The Spirit of the Riverwards - June 7, 2017 by The Spirit

HYPE RLO CAL

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FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG

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WEEK JUNE 7, 2017 VOL. 14 NO. 22

PENN TREATY PARK Penn Treaty Park renovations to be ready for summer. 11

ANGEL’S PICNIC Liberty Lands parks turns orange for gun awareness. 7

BOXING Peguero, Boots Ennis and Hank Lundy victorious in South Philly. 10

SAFETY FAIR State Rep John Taylor to host kids safety fair at Cione Rec. 6

BALDSPOT Spirit's own weekly games and comics. 8

FLAG LOT Taking another look at the Fishtown flag lot. 9

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more. 12-13

HOT OFF THE

PRESS

uring the past few months, Spirit News has closely examined issues involving streets in the Riverwards. In this installment, we look at some of the problem intersections throughout our coverage area. This is not an exhaustive list — it’s based off how Lowenthal and Abrams, a law firm downtown, analyzed 2015 PennDOT data. The three spots Spirit News looked at are Lehigh and Aramingo Avenues, East Norris Street and Frankford Avenue and 2nd and Spring Garden Streets. All three spots have at least one busy street, but only East Norris and Frankford Avenue lies in a somewhat residential area. The other two are larger intersections, and more so a product of being near busy, wide thoroughfares. Gus Scheerbaum constantly looks at street logistics citywide, as he serves as the Safety Engineer and Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Program Manager in the city’s managing director’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems. Scheerbaum said starting four years ago, the Streets Department made changes to all these intersections, ranging from painting new STOP bars on the road to improving traffic and pedestrian signal timing. One of the challenges is that the city doesn’t want to make changes on a whim, he added. “When we do some sort of engineering intervention, we don’t want to look at a single year’s worth of data,” he said. “We want to look at an average data set over a set of years.” During the past week, Spirit News spoke with several Riverwards residents about what makes these and other intersections a problem. Despite varying answers, nearly everyone we spoke to pointed to a common theme: with increasing development in the Riverwards, there is more traffic on

the streets, making more spots an issue. 2nd and Spring Garden Our first intersection lies in Northern Liberties, close to the Spring Garden SEPTA station and a couple blocks away from the Fire Administration building. Residents point to the amount of activity as to why it might be a problem. “They’re both bus routes, first of all,” said George Polgar, 63, referring to the SEPTA bus routes that travel through it. “I think to some extent, there’s a lot of activity around there, with the Social Security and Fire Department buildings.” Poglar and others, however, believe more dangerous intersections could exist further north in more residential spots, like 4th and Green, where Poglar lives. Matt Ruben, president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, noted 2nd and Spring Garden appears somewhat lower on the list than the other two intersections we looked at. “Given that this intersection is 49th on the list, it’s not immediately obvious what exactly the issues are, in contrast to a place like Roosevelt Blvd., which appears about 20 times on the list,” Ruben wrote in an email. “So we first need to get educated about exactly what is — and is not — causing problems there.” Paula Gansky, 65, has lived in Northern Liberties for nearly three decades. She believes there are worse intersections north of Spring Garden. “If I take a bus and get off at 5th Street … If I have to cross at 5th and Poplar, people don’t stop,” Gansky said. “They come close to sideswiping me.” Continued on Page 5.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

THE

local lens

BY THOM NICKELS

hile hanging out at the decidedly downscale, hipster-free Sam and Ruthie’s Riverwards bar with a young artist friend (we had come from a Center City play entitled How to Use a Knife), a woman approached us and started chatting. We engaged in typical barroom banter until the woman introduced herself as the owner of Sam and Ruthie’s and then said something far more significant. She said she was the mother of Matt Moll, a young guy I’d met briefly in the bar almost two years ago. Matt introduced himself to me then and we talked for awhile, and then he left. A year or so passed and I noticed that whenever I went to Sam and Ruthie’s, which is not often, Matt was never there. On a whim one day I checked to see if he had a Facebook page, and that’s when I read the bad news. On his page there were comments about what a nice guy he was and how his friends missed him terribly. It was obvious there had been a death, but it took some searching to learn more. I learned that Matt had taken his own life. This seemed strange to me because when I met Matt, he seemed perfectly agile and healthy. Well adjusted is the term I want to use, although it is probably impossible to gauge someone’s ‘emotional health’ in 15 minutes. Matt’s mom told me about Matt’s tragic end. She got very personal. She even told me what his last note to her said. It was moving and emotional, and she cried. By the time I left the bar with my artist friend, I promised Matt’s mom that I would check out a Suicide Prevention event at JR’s Bar near Girard Avenue on June 10 at 11 AM. Then I went home and thought about all the suicides that have affected my life in some way. A brilliant school chum of my brother’s who shot himself while a student at William and Mary College in the 1970s. This suicide came out of the blue. He was an A student, the most brilliant in his class. A woman friend of mine (and Riverwards resident) who died of a prescriptions drug and alcohol overdose in the bathtub of her home. This shocking episode, I find, is still hard for her friends to process. An uncle of mine who hung himself in a motel after years of drifting from job to job along with fighting bouts of depression and alcoholism. I was 14 when my mother an-

nounced his death. I remember how he would come to help my father paint our house in Chester County. He was a tall, good-looking Irish chap who resembled Tyrone Power. According to Dr. Miles Groth in an article in Psychology Today, suicide among young males is four times more common than among young females. Not only that, but suicide is occurring at younger ages, in the early teens. With males, Dr. Groth thinks that one problem may be the relationship between fathers and sons, such as young males not having had a father in boyhood. He cites other issues as well, such as body image and relationships with women. “Young males are very impulsive, more than females, and they act without thinking,” he said. Dr. Groth said in a 2014 interview that men and boys have come to hate themselves. “This is a result of the image portrayed of them and of the roles they are compelled to play, but also given what they hear about themselves and, especially as young boys, come to believe about themselves. As a result of self-hate, the suicide rate of boys and men has increased at an alarming rate over the last twenty years. It is 4-6 times higher in teenage males than in female peers. The life expectancy of males is about seven years less than for females, compared to a two-year difference a century ago. College courses that are pro-male are now necessary to offset the misandric curriculum.” Misandry means contempt for men, but you don’t hear that word very much these days because it has been trumped by the word “misogyny,” which is number one in the hierarchy of usage, thanks mainly to feminism. September may be National Suicide Month, but every month needs to be a suicide month of sorts. This means that when a friend or relative, especially a very young person, is in an extreme emotional crisis, it pays to let them talk, vent and get it out. What every person in life is really looking for is a meaningful connection with others. The transitory nature of many of life’s problems that leads some to take their own lives - a broken love affair, a job loss, drug addiction (“There’s no hope for me”), the loss of financial security or a startling medical diagnosis—can over time turn into quite manageable situations. One just needs good friends and people to talk to when the going seems impossibly rough and fatal.

NOTICE OF

PUBLIC MEETING FOR I-95 AFC PennDOT invites citizens to a Public Open House Meeting for the I-95 improvements between Ann Street and Frankford Creek. The Open House will be held at Richmond Hall Caterers at 2619 East Indiana Avenue in Philadelphia on June 15, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Open House) and 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Presentation) Please note, on-street parking is available, and the building is ADA accessible. If you have a disability and will require assistance at the meeting, please contact Pamela Conti, PennDOT District 6-0, at (215) 209-1249

For further information please visit www.95revive.com

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

In a Huffington Post article on the subject, Robert Gebbia writes that studies show that men are less likely than women to say that they would tell anyone they were considering suicide. It’s all part of the old stereotype: men hold things inside and are less likely to reveal their feelings. Isolation makes young men feel inadequate and sometimes angry. This can sometimes lead to thoughts of self-directed violence. An interesting side note to this topic is the current role of men and boys in American society. Since the rise of certain strands of feminism, this role, according to Dr. Groth, has been devalued, even though a certain devaluation of men and boys has always been present in our culture. He cites the institution of Father’s Day in 1966 as opposed to the institution of Mother’s Day in 1905, as an example of the value placed on fathers. Why, we should ask, did it take so long to recognize fathers? Today on some college campuses it’s not popular to talk about men’s issues because men are seen as the enemy. They are seen as the primary advocates of sexism, as perpetrators of rape, male privilege and the patriarchy. Dr. Groth cites a university lecture about boys and men in contemporary society that was recently held at the University of Ottawa. The lecture drew a number of hecklers. The hecklers seemed to believe that “men’s issues” were not something to take seriously. Men, after all, have it made in the shade. While all this has nothing to do with Matt Moll, there does seem to be something strange happening to boys and men in contemporary American society. Dr. Groth even cites the alarming statistics that the number of men attending college today is at an all-time low (37% nationally). Niobe Way writes in her book Deep Secrets: Boy’s Friendship and the Crisis of Connection that the problem with young American men can often be traced to “[the] loss of the male role models… the father figure. The majority of children of divorce are raised by their moms. There are a portion of children who have very limited contact with their dad. The loss of a male role model is very significant for young men who are developing their gender identities.” So yes, I intend to celebrate Matt Moll’s life, the man I never knew, on June 10th. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 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’s finally here! Summer arrives this week! After a rainy and cool spring, summer is ready to make an appearance. Last week was decent, but the rainy finish was a little cruel. This week we will welcome our second heat wave of the “warm season.” This week is going to be way better than last week. We will be at a minimum of 80 degrees for most of the daytime hours and our shots at rain are weak chances. We may get a shower on Wednesday, and there could be one on Friday as well, but these are minor threats in an otherwise dry picture. The big news this week is what happens on the weekend. Starting Sunday, the 90s return as the pattern, which has been directing our weather out of Canada, does a huge

about-face and begins to bring up warmth from the South. We will be sitting under the direct influence of this surging warmth, and it’s not going to be a dry heat. It’s going to be full-fledged summer muggies! Get the AC out if you haven’t already! Wednesday starts the week off on a sour note. It is going to be cool and cloudy as the remnants of the last rainstorm wrap around and sit in the Northeast. Staying in the 60s in June is quite impressive. Thursday is a day of improvement. Temperatures nudge into the 70s and the sun makes at least some appearances. Friday is warmer and absolutely beautiful. I have to mention a shower chance, but I’m only half committed to that

idea; don’t even worry about it. If you like 85-degree weather with plenty of sunshine, you are going to love Saturday! The heat wave slams us on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as temperatures each day climb into the 90s. If you are working or playing outdoors, please stay hydrated. This is going to be our first real bout with serious summer heat! Thunderstorms may arrive in the evening on Tuesday with a cooldown soon to follow. As always, check us out on social media for daily weather updates! •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y S H E A LY N K I L R O Y

fire safety

PHILADELPHIA FIREFIGHTERS HELP KENSINGTON PREVENT FIRES

hiladelphia firefighters installed fire alarms and educated residents about fire safety in Kensington on Friday, June 2. Firefighters went door-to-door on the 2500 block of North Water and Lee Streets with donated First Alert fire alarms in hand, checking if the home had an an alarm and installing the alarms where necessary. In recent weeks, North Philadelphia has experienced multiple fatal fires. Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel spread fire prevention tips. Thiel claimed that while smoke alarms are key, not having a fire occur in the first place is most important. “We really want folks to help us, help them by being cautious and living a fire-safe life and really having a safe environment for their homes, families and businesses,” Thiel said. With summer’s arrival, Thiel recommends that citizens be watchful of grilling. Thiel also urges visiting the Philadelphia Fire Department’s website to find a comprehensive list of general and seasonal fire safety tips. Bilingual firefighters, including those from the Spanish American Professional Firefighters Association (SAPFA) were present to ensure that Spanish-speaking residents don’t face barriers in learning about fire safety. A majority of the residents the firefighters came into contact with during the safety event were Spanish-speaking, according to bilingual firefighter and Vice President of SAPFA Namor Brown. “We want to make sure that message comes across all boundaries,” Brown said.

Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez appeared to express her gratitude to the firefighters for the event. Noting the recent fatal fires in North Philadelphia, Quinones-Sanchez called attention to the fire department’s resilience. “This has been a hard week for the fire department in particular and this firehouse,” Quiñones-Sánchez said. “Despite the challenges, they’ve proactively been out coordinating and planning to put in these fire alarms.”

If you do not have the resources to purchase or install a fire alarm, call 311 to have Philadelphia firefighters or the American Red Cross install a smoke alarm free of charge. For more information regarding fire safety and the Philadelphia Fire Department, visit www.phila.gov/fire. “At the end of the day, our message is fire safety,” Brown said. •

Councilwomen Quiñones-Sánchez stopped by the fire saftey event in Kensington./Shealyn Kilroy

FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER NOW AT TUH – NORTHEASTERN CAMPUS Two of the region’s most trusted healthcare providers have come together at the Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple University HospitalNortheastern Campus. At TUH-Northeastern campus, medical oncologist Dr. Emmanuel Quien works with a team of specialists from both hospitals to provide the high-quality, compassionate care that patients with cancer need and expect – right here in the community.

2301 E. Allegheny Avenue | 215-926-3880

Emmanuel Quien, MD Hematologist/Oncologist

Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.

Page 5

The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017 Continued from Page 1. Poglar said overall foot traffic can ultimately lead to issues in dense parts of Northern Liberties. “These are all a price of development and an influx of people,” he said. “There’s so many people roaming around, just checking things out.” E. Norris and Frankford The next area Spirit News looked at lies in Fishtown, along what officials describe as a highway on Frankford Avenue. It’s in a fairly residential spot, near Dan’s Meats and the Nut Hut Saloon. Residents and employees near East Norris and Frankford, however, point to other intersections along Frankford as bigger issues. “Frankford and Girard is way busier,” said Jenna Vecchione, 27, a lifelong Fishtown resident. “With all the businesses, lights and cars, that [intersection] is more prone to accidents than down here.” David Hans, 30, has worked at Yorick and Sons Motorcycles for parts of the past six years. He said the worst part of the intersection isn’t vehicle-on-vehicle collisions. “The worst part about this intersection are the buses and trucks,” Hans said. “Trucks took out the streetlights twice … that’s about it, besides traffic and people honking.” Jon Yankelewitz lives right by the intersection, on the 1800 block of Frankford. He said he hasn’t seen any accidents there, and agreed with Vecchione that Frankford and Girard is a worse spot. “Frankford and Girard is the motherload,” said Yankelewitz, 34. “You have a lot more lanes, Uber drivers are everywhere and people don’t know where to go.” Yankelewitz, Vecchione and Hans all said motorists speeding on Frankford has been a continuous issue, which could lead to accidents at any intersection. Hans said this led to an accident at Susquehanna and Frankford about a year ago, involving a car and motorcycle. The car hit the motorcycle and caused considerable dam-

age to it and a leg injury to the man riding it, he said. Lehigh and Aramingo The worst intersection, according to residents who frequent it, was Lehigh and Aramingo, a convening of two major thoroughfares in Port Richmond. It lies near St. Anne’s and the Cione Recreation Center, and is the largest intersection of the three Spirit News examined. Emery Greenfield, 29, has lived on the 2600 block of Aramingo for about two years. He said it’s hard to even cross the street given the timing of the pedestrian signal, and that people speed through the intersection constantly. “Even when I try to cross, everyone [driving] on Lehigh is trying to turn,” he said. “It’s a sense of urgency for no rea-

Spring Garden Ave. and 2nd Street.

Lehigh and Aramingo Avenues./All photos by Steve Bohnel

E. Norris Street and Frankford Ave.

son.” This speeding led to what another Port Richmond resident Jimmy Trindle describes as a near fatal accident at the intersection in July of last year. Trindle, 52, was sitting at a red light facing south on Aramingo at around 8AM on a Sunday morning when the collision occurred. “I traveled from where I was parked … all the way across the street into the fence near the [Cione] playground,” he said. “If it wasn’t early on a Sunday, I probably would’ve been killed with traffic coming on Lehigh.” Amanda Yost, 32, is passionate about the problem Lehigh and Aramingo presents. She does, however, understand why the spot is bad. “I think it’s just a lot of traffic,” she said. “What, it’s like a three-section highway?” She added, however, that steps need to be taken, especially considering the playground and school’s proximity. “There needs to be a crossing guard here all the time, even in the summer,” Yost said. “Because of the school, and the playground here.” Looking ahead Gus Scheerbaum understands complaints about certain intersections in the city. He said his office regularly does crash data analysis using PennDOT and police data. He added, however, that what complicates the process is they don’t factor in unrelated crashes to certain spots— like those in nearby parking lots or alcohol-related crashes. Therefore, the number of complaints doesn’t always equate to a high-priority problem in terms of engineering, Scheerbaum said. “I think it’s gotta be case-by-case,” he said when considering the problems intersections pose. “We try to always make sure signal timing and phasing is working best for that intersection … when we look at crashes, we have to weed out the crashes that don’t count.” •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

WRITTEN BY MAX WEINSTEIN

kids health & safety

S T A T E R E P J O H N T AY L O R T O H O S T K I D S S A F E T Y F A I R A T C I O N E R E C

tate Representative John Taylor is gearing up to host a Kids Health and Safety Fair this Saturday, June 10th, at noon, to provide a “one-location, one-stop [shop]” for parents and kids looking for a consolidated way to learn about neighborhood safety. The fair, which has a provisional roster of representation from at least eight civic organizations, ranging from the 26th District to the Butterfly Pavilion and Insectarium, will take place at Cione Playground, located at 2600 Aramingo Ave., and run from 10AM to 1PM. While the location suggests entertainment — Taylor acknowledged that the playground was “awesome” — the goal of the event is more informational than recreational. “It’s not really a fun fest,” Taylor said. Children’s Hospital Poison Control will be tabling at the fair to help educate those in attendance on “what household items are laying around that shouldn’t be,” Taylor said. Parents can have their kids fingerprinted and photographed — for their own keeping, not to be stored by police — so that in the event of a missing child, information can be disseminated quickly. Philadelphia Bike Coalition’s Policy Coordinator Bob Previdi will also be on hand, passing out literature on basic precautions child pedestrians and bikers should be taking. “Four students are struck by vehicles in the city of Philadelphia on a daily basis,” Previdi said. He wants parents to use safe drop-off points at schools,

and, most importantly, for everyone to “look left and right before you cross.” Previdi and Taylor have been collaborating on a bill for speed cameras, to calm freeway traffic. Beyond that work, Taylor’s legislative profile includes efforts fighting the opioid crisis and eliminating school violence. He championed the Office of School Victim Advocate, which provides services to those who have been bullied, and helped expand Recovery High Schools, which keeps students away from drug dealers. Taylor is an old hand at community events — he has hosted senior events, which he says have been “wildly popular,” events on addiction, and a yearly outreach event seeking input from parents on what programs for their children should be funded. The Kids Health and Safety Fair will be more narrowly focused, he said. “Parents can see what civic organizations represent their neighborhoods.” “Hopefully we’ll get a nice sunny day; people will come and find it useful,” Taylor said. •

PA Rep. John Taylor

The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y S H E A LY N K I L R O Y

Angel’s Picnic

O R A N G E I S T H E N E W B L A C K A S L I B E R T Y L A N D S H O S T S G U N AWA R E N E S S P I C N I C

he perimeter of Liberty Lands was lined with vendors for the 2017 NoLibs Flea Market on Saturday, June 2. However, some didn’t come to buy or sell items; instead, they dressed in orange to spread awareness for gun violence. The National Homicide Justice Alliance held the 2nd Annual Angel’s Picnic to celebrate the lives of children lost to gun violence and attract awareness to the issue. Made up of families of murder victims, the National Homicide Alliance has a mission to “raise awareness about the devastation of homicide as a leading public health epidemic.” The picnic was orchestrated by the Alliance’s President Aleida Garcia, whose son Alejandro “Alex” Rojas-Garcia was shot and killed in North Philadelphia. Following Alex’s murder, Aleida founded Justice for ALEX, an organization devoted to advocating for justice for gun violence victims and their families. The picnic came one day after National Gun Violence Awareness Day, a date where many participate by wearing orange. The Wear Orange campaign kickstarted after 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was the victim of a random shooting in Chicago, one week after performing at Barack Obama’s second inauguration. Orange is the color hunters wear to alert others that a human life is present, trying to protect themselves from gunfire. Families propped tents with pictures in memory of their loved ones who died of gun violence. At a picnic table, Democratic district attorney candidate Larry Krasner sat alongside Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and Senator Vincent Hughes and listened to families’ suggestions about what to do concerning gun violence in the city. Wilfredo “Wil” Rojas, father of Alex Rojas-Garcia, voiced that he wants the city to have an office that specifically works with the families of murder victims. Garcia added that the office should have better outreach programs for families immediately after the murder happens with counselors knowledgeable about the trauma of homicide by gun violence. Ideally, this office would work to help those convicted of homicides as well, according to Rojas. “We want an office that’s going to deal with the prison and reentry,” Rojas said. Rojas himself deals with prison and reentry; he is the co-founder of Heart 2 Hire, an initiative that trains individuals with mental health challenges and citizens returning to society after serving a prison sentence how to become entrepreneurs. Heart 2 Hire was one of over a dozen organizations who came to the picnic. Later that afternoon, Republican district attorney candidate Beth Grossman visited the picnic and had a chance to speak with Spirit News. Before diving into what she plans to do about gun violence, Grossman brought up the orange-filled park. “When you look at the people here, everybody in orange

shirts, it gives you such a concrete example of how many people are affected by gun violence, homicides, those who are injured or severely shot. As a candidate for DA, I want people to know I’ll be tough on gun crimes- whether it is possession of a firearm or aggravated assault with a firearm, and, of course, homicide, which is the ultimate act of violence, when you take somebody’s life,” Grossman said. Grossman claims she is “always advocating” for as much funding for victim services groups. The allocation of funding, Garcia told Spirit News, communicates whether or not the victims and families of victims hold value. Despite the tragedy these families faced and carry with them, the picnic goers danced to Puerto Rican music of Los Bomberos de la Calle, and children flocked to the candy coming from a pinata. A tree was adorned with handwritten “wishes” on orange paper. One wish read, “More love, less gun violence.” •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

Kids Health & Safety Fair

Saturday, June 10 from 10am-1pm at Cione Playground, 2600 Aramingo Ave., Philadelphia We will have representatives or information from the following organizations:

CHIP | Operation Safe Kids fingerprinting and pictures from the US Secret Service | ORCA and PROPAC Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia | SEPTA | Car Seat Safety Check done by the 26th Police District The Poison Control Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia For Car Seat Safety Check please call our offices to register and get information on the location of the inspection point at 215-708-3139 Please RSVP for Operation Safe Kids at 215-708-3139. There are a limited number of spots available.

RepTaylor.com | Facebook.com/RepTaylor

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

WRITTEN BY STEVE BOHNEL

fishtown flag lot T A K I N G A N O T H E R L O O K A T T H E 1 3 2 3 R E . M O N T G O M E R Y AV E

he flag lot at 1323R E. Montgomery Ave. has captured the attention of dozens of individuals on the block, and the story concerning possible development on it has taken several twists and turns since Spirit News initially covered a zoning meeting about the lot in January. Most recently, we reported on L&M Real Estate Development appealing the ZBA’s decision not to allow a variance at 1323R E. Montgomery Ave. Now, Spirit News examines the actual contents of that appeal, and the agreement of sale of the lot in question. Henry “Hal” Schirmer Jr., the attorney representing the neighbors and the Fishtown Neighbors Association, said there shouldn’t be any new developments concerning L&M’s appeal for about a couple of weeks. Spirit News obtained a copy of the appeal, which details why L&M appealed and the agreement of sale of the flag lot in question. Leo Mulvihill, the attorney representing L&M in the appeal, said last week he was still working on his brief to be presented to the city’s Court of Common Pleas. “Granting the requested variances will not harm city infrastructure or injure neighbors,” the appeal reads. This claim has been disputed by neighbors since January. Mulvihill said he could not get into the specifics of his appeal until his brief was finished. Along with the appeal, there is also an agreement of sale for the flag lot on Montgomery Avenue. On the first page, L&M is listed as the buyer, but the seller is left blank. On a later page, Mo Rushdy, managing partner of L&M, is listed as the buyer. Kevin Baird, co-owner and chief business officer of Houwzer, a real estate agency in the city, is listed as a seller. Both Rushdy and Baird declined to comment. Mulvihill said Baird “has an ownership share,” adding that he didn’t know any other specifics because he didn’t prepare the agreement of sale. Schirmer said he doesn’t consider anything to be “nefarious,” and said several observations about the agreement of sale, from it possibly being expired to an out-of-date form, could be simple paperwork issues. “You get crappy paperwork all over the place,” he said about dealing with zoning cases. “When somebody’s hurrying to nail down a deal, you get a wrong address or a bunch of other issues.” Records in the appeal indicate that, as Spirit News previously reported, Michael and Laurie Kavanaugh are the owners of the flag lot and 1315 E. Montgomery Ave. A bunch of neighbors, including Rich Levins, have filed a motion to appear as co-defendants, along with the FNA. Levins said he doesn’t know Baird, adding his main focus to uphold the ZBA’s original ruling in court. “We preserved our rights, and we’re just going to see what the next step is going to be in the court’s timeline and go

1323R E. Montgomery St. from there,” Levins said. Schirmer added the main purpose of the appeal is zoning-related only.

“The zoning board isn’t supposed to care who the owner is,” he said. “The court is supposed to look at the property alone.” •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

WRITTEN BY TIM MCCLOSKEY

local boxing report P E G U E R O , B O O T S E N N I S A N D H A N K L U N D Y V I C T O R I O U S I N S O U T H P H I L LY F I G H T S

t was a sold-out, thrilling night of boxing at the 2300 Arena in South Philly on Friday with mixed results for our neighborhood boxers. In the main event , fan favorite “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy (28-6-1 with 14 knockouts) blasted Daniel Evangelista against the ropes for a TKO at 2:53 in the fifth round of the scheduled eight rounder. Former champs “Joltin’” Jeff Chandler and Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins were ringside to watch the battle. Lundy was winning every round, but Evangelista did not show up just for a paycheck. He clipped Hank a few times throughout the fight, but it only seemed to get Lundy angry until he eventually lowered the boom on the Mexican in the fifth. Lundy, 33, has fought professionally for over a decade but relatively few times in his hometown of Philly. He was a 2005 National Golden Gloves silver medalist and represented the United States at the 2007 Pan American Games. He fought twice professionally at the Blue Horizon before the legendary venue closed for good in 2010. He has fought coast-to-coast in 12 states and Canada. In 2013 he traveled to Kiev, Ukraine to battle the then undefeated Viktor Postol for the WBC International super lightweight belt. His most recent loss was to Terence Crawford at Madison Square Garden. Crawford is currently rated as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. With this victory, Lundy feels he is ready for a new run at a title shot. “I felt good,” he said immediately after the bout. “You know I’m ready to go back to 10 or 12 rounds and fight for a world title. This was a little icing on the cake to show everybody y’all got hell to pay. I’m back and I mean business. Nobody can beat me. The only person who can beat Hank is Hank Lundy, and I did that already and there’s no more of that. Its world title time. I want them all at 135. You already know their names: Luke Campbell, Mikey Garcia, Broner, Terry Flanagan, Robert Easter. Stop running and give me them fights. Anthony Crolla – give me all of them. Lomachenko? I’ll whip his ass, too. Hank Lundy doesn’t run from nobody.” Before the fight, Lundy said he would happily travel to Manchester, England to fight any of the title holders and contenders in the U.K. “I’m the real deal... I’m an action fighter who has lived the life. I traveled all over the world. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I’m from the hood in Philadelphia – the streets of Philadelphia.” Lundy raised his fists and added, “I fought with these growing up, and that’s what I show when I fight. I’ll take my bundle on a stick and go get it. I’m ready. The thing is, would they fight me? I’ve been calling these guys out for years, even when they first popped on the scene. They run from Hank Lundy. They don’t want to fight Hank Lundy. They run from me. The proof is in the pudding. Why does Hank Lundy got to move up to 140 when I fight at 135? They don’t want to fight. They know I’m a dog.”

Luis Muñoz Marín Middle School and Edison High School. Peguero always wears a huge grin when he is outside the ring, but inside he is all business. His fighting style is brash and dynamic and is a sure crowd-pleaser. He trains at the new “La Gallera” in Harrowgate Plaza and rolls with the Philly Rumblers. “Miguel Cartagena is like a big brother to me,” Pegero told me before the fight. “Tito has been my mentor and like a father to me. His brother Javier is my manager. With them in my corner, I know I’ll be okay in every fight. I just have to work hard and stay focused.” After the fight, Philly Rumblers posted to their Facebook page: “Congratulations to Crystian Peguero on his unanimous decision over a very solid opponent who was a former national champion with over 70 amateur fights. The scores were 39-37, 40-36 (twice) all in favor for Crystian. I’m in [a] little disbelief how the one judge gave one round to the guy. It was a great fight for Crystian and definitely a developmental win, one that he will grow from. Thank you to the 100+ people that bought tickets and came out to support. Good job to Tito Varela for doing a great job with Crystian.... Thank you to the godfather of boxing, J Russell Peltz, and the boxing queen, Brittany Rogers, for being part of Crystian’s development and growth. I know that they could’ve found an easier opponent, one that would’ve [lain] down with the first punch but our goal is to make a world champion, not a fighter with a pretty record. Can’t wait for the next fight, six rounds maybe? Thanks to Billy Briscoe for his outstanding work last night as a cutman. Billy’s passion is unmatched and he definitely loves this sport more than anyone I know.” Also on Friday, if you blinked you might have missed Jaron “Boots” Ennis of Bozy’s Dungeon in Harrowgate. His

first-round knockout of Wilfredo “El Zerdo” Acuna of Nicaragua by a body shot was as clinical as it was quick. Ennis improved his record to 12 – 0 with 10 knockouts. He and Christian Carto have most certainly graduated from “prospect” status and will be looking for bigger fights in the next 12 months. Ennis has fought four times in 2017 already; his last bout was just three weeks ago in Virginia, also a knockout of Eduardo “El Cheito” Flores of Quito, Ecuador. Ennis has fought 14 times in the past 12 months and remains unbeaten. “He’s always ready,” Bozy told me. “I never have to get him ready.” Junior middleweight Isaiah Wise, an instructor at the Strength Academy in the Piazza, won a six-round unanimous decision over Mark Daniels Jr. of Wisconsin. The bout was closer than the scorecards indicate: 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54, but Wise still won with a comfortable margin. He improved to 5-1, with three KOs. Welterweight Marcel Rivers, 2-0 with one knockout, scored a knockdown in winning a decision over Jamaal “Shoota” Gregory, of Charlotte, NC, over four rounds. Rivers is a graduate of MLK High School in North Philly and trains with Fred Jenkins Sr. at the Rec Center at 26th and Master in Brewerytown. He was cornered by Jenkins and his Uncle Julius. Scott Kelleher, out of Joe Hand’s Gym, lost to Don Richardson of Newark, New Jersey in super lightweights. Kelleher falls to 5-1 with the defeat. In the opening bout, North Philadelphian Tyree Crowder drew with Ishmael Altman of North Carolina in the professional debut for each fighter. Both fighters now have a record of 0-0-1. Crowder posted after the fight: “Thought I had the fight but the judges gave me a ‘Draw’ but thanks to everybody that came out & supported me. Right back in the gym on Monday #NoDaysOff.” •

Kensington’s Crystian Peguero (2-0 with 1 knockout) beat Saquon “Roto Rooter” Felton of New York by Unanimous Decision.

Earlier in the evening, exciting bantamweight prospect Crystian Peguero (2-0 with one knockout) beat Saquon “Roto Rooter” Felton of New York by unanimous decision in a four-round bout. Peguero, originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, moved to Kensington when his sister required surgery that was performed at a local hospital. He attended

Did you know that Spirit News has it’s own radio show? Tune into Spirit News Radio every Wednesday night on WPPM - FM 106.5 from 6-7PM. We discuss local news, arts and entertainment pertaining to the various neighborhoods we cover across Philadelphia. Can’t tune in live? You can download our radio show each week in podcast form on iTunes, SoundCloud and Google Play. Do you want to have your company or product sponsored on Spirit News Radio’s Podcast? Reach out to ads@ spiritnews.org today! Thanks for tuning in!

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

WRITTEN BY MAX WEINSTEIN

penn treaty park PA R K ’ S P L AY G R O U N D R E N O VA T I O N S R E A D Y F O R S U M M E R

n June 14th, at noon, a dedication ceremony will cap a two-year journey at Penn Treaty Park that has seen an old, flood-prone playground revamped into a brand new, ADA-accessible facility which sits high and dry. “Having grown up around here, it’s nice to see high-level investment,” said A.J. Thomson, President of Friends of Penn Treaty Park and a key driver of the project. The Lenni-Lenape tribe, which historically lived on the land, will have spiritual representatives perform a ritual at the dedication, and 500 commemorative coins emblazoned with the Penn Treaty wampum will be handed out. A turtle sculpture has also been brought to the park to commemorate the historical link between the park and the Lenni-Lenape. “It’s just good to have them as part of the continuation of how the land is being used,” Alain Joinville, the communications manager at Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, said. Parks and Rec helped pay for the $500,000 project along with Councilman Mark Squilla, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and PECO.

Noting the “tons of young people” in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony for the playground project last year, Joinville predicted a high turnout. “A.J. Thomson did a great job of rallying the community to come out and support the project, and I’m sure he’ll do the same for the dedication ceremony as well,” he said. Thomson said that the best feature of the seven-acre Penn Treaty Park was how much it offered just in its natural setting, aside from the amenities. “You can go fishing, just enjoy the waterfront; there is a huge lawn for you to exercise.” “You can have fun with your kid without the playground. Now you can have fun with the playground,” he added. Thanks to the playground renovations, that maxim doesn’t just cover able-bodied children anymore. While wheelchairs used to be essentially blocked from access by woodchips, a flat playground surface and specially wheelchair-friendly equipment have changed that. Thomson said that the park, one of the only Delaware River waterfront public spaces, has become a jewel not just for the Riverwards, but for the larger city. “If you go there any time after school, it’s crowded,” he said. Now that the playground renovations are complete, Thom-

son is already advocating for a new Penn Treaty buff-up. “At least a bathroom would be cool,” he said. •

New playground equipment at Penn Treaty Park./Max Weinstein

W R I T T E N B Y S H E A LY N K I L R O Y

Flea market

FRIENDS OF PENN TREATY SCHOOL HOLD FLEA MARKET & CRAFT SALE

riends of Penn Treaty School held its 2nd Annual Flea Market and Craft Sale on Saturday, June 2 along the outside of Penn Treaty School (600 E. Thompson St.). Fidget spinners, the trending toy, were sold in boxes, waiting for a first spin. Down Thompson Street, guests stopped to smell handmade soy candles, which were sold alongside previously owned clothing. Rev. Shawn Hyska of First Presbyterian Church (418 E. Girard Ave.) welcomed “old friends and new” to make colored sand necklaces in the forms of dolphins and crosses. Visitors were able to make their own painted prints or purchase others’ Vincent Van Gogh- inspired paintings. Founder of the 12+ program Raymond John stopped by and took pictures at the Friends of Penn Treaty photo booth. Children danced to the DJ, played giant Jenga, and paused to be decorated with glitter on Montgomery Ave. There was a lot of fun and games, but Sgt. John Massi at the 26th Police District table got down to business fingerprinting kids. The smell of rain from earlier that morning was overpowered by the sweet, sugary aroma of cotton candy being stirred and served. For more information about Friends of Penn Treaty School and their upcoming events, please visit the Friends of Penn Treaty School Facebook page. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 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 Wednesday June 7, 7PM PROPAC MEETING PROPAC Meeting Agenda at The Columbia Social Club 3529 Almond St. Zoning Issues: -2866 Aramingo Avenue Tuesday June 13th 9:30 A.M. -3630 E. Thompson Street Tuesday July 11th 9:30 A.M. -2609 E. Cambria Street Wednesday August 2nd 9:30 A.M. -2500 E. Tioga Street Thursday, June 8, 6 - 7:30 PM LOOKING BACK & AHEAD W/ ADAIRE PRINCIPAL ANNA JENKINS Join Friends of Adaire and the Fishtown community at Adaire Alexander (1300 E Palmer St) as Adaire Principal Anna Jenkins looks back on the year just past and lays out the next two years of her ambitious and inspiring Five Year Plan! Principal Jenkins will not only report on her many initiatives and the more than 80 (EIGHTY!) extracurricular and special programs at Adaire, but she will discuss VERY EXCITING programs and initiatives coming to Adaire next year! Don’t miss it! We’re holding this in the Adaire auditorium this year; enter through the doors off Thompson & the schoolyard beneath the columns. Saturday, June 10, 8AM ELM TREE POST FLEA MARKET & BAKE SALE / FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY. The women of Unit #88 of the American Legion Auxiliary will be holding their annual Flea Market & Bake Sale around Palmer Cemetery and inside the Post home (1212 E. Palmer St.) At 1PM, the annual Flag Retirement Ceremony will be held in the cemetery. The rain date is Sunday, June 11. For more information, contact Tom Callen at 215-425-5356. Saturday, June 10, 10AM-1PM KIDS HEALTH & SAFETY FAIR Use local resources for your child’s safety at Rep. John Taylor’s Kids Health & Safety Fair at Cione Playground (2600 Aramingo Ave.) Representatives and information will be provided from CHIP, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, SEPTA, ORCA and PROPAC. Car Seat Safety Check will be done by the 26th Police District. Operation Safe Kids will be conducting fingerprinting, and pictures will be taken from the US Secret Service. To register for the Car Seat Safety Check and/or the Operation Safe Kids safety services, please call 215-708-3139. Saturday, June 10, 12 noon FLAG DAY AT PENN TREATY PARK Come celebrate Flag Day and get a free flag at penn Treaty Park. Saturday, June 17th KONRAD SQUARE FLEA MARKET The Friends of Konrad Square will host a flea market on Saturday, June 3rd and 17th at Konrad Square, Tulip and Dauphin Streets. Anyone interested in renting a space

should call Vicky, 215-426-9654. Thursday, June 22, 7PM GREEN PARTY MEETING The Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP, www.gpop.org) will hold a membership meeting at 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 22, at Shissler Recreation Center, 1800 Blair Street (near Girard Ave) in Fishtown, Philadelphia. At this meeting, Greens will discuss the political issues that most impact our fair city. Shissler Rec Center is wheelchair accessible. The meeting will be open to the public with no admission charge. For more information, please contact 215-843-4256and gpop@gpop.org. June 22 - 24 ST. ADALBERT PARISH FESTIVAL Beginning at 6 PM on the parish grounds, Allegheny Avenue & Thompson Sts., in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. There will be games for children, moon bounce, face painting, beer garden, flea market, games of chance for the specialty baskets, cake booth, jardo etc., homemade Polish & American food, cash casino and much more. Entertainment will be provided by the Polish American String Band on Thursday, DJ Patty-Pat on Friday and on Saturday Continental Polish music. Friday, June 23rd, has been designated as Alumni Night. All St. Adalbert School graduates as well as former parishioners are invited to come and renew friendships. Festival will take place Rain or Shine. Come and enjoy the evening with your family and friends. Through June 23rd CELEBRATE ARTS & AGING EXHIBIT The “Progression” Exhibit at St. Anne’s Senior Center features some older and more recent works by the artists in the Color Wheel painting class. Also on display are pieces from the Clay Creations class. Some of the artwork is for sale and proceeds will benefit the center’s art programs. The exhibit will run through June 23rd and the community is invited to stop by Monday- Friday from 10am to 3pm. For more information call 215-426-9799 Thursdays, 7PM ST. ANNE’S NOVENA St. Anne’s Church (2328 E Lehigh Ave.) Starts at 7PM with rosary, immediately after we do novena. Deacon Gerry McPhillips leads the Novena. FISHTOWN LIBRARY EVENTS June 9 at 10:30AM: Merge Dance Studio Storytime. Dance, sing, & play at this special storytime event! Recommended for ages 2 and up. June 12 at 4-6PM: Summer Reading Kickoff Party. Sign up for summer reading & get your face painted! Surprises await! Please note face painting is limited; first come, first served. June 14 at 4-5PM: PAWS Read to a Dog. Meet & read to our new therapy dog, Keeva! For all ages. June 19 at 6PM: Master Gardener: Vegetable Gardening. A

presentation from the Penn State Master Gardener Series on how to grow your own vegetables. June 14 at 6PM: Philadelphia Federal Credit Union. Credit Seminar. Learn how credit works, how to obtain and analyze your own credit report and what your credit score means. Please register by visiting the Events & Classes page at PFCU.com. June 29 at 2PM: Glitter Tattoos for tweens and teens! Tuesdays: Toddler Storytime: Join Miss Dana for stories, songs, and silliness! Tuesdays @ 10:30am. For ages 0-3 ½ 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. For more information, call 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. CIONE SIGNUPS Zumba Class: Fridays 7:30 to 830PM. Cost is $5 per class. Arts & Crafts: Saturdays 12 to 1:30PM. Ages 5 to 12. No Cost. Chess: Tuesday and Thursday Nights 6:30 to 8PM. Saturdays from 12 to 1:30PM. No cost. All ages and skill levels. Like us on Facebook. Cione Recreation Center SUMMER MOVIES AT 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Movies return at 1st Presbyterian Church (418 East Girard Ave). We’re going to have a mixture of Saturday Matinee and Thursday Evening films for the entire family. Here is the lineup of movies: “Moana” - Thursday, June 29th - 6:30PM “A Dog’s Purpose” - Saturday, July 8th - 1PM “Sing!” - Thursday, July 13th - 6:30PM “Kubo & the 2 Strings” - Thursday, July 27th - 6:30PM “The Shack” - Saturday, August 5th - 1PM “Trolls” - Thursday, August 10th - 6:30PM Showings are FREE. Popcorn and snacks are also provided for free (donations always accepted and appreciated to help offset the cost).

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

PHOTOS BY ROMAN BLAZIC

Weekend photos

AT O N E M E N T C H U R C H A N D B Y M Y S I D E C O M M U N I T Y B L O C K PA R T Y & N O L I B S M U S I C F E S T I VA L

t was a fun-filled weekend in the Riverwards as the beautiful weather made for some family-friednly events in the neighborhoods. Atonement Church and By My Side threw a neighborhood block party on Saturday, June 3. The eclectic block party featured pyrotechnics, jugglers, kids games, adult games, chances, prizes, face painting, food, music and more. The event also featured a BBQ competition where the best BBQers in Fishtown came out to show their stuff. Later on that same day, local residents came out to Liberty Lands for the NoLibs Music Festival & Flea Market. The annual concert featured a great line-up of local music including School of Rock, The Hoppin’ John Orchestra, After Dinner Mints, Broken Arrow, Michael Simons, and St. James & The Apostles. All proceeds generated from the show benefited the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association general fund which supports Clean Streets, the Community Center, and Liberty Lands. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

COMMUNITY

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Page 15

The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

WRITTEN BY SHARON ISABEL CURLEY

Spirit Astrology YOUR DOSE OF HYPERLOCAL SPIRITUAL ADVICE

Aries: Jane Eloise Stationary was a character in a book I never finished writing. When she was a child, she fell into a well, and her brother saved her from it. The rest of her created-by-me life was spent living a fantasy. The story was no longer about Jane, but about me. The people Jane was based on are me, as I’ve said, and my best friend Amanda Staples. The Amanda part of Jane has been out of that well since the true part of that story happened, and the Sharon part of Jane was recently rescued by real-life Amanda. She told me I’d been in that well, even though I didn’t know I was. She said, “Sharon, you are in denial.” Boy, was she right. Aries, you’re not the type to get caught in a well, but sometimes you do. And you will try to get out, and sometimes someone will be there to help you. Hold that person so damn tight, and never, ever let them go. Taurus: Taurus, have you ever felt hunger? Have you ever felt it so much that the sounds in your stomach were begging for food? Have you ever then found food and ate too much that you were so satiated that you felt sick? Have you learned your lesson that you can only handle so much to feel just right? I’m sure you have. I’m also certain that, even though you don’t want to feel sick, sometimes you eat too much anyway. Every time, the lesson is relearned. Or maybe not. Personally, I am past the point of hunger. I don’t even remember the last time I’ve eaten. In your case, however, I suggest the next time you feel hunger for anything — food, affection, finding a new swimming hole — whatever it is, I suggest you hold off a little. Lay down, take a deep breath, and prepare yourself for what you’re going to welcome into your life, and choose wisely and in a healthy manner. Gemini: I am currently sitting seven floors up in that strange condo building on the river that is supposed to mimic a cruise ship. I spent the night here last night, house-sitting for a friend who is out of town. Although it’s a lovely view up here, and I am watching the ships go by we well as the PATCO zooming across the Ben Franklin Bridge, I am having trouble enjoying it fully, because I am having a hard time realizing why I am here. Am I here because after nearly two years of putting in my absolute best work as a girlfriend, I was living a lie the whole time? Am I here because after realizing that my now recent ex may have been cheating on me the whole time, forcing me to recently leave our house, I had nowhere to go but here? Or am I here because apparently I’ve put in enough effort to make great friends who will help me when I am in need? I’m going to have to go with the latter. Gemini, wherever you are right now, remember the better path that got you there. Now imagine me leaning past my computer screen to admire the sights. Cancer: When I see old pictures of my mother from her fashionable heyday, I can barely believe that little hippy is sitting next to me wearing things like Charlie Brown Christmas sweatshirts or capri pants. My dad, although not in his platforms anymore, will at least rock a Zappa shirt he still owns to a show. I wonder if I will ever lose my sense of fashion. I think it’s too important to me to ever let go. I envy older women with impeccable fashion sense. I admire these women not backing down. It’s hard to know what’s what if you don’t have your own style. Do not wear yoga pants unless you’re practicing yoga, but also do not wear your Hawaiian shirt in Hawaii. Whatever style you’ve got, Cancer, I suggest rocking it big time right now. You deserve to feel the freedom you’ve chosen, and learn to wear

it well. Leo: On a recent takeout date from Capital Beer on Aramingo Avenue, I got shrimp with broccoli and a pretty awesome fortune. The fortune was, “Beware the fury of a patient man.” I think about that fortune a lot, because I am currently, or just passed, seeing such a fury from a patient man. I also think about it, because maybe it applies to myself. I am usually a pretty collected person, but when things get jumbled, I have the ability to act out in a way that I think might be furious. For example, I was recently living my life as best I could. I was in love, I had a house that I was able to feel like myself in, I spent every day with Simone the dog — I was feeling pretty happy. Suddenly, that was all taken away from me. I was in shock, and it hurt a lot. So, my reaction to my immediate state of homelessness and losing not just who I thought was going to be my partner forever, but also (wo)man’s best friend was one of fury. Is that okay behavior, all things considered? Well, absolutely! Leo, if you’re feeling like you might explode, I really recommend going for it. Scream into a pillow, throw a plate at a wall, but whatever you do: do not go into a hospital. The food itself will cause another outburst. Virgo: I’ve gone to West Philly twice in the past week, and by the time you read this, I’ll be dog-sitting out there, as to have a safe place to stay for now. It’s a great little apartment on the third floor, and there are trees and birds chirping, and I’m almost scared I’m going to fall in love with West Philly again. I broke up with West Philly in 2010 when my little family split up. When I’m there now, I always immediately want to leave. This time I’m grateful that Philly’s most fashionable band, Needle Points, has gone on tour and left me with their dogs. You see, sometimes there’s no hurt in falling in love with something again, no matter how hard it was to get over it before. Give it a try in the coming days, and see what you can prove to yourself. Libra: I remember when I was very young, and I was racing with my brother. As I was beginning to win, my brother pushed me out of the way. I fell, smashing my head, bleeding like wild, and watched my brother win the race. I think I remember this because it appears my whole life is just like that race. It’s as if I’m winning, and then I’m falling and smashing my head, and I’m watching someone else win instead. I really don’t know how to change this. Libra, whenever you feel you’re not winning the race, think about what you do. Do you just let someone else win? Or do you keep trying, knowing you’ll get hurt? Be safe in learning how to decide. Scorpio: My old friend Scott was obsessed with the number 22. His art was made in 22 increments. I either do not remember, or just never knew, why the number 22 was so relevant to him. I think it can be good to obsess over things. I think it can be healthy and it can create very beautiful things. It can bring so many ideas and new creations. Sometimes if you’re obsessed with pizza, you try many different pizzas or maybe you’re just obsessed with your one pizza spot. Whatever it is, make sure you’re sticking to the health obsessions and carry on as you were. Ophiuchus: Because Spirit News allows so much freedom with what we write here, I would like to introduce you to my mix, Ophiuchus! Granted, this will now put the other signs in some confusion, but I say to heck with it. They

can deal. My life was recently flipped, turned upside down when a dark little monster appeared in my former house one day. He was so mean, you see, I was forced to leave the house. I now live, as the crusties say, “home free.” Every day is a challenge to find out where I will be sleeping or where I will be eating, or where I may use the bathroom. It’s not an easy way to live, but it’s my way to make sure the (although adorable) little monster will not scare or hurt me anymore. If you’ve got a challenge with something that scares you so much, and if it forces you into other fears, you just need to know that the monster doesn’t control you. He sucks you dry from the things you want, and so you will be safer sleeping in your car than sleeping with him. Good luck to you, new sign. You’ve got this. Sagittarius: My friend Snacks and I hung out the other day. She and I seem to go through similar things at similar times. This day was no exception. The difference between us is that I woke up the next day still feeling pretty sad, and Snacks woke up to a sold piece of art and a solo show coming up in London. I’m really proud of her, and it’s been an inspiration to me. Sag, if you’re feeling like you’d maybe not prefer another day worth living, look to your favorite people and follow their lead. Here’s to us all figuring it out! Capricorn: I met my Capricorn and Fishtown extraordinaire friend, Anna, when I was in a dark place in my life. She’s one of the only people I trusted to know that there was light. She was right. I saw the light. And then that light seemed so bright for a while, I think it may have blinded me. Then that very light went out and it was dark again. Anna called me out of the blue one afternoon, and she really helped me to reach out and flip the switch to turn that light on again. I let her know it seemed dim, but she assured me the light would get just to the brightness I want it, but that I would have to trust that I could fiddle with it until I got it there. I believe her, and I do so, because I trust I can do this on my own. Right now, it’s okay that it’s dim. I will fiddle as I see fit. Capricorn, if you’re struggling with the lightness of being, fiddle with it and get it right. It may take strength, but you can do it. Aquarius: Back when I used to make money, I’d do things like have brunch at Parc with my girlfriends. I don’t necessarily miss that as much as I miss a full tank of gas in my car or taking my workout shoes to my cobbler. Now, I don’t have the luxury of any of this, or the luxury of a home or a bed to sleep in that I can call my own. We Aquarians always love the new changes that are ahead of us, but I seem to be at my rope’s end. If only rope was like a chameleon tail and could grow just a little more when I need it to. You’re going to need to extend things sometimes, and just wishing won’t make it happen, you’re going to have to do something about it. Pisces: I listen to the Beach Boys quite regularly. Those harmonies and sweet lyrics just never get old at all. I learned quite recently that if I were to choose the way my life would end, I’m sure to put a Beach Boys record on and feel alive right before I die. It’s very telling that they’re clearly my favorite band. Find something for yourself that you feel you know you love and imagine the moments of life that become the most precious, and let whatever that cherished thing is in. Let tears roll down, let your heart beat a little longer. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – June 7, 2017

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KLUSEK

beer week

B E E R W E E K F E S T I V I T I E S C O M E S T O S A I N T B E N J A M I N B R E W I N G C O M PA N Y I N K E N S I N G T O N

hilly Beer week kicked off last weekend at the FIllmore with the PBW Opening Tap where officials staged a ceremonial tapping of a firkin of Brotherly Suds. The famous PBW “Hammer of Glory” then made its rounds, including a stop at Saint Benjamin Brewing Company in Kensington. •