CHAMPAGNE IN THE PARK Annual event at Penn Treaty Park. Come out for this year’s fun. Thursday, September 29 7-8PM FRIENDS OF H.A. BROWN MEETING Five Sister’s Ice Cream is hosting the next Friend’s of H.A. Brown Meeting. Join H.A. Brown’s families and friends as they talk about ways to improve and support their K-8 school. September 30-October 2 SEAN MURPHY FIELD OF DREAMS The Sean Murphy Fall Classic will be played on Friday, Sep. 20 - Sun., Oct 2. All Games will be played at Shissler Rec (Berks and Blair Sts.) in Fishtown. Opening ceremonies will start at 6PM on Sep. 30. We will be unveiling a mural of Sean to start the festivities. The weekend will include the following activities: Baseball tourney, food vendors, kids activities, concessions, live music, golf ball drop with a chance to win $10,000, Beef and Beer, raffled items. All proceeds will be used to renovate our neighborhood fields and provide a scholarship to local kids. For more info, or if you want to make a donation, please contact Billy Gorey (215-901-2017 or goldenbeargarage@gmail. com) or Dave Doc (267-312-5869 or djdave05doc@aol.com) October 1, 9:30AM THE PINK ELEPHANT RUN: SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE OPIATE EPIDEMIC 5K race/1 mile walk will be taking place in the streets of our city neighborhoods in order to bring to light the drug addiction crisis that is crippling our neighborhoods. This is not only to bring hope to those struggling with drug addiction, but also to support the families and friends of those suffering and to change the path for the future of our younger generation. Starts and ends at Cione Playground. There will also be food, fun and entertainment. Sponsors are also still needed. Register today at www.racemenu.com/pink. For more information or to have a loved one remembered on race day, please email thepinkelephant215@yahoo. com October 2, 10AM-2PM 4TH ANNUAL LADIES OF PORT RICHMOND BREAKFAST BUFFET Join and support the Ladies of Port Richmond in their fight for a cure for breast cancer. The fundraiser will be held at the SugarHouse Casino. $30 donation, $10 free play. For more info, contact Marylou Leuters at 214-427-3222. Saturday, October 8 all day event FISHTOWN RIVERCITY FESTIVAL The Fishtown Neighbors Association is hosting the 9th Annual RiverCity Festival at The Penn Treaty Park (1341 N Delaware Ave). Saturday, October 22 from 10AM-2PM REPAIR FAIR #10 The public is welcome to carry in their inoperative/damaged/broken possessions and learn how to fix them. Our talented troupe of Fixers will be on hand to help and inform so that we can all create less waste and be more self-sufficient. The fair will take place at Greensgrow, 2501 E Cumberland St. Thursdays POWERS PARKS FARMER’S MARKET Come attend the Farmers’ Market on Thursdays from 3-7PM at Powers Park (Ann & Almond Streets). Fresh food available from local farms and kitchens. More information (vendors, etc.) is available on the Powers Park Conservancy Facebook page.

children

trips

LEPRECHAUNS SIGN UPS Leprechauns Sports Association is now accepting registration for Football and Cheerleading. This is open to boys ages 5-14 and girls age 6-14. The clubhouse will be opened Wednesday nights from 6-8 pm and Saturday mornings 10 am-12 pm.. The clubhouse is located at 2973 Gaul Street 19134. For more information call 215-423-6309 Check out our website http://leprechaunsysa.wix.com/leps#!blog/chi3, or find us on facebook.https://www.facebook.com/Leprechauns-Sports-Association-347773417784/

Saturday, September 10 from 8:30AM-4PM THIRTYSOMETHING DAY RETREAT Thirtysomethings have crucial spiritual steps to take that are often overlooked. This retreat gives them a chance to consider those steps among supportive fellow travelers in faith. Rod White and friends will facilitate. Coffee/beverages supplied. Begin with potluck brunch snacks. Lunch in neighborhood (or bring it). If you are a thirtysomething sign up with bethany@circleofhope.net. Space may be limited. The Circle of Hope is located at 2007 Frankford Ave.

SIXERS NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUE Hancock Rec has more openings for players in their SNBL league held at Moffett Elementary School. For more information please contact Coach Larry @215-685-9877, or come to Moffet to register on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-6PM.

Wednesday, September 21 AMERICAN LEGION POST 152 CASINO TRIP American Legion Post 152 (3524 Thompson St.) is hosting another trip to Resorts Casino on September 21st. Trip costs $26, get $25 back. Bus leaves from the Post at 11:30AM, leave casion at 7PM, back in the neighborhood by 8:30PM. For more info call 215-426-1056, ask for Walt.

FISHTOWN LIBRARY Join us for a Friends of Fishtown Library Meeting. Strengthen your library and empower the community. Bring a friend! Meetings will be held from 6:30-7:30 on September 14, October 12, and November 9. The Fishtown Library will have new hours starting September 12: Monday/Wednesday 12-8; Tuesday/Thursday 10-6; Friday/Saturday 10-5. Toddler Storytime, will be on Tuesday mornings at 10:30AM starting on September 13th Wednesday PRESCHOOL STORYTIME AT RICHMOND LIBRARY This program is intended for children ages 1-4 and their caregiver. Siblings are always welcome. Daycares should call for separate appointments. Richmond Branch of the Free Library, 2987 Almond Street. For further information call 215-685-9992.

seniors Sundays SUNDAY BINGO St. Anne Church will host bingo on Sundays in the Social Hall, Memphis and Tucker streets. Doors open at 4PM; bingo starts at 6PM. Cost is $12. Call 215-739-4590 for more details. Fridays ART WORKSHOP FOR SENIORS St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St., is offering an art workshop for people age 50 and older. “Clay Creations” will meet weekly on Fridays, from 12:30-2 PM Participants will learn about the art of hand building to create pots and other clay forms. Those interested should register in advance. For more details call 215-426-9799.

sign ups CIONE SIGNUPS Tumbling and Dance Registration will take place in September no date has been set yet. Please call after Labor Day to find out when registration will occur. Arts & Crafts will resume in the fall. Ages 5 to 12. No cost. Call after Labor Day to find out when it resumes. Tot Rec Registration: Please call Tot Rec number at 215685-9950. Leave your name and phone number and teacher will get back to you. Any questions please Cione at 215-685-9880. TOT SOCCER SIGNUPS Sign up now for Tigers Tot Soccer. Girls and boys ages 3 ½ to 6. The season will begin soon, so sign up now at the Tigers’ clubhouse (2423 E. Ann St.) Also, t-ball pictures are in, please pick them up! For more info, call Tom Mack (215-275-8838)

dog of the week

SENIOR EXERCISE CLASSES Exercise classes for people 50 and older will be offered at St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St. Class schedule will be Enhance Fitness on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 AM, Chair Yoga on Tuesdays at 9:30AM, Tai Chi on Wednesdays at 10AM, and Line Dancing on the first and third Friday of every month. For more information call 215-426-9799. Wednesdays, 9-11AM LSH COMPUTER CLASSES Computer classes all levels

faith

2016 CAMPBELL SQUARE EVENTS While every effort will be made to reschedule events cancelled by bad weather, we cannot guarantee that alternate dates will be scheduled. Please call John at 267-886-8799 or Susan at 215-426-3766 on event dates for possible cancellations, or check us out on facebook at Friends of Campbell Square.

Wednesdays FIRST PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE STUDY GROUP A Bible study group meets at First Presbyterian Church, 418 E. Girard Ave at 7PM . Come and bring a friend for informative, exciting and lively open discussions. As always, everyone is welcome.

Aug. 17th, Weds., 7-9PM BIG HOUSE BAND Sept.9th, Friday, 7-9PM DOO WOP NIGHT (tentative) Sept. 18th, Sunday, 8AM-l:30PM FALL FLEA MARKET Oct. 7th, Friday, 7-9PM "ELVIS" TRIBUTE NIGHT

Thursdays ST. ANNE WEEKLY NOVENA St. Anne weekly Novena Thursday evening service, 7PM Church of Saint Anne, Memphis St. and Lehigh Ave.

Interested in volunteering? We want YOU! For example, help with scheduled gardening and maintenance at Campbell Square on Wednesday nights, 6:30-7:30PM, Spring/Summer park events and all year round!

Tuesdays PRAYER MINISTRY First Emmanuel Prayer Partners Church, 711 W. Girard Ave. Prayer Ministry is looking for Prayer Partners. Everyone is Welcome to come pray with us. For further information call 215-456-9974.

Malik says "Cheeeese" for the camera! Malik came to us as a stray and he's a bigger, stocky fellow at about 65 pounds and only 1-2 yrs old. Malik has been friendly and playful when meeting dogs at the shelter---come on over and adopt this big ol' goofball!

Malik is located at ACCT, 111 W Hunting Park Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19140. If you have any questions, please call (267)-385-3800 and ask for the Lifesaving Department, or email lifesaving@acctphilly.org

If you already have a dog, please bring him along to meet Malik. If you rent, please bring written permission from your landlord that you are allowed to have a dog. Animal ID A33064614

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016 COMMUNITY

CLASSIFIEDS A D 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

Advertise With Us! By placing an advertisement with the Spirit News, you connect with the residents of Fishtown, Northern Liberties, Port Richmond, and Kensington.

AD S @S PIRITN E WS . ORG

THE FINE P RINT:

1 4 2 8 E . S US QUE H AN N A AV E

We reserve the right to edit, refuse or classify any advertisement. Advertising is a privilege which must be protected against misuse. All classified advertisements subject to pre-payment. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check the advertisements each time it is published. No responsibility is assumed by the newspaper for errors. Errors will be rectified by reinsertion in the following issue only.

215.423.6246 The deadline is Friday at 5pm for display ads, and Monday at 12pm for classifieds. All advertisements must be paid for in advance.

HOME SERVICES A DVA NCED

ELECTRIC REPAIRS

& I NSTA L L ATIONS

LOW RATES FAST SERVICE UPFRONT PRICES LICENSE D

I NSUR E D

B ONDED

S KI L L E D

100-200 AMP BREAKERS TROUBLESHOOT REPAIRS OUTLETS - LIGHTS - SWITCHES

BARRY FISHER

ELECTRICIAN OVER 27 YEARS EXPERIENCE

House wiring, 100 amp circuit breakers, ceiling fans & a/c lines. LICENSED & INSURED - LIC #PA040852/16493

ROOFING

NEW RUBBER ROOFS MINOR ROOF REPAIRS ALUMINUM ROOF COATING

215-743-8599

“WE DO IT ALL” 215-396-2206 AFFORDABLE

HANDYMAN

215-743-8599

B&A

APPLIANCES

REPAIRS ALL MAKES ALL MODELS

WASHERS DRYERS STOVES REFRIGERATORS 24-Hour Emergency Service $10 Charge For Estimate No Charge With Repair

215-588-1671

Drivers: Great Hometime. $1,250 + per week + Monthly Bonuses. Excellent Benefits. Newer Trucks. No Touch. CDL – A 1 yr. exp. 855-842-8498

Plumbers helper or Carpenters helper just be experienced have own tools and vehicle p/t steady work 215-840-8399

SHINGLES - GUTTERS - SPOUTS

FREE ESTIMATES - CALL GERRY

PLUMBING - WINDOWS PAINTING - DOORS CARPENTRY - CEILINGS CEMENT - FLOORS

Drivers-CO & O\Op’s. Earn Great Money Running Dedicated! Great Benefits. Home Weekly. Monthly Bonuses. Drive Newer Equipment! 855-5822265

215-327-3817 PAY LESS

FAIR HOUSING

JOBS

ELECTRIC

FAST SERVICE & LOW RATES LIC. - INS. BONDED

2 1 5 -92 7-1 100 PARENTS

JUNK CARS

Up to $1,100 cash for cars or trucks with bad engines or transmissions. $550 CASH for any complete junk car or truck with or without title. Call 215-669-1000

FOR RENT Apartment For Rent 215-667-1085 Need proof of income Ask for Steve

YOU HAVE A NICE SET OF WHEELS BUT CAN’T FIND A PLACE TO PARK THEM.

Landlords must allow you to make reasonable accommodations to ensure full use of your apartment. Telling you that you can’t install grab bars and ramps is against the law. You can fight back. If you suspect unfair housing practices, contact HUD or your local Fair Housing Center. Everyone deserves a fair chance.

FAIR HOUSING IS THE LAW!

610-604-4411 - FJCSP.COM

FOSTER PARENTS Good, Loving homes needed for children of all ages.

PLEASE CALL 215-203-8733 or 1-877-NFI4KID or visit nfi4kids.org

Back to School Collections Spirit News is accepting donations for back-to-school supplies. We are accepting all school materials, such as bookbags, pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, paper, tape, markers, chart paper, bulletin board supplies, and anything else you can think of. We’re collecting through August into early September. Supplies will be donated to local school in need.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 24, 2016

Help Jerry’s Kids! After 45 years, Walter Pomroy is still devoted to helping Jerry’s Kids and it’s time for him to hit the sidewalk once again. Pomroy, also known as Fishtown’s Good Samaritan, will hold his annual campaign to raise funds for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. He’ll be on the sidewalk at 314 E. Belgrade St. from August 12 to September 5th. Stop by to make a donation and support a worthy cause. If helping kids is not enough to rouse you into action, Pomroy will also be selling hot dogs and soda cans for $1.50.

AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC INC LOWEST PRICES! “We Do It All” POLICE, FIRE & SENIOR DISCOUNTS

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215-722-5993 State License #PA068325 City of Philadelphia Electrical License #17027 We will BEAT ALL ESTIMATES!

Hangin’ With Rev. Ed

Rev. Ed stopped by the Evil Genius Pop-Up Beer Garden (1727 N. Front St.) last week. Here he is with Trevor Hayward, co-owner of Evil Genius. He also says hello to his sister, Theresa.

A message from Sgt. Massi of the 26th Police District: On behalf of Friends of Penn Treaty School, I'm forwarding this message in an effort to raise funds and collect school supplies for the staff & students at Penn Treaty School located at 600 E. Thompson St. This is a large and unique school that has a diversified student base from not only Fishtown, but throughout the entire 26th District. Giving students and staff the proper equipment leads to a better education. Students that stay active in school are less likely to commit crimes or become a nuisance to the community. Lacking school supplies should not be a factor in a child's education. I'm asking all members of the community and stakeholders to contribute their excess supplies or fund new supplies for this school. Contact Brooke Hoffman at bhoffman@friendsofpenntreaty.org in reference to collection boxes.

The Spirit of the Riverwards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 2, 2016 PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KLUSEK AND ROMAN BLAZIC

weekend photos PA R K S O N TA P S T O P P E D B Y P E N N T R E AT Y PA R K ( 1 3 4 2 N D E L AWA R E AV E )

/Michael Klusek

/Roman Blazic

/Michael Klusek

/Roman Blazic

/Michael Klusek

/Roman Blazic

/Michael Klusek

/Roman Blazic