H Y PERLOC AL
DON E DI F F E R E N T LY
FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG
THIS
WEEK OCTOBER 5, 2016 VOL. 13 NO. 37
MUSIC ROW We interview RJD2 about recording in Philly and preview a must-see local show. 11
GROUNDBREAKING City officials, Friends of Penn Treaty Park members, and students local schools celebrated the groundbreaking of upcoming renovations at Penn Treaty Park. 10
EYE ON BUSINESS Tioga-Franklin Savings Bank recently named among the Top 75 community bank lenders in the country. 6
PHILLYROW 3 Temple professors want you to celebrate where you live — the rowhouse!
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n September 28th, Spirit News was invited to Revolutions bowling alley for their VIP party and ribbon cutting ceremony. Revolutions is the latest addition to the Fillmore Philadelphia complex on Canal Street. Revolutions will offer 26 lanes of high-tech Brunswick bowling. Players will be able to customize scoreboards with selfies and emojis and lane bumpers will automatically rise into place when a beginner’s turn come up. Patrons can even order food directly from an app on their phone. The 52,000-square-foot “multi-venue entertainment site” also introduces the 21-and-over "flair bar" concept to Philly, as well as a beer gar-
den-style bar/restaurant upstairs, which features communal tables, 40 lines of craft beer on tap and a gourmet burgers menu. Both floors were packed with invited guests including members of the 26th Police District, 1st District Councilman Mark Squilla and the media. We spoke to Bruce Frank, president of Frank Entertainment, about Revolutions and his company. Frank Entertainment was founded in 1906 by Bruce's grandfather and has been a pioneer in the entertainment business in Philadelphia ever Continued on Page 5.
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ACCU-REGGIE Seven day forecast for the Riverwards. 3
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more. 12-13
HOT OFF THE
PRESS
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have a confession to make: For many years, I believed Jovan’s Place (2327 E. York St.) was an authentic Polish restaurant. In all actuality, Jovan’s Place is an authentic Yugoslavian/Serbian restaurant. While I was still on the correct side of the European continent, I was wrong about the style of cuisine served at this cozy little corner eatery. I’m not the only one to fall victim to the confusion surrounding the style of cuisine they serve. According to owner Jovan Bokun, another news outlet wrote a piece about them and described them as a Czechoslovakian restaurant. Though a Pilsner-Urquell does go well with goulash and schnitzel, the Bokuns are not Czech. The history of Yugoslavia and Serbia itself is confusing. Yugoslavia,
which broke apart in the early 90s, was comprised of several small countries along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. They’ve been fought over for thousands of years and the people who live in each of these countries have very unique cultures. Yelp lists Jovan’s Place as an Austrian restaurant. That’s partially true if you go back to pre WWI times, where one of the most important events that led up to the beginning of WWI occurred. In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the ruler of the Austro-Hungarian empire, was touring the city of Sarajevo. Ferdinand had annexed the surrounding region, much to the dismay of the Serbians who wanted Continued on Page 4.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 THE
local lens BY THOM NICKELS
A
man named Richard Wise died a few weeks ago. That name might not mean anything to you, but Google “Richard Wise, Philadelphia”, and you’ll be surprised and even taken aback at what comes up. Wise, 40, died in New Jersey, and his life was tragic. I encountered Richard Wise in 1995 when he was 23 years old and walking on Pine Street in the early morning hours. He was strutting in the middle of the street like a cowboy in a TV western and I was coming from work and headed to my apartment. For an instant our eyes met. It was one of those involuntary eye locks that mean nothing, but Wise snapped and raising a fist, said, “What the fuck are you looking at?” I pegged him for a addict, or a man about to be put into a straight jacket. Several months later I saw his picture in a newspaper. I remembered the white blond hair and the piercing eyes. Wise had just been arrested with another suspect, 20-year-old Herbert Haak, for an attack on a gay man near 23rd and Spruce Streets. Although Haak was not charged in the assault, both he and Wise were identified as the duo responsible for a string of attacks on African-Americans and homosexuals in Center City. The news story related how at 10PM on the night of October 30, 1995, Wise and Haak spotted Christopher Beck, 27, on his way home from a meeting when they approached him and demanded that he give them the jacket he was wearing. The non-compliant Beck instantly bolted and took cover in an apartment building, whereupon Wise caught up with him and beat him on the head with a can of tuna. The blow to Beck’s head was so hard that it put a dent in the can. It was easy for Beck to identify Wise. He told The Inquirer, “He [Wise] had very glassy, dangerous eyes.” Court of Common Pleas Judge Willis W. Berry Jr. convicted Wise of robbery, aggravated assault, and weapons violations in the attack on Beck. The charges against Haak were dismissed. A month passed. On November 2, 1995, sound asleep in my apartment at 21st and Pine Street; I was awakened before dawn when I heard a very loud scream in the street. I jolted upright in bed, thinking “What was that!” and listened for more screams but when they did not come I figured the one scream was just a fluke and had probably come from one of the many Drexel, Penn or Art Institute students who sometimes caroused outside on the sidewalk. When my alarm rang at 6AM, I showered, shaved and prepared to head to my part time job at 15th and Spruce. Upon leaving my apartment, I felt a strange compulsion to cross over to the other side of the street where there was a deep stairwell, but then just as quickly decided not to do that. Almost two hours later, on my way home, I noticed a neighbor walking his dog standing near the stairwell. He told me that he had just called the police because he’d discovered somebody at the bottom of the stairwell. He did not mention a murder or a body so in those few moments I assumed it must be a homeless person who had injured himself. I considered peeking into the stairwell, but before I knew it processions of police cars and ambulances were racing towards us. In the pandemonium I moved to the other side of the street to the steps of my apartment and watched as a crowd slowly began to build. The person in the stairwell was not an injured homeless man, but a 26-year-old Center City paralegal, Kimberly Ernest. Ernest had been strangled and murdered; her body clad only in a sports bra, socks and Nike sneakers and propped up on the lower steps at the bottom of the stairwell in the most obscene position imaginable. I write this with some authority because some months after the tragedy, while writing about the case, I was given the opportunity to view a photograph of the body in the stairwell. Immediately after the murder, the stairwell was transformed into an outdoor shrine that many passers by covered with flowers, votive candles, trinkets, notes, rosaries, religious pictures and teddy bears. From my second floor kitchen window I would often see people standing silently before the stairwell or even kneeling on the sidewalk, saying a prayer. When the media published Kimberly Ernest’s photograph I recognized her as the same woman I had seen jogging on Pine Street for many months. Tall and regal looking with a great shock of long hair framed by a pair of earphones, Ernest seemed a natural athlete in her black, if somewhat risqué looking tank top as she ran up and down Pine Street. Sometimes she would jog past me on the sidewalk. Other times I would spot her jogging from my apartment window. She was an imposing figure of a
woman. On November 30th, photographs of Ernest’s alleged killers appeared in the press. There was Richard Wise with his glassy, dangerous eyes, and Herbert Haak, both Fishtown natives. In those early news stories police reported that the duo were attempting to break into a car near 18th and Pine when Ernest jogged past and scolded them. It’s easy to imagine Ernest, with her impressive physique, challenging these two petty crooks. But tragically, her self styled ‘citizens arrest’ came at a hefty price, if this is indeed what happened. Ernest was allegedly hit over the head, dragged into a stolen car, beaten, raped and then dumped into the stairwell at 21st and Pine. Another scenario had Ernest being abducted on Pine Street as she jogged and then killed in the stairwell. I was told that her face looked as if it had been slammed into a wall. (When I viewed the photograph of the murder scene, Ernest’s face was not visible). With the alleged killers caught, city residents breathed a sigh of relief. But then came the trial. Like the OJ Simpson trial in Los Angeles, the Ernest trial would crumble into a farce. The jury deliberated for three hours, but found Wise and Haak not guilty despite District Attorney Lynn Abraham’s firm conviction that these men were the killers. The jury was swayed from a guilty verdict because the DNA from the semen found in Ernest’s body was not Wise or Haak’s. The prosecution maintained that the DNA didn’t match because the semen came from an earlier, consensual sexual encounter. For me, personally, the jogger case would have a number of other twists. I won’t bore you with microscopic details, except to say that a male paralegal friend of mine turned out to be a secret lover of Ernest’s. This led to an exchange of interesting personal stories that I cannot repeat in this column. And in yet another strange development, somebody I knew as a regular fixture on Pine Street, the son of a famous Center City attorney, was now being considered by a law firm as a suspect in Ernest’s slaying (this accusation later proved to be false). The fact that the infamous Center City jogger murder case still hadn’t been resolved was a point of frustration and concern for many Center City residents. How was this case botched? How could a killing so horrendously ugly go unsolved? Since 1995, I have thought many times about that loud scream I heard in the early morning hours of November 2, 1995. Could the scream have been Ernest’s as she was being forced into the stairwell? Investigators at the time told me that other people on my block had heard a scream that night. Wise sued the City of Philadelphia for $75 million dollars in 1997, claiming that the police used torture to get him to confess to the murder of Ernest. In his 62-page federal lawsuit, he claimed that he was stripped naked, deprived of sleep and mentally tortured by cops until he signed a confession. The police, on the other hand, insisted that they had treated both Wise and Haak “like gentlemen.” Jailhouse informants, however, told investigators that both Wise and Haak confessed to the murder and that Haak said he would say that he was forced to sign a confession. People don’t talk about the Center City jogger case anymore, but the case came up for me recently when I was told that Wise had recently died. I was able to confirm this fact, given that his obituary is online for anyone to see, but what I didn’t know is that while Wise was in Graterford Prison for one of his offenses, his wife and baby were killed in a fiery auto accident while they were on their way to visit him. No matter what one may think of Wise as a human being, tragedies like this cut deep. It might be hard to take the high road and to refrain from saying that Wise “deserved this,” or that this was Wise’s karma being dispensed with God’s blessing. Man’s justice is not God’s mercy, as the saying goes. We simply don’t know what went on in the heart and mind of Richard Wise before he closed his eyes for the last time. •
THOM NICKELS
IS A PHILADELPHIA BASED AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, POET, FILM CRITIC & FEATURE WRITER FOR SPIRIT NEWS.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 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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ast week we spent much of our time in the 60s as a seemingly endless storm brought clouds and rain for days. The cooler temperatures brought us our first taste of fall, but we managed to scrape out a couple nice days to close out the seven-day period. This week‘s weather has a bit of uncertainty to it. On the one hand, I know we will get four absolutely beautiful days that will feature temperatures in the 70s or 60s with plenty of sunshine. On the other hand, the exact track and impacts of Hurricane Matthew are uncertain and likely to change. Right now, the hurricane is set to temporarily graze or make landfall in Florida, then ride up the coast to North Carolina at which point it will turn
out to sea and maybe throw a little rain our way in conjunction with a cold front approaching from the west. But you know how these things work — storms do whatever the heck they want and this one will be no different! If it does come further north we could have a 12-18 hour period of heavy rain, high winds and coastal flooding. This is unlikely, but you never say “never” when forecasting a Hurricane. Wednesday is a nice day with temperatures getting to about 70 and lows in the 50s. The cool crisp nights this week remind us fall is here. Thursday and Friday are both beautiful days. Warmer air will make its way into the region. Some places will even get
close to 80 on Friday. Any rain from the cold front and or Hurricane Matthew would arrive late in the day on Saturday. Bank on a shower from the front at least so keep the rain gear handy this day. Sunday is a cooler and breezy day that could also feature rain from the Hurricane in the morning. Either way, the evening looks clear and cool. Some places in the suburbs could get in the 30s. Monday and Tuesday are picture perfect early Fall days. Temperatures are in the 60s by day and 40s by night. It’s officially light jacket season. The weather winner of the week is Friday; the weather loser is Sunday. •
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Page 4 Continued from Page 1. it to become part of their own nation. On June 28, 1914, Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were shot by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian terrorist. Both died and the event is widely considered to be the catalyst for the beginning of WWI. According to the State Department, Yugoslavia was created after WWI when the Austro-Hungarian empire, which was aligned with Germany, was divided. Areas of the region which were controlled by Croats, Slovenians, and Bosnians joined with what was called the Serbian Kingdom. Owners Jovan and Dobrila Bokun are from outside the city of Belgrade in Serbia. The couple was married in Yugoslavia and have been together for 54 years, but they go back even farther than that. The two were childhood friends and have now spent the majority of their lives living and working together. “Everybody is surprised that (we) can work together,” Dobrila said. “I fight a guy, I don’t wanna fight a woman,” Jovan joked. Jovan was a cook in the Yugoslavian army and cooked for thousands of troops at a time. “We used to get big kitchen, we used to cook for 1800 people,” Jovan said. “In the service, it’s like a butcher in Yugoslavia. I used to make salami, head cheese, liverwurst, bloodwurst.” Jovan also remembers running his own business in Yugoslavia. “I used to have my own business in Yugoslavia. I had a butcher, not a butcher shop. I used to buy livestock steers, pigs, oxen sheep calves...I used to work lot of hours,” Jovan said. The Bokuns began their American dream when they moved to the Bronx in 1970. “I came here June 24th. On the 25th I start working, next day I start working,” Jovan said. “A couple hours before, I came from airport.” Jovan and his wife also lived in Brooklyn before a visit to a friends house in Elkins Park got them thinking about life in Philadelphia. Not long after that, the Bokuns bought a house in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia and Jovan began working at Fisher’s Restaurant. Jovan spoke fondly of his years at the landmark German restaurant on North Broad Street near Temple Hospital. “I enjoyed working there,” Jovan said. According to Jovan, he often worked a second job at a slaughter house. According to him he also spent time working at Boar’s Head in New York and Leidy’s Pork formerly in Souderton, PA. He says he always wanted to be a butcher. “I was 14 and I started learning for the butcher,” Jovan said. “My father was a farmer, we used to get horses. I said I don’t wanna be the farmer, I wanna be the butcher. My uncle was a butcher. I wanna be the butcher. I love it.” Jovan was still working at Fisher’s in 1987 when he bought Jovan’s Place. According to him, he had always wanted to run his own restaurant. “My dream was, I wanna build a restaurant,” Jovan said. “I wanna cook, we wanna cook something that nobody else cook.” Since then, the Bokuns have seen the neighborhood change and old friends pass away, but welcome all the new hungry faces that walk through their doors. “We used to know a lot of people… a lot of people die. A lot of good my friends in Fishtown… Polish, Irish — those people, they passed away. Those were good people, good friends,” Jovan said. Now on to the food: If you go to Jovan’s Place, you have to try the goulash. Jovan’s take on this classic dish starts with chopped onions cooked down about halfway, then he starts cooking the meat. “Meat take a hour and a half, and a couple hours just take the onions,” Jovan said. “All together it’s a three and a half, four hours to cook. It’s never just fast.” Jovan’s goulash is served two ways, over pasta or mashed potatoes. According to Dobrila, it’s traditionally served over mashed potatoes, or homemade pasta’s similar to egg noodles. Jovan’s uses tri-color rotini, and places generous chunks of beef perfectly cooked in the goulash sauce. The hunks of beef are super tender and pull apart as you dig in. The plate of goulash is humongous, and I had food for two days after, so there is little to no chance of leaving hungry after this dish, but that’s what the Bokuns want. We also sampled Dad’s Bean Soup. Jovan’s starts out with dried great northern beans. According to them, they prefer the dried beans over canned, and hand pick through them to ensure their quality. After they’re rehydrated, the beans are simmered in a rich vegetable stock of onions carrots and herbs. Jovan adds a smoked rib give it just enough smokiness to let you know this isn’t vegetarian. Other favorites include their Jovan’s Schnitzel which is comprised of lean pork rolled up with imported ham and two cheeses before being fried, and the Pljescavica or “Yugo-Style Burger.” This oversized bunless burger is cooked medium on the inside, with a perfect char on the outside. It’s served with a generous hunk of feta cheese and tomatoes. Don’t worry about the bread. Jovan’s will give you more than enough cuts of bread for you to smother their homemade pesto on before the main entree arrives. Another staple here is the stuffed cabbage. It takes about four weeks to sour the cabbage leaves Jovan uses to wrap the beef pork and rice mixture. Jovan makes the “Sour
The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016
Jovan and Dobrila Bokun, the Pa and Ma behind Jovan's Place./All photos by Ptah Gabrie
Head,” which is basically sauerkraut that isn’t shredded at his home. According to him, he drills out the core, and soaks the cabbage in a mixture of salt and water. According to Jovan, making sour head was something everyone did in Yugoslavia. “That’s what we did in Yugoslavia. Everybody in Yugoslavia for the house, they do sour heads,” Jovan said. “Four weeks and done,” Dobrila added. As we chatted Dobrila offered to me a cup of “Yugo-Style” coffee. As an avid coffee drinker, this was new territory for me. She explained that the coffee is not filtered, and brewed together in a small metal container. Dobrila served it on a platter with two lumps of sugar. According to Jovan, they buy their own beans roast them and grind them to make the Yugo-Style coffee. “They have to be fine grind,” Dobrila said The coffee is thick. It was similar to espresso only because it was strong coffee, but Jovan would not say it was anything other than Yugo-Style. I enjoy it black, but a little sugar sweetens it up and compliments the bitter coffee taste. If you enjoy rich, exotic coffees, this is surely one to
try, and the unique brewing technique adds to the restaurant's made-to-order experience. “We make every order separate,” Dobrila said. Jovan and Dobrila both enjoy cooking. “You have to like to cook,” Dobrila said. “He cook everything that we cook over there. Stuffed cabbage, chicken soup goulash.” Jovan says he likes to keep his menu simple, and loves to cook for his customers. “We can cook a lot of different things, but it’s gonna be too big a menu and kitchen is too small,” Jovan said. Jovan says the many years of working early are starting to take a toll on him. He’s not sure how much longer they will be able to keep the restaurant open, but that’s something they don’t think about too often. The Bokuns would rather see the look on their guests faces as they sit back after a delicious Yugo-Style meal. “I like to make Jovan’s (schnitzel) goulash, pork cutlet… We like to cook everything. I don’t know for how long we gonna cook, we 75,” Jovan said. “We never got a complaint.” •
The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 Continued from Page 1. since. “My grandfather built the first talking theater in Philadelphia on Market Street back in the 1920s,” Frank said. “Our history here is long. It’s a wonderful, colorful history in a wonderful colorful town.” According to Frank, he decided to broaden the company's reach by offering other entertainment venues besides cinemas when he became president of the company in 1980. “We wanted to be a one stop shop for entertainment,” Frank said. “Revolutions is an alternative solution when there’s not a movie you want to see.” Frank sees Revolutions as a great asset to the Fishtown community. “Any time you create jobs, you benefit community. Any time you develop a project and pay taxes, you benefit a community,” Frank said. “Any time you provide entertainment for families, you benefit the community.” Councilman Squilla also sees Revolutions as beneficial to Fishtown. “This was an area that was desolate. So when you have an area with no activity whatsoever the likelihood of crime is more likely,” Squilla said. “This also gives people more of a reason to want to live in and around the community.” “When this actual complex was approved, we saw this as an opportunity to grow the amenities for the Fishtown neighborhood,” Squilla said. “So now the Fishtown neighborhood will have a bowling alley, a live music venue, they’ll have a sportsbar, a comedy club… Now they have things that they can walk to. They have these amenities that we think make the neighborhood better.” Councilman Squilla admits that neighbors may have concerns, but he believes open lines of communication can be mutually beneficial. “Sometimes when you have some things opening that are a little different, maybe there’s concerns with parking or things like that,” Squilla said. “We’re working with the developer and the FNA to make sure that if there are concerns, we can mitigate concerns.” Both men agree that this entertainment complex is going to make Fishtown a local destination point. “This is going to be the entertainment mecca of Philadelphia,” Frank said. “It just gives the people in the community a place to go that’s close by, and also gives back to the community. It’s a win win for everybody,” Squilla said. He added: “There’s always a fine line between having a lot of amenities, and having some concerns that those amenities bring. As long as we constantly work with the community groups and the venues to make sure we have open lines of communications and dialogue, we’re able to work through those concerns and make it better for the business and the community.” •
/All photos by Ptah Gabrie
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 WORDS AND PHOTOS BY THOMAS BECK
Eye On Business
T I O G A - F R A N K L I N S AV I N G S B A N K N A M E D A M O N G T H E T O P 7 5 C O M M U N I T Y B A N K L E N D E R S I N T H E C O U N T R Y
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or the last year and a half, Tioga-Franklin Savings Bank has worked to reinvent its business platform in order to be able to compete with larger, more modernized institutions. And it has done so successfully. Founded in 1873, Tioga-Franklin was recently named one of the top 75 community bank lenders in the country by the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). Tioga-Franklin has begun to offer numerous products and services that many other banks already provide their customers, but what sets Tioga-Franklin apart from its competitors is its ability to cultivate real and meaningful relationships with each and every one of its customers. “When [our customers] call here, they can speak to whomever they want, directly and instantly,” said Compliance Officer and Systems Administrator Lindsay Butler, who has played a pivotal role in the bank’s transformation. President and CEO of Tioga-Franklin John T. Coleman was hired in March last year. It was he who foresaw the bank’s potential for growth and initiated the revolution of its platform. “We are focused on providing our customers with all the benefits of a large bank while maintaining our heritage as a personalized, customer-friendly institution,” said Coleman. “At Tioga-Franklin, you can expect to develop a personalized relationship with your banker that you simply can’t get at larger banks.” Tioga-Franklin now offers, among many other programs and services, free checking, reimbursement of foreign ATM fees, debit cards and online banking. Each customer is free to choose between a high interest rate account or a cashback rewards account. Interest rates can reach two percent under particular conditions. Customers can also receive up “We’ve really wanted to increase relevance and get our name out there because I don’t think there’s any reason why we can’t offer the same things that the bigger banks do,” to three percent cashback on purchases made with their debit cards. Butler said. Tioga-Franklin Savings Bank is an FDIC-insured, SBA-approved lender. It is located in Fishtown at 320 East Girard Avenue. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 WRITTEN BY AMY STRAUSS
Phillyrow
T
3 T E M P L E P R O F E S S O R S WA N T Y O U T O C E L E B R AT E W H E R E Y O U L I V E — T H E R O W H O U S E !
he rowhouse — you walk, drive or bike past hundreds of them on a day. Heck — many, if not all, of you live in them. As the ubiquitous building style of the residential scene of Philadelphia, the rowhouse has become part of what makes the city of Brotherly Love unique. They line our streets; they’re diverse pieces of architecture that reflect the ambitions of the people who built and lived there; they even resulted in Philadelphia becoming the “City of Homes” by the end of the nineteenth century. With more than 70 percent of Philadelphians living in them and with approximately 360,000 of them constructed in our city, three Temple University professors have launched a collaborative project, PhillyRow, to help you know more about your city. “We want to bring love, knowledge and appreciation of the rowhouse to the people that live here,” said PhillyRow’s Bryan Satalino, an Assistant Professor of Graphic and Interactive Design at Tyler School of Art and also a Kensington resident. “We have over a million people here living in rowhouses and that’s really incredible.” Satalino collaborates with Clifton Fordham, an Assistant Professor of Architecture and South Philly resident, and Abby Guido, Assistant Professor of Graphic and Interactive Design and Kensington resident, on the rowhouse project. Satalino’s inspiration for the project sparked when catching Philly’s rowhouse scene from a new perspective — an airplane. “I was flying over Philly and just seeing so many vast tracts of rowhouses — it was an insane amount,” he said. “There are 130 miles of Philadelphia and 70 percent of that is rowhouses.” “To me, the rowhouse is an interesting building style because it rides the line of destiny,” continued Satalino. “We’re not in the suburbs where it is one house per square mile. We are up against each other here; humans packed in. But, we are also not a large high-rise city and we do not have high-density areas in Philadelphia. The rowhouse lends to our overall neighborhood feel and allows us to be economically and environmentally friendly — both of which has become important to many.” Then came his colleague, Guido, whose passion lays in the data. Once Satalino brought up his desires to puzzle out “how many bricks do you think are in Philly?,” she was in. “I grew up literally across the street from the border of Philadelphia and Abington,” she said. “Rowhouses were something I took for granted. I lived in New York, LA … I loved that I was able to come back and afford to buy a house. That makes Philly great! Rowhouses have always been attractive because of Philly home ownership.” Soon, conceptualization for the PhillyRow project was swiftly underway, looping in their fellow colleague, Fordham, who possessed an impressive knowledge for architectural history and renovatio. He even comprehensively renovated his own rowhouse in the Passyunk Square neighborhood last year. “Working with graphic designers at Temple University is particularly exciting because of the potential of conveying my interest in the building technology and building design to a broader audience that needs to learn more about the places in which they dwell,” said Fordham. The trio of professors also tapped several of their graphic
design students as interns for the summer of 2015 to help build a foundation for the project and produce academic field work of area-wide facades, including those in West Philly, South Philly and Fishtown. “In different neighborhoods, you can see the different traits of the workers and how they restored houses,” said Guido. “In Fishtown and Kensington, there was a lot of galvanization; a lot of sheet metal and iron work happened here,” chimed in Satalino. “You see the quilted sheet metal on cladding of windows. Workers made that and then, they’d take it home and put it on their houses.” Through research, they also undercovered that the Victorian era was a huge growth spurt for rowhome housing in Philly. “If you look at Philadelphia’s population growth, you can actually see when there was a big growth in rowhouses,” said Satalino. Even more fascinating was the notion that carpenters, masons, roofers, etc., would “pitch into together to buy blocks and then, they would each get a house and that would be their payment,” he continued. The first installation of PhillyRow’s field research will make its public debut through the course of three days of events at Minnow Lane (2029 Frankford Ave.), from Oct. 7–9, as part of Design Philadelphia 2016. Locals will be able to uncover a data-packed history lesson of Fishtown row homes, executed through a series of eye-catching infographics we can’t help but keep digging into. For example, the oldest Federal Town House-style of rowhouse was built in the Colonial era on Frankford Avenue and the oldest known still-standing residence in Fishtown/Kensington was built for Frederick Rapp, a German soldier turned American doctor. Another fun fact? Richard James, who made James Industries, invented and manufactured the Slinky toy on Richmond Street in a rowhouse. Oh, about that question that kickstarted the whole PhillyRow project? Here’s a teaser: It takes an average of 21,038 total bricks to build one two-story rowhouse. The bricks weigh in total 94,671 pounds — which is approximately the same as three SEPTA buses. The total number of
bricks in rowhouses in Philly though, you’ll have to ask attend PhillyRow’s event for that fun fact. “We all see this project as linking academic interests with public service and civic pride,” concluded Fordham. Learn even more about the neighborhood for which you live by hitting Minnow Lane for PhillyRow’s first-ever installation through the course of these events: Installation Opening on Oct. 7, 5:30–8PM, featuring known mural artist who specializes in rowhouses, Miriam Singer; a “Draw Your Own City” workshop perfect for kids on Oct. 8, 10–11AM; and a “Color Classic Philadelphia Rowhouses” workshop for adults and kids alike, on Oct. 8, 3-5PM. There’s also PhillyRow’s Fishtown Coloring Book available for purchase, which is great for all ages and features neighborhood-wide facades. To learn more about the project and stay up to the date on their latest rowhouse developments, visit www.phillyrow. com. • A cover and spread from the Fishtown Coloring Book
A preview of an infographic about the history of Fishtown Rowhouses./Creative and Art Direction by: Clifton Fordham, Abby Guido, Bryan Satalino Designed by Dominic Costanzo
A photo of PhillyRow team (left to right): Abby Guido, Bryan Satalino, Clifton Fordham
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 WRITTEN BY SPIRIT STAFF
Weekend Photos S T. L A U R E N T I U S PA R I S H I O N E R S M A R C H I N P U L A S K I PA R A D E
O
n Sunday, October 2, 2016, the Pulaski Parade was held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City. The parade began at 12:30PM and featured proud Polish-Americans showing off their pride and tradition. Among those participating in the parade were members of St. Laurentius Parish, who were displaying their support for their church. St. Laurentius church has been at the center of heated debate in the community ever since the Archdiocese of Philadelphia closed its doors a few years back. Photos from the parade are courtesy of John Wisniewski. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 W R I T T E N B Y K A I T LY N M O O R E
Groundbreaking P L AY G R O U N D R E N O VA T I O N S T O S T A R T A T P E N N T R E A T Y P A R K
O
n Tuesday, September 27, Penn Treaty Park was filled with city officials, Friends of Penn Treaty Park, and students from Adare, Hackett, and Saint Laurentius schools to celebrate the renovations starting at the playground. The renovations will include some minor landscaping to the park and conservation of the obelisk sculpture. The current playground, a donation from Franklin Square, will be removed and replaced with brand new ADA accessible equipment and new safety surfacing. The new playground will be moved to higher ground to avoid flooding during periods of heavy rain. The renovations will also includethe addition of a turtle sculpture to the park. The renovations are part of Mayor Jim Kenney’s Rebuild Initiative to revamp Philadelphia’s parks, libraries, recreation centers, and playgrounds. According to the Rebuild Initiative plan, the upgrades will be funded through both private and public funding – with a majority of the public funding coming from the soda tax. Mayor Jim Kenney addressed the crowd with the motivation behind his Rebuild Initiative. “Every park in Philadelphia deserves high quality equipment for all to enjoy. I’m pleased the rebuild plan will ensure that all neighborhoods in Philadelphia will have a park as nice as Penn Treaty [Park].” According to Alain Joinville, communications manager of the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation department, the renovations to the park will be paid for by an investment exceeding $500,000. The renovation has been funded by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation department, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and PECO. According to the Friends of Penn Treaty Park, it is believed Peace Treaty Park was where a meeting took place between William Penn and the Leni Lenape Indians. The turtle sculpture that will be added to the park is to represent the Native American history behind Penn Treaty Park. Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal councilman, Reverend John Norwood explained the significance of the Native American significance of the turtle to the crowd, “North America is the back of a great turtle, rising up out of the sea. And even the tides represent its breathing. And all that is on the back of the turtle is living and must be respected as so.”
All photos by Roman Blazic Mayor Kenney said, “When we are here we have to remember that this is a sacred holy place for Native Americans and we need to get in concert with nature. And to understand what [Native Americans] taught each other and what they taught about the environment. When one part of the environment was disrupted the whole universe was disrupted.” The crowd was also addressed by Councilman Mark Squilla, who encouraged the students to practice ownership of the park by picking up trash and taking care of the equipment. “We go to different areas throughout the city… and [people] sometimes say, ‘How come some things happen in some playgrounds and don’t happen in others?’ Well they happen in some playgrounds because of community involvement and stewardship,” Squilla said. “The city
is going to invest money and people are going to invest money when you have ownership.” Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell, and Parks and Recreation managing director, Michael DiBerardinis also took the stand to thank the investors, designers, and the Friends of Penn Treaty Park who were behind the renovation plans. The ceremony ended with a blessing by Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal councilman, Reverend John Norwood and officials and students breaking ground, by shoveling piles of dirt from the park to initiate the beginning of the rebuild. The renovations are scheduled to begin before winter and are set to be completed before spring, according to Ott Lovell. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 WRITTEN BY JUSTIN HELM
Music Row YOUR GUIDE TO LOCAL MUSIC
Band Interview
Local Show Preview
Few names in the electronic and DJ scene carry as much weight as the prolific man of many hats, RJD2. Having collaborated with everyone from Massive Attack to Yo La Tengo, the eclectic mastermind has continued to inspire since he first began playing music in 1993. Remember "Deadringer"? Critically acclaimed and extremely well received globally, that record landed RJD2 in the spotlight as a producer, DJ, and singer/songwriter. RJD2 rocked the Foundry as part of a Red Bull Sound Select Concert last week. Spirit News got a chance to chat with RJ about his latest record, "Dame Fortune", a few days before he hit the local stage. Somewhat of a lost practice, RJ finds constant inspiration from a notebook that he keeps on him most of the time. It’s in this book that ideas often begin for him. Certain phrases from everyday experiences get jotted down into it and some of the passages make their way into new songs. A nod to "Dante’s Inferno", Dame Fortune is one of God’s chosen ministers, who doles out luck and misfortune in a preordained manner. RJD2 worked out of his home studio in the Overbrook section of the city to create "Dame Fortune". RJ often takes the popular practice of home recording to the next level, such as his custom four voice modular synth, which took around a hundred hours alone to make. In 2004 RJ began restoring synths to keep things up to par on the road. With a mind for not just restoring synths, but building modular synths, I had to ask, how did this all begin? Turns out it was none other than good ol’ parental encouragement. “Since I was a kid one of the most powerful things that my dad taught me was that if it’s not working than there is no harm in opening it.” “Music is a common language in Philadelphia,” RJ reminds me. He explained how being in Philly throughout the course of the record helped many aspects of it. Case in point, his ability to recruit The West Philadelphia Orchestra’s horn section for some help on the record. While Dame Fortune explores many genres, I grew curious about the opening and closing track specifically. Something musically about “A Portal Inward” and “Portals Outward” left me thinking of space travel — an influence overlooked by some but still valuable to many. RJ does in fact see the tracks as an audio homage to the Sci-Fi genre.
Upcoming on Sunday, October 16 at Johnny Brendas, you can catch what is sure to be a thumpin’ good show with Cymbals Eat Guitars, Field Mouse, and Wildhoney. If The Cure and Against Me! were flavors of Philly water ice melted and mixed together, you’d get Cymbals Eat Guitars. On their latest endeavor, "Pretty Years", Cymbals Eat Guitars have demonstrated how they have matured as a band. From the early days of "Why There Are Mountains" a certain angst could be heard, which now feels more refined and focused. Through layers of clashing overdrive to the poppy notion that balances percussive melodies against dreamy synths, the Staten Island group balances indie and pop tremendously. While Field Mouse often feels quiet and minimal, the group expertly crescendos to punk rhythms creating a frenzied energy that could be the mouse thwarting its hunter. Having recorded the group's latest effort, "Episodic", in Philly with Hop Along’s Joe Reinhart and guest featuring Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz), Allison Crutchfield (Swearin’/Waxahatchee), and Joseph D’Agostino (Cymbals Eat Guitars), Field Mouse presents it’s finest material
yet. Inspired and written during a troubling 12 months, the group pulled together for it’s first record as a quintet. While a little more polished, "Episodic" remains honest and heartfelt. Never straying too far from the mark, Field Mouse creates sweet earnest noise. Wildhoney out of Baltimore create a soundscape of 50s female vocals with pop punk drums. Venturing in and out of noise rock, the group effortlessly flows between genres creating dissonance in all the right places. Tension resolves throughout the group's latest record, "Sleep Through It", which was recorded with Chris Freeland (Lower Dens, Wye Oak) while maintaining an energy that will make for a very solid opener. Doors open at 8PM, show at 9PM. $12, 21+ •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 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
events
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.
October 8 and October 22, 8AM-3PM FRIENDS OF KONRAD SQUARE FLEA MARKETS The Friends of Konrad Square will host a few flea markets in the coming weeks at Konrad Square (Tulip and Dauphin Streets). Anyone interested in renting a space should call Vicky at 215426-9654.
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. October 20, 6PM FABA NETWORKING EVENT The Fishtown Area Business Association invites you to our Welcome to the Neighborhood! Annual Networking Event. Welcome new area business owners, network & enjoy delicious food and drink. Event is free for FABA members, $5 for non-members. Ticket includes one free drink. Location: Martha, 2113 E. York St. Please RSVP at: fabasocial.splashthat.com/ October 5, 7PM PROPAC MEETING PROPAC Meeting at the Columbia Social Club (3521-29 Almond Street Philadelphia, PA 19134) Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - 7:00pm FNA ZOMING MEETING -1021-23 E Columbia Ave Proposal for manufacturing and distribution of furniture in an existing structure. -1244 E Colona St Proposal to demolish an existing structure, subdivide property into (2) lots, construct (2) single family homes with accessory parking, roof decks, and balconies. This meeting will take place at the Fishtown Rec Center, 1202 E Montgomery Ave. 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.
October is by far my favorite month, so much life to celebrate. On the 2nd, my beloved mother (Kay Shober) turned “96” and my brother (Sonny Muriaka) on the same day, ‘66. God is good. Also on the 2nd, my brother in law, Richard Green, turned the big 75. On the 4th, Kira Hendricks, fabulous daughter of Jimmy Hendricks of Anne’s place, a family deli/grocery store at Belgrade and Palmer. Jim turns 75 on the 7th. Raymond Wiszynski — the local ice delivery man on the 18th — so many more nieces and nephews happy birthday and best of wishes to all! Love, Cassie Green.
October 7, 6PM NEIGHBORHOOD ROSARY Upper Church at Nativity BVM (Belgrade and Allegheny). Everyone is welcome to participate. St. Georges, MDG, Nativity BVM, and St. Adalbert's. For more info call 215-739-2735 October 7, 6:30PM FAITHFUL LAURENTIANS MEETING Meeting at The Unsung Hero's Art Gallery 2024 Arizona St.19125 6:30PM. We will be releasing our business plan. All are welcome. October 7 DISABLED AMERICANS VETERANS OUTREACH VAN State Rep. John Taylor will be hosting a the Disabled Americans Veterans Outreach Van on Friday, October 7, 2016 at the intersection of Frankford Avenue and Ryan Avenue in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia. DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than a million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. Staffed by highly trained DAV National Service Officers, our MSOs provide professional support throughout the claims and appeals process. When you come to one of the MSO locations, please bring your identification, Social Security number, and any other pertinent documentation regarding your military service. DAV membership is not required to utilize these free services. Friday, October 7, 6 - 8PM FIRST FRIDAY AT AMALGAM We know you missed us in September, but we're back with TribbleTang...Amalgam's Official First Friday event! Join us Friday, October 7th as we welcome "The Simpsons" comic book scribe, Tony Digerolamo AND musical guest, Philly Hip-Hop Artist, DMNQ LNDN! Saturday, October 8, 12-6PM RIVERCITY FESTIVAL With great pride and anticipation, the Fishtown Neighbors Association is pleased to announce the Ninth Annual RiverCity Festival on Saturday October 8th, 2016 beginning at Noon until sunset at 6pm at historic Penn Treaty Park. Free and open to the public, the RiverCity Festival reinforces friendships in our community, promotes exciting local businesses, and showcases everything that makes Fishtown stand out as a neighborhood with tremendous history and vibrancy. Organized by the dedicated volunteers of the Fishtown Neighbors Association and featuring over 100 local arts and food vendors, RiverCity Festival attracts nearly 10,000 attendees to raise funds for neighborhood projects and revitalization. We also invite you and your employees to email, friend and tweet the RiverCity Festival, so all of our friends and family know that fun is to be had in Fishtown at the Penn Treaty Park. For more information visit rivercityfestival.org. Saturday, October 8 FISHTOWN RIVERCITY FESTIVAL The Fishtown Neighbors Association is hosting the 9th Annual RiverCity Festival at The Penn Treaty Park (1341 N Delaware Ave). October 9, 3-7PM "WELCOME TO FISHTOWN" BEEF AND BEER AOH Division 51 "Welcome to Fishtown" Beef and Beer, Sunday, October 9 from 3PM to 7PM outside Holy Name Church, Gaul and Berks Sts. Live music, DJ, food and beer. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the event or in advance by calling 215-817-1919 Sunday, October 9, 8 AM 5000 YARDS DASH RACE In a race series celebrating the best of local craft brewing, we had to add a race with Yards Brewing Company. You will see that this is the must do race of 2016! Join us Octo-
ber 9, 2016 for the 5,000 Yards Dash! October 10, 7:30PM BOBBY RYDELL IN PORT RICHMOND Come out and meet Bobby Rydell at his book signing on October 10, 2016 @ Sons of Italy, Northeast Lodge #610, 2537 E. Monmouth Street. Doors open at 7:30PM sharp. Admission is $25, which includes an autographed copy of his book, Teen Idol on the Rocks. Meet him up close and personal; take a picture with him. Admission is by reservation only. Contact Marie at 215-776-2874 (phone or text). October 11, 4-6PM UNITED BY BLUE'S DELAWARE RIVER CLEANUP Join United by Blue and Honeygrow for a cleanup of the Delaware River at Penn Treaty Park. United By Blue will provide water, trash bags, supplies, and gloves for volunteers. All volunteers will also have the chance to win prizes during two cleanup games: weirdest trash find and total weight guess. Groups of all sizes are welcome! Please wear closed toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty or wet. This event is free and open to the public! Help us to keep Penn Treaty Park beautiful! Learn more about the cleanup by visiting our website at www.unitedbyblue. com/honeygrowtemple Contact Kelly Offner with any questions or concerns by calling 215-278-7858 or emailing cleanup@unitedbyblue.com Saturday, October 15, 2PM SATURDAY MOVIE MATINEE We’ll be showing the classic movie “Casablanca” at 1st Presbyterian Church (418 E. Girard Ave.). Come enjoy an afternoon at the movies and relive when you first this timeless film. Popcorn and snacks are provided for free. Everyone is welcome. October 15, 10AM–12PM SUSTAINABLE TEXTILE & DYE WORKSHOP In conjunction with Design Philadelphia instructor Kelly Cobb joins Greensgrow with her mobile textile lab. Learn how to get more out of your wardrobe and used fabrics! We’ll explore upcycling and re-design with weaving, knitting, dyeing techniques, alteration and repair. Our sustainable fashion expert, Kelly Cobb will be demonstrating a variety of techniques from her mobile studio; weaving on a loom, using rope making equipment, sewing machine and dye station. This is a great workshop for looking to reduce waste, as well as anyone curious about working with textiles. Location: Greensgrow Farms (2501 E. Cumberland St.) Contact: nursery@greensgrow.org Register: http://www. greensgrow.org/event/sustainable-textile-dye-workshop/ Saturday, October 22, 3-5PM SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER Fundraiser at St. Phillips Church (700 E Tioga St.) Cost $2 for kids 10 and under, $3.50 for adults. No takeout. Menu includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, dessert and more. For more info, call 215-954-2735 Saturday, October 22, 11-4PM HECHO EN NORRIS SQUARE CRAFT MARKET Join in the 1st Annual Hecho en Norris Square Craft Market at Norris Square Park (2141 N. Howard Street). Featuring: Local artists & craft vendors, Art activities for all ages, Food Trucks, Music and more! The Hecho en Norris Square Craft Market, in collaboration with Norris Square Neighborhood Project and Village of Arts and Humanities, focuses on the creative community in eastern north Philadelphia and utilizes public space in Norris Square Park as a venue to showcase emerging and established vendors from 19122, and 19133. In partnering with the Food Trust, local food trucks will be selling a variety of good eats to satisfy all appetites. The craft market vendors will also be featured as part of the Center for the Emerging Visual Artist, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours east of Broad Street. Hecho en Philly is supported by LISC, Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Village of Arts and Humanities, Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia Food Trust, and Puffin Foundation. Rain or Shine. To sign up as a vendor email: Anne at hechoenphilly@gmail. com . To volunteer email: Linda at hechoenphilly@gmail. com . Visit www.hechoenphilly.com for more details Saturday, October 22, 5PM DESIGNER BAG BINGO Bingo starts at 6PM at St. John Cantius Auditorium (4415
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 Almond St). Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Also: 50/50, Chinese auction, door prizes. Donation includes 3 cards a game for 10 games of Bingo, a hot roast beef sandwich, and light refreshments. VIPs can reserve table close to auction and an additional card per game. Event is BYOB and sponsored by the parents of Troop 11 Auxiliary. To purchase tickets please contact Sarah Melin at 804-605-3882 or s_melin@live.com. Tickets can also be purcashed at Grace Church and the Incarnation (2645 E Venango St.) on Mondays, 6-8:30PM. Saturday, October 22, 12-4PM FALL CRAFT FAIR Holy Innocents St. Paul’s Episcopal Church presents our Fall Craft Fair. Saturday, October 22nd from 12PM to 4PM at 7701 Torresdale Avenue (Torresdale and Tyson Aves) in our lower hall. 20 tables featuring unique crafters and vendors. Fun kids area including face painting, photo booth, fall crafts and other surprises. Tables are still available for $20. For information please contact us at hispepiscopal@aol.com or call 215-651-5159. Saturday, October 22, 10AM-3PM FRIENDS OF PENN TREATY FLEA MARKET Join us for a Flea Market at Penn Treaty Park! Spaces available for $15. Fee due no later than May 14, please make check out to “The Tamanend Fund” and mail to Barbara Moorehead at 2171 E. Letterly St, Phila PA 19125. For more info call 215-425-0393 Saturday, October 22, 11AM AUCTION AT BETHEL BAPTIST We will be having a penny auction, flea market, and food sales at Bethel Baptist Church (2210 E. Susquehanna Ave.) We have gift cards, gift baskets, flyers tickets and much more. Call 215-426-1909 for more info. Saturday, October 22, 11:30AM KENSINGTON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON Annual luncheon for Kensington High School alumni, all years. Williamson’s Restaurant (500 Blair Mill Rd., Horsham, PA) For more information call Barbara Carrier (609-654-6120) or Altha Burgee (althaburgee@comcast.net) Saturday, October 22, 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. Sunday, October 23, 10AM-12PM ADAIRE WALK-A-THON Adaire's active Home & School Association wants you get active with them in support of this great K-8 in the heart of Fishtown! We're raising money to support Adaire, we're building community, and we're burning off some calories! We're starting from the Adaire schoolyard, walking up to Hackett, and then back to Penn Treaty Park — 1.5 miles in all! There'll be free water and snacks for sale at Penn Treaty Park. A $15 donation gets an adult ticket and an Adaire pint glass! Or participate for $12 (adults, no glass) and $5 (kids)! https://adairehsa.ticketleap.com/ adaire-2016-walk-a-thon or stop by the main office at Thompson & Palmer! Friday, October 28, 8PM-Midnight PO1 MICHAEL J. STRANGE BEEF AND BEER FUNDRAISER Come out to St. Dominic’s Marian Hall (8532 Frankford Ave.) a night of food, cold beer, dancing and Philly’s greatest funny man, Joe Conklin. Tickets $30. Benefits healing retreat for Gold Star Families and will kick off fundraising for a Memorial Wall in tribute to the 289 Heroes killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Call for tickets 215-983-4470.
Tim Breslin 2nd Annual Memorial Golf Outing Join us in remembering the life of a Fishtown great, Tim Breslin. The 2nd Annual Tim Breslin Memorial Golf Tournament will be on October 15 at Bensalem Golf Course. Registration begins at 12PM, $100 per golfer. The tournament will be followed by a Beef & Beer ($30) at the Plumber Local Union 690, 2791 Southampton Rd., Phila. PA 19154 from 7-11PM.
October 29, 12-4PM BY MY SIDE’S FAMILY FALL FEST Fall Fest raises money to support the critical programming By My Side’s non-profit parenting program provides to over 100 hundred Fishtown and Kensington families on a weekly basis. Last year over 200 families joined us, and we know this year is going to be even BIGGER! Parents and children will partake in food truck fare, participate in activities to include story telling by local elected officials, music performances, and safety activities by law enforcement. We are proud to partner with the New Kensington CDC as the host at the Garden Center located at Frankford Avenue and Berks Streets in the heart of Fishtown. The recently renovated Garden Center will be transformed into a celebration of fall with a hay bale maze, harvest crafts, and spooky fun. All funds raised will directly fund the critical programming By My Side Parenting has been providing to build community and nurture families for nearly a decade through playgroups, parenting resources, and two playschool programs for children 18mo-5yrs old. 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. Sundays, 12-4PM AMALGAM ADVENTURER’S LEAGUE Adventurers! Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse is now hosting Adventurers' League play on Sundays from noon to 4PM. Bring your level 1 character, or just yourself and our DM will have pre-gens, and join us as we begin the new season of Storm King's Thunder with the Great Upheaval adventure. New and experienced players welcome! 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. Oct. 7th, Friday, 7-9PM "ELVIS" TRIBUTE NIGHT 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!
children 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/ 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. 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 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 is on Tuesday mornings at 10:30AM 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.
sign ups Wednesdays, 7PM ST. ANNE’S CHURCH CHOIR St. Anne’s Church Choir is back with a new director, April Anderson, and assistant director, Rich Burns. We’ll be rehearsing on Wednesday evenings at 7PM at St. Anne’s Church (Lehigh and Memphis). Former director Nick Pignataro will return to conduct St. Anne’s Annual Christmas Concert later this year. All are welcome to come and sing. Call 215-426-8422 for more information. GIRL SCOUT TROOP AT GLAVIN PLAYGROUND Welcomes New Members. Meetings will start week of Sept. 19 at Glavin Playground (2600 E Westmoreland St.) with breakdown of age level meetings as follows: Brownies – 1st – 3rd Grade – 6:45 – 8:00 – Monday Nights; Daisies – K – 1st Grade – 6:05 – 7:00 – Tuesday Nights; Older girls – 6th – 12th Grade - 7:00 – 8-00 – Tuesday nights; Juniors – 4th – 6th Grade – 6:45 – 8:00 – Wednesday nights. Information about registration and the troop management will be available from the troop leader at the meetings. COHOCKSINK PLAYGROUND (2901 CEDAR ST.) Zumba is on tuesday nights from 7:30-8:30 with Ms. Jamie. Only $5 a class. Yoga is on Wednesday nights from 7:15-8:15 with Ms. Amanda. Only $5 a class. Both classes are held at Cohocksink Playground, 2901 Cedar St. Our phone number is 215-685-9884 BRIDESBURG REC CENTER (4625 RICHMOND ST) Zumba – Classes are Mondays and Thursdays from 7-8PM, and the cost is $4. Pre-school — 3-year-olds. Thursday and Friday, noon2:40PM Pre K — 4-year-olds, age as of September 1, 2016. 8:5011:30AM or noon-2:40PM Monday and Wednesday. Food Pantry - Please donate nonperishable food and clothing for needy in the neighborhood. Drop off donations at the Rec weekdays from 9AM-9PM. Scrapbooking – Scrapbooking group meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9:30PM. The cost is $5 per class and everything will be supplied except a book and photos. Ladies Bowling League — Tuesday mornings at 9AM @ Erie Lanes. Interested? Come an join us any Tuesday. For more information call Miss Jackie at 215-685-1247. Rep. John Taylor (R-Philadelphia) will hold his annual Senior Expo on Friday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Cohocksink Recreation Center, Cedar and Cambria streets. The expo is a free, one-stop information fair for senior citizens and their families, which will provide access to information on a wide range of topics. This year, door prizes will be awarded throughout the expo. “This is one of the highlights of the year,” Taylor said. “It gives people a chance to meet with state and local government officials, as well as local businesses and other nonprofits that have information that will benefit seniors. I also will be on hand to answer any questions residents may have pertaining to state government.” Among those scheduled to appear are the Philadelphia Police Department, PGW, PECO, Philadelphia Water Department, insurance companies, local podiatrists, chiropractors, senior help agencies, medical equipment companies, hospitals, and city and state agencies. Blood pressure and cholesterol tests will be given, and massages will be available. Transportation will also be available throughout the district at locations to be announced. Bus service will be available for those attending the expo; however, there will be only one pick-up at each location. The bus will leave the Cohocksink Recreation Center at 11:30 a.m. to drop seniors off at pickup locations. The pick-up sites include: Mayfair Recreation Center, 2901 Princeton Ave., at 9 a.m. Taylor’s Bridesburg office, 4725 Richmond St., at 9:20 a.m. Our Lady of Port Richmond, E. Allegheny Ave. & E. Thompson St., at 9:40 a.m. St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2608 E. Cumberland St., at 10 a.m.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016 COMMUNITY
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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.
JOBS
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FAIR HOUSING
Drivers: Excellent Wages + Monthly Bonuses up to $500+. Guaranteed Hometime. BCBS Benefits. No Touch. CDL-A 1yr exp. 855-842-8498
FOSTER PARENTS
YOU HAVE A NICE SET OF WHEELS BUT CAN’T FIND A PLACE TO PARK THEM.
REAL ESTATE SALES: new or experienced; free training program. Call Mike Dunphy at 215-840-8399
Help Wanted: Looking for lunch room manager for La Salle Academy. 3 hours a day M-F, from 7am until 10am 215-739-5804 ask Neni 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
Good, Loving homes needed for children of all ages.
PLEASE CALL 215-203-8733 or 1-877-NFI4KID or visit nfi4kids.org
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 PRAYER Prayer to the Blessed Mother Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! Say this prayer three times a day for three days.
FOR RENT Rooms for rent 25xx Frankford Ave $515 Clean and Furnished 215-941-3000
26xx Lehigh Ave Studio newly renovated $750/month 609-367-3560
2900 Block of Frankford Ave. One bedroom efficiency Two bedroom also available on 1900 Block of Cambria St. Call 856-305-2782 for pricing
32xx Frankford Ave. efficiency $550 + electric Immediate possession, no pets 215-840-8399
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.
The Spirit of the Riverwards – October 5, 2016
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 2, 2016
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Working hard for our local schools and neighborhoods.
Vote - General Election - Nov. 8th Paid for by Committee to Re-Elect John Taylor