The Spirit of the Riverwards - March 1, 2017 by The Spirit

HYPE RLO CAL

D ONE DI FFER ENTLY

FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG

THIS

WEEK MARCH 1, 2017 VOL. 14 NO. 09

MYSTERY DEVELOPMENT Is a new hotel coming to the area between SugarHouse and Penn Treaty? 10

MARY’S COMMUNITY FUND Greensgrow Farms undertaking new project in memory of Mary Seton Corboy. 5

BALDSPOT Spirit's own weekly games and comics. 11

ACCU-REGGIE

n February 21, 2017, the Alexander Adaire School at East Thompson and Palmer Streets hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new green schoolyard project. The project is part of a three-and-a-half-year-long effort spearheaded by the Friends of Adaire, a registered nonprofit group of parents, educators, and community members with a mission of providing additional resources and support for the elementary school. The groundbreaking was attended by the who’s who of Philadelphia’s

civil servants. Mayor Jim Kenney, Council President Darrell L. Clarke, Managing Director Michael DiBernardinis and Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. all made speeches commending the group effort involved with the schoolyard revitalization project. The new schoolyard, which at present strongly resembles a parking lot, will include a large rain garden with a little nature trail running through Continued on Page 6.

Seven day forecast for the Riverwards. 3

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

HOT OFF THE

PRESS

hen Fishtown residents care about the legitimacy of a zoning variance, they tend to make their voices heard at community meetings. Typically the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) follows their vote. However, recent data compiled by the Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) shows an uptick in Zoning Board decisions overriding community votes. The data, compiled by FNA Zoning Chair Matt Karp, show that the ZBA opposed the FNA vote eight times last year. Prior to that, they opposed the FNA twice in 2015 and three times in 2014.

It’s unclear what has caused the recent spike in opposition, but Karp believes it is an issue and could extend outside of Fishtown. “We haven’t had a board that has allowed this many things through,” he said. “It’s a problem… and I’d like to get other opinions from other RCOs [registered community organizations] and see what they’re dealing with… my guess is this could be a citywide issue.” Karp also noted that more developers have testified before the ZBA in reContinued on Page 8.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

THE

local lens BY THOM NICKELS

here was a time in the city’s history when the Water Revenue Bureau bill was the cheapest household expense. Water expenses were always lower than gas or electricity expenses, but those days are over. Case in point: if you shut the water off in your house for two or three months, you get stuck with a monthly maintenance fee even though you haven’t used a drop. Last month, something strange happened at the Water Revenue Bureau. No, the rates were not raised and the city’s water supply wasn’t contaminated. The venerable Bureau was into something worse: double-billing customers even though these same customers had paid their previous bills in advance of the due date. Adding insult to injury, the Bureau then penalized these customers with late charges. To make matters even worse, many of the customers who called the Bureau to complain or ask what was happening were kept on the line for as long as 90 minutes. A good friend alerted me to this fiasco, suggesting that I check out the Eyes and Ears of Port Richmond Facebook page to see what all the fuss was about. So that’s what I did. Not surprisingly, the Water Revenue Bureau was the main topic of conversation on the page, eclipsing other news stories. One Facebook user suggested submitting a formal complaint to the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission. “The consumer rights and responsibilities guide state that consumers get 20 days from the postmark date to pay their bill without a late fee. If enough of you submit complaints, they’ll pay attention and should fix it,” he wrote. Another commenter posted, “I have the same problem. This is the 2nd bill in a row they stated it is late. I called customer service last month and they said they need 7-10 business days to post. Not true I sent my last 2 bills out 3 weeks in advance.” One woman had this to say: “Last week I received two bills in the same day as well. They are the worse...can’t get through on the phone and then when I did they didn’t know their drearier from a hole in the ground… you can talk to 3 people there and get three different answers.” “I got two bills I just threw one out,” another added. While somebody else said, “My last bill was posted January 28th, due 1st week in February. Someone is not doing there job mailing these things out.” I’ve heard that State Representative John Taylor has offered to assist Water Revenue Bureau customers who are left dissatisfied after registering a complaint, so perhaps the season of double billing is over. You can call Taylor’s Port Richmond office at (215) 425-0901 or his Bridesburg office at (215) 744-2600. In other news, a Spirit News reader emailed me with information about Philly Jesus. Though I haven’t thought about Philly Jesus, whose real name is Michael Grant, since the last time I wrote about him in this column, the news was oddly disturbing. The information the reader shared with me concerned a docket from the Municipal Court of Philadelphia County entitled “The Commonwealth v. Michael Grant.” Apparently, Grant was arrested by Officer Timothy J. Herrmann on January 18, 2017 for disorderly conduct and engaging in a fight. The arrest date was January 18, 2017, and the docket was filed the following day. A summary trial is scheduled for March 1, 2017, although no other information is given. This incident was not reported by the press, unlike Grant’s run-in with Center City Apple store officials in May last year. Grant claims the Apple employees harassed him when he entered the store with his cross. I was on Grant’s side

that time, just as I was in 2014 when he was arrested by an overzealous police officer who charged him with soliciting money at Love Park. Grant, who often poses with tourists for quick photographs, admits that he occasionally accepts tips for photo ops, but never asks for money. According to Grant, the arresting officer in 2014 recognized him from his street vagabonding days when he was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, another case of what happens when the past comes back to haunt the “reformed present.” One news source reported that Grant has been arrested more than 12 times between 2005 and 2013. Given all the publicity Grant has garnered since his decision to walk around town dressed like Jesus Christ — from references to him on Saturday Night Live to interviews in the Washington Post — it’s difficult to imagine him wanting to tarnish his image as a peace-loving Christ impersonator. Christ never got into fist fights; instead, he turned the other cheek, which in our day surely means walking away from a fight. Perhaps in the long run Grant’s fall from grace is a wake-up call for those who confuse costuming and a hunger for celebrity with the real values of the Prince of Peace. But don’t expect Grant to retire his staff and robes anytime soon. As he told the Washington Post, “I plan on doing this for the rest of my life. And, as I age, and probably when I start to get white hairs and start to get gray hairs on my face, I’ll morph into Philly Moses.” Finally, the recent murder of a woman in Port Richmond on the 3200 block of Mercer Street has had some concerned about safety in the Riverwards. Police believe Andrew Cruttenden, 26, robbed and shot his aunt, Virginia Cruttenden, 56, in her home on the 3200 block of Mercer Street in Port Richmond last Friday. Family members reported to police that various electronic items had been stolen. Police are still searching for Andrew, and ask anybody with information on his location to call 911. The murder got some folks who are normally anti-gun talking about buying guns, but in “a responsible, careful manner.” Personal defense may be the talk of the town, but can a gun protect you when someone rushes into your house at a time when your guard is probably down? Answering a gentle knock on the door is usually perceived as routine when you own a home or rent an apartment. Even the most responsible gun owners, with their firearms locked safely inside a cabinet, could not possibly go through the ritual of getting the gun out in time to stop a home invader. One solution, of course, would be to always wear a gun strapped to your shoulder, but few would be willing to do that. It’s a sad fact of life that many tragic incidents seem to occur when we are least prepared to defend ourselves. When I go to my best friend’s house on Belgrade Street some evenings, I walk under the eerie Belgrade railroad bridge near Lehigh Avenue. At night, this area resembles a

THOM NICKELS IS A PHILADELPHIA BASED AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, POET, FILM CRITIC & FEATURE WRITER FOR SPIRIT NEWS.

scene out of a Stephen King tale with its broken wire fences bordering a woodsy climb to the railroad tracks. In this area there are scores of hiding places behind trees and assorted weed growth. There’s also a vast field surrounded by tall trees, a barren and sinister-looking landscape that is apparently so dangerous that a wall has been erected to keep people out. Nobody really enjoys walking under the Belgrade Street bridge, one reason being that the roar of passing vehicles increases threefold because the bridge creates an echo chamber effect. People pass one another under this bridge with a certain degree of caution; there’s always a slight degree of tension evident in a walker’s body as he or she approaches you from the opposite end of the bridge. One night, as I was about to walk under the bridge, I spotted a man walking in the opposite direction carrying (and swinging) a baseball bat. A man swinging a baseball bat is an especially fearful image, so I pretended to be waiting for a green light on Lehigh before heading towards the bridge. The man with the bat, apparently noticing my unnatural hesitation, stopped swinging the bat and put it by his side like a folded-up umbrella, then nodded to me, as if to say, “This is my son’s bat. I was just having some fun.” •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

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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e all just experienced the warmest February on record in Philadelphia. I’m sure you’re not surprised. We had only four days on which temperatures averaged below normal. It’s been a historically warm winter filled with mind-boggling heat! Right now, winter looks to be over. We will get a few days here and there that are chilly, but overall, get ready for spring! The dominant pattern this winter has been absolutely terrible for a normal dose of cold and snow; this pattern locked in and stayed that way all winter! The week starts off with another winter-style heat wave as we climb into the 70s again. A cold front comes through

with rain and we drop into the 40s. You know the drill: warm, then wet, then cold and dry. Wednesday kicks off our week in familiar fashion this winter as warm air surges up allowing it to feel like Florida instead of Pennsylvania. Showers arrive in the afternoon and last into the evening. The cold front comes through Thursday morning so it will be windy and chilly as temperatures drop from the 60s to the 40s. Friday is a much cooler day in which we could also see some light snow for a couple hours. Snow has been so rare I wonder if we’ll even remember what it looks like.

Saturday is also chilly, but it will feature plenty of sunshine and very little wind. Temperatures increase on Sunday into the 50s but there could also be a shower from a weak system to our north. It’s no big deal at this point. We continue the warming trend into Monday, as we wait for a storm to arrive with some rain for Tuesday. The upand-down pattern continues but overall we will be much warmer than average. Warm lovers, rejoice! •

FINANTA

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK

serial fiction “ W H AT I T M E A N S T O H U R T ” - PA R T 2

ll the other patrons in the bar turned to look at them. The bartender leaned across the counter and demanded that the two of them separate. From the other side of the room came a tall, beefy man who successfully managed to break Zachary and Rick up. “No wonder you’ve been divorced three times,” Zachary said, his breathing uneven. He grabbed his beer, chugged the rest of it, and walked out of the bar. Zachary found a stoop on a corner a few blocks away from Johnny Brenda’s. He lay down on the bench and began to weep. From somewhere in the distance came the faded blaring of a car horn. All was silent otherwise. That wrinkly old waste of life doesn’t know what he’s talking about, Zachary thought to himself as the cool night breeze caressed his face. Thousands of years passed, or so it seemed to Zachary. Finally he got up off the stoop and continued walking, though he wasn’t really sure where he was going or what he was going to do. “Hey!” came a voice from behind him. Zachary stopped again and turned around. Someone was walking toward him. It wasn’t until they were within about ten feet of each other that Zachary was able to ascertain the identity of the approaching figure. “Hold on just a minute, kid,” Rick said. “Hold it right there. You and I have some unfinished business. Wouldn’t you say?” •

Illustration by Luke Cloran

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK

Community Fund

GREENSGROW FARMS UNDERTAKING NEW PROJECT IN MEMORY OF MARY SETON CORBOY

or 20 years, Greensgrow Farms has worked to beautify Philadelphia and unite the members of the communities it serves through fresh produce and sustainable activities. In memory of its recently deceased co-founder Mary Seton Corboy, Greensgrow has undertaken a new project called Mary’s Community Fund, which will provide grants to people or businesses with a plan or idea for the community that exemplifies the core values of the organization. Applications are now available are are due by March 11. “When [Mary] passed, it became clear to us that we wanted to continue her legacy as an individual and also the legacy of the organization,” said Ryan Kuck, the newly appointed executive director of Greensgrow. “The fund was really set up to give back a little bit and give someone else a leg up on what their vision is and continue this support of the greening and beautification of the city.” Any potential plans or ideas proposed for Mary’s Community Fund should preferably come from residents of, and in some capacity benefit, the Riverwards or West Philadelphia (into which Greensgrow has recently expanded). There must be at least a small group of people willing to take part in the proposed plan. If the site on which one wants to undertake a project is privately owned, the applicant must procure written permission from the owner before submitting his or her application. Lastly, one must work out the logistics of his or her plan beforehand in order to be a viable candidate.

Greensgrow staff members, neighbors and several of Mary Seton Corboy’s relatives will select the winners. Applicants can receive up to $1,000 in grant money for their projects. The funds will be distributed by May; they must be used within six months after the date of their receipt. Those who receive the grants are also required to update Greensgrow on their progress by October. Mary Seton Corboy was born in 1957. One of eight children, she loved spending time with her family and friends and telling them all kinds of stories. For many years she worked as a chef. Then, in 1997, Mary established Greensgrow Farms in Kensington with her business partner, Tom Sereduk. The organization was a means for her to interlace all of her passions. She received numerous awards and ac-

colades for her work throughout her career. On August 7 last year, Mary Seton Corboy passed away. “[Mary] was definitely my mentor and one of my closest friends, for sure,” said Kuck. “She was an amazing person. A real firecracker and a real pain in my ass quite often, but also a real inspiration. I learned a lot from her.” Since 1999, Greensgrow Farms has been a non-profit organization. It has been featured in various magazines, newspapers, books and films and will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Its flagship location is in Kensington at 2501 East Cumberland Street. To learn more about Mary’s Community Fund or download an application, visit Greensgrow’s website (greensgrow.org). •

Greensgrow Farms/ Thomas Beck

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Page 6 Continued from Page 1. it, providing opportunities for hands-on biology lessons; a play area furnished with a safe, porous surface; a toddler playground; and a seat wall to divide the play area from the nature garden. “This is not just a recreational space; it’s a green space and, most importantly, it’s a learning space, creating classroom environments that go beyond the more traditional walls of a schoolhouse,” Superintendent Hite said. The groundbreaking ceremony began in the Adaire auditorium with a dance routine performed by the fourth grade class. This performance drew much praise from the officials who spoke after, especially Mayor Kenney, who seized the moment to plug his upcoming appearance in the Philadelphia Ballet Company’s production of Le Corsaire. “I want to recognize the tremendous talent of the fourth graders,” Hite added. “This is why it is so important to have arts in the schools.” “This schoolyard not only provides green space but also protects the nearby Delaware River, and that’s extremely important,” Mayor Kenney said. “During these uncertain times — and they are uncertain — we must do all we can to protect our resources at the local level.” Jessica Brooks from the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) addressed the protection of the Delaware River. The PWD will replace some of the current asphalt surface of the schoolyard with a rain garden that will help manage stormwater runoff. “This is the fifth year of our Clean Waters program and in that time we’ve put up 100 of these sites across the city,” Brooks said. The rain garden at Adaire is designed to manage 70,000 gallons of stormwater every time it rains over an inch in Fishtown. “To picture that,” Brooks said, “try to imagine 1,400 of our blue rain barrels stacked on top of each other. To imagine that, picture four Comcast Centers stacked on top of each other. It’s a lot of water but that’s just one storm. Over the course of a typical year, the Adaire rain garden will manage over 4.2 million gallons of stormwater. So you can imagine the protection that’s giving to the Delaware River.” The Adaire playground project is funded by a citywide partnership between the School District of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit organization. Adaire is one of 12 projects that the partnership hopes to complete in the near future, seven at public schools and five at recreation centers. Additional funding has been provided by the William Penn Foundation. Anthony Cucchi from the Trust for Public Land explained the partnership to the assembled students. “The great news is that everything you need to know about building a playground or a schoolyard, we all learned in third, fourth and fifth grade,” Cucchi said. He went on to explain that the core tenets of a project like this are teamwork, sharing and listening. However, while this partnership is essential, the schoolyard project would not have come about without the efforts of the Friends of Adaire (FOA), led by project team leader Denis Devine. The FOA formed almost four years ago and

The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017 has spent that time organizing the project and consulting with city government. Ian Smith, a local architect and member of the FOA, did much of the design work for the playground. “This is a relatively fast-tracked project,” Devine said, “and we got here as a result of saying yes.” Devine referred to the amount of compromise that went into their dealings with city government, stating that because the FOA was amenable to the needs of the organizations they dealt with, the project moved along at a steady pace. “It’s about not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good,” he added. The FOA now moves into the second phase of their plans for the schoolyard. “This isn’t the end of the process,” Devine said. “We want to make sure this jewel stays shining.” For more updates on the FOA and the schoolyard project, visit their website at friendsofadaire.org. •

Adaire students Haylee Gallagher, Khymir Howell, Jayla Rodriguez, Dax Thompson with Principal Anna Jenkins./ Roman Blazic

Cover caption, left to right: Anthony Cucchi, Mayor Jim Kenney, Michael DiBerardinis, Council President Darrell Clarke, Adaire Principal Anna Jenkins, Philadelphia Water Department Green Infrastructure Manager Jessica Brooks, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite and Denis Divine Friends of Adaire. Photo by Roman Blazic.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

WRITTEN BY JAMES RENNIE

Tennis Program

DOWN THE LINE AND BEYOND LAUNCH NEW TENNIS PROGRAM AT BODINE HIGH SCHOOL

uring a meeting at Bodine High School (1101 North 4th Street) on Wednesday, February 15th, community leaders gathered to officially kick off the Down the Line and Beyond Foundation’s new tennis program. The new program will allow Bodine High School students to participate in after-school clinics that use tennis as a foundation to support character and educational development. Down the Line and Beyond (DTLB) will be assisting Bodine in building up their current tennis program by raising money to rehab the courts at Poplar Park and donating coaching time and equipment to the school. Founded in 2010, DTLB is a United States Tennis Association (USTA) affiliated National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) nonprofit foundation that organizes free tennis and character development programs for 1,600 children in underserved parks and communities in the city of Philadelphia. According to the DTLB website, their mission is “to facilitate positive character and education development for Philadelphia area youth tennis players, in order to maximize each child’s full potential on and off the court and cultivate the next generation of leadership.” “Down the Line and Beyond works with the public parks, schools and afterschool programs to give people of all ages the chance to play a sport many had never had the opportunity to play. We do this by bringing portable tennis programs, which can be played in gyms, classrooms, parking lots and roofs,” Oscar Eppley, executive director of the DTLB told Spirit News. “In these programs we make sure to offer different forms of education, whether it is character education, USTA ACE education as well as nutrition and general education.” The DTLB tennis program provides students at Bodine with a great opportunity to take part in something completely new, while developing skills that are best enhanced outside of the educational facility. “Although highly motivated, the students at Bodine High School do not come from affluent backgrounds, which can be limiting in their exposure to sports like tennis. Down the Line and Beyond has already begun assisting our Athletic Department in the recruitment of students to the sport and increasing opportunities for students to learn the game and enhance their skills,” Aaron Greberman, a teacher and the coach of the boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis teams at Bodine, told Spirit News. The DTLB’s program has brought with it much excitement not just from students, but from parents as well. Initiatives like this are going to have an overall positive effect on the student’s physical health as well as their mental development. “Even though our partnership with Down the Line and Beyond has just started, parents attending last week’s Report Card Conferences expressed excitement about the revitalized tennis program and partnership,” Greberman said. He added: “Several parents were reflecting back to their high school years when American players dominated the game. But now they see value in tennis in a different way; Bodine is a very multicultural school consisting of black, white, Latino and Asian students, and tennis itself is also culturally diverse. Connecting with culturally diverse sports helps our students see the world in a holistic way.” Though there is a relatively small number of students enrolled at Bodine, the school boasts more than 60 extracurricular program opportunities for students to get involved in, covering a wide range of areas. Some of these activities

From left to right: Roy Simpson, President, Down the Line and Beyond Foundation; Donna Clement, Director of Constituent Services, Office of Philadelphia City Councilman Derek Green; student, Michael Schieber, Athletic Director, Bodine; student, Aaron Greberman, Bodine tennis coach: Oscar Eppley, Executive Director, Down the Line and Beyond Foundation include the debate club, the literary magazine, the world affairs club, the Latino culture club as well as sports like soccer, basketball and baseball. “The World Affairs Council has been our greatest advocate enhancing all academic programing at the school, so the addition of an athletic partnership is a great compliment to helping develop a more well-rounded person,” Greberman told Spirit News. “This is a unique partnership for our athletic department, and to my knowledge, in the past, we haven’t had anything as extensive athletically as this new program for our students.” Although the program at Bodine is the newest on the DTLB’s list, the organization has carried out some great work over the last few years, having worked to rehab two tennis courts at Belmont Charter School (4030 Brown Street) and Penrose Park. “We have had partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army and multiple schools and public parks over the past seven years,” Eppley told Spirit News. Commenting on the impact of the DTLB’s tennis initiatives in the past, Eppley said, “The children have seen an increase in grades in the classroom, played team tennis tournaments, and have received scholarships to attend both private high schools and colleges.” There is much excitement and anticipation surrounding the new program and everyone is looking forward to seeing and experiencing its progression over the coming years. “We will be able to give the children at Bodine the opportunity to play tennis year-round at a high level and build a program that will be sustainable for years to come,” Eppley told Spirit News. “In the past they have not been able to play any home matches because of the lack of facilities, and they will finally be able to have a “home” for their tennis program, thanks to the great work of Bodine, the city of Philadelphia and our generous donors and coaches.” Greberman added: “Down the Line and Beyond has created a great buzz around the building and a large increase in students signing up for this spring’s tennis season. We are expecting some of the largest participation numbers in the sport that we have had in years.” “Not all schools are able to offer an opportunity like this. In this program, the teachers and coaches are here to help with everything,” Anthoni Torres, a tenth grader at Bodine told Spirit News. “I think I can gain good teamwork skills and I can also learn good sportsmanship.” The benefits that have come as a result of the DTLB’s ten-

nis programs in the past cannot be understated, and the continuation of this success is something that everyone involved with Bodine High School is eager to see. •

Hangin' With Rev. Ed: Rev. Ed stopped by the new Philadelphia Distilling Company to check out the new facility and grab a drink from bartender Stephanie Atkins.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

cent years, despite community opposition. His data shows that 10 projects were heard last year, eight in 2015 and three in 2014. ZBA board members are appointed by the mayor and are not paid, according to city records. Last year, Mayor Jim Kenney appointed Confesor Plaza, Jim Moylan and Anthony Gallagher to the ZBA. Moylan served as chairman, but resigned following FBI raids of his home and office, believed to be connected to the raids of union leader John Dougherty, PlanPhilly reported. Now four members serve on the board, chaired by Carol Tinari, who has served the ZBA since 2009, according to her LinkedIn page. One seat remains vacant. Tinari declined to comment about the rise in opposition Wednesday during a break in ZBA testimony, but later issued a statement commending the FNA’s “invaluable service to the community and city.” It also delved into the complexity of the appeals process. “Every appeal is different and must be evaluated by the Board on a case-by-case basis, taking a number of separate factors under consideration, so I’m unable to draw any useful conclusions from these numbers,” Tinari’s statement read. “What I can say, however, is that the FNA’s recommendations carry a great deal of weight in the Board’s decision-making process.” Some Fishtown residents, however, believe decisions should better reflect community interests. One of them, Marty Schortye, 40, lives on Belgrade Street near Gordon. “People in the area should have the power,” Schortye said following an FNA zoning meeting on February 21. “Some people in government might not live here, so that’s why we have these meetings.” Karp said he is now looking to compare the FNA’s data with other RCOs throughout the city. He said the FNA contacted Councilman Mark Squilla’s office for zoning variance data to see if there are comparable trends throughout the First District, in part of which Fishtown lies. Sean McMonagle, a legislative assistant in Squilla’s office, said his office tried to acquire data, but found the ZBA doesn’t track it because of the vast amount of cases. He added the ZBA is an autonomous board, giving it full power over community votes. “There are boards that are easier to deal with and there are boards that are harder to deal with,” McMonagle said of the FNA and the ZBA’s current predicament. “That’s just the ebb and flow of things.” Ori Feibush, a prominent developer in South Philadelphia who recently won a prominent legal battle against Councilman Kenyetta Johnson, has been developing in Fishtown for about the past two years. He understands the community’s concerns, especially with the ZBA’s meeting times in

the middle of the afternoon. Feibush added, however, that he has more experience with South Philadelphia residents, who show up to the ZBA for significant decisions. “If it’s something very important to individuals, they tend to find a way,” he said following the aforementioned FNA meeting. Ultimately, it’s unclear why the shift in the ZBA’s decisions has occurred, but Karp said the fact developers are even at-

tempting to override a community vote seems concerning — especially when the ZBA overrides the community vote and planning commission. “It appears they’re more lenient than before,” he said of the ZBA’s recent trend. “It used to be if people were denied by the FNA, they wouldn’t go to the ZBA… now they’re attempting it.” •

Photos from a recent FNA zoning meeting at the Fishtown Rec./Steve Bohnel

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y S H E A LY N K I L R O Y

Coded Collaboration CODED BY KIDS COMES TO AREA SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS FREE TECH EDUCATION

any schools teach foreign languages to their students, including Spanish, French and Mandarin. Modern technology has also developed a new language, coding, that is responsible for creating computer programs for local students who are learning how to be fluent. Alexander Adaire Elementary School, Penn Treaty Middle School and Horatio B. Hackett Elementary School have come together to bring Coded by Kids into their classrooms to teach students how to code, build websites and understand how computers work behind the scenes. The program is free and lasts for 12 weeks. Founded in 2013, nonprofit organization Coded by Kids provides free in-school and after-school tech and computer science education to students and children up to 18 years old. The lessons are led by staffed instructors from the tech industry (i.e. companies like Comcast) for both their weekend programs in recreation centers and partnerships with schools and other nonprofits. Maggie Deptola, the operations manager of Coded by Kids, wasn’t a software developer when she started working at local tech startups. In fact, Deptola still isn’t a software developer. However, after learning more about how technology works behind the scenes, Deptola could communicate her problems effectively to someone more attuned to coding in order to find a solution - a basic that children will be able to use for their benefit in the future through Coded by Kids. “We don’t expect all of our students to be the next engineer at Google,” Deptola said. “[We want to teach kids] enough about technology that they can ask the right questions and know how to leverage it to improve their lives. Locally, the Friends of Adaire, Friends of Hackett, and Friends of Penn Treaty groups have joined forces to bring more science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational activities to students in their schools. The new STEM Coalition includes Edyta Zielinska and Stefan Zajic, also Friends of Adaire Board Members, who have both worked in science. They started a STEM Fund to raise money for both short- and long-term STEM projects and material at Adaire. Zielinska was enthusiastic about getting Coded by Kids into all area schools when she came upon the program. “Coding is such an important gateway skill,” Deptola said. “It’ll lend you a job much more easily today in the 21st century.” After crowdfunding on Indiegogo and receiving donations from local businesses like Circle Thrift and IntegriChain, Coded by Kids was able to launch a 12-week program in Adaire, Hackett and Penn Treaty. The schools are currently about halfway through the program. Each class is roughly an hour long two days a week. During school hours at Penn Treaty, less than a dozen

Ross Coley teaches Kennedy Klar about coding and computer science./ Photos Shealyn Kilroy eighth and ninth graders are learning the “essentials and skills actual web developers use,” according to Ross Coley, a Coded by Kids instructor at the school. Coley is teaching the students how to code their own websites and he answers their questions with simple explanations. He compares HTML codes to the human body and Github functions to items inside backpacks to make the ideas and concepts more tangible for kids. Kennedy Klar is an eighth grader at Penn Treaty who is involved in the program. Her favorite part about Coded by Kids has been making a website that she called “Basketball and Soccer.” Klar wants to go into cosmetology or education when she’s older, but she still plans on making websites. “What I learn can really help me,” Klar said. “I can make my grandma a web page.” Adaire parent Sasha Best claims that her fourth grader knew more about coding than she does by the third week of the program. Best feels her son’s sense of accomplishment as he continues to learn the language of code. “It feels like a need is really being met. I wish every kid [at the cutoff age] could be in the program. That’s my only grievance; we can’t do it for everyone,” Best said. “[My son’s] deeper understanding of what’s going on behind the curtain is invaluable.” Over at Hackett, computer teacher Deborah Barca has been teaching the kids how to code, but she admits that Coded by Kids is providing a more intense and comprehensive curriculum than what she can provide. Barca finds the kids are more than happy to help one another out in the after-school program. “They’re doing a really good job,” Barca said. “They’re doing a really good job,” Barca said. “[If a student] falls behind, the student next to them will help [them out.]” For local students who didn’t get the chance to code this time around, planning is underway to bring Coded by Kids into the Fishtown Recreation Center with volunteers from O3 World (1339 Frankford Avenue). •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

WRITTEN BY PTAH GABRIE

Mystery Development N E W H O T E L C O M I N G T O A R E A B E T W E E N S U G A R H O U S E A N D P E N N T R E AT Y PA R K ?

pirit News recently obtained a rendering of what appears to be a hotel built on the land between the SugarHouse Casino and Penn Treaty Park. Our source, who spoke with us under the condition of anonymity, told Spirit News that the proposed hotel would be 24 floors in height. Our source told Spirit News that they believed the rendering to be current because of the manner in which it was obtained, though we were unable to confirm whether the rendering is being actively considered, or whether it was an old plan that has resurfaced. There are three lots between Penn Treaty Park and the SugarHouse Casino along North Delaware Avenue. The properties are: 1121-29, 1131-41 and 1143-51 North Delaware Avenue. Parts of the area in question are unused, but one section of the lot, owned by Henry Stewart Co., was recently acquired by the City of Philadelphia. According to an article on Philly.com from January 2017, the city took ownership of the easement behind the Henry Stewart Co., a wire rope manufacturer between Marlborough and Shackamaxon Streets. The article states the city was able to take the strip of land connecting the SugarHouse Casino to Penn Treaty Park along the river through condemnation. According to the article, the city plans on creating a fully connected 3.3-mile bike and walking path from Penn Treaty Park to Pier 70 near Tasker Street in South Philly. The rendering obtained by Spirit News does appear to have a divided bike path running along the river and curving around the casino and parking garage. Spirit News checked up on the area in question, which is known as a place for vagrants and other people seeking to hide from sight for whatever reason. Currently, the land is littered with garbage, needles and plenty of evidence that multiple people sleep back there regularly. According to Philly.com, city spokesperson Paul Chrystie says construction on the plot can begin once weather conditions improve.

This is the rendering Spirit News received, depicting a large development. Parts of the area in question are unused and overgrown./ Ptah Gabrie

Penn Treaty Park, looking toward SugarHouse Casino./Ptah Gabrie According to an article published by PlanPhilly in December 2015, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission gave the okay to move forward with acquiring the property through eminent domain at the Commission’s November meeting. The article states that negotiations between the Henry Stewart Jr. Co. and the City of Philadelphia were unable to produce a result, so the city was forced to condemn the easement in order to acquire it. According to city records, Councilman Squilla proposed the bill and Mayor Kenney signed it on December 15, 2016. Councilman Squilla spoke to Spirit News about the city’s land acquisition. He says that he is happy to connect the bike trail and hopes the project begins as soon as possible. “The money’s there for it. Everything’s ready to go. The plan is there; it’s just a matter of waiting on the parcel to be secured,” Squilla said. “You can’t wait forever for these projects. We have the resources to do it, so it’s just a matter of getting the lot secured and then starting that project to complete the trail.” Councilman Squilla says he hopes the trail will be open for cyclists and pedestrians in the not-so-distant future. “I would say in two or three years we should have that trail completed,” he said. He also acknowledged that a project like this faces unique challenges when gaining easements along the Delaware River. “The goal was from Oregon Ave. to Allegheny Ave.,” he said. “A lot of those parcels are privately owned, so you have to deal with everybody individually to get these easements approved. We’re close to getting it done.” Spirit News asked the councilman if he was aware of any plans for a hotel on any of the parcels between SugarHouse Casino and Penn Treaty Park. “[SugarHouse] may add a hotel. The original plans called for a hotel, so it would be great if they do expand, but I don’t know if that’s something that’s imminent or within the next year or two,” Squilla said. “It could be an old plan that’s resurfacing.” Spirit News reached out to the SugarHouse Casino for comment. A spokesman from the casino told us that the rendering did not come from SugarHouse. Wendy Hamilton, General Manager of SugarHouse, also provided a statement to Spirit News regarding the casino’s future expansion plans. “The possibility of a hotel was contemplated in the original SugarHouse plans,” Hamilton told Spirit News. “We

recently completed a $165 million expansion and might consider a hotel on our existing property in the future. However, it will be difficult to justify investing more capital if the market becomes even more saturated with another casino.” Currently, the SugarHouse Casino is the only casino in Philadelphia and has been able to grow significantly since opening its doors in 2010. The casino has added a food court, event center and a parking garage over the past six years. Many other projects along the Delaware River waterfront, including the Delaware River Trail, have faced opposition from businesses, developers and the community. According to the same Philly.com article referenced earlier in this piece, the area in South Philadelphia where the Foxwoods Casino was once proposed to be built is still under the control of developer Bart Blatstein. The report states that the developer, well known in the Riverwards for building the former Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties, plans on turning that plot of land into a commercial and residential area. According to Philly.com, the city hopes to gain an easement on that South Philly land through an $850,000 grant furnished by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PADCNR). The Foxwood Casino was successfully blocked by the community. It was also proposed to be built at the Gallery at Market East on Market Street, but that project was shot down too. Other failed projects along the Delaware waterfront include the proposed Wynn Casino that would occupy waterfront land just north of Penn Treaty Park. This would have filled the second gaming license in Philadelphia. According to an article published in November 2013 by the Las Vegas Review Journal, Steve Wynn withdrew his proposal to build a 150,000-square-foot, $925-million-dollar casino. With all the buzz surrounding Fishtown today and the influx of people visiting the area for the first time, a new hotel development along the Delaware River isn’t a far-fetched idea, though it is unclear how these renderings might impact Penn Treaty Park and the surrounding community. Spirit News is following this story and will bring you updates as we receive them. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y S H E A LY N K I L R O Y

Motorized Mayhem

P R E P A R A T I O N U N D E R WAY F O R T H E 2 0 1 7 K E N S I N G T O N K I N E T I C S C U L P T U R E D E R B Y A N D A R T S F E S T I VA L

re you crazy and creative? Are you driven? Are you willing to allow your eccentric behavior to be the force of operation? If so, registration is now open for the 2017 Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Arts Festival on May 20. The New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) and the East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA) will join forces with their sponsor, the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union (PFCU), to gather art vendors and encourage the creation of wacky human-powered vehicles to race through the Riverwards. Now in its 11th year, the derby is both a parade and competition of DIY sculptures on wheels. Awards are distributed for the derby’s Best Costuming, Best Overall Theme, Best/ Worst Pun, etc. The board of judges has included Captain George Kappe of the 26th Police District and other notable neighborhood personalities. Last year, Spirit News captured some silly sculptures and moments from the derby, which you can see in the photos accompanying this article. The arts festival, in its 12th year, has featured over 200 vendors along the cobblestoned Trenton Avenue from Norris to Dauphin Street. The mix of artists, musicians and eateries has attracted more than 15,000 people each year. Vendors last year included Little Baby’s Ice Cream, The Cow and the Curd, and Frankadelphia. This year, the PFCU is looking to sponsor a sculpture designed by a teacher-led group of students. Students in

grades nine through 12 from a Philadelphia school who are overseen by a teacher, after-school moderator adult at least 21 years of age are eligible. The selected team will be awarded $4,000 for costs to build a derby sculpture to operate. Ever since joining the Fishtown/East Kensington community with the opening of their Dauphin Street branch in 2013, Communication Specialist Karen Eavis says PFCU has made a point to embrace the creativity and innovation of the kids and people who live here through the contest. “The idea stems from our people-first mission,” Eavis said. The PFCU is looking for students that show creativity and passion in their sketches, drawings or other means of conceptualizing their sculpture, according to Eavis. The PFCU is also partnering with local videographer Nic Justice to document from start to finish the student’s’ sculpture-making process and turn it into a video. The PFCU adult-moderated student team contest kicks off on Friday, March 3 with happy hour hosted by the NKCDC at Bottle Bar East (1308 Frankford Ave.) from 5 - 7PM. The deadline to enter the contest is March 24th. The teams will be judged by a panel consisting of members from the PFCU and the NKCDC, and the winning team with the best sculpture idea will be notified on March 31st. More details can be found about the PFCU’s call for entries on its website. Registration, rules and pricing for the 2017 Kensington Kinetic Derby can be found and filled out on the derby’s website, and early-bird registration is available until April

1st. Vendors for the arts festival can register here, and early-bird registration for vendors ends on March 20th. •

Photos from last years Derby by Bob Burton.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR N E W S @ S P I R I T N E W S . O R G • 1 4 2 8 E . S U S Q U E H A N N A AV E • 2 1 5 . 4 2 3 . 6 2 4 6

me e tings Wednesday, March 1, 7PM PROPAC MEETING AGENDA Meeting takes place at the Columbia Social Club (3529 Almond Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134). 24th District PSA-3 Crime Stats and Updates with 24th District Captain Daniel O’Connor and Community Relations Officer Tina Willis Wednesday, March 1st, 8:45-10:15AM AND 5:30-6:30PM ADAIRE KINDERGARTEN 2017 REGISTRATION KICKOFF At this morning AND evening event, Friends of Adaire invite families who live in the Adaire catchment to enroll kids who'll be 5 by Sept. 1st in Kindergarten at Adaire starting on Sept. 12, 2017. The Adaire community will welcome you with light refreshments. Principal Anna Jenkins, parents with students in the school now (including Kindergarten parents and Home & School leaders), and Friends of Adaire will be on hand to answer questions and help parents fill out paperwork. Out-of-catchment families who completed voluntary transfer applications are welcome to attend as well, to meet fellow families and learn how to get involved. Bring COPIES of parent/guardian ID, 2 proofs of residence, the enrolling child's birth certificate, and -- ideally -- up-todate vaccination record and dental form. Most pediatricians have standardized forms accepted by the school, but if yours doesn't you can get a form from the school district (new this year). Medical/dental forms can be provided later but the ID and birth certificate are necessary to enroll the child. Tuesday, March 7, 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. 1212 E Fletcher St Proposal for converting and existing single family home into a (2) dwelling unit multifamily use. 2345-49 E Susquehanna Ave Proposal for the conversion of an existing church into a single family home with a tattoo/graphic design shop.

events Wednesday, March 1, 7PM DUFFY STRING BAND OPEN HOUSE Fishtown’s Duffy String Band invites you to “Be a Part of Something Great.” These mummers are holding their annual open house at their clubhouse (2230 Cedar St.) For more information visit Duffy String Band’s Facebook. Thursday, March 2, 830-11AM READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY Adaire Elementary School wants you to celebrate the value of reading with students and their peers nationwide to celebrate the 16th Annual National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. Adaire Home and School looking for community members to read to classes. If you’re interested in participating in the event, please email your name and organization to Tuesday Chalmers by Feb. 25 at adairehomeandschool@gmail.com Thursday, March 2, 7PM PUB THEOLOGY Explore the intersection of life and faith with two Fishtown pastors, while having a drink at Kostas (15 W. Girard Ave.) All are welcome. For more information, visit Pub Theology: Fishtown’s Facebook. Thursdays, March 2, 11AM-Noon FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTIONS TIME CHANGE St. Michael’s Church (Trenton Ave. and Cumberland St.)

will hold their weekly Food Pantry Distributions during morning hours only. The church will continue to service zones 19125 and 19134. For more information contact coordinator Pat Walder at 215425-6190 or St. Michael’s at 215-423-0782. Saturday, March 4, 8PM GARCIA V. THURMAN WATCH PARTY Watch undefeated world champions Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia duke it out at the Veteran Boxers Association (2733 E. Clearfield St.) The program begins live at 9PM. Free food and cheap drinks offered for those who come. Friday, March 10, 6-8:30PM SCAVENGER HUNT, AIR PLANT ENVIRONMENT, AND SPA TREATMENTS Collect materials in a hunt at to make your own airplant with NLArts! After dinner, essential oils will be provided to make your own sugar scrub to take home. The workshop cost $25 a child. Space is limited. Email nlartsorg@gmail. com to register. Saturday, March 11, 10AM-3PM SPRING CRAFT FAIR St. Anne’s Senior Community Center (2607 E. Cumberland St.) is hosting the center’s Second Annual Spring Craft Fair. Crafters of all ages are welcome. To reserve a table or for more information, contact Karen at 215-426-9799. Sunday, March 12, 11:15AM ATLANTIC CITY BUS TRIP The Ladies of Port Richmond Breast Cancer are sponsoring bus trip Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. Those attending are expected to meet and board the bus at Belgrade & Allegheny Avenues. Tickets are $35. $25 slot play due in advance. For additional information, contact Marylou at 215427-3222 or Marie at 215-423-3414. Thursday, March 23, 3:30PM 16TH ANNUAL FISHTOWN MARCH MADNESS ACADEMIC COMPETITION Cheer on local students with neighbors and Fishtown Neighbors Association as they use their smarts to advance in the Final Four and Championship rounds for the 16th Annual Fishtown March Madness Academic Competition at Shissler Rec Center. Sponsored by Penn Treaty Special Services District, a celebration to honor Fishtown Teachers and Educators of the year and Joseph and a group that has been working with Fishtown-area youth will be held as well. For more information and to volunteer contact A.J. at ajthomson7@gmail.com. Sunday, March 26, 10AM 13TH ANNUAL BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER The Ladies of Port Richmond Breast Cancer are holding their annual breakfast fundraiser at St. George’s Church Hall (2700 Venango St.) Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. For more information contact Marylou at 215-427-3222. Sunday, March 26th FISHTOWN'S FAMOUS CHILI COOKOFF AT THE FILLMORE Our annual Chili Cookoff is back and spicier than ever! We're back at The Fillmore Philadelphia for Year 8, and we're now taking submissions from residents and restaurant contestants who want to show off their chili chops. This friendly competition brings the whole neighborhood (and beyond!) together every year to cook and sample tons of food, enjoy local beers and listen to live music. Stay tuned for ticketing details. Want to enter?! Come on, you know you do! Just fill out this quick form. This event could not be possible without volunteers. Wanna help? Shoot us an email at events@fishtown.org. See you March 26th! 3rd and 4th Tuesday of Every Month, 6:30PM-8:30PM WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE CLASSES Fishtown Recreation Center is hosting a Women’s Self Defense class 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM on the 3rd and 4th Tuesdays of each month for $10 per class starting 11/15/16. You can

Tuesdays in February, 7-9:30PM PUBLETTERS AT THE STANDARD TAP Stop typing that Facebook message, and come to the Standard Tap (2nd and Popular Streets) with your best handwriting. Publetters is offering a workshop upstairs at the Tap on writing the personal letter. Stationery, postcards, stamps, and pens will be provided. At the end of this free workshop, a walk, or stumble, will be made down to the US Postal Service mailbox to send the letters crafted that night. For more information visit publetters.com and Standard Tap’s Facebook.

Mondays and Thursdays, 7:30PM CATHOLIC TALK SERIES Join St. Michael’s Parish (1445 N. 2nd St.) for their new series of talks to learn more about or deepen their Catholic faith. The talks are open to both youth and adults, and free babysitting services will be provided. For more information visit the parish website or call the rectory at 215-739-2358.

Wednesdays, 6PM YOGA AT TOWEY REC Roots2Rise will hold yoga classes at Towey Rec (1829 N. Howard St.). Cost is $5 per class. Participants must bring a mat For more info, visit roots2rise.com

Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30PM SCRAPBOOKING Bring your photos and a book for scrapbooking at Bridesburg Recreation Center (4625 Richmond St.) It cost $5 to attend, and other materials will be provided. For more information, call Jackie at 215-685-1247, 215-5336448.

Wednesdays, 6-7PM 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.

Thursdays, 5-8PM GAME ON! THURSDAYS Bring or borrow games and players at Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse (2578 Frankford Ave.) for a night devoted of video game play. For more information, contact amalgamphilly@gmail.com.

2nd Fridays, 7:15PM MOTHERHEART KIRTAN Welcoming everyone in the neighborhood to take part in MotherHeart Kirtan. Kirtan is the recitation of spiritual ideas through songs of devotion. Style is call and response singing of mantra and sounds. It is an easy, safe environment to experience group, harmony, healing, and community. Kirtan can be peaceful, uplifting, and ecstatic. MotherHeart Studio (2359 E Susquehanna Ave.) Donation only.

Third Saturdays, 12-2PM FREE SOUP AND PRAYER Trinity Presbyterian Church (2905 Frankford Ave.) is provided a free hot cup of soup and a place for prayer on the third Saturday of each month. For more information, call 267-216-8996.

Sundays, 8:30-10PM THE WALKING DEAD WEEKLY SCREENINGS Come out to Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse (2578 Frankford Ave.) for pizza, a donation bar, and zombies on screen. Doors open at 8:30, and the show starts at 9. For more information, contact amalgamphilly@gmail.com.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

WRITTEN BY SHARON ISABEL CURLEY

Spirit Astrology YOUR DOSE OF HYPERLOCAL SPIRITUAL ADVICE

Aries: I recently heard a story about boycotting versus buycotting. In the story, the question was that if the decision is made to boycott a large company, like the recent Uber incident, where thousands of people were cancelling their apps, who is this really affecting? Are you getting even close to the CEOs of the companies, or, rather, are you affecting the lives of the drivers? These drivers might not support the company, but the company supports their families. I often ride in cars like these, and the drivers tell me they’re only doing this “between jobs,” yet in some cases this has been their job for more than a year. So, really, it is just their job. It reminded me of adolescent arguments about being vegan, and whether or not being vegan could allow you to shop anywhere. Are the CEOs of Whole Foods carnivores? The issue can go even deeper: Is your bus pass made of recycled materials? Where do your art supplies or your motorcycle parts come from? Can you ever really be so pure or loyal to something? The answer is simple: no. You can do your best to really just affect you in your decisions, and perhaps those closely related to your life. Be careful in your decisions coming up. You never know how or who you might affect. Taurus: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This saying encourages us to perceive beauty as subjective, as a way to differentiate people. I’m grateful for the beauty I see and have seen, and I look forward to the experience of beauty. It engenders such an incredible feeling in me that verges on a deep sadness or affinity for life. It can be almost painful in the most expressive way, that in itself could be described best as beautiful. Find what it is that is beautiful to you, Taurus, and learn to cherish it. This experience could really humble your otherwise ignorant quest to see beauty within versus without. Gemini: On a typical Chinatown bus ride from New York to Philly, I sat by the window and felt the cold air pumping in. This was only a few days ago, so I’m sure you gather the inconvenience of this, being that it is winter. There should have been hot air. There’s a saying: “You pay for what you get”. I hold this true in a situation as described, or a decent kitchen knife, or even in the more cosmic ways of karma. Sometimes spending a little more money or a little more time or a little more care on something can really have an effect on the level of satisfaction guaranteed. Don’t forget this, Gemini. You’re certainly going to need this advice in some way very soon. Cancer: Everyone is no one most of the time. We exist mainly within ourselves, and if we are lucky, we can impact someone else enough that we exist with them too. Loneliness, as a chronic pain, different from being alone, can cause physical pain, dependency on substances, addiction to TV and a lack of self-worth or even self-pity. I suggest that when you’re on your next walk down Frankford Avenue, or through NoLibs, and you’re judging all the out-of-towners for whatever reason you feel entitled enough to, just chill, Cancer. One or more of these people could end up being what saves you from yourself. Leo: More and more often I’ve been hearing the word “woke” used as an adjective, describing a person who is well informed or even enlightened. Sometimes I leave my house on a sunny day, and I wonder why my sunglasses aren’t working, only to realize it’s because I am wearing my regular glasses instead. I’ll be no monk with this sort of lack of awareness. Leo is a truly spirited beast, who I believe is aware or more woke than most. If you’re feeling a little lazy in this department, host a guided meditation, hit up the sensory deprivation tanks at Flotation Philly or try any of the yoga spots in our hood. If you’re not extremely woke, then you must be sleeping, as it were. Missing out on the wonders of the world, and choosing to look too inward, and not enough outward. You need to be present with you, but also everywhere else. Wake up and get woke, buddy. Then lead the way for us all! Virgo: The Virgo male of the United States is possibly the least affectionate breed of Virgo on the planet. Constantly

tied up in their minds with ways to fix what’s not broken, or to learn some new life tool, they carry inward a sort of affection for themselves, but have trouble articulating this feeling for others either verbally or physically. All Virgos suffer from an overstimulated mind, but the female Virgo finds ways to express that. I have a cool way for you to express your ways for someone. Take them to Milkcrate, where the music is just fine, and ask them to play a game where you rhyme. They’ll say a word, and you’ll match its ending, giving them the vibe of the love that you’re sending. When it’s your turn to choose, and their turn to rhyme, I suggest a word that will take some time: Virgo. Scorpio: I enjoy the phrase “ants in your pants,” and I enjoy the idea of constantly moving. Yet the true idea of having ants in my pants makes me sick to my stomach. Can you even fathom the feeling of ants crawling inside your pants? Thousands of small little ants just running all over doing their thing. No, thank you. Yet, to be blessed with the urge to keep moving, to not become idle, excites me. Scorpio is the epitome of this. Always wanting to move and never okay sitting still. Yet sometimes taking a break is not a big deal at all. Think of it as needing to get the ants out of your pants and really feel that relief. The days are getting disgracefully warm this winter, so why not play the game and hit up an empty Fishtown lot while the chance is still there? Just bask in the sun and maybe tuck your shirt in and tight-roll your pants - just to avoid those ants getting in. Sagittarius: I am on a new strict diet, due to some recent health concerns. This involves an alcohol-free diet, and at two days in, I would love a beer. I just love the light and free feeling of the evening beer high, and yet there are other things I love that require me to let go of this feeling. Oddly enough, the new routine also includes working out certain parts of my body and eating bananas. Well, I dislike bananas very much. I dislike the smell, I dislike the texture. I haven’t eaten a banana since the summer of 2012. That’s nearly five years without a banana, and now I’m shooting for two a week. I can only eat them during this very small window of not too ripe and not too green, or I throw them in the fire! Heck no, this seems too difficult! Yet, according to the new gig, changes I dislike need to be made if I want certain things to be better. Sag, you stubborn little thing, join me in this, please. Accept the subtle dislikes of the banana, or the major life changes of letting go of that very dirty martini. Out with the old and in with the new. “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.” Capricorn: The overworking Capricorn is confident in their trade. Not overly adjusted to think they’re better than their peers, but confident enough to feel, at the very least, equal. Yet, for the Capricorn to accept a compliment is like giving a baby ice cream for the first time. So delighted, you can see those little eyes light up, yet maybe spitting the ice cream out in disbelief of its cold and delicious shock to the baby’s system. One of my best friends has been living in L.A. for just about seven years. We talk often enough. He keeps himself so busy that it’s hard to catch up, unless we video chat as he works. I sit in front of the screen doing most of the talking, yapping away at my leisure, and he Jesse - listens and draws. We have deep talks; we have funny talks. He gives me incredible advice, and between us is a love like no other. For nearly 20 years, Jesse and I have been very close, and never once has our relationship become romantic. The love falls so deep and easy, like that between a brother and a sister. Yet, before we close our computers, I say, “I love you, Jesse!”, and once every 100 times, he tells me he loves me too. The other 99 times, he looks at me and smiles and laughs awkwardly and just says, “Okay”. If only he knew what the one time he expresses himself means to me, to hear him exchange the sentiment, I think he could move up to at least 10 times out of 100. My advice is this: the next time someone compliments you, tells you how they feel, or shows affection, do not be afraid. Dive right in and feel the love of being loved from giving love all the while. Aquarius: I tend to put an intense and high value on my-

self. I work hard, and would like to be valued for my work. I don’t mean solely in my workplace (which is nonexistent at the moment), but also in life. I work hard to tend to my friends, and I expect the same back from them. I believe that sometimes people do know you better than you know yourself, and I think this holds very true within the Aquarius. The thing with us is that we actually seek acceptance from other people, and when they have something they don’t accept about us, we need to learn to accept this. Sometimes the payback isn’t a lovely compliment, but a true critique from someone who loves you very much. I was recently called out on a behavior of mine, that I am aware of, but sort of dismissed as normal or okay. Being called out on it left me with no argument at all. It left me having to accept that maybe this person was right, and that it is time for me to make a change. It makes me feel good to learn, even if learning comes from such a hard place. Join me in allowing your next critique to not be criticism, but rather a deep love coming from someone who cares. If you want to value yourself as highly as I do, you’re going to have to accept that you’re not perfect. Pisces: In last week’s horoscope, there was an edit between my writing and your reading that conveyed an absolutely different message than the one I was trying to get across to you, Pisces. I spoke of John Malkovich becoming a fashion designer and how I always wanted that myself, and have even tried very hard to get there, but haven’t had the means to do so. Considering his very average choice of style, I asked, “Why him?” I called myself jealous. I ended that horoscope with a twist, coining the phrase, “You can’t fail unless you try.” However, it was printed for you to read this as, “You can’t succeed unless you try.” The joke I was making was that there’s still room to fail, even if you try, yet it’s worth the try anyway, even if it’s just for you. The pride within you, sans public acceptance, could inspire you to grow from that “failure”. So, as you spent the last week thinking I believed in you, now you know the truth. You believe in you, and you will need to keep this attitude up as best you can. Let’s try leaving you with this one this week: “If at first you don’t succeed, pick yourself up and try again. Try again.” •

ORINOKA CIVIC HOUSE LOTTERY New Kensington CDC and Multifamily Management of Philadelphia invite you to attend the lottery drawing to determine which applicants receive the first interviews for rental apartments at Orinoka Civic House at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 3 at Coral Street Arts House, 244668 Coral Street, Philadelphia. Orinoka Civic House is a redeveloped factory building near the Somerset El stop in Kensington with 51 affordable one and two bedroom apartments. Multifamily Management of Philadelphia has been accepting applications on behalf of NKCDC since late January. All applications postmarked by February 24 will be included in the lottery. The drawing will take several hours. Capacity is limited and admission will be on a first come, first serve basis. Attending the lottery will have no affect on the application process. Questions about the drawing may be directed to Multifamily Management of Philadelphia at 267-273-9247.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

COMMUNITY

CLASSIFIEDS A D S @ S P I R I T N E W S . O R G • 1 4 2 8 E . S U S Q U E H A N N A AV E • 2 1 5 . 4 2 3 . 6 2 4 6

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

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Page 15

The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

SIMPSON’S HEATING & COOLING

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PHOTOS BY ROMAN BLAZIC

Penn Treaty

P H O T O S F R O M A P I C T U R E S Q U E D AY I N F I S H T O W N ’ S O A S I S

ince our last bout with the frigid winter weather, things have been pretty warm and sunny in Philadelphia. Here are some pleasant images of Penn Treaty Park to keep your memories warm once the weather inevitably takes a turn for the worse. •

2 RAPES

3 AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS

4 ROBBERIES

4 BURGLARIES

10 THEFTS FROM AUTO

14 THEFTS

6 RETAIL THEFTS

4 AUTO THEFTS

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – March 1, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y B O B S T E WA R T

Hyperlocal politics R E P U B L I C A N C A N D I D AT E F O R T H E 1 9 7 T H L E G I S L AT I V E D I S T R I C T R E C E I V E S W R I T T E N T H R E AT AT H E R H O M E

n the ongoing soap opera that we’ll continue to call “As the 197th Turns,” Lucinda Little, the Republican candidate for 197th Legislative District, woke up Monday to a threat in her mailbox. The note read: “You will pay bitch for Fred.” In addition to breaking grammar rules, it’s illegal to threaten someone, so Little’s husband called the police and filed a report. The note seems to allude to Fred Ramirez, the candidate who was removed from the ballot by Judge Ann Covey last week after losing a residency challenge. The Democrats may back Emilio Vasquez as a write-in option. There’s no indication that anyone associated with either Democrat’s team had anything to do with the note left at the Little household. On Monday evening, Little told Spirit News that she is “saddened” that someone is doing something like this in this race. “I had nothing to do with Fred Ramirez getting removed from the ballot,” she said. “I just happened to be the opponent.” Little said the threat will not deter her from continuing to run to represent “our neighborhood.” A spokesperson for the Police Department said the note will be investigated. The spokesperson added that no extra efforts go into the investigation despite its connections to a political candidate. “It’s investigated the same way as if [your] grandmother received it,” the spokesperson said. Emilio Vasquez, the new candidate supported by the Dem-

ocratic Party, is a Philadelphia Parking Authority employee. He filed papers with the PA Department of State today. According to PPA rules, he must “resign or take a leave of absence.” As of 3PM on Monday he had done neither, but a PPA spokesperson said Vasquez was not working today and therefore would not be required to take that action yet. Vasquez is a Revenue Auditor for the PPA airport parking operation. He’s been with PPA since 2003. Cheri Honkala, a well known Kensington-based activist, is also running a write-in campaign with Green Party backing. Check www.spiritnews.org for regular updates on this very interesting local election. •

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