QVNA Magazine (September 2018)

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Here’s What’s Inside September / October 2018

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A Letter From The President: Eleanor Ingersoll discusses events that occurred over the summer and QVNA’s responses to these crises.

10

Jacob Jackson: A Navy Man In The War Of 1812: Michael Schreiber and Amy Grant delve into the life of Jacob Jackson, whose body rests in the Gloria Dei churchyard.

12

Garden Of Eatin’ (And More): Libby J. Goldstein and Edward Bell share the story behind the 1976 founding of Queen Village’s largest public gardening space.

15

Digging It: Jim Murphy takes readers behind the gates of a popular community garden … with a 5-year waiting list.

16

How Our Gardens Have Grown: This timeline explores the history behind our communal gardening spaces and highlights the organizations that help sustain their operations.

18

Plotting Your Next Dinner: Donna Pancari presents a selection of easy-to-grow fruit and vegetables that can used to cook delicious and healthy recipes.

19

Keen On Green: Amy Grant interviews Tracy Levesque, the “unofficial mayor” of the Bodine Street Community Garden, about this tremendous neighborhood asset.

20

Garden Locator: Amy Grant and Jim Murphy detail statistics on neighborhood community gardens located in and near Queen Village.

21 21

How To Go Green: Amy Grant offers resources for those seeking to turn vacant lots into communal gardening spaces.

22

Back To School: Hilary Young advises expecting and new parents about early educational opportunities in the public and private sectors.

23

Interested In Joining A NonProfit Board of Directors?: Elections for the QVNA board are coming up this fall ... find out how you can support your neighborhood civic.

24

The Safety Of Children’s Food: Katie Lockwood, MD summarizes the food safety tips offered in the recent American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement.

26

Skulls, Bones Found In Queen Village: Terry Buckalew shares stories about long-lost Philadelphia graveyards and online tools for locating these historic resting places.

27

The Best Films Of 2018 So Far: Piers Marchant selects his favorite theatrical releases from the year so far – which include a horror movie and several politically charged films.

28

2018: A Summer Of Firsts: Eleanor Ingersoll reports on the QVNA-sponsored Summer at Courtyard Enrichment Program, which just completed its fourth year.

29

The U.S. Custom House: Jim Murphy takes a look at the marvelous U.S. Custom House … and the eagles that protect it.

04 September / October 2018

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September / October 2018 05

Contributors All opinions are of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Queen Village Neighbors Association.

Edward Bell, the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden chair, is an architect and artist living in Queen Village. He formerly served on the QVNA Board and was chair of the sustainability committee.

Terry Buckalew is a local historian who has conducted extensive research on the Bethel Burying Ground. He can be reached for questions or comments at tebuckalew@gmail.com or bethelburyinggroundproject.com.

Libby J. Goldstein is a longtime resident of Queen Village. She is the founder of the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden.

Amy Grant is a web developer and graphic designer. She serves on the board of the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation. You can read her history stories at www.southwarkhistory.org.

Eleanor Ingersoll is QVNA’s president and the chair of the schools and youth activities committee. She is also a member of the QVNA Magazine editorial board.

QUEEN VILLAGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION

office // 417 South Street, Rm 23, Philadelphia, PA 19147 mail // P.O. Box 63763, Philadelphia, PA 19147 phone // 215.339.0975 email // info@qvna.org • web // www.qvna.org SERVING RESIDENTS, BUILDING COMMUNITY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eleanor Ingersoll – President Melissa Donnelly – Executive Vice President Justin Fishman – Treasurer Elizabeth Grimaldi – Recording Secretary Dahvia Dalton Mark Grabarits Inez "Kandi" Green Jeff Hornstein Latasha McKnight Emily Perschetz Maria Roberts Kathy Conway (Emeritus) Michael Hauptman (Emeritus)

QVNA STAFF Lucy Erdelac - Interim Executive Director Jake Peterson - Office Manager

QVNA SOCIAL MEDIA

Katie Lockwood, MD, is a pediatrician and blogger who resides in Queen Village with her husband and two children. All opinions are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Piers Marchant is a film critic and writer. Find more confounding amusements and diversions at his blog, sweetsmellosuccess.tumblr.com, or read his further 142-character rants and ravings at @kafkaesque83.

Jim Murphy is a freelance writer who focuses on Philly history. He also writes a consumer blog for Old Pine Community Center and is vice president of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides.

Donna Pancari is a ninth-grade English teacher. Along with her husband Kevin Parker, she edits the local food blog "Farm To Philly," and gardens at the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden.

Michael Schreiber is a writer living in Queen Village. Many of his articles on the history of Philadelphia and early America appear on his website philahistory.org.

Hilary Young is a Queen Village mom and owner of Hilary Young Creative, a content and marketing service for small businesses.

06 September / October 2018

QVNA MAGAZINE 2nd Place National Winner 2016 & 2017 NUSA Newsletter Competition Submission Deadlines November 2018 Issue Advertising: October 15, 2018 Editorial: October 10, 2018

EDITORIAL BOARD Amy Grant Eleanor Ingersoll Jim Murphy Peter Ross Amy Shelanski Duncan Spencer

DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS 215.339.0975 advertising@qvna.org www.qvna.org/advertising

DESIGN/PHOTOGRAPHY/PRINTING Amanda Hall Studios Lucid Digital Designs Fireball Printing

QVNA Magazine Volume 4, No. 5, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by Queen Village Neighbors Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal ID# 23-2025152). All contributions are tax-deductible.

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September / October 2018 07

A Letter From The President Hello Neighbors, A fast-approaching autumn will soon close the summer of 2018 with the nagging question: what happened to the lazy, hazy days of summer? While there were plenty of hazy days, there were few lazy days.

Through late spring and early summer, the neighborhood grappled with a proposed construction project slated to bring apartments, garage parking and a small-scale Target to the corner of Bainbridge and Passyunk. After multiple community meetings, both small and large, as well as city-mandated meetings for planning and zoning, members of QVNA’s zoning committee and board of directors deliberated at length before deciding to enter a decision of non-opposition to the proposal.

Because of the debate around this project, as well as the construction timetable, likely interruptions for neighbors and businesses, plus future density, I worked alongside Mike Harris, executive director of the South Street Headhouse District, to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreements for the neighborhood, details forthcoming.

Eleanor Ingersoll, QVNA president

It was also an emotional summer for the neighborhood, upon the discovery of a dark skin doll hanging from an electrical line in Weccacoe Playground. There were initial assumptions about intent, but Pastor Mark Tyler of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church reported updates from the site throughout the day, ultimately discovering that two kids, intending to spark a reaction, did not fully grasp the historical context or impact of their actions.

That same evening, neighbors gathered again at Weccacoe Playground for a "chalkin" organized by QV mother Jonie Maizelis, where both young and old were invited to express their feelings with chalk. These written words and simple drawings were a profound act of community healing — an impressive conclusion to a most poignant day. To see photos from this heartwarming event, go to page 30.

Another heartwarming example of community and sharing is Summer at Courtyard.

This free, six-week summer enrichment program, for kids in Queen Village, had its most successful summer yet in terms of interest, registration, programming, donations and volunteer support. Please be sure to read about this year’s program on page 28, and about the generosity of your neighbors who volunteered their time and donated money to make our fourth summer the best ever.

Volunteerism is alive, well, and thriving in Queen Village. Just one example is QVNA Magazine: 94 volunteers help plan, write, edit, design, bundle and distribute 3,200 copies door-to-door! It’s phenomenal what good can happen when our community comes together.

QVNA is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization. For 49 years, our volunteer board of directors has kept our organization focused on community stewardship, advocacy and service. This is why we recently reviewed QVNA's bylaws to ensure that it reflects the best way to govern the association and better engage with the community. This fall, you will see the board's proposed amendments to QVNA's bylaws and will be given the opportunity to vote for their acceptance at an upcoming general meeting.

On November 15th, QVNA’s annual board election will choose three directors to serve for the January 2019-December 2021 term. Will you be one of them? Please read the article on page 23 to learn about candidate eligibility and our upcoming election.

I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood.

08 September / October 2018

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September / October 2018 09

S

Jacob Jackson: A Navy Man In The War Of 1812

BY MICHAEL SCHREIBER AND AMY GRANT This is the first in a series of short biographical articles about people buried in the churchyard of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church in Philadelphia. The articles are part of a project to systematically catalogue and identify the gravesites. The first burials at Gloria Dei took place soon after 1677; today, due to time and air pollution, many of the tombstones are no longer readable. Accordingly, the project will erect a number of plaques containing biographical information near the graves of people whom they describe. The written biographies will include not only people who were famous in their time, but also those who represent the “ordinary” people of early Pennsylvania.

Jacob Jackson, whose body rests near those of his wife Catharine and several of their children, was a U.S. Navy veteran of the War of 1812. He was an active supporter of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church, elected as a member of the vestry in 1842.

Jackson was born in Sweden Oct. 14, 1779. He emigrated to this country, probably around the beginning of the 19th century — soon finding work as a seaman. On April 19, 1808, he married Catharine Denike at Gloria Dei. Jacob and Catharine’s first child, named Elizabeth after Catharine’s mother, was born Dec. 15, 1810, and baptized four months later at Gloria Dei. Unfortunately, Elizabeth appears to have died in early childhood. The Jackson’s first son, Jacob Jr., was born Oct. 2, 1812, and baptized six months later at this church.

By that time, the war with Britain was heating up. Jacob Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Nov. 8, 1813, and was away from his young family for over a year.

The application for a widow’s military pension Catharine Jackson submitted in 1871 indicates that Jacob served on the Scorpion — likely a reference to the sloop/gunboat that operated as Admiral Joshua Barney’s flagship for the Chesapeake Fleet. It probably had a single mast and, according to one witness, it carried five cannon.

The house at 17 Christian St., photographed in 1956.

Photo courtesy of PhillyHistory.org, a project of the Philadelphia Department of Records

on the Isle au Haut (now in Maine). The vessel limped into the Penobscot River and reached Hampden, Mass. (now Maine).

During the battle of Hampden, the crew abandoned the USS Adams and set her on fire to avoid capture by the enemy.

It appears that after about 60 days, Jackson transferred to the USS Adams, which was being fitted out in Washington, D.C., at the time. The Adams was first commissioned in New York City in 1799 and enlarged at the beginning of the War of 1812. The sloop of war was nicknamed the Little Adams to distinguish it from the larger vessel, the John Adams. Jackson served as boatswain.

After his discharge from the Navy (Dec. 13, 1814), Jacob Jackson remained home for about three months. On March 25, 1815, he shipped out once again, this time on the Scattergood, bound for Cork, Ireland. The master, Charles Dixey, described Jackson in his crew manifest as being 35 years old, 5 feet, 8 1/2 inches tall, with a fair complexion and sandy hair.

After being bottled up by the British in Chesapeake Bay, the USS Adams managed to slip past the blockade on Jan. 18, 1814, and went on to cruise the Atlantic. In April, the frigate made repairs in Savannah, Ga., and a month later sailed to waters off the British Isles. Returning to North America, she ran aground Aug. 17, 1814

Jackson was in Philadelphia for the birth of their daughter, Mary Ann, on Sept. 25, 1815. Three weeks later, he sailed again on the Scattergood, this time for Calcutta, and returned Dec. 13, 1814. It was the anniversary of his discharge from the Navy, and just in time for Christmas. Baby Mary Ann was baptized at Gloria

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Dei April 10 of the following year, four days before Easter. Later children included James (b. 1819), William (b. 1821), Washington (b. 1823), Catharine (b. 1825), Amanda (b. 1832), and Charles (b.

1836).

Ship manifests show that in 1817 and 1818, Jacob Jackson made at least four voyages on the Lancaster, which sailed between Philadelphia and Liverpool. His name appears near the top of the list on the manifest, indicating he had some responsibility on board the ship, possibly as a mate. Curiously, although many documents and his gravestone state that Jackson was born in Sweden, the ship’s manifest alleges he was born in Lancaster, Pa. It is very possible that Jackson was striving to appear to be a native-born American citizen – to escape being kidnapped while on the high seas to work on a British or French warship.

Accordingly, he might have chosen the name of his vessel, the Lancaster, as his fictional birthplace. The Lancaster’s crew list likewise states that one of Jackson’s shipmates, a man named Segerland, was born in Philadelphia, although Segerland said on later voyages that he was born in Sweden.

In 1821-22, Jackson sailed on another ship in the Liverpool trade, the Tuscarora. This the last mention of Jacob Jackson on a ship’s manifest. Soon afterward, he entered a new trade, that of a stevedore.

The Jackson family lived in the district of Southwark, just south of the Philadelphia city line. Until 1822, they resided at 41 Catharine Street. The following year, they moved around the corner to 230 Swanson Street, and in 1825 they moved to 53 Catharine Street, where they remained for around ten years.

All these houses were merely a block from the Delaware River waterfront in a neighborhood of people engaged in shipbuilding and the maritime trade — sailors, dockworkers, rope makers, sail makers, carpenters, and caulkers.

In 1830, the Jackson family bought a house at 23 Christian Street (later they lived at 17 Christian Street, quite likely the same building but re-numbered). The Jacksons did not move into the house until around five years later — perhaps renting it to tenants in the meantime. The house was between Swanson and Front, just a stone’s throw from Gloria Dei Church. It was fairly large, three stories plus a garret, and was not torn down until 1957 — one of the first casualties of the city’s misguided “redevelopment” schemes of the period, which resulted in the demolition of hundreds of historic buildings along the Delaware River.

Around 1825, Jacob Jackson began working as a stevedore on the Philadelphia docks — which enabled him to spend more

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time at home with his growing family. Work along the waterfront was heavy and dangerous, and pay was very low. According to historian Bruce Laurie, most dockworkers in Philadelphia at the beginning of the 19th century were African-Americans.

Beginning in the 1830s, waves of Irish immigrants poured into the area, and by the end of the next decade, they became the dominant ethnic group working on the docks. Riots and pitched battles took place in the neighborhood throughout the 1830s and ’40s, as nativist whites sought to dislodge Blacks and Irish from employment opportunities.

Labor struggles were also turbulent, with skirmishes between striking workers and scabs and police. In 1835, Irish workers on the Schuylkill River coal docks struck for the 10-hour day.

That action soon escalated into a general strike — the first in North America. The following year, Philadelphia stevedores participated in a strike for higher wages that closed ports throughout the East Coast. Local strikes also took place in 1850 and 1851.

Although Jacob Jackson was listed in directories as a stevedore, he probably worked in a more privileged capacity than most dockworkers — particularly as he grew older. Perhaps Jackson operated a crane, or ran his own steerage company. Evidence suggests that the Jacksons were able to accumulate a moderate amount of wealth. The 1850 census shows that they employed two servants who lived with them in the large Christian Street house. One was Harriet Nelson, 32, and the other was William H. Derrin, a 10-year-old African-American boy. Five of the Jacksons' adult children also lived in the house.

The fact that Jacob Jackson had achieved some standing in his community is seen in the fact that “Jacob Jackson, stevedore” appears as a reference in an ad for a portable steam hoisting and pumping engine in an 1854 issue of the Journal of the Franklin Institute. In 1849, Jacob Jackson's name came up in the receipt books of the Philadelphia City Commissioners’ office when he purchased 50 horse loads of paving stones to be used as ballast on the Monongahela. In later life, after having retired from his job, Jacob Jackson is listed in city directories as a “gentleman.”

Jacob Jackson lived through the Civil War. He died at age 86 on Nov. 14, 1865, after a short illness; the funeral was held at the house on Christian Street. Catharine lived for another eight years, but unfortunately, just eight months after her husband’s death, she had to bear the dreadful news that their first son, Jacob Jr., had drowned in the Potomac River. Jackson Jr. is buried across the brick pathway from his parents and siblings in the Gloria Dei churchyard.

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September / October 2018 11

Garden Of Eatin’ (And More)

BY LIBBY J. GOLDSTEIN AND EDWARD BELL Created in 1976, the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden is a space for public gardening that connects communities with bio-diversity. It is managed as a gardening park by the Neighborhood Gardens Association (A Philadelphia Land Trust) and by the gardeners.

Garden-lovers come in all ages, shapes and sizes, and from all backgrounds, too.

Photo by Amanda Hall Studios

A Little History In 1976, as part of the neighborhood's celebration of the Bicentennial, the community garden committee of Queen Village Neighbors Association began turning the vacant lot at 311-15 Christian Street into a garden. We’ve been cultivating our "interimuse" garden, celebrated by Isaiah Zagar's largest mural, now for over 40 years.

In 1977, the garden became one of the Penn State Urban Gardening Program's demonstration sites, a locale for recycling, food production, preservation and nutrition programs.

At the behest of the Hon. H.J. Cianfrani Jr., the Philadelphia Housing Authority removed yards of concrete from the back

12 September / October 2018

and sides of the garden, making room for 20 more families and for what we believe is the first community orchard in the United States. Some 74 Queen Villagers — kids, seniors and families from all walks of life — now garden on the site.

Around the same time, Conrad Weiler, then president of QVNA, suggested that we begin looking into permanent site acquisition.

We called in the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a contact that led to an ongoing relationship among TPL, the gardeners, the Urban Gardening Program and Philadelphia Green – which resulted in the formation of the Neighborhood Gardens Association / A Philadelphia Land Trust in 1986.

In 1983, ownership of the site reverted to the Federal Government,

and it became 'excess property.' The gardeners and QVNA met with various federal agencies in the Hon. Thomas Foglietta's Washington office to determine how best to preserve the garden.

As a result, the Urban Gardening Program, the gardeners and the City of Philadelphia began working with the National Park Service to have the site turned over to the city as a park and recreation area "in perpetuity."

In 1985, the city leased the garden from the National Park Service for ten years. It was a compromise between the Reagan Administration, which preferred to sell surplus sites, and intense interest in acquiring the site by Mayor Goode, the Hon. James J. Tayoun, the Hon. Arlen Specter, Mr. Foglietta and Governor Thornburgh, among others. Mayor Goode announced his acceptance and support of a Municipal Food and Agriculture Policy, developed by the Food & Agriculture Task Force at the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden, during the lease signing ceremony in 1985.

In 1991, Mayor Goode asked that the garden be given to the city for permanent use as a gardening park. His request was supported by Governor Casey, Senator Wofford, Senator Specter, Mr. Foglietta and Council members Cohen, Ortiz, and Specter among others.

The General Services Administration and National Park Service decided to deed the garden to the city in perpetuity under P.L. 450, in view of the "excellent stewardship" exhibited by the city and the gardeners. The park is managed as a gardening park by the Neighborhood Gardens Association / A Philadelphia Land Trust and the gardeners.

Mark Wolfson's cat, Maxine, joined the garden in 1989. She loved gardeners, beans and hanging out. She died in July 1997 and lies beneath the fig trees.

A Special Place Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden is special. Since the late 1960s, Queen Village has experienced substantial rehabilitation and gentrification. The garden is one of the first places older African American and ethnic residents worked side by side with the new 'young professionals' ‌ and remains a focus for the love and work of all the neighborhood. The garden provides not only food, but spiritual nourishment to all of us. It is one of the finest jewels in the Queen Village's green crown. It will remain as long as Queen Villagers want to garden.

Southwark/Queen Village gardeners produced nearly $29,000 worth of vegetables, herbs, and fruit in 2000, according to a formula provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average gardener produced $414 worth of food for family and neighbors. Some 91% of Philadelphia's gardeners, including those at Southwark/Queen Village, gave surplus food and flowers to friends, neighbors and groups that feed hungry people. At Southwark/Queen Village, we estimate that 255 families in the neighborhood share our harvest. We've also donated our surplus to Philabundance.

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, and berry patches.

The garden has 168 feet of frontage on Christian Street, one of Philadelphia's major east-west thoroughfares and a gateway to

The garden has something for everyone: plants, herbs, vegetables, fruits, even beehives.

Photo by Amanda Hall Studios

the Waterfront Development District. It is the last open space of its size (over 18,000 square feet) in Queen Village. Howard Silver Construction, Inc. built a wood lattice fence with both a truck gate and people gate along this frontage. Climbing roses and irises were planted inside the fence. The project was made possible by financial contributions from the gardeners, Mellon Bank, Core States Bank, the QVNA recycling fund, the Urban Gardening Program, and Philadelphia Green.

The gardeners, themselves, built (and rebuilt) the grape arbor.

In 1993, we installed a new storage shed with assistance from Mellon Bank, Queen Village Recycling fund, Philadelphia Green and the Hon. Babette Josephs, our state legislator.

Summerhouse construction began in 1991 and was topped off in July 1992. All of the lumber is recycled. Nails, etc. were provided

by Liberty Lumber. The remaining decorative work, designed by gardener and landscape architect Richard Newton, was completed in August 1994. In 2005, it was once again "under construction" with assistance from Home Depot.

Isaiah Zagar, renowned muralist and one of the originators of the South Street Renaissance, helped us celebrate our 20th anniversary with a commemorative wall on the west side of the garden. The first sections were finished in October of 1996. We raised over $2300 from friends like PNC Bank, Essene Natural Foods Store, David Haas, and Mellon Bank, so Isaiah could finish the wall (all 5 stories) before the first frost of 1997.

September / October 2018 13

The garden explodes in an array of colors.

Photo by Amanda Hall Studios

The Garden Today Since the above history was written, much has changed and much remains the same. Founded on the idea that the garden should exist to provide fresh produce for people in the neighborhood, the Southwark/Queen Village Garden continues to be a healthy and productive organic food source. It also provides a community for 82 individuals interested in working with our hands to grow fresh produce for ourselves and neighbors.

One way we share is by maintaining several plots dedicated to the City Harvest food program. Last year we contributed over 1,000 pounds of produce to that program. Areas designated for common use are the fruit orchard, fig bosc, and berry patches mentioned previously, and now the garden maintains beehives, and has built a Honey House to process our honey. The equipment is available to the bee-keeping community for a fee. We provide "a habitat" for birds and beneficial bugs, with gardens for pollinators and shade plants, as well as, shared herb and flower-cutting areas.

In 2018, we began providing flower stock to our neighborhood pocket parks, schools and public areas. We supplied iris bulbs and daisy root stock this spring that have been planted in the Weccacoe Playground beds. Going forward, we expect to grow this program and provide additional lines of flower stock and other plants.

In the last decade, we have built additional infrastructure which is in keeping with the standard of stewardship and sustainable practice recognized at the garden’s founding. A 10-panel photovoltaic array provides for electric energy needs in the garden. In practice, this

14 September / October 2018

means we harvest power and sell it to PECO for a credit that’s applied to our electric bills.

We limit water usage by hand-watering our plots from common barrels. This may sound difficult. But it’s actually a simple chore that brings gardeners together for brief periods. Watering also reminds us to routinely take a short walk to do a little weeding or pick tomatoes.

Water-billing has also been kept to a minimum by contesting the stormwater-runoff surcharge. That fee, imposed not long ago on most large sites, has been waived by PWD in recognition of our 97% permeable site.

Vegetables that can’t be used immediately are marked for picking by our volunteer gardeners each Monday and donated to the City Harvest program site – which is just across the street.

After much discussion, we installed a composting toilet for use by the gardeners. A simple solution, it was also a thorny issue. In retrospect, we wonder what all the fuss was about. It is used and, yes, it works remarkably well to solve an occasional need we all can appreciate. Maintenance is minimal and the resulting odorless compost is used on the flower beds after a three-year period of organic decomposition … and confirmation by lab tests as safe.

When I use the garden, I’m reminded how fortunate we gardeners are to have benefitted from the past work of others. It’s truly an amenity in our neighborhood, and I look forward to continue improving what we have been given and passing it along to new gardeners.

Digging It

BY JIM MURPHY Queen Village's Nina Hardenbergh likes putting her hands into real dirt. Lucky for her, she can do that often at her 20-by-20foot plot at the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden (SQVCG).

Lucky also was Nina's timing with her 1990 plot application.

Today, the 22,000-square-foot-garden is so popular the wait for open spots can be five years or more.

SQVCG, started in 1976, stretches some 168 feet along the 300 block of Christian Street on land that used to house the Henry Berk Elementary School and schoolyard.

Nina's plot, which she's had for 28 years now, features a 3-ft. strip of flowers on a shallow part of the old schoolyard.

She sows seed there. The rest of her garden is chock-full of vegetables and herbs. What I saw includes: Flowers: purple salvia, coreopsis, sweet peas, zinnia, sunflowers and more.

Vegetables: long beans (like spaghetti), lemon cucumbers, soybeans, six kinds of heirloom tomatoes, baby carrots and yellow cherry tomatoes that have planted themselves all over the garden (the first ones by wind or birds).

Herbs: Thai basil, lovage (with a celery-like flavor), lemon grass, lemon balm, sorrel and chives.

"I don't usually plant things that I can get in a supermarket easily," Nina says. "The things that work, I continue. Tomatoes are a given." She likes to try one or two different things in her garden each year.

Nina Hardenbergh heads over to her plot in the community garden.

a skill she learned in college. "I can still make a lot of pots in three hours. You don't forget it. Like riding a bike."

In her career, Nina has lived many different places, including Philly, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Florida for college, Pittsburgh, even Israel for a year.

The two times I met Nina at her garden plot, she brought along iced tea, fruit or low-sugar snacks from Trader Joe's. She's a sharer of food and ideas, and I went home with both.

She grew up in Northeast Philadelphia. When a winter storm disrupted her parents' settlement on a house in the suburbs, they stopped even thinking about moving further away from the city. The family ended up in Society Hill before its fabled redevelopment. Nina describes the area then as "pretty seedy." Later, she came back to Queen Village, and has been here ever since.

While we walked and talked, she'd snatch an herb or vegetable from her garden and hand it to me, so I could touch and taste it.

I felt like I was with a botanist, exploring and eating as I went.

"I hated living in the boonies," she says. "I've got to be in a big city. It's fabulous if you also have a garden. You get your hands in real dirt."

Nina's background is an interesting mix. She has a master's degree in marine biology, worked in the food business, did computer programming in telecommunications, banking and insurance, and also was in mainframe computing until being downsized in 2010. That's when she began tour-guiding. Nina is certified by the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT).

For Nina, who loves to cook and travel, "the garden is a real boon, really something special." She enjoys the collegial atmosphere, where people share ideas, recipes and foodstuffs.

"Everyone is very friendly. Very few sourpusses here."

Hers is an every-season garden. Some people plant all winter.

She doesn't, but works in her garden from March to December.

"It's really good to mulch for the winter," she says.

I first met her at a tour guide meeting and lecture, and she's shared some of her wisdom and guiding experiences with me along the way.

Nina also monitors a pottery class at Fleisher Art Memorial,

In the garden, she sees people from all walks of life and all ages. The youngest are in their 20s and 30s, "and some people are on walkers."

After 28 years, Nina still delights in "seeing a seed become a plant" in her garden. "You have an oasis in the middle of the city," she adds. "No matter how hot the weather, it feels cooler here."

September / October 2018 15

How Our Gardens Have Grown Since the 1970s, Queen Village residents have worked tirelessly to convert vacant lots into communal gardening spaces. Here we look at the history behind our community gardens and the organizations that help sustain these operations.

1930

1904

After successfully lobbying Philadelphia City Council, the Public Education Association briefly operates a public school garden on the future Weccacoe Playground site.

During the Great Depression, 23 million American households depend on food grown in their community gardens for survival.

1972

The newly formed Trust for Public Land begins working on public-access-oriented land protection projects across the US, including preserving community gardens.

1953

1918

As the domestic food supply becomes scarce during World War ll, community gardens are embraced by the American public.

16 September / October 2018

The Neighborhood Gardens Association is formed to sponsor horticultural beautification programs in low-income neighborhoods and public housing projects.

1974

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society starts the Philadelphia Green program to help neighborhood groups and other organizations with greening projects.

1986

1976

The QVNA community garden committee establishes the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden at 311-33 Christian Street.

The Neighborhood Gardens Association shifts its focus to acquiring vacant land, and rebrands as the Neighborhood Gardens Trust.

1994

Queen Village residents create Marlene’s Garden out of a vacant lot on 6th Street with permanent site acquisition in mind.

1991

1980

Queen Village residents work with Philadelphia Green to turn three vacant trash-filled lots on Bodine Street into a lush neighborhood green space.

With help from local and state politicians, the Neighborhood Gardens Trust helps turn the Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden into a permanent gardening park.

2007

The Neighborhood Gardens Trust purchases the Bodine Street Community Garden, protecting the green space in perpetuity.

September / October 2018 17

Plotting Your Next Dinner A Community Garden Plot Can Supply Your Entire Meal

BY DONNA PANCARI There are many reasons I’m grateful to have a community garden plot. It’s a beautiful, calming place to spend time.

The dozens of experienced gardeners, composters and beekeepers teach me something new with every visit. And our City Harvest volunteers give us all an opportunity to donate what we grow to neighbors in need. But I think one of my favorite things about our little plot is the first time every year around midsummer when we come home to an empty fridge. I can go to the garden and pick all I need for an entire dinner.

Here’s what you might consider growing if you’re looking to fill your dinner plate from your garden for nearly three seasons. The key to doing so without feeling like you’ve just eaten a big salad (though there’s nothing wrong with that) is considering courses. All the suggestions below can function as both a main course or a satisfying side. While many of the preparations would be just as nice accompanying meat or fish or with the addition of cheese, the idea is they can stand on their own.

Greens If you don’t mind a bit of variety depending on the season, you can reliably pick some kind of green from your plot from mid-spring through late-fall. Arugula is cold hardy and pops up almost overnight. Eat it raw, saute it, or even make pesto. Kale is almost as quick and even more prolific – pick it as baby leaves to eat raw or let it grow to add to soups or patties. Lettuce can be heat-averse depending on the variety, but you can still get a nice yield in spring and fall.

Look for cut-and-come-again varieties for a daily harvest of salad greens.

Zucchini When the first zucchini ripens, I know the garden’s going to feed us for months. My favorite preparation for the first big zucchini is to bread or flour thin slices and pan fry, but they make delicious fritters as well. Don’t forget fried zucchini flowers for an easy and impressive appetizer.

Tomatoes Fried green tomatoes are one of the best benefits of the onset of cold weather in the garden, and a great substitute for all those caprese salads you’d been eating up until that point. A quicker cooking fresh tomato sauce is the best use of those very ripe tomatoes. The result is an amazingly different dish from longer cooking sauces made from canned tomatoes.

Peppers My grandmother’s stuffed peppers were my very first introduction to eating dinner straight from the garden plot.

She’d pick sweet frying and bell peppers and stuff them 18 September / October 2018

Cherry Tomato Pasta

with a breadcrumb mixture before stewing in tomato sauce or baking. We never missed the meat she considered too expensive to add.

Winter Squash As the name implies, you’ll need to wait until late summer at least to harvest these. But winter squash varieties are worth planting – as much for the ability to pick one right away to roast for dinner as they are for storing. Just as with peppers, they’re perfect for stuffing, with some varieties becoming soft enough to eat the skins.

Finally, for those of you who just have a cherry tomato plant on your front stoop, here’s a recipe for a quick pasta that might just make you wonder why you’d ever bother with a more complicated sauce.

Cherry Tomato Pasta ¼ cup olive oil 1 garlic clove 1 pint cherry tomatoes ½ pound spaghetti 1 bunch basil Coat the bottom of a wide, shallow pan with olive oil. Smash garlic clove with the side of a chef’s knife and add to cold oil, then heat at medium low until you can just hear the garlic cooking. Once oil is hot, add tomatoes and cover pan. Cook until tomatoes have popped.

Meanwhile, cook and drain pasta, reserving a bit of the water to add to sauce. Add pasta to cooked tomatoes and coat, adding a tablespoon or two of pasta water if sauce looks dry. Julienne the basil and toss with pasta just before serving. No need for cheese. Serves 2.

Keen On Green

BY AMY GRANT Neighbors on the west end of Queen Village have been growing fruit, vegetables and flowers in the Bodine Street Community Garden since 1980. Here we talk with longtime gardener Tracy Levesque about this tremendous neighborhood asset.

What is your role in the Bodine Street Community Garden?

How long have you been involved?

I like to call myself the unofficial garden "mayor." I am the main point of contact between the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, the general public and the garden. I maintain the waiting list and get the water bills. I have been involved with the garden since October 1999.

Can you tell us about the history of the garden?

In June of 1980, Philadelphia Green helped local community members turn what was a previously vacant lot into a neighborhood green space.

In 2003, the garden’s land was put on the market to be bought by a developer. The gardeners sprung into action to save it.

After over four years of hard work and community support, the beloved garden became official protected green space, thanks to the Neighborhood Gardens Trust.

How did the Neighborhood Gardens Trust help preserve the garden?

The Neighborhood Gardens Trust was absolutely instrumental in helping save the garden. They navigated the law on our behalf to have the land transferred into their ownership, so the garden can remain a protected green space.

How many plots are there? What is the square footage of the space?

There are 15 plots occupied by from one person to multiple friends, roommates or family members. The garden is the size of three city lots.

Do you host programs for kids in the garden?

We are a very chill garden with no official programming.

However, all of the neighborhood kids use the space, regardless of whether or not their family has a plot there – and we welcome that.

Does your garden organizations?

collaborate

with

any

outside

Sometimes QVNA has tours, and we are always happy to open our garden up for tours.

What is the story behind the mural?

I was on the board of The Magic Gardens for 10 years, and I'm friends with Isaiah Zagar and some of the folks who run the Magic Gardens. He hosted a couple workshops in the garden, and a lot of the neighbors participated in putting up the mural.

Neighbors have been gardening on Bodine Street since 1980.

Photo by Amanda Hall Studios

Are there any plans for the future?

Not really. We like being a really laid back garden, and just want to be a lovely place for people to grow food, hang out and enjoy community. We want to keep things looking good and maintained, but I wouldn't say we have ambitions beyond being an awesome community garden.

What kind of advice would you give someone looking to set up a community garden in their neighborhood?

If you want to start gardening on an empty lot, look it up and see who owns it. If it's a developer sitting on the land, accept the fact that your garden could be taken away at any moment.

If that time comes and you want to fight for it, contact the Neighborhood Gardens Trust right away. They are the best folks to help you.

September / October 2018 19

Garden Locator

BY AMY GRANT AND JIM MURPHY Are you looking to join a community garden? If so, here are some community gardens located in and near Queen Village.

1

Moore Street Community Garden Address: 1736-1738 S. 5th Street, Phila., PA 19148 Previous Use of Land: Vacant lot

8

Founded: 2012 Amount of Space: 2,047 sq. ft.

Number of Plots: 18 Email: moorestgarden@gmail.com

6

7

3

Website: facebook.com/Moore-Street-CommunityGarden-130757886972325/

5 4

2

2 Manton Street Park and Community Garden Address: 1216 S. 4th Street, Phila., PA 19147 Previous Use of Land: Vacant lot (since 2004); pocket park (1960s) Founded: 2011

1

Number of Plots: 10 Website: facebook.com/mantonstreetpark

3 Marlene's Garden Address: 1033-37 6th Street, Phila., PA 19147 Previous Use of Land: Vacant lot Founded: 1994 Amount of Space: 2,300 sq. ft.

Unique Features: Brick pathways, bird bath

4 Bodine Street Community Garden Address: 939-941 S. 3rd Street, Phila., PA 19147 Previous Use of Land: Vacant lot Founded: 1980 Amount of Space: 2,889 sq. ft.

Number of Plots: 14 Unique Features: The Garden Goddesses, a mosaic tile mural by Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar Website: bodinestreetgarden.org

5 Southwark/Queen Village Community Garden Address: 311-315 Christian Street, Phila., PA 19147

Wait Time for Plots: 5 years Produce Donated Annually to City Harvest: 600 to 1,000 lbs. or more Unique Features: Solar panels, beehives, honey extractor, pollinator, compostable (no-smell) toilet Website: swqvgarden.org

6 Kauffman Street Garden Address: 809 E. Passyunk Avenue, Phila., PA 19147 Previous Use of Land: Vacant lot Founded: 1976 Amount of Space: 1,116 sq. ft.

Number of Plots: N/A Unique Features: Mosaic mural, stone pathway, pergola

7 Bel Arbor Community Garden Address: 1012-26 Kimball Street, Phila., PA 19147 Previous Use of Land: Factory building (burned down in 1993) Founded: 1994 Amount of Space: 13,500 sq. ft.

Number of Plots: 23 Unique Features: Beehives, composting Website: belarbor.org

Previous Use of Land: Henry Berk Elementary School Founded: 1976 Amount of Space: 18,000 sq. ft.

8 South Street Garden Address: 837 South Street, Phila., PA 19147

Number of Plots: 67

Founded: 1995

Number of Active Members: 100

Number of Plots: 40

20 September / October 2018

Email: info@washwestcivic.org Website: washwestcivic.org

How To Go Green

BY AMY GRANT You've seen community gardens around town and decide you want to create one in your neighborhood. Here are some resources to get you started.

The Garden Justice Legal Initiative pubintlaw.org/cases-and-projects/garden-justice-legal-initiativegjli In 2011, the Public Interest Law Center launched the Garden Justice Legal Initiative to provide pro bono legal support, policy research and advocacy – plus community education and organizing to community gardeners and market farmers in the Philadelphia region. Be sure to read the free Vacant Land 215 Toolkit, available on their website, to guide you through starting a community garden.

Grounded in Philly groundedinphilly.org Grounded in Philly has mapped data sources from various public entities to help identify vacant land that can transition into community-controlled green spaces. Through this site, you can connect and communicate with other residents about specific lots and find out how to secure and use prospective green spaces.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Garden Tenders Program phsonline.org/programs/garden-tenders The Garden Tenders program is open to groups, individuals, educators and anyone interested in gardening with others.

Participants gain hands-on gardening experience and learn how to establish successful, self-sustaining community gardens.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society City Harvest Program phsonline.org/programs/city-harvest Through City Harvest, PHS and its partners have empowered urban gardeners to share the fruits of their labor with families in need.

The program is creating an infrastructure of agricultural supply and education centers, as well as expanding fresh food production, distribution and consumption in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Philadelphia Orchard Project phillyorchards.org The Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) works with communitybased groups and volunteers to plan and plant orchards filled with useful and edible plants. POP provides orchard design assistance, plant materials and training in orchard care. Community organizations own, maintain, and harvest the orchards, expanding community-based food production, environmental benefits, and opportunities for nature education.

Soil Generation groundedinphilly.org/soil-generation-about Soil Generation is a coalition of brown and black gardeners, farmers and community members working to ensure that people of color: regain community control of land and food; secure access to the resources necessary to determine how the land is used; address community health concerns, grow food and improve the environment.

Marlene's Garden on 6th and Fairhill is working with the Neighborhood Gardens Trust to preserve this garden.

Photo by Amanda Hall Studios

American Community Gardening Association communitygarden.org This national nonprofit supports community gardening by: facilitating the formation and expansion of state and regional community gardening networks; developing resources in support of community gardening; and, encouraging research and conducting educational programs.

Neighborhood Gardens Trust ngtrust.org The Neighborhood Gardens Trust works with self-organized gardeners, community organizations, property owners and the City of Philadelphia to secure ownership or long-term leases for community-managed open spaces to prevent the threat of development or other reuse.

Philadelphia Land Bank philadelphialandbank.org The Philadelphia Land Bank is a powerful tool to return vacant and tax-delinquent properties to productive use. It simplifies the process of transferring properties from public agencies to private owners. It can also acquire privately-owned, tax-delinquent vacant parcels that are roadblocks to revitalization.

September / October 2018 21 21

Back To School

BY HILARY YOUNG Once September rolls around, it’s all-hands-on-deck for getting your kids back to school. After a summer filled with lax schedules and broken routines, it can be a tough transition for both kids and parents.

For those with younger children or babies, there’s a good chance you’re not even really thinking about back to school yet. But as every parent knows, time seems to move at warp speed when kids are involved. So now would also be a good time for you to start researching schools in the area and getting to know what your local options are — for preschool and beyond.

PRESCHOOLS Young Children’s Center For The Arts (YCCA) youngchildrenscenterforthearts.org YCCA has two locations, in Queen Village (Old Swedes’ Church) and in Pennsport (2nd and Morris). The school has a creative arts curriculum, fostering mental and physical development through music, art, and movement. The school also has a full inclusion program, embracing children who have developmental disabilities. YCCA will take children as young as 12 months and runs through pre-K. (Full disclosure: we send our daughter here and LOVE this school!)

The Giving Tree thegivingtreedaycare.com As both a daycare and preschool, The Giving Tree plays an integral role in helping to raise plenty of neighborhood children.

The preschool program emphasizes cognitive lessons and developmentally appropriate play to help make learning fun.

Their preschool program aims to teach children how to share, be kind and handle conflict.

Philly Montessori phillymontessori.com You might have noticed a big new building go up on the plot of land across from Shot Tower Coffee — this is the site of the new Philly Montessori School. Accepting children between the ages of 18 months and 6 years, Montessori uses a child-centered approach to learning, immersing them in engaging and interesting tasks and environments (including an indoor gym, an urban garden and an art studio!). The classrooms are all Spanish-immersion classrooms, encouraging a bilingual curriculum. The school will be open for the 2018-19 school year.

QVNA Helps Make Queen Village Safer

Your tax-deductible contribution to QVNA helps support the ongoing operations of the South Street Police Detail and the Mini-Station, and so much more. Please support us at QVNA.org/donate.

22 September / October 2018

Beanstalk facebook.com/beanstalkschool729 The Beanstalk Preschool is open to children ages 2-5, but also offers an after-school care program for kids from kindergarten through 3rd grade. Beanstalk has a focus on STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — to help enhance children’s research and investigative skills. The curriculum is also infused with art, music and play to keep the children engaged.

K-8 William M. Meredith meredith.philasd.org Most people in this neighborhood are familiar with Meredith, as it has a reputation for being one of the best public schools in the city. Headed by principal Lauren Overton, the school is a collaborative community, where students are encouraged to empower their own educational experience through exploration and innovation. Be warned, however, that there is a currently a lottery for kindergarten, due to overcrowding issues. If your child doesn’t manage to get in for kindergarten though, don’t be alarmed. As long as you live within the catchment, they’ll be able to start at Meredith in first grade.

George W. Nebinger nebinger.philasd.org Often overlooked because of the draw to Meredith, Nebinger is on the rise, providing an exceptional educational experience to its students. Thanks in part to the hard work of dedicated parents involved with fundraising through Friends of Nebinger, and principal Natalie St. Louis, Nebinger has quickly become a provider of high-quality education, helping students learn how to think critically in order to be productive members of our global and technological society.

Interested In Joining A Nonprofit Board Of Directors?

• Looking to apply your skills to benefit your neighborhood?

• Willing to advocate for Queen Village residents?

• Want our community to be clean, green, safe, and well-informed?

• Able to invest 5-10 hours per month to benefit Queen Village?

Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) is holding board elections November 15, 2018. As a nonprofit organization we serve the residents of Queen Village and strengthen our community.

Three Queen Village residents will be elected to our board of directors in November. Will you be one of them? Each position is a two-year term, from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021.

What is a QVNA-sponsored meeting?

All general, board, zoning or other QVNA committee meetings are QVNAsponsored. Meeting attendance is proven by sign-in sheets, kept at QVNA's office. If you have not yet attended the two-meeting minimum, there’s still time.

Upcoming meetings are online at www.

QVNA.org/events.

QVNA’s nominating committee will introduce candidates at the September and October general meetings. Additional nominations may also be made from the floor at the same meetings, provided that each person nominated is eligible to serve and agrees to serve if elected.

QVNA directors are expected to attend 10 board meetings and 10 general meetings each year. See QVNA’s website for more information and read our bylaws at www.

QVNA.org/bylaws.

If you’re interested in joining the board and checking your meeting attendance, please contact QVNA at (215) 339- 0975.

We’d love to talk with you.

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Contact me for personalized advice you can trust.

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253218

To be a candidate for the board, you must: • Be a resident of Queen Village, • Be 18 or older, and • Have attended two QVNAsponsored meetings between January 1 and October 31, 2018.

September / October 2018 23

The Safety Of Children’s Food

BY KATIE LOCKWOOD, MD A patient’s parent asked me if they should use plastic or glass baby bottles. A recent American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement summarized some of the scientific evidence for parents and pediatricians seeking to understand the risks of exposure to plastics – as well as food additives and other chemicals that come in contact with our food. There aren’t a lot of large, well-designed studies out there though, and data in humans is limited.

That’s one of many reasons this policy statement from Drs. Trasande, Shaffer, Sathyanarayana and the Council on Environmental Health argues we should have more rigorous testing and regulation of food additives to ensure we keep developing babies and children safe.

You would hope we currently have a system for closely monitoring the safety of the foods we eat. However, the current Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which was written in 1938 and last updated in 1958, is not only outdated, but also has some big problems. Most food additives come to the market with a designation of “generally regarded as safe” and thus do not need to be studied for their impact on human health. You may also hope the FDA would evaluate the data and reassess the safety of food additives. However, they do not have the authority to study chemicals already on the market.

Why are kids at particular risk? For one, children have greater dietary exposures to food additives. Also, since their organ systems are still developing, they’re more vulnerable to the effects of toxins and may have disruptions in hormone levels that impact their growing bodies.

Furthermore, there are sociodemographic differences.

Low-income and minority children are disproportionately exposed to food additives. If you don’t believe me, browse the snack aisle of your local corner store.

So what is a parent with a cabinet full of Goldfish and plastic water bottles to do? Before you start purging your kitchen, here’s a summary of tips the policy statement authors offer as a starting point: • Prioritize consumption of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.

• Avoid processed meat s, especially maternal consumption during pregnancy.

• Avoid microwaving food or beverages in plastic, if possible • Avoid placing plastics in the dishwasher.

• Use alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.

24 September / October 2018

• Look at the recycling code on the bottom of products to find the plastic type. Avoid plastics with codes 3, 6, and 7 – unless they’re labeled as “biobased” or “greenware,” indicating they’re made from corn and don’t contain bisphenols.

• Encourage hand-washing before handling foods and/or drinks, and wash all fruits and vegetables that can’t be peeled.

This policy statement helps consumers make more educated choices for their families and urges the government to make changes in our legislation and oversight of food additives. What we should take from this is the need to advocate for our children until we’re confident our food is safe. As for the parent’s question about plastic baby bottles, I reassured them that bisphenol A (BPA) was removed from baby bottles and sippy cups in 2012. But we have much more to learn. After reading some of the literature on endocrine disruptors, I used glass bottles with my second child. But plastic continues to be pervasive in our lives. We all make the best choices we can, and some of us are fortunate enough to have this choice.

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Sunday & Wednesday Services • Sunday School for Children & Our Reading Room Sunday Service: 11AM • Wednesday Evening Meeting: 7:30PM Reading Room Hours: Monday: 11AM to 1:30PM, Wednesday: 2PM to 7PM, Thursday and Friday: 11AM to 4PM Saturday: 11AM to 1:30PM

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Why Donate to QVNA?

When in your home, there is no worry. At Home Helpers, our caregivers undergo a detailed background check prior to employment. Once employed, they are trained and fully-insured by us. We offer:

• Mobility care • Personal hygiene • Light housekeeping • Medication reminders Queen Village Neighbors Association is a volunteer-driven organization, committed to improving our neighborhood. We fund projects for schools, parks, tree tending, the South Street Police Detail, and act as a channel of communication with the city.

QVNA volunteers strengthen our community by helping it become safer and more enjoyable.

Please donate online at QVNA.org/donate.

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patty Grace at (267) 402-7271 September / October 2018 25

Skulls, Bones Found In Queen Village

BY TERRY BUCKALEW It’s an old saying that “if you stick a shovel in the ground anywhere in Philadelphia, you’re likely to encounter a cemetery.” In Queen Village, real estate developers and city officials have been acutely aware of this fact. One recent example was the rediscovery of the Bethel Burying Ground that now lies under a portion of Weccacoe Playground.

Rarely does a month goes by in the city without a construction crew accidently uncovering graves from the early centuries of Philadelphia’s existence. This occurred in April of 2003, when a construction company dug up twelve coffins in the 500 block of Christian Street while building eighteen condominiums. They dug into what used to be the 10,000-sq.-ft. Mt. Zion Cemetery.

The church-affiliated burial ground was in operation from about 1817 to 1898, when the Board of Health determined the cemetery was overcrowded and suffering from serious neglect. Its closure was also initiated by a horrible scandal. Health officials found that babies were not being buried by the sexton. Instead, they were dumped in an old well and “under ashes and rubbish in the cellar of the adjoining church.” There is no evidence that the thousands of human remains in the cemetery were ever removed and reinterred. The city took possession of the property and placed a playground over the lot. The playground existed until 1966, when it was sold to a developer for $45,000.

Another gruesome discovery occurred in October of 2003.

A man in the Logan section of the city began throwing out construction debris from a home renovation into a dumpster.

There, amid the “broken plaster and splintered wood,” he was horrified to see several human skulls and long bones. City officials determined that the human remains were from a construction site in the 600 block of Catharine. In September of 2003, workers came across scattered bones and two tombstones there. City authorities ordered the construction firm to secure the remains until the Orphans’ Court could determine their future resting place. Inexplicitly, instead of being secured, many of the remains ended up in a dumpster in another section of the city. Eventually, they were reburied at Greenwood Cemetery in northeastern Philadelphia, where they now are marked by a memorial plaque.

Those bones were identified as belonging to individuals buried in the cemetery of St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church at 619 Catharine Street, which was built in 1839. When St. Paul’s Church

Philadelphia Archaeological Forum’s database of historic burial grounds in the city.

cemetery was sold in 1903, the new owner knocked down all the tombstones in the sizable burial ground and covered them with topsoil. There is no evidence that the numerous human remains at St. Paul’s were ever reinterred. One of the tombstones vandalized was that of Pvt. Francis D. Rea. As a teenager, Rea answered President Lincoln’s call for volunteers to fight in the Union Army. On July 1, 1863, he was in Gettysburg, fighting to hold the line against a company of charging Confederates from North Carolina. If his unit, Company B, 90th Pennsylvania Infantry, didn’t hold the line, the rebels might get behind the federal line and cause chaos. The 90th held and the Tar Heels retreated. However, Pvt. Rea lay critically wounded. He died the next day and was temporarily buried in the cemetery of the Lutheran Church in the center of Gettysburg. After the battle, the son of Thomas and Rebecca Rea was transported by train to Philadelphia. Francis D. Rea was buried July 19, 1863, in the cemetery of St. Paul’s M.E., the church that he and his family had attended in his youth. His parents would later be buried next to him. Their graves remain under a parking lot at 619 Catharine Street.

To help prevent the above tragic incidents from continuing to happen, the Philadelphia Archeological Forum, led by Doug Mooney, has created a database and an interactive map of historic cemeteries throughout Philadelphia. To learn more about this and the Forum, please go to http://www.phillyarchaeology. net.

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The Best Films Of 2018 So Far

BY PIERS MARCHANT We are, of course, further along than halfway in the year. But as the studios tend to backload a lot of their premier offerings to coincide with award season – and the new “Best Popular Movie” Oscar (what in the living freak is that about?) – it’s as good a time as any to do a quick assessment of the first half (plus change) of 2018. The verdict so far? Solid but not outstanding, at least for what I’ve seen. Notably, I haven’t yet had the pleasure of screening First Reformed, which has gotten some raves. Here’s what I’ve got as a top five, heading out of the summer doldrums.

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Hereditary: A stately horror film from a young director, Ari Aster, who has clearly studied in frame-by-frame detail Kubrickian technique. Not everything works to perfection in this spooky, haunted family tragedy – for one thing the ending gives us just a little too much unnecessary explanation – but it’s made so meticulously, with off-kilter beats that challenge your resolve, it becomes captivating. Once you see it, you’ll never again hear someone use a tongue-cluck without jumping out of your socks.

A Quiet Place: John Krasinski’s film, which he directed, cowrote, and stars in, takes the idea of silence and weaponizes it in a way that’s absolutely thrilling, especially if you see it in a packed movie theater. Set in the near future, where aliens have landed in the form of giant, lightning-quick insectoids whose hearing is super-acute, Krasinski stars as the patriarch of a small family that’s learned to live as quietly as possible to survive.

Such is the nature of the viewing experience that any crinkle of a popcorn bag is enough to trigger an anxiety rush.

Sorry to Bother You: It would seem that the yearning demand for politicized satire is best being filled by black directors at this particular moment in time: Consider a few of the heralded and politically scalding films of the last year and a half – think Jordan Peele’s Get Out, Carlos López Estrada’s current Blindspotting, and BlacKkKlansman from Spike Lee. Boots Riley’s bug-nuts comedy is about a young black man (Lakeith Stanfield) who learns to use “white voice” as a telemarketer, and reaps enormous financial rewards, even at the cost of his soul.

Politically minded filmmakers should be taking advantage of this insane environment (whichever side of the great divide you find yourself), and it appears that at least one ethnic group has more

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than heeded the call.

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Black Panther: Marvel has done many things its heralded MCU over the years, but this film, by the skilled Ryan Coogler, surpassed many of their other, more overreaching and extroverted fare, focusing more on character and thematic storyline than trying to overwhelm our senses with CGI bombast. It’s not perfect – for many people, including this critic, they actually made the villain, played sagely by Michael B. Jordan, more intriguing and charismatic than the protagonist (Chadwick Boseman), which caused Marvel to tweak the character midstream. But considering the film’s treatment of racial politics (progressive!), and its ability to serve sensibly as both a political allegory and a straight-ahead superhero action film, it is remarkably effective.

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Eighth Grade: Bo Burnham’s film could be considered a comedy of sorts. There certainly are funny bits, and well-drawn moments of farce. But it never strays too far from its realistic protagonist, the quiet-but-striving Kayla (Elise Fisher), who makes shaky vlog entries about staying true to yourself, and being a good friend, and sticks post-it notes on her mirror about practicing small talk.

Rather than mock her intentions, or putting her in constantly humiliating situations to make with the funny, Burnham respects his characters and never sells them out for the sake of a laugh.

As a result, the film is emotionally powerful without ever seeming strident. Rated ‘R’ primarily for language – which in some ways is unfortunate, because its target audience can’t go and see it unattended – the movie is respectful of its teen subjects, even as it adroitly depicts them at this most awful and awkward inbetween stage in their lives.

September / October 2018 27

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2018: A Summer Of Firsts

BY ELEANOR INGERSOLL

Summer at Courtyard included a visit to the Philies at Citizens Bank Park and even a chance to run the bases.

Photos by Justin Fishman

Question: What has six Mondays of art, six Wednesdays of science, daily reading hours, field trips, golf clubs and loads of fun at the Shot Tower Playground?

(Hint: and it’s only for Queen Village kids)

Answer: Summer at Courtyard!

What began as a brainstorm endeavor between the Courtyard Residents Council and Queen Village Neighbors Association in 2015 has blossomed into a 4-day-a-week enrichment program called Summer at Courtyard. The six-week program is free, exclusively for kids from Queen Village, and is located at Courtyard Apartments' Community room, 4th Street and Washington Avenue.

An astounding 66 neighborhood kids applied for the 30 spots. And where the first year saw a small, fluctuating group of attendees, 2018 had an extensive waiting list – with exemplary attendance and extensive communication between parents and organizers.

The Summer at Courtyard's Monday-Thursday schedule, built around the goal of mind-body summer exercise, is led by program coordinator Michael Kimmel. Its reading curriculum, a cornerstone of the kids' daily schedule, was prepared by first-time coordinator Mia Decrescenzo. Its annual partnership with Science Explorers continued, and new partnerships for art education were added through weekly visits from the ClayMobile – plus a lesson in Native American art & culture provided by the Agoyos of We Are The Seeds (whose children attended Summer at Courtyard last year!).

To exercise the body, the kids visited Shot Tower Playground twice a week and traveled to FDR Park for golf instruction at The First Tee. They also enjoyed free time in the yard adjacent to the Community Room, the summer program homebase at Courtyard Apartments.

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Field trips had the regular favorites like the Philadelphia Zoo, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Franklin Institute.

But it was a first to visit with Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer and director of the Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute. The kids prepared questions and were invited to look through the telescope. It was also a first for a trip to City Hall to have lunch with Councilman Mark Squilla and meet other elected officials.

It was a ‘first time’ to run the bases at the Phillies. And being at The Linc for an Eagles pre-season practice? Well that was another cherished “first.”

Parent Courtney Green, a volunteer with children in the program since its inception, calls the program “fun, laughter, growth, new people, new experience, acceptance no matter what. Most of all being a family. This is what Summer at Courtyard has been to me and my three kids who attend every year. 2019, here we come!”

New parent, Faith Peterson, added, “this was our first time sending our children to Summer at Courtyard, and we had a wonderful experience! I really liked the … various activities, from the Claymobile, the golf lessons, the cultural lessons with We Are the Seeds, the arts and crafts, going to the local park and weekly field trips. My sons have never been golfing, and I honestly don't know if they would have had this experience in elementary school if it wasn't for the opportunity provided by the enrichment program. We were sad when the six weeks was up, and we look forward to returning next year."

Yes, 2019 – here we come!

Summer at Courtyard is a partnership between QVNA, The Courtyard Residents Council, Better Tomorrows and The Michaels Organization. It provides free summer enrichment programming to the children of Queen Village. Programming is funded by the organizing partners and private donations secured by QVNA.

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The

U.S. Custom House

BY JIM MURPHY FAST FACTS Name: U.S. Custom House Address: 200 Chestnut St., Phila., PA 19106 Built: 1932 to 1934 Architects: Ritter & Shay Cost: $3,500,000 Style: Art Deco Amount of Space: 565,000 sq. ft.

Green Roof on Fourth Floor: 22,000 sq. ft.

Number of Employees Housed: 670 Honors: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 and first building in U.S. to receive Energy Star label in 1999.

The U.S. Custom House looms over Old City Philadelphia.

Photo by Jim Murphy

Tenant Agencies: Homeland Security, Justice, Health and Human Services, Interior, State, Agriculture, U.S Tax Court and more.

Claim to Fame: The illuminated terra cotta lantern atop the building tower resembles the famous lighthouse at Rhodes, Greece.

Long before our Philadelphia football Eagles became Super Bowl champs in 2018, limestone eagles began guarding the U.S. Custom House on Chestnut Street in Old City.

Interestingly, there's even a likely connection between the limestone and football birds. More on that later.

Interesting Oddities: • While the beautiful 3-story, 32-foot-diameter rotunda appears to be in the center of the building, it actually is in the front part, disguising loading docks that take up nearly half of the first floor.

Look skyward, and you'll see limestone eagles perched on the upper reaches of the 17-story Art Deco building. And what a remarkable building it is.

• A large cooling tower, added to the roof for air conditioning in 1969, once was visible from New Jersey and I-95.

Managers fixed that, Rufo says by cutting the ceiling below and dropping the unit down 12 feet. Now you can't see it.

Constructed as part of a huge government stimulus project after the Great Depression of 1929 (and just before the Works Project Administration), the U.S. Custom House contains extraordinary details you won't see in modern buildings today.

• The building employed more than 4,000 workers for two years. That helped spur the Philadelphia economy after the disastrous stock market crash of 1929.

I was fortunate enough to get a tour from Tom Rufo, operations manager at the General Services Administration (GSA), and Mark Falter Jr., the onsite manager. They pointed out marvelous touches I simply would have missed.

Walk around the front of the building, look up and you'll see statues, bas-reliefs, ornamental doors and more. And that's just to prepare you for the amazing extravaganza to come.

Inside you'll see a spectacular 3-story rotunda, 75 feet of murals almost 4-feet high, two magnificent staircases and much more.

There's even a federal-style courtroom on the third floor used for Tax Court.

You may also see travelers with suitcases in the lobby, says Falter. The passport office in the building provides expedited service for U.S. citizens, and can process even some same-day applications in emergency situations.

Be aware, though, that this is a U.S. Government building with security procedures similar to an airport's.

• Some of the beautiful murals on the first floor "have darkened with age," says the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. The cause: "application of an inappropriate superficial art conservation treatment that cannot be removed." Too bad.

• Ritter & Shay, the building's architects, had to respond to fast-changing government demands. First, the building went from a planned eight stories to 17. Then the Economy Act of June 30, 1932 reduced the budget by 10 percent.

The result: marble trim, which would have been more compatible with the historic neighborhood's architecture, was replaced by limestone.

Working inside a historic building brings extra challenges, Rufo says. To repaint the rotunda ceiling, for example, colors of 40 paint chips had to be tested and verified before work could begin.

Now back to the birds for a minute. Reportedly, new team owners drew inspiration from the symbolic Blue Eagle of the National Recovery Act. So they named the franchise the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933 – while this building was being erected. That's your local angle.

September / October 2018 29

News And Notes

The "chalk-in" at Weccacoe Playground.

It Takes A Village The success of Summer at Courtyard directly correlates to investment, both of financial support and personal time.

A sincere thanks to the following for supporting our most successful summer yet.

Volunteers: Elizabeth Ann, thanks for volunteering during Shot Tower Visits Ana Branas, we loved having your help during reading hours and Claymobile Dahvia Dalton, thank you for helping to read with the kids Courtney Green, thank you for making sure field trips were successful and for managing the community room Korey Green, thanks for the basketball games at Shot Tower and order in the community room.

Tasha McKnight, a jack of all trades! Thank you for your help with everything, from meals to basketball games and everything in between!

Kerri Johanning, thanks for your many hours with the Claymobile, reading, Science Explorers, field trips, and Shot Tower visits Doreen Olkowicz, thanks for helping with breakfasts, Claymobile, reading, Science Explorers, trips, Shot Tower visits Joan Pettit, thank you for all of the hours floating between reading “centers” Oliver Ricciardelli, thanks for donating your time for breakfasts, reading, and Science Explorers Max Schneider-White, thank you for helping with the Claymobile, Science Explorers, Shot Tower visits, and expertise as a youth counselor Mike Seidenberg, thanks for your help with breakfast, Science Explorers,and the reading program Funders: Shanda Norfleet, courtyard property manager, The Michaels Organization Inez Green, president, Courtyard Residents Council Queen Village Neighbors Association Sponsor Partners: Philadelphia Eagles The Phillies' organization Melissa Fleming, group sales manager, The Franklin Institute Committeeperson Kimberly Washington City Councilman Mark Squilla

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Tailinh Agoyo, We Are the Seeds of CultureTrust Ken Woodson, vice president, community and government affairs, Philadelphia Zoo Rebecca Caimano, program director, The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia Evan Moorhead, educational coordinator, Science Explorers Better Tomorrows Private Donors: Monica Flory Vincent Gravina Corey Heller Marcel Madeau Paul Markowich Jacob Ramage Stephen Shapiro Hani Soliman Brett Victor Special Thanks to…

2018 Summer at Courtyard staff: Michael Kimmel, program manager and Mia DeCrescenzo, program coordinator.

QVNA Treasurer Justin Fishman for personally spearheading the fundraising that lead to our success, for organizing and chaperoning the Phillies field trip and creating the avenue to get our kids great seats at the Phillies, before they ran the bases!

Jeff Berry, a valued volunteer by way of our friends at St. Peter’s Church, and Matthew B. Stern, MD, professor emeritus of neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, for connecting us the Philadelphia Eagles, and pre-season practice seats.

And finally, I would like to acknowledge my fellow board member and program co-creator, Inez ‘Kandi’ Green. Inez sees the positives in challenges, beauty in children and light in parents. Working together all of these years has helped everyone connected with the program better understand the blessings in kindness. It’s an honor to work with you as we keep raising the bar, raising each other and raising the community.

Thank you, all!

- Eleanor Ingersoll, QVNA president

KATHY, PATRICK AND THE

July/August 2018

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September / October 2018 31