In This Issue

Tasco Alleges Intimidation by Bass Worker

The race for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Councilmanic District took an unexpected turn on Tuesday, morning, April 5, as candidate Robin Tasco announced on the  internet radio program “The Morning Feed,” hosted by Ed Feldman  at http://gtownradio.com, that she had been approached by Steven Vaughn, a worker for the campaign of Cindy Bass and a convicted felon, who she said had tri

Settlement Bankruptcy Continues;

Burgess Center for Sale

The remains of Germantown Settlement and its affiliated Greater Germantown Housing Development Corporation (GGHDC) are slowly winding their way through Chapter 7 liquidation in federal bankruptcy court after both organizations were denied reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules last year.

CIP Program Helps Seniors Save Their Homes

Just last year, Fred Wells and his wife expected the foreclosure crisis to take the roof from over their heads.  The senior citizens had been living in their Philadelphia home for 46 years.

Chestnut Hill’s Perrier Wins PIFA Award

By NATHAN LERNER

Correspondent

The inaugural Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) will be inspired by Paris during the seminal years of 1910 to 1920. A panoply of events, driven by food and fashion, will import the tastes and styles of the City of Lights to our own City of Brotherly Love.

More Below

Tasco Alleges Intimidation by Bass Worker

By KARL BIEMULLER

Editor

The race for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Councilmanic District took an unexpected turn on Tuesday, morning, April 5, as candidate Robin Tasco announced on the  internet radio program “The Morning Feed,” hosted by Ed Feldman  at http://gtownradio.com, that she had been approached by Steven Vaughn, a worker for the campaign of Cindy Bass and a convicted felon, who she said had tried to intimidate her into leaving the race and also hinted of possible assistance for her if she did agree to drop out of the crowded field.

In the interview, which can be heard in its entirety at http://www.gtownradio.com/content/blogsection/44/119, Tasco said that she had received a phone call from Vaughn, former chief of staff to incumbent Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, and that Vaughn had asked Tasco to drop out of the race. If she didn’t, she said, Vaughn produced documents and said that action could be taken alleging insurance fraud over an accident that Tasco had had several years ago.

In a brief phone interview on April 6 Tasco said that Vaughn identified himself as a campaign worker for Bass. “What he did was he called me up and said he had some embarrassing information about my campaign and he wanted to meet with me the next day.” She said she met with him that night, March 13. “Basically I didn’t tell him anything. We just listened to him.” Vaughn said, according to Tasco, that he was hoping that she would drop out of the race and that her nominating petitions would be challenged if she didn’t. Of the document that Vaughn allegedly produced, said Tasco, “It was nothing …. I didn’t say anything to him one way or another.”

As of press time, Vaughn could not be reached for comment.

In a brief phone interview on April 6 Bass said that during her campaign, “I’ve talked about the issues and I really feel that it’s a red herring and a complete distraction from the work that we’re trying to do … No one from my campaign has ever intimidated anyone either explicitly or implicitly. I have never operated a campaign in that fashion and never have and never will.”

She added, “I’ve seen Robin numerous times during the campaign and at no time did she ever mention this to me or say that anyone from my campaign did anything like this.”

Vaughn, who was chief of staff to Councilwoman Miller and the head of the Central Germantown Council at the time of his indictment in 2005, was convicted of taking part in a scheme with cleric Imam Shamsud-Din Ali to defraud the city by charging for collection of real estate taxes that had already been paid.

If further information becomes available, visit www.germantownnewspapers.com for updates.

Settlement Bankruptcy Continues; Burgess Center for Sale

By JAMES FOSTER

Publisher 

­The remains of Germantown Settlement and its affiliated Greater Germantown Housing Development Corporation (GGHDC) are slowly winding their way through Chapter 7 liquidation in federal bankruptcy court after both organizations were denied reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules last year.

Two separate trustees have been assigned and attorneys appointed to assist in trying to unravel the financial history of Settlement and GGHDC, including complicated inter-company transactions between the two, prior to the liquidation of their assets. Locating and determining ownership of some of these assets is also a priority.

Germantown resident Irv Ackelsberg, an attorney representing the Germantown Community Connection, has been given standing in the proceedings. His questioning of Settlement head Emanuel Freeman at a March 8 Meeting of Creditors at the U.S. Couthouse, 8th and Market streets brought a series of objections from Freeman’s counsel, Thomas Belli. Ackelsberg insisted that financial details in documents filed with the Court relative to the two corporations were material to the matters at hand and persisted in questioning in more detail in order to gain understanding of the accounting practices and status of the financial assets of these entities.

One large inconsistency was an $800,000 item that was reported as inter-company on one corporation that did not appear on the others records.  Freeman claimed it was an “oversight” and indicated that his “new accountant” would do better.  He named that new accounting firm as Lawton Associates of West Oak Lane. Trustees and attorneys agreed that the matter needed much more time and agreed to set aside a longer period for future discussions.

Earlier this week a trustee-appointed forensic accountant and attorney for the trustee arrived at the Burgess Center former headquarters of Germantown Settlement and collected boxes of records for review and analysis.  Reportedly, Freeman is still operating multiple other corporations from that location.

The Burgess Center itself was scheduled for Sheriff’s Sale on Tuesday, April 5, according to attorney Edward DiDonato of Fox Rothschild, doing investigative work for Terry Dershaw, a  lawyer from Warminster Pa. who is trustee for Germantown Settlement, and Gary Seitz of Rawle & Henderson of Philadelphia, trustee for GGHDC. He said a motion by Freeman to have that sale postponed has been denied by the court. 

Parke Bank appears as the primary mortgage holder with a $7 million mortgage on the Burgess Center.  In addition Hosteler Insurance Agency holds nearly half a million in claims against GGHDC. Total judgments presently on file in the dockets of the City of Philadelphia total $9.5 million dollars.

Although the IRS, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the City of Philadelphia have judgments and claims in the multi-millions, to date virtually none of these agencies have filed substantive claims in the bankruptcy process. 

CIP Program Helps Seniors Save Their Homes

By MELISSA NOWICKI

and MATT FINN

Guest Writers

Just last year, Fred Wells and his wife expected the foreclosure crisis to take the roof from over their heads.  The senior citizens had been living in their Philadelphia home for 46 years.

The couple began searching for affordable senior housing to call their new home once they lost their house. They didn’t have high expectations when they first contacted Center in the Park, an organization for senior citizens located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

“I didn’t know there was such a thing as a housing counselor,” Wells said.  “I called over there to see if I could find some housing once I lost my house.

Two older women from the community founded Center in the Park in 1968.  The ladies wanted a place where senior citizens could do activities and socialize.  Since then, the center provided seniors with over 80 different activities to enjoy.

“Our mission is to promote positive aging and foster community connections for older adults whose voices are critical instruments in shaping our activities and direction,” said Megan McCoy, the director of grant research and development for Center in the Park.

The nation’s economic conditions have been particularly hard on senior citizens.  A January 2011 USA Today and Gallup poll showed 12 percent of people aged 65 or older admitted they are having serious trouble paying their bills or are facing even graver issues such as bankruptcy or foreclosure.

After seeing a need for housing assistance for its clients, the organization began housing counseling in 2004.  The center has served as one of just three Philadelphia senior centers funded by the city to provide housing counseling specifically to older adults.

In March, the Wells started working with Senior Housing Counselor Michelle Brix.

“I thought that was going to be the end of it,” Wells said.  “But Michelle went further.”

Brix took the position in July of 2008.  A new Philadelphia housing program designed to help homeowners who could no longer afford their homes, quickly changed her job description.

The program required a conciliation court process in which people facing foreclosure met with a housing counselor.  The counselor then acted as their advocate in a face-to-face meeting with lender attorneys.

“In many ways that helps people to become more human to these lenders and banks that are just plowing through all of these foreclosures,” Brix said.  “It allows more chances for advocacy, more chances for workouts, because you can’t move forward in the foreclosure process until you’ve gone through this mediation program. “

With Brix’s help, the Wells managed to keep their home thus far.  However, the process was long and complicated.

“We might not hear from her and then every once in a while she’ll call up again with a new wrinkle, a new barrier in the process,” Wells said.

A 2010 report by the Center for Responsible Lending stated that about 2.5 million foreclosures were completed between 2007 and 2009 and about another 5.7 million foreclosures were imminent.

“Someone in foreclosure, it’s kind of like you’re just joining the party,” Brix said.  “There’s just so many people in foreclosure right now.”

Brix admitted that her job had been frustrating at times and she had not made every client’s struggles into a success story.  The counselor used a success wall to keep her motivated.

“During the times when it gets very frustrating and feels like nothing is getting solved and no one is being cooperative and I’m just hitting my head against the wall, I can just turn around and see my list of accomplishments and see that we’re on the right track for at least a handful of people, so I keep going,” Brix said.

Brix said counseling seniors was different than dealing with other adults.  Although she admitted the age difference had occasionally made it difficult to connect with clients, she found her background as a social worker particularly useful with older adults.

“There’s a certain level of honesty, there’s a certain level of privacy that I have to break through, some barriers to get to what’s actually the real situation here,” Brix said.

Wells acknowledged that there was a certain stigma attached with being in foreclosure.

“I imagine there are an awful lot of people we know, that we sit next to in Church every Sunday, who are in desperate, dire straights,” Wells said.  “But it isn’t anything you talk about.”

Although the Wells are still in the process of trying to save their house, Fred Wells is grateful for Center in the Park’s services.

“It’s been a really, really rough year,” Wells said.  “But if it hadn’t been for the services here we’d have been gone.  I don’t even want to think about what would have happened.”

For more information visit http://www.centerinthepark.org/

The authors are students with philadelphianeighborhoods.com, a news service of the Department of Journalism at Temple University.

Books, Authors and Kids All Weekend at Big Blue Marble

By VICTORIA A. BROWNWORTH

Sheila Avelin and Maleka Fruean want Philadelphia’s kids to develop a love of books that lasts a lifetime. From April 7 through April 10 they will be holding the fifth annual Mt. Airy Kid’s Literary Festival.

Avelin is the founder of Mt. Airy’s vibrant independent neighborhood bookstore Big Blue Marble, and Fruean is the events coordinator at the three-story family-friendly shop that has been in operation at 551 Carpenter Lane, a few doors down from Weaver’s Way Co-op, and across the street from Henry Elementary School and High-Point Café since 2005. In 2006, the shop began the festival as, according to Fruean, “as a celebration of children’s literature and a celebration of our first year in business. We wanted a neighborhood festival that was completely free and would draw in as many members of the community as possible with a lot of interactive events.”

Big Blue Marble is big on giving back to the community, and this year’s festival is bigger than ever with many local authors reading from their works and giving workshops on books for all ages, targeting kids younger than pre-school and as old as high school. It will also include, says Fruean, a weekend filled with free giveaways, including, of course, ice cream.

“All weekend we are going to do some giveaways,” explained Fruean, “because this is also an opportunity to promote and collaborate with local businesses. We’ve worked with High Point in the past and this year we are working with Oxford Circus in Chestnut Hill, which sells natural toys. We’ve even collaborated with Walk a Crooked Mile because they’re a used a bookstore and we’re a new bookstore.” No competition–just a mutual love of books.

And one can never jump-start that love of books too early, Fruean notes. One of the festival’s most anticipated events will be a local librarian named Miss Elizabeth doing storytime on Friday morning. As she says (borrowing from famous kid’s author Maurice Sendak) “let the wild rumpus begin!” “She’s got a great reputation for drawing kids into her story times,” said Fruean.

Miss Elizabeth is the featured storyteller for the Free Library of Philadelphia and incorporates finger plays, sing-ins and dancing in her storytelling. On Friday evening, another local storyteller, Yomi Awodesu, who specializes in African storytelling and African music will provide instruments for an interactive musical/storytelling event. Many of the festival’s events are interactive, including a cooking demonstration with Gabrielle Kaplan-Meyer, author of “Kitchen Classroom.” 

Also on the program will be “a flash book signing with renowned children’s author Wendy Mass on Thursday afternoon at 4pm, with a meet and greet,” said Fruean. Mass is the author of the best-selling “Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life” which has been optioned for a film and is now being used in local schools. The book, with its 13-year-old protagonist, targets middle-grade readers.

“We have some really exciting stuff happening,” Fruean said, “and these are just a few of the many events we think will draw people in. And of course we will have an arts and crafts table up all weekend for kids.”

There will be numerous other authors, including Jennifer Hubbard, Cynthia Chapman Willis, Ellen Jensen Abbott, Audrey Vernick, Stevie French, Artie Bennett, A.R. Bey, Ann-Elizabeth Barnes, Kate Milford, Beth Kephart, Nancy Viau, Alison Formento, J.D. Shaw, Lisa R. Nelson and Guilluame Stewart. Local young adult publisher Tiny Satchel Press will be in attendance with several of their local authors, as well.

Anyone who has visited Big Blue Marble, with its lush cherry-wood bookshelves lining the walls and clean open spaces, knows how kid-friendly it is. The first floor has vivid picture books at eye-level–kid’s eye level–as well as a range of books for tweens and teens and a recessed reading space for kids. Upstairs, free refreshments and a restroom equipped with diapers and a changing area make the overall kid/family friendly atmosphere complete. A trip to Big Blue Marble is supposed to be an outing for everyone. Last Saturday, when we stopped in to talk with Fruean, there was a constant flow of customers, including a grandmother special-ordering books and the mother of a five-year-old who was asking Fruean about the suggested age range for books her daughter had picked.  

“We like to provide an atmosphere that is welcoming,” Fruean said about the bookstore. A mother of three herself, Fruean said the importance of reading for kids cannot be overstated. Which is why the bookstore’s Kid Lit Fest is so important to everyone in the store–it builds awareness of books for children and teens and pays tribute to the vast range of books available and also is another opportunity to link up with local authors and businesses to draw the community in. Fruean said an important element of the festival is capitalizing on the vast array of local authors writing specifically for kids and connecting with local libraries, schools and pre-schools and even religious organizations.

“I sent out emails to all the religious groups in the area,” Fruean explained. “I want people to know about the event and broaden the audience for these books.” She also wants to emphasize how important books are for kids, and that reading is an interactive event between parents and children and kids and each other. Lamenting the trend toward computer time and too much texting, Fruean noted that books bring kids back to language and engaging their imaginations. Certainly the books the store carries for younger children and teens are geared toward that end.

Fruean explains that the bookstore has reading groups for both kids and adults that have attracted a large following and that in keeping with Avelin’s and the staff’s commitment to the “walking community” in Mt. Airy, emphasis on the local, especially local authors, is key.

“We want to keep people reading and enjoying everything books have to offer,”said Fruean, “I just want people to come out to the festival to enjoy this great group of authors and their really exciting books. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Events are ongoing throughout the weekend. For a full schedule of events, check out the website at bigbluemarblebooks.com/kidslit11 or call Big Blue Marble at 215-844-1870. All events are being held at the bookstore.

Chestnut Hill’s Perrier Wins PIFA Award

By NATHAN LERNER

Correspondent

The inaugural Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) will be inspired by Paris during the seminal years of 1910 to 1920. A panoply of events, driven by food and fashion, will import the tastes and styles of the City of Lights to our own City of Brotherly Love.

Given its Francophilic panache, who would be the obvious choice for the festival’s first annual Culinary Visionary Award? During his four decades in Philadelphia, Georges Perrier has achieved international acclaim as a chef and proprietor of Le Bec-Fin. The opening night gala at the Kimmel Center will honor the Lyon native for his contributions, both to the local culinary culture as well as his accomplishments as a regional member of the Maîtres Cusiniers de France (Master Chefs of France). Perrier gushed, “I am overwhelmed by receiving this award from PIFA because it is recognizing my involvement with our  city and its exciting culinary scene.”

Perrier recounted his initiation into the local restaurant scene, “I was 23 when I first came to America and started my work in Philadelphia.  Peter Van Stork was preparing to open Le Panteire and hired me to be the opening chef. I just continued to stay because I fell in love with Philadelphia.”

Perrier indicated, “I do consider myself to be an ambassador for French cuisine as I was the one, who first brought this type of cooking to Philadelphia. I feel my continued work expresses that.” According to Perrier, he also performs a reciprocal role in promoting Philadelphia, “When I have the chance to visit France I am always talking about the treasures we have here; the Kimmel Center, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Academy of Music.”  He noted, “I brag about the great culinary talent, our ethnic restaurants, and the bright cooking stars we have here as well.”

Perrier reflected on how public tastes in food have evolved over the years, “I think people are more aware of what they are eating today and want to be educated about what is on the plate. My executive chef, Nicolas Elmi, uses lighter sauces with less butter and less cream than I used to do. I still make all the sauces, but I listen to him when he tells me ‘not so much butter.’  We try to be sure that on the plate if one thing has some butter, then we make sure to use just pure ingredients for the rest of the preparation.”

As part of the festival, acclaimed chefs from Paris and Lyon will be matched with chefs from some of our own local restaurants as they undertake collaborative ventures.  Perrier elected to be paired with the renowned chef Mathieu Viennay, saying, “I chose him as I know his style and have eaten at his 2-star Michelin restaurant, La Mere Brazier, in my hometown of Lyon.” Perrier in enthusiastic about  the prospect “Even though I never met him, I am looking forward to welcoming him into my kitchen. It will be fun to have two chefs from Lyon in the same kitchen working on a fabulous meal.”

Despite the accolades that he has accrued, Perrier is not content to rest on his laurels. He is expanding his off-site catering, “For years, my close friends have asked me to host parties in their homes for various events. Now, with my expanded culinary and management team, this will give me the opportunity  to go beyond the walls of Le Bec-Fin to share our cuisine and high standards with the tri-state area.“

In addition, Perrier is scheduled to open a new bakery, The Art of Bread, in Narberth.  Perrier explained, “We will be serving breakfast pastries, light fare; salads, sandwiches, coffee, cakes , and of course bread.” He clarified, “My Le Bec-Fin Executive Pastry Chef, Cedric Barberet, will be making all the pastries in our pastry kitchen at the restaurant. The bread will be made on site so that it is always fresh.”  Perrier predicted, “This will be a place where you can pick up things to go, birthday cakes or order your wedding or special occasion cake. It will all be done to the Le Bec-Fin  standard! “

PIFA will take place between April 7 and May 1. For further information about P.I.F.A., call 215-790-5800 or visit www.pifa.org.

Nathan Lerner, the Director of Davenport Communications, is actively involved in civic and cultural affairs. He welcomes feedback at culturevulture1@aol.com.

Meeting on Allen Lane SEPTA Station

On Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Brossman Center, Room 301, SEPTA representatives will address questions and concerns which neighbors/riders still have regarding the nearly completed construction project at the Allen Lane train station.

It is important to voice your concerns before the project is finished.

The meeting is open to the greater Mt. Airy community.

The Brossman Center is the building with the large glass windows—signs will be posted.

‘Music for Spirit’ Concert

On Saturday, April 9, the Center in the Park (CIP), a nationally accredited senior community center located in Vernon Park, will present its first Music for the Spirit Gospel Concert from 3 – 6 p.m. at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church – West, 230 West Coulter Street.  There is no admission fee for Music for the Spirit; a free will offering will be taken, with all proceeds to support programs and services for older adults.

Special performances and a tribute to gospel music legends will include: Reverend Joe Williams and Howard Carol of the Original Dixie Hummingbirds and a special guest appearance by Elder Goldwire McLendon, runner up in the BET Sunday’s Best and former member of the Savettes and Romance Watson, soloist and former member of the Roberta Martin Singers.

Also lending their talents to the intergenerational concert are: the St. Thomas Gospel Choir, of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, under the direction of Waltier Blocker; Dawn Morgan Moore, Soloist; the Freedom Choir; the Robert Johnson Smith Men’s Chorus, of Salem Baptist Church in Jenkintown; and, the Imhotep Charter School Choir.  The Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon will be Royce Howard.

The public is invited to attend Music for the Spirit.  Information will follow for the Center’s Fourth Annual Music from the Heart jazz concert which will be held in September at the Germantown Friends School. For information on upcoming events, please visit the Center’s website: www.centerinthepark.org and visit them on Facebook.

Great Day on Great Road Festival

Bring your family and friends to Vernon Park on Saturday, April 16 from 1 - 4 p.m. when Historic Germantown hosts its 3 rd annual “A Great Day on the Great Road” festival.  Join Germantown’s 15 historic and cultural landmarks as they celebrate the history and community of Philadelphia’s historic northwest through music, food, costumed reenactors and activities for the family. 

This year’s performers will include jazz great Tony Williams who will perform and discuss the history of jazz in the neighborhood. There will also be costumed re-enactors, such as Noah Lewis, who is returning for his third year as Ned Hector, a free Black Revolutionary War-era soldier. He will be followed by Joseph Becton, who portrays Underground Railroad conductor Samuel Burris and Denise Valentine, who will present an interactive performance sharing historical stories and experiences of African Americans in Philadelphia.    

Representatives from Historic Germantown’s member sites will feature family oriented activities, such as colonial games, storytelling, dressing as a soldier, and more. In addition, students from Germantown High School will be reading poetry to conclude the event as part of a three-day recreation of Negro Achievement Week, a forerunner of Black History Month which occurred in 1928.

This is the 3 rd Annual “Great Day” festival, an event focused on introducing the community to the wealth of history right in their own backyard. The name “Great Road” is a nod to the history of Germantown Avenue, once an Indian trail and the historic artery that runs through the northwest.

 This event was made possible through the generous grant from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council as part of the Our Stories, Our Future initiative on American history. Our Stories, Our Future is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of We the People, a national initiative exploring the history of the United States.

Sherry Wilson Butler Sings Tribute to Simone

Appearing at the Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church, 13 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, on Thursday April 14 will be singer Sherry Wilson Butler, pianist Barry Sames, bassist Steve Beskrone, and drummer Anwar Marshall. There is one show from 7:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $10, $5 for students, with no advance sales. Free Refreshments! For information call 215-517-8337.

Jazz Bridge, a 501C3 nonprofit that assists our local jazz and blues musicians in crisis, is proud to present Sherry Wilson Butler and her heart-felt tribute to Nina Simone. A frequent performer at jazz festivals in Cape May, West Oak Lane, Rehoboth Beach, and the Anguilla West Indies, vocalist Sherry Wilson Butler’s deep resonating contralto has excited audiences for over 30 years both as a headliner and as a voiceover artists for Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, Patty LaBelle, and may others. Butler has taught at Perkins Performing Arts Center and been a PennPAT Performing Artist on Tour. Presently, she teaches for Musicopia, the Philadelphia Clef Club for Jazz and Performing Arts, Philadelphia Arts Education Network, and her own SherryVocalise Studio.  Currently, Butler is working on her next CD and a writing a documentary entitled Powder Puffs, Perfume, & Poker Faces, about women in the enterainment industry.

Afrocentricity International Meeting

Afrocentricity International, the first global fraternal organization devoted to the rise of consciousness in the Pan-African community based on African cultural and social values since the founding of the UNIAACL by Marcus Garvey, will hold its first meeting at 6 p.m. on April 9, at Imhotep Institute Charter High School, 2101 West Godfrey Street.

Committed to the forming of the United States of Africa, to the African Renaissance, the sustainable growth of African communities, and the bringing into the world of Maat, the Afrocentricity International will be an organized movement for transformation at local, regional, national, and international levels. Already Afrocentricity International has attracted adherents and votarists from Africa, Europe, South America, and North America, who have given their blessings to an organization based on the best of African values. 

You too can join the movement. The organizers include Dr. Ama Mazama, PER-AA, and Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, International Representative.

Please direct all inquiries to afrocentricityinternational@gmail.com

Yard Waste Drop-Off

Streets Commissioner Clarena I.W. Tolson has announced that the Streets Department is accepting yard waste as a recycled material at its Sanitation Convenience Centers, located at Domino Lane and Umbria Street and State Road and Ashburner Street.  Philadelphia residents may bring yard waste and other similar materials for recycling to these centers during the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays through Oct. 29. Philadelphia residents may drop off brush cuttings, tree limbs, leaves, and other similar material for recycling no more than 4 feet in length and no more than 8 inches in diameter.  

Yard waste brought to the site for recycling should be untied.  Yard waste should not be brought to the site in plastic bags.  Biodegradable brown paper bags are recommended for recycling purposes. As always, there is no charge. No waste materials generated by businesses or non-Philadelphia residents will be accepted.

Rep. Parker Sponsors College Fair

State Rep. Cherelle L. Parker, in partnership with Future Minds Inc. and Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, will host a College Fair for anyone interested in pursuing higher education.   

Parker said more than 60 accredited colleges and 20 labor unions’ apprenticeship programs and vocational schools will be on hand for the event, as well as agencies and organizations that can assist students in finding financial aid, scholarships and other funding opportunities.

“There are so many people who are interested in obtaining a college education but they just don’t know where to start,” Parker said. “This event brings colleges and universities from Philadelphia and all across our region, as well as organizations and agencies that offer financial aid options, to one location. I encourage any resident of my district who is interested in getting a college education to attend this worthwhile and important event.”

Also, assistance with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be available at the College Fair. 

The free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9 at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 2800 W. Cheltenham Ave. Registration is not required.

More information is available by calling Parker’s constituent service office at 215-242-7300. The office is at 1536 E. Wadsworth Ave. Residents also may contact Parker through her website at www.pahouse.com/parker.

Roberts Announce New Son

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan D. Roberts of Bala Cynwyd  happily announce the birth of their son, Watson David Roberts, on the April 5th, 2011 at Lankenau Hospital. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Sandwith Drinker of Wyndmoor and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Roberts of Salisbury, Maryland.

Grand Opening for Trolly Car Table Tennis

The Trolley Car Table Tennis Club is on a roll!  After a few months of being in play, the Club is attracting an average of 30 players per day/night, 7 days a week, has hosted its first regional tournament and expanded its offerings to include group lessons and private parties.  The club is celebrating this and much more on Friday, April 8, 6-7 p.m., followed by free open play until 10 p.m.

“They say build it and they will come,” explained Club founder Ken Weinstein.  “Well, we opened the Club in mid January and people of all backgrounds and abilities have come out of the woodwork to play table tennis at the only full-time Club in the Philadelphia area.”

Guests who attend the grand opening will enjoy light appetizers, a raffle for prizes and exhibition matches featuring Mayor Michael A. Nutter.

“We plan to hand the Mayor a table tennis paddle to see what he can do” said Weinstein.  We’ll make sure he gets some good competition.”

The event will take place at the Trolley Car Table Tennis Club, Falls Center, 3300 Henry Avenue, second floor. Interested players of all ages and abilities are welcome to play Monday through Friday, 6-10 p.m., and weekends from noon to 5 p.m.  Players have access to complimentary racquets, balls, restrooms with changing area and free wifi. Daily play is $5 a day for adults and $3 for youth under 18 with monthly and yearly memberships available.

For more information visit www.trolleycarttc.com or call 267-335-2743 during open play hours.

Visit Philly During the Centennial Year

Philadelphia in 1876 is brought to life in a new book, “Adonijah Hill’s Journal,” by Mt. Airy writer James Smart. It’s the fictional diary of a 36-year-old Philadelphian, former textile mill worker, Civil War combat veteran, and a reporter for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in the Centennial year.

 Adonijah Hill never existed, but his daily journal, imagined by Smart, takes readers back to a time before automobiles, airplanes, telephones, radio, television, computers, skyscrapers, and dozens of things we take for granted today. Steam engines and the telegraph were the major technologies. Coal furnaces and outhouses served the typical house. Gas lights and horse-drawn vehicles were the norm, dynamite was a dreaded weapon of mass destruction, and a typical work week was 60 hours.

Readers will recognize local names in 1876. Hill’s musings mention that McCallum, Crease & Sloan, carpet manufacturers, executed an order at their Glen Echo Mills, “above Germantown,” for seven hundred yards of Brussels carpet. The name of Franklin Gowen, president of the Reading Railroad, also comes up in the book. Gowen, whose estate was at Germantown Avenue and Allens Lane, was opposing the Molly Maguire labor agitators upstate, and the authorities in Philadelphia over where his company could place railroad tracks.

Smart has been a journalist, writer and editor in his native Philadelphia for more than 60 years, the first 25 years on the staff of the old Evening Bulletin. Much of his work related to Philadelphia history and lore. During the American Bicentennial period, he produced a two-year series of daily articles    describing life in Philadelphia day-by-day during the Revolution. His book, “Historic Philadelphia: An Illustrated History,” was published in 2001.

Both of his grandfathers were 14 years old in 1876. Fascinated by the different world his Philadelphia ancestors knew, Smart read newspapers, magazines and books published in that era, then the only media, and researched its people, events and everyday activities. In 1876, Philadelphia impressed the world with its Centennial Exhibition in Fairmount Park, a vast world’s fair with giant buildings that introduced millions of visitors to new technology, and to the first photo I.D.s, one-way turnstiles, and valet parking (for carriages.)

Though Adonijah Hill and those close to him are fictional, all others mentioned by name in his journal were real, and the activities and events he describes really happened.

“Adonijah Hill’s Journal” is available from amazon.com. For more information, go to adnonijahhillsjournal.com.

Lasuchin Paintings Exhibited

The stunning paintings and prints of the late Michael Lasuchin are on view in the Memorial Exhibition of Michael Lasuchin at the Lasuchin Studio Gallery, 124 East Cliveden Street on four Saturdays, April 9, 16, 23 and 30, 1 – 5 p.m. For more information call 267-481-6779.

Lasuchin’s tranquil geometric paintings and prints are in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia; the Museum of Modern Art, NY; the Brooklyn Museum, NY; the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg; the State Tretiakov Gallery, Moscow; the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

NIM Workshop on Long-Term Care

On April 13, 9:30-11 a.m., the Ombudsman Program at Neighborhood Interfaith Movement will be holding a breakfast workshop, Making a Difference, to talk about the experience of living in a nursing home or other long term care environments.

Although there is much to look forward to in retirement and greater leisure, there is also the inevitable aging of the body and sometimes the lessening of independent functioning. For some, it becomes difficult to live safely or for families to provide the care required to remain at home. For a few people, the worry that they will need nursing home care becomes a reality.

What most of us fear is the loss of having control over our own lives and being dependent on others for our daily care. Residents of nursing homes and personal care homes have basic rights which need to be accepted and honored by the staff and facility in which they live. Often residents and their families are unaware of what their rights are and uncertain about how to resolve issues of concern to them in a facility.

NIM’s Ombudsman program is part of the Philadelphia Long Term Care Ombudsman Program(PLTCOP) funded by PA Department of Aging .Ombudsmen are advocates who help residents of long term care facilities voice their concerns and exercise their rights. Volunteer Ombudsmen are trained to go into facilities to educate residents, and empower them to act on their own behalf.

Ombudsman Volunteers and staff will share examples of making a real difference in the everyday life of residents through education and support in their frequent visits to facilities.

Making a Difference will be held at NIM, 7047 Germantown Avenue. Join us for a continental breakfast and an interesting discussion. RSVP TO Linda Brunn at 215-843-0304, lbrunn@nimphilly.org.

Youth Revival

A youth revival, “The Greatest Commandment,” will be held Wednesday-Friday, April 13-15, 7:30 p.m. nightly, by New Redeem Apostolic Church. On Wednesday and Thursday the revival will be held at the church, 5001 Germantown Avenue. On Friday the location will be Hashem Christian Worship Center, 6841 Ogontz Avenue. Come out and join us; all are welcome. For more information call the church at 215-848-8630.

CUAA Addictions Workshop

The Christians United Against Addiction (CUAA) Second Saturday Workshop will meet Saturday, April 9, at New Covenant Campus, Elders Hall Conference room, 7500 Germantown Avenue, 9 a.m. – noon.  The speaker this month is Doris Cadell, a member of New Covenant Church.

Christians United Against Addiction, better known as CUAA, presents, once a month, a teaching in the practical application of the 12 Steps.  The meeting is open to all interested persons who are in recovery, or facilitating an addiction support group, or family members of active or recovering addicts. The format allows time for detailed questions and answers and insightful feedback on the topic.

Further information about the workshop or other programs can be found by calling the CUAA office at 215-248-0260 or emailing us at lovephl9@aol.com.

Rev. Ora Love, a founding member of Christians United Against Addiction (CUAA), after serving 23 years as the executive director, has handed off the baton of leadership to another. On Saturday, April 16, the Board of Directors and CUAA supporters will honor Rev. Love at a luncheon at The View.

The CUAA Board of Directors appointed Rev. Sherry A. Jones as new Executive Director last summer. She began working in January of this year. The new appointment continues the work and service of CUAA to people in recovery, their families and the still suffering addict. 

Christians United Against Addiction, Inc. began in 1987 by six individuals with heavy hearts who witnessed the devastation caused by substance abuse in the lives of family and friends, and the relative ineffectiveness of churches in helping them. 

Further information about the celebration of Rev. Love and/or the work of Christians United Against Addiction please call 215-248-0260 or visit  www.cuaa.org.

Interfaith Environmental Training

Take your environmental leadership and education to a new level. Ground for Hope is an Interfaith Religious-Environmental Education and Training event that will take place on April 10 and 11. It will be two days filled with workshops, environmental justice and advocacy training, teachings on Eco-Preaching, green facility instruction, tours of green job sites and buildings, and much more. Sponsored by a number of local groups, including Neighborhood Interfaith Movement and Shalom Center, Ground for Hope is open to all.  

The keynote address will be given by the Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar, former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, and President & CEO of Common Cause.  The culmination of the conference will be an Interfaith Seder for the Earth held at Mother Bethel AME, one of the first African American churches in the U.S, located at 419 South 6th Street.  You can come to all or part of the conference.

The conference will begin in NW Philly at Mishkan Shalom, 4101 Freeland Avenue (off Shurs Lane) in Manayunk on April 10, Sunday, 2-6 pm.  It will then move to center city at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry Street, on April 11, 8:30-6.  

For the full schedule, more information and registration visit www.greenfaith.org

Bake Your Own Matzah at GJC

On Sunday, April 10, Germantown Jewish Centre (GJC) encourages families to experience how the ancient Israelites prepared to flee the land of Egypt in our second annual “Hands on Holiday” pre-Passover celebration.

Jews eat Matzah (unleavened bread) during Passover to commemorate the haste with which the ancient Israelites fled Egypt, with not even enough time to allow their dough to rise.  This is your chance to eat fresh flat bread, you’ve kneaded and baked yourself.

Ronit Treatman, GJC member and volunteer coordinator of this event invites you to “go back in time to Ancient Egypt.  We will be like the Israelites, preparing to flee Pharaoh.  Come grind wheat, mix dough and bake flat breads in a Biblical oven, to take on your journey through the desert.”  Children will also have the opportunity to plant wheat to take home to tend to and grow.

Drop in to the GJC parking lot anytime between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to participate in this free “Hands on Holiday” pre-Passover celebration.

Wide-Ranging Autism Conference at La Salle

Dr. Dan Gottlieb, Ari Ne’eman, Shonda Schilling and Eustacia Cutler will all play very different roles at the 5th Annual Autism Conference – the Voices of Advocacy — on Friday, April 29 at La Salle University. The all-star speaking cast will bring the advocacy theme to life for an audience of parents and service providers. “We are thrilled to have the support of these remarkable individuals; attendees will benefit greatly from their candor and experience,” says Dr. Thomas Latus, Green Tree Partnership’s manager and the conference co-chairperson.

Presented by Green Tree Partnerships and La Salle University, the conference which starts at 8 a.m., features two keynote speeches, twelve breakout sessions, a tailor-made children’s program, student posters and an exhibit hall filled with resources for the Autism community.

When Green Tree Partnerships, a division of Green Tree School, one of Philadelphia’s oldest institutions for autistic and special needs students, launched the conference, it did so in hopes of strengthening and supporting individuals on the autism spectrum, their families and the professionals who assist them. And, the collaboration with La Salle University has proved fruitful for both organizations.

Today, this annual gathering has become the go-to place for professional development, education and inspiration. “It provides a platform for parents and professionals to come together to exchange information, speak out about their own experiences, in order to improve the quality of services and life for those living with autism.”

Taking the stage at 9 a.m., keynote speaker Dr. Dan Gottlieb, himself a quadriplegic and grandfather to Sam, a young boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder, will review the emotional impact of receiving this diagnosis and how families are at risk of becoming organized around that (autism) label. His nontraditional speech, during which he interviews a mother and her special needs son, should provide lots of inspiration for the close to 300 people expected to attend. Gottlieb is host of an award-winning mental health radio show on WHYY, Philadelphia local public radio and author of five books.

Also on hand to support La Salle University and Green Tree School (GTS), a state-approved private school is Shonda Schilling, wife of retired Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Curt Schilling. Shonda is mother of four, including an Asperger’s Syndrome child and now a New York Times Best Selling author. In her book, The Best Kind of Different, Shonda gives readers a candid look into her family’s journey with autism spectrum disorder.

Schilling will speak at a private reception hosted by La Salle University on Thursday, April 28. “This select audience is made up of students interested in serving children on the spectrum, our faculty, special guests and some parents,” says Dr. Frank Mosca, conference co-chairperson and head of La Salle University’s Department of Education. Guests will get a glimpse into the Schilling household as Shonda shares personal moments from their daily life.  Schilling will also speak at a GTS Board-sponsored breakfast on Friday, April 29.

Registration for this event is underway. The cost is $35 for parents/students; all others pay $55. Scholarships are available for parents needing financial support.

To register and review a detailed list of workshops, visit www.gtpartnerships.org or call 609-518-1259.

‘Kids Day at the Circus’ at PSCA

Tired of sitting at home during spring break? No money for an expensive getaway? Send your kids on a unique circus adventure – right here in Philadelphia! Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) presents “Kids Day at the Circus” on Tuesday, April 19, and Wednesday, April 20,  at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.. Children five to fifteen years old can try everything from climbing ropes, tightwire, rolling globes and more. All workshops will take place at PSCA, 5900A Greene Street. The workshop is $20 per child. Pre-registration is required by visiting www.phillycircus.com, e-mailing classes@phillycircus.com, or calling 215-849-1991.

“Kids Day at the Circus” is a full day of PSCA’s new introductory workshops created especially for kids. Children will try climbing ropes, flying on the trapeze, gliding on the fabrics, walking on the tightwire, standing on the rolling globe, and juggling. They will receive an introductory lesson in each activity and be able to try real circus equipment.

The workshop will be broken down into age groups, proving children with the opportunity to learn with others of a similar age and skill set. The age groups are as follows: five and six year olds, seven through ten year olds, and eleven through fifteen year olds.

“Kids Day at the Circus” workshops cost $20 per child. Advanced reservations are required by visiting www.phillycircus.com, e-mailing classes@phillycircus.com, or calling (215) 849-1991.

Get to Know HGNC

Hansberry Garden and Nature Center, Inc., will hold its annual spring membership gathering on Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wissahickon Charter School, 4700 Wissahickon Avenue.  This annual “gardeners’ party” is held to invite the community to come in to learn about the garden and its programs, meet some of our gardeners and find out how to become a member while enjoying free snacks and a speech by Evan Miller of Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, who strive to reduce the distance between farmer and consumer.

The Hansberry Garden and Nature Center, sitting at the corner of Wayne Ave., and Hansberry St, will be starting its growing season this spring. Including flowerbeds, raised garden beds for vegetable gardening, picnic tables, and open space for play, the garden provides a perfect springtime getaway. A fully organic garden, HGNC provides gardeners with the tools necessary to bypass harmful herbicides and pesticides, and instead use companion planting, good gardener maintenance and persistence to control weeds and pests. A family of four can even supply most or all of its summertime vegetable needs straight from their own plot.

The community garden is an all-volunteer organization that aims to provide its members with more than garden bed. From monthly flea markets, environmental education programs, and even an end-of-the-year block party, community involvement is central to HGNC. The garden also participates in city-sponsored programs that provide fresh produce to local food pantries. HGNC is also the sponsor and host for a 4H chapter, in partnership with Kelly School.

Founded in 2002, HGNC has grown from an informal gathering of a few interested neighbors into a registered non-profit organization with an ever-growing membership. The Spring Gathering is open to all. Join us for light refreshments, door prizes and, weather permitting, a tour of the garden. For more information, contact Vicki Mehl at 215-844-7344 or Cherron Perry-Thomas at 215-868-5618, or go to hansberrygarden.com.

Quilt Workshop at Maxwell

The Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, 200 West Tulpehocken Street, is Philadelphia’s only authentically restored Victorian house museum and garden.  Several years ago the Mansion instituted a series of Victorian workshops to educate the public about pastimes enjoyed by ladies and gentlemen during the Victorian era.  These workshops have become extremely popular.  Participants step back in time just as if visiting Anna or Ebenezer Maxwell in 1860.  Tea and homemade cookies are served in true Victorian fashion.

On Sunday, April 10, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., the Mansion is hosting a hexagon quilt workshop.  This project is completely hand-sewn using the English paper piecing method.  Join instructor Ivonne Fitzsimmons to create a beautiful table runner or coverlet.  Kit including Civil War reproduction fabrics is included in class tuition.  Please bring sewing scissors.  All skill levels welcome.  Cost is  $45, member cost  $40. Reservations are required.

Call Diane at 215-438-1861 for details and reservations. Visa and MasterCard accepted. 

Dine at Trolley Car to Support FOW

The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) are holding an important fundraising event at Mt. Airy’s Trolley Car Diner & Deli, 7619 Germantown Avenue, during the third week of April 2011. From Monday, April 18 to Sunday, April 24, 2011, the Diner will donate 15 percent of the revenue from supporters towards FOW’s programs and projects in Wissahickon Valley Park as part of its Helping Hands Week fundraising program.

The Friends of the Wissahickon, founded in 1924, is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the Wissahickon Valley. FOW works in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to restore historical structures throughout the park, eliminate invasive plant species, monitor watershed management issues, and restore trails throughout the park system with its Sustainable Trails Initiative.

Show your support for the Friends of the Wissahickon by bringing your friends and family for a delicious and fun dining experience at Trolley Car Diner & Deli. Bring a Helping Hands Coupon to the Diner, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 3 to 9 p.m. 

To receive a Helping Hands Coupon, visit FOW’s website at www.fow.org or contact FOW at office@fow.org or 215-247-0417. For directions or more information about Trolley Car Diner & Deli, call 215-753-1500 or visit www.trolleycardiner.com. 

Awbury Sparkles After Cleanup

Over a hundred volunteers gathered at Awbury Arboretum on a bright and breezy Sunday, April 3, to participate in a Spring Volunteer Clean-up event. Held in conjunction with the EPA’s Brownfields 2011 conference and the Mayor’s Philly Spring Clean-up, the event brought together conference attendees and members of the community to beautify Awbury Arboretum, one Northwest Philadelphia’s hidden treasures. Among the projects tackled by the volunteers were a pond and stream clean-up, clearing invasive plants from a storm-water management area, and working with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and Weavers Way Co-op Farm to plant onions, strawberries and other crops, and ready beds for spring.

“With the support of both the city and PHS, as well as onsite partners including Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, the PHS City Harvest Program, Weavers Way Co-op, and our EPA volunteers, many hands made light work of a daunting task this weekend,” said Awbury Arboretum  executive director Karen Anderson. “This was an extraordinary example of how strong local leadership, technical support and community-based stewardship can make a difference in the lives of Philadelphians.”

Awbury Arboretum’s plans for the future include more partnership events, as well as the establishment of a regular corps of volunteers to help with the Arboretum’s ongoing improvements. Those interested in becoming involved are encouraged to contact the Arboretum at awbury@awbury.org or 215-849-2855, ext. 25.

FOW Volunteer Work Day

Now that spring is here, the Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) are organizing Volunteer Work Days in Wissahickon Valley Park on Saturdays beginning in April at Houston Meadow, where they are building a sustainable re-route of the trail there. This trail project is in conjunction with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation’s Meadow Expansion and is part of FOW’s Sustainable Trails Initiative.  

Volunteer work  days will be held on April 9, 16, and 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will help grade trail, build rolling dips, remove invasive weeds and litter, and perform other tasks to support the project.

Meet at Houston Playground at Grakyn Lane and Sequoia Road, 19128. Parking is available along the neighborhood streets in the area. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. 

To register, contact FOW Volunteer Coordinator Kevin Groves at groves@fow.org or 215-247-0417 ext. 105.

Celebrate Earth Day!

Empty out your basement and garage of all those old electronic items you didn’t know what to do with.  For 40¢ per pound, your CPUs, TVs, printers, faxes, cell phones etc, will be responsibly reused or dismantled instead of being thrown in a landfill.  This event is being organized by Green in Chestnut Hill.  For more information and a complete list of recyclables accepted visit greeninchestnuthill.blogspot.com.

The Responsible Electronic Waste Recycling event will take place April 16, 1-4 p.m., in the parking lot beside 23 West Highland Avenue, Chestnut Hill.

The cost is 40¢ per lb.,  cash or check accepted, with a $15 flat rate for air conditioners.

For more information and a complete list of recyclables accepted, visit greeninchestnuthill.blogspot.com.

Political Thriller at The Stagecrafters

The Stagecrafters theater presents the political thriller Mud, River, Stone, by award-winning author Lynn Nottage, opening on Friday, April 8 for a three-weekend run.  Its action unfolds somewhere in Africa, as two vacationing African American Manhattanites, Sarah and David Bradley, take a wrong turn off the paved road and end up stranded during a rainstorm in a seedy Colonial-era hotel in the middle of nowhere, together with an assorted lot of both black and white strandees.  Suddenly what started out as a romanticized journey to their roots takes on absurd dimensions, by turns scary and sardonically funny, “... a most unexpected and bizarre adventure ... ” [N. Y. Daily News].

Award-winning author Lynn Nottage has several notable plays among her published work, of which her best known, Intimate Apparel, was produced at The Stagecrafters in 2008.  She received the signal honor of the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2007 and the Pulitzer Prize for her latest play, Ruined, in 2009.  Mud, River, Stone premiered in 1997 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City, to very favorable notices, for example:  “... Nottage pulls off a deft bait-and-switch with her new play, [seducing] us into believing we’re settling into a sardonically funny vacation-from-hell travelogue, then bringing in elements that are ... deeply thought-provoking.” (N. Y. Newsday).

Performance dates are April 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 8 p.m., April 10, 17, 24 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are priced at $15.  Thursday evening performances are “2 for $20”).  Students with valid ID pay $13 at-door.  Groups of 15 or more are offered a reduced rate of $13 a ticket, paid in advance.  The box office opens 45 minutes before each performance.  For information call 215-247-8881; for reservations-direct call 215-247-9913.  The theater is located at 8130 Germantown Ave.  Visit www.thestagecrafters.org for details. 

Special note:  A “Meet the Cast and Director” Q and A session will be held following the performance on Friday, April 15.  All attendees that evening are welcome to stay. 

Camp Open House

It’s not too soon to prepare your youngsters for summer camp this year.  The Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise is hosting an open house featuring two affordable camps in the Northwest section of Philadelphia.

Among the affordable camps is the Youth and Money Camp offered by The Business Center.  The camp is a motivational program that encourages youth between the ages of 7 to 14 to start exploring their own business.  While campers learn the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, they also participate in team building exercises that build good sportsmanship and personal character.

Additionally, the Dance Institute of Philadelphia (DIP) will also be participating in this year’s camp fair.  Through the camp experience, youngsters learn a variety of dances, including but not limited to jazz, ballet, modern, tap, African and acrobatics.  The camp also includes swimming, theatre arts and fun trips.

The Camp Fair will be held on Sunday April 10, at The Business Center, 7500 Germantown Avenue, Elders Hall Conference Room, 2 – 4 p.m. 

To confirm your attendance for the open house call 215-247-2473 x7 and speak to the Director of Educational Programs, Karen James ,or you may visit The Business Center’s website online at www.thebizctr.com

KAP Cooks

The Philadelphia Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, in collaboration with Real Men Cook®, is hosting a “Dining with the Kappas” Dinner Sale fundraiser and benefit house party on Saturday, April 16, at the Kappa Alpha Psi Achievement Center 5521-29 Germantown Avenue. The dinner sale will take place from 4-9  p.m., and the house party will take place from 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Both fundraising events, which are open to the public, are key components part of the chapter’s UNCF Campaign for the 2010-2011 program year.

The initiative was established by Kappa Alpha Psi nationwide as part of the International Kappa Action Relief Effort that raised money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. This time around, the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter is using its resources to help raise funds for UNCF, which is part of each Kappa chapter’s mandate. Members of Kappa Alpha Psi who have participated in Real Men Cook in Philly will prepare and serve the food for the dinner sale. Dishes range from baked chicken, baked fish and roast beef to collard greens, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, ziti and more.

Once the dinner sale is over, there will be an old-fashioned house party with a purpose, featuring dancing to the music of DJ Thommy Live and Cecil Parker singing in the Kappa Café. Admission includes complimentary light refreshments and beverages. At the end of the day, 100 percent of the net proceeds will be donated to UNCF.

Those wishing to patronize the dinner sale can choose an eat-in or take-out option. The price range of platters to be sold is $12-$15. Desserts will also be available for $3-$5. The minimum requested donation for the house party is $20. For information or to place a dinner order call 215-913-2212 or go to www.phillykappas.org.

Morgan State Choir at FUMCOG

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Morgan State University Alumni Association is pleased to present the Morgan State University Choir in concert on Sunday, April 10, at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, 6001 Germantown Avenue.

With a busy concert schedule, including a recent performance for President Obama at the White House, this choir promises to bring musical excellence and energy to a wide variety of choral music. Dr. Eric Conway will be conducting the concert, which benefits the Philadelphia Chapter scholarship fund. 

While classical, gospel, and contemporary popular music comprise the choir’s repertoire, the choir is noted for its emphasis on preserving the heritage of the spiritual, especially in the historic practices of performance. In the last 3 years they have performed twice in Carnegie Hall, been nominated for a Grammy, and traveled internationally to perform in Colombia, South Africa, Russia, China and Ghana. They have sung for Nelson Mandela and in February of 2011 at the White House. In 2004, Reader’s Digest named them “the Best College Choir in the U.S.” in its list of “America’s 100 Best.”

The church is handicapped accessible. The tickets are $25 for reserved seating, $20 for open seating; this concert will sell out. You may obtain tickets and more information from Mr. John Griswold at 215-927-4733 or the First Methodist Church Office, 215-438-3677.

Committee of Seventy Holds Candidates’ Nights for 8th, At-Large

The 2011 elections offer the greatest opportunity for change in Philadelphia’s City Council in many years. A good result depends on the voters being well-informed.  To that end, the dates and venues of the most comprehensive set of public forums ever to be held in Philadelphia were announced March 30.

The forums feature the 12 seriously-contested Council seats up for election in the May 17 Primary.  (There are 17 Council seats in total.)  Virtually all of the 42 candidates in these races have confirmed their participation in the forums. 

The forum for the Eighth District will be held Wednesday, April 27, at First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, 35 West Chelten Avenue.

The forum for At-Large candidates will be held Thursday, May 12, at WHYY, Lincoln Studio, 150 North Sixth Street.

All forums begin at 7 p.m.; dates and venues are subject to change. are listed below.

Media partners include WHYY/NewsWorks.org, the Philadelphia Daily News, the Philadelphia Inquirer and philly.com.

The public is encouraged to attend; seating will be done on a first come, first serve basis.  The series covers both the Democratic and Republican fields for the at-large seats, as well as Democratic races in select districts.

As the forum dates approach, please check www.seventy.org for any venue changes. 

For profiles of the district and at-large candidates as well as the Council districts, see www.seventy.org.  Candidates and voters should contact Frankie Lancos, Committee of Seventy’s Director of Voter Services, at flancos@seventy.org or 215-557-3600, ext. 110. 

Tyner Addresses Public School Series

On Tuesday, March 29, Eighth District City Council candidate Verna Tyner issued the following statement in response to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s ongoing “Assault on Learning” series detailing the alarming level of violence plaguing Philadelphia’s public schools:

“The Inquirer’s investigation into the violence, misbehavior and downright destructiveness plaguing Philadelphia’s public school system is the latest, and perhaps most shocking, sign that the City’s school system is in unacceptably dire straits.”

“As a Tioga resident for the past 40 years, a product of this City’s public schools, and a former junior block captain, I understand that establishing a safe learning environment for our students is absolutely essential to improving our public school system’s abysmal graduation rate and disheartening dropout rate.  Ensuring that our students feel safe and supported enough to concentrate on learning is a crucial part of their effort toward intellectual achievement, emotional growth, and personal progress.”

“This is why I have made improving our City’s public education system a centerpiece of my campaign for City Council.  Yes, it is true that the City does not control the schools.  But as the Inquirer’s investigative work makes glaringly clear, our students - as well as teachers, staff and administrators - need as many advocates as possible at this critical time in their lives and our City’s history.  I intend to be among their loudest and most passionate advocates in City Council.”

“One way to address the problem might be a return to the pre-School Reform Commission form of governance, in which the mayor has more influence over the school board.  I realize that the City agreed to the SRC model in part because it would result in additional state funding, but with that funding drastically cut and in-school violence continuing to mount, we must at least give consideration to letting the mayor and his appointees have the opportunity to improve the situation.”

“We must also work to identify at-risk and struggling students at a young age and involve our business groups, local non-profits and community groups in a comprehensive effort to improve our schools.   I continue to believe that increased community participation is essential to working to empowering our teachers, administrators and students to reinvigorate our neighborhood schools.  Last January, for example, I celebrated Martin Luther King Day by participating in a service project geared towards overhauling the school library at Roosevelt Middle School.  I was struck by what 100 or so people accomplished in a single day.  It was an inspiring testimony to the positive impact that a broad community volunteer effort could have in our schools, and one I would immediately seek to replicate throughout the Eighth District.”

For more information on Verna Tyner’s campaign to represent the Eighth District in City Council, as well as her plans for improving Philadelphia’s public schools, please visit TynerForCouncil.com.  

Paulmier Receives Two Endorsements

The Greg Paulmier campaign for the Eighth District City Council seat received two major endorsements this week. The Chestnut Hill Residents Association chose Greg as their candidate in the Eighth District and the Americans for Democratic Action Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter have decided that Greg is the candidate they endorse. These endorsements represent the leadings of people organized to make the city of Philadelphia and the Northwest a healthy and empowered community, true grassroots support for a truly grassroots candidate. The Greg Paulmier for Eighth District City Councilperson campaign is humbled by their support.

To get involved and make real changes happen join our campaign call 215- 843-7903.

‘Women for Durham’ Workout Fundraiser

Join “Women for Durham” for a morning “Zumba Workout” campaign fundraiser promoting healthy living on April 9!

Join us in the spirit of exercising our minds and bodies with a morning  Zumba workout! Classes will be led by instructor Josephine Heard, who is well known throughout the region. Get a great workout and the opportunity to speak with the candidate one-on-one. Bill Durham will be in attendance at 9:45 a.m. to personally share his vision for the 8th City Council District.

The event takes place Saturday,  April 9, 9 – 11 a.m., with two classes offered, 9 - 9:45 a.m. and 10:15–11 a.m., (onsite registration), at    Allen’s Lane Art Center, 601 West Allen Lane. Admission is $15; price includes bottled water. Donations are tax deductible. 

Vendors’ information tables are available for $20 each. Please bring your own table.

For information visit the campaign website at www..durham4council.com or contact L. Trena Woodson  at 215-474-1057. Register on site or by  email to scoopsltw1@verizon. net,   Payment will be accepted  at the door (cash/checks).

Bill Banning Criminal Record Questions Passes

By JAMES FOSTER

Publisher

A controversial bill forcing the removal of a question regarding a criminal record on job applications in Philadelphia passed 13-4 last week, and Mayor Nutter plans to sign the Bill into law.

The bill was introduced by 8th District Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller in order to help former offenders have greater access to employment opportunity in a city where one in five males has a criminal record.

Certainly not restricted to entry-level applicants, one of the witnesses testifying at the March hearing supporting the bill was former Councilman Rick Mariano, himself a convicted felon who recently served four years for fraud.

According to reports the bill also prevents employers from doing an advance criminal background check before an interview.

Supporters of the bill feel it gives a “second chance” to individuals who are able to perform as well in a job environment as anyone else.  Those in opposition see a legal slippery slope where employment in certain jobs actually required the employer to have notice of a criminal background in order to protect potential victims where the jobs have frequent interaction with the public.

In a related matter Council President Verna passed a resolution that would curb the public comment recently ordered by State Court for City Council.  Verna described this as “housekeeping move.”

Miller Hails ‘Ban on Box’ Passage

Today [March 31, 2011], in Council Chambers, Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller’s Ban the Box legislation passed with an impressive 13-4 final vote.

Forget about the handful of naysayers and the mean-spirited editorial from one Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood paper that claimed [Ban the Box] is “political correctness gone wild”. It’s obvious none of their readers have a criminal record, not even a minor infraction.  Nevertheless, democracy has spoken, and more than 300,000 men and women in our City of Brotherly Love will have an opportunity to make a first impression on their merits and not on things from their past. We anticipate that some may find gainful employment and this will help keep them from going back to a life of crime.  

Despite the opposition from a small, mostly conservative faction of the City’s residents, Miller, a life-long proponent of Philadelphia’s under-represented and disenfranchised, stood firm in her conviction to stop discrimination against people with criminal records during the initial application process and the first interview.

Miller said, “While the opponents definitely had their right to oppose this bill, it was my duty to speak for the majority who are sincere about getting their lives back on track. It does not matter if they (the opposition) refer to me as a ‘bleeding-heart liberal,’ my duty is to do the right thing. Not only am I helping to give people a second chance; I firmly believe that this bill is another tool in fighting crime by reducing the chance of recidivism.”

Treatman Files Financial Report

On Tuesday, April 5, 8th District City Council candidate Howard Treatman filed his first campaign finance report in City Hall. Although most municipal candidates were not required to file today, it was the first opportunity for Treatman to disclose his campaign finances since forming his campaign committee in February 2011. Treatman has called for fairer and more open elections in Philadelphia, and the filing is part of his commitment to greater disclosure in city campaigns. 

“We’ve made tremendous progress in just a short amount of time,” Treatman said. “We didn’t need to file, but I believe in openness and greater disclosure, not only in city government, but also for campaigns. I’ve put in some seed money, and we’re raising more. We’ve received some very favorable press and deployed an aggressive field program.” 

The Treatman campaign has ramped up its canvassing and phone banking operations, and has already recorded hundreds of voter contacts. Treatman has been personally knocking on doors on a regular basis, as have a growing list of volunteers. He has participated in several candidate forums, most recently the Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club’s Candidate Night at Coleman Library. On Saturday, Treatman and his volunteers spent the morning cleaning up Gilbert Stuart Park on the 5100 block of Germantown Avenue as part of Philly Spring Cleanup.

The campaign finance report shows $90,576.27 cash on hand, including $100,000 in loans from Treatman to the campaign and about $12,000 in expenditures. Treatman announced his candidacy on March 8, 2011 and the reporting period ended on March 28, 2011.

“The people I talk to at the door are very receptive,” Treatman continued, “they want a change, and they recognize that I’ll bring an independent voice and new ideas to City Council. Election season is in full swing, and this campaign is hitting on all cylinders.”

Tasco Begins Lecture Series

Robin Tasco, who describes herself as a “no nonsense” advocate for the residents of the 8th District, announced on March 29 that, if elected, she will meet with her constituents every other month, produce a weekly e-letter keeping people abreast of City Council happenings, and send out a quarterly newsletter. “It’s time for radical reform in the 8th District. Community people should know what their elected representative is doing and planning to do at all times. The people of the 8th District need to have greater input into 8th District plans and know that their ideas and concerns are heard and acted upon. I pledge to be open, honest and transparent because our community needs to know that government works for them and not the other way around. That’s my first step in bringing real reform to the 8th District”

When asked why she is running for the hotly contested 8th Council seat, Tasco replied, “I’m running because the 8th District deserves better than having some machine puppet candidate who will only continue the dynasty of their particular puppet master. I am independent and not connected to the machine that only offers more of the same old nonsense to our community.”

A longtime resident of the 8th District, Tasco graduated from Germantown High School, and is the only African-American female union representative in the Philadelphia building trades. An active member of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W.), she has been a certified electrician for 24 years. In her role as union representative, she has made sure that her members were properly represented and given full employment opportunities throughout 8th District job sites.

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