H Y PERLOC AL
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FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG
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WEEK NOVEMBER 23, 2016 VOL. 13 NO. 44
PPAC A generous grant funds additional materials and equipment for aspiring teen photographers. 11
CRIME BLOCKS ORCA discusses how residents can help avert violent crime at community meeting. 8
ST. LAURENTIUS Developer’s zoning variance appeal for St. Laurentius Approved by ZBA. 4
ACCU-REGGIE Seven day forecast for the Riverwards. 3
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more. 12-13
HOT OFF THE
PRESS
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 THE
local lens BY THOM NICKELS
“The Porch”, a little known film about life in Philadelphia in the year 1955, surfaced recently. A friend of mine announced its discovery when he found it among his old VHS tapes. The film, as it turned out, seemed to be in fine condition. While I had never heard of the film, I was very curious to see what it portrayed. When my friend Zorro started the film, I could see right away that the production quality was not very high. The images in the old black and white film had a faded, bleached out look. “The Porch” opens with a row house patio scene. At first, it’s not clear where the patio is located. I assumed it was South Philadelphia, but on closer inspection I was pleased to see that it was somewhere in the Riverwards. In an almost modernist way, the camera focuses on just the empty patio and keeps rolling although there is no action. Finally, we see a cat running from one end of the patio to the other. No doubt this animal is chasing a bird. After this nothing happens for a while, a Mummer, decked out in feathers and a cape, eventually struts in front of the camera. The Mummer’s cape is far humbler and simpler looking than today’s costumes. The Mummer has a heavily painted face and dances from one end of the patio to the other. All of this happens without any music. He just keeps dancing and dancing, going forward and backwards and then twirling around in this very small patio where occasionally you can see the rooftops of other row homes in the area. What struck me initially was that there was no dialogue. I wanted a script, a story. But even as the film progressed, there were only a series of kaleidoscopic images, namely of women lying in the sun. Who were these women? Some of them wore head bandanas and looked like Rosie the Riveter. It became clear that they were women of the neighborhood. Mothers, daughters and grandmothers — the women of 1955. Suddenly a narrator’s voice is heard. “The sun is warm and life is good,” he says. The voice belongs to John Facenda. When the camera pans skyward a Budweiser billboard pops into view, and then Facenda’s voice resumes. “In Philadelphia, there’s always something to make you stop crying.” The thing is, nobody in the film was crying until a baby in a cradle appears on screen. The baby was indeed crying, shaking its little fingers while crunching up its nose and moving its head from side to side. Once again, Facenda’s voice is heard. “You’re crying…well, you may have your reasons but think of all the fun that lies ahead.” “These were really optimistic times,” I said to Zorro. “They had no idea that Vietnam was just down the pike. Or that the assassination of a future President was in the wings. It’s good we don’t know what the future holds.” I no sooner said this then the images on screen seemed very familiar to me. Yes, by God, I was really seeing Aramingo Avenue in 1955. But not only Aramingo Avenue, but East Huntingdon Street, Richmond Street and many smaller streets in my immediate neighborhood. The camera seemed to be on a topography tirade as it scanned the inside of the old paint factory that stood at Huntingdon and Thompson Streets. There in front of me were workers in endless assembly lines. More close-ups of the streets— all meticulously spotless without a shred of litter, mind you — then the Mummer appeared again and proceeded to dance up towards York Street, twirling and twirling until he disappeared like a dot on the horizon. O Poor Mummer, I thought, where are you now? The camera then panned Lehigh Avenue where I caught a glimpse of the houses I still see standing today. I recognized windows and doors. There seemed to be a lot more parking spaces in 1955 and people were better dressed. No sweat suits and baseball caps. The women wore hats and many of the men wore baggy jackets and ties. Sometimes the suits were so baggy the men looked like clowns. Life seemed so formal then.
The film then showed a Strawberry Mansion bound Route 39 Peter Witt Streetcar appeared on Huntingdon at Richmond Street. Ah, the beauty of Richmond Street prior to I-95! Children played on the stoops of the row houses there as Chrysler New Yorkers and a Chevrolet Bel Air and Corvette slowly drove by. In two years, the highly eccentric looking Ford Edsel would make its way down Richmond. How many people in the Riverwards would buy an Edsel? “Everything was ruined by I-95,” Zorro observed. The route 39 appeared again, stopping to pick up two women in long dresses. Were they going into Center City to visit Horn & Hardart or Stouffer’s? A man in a bowler hat wobbled into view from a side street--did he just leave one of the bars along Lehigh Avenue?—just as two kids in a homemade go-kart came barreling around the corner, almost crashing into a lamppost. Above a small corner store I spot a Camel cigarette ad, and beside that is a faded billboard featuring Marilyn Monroe. A Cadillac convertible passes in front of the camera with an Adlai Stevenson for President bumper sticker. That’s when I remember that the country was gearing up for the November 6, 1956 presidential elections, when Dwight D. Eisenhower would beat Stevenson by almost 9 million votes. The 1956 election was the last presidential election in which both major candidates were born in the 19th century. Then, in a very shocking scene reminiscent of contemporary behavior patterns, a man and a woman appear out of a house on Richmond with Eisenhower signs and proceed to chase after the Cadillac. They appear to be shouting slogans when one of them drops their sign as both manage to jump on the trunk of the Cadillac. They pound the car furiously with their fists. The Cadillac brakes, then speeds up, and then brakes again in an attempt to throw them off the car. Eventually the motion does send the couple sailing across Richmond Street where they land in the gutter, unhurt but apparently dazed. “Election animosity is as old as the hills,” I mumble, as Facenda’s voice suddenly emerges, pleading for tolerance and unity. By now I am very engrossed in this film, and ask Zorro why it’s never been shown on public television. “The Porch” isn’t even on YouTube, as far as I know, and it might even be virtually invisible except for random showings by private collectors. Perhaps the most eerie thing about “The Porch” is that so many of the characters who appear in the film, especially after the political attack scene, closely resemble the faces of neighbors and people I see today walking in the area. “Really, they seem to be the very same people,” I said, lurching forward in my chair and pointing to a face that was a dead ringer of a local business owner. “It can’t be him,” Zorro said. “The film is from 1955.” But sightings of duplicate people only increased after the camera panned to a shopping crowd scene near Girard Avenue. That’s when the huddled masses on the street going about their errands were none other than the very people I see every week in the Riverwards. I spotted Citizen’s Bank employees, Washington Bank employees, Stock’s Bakery employees and more. All of them in 1950s dress and going about their business as they do today, 70 years later. “They’re living two lives at once,” I told Zorro, “one in an archival film and the other in 2016.” “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” I muttered, reaching for the popcorn. I really flipped when I began to see the faces of the neighbors on my street. “How is this possible?” I said to Zorro. I soon stopped asking how this was possible but started to wonder how I could step inside the film to find out what was going on. Certainly such a thing was possible. I
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knew I had to find a way to do it in order to warn these folks about I-95 (“Don’t let them build the wall!”) and to tell that fanatical Eisenhower couple that their fighting was not needed because Eisenhower would win anyway. But this would only be the beginning. I’d have a lot of other news and predictions to deliver even if nobody wanted to hear about the future. Once again the camera panned the face of the baby in a cradle. The baby was still crying and moving its little hands as John Facenda repeated, “The sun is good and life is good.” •
Christmas for Our Veterans It is that time of year already!! The American Legion Auxiliary Elm Tree Post #88, will be taking gifts to our veterans at Veterans Hospital and Veterans Nursing Home in December. Items can be dropped off at The Spirit Newspaper, located at Gaul Street & Susquehanna Avenue. We are in need of the following: Hand Lotion • Body Lotion • Body Wash • Knitted Hats • Knitted Scarves • Undershirts (L-3X)) • Batteries (AA,AAA,C) • Flannel Shirts (L-3X) • Gloves • Slippers • Board Games • White Socks • Lounging Pants (L-3X) • Puzzle Books • Card Games • Boxes of Cookies • Candy Canes • Boxed Candy • Sugar Free Treats • 2 In 1 Shampoo • Shaving Cream • Hoodies (L-XXL) • Boxer Shorts (L-XXL) So that the veterans can also select Christmas gifts for family members, we are collecting items for toddlers, children, teens and women. Thank you for your support! Further Information: Please contact Marge at 215-203-0270.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 S E V E N D AY F O R E C A S T F O R T H E R I V E R WA R D S
accu-reggie TWITTER: @ACCUREGGIE • FACEBOOK: ACCU-REGGIE
I
f you’ve lived in Philly for any amount of time, you know the weather plays games in this town! Last week was one of those “shaking your head” moments. 72 and sunny on Saturday afternoon, then what? 37 with a bitter cold rain and even snow on Saturday night in some places! WHAAA! Our climate shifted from Georgia to southern Canada in 10 hours. This week will not be as dramatic as last week but we will make up for the lack of wild temperature swings with more storms. A parade of storms are about to cross the country for a 3-week period bringing with them rain and snow. Who gets what is still up in the air but we need to watch the November 30th through December 4th time-
frame for our first measurable snowfall. The pattern is getting active so get ready for some exciting weather ahead! Wednesday features increasing clouds as many millions of people hit the road and air to head home for Thanksgiving. On the East Coast, clouds and light showers will move in from the west at night. Thanksgiving Day will be cloudy with some showers around. We will not get a lot of rain so don’t worry about your plans for the holiday. Expect lots of food and family cheer to make this a perfect day! Friday is the warmest day of the week as temperatures get to near 60! But like last week they will come down as a cold front moves through in the evening with a shower or
two and dropping us back into colder weather. Saturday and Sunday are both breezy, cool days with temperatures mostly in the 40s. It won’t feel as cold as last weekend because at least we will be more used to it now. On Monday we watch clouds increase as a storm approaches from the west. Expect rain to begin in the evening. The Monday rain will drag into Tuesday as we watch another storm approach from the South. Hhhhmmm, sound familiar? This could be our first Nor’easter. Trust me, I’ve got eyes on it! The weather winner of the week is Friday; the weather loser is Saturday. •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY ANDREW MARK CORKERY
HOLY APPROBATION D E V E L O P E R ’ S Z O N I N G VA R I A N C E A P P E A L F O R S T. L A U R E N T I U S A P P R O V E D B Y Z B A
A
fter a two week delay, on November 15th, the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustments (ZBA) approved an appeal bid to rezone St. Laurentius Church. The approved variance allows developer Leo Voloshin to follow through with his proposed plan to adaptively reuse the interior of the building into 23 apartment units while keeping the exterior “entirely intact.” As Spirit News reported in February 2016, Voloshin entered a preliminary agreement to purchase St. Laurentius Church from the Holy Name of Jesus Parish. This agreement is supported by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (AOP). Voloshin’s agreement of sale for the church was contingent on his ability to receive a zoning variance. During a recent non-binding community vote at a neighborhood zoning meeting, Matt Karp, the Executive Chair of the FNA Zoning Committee, explained why the proposed adaptive reuse requires a zoning variance. “Even though this has been a church for hundreds of years, it’s zoned right now as RSA-5 and that is for single family homes,” Karp said. “So if you want to do something to the church that does not conform to that existing zoning, you are going to need a variance in order to move forward.” Voloshin has a history of developing property in the the Riverwards, having worked on the development of an old building in Kensington, which is currently being utilized as space for his company, Print Fresh Studios. He also lives in the surrounding community with his wife and children. “We believe we have found an approach that preserves the building. We’re also going to attempt to preserve as much of the existing interior architecture as possible and not removing any of the arches or any of that stuff,” Voloshin told Spirit News back in in June. “But we’re looking at it in the sense that the only reasonable use of the building is an apartment conversion.” When Voloshin first decided to place a bid on the historic church, he did so knowing the hurdles his proposed development would face. The building was closed on March 31, 2014 and was deconsecrated due to the findings of an engineering report commissioned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In July 2015, the Philadelphia Historical Commission designated the exterior of St. Laurentius as historic, protecting the structure from demolition. But even with that designation, if the Parish, Archdiocese or developer claims financial hardship on the historic site (meaning that they don’t have enough money for necessary repairs) demolition could still occur. For almost two years, there have been disagreements in how much money it will cost to fix the historic structure. The report commissioned by the AOP through the engineering firm O’Donnell & Naccarato has estimated the cost to fix the church at around $3.5 million. Save St. Laurentius, a community group supporting various efforts to preserve the Church, has brought forth estimates between $600,000 and $700,000. Voloshin sees the cost of his adaptive reuse coming in the $1 million or more range, depending on the amount of structural issues that
arise. On September 20th, more than 200 local residents attended a zoning meeting and took part in a non-binding vote on whether or not to approve a zoning variance for St. Laurentius Church. According to Karp the final vote count read: 107 “Yes” to 165 “No.” The community vote was nearly split down the middle 73 “Yes” to 74 “No.” The local vote (residents living in close proximity to the proposed project) came out strongly against the zoning variance — 34 “Yes” to 91 “No” — due to the potential lack of parking in the immediate area. The recent decision by the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustments to grant Voloshin a variance for the structure despite the strong voter turnout against it has angered some in the community. Jesse Gardner, director of the Unsung Heroes Gallery and member of Faithful Laurentians, another St. Laurentius preservation group, explained his group's opposition to the ZBA’s recent decision. “It's a bad decision for a couple of different reasons,” Gardner said. “A majority of the neighborhood residents voted against this variance for the developer. And the neighborhood and former parishioners of the church turned out in great numbers at that ZBA hearing to say this is not just bad for the building, but also for the neighborhood in regards to density and use.” Gardner continued: “The predominant housing type in Fishtown is single family housing. The idea of cramming multi-family housing into that historic building with residents who really don’t have a stake in the neighborhood, that was a huge concern for the people that testified against this project.” Meanwhile, John Wisniewski, a member of Save St. Laurentius, sees the potential issues with opposing Voloshin’s plan for the church. If the plan for apartments is not supported it could leave the AOP with no other option than to demolish the church building. “There have been no takers on this church and this guy (Voloshin) came through,” Wisniewski said. “I don’t see any other way we can save the exterior aspects of the church unless it's repurposed and this is the only person that has stepped up to help after much outreach.” Wisniewski added: “I know it's going to be profitable for him in the long run, but at least he is willing to make the repairs needed to the exterior of the building so it can serve as a landmark in Fishtown.” Wisniewski believes that in lieu of another economically feasible plan for the historic church, those opposed to Voloshin’s plan should accept the reality of the current situation facing the structure. Wisniewski thinks that it may be hard for some to accept this fate, saying that members of the Faithful Laurentians have been steadfast in their efforts to save their church. He characterizes their efforts as “shooting for the stars.” In recent months, members of Faithful Laurentians have attempted to take matters into their own hands by creating an alternative plan they view as a means to “save the entirety” of the historic structure. Their two-part plan would, in theory, create a non-profit 501(c)(3) group called The Faithful Laurentius Institute. The new organization
Renderings of the proposed St. Laurentius Apartments
would be charged with writing grants, seeking donations, doing public outreach and setting up educational programs to teach people about the church. The plan’s second facet would include a cooperative business arm called the St. Laurentius Polish Cultural Center, which would be heavily engaged in event planning, hosting weddings, corporate events, community functions, concerts and other events. However, there are no available funds for such a plan at this point in time. The group’s plan for the church has not come without its own critics. Save St. Laurentius member AJ Thomson says that the Faithful Laurentians have been misleading the community about their plans. In an email forwarded to Spirit News, Thomson outlined his concerns to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: “The Faithful Laurentians group has spread these claims throughout our community and convinced a number of elderly, long-time St. Laurentius parishioners that [Faithful Laurentians’ plan for] re-purposing is both possible and probable,” Thomson said. “I request that the Office for Property Services [for the AOP] issue a statement in Holy Name Parish Bulletin or in our local papers to dispel this fiction.” Thomson added: “Those of us on the Save St. Laurentius Committee and in our community who believe that the development with Leo Voloshin's group is the best way to save the church building have fought hard to get us to this position, which preserves the structure and, importantly, preserves the finances of our parish in the best possible fashion. We believe the AOP should let our parish and the Fishtown community in general know the truth.” The Archdiocese chose to provide only a brief comment for this story — while not agreeing to answer a number of questions — saying that they “would not be available for a phone interview on this topic.” “At this time it remains a parish matter,” Ken Gavin, AOP Communications Director, said in an email to Spirit News. “We certainly support the parish in its efforts to be a prudent steward of its assets and look toward the safety of the community, but we have no further comment beyond that at this time.” When asked to respond to questions regarding the recent zoning approval, Voloshin provided no specific comment, only saying that he would respond to all questions regarding the approval and a timeline for the adaptive reuse of St. Laurentius at a later date in the near future. •
Leo Voloshin address the crowd at the zoning meeting./Andrew Mark Corkery
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY JAMES RENNIE
Turkey Brawl
L O C A L B O X E R S S PA R AT T H E F R O N T S T R E E T G Y M AT A N N U A L F U N D R A I S E R F I G H T N I G H T
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n the evening of Saturday, November 19th, boxing fans, friends and members of Front Street Gym (2076 E. Clearfield St.) all congregated to celebrate Thanksgiving by taking part in and spectating the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Brawl. With 2016 being the eleventh year that the Turkey Brawl has taken place, the event has become somewhat of a tradition in the Kensington area. Opening its doors in 1959, Front Street Gym is littered with history. More recently, the 2015 box office hit "Creed", the latest instalment in the famous "Rocky" franchise, was filmed at the gym. Front Street Gym has been owned and run by Frank Kubach for the past 27 years. Sponsored by Kensington Pub and charging $25 a ticket at the door, the money raised from the Turkey Brawl will go towards boxing initiatives, local schools and maintenance of the gym itself. Frank Kubach told Spirit News, “They [Kensington Pub] put most of this stuff together and it’s all for a really good cause. We collect all the cash and make sure we take it to the schools.” “We’re here for the kids,” Ben Antipua, a representative from the Kensington Pub, added. “Frank Kubach is a great guy and he needs a lot of support, he’s running it on a string but he’s doing a great job.” With residents of Kensington always seeking to showcase their neighborhood and it’s unique culture, events like the Turkey Brawl help in that regard. Events like this help to promote the area, bringing the community together and most importantly, raise money for a very worth while cause - setting children off on a constructive pathway to encourage their future success. “Frank Kubach gives back to every kid who doesn’t have anything for school,” explained Kubach’s son, Francis Kubach. “The kids who can’t afford school supplies, he tries to help them out.” The Turkey Brawl featured local boxers Patrick Otto, Hank Quinn, Minguel Montero, John Michaels, Anthony Caputo, Edgar Torres, Mike Chappell, Tommy Farrell, Jose A. Rivera Jr., Shane DeNofa, Jerry Cullen, Jose Suater, Sonny H., Fred Druding Jr., Francis Kubach, Jake Rodriguez and Norman Tory. There were ten bouts, each lasting three rounds. Every contributing fighter received a belt after their fight, provided by the Kensington Pub. “It’s an exhibition here tonight, a showcase,” Kubach explained. Front Street Gym is an important place and extremely valued within the Kensington community. It gives young people a place to go, somewhere that everyone has in common and provides a constructive activity that can occupy their time. “This event lets the kids know that there is something else out there besides crime and everything like that. It keeps kids fit and keeps them off the street. There is a whole bunch of good people in Kensington,” Antipua added. There is a significant problem in the surrounding area with the abuse of opiates, so Front Street Gym does it’s best to keep kids off the streets and promote a positive, healthy lifestyle. “Here is the reality, 40,000 people overdosed on opiates last year in the United States,” said Mike Rogers, the announcer of the Turkey Brawl. “So if we can reach out and save one kid, we’re saving a family and we’re saving a generation.” Rogers added, “There is a lot of negative out on these streets and this is something positive. You look at all these people here and there are at least 15 kids that were off the streets today. They’re in here doing something good.” The atmosphere never dampened as spectators shouted and cheered on the boxers until the last punch was thrown, making for a bustling, exciting environment. After each bout, both fighters would pose for a photograph
with their newly acquired belt over their shoulder. Spectator Joe Bonk told Spirit News, “The participants serve as a role models for future fighters coming through the ranks. This event is great for the community and we all look forward to it each year.” The success stories and appreciation of Front Street Gym can be heard far and wide. “I’ve been boxing up at this gym for 30 years,” said Monty Sherrick of Kensington. “It helped me out back in the 1970’s when I was a young kid trying to get off of the streets. It gave me goals and taught me how to be disciplined; it was a way of life. I’ve learnt a lot here that’s carried me through life.” As the Thanksgiving Turkey Brawl came to its climactic end around 10PM with the most anticipated bout of the night, people left Front Street Gym in high spirits. •
/All photos by James Rennie The crowd watched on as bout after bout took place at Front Street Gym.
The fighters pose for a photo.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY JORDYN CORDNER
Turkey Giveaway
L U T H E R A N S E T T L E M E N T H O U S E A N D PA R T N E R S P R O V I D E 2 0 0 T U R K E Y S F O R C L I E N T S I N N E E D N E E D
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n Monday, November 21st, Councilmen Darrell L. Clarke and William T. Greenlee worked alongside Lutheran Settlement House volunteers, staff members and representatives from Aria Health Network and WalMart to provide turkeys and other Thanksgiving dinner essentials to those in need. The 10th annual Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway took place at Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) from 10AM to 11AM. Lutheran Settlement House works with a variety of clients to assist them with their needs involving domestic violence, career and education services, medical advocacy, senior citizen services and homelessness. At the giveaway, clients lined up and were assisted by volunteers, including Clarke and Greenlee, in loading up carts and bags with turkeys, vegetables, breads and pies. Christine Stutman, LSH’s new Executive Director, explained that many clients return to them for the giveaway. “Most of the clients that we work with will come and get a Turkey basket from us,” Stutman said. “We’re working with clients who are at or below the poverty level, so this helps them make a Thanksgiving dinner.” Stutman says that most of the clients who come to the giveaway are seniors, “but we do have people from our domestic violence program and the other programs that we run, so there are some families as well.” Michelle Conley, Chief Nurse at Aria Health, is a board member at LSH and leads the charge in Aria Health’s food collection efforts. “A lot of our nurses have volunteered here at Lutheran for a long time and a lot of our students have been involved, and within the last year I’ve become a board member here, so we are more than happy to support all of the endeavors of Lutheran Settlement,” Conley said. The hospital sponsors a food drive each year to help provide these goods as well as other events and outreach that culminate in their collection of 200 bags of food to donate. Conley has seen the work of the nursing department and herself affect the lives of clients and speaks highly of their partnership with LSH. “We have a medical advocate who works in our ER, so we’ve partnered with Lutheran Settlement around that. And there was a particular client who came in who our security guard identified as having an issue with domestic violence,” Conley said. “She went on to go through the full continuum of services and she and her family are actually doing well now, where they were in a really bad position before. Had we not had that partnership with Lutheran, you can’t help but wonder how many people might fall through the cracks.” Although Stutman has only been with LSH for a short period of time, she’s confident in the impact of their work.
The spread of donated food bags at LSH./All photos by Jordyn Cordner “WalMart has been here for ten years. Darrell Clarke has been doing this for a number of years, and Greenlee [has] as well. Darrell Clarke’s office donates turkeys to us, Aria Health also donated food, and Wal Mart as well. I know that the families and the seniors that we serve are very poor and would not be able to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner without this help. I know just from experience and working at non-profits that it makes a difference.” •
Michelle Conley gives out Aria Health bags full of dry goods.
Darrell Clarke and William Greenlee hand out turkeys of their own donation to clients.
Drs. Kent, Ralston, Metzger and Staff would like to cordially invite you to bring your family, friends and neighbors to attend our
PATIENT APPRECIATION DAY Saturday, December 3rd 2016, 8:00AM-1:00PM AT Allegheny Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center 2514 E. Allegheny Avenue | Santa arrives at 10AM
All services provided will be offered free including X-ray if necessary in exchange for donations of non-perishable food items or new toys to benefit those in need within our community. All New Patients by appointment only. Call today! (215) 425-1110
Christine Stutman works alongside other volunteers to keep the food line moving smoothly.
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY JOHN HENRY SCOTT
American Street EXPLAINING WHAT'S IN S TORE F OR TH E S OUTH KE N S I N G TON CO R R IDO R
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he American Street Improvement Project is a federally funded initiative facilitated by the City of Philadelphia to redesign 1.9 miles of North American Street from Girard to Indiana Avenue. Developments to the roadway will include bike lanes, new lighting, wider sidewalks, a reduction to one lane of traffic per direction, a landscaped median and stormwater management systems. On November 15th and 17th, project coordinators held open house meetings as a means of public involvement. People who live and work in the vicinity of the project were given a platform to voice their opinions and to help prioritize elements of the project that they feel personally invested in. Since construction is not slated to begin until January 2018, the project is still at a phase in which it can be restructured as per public opinion. Project coordinators have made it clear that they are eager to hear and help accommodate community voices. The budget for this renewal project is $15 million dollars and corridor construction is split into three sections: Girard to Cecil B. Moore, Cecil to Lehigh, and Lehigh to Indiana. Each section will receive specific attention based on the needs of the people who live in it. Kathryn Drake, a civil engineer from the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), explained that North American is a perfect site for developing stormwater management infrastructure because of the rail lines that run down its median. There aren’t any utilities (such as plumbing or electrical wires) underneath those rails; utilities being one of the main things that get in the way when building infrastructure to manage stormwater. Their absence creates a blank canvas for developing stormwater management systems. What Drake and the PWD are proposing is something called a bioswale, a kind of ditch that retains stormwater and allows it to sink naturally back into the earth. The ditch would run the entire length of the developed area and be planted with indigenous vegetation which would in turn benefit and filter the stormwater runoff, reducing sewer overflow. “We’ve paved too much of the city for this process to happen naturally,” Drake said. Darin Gatti of the Philadelphia Streets Department is
the chief engineer for this project. According to Gatti, the project has been in development for almost a decade. “It takes a long time to get $15 million together,” he said. Gatti and his associates selected North American Street mainly because of the amount of space taken up by the defunct rail tracks. “We want to make this area more attractive for more commercial development which would bring more jobs into the neighborhood and stimulate the local economy,” Gatti explained. Gatti and his team also wanted to make the area safer. According to him, wide streets have been proven to be more dangerous, which is why the project focuses on narrowing the roadway. They began putting together a blueprint for a new streetscape long before funding came through. Eventually, the
Philadelphia Water Department got on board with their Green Stormwater Infrastructure program. With their focus now honed on clean water, economic development and public safety, the team applied for and were awarded a TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant. TIGER is a grant organization run by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It was this grant of $10.2 million that made all these ideas and blueprints behind the North American Project into a reality. Public meetings concerning the redevelopment of North American Street will continue throughout the next year. • For more information visit http://www.southkensingtoncommunity.org/ or email AmericanStStreetscape@gmail.com
A view of the Crane Arts Building from American Street. /Google Street View
WRITTEN BY ROMAN BLAZIC
Penn Treaty Park
3 3 4 T H A N N I V E R S A RY O F W I L L I A M P E N N ' S T R E AT Y W I T H T H E N A N T I C O K E L E N N I - L E N A P E P E O P L E C E L E B R AT E D
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n Saturday, November 19th, the Friends of Penn Treaty Park celebrated the 334th anniversary of the of the signing of the unbroken peace treaty. A small group gathered around the great-great grandchild of the original Peace Elm under which the peace treaty was made in 1682. The Reverend John Norwood, the founding Pastor of Ujima Village Christian Church, is a Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Councilman and Judge. He also serves as the government liaison for the Confederation of Sovereign Nanticoke-Lenape Tribes, which is a union of the three interrelated tribal nations of Nanticoke and Lenape people remaining in the area of the Delaware Bay. Reverend Norwood delivered a heartfelt speech on the meaning of the oneness of all people and the Earth. He led all in attendance in a blessing of this noble truth "by deeds of peace." This blessing comes through prayer and the sacred use of tobacco. Norwood said that tobacco has the quality of being able to absorb. When made into a poultice, it can absorb toxins out of a rash or bug bite. When you pray with it, it absorbs your prayers. And when smoked, the smoke carries your prayers up to the Creator. Hold a pinch of tobacco between the first three fingers of your hand, say your prayer, then open your fingers and let the tobacco fall to the ground. Don’t toss it, let it fall. The nature spirits will then work on fulfilling that prayer. “White people misused tobacco, the sacred medicine of the native people, and it made them sick. When native people misused white people's medicine, the sacred wine of the mass, it became their undoing.” We must respect one another’s medicines. We must respect our different worldly cultures. •
Tobacco used during the ceremony.
Chilrden working in coloring books at the park.
Rev. Norwood at Penn Treaty. /All photos by Michael Klusek
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY JOHN HENRY SCOTT
Crime Blocks U P D AT E O N O L D E R I C H M O N D S H O O T I N G E A R L I E R T H I S M O N T H
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n November 7th, a teenager was fatally shot at the corner of Trenton and Firth in Olde Richmond. According to Dan Martino, a community organizer with the Olde Richmond Civic Association (ORCA), the tragic shooting was part of an escalation of problems with a gang of teenagers who had been harassing people in that area. It was the first homicide in Olde Richmond since 2011. On November 10th, ORCA held a meeting at St. Michael’s, a church on the block where the incident occurred, to discuss how tragedies like this might be averted. About 100 people were in attendance. “Basically, the takeaway was that we need more community involvement,” Martino said. “When something happens, when someone’s threatened, you need to call the police.” The police can’t do much about misdemeanors unless the perpetrator is caught in the act. However Martino cited the three-dozen security cameras recently installed in the neighborhood as part of an ORCA initiative to get more eyes on the street. “People have been saying these kids have been threatening them with knives and firecrackers and if that’s caught on tape that’s a felony charge. That’s when you can take action,” said Martino. He hopes that the threat of actual prosecution will help to quell the menacing some residents are experiencing. Captain George Kappe of the 26th Police District seconded Martino’s advice. “If you feel there is something that we need to address, dial 911,” Kappe said. “If there is a chronic problem, call the 26th District directly and make a complaint. We’ll make note of it and be able to have more consistent patrols around the area in question.” However, these are all measures that must be taken after an actual incident occurs. The corncer of Trenton Avenue and Firth Street./Google Street View
Martino, Kappe and their organizations are also interested in taking proactive measures to try to ensure this kind of violence and criminal mischief doesn’t happen in the first place. After all, the children and teenagers perpetrating these crimes are victims too, in the sense that this kind of behavior is counteractive to a healthy and productive lifestyle. Both Martino and Kappe are excited about the prospect of the Police Athletic League (PAL) opening up a location in the 26th District. PAL is an organization which provides after-school activities for youth in underserved neighborhoods. Activities at PAL centers range from sports to chess clubs, computer classes and tutoring. With the help of a $250,000 grant from the Olde Kensington Senior Housing Associates, it is confirmed that a PAL center is coming to the 26th District. However, the location of the center is still to be determined. Martino also emphasized the importance of communication between community organizations in the wake of this tragedy. Trenton and Firth is right on the border of Olde Richmond and East Kensington, so members of the East Kensington Neighborhood Association (EKNA) were also present at the November 10th meeting. EKNA President, Nic Esposito, agrees with Martino on the idea of increased communication between community organizations. He believes that a consistent exchange of ideas between organizations would allow community leaders to learn from each other’s experience. He’s also on board with finding proactive ideas to address the problem of youth violence in these neighborhoods. “The question we should be considering is how do we engage youth from the end of the school day to curfew?” Esposito said. “If this is the problem, we need to solve it as a community.” Esposito wants to focus on these proactive solutions. He has an idea for an iteration of the National Night Out program, in which, on a designated night, community residents would all come out, sit on their stoops and talk to each other. The goal here is to get neighbors to know each other better and in turn create a more present community. “We all need to know who our neighbors are,” Esposito said. Communication is key in strengthening neighborhoods and, in the age of the internet, some of that communication takes place online. Laura Tepper is the moderator of “Safer Streets for Fishtown, East Kensington, and Olde Richmond,” a closed Facebook group which acts as a forum for neighbors to discuss local crime problems. “Our goal is to provide a place where neighbors can share experiences without fear and with the common goal of increasing safety in the community,” Tepper said via email. “We work with the 26th District to provide information, including security video footage, whenever possible. Sadly, our work did not prevent the shooting but we remain committed to working with the PPD across neighborhood boundaries to increase safety in 19125.” Tepper went on to suggest that, “concerned residents may request to join the group on Facebook and we also encourage neighbors to attend the ORCA Townwatch meeting on December 8 at St. Michael's church. It is open to all neighbors in 19125 and is a good way to be involved offline.” • More information about ORCA, EKNA and how to get involved is available on their Facebook pages and at http://www.olderichmond.org/ and https://ekna.org/
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY SPIRIT STAFF
new mural
P O R T S I D E A R T S C E N T E R S T U D E N T S F I N I S H N E W M U R A L F O R S T. A N N E ’ S S E N I O R C E N T E R
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n August, Spirit News reported that a group of young artists visited St. Anne’s Senior Center (2607 E Cumberland St.) to finalize the design for a new mural. The artists, a group of campers ages 8-12 from Portside Arts Center’s summer arts camp, were preparing a four panel mural to hang on the wall of the senior center. The mural is officially complete and can be seen on the Greensgrow Farms side of St. Anne's Senior Center. Greensgrow will have a ceremony during their holiday activities where the mural will be dedicated to their late founder, Mary Seton Corboy. The students learned so much from the senior citizens at St. Anne's, and had a great experience learning about collaboration in the arts and the value of public art in our community. •
Holy Name Of Jesus
Christmas Bazaar Holy Name (701 Gaul St.) will hold its Christmas Bazaar on December 3rd from 11AM - 8PM.
The event will include baskets, food, chance wheels, and crafts for children. Come and enjoy the day with us!
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY SPIRIT STAFF
photo arts center
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‘ T E E N P H O T O ’ P R O G R A M M A D E S T R O N G E R T H A N K S T O T H E F O R M A N FA M I LY F U N D
he Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC) sets forth on the fall season with a $25,800 grant from The Nessa Forman, David Forman, Eleanor and Solomon Forman Family Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation, to further expand the free after-school Teen Photo Program. Annually, from October to May, PPAC’s free after-school Teen Photo program gives students eight months of full access to PPAC’s equipment, materials and talented teaching staff, as well as their own DSLR camera to take home for the duration of the school year. With enrollment open to any Philadelphia public high school student, Teen Photo provides hands-on access to the arts for students whose day-to-day curriculums often lack arts education. Once a week, teens meet to go on photo walks, explore photography exhibitions, and learn new and exciting techniques. But it’s not just technical skills that are gained – by thinking critically and creatively through photography, students develop a love of learning that helps them grow in every aspect of their academic and personal lives. The program culminates at the end of the year with the Teen Photo Exhibition, in which each student is given a space in PPAC’s gallery to artistically showcase their work in whatever manner they please. Thanks to the Forman Family Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation, PPAC can ensure access to high-end equipment and materials for each and every student, despite Teen Photo’s increasing enrollment and demand in Philadelphia. With these funds, students will no longer have to wait for laptops and can delve into the world of post-production and fine-art printing software whenever they choose. Additionally, materials like camera cases, flash drives and memory cards will ensure teens have everything they need to fully explore their creative visions.
“Teen Photo is such an exciting program because we get to watch students open up and discover another side of themselves,” said PPAC Executive Director Sarah Stolfa. “They share their images, along with stories from their lives, and they’re building confidence all along the way. It’s great to know that because of the Forman Family Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation and their commitment to arts education, PPAC is able to make the Teen Photo experience as transformative as possible for every student enrolled.” Since 1918, The Philadelphia Foundation has been devoted to improving the quality of life in Bucks, Chester, Dela-
ware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties, by linking those with financial resources to those who serve societal needs. The Foundation grows more than 900 charitable funds established by its donors, and distributes around $20 million annually in grants and scholarships to nearly 1,000 nonprofit organizations. Through this support, the Foundation builds healthy communities, strengthens children and families, advances economic opportunities, and enhances culture and recreation. •
More information on The Philadelphia Foundation can be found at www.philafound.org
WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK
Development News FIND OUT W H AT’S BE I N G BUILT ON Y OUR BL OC K .
Fishtown
St. Laurentius Church/Max Pulcini
Last week, the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) voted to grant an appeal to convert the historic St. Laurentius Church at 1608 East Berks Street in Fishtown into an apartment building. Developer Leo Voloshin purchased the property from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in February and later proposed constructing 23 residential units in the church. The structure’s exterior will remain as is. Port Richmond BMK Homes, a subsidiary of the River Wards Group, is constructing a 12-unit development project at 2517 East Cambria Street. Construction is still in progress; the homes in back facing Monmouth Street are currently being framed. Four of the homes have already been sold, and an additional three are now on the market. Northern Liberties The Fire, a bar and entertainment venue at 410 - 412 West Girard Avenue, was put on the market several weeks ago for $950,000. The price includes everything inside the two buildings, as well as the liquor license. There is a pair of two-bedroom apartment units on the upper floors. It will be a turnkey transaction, meaning that the establishment will be ready for use immediately after it is purchased. A 200-year-old row of houses at 81 - 95 Fairmount Avenue in Northern Liberties was recently added the the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. The case dragged on for months and caused much controversy and debate. John Farnham, executive director of the Philadelphia Historical Commission, was integral in the preservation of the row of houses. •
The Fire/Google Street View
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 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
m eet ing s NKCDC OPEN OFFICE HOURS NKCDC is hosting open office hours in the 19134 zip code at two locations. They will be at the Firm Hope Baptist Church on Tulip and Auburn Streets every second Wednesday of the month from 4-7PM. They will assist you with signing up for benefits like SNAP, connecting to housing counselors for any housing needs, rent and property tax rebates, food referrals, health insurance and safety or quality of life issues in your community. For further information contact Tess at tdonie@NKCDC. org or 215-427-0350 x 139. AL-ANON AT HOLY NAME CHURCH HALL Meetings are held every Monday night from 7-8PM at Holy Name Church Hall at 701 Gaul Street. Anything shared at a meeting stays there and everyone is welcome to attend. Al-Anon meetings are free, anonymous and confidential. NETWORKING MEETINGS Philadelphia Mastermind Group – Every Friday, 8-9:30AM, B2B Networking at Front Street Café (1253 N Front St.) HAPCO/DIG/GPAR – 2nd Thursday of the Month, 12:001:30PM. Lunch & Learn, real estate meetup at the Greater Philadelphia Association of realtors (341 North Delaware Avenue, Suite 200) DIG/HAPCO – 3rd Wednesday of the Month, 6:30-8:30PM. Philly Riverwards Sub-Group, Diversified Investors Groups meet up at Front Street Café (1253 N Front St.) For more information contact Joe Scorese 215-290-5108 or jscorese@firstrust.com.
events Wednesday, November 23, 5:30 to 8:30PM THANKSGIVING ON THE BLOCK The Block Church is excited to announce Thanksgiving on the Block—Philadelphia’s third annual Thanksgiving Eve meal. This free dinner will be held at Richmond Hall (2619 E. Indiana Ave.). This is an open event for anyone in need this Thanksgiving. Free health checks will also be provided by Bebashi, a health management agency. If you would like to be involved in the event by serving, volunteering, or financially donating to cover costs, please email outreach@theblockchurch.org. Most importantly, if you would like a meal or know someone who needs a meal, please call (267) 777-9978 or register at www.theblockchurch.org. Thursday, November 24, 11AM FISHTOWN TURKEY BOWL The annual Turkey Bowl will take place on Thanksgiving at Hetzells playground (Thompson and Palmer). The game is open to all former players of the original Fishtown Rough Touch League of the late 60s and mid 80s. Cost of a game jersey and beer is $25. Numbers will be put on jerseys on the night of the draft. Please bring your money to Draft Night — which is almost as much fun as the game itself! Please do not allow the fun gathering of old friends and adversaries to pass into the beyond. For more info call Tom Callen at 215-510-2862 or moondog5060@aol.com Saturday, November 26, 11AM EMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AUCTION Austion at 2628 Fillmore St. (off Thompson St.), ticket in basket silent auction. Admission $4 (includes $1 in tickets), food and snacks are available for purchase. Drawing starts at 12:30PM For contact info, call 215-205-2318 or email dreppert@ verizon.net Saturday, November 26, 10AM-4PM??? SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY @ GREENSGROW FARMS Our winter hours begin at both of our locations on November 26 for Small Business Saturday! Shop your small local businesses. We will be open weekends from 10am– 4pm, and Wednesday–Friday we’re open late for holiday shopping, 12–8pm. Come by and get your holiday trees, wreaths, greens, winter flowering plants and bulbs, and check out our selection of gift ideas. Greensgrow Farms: 2501 E. Cumberland Street
Thursday, December 1, 4PM-6PM ARTIST RECEPTION: ROB POLIDORO Celebrate the work of reCreate Featured Artist of December, Rob Polidoro! Rob uses reclaimed materials from The Resource Exchange in his paintings. Join him at the re on Thursday, December 1st for a reception in our reCreate Gallery! Will take place at The Resource Exchange (1701 N. 2nd St.). More information about the artist on our website: http:// www.theresourceexchange.org/create/recreate-artists/joseph-polidoro/ Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/ events/325211254532646/ (IMAGE: see "Two Waterslides in Confrontation") Saturday, December 3rd, 8AM to 1PM PATIENT APPRECIATION DAY AT ALLEGHENY FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC CENTER All services provided will be offered “FREE” in exchange for non-perishable food items and/or new toys to be donated to benefit those in need within our community. Santa arrives at 10 am! All new patients are by appointment only! Call today to reserve your spot at (215) 425-1110. Saturday, December 3rd, 2PM-5PM COMMAND + V A Matisse-Cutout and Collage Workshop with Rob Polidoro reCreate Featured Artist, Rob Polidoro, will lead participants in using reclaimed art materials to learn about Matisse-Cutouts. In the post-postmodern world we live in, where digital images can be copied and pasted to infinity like an endless collage, how can we intervene and bring the human hand back into our lives? By investigating Matisse’s cutouts, we can ourselves expand our artistic practices and breathe new life into our artistic consciousness. Will take place at The Resource Exchange (1701 N. 2nd St.). Details and RSVP information on our website: http://www. theresourceexchange.org/workshops/command-v-a-matisse-cutout-and-collage-workshop/. Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1794949807451601/ (IMAGE: see "matissecutoutworkshop") Saturday, December 3, 10AM–3PM WINTER CSA BEGINS & FARMSTAND Share pick up is at Greensgrow Farms on Saturdays from 10am–3pm alongside our farmstands. Eat local and support local farmers and producers, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the bounty of our region from December to April. Greensgrow meets with our region’s finest farmers and producers to plan our biweekly winter shares, that unlike other CSAs, include vegetables, fruits, a dairy or vegetable protein choice as well as fun items like honey, cider or preserves. We offer meat, veggie and vegan option. We offer additional shares like locally roasted coffee and artisan cheese shares too! Deadline to sign up for first share November 26. Sign up and info: http://greensgrow.csasignup.com/ members/types Friday, December 2, 7PM COACH BAG BINGO The Sons of Italy in Port Richmond (2537 E. Monmouth St) is having a Coach Bag Bingo on Friday Dec 2 at 7pm. Tickets are $30. Saturday, December 3, 10AM - 2PM CRAFT SHOW At Grace Church and the Incarnation (Edgemont & Venango Streets). Vendors Needed, $25 a Space. Bring Your Own Table. Call Ken Paul to Reserve 215-380-9783 Saturday, December 3, 11AM - 8PM HOLY NAME OF JESUS CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Holy Name (701 Gaul St.) will hold its Christmas Bazaar from 11AM - 8PM. The event will include baskets, food, chance wheels, and crafts for children. Come and enjoy the day with us. Tuesday, December 6, 7PM-8:30PM Kensington Community Food Co-op Hosts Book Launch Join us as we welcome Anthony Flaccavento and the launch of his newest book Building a Healthy Economy from the Bottom Up. Let's talk about sustainability, community development, strong towns, local prosperity, and a newer way of living for each other. (2670 Coral Street,
Phila.). This event is free. Saturday, December 10, 2016, 1PM - 3PM CHRISTMAS PENNY PARTY First Presbyterian Church (Kensington, 418 E. Girard Ave) will be hosting a Christmas Penny Party from 1-3PM. There will be fun, food, and prizes. Admission is $5 and includes one strip of tickets. Saturday, December 10, 4PM CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND COOKIES Come attend our 2nd annual Community Sing followed by cookies and refreshments. All are welcome. Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Church, 4th & Fairmount in Northern Liberties. Questions? Please call 215-627-6148 or email saint.michaels@verizon.net. Saturday, December 10, 9AM-5PM FIRST ANNUAL ST. NICHOLAS BAZAAR At Atonement Lutheran Church (1542 E. Montgomery Ave.). Handmade Gifts, Silent Auction, Baked Goods, Holiday Decor, Crafts, Raffles, Flea Market Finds, Kids Secret Santa Shopping, Food and Drinks. Vendors wanted, $25.00 table For more information call 215-866-7133 Saturday, December 10, 10AM-2PM ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR St. Michael’s Church (Trenton Ave & Cumberland St.) will be having their Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, December 10, from 10 AM until 2 PM. Mark your calendars for a visit with Santa, shopping at all the “goodie” tables that will be available, including those for baked goods, Santa’s Workshop, Tombola Table, raffles, and much more. The Parish Hall will offer homemade food. Plan to stay for one of our favorite lunch specials or homemade soup and dessert. We are asking those who join us to bring a canned good to support St. Michael’s Food Pantry. Call 215-423-0792 to reach the church. Sunday, December 11, 2PM to 4PM COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS LUNCH Join FACT, FNA and Sugar House Casino as we celebrate the Holiday Season at Holy Name of Jesus Church. Lunch, Santa & Mrs. Claus, holiday music and great neighbors! This is a FREE event. We will also be collecting items for Christmas for our Vets (socks, scarves, puzzle books, personal care items) and toys for the 26th Police District Toy Drive. Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 10AM–12PM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS @ GREENSGROW Stop by the craft table to make something fun to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Appropriate for 12 and under. Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, 10 & 11 • 10AM–4PM GREENSGROW FARMS HOLIDAY BAZAAR Shop local, support local artists! Looking for local, handmade gift ideas from some of the neighborhood’s most talented crafters and artists? Make a dent in your Christ-
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 mas shopping at the Greensgrow Holiday Bazaar! This is a festive neighborhood favorite, get your tree or holiday greens and check out all of the cool wares our elves have made. We’ll have a range of fine art, crafts and gifts; jewelry, ceramics, wood working, accessories, green gifts, bath/ body, Greensgrow made edible and growing gifts, and lots more. There are different artists each day of the event. Check out the photo gallery from last year’s event here. The farm will be bursting with evergreen swags, holiday trees, and more for your winter décor. Our trees range in size from tabletop to tall. We have great gift items like rosemary bushes, dwarf Alberta Spruce, mini-evergreens, and winter flowering plants like cyclamens, amaryllis, Christmas cactus and paperwhite bulbs. For more: greensgrow.org/holidaybazaar Location: Greensgrow Farms, 2501 East Cumberland Street
Wednesday PRESCHOOL STORYTIME AT RICHMOND LIBRARY This program is intended for children ages 1-4 and their caregiver. Siblings are always welcome. Daycares should call for separate appointments. Richmond Branch of the Free Library, 2987 Almond Street. For further information call 215-685-9992.
3rd and 4th of Every Month, 6:30PM-8:30PM WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE CLASSES Fishtown Recreation Center is hosting a Women’s Self Defense class 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM on the 3rd and 4th Tuesdays of each month for $10 per class starting 11/15/16. You can register in person at the Rec on weekdays 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM or on Saturdays 9:00 PM to 12:00 noon.
Sundays SUNDAY BINGO St. Anne Church will host bingo on Sundays in the Social Hall, Memphis and Tucker streets. Doors open at 4PM; bingo starts at 6PM. Cost is $12. Call 215-739-4590 for more details.
Last Tuesday of every month, 7PM SPIRITUAL INQUEERY A safe space to explore and study the intersection of faith and sexuality for LGBTQIA+ Christians and Inquirers. Come share, listen, learn, and find community support in navigating the trials and tribulations of this life. We meet on the last Tuesday of every month at 1542 E. Montgomery Ave. Wednesdays, 6 to 7PM WEDNESDAY EVENING CLEAN-UPS IN EAST KENSINGTON At Huntingdon Emerald (Huntingdon & Emerald) and Arcadia Commons (Kern Street, Mid-Block). Join us each Wednesday evening for clean ups at two of our beloved neighborhood parks! Help keep our green spaces beautiful by supporting Arcadia Commons. Monthly board meetings, open to the public, take place on the third Thursday of each month at 2614 Amber Street. Wednesdays, 6-7:30PM FALL NIGHTS IN THE MEADOWS Have you joined us in The Meadows? Since last month, The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center has been hosting free arts programming every Wednesday, 6-7:30PM, in our pop up park across the street from the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (1400 N American St. #103). heck out the lineup: November 23: Community Service Project November 30: The Meadows Closing Party Thursdays POWERS PARKS FARMER’S MARKET Come attend the Farmers’ Market on Thursdays from 3-7PM at Powers Park (Ann & Almond Streets). Fresh food available from local farms and kitchens. More information (vendors, etc.) is available on the Powers Park Conservancy Facebook page. Sundays, 12-4PM AMALGAM ADVENTURER’S LEAGUE Adventurers! Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse is now hosting Adventurers' League play on Sundays from noon to 4PM. Bring your level 1 character, or just yourself and our DM will have pre-gens, and join us as we begin the new season of Storm King's Thunder with the Great Upheaval adventure. New and experienced players welcome! Every Sunday morning, 10AM LET THE CHILDREN COME. Progressive, child-led Christian education for children ages 3-13. Storytelling (with ample time for wondering) with a focus on processing through art. All children and families welcome, regardless of religious affiliation. At Atonement Lutheran Church, 1542 E. Montgomery Ave.
children SIXERS NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUE Hancock Rec has more openings for players in their SNBL league held at Moffett Elementary School. For more information please contact Coach Larry @215-685-9877, or come to Moffet to register on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-6PM. FISHTOWN LIBRARY Tuesdays: Toddler Storytime: Join Miss Dana for stories, songs, and silliness! Tuesdays @ 10:30AM. For ages 0-3 ½ . Runs through November 15
December 27, 28, and 29th, 8:30AM - 3:30PM NOLIBS WINTER CAMP REGISTRATION Science, Art, Cooking, and Museums. Payment is Due by December 15th Please email nlartsorg@gmail.com to register
seniors
Fridays ART WORKSHOP FOR SENIORS St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St., is offering an art workshop for people age 50 and older. “Clay Creations” will meet weekly on Fridays, from 12:30-2 PM Participants will learn about the art of hand building to create pots and other clay forms. Those interested should register in advance. For more details call 215-426-9799. SENIOR EXERCISE CLASSES Exercise classes for people 50 and older will be offered at St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St. Class schedule will be Enhance Fitness on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 AM, Chair Yoga on Tuesdays at 9:30AM, Tai Chi on Wednesdays at 10AM, and Line Dancing on the first and third Friday of every month. For more information call 215-426-9799.
faith Wednesdays FIRST PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE STUDY GROUP A Bible study group meets at First Presbyterian Church, 418 E. Girard Ave at 7PM . Come and bring a friend for informative, exciting and lively open discussions. As always, everyone is welcome.
sign ups Wednesdays, 7PM ST. ANNE’S CHURCH CHOIR St. Anne’s Church Choir is back with a new director, April Anderson, and assistant director, Rich Burns. We’ll be rehearsing on Wednesday evenings at 7PM at St. Anne’s Church (Lehigh and Memphis). Former director Nick Pignataro will return to conduct St. Anne’s Annual Christmas Concert later this year. All are welcome to come and sing. Call 215-426-8422 for more information. GIRL SCOUT TROOP AT GLAVIN PLAYGROUND Welcomes New Members. Meetings will start week of Sept. 19 at Glavin Playground (2600 E Westmoreland St.) with breakdown of age level meetings as follows: Brownies – 1st – 3rd Grade – 6:45 – 8:00 – Monday Nights; Daisies – K – 1st Grade – 6:05 – 7:00 – Tuesday Nights; Older girls – 6th – 12th Grade - 7:00 – 8-00 – Tuesday nights; Juniors – 4th – 6th Grade – 6:45 – 8:00 – Wednesday nights. Information about registration and the troop management will be available from the troop leader at the meetings. COHOCKSINK PLAYGROUND (2901 CEDAR ST.) Zumba is on tuesday nights from 7:30-8:30 with Ms. Jamie. Only $5 a class. Yoga is on Wednesday nights from 7:15-8:15 with Ms. Amanda. Only $5 a class. Both classes are held at Cohocksink Playground, 2901 Cedar St. Our phone number is 215-685-9884 BRIDESBURG REC CENTER (4625 RICHMOND ST) Zumba – Classes are Mondays and Thursdays from 7-8PM, and the cost is $4. Pre-school — 3-year-olds. Thursday and Friday, noon2:40PM Pre K — 4-year-olds, age as of September 1, 2016. 8:5011:30AM or noon-2:40PM Monday and Wednesday. Food Pantry - Please donate nonperishable food and clothing for needy in the neighborhood. Drop off donations at the Rec weekdays from 9AM-9PM. Scrapbooking – Scrapbooking group meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9:30PM. The cost is $5 per class and everything will be supplied except a book and photos. Ladies Bowling League — Tuesday mornings at 9AM @ Erie Lanes. Interested? Come an join us any Tuesday. For more information call Miss Jackie at 215-685-1247.
Thursdays ST. ANNE WEEKLY NOVENA St. Anne weekly Novena Thursday evening service, 7PM Church of Saint Anne, Memphis St. and Lehigh Ave.
CIONE SIGNUPS Zumba: Fridays 7:30 to 830PM. Cost is $5 per class. Chess: Thursday from 6:30 to 8pm and Saturday 12 to 1:30PM. No cost. All ages. All Skill Levels. Arts & Crafts: Saturdays 12 to 1:30PM. Ages 5 to 12. Tot Recreation: Still have openings. Must be at least 3 1/2 years of age. Call 215-685-9950. Leave name and number and teachers will get back to you.
Tuesdays PRAYER MINISTRY First Emmanuel Prayer Partners Church, 711 W. Girard Ave. Prayer Ministry is looking for Prayer Partners. Everyone is Welcome to come pray with us. For further information call 215-456-9974.
TOT SOCCER SIGNUPS Sign up now for Tigers Tot Soccer. Girls and boys ages 3 ½ to 6. The season will begin soon, so sign up now at the Tigers’ clubhouse (2423 E. Ann St.) Also, t-ball pictures are in, please pick them up! For more info, call Tom Mack (215-275-8838)
trips Saturday, November 26 LADIES OF PORT RICHMOND BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER Fundraiser trip to Lancaster for Christmas Museum, shopping and dinner at Shady Maple. Leaving early from Campbell’s Square. Call Marylou at 215-427-3222 for more info. Tuesday, December 13 PEDDLER’S VILLAGE MURDER MYSTERY The Sodality of Our Lady of Fatima from St. Adalbert Parish in Port Richmond is sponsoring a one day trip on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, to the Peddler’s Village Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. The group will be departing from St. Adalbert Church (2645 E. Allegheny Ave.) at 9:45AM. A luncheon will be at the Cock & Bull Restaurant followed by “A Dickens of a Murder” Mystery Show. Following the show. You will have time to do some shopping for Christmas gifts. Departure for Philadelphia will be 4:30PM and approximate time of arrival home will be 5:45 PM. The total cost including gratuities is $88.00. A deposit is required to hold reservations. For reservations/information call Theresa Romanowski 215-922-1700 or 215-813-2780.
26th District Seeking Donations for Children’s Christmas Party The holidays are fast approaching and we are requesting donations to make our annual Holiday Gift Drive a success. Last year, due to kindness of donors, the 26th Police District was able to reach more than 200 children in our community through our annual gift drive. This year, we hope to exceed that amount and brighten the lives of many more children. As in the past, we hope to provide low income school aged children with toys during the holiday season. This year, our annual event will take place on December, 15th between the hours 11AM and 2PM at the Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center (2646 Kensington Ave.). On the day of the event, the 26th Police District Officers along with the School Crossing Guards volunteer to provide a holiday party for children. Also, Santa and various special guests pay the children a very special visit during the festivities. Please let us know at your earliest convenience if you are able to partner with us on this event. Our event is to have all donation picked up by December 7th. If you would like further details feel free to contact us at 215-686-3260 or 215-686-3233. Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays! •
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 COMMUNITY
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We reserve the right to edit, refuse or classify any advertisement. Advertising is a privilege which must be protected against misuse. All classified advertisements subject to pre-payment. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check the advertisements each time it is published. No responsibility is assumed by the newspaper for errors. Errors will be rectified by reinsertion in the following issue only.
215.423.6246 The deadline is Friday at 5pm for display ads, and Monday at 12pm for classifieds. All advertisements must be paid for in advance.
FOR RENT
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Landlords must allow you to make reasonable accommodations to ensure full use of your apartment. Telling you that you can’t install grab bars and ramps is against the law. You can fight back. If you suspect unfair housing practices, contact HUD or your local Fair Housing Center. Everyone deserves a fair chance.
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Good, Loving homes needed for children of all ages.
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new or experienced; free training program. Call Mike Dunphy at 215-840-8399
Is there something going on that’s a little funky in your neighborhood? Anything you want us to look into? Have something juicy you want to leak? Know of something fun or interesting going on that you think we should know about? We rely on sources like you for news that effects our neighborhoods. No tip is a bad tip. Drop us a line at news@spiritnews.org.
The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016
/Michael Klusek
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The Spirit of the Riverwards – November 23, 2016 WRITTEN BY SHARON ISABEL CURLEY
Spirit Astrology YOUR DOSE OF HYPERLOCAL SPIRITUAL ADVICE
Aries: My favorite person on earth is a gal named Amanda Staples. She runs Germantown Kitchen Gardens. She started with a farm on Frankford Avenue back in the mid 2000’s. Whenever I think of her, I think of a life worth living. She's the person I would like to be stuck on a desert island with, she’ll be my gal during the Zombie Apocalypse, and she’s the last person I want to see before I die. There’s a lovely Leonard Cohen (RIP) lyric, “It's time that we began to laugh / And cry and cry and laugh about it all again “ She’s the person that makes me believe this. Aries, times get tough, but there’s always someone to get you through it. I suggest you get to that person and let them know how you feel. Taurus: It’s that time of the year again. The time for families and friends to get together and eat one of 46 million turkeys whose lives will be sacrificed for an often overcooked dinner. It’s that time of year again to hear the sounds of football games and maybe your aunt or uncle explain, “It’s the tryptophan,” while everyone nods their head. It’s that time of year again to find things to be thankful for. This is a time for you, Taurus, to really express your gratitude in the the things you are thankful for. Whether it’s a book, your sister, or a skateboard, feel the love and express it. Finish that book, hug your sister, or get back on that board and finally learn how to do that impossible Rodney Mullen trick. Gemini: Every time I have visited the IGA on Aramingo (aka Thriftway), it’s been with my recent ex. We’d often go straight to the seafood section, and in his adorable little way, he would ask, “What’s the best thing you’ve got?” and the answer we always received from whoever was working the seafood counter was, “I don’t eat seafood.” You’d really think otherwise, and I was always fooled. Sometimes, it’s nice to be fooled. Sometimes playing the fool can bite you. A different ex of mine once sang these lyrics for me in his band Dr. Dog: “Lately, I’ve been cruel to my baby / She asks if I’m hers and I only say maybe / Playing the fool who knows nothing about love / I act like I doubt, but I’m nothing without it.” I suggest letting loose and behaving a little foolish. See where it takes you. Cancer: Rekindling a relationship from your past seems to be on your horizon, Cancer. Kermit The Frog once sang, “Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.” Colorful and there for everyone to see in all their glory, a rainbow appears at the end of a storm. Someone may be relying on you to show them your true colors, your true beauty. Maybe it’s been raining on your parade with this person, lately. I say, take this person
to Barcade for a game of Tetris, and work with them to fit your pieces together. Leo: Art Bell, founder of the amazing Coast To Coast AM, is probably one of the most prolific radio hosts of our times. Discussing paranormal, conspiracy, aliens, and what-have-you with his callers, he always kept it straight. He never busted anyone’s beliefs. Good work on his end, because people don’t often like being told they’re wrong. Yet, people love being praised and told when they’re right. An old friend of mine, Liam Wilson, once said to me, “an honest put down is as good as a compliment.” His implication is that you can learn the same about yourself from either. I believe that people know you better than you know yourself. So why not let them criticize you? There’s always room to grow, Leo, and you’re in for a growth spurt soon. Virgo: As a lover of music, I have felt stagnant with anything new lately. At a small coffee shop, I recently met a guy who leads the Philadelphia-based Shadow Band. With the perfect amount of gloom and confusion this autumn has brought my way, I have been listening to their album “Into The Dragon’s Lair” on repeat, and it’s helped to soothe my otherwise anxiety ridden brain. I urge you to find something new to sooth yourself, Virgo. Go as small as foot bath, to as big as your first visit to Flotation on Girard. Either way, do remember to soak up the goodness. Libra: Feeling a little more shy lately? Maybe a little insecure? Wishing you were living those easier times? Are you letting your dreams take over your reality, be it letting nightmares haunt your days, or day dreaming of an impossible summer day in the fall? Instead of dwelling on whatever’s got you down, I say channel Tom Hanks’ character as “Mr. Short-Term Memory” from SNL, and have some fun with right now. “Right when?”, you say? Exactly. See how easy that was? Scorpio: My dear, sweet Scorpio. My favorite sign of the Zodiac. When I was 25 I read a Chinese Zodiac book that taught me, due to the timing of the Chinese New Year in 1980, that I am a Goat. I had spent my whole life up until then, all 25 years, believing I was a Monkey. As it turns out, I am a little more grounded than an Aquarian Monkey is, for I am an Aquarian Goat. You bet your life (not the outstanding Groucho Marx program) but those words, literally, that there are some surprises up the kings sleevies where he keeps his armies for you, Scorpio. Trust me. Speaking of betting, skip the Rock Paper Scissors, and go surprise yourself at SugarHouse. You always win.
Sagittarius: I know a Sagittarius who is constantly in wonder of what the little ones will do for Christmas. I don’t even know what that means, but she is always asking me what they will do. It’s hard to answer, because it really makes no sense to me. Perhaps you’ve got something on your mind that you feel no one is understanding? No need to fret, Sagi, some things you’ve just got to figure out on your own. Like, why are all the streets in Fishtown so hard for me to figure out? Why do they have to change from east to west right to north and south? What about the lovely grid the rest of our city is created upon? Whatever it is for you - ponder, wonder, dream, and create an outcome of your own. Remember, curiosity killed the cat is maybe the dumbest saying there is. Capricorn: I wrote a poem once that goes, “Kinship is the only ship to sail into affinity.” When you feel a kinship with someone, remember to express that affinity more than anything else. Your natural state is to be practical, but sometimes instead you are cold. Let the weather handle the coldness, Capricorn. There is someone close to you who feels this way about you, and they’re dying to express it. You know who this person is. Call them. Ask to take them for a walk. There may be too many new developments in our hood right now, but there are still little empty lots and abandoned train tracks perfect for an autumn picnic. Aquarius: 2016 is a year for many losses. Yet, as an Aquarian, you see loss as a gain as well. Maybe we lost David Bowie, but maybe we gained communion in that. Sure, we lost our dignity as a country, but the New Yorker had a great cover to gain from this election. You see the light too brightly, too often, to a near-blinding state. In relationships, you are often blinded by The Smiths philosophy, “15 minutes with you / Oh, I wouldn’t say no / People see no worth in you / oh, but I do” I suggest, as others might as well, finding some worth in yourself these days instead of in someone else. The sentiment is not always going to be reciprocated, and the loss may end up being your mind. Pisces: Sometimes I dress in all camo for fun. Instead of feeling like I am blending in, I feel more like I am standing out, which I prefer. In the coming weeks, I suggest you try standing out a little more than usual, Pisces. Go somewhere you don’t normally go, and be “that guy.” If you’re normally a Frankford Hall person, why not try the El Bar? And vice versa. You ought not go around pretending you’re someone you’re not, but do go ahead and let your freak flag fly. Skip that top button on your shirt, or hike that skirt up a little higher. Don’t be such a bore, be a wild boar! •
WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK
Don’t Tell Mrs. Donahue (Part 3) PA R T 3 O F S P I R I T N E W S ’ N E W E S T S E R I A L F I C T I O N S A G A This is Part 3 of “Don’t Tell Mrs. Donahue”, an on-going work of serial fiction. Check our last two issues or our website for Parts 1 and 2. “Watch where you step,” she said, holding up a cautionary hand. She pointed at the broken bits of the ceramic bowl that Nick had thrown at the wall. Several blueberries lay scattered among the shards. They looked so innocent. And sad. “Go get me the handheld vacuum from the hallway closet, and I’ll clean this up.” He did as he was told. “I can do it,” he said, handing her the vacuum. “No, that’s all right,” she said. She got down on her knees and cleaned up the mess Nick had made. It took her several minutes. When finished, she got up and gave the vacuum back to Nick. “I’m always breaking stuff,” Nick said, chuckling. “Plates, bowls, glasses. By accident, of course. When I was in college, I worked as a busboy at a really fancy restaurant. They eventually fired me because I pretty much broke everything I came in contact with. Isn’t that funny?” “This wasn’t an accident,” Greta pointed out. “I know,” Nick said. “I’m just saying that I always break things.” He cleared his throat. “It’s nice that you care so much. Don’t think I don’t appreciate what it is you’re trying to do. But what I really need right now is to be alone with my thoughts. I mean, I’ve got a lot on my mind, you
know.” “If I leave now, this issue will never be resolved.” She winced. “Are you all right?” “I’m fine,” she said, composing herself. “If I leave now, you’re just going to put everything I’ve said out of your mind, and you’ll never tell your wife what’s been going on. Do you really want to go the rest of your life with this thing weighing on your conscience?” Nick hugged the vacuum to his chest. “I don’t want to cause her any unnecessary pain,” he said. “Don’t give me that,” Greta said. “That has nothing to do with it. If you were really worried about causing her unnecessary pain, you never would have cheated on her in the first place. You don’t care about anybody but yourself. Stop pretending like you do. I think it’d be best if I wait here with you until your wife comes home.” Greta winced again. “Oh, my Lord.” “Are you sure you’re all right?” “Yes, yes, I’m fine.” “We don’t need a mediator.” Several doors down, Jeremy Tenenbaum was gathering up a few things to take to his brother’s house in Bridesburg. “Where in the world are my keys?” he said aloud. He finally found them on the coffee table under a week-old issue of the Inquirer. Jeremy grabbed everything he needed and left the house.
“I don’t trust you to confess in my absence,” Greta said. She and Nick continued talking. Meanwhile, Jeremy Tenenbaum walked to his car, which sat parked in front of Nick’s house. He got in and placed his things on the seat next to him. He started the engine, and the car backfired. It sounded like a gunshot. “Oh, my Lord,” Greta said again. She clutched her chest and collapsed to the floor. “Holy shit,” Nick said, kneeling down next to her. “Greta, what’s wrong? Is it your heart?” She nodded, almost imperceptibly. Greta writhed in pain. “Just hang in there,” Nick said, rising. “I’ll call an ambulance right now.” He hurried down the hall and into his office. The cordless phone sat on his desk in its cradle. He reached out to pick it up, then stopped. Nick put his hands on top of his head and slowly massaged his scalp. He stared at the phone and considered things. Jeremy Tenenbaum had pulled away from the curb and was now driving to his brother’s house. • THE END