The Spirit of the Riverwards - April 5, 2017

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FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG

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WEEK APRIL 5, 2017 VOL. 14 NO. 14

WEGARDN New startup brings local produce to the community.

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ACADEMIC MARCH MADNESS Local students compete in scholastic tournament at Shissler Rec. 16

POLITICS ARE HYPERLOCAL Trump’s Russian speaking Philly lawyer once repped local district after winning voter fraud suit.

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LOCAL PROFILES Ryan Kuck, executive director of Greensgrow Farms.

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BALDSPOT Spirit's own weekly games and comics.

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ACCU-REGGIE Seven day forecast for the Riverwards.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more.

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HOT OFF THE

PRESS

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is heart issues started to flare up when he heard the engineer tell him and his wife “to expect problems.” The heart issues got worse when the builder told them their fence was on his newly acquired lot and would be torn down — surveyors disagreed on the property line. By the time another neighbor’s exterior wall cracked from foundation to roof (caused by an unrelated project) his doctor needed to change his heart medications.

The Peacock family, Dennis and Jackie, suffered the anxiety anyone would feel when the lot next to and behind their home of 44 years started to be converted to a 29-unit condo with a 24-space underground parking garage on Moyer Street in Fishtown, between Montgomery and Berks Streets. The garage required digging 10 feet down just inches from the property line.

The stress becomes all the more serious when you can’t get a straight answer from the builder or assurances from the local civic association or the city government.

“We feel like our house is falling into the hole,” Jackie Peacock said as the digging began.

Someone from the Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) told them the project was “by right,” when Jackie Peacock inquired via email. Since the owner did not request a variance to the building code there was no community approval required. The representative from the FNA told the couple to get a lawyer if they wanted to do something about it. Not having a whole lot of extra money on hand to pay a lawyer, they contacted L&I but were admonished and told, “Don’t call us until the shovel hits the dirt.”

Spirit News called L&I and asked to speak with the inspector in charge of the area. We were told that calls needed to come in between 8AM and 10AM. We asked to leave a voicemail and were connected to that employee’s line. The voicemail box was full. Curious, we called other inspectors’ direct lines, only to find out that all the boxes were full. All of them. We

sent a right-to-know request to the city to ask about how much taxpayers pay for the voicemail service and if employees are instructed to respond to messages. The city never responded.

A representative from L&I said that 311 is the recommended way to go for reporting problems. But what about just inquiring?

The builder/owner of the project is Vitaliy Polyachenko (he has partners too). While some may expect him to have horns, a tail, and red eyes, he is actually a friendly (albeit serious) guy. He met with the Spirit at the project site on short notice to discuss concerns.

First of all, Polyachenko said he didn’t tell the Peacocks to expect problems. “I told them not to expect any problems,” he said with a pained expression. “I said, ‘I do everything safe, not to worry, is easy job.”

Some of the misunderstanding could be from Polyachenko’s accent. He is Ukrainian. He also acknowledges that there is some mistrust by locals due to him being from another country. “It is what it is,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

Polyachenko said he understands why the Peacocks were upset. “If you live somewhere for long time and all of a sudden someone digs big hole behind your house, you’re upset. Very understandable. That’s why I talk with them whenever they ask.”

“All plans are on file, you can see them. You can call L&I,” he said. Polyachenko also pointed out that even “by right” projects can be contested within 30 days of a posted notice. Of course, seeing them is the trick. He also said the licensee’s phone number is on the paperwork.

He points out that builders are not required to take calls from the public, even nearby neighbors, but he doesn’t think the city should do more to calm the fears of residents. He and his partner emphasize that the new Continued on Page 4.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

THE

local lens

BY THOM NICKELS

W

hen my parents (who were part of America’s so-called “Greatest Generation”) were in their 50s, they seemed much older than the 50-plus people I know today. American society was not so youth-conscious then; there were no nubile Calvin Klein faces on bus stops, and teenagers and people in their 20s were not yet framed as humanity’s ideal age. In my parents’ era, older people looked very old and they dressed very old. The men — except for the occasional dandy — had little taste in fashion. While they may have used hair lotions like Vaseline Hair Tonic and Vitalis, the men in the 1950s and ‘60s looked 40 by the time they were 26. This is no longer the case.

Baby boomers — a.k.a. the children of the ‘60s or the great generation that brought the world the sexual revolution and Woodstock — have revolutionized the idea of what it means to be older. With vitamins, plastic surgery, Botox, Viagra, personal trainers or regular workouts at home or in gyms, Boomers have established that 60 is really the new 40 and that 70 is the new 50. This was the generation, after all, that coined the phrase “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” Now that the boomers are way past 30, they’ve upped the ante: Getting older doesn’t have to be what it was for their parents’ generation. In fact, it won’t be that way at all.

Activist boomers planted the seed for this kind of thinking a long time ago when they came up with the concept of ageism. Ageism is discrimination or negative stereotyping based on chronological age. It was put on par with sexism (discrimination against women) and homophobia (fear of homosexuals). Years ago, Philadelphia’s very own Maggie Kuhn, the founder of the Gray Panthers, was a leader in the fight against age discrimination. The boomers’ anti-ageist philosophy helped change the way we think about age. It also helped change the language of age. Many boomers, for instance, have resolved never to use the word “old” when referring to themselves. This thought stems from the New Age belief that when you use a word repeatedly you give it power; when you constantly say, “I’m getting old,” “I am so old,” etc., you will in fact get old at a faster rate than you would if you didn’t say such things over and over again.

Other words and terms like “geezer,” “old fogey,” “old maid” and, to a much lesser extent, “dirty old man” have fallen out of the boomer lexicon. They all point to stereotypes and negative connotations concerning age. (Why, for instance, is it any worse to be a dirty old man than it is to be a dirty young man?) In some circles, the use of the word “senior” is being scratched and replaced with “older” or “elder.”

This is all well and good, but just because ageist words and thoughts are no longer popular with boomers doesn’t mean that the larger culture has bought the concept — at least not yet. While older people today may feel and even look younger than their parents did at their age, far too many younger people still see them as older and therefore somehow out of the loop.

I attended an intergenerational barbecue several years ago and noticed that the twenty-something people present had a terrible time conversing with guests out of their age range. Although this changed somewhat as the party progressed, there was still a hardcore group who seemed deathly afraid to relax with people not their age. (Perhaps this was nothing more than a symptom of the iPhone/iPad-obsessed generation who doesn’t in fact realize that the way we become more human is by paying attention to one another.)

Youth still reigns supreme in America, especially in the

world of advertising. Consider the number of companies that won’t hire people over 40 or that lay off women executives who are past their prime. Ageism in the television broadcast industry is so flagrant that female anchorpersons are usually “retired” at the first signs of a double chin or gray hair. About the only place in American life where being older is actually an asset seems to be the world of politics. It’s no secret that most Americans want leaders who seem wise and mature, not ones with bed hair, holes in their earlobes and tattoos.

Scientists say that by the middle of this century we may see 20- to 40-year leaps in the average life span, thanks to advanced drugs, biotherapies and the cures of many degenerative diseases. While that may be good news to boomer visionaries and most of us in general, what does that mean in terms of quality-of-life issues? If science makes it possible to be healthy and energetic until well into our 90s, society will have to change.

Older workers will have to be welcomed back into the corporations and television networks. Philadelphia’s Fox News will have to stop changing their news anchors at the first sign of a wrinkle or gray hair every 12 months or so.

What sense would it make if the world were full of healthy 90 year olds walking around with nothing to do? Living longer in a world where the national economy continues to worsen and where personal finances plummet would be a gamble. Being poor and elderly would not be a good life unless you lived in a convent or a monastery, or at home with loved ones who cared about you (and who didn’t want to throw you into a nursing home), but it could be a devastating and very hard existence otherwise.

There’s also this: Would living longer guarantee that we wouldn’t burn out emotionally even though we still might be able to run a marathon?

Bioconservatives like Daniel Callahan and Leon Kass take a dim view of biotechnological progress that could increase the human lifespan to 150. Mr. Callahan believes that “there is no human social good coming from the conquest of death.” Mr. Kass, the controversial former head of President George W. Bush’s Council on Bioethics, says that “the finitude of human life is a blessing for every human individual, whether he knows it or not.” San Francisco author Lillian Rubin, who is 83, claims she is sick of the mainstream media singing the praises of the joys of old age. In her book, 60 on Up: The Truth About Aging in America (Beacon Press), Ms. Rubin writes that because people are

THOM NICKELS IS A PHILADELPHIA BASED AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, POET, FILM CRITIC & FEATURE WRITER FOR SPIRIT NEWS.

living longer they are possibly facing 35 years or more of retirement. “And it ain’t all gonna be a walk on the beach,” she insists. “I can hardly remember a time getting together with friends in their late 60s and older, when they weren’t talking about getting tired, bored with what they were doing, what they were going to do in retirement...”

As for the ads in the ubiquitous AARP magazine that most Americans begin receiving on their 50th birthdays, Ms. Rubin says they are among the worst offenders, “featuring thin, barely wrinkled, happy gray-haired couples on the beach. Come on,” she says, “this is not life!” The upsetting truth is, to someone who is 24, anyone over 30 is old; over 40 is ancient, and anything beyond that is simply inconceivable. Conversely, it is also true that the older one gets, the less age-conscious one becomes. For the older person there’s a kind of forgetfulness about age and age differences. Only younger people call attention to the fact that someone is older — it is the young who are age-obsessed.

What Ms. Rubin and the bioconservatives are saying is that living long for the sake of living long is not enough.

Unless the mind and the emotions can be rejuvenated, unless the spirit can be rekindled or reinvented, what’s the point of sticking around if life has simply exhausted you?

Of course, countering this attitude is the powerful, healthy, well-financed, and age-defying generation of new seniors — the baby boomers — who have every intention of creating a memorable, new definition for “old” as they launch what promises to be their last, best revolution. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

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

T

he big spring rains were the highlight last week!

Spring storms tend to be total drenchers and temperature suppressors, often dropping our temperatures by 20 degrees. This week will be similar to last week, except we’ll only get attacked by one big storm instead of two. You may have noticed a new number in the forecast - an 8. The eighties (80s) return! Before we get there, though, we need to get through Friday, which will feel like March. Not to worry, though, there is plenty of warmth in our future.

The week starts off warm on Wednesday, gets rainy on Thursday, chilly on Friday and Saturday, and then is abso-

lutely gorgeous on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Spring is about to be here in full force. Now is a good time to start transitioning your winter wardrobe into a spring-summer one.

Wednesday is really a great day from start to finish. Temperatures will pop up to nearly 70 in many places. Some clouds might move in at night.

Thursday is a day with a heavy rain virtually all day. It’s going to be a warmer rain than last week’s, but still nasty. It will get colder at night too.

Friday will be the chilliest day of the week as temperatures struggle to make it to the 50s. There will be popcorn show-

ers here and there. The wind will make it feel colder as well.

More sunshine returns for Saturday, but it is still going to be chilly.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are all great weather days.

We jump up almost 10 degrees each day. Sunday will be in the 60s, Monday will be in the 70s and Tuesday will be in the 80s. Sunshine will be plentiful each day as well. There could be a shower on Tuesday, especially towards the end of the day, but by then we’ll have experienced so much warmth we’ll be ready to cool off. Let’s go!

As always, follow us on social media for weather updates throughout the week! •

1428 East Susquehanna Avenue Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA 19125 TELEPHONE: 215.423.6246 EDITORAL INQUIRIES: NEWS@SPIRITNEWS.ORG ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: ADS@SPIRITNEWS.ORG OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY–FRIDAY, 9AM–5PM MATTHEW ALBASI

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THOM NICKELS

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No reproduction or use of the material herein may be made without permission. The Spirit of the Riverwards Newspaper will assume no obligation (other than cancellation of charges for the actual space occupied) for accidental errors in advertisements, but will be glad to furnish a signed letter to the buying public.

Page 4 Continued from Page 1. projects improve the neighborhood and increase property values.

However, “L&I responds to more than 35,000 service requests annually concerning existing buildings and properties under construction. These include calls from residents concerned about their own property,” according to a spokesperson for the department. In 2015 and 2016, inspectors stopped work on a little more than a thousand jobs. Roughly 90 times a month.

“We believe we have about 17,000 ongoing construction jobs, as measured by open construction permits,” the spokesperson said. “But we estimate that 75% of our stop work orders are for work taking place without permits.”

As of March 16 this year, the department has shut down close to 700 projects. That’s actually triple the average of the two previous years. What gives?

L&I gave three possible reasons:

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017 well aware of this situation and of the difficulties and anxieties inherent in living in close proximity to a large development project. Inspectors will continue to visit the property to conduct mandatory and discretionary inspections.”

Polyachenko’s project proceeded well. Despite all of the angst, Jackie Peacock is happy with the work. The foundations have been laid and the Peacocks’ house hasn’t fallen into a hole, despite some heavy rains.

“I must say, he kept his word,” Peacock said. The ramp to the underground driveway was fortified with a concrete wall and makes Dennis and Jackie feel secure.

Dennis’s cardiologist recognizes that he is a “chronic worrier.” The doc adjusted Dennis’s pacemaker, and Jackie tries to keep him calm.

Though not all was perfect at the job. A gentleman in a Superman hoodie walked up to Polyachenko and his partner

1) Construction is booming. For example, L&I issued 20 percent more new construction permits in 2016 than in 2015.

2) We have been building our staff of construction inspectors by aggressively hiring building inspector trainees over the last few years. Many of the trainees are now trained, certified, and hitting the streets. Have more inspectors, catch more unlawful construction.

3) The relatively warm, dry winter meant less of a winter slowdown in construction activity.

Despite the extra manpower, Jackie said a person at L&I even told her that they are there to check that “permits are correct … not for the [citizens]” to have project questions addressed.

The L&I spokesperson said, “The very experienced supervisor and inspector assigned to 1221 E. Berks inspected the site ... and determined that work on the site is proceeding safely and in accordance with the Building Code. They are

/Photos by Max Pulcini

while they spoke with the Spirit and began taking pictures.

He said his son slipped and twisted his knee on the unshoveled snow. The dynamic duo didn’t know they needed to hire people to clear the walk and said workers usually do it but the project was put on hold. Before Spirit News could interview the local man he made a great escape.

Spirit News would love to hear from community members about construction problems gone awry. We know L&I’s voicemail boxes are full, but our lines are open at our office. Email us at info@spiritnews.org or call 215-423-6246 and let us know if you want a reporter on the scene. We’re a small newsroom, but we’ll do our best to get out there.

Stay tuned for next week’s issue for another installment of Being Constructed, where we’ll discuss when it’s best to lawyer up when construction has got you concerned with the well-being of your home and family. •

Page 5

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

WRITTEN BY TIM MCCLOSKEY

Friday Night Fights B O O T S E N N I S A N D M A N N Y F O L LY R O C K T H E H O U S E AT P H I L LY S T R O N G

F

riday night, two local fighters shone at the Victory Boxing Promotions’ PHILLY STRONG event at the 2300 Arena in South Philly.

In the main event, Jaron “Boots” Ennis defeated James “Shotgun” Winchester of North Carolina by unanimous decision in a six-round welterweight clash.

Appropriate to his nickname, Shotgun (20-13, 8 KO) came out blasting with a straight-ahead frontal attack that Ennis had little trouble picking apart throughout all six rounds.

If Winchester was a shotgun, Boots was firing a pair of machine guns, hitting him with multiple unanswered lefts and rights that frustrated Winchester to the point that he resorted to a double-leg takedown attempt and a subsequent cheap shot in the second round that got him a point deducted by referee Shawn Clark. Winchester was tough and durable, kept moving forward and landed a few good punches late in the fight, but he never landed the haymaker he was hoping for. Ennis had better footwork, more punches and more significant strikes and easily won all six rounds.

Boots is Philly boxing royalty. His father “Bozy” Ennis is his trainer and a former pro fighter himself. His two brothers are Derek “Pooh” Ennis and Farah “Quiet Storm” Ennis, all of whom trained at Bozy’s Dungeon, fought professionally and have trained others. Combined, the Ennis family has professional record of 60 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw with 36 knockouts. Friday was a great night for Team Ennis, as you

Left: Boots takes on James Winchster.

Right: Dungeon Boyz Bang Bang

could see decades of boxing knowledge manifesting itself with each and every punch. At 10-0, good things are on the horizon for Boots.

In the other significant fight of the night, Kensington native Emmanuel “Major Pain” Folly stopped former WBO Latino bantamweight challenger Luis Hinojosa of the Dominican Republic in the first round after three quick knockdowns.

Manny Folly is Philadelphia’s working-class hero and the Philadelphia Police Patrolman is gaining a legion of fans inside and outside the ring. He has a deadly right hand and

knocked Hinojosa (30-11, 17 KO) down there times in the first minutes of the scheduled six rounder. Ref Eric Dali called it at 2:18.

It is Manny’s fourth consecutive first-round stoppage and eighth knockout overall. Unfortunately for Hinojosa, the bout did not take place on paper.

“On paper, he was my toughest opponent so far,” Folly said after the fight. “But I feel that I carried out my game plan exactly as I planned it. I knew I had to make every single Continued on Page 6.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

Continued from Page 5. punch I threw count, because Luis Hinojosa is a 40-fight veteran with tricks up his sleeves. But I’m Manny ‘Major Pain’ Folly with a few tricks of my own and God blessed me with the talent and skills.”

Manny didn’t even seem to break a sweat. Within minutes of the conclusion of his bout, he was dressed and downstairs posing for photos with trainer Buddy Osborn and cheering on his friend Boots Ennis.

In the rest of the undercard, New Jersey boxer Darren Goodall (5-0, 4 KO) defeated Juan Zapata from Honduras by ref stoppage in the second round. Brandun Lee (2-0, 2 KO) of Coachella, California defeated Seth Bassler of Illinois by first-round knockout at 2:21. Joshua Jones defeated Dustin Arnold of Florida in a four-round unanimous decision.

Philly is going through a boxing Renaissance, with great number of young fighters, trainers and promoters grind-

ing it out seemingly every week. Just a few short years ago, you could count the number of quality local boxing events in a year on one hand. Bouts were in difficult places to get to, and you didn’t always get your money’s worth. In 2017, there are great fights seemingly every other weekend at the

2300 Arena, and at other venues like the Liacouras Center, Sugarhouse Casino and the Fillmore in Fishtown. Many say we’re in the best city in America for boxing. Philly is strong, just as the name of the event suggests. •

Left: Boots and Manny celebrate following their victories.

Right: Boots gets tended to in his corner.

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Page 7

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

WRITTEN BY JACQUELINE MAHON

y ,

LOCAL PROFILES R YA N K U C K , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R O F G R E E N S G R O W F A R M S

I

s it any surprise that Kensington bees are tough as nails? Amid warehouses abandoned during 1950s deindustrialization, addict populations, and poverty — but also surrounded by revitalized development, strong community organizations, and talented craftspeople — the bees at Greensgrow Farms have developed into a special Philadelphia line that doesn’t produce as much honey, but is disease-resistant. Three or four queens preside over each hive — a very unusual social structure that has attracted the attention of the owner of the Philadelphia Bee Company and former president of the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild. Don Shump is studying the Greensgrow bees and has relocated five hives to Georgia in an attempt to isolate and breed the genetic strain. Not much can take these Kensington bees down. They thrive in their own special communities.

The same may be said of Ryan Kuck and the neighbors he serves in Kensington and West Philadelphia. Ryan was promoted to executive director of Greensgrow Farms last year.

Founder Mary Seton Corboy, who died of cancer in August last year, groomed him to step into her role.

“I kept saying no, but loyalty won out,” Ryan said. Over 11 years he held a series of leadership positions at Greensgrow. He knew everyone well and they knew him, and was uniquely suited to take the helm.

From his first days in Philly, Ryan has been a strong presence; it just took a couple of detours for him to find his path. He moved here from Tennessee in 1999 to be with a girlfriend who left him for a Belgian prince just before he arrived. “At least she chose royalty over me,” he laughs.

But the altered plans led to a pensive, questioning period.

“I had begun studying architecture and urban issues at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), but it was very theoretical. I couldn’t even build a shed!”

One day he saw a flier about planting carrots for children and his hunger for tangible work was engaged. “Soon I stopped going to classes and started working for the Urban Nutrition Initiative (UNI),” Ryan said. “That’s where I wrapped my arms around youth.” He worked with teens and started a gardens program under the mentorship of Danny Gerber, UNI’s director.

Ryan seems to come from a line of tough Tennesseans.

Missing those southern mountains and interested in Buddhism, he decided to undertake volunteer work in Asia in 2001 and arrived in Nepal two weeks after 11 members of the royal family were murdered by Crown Prince Dipendra.

The Maoist Rebellion had been underway since 1996, but after a new king was crowned, the insurgency exploded due to failed peace talks, and a nationwide state of emergency was declared. Undaunted, his whole family came to visit him. “Troops were rounding up young males and people were being helicoptered out,” Ryan said, “yet here came the Kucks from Tennessee!”

Months later, 9/11 occurred. “I didn’t even hear about it for five days,” he said. “We were pretty isolated there. Any communication had to be translated from Chinese to Hindi to Nepalese to English.”

Ryan negotiated independent-study credit toward his degree for his Asian work-adventure. “I learned a lot,” he said.

“Nothing theoretical about it.”

He reinvigorated his degree program, adding anthropology/archeology, and graduated in 2003. “I was searching for something grounding,” he said, “and I found it.” After graduation he continued working for the UNI and began to exchange letters with a UPenn friend who had moved away.

She returned to Philadelphia in 2006 so that they could officially start dating. They bought a fixer-upper (no roof, no plumbing) in Belmont five months later.

Suzanna and Ryan made the house a home with their own elbow grease and the help of friends and got to know their neighbors. They started a personal garden and then helped cultivate other gardens in the neighborhood. Because many folks were elderly or had limited mobility, Suzanna created pushcart delivery of veggies, plums, berries, flowers and herbs. They soon added fruit from Greensgrow.

Demand grew, until the pushcart became a truck and included locally baked goods, and the effort was named the Fresh Food Hub (FFH).

The Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) was founded in the Belmont area in 2007 and Ryan started lending a hand,

/Photos by Jacqueline Mahon adding perennial crops to the fruit-tree land and becoming a board member. POP plants in vacant lots, community gardens, schoolyards, and other urban spaces, almost exclusively in low-income neighborhoods where people lack access to fresh fruit. The POP has planted more than a thousand trees and supports 56 orchards.

After six years with the UNI, Ryan joined Greensgrow in 2006 and the FFH came along as Greensgrow’s mobile market. Suzanna and Ryan have since gotten married and are now parents of four-year-old twins, Julian and Oliver. They also have a cat, Harley, and a dog, Kermit. Somehow they found time to start Preston’s Paradise, a resource for improving community health, happiness, and sustainability in the Mantua and Belmont neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Preston’s Paradise is an all-volunteer organization focused on food security, neighborhood beautification, natural building and energy conservation.

Greensgrow is a wondrous place, with locations on Baltimore Avenue and East Cumberland Street featuring an urban farm (20 vegetables! 2,000 pounds of fresh produce!), a massive greenhouse, a farmstand (“Greensgrow Grown”), a community kitchen (“Greensgrow Made”), a shop, a venue for weddings and events, classes, and much more. The seasonal opening celebration (March 25 - 26) included an honoring of Corboy and Greensgrow’s 20-year presence as nurturing forces in Philadelphia.

The next big event will enlist an army of volunteers for neighborhood planting, clean up, and free lunch on April 20 - 21 (to coincide with Earth Day on the 22nd). Also, be sure to put Saturday, June 10 on your calendar for a 20year anniversary party and benefit: A Taste of Kensington at the Philadelphia Brewing Company, 6PM - 10PM, featuring chef samples and entertainment. Tickets are avail-

Ryan Kuck, Director of Greensgrow Farms able here: http://www.greensgrow.org/event/taste-kensington-20th-anniversary-benefit-greensgrow/ Come by Greensgrow one day soon to say hello to Ryan, his 40 colleagues, Milkshake the pig (who dabbles in politics), Ping the duck (quite friendly and conversational), plus various fish and turtles. You can go home with “Honey from the Hood” and everything you need to start your own urban garden. •

Page 8

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

WRITTEN BY CASEY ANN BECK

clean plate RECIPE FOR PINEAPPLE SALSA VERDE CHICKEN

M

y favorite kitchen appliance is, hands down, my slow cooker. At least once a week, I rely on the bulky, electric, ceramic cooking pot.

I can vaguely remember life before I learned to rely on it: our weeknight dinners would often not be ready before 8 p.m., and the cleanup afterwards was almost not worth it. Not only would baking sheets, pots and pans be lined across my countertops, but I’d also have a sink full of cutting boards, knives, and smaller dishes used for meal prep.

In the 70’s, slow cookers were marketed to women in the workforce with the promise that it could help get dinner on the table while they put in an eight hour day at the office - a selling point that still works almost fifty years later. On top of that, though, the slow cooker is capable of so much more than stews and one pot dinners. Why not make a loaf of fresh bread while you run errands, or have a French toast casserole ready when you wake in the morning? Better yet, make your house smell fragrant and take the edge off a long work week with slow cooker mulled wine.

In a nutshell, my appreciation for my slow cooker runs deep, and it has served me in so many ways, from being a vessel for five star recipes to simply keeping a dish warm so that I have room for something else in the oven. This recipe is ever so simple and inexpensive, and it’s so delicious that I make it at least twice a month. Served over rice, in a

wrap, or as a topping for nachos, it’s a family favorite. And all credit goes to my trusty slow cooker.

Pineapple Salsa Verde Chicken Inspired by Mangia Paleo 1 ½ lbs chicken breast

2 cups salsa verde 1 can crushed pineapple (in juice)

Combine all ingredients in pot of slow cooker. Cook on high for four hours. When finished, shred chicken with forks and stir. If you prefer, serve with fresh lime and cilantro. •

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

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W R I T T E N B Y B O B S T E WA R T

Politics are hyperlocal T R U M P ’ S R U S S I A N S P E A K I N G L AW Y E R O N C E R E P P E D L O C A L D I S T R I C T A F T E R W I N N I N G V O T E R F R A U D S U I T

B

ack in 1993, a special election was held to fill the 2nd Senatorial District seat due to the death of State Sen. Frank Lynch earlier that year. The Democrats nominated Bill Stinson, the leader of the 33rd ward, while the Republicans nominated Bruce Marks, who had done well in the previous election versus Lynch in 1990.

The Democratic Machine was worried. Despite the 1992 gerrymandering of the 2nd District, which eliminated the neighborhoods Marks beat Lynch in, Stinson wasn’t well known in the new areas. The battleground areas coincide with what makes up the 197th state representative district today, particularly the 19th and 42nd wards.

Stinson may be known to some locals as he eventually became part owner of Finnegan’s Wake at 3rd and Spring Garden Streets.

“We ran an aggressive campaign,” Marks told Spirit News.

He pointed out that Republican Ron Castille was “at the top of the ticket” and the Democrats were afraid his popularity would help Marks. So, according to Marks, “they decided to steal the election through a massive absentee ballot fraud, which was targeted at the Latino Spanish-speaking part of the district.”

“Most of that house district, then and now, was in my [senate] district,” Marks said. “At that time, in ‘93, the State Rep. was Ralph Acosta, who is Leslie’s father,” referring to Leslie Acosta, the former representative of the 197th who was convicted of a felony. Marks says Ralph Acosta was not in on the fraud as “he never fit in with the Democratic Machine… and [had] no positive relationship with Carlos Matos.” Marks couldn’t remember if Matos led the 18th or 19th ward, but he did point out it was before he went to prison in Jersey.

“The Democrat Machine and the Stinson campaign had a scheme to get people knowingly or unknowingly to vote by absentee ballot,” Marks said. Part of the scheme included paying people a dollar to sign an application, telling people they could win a new refrigerator, or would get a free magazine subscription. Oh, and they hand-delivered the ballots to the City Commissioner’s office (a state law nono), which didn’t matter because then City Commissioners Marge Tartaglione and Alex Talmadge were in on the scheme, according to Marks and the decision of Federal Judge Clarence Newcomer. “It was just a brazen fraud,” Marks said.

A sitting City Councilman at that time, who Marks described as a “reformed Democrat,” tipped Marks off to

the absentee ballot scheme. “There was a very, very large number of absentee ballots in an area where there was typically [low-voter participation] and that sent up all kinds of red flags,” Marks said. “We tried to challenge the absentee ballots at the polls, [but] the Democratic committee people and election officials wouldn’t let us into some places. They threatened [us]. As it turns out they were also voting people — it’s called ‘ringing them in’ — where [voters] didn’t actually come to the polls, but before the polls opened or afterwards they would just [sign them in and vote for them].

Well, as it would turn out, a couple of [those voters] were dead. A couple people are so patriotic that they continue to vote after they die.”

Marks continued: “We went to the City Commissioners.

They were involved in the fraud, but we didn’t know it at the time. They tried to cover the whole thing up and we got nowhere, then they illegally seated Stinson, even though we had a challenge pending. We didn’t try to get a hearing… in Common Pleas Court because the judge was a former Democrat Ward leader who said I had to put up a $50,000 bond if I wanted to proceed… so we went to federal court [instead].”

According to the lawsuit, “The conspiracy conducted by Commissioners Talmadge and Tartaglione, and Supervisor of Elections Dennis Kelly, and their approval of such conduct by other government workers and Stinson Campaign officials, was an unlawful policy designed to assist the Stinson Campaign and deprive voters of their constitutional right to vote in a free and fair election.”

“The Federal courts don’t like to get involved in ‘garden-variety disputes’ like a ballot here or ballot there type of thing, but if you can show systematic fraud, which we were able to do, [they will get involved],” Marks said.

So the Feds threw out the absentee ballots and went to the voting machine results, which Marks won.

Fast forward to present day: Could Lucinda Little or Cheri Honkala benefit in a similar way? Well, local lawyers Linda Kerns and Samuel Stretton are going to try.

Marks admits he doesn’t know the specific facts of the curBruce Marks and Donald Trump

rent predicament in the 197th, but he thinks they have a tougher battle than he did.

“The Democrat [Emilio Vazquez] got a huge amount of the votes,” Marks said. “Fortunately I won on the machines,” he said. “We had a statistical expert … who did a sampling” and was able to establish that the fraud gave the win to Stinson.

So it’s a no-go for the 197th? Marks sees some hope.

Despite the landslide result, he said that “if you could show that the illegal activity was widespread, and that government officials were in on it, like judge-of-elections, it would taint the election,” and maybe overturn the election.

Back to 1994, Marks took office and finished out the term.

Stinson, who served a few months between the election and the Federal Court decision, ran Finnegan’s Wake with his partners for several years. He apparently kept his State-issued State Senate vehicle license plate on his car for at least a decade. He passed away a couple years ago.

Marks is currently a Philly lawyer who speaks Russian and has an office in Moscow. The Donald Trump campaign hired him this past year, so all’s well that ends well.

Wait, what? Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop the clock! You’re telling me Marks works for Donald Trump and has a Moscow office? Say hi to Vladdy for us. And Snowden too, I guess.

Marks chuckled and said it’s really no big deal. He majored in Russian at UPenn and has been doing business in Moscow and Ukraine since 1998. “Between London, Russia and Ukraine, I’m there about a week a month or so,” Marks explained.

He doesn’t know Trump from Russia or any Russia-related business. He actually knows him from right here in Philly.

Back in ‘94, after he prevailed in the election fraud case, Marks needed to quickly run for re-election. The Dems, having had their own City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione implicated in the previous election’s shenanigans, did the obvious thing and ran Marge’s daughter Christine against Marks.

So the Republicans called in the big guns and asked Trump to come down to the City of Brotherly Love for a fundraiser for Marks. Trump gassed up his black Sikorsky helicopter and took Marla Maples on a Philly date night.

“They flew in from New York in this huge helicopter,” Marks said. “It was like an army helicopter painted black… so cool.”

Trump and Marks loosely kept in touch over the years.

Marks even attended the 2016 RNC in Cleveland with the PA delegation. “We had great seats,” Marks said.

But when both the Republicans and Democrats began talking election fraud last year, Marks reached out to mutual friends again and offered his services.

The friend said, “Bruce, I know, you’re the guy to handle this.” The friend put Marks in touch with Don McGahn, then Trump Campaign general counsel, now White House Counsel.

“Of all things, Don [McGahn] worked as a volunteer in our election suit [in ‘94]. He was a law student at the time,” Marks said. “So Don said, ‘Yeah, of course, I know your case and how well you handled it.” Conveniently, McGahn’s law firm, Jones Day, didn’t have a Philly office, so Marks got the job and helped handle a filing.

Okay, so no really cool Russian spy stories, huh? Well…

“I got a call from the FBI [last year],” Marks started, adding that he would get calls from them asking what he was doing in Russia from time to time, but could rarely comment due to attorney-client privilege. But this time “they asked me if I knew a [specific] guy.” Marks didn’t recall the person, but the FBI told him, “‘He has your business card.’” The man was a Russian spy. Marks realized it was a banker he met two years ago at a conference while trying to drum up business for his firm.

Marks told the FBI agent that this situation angered him.

The FBI asked, “Why?” “Why did they have some guy talk to me instead of some pretty female spy?” Marks joked. “I mean, I get some banker as opposed to some hot model. I mean, give me some respect.”

While fraudulent Philly elections and Russian spies are things Spirit News staff would happily talk about all day, the interview had to end.

“I gotta go … I’m off to Russia tonight,” Marks said. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

WRITTEN BY STEVE BOHNEL

WeGardn

NEW STARTUP BRINGS LOCAL PRODUCE TO THE COMMUNITY

I

t wasn’t until Greg Donworth watched numerous TV documentaries and did extensive research that he realized the environmental impact of grocery shopping.

“When you go to a high-end boutique chain grocery store… and you buy a head of lettuce, that head of lettuce has traveled roughly 1,500 miles and has been handled by 33 different people,” he said. “Forty percent of that lettuce either dies in transportation or dies on the shelf, or just gets thrown away because it wasn’t actually purchased.”

This, along with other negative impacts of grocery stores and delivery services, prompted the 2016 Drexel University alumnus to create the idea for WeGardn, a soon-to-be produce distribution site at a warehouse on 5th Street between Oxford and Jefferson Streets in Kensington.

The core mission of the startup is simple: work with a network of small farmers within 150 miles, ranging from Philadelphia to areas of New Jersey, to ensure that fresh vegetables, fruit and other produce gets to Kensington and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Farmers will be able to bring their produce to the warehouse on 5th, which will go through a check-in and then quality control process, and then will be stored. Consumers will be able to save money due to cutting distribution and transportation costs.

Donworth said making sure high-quality food comes out of the warehouse is a top priority.

“We’re not going to have anything stored for more than four days,” he said. “That’s sort of one of our key selling points, we’re going to be fresher than everyone else.”

Timothy Offner, another co-founder of the company, said consumers will be able to use a WeGardn app to select produce or order online, and food from the warehouse will be able to be shipped right to their door. He added that food deserts in the city, along with enabling ease of access, are issues that the company hopes to resolve.

“It’s not just a lack of access; we have a very busy, young population,” he said. “And we want them to do all the things that they love and still be able to get good groceries without having to spend three hours in line at Trader Joe’s on the weekend or going across the city to a Whole Foods.”

Donworth said while costs are still being calculated for

WeGardn’s launch date in early April, he hopes profits will allow the company to hire more employees in June. Eventually, he and Offner hope the company can expand into Washington, D.C. and other cities in the region.

Both said community outreach and involving neighborhood organizations is a priority.

“We don’t want to be a big-box grocery store or even someone who just delivers food; that’s not us,” Offner said. “We are doing that, but we are here in the community, there’s a face that goes with the name, and so we want to put as

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much back in our city as possible.”

Donworth hopes that WeGardn encourages people to interact with local farmers and look into how their food got from the farm to the dinner table.

“Even if [food] says this came from California, this came from Florida, [large supermarkets] make it feel national,” he said. “That is better than a lot of alternatives, but we want to make it feel local… through our marketing, we want to educate people and say, ‘There are better alternatives out there than what is currently available.’” •

Urban Affairs Committee approves economic development and consumer protection measures, sends to full House House Urban Affairs Committee Democratic Chairman Mike O’Brien, D-Phila., said the committee approved the following measures today, sending them to the full House of Representatives for a vote: House Bill 758 would establish a mixed-use incentive program. It is designed to provide tax abatement incentives to developers and property owners in order to encourage new construction in deteriorated areas of depressed communities and improvements to certain deteriorated commercial, commercial and industrial property. A primary focus of the legislation is to encourage mixed-use development. Such development would include projects that incorporate residential, commercial, industrial, cultural or institutional uses.

"This bill would set the guidelines for a plan that stands to have a real impact on economic development," O’Brien said. "Bringing blighted properties down and pulling the values of homes and businesses up is a direction we need to keep moving in, especially in my district and all of Philadelphia."

House Bill 595 would assign the Office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to investigate and mediate complaints that occur in condos, cooperatives and planned communities.

O’Brien said the bill would help assure that all residents living in these communities get a fair opportunity to have their complaint heard and find a reasonable solution.

Under the legislation, people living in these communities along with board members would have the ability to seek assistance and investigation when they believe illegal activity is taking place.

Both measures are being supported by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. •

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

MARCH MADNESS 2017 NCAA DIVISION 1 MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

WINNER: NORTH CAROLINA

JESSICA EVERSMEYER graphic design and illustration JESSICAEVERSMEYER.COM

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

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

me e tings Tuesday, April 11 7PM FNA ZONING MEETING This meeting will take place at the Fishtown Rec Center, 1202 E Montgomery Ave. All residents and business owners in Fishtown are eligible to vote. Please bring proof of residence or business ownership in the form of a driver’s license or a photo id and a lease, utility bill, or recent piece of mail addressed to your home or business.

118-20 Richmond St: Proposal for legalizing an existing building 250 E Girard Ave: Proposal combining two lots into one and renovating existing buildings into a four story building with (6) dwelling units and commercial on the ground floor.

Thursday, April 6, 7PM PUB THEOLOGY: FISHTOWN Explore the intersection of faith in life hosted by two local pastors from Fishtown at this month’s Pub Theology gathering at Front Street Cafe (1253 N. Front St.) All are welcome.

EKNA MONTHLY MEETINGS East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA) meets at 6:30PM on the third Monday of the month at Philadelphia Brewing Company (2440 Frankford Ave.) Topics will include: Committee Updates, including Zoning and Development; Committee Meeting Time. Not able to make our meeting in person but interested in joining via livestream?

Email info@ekna.org for more information!

FNA MONTHLY MEETINGS Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) meets at 7PM on the third Wednesday of each month at Fishtown Rec Center, 1202 East Montgomery Avenue.

HCA MONTHLY MEETINGS Harrowgate Civic Association (HCA) usually meets at 6:30PM on the first Thursday of each month at Heitzman Recreation Center, 3631 Amber Street. However, this month's meeting is on ORCA MONTHLY MEETINGS Olde Richmond Civic Association (ORCA) meets at 7:30PM on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Cione Rec Center, 2600 Aramingo Avenue.

PROPAC MONTHLY MEETINGS Port Richmond on Patrol and Civic (PROPAC) meets at 7PM on the first Wednesday of each month at Columbia Social Club, 3529 Almond Street. Next meeting: February 1.

SNBL MONTHLY MEETINGS Somerset Neighbors for Better Living (SNBL) meets at 6:30PM on the first Monday of each month. This month's meeting is on Monday, January 9. Meetings alternate between two locations. This month's meeting is at Rock Ministries, 2755 Kensington Avenue. The February 6 meeting is at Firm Hope Baptist Church, 2313 East Auburn Street.

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. AlAnon meetings are free, anonymous and confidential.

Wednesdays, 11AM OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS MEETINGS Those who suffer from eating disorders can find support at Circle of Hope (2007 Frankford Ave.) Follow the OA signs and head upstairs follow. For more information, call or text 267-752-3779.

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 Friday, April 7th, 9AM OUR LADY OF PORT RICHMOND FAMILY AUCTION The auction will be held Friday, April 7th from 9AM until 7:30PM. Food (Lent friendly) will be available for purchase starting at 5:00 pm and drawings for baskets will start at 7:30 pm sharp.

Tickets are 25 for $5.00 and can be purchased at the Auction or in advance through an OLPR student. The auction is located in the lower hall and everyone is invited to enter through the Edgemont Street school yard.

Saturday, April 8, 9AM-2PM PHILADELPHIA SPRING CLEANUP Sign up for the 10th Annual Philly Spring Cleanup that will be taking place all over the city on April 8. When registering to clean your block online, the NLNA asks everyone to Summer Lifeguarding Jobs Screening Days Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) is hiring 400 lifeguarding to staff is 70 outdoor and four indoor pools.

The job pays between $12.33 and $14.60 an hour. Interested candidates do not have to be strong swimmers, if they start being assisted by the staff early. These candidates should take the first step and attend a screening day offering now until June at the following facilities: Sayre Morris Swimming Pool (5825 Spruce St.) Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 6-8PM Pickett Swimming Pool (5700 Warne Ave.) Monday through Thursday, 6:30-8PM Lincoln Pool (7437 Rowland Ave.) Monday Through Thursday 7:30-8:30PM For more information, please visit phila.gov/lifeguards.

choose “Center City" as the area. Then, they should name their cleanup event starting with "NLNA” followed by the location of the block.

For more information, contact NLNA Quality of Life Coordinator Lara Kelly, trash@nlna.org or call the NLNA office 215627-6562.

Saturday, April 8 & Sunday, April 15, 10AM-3PM HOMEMADE EASTER CANDY SALE Stop by Bethesda United Methodist Church (2820 E. Venango St.) to get your Easter sweets. Buttercream, coconut, chocolate, peanut butter, and fruit and nut easter eggs will be sold. In addition to the eggs, candy like lollipops will be available.

For more information, call 215-739-7399.

Saturday, April 8, 11AM EASTER EGG HUNT AT PENN TREATY PARK Easter Egg Hunt will be held at Penn Treaty Park. Don’t forget to bring your basket!

Saturday, April 8, 10AM - 1PM PORT RICHMOND TRAIL OPENING DAY This Saturday is “Opening Day” for parks and trails across the area. The Delaware River City Corporation is hosting a cleanup event on the Port Richmond Trail and we need volunteers. Meet at Pulaski Park: Allegheny Ave. at N. Delaware Ave. For more information, call or email:215-425-8350, info@ drcc-phila.org. Visit drcc-phila.org for more about DRCC.

Sunday, April 9, 11:30AM PALM SUNDAY AT OLD BRICK "Old Brick" will be celebrating Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017 with an outdoor service (weather permitting) beginning at 11:30 AM. In the event of inclement weather, we will celebrate in our Chapel (entrance at 929 Marlborough Street).

The service will be held on the Richmond Street side of the Church.

Thursday, April 13, 7PM CHURCH SERVICE Liberti Church East (2424 E. York St.) is holding a Maundy Thursday Service to “remember Jesus' institution of the Lord's Supper, and his betrayal and arrest, prior to his crucifixion on Good Friday.” Please enter on Gordon Street.

For more information, contact alyssaw@liberti.org.

Friday, April 14, 6-8:30PM MINIATURE SCULPTING Come to NLArts (700 N. 3rd St.) for miniature sculpting workshop. Artist Mackenzie McAlpin will teach children to create a pet, mythical beasts, and the tiny world it lives in.

Tickets are $25 per child, and pizza and snacks are includ-

Immunization Notice Want your kids to attend Adaire this fall 2017? The school needs your completed registration packet asap.

Packets available in the office if you don’t have one already. PLEASE NOTE: the child’s up to date immunization record must be submitted with the packet. While the medical form filled out by a doctor is due in Sept. the shot record is required to register NOW. Questions? AJenkins@philasd.org

Page 13

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017 ed. Register by emailing nlartsorg@gmail.com with the subject ‘Miniature Sculpture.’ Space is limited.

Friday, April 14 GOOD FRIDAY HOAGIE FUNDRAISER Boy Scout Troop 11 are serving cheese, tuna, and tuna with cheese hoagies on Good Friday for pick up at Grace Church & the Incarnation (2645 E. Venango St.) All hoagies are under $6 and macaroni and potato salad are available as well.

To order, please call Ed at 267-258-1580 or stop by Grace Church to pick up an order form.

Friday, April 14, 3-7PM GOOD FRIDAY FISH FRY Elm Tree Post No. 88 The American Legion is holding their annual Fish Fry on 1414 E. Palmer St. Flounder platters, fish cake platters, and fish cake sandwiches will be available to eat-in or take out. Get a side to go with your meal: macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, potato salad, pasta salad, or cole slaw. All items are $10 or under. Orders can be placed upon arrival.

Friday & Saturday, April 14th and 15th, 9AM - 5PM ANNUAL EASTER PLANT SALE Annual Easter Plant Sale at 1st Presbyterian Church in Kensington (418 East Girard Ave), Friday & Saturday, April 14th and 15th from 9am - 5pm. Come early to get the best selection of flowers and plants, especially the geraniums, which sell out early. Doors close between 12pm-1pm Friday for a Good Friday Noon Prayer Service. All are welcome.

Contact us for more info: 215-739-5695 or at office@1stpresbykensington.org.

Monday, April 17, 3-8PM DYNGUS DAY FESTIVITIES Join in the Polish American celebration of Dyngus Day! The Polish Eagles Sports Club (3157 E. Thompson St.) will be housing the day’s festivities with entertainment, including the music from Polish American String Band and children's activities. Food from Dinner House Restaurant, and Donna’s Bar will provide a cash bar. Tickets are $10 each, and children under 12 are free. Enter on Clementine Street.

Saturday, April 22, 8-10AM APPLEBEE’S FUNDRAISER BREAKFAST Fuel up on flapjacks at Applebee’s (2501 Aramingo Ave.) to support the Elm Tree Post No. 88 The American Legion.

Tickets are $7.50 per person and $4.50 for kids under 10. To purchase tickets, call Tom Callen at 215-425-5356 or Marge Wible 215-426-6435.

Saturday, April 22 COMCAST CARES DAY We're so thrilled to be organizing another great day of volNKCDC Looking For Volunteer Board Members New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is looking for several new volunteer board members to help lead the organization and achieve its mission to strengthen the physical, social and economic fabric of the community by being a catalyst for sustainable development and community building. We are particularly interested in candidates who will contribute to the board's overall diversity and who live—or work in a leadership capacity—in the 19134 and 19125 zip codes.

Board responsibilities: -Advance the mission and purpose of NKCDC -Regularly attend monthly board meetings (9 times a year) -Ensure effective planning and monitor program services -Select, evaluate, support and work with the executive director -Provide financial oversight to ensure financial resources -Contribute skills, talents and expertise to assist the agency -Financially support the agency through "giving and getting" -Further the organization's public image and standing -Attend and participate in agency special events -Build a competent and diverse board -Assume leadership roles in all board activities -Serve on board committees Visit http://www.nkcdc.org/join-the-board/ for application information. Applications must be received no later than Tuesday, May 23.

unteer service at Adaire turbocharged by the great folks at Comcast, led by Comcast exec and Adaire parent Ryan Olah and FoA board members Stefan Zajic and Joey McAteer, who also leads Adaire's Home & School Association.

On Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd, please come out to beautify our school and the surrounding community! For everyone who registers AND shows up to help on 4/22, both Adaire AND Friends of Adaire will earn some Comcast cash! So it's a great day and a great way to DOUBLE your contribution to Adaire: Join us!

Here's the registration link: http://bit.ly/adaireccday Saturday, April 22, 11AM EMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AUCTION 2628 Fillmore St. (off Thompson St.). Ticket in basket silent auction. Admission - $4 (includes $1 in tickets.) Food/ snacks available for purchase. Doors open at 11AM, drawing starts at 12:30PM. For more info call 215-205-2318 or email dreppert@verizon. net Thursday, April 27, 7PM GREEN PARTY MEETING The Green Party of Philadelphia will hold a membership meeting at Shissler Recreation Center (1800 Blair St.) to discuss ways to prevent climate change and provide healthcare for all. The meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information, please call 215-843-4256 or email gpop@gpop.org.

HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES Fishtown Library (1217 East Montgomery Ave.) is holding a series of healthy cooking classes. Those attending will learn knife skills, cooking methods, and food safety while handling and tasting delicious food. All of the following classes start at 6PM: April 5: Pasta Feast April 12: Soup Time April 9th: Chinese Feast April 26: Healthy Homemade Finger Food.

The elevator is out of service, so take the stairs to the third floor of the library where the class is held.

For more information, please call 215-685-9990.

Throughout Lent, 6:30 ST. MICHAELS LENTEN SERVICES Located at the corner of Trenton Ave. and Cumberland (a block below Frankford Ave.), Philadelphia, PA 19125, will PHILLY SPRING CLEANUP 2017 Saturday, April 8, 10AM to noon Join the 10th annual city-wide effort to de-clutter for spring! Meet up with your favorite local group to combine forces. Locations are listed below. There will be a free neighborhood barbeque afterwards at Philadelphia Brewing Company (2440 Frankford Avenue). For more information, contact rhorst@nkcdc.org or 215427-0350 x116.

-East Kensington Neighbors Association: -Amber St & Letterly St -Arcadia Commons—2566 Frankford Ave -Sergeant Street Garden—Sergeant St & Emerald St -Fishtown Neighbors Association (Note: 9 a.m. start): -Fishtown Rec Center—1202 E Montgomery Ave -Somerset Neighbors for Better Living -Firm Hope Church—Tulip St & Auburn St -Somerset St & Helen St -Olde Richmond Civic Association -Cione Rec Center—Aramingo Ave & Huntingdon St -Big Green Block Coalition and Sustainable 19125 + 19134 -Big Green Block—Palmer St and Blair St -NKCDC -Kensington Ave Corridor—Front St & Susquehanna Ave -Friends of H.A. Brown -H.A. Brown Elementary—1946 E Sergeant St -Cohocksink Rec Center—Cambria St & Cedar St -Crossfit Novem—1732 N Howard St -Powers Park and The Block Church—Indiana Ave & Almond St -Trenton and Auburn Playground—Trenton Ave & Auburn St -Frankford Garden—2610 Frankford Ave -Norris Square Park—2100 N Howard St

be offering Lenten Services, beginning Thursday, March 9th. Soup and Sandwich served at 6:30 PM, followed by Devotions in the Chapel at 7PM, with bible study in Parish Hall. All are welcome, mark your calendars for Thursday study.

If further information is required, please contact me at 215425-6190, or St. Michaels at 215-423-0792.

SPRING BREAK DAY CAMPS Portside Arts Center (2531 E. Lehigh Ave.) is holding a Spring Break Day Camp from April 10-14. The Day Camps will be offered each day from 8:30AM-5PM for ages 5-11.

For more information, visit Portside’s website or call 215-4271514.

Weekdays, 9AM-9PM BRIDESBURG FOOD PANTRY Bridesburg Recreation Center (4625 Richmond St.) is accepting nonperishable food and clothing donations for the neighborhood needy.

For more information, call Jackie at 215-685-1247, 215-5336448.

Third Mondays LOST PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBER SUPPORT GROUP December’s meeting will be December 12th at Cione Rec Center (Aramingo and Lehigh Ave.). For anyone who is suffering the loss of a loved one, a friend, whoever, is welcome.

3rd and 4th Tuesday 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.

Cione Tot Rec Program

The Cione Tot Recreation Program will be holding registration on Tuesday, April 25 from 7-8 p.m for the 201718 school year.

Applicants will need $20 for a non-registration fee on the night of registration, which will be at Aramingo and Lehigh avenues. Dates and times of the program have changed, along with the age of the child.

For more information call 215-685-9950.

Letter to the Editor: Annual Spring Cleaning Dear Sir/Madam: I just need to write regarding the 10th Annual Philly Spring Cleanup that will be happening Saturday. April 8th throughout all the neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

What a great happening, and how wonderful our neighborhoods always look after our annual cleanups.

Though what would be more wonderful if everyone pitched in year round to pick up that piece of litter in the street, properly dispose of your trash weekly, and most of all to the dog owners I thank you for cleaning up after your pet, but please dispose of your animal waste properly!

I cannot begin to count the many bags of dog litter lying on pavements, or in the street, some thrown next to a trash bin but not in it. I thought it was just happening in my area, but as I travel through Fishtown, Port Richmond, Center City, and many other neighborhoods it is a PROBLEM all over Philadelphia .

So I ask that let’s give it our best during this cleanup and continue to keep our neighborhoods litter free and clean all year round. Thank you Respectfully, Pat Walder

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

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Thanksgiving novena to St. Jude O Holy Saint Jude, Apostle and Martyr great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke Your special patronage in time of need, to You I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return, I promise to make Your name known & cause You to be invoked. St. Jude, pray for us and all who invoke your aid, Amen. Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys and Glorias.

Page 15

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

WRITTEN BY SHARON ISABEL CURLEY

Spirit Astrology YOUR DOSE OF HYPERLOCAL SPIRITUAL ADVICE

Aries: Recently, while conversing about why people like some things and others do not, my friend and I went through some controversial ideas of things that some people like and some people do not: sour cream, Billy Joel, marriage, cilantro, S&M dungeons. Wait right there. This is when the conversation came to a halt. In all reality, with one’s guard let down, wouldn’t anyone like an S&M dungeon? If you suddenly loved your body, had no source of negative judgement, were wrapped in leather, and — well, you can imagine the rest. Aries, I feel as though you’re holding a guard up about something you don’t really even care too much about. I suggest you make peace with the idea that perhaps you do like this thing, and that, given the opportunity, you might even just love it. Be free.

Taurus: I’m trying to find out more about the water in Philadelphia. Is it safe to drink? I have been reading all over about this concern of mine and I can’t seem to get a solid answer. The Phila.gov website says it’s actually quite safe indeed. As a matter of fact, they make it seem so safe, they could almost convince you it tastes good. However, PhillyMag reports that the process of testing water, here in Philadelphia, is corrupted and helps to hide the true levels of lead in our drinking water. I also found out the the two major sources for Philadelphia drinking water are the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, which seems nuts, considering these two are filthy. My major concern here is that I need to drink water every day. So, now I am trying to find a way to prioritize pure, clean water entering my body. Taurus, if you’re not sure whether something is good for you or not, but it’s something you know your body needs, be sure to test it first. Filter through it and learn whether or not you can trust your sources.

Gemini: I am really bummed to say goodbye to winter. I already look forward to next winter. I don’t need to wear a coat as often and the wood stove is coming on her hibernation time. Soon to be sweaty, uncomfortable, sleepless, and annoyed with needing to keep the windows open and being forced to hear everyone else’s noises. I’m becoming slightly less motivated to do anything, as spring and summer tend to take away the need to move and set in a wall of humidity that traps me from doing anything. Oh, and let’s not even get into the terrible summer fashion options — shorts, a dress (not enough good accessories in hot weather), sandals, etc. Like most people, I guarantee you’re the complete opposite of me. I bet you’re looking forward to the warmer days. Those days of pleasant bike rides, ice cream outside and walks along the Wissahickon. Well, be here now, Gemini. Live in your moment, because the time has come. April showers are here to cleanse you. In my case, at least the rain will bring gray skies.

Cancer: My boyfriend is very funny. He constantly claims that I am the only one who thinks this, but then I have to claim that it’s only because I am the only one he really spends time with outside of work. As a Capricorn, he’s got a lot of confidence, so I don’t really know why he’s so surprised when I compliment him on parts of his character that I enjoy. Cancer, you’ve had a similar demeanor lately. Full of confidence, but trouble accepting that others are seeing the things in you that amaze them. Let go, and be accepting. Allow this praise inside, Cancer. You don’t have to go around boasting about it, or letting it get to your heard too much, but you ought to accept it and feel pleased

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by it. A dog may be man’s best friend, but people are better at communicating it. As Groucho Marx said, “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” And who writes books? People do.

Leo: The birds are chirping, the wind is blowing, the door is open and police are speeding around Kensington with their sirens loud, per usual. Well, the police part, at least.

I’d thought about walking to the Village Thrift today, as it’s only a few blocks west and south of my current residence.

Then I realized I am still pretty broke and I am thinking of practicing yoga and finding ways to wake up a little bit. You, however, Leo, thrive in the spring and summer weather. As a child of the summer season, you like to begin to grow again in every summer season. Don’t take my direction, but follow your own. Let this spring blossom you into your true spirit and summer self. For all you know, everyone’s awaiting that part of you.

Virgo: Life is a subtle beauty. It’s sometimes unfair and overwhelming and hard. Finding stability and happiness, finding peace and joy — these things can be difficult. Virgo, I know a trick to this. You’ve got to recognize that this work is only you. You need to learn to believe that the woes and hardships can seem so different, if only you change your attitude toward them. No one person should feel entitled enough to think he should deserve more than he has, trust me. I’ve been living on a dime for a year now. It’s not always easy, but you have to surround yourself with things you know you like; things that inspire you and drive you and meet you where you need to be. For me, this has been relearning a lot about myself, accepting myself, and working on loving this wild being I get to be. I am loved and cherished and I feel grateful, for these things are not easy to achieve. They take a lot of empathy and true trials and risks to learn. For you, maybe it’s just chilling out with a bowl.

The Beatles sing “Happiness Is a Warm Gun”, but maybe a part of that is to be played backwards. Maybe happiness is a warm nug? Whatever warmth you find to chill you out, do it and do it for real. Your stress is only yours, and if you don’t want it, it’s time to say goodbye.

Libra: I grew up loving Madonna. I was such a huge fan. I dressed like her for Halloween in the seventh grade, in a very questionable costume for a gal as young as I was then.

I saw her perform in concert, I wore a Madonna shirt a lot, and I had a Boy Toy necklace that I wore too. I remember she had a few tips on taking showers. She said if you don’t know whether or not you should wash your hair, the answer is always yes, and she also admitted to and recommended peeing in the shower. Libra, showers will be aplenty this April, no doubt. It will be your job to choose how to enjoy them. Know that in the end, crops will be growing; realize you need a few gray days to enjoy the sunny ones to come even more, etc. Choose a way to enjoy them, even if it means jumping in a few dirty puddles. There’s always another shower for that.

Scorpio: When I was growing up, you had to do so much more to get what you wanted. There were department stores rather than Amazon, there were record stores rather than iTunes, there were libraries instead of smart phones.

This list could go on forever. I shudder to think of the future allowing more and more to be at our very fingertips. It disgusts me, although I allow it. What other choice do I have?

Scorpio, if we were all lined up in our given zodiac sign (and none of this “on the cusp” BS), you’d certainly be the sign that remains a doer. A nonstop doer of all things. I praise you for this. I praise you for not allowing yourself to let the past be forgotten. I enjoy the way you let every part of you remain intact, and the way you move forward as someone who has and will be an inspiration to us all, to remain true and never lazy. Keep up the good work.

Sagittarius: I was asked to write a small bio about myself for my new job. In addition to writing about the things I do, and where I come from, I added a few things that I want.

These things were a garden of wid flowers and a washer/ dryer combo in my house. I also want to be able to afford

a gym membership and fresh, new sheets, but these things seem more attainable as my job picks up. Spring is a time for cleansing. I say make a list of your goals, desires, needs, and so on. Afterward, label these things in order of importance. You can start small and get big or go big or go home.

Whatever works for you. However, I see this as a time for you to figure out what’s important to you. You may have things that seem new and refreshing, but if you let go of the things that are already important, you’ll never be able to maintain the new things, just as they will become old one day too.

Capricorn: The ruffed grouse is the state bird of Pennsylvania. Did you have any idea? I certainly did not. I have been living my life thinking our state bird is an eagle. However, if anyone were to ever ask me what the state bird is, and I said an eagle, I bet I wouldn’t be judged for it. I feel like it’s a completely reasonable mistake. I even thought our city’s football team was named after our state bird, which, again, I thought was an eagle. I also spent the first 25 years of my life believing I was a monkey, until I realized the Chinese New Year fell after my birthday in my birth year, making me a goat. At first, I felt almost hurt by this newfound knowledge. Now I like being a goat. Being a monkey and an Aquarius was hard to live up to. See, being a goat has leveled me enough to admit my faults. I urge you to acknowledge your own faults, and do what it takes to level with yourself, and be able to admit them. It will be like the best breath of fresh air you’ve ever breathed.

Aquarius: Every time Monday rolls around, I find myself behaving like Garfield. I dislike Mondays and I love lasagna (when there’s no meat involved). I want to sleep all day, like the cat he is. You see, my partner lives in New York for work during the week, but spends his weekends at his home in Philadelphia with me. We spend our time enjoying each other very much, balancing fun activities and absolute chill time. We go for long walks, we laugh a lot and we cook a lot of food and fit in a movie or two. The three nights and two days we spend together bring so much joy to me that when he leaves before dawn on Monday mornings, the house feels so still and empty. Do you have something that overwhelms you with such joy, that you feel a small loss every time you depart from it, even though you know you’ll be filled with its joy again? Replace this with some heavy food and a few naps, Aquarius! Or some yoga or meditation, maybe a long walk with a bag of gummy bears. I find I am partial to the south side of Girard between Frankford and the highway, if you’re looking for a good walk with nice distractions. Inspire yourself and prepare yourself, because that joy is about to come back to you soon.

Pisces: Last week, during my first week of my brand new job, I got terribly ill in the afternoon. I decided to stop at a Wawa between jobs and pick up a bite for lunch. As I was eating the food, I thought to myself, “This is pretty gross”.

About two hours later, out of what seemed like nowhere, my temperature rose, my hands were shaking, my mouth was dry, and I was so nauseous. I turned to one of my new co-workers and explained what was going on. She suggested I go outside, which I did. I started feeling nervous and embarrassed, feeling like the nausea was going to make me vomit. I called my boyfriend at work while I was outside, because there were construction people everywhere, and I didn’t know what to do. I went back inside, tried out the newly remodeled bathroom in the house, and then returned to my co-workers. I said I had to go home. I’ve had perfect attendance at almost every job I have ever had. I felt so stupid that I actually wrote Wawa to complain. Pisces, you may have some feelings in you that are not very great that you feel humiliated by or ashamed of. If you just take a deep breath and take care of these things, you’ll feel much better. And if you’re anything like me, you may end up with a gift certificate! •

Page 16

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 5, 2017

WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK

march madness

LOCAL STUDENTS COMPETE IN SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENT AT SHISSLER REC.

O

n Thursday, March 23, the Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) hosted the 16th annual Fishtown March Madness Academic Competition, a tournament in which schools from Port Richmond, Kensington and Fishtown face off against one another by answering questions related to their respective curricula. It was sponsored by the Penn Treaty Special Services District (SSD) and held at Shissler Recreation Center in Fishtown.

“March Madness is a celebration of education in our community,” said A.J. Thomson, the organizer of the event. “We use [a bracket structure] to create some excitement, and the kids turn the basketball court into an arena for intelligence. I am impressed each year by how well prepared they are and how they make everyone proud.”

Prior to the start of the competition, the FNA presented educator, community and citizenship awards to teachers, students and volunteers who have made important contributions to the neighborhoods they represent and who have set good examples for their peers to follow.

“Families in the area value strong education, and each year we demonstrate how great our students are and how much our entire community pitches in,” said Ian Wilson, president of the FNA and an event committee member.

Our Lady of Port Richmond, Horatio B. Hackett, Visitation BVM, Adaire Elementary, St. Laurentius, AMY at James

Martin and La Salle Academy participated in the competition this year. Our Lady of Port Richmond was vying for its third straight championship win this year, but the title changed hands. The grand prize, the Joe Minarik Cup, went to St. Laurentius.

The first Fishtown March Madness Academic Competition in 2002 included only three schools. In the past, schools came from as far away as Pennsport, but now only academic institutions in the abovementioned Riverwards communities are eligible to participate in the competition.

Over the years, more than 2,000 students have taken part in the annual tournament.

“This tournament is a good way for schools that might not normally get a chance to compete against one another to compete against one another in a community setting with volunteers,” said Thomson. “It’s become less like a competition and more like an educational driver that gets the kids involved.” • /Photos by Thomas Beck

Awards were presented to educators and volunteers.

Obituary

AJ Thomson

Catherine, "Kay," Shober (Murianka) passed away on March 31. Catherine will be deeply missed by her three children Norma, Cassie (Ray), Sonny (Joann), four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. For most of her 96 years of life, Catherine was a Fishtown resident. Funeral arrangements were held privately, and Catherine's family would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt condolences.

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