QV Quarterly Crier - Spring 2021

SPRING 2021

QUEEN VILLAGE

INTO LIFE!

Springs Tips for making every day Earth Day

How did the SWQV garden grow?

QV heroes in the business of helping others

Hitting the Delaware River Trail

Contents 3

President’s Letter

4

It Takes a Village

6

18

Photo by Erin Ditmar.

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

Queen Villagers take lessons from the pandemic: Be kind, help out, and don’t be a litterbug!

QVNA Spotlight Hail and farewell to three stellar Queen Village volunteers, and congratulations to this year's QVNA grant recipients.

SPRING 2021

10 12 13

Out and About The Queen Village culinary scene greets a newcomer and welcomes back an old friend.

Local Hero A namesake thoroughfare honors native son Mario Lanza.

How It Works Every day is Earth Day when neighbors make eco-friendly choices about the disposal of household trash and recycling.

Feature Back in the day, Queen Village set the standard for community gardens and their mission for food security and community building. Today, Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden looks to build on that legacy.

22

South Street Beat

24

The Commons

In Queen Village, communityminded business owners are helping their neighbors weather tumultuous times.

A new stretch of the Delaware River Trail opens up in time for the spring thaw!

26

Then & Now

28

Ask QVNA

With the pandemic, the South Street Renaissance had to skip its anniversary party, but that hasn’t stopped the celebration of its storied history.

Have questions about life in Queen Village? The Crier has compiled a handy guide to where to go to get answers.

VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 1 SPRING 2021 Online at QVNA.org/crier

PUBLISHER Queen Village Neighbors Association EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eleanor Ingersoll president@qvna.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lucy Erdelac wecare@qvna.org MANAGING EDITOR Nancy Brokaw editor@qvna.org PROOFREADER Jamie Bischoff DESIGNER Alec Meltzer meltzerdesign.net AD SALES advertising@qvna.org 215.339.0975 qvna.org/advertise

St. Philip Neri Parish Holy Week Schedule

QVNA provides community stewardship, advocacy and service to help improve quality of life for Queen Village residents.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS: Eleanor Ingersoll—PRESIDENT Justin Fishman—VICE PRESIDENT Meredith Piotrowski—SECRETARY Mike McPhilmy—TREASURER DIRECTORS: Cait Allen Caroline Allen Matt Atkins Joseph G. Brin

Mark Grabarits Michelle Grimley Rosamond Howard Noah Swistak

EMERITUS DIRECTORS: Kathy Conway Inez Green Michael Hauptman QVNA OFFICE 744 S 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 info@qvna.org 215.339.0975 © Copyright 2021. Queen Village Neighbors Association.

All rights reserved.

Palm Sunday Masses Sunday:

8:30 a.m. St. Stanislaus Church (SS) 11:00 a.m. St. Philip Neri Church (SPN)

Monday-Wednesday Masses 7:30 a.m. - SS

Holy Thursday

7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer SPN 7:00 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper SPN

Good Friday

9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer SPN 4.00 p.m. Veneration of the Cross SPN 7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross SPN

Holy Saturday

9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer SPN 11:30 a.m. Blessing of Food SS

Easter Masses

Saturday: 8:00 p.m. Vigil SPN Sunday: 8:30 a.m. SS 11:00 a.m. SPN WWW.QUEENVILLAGECATHOLIC.COM

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 1

Contributors

C

ait and Michael Allen joined the Queen Village community in March 2019. Cait is the director of engagement at the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, and Michael is chief operating officer of Wills Eye Hospital.

Jamie Bischoff is an editor and a recently retired copyright and trademark lawyer, who has lived in Queen Village for the past 37 years.

A freelance opera singer, Sage DiPalma has sung with Lincoln Center, Center Stage Opera, and New York Lyric Opera Theatre. She is founder and artistic director of the Philadelphia-based nonprofit PavarOpera Company.

Erin Ditmar has been working and living in Philadelphia for three years. In her free time and during her work-fromhome lunch breaks, she enjoys exploring and photographing different areas of the city, especially Queen Village.

A Row House blogger, Suzanne Dreitlein has been a Queen Village resident since 2007. She enjoys living in a 19th-century row cottage, wearing 18thcentury clothing, and writing about the great things going on in QV! Mona Liss, who retired as the PR director of IKEA US, has been a 40-year QV

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resident. While she continues to enjoy media project work, her passions are collecting art with her husband, Jonathan, flower arranging, volunteering for Mighty Writers, and taking the family dogs, Taj and Trevi, on nature walks.

Martha Morowitz is a writer who moved to Queen Village in 2016 with her husband, Cory, and their poodle, Gus. Her creative endeavors include cooking and baking, paper arts, and the occasional acting gig.

Bill Ronayne is the president of the Mario Lanza Institute and Museum, a 501c3 nonprofit that awards scholarships to young singers pursuing an operatic or concert career. It also promotes Mario Lanza through a variety of events and a small museum located at 1214 Reed Street. For more information, visit Mario Lanza Institute and Museum on Facebook or at mariolanzainstitute.org.

Joel Spivak has been a resident of Queen Village and Bella Vista since 1969.

His passion for neighborhood history has made him a partner in many supportive and revitalizing projects in the area. The architect, artist, and author is also the director of National Hot Dog Month in Philadelphia. ■

Queen Village

Volunteers Sign up @ QVNA.org/Volunteer

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Good Neighbors

By Eleanor Ingersoll, QVNA President

Hello Neighbors, ike you, I too long for a sense of normalcy. We can all reminisce about sitting in a sardine-packed row at the movies or at a local restaurant, laughing out loud next to perfect strangers. Also missed: QVNA community meetings, talking face to face with neighbors, and even meeting new acquaintances. But words like social distancing and staying apart together will be a part of our national conversation for the foreseeable future.

Yet I’m optimistic. Witnessing the mutual support that residents and business owners have been giving to one another during the challenges of a pandemicfilled year is testimony of the resilience of Queen Villagers and is a reminder of the meaning of community. My role as QVNA president allows for a neighborhood perspective that fuels optimism and appreciation for living alongside neighbors who are willing to step up and take responsibility for helping others, thus helping our community.

This issue of the Crier, like our three preceding issues, shares stories highlighting this optimism.

Still for all of its positive qualities Queen Village, like any neighborhood, isn’t perfect. It continues to be a work in progress, fueled by neighborly initiative.

Mona Liss’s article on page 4 reminds

L

us all that Queen Village is still plagued by the decades-old bad habit of short dumping: when neighbors leave household trash bags in and around public trash cans. Front Street Green and Bainbridge Green are just two examples of where this happens—with the repercussions of rat colonies. Also an age-old problem: when dog owners drop bags filled with poop on sidewalks, curbs, and neighbors’ recycling bins. These actions are more than irresponsible; they give rats easy access to food.

Currently, QVNA knows of three rat infestations in our neighborhood. We’re working with the city to reduce our rat population. But realistically, we can’t do this alone. Please stop feeding the rats.

Keep household trash at home. And after dog walks, please take the bag home or to a public receptacle. If your neighbors’ actions feed rats, please ask them to stop.

Another quality of life topic: the increase of noise and community nuisance during warm-weather months. Last year, this was the focus of our September community meeting (recording available at YouTube.com/queenvillage) and introduced QVNA’s Neighbor Complaint Form to Report Alcohol-Licensed Nuisance Businesses (on our homepage at QVNA. org). While not a substitute for calling 911, it’s another option to report community nuisance activity at alcohol-licensed businesses (such as loud music or noise

from boisterous crowds). Each submitted report notifies t he N ight L ife Task F orce immediately and simultaneously. These enforcement officials wo rk al ong wi th QVNA, our adjacent business district, and three adjacent civic associations to address these quality-of-life issues.

In early March, Night Life Task Force members met to review the best practices of 2020 and to discuss plans to help mitigate noise and nuisance in 2021. I’ll keep neighbors informed as the season unfolds.

Last but not least, it’s gratifying to see the opening of a COVID-19 vaccination center in Queen Village. Exclusively for patients of Penn Medicine, it is at Theatre of the Living Arts. (Appointment registration information is on page 5.)

Thank you in advance for continuing to wear masks and for doing your part to help improve our collective quality of life.

See you around the neighborhood,

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 3

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Lessons from the Pandemic Be kind, help out, clean up after yourself, don’t be a litterbug—support your community!

By Mona Liss

I

n our reflections on the pandemic’s lessons, exercising kindness and respect emerge as front-runners in our everyday lives. Kindly respecting the wellbeing of our family and friends can even extend into supporting our community.

Weccacoe Playground It’s a new reality these days. As more and more children and their parents are schooled and/or working from home, many of us seek the outdoors for socialization and exercise at safe distances.

It’s no surprise that a popular spot is Weccacoe Playground (400 Catharine Street), not only for its swings, slides, and water feature, but also for its tennis court.

The sign-up sheet for the court, which can be found in the announcement box on the gate, is managed by volunteers who donate personal time to keep the court clean, orderly, and respectful. Sadly, there have been reports that these volunteers have on occasion experienced impatient, frustrated, and even angry interchanges with individuals. Please be understanding. The pandemic has left us all a little inconsiderate, but aim for kindness and respect when dealing with stewards of our shared community resources.

If you would like to get involved with the quarterly clean-ups at Weccacoe Playground, please contact the Friends group at weccacoe@qvna.org.

And if you want to support the park but have limited time, just take out the trash you brought in. It’s a carry-in, carry-

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

out area, so carrying your trash out with you is greatly appreciated.

Ricky the Rat Rats can be funny and even charming when they are helping a chef master his craft in Ratatouille or having a Christmas duel in The Nutcracker. But not Ricky the Rat, whose story takes place right here in Queen Village. Ricky leads the rat community that has taken up residence in a maze of burrows in the gated center section of Bainbridge Street, from 3rd to 5th streets. Why here? One reason: the repeated dumping of breads inside the fence. Another reason: short dumping of household trash in public trash bins. Rats will jump at the chance to rip them open and rifle for any edibles.

Be part of the solution! Please don’t feed Ricky the Rat and his crew. We are asking neighbors to kindly keep household garbage until the weekly collection day. And, remember, if you are intending food dumps for pigeons anywhere in the neighborhood, Ricky and his rat friends will get there first. There have been rat sightings on the 300 block of Monroe, and I personally saw one on the 400 block of Fitzwater Street.

Why is this urgent? Rats multiply quickly. A female rat typically births six litters a year at 10 pups per litter. And rats reach reproductive maturity in just nine weeks.

So let’s hang out the shingle, Rats not welcome here. Thank you for your cooperation. ■

Protect those you love by protecting yourself.

Please get vaccinated. Register with the City Department of Health at covid-vaccine-interest.phila.gov.

You can register at covid@phila.gov or by calling (215) 685-5488.

Queen Village vaccination site: nly Penn Medicine patients may be O vaccinated at: Theatre of the Living Arts 334 South Street pennmedicine.org/coronavirus/ vaccine

Protect

From COVID-19.

I GOT MY COVID-19 VACCINE!

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine adds one more layer of protection.

Find out what Queen Villagers asked about COVID-19 mutating strains, the different vaccines, and herd immunity. Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, Ph.D., whose medical research focuses on new and rare immunodeficiencies, answered questions during QVNA’s February Community Meeting. YouTube.com/queenvillage

cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccines

QVNA SPOTLIGHT

Volunteer Announcements Congratulations, Inez. Thank you, Jonathan and Tom.

By Lucy Erdelac

Q

VNA’s Board of Directors proudly announces the naming of Inez Green as emeritus director. In 2015, Inez joined the board as a director and was re-elected in 2017. In 2019, the board approved her appointment to the position of vice president. Read more about Inez’s volunteer accomplishments at http://bit.ly/InezGreen.

An emeritus director is an ex officio, non-voting director of the board who holds this title in acknowledgment of long-term dedication to the association. Emeritus directors are former members of the board who completed their full terms. Appointed

by QVNA’s president, he or she must be approved by the board of directors.

In 2003, QVNA instituted the emeritus director role. In addition to Inez, emeritus directors include: Kathy Conway (Since 2003) Michael Hauptman (Since 2017).

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

Bainbridge Green’s Truest Friend

A Volunteer of Many Hats

Thank you, Friends of Bainbridge Green Chair Jonathan Rubin for your dedicated service to our community. In 2013, Jonathan co-founded and was named chair of the Friends group, which envisioned a revitalized midway between 3rd and 5th on Bainbridge Street. In 2014, he was elected to a two-year term on QVNA’s Board of Directors. A tireless advocate for transforming Bainbridge Green into a landscaped destination park, Jonathan volunteered countless hours, raised thousands of dollars, and led dozens of improvement projects to make Bainbridge Green a better place for everyone to enjoy.

Since 2019, when he joined QVNA’s board as treasurer, Tom Bonney has epitomized the spirit of community service, volunteering his time and making a positive impact in Queen Village. Tom led planning for the budget that will fund QVNA’s 2021 strategic plan and vision, which will result in new technologies for association management.

A Queen Village resident for 18 years, Jonathan recently stepped away from his volunteer role as he and his wife, Asya, plan their family’s next life chapter outside of the city.

While volunteering his CPA talent on the financials and his elbow grease for community cleanups, Tom also took the reins as QVNA’s representative to the Friends of the South Street Police Mini Station.

Recently Tom stepped away from his role on the board but will continue to represent QVNA with the mini station’s Friends Group and support other QVNA initiatives. Thanks, Tom, for everything you do to support our community. ■

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QVNA SPOTLIGHT

Living Our Mission QVNA announces recipients of this year’s community grants.

By Lucy Erdelac

Escape from the Poppy Field (1991), by Charles Santore Jr.

T

he QVNA Board of Directors has awarded grants totaling $10,000 for five worthy projects. The QVNA Community Grants Program provides funding for projects and programs that help improve neighborhood quality of life. Congratulations to our five recipients: Friends of the Charles Santore Library was awarded $2,000 to improve the library’s patio area for residents seeking a welcoming, open-air space. The project recognizes that all neighbors should have the opportunity to enjoy socially distanced companionship in a relaxed patio atmosphere.

QVNA grant funds will be used to replace the picnic table’s platform boards

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and to purchase and install a new bench and trash can. In addition, the patio’s stucco wall will be repaired, cleaned, and painted. Repairs and refurbishment, however, are merely prologue to the heart of this project: the installation of a freshly reprinted fabric mural entitled Escape from the Poppy Field, by world-class illustrator Charles Santore Jr., son of the library’s namesake.

Featured in the 1991 edition of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, Tin Man and Scarecrow carry Dorothy Gale through the poppy field. A wall-size fabric mural of this illustration is the patio centerpiece at the Charles Santore Library at 932 S. 7th Street.

Nebinger Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was awarded $1,200 to help fund the purchase of 17 subscriptions for Virtual Reading Instruction to help support teachers with instruction in reading comprehension—a core curriculum element. Used in combination with the school’s pre-existing Virtual Writing Instruction, these subscriptions will enable teachers to mirror for students the instructional program that they would receive in person.

Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden was awarded $1,200 to fund a new orchard. During the past few years, SQVCG gardeners have had to remove aging trees from its orchard. In the meantime, they began researching the best path forward to replace and replant the orchard’s trees and berries.

The garden will be adding Asian persimmon and Japanese plum trees, along with a second variety of figs, to the existing stand of paw paw and fig trees.

About Community Grants

T St. Mary’s will be introducing a yoga and meditation program to promote physical and emotional awareness.

SQVCG partnered with the Philadelphia Orchard Project and is now in the process of selecting suitable, productive plant stock that is proven to thrive in an urban environment. No labor costs are required for this project because garden volunteers will manage the process and planting of the new orchard.

St. Mary’s Interparochial School was awarded $1,850 to fund a yoga and meditation program to introduce the

wellness concepts of movement and mindful breathing to students. More than one-third of the school’s students are residents of Queen Village.

This program is designed to help students develop self-awareness and learn effective intra- and interpersonal communication skills. The program’s goals are to help students, faculty, and staff develop the tools for increasing physical and emotional awareness in order to help alleviate stress.

Donning holiday hats, Santa’s helpers brightened the lives of more than 100 children at Wanda Johnson’s Christmas Event. In 2020, the event was held outside to maintain social distancing.

he QVNA Community Grants Program is one of the many ways that the association lives our mission of providing community services, advocacy, and service to help improve quality of life in Queen Village.

Applications for grants can be submitted for a wide range of projects and programs, such as enhancing parks, clean-and-green projects, and historic preservation. QVNA also accepts applications for academic and/or learning enrichment programs during the school year and the summer. Read more at QVNA. org/about-community-grants.

Wanda Johnson’s Christmas Event was awarded $500 to help purchase Christmas gifts for the children of less fortunate Queen Village families who reside at The Courtyard Apartments at Riverview. 2020 was the second year that this volunteer-driven event was planned and carried out by more than a dozen volunteers under the leadership of Wanda Johnson. Over a series of weeks, Wanda and her team worked to collect the names and ages of children within the Courtyard complex who otherwise might have gone without a holiday gift.

On Christmas Eve more than 100 children received gifts chosen especially for them. Fox 29 TV featured the fun. See it at http://bit.ly/grant4event.

Before making funding recommendations to the Board of Directors, the QVNA Community Grants Program Committee reviewed all applications using the program’s published criteria. Thank you, Grants Committee Chair Kathy Dilonardo and committee members Matthew Atkins, Sarah Davis, and Mike McPhilmy for your volunteer service. ■

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 9

OUT & ABOUT

Sanctuaries on 2nd The Queen Village culinary scene greets a newcomer and welcomes back an old friend.

By Michael and Cait Allen

Crème Br lée Bistro and Café

W

istful about that who-knowswhen flight to Paris that certainly had no chance in 2020?

Find solace at Crème Brulée Bistro and Café, 618 S. 2nd Street, led by brothers Dareo and Armando Tapio. Armando started bistro life as a dishwasher, but soon his talent for baking French delicacies propelled him to sous-chef and then to confidante of noted New York chocolate and pastry chefs. Dareo adds heartier fare to Armando’s baking prowess to establish a true French bistro in the family neighborhood that is Queen Village.

“We don’t use machines,” Dareo explains, “because we wanted to show that we can make everything by hand. And we use a lot of special techniques with the bread.” The artisan baguettes have acolytes in us. (They attract “oh-my” stares on the street and even compliments in their chic paper bags.)

“We put too much love in the bread,” Dareo says. No! Wrong! Don’t do a single thing to disturb the enchanting array of pastries, croissants, and sandwiches. Let us just enjoy our coffee and take in all the happiness.

Almond brioche, anyone? Photo credit: Michael Allen

Take your pick—Opera cake, cheesecake, or chocolate mousse?

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

Photo credit: Michael Allen

OUT & ABOUT

East Philly Cafe Pop-Up at Bridget Foy’s COVID-19 is and was the last of many challenges facing the re-emergence of Bridget Foy’s at 200 South Street. The planned spring 2020 opening careened to stay-at-home halt. And yet the pandemic inspired deluxe, permanent outdoor heaters and a take-home friendly menu for pop-up East Philly Cafe. (Once pandemic restrictions are lifted later this year, the restaurant is planning a grand re-opening.)

“Right now, we are small, but mighty,” says Bridget Foy. And yet, this brand-new space captures something that transcends mightiness. It has a comfortable, welcoming vibe that creates exactly the kind of place we need as the pressures of the pandemic churn onward.

We sat down to what may be the king of comfort food—their dry-aged burger, which is ground in house. One bite in, and we realized that this burger is a reminder of the best Fourth of July picnic from childhood minus the family drama. (The adults are eating right off the grill while the kids run through the sprinkler.) We especially loved the stand-up-and-take-notice dose of horseradish in the sauce. Their beautifully quirky and retro tomato soup comes with a skewer of cubed grilled cheese. Finally, try the grape pie as you sip on the signature Milk Punch, which is infused with a Pirates of the Caribbean flair.

Thanks, Bridget Foy’s, for letting us forget for a while and enjoy the return of life’s simple pleasures! ■

(Top) The East Philly Burger will remind you of your favorite Fourth of July barbecue. (Bottom) Try the tomato soup and grilled cheese dipper—a sophisticated twist on a childhood favorite.

Photo credit: Marenco Photo

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 11

LOCAL HERO

The Toast of Philadelphia City Council names a neighborhood thoroughfare in honor of native son Mario Lanza.

By Bill Ronayne

O

n December 10, 2020, Philadelphia’s City Council passed a resolution naming the 1200 block of Reed Street, on which the Mario Lanza Museum is located, “Mario Lanza Way.” This was done in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the celebrated tenor from South Philly, who also has a pocket park on the 300 block of Catharine Street named after him.

The Mario Lanza Institute entered into this project with the assistance of Councilman Mark Squilla and the Passyunk Square Civic Association and with the cooperation of the residents of Reed Street to pay tribute to Mario Lanza, who was born Alfredo Cocozza on Christian Street. Lanza was a gifted Italian American who rose from humble means to great heights in an all-too-brief life and career. He was also a proud son of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love and the birthplace of the United States.

The signs were installed on Friday, January 29, 2021, a few days before the

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

actual 100th anniversary of Lanza’s birth on January 31. COVID-19 restrictions and the weather made it difficult to do an in-person unveiling ceremony, but highlights can be found on the Mario Lanza

Institute’s Facebook page.

A copy of the City Council resolution was given to the Mario Lanza Institute and will be put on display in the Mario Lanza Museum for all to see. ■

HOW IT WORKS

As a public service, QVNA wants to help neighbors make better informed, eco-friendly choices about the disposal of household trash and recycling. Please pull out this four-page center section to keep as a handy reference guide.

How to Help Curb Climate Change This Week

I

f each of us takes even one small step to help the environment, we can make a difference. Every day that choice is (literally) in our hands—and in what we set curbside each week.

We’re surrounded and it’s overwhelming: the top tips, tricks, and hacks to “act green,” “live sustainably,” or “create zero waste.” They tell us how to “recycle, regrow, or reuse what we have,” “refuse what we can,” and “reduce our carbon footprint.” It’s great information, seriously, but let’s be real—in this day and age, our brains are already on overload QVNA understands that frustration.

Yet each week Queen Village’s sidewalks reveal opportunities to help curb climate change. So in honor of Earth Month and as a service to neighbors, we’ve compiled several eco-friendly choices to consider about items we typically toss. We’ll: • Share a key fact or two about how each item can damage our environment.

• Suggest one small action step to help reduce that damage.

• Give you the information you need to make each step easy to take.

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 13

Electronic Waste Electronics, Small Appliances, and Phones Did you know that 70 percent of hazardous waste in our landfills comes from discarded electronics put out with household trash?1 This is a serious problem because e-waste toxins can leach into groundwater and enter our food supply through the produce we eat.

If it has a cord, please don’t abandon it on the sidewalk or leave with curbside trash.

Two Easy Ways to e-Cycle: 1. On April 17, conveniently recycle them for free! QVNA’s LOVE QUEEN VILLAGE DAY offers free e-cycling from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Weccacoe Playground, 400 Catharine Street. For details, see QVNA.org/LOVEQV. 2. Not around on the 17th? Then schedule an at-home pickup with Retrievr.

Whether it’s a microwave or a minifridge, an old-school cathode ray tube monitor or a TV, Retrievr will recycle it responsibly for a modest convenience fee. Visit retrievr.com or text PICKUP to (757) 703-3824.

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

Paperwork and Junk Mail

D

id you know that, annually, the average household trashes 13,000 pieces of paper from junk mail and packaging? To make matters worse, 50 percent of junk mail ends up in landfills,2 which means thousands of mature trees are cut down for no reason.

In one year, a mature tree replaces 48 pounds of air pollution with oxygen. It’s easy to see that by reducing trashed paper we help improve our environment.3 Even if you recycle newspapers, magazines, and packaging, there are other easy ways to save our trees—and help curb climate change. Here are just a few:

Leave Shredding to Experts Keeping personal information private is the primary reason we shred paper at home. If we use it for garden composting, that’s great. But most of us shred monthly statements, junk mail offers, and anything that carries account numbers, names, and addresses.

But paper shredded at home can’t be recycled—instead it fuels global warming. How? Household-shredded paper ends up in landfills, mixes with rotting food, and creates the greenhouse gas emissions that erode Earth’s ozone layer.

Professional shredding companies use a specialized process to securely shred, compress, bundle, pulp, and mill paper for recycling into everyday products, including toilet paper.4

Two Convenient Ways to Shred Paper Responsibly 1. On April 17, QVNA’s LOVE QUEEN VILLAGE DAY offers free, on-site document shredding between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Weccacoe Playground, 400 Catharine Street.

For details, see QVNA.org/LOVEQV. 2. Not around on the 17th? Then take them to The UPS Store for secure shredding by a certified expert. In partnership with Iron Mountain, they’ll shred your documents responsibly for a modest per-pound fee. See http:// bit.ly/614-S-4th or go to The UPS Store at 614 S. 4th Street.

Reduce Your Junk Mail Snail mail has its place, but the average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail per year, and almost half of that gets recycled. Here are some ways to save our trees: 1. Reduce your junk mail by registering online at dmachoice.org for a $2 fee.

2. Opt out of credit card and insurance offers at optoutprescreen.com.

3. Cancel unwanted catalogs at catalogchoice.org.

4. Consider paperless options.

Choose to Redact Instead of shredding paper and labels to keep your name and address private, choose a redacting pen, stamper, or ID protection roller to hide them. These specialized tools are inexpensive and easily found at Staples or online. They use black, permanent ink to cover information so you can opt to recycle more paper curbside.

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 15

Trash Talk

I

n Queen Village, Friday is our regular “trash day” for curbside pickup. Trash should be set curbside after 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. QVNA supports the following Philly rules: • Trash bags left curbside must be secured in substantial, leak-proof, sealed plastic bags to prevent refuse from being carried away by “critters” or the elements. Bags should be no smaller than 30 gallons and no larger than 32 gallons.

• Trash containers must be made of noncorrodible material, no larger than 32 gallons, and have tight-fitting lids.

Keep in mind that Queen Village is home to its fair share of squirrels, raccoons, opossums, foxes, and feral cats who think your trash is a smorgasbord of tasty treats. Nocturnal noshing aside, the elements often scatter leftovers from overfilled trash cans.

In Addition ...

• •

•

•

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

o container or bag should N weigh more than 40 pounds.

A maximum of two items larger than a 32-gallon can may be set out for collection per week.

Mattresses and box springs

must be placed in a sealed plastic mattress bag or they will not be picked up by the City.

Nails, glass, or other sharp

objects such as needles, syringes, etc., must be securely sealed in plastic or metal containers in such a way that the needles cannot perforate the container.

• Yard waste must be set out in large paper recyclable yard waste bags designed to resist the elements. Tree branches or large objects must be cut up or taken apart such that they fit within the can or bag.

What’s Trash?

Things that cannot be recycled: • Cassette tapes (VHS and audio) • Christmas trees • Disposable plates and cups • Garden hoses • Greasy pizza boxes • Light bulbs • Needles and syringes • Plastic bags • Pots and pans • Shredded paper • Styrofoam • Tissues, paper towels, and napkins

Easy-to-Compact Items • Furniture with no metal supports like sofas and small furniture • Mattresses and box springs (in sealed bags) • Yucky stuff (you know what we mean) In weeks that have a federal or city holiday, pick-up moves to Saturday.

If you’re unsure of “trash day,” check QVNA’s Events Calendar at QVNA.org/ events.

1 https://invrecovery.org/e-waste-state-of-theunion-recycling-facts-figures-and-the-future 2 blog.epa.gov/2009/02/26/put-an-end-to-junk-mail/ 3 arborday.org/trees/treefacts/ 4 earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycleshredded-paper/

QVNA Invites You to Think Globally and Act Locally On Saturday, April 17th from 10am-1pm join us for

Weccacoe Playground, 400 Catharine Street

FREE Electronics Recycling & Shredding Event Show your commitment to help curb climate change. Take action by responsibly recycling.

What Documents to Shred •

EXPIRED credit cards, ID badges, drivers licenses, etc.

•

EXPIRED insurance policies, medical records, passports, visas, etc.

•

OLD documents with your signature, name, social security# or birth date

•

OLD bank statements & cancelled or voided checks

•

OLD tax returns, see http://bit.ly/ IRSguidance

•

OTHER info, see http://bit.ly/ GovtGuide2Shredding

This event is sponsored by

What Can be Recycled Desktop Computing* Computers & mini-towers Hard drives Laptops & handhelds Notebooks & tablets Monitors

Office Equipment Calculators Copiers (desktop) Fax Machines Scanners Typewriters

Digital Storage* CDs & DVDs Video & audio tapes External drives Zip drives

Telecommunications Cell Phones Telephones

Computer Peripherals Cables Digital cameras Keyboards & Mice Mp3 players & iPods Printers Speakers

Small Appliances Air Conditioners Dehumidifiers Microwaves Televisions VCR/DVD Players

*All data media will be destroyed or wiped

FEATURE

How Did Our Garden

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

Grow?

As the pandemic continues to dictate restrictions on our activities and interactions, many have begun and continue to, literally, dig deep. The Crier takes a look at how Queen Village set the standard in how community gardens can become a mission for food security, community building, and, now, staying safe and sane during a pandemic. The Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden has been all of these things to many and works to be enduring in the future.

By Suzanne Dreitlin

D

uring the first century of its existence, Philadelphia and its “suburbs” underwent a population and housing boom, as evidenced by the large number of row homes built between 1790 and 1840 that are still lived in and loved today. During that time, Queen Village was known as Southwark and was one of the first suburbs of Philadelphia. Eventually, Southwark would be absorbed into the city and rebranded as Queen Village. Our community garden bears the name Southwark/Queen Village, a nod to its past and present.

In 1976, residents cleaned up a vacant lot at 311-333 Christian Street to prepare for the Bicentennial celebration.

The effort, initiated by Libby Goldstein and James “Shorty” Brightman, brought together a group of engaged neighbors representing both old and new residents from all backgrounds to transform that vacant lot into a community garden. By the end of the decade, the garden was a vibrant part of the neighborhood, producing food for the gardeners as well as seniors at what is now The Courtyard Apartments at Riverview. It was also one of Penn State Urban Gardening Program’s

demonstration sites and possibly the first community orchard in the U.S. Reverend William Green, of Phillips Temple Christian Methodist Church on S. 3rd Street, has lived in or near Queen Village since the 1970s, which gives him a unique perspective on the garden from its inception to the well-established entity that it is today. He recalls that in the early days of the garden, Queen Village was a highly diverse neighborhood with residents representing all walks of life and backgrounds living side by side.

Green says, “The neighborhood was so strongly ethnically mixed. Couldn’t tell

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 19

FEATURE

who was and who wasn’t.” The neighborhood churches, St. Stanislaus, Phillips Temple Christian Methodist, and Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’), supported a tightknit community. “People were used to coming together for community events, many mixed-race and mixed-ethnicity couples,” Green notes.

When Goldstein and Brightman started to recruit people for a community garden, the idea was well received.

The garden was one of the first places where older African-American and ethnic residents worked side by side with the younger and newer residents for the benefit of the entire neighborhood.

Carla Puppin was involved with the garden between 1985 and 2000, during which time she served as its secretary. She and her husband would spend evenings and weekends in the garden, which would foster relationships with the other gardeners and make gardening an especially rewarding experience for all. Puppin said the garden provides a

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ WINTER 2021

place for people to connect with nature, something that is essential in a dense urban neighborhood where outdoor space is limited.

During the mid-1980s, Puppin recounts, half the gardeners were AfricanAmerican, many relocated from Southern states, bringing with them a well-honed tradition and love of gardening. Many of the gardeners were in their 50s and 60s and were either fully or semi-retired and able to spend long days tending to the vegetables and flowers. Puppin notes that the time she spent in the garden allowed her to meet people she might not have normally gotten to know so well because the gardeners were from all over the neighborhood. “All of a sudden, you knew people from all over!”

During the early 1990s, Goldstein and fellow gardener Cynthia Lafferty joined forces to advocate having the garden acquired by the city as a permanent gardening park under Public Law 450, pro-

tected by the Neighborhood Gardens Association/A Philadelphia Land Trust.

Puppin says a “community garden has a sense of community within the community: communal areas that need to be maintained, a sense of shared tasks and shared responsibility, and a shared sense of belonging.” In addition to 67 garden plots worked by 74 gardeners, the garden has flower beds, a wide variety of irises, an herb garden, a grape arbor, an orchard, beehives, and berry patches. During the 2000s, the garden produced an annual harvest that was shared by more than 250 families.

When Irene Scarborough (at left) joined the garden in 2003, there was already an active practice of donating food to Queen Village neighbors. “We have a few of us that get together every Monday, and we have grown produce to donate to the people over at Riverview,” she explains. Without fail and regardless of the general state of things, Scarborough and

other gardeners harvest and donate fresh produce to the residents, just as they’ve been doing for years. During the height of the season, they donate up to two full barrels of produce. “It’s a good feeling to be able to help others,” she says.

Scarborough says that during the past year, it’s been wonderful to get out of the house and go to the garden. “I felt so fortunate that I was able to walk to the garden for open air and to go on planting my vegetables. I felt so privileged,” she says.

“What would I do if I didn’t have this place to go to?”

During the past 40 years, Queen Village has seen revitalization but also increased homogenization of its residents. A smaller range of economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds are represented, as less af-

fluent and older longtime residents move away or move on. Unfortunately, “Queen Village’s African-Americans were the most dramatically affected by gentrification.

In 1970, the neighborhood was nearly 50 percent black. By 1990, that figure had fallen to 20 percent. By 2010, only about five percent of Queen Village residents were African-American,” as noted by the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

“In the beginning, the neighborhood was very ethnically and socially diverse,” says Reverend Green. “It was artistic. Very welcoming. The first people to come to the neighborhood were young people.”

However, over the years, the focus shifted from revitalization to speculative development, fueled by the ever-increasingly unpopular tax abatement. Despite this,

Green says, the garden has remained true to its original vision and presents a “culturally, socially, and economically diverse entity in the heart of Queen Village. And thank God for it!”

For the past 45 years, throughout the many phases of Queen Village, the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden has borne steady witness while giving us a bounty of food, beauty, and friendship.

With all the pandemic sacrifices residents have been asked to make, the garden is one thing that has remained constant.

This year, the list to get a space is longer than ever, so the garden committee decided to split the available plots in order to welcome new neighbors. “It’s a really nice group of people in the garden,” Scarborough says. ■

Philadelphia Gardens, Inc. URBAN GARDEN DESIGN + INSTALLATION CONTAINER GARDENS TONI ANN FLANIGAN 215.951.9193 WWW.PHILADELPHIAGARDENS.COM QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 21

SOUTH STREET BEAT

The Unsung Heroes of Queen Village When it comes to supporting the community, Queen Village business owners mean business.

By Martha Morowitz

V

(Top) South Street Art Mart proprietors, left to right, Nicole Wiegand and Nicole Krecicki. (Bottom) Greg “Spoonie” Rand at O’Neals Pub.

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

ibrant neighborhoods like Queen Village don’t materialize and thrive all on their own. They are sustained because of thousands of affirming decisions, made over the years by community members who live and work there. In the year since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Queen Village has been the beneficiary of such affirmations, made by some of our local business owners to help neighbors weather this tumultuous time. We want to give a shout-out to some of them and honor their efforts!

Greg “Spoonie” Rand has operated O’Neals Pub on 3rd Street for 41 years.

His credo has always been about community engagement, running weekday lunch specials, a Thanksgiving dinner program for low-income neighbors, and his 2-for-$25 meal to “help ease the pain” during hard times. Recently he collaborated with Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Samuel Adams to assist front-line workers—hospital workers, grocery store employees, firefighters, police, and food and beverage workers—as well as struggling families. Despite the economic downturn, Spoonie continued his annual toy drive for St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and raised funds as chairperson

for Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Philly Kicking Cancer program. Asked what he was doing differently during the pandemic, Spoonie replies, “We really aren’t doing anything differently—we will continue to be a platform to help out where we can in the community and beyond.”

Rick Millan started on South Street in the 1970s as a street vendor before opening several alternative clothing stores, including the iconic Zipperhead. Now he owns several properties and rents to many South Street retail businesses.

“We’re all in this together, and everyone has to sacrifice right now,” he says. Rick’s experience as a shop owner has given him firsthand knowledge about the struggle retail can be in normal times, and that knowledge informed his decision to work with his tenants, helping ensure that they make it to the other side of the pandemic. Always a vested stakeholder on South Street, he wants what is best for his tenants, knowing it adds to the vitality of street and to the community at large.

Relative newcomers to the South Street business district are Nicole Krecicki and Nicole Wiegand, owners of South Street Art Mart on 4th Street.

Their business started as a holiday popup shop in the winter of 2018 and, with a location at 530 S. 4th Street, became permanent in May of 2019. With the pandemic shutdown, they immediately pivoted to an online shop. “During the social uprisings this past summer,” Krecicki explains, “many of our artists—we house work from more than 120 on a consignment basis—reached out to us and asked for their sales for the month of June to be donated to a Black Lives Matter-related organization.” Adding their own in-house crafted items as well, Krecicki and Wiegand continue to provide funds for several local and national social justice nonprofits, including Black Visions Collective, Philly Bail Out, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, among others.

Ken Silver is the second-generation owner of Jim’s South Street (400 South Street). His business model has always been to give back to the community, and he has participated in ongoing programs at the Pine Street Community Center as well as Broad Street Ministry, which benefit homeless veterans and the larger homeless community. Ken also supports local schools by holding fundraiser days and also committing a portion of sales to Nebinger Elementary.

But the pandemic brought a new opportunity to help, when Eagles Super Bowl Champion Defensive End Brandon Graham approached Ken about a plan to

iberty

ree

by Thomas Paine In a chariot of light, from the regions of the day, The Goddess of Liberty came, Ten thousand celestials directed her way, And hither conducted the dame.

A fair budding branch from the gardens above, Where millions with millions agree, She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, And the plant she named Liberty Tree.

Rick Millan in his 4th Street Office, where South Street memorabilia abounds.

Photo by Erin Ditmar.

feed University of Pennsylvania Hospital workers. “Brandon is a regular—he’s been coming here since he was a rookie—and he wanted to do something to help out,” says Ken. Together, in the first week of April 2020, they combined efforts to deliver 13 cases of bottled water, 300 bags of chips, and 300 cheesesteaks to the emergency room at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

This is just a snapshot of what some of our community business owners are doing.

No doubt there are many other selfless deeds that have been done in this past turbulent year. If you would like to share a heroic story, leave a comment at qvna.org/heroes. ■

The celestial exotic stuck deep in the ground, Like a native it flourished and bore; The fame of its fruit drew the nations around, To seek out this peaceable shore.

Unmindful of names or distinctions they came, For freemen like brothers agree; With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued, And their temple was Liberty Tree.

Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old, Their bread in contentment they ate, Unvexed with the troubles of silver or gold, The cares of the grand and the great.

With timber and tar they Old England supplied, And supported her power on the sea; Her battles they fought, without getting a groat, For the honor of Liberty Tree.

But hear, O ye swains (’tis a tale most profane), How all the tyrannical powers, Kings, Commons and Lords, are uniting amain To cut down this guardian of ours.

From the East to the West blow the trumpet to arms, Thro’ the land let the sound of it flee; Let the far and the near all unite with a cheer, In defense of our Liberty Tree.

215.886.6111 (Glenside, PA) 215.725.3637 (Philadelphia, PA) 215.572.6937 (Fax) www.libertytreecare.com Ken Silver behind the counter at the legendary Jim’s South Street.

MIKE DUFFY Certified Arborist PD-1766A

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 23

THE COMMONS

Happy Trails Dig the sneakers out of the closet and fix up the bicycle! It’s time to explore a new stretch of the Delaware River Trail.

By Sage DiPalma

T

he start of spring 2021 carries some extra weight, as it marks a year since the City of Philadelphia began taking measures to combat the COVID-19 virus. But now that the days are getting longer and the sun is getting closer, it’s time to shake off the pandemic-restricted winter, make way for the rejuvenating potential of spring, and, in particular, get out to enjoy all the improvements being made along the Delaware River.

You have probably noticed the construction along the east side of Columbus Boulevard: It’s all part of the Delaware River Trail. That trail is made up of parallel, curb-separated bicycle and pedestrian paths, which are both raised above street-level traffic.

This current construction, between Christian and Spring Garden streets, will ultimately join the existing parts of the trail for a three-plus-mile jaunt between Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown and Pier 68

Looking North on Columbus Boulevard at Christian Street.

An artist’s rendering of the pedestrian and bike path in front of Dockside.

Credit: Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and NV5 Urban Landscape Architecture & Engineering

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

in Pennsport (behind WalMart). The final phase of construction, between Christian Street and Washington Boulevard, will be finished in the fall of 2021.

Look forward to seeing newly planted trees, new benches, and bike racks so you can park in the morning, wander the trail by day, and take a stroll by night to catch the city lights beautifully reflected on the Delaware River. Additional path lighting has also been installed along the trail to accompany you safely back home.

When you’re there, be sure to visit the Washington Avenue Green Pier (Pier 53).

This gem doubles as an historical landmark (it was once the bustling site of the Washington Avenue Immigration Station for Philadelphia) and as an ecological park where you can enjoy walking, fishing, and climbing the Land Buoy, a spiral staircase designed by local artist Jody Pinto.

Spruce Street Harbor Park is also preparing to re-open.

So get out your sneakers, fix up your bicycle, and prepare for some much needed vitamin D! We can all enjoy the socially distanced fresh air by the Delaware River. ■

MAIN CAMPUS Germantown 31 W. Coulter St.

CENTER CITY

The Curtis Center 6th & Walnut Sts.

I NQ U I R E T OD AY !

215-951-2345 | admissions@germantownfriends.org W W W. G E R M A N T O W N F R I E N D S . O R G / E C

Direct: 267-225-3678 Office: 215-627-3500 deidre@deidrequinn.com deidrequinn.com 1619 Walnut St, 5th FL Philadelphia, PA 19103

At the Spruce Street Harbor Park entrance, preparing for a new retaining wall.

Knowledge and Experience Combined with Your Best Interests in Mind

Deidre knew the exact home that would be perfect for us, and we got our offer accepted because of her expertise. She also sold our old house 2 days after it listed. She knew what color to paint it and how to stage it to get an above ask offer. Deidre is extremely responsive to texts and emails.

We will always be grateful for her help!

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 25

THEN & NOW

Revisiting the Renaissance With the pandemic, the South Street Renaissance had to forgo its 50th anniversary party. But that hasn’t stopped one enterprising neighbor from celebrating its legacy.

By Joel Spivak

A

couple of years ago, I realized that soon it would be the 50th anniversary of the South Street Renaissance. That “renaissance” was made by a group of people who reclaimed the abandoned South and Bainbridge streets, made vacant for expressway construction, which was ultimately defeated.

In the wake of that defeat, a rundown and empty corridor was ripe for rebuilding; members of the Renaissance planted trees in front of their condemned houses, started hundreds of businesses, and created thousands of new jobs.

610 S. 4th Street back in the day, or “What the neighborhood looked like when I moved in.”

Trees in bloom on South Street, circa 1976.

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

I had hoped to build on the 40th anniversary with a parade down South Street, a FUN-raising banquet in the Magic Garden, reunion parties at the Copa, live performances at Dobbs and the TLA for Renaissance musicians—and also performances at the Painted Bride, which was originally founded in a bridal shop in the 600 block of South Street.

While planning was underway, the pandemic and its restrictions hit. Public events were off the table, including creating pop-up galleries of art and history on South Street. I still wanted to

use the 50th anniversary to collect and share nostalgia from all decades, so I put a call out for anyone with historical memorabilia to contribute. Thanks to a story run in the Jewish Exponent and in this magazine, I received written stories, memories, and photos from people whose forebears had businesses around South Street. The project was also a way to honor the customers who supported these businesses, because without them, nothing would have succeeded before or after the failed crosstown expressway project.

In the future, I would like to create a legacy piece about the resilience of this area from the 1900s to the crosstown expressway to the Renaissance, so the people of Philadelphia will know what happened in their neighborhood and will not forget. Whatever may be created, whether a sculpture, a monument, or an architectural element, we should create something amazing—just as we did 50 years ago.

On my website, joelspivak.com, I will soon be posting the history of South Street and Fabric Row. You can sign up to be invited to a virtual opening. I’m always looking for dreamers who can help me with my projects; you can email me at joelspivak@comcast.net. And next time you stroll by 703 S. 4th Street, check out the display window; it has examples of some of the memorabilia I’ve collected. ■

Abe Kravitz (inset, left) was the last curbside vendor on S. 4th Street. People came from all over the area for his famous horseradish, and they had to bring their own jars (inset right, Abe’s horseradish machine).

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 27

ASK QVNA

Who Should I Contact?

N

eighbors contact QVNA on a wide variety of topics. Our most frequently asked question is “Who should I contact?” Our second most-asked question is “Where do I find . . . ?” Over the past six months, neighbors have been interested in the following information, and we thought you’d be interested in having it, too.

COVID-19 Information

City of Philadelphia COVID-19 updates on your phone: Text COVIDPHL to 888-777 Testing sites: http://bit.ly/PhilaCOVIDtesting Vaccine eligibility: http://bit.ly/vax-distribution Vaccination Registration City Health Department: covid-vaccineinterest.phila.gov Vaccination center on South Street: http://bit.ly/Vax4PennPatients

QVNA Community Services Communication Subscribe to eNews: http://bit.ly/Subscribe2QVemail Like us on Facebook.com/queenvillage Read Queen Village Quarterly Crier: QVNA.org/crier

Public Meetings Community (upcoming): QVNA.org/events Community (recordings): YouTube.com/ queenvillage Zoning (monthly): QVNA.org/events QVNA Courtesies Graffiti removal from public spaces: Todd Kelley (610) 291-7436 Off-street monthly parking: QVNA.org/parking This week’s trash & recycling pickup: QVNA.org/events

Nuisance has no home here.

If an ALCOHOL-LICENSED business becomes a community NUISANCE, submit your complaint at QVNA.org/nuisance.

After calling 911, you can report nuisance behavior by an alcohol-licensed business on QVNA.org.

Reportable nuisance behavior includes: • Alcohol from the business being brought outside • Minors consuming alcohol

• Loud and boisterous crowds • Fights • Trash and debris

Your submitted report notifies law enforcement and government officials of our neighborhood’s NightLife Task Force. It is not a substitute for calling 911.

Find out more information at www.qvna.org/nuisance

Pandemic Related

Financial Hardship PGW payment assistance programs: http://bit.ly/PGWassistance PECO payment assistance programs: http://bit.ly/PECOassistance Water Bill Assistance Programs: http://bit.ly/H2Oassistance Food Scarcity Find free food or meals: Phila.gov/food Free breakfast-to-go: Old Pine Community Center, 4th and Lombard (Mon-Fri 7am-8am) Free food distribution at 4th and Washington: See QVNA.org/events

Human Services

Homeless Services Outreach Hotline 24/7: (215) 232-1984 Mental health resources: HealthyMindsPhilly.org

For Seniors

Programs to help seniors live independently at home: Pennsvillage.org Philadelphia Corporation for Aging Helpline: (215) 765-9040

For Property Owners

Apply for the Homestead Exemption: http://bit.ly/PhilaHomesteadExemption Senior Citizen Water Bill Discount: http://bit.ly/H2Oseniors Warranty insurance for water and sewer lines: (855) 800- 5195 or AWRusa.com

Another public service from Queen Village Neighbors Association • WeCare@QVNA.org

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER \\ SPRING 2021

• Drug use • Crowd control issues • Loud noise or music

Home Safety

Free, installed smoke alarms: Call 311 Register a burglar alarm: http://bit.ly/PhilaAlarmReg Register a security camera: https://safecam.phillypolice.com

Building and Repairs

Do I need a building permit? http://bit.ly/PhilaBuildingPermitInfo Is my contractor licensed? http://bit.ly/PhilaLicensedContractor Get approval for work on an historic property: http://bit.ly/PhilaHistoricalComm

Report Immediately

Health Hazards Rats, hornets, etc: (215) 685-9000 Removal of dead animal on street: http://bit.ly/PhilaStreetsRemoval Illegal Construction or Demolition If no permit is publicly posted: Call 311 Noise and Nuisance Boisterous crowds, dirtbikes, ATVs, motorcycles: Call 911 An ALCOHOL-LICENSED nuisance business: QVNA.org/nuisance

We r ou s Volunteer !!!

In service to the greater good of Queen Village, volunteers preserve, maintain, improve and advocate for what we hold dear.

With vision and compassion for future generations, volunteers care for our environment: our shared parks, playgrounds and tree canopy.

When powerful forces threatened to divide our neighborhood, volunteers unified, fought and, against all odds, won the battle for our one-of-a-kind lifestyle.

Whether cleaning and greening on LOVE QUEEN VILLAGE DAY, serving on a committee or the Board; contributing magazine ideas, photos or art; distributing the Crier; helping in the office or at a community meeting, whether regularly or for an hour here and there—QVNA appreciates your volunteer service.

Thank You Queen Village Volunteers

April is National Volunteer Month.

Since 1969, QVNA has depended on volunteers to lead and advance our mission of community stewardship, advocacy and service to help improve quality of life for Queen Village residents. To those who have helped bring positive change to our community, and to the volunteers who sustain it today,

thank you for your service.

Community Stewardship. Advocacy. Service.

Find opportunities @ QVNA.org/volunteer

QUEEN VILLAGE QUARTERLY CRIER // PAGE 29

Kathy & Patrick Conway and the Conway Team

Since January 1, 2021

40

Homes Listed

48 Homes Sold

We are grateful!

Our record speaks for itself

Despite the odds, Philadelphia’s housing market is booming.

Pat and Kathy are a great team—above and beyond my expectations! I contacted several brokers before selecting them. No one else agreed I could get $1 million for my townhouse. They did and sold my house the same day it was listed. They’re the best in Center City, probably all of Philly! And so nice!

-Carol Ann Kell

215.266.1537 215.850.3842 215.627.6005 conwayteam@gmail.com conwayteam.com