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WEEK OCTOBER 19, 2016 VOL. 1 NO. 35
EDUCATION NEWS Independence Mission Schools celebrates the grand opening of St. Malachy Catholic School’s new location. 4
DEVELOPMENT NEWS Find out what’s being built on your block. 6
WHOLE FOODS New supermarket open on Pennsylvania Avenue. 5
MOVIE REVIEWS Short reviews of movies at the Pearl. 5
ACCU-REGGIE 7-day weather forecast for the region. 3
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Events and happenings in our neighborhoods. 7
HOT OFF THE
PRESS
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he bleachers at the MLK Recreation Center at 21st and Cecil B. Moore Avenue were packed as community members came out to see the 3rd annual Fall Classic All Star Game. The exhibition game, celebrating the start of Juvenile Justice Week, featured youth from the Philadelphia Providers’ League playing against an all-star team of juvenile probation officers. Inside the rec center, volunteers collected candy for a safe, neighborhood Halloween event (see sidebar on Page 2) and tables were set up to provide youth and community members with information about different services and programs. Among those represented were the Defender Association of Philadelphia, the Police Athletic League, the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute and Northeast Treatment Centers. Leonard Thompson, who used to play basketball in the MLK Recreation Center, was now there on behalf of Philadelphia Technician Training Institute. Thompson applauded the informal nature of the event. “I think it’s fantastic,” Thompson said. “It builds connections. It builds relationships.” Children from the community had a shoot-around and socialized before making way for the all-star teams to take the court for pregame warmups. The feeling in the room was optimistic, if not a bit competitive. “They’re already starting to talk some trash,” Adam Selvin said with a smile. Selvin is the Director of Court Services with Northeast Treatment Centers, one of the organizers of the event. Of the many organizations involved, many are helping kids in the juvenile justice system stay in the community and at home instead of placement facilities. Before long, the ball was tipped and the youth tried to take advantage
of age being on their side with a mixture of full court press defense and a wide-open fast-break offense. By halftime, they had built a 14 point lead. Halftime allowed community members to mingle with judges and other city officials and a dance routine was performed by the North Philly Bearcats. An unexpected highlight came during the second half when the Special Ops Drumline, who practices at MLK, took the court for an impromptu and rousing performance. The thunderous drums echoed through the gym as numerous spectators pulled out their phones to record the moment. The lead elapsed in the second half as the game went back and forth down the stretch. With 12.5 seconds left in the game, the parole officers inbounded the ball, down by a score of 52-49. One of the officers got off a decent look as the seconds ticked away, but the shot didn’t drop as the youths took a 2-1 lead in the all-star series. Both teams lined up to shake hands and share laughs as the annual trophy was brought to half court. According to officials, Showing the parole officers in a different light was one of the many reasons to organize the game. “This informal interaction hopefully reveals to our young people that we are all humans like them,” said Angel Flores, Deputy District Attorney for the Juvenile Division. “And that we are all working together to try to better their situations. A drive to show citizens that agencies were there to help them and their families was a consistent theme of the night. “We want people to call us and engage us,” said Jose Loya, Communication and Development ManContinued on Page 2.
The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – October 19, 2016
Page 2 Continued from Page 1. ager with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. The association was on hand with informational pamphlets and representatives educating attendees on how they can help, something Loya says is much easier when they lose the shirt and tie and get out into communities. “We’re also recognizing that there are barriers to services, and I think one of the great things NET is doing is trying to tear down some of those barriers,” Loya said. The collaboration between the juvenile court system, public defender’s office and the many other organizations at work that night are a sign to Adam Selvin that the city is moving in the right direction. “Everyone’s kind of working together,” Selvin said later. “I do think in Philadelphia we have a pretty progressive juvenile justice movement.” Selvin cited research that showed that sending juveniles to placement facilities is often not best for adolescents. It may not be best for the city either as the average cost of placement nationwide is approximately $88,000 per child, per year. A number of kids participating in the Fall Classic All Star game are currently enrolled in a program that gives kids in the juvenile system a chance to stay in their communities. Northeast Treatment Center’s Evening Reporting Center is a six month program that allows kids to report daily from 4 to 8PM as an alternative to placement facilities. The center includes cognitive behavioral therapy, financial literacy classes, and career training among other programs. There is even a recording studio on the premises. Selvin said that the program gives a second chance for mostly non violent offenders, many who are in trouble due to technicalities or probation violations. “We already know that teenagers are impulsive," Selvin said. “But that doesn’t mean that they’re bad kids or bad people.” The Evening Reporting Center and Fall Classic All Star game are just two of the many reasons Selvin is excited to about the state of the city’s outlook. “It’s an exciting time to work in juvenile justice system here.” •
Halloween Event The Safe Haven Halloween Event, set up for families in neighborhoods surrounding the Martin Luther King Center, is scheduled for Halloween night and will feature a costume contest, Halloween photos, and a showing of Transylvania 2. The movie will be shown on a theater sized screen set up in the gym that is being provided by Cinema Ray, a local nonprofit organization. Candy collected from the Fall Classic All Star game will be distributed to attendees. •
Adam Selvin with the PO team./All photos courtesy of Adam Selvin
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – October 19, 2016 FORECAST FOR PENN’S GARDEN
accu reggie TWITTER: @ACCUREGGIE • FACEBOOK: ACCU-REGGIE
L
ast week was a seesaw temperature ride! We started cool with fall-like weather before summer made a strong return to close out the 7-day period. It’s unbelievable how our weather can change on a dime in this area of the globe. However, I do think this is summer’s last gasp before the colder breezes from Canada and the North Pole push summer style heat out for good! As always, with cooler weather comes unsettled weather. Clouds will increase late Wednesday as a storm system gathers to our west. A lot of the rain will be to our north and west but it will gradually work its way east. So for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we could see bouts of
showers and rain at different points. It will NOT be raining all the time, I think we even see sunshine on Friday, but each day should have some element of rain. Bottom line: keep the umbrella with you these 3 days. We also have a chance for a shower on Monday. Saturday features our first true “cold” shot of the season. Saturday night will feel like winter to our unadjusted bodies due to a wind chill of about 32 degrees overnight. Wednesday is a bonus round of summer weather. Almost 90, are you kidding me?!?! Thursday features more clouds and maybe some sun to get us over 80. Showers will be spotty. Friday is warm with clouds and some sun, but showers
move through later in the day. Saturday is the BIG transition day as the cold air to our west crashes in. Rain will start the day, but it will be dry by night time — albeit windy and cold! Sunday is a cool day with sunshine, temperature may do a little better than 60. Monday features the chance for showers early in the morning, but overall not a bad day for Fall. Tuesday continues the cool streak as temperature struggle to get out of the 60s. The weather winner of the week is Wednesday; the weather loser is Saturday. •
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – October 19, 2016
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WRITTEN BY SPIRIT STAFF
Education News
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S T. M A L A C H Y C AT H O L I C S C H O O L O P E N S N E W L O C AT I O N
n Monday, October 17th, Independence Mission Schools (IMS), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides transformative Catholic education to low-income students of all faiths, celebrated the official grand opening of the new St. Malachy Catholic School. During the event, Anne McGoldrick, president of IMS, was joined by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and IMS Board President Mr. Brian McElwee to participate in a ceremonial ribbon cutting, blessing and tour of the new school. Located just one block from its previous location, St. Malachy Catholic School continues upon its vibrant 156year history in Philadelphia by welcoming hundreds of students, from pre-K to eighth grade, to learn and grow at their new state-of-the-art facility. Featuring an innovative, blended learning curriculum, the new school uses data-driven instruction to ensure student growth. Upon completion of additional renovations, St. Malachy Catholic School will also serve as a community hub providing neighborhood access to a technology center, a 378-seat performing arts auditorium, playing fields and outdoor space. Notably, the new location also features a mural that commemorates Pope Francis’ historic visit to Philadelphia. The renovations were made possible by a large community of supporters and several large contributions including a grant from the Philadelphia School Partnership, the Connelly Foundation, and a generous gift from Mrs. Eleanor Rowan. “The grand opening of St. Malachy Catholic School demonstrates the tremendous need and desire for high-quality education in the inner-city, and we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from individuals, businesses and our partners,” said McGoldrick. “This innovative new facility will enable us to double enrollment at St. Malachy and expand our pre-K offerings so we can help even more students on their path to success.” IMS has engineered a dramatic turnaround for its network of schools, many of which were slated for closure in 2012. In just three short years, the schools have seen a 24 percent enrollment increase, created and sustained nearly 500 education-related jobs and invested in a brighter future for children and families across Philadelphia. •
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
St. Malachy students present Mayor Jim Kenney with a gift.
Mayor Jim Kenney
Bullock to host ‘BrewFair,’ celebrating Girard Avenue commercial corridor
Anne McGoldrick
In celebration of the contributions of the Girard Avenue Commercial Corridor and its surrounding neighborhoods, Brewerytown and Fairmount, state Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila., will host BrewFair from noon to 7PM Saturday, Oct. 22. The festivities, which will include vendors from the Girard Avenue corridor and live entertainment, will take place on the corner of 27th Street and Girard Avenue. The event coincides with Love Your Avenue Week, which will be set forth by a House resolution sponsored by Bullock. Love Your Avenue Week seeks to support and acknowledge the contributions of commercial areas, main streets and downtowns in Pennsylvania. “I hope you can join us for this unique event,” Bullock said. “Vibrant communities are dependent on walkable businesses and entertainment. We owe much to them, and this is our chance to say thank you.” Those interested in learning more about the celebration or obtaining a booth should contact Bullock’s office at 215-684-3738. •
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – October 19, 2016
W R I T T E N B Y PAT R I C K C L A R K
Whole Foods
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N E W S U P E R M A R K E T O P E N O N P E N N S Y LVA N I A AV E N U E
he highly-anticipated, brand new Whole Foods Market opened October 14th and brings with it a multitude of healthy food options and amenities for local residents. Located right off the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue, the most important addition that the new store brings is simply it’s amount of space, a huge issue which the other Whole Foods Market on Callowhill — which was only a stone’s throw away — experienced on a daily basis. According to Foobooz, the 60,000 sq ft store will have double the parking of the other location at 501 N. 22nd St. has as well as wider lanes so that shoppers don’t get bottlenecked in the aisles. In addition shoppers will be treated to a coffee bar, which serves tea-infused cocktails, a juice bar, a bulk shopping section, a 140-seat food court, and two fully stocked bars with a special Yards Brewing Company beer available on draft. Putting an emphasis on local food, the food court features cuisine from CHeU Noodle Bar, Dizengoff, Wiz Kid, and Severino Cucina Rustica. The coffee bar is handled almost entirely mechanically with a state-of-the-art Poursteady coffee machine, which executes perfectly crafted pour-overs for chemex coffee lovers. Whole Foods also promises finely crafted tea with the Bkon brewer, another futuristic beverage-maker, which uses a reverse vacuum to somehow make the tea better. Groceries can also be purchased at the new location, promising the high-quality that Whole Foods Market has come to be known for. The new flagship location is open now at 2101 Pennsylvania Ave. •
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Movies at the Pearl S H O R T R E V I E W S O F M O V I E S P L AY I N G A T T H E P E A R L ( 1 6 0 0 N B R O A D S T. ) The Accountant In “the Accountant”, Ben Affleck plays Christian Wolff, an accountant with a dark secret and an even darker childhood. While crunching numbers for a very powerful robotics company, he stumbles upon some troubling information that he shouldn’t have, and one by one, people start dropping like flies. With me so far? Okay, good. Because now, it gets a little silly once we find out that Wolff not only has a form of autism, but can also shoot, kick, punch and twist necks like the best of them. Still sound crazy? If so, that’s sort of the point. The best element of “The Accountant” is that no matter how weird and strange its story may get, it’s still compelling and mysterious. It’s never clear where the story is going to go or what else we’re going to find out about these characters. In a way, it’s the piece of cold, dark and violent adult-entertainment that’s so rarely made, only because it’s so hard to get right. Thankfully, the well-cast Affleck and company do get it right, and then some.
The Birth of a Nation Despite all of the controversy and press surrounding its subject matter, as well as its co-writer/director/star Nate Parker’s past rape allegations, “The Birth of a Nation” still isn’t worth all of the chatter it’s been getting. Parker’s take on the tale of Nat Turner - a slave who, in his very last days of living, decided to hold an uprising against his white owners and die for what he believed in – is certainly passionate and interesting, but it’s also messy. While the movie never loses it’s sense of how terrible racism was during slavery and how, in a way, racism still exists in today’s society, the movie is sluggish. Parker’s slow-pace never fully picks up and certain, more troubling aspects regarding Turner’s life - his moral conflicts, as well as his relationships - never get enough attention to where we feel like we know him. It’s an admirable effort on Parker’s behalf, but next time, more cleaning up will be needed. •
The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – October 19, 2016
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WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK
development news FIND OUT WHAT’S BEING BUILT ON YOUR BLOCK
Francisville
Divine Lorraine Hotel/Patrick Clark
Developers purchased the New Macedonia Baptist Church at 875 Corinthian Avenue in Francisville for $775,000 in May. It is uncertain what will become of the property. Around the corner, at the intersection of Corinthian Avenue and Ogden Street, three homes and a condo building were recently completed. All of the homes and condo units have already been purchased. Developers are seeking to build three duplexes on the property at 839 - 843 North 15th Street in Francisville, according to the posted zoning notices. They still must take their plan to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) for approval. The property at 727 North 20th Street is coming down and will soon be replaced with another multi-family residential building. The zoning notices posted at 753 - 755 North 20th indicate that several quadplexes will also grace the block in the near future. That is, of course, assuming that all goes according to plan. Loft District Last year, developers purchased the large property at 448 North 10th Street for $2.75 million. They are completely refurbishing the structure and are actively looking for tenants (office and creative space). The small white building affixed to the larger edifice will most likely be used for retail purposes. The property served previously as the home of the Haverford Bicycle Company.
875 Corinthian Ave./Google Maps
Fairmount The Divine Lorraine signs on top of the hotel building at 699 North Broad Street will light up on Thursday, October 27. There will be an accompanying block party on Melon Street and North Park Avenue with games, drinks and live music. Vendors will also be selling Divine Lorraine merchandise. The building will not be open to the public. The event will begin at 4PM. Brewerytown An unnamed developer has purchased six consecutive properties in Brewerytown on 27th Street north of Girard Avenue over the course of the last several months. The posted permits suggest that four triplexes and a double-wide building will be constructed on these parcels. At 1229 - 1247 North 27th, a collection of “plexes” will be built on what is currently a large parking lot. • 839-843 N. 15th Street/Google Maps
727 N. 20th Street/Google Maps
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – October 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
calendar N E W S @ S P I R I T N E W S . O R G • 1 4 2 8 E . S U S Q U E H A N N A AV E • 2 1 5 . 4 2 3 . 6 2 4 6 Tuesday, Oct., 25; Nov. 1, 6-7PM MIGHTY WRITERS SKETCH COMEDY CLASS This workshop for ages 8-10 will take place at 2123 N. Gratz St. Join us as we read and write! We'll also watch and act out comedy sketches. Tuesday, Oct. 25; Nov. 1, 6-7PM MIGHTY WRITERS SEIZE THE TIME (AGES 13-17) This workshop will take place at 2123 N. Gratz St. We'll read Bobby Seale's "Seize the Time" and write poems, compose songs and perform skits about police interactions.
TOUR AMBASSADOR TRAINING PROJECT The Strawberry Civic Association is looking for young and young at heart folks to come out to Mander Rec Center (33rd and Diamond St.) to learn Philadelphia history, Fairmount Park history, museum and trail information, etc. Tourism is a lucrative industry…. Be prepared. For more call 215-765-9500
Tuesdays, 7-8:30PM SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS OF ADOLESCENT & ADULT CHILDREN LIVING WITH ADDICTION AND BRAIN DISEASE Learn about substance use and mental health disorders Thursday, Oct. 20, 10AM every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Rodeph ShaPLANTING DAY lom (615 N Broad St) Those affected can share experiencThe Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is planning to do es and resources as well as how to support their children a little planting. They’re going to add 20,000 flower bulbs anonymously. to the Parkway (and a couple of other locations), partly in For further information contact Caron at 800-854-6023 or celebration of the 2017 Flower Show theme, “Holland.” Locations of the plantings will include Logan Square, the grounds of the Rodin, the Azalea Garden, around PHS offices at 20th and Arch, and on JFK Boulevard. To get that many bulbs in the ground, they’ll need a lot of hands. PHS has some corporate and school volunteers on tap, but would love some help from Parkway partners! Volunteers are needed from 10AM-12PM on October 20. Please direct all volunteers to Betty Greene, at bgreene@pennhort.org. Friday, October 21,7PM CANDLELIGHT NAME READING AT THE PHILADELPHIA VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 266 will hold it's annual name reading at the memorial. Please come out to show your respect for the 648 men and women from Philadelphia who made the ultimate sacrifice. The chapter is also looking for new members. For info call Chuck Bauer at 215-722-3518 Saturday, October 22, 11AM The Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society Inc. Philadelphia Chapter Family Quest will hold it's monthly meeting at Community College of Philadelphia, Northwest campus (1300 W. Godfrey Ave.) in room 244. Topic: How to Research African American Family History. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meeting dates for 2016 is Saturday 10/22/16, 11/19/16 and 12/17/16. All meetings will be held promptly at 11AM. For more information call 215-747-2786. October 29, November 12, 26, and December 10 at 2PM VINYASA FLOW YOGA. Laurie Schaffer will lead a one-hour yoga session at the Wagner Institute of Science (1700 W Montgomery Ave). Please bring your own mat and your block. This program has limited space. First come, first served. Thursday, November 3, 6:00-7:30pm MIGHTY WRITERS COLLEGE ESSAY NIGHT (AGES 16-19) This workshop will take place at 2123 N. Gratz St. Getting into the right college can mean getting into a good job or career of your choice. Get some Mighty assistance with your college essay. November 5, 9:30AM-12:30PM FAIRMOUNT FALL CLEANUP The Fairmount Civic Association’s Neighborhood Improvement Committee is holding the 5th Annual Fall Cleanup. Afterwards, volunteers are welcome to participate in a free bocce tournament. First place earns free entry to the bocce league and second earns reduced admission. Volunteers will receive museum passes to Eastern State Penitentiary, visit the playground behind Eastern State. Volunteers can register at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/ fairmount-fall-cleanup-and-bocce-tournament-tickets28340356770?aff=utm_source%3Deb_email%26utm_ medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dnew_event_ email&utm_term=eventurl_text November 22, 10AM MEDICARE BENEFITS APPRISE, a health insurance counseling program with the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, will help you review and explain your Medicare benefits. Apprise is a free, public program that will give you balanced advice. At the Wagner Institute of Science (1700 W Montgomery Ave).= Mondays, 6-8PM
Rabbi Jill Maderer at (215)-627-6747 x216 or rabbimaderer@rodephshalom.org. Tuesdays, 7-9PM OPEN MIC NIGHT Mugshots Coffeehouse (1925 Fairmount Ave.) hosts an open mic night every Tuesday. For more information visit Mugshots Coffeehouse on Facebook. Wednesdays, 5-8PM WEDNESDAY NIGHTS GAMEPLAY Every week there are different games to play in the galleries of The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Play with friends or with fellow visitors in friendly competition provided by the Museum. For further information contact Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215)-763-8100
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – October 19, 2016
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Diamond Park
D O W C H E M I C A L , H A B I TAT F O R H U M A N I T Y J O I N I N B U I L D I N G P H I L LY ’ S L A R G E S T L O C A L H A B I TAT
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n September 21st, The Dow Chemical Company joined Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia for the first phase of the Diamond Park Build, Habitat’s largest local construction project culminating in twenty-one units of affordable homeownership in the Lower North Central Philadelphia neighborhood. To support the first phase of the build, Dow contributed volunteer support from September 21 through September 24, and provided the necessary energy-saving insulation products, including STYROFOAM™ Brand XPS Insulation and GREAT STUFF PRO™ Weatherization products, to assist in completing this project. As a result of Dow’s support, the first phase is on track to result in twelve units by the summer of 2017. “For Dow, the most rewarding aspect of this project is that we’re able to help make the dream of homeownership a reality for so many families,” said Daniel S. Miller, Ph.D., Sr. Research Engineer. “This project also brings us closer to achieving Dow’s 2025 sustainability goals, and allows us to use our building science expertise to help local families own an energy-efficient, affordable house without the burden of high utility bills.” •