Daily Record

Vol. II No. 154 (314)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

October 5, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Mantua Reborn

COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN congratulated PHA Executive Director Michael Kelly yesterday at grand opening of Mantua Square, a courtyard development which bids fair to shed a new light on Mantua neighborhood in W. Phila. Story page 5.

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Oct. 6State Sen. Anthony Williams & State Rep. Ron Waters host Town Hall on Crime at KIPP Phila. Sch., 5900 Baltimore Ave. For info Don Cave (215) 492-2980.

Oct. 6Iron Workers Local 401 hosts Mayoral Town Hall Meeting at Bridgeman’s Hall, 11600 Norcum Rd., 5 p.m. Roofers’ James Donnelly to moderate. General public invited.

Oct. 6Karen Brown For Mayor Fundraiser at Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd & Spring Garden Sts., 6-9 p.m. $25. Call (215) 279-7210.

Oct. 7Mayfair Civic Ass’n hosts Autistic Endeavors Beef & Beer at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd, 7 p.m.-12 a.m. $30.

For info Barbara (215) 360-1569.

Oct. 7S.W. Phila. District Services hosts Candidates Forum at Kingsessing Rec Ctr., 50th & Kingsessing Ave., 6-9 p.m. For info Louis Wilson (215) 275-8296.

Oct. 9Columbus Day Parade and Italian Gala at Marconi Plaza. Parade starts at Broad & Washington and heads south to Oregon Ave. & Marconi Plaza. Food court and entertainment follows on Plaza.

Oct. 9World Premier of modern opera “Adea” by Pennsylvania composer Cynthia Cozette at Lutheran Ch. of the Holy Communion, 2110 Chestnut St., 3 p.m., followed by reception. Free-will offering will be collected. For info (215) 567-3668.

Oct. 10Fundraiser for Council candidate Bill Rubin at Del Frisco’s RestauTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

rant, 1426 Chestnut St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sponsors $1,000, Supporters $500.

Oct. 11Lunch with Karen Brown For Mayor at Vesper Club, 1 p.m.

Guest of Honor Eagles’ Curtis March. $250-$500. RSVP by Oct. 7 (215) 279-7210.

Oct. 11Prevent A Child From Abuse fundraiser art at Tavern On Broad at Bellevue, Broad & Walnut Sts., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sponsored by Joseph Pultrone. Tickets $50. For info, tickets, and other details Joe (267) 977-3776.

Oct. 15W. Poplar NASC hosts Fall Fashion Show & Luncheon at Zoar United Methodist Ch., 1204 Melon St., 2 p.m. Donation $20. For info (215) 765-0960.

Oct. 16Sheriff Barbara Deeley and Team Jewell Williams, Democrat candidate for Sheriff host Eagles vs.

Redskins Fundraiser for Sheriff candidate Jewell Williams at Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd & Spring Garden Sts., 1 p.m. Beer, wine, hot and cold foods. Tickets $50. Make personal checks only out to Citizens for Jewell Williams, 2343 Smedley St., Phila. PA.19132. For info (215) 919-1120.

Oct. 16-22 Mt. Zion Baptist Ch. hosts 97th annual Church Anniversary kickoff Concert at 50th & Woodland Ave., 3 p.m. Revival will be held Oct. 19-21, 7 p.m. All events free and open to public. For info (215) 7240619.

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State’s Gambling Returns Draw Notice The success of Pennsylvania’s 55% tax on slot-machine revenue from casinos will make it difficult for the gambling industry to argue against high tax rates in other states, the head of the American Gaming Association said on Tuesday. “The Pennsylvania numbers (for gambling revenue) are fantastic,” association President Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. told reporters on the opening day of the Global Gaming Expo trade show.

The State collected $108.7 million in taxes on slot-machine revenue in September, up from $102.2 million in September 2010, the Gaming Control Board announced.

For Eschewing The Fat, Hero Thrill Show Receives $25,000

ATTORNEY JIMMY BINNS, fourth from left, chairman of HeroThrill Show Inc., accepts $25,000 donation from Weight Watchers of Philadelphia, Inc. in name of Phila. Fire Dept. for winning 25th Annual Battle of the Badges weight-loss competition against Police Dept. Special check also marked 25 years of head-to-head weight-loss competition between the city’s two uniformed departments. Also participating in ceremonies at City Hall, from left, are Fire Capt. Kevin O’Malley, employee relations rep; Timothy G. McShea, VP of Firefighters Union Local 22; Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers; John Birnhak, VP of Weight Watchers of Phila., Inc.; Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross; Police Capt. Dennis Gallagher, head of community-relations unit; and James P. Wheeler, VP of Lodge 5 of Fraternal Order of Police. With this year’s victory, Fire Dept. moved ahead 13 wins to 12 wins in the overall standings and Weight Watchers has contributed $207,500 for college scholarships for children of police and fire department members killed or disabled in the line of duty. In 25 years of competition, both departments have a combined weight loss of 169,487.93 pounds.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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farms; the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. for its housing and social-service programs in the community, as well as Chinese heritage celebrations; and Health Partners and the Health Partners Foundation will Reginald Coleman, a Murrell Dobbins CTE HS stuhonor Philadelphia Academies, Inc. President Lisa Nut- dent, for service as a volunteer with his local church, ter this evening when it hosts its annual Making a Dif- school and Rubye’s Kids, a nonprofit assisting underference awards program recognizing individuals and served children. programs whose caring hearts continue to help build IG, FBI Detail Bribery Bust healthier communities. The reception is being held at A joint investigation conducted by the Philadelphia OfHealth Partners, 901 Market Street, from 5 to 7 p.m. fice of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Nutter was selected for her work in leading Philadel- Investigation has led to the indictment of a 60-year-old phia Academies, Inc., a nonprofit youth-development Villanova man on suspicion of bribing a City official. organization that expands life and economic options for In an attempt to expedite and guarantee the acquisition Philadelphia public-school students through career-foof a property on the 7100 block of James Street, in the cused programming, preparing young people for emTacony section, Daniel Apokorin and several co-conployment and post-secondary education. spirators allegedly presented $5,000 cash to a City ofAlso being honored is the Federation of Neighborhood ficial, according to the indictment. The City official Centers for programs including Teens 4 Good, which immediately reported the alleged bribery attempt, hires at-risk youth to transform vacant lots into urban spurring an OIG-FBI investigation.

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Apokorin and his co-conspirators continued to pursue the property and allegedly gave an additional $5,000 to an undercover federal agent posing as a City official, the indictment said.

Cooperation among the OIG, the FBI and City officials made the case successful, said Inspector General Amy Kurland.

“City employees have provided crucial assistance in many of our cases,” Kurland said. “We should celebrate these honest public servants for standing up against corruption.”

Kurland said the case represented another important step on the road to good government.

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“When City employees refuse to sell their integrity, generating up to 200 megawatts of power annually are they cast light on a dying stereotype,” Kurland said. mounted on the roof.

“Most City employees are honest and hard-working.

The Housing America campaign is spearheaded by They want to earn only what they deserve.”

NAHRO, an organization of housing and community development agencies.

“We are very proud of the work the Philadelphia Housing Authority has done and Mantua Square is a shining example of the good work PHA has done in the community,” said NAHRO CEO Saul N. Ramirez, Jr. “With The Philadelphia Housing Authority formally opened the Census Bureau reporting nearly 1 in 6 people lived the award-winning Mantua Square at 35th Street and in poverty in 2010, providing decent, affordable places Fairmount Avenue in West Philadelphia yesterday as to live in safe neighborhoods is more important than part of the National Association of Housing and Rede- ever.” velopment Officials “Housing America” month celebration. The development stands on the former site of The Pennsylvania Association of Housing and Redean outdated 18-story high-rise building demolished in velopment Authorities recently recognized Mantua Square with its “Best Practices” award for design exMarch 2008. cellence. The revitalized site improves the aesthetics of PHA highlighted the opening as part of a national effort the neighborhood while fitting in with the surrounding to raise awareness about the importance of affordable fabric of three story homes. housing and community development programs, as well as the challenges currently facing these programs. The redeveloped site contains 7,400 square feet of commercial space, intended to attract more businesses “Mantua Square represents another landmark achieve- to the area. PHA also has a management office and a ment for PHA in its commitment to provide quality, af- community center at the site. fordable, and environmentally friendly housing in the city,” said Michael P. Kelly, the agency’s executive di- Mantua Square is accessible to Lancaster Avenue, a rector. “We intend to make a lasting, positive impact in well-established commercial corridor that has grocers, the neighborhood and become a catalyst for local eco- pharmacies, clothing stores, and other services. It is also accessible to Powelton Village, University City, nomic growth.”

Center City (Art Museum and Fairmount Park), and the The new development occupies a full square block with Philadelphia Zoo. The Mantua neighborhood is worka mixture of walk-up apartments and duplexes totaling ing-class, but has seen an influx of Drexel University 101 units. The square surrounds a gated courtyard with student renters and renewed interest from both Drexel ample green space and 92 parking spaces for residents. and the University of Pennsylvania.

The green space also helps with storm water management. Photovoltaic solar panels with the capability of

PHA Celebrates Housing America Month With Opening Of Mantua Square

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