H Y PERLOC AL
DON E DI F F E R E N T LY
FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG
THIS
WEEK NOVEMBER 9, 2016 VOL. 13 NO. 42
RICHMOND LIBRARY ART SHOW Local library branch celebrates creativing with neighborhood art show. 4
MAKE AMERICA SKATE AGAIN Fillmore celebrates its first birthday with a popup roller rink event. 9
BOXING Results from the most recent boxing match at SugarHouse and a preview of Danny Garcia's upcoming fight at Temple. 8
SERIAL FICTION We kick off our newest serial fiction sage, "Don't Tell Mrs. Donahue." 7
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more. 12-13
HOT OFF THE
PRESS
T
he flying pig and the fish mobile no longer hang over Sandy Salzman’s desk, to the dismay of her colleagues. It had seemed sensible, as her 21 years at the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) wind down, to start cleaning out her office. But the newly empty spaces on her ceiling put a damper on the staff’s usual upbeat enthusiasm. So Salzman halted the exodus to her house in Fishtown, where she raised two children and first thought about getting involved with the community. It all started with pineapple upside-down cake. Salzman’s children were in kindergarten and second grade in 1978 and she was waiting on approval of a loan and grant through a Fishtown Civic Association (FCA) program. “The FCA was looking for volunteers,” she remembers, “and I thought helping them out might move my application quicker.” Salzman chuckles. “It was approved 3 years later, but by then I was ineligible because the FCA had hired me.” Her first day as a volunteer, she was confronted by dark windows and a locked entryway. A business owner down the street had a key and let her in. Immediately, a woman bustled in the door with a large, foil-covered pan and deposited it on a rear table. She exited and returned with another pan. “Um, excuse me?” said Salzman. “Pineapple upside-down cake . . . cake sale today . . . you’ll need to price
them,” the woman tossed over her shoulder as she rushed off. People poured in all morning, until the table was laden. Salzman started calling Board Members to find out what to do. Her second day was similar. “I sifted through a stack of photos from all over the Riverwards and picked the winner of that year’s Cutest Baby Contest!” The Executive Director of the two-person office was still out sick. This is the can-do attitude that brought Salzman to the Executive Director position at FCA from 1978 to 1988, followed by the Executive Director position at the nonprofit NKCDC. She is proud of two FCA projects in particular. “We started a smoke-detector program in the early 1980s. Two families had lost a child in fires. We worked with the Fire Commissioner, Joe Rizzo, and received a lot of publicity around the country. Now, whenever there’s a major fire, the Philadelphia Fire Department checks the whole neighborhood for smoke detectors.” The other project is the expansion of Penn Treaty Park. A former industrial site was annexed to create eight acres at the heart of Philadelphia’s riverfront, with some of the best views in the city. Salzman’s favorite NKCDC projects include Awesometown, a 14-home, mixed-income, energy-efficient development in Fishtown that resultContinued on Page 6.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 THE
local lens BY THOM NICKELS
S
EPTA strikes in the City of Philadelphia are beginning to have a legacy in the same vein of cataclysmic national events like the assassination of important political figures. One can ask, “Where were you when the buses, the subways and the trolleys went out?” and be assured of an answer. Almost every time the Transport Workers Union 234’s contract expires TWU goes on strike. The action is robotic and predictable. The last TWU strike was in 2009 and lasted six days. Most SEPTA strikes last about a week. That’s how long it takes for the posturing on both sides to subside before real negotiations begin. In 2009, Bob Brady was instrumental in ending TWU’s hostage taking of the city’s transportation system. At that time, Brady announced, “I can find the money, I will try to find money— whether it’s the state, the city, or the feds.” Brady found the money and paid off the hostage takers. The strike ended and life returned to normal. Philadelphians quickly forgot all the aggravation associated with the strike and rather than enacting legal safeguards to avoid another strike in the future, the city chose to lose itself in celebrating the return of buses, subways and trolleys. Willie Brown, president of TWU 234, compared this year’s strike to war. That is strange language. If it is a war, it is a war on the 311,000 daily riders of the subway and the 83,000 daily riders of the trolleys. These riders have had their lives altered and impacted financially because they could not find alternative transportation to get to work. Brown’s use of the war metaphor had to do with his concern for the strikers’ retirement fund. He wants to see union members comfortable in their old age, which seems like a noble sentiment if it were not for the fact that the lives of many many more people, retired or otherwise, continue to be inconvenienced because of the TWU transit strikes. Brown himself admitted that he doesn’t read newspapers. “I don’t read the paper,” he told The Inquirer. “I don’t watch the news.” This is code for I’m not interested in knowing the deleterious effects of this strike; I don’t want to hear anyone’s hard luck transportation stories, I’m only interested in my own people. In some circles, they call this selfish. SEPTA employees have it pretty nice. Generally, they make about $68,000 a year with only a $46.00 monthly deductible for the best health insurance money can buy. I would wager that 80 percent of SEPTA’s ridership doesn’t make this kind of money, so why should the riders really care that a transit union boss doesn’t think his members
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make enough money, or that their benefits aren’t lavish enough? Chronic SEPTA strikes must end. It’s time to get Pennsylvania’s state representatives to pass our own version of New York’s Taylor Law and make SEPTA workers the equivalent of police, firefighters and teachers, which would radically decrease the chances of strikes that hold the city hostage. While the Taylor Law cannot totally forbid transit strikes it does enable the state to issue heavy fines on unions if a strike occurs. TWU, of course, objects to the binding arbitration clause in the Taylor Law, which is not surprising. God forbid that Mr. Brown or a future TWU president be subject to the rulings of a neutral party when it comes to the validity of a strike. A major issue on the TWU bargaining table this time was pensions. Sadly, pensions throughout the country are slowly being liquidated and it won’t be long before many City of Philadelphia pensions begin to shrink and disappear. TWU members should be thankful that they still have pensions in this economy. Another TWU issue on the table was SEPTA work rules. The Inquirer’s Will Bunch, who supported the TWU strike had nothing but praise for the work rules issue. But I have to ask: is support for this issue really warranted? The institution of a city-wide strike because TWU doesn’t like the time allotted for bathroom breaks and the time between transit runs is really an insult to every Philadelphian. These concerns, while important, should be settled on SEPTA’s own time via meetings, conference calls or an office memo. It should not involve the lives of thousands and thousands of Philadelphians who depend on SEPTA to get to work or school everyday. Sadly, SEPTA won’t change until Philadelphians do. Too many Philadelphians, like Will Bunch, appear to be happy with the status quo. They say Philly is a “union town”, and so any strike, no matter how long and no matter how many people it inconveniences, is legitimate. “Just weather it,” they say. “It’s for the ultimate good.” It’s time for Philadelphians to turn their complaints about chronic transit strikes into affirmative action, because it is not enough to say “This strike is crazy.” Philly.com, in an attempt to inject a bit of humor into TWU’s holding the city hostage, ran strike articles like, “A tip for those walking to work: Comfortable shoes are a must.” But as one reader wrote, “Thank you, Philly.com, should I wear just one layer when it gets cold? Should I stay dehydrated when it’s hot out? Should I forget my umbrella when it rains? ” The fact is, SEPTA strikes are no longer cute or funny. There’s no humor in spending $80 a day for cabs or walking 12 miles a day to go to and from work. It was also distressing to me to read that there were few articles in the local press that concentrated on the financial cost to riders and taxpayers once the powers that be acceded to the Union’s demands. The strike was perhaps at its ugliest when The Inquirer reported that “Picketers compounded travelers' woes by blockading Regional Rail train yards from 3:50 to almost 6 p.m. Regional Rail was the only mass transit option in Philadelphia still running and SEPTA obtained an injunction from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas which allowed train crews to report to their jobs.” As one regional rail rider commented, “After almost 3 hours trying to get home because the TWU decided to block the rail yard, if there was any sympathy to be had for the workers, it is gone. They have never done that before…” And, of course, where was our noble mayor during all of this? He was in a strangely silent abyss, that’s where. He was also concerned about other matters, hence the City of Philadelphia’s press releases during the strike announcing such earth shaking matters such as Joyce Wilkerson’s appointment to the School Reform Commission. Really? It would have been a good public relations gesture had the mayor taken the time to check out TWU’s blocking of
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those regional rail passengers. This would have shown some solidarity. The mayor did not do this because his solidarity is with the union power brokers. After all, politicians depend on the union votes, money and help in keeping the minions in line and getting out the vote not to mention doling out patronage jobs. Here’s the question that many people are asking: How will Philadelphia ever become a world-class city with transportation strikes paralyzing the city? While SEPTA TWU workers protect their jobs, thousands of Philadelphians have lost wages because of this strike. This is a situation that should never be repeated. So, we need to stop celebrating the end of the SEPTA strike and get to work to to make transit strikes a thing of the past. •
Letter to the Editor
Rep. Taylor’s interview about the supposed success of red-light cameras shows that he seemed to miss the multiple media accounts of how crashes went up in Philadelphia, since the cameras went in. This was reported in The Inquirer, Watchdog, and the website called The Newspaper. Multiple media accounts of this were printed. As the current session for the Pennsylvania Legislature ends, the stage is being set for one final showdown on anti-driver bills. They already rammed through a bill to extend red-light cameras until 2027, in a bill that possibly violated the germane clause of the state constitution. Now they want speed cameras in work zones and in Philadelphia, stop-arm cameras, municipal police radar, and LIDAR for all police. What else maybe? According to PennDOT’s data, roads in Pennsylvania are the safest they have ever been. There is no need for more toys to harass safe drivers. Actually, the true crisis involves incorrect engineering and predatory enforcement. Why are there no laws to mandate speed limits be set to the 85thpercentile free-flowing traffic speed, yellow lights be set to reflect the actual approach speeds(and realistic perception and reaction times), and stop signs be used only where needed? Why not mandate citing only egregious violators? Instead, the legislature seeks to allow enforcement for profit. Since state legislators only care about enriching themselves, they rely upon the citizens not being educated on these issues. We are told to be like other states, so let’s do that. Other states are requiring best-practice engineering and banning the above devices. I did not even get into the many errors that have occurred with the above devices. Search for Radargate Revisited. Speed cameras were taken out of Baltimore for high-error rates. Contact your state representative, state senator, and the governor to tell them how you feel. James Sikorski Jr.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 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
accu-reggie TWITTER: @ACCUREGGIE • FACEBOOK: ACCU-REGGIE
L
ast week was relatively tame. We started in the 70s and then took a step down to the 60s before finally landing in the 50s. Further, we only had a tiny bit of rain - 0.1 inches to be exact! I don’t have news of more exciting weather coming our way, but we will get colder this week! The coldest day of the week will be Saturday and this will be a new level of cold we have not had so far! Temperatures will stay in the 40s and with a stiff breeze it will feel even colder - wind chill is back! We are taking baby steps toward winter each week and this week is no exception. Our only day with rain is on Wednesday as a strong cold front moves through with showers and maybe even a
rumble of thunder. This cold shot is very short lived as we “surge” to the 60s on Friday before the real cold comes in. Friday will be the warmest day of the week. Wednesday is a transition day as a brief cold shot drops in bringing with it our only chance for measurable rainfall. Rain should only last about 3 hours in the afternoon timeframe. Thursday is a sunny but chilly day. It will feel cool but it won’t be as cold at night. Friday is a warm day that will almost feel Spring-like. The major cold-front comes through in the evening and jolts us back to a colder reality. Saturday will be the coldest day we’ve had in quite some
time even with sunshine. Temperatures will be in the 40s and it will be windy making it feel even colder. Everywhere, even the city, should get to freezing at night. Sunday continues cool but it won’t be as windy so it will feel warmer. Temperatures at least make it to the 50s. Monday and Tuesday are very similar as we gradually warm up both days to near or just above 60. The constant theme of the week is dryness. Right now, major storms seem to be put on hold. Something's gotta give, so I’ll keep you updated throughout the week! The weather winner of the week is Friday; the weather loser Saturday. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 WRITTEN BY JAMES RENNIE
Richmond Library LOCAL LIBRARY BRANCH CE L E BRATE S C RE ATIV I N G W ITH N E IG H BOR H O O D A R T S H O W
R
esidents of Port Richmond and the surrounding area flocked into the Richmond Branch Library (2987 Almond St) on the evening of November 4th as it hosted a unique event that showcased the artwork of three graduates of the Pratt Institute in New York City. Harriet Millman Reed, Martin Varnedoe and Robert Pasternak all came together to exhibit their most recent creations. A branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Richmond Library is one of 2,509 Carnegie libraries built between 1883 and 1929. It offers classic architecture, making it a stand out feature in the largely residential area of Port Richmond, providing a perfect setting to exhibit an art show. Amy Thatcher, Richmond Branch Library manager, told Spirit News, “I wanted to host an event that might promote the neighborhood as being more than a blue collar, working class enclave and to present it as being the next step in a wave of art...” “There’s a correlation between visual art and the written word. It’s nice to have a display of art in a place where literature lives,” Thatcher added. The art show was free and ran from 5PM to 9PM. Classical music softly played whilst the viewers were able to observe the work of the three artists, mingle with other art enthusiasts and speak with the artists themselves. Complimentary wine and nibbles were also provided. Each artist had their own section in the pop-up gallery at the library in which they displayed a small number of recent pieces. One of the artists, Harriet Millman Reed, who has just retired from the world of advertising, has used her career experience to create a particularly unique form of visual collages, also working with fabrics. Her exhibit at the library was called “New Eyes.” Reed states in her Artist Statement, “As a Graduate of Pratt Institute’s School of Fine Arts I’ve worked in several art forms before extending my collage concepts to fabric and home decor.” Speaking to Spirit News about this exhibit, Reed explained, “I am a collage artist and I work with fabric. I love to create new possibilities, which is why this show is called 'New Eyes'. I’m honored to be those new eyes and I see the world in terms of colors and in terms of the meaning of going forward.” The next section of the exhibit displayed the work of Robert Pasternak. Having worked in the digital world of art for a long period of time, recently he has reverted back to old-fashioned pen on paper to present his artwork. Pasternak’s artwork encompasses such components as mathematics and geometry. Pasternak said, “I’m going back to working by hand just for the meditative quality between the paper and I. My work has a lot about perspective that I’ve been interested in recently — about depth, space — and some are about meditation.” Having previously been involved in science illustration, Pasternak talks about the inspiration behind some of his work. “Recently, I’ve spent time at the Natural History Museum in New York, so I’ve been doing drawings of dinosaurs, so focusing on the complexity about how some of this stuff is and the geometry of these kinds of things,” Pasternak added. After areas such as Fishtown and Northern Liberties have seen a recent surge in development, Port Richmond has remained largely a quaint residential area. Events like this art show are helping to cultivate a new image and outlook for the area. “It’s just a really pleasant thing for the neighbors to enjoy and it brings more people into Port Richmond,” said Mary Ann Fordyce, a Port Richmond Resident. “Everyone goes to Fishtown so this is a great thing to do.” The art show at The Richmond Branch Library provided
an opportunity for the art community of Port Richmond to come together to celebrate and indulge in three different forms of artwork whilst also offering residents something a bit different than what they’re used to. David Soltetz, a Port Richmond resident, said, “a friend of mine told me about it [the art show]. I’m interested in art and I’m interested in things happening in the community. It’s a very residential area and there are not a lot of venues, it’s not like Fishtown and Northern Liberties that have a lot more entertainment opportunities. Although I think a lot of residents like that this area doesn’t have that.” The last section of the art show featured artwork produced by Martin Varnedoe. Painted in a traditional style, his exhibit displayed landscapes and portraits of rural locations in Spain, seeking to authentically capture their beauty. “This is the third show I’ve had in the Philadelphia area,” Varnedoe explained. Varnedoe’s husband, Robert Colletti, said, “His paintings don’t reflect any pretence; they reflect the common spirit of the working woman or the working man in their own natural home.” After the success of the art show, the community are very much looking forward to seeing what Richmond Branch Library has in store for the future. •
Drawing by Robert Pasternak
Artist Harriet Millman Reed
Paiting by Martin Varnedoe/All photos by James Rennie
The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK
development news FIND OUT W H AT’S BE I N G BUILT ON Y OUR BL OC K
Kensington
Fishtown
Many of Philadelphia’s community gardens are in danger of being removed from their respective lots. The Neighborhood Gardens Trust (NGT) has chosen, based on 18 months of research, 28 at-risk gardens in the city to preserve. They aim to do so either by acquiring the land or procuring long-term leases for the owners. The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority greenlit the transfer of the Collins Smith Barrick Play Garden in Kensington to the NGT. Now, City Council must approve the transfer. In 2013, developers purchased the property at 2565-2577 Amber Street in East Kensington. They proposed constructing seven new triplexes on the currently vacant parcel to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA). Developers purchased several garages at 1602-1604 North 3rd Street in South Kensington a year and a half ago for $110,000. They plan to construct a single triplex and an accompanying parking space on site. The developers would have to obtain a variance because the property is zoned for single-family use. There is a lot down the street that is currently under construction. The property at 1620 N. 3rd Street is now on the market for $250,000 as well. Project HOME will be constructing an affordable housing project at the intersection of 8th and Thompson Streets. It is located across the street from the Girard Medical Center (by whom it was previously owned). Developers plan to erect two seven-unit buildings at 2551-2555 Frankford Avenue, a currently vacant lot. The property has been zoned for multi-family use since earlier this year. It was previously zoned for commercial use. The proposal was taken to the ZBA last week. Stay tuned for further updates on the project. Nearby, on Amber Street, a row of vacant lots was set to undergo a complete transformation, but that project seems to have fallen by the wayside.
A Goose Island brewpub will open on Laurel Street next summer. Core Realty signed the lease several weeks ago. The brewpub will be constructed on the former site of a dry-ice plant near the Fillmore and Punch Line Philly. Several years ago, developers purchased the property at 1244 E. Colona Street in Fishtown. They planned to construct three homes with two parking spaces on the parcel, but the ZBA denied their proposal. The structure that had previously stood there was razed within the last month or so. According to the Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) agenda, developers are now proposing constructing two homes with three parking spaces at 1244 E. Colona Street. The parcel is, incidentally, located across the street from Scoops, an ice cream parlor. Core Realty will be renovating the Edward Corner Building at 1100 N. Delaware Avenue and constructing a new mixed-use building next door. Several weeks ago, the Civic Design Review (CDR) released a handful of renderings of the block. Despite a bit of pushback from nearby residents, the project is expected to move along quickly. The ZBA approved a plan to construct seven triplexes and 11 new homes on the 3300 block of Tulip Street near the Temple Northeastern Ambulatory Care Center. KJO Architecture has provided several renderings of the project.
Northern Liberties A recent article in Philly Magazine attested to the impressive transformation of Northern Liberties over the last decade or so. It has, despite its prior relative obscurity, flourished into one of the liveliest and most developed sections of Philadelphia. Matt Ruben, who has served as president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association (NLNA), says that the changes the neighborhood has undergone “are stunning, and will leave you agape.” •
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Page 6 Continued from Page 1.
The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 NKCDC Offices at 2513-2515 Frankford Ave./Jacquie Mahon
ed from a partnership between NKCDC and Postgreen Homes, a for-profit developer. Another is the Coral Street Arts House, which was transformed from a vacant mill factory in East Kensington to 27 units of affordable living/ working space for artists and their families. “Public, private, and community partnerships are key,” says Salzman. Salzman is a Philly girl from way back. She attended Holy Name Grade School and Hallahan Catholic Girl’s High School. Her mother met her dad while waitressing at a restaurant “where the El turns on Kensington Avenue.” Salzman’s paternal grandparents also were born here. “That was a mixed marriage,” she says. “Grandpa, Hugh Clarence McKeown, was Irish, and Josephine Heart was German.” Salzman’s mom died when she was in 7th grade. “My dad’s mom died when he was very young, and he and his sisters went to orphanages, so no way was he going to do that. My father raised me and my two sisters—at a time when that was unusual.” And who else but a Philly girl should lead the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby? “I rode in the police car at the head of the parade one year. My granddaughter, who was with me, kept telling everyone she was being taken to juvie.” After a chuckle, she discusses her pets. Salzman shows me a photo of her huge white cat, Danny, a former stray. He is napping in the lap of the skeleton-scarecrow seated by her home’s front door. Danny had taken up residence in the greenhouse of the NKCDC garden center on Frankford Avenue. “But now he’s living like a king and accepts only the most expensive and well-presented food,” Salzman says. So what’s next for Sandy Salzman? “I’ve been renting a place in Wildwood for 11 years. I’ll be spending more time down the shore.” Sewing, ceramics, and stained-glass projects are also on the horizon. Even more exciting is her plan to research and share the history of the Riverwards. • Cover photo provided by NKCDC. New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is excited to announce the search for our next Executive Director. We have been preparing for this transition for some time, as NKCDC's longtime leader, Sandy Salzman, has been planning her retirement. A transition committee has been formed that includes staff and board members and is led by the chair of our board, Wesley Cascone. That committee selected Frontline Solutions (www.frontlinesol.com), a national consulting firm, to lead the search process. Since 1985, NKCDC has been a leader in sustainable and affordable housing opportunities, economic development, vacant land strategies, community engagement and real estate development. NKCDC is among the largest CDCs in the Philadelphia area and has been credited, along with our partner organizations, for revitalizing and transforming the Fishtown and East Kensington neighborhoods. NKCDC has built a strong reputation for collaboration, and is nationally recognized, serving as the only NeighborWorks America partner in Philadelphia. The new Executive Director will provide strategic vision and leadership as NKCDC focuses increasing attention on the northern portion of its service area through continued implementation of the North of Lehigh Revitalization Plan, in collaboration with neighborhood residents and partners. This plan includes completing a major redevelopment of an abandoned factory site and moving our main offices to the new Orinoka Civic House in 2017. NKCDC is on an aggressive timeline to find an exceptional leader who will guide the organization in this period of exciting growth and change. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The full candidate profile can be found on the NKCDC website. If you have questions about the profile or the search process, please contact nkcdc@frontlinesol.com.
Sandy Salzman/Jacquie Mahon
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK
Don’t Tell Mrs. Donahue (Part 1) SPIRIT NEWS KICKS OFF ITS NEWEST SERIAL FICTION SAGA
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e descended the stairs slowly, almost reluctantly. Somehow he knew that she hadn’t left yet. Greta McKay sat at the kitchen table, anxiously rubbing her hands together. She didn’t look at Nick until he reached the bottom of the stairs. Her heart was beating frantically. She stood up as Nick approached the table. She walked over to the refrigerator. “I’m going to have some blueberries,” Greta said, opening the refrigerator door. “Would that be alright with you, Mr. Donahue? If I took some blueberries?” “Knock yourself out,” Nick said. He sat down at the kitchen table and sighed. “You know,” he continued, gazing out the window, “I thought it was supposed to rain today. That’s what I heard on the news. They said it was supposed to rain all day. I guess they were wrong. There isn’t even a cloud in the sky. I think I might go for a walk later. I want to check out Provenance, that store on American Street. I’ve never been there before.” “Is she still upstairs?” Greta asked. She walked back over to the kitchen table with a bowl of blueberries in hand. She set the bowl down on the table and took the seat opposite Nick. “Yes, she is,” Nick said. “Something told me you hadn’t
Follow THE SPIRIT online Thank You! Tioga-Franklin Thanks Its Customers at Special Dinner Event Thomas Beck
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his past September, Tioga-Franklin Savings Bank hosted a thank-you dinner at the Estia Restaurant at 1405 Locust Street for some of the customers who have helped to reinvent its business platform. Tioga-Franklin sought out small business owners willing to promote all the new products and services the bank now offers its customers. “We really wanted people that were involved in the community to help us out to launch these products,” said Compliance Officer and Systems Administrator Lindsay Butler. “It was fantastic that they really agreed to it.” Tioga-Franklin is focusing its energies on providing quality service to members of the Fishtown community, though it is not averse to venturing farther out. “From a regulatory standpoint, if you are a community bank, you have to reinvest in the community you’re active in,” Butler said. “We take that very seriously.” • Photos by Thomas Beck
left yet. I told her to wait upstairs while I came down here to check.” He took a couple of blueberries from the bowl and popped them into his mouth. “I thought you weren’t coming until later this afternoon?” “I spoke with Mrs. Donahue last week about reconfiguring my schedule a bit,” Greta said. ‘I just got another job, and the hours are a little whacky. I guess Mrs. Donahue didn’t tell you about our conversation.” “I guess not.” “How can you be so calm about this?” “About what? Your new job?” “No,” Greta said. “About this. This whole situation. You’re just sitting there in your robe, eating blueberries, pretending like what just happened didn’t happen. Don’t you think we should discuss it?” “With all due respect, Greta, this really isn’t any of your business.” “How is it not my business?” Greta said. “I’ve known you and Mrs. Donahue for five years now. I consider you two members of my own family. Look, I saw something that I wish I hadn’t. Maybe it doesn’t concern me directly, but, I don’t know, I can’t just go on acting like nothing happened.” “Let me be clear about something,” Nick said. “You are
FOR ADDITIONAL MULTIMEDIA CONTENT AND IN-DEPTH LOCAL COVERAGE
our housekeeper. Our employee. We barely even see you. You’re usually here when we’re not. I think you’ve misconstrued the nature of our relationship. We are not family.” He stopped as he noticed the hurt look that had spread across Greta’s face. “All right, all right, look. I didn’t mean that, okay? You know that my wife and I care about you very much. It’s just that, I don’t know. And for the record, I’m not as calm about this as you think I am. I’m terrified. Please, Greta, you have to promise me that you won’t tell Mrs. Donahue about any of this.” “I don’t know if I can make that promise.” “Greta.” “How long has this been going on?” Nick sighed again. “A few months. Jennifer’s my new secretary.” Just then, as if in response to the utterance of her name, Jennifer came down the stairs. She tried desperately not to look at Nick and Greta. “I’m going to go for a drive,” she said. “Alright, sweetheart,” Nick said. Greta stood up angrily. “Don’t you know that he’s a married man? You should be ashamed of yourself, you little hussy.” To Be Continued... •
f WWW.SPIRITNEWS.ORG
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 WRITTEN BY PTAH GABRIE
fight night
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HARD HITTING PROMOTIONS BRINGS BOXING TO SUGARHOUSE’S EVENT CENTER
ne of the worst phrases used to describe SugarHouse Casino when it first opened was that it was the “Wal-Mart of casinos.” In it’s infancy, SugarHouse was essentially a gaming floor that didn’t even serve drinks 24/7. You could drop $20 on black at a roulette table, but food, drink and nightlife were lacking. Gambling was the sole purpose at the time. The allure of a good casino goes much deeper than the sound of slot machines jingling and beeping. Good casinos offer you a place to spend your hard-earned winnings. The addition of the SugarHouse Event Center and some expansions to the game floor are propelling SugarHouse into legitimate casino status. Furthering these additions, SugarHouse is allowing visitors the chance to enjoy one of the greatest sports historically tied to casinos. Boxing is perhaps the only sport that has deep roots in casinos, especially in Las Vegas. The SugarHouse Event Center is now hosting pro boxing fight nights and giving many local and international fighters the chance to box at a high level. Spirit News was there to check out Hard Hitting Promotions Fight Night and watch six boxing matches. We had a chance to hear from some of the fighters before their matches. Many of the boxers have a few fights under their belts and two fighters were making their pro debut. One of those fighters was Jeremy Cuevas from Philadelphia. He has a 45-5 record as an ameteur and hoped to win his first pro fight. “Being able to fight in front of people who support you the whole way through, for me, there’s no better feeling than that,” Cuevas said. Angel Pizarro was appearing in his second bout. His brother Branden Pizarro was also making his pro debut. Angel spoke on the feeling of having his brother on the same card. “It’s unexplainable. As kids we always dreamed of this opportunity,” Pizarro said. “To finally be able to achieve this goal is unbelievable.” Angel’s debut fight was also at SugarHouse Casino. “It felt like I was at home, It felt like I belong here,” Pizarro said The boxing ring was placed in the center of the ballroom, and almost every seat surrounding it was filled. Fighters made triumphant entrances to cheers and boos depend-
Ray Robinson and Santos Benevidez/Photos by Ptah Gabrie
ing upon which fighter they hoped to win. Five bouts were listed on the undercard, however David Murray’s opponent Edgar Perez did not make weight for the match. First was Jeremy Cuevas v. Luis Ramos. Cuevas won with a TKO in round two. Next was Angel Pizarro v. Maurice Adams Jr. Pizarro came in with a 1-0 record and remains undefeated with a first round TKO. The third fight was Christian Carto v. Angel Carvajal. Carto took the win with a round two TKO. The quickest bout was between Branden Pizzaro, brother of Angel Pizarro, and Ezequiel Ocasio. Pizarro, in his pro debut, won by TKO in 39 seconds of the first round. The first main event fight was Steven Martinez v. Jeremy Ramos. The bout went a full eight rounds with each fighter giving it their all. Martinez won by unanimous decision. The final fight was between Ray Robinson and
Santos Benavidez and Ray Robinson
Santos Benavidez. Robinson took down Benavidez near the end of round four with a TKO. Hard Hitting Promotions will hold another fight night on December 16th and hopes to continue having these on a regular basis. “I think SugarHouse is the perfect place to bring the community together,” Wilberto Ruiz, co-owner of Hard Hitting Promotions said. “If you look at the audience, we’ve got all cultures together here without arguments, without racism. This is a great thing not just for boxing, but for the community in Philadelphia.” It’s no secret that Philly is a boxing town and there’s many small boxing gyms and aspiring fighters throughout the city. Fight Nights like this will set goals for young boxers and continue Philly’s rich heritage as a boxing town. • Angel Pizarro
Local Boxer Danny "Swift" Garcia Set to Defend His Belt This Saturday at Temple University By Patrick Clark Undefeated welterweight boxing champion and current world title-holder Danny “Swift” Garcia returns home to Philadelphia on Saturday, November 12th for a title-defense bout against challenger Samuel Vargas at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. The event will be televised on Spike’s Premier Boxing Champions series. According to ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) has not fought in Philadelphia since 2010 and will be fighting here for only the fourth time in his professional career, which began in 2007. In January of this year, he won the welterweight title belt formerly held by Floyd Mayweather in a contest against Robert Guerrero, winning by unanimous decision - 116-112 on all three scorecards. Garcia’s boxing heritage runs deep, with his father raising him from an early age to be a champion prizefighter. He began training at Harrowgate Boxing Club at Jasper and Venango Streets when he was only ten years old. Through this training, Garcia has succeeded in every subdivision he’s competed in, previously holding the WBA and WBC light welterweight titles before moving up to WBC welterweight last year. In an effort to give back to his hometown, Garcia is partnering with Philabundance. Together, they hosted a canned food drive and fan meet and greet in advance of the bout this past Friday at the the Xfinity Store on Aramingo Avenue. The food drive is continuing up to the fight, with canned foods being accepted at DSG Boxing Gym (3731 Jasper Street) and the Liacouras Center itself. In addition, $10 of every ticket sold will be donated to Philabundance, which will provide 20 meals per ticket for people in need, according to the organization. Coverage of the fight begins on Spike at 9PM and tickets can be purchased at LiacourasCenter.com/events. •
Photo courtesy Joe Tarlecky/ King's Promotions / Premier Boxing Champions
The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 WRITTEN BY RACHEL WISNIEWSKI
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Make America Skate Again
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F I L L M O R E C E L E B R A T E S I T S F I R S T B I R T H D AY W I T H A P O P - U P R O L L E R R I N K E V E N T
n the evening of October 31st, The Fillmore celebrated its first anniversary. Though normally a concert hall, the venue decided to commemorate the occasion in an extraordinary fashion: by creating a pop-up skating floor in their spacious event space. It kicked off as a free, family-friendly event from 4-7PM. Then from 8PM onwards, it switched gears, making it a $7-$20 cover, 21+ event, featuring three different DJs and an equal number of bars. Unlike other Halloween parties around the city, The Fillmore’s “Make America Skate Again” was unique in that the vast majority of its attendees actually wore costumes, and quite elaborate ones at that. Favorites included Eleven from Stranger Things, alongside her coveted box of Eggo waffles and Joyce Byers’ Christmas light/alphabet covered wall; Donald Trump (scary enough as is); Ghostbusters’ Stay Puft Man; and the cast of Scooby Doo. While the party’s cover included a free skate rental, this evidently caused the only hiccup in the night: an insanely long line to access the skate rink. Multiple guests commented on this annoyance, with Andrew Katz (dressed as Will Ferrell’s Jackie Moon) suggesting that the “whole floor be opened up for skating” as opposed to the small, designated section. Fishtown local David Machov (a.k.a Waluigi) agreed, lamenting that he “hoped to skate, but probably wouldn’t get to.” However, despite the long skate queue, the general consensus seemed to be that the music (provided by DJ Deejay, Mr. Sonny James, and DJ Royale) was great and the party was a blast. Shannon Regan (Shaggy from Scooby Doo) summed up the evening by admitting that she was lucky to have showed up early, but overall was really thrilled with The Fillmore’s offer of “alternate” Halloween plans. •
All Photos by Rachel Wisniewski
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016
Mercy Primary Care at Roosevelt Boulevard welcomes another great doctor to the neighborhood.
Mercy shares my passion of connecting with my patients to provide excellent, personalized care. And our new location on Roosevelt Boulevard allows us to provide coordinated, seamless care in an updated, inviting space. This allows me to focus on you as a complete person to keep you healthy and help you along the journey of chronic disease management. Our work-friendly appointments and personable staff are the beginning of a positive experience, so we can form a real c o n n e c t i o n . B u t d o n ’t t a k e m y w o r d f o r i t . L e t ’s m e e t . I ’ m accepting new patients and would love to get to know you.
Mercy Primary Care at Roosevelt Boulevard (formerly Frankford Avenue) 9815 Roosevelt Bouelvard, Philadelphia, PA 19114 phone: 215.637.9400 Carrie L. Bender, DO, Melissa Bertha, DO & Lori Dwyer, DNP, CRNP
Find your closest connection by calling 1.877.GO MERCY or visiting mercyhealth.org
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 WRITTEN BY SPENCER HOMAN
Know Your History
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W H AT ’ S T H E S T O RY B E H I N D P H I L A D E L P H I A B R E W I N G C O M PA N Y
hiladelphia Brewing Company operates in a magnificant building at 2439 Amber Street, one block off one of the busiest streets in the neghborhood, Frankford Avenue. The building stands large and menacing over the smaller Rowhouse Spirits just in front of it. Many locals probably know that the Philadelphia Brewing Company was not the first to use the location for providing beverages to the city. This is evident from the online petition to save another property that used to be used in conjunction with the brewery. Philadelphia Brewing Company (P.B.C.) takes pride in their style of business. On their website, they state that they “brew fresh beer daily and deliver fresh brew daily – directly to our loyal customers.” Prnewswire.com claims that P.B.C. is the “only brewery in Pennsylvania to self distribute its products to retail beer distributors, restaurants, bars, and delis.” It definitely sounds like a unique way to run a business in an age where everyone is concerned with the bottom dollar and cutting costs at any means necessary. Bourbon and Broadleaf explains that P.B.C. operates in the oldest brewing facility in the city. The brewery was constructed in 1885 under the architect A.C. Wagner, a fact that is mentioned on P.B.C.’s website as well as in a recent article on philly.com. The original owners were George Weisbrod and Christian Hess. On Smedley’s 1862 Philadelphia Atlas, the block that Weisbrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company would be located was surrounded by York, Amber, Adams, and Wayne Street, and just a block away from Frankford Road. Not all of these street names should be familiar to those who know the area. Hopkins’ 1875 Philadelphia Atlas shows that the block has been significantly more developed since 1862, as well as the areas surrounding it. Frankford Road was renamed Frankford Avenue and Wayne Street was renamed Holman Street. The neighborhood was mostly home to churches and small estates. On the next block is a new school that is unnamed on this atlas. The brewery appears on Bromley’s 1895 Philadelphia Atlas, as it was constructed in 1885. It is surrounded by York, Amber, Adams, and Holman Streets. The school on the next block over is named “Adams School, facing Adams Street. Weisbrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company also has a large property on the other side of Holman Street where Rowhouse Spirits stands today. Remnants of the brewery complex on that block still remain, and it is the building that citizens are trying to save. It has a large smokestack overlooking the small buildings in the area and there are holes that developed in the side of the building. Wildlife has grown all the way up the side to the roof that is in need of repair. Instead of demolishing the building, people are uniting to try to save it. If a buyer would recondition it for another purpose, then the neighborhood can still maintain the beautiful architecture that the building is capable of showing off. Time will tell if anyone is ambitious enough to take on this project. By the time this 1895 atlas came out, the Weisbrod & Hess company was a successful business. According to Workshop of the World, the business “employed 32 men and comprised a brewery, refridgerating houses, stable, and copper shop with the bar-room, store, and meeting rooms facing Frankford Avenue.” The brewery expanded in 1889 and employed 100 men at the brewery. This is over three times the number of full-time workers that Philadelphia Brewing Company has today, which is 30, according to Philadelphia Neighborhoods. Brewing was a huge industry during this time period. Weisbrod & Hess was just one of nine different breweries operating in the 19th and 31st Wards. With business booming, the only thing that could halt the progress of these two German saloon keepers was the 18th Amendment in 1919. Market in Philly describes Weisbrod and Hess as “casualties of prohibition.” The Prohibition Amendment was passed in 1919 and was effective one year later. This is the reason why we see so many abandoned or redeveloped breweries still to this day. One of the first things that Franklin Delano Roosevelt did as the Commander in Chief is enact the 21st Amendment. Back when FDR was elected, the president began his term in office in March. History.com states that Roosevelt ran on a platform to repeal Prohibition, and it helped him defeat the incumbant candidate Herbert Hoover. Roosevelt’s victory in 1932 spurred Congress to propose the 21st Amendment at the end of February 1933. Roosevelt took office a couple of weeks later, and the Amendment was quickly ratified by the end of the year. The 21st Amendment is the only Amendment of the 27 that repeals another Amendment.
Photos by Max Pulcini
The 15th Amendment gave black men the right to vote, the 16th Amendment enacted a graduated income tax, and the 17th Amendment created the direct election of Senators. In between the two Constitutional Amendments relating to alcohol, women gained the right to vote and presidential terms were changed from March 4th to January 20th effective after FDR’s election. It is interesting to see exactly what the country was focusing on overtime by looking at the 27 Amendments to the Constitution. So George Weisbrod and Christian Hess had another shot at the brewing business. They reopened after the 21st Amendment was ratified, but they were still forced to close down once more in 1938. In time, pieces of the brewing complex would be demolished, and the the buildings that remain today would go unused. The 1942 Land Use Maps shows that the lot where Rowhouse Spirits is today was vacant, and Adams Street was finally renamed Hagert Street. The street between the two blocks is not shown in 1942, but we can tell that Holman Street was renamed Martha Street by looking at the street name east of Hagert. The 1962 Land Use Maps is not very different, but it does show that Ordnance Guage Company now operated at the site of the old Weisbrod & Hess Brewery and the new P.B.C. The Admas Public School still exists on the next block north. Today the Adams School is the Hagert Street Playground. Rowhouse Spirits sits on land that the large brewing company once owned. Surviving pieces of Weisbrod & Hess are hanging on by a thread under the threat of demolishment. Philadelphia Brewing Company now operates in the last remaining part of the old brewery that is still
usable. According to prnewswire.com, Nancy and Bill Barten were once working at Yards Brewery. They left that company to form P.B.C. with Jim McBride. They have created a successful business for the community to enjoy. Foursquare.com ranks P.B.C. the fifth best place to tour in the city of Philadelphia. Ratebeer.com has reviews of 29 different beers that they have brewed and they earned an average rating of 3.03 out of 5 with the highest rating being a 3.61 for their “Philadelphia Shackamaximum Stout.” Untappd.com ranks 57 of the beers that P.B.C. has produced with an average rating of 3.41 with the highest rated beer being the “Walt Whit” that earned an average rating of 3.48, followed by the “Kenzinger” and “Joe Coffee Porter.” To put these numbers in perspective, the number one rated brewery in the world, according to Untappd users, is The Alchemist with an average rating of 4.581. The number one rated beer in the world, according to the Untappd community, is “Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout (2010)” by Goose Island Beer Company. P.B.C. earned high grades not only for the product they produce, but for the atmosphere they create. They have a close-knit staff and a friendly work environment. Philly Beer Scene claims that “Nancy and Bill Barton…prepar[e] a home cooked meal for their entire staff, nearly every day” and there is “even a brunch on Saturdays.” Philadelphia Brewing Company is more than just a business to the community. The brewery, along with the decaying remnants of a brewery across the street, are fine examples of beautiful architecture. They also serve as a reminder to what the history of the community is. The brewery of Weisbrod and Hess is long gone, but its memory is still an active piece of the comminity. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 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. Thursday, November 10, 8PM EKNA EDUCATION & YOUTH COMMITTEE At Liberty Choice (Front and Norris Sts.) Join our Education & Youth Committee to continue the important work of engaging the young people of East Kensington. Topics of discussion include creating programming to connect with teens and young adults in our neighborhood. Friday, November 11, 7PM PROPAC MEETING The next PROPAC Meeting will be held at Columbia Social Club (3521-29 Almond St.) Monday, November 14, 7PM EKNA SMALL BUSINESS & ARTS COMMITTEE Join EKNA's Small Business & Arts Committee for help expanding our small business connections in and around East Kensington. Planning for the next Trenton Avenue Arts Fest is just starting, and you can be a major part of making this coming TAAF a huge success. Meeting at Soup Kitchen (2146 E. Susquehanna Ave.) Tuesday, November 15, 7PM FNA ZONING MEETING 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. 1025-29 Montgomery Ave: Proposal to adapt an existing structure for use as 11 residential dwelling units with a roof deck. 2504 E Norris St: Proposal to add a garage door in an existing wall for access to an accessory parking space. 2513 E Dauphin St: Proposal to construct an addition to a single family residence.
LOVE Your Park Fall Service Day on Saturday, November 12 Join Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy as we clean, green, and celebrate Philly’s parks! We need 2,000 volunteer to help plant trees, collect leaves for compost, clean up trash and litter, more! Kids, families, and large groups welcome. Here’s a list of local parks participating in the Service Day: · Liberty Lands · Penn Treaty Park · Hart Park and Playground · Benson Park · Palmer Park · Konrad Square · Rainbow De Colores Handball Court · Black Coyle McBride Playground (Pop’s Park) · Powers Park · Pulaski Park · Hope Park · McPherson Square Park Visit loveyourpark.org or call (215) 683-3689 for participating parks and to register.
Wednesday, November 16, 7:15PM EKNA ZONING COMMITTEE At Circle of Hope (2007 Frankford Ave.) Agenda to follow. Please bring proof of address. Monday, November 21, 6:15PM EKNA NOVEMBER MEETING Our October meeting will take place at Philadelphia Brewing Company. Join us for the monthly general meeting. Topics will include: November elections for Vice President and two Board Members-at-Large Committee Updates, including Zoning and Development Commitee Meeting Time April Mini-grant Awardee Updates Please review previous months minutes here for approval: http://ekna.org/meeting-minutes/ 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 Friday, November 11, 6:30 - 8PM PORTSIDE ARTSMOBILE PROJECT: INFO NIGHT! Learn how we are bringing arts integration curriculum to local schools to increase comprehension in core subjects. Free pizza and refreshments. Bring the kids! Portside teachers will supervise movie time in the next room. At Portside Arts Center (2531 E. Lehigh Ave) Saturday, November 12, 8AM-3PM FRIENDS OF KONRAD SQUARE FLEA MARKET The Friends of Konrad Square Flea Market will host a flea market on Saturdays, November 5 and 12 at Konrad Square (Tulip and Dauphin). Anyone interested in a space should call Vicky at 215-426-9654. November 12, 2 to 8PM NOVEMBERFEST AT THE PIAZZA Pop Up Beer Garden with outdoor games, a free screening of Beerfest and food from Gunner's Run and Crabby's Cafe coming to The Piazza at Schmidt's Commons. The event features all local breweries including Evil Genius Beer Company, 2SP Brewing Company, Dock Street Brewery, Spring House Brewing, Sly Fox Beer, Weyerbacher Brewing, Jack's Hard Cider and Saint Benjamin Brewing Company. The event is free to attend and the beverages are Pay As You GoNovemberfest benefits the PA Jaycees. Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/ events/869602593174578/ Saturday, November 12 LOVE YOUR PARK FALL SERVICE DAY Join Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy as we clean, green, and celebrate Philly’s parks! We need 2,000 volunteer to help plant trees, collect leaves for compost, clean up trash and litter, more! Kids, families, and large groups welcome. Visit loveyourpark.org or call (215) 683-3689 for participating parks and to register. November 12, 7-11PM FISHTOWN BATTLE OF THE BANDS Presented by St. Laurentius School & Holy Name Parish Present, Battle of the Bands at Holy Name Church Hall (Berks & Gaul Sts). Donation: $30 in advance $35 at the door. Buy tix at Holy Name Church or St Laurentius School Saturday, November 12, 9:30AM Friends of Pops Park are signed up for the annual Love Your Park Service Day. We will be meeting at Pop's Park at 10 AM to do some Fall cleaning and lite repair projects. Additionally we will be planting bulbs for the spring. All work supplies ( gloves, brooms, bags, etc.) are provided! Please help spread the word and come out and lend a hand. Meet
at Pop's Park Rec Building (East Hazzard Street between Collins and Trenton). For more information join Friends of Pops Park on Facebook. Saturday, November 12, 9:30AM FRIENDS OF KONRAD SQUARE CLEANUP We are excited to inform you that the Friends of Konrad Square will be participating in the city-wide cleanup, Love Your Park Fall Service Day on Saturday, November 12th. The workday will begin at 9:30am and will include general trash & litter clean-up, leaf raking & collection, weeding & gardening, bulb & tree planting, and some general park maintenance. We need your help to clean up from a busy summer season and to prepare our green space for the coming winter months! If you are interested in volunteering, please use the following link to register: http://loveyourpark.org/volunteer-registration/ Saturday, November 12, 10AM "100 HOMES IN 100 DAYS" FOR FOSTER CARE Liberti Church East is partnering with APM, our local foster care agency here in the River Wards, to get 100 households from our area to commit to attend informational sessions on foster care. There is no commitment involved in attending these trainings, though of course we hope that many will begin to consider foster care at some point, either now or in the wake of the campaign. Our next session is on Saturday 11/12 at 10:00am! More info at 100homesin100days.org. Saturday, November 12, 8-10AM PORT RICHMOND TIGERS PANCAKE BREAKFAST Port Richmond Tigers are holding a fundraiser pancake breakfast at the Castor Ave. Applebees. For pricing info call Tom Mack at 215-275-8838 Sunday, November 13, 12:30PM SAINT GEORGE PARISH BINGO Saint George Parish (2700 E Venango St.) will hold its regular monthly bingo on beginning at 12:30PM in the church hall. Please come and enjoy the afternoon with friends. Tuesday, November 15, 4:30-8PM AMERICAN ST IMPROVEMENTS OPEN HOUSE The City of Philadelphia has received federal funding to make improvements along American Street between Girard and Indiana Avenues. Trees, bike racks, benches, lighting and more. Meeting at Front & Palmer (1750 N. Front St.) Thursday, November 17, 7PM FRIENDS OF H.A. BROWN MONTHLY MEETING Join the Friends of H.A. Brown for their monthly meeting Thursday, November 17th at Liberty Choice (Front and Norris Sts.). Learn more about how to support your local elementary school. Thursday, November 17, 4:30-8PM AMERICAN ST IMPROVEMENTS OPEN HOUSE The City of Philadelphia has received federal funding to make improvements along American Street between Girard and Indiana Avenues. Trees, bike racks, benches, lighting and more. Meeting at Pan American Academy Charter School (2830 N. American Street.) Friday, November 18, 4:30-7PM PORTSIDE ARTSMOBILE PROJECT FUNDRAISER The Portside ArtsMobile Project is an initiative through Portside Arts Center that brings arts integrated curriculum to local schools in order to increase student's comprehension of and confidence in literacy, math, science, and social/emotional skills. On November 18th, from 4:30 to 7:00PM, ArtsMobile will be holding a happy hour fundraising event at Martha (York and Martha Sts.) in Kensington. Rowhouse Spirits Distillery will be showing their support by donating some of their locally crafted products. Friday, November 18, 4:30 - 7:00PM ARTSMOBILE HAPPY HOUR AT MARTHA The Portside Artsmobile Project is teaming up with Martha and Rowhouse Spirits Distillery to raise support and awareness of the ArtsMobile’s mission-- to deliver visual arts integration to local schools during the day, in the classroom, at no cost to the schools. Enjoy an evening of fine food and locally crafted beer and spirits, and help us drive arts integration into our schools at Martha (2113 E.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 York street).
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Saturday, November 19, 11AM-1PM HOAGIE AND SOUP SALE Bridesburg United Methodist Church (21717 Kirkbride St.) Eat in or take out. Preorders must be in by 11/16, 3 choices or hoagies (American, Turkey and Cheese, Italian - $3.50) and 2 soups (Chicken noodle or Italian wedding - pints $4.50, quarts $8. Eat in and have a hoagie, soup, drinks and chips for $6. Call Carol at 267-738-5414.
Saturday, December 3, 10AM - 2PM CRAFT SHOW At Grace Church and the Incarnation (Edgemont & Venango Streets). Vendors Needed, $25 a Space. Bring Your Own Table. Call Ken Paul to Reserve 215-380-9783
Saturday, November 19, 10 AM - 1 PM CHRISTMAS SALE AND FLEA MARKET Summerfield/Siloam United Methodist Church, 2223 E. Dauphin Street, will host a Christmas Sale and Flea Market on Saturday, November 19, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Tables are available by donation for local residents, organizations, and businesses on a first come, first serve basis. For more information or to reserve a table, call 215-6341372. Saturday, November 19 FRIENDS OF PENN TREATY EVENTS Join us for two fun family events: 10AM Feed the birds for Thanksgiving; 11AM Celebration of 334 years of the Peace Treaty. We will be making turtle necklaces, coloring paper turtles and feathers. Pizza and beverages available. Free to the public.
Last Tuesday of every month, 7PM SPIRITUAL INQUEERY A safe space to explore and study the intersection of faith and sexuality for LGBTQIA+ Christians and Inquirers. Come share, listen, learn, and find community support in navigating the trials and tribulations of this life. We meet on the last Tuesday of every month at 1542 E. Montgomery Ave. Wednesdays, 6 to 7PM WEDNESDAY EVENING CLEAN-UPS IN EAST KENSINGTON At Huntingdon Emerald (Huntingdon & Emerald) and Arcadia Commons (Kern Street, Mid-Block). Join us each Wednesday evening for clean ups at two of our beloved neighborhood parks! Help keep our green spaces beautiful by supporting Arcadia Commons. Monthly board meetings, open to the public, take place on the third Thursday of each month at 2614 Amber Street.
Saturday, November 19, 4-6PM 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY DINNER At First Presbyterian Church in Kensington’s (418 E Girard Ave) community dinners we open our doors and welcome every and anyone who wants to come out for a meal and be in fellowship with their fellow neighbors. As always, there is no cost for the meal. We want everyone to feel welcome. For more information contact: office@1stpresbykensington. org or 215-739-5695.
Wednesdays, 6-7:30PM FALL NIGHTS IN THE MEADOWS Have you joined us in The Meadows? Since last month, The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center has been hosting free arts programming every Wednesday, 6-7:30PM, in our pop up park across the street from the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (1400 N American St. #103). Check out the lineup: November 9: "Waste" Experimental Film Screening & Augmented Reality Walk Video by Termite Collective November 16: Night Photography Class w/ Lori Waselchuk November 23: Community Service Project November 30: The Meadows Closing Party
Sunday, November 20, 9:30AM PHILLY TREE PEOPLE FALL 2016 PLANTING Please help plant over 80 trees in Fishtown, Port Richmond, and East Kensington. Meet up at 2771 Jasper Street. Pick-up trucks and drivers needed. Tools will be provided, bring gloves. Two hours of planting estimated no experience necessary. All ages welcome, rain or shine! Food & drinks provided, followed by a volunteer lunch at Philadelphia Brewing Company.
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.
Sunday, November 20, 12 AM to 4:00 PM MOTHER OF DIVINE GRACE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Stop by for shopping, delicious food, crafts and of course SANTA! Pictures will be available with Santa from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Please contact Chris Yancer with any questions at 267-6889470. Wednesday, November 23, 5:30 to 8:30PM THANKSGIVING ON THE BLOCK The Block Church is excited to announce Thanksgiving on the Block—Philadelphia’s third annual Thanksgiving Eve meal. This free dinner will be held at Richmond Hall (2619 E. Indiana Ave.). This is an open event for anyone in need this Thanksgiving. Free health checks will also be provided by Bebashi, a health management agency. If you would like to be involved in the event by serving, volunteering, or financially donating to cover costs, please email outreach@theblockchurch.org. Most importantly, if you would like a meal or know someone who needs a meal, please call (267) 777-9978 or register at www.theblockchurch.org. Thursday, November 24, 11AM FISHTOWN TURKEY BOWL The annual Turkey Bowl will take place on Thanksgiving at Hetzells playground (Thompson and Palmer). The game is open to all former players of the original Fishtown Rough Touch League of the late 60s and mid 80s. Cost of a game jersey and beer is $25. Numbers will be put on jerseys on the night of the draft. Please bring your money to Draft Night — which is almost as much fun as the game itself! Please do not allow the fun gathering of old friends and adversaries to pass into the beyond. For more info call Tom Callen at 215-510-2862 or moondog5060@aol.com Saturday, November 26, 11AM EMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AUCTION Austion at 2628 Fillmore St. (off Thompson St.), ticket in basket silent auction. Admission $4 (includes $1 in tickets), food and snacks are available for purchase. Drawing starts at 12:30PM For contact info, call 215-205-2318 or email dreppert@ver-
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! Every Sunday morning, 10AM LET THE CHILDREN COME. Progressive, child-led Christian education for children ages 3-13. Storytelling (with ample time for wondering) with a focus on processing through art. All children and families welcome, regardless of religious affiliation. At Atonement Lutheran Church, 1542 E. Montgomery Ave.
children 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.
December 27, 28, and 29th, 8:30AM - 3:30PM NOLIBS WINTER CAMP REGISTRATION Science, Art, Cooking, and Museums. Payment is Due by December 15th Please email nlartsorg@gmail.com to register
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. 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.
trips Saturday, November 26 BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER Fundraiser trip to Lancaster for Christmas Museum, shopping and dinner at Shady Maple. Leaving early from Campbell’s Square. Call Marylou at 215-427-3222 for more info. Tuesday, December 13 PEDDLER’S VILLAGE MURDER MYSTERY The Sodality of Our Lady of Fatima from St. Adalbert Parish in Port Richmond is sponsoring a one day trip on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, to the Peddler’s Village Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. The group will be departing from St. Adalbert Church (2645 E. Allegheny Ave.) at 9:45AM. A luncheon will be at the Cock & Bull Restaurant followed by “A Dickens of a Murder” Mystery Show. Following the show. You will have time to do some shopping for Christmas gifts. Departure for Philadelphia will be 4:30PM and approximate time of arrival home will be 5:45 PM. The total cost including gratuities is $88.00. A deposit is required to hold reservations. For reservations/information call Theresa Romanowski 215922-1700 or 215-813-2780.
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.
FISHTOWN LIBRARY Tuesdays: Toddler Storytime: Join Miss Dana for stories, songs, and silliness! Tuesdays @ 10:30AM. For ages 0-3 ½ . Runs through November 15 Wednesday, November 16: Magic by Ed: You’ll be AMAZED by Ed the Magician! See this high-energy, fast-paced, interactive comedy magic show at the Fishtown Library! Be ready for surprises and laughs! 5PM Saturday, November 19: Little Learners Monthly Play Day: An hour of free play for ages 0-5. 10:30 - 11:30AM.
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.
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.
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
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016 COMMUNITY
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Drivers: Regional. Home Weekly/ Bi-Weekly Guaranteed. Paid Loaded & Empty/Rider Program. No-Touch, Benefits & Monthly Bonuses. 877-758-3905
YOU HAVE A NICE SET OF WHEELS BUT CAN’T FIND A PLACE TO PARK THEM.
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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.
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new or experienced; free training program. Call Mike Dunphy at 215-840-8399 FOR RENT Rooms for rent 25xx Frankford Ave $515 Clean and Furnished 215-941-3000
If you suspect unfair housing practices, contact HUD or your local Fair Housing Center. Everyone deserves a fair chance.
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Christmas for Our Veterans It is that time of year already!! The American Legion Auxiliary Elm Tree Post #88, will be taking gifts to our veterans at Veterans Hospital and Veterans Nursing Home in December. Items can be dropped off at The Spirit Newspaper, located at Gaul Street & Susquehanna Avenue. We are in need of the following: Hand Lotion • Body Lotion • Body Wash • Knitted Hats • Knitted Scarves • Undershirts (L-3X)) • Batteries (AA,AAA,C) • Flannel Shirts (L-3X) • Gloves • Slippers • Board Games • White Socks • Lounging Pants (L-3X) • Puzzle Books • Card Games • Boxes of Cookies • Candy Canes • Boxed Candy • Sugar Free Treats • 2 In 1 Shampoo • Shaving Cream • Hoodies (L-XXL) • Boxer Shorts (L-XXL) So that the veterans can also select Christmas gifts for family members, we are collecting items for toddlers, children, teens and women. Thank you for your support! Further Information: Please contact Marge at 215-203-0270.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 9, 2016
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We the Thomson Family want to express our love and thanksgiving to activist and Earth Angels Maria Rosario and Connie Galiczynski of the Olde Kensington Senior Housing Associates. Thank you for the many volunteer hours it took to bring about the tremendous honor, the opening of the Thomas Thomson 26th District PAL Center. You have made us prouder by reminding us all of the tireless dedication Tom displayed. We look forward to personally thank you at the official opening! Most sincerely, The Thomson Family
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The The Spirit Spirit of of the the Riverwards Riverwards –– November November 9, 9, 2016 2016 Remembering Rob Fritz
Robert R. Fritz, age 56, formerly of Fort Washington, PA, died suddenly Monday, October 31, 2016 at his home in Philadelphia. Born in Philadelphia, PA, he is the son of Marian (nee Gigliotti) and the late Charles Fritz. Fritz was the bar manager at Atlantis, The Lost Bar, in Philadelphia where he would gather with countless friends, both two-and-four-legged. Many dogs would pass by the bar and drag their owners into the bar for a good rub and a treat. Robert was a founding member and first president of the East Kensington Neighbors Association and helped change the face and perception of the neighborhood. He was also a friend to Greensgrow Farm and his pal Milkshake the pig. He was a member of the Neighborhood Advisory Committee board for New Kensington Community Development Corporation. Fritz had many loves in life. He loved playing golf, spinning records, and spending hours talking about music with anybody. He also enjoyed taking road trip with his partner, Dave, going anywhere they could get to within a day. His favorite vacations were spent on the East Coast searching for lobster. Fritz’s true passion was connecting to people and he believed that everyone had a right to happiness. He frequently reached out to the neighborhood’s homeless and gave them odd jobs around the bar so they would be part of the
community. Five dollars to wash the windows, Ten bucks for sweeping the sidewalk. Fritz would do anything for you if he thought it would make your life easier. People gave him happiness and his happiness and laughter were contagious. Whether you knew him for a few hours or for your whole life, he made an impact. The communities of Fishtown and Kensington will never be the same without him. In addition to his mother, Robert is survived by his husbear, (HB) David F. Prendergast of Philadelphia. He is sister of Frances “Sissy” Biedlingmaier and her husband Kris of Fort Washington, and Catherine Fritz. He is the brother of Charles Fritz and his wife Marie. Friends and relatives are invited to come celebrate Bob (Fritz’s) life on November 19 at the Fritz Residence, 1120 Camp Hill Road, Fort Washington, at 2PM. Interment will be private. Remembrances in Fritz’s name please send donation to “Street Tails Animal Rescue” http://www.streettails.org/ 1030 N 2nd St #401, Philadelphia, PA 19123 or “Greensgrow Farms” animal fund http://www.greensgrow.org/ 2503 East Firth St Philadelphia, PA 19125 would be appreciated by the family. •
Robert R. Fritz
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