WINTER 2020
Celebrate the Season Queen Village Style Grandparents guide to shopping South Street
New in galleries and gaming spots
A Queen Village How City Hall Valentine's Day sparked a neighborhood's mission
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Fabrics 1
B. Wilk Fabrics 801 South 4th Street 215.627.1146 bwilkfabrics.com @bwilkfabrics
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Baldwin Leather & Fabric 755 South 4th Street 855.489.3453 baldwinleatherandfabric.biz @baldwinleatherandfabric
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Fleishman Fabrics & Supplies 733-735 South 4th Street 215.925.0449 Jack B. Fabrics 748 South 4th Street 215.925.2991 jackbfabrics.com @jackbfabrics
Fashions 5
John’s Custom Drapery Workroom 738 South 4th Street 215.627.0297
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Maxies Daughter 724 South 4th Street 215.829.2226 exo.gmu.edu/maxiesdaughter @maxiesdaughterfabric
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Phoung’s Tailor & Fabrics 757 South 4th Street 215.551.6704 @phuongstailor Solano’s Furniture Restoration Inc 731 South 4th Street 215.625.8888
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Anh Custom Tailors 771 South 4th Street 267.255.0593 facebook.com/anhtailors @anh_tailor
10 Ernesto Custom Tailor 612 South 5th Street 215.627.7887 custombyernesto.com @ernestotailoring
Studio & Dressmaker 108 South Street 215.730.3068 facebook.com/ofashionstudio @ofashionstudio
14 Oxymoron
750 South 4th Street 267.870.7510 facebook.com/oxymoronphilly @oxymoronfashionhouse
11 Hairs 2 U Wig Bank
15 Steel Pony
760 South 4th Street 215.922.2119 hairs2u.org @hairs2uwigbank
12 Helena’s Fashion Lifestyle 721 South 4th Street 215.278.7520 helenalifestyleboutique_
SOUTHSTREET.COM
13 Oleksandra’s Fashion
758 South 4th Street 215.829.2226 steelpony.com @steelponystyle
16 The Wedding Factor
125 South Street 267.861.0409 theweddingfactor.com @weddingfactor
for more information and store hours
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Q u e e n V i l l ag e
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Your membership in QVNA benefits the Queen Village community. QVNA depends on hundreds of volunteers, memberships, donations, and parking lot revenue to provide neighborhood programs and services that benefit the residents of Queen Village. QVNA provides: News and Communication: eNews Updates Community meetings on topics of interest to residents An online event calendar at QVNA.org/events Queen Village Quarterly Crier Weekly
Clean and Green Services: Graffiti removal from public places Weekly sweeping of street curbs Spring and Fall curbside tree planting Services from Professional Staff: Contact QVNA by phone, email or text Assistance obtaining City services
Community Stewardship and Advocacy: Public zoning meetings Support for South Street Police Mini Station Assistance getting vacant lots cleared of debris Improving our Quality of Life: Covered parking for 180 cars at below-market rates Community grants for neighborhood improvements Volunteer activities that enhance Queen Village
Community Stewardship. Advocacy. Service. P.O. Box 63763, Philadelphia, PA 19147 n 215.339.0975 n QVNA.org
n
info@qvna.org
Your membership in QVNA helps provide neighborhood programs and services for Queen Village residents.
Please join or renew your membership today! Please join us online at QVNA.org/membership or complete this coupon and mail it to QVNA, P.O. Box 63763, Philadelphia, PA 19147. Please make your check payable to QVNA.
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Queen Village Neighbors Association is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law; consult your tax advisor.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 3
Contents 7 8
12 Sunlit leaves at Weccacoe Playground.
Photo by Joseph G. Brin
14 18
WINTER 2020
President’s Letter Preserving the best of Queen Village as we move into QVNA’s 50th year of serving the community.
Out and About Two new and distinctly different art galleries, a moving story from Jeweler’s Row, gamekeepers who play on 2nd Street, and a starstudded O Brother, Where Art Thou? music tribute at Old Swedes’.
QVNA Spotlight Meet our volunteer 2019 board of directors, new appointees, our grants committee members, the cofounders of a Halloween tradition, and other well-deserved shout-outs.
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Meet the woman behind The Queen Villager Instagram account and find out why she finds our neighborhood so easy to love.
QVNA at 50 Discover why city hall provoked an uprising of neighbors, uniting Queen Village and activating QVNA.
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South Street Beat With so many stores to choose from for holiday gifts, we sought expert advice from a 15-year-old resident on gifts that grandparents will be delighted to give. We also spotlight ways to give back this season.
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From the Cover 28
30 20 Wreathed in the spirit of the holidays is Garland of Letters’ sculptured sentry, Sultan.
Photo by Alec Meltzer Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
Feature: Celebrating All Winter with Loved Ones Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner, savory poems, a spirited cocktail, or flowers in good taste, we’ve got recommendations close to home.
Feature: Unmasked In Real Life
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School Bell In our School Bell column, a past principal of Meredith raises health and safety issues for students and staff in our schools and introduces a new mobile app.
The Commons LOVE YOUR PARK leaves six pocket parks cleaner and gathers more than 50 volunteers having fun— and our canopy grows by 11.
It Takes a Village Friends of Weccacoe champion the winning amenity, why kids sought autographs, and volunteers who love our parks and trees.
How It Works Thinking about hosting with Airbnb? It’s not as easy—or as legal—as you may think. Find out how to keep your holiday tree fresh and green and your family safe, and what to do with it afterwards.
QV Life Can’t-miss dates and ways to engage this winter.
ST. PHILIP NERI PARISH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR & POLISH FOOD FESTIVAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th 12 noon - 4:00 p.m.
Volume 1 | Issue 4 winter 2020
FESTIVAL OF CAROLS
Online at www.qvna.org/winter2020
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15th 6:00 p.m.
Publisher Queen Village Neighbors Association Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Ingersoll president@qvna.org Executive Editor Lucy Erdelac execdirector@qvna.org Managing Editor Heather Shayne Blakeslee editor@qvna.org Contributing Copy Editors Cait Allen Walter Foley Cari Romm Nazeer Meredith Piotrowski
2019 CHRISTMAS MASSES CHRISTMAS EVE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24th 7:00 vigil mass - St. Philip Neri 9:00 vigil mass - St. Stanislaus CHRISTMAS DAY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25th 8:30 a.m. mass - St. Stanislaus 11:00 a.m. mass - St. Philip Neri
www.queenvillagecatholic.com
Designer Alec Meltzer
Background Checked Trained & Insured
Ad Sales advertising@qvna.org 215.339.0975 qvna.org/advertise
Care for Everyone QVNA Office 417 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 info@qvna.org 215.339.0975 All opinions are of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Queen Village Neighbors Association.
QVNA provides community stewardship, advocacy and service to help improve quality of life for Queen Village residents.
Our supportive caregivers offer help at home, when you need it most.
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Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 5
Contributors
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VNA sincerely appreciates the time and talent of the volunteers who helped create this issue of the Crier. Cait and Michael Allen joined the Queen Village community in March 2019. Cait is Director of Engagement of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, and Michael is Chief Operating Officer of Wills Eye Hospital. Joseph G. Brin is an architect, filmmaker, photographer, writer, and director on QVNA’s Board. A Queen Village resident since 2003, Joe also films documentaries and writes for Hidden City Philadelphia. Suzanne Dreitlein is a Row House Living blogger and Queen Village resident since 2007. She enjoys living in a 19th Century row cottage, wearing 18th Century clothing, and writing about the great things going on in QV! Anika Koruba was born and continues to be raised in Queen Village. When not perusing South Street she attends Central High School where she’s on the varsity soccer team. Cari Romm Nazeer is an editor who lives in Queen Village with her husband and very rambunctious puppy. Jason Nicolais is an online marketer who designs and writes websites and develops branding campaigns for small businesses. Jason with his wife Tanya have two young children. Jake Peterson is happily retired accountant who very much enjoys living here with my wife and our many QV friends and neighbors. We moved here
in 2004 from Delaware County and to our minds, urban beats suburban any day of the week. Meredith Piotrowski has lived in Queen Village since 2007, loving its treelined streets, architecture, and people who are drawn here. Meredith was elected secretary to QVNA’s board, beginning her term in January. Landi Prendi has lived in Queen Village since 2005. His love of food, wine, and community was born in Albania and today he expresses it in his career as a personal chef, cooking instructor, and poet. Holly Russel is a copywriter, editor, and occasional editorial features writer who lives in Queen Village with her two rescued pit bulls. Alex and Marge Schernecke have lived in Queen Village for more than 50 years, (and Marge since birth). They are lifelong community activists and have both served terms as President of QVNA. They remain actively involved in the Association today. Robert Wright and partner Roy Bernat moved to Queen Village in 1968. Bob’s photos of that era show a neighborhood devastated by the construction of I-95. Later, redevelopment prevailed and normal Village life returned. Hilary Young is a Queen Village mom and owner of Hilary Young Creative, a content and marketing services for small businesses. All opinions are of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Queen Village Neighbors Association.
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President's letter
Celebrating 50 Years of Service to the Community by Eleanor Ingersoll, QVNA President
Hello Neighbors, appy winter solstice. December means that the leaves have turned and fallen and the holiday season is in full swing. As many are preparing for the new chapter a new year brings, Queen Village Neighbors Association begins a new chapter as well: we’re celebrating a halfcentury of stewardship, advocacy, and service to our community. So with this milestone, we will be looking back throughout 2020 to the foundation of the Association; the goal that first brought Queen Village neighbors together and continues to do so today: preservation. Fifty years ago the community banded together in an unsuccessful eminent domain battle over the construction of I-95 through the river wards, which demolished 300 historic homes in Queen Village alone. So in the late 1960’s, when the City pushed plans for the Crosstown Expressway, proposed to connect the Schuylkill River to the Delaware river by cutting through Queen Village via South Street, residents already knew how to spring into action to protest and preserve their neighborhood. QVNA’s second president Marge Schernecke, a lifelong Queen
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Village resident, explains in this issue how powerful a community can be when it comes together for common goals. Another anchor that unites our community: neighborhood schools. QVNA continues to support the work of those advocating to clean our schools of asbestos and lead paint. Former Meredith Elementary Principal Cindy Farlino explains in School Bell how a mesothelioma diagnosis for a member of our neighborhood schools family gave renewed urgency to the push for healthy schools throughout the district. This 50th anniversary year will also see QVNA participating in plans to create a memorial for the historic Bethel Burying Ground, located in the southwest corner of Weccacoe Playground. Because of a thoughtfully researched proposal by the Friends of Weccacoe, a resized and redrawn tennis court, (to accommodate the boundaries of the Memorial), will also be coming to the playground. Neighbors supported the proposal at the October 16th community meeting. And in the spring, we’ll have the ceremonial co-naming of the 600 block of East Passyunk as Avenue of the Roots. South Street at Passyunk is the loca-
tion where two native Philadelphians, Tariq Trotter (Black Thought) and Ahmir Thompson (Questlove) started as street performers, and years later shot a music video. Along with commemorating the “roots” of The Roots, the new street sign will preserve the artistic and funky heritage of South Street. There will be plenty of other opportunities for stewardship and preservation throughout 2020, as QNVA and other river ward civics continue to uphold the zoning overlay for developing a beautiful and publically accessible waterfront, as well as preparing for the reconstruction work of the I-95 corridor between the Franklin and Whitman bridges. Lastly, the call to preserve the fabric and character of this neighborhood is answered by volunteers. Please take a moment to meet the Board and its new officers and directors on page 12, and a very hearty thank you to all of the volunteers who contribute their time and talents to preserve the neighborhood’s vibrant personality. It really does take a village. Thank you one and all, and happy new year.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 7
Out and About
Brooke Lanier Gallery Relocates to Queen Village A painting studio, gallery, and serious art classes for adults by Holly Russel
Brooke Lanier describes her art as a search for the sublime as well as an appreciation for the beauty of subtle details. Photo courtesy of Brook Lanier Fine Art.
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he intersection of Fourth and Queen streets is home base for artists working in disciplines like pizza baking, bagel making, and hairstyling, but its newest resident deals in a decidedly more traditional medium: paint. Brooke Lanier Fine Art at 815 S. 4th Street is a multi-purpose space that serves as an art gallery, studio, and classroom for its namesake. Lanier, who first opened a gallery in Midtown Village on Camac Street in 2012, moved her operation to Queen Village early this year, in the hopes of making her work more vis-
Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
ible and accessible to a wider audience. (The ground-floor location helps, too.) The gallery showcases contemporary painting, printmaking, and photography from emerging and mid-career artists in group exhibitions curated by Lanier herself. According to Lanier, the shows typically highlight subtle, nuanced artwork, and often focus on contemporary approaches to landscape and patternbased abstraction. In her personal studio, downstairs from the gallery, Lanier creates watercolor and oil paintings, photography,
and collages. She has shown her work in Rome, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; and across the United States, most notably in The Smithsonian Institute’s S. Dillon Ripley Center and the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Her paintings are in the corporate collections of Honeywell, Panorama Wine Bar, Volver, and Aramark, as well as many private collections. For those with creative ambitions of their own, Lanier, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the Tyler School of Art, offers private drawing and painting lessons at the gallery. To help students develop a foundation of technical skills, the artist enforces small classes (there’s a five-student maximum) and emphasizes technique-based learning. Within that framework, Lanier tailors her instruction to serve each person’s individual interests and abilities, and includes elements of art history to bring the subject matter more fully to life. Brooke Lanier Fine Art is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to regularly posted business hours, the gallery is open by appointment and anytime the curtains are open—so feel free to stop by and welcome our new neighbor to Queen Village! ■
3rd Street Features 14 Artists with Winter Blues A new gallery returns to Queen Village
"Winter Retreat," a watercolor by Blanche Levitt Torphy, is featured in Winter Blues at 3rd Street Gallery.
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n celebration of winter and the holidays, 3rd Street Gallery features a show in its main gallery entitled Winter Blues, spotlighting local artists and their interpretations of the cool hues and tones of winter. The show includes works in watercolor, acrylic, oil, and digital. (But keep an eye out for the collage in glass and gold leaf!) The exhibit opened on November 21 and runs through December 22. Curated just for your holiday shopping, 3rd Street Gallery has transformed its backroom into a Holiday Art Shop, featuring unique, handmade gifts inspired by the season. All works are priced under $500. The gallery first opened in 1978 on the corner of 3rd and Bainbridge Streets. After a lengthy sojourn in Old City, it returned to Queen Village six months ago. 3rd Street is one of the oldest artist-run fine art galleries in the city—having been home to thousands of Philadelphia artists during its 40-plus year run. An artist cooperative, 3rd Street boasts a diverse group of mem-
bers, both formally-classically trained and self-taught artists. Many members are also educators and award winners whose work is collected by museums as well as by corporate and private collectors. In addition to their creative practice, co-op members also have advanced degrees in the arts as well as the sciences, and work in both traditional and digital media, among many other disciplines. Their mission is to foster a stronger relationship between the public and fine art. ■ The Winter Blues exhibit features artists Rissa Berlin, Rhea Dennis, Nicole Patrice Dul, Sharon Egan, Jacque Ferretti, Matthew Hall, Tom Herbert, Robert Hunter, Nancy Lloyd, Neil Marcello, Conny Parsons, Elynne Rosenfeld, Eli Smith, and Blanche Levitt Torphy. 3rd Street Gallery is located at 610 S. 3rd Street.
Call the Gamekeeper (Just for Fun) by Cari Romm Nazeer
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tacked on the shelves at Queen & Rook Game Cafe (607 S. 2nd St.) are games for nostalgia seekers (Clue, Operation) and die-hard enthusiasts (Terraforming Mars, Betrayal at House on the Hill). There are games for families, for bachelor parties and birthday parties, for casual weeknight gatherings—more than 1,200 in all, with new titles arriving weekly and a retail selection of around 200. Those looking to play something new over vegetarian plates and a beer can flag down one of the gamekeepers–employees trained to help customers through any of the cafe’s offerings and offer recommendations for the uncertain. “It’s like having a sommelier,” says co-owner Edward Garcia, who founded Queen & Rook with his partner, Jeannie Wong. “You don’t know much about wine, but you know you like a dry red, so what fits that? We do the same thing with games.” Ultimately, though, many customers turn to the pleasure of a classic: By a long shot, he says, the most popular game is Battleship. ■
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 9
Out and About
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Tribute Returns to Old Swedes’ Fundraiser on December 13 includes Queen Village cast members by Heather Shayne Blakeslee
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or the past 20 years as the sextons of Gloria Dei Church, known to the neighborhood as “Old Swedes’,” Jim and Paula Minacci have been welcoming the entire Queen Village community with music and other programming: flea markets, music brunches, a Memorial Day picnic and music festival, Fringe shows, Halloween events, a yearly one-man tribute to Jesus Christ Superstar, and more. “We saw an opportunity to use our natural abilities for the benefit of this church and the greater community,” says Jim Minacci. “We have a great space to share with people and the best friends who happen to play music.” Last year, the Minaccis hit on one of
their most successful programs to date: a tribute to the wildly popular Coen brothers film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which is loosely based on the story of Odysseus and chronicles the period that marked the beginning of the recording industry in America. It’s a favorite of the Minaccis’, and the 120 showgoers who packed every pew in the church proved that others agree. Songs such as “Keep on the Sunnyside,” made popular by the Carter Family, are part of the soundtrack that has devoted fans to the movie. On December 13, you can see local musicians (the author included), perform all the songs from the show. “This year’s O Brother show allows up to 30 people to shine their talents upon us in
Photo by Brian Light The musical tribute’s cast members hail from Queen Village and beyond.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
the church sanctuary,” Minacci says. “Our performers range in age from 60 years down to little Ruby Rose at 6 years old.” Performers are drawn from Queen Village as well as popular regional acts such as River Bones Band, Cowmuddy, Torn and Ironic, Swedeland, Sweetbriar Rose, and Dirty Soap. “Americana and roots music is in their blood,” Minacci says. As sextons, Jim and Paula keep the cobwebs from the windows, tend the grounds, and generally manage the property, but it’s their faithful dedication to the community that makes the programming at Old Swedes’ shine. As performers at last year’s concert gathered in a circle to hold hands and give thanks before the show, the Minaccis told every person in the room that they were there for them, no matter what, always, which generated more than a few tears. “Paula and I love being part of the ether,” says Minacci. “We love working for the betterment of the community. We want to show support for all the artists and artistry all around us.” ■ Old Swedes’ is located at 916 S. Swanson St. Doors open at 7 for the 8 p.m. December 13 performance. Tickets are $15 cash at the door. Concertgoers are encouraged by the sextons to “come early to eat and drink, and stay late to sing and dance.”
ROOT QUARTERLY art and ideas from philadelphia Issue One: The Animals
From Jewelers’ Row to Fabric Row by Lucy Erdelec
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“Old Hurt” by Darla Jackson, available at Paradigm Gallery
fter 45 years on Jewelers’ Row, Maryanne Ritter chose Fabric Row as the new location for her storefront, Maryanne S. Ritter Jewelers. “I was attracted to the history of Fabric Row,” Ritter says, “and it’s been great. I made a good choice.” History and tradition are important to Ritter, who began her gem-studded career at age 20 under the tutelage of Louis Neff. His business, Louis Neff Jewelers, opened on Jewelers’ Row in 1909. Decades later, the respected jeweler named his business’ successor and until 2013 Ritter led Louis Neff Jewelers before founding her namesake store. Ritter’s was one of many established businesses forced to leave Philadelphia’s Jewelers’ Row, the nation’s oldest diamond district, after her building and four others on the 700 block of Sansom Street were sold. Toll Brothers purchased the properties to build a 24-story tower of 85 luxury condominiums. A long-time Queen Village shopping mecca, earlier this year Philadelphia Magazine named 4th Street’s Fabric Row “Best City Shopping Destination.” And, considering the rich history of so many of the long-lived businesses there, Maryanne S. Ritter Jewelers will be right at home on Fabric Row. ■
FEATURING: Sarah Rose Etter on Sculptor Darla Jackson * How the Left is Eating Itself * An Appreciation of Leonard Baskin * Erotica by Neely B. * Essays by Heather Shayne Blakeslee * The Case for Mary Jane at 70 * Food and Neighborhood Picks by Diana Lu * Poetry Selections by Joshua Mehigan
RootQuarterly.com
find us online. Read us in print. Subscribe now.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 11
Q V NA S P O TLI G H T
Meet QVNA’s Board of Directors The members of QVNA’s board are volunteers from our community. Their responsibilities include business planning, budgeting, determining programs and services, and association oversight. The 2020 board term begins January 1.
Directors
Officers
President Eleanor Ingersoll (2017-2020)
Caroline Allen (2020-2021)
Rosamond Howard (2020-2021)
Vice President Inez Green (2017-2020)
Joseph G. Brin (2019-2020)
Mike McPhilmy (2019-2020)
Treasurer Tom Bonney (2020-2021)
Anita Brook Dupree (2019-2020)
Mike Seidenberg (2019-2020)
Secretary Meredith Piotrowski (2020-2021)
Mark Grabarits (2020-2021)
Noah Swistak (2020-2021)
Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
Q V NA S P O TLI G H T
Thank you for your service
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hortly after Richard Wolk moved to Queen Village in 2002, he began volunteering with QVNA as an active member on two committees: historic preservation and transportation/traffic. He also wrote articles about their activities for The Queen Village Crier newsletter. In 2007, Richard joined QVNA’s Board as a director and in 2010 was elected executive vice president. Following his board service, Richard joined the zoning committee and was appointed by QVNA as the primary voting member of the Central Delaware Advocacy Group (CDAG). Recently Richard decided to focus his time and talent even closer to home as the number and ages of his grandchildren continue to grow. Thank you, Richard, for volunteering your time and significant talents to QVNA on behalf of our community. Emily Perschetz was elected to the
QVNA Appointments
board as a director in 2017, and in the same year was appointed to QVNA’s zoning committee. As a board member she served briefly as QVNA’s representative to Friends of the South Street Police Mini Station. In September, Emily decided to focus her time and talents exclusively on our zoning committee. QVNA appreciates her service on the board and her continuing volunteer commitment to our community. Volunteering in our community is second nature to LaTasha McKnight, who just completed her two-year term as a director on the QVNA Board. Tasha also serves as a Member-At-Large on the Courtyard Residents Council, and was a founding volunteer for the QVNACourtyard partnership, Summer at Courtyard. Thank you, Tasha, for your service to QVNA, and your continued volunteering for the community and its children. ■
Fourteen Years and Still as Sweet
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undreds of costumed kids and their parents attended the 14th annual Halloween Party at Mario Lanza Park. In spite of forecasted rain, event cofounders and hosts David O’Donnell and Tony Moran treated scores of ninjas and princesses, minions and pirates, unicorns and dragons to fistfuls of candy. In addition, dozens of parents donated bags of candy and contributed money to help maintain Mario Lanza Park. ■
Photo by Jason Nicolais
Kids of all ages, including event co-founder David O’Donnell, dress up to trick or treat.
Jake Peterson has been appointed to be QVNA’s primary voting member of the Central Delaware Advisory Group. CDAG works with civic associations and other stakeholders interested in the sevenmile riverfront area from Allegheny to Oregon avenues. CDAG promotes waterfront development that ensures public access to the river, builds on economic assets and connects the city to the river. Len Sedney has been appointed to QVNA’s zoning committee. The committee conducts public zoning meetings after QVNA is notified by the City that a building permit refusal was issued for a proposed project in Queen Village. The proposed project is then reviewed by the committee with opportunity for neighbor input in accordance with the Zoning Code.
These Volunteers Help Others Make A Positive Difference
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hen QVNA opens a communitygrant window, it’s not unusual to receive a dozen applications requesting from 500 to thousands of dollars for projects or programs to improve the quality of life for Queen Village residents. These applications are carefully evaluated by QVNA’s grants committee volunteers. Their standardized process of vetting results in funding recommendations, presented to the Board for approval. QVNA sincerely appreciates the leadership of Chair Kathy Dilonardo and committee members Matt Atkins, Mike McPhilmy, Nancy Morgenstern, and Terese Zeccardi. ■
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 13
Q V NA AT 5 0
Ramping up for a 50th-Year Celebration of Queen Village Neighbors Association Reflection by Alex & Marge Schernecke
I-95 took 300 historically certified homes in Queen Village alone and many more in Pennsport and Whitman. Families were devastated having lived for many years in these neighborhoods and seeing their homes being demolished right before their eyes.
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Q V NA a t 5 0
Demolition of homes along the east side of Front Street completed (looking from South Street south to Fitzwater Street). (1966) Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division, HABS PA, 51-PHILA, 432-2
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ounded by the Swedes in 1664, Queen Village is Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhood. The Leni Lenape Native Americans called it Weccacoe, which means “Pleasant Place.” William Penn later renamed the area “Southwark” after the waterfront neighborhood in southeast London. In the mid-60s the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority divided Southwark into Queen Village, Pennsport, Whitman and Society Hill. Queen Village Neighbors Association was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in November 1969. Before QVNA was formed, in the mid50s, former Mayors Richardson Dilworth and William Clark, along with City Planner Ed Bacon and the Redevelopment Authority, devised a plan using eminent domain and federal transportation funds to push families out of Southwark’s northern area to create Society Hill and build I-95 along the land adjacent to Front Street.
The congregation at Gloria Dei Old Swedes’ Church, along with other smaller local groups, supported changing the highway’s route from Front Street to Delaware Avenue. But the railroads, to protect their own interests, opposed that plan and lobbied strongly for building the highway along Front Street. It’s sad to say, but the rest is history. I-95 took 300 historically certified homes in Queen Village alone and many more in Pennsport and Whitman. Families were devastated having lived for many years in these neighborhoods and seeing their homes being demolished right before their eyes. The decision to build I-95 through the river wards may have been one of the worst planning decisions in Philadelphia’s history ripping the roots out from under hundreds of families and cutting their ties to the waterfront. I-95 now sits on some of the most valuable real estate in the city, which those in power years
Infill for the interstate roadway is laid. Underpass structures near Washington Avenue can be seen in the distance (looking south toward Shot Tower located at Front and Carpenter streets).
Photo by Robert R. Wright, 1969
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 15
Q V NA a t 5 0 back were too shortsighted to envision. And, unfortunately, there were no civic groups with effective political clout to oppose it. The prevailing sentiment then was, “You can’t fight City Hall.” But around 1970, the RDA set up a program that gave local civic groups the right and responsibility to plan the future of their neighborhoods through Project Area Committees. The South Central PAC included civic groups from river to river between Washington Avenue and Walnut Street. QVNA was recognized in this PAC as the civic group designated to plan for Queen Village and to communicate those plans to the RDA. At that time QVNA consisted mostly of a small group of “newcomers” who wanted the neighborhood to be developed like another Society Hill. This did not sit well with the older, longtime residents who wanted to slow the gentrification process and tackle the impending problems that would be caused by the Crosstown Expressway. Tensions ran high for a while between the “old” and “new”, especially about neighborhood development,
Elevated cement structure of I-95 takes shape above Front Street at Carpenter Street. Shot Tower seen in
Photo by Robert R. Wright, 1969
the background.
but the issues were resolved on both sides and energy was focused on stopping the Crosstown Expressway. A united QVNA, and a united South Central PAC, sent a strong message to the RDA and to our elected officials that we would indeed be responsible for planning our future. The proposed Crosstown would have taken many more properties between
South Street's Real Estate Tax Value: 1972 vs. 2018 Queen Village Neighbors Association, united with other affected civic groups, fought and defeated the Crosstown Expressway. In 1972, City Hall removed the Crosstown from its development plans.
$18,062,371 $351,000 $3,000,000
$6,000,000
$9,000,000
2018
$12,000,000
$15,000,000
1972
Ironically, the City realized a 4,861% increase in real estate taxes—revenue that would never have existed had the Crosstown killed South Street from river to river.
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Bainbridge and Lombard Streets from river to river. Property values in the South-Bainbridge Corridor plummeted. But, ironically, the proposed Crosstown helped stimulate the South Street Renaissance. A diverse group of artists and bohemian types found South Street affordable, moved in and began to transform the area into the “Hippest Street in Town.” With the growing number of galleries, restaurants, and shops, the streetscape slowly came back to life with new trees, lighting and sidewalk art, all spearheaded by this South Street renaissance community. All without taking any government money. The older established Queen Village businesses and residents formed a bond with their new Renaissance neighbors to fight and defeat the construction of the Crosstown. This coalition used good old political clout as well as the media, demonstrations, fundraisers, and legal help to have the Crosstown removed from the City’s development plans. The resulting new attitude is still with us today as we advocate together for our neighborhood: “You can fight City Hall- and win.” ■
QVNA Haiku Thank you, volunteers who deliver magazines and do so much more
QVNA’S 2019
HOLIDAY PARTY
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inety-one neighbors volunteered to distribute our Winter 2020 issue to homes on their blocks -- and many to homes on other blocks as well. Through their collective efforts, more than 3,200 Queen Village Quarterly Criers are hand delivered throughout our neighborhood.* Even more neighbors volunteered to count and bundle the magazine and deliver those bundles to our 91 home distributors. So what happens to the additional 1,000 copies of the printed version of the Crier? Well, between now and February 2020, we’ll see “regular” and new volunteers stop by QVNA as their time permits, pick 10-30 copies of the magazine, and drop them off at their favorite coffee shops, eateries, businesses and stores in Queen Village. If our past three issues are a measure, that means we’ll have about 10 left in the office for the QVNA archives. And, as you can see from page six, volunteers contributed many of the articles and photos you see in this issue. QVNA is volunteer-driven. For fifty years, we’ve depended on the time, talents, and resources of neighbors who want to help improve Queen Village through community stewardship, advocacy and service. ■
Announcing Fall 2019 Community Grant Recipients
Cheers to QVNA Volunteers! Warm Clothing Donations for the Homeless
Eat, Drink & Mingle w/Neighbors & Friends QV Fashionistas encouraged to wear their favorite Ugly Holiday Sweater!
Wednesday, December 18 6-9 pm Felly Bistro, 769 E. Passyunk Ave. • Kids Welcome!
*If you do not receive the Crier at home, perhaps you’d like to volunteer to deliver it on your block? Feel free to call or text us at 215.339.0975.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 17
So u t h S t r e e t B e a t
Holiday Hints To Help You Be Really Cool Grandparents (A senior’s guide to shopping South Street like a sophomore) by Anika Koruba
D
ear Grandparents, The holidays can be a very tough and stressful time, especially if you can’t figure out what to get your grandchildren. Yeah, gift cards are an easy way to please any teenager, but what about getting them something that they’ll forever remember as a gift from you? Now comes the second question: Where to go to find something cool that they’ll love and use? Well, I have the best
suggestions for you! South Street has a great variety of stores where you can buy some of the trendiest and unique pieces. While I was out on South Street, I went into some of the coolest stores and found items I would love to own for myself… and remember, “teenager” really starts at 11-years-old these days. Happy South Street shopping, Anika
Metalworks Gallery 315 South Street
The owner was very nice and trying on jewelry was fun. These earrings are cool, especially for a really
Nocturnal
Raxx Vintage
533 South Street
534-6 South Street
special holiday gift. Priced at $59.
Ethik 441 South Street
Every skater kid’s dream: a wall of sick* decks (the board before you put wheels on it), to choose from.
Everything here is unique because it’s all vintage! Any
You can get one readymade, or they’ll customize it
of the T-shirts are dope*. You might even grab one for
Very styled and cool beanies (a.k.a. knit hats) that will
right there in the store while you wait. Very funny and
yourself! Prices start at (approx.) $30.
make any kid want to dress warmly. Many cool colors
helpful staff. Prices start at $99.
* Slang for cool. Mostly heard in big cities. (Source:
to choose from and an awesome manager to help
* Slang for fabulous. (Source: Urbandictionary.com)
Urbandictionary.com)
you out. Prices start at $20.
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Sharing Joy and Winter Warmth by Meredith Piotrowski
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Annual Phestivus Celebration at Moyamensing Point Crossroads of 2nd and Christian streets and Moyamensing Avenue Friends of Moyamensing Point is collecting new, unwrapped toys at its annual Phestivus celebration at Moyamensing Point on December 14th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be a fire truck with Santa, choir, and treats for attendees to enjoy.
Queen Village’s full-service coworking space. 417 South Street 215.279.9221 info@joynture.com
(GOOD FOR ONE USE PER PERSON.)
South Street Police Mini Station 901 South Street Our neighborhood officers are collecting new, unwrapped toys until December 14th. Toys are accepted 24/7 at the Mini Station.
417 South Street 215.279.9221 info@joynture.com
(“Toys for Tots” collections end on December 14th)
Joynture
Children’s Toys
FREE Day Pass
o add smiles and warmth to the lives of others during this season of giving, please consider gifting toys and clothes at these neighborhood locations:
Lucky’s Last Chance 848 S. 2nd Street Once again, Lucky’s has teamed up with Friends of Moyamensing Point to collect new, unwrapped toys. Toys are accepted daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Warm Winter Adult Clothing (Clothing collections through February)
Direct: 267-225-3678 Office: 215-627-3500 deidre@deidrequinn.com deidrequinn.com
continue
Old Pine Community Center 401 Lombard Street OPCC collects new and gently used winter clothes for the homeless. Clothes are accepted at the front desk Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Bagel Place 404 Queen Street The Bagel Place collects new and gently used winter clothing for The Sunday Love Project, benefiting homeless adults. Clothes are accepted daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Knowledge and Experience Combined with Your Best Interests in Mind
Deidre and her team are a delight to work with and the best at what they do. Deidre was exactly what we were looking for (and needed) in our house hunt: down to earth, incredibly knowledgable, responsive, and most importantly, listened to what we were looking for, understood what was important to us, and always kept us in mind as properties came to her attention. She is incredibly patient and never pushy. From the very beginning of the process through to the end - we always felt like we could ask any questions and that we could always get an honest response. She helped keep the stress level down when things felt overwhelming and we always felt like she and Devin had our best interests in mind. - Kate B.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 19
F e a t u r e : C e l e b r a t i n g A l l W i n t e r w i t h Lov e d O n e s
Savoring the Seasons A tour of holiday tastes, Queen Village-style by Cait and Michael Allen
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hether you’re planning a virtual escape during the winter’s cold months via a culinary trip to a sunnier locale or looking for a romantic way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you won’t have to leave the neighborhood. Newcomers and old favorites in Queen Village are always just a few blocks away amid our thriving food scene.
For the holidays, travel to the eternal spring of Guadalajara, Mexico at Las Bugambilias Inspired by the 1945 film starring Dolores Del Rio, Mexico’s first international movie star, Las Bugambilias evokes the rich culture and climate of Guadalajara.
Start your dining experience with the curiously complex Jamaica (“hy-macuh”) margarita with its tea, citrus, and tannins. For a sunnier day, choose the blood orange margarita to escape the winter chill. Next, whisk down to the seashore with the ceviche—it perfectly mixes fish, crab, mango, shrimp, and other delectables. For your entree, the pollo molcajete is bold, savory, and stunning, while the poblano enchiladas feature a creamy verde sauce topped with toasted cheese. Finally, the tres leches dessert tastes like something Mom would make for her secret favorite child. Visit co-owner and chef Carlos Molina before the new year, as this 12-year veteran of Queen Village will be moving to a new location at Lombard and 13th streets!
For the new year, celebrate superstar bartending with a twist of Southwark tradition
Photo by Ted Themistocles, Felly Bistro
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Southwark has long been an incubator of the craft cocktail movement, and now they add natural, sustainable wines to that history. The Red Tail Ridge Chardonnay, recommended by General Manager Jamie Rubin, finishes clean and flavorful, while the spirit-forward cocktail inspired by Interview with the Vampire falls and climbs with flavor like a drive through the hilly countryside. If you’ve been too afraid to try mussels, your bravery will be rewarded with the wonderfully marinated mussels escabeche served
with garlic butter toast. The beet salad has farm-to-table earthiness topped with light but flavorful dressing, and the chicken is always to die for—brined, tender, and pan-crisped. Finally, indulge in the velvety, not-too-sweet chocolate cake topped with salted caramel ice cream. All of the ingredients are fresh, local, and seasonal, and the vintage plates further keep you rooted in sustainable, farm-totable philosophy.
For Valentine’s Day, “Felly” in love at 5th and Passyunk Husband and wife Felipe and Kelly Marquez joined their names to create this homey space for Queen Village foodies. Everything about Felly Bistro on Pass is welcoming as it delivers a fusion cuisine with a Puerto Rican punch. The chorizo is made fresh onsite with aromatic clove and lemon, which pairs effortlessly with grilled shrimp for a delicious appetizer. The butternut squash soup blends fresh vegetable flavor with an ambrosial mix of spice that perked our posture. The lamb shank is the perennial star—tender and moist with a pan-dripped reduction. It is nestled on a bed of spaghetti squash anointed with truffle oil to give it a truly unique character. Desserts show the same attention to detail, such as a life-altering cheesecake, layering pumpkin with cream and candied pecans. Every recipe is a distinct Felipe creation made fully on-premises, including the paella that is prepared to individual order, not in batches. ■
F e a t u r e : C e l e b r a t i n g A l l W i n t e r w i t h Lov e d O n e s
Importing Flowers Fit for a Words of Queen (Village) Good Taste by Suzanne Dreitlein
Queen Village Personal Chef Landi Prendi pens odes to food, wine, family, and his Albanian homeland
P
oems that bring food and wine to life in fresh, succulent and often sensuous ways are bound within Dancing with Nature: Poems about Food and Wine by Landi Prendi. In 2016, this collection of poetry was published in Albania, in Prendi’s native language. With the assistance of two translators, “one for the words, one for the poems,” Prendi’s book was published in the U.S. earlier this year by The Bayberry Press.
Excerpted from “Calamari” a poem by Landi Prendi Raised in the sea The calamari shines on the plate Laid down on porcelain Like hope From masterly hands Cut like a necklace It beautifies the plate Like a bracelet With its flavor Whispering of holidays On the table Its flavor leaves us speechless
Photos courtesy of Walter Pine LLC
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hether it’s for a special occasion, or person, or just something to brighten up your home, there are several places to buy flowers and plants in Queen Village — but do you know where? Cohen & Co. Hardware (615 E. Passyunk Ave.) has been a neighborhood fixture since 1913. Mitchell Cohen, the fourth-generation owner, is happy to provide advice about home repair and special-order products. Cohen’s also offers an assortment of plants and flowers for when you’d like some mums to go with your mop. Philly Sweettooth (630 S 4th St.) offers a wide assortment of candies and chocolate, as well as fresh-scooped ice cream. However, for customers looking for something longer-lasting and caloriefree, Philly Sweettooth offers an assortment of terrariums, floral arrangements, and plants.
Walter Pine (729 S 4th St.) is a recent addition that offers a variety of carefully curated options including potted plants, succulents, and floral stems. They provide design services for weddings and large events and will deliver to most of the Philadelphia area. Have a black thumb? Stop in for advice on how to keep your plant healthy. ■
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 21
Feature: Unmasked In Real Life
A Virtual Love Letter to Queen Village Meet the neighbor behind the popular Instagram account @TheQueenVillager by Hilary Siegal Young
I
f you enjoy Instagram, you may already be following @TheQueenVillager, which quietly launched in 2016. Today, more than 1300 people follow this account, which documents people, places, and happenings of interest within our community. Since we’ve been friends for years, I sat down with the neighbor behind the account, Kristina Lohre, over a glass (or two) of wine at Cry Baby Pasta to find out what sparks her creativity most. What inspired you to create The Queen Villager Instagram account? KL: I have to give part of the credit to my husband, Bill Lohre, who runs a really interesting art ‘gram, @WinslowSeldom. I was a bit jealous of the interesting connections he was making in the art world and wondered what interests of mine might go beyond a handle and get me interacting with my community “in real life.” I decided to document my love affair with Queen Village because after two years of living here I was pretty much head over heels, so it just made sense for me to spread the love. I also need to credit amazing neighborhood business owners—such as Jeremy Olsen of RareCo. Vintage, Ginger of the sorely missed Soap Box, Mariel of Three Queens Yoga, Kelsey
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and Chloe of Red Hook Coffee, and pretty much every worker at Philly AIDS Thrift. All of these fine folks and many more have created unique and welcoming homes away from home for us all. How do you choose what you share on the account? KL: I share anything that I stumble upon as I’m walking our streets (posters, displays, people) or any odd thing that really lights me up (film, graffiti, moss). Our neighborhood has so much vibrant street art and seeking it out is a passion of mine, so that’s a recurring theme in my posts. I also like to keep things positive. The majority of my posts are about events or visuals that are close to home but I also like to help expose our neighbors to some of the exciting happenings across the city and beyond. What was your most popular post about? KL: My followers have been the most fanatic about street art, activism, and food. I just checked out my stats and it will come as no surprise that my most popular post included pictures from Cry Baby’s opening night! What did surprise me is that the most-watched video was
one of me and my bursting heart when I reached 1K followers last year. It was the first time I featured myself on a post and I hadn’t realized that a lot of my followers were wondering who the human was behind @TheQueenVillager. I’m a bit shy about posting pics of myself but it was fun to surprise some of my friends around the neighborhood, like the Cohens and the Fleishmans, who hadn’t known I had been the one posting about their stores.
What do you enjoy most about running this Instagram account? KL: I get a lot of joy in spreading the word about our local businesses and events. It’s been fun to join the ranks of local ‘grams like @FabricRow and @QueenVillagePhila in their quest for community and camaraderie. I also have met the most amazing people and those relationships have opened up my world in awesome ways. Just a few months ago, I went to an
!
opening at Paradigm Gallery, and got to meet a hero of mine, Darryl McCray, aka Cornbread, the godfather of graffiti. Now we are getting together every month to brainstorm on ways we can collaborate with storytelling and film. I am a psychotherapist by trade, but having creative outlets like @TheQueenVillager and working on my latest screenplay or film project really help me to create balance in my life. ■
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Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 23
s choo l b e l l
Leading the Charge for Healthier Schools Community Commentary by Cindy Farlino
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n the fall, reports surfaced that a faculty member at Meredith School was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer possibly caused by years of exposure in the schools where she worked. (Her three-decade tenure also included several years at Nebinger School.) Both schools had significant asbestos materials, at different times and to varying degrees, over the years–some of which became damaged and required abatement and remediation. The Meredith teacher is a caring, dedicated educator who, in the midst of her own health crisis, continues to raise the issue of safety for all staff and students in our Philadelphia schools. Her concern for our school community is awe-inspiring. In the spirit of her words, we need to make sure that all of our work for safer schools counts. The Philadelphia Healthy Schools Initiative (PHSI) was formed after the leadtainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan broke, and it expanded in 2017 when a 6-year-old Philadelphia student was diagnosed with lead poisoning attributed to exposure to lead paint at his school. As a result, PHSI joined forces with City Council to limit the amount of lead present in school drinking water and recently passed a lead paint standard. The mission of PHSI is to address the risks facing students, teachers, and
Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
staff in our schools. We believe that those who are most directly impacted by deteriorated school buildings must have a voice in how we fix environmental hazards. That means parents, teachers, school administrators, environmental experts, unions, and community groups need to participate in solutions. Members of PHSI also began meeting regularly with the Chief Operating Officer of School District of Philadelphia and district facilities managers. We established a model for lead paint councils (staff and parents), to ensure that each affected school held stakeholder meetings to understand environmental data and share work plans. There are currently more than 30 affected schools holding regular stakeholder meetings. We’re now working to establish the same approach for asbestos and mold. We are also working with the school district to establish a district-wide “Facility and Environmental Advisory Committee.” This task force will be made up of faculty, administration, union officials, parents, technical experts, and district environmental personnel and function as a multiissue working group. In addition, we have a powerful new mobile app created and managed by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT). Named the PFT Healthy Schools Tracker mobile app, users can report
Cindy Farlino, former Principal of Meredith Elementary, sits on Philadelphia Healthy Schools Initiative as a representative from the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators. damaged building conditions and suspected environmental hazards, upload pictures, and ask questions. And perhaps most importantly, you can track the district’s response status, with photos, in any school. This is invaluable in identifying problems and, in some cases, preventing catastrophe. PHSI believes in the relentless pursuit of safe environments in all of our schools. We hope you will be part of this journey for the sake of all kids and school staff in all of our schools. ■ For more information contact: PHSI@phillyhealthyschools.org http://www.phillyhealthyschools.org link for tracker app; https://apps.apple.com/app/ id1334648183
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T H e co m m o n s
Volunteers Shared the Love with 4 Parks
O
n November 9th, four Queen Village pocket parks were weeded and swept clean by more than 45 volunteers. LOVE YOUR PARK was celebrated at Beck Park, Front Street Rose Garden, Mario Lanza Park, and Moyamensing Point. QVNA appreciates the effort of each park’s “Friends Group” to
care for our common spaces -- and want to give a shout out to Philadelphia Java Company for providing volunteers with morning coffee and donuts, and New Wave Cafe for its afternoon hospitality. Interested in volunteering for future park events? Great! Sign up at www.QVNA.org/volunteer. ■
Friends of Moyamensing Point Co-Chair John Weir, State Rep. Mary Isaacson, and Friends volunteers Laura Burg, RC Collins and Crystal Irvin.
Admiring roses still in bloom were Friends of Front Street Rose Garden Chair Kathleen Marquez, State Rep. Mary Isaacson, and Friends volunteers Ronny Once again, Friends of Beck Park volunteers set a world land speed record for their cleanup! Below Beck’s
Bernstiel and Sarah Paterson. Below, Friends of
Chair Ed Snyder relaxes after the Group filled 11 bags with leaves and litter; and Craig Morton and son rake
Mario Lanza Chair Lisa Mell and Michael Booth
leaves at Mario Lanza.
planted a new pin oak tree and named it Penelope.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
t h e co m m o n s
Volunteers Grow Queen Village’s Canopy
O
n November 16th, community volunteers added 11 new curbside trees to the Queen Village canopy. A total of nineteen neighbors joined QV Tree Tenders Chair Dan Gibbon with work
gloves, donuts and good cheer to plant and mulch specially selected trees from the Philadelphia Horticultural Society. In the past five years, our Tree Tenders have planted over 400 curbside trees in Queen Village
and we sincerely appreciate everything they do to help improve the quality of life for residents. We also want to give a special shout out to Lucky’s Last Chance for its afternoon hospitality to our volunteers. ■
Queen Village Tree Tenders
848 s. 2nd st queen village luckyslastchance.com
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 27
It Takes A Village
Weccacoe Volunteers Team with USTA Playground’s tennis court to sport a winning design Embiid’s impromptu Weccacoe visit attracted dozens of autograph-seeking fans.
Photo by Libbi Skivo
By Eleanor Ingersoll
A
s the city begins it’s search for an artistic team that will ultimately create the Historic Bethel Burying Ground Memorial in the southwest corner of Weccacoe Playground, the neighborhood resolved a decision for an amenity left in the space outside of the memorial’s boundaries. At the October Community meeting, Friends of Weccacoe volunteer Donna Pancari presented an option for redesign of the tennis court. Currently, Weccacoe’s tennis court measures 78 feet and sits atop 20 feet of the burial ground. The proposed court redesign will measure sixty feet; the suggested size by the United States Tennis Association’s for nonranking and junior play, and no longer impede upon the sacred space. Other considerations for a park amenity included a stand-alone bathroom building. Neighbors learned that the standard bathroom was a non-negotiable 12x20-foot prefab building without windows. In addition, It would have to be maintained by the neighborhood for
Photo by Imali Sirisena Joel Embiid, Center for the Philadelphia 76ers, fondly known as "The Process," enjoyed some down time at Weccacoe’s tennis court in May 2018.
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cleanliness, access and safety, as Weccacoe is not a city-staffed recreation site. After further discussion with Councilman Squilla and Aparna Palantino (Parks & Recreation), as well as a rep from USTA, the room of more than 45 neighbors had no opposition to the amenity of a resized tennis court at Weccacoe playground. Work on the tennis court will begin in tandem with the work on the Memorial. The placement of the new court will be slightly north of its current location, but still in the northwest corner of the playground. The USTA will also help fund the lining of two children’s courts within the new design. Friend of Weccacoe volunteers Donna and her husband Kevin Parker volunteer each year to manage the court’s sign-up sheet for tennis game players and student classes. Located at 400 Catherine Street, Weccacoe is one of four parks in South Philly that offers free public tennis courts. No matter your skill level, if you’re interested in the game of tennis, you’re welcome to play at Weccacoe (even if you’re a pro like Joel Embiid). ■
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www.meerathomas.com
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215 560 8961
hello@meerathomas.com
This 60' design is the preferred standard size by the USTA. Image courtesy of USTA.
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 29
H ow I t W o r k s
Thinking of Offering Your Home to Travelers Through Airbnb? Here’s what you need to know before deciding to become a host Know Your Zoning! How you can use your home as an Airbnb is determined by how your property is zoned. In order to make sure you comply with city laws, keep the following in mind: 1. By city law, the owner of a single-family property may only rent a room(s) in the home they actually occupy. They may only do this for a total of 180 days per year. No single rental can last longer than 30 days. Single-family properties are zoned RSA-5 (Residential Single Family Attached). To find out the zoning of your property, look it up at www.atlas.phila.gov. 2. If the property is zoned RSA-5, the owner must live in it and meet the requirements listed above to be in compliance with the law. Property owners may not claim the Homeowners Tax Exemption if they do not live in the home. 3. Read and follow all city regulations before you decide to host. For more information, see http://bit.ly/PHL-Limited-Lodging-Regs/
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by Brian Kerrigan
T
here are plenty of reasons to become an Airbnb host. Maybe you’re an empty nester. Or you just want some extra cash. Whatever the motivation, your path will necessitate navigating two radically different systems: Philadelphia’s business registration and tax requirements, as well as Airbnb’s smartphone-optimized, online platform. However quaint your bed and breakfast concept may seem, to the city’s Department of Revenue, as soon as you offer that “room with a view” (or condo or rowhouse), you’re a business. And that means you have to register with the city as such. More specifically, you need a Commercial Activity License–formerly known as the “Business Privilege License.” Your journey begins with getting a City of Philadelphia Tax Account Number. Even if you operate as a sole proprietor-
ship, your social security number won’t suffice. On the flip side, you don’t need a FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) unless you hire employees. The first step is to obtain a Business Income and Tax Receipts ID number. Every individual, partnership, or corporation doing business in Philadelphia is required to file a Business Income and Receipts Tax Return. Whether or not you earn a profit, you must file–so you need an ID number. But there’s a prerequisite to that process. You also need to register with the state. This is best done through the Pennsylvania Online Business Entity Registration site, though certain firms will file on your behalf. If a prerequisite to the first step seems confusing, just keep in mind it is a byproduct of the disconnect between the state’s and the city’s requirements as articulated on their respective websites. If you prefer a more
how i t wo r k s linear approach, just do PA registrations first, then attend to the Philadelphia registrations. There are nominal fees incurred in the process and you should allow at least 6 to 8 weeks for processing. The result will be that you’ll have what you need—a City of Philadelphia Tax Account Number—to obtain the absolutely necessary Commercial Activity License. To do that, you must use the city’s eCLIPSE system (i.e., Electronic Commercial Licensing, Inspection, and Permit Services Enterprise.) You may find Airbnb’s interface to be much more user-friendly, and posting your rental offering can easily be completed in less than an hour. One consideration is the existing local competition. With a couple of queries (varying length of stay, time of year, etc.) you’ll see 15 to 20 lodging options right here in Queen Village already. Nightly rates range from $29 to $200+ with bed/ bathroom attributes usually acting as the primary pricepoint driver. Parking is a valued perk. Posting your offer on AirBnB involves answering a straightforward series of questions resulting in clearly delineated attributes. You determine how often and when your space is available (but make sure you check out the “Know Your Zoning” sidebar for more legal requirements). Lastly, you post a picture or two. With that, you are officially a Queen Villagebased small business owner and Airbnb host, all rolled into one. As a final cautionary note, our close quarters in the city mean that being a good neighbor includes communicating to guests that Queen Village is primarily a residential neighborhood that values safety, quiet, and clean streets. Make sure to check in with neighbors and take seriously any complaints. Happy hosting! ■
Keep it Fresh, Green and Safe How to live safely with a freshcut Christmas tree in your home
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e bring them home fresh to light up our holidays — and often they leave us dry in the new year. Inside your home, a Christmas tree needs daily attention to help keep your home and family safe. A tree with shedding needles is a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Prevention Agency, a dry tree can burn faster than newspaper. So always choose a tree with fresh, green needles. Here’s five more safety tips: • Place your tree away from heat sources, • Don’t use candles on or near it. • Decorate it with indoor lights, UL or ET/ITSNA tested. • WATER YOUR TREE DAILY. • Unplug tree lights at bedtime and when you’re not home. • If the tree starts to shed needles, remove it from your home.
When It’s Time to Say Goodbye Here are two ways to dispose of your Christmas tree: Recycle it. First, remove all decorations and then you can drop it off at a City Sanitation Center: http://bit.ly/ChristmasTreeRecylePHL Leave it with your trash for curbside pickup. (Trash pickup is on Saturday (not Friday) after Christmas and again after New Years.)
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 31
Q V LI F E
Community Calendar WED December 11 • 7:30pm QVNA Zoning Meeting 416 Gaskill Street THU December 12 • 6pm Central DE Advocacy Group Meeting Society Hill Towers Community Room 285 St. James Place
WED December 18 • 6pm QVNA Holiday Party & Grant Announcements Felly Bistro 769 East Passyunk Avenue WED December 25 Christmas Day
SAT January 25 Trash & recycling pickup Delayed for federal holiday WED February 5 • 6pm Police PSA 1 - Public Meeting Santore Library 932 S. 7th Street
SAT December 14 • 6 p.m. Phestivus/Santa/Choir/Toys for Tots Moyamensing Point 2nd & Christian streets
THU December 26 • 5pm Community Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Under the Shambles 2nd and Lombard streets
TUE December 17 • 6pm Police Captain’s Town Hall 3rd District Headquarters 11th & Wharton streets
SAT December 28 Trash & recycling pickup Delayed for federal holiday
THU February 13 • 6pm Central DE Advocacy Group Meeting Society Hill Towers Community Room 285 St. James Place
TUE December 31 • 6pm Fireworks over the Delaware River
FRI February 14 Valentine’s Day
WED January 1• 12am New Year’s Day Fireworks over the Delaware River
MON February 17 President’s Day
SAT January 4 Trash & recycling pickup Delayed for federal holiday WED January 8 • 7pm QVNA Zoning Meeting 416 Gaskill Street THU January 9 • 6pm Central DE Advocacy Group Meeting Society Hill Towers Community Room 285 St. James Place MON January 20 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
A reminder to wear a hat when you feel a chill.
Photo by Jake Peterson
Queen Village Quarterly Crier \\ winter 2020
TUE January 21 • 6pm Police Captain’s Town Hall 3rd District Headquarters 11th & Wharton streets
WED February 12 • 7:30pm QVNA Zoning Meeting 416 Gaskill Street
TUE February 18 • 6pm Police Captain’s Town Hall 3rd District Headquarters 11th & Wharton streets WED February 20 • 6:30pm QVNA Community Meeting St. Philip Neri Church 218 Queen Street SAT February 22 Trash & recycling pickup Delayed for federal holiday WED March 4 • 6pm Police PSA 1 - Public Meeting Santore Library 932 S. 7th Street See www.qvna.org/events for our complete calendar.
Kathy & Patrick Conway
65 Years Living in Queen Village
34
Years Experience in Real Estate
32
National Ranking out of 68,000 Agents
We know real estate. We know Queen Village.
224 Catharine St. $1,075,000
623-25 Orianna St. $1,100,000
200 Christian St. #20 $499,900
117 Lombard St. $1,095,000
128 Carpenter St. $649,900
D E D EN
P
112 Christian St. H $1,600,000 215.266.1537 215.850.3842 215.627.6005 conwayteam@gmail.com
