NXNW Closed After Flood, Reopening Questionable

Transcription

Mount
Airy
Independent
July 30, 2009 • Volume 1 • Number 14
5275 Germantown Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19144 • 215-438-4000 • germantownnewspapers.com
Weavers Way
Ends Worker
Requirement
by PATRICK COBBS
Staff Writer
Thanks to a special Weavers Way Co-op
membership vote in early July that
repealed the mandatory work requirement, “cooperating” at the Co-op could
soon look a little different. In short, members won’t have to do it anymore.
In addition, the Co-op announced a
related administrative decision in July to
formally open up the market to non-members. So that’s no more cooperating and
no more memberships, at least by rules.
But for Co-op traditionalists who might
balk at a store where shoppers are neither
members nor cooperators, Executive
Director Glen Bergman emphasized that
the decisions came straight out of
Weavers’ mission.
“It came about because one of our goals
is to be more inclusive and one of the
ways to do that is to allow people who are
not members to shop,” he said. “At the
same time we believe that the work
requirement has been a real big success
and has helped to build connection among
our members.”
And while membership was always a
requirement at the store, there has long
been an informal policy of allowing
prospective shoppers to “try out” the Coop for a period of time. On top of that,
Bergman said, taken nationally very few
co-ops have bylaws that require work
from their members. And just because
those bylaws are changing doesn’t mean
cooperating is a thing of the past.
“We felt that we could inspire and
encourage people to contribute in new
Continued on page 2
Beautiful respite: During a
pause in last Friday evening’s
rain Mt. Airy photographer
Joanne Davis captured this
lovely double rainbow arching
over Germantown Avenue.
The second rainbow can be
seen faintly to the right of the
main arc. If you have an
image that you’d like to share
with our readers, call 215438-4000 or e-mail to [email protected].
NXNW Closed After Flood, Reopening Questionable
by PATRICK COBBS
Staff Writer
The music is gone, and the doors to North By Northwest
(NXNW), 7165 Germantown Avenue, have been closed for
more than a week. There’s a sign on the window saying
that’s due to a flood. But if you ask David Fellner, the
building owner, and Jack Kitchen, president and CEO of
the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation (OARC)
which owns NXNW through a for-profit subsidiary, you’ll
find something a little stickier going on.
News In the
Northwest
After months of conflict over everything ranging from
parking for patrons, property modifications, lease re-negotiations, building sale discussions and fundamental personality clashes, Fellner says he has decided to evict NXNW
from the space by not renewing the lease when it expires in
September. For his part, Kitchen has decided to sue for
$760,000.
“Since we’ve moved into the place we’ve had three
floods,” Kitchen said. “Every time we’ve had a rainstorm it
floods. It’s unacceptable. We can’t operate a restaurant
under those conditions.”
Kitchen claimed that the flooding, which occurred from
a combined sewer and storm water overflow during recent
rains and backed up through the building’s toilets into the
basement, was fundamentally the result of inadequate
plumbing.
“It was not disclosed to us that there’s been an ongoing
plumbing problem,” he said.
For Fellner the major problem has been in OARC’s
approach. He claimed that Kitchen has tried to push him
around by demanding a new lease, or to buy the building
Continued on page 2
Market Reopens............................2 Letters..............................................5 Police Briefs ...................................9 Dear Dot ......................................13
‘Jailbreak’ Whiz.............................3 Community Calendar.................6 Last Block Cleanup ...................12 Classified ......................................15
Opinion...........................................4 Peoples’ Festival ............................7 Religion.......................... ...............12 Youth Theater ............................16
Page 2
July 30, 2009
The Mt. Airy Independent
Flood Closes North by Northwest; Reopening Uncertain
Continued from page 1
when he was unwilling to sell, or for unreasonable building upgrades not covered in
the lease.
“They essentially came in and said we’re
gonna take over, we’re gonna make things
happen and we’re going to bully you,”
Fellner said.
The OARC lawsuit, filed July 28, alleges
that Fellner needs to repair the sewer lines,
provide additional and better quality parking for patrons, repair an exterior retaining
wall that would allow for outdoor patio
seating, fix the roof, and pay for brick
pointing on the building. It also alleges that
his failure to do so has cost the restaurant
$160,000 in profits and put OARC’s initial
$609,000 investment in NXNW in jeopardy
by forcing it to close.
Fellner claimed in an interview that most
of these things are not required in the
NXNW lease at all, and while he doesn’t
want to see the business close, he refuses to
be pushed around.
“If [Kitchen] couldn’t have made a profit
with that lease he shouldn’t have bought the
business,” Fellner said.
In Fellner’s view, a bigger question is why
a powerful CDC like OARC would need to
come into a business community that is
already on the way up and be so aggressive
about it? In places where property owners
are irresponsible, he said, “there is a case to
be made for that, but not in Mt. Airy.”
Signs of the times - above left, banners in April announcing OARC’s imminent reopening of North by Northwest. Above right, the current
sign announcing the restaurant’s closure because of flooding.
With a $6 million-plus annual budget and
the backing of Rep. Dwight Evans, one of
the most powerful figures in state government, OARC has done a lot, including a
total transformation of its namesake Ogontz
Avenue. According to Kitchen, the decision
to buy NXNW early this year was not only
an effort to generate more revenue, but was
part of ongoing attempts to anchor OARC
as a contributor in the arts and cultural
development of Germantown Avenue.
“We came in there to operate this restaurant in the best interests of Mt. Airy,”
Kitchen said.
But Fellner has a history too, and some
weight of his own. In 1994 he and his wife,
Betty Ann, began buying property on the
east side of the 7100 block of Germantown
Avenue starting with the huge Sedgwick
Theater Building at 7133-41. At that time
the buildings were undesirable and run
down, Fellner said. But through their efforts
in real estate development and community
oriented work like the music festival Art
Jam and the once very active Sedgwick
Cultural Center, the couple, who now owns
almost the entire east side of the block,
became instrumental in creating a vibrant
“main street” feel to Mt. Airy, Fellner said.
And now, Fellner said of OARC, “they
want to get in on the action.”
To which Kitchen responded that the
Weavers Way Repeals
Mandatory Work Requirement
by PATRICK COBBS
Staff Writer
ways,” said Nancy Weinman, president of
the Weavers Way Board of Directors.
“The big thing is that we wanted to be
more inclusive… but we in no way want
to send the message that we don’t encourage member involvement.”
An ad-hoc committee will work out the
details of these rule changes, but the likely result may not be a reason to rejoice
just yet for all those members who dread
scheduling their six-hour-per-adult-peryear work requirements. Bergman thought
that the Co-op might wind up incentivizing the work requirement by offering a
ten-percent discount (the standard current
member discount) for each household that
is up-to-date on its hours.
One way of getting that done would be
to raise the prices ten percent store-wide,
Bergman said, and give the ten percent
cooperator discount at the register. That
would reverse the current practice of
charging non-members an additional ten
percent at the register above the posted
prices.
Whatever the final changes look like
Bergman hopes the results translate into
more sales.
“I’m hoping that people will try us out
more,” he said. “Many people think that
they can’t even walk through the doors
here.”
Weinman went even farther. She saw it
as a move that could help the Co-op
increase the positive impacts it makes on
the world one new shopper at a time.
Andy’s Food Market
at Chew Avenue and
Phil-Ellena
Street
opened this week for
business and Chong
Chin Kim, or “Mr.
Kim,” was behind the
counter serving the customers whose words of
support and mourning
still decorate the building.
Monday morning, July
27, was the first time he
had opened the market Tributes to Mrs.
since the murder of his Avenue.
wife Jongyoun Kim on
July 18 outside the store,
allegedly by Nicole Dolby-Beckham. A
quiet man anyway, his way in the store was
careful and deliberate but never slow.
Being there was his way of saying something to the community that he and “Mrs.
Kim” have been a part of for the last 15
years.
“Thank you very much to my neighbors.
They support me very much. I try to open
the store to serve the neighbors,” he
explained.
Customers flowed into the store at a
modest but steady pace. Occasionally one
looked unsure, peeking around the corner
to see if the doors were still shut, but mostly they walked in without hesitating at all.
It was as if there was a rule: no one could
set foot on that corner without going into
the Kims’ store.
Weavers Way Co-op will soon eliminate
mandatory volunteer hours for the first
time, but the tradition of cooperating is
expected to continue. Here Co-op member
Will Stanforth works off his yearly six-hour
indenture in the produce section as
Weavers Way staffer Ian Zolitor looks on.
“To allow people to come into the store
allows them the opportunity to become
aware of and inspired by the cooperative
principles,” she said.
Weavers Way is located at 559
Carpenter Lane. For more information
visit www.weaversway.coop or call 215843-2350.
move to Mt. Airy was simply a part of his
organization’s regional focus.
“I don’t look at boundaries,” he said.
Both men expressed a hope of working
things out, despite their disagreements.
Kitchen expected to get NXNW back up
and running again, but he would not guess
when. For him the conditions were spelled
out in the suit.
And Fellner said he was still willing to
work with OARC if they weren’t quite so
pushy and they brought something more to
the table to “establish themselves” in Mt.
Airy, like doing a street festival.
He also said he was not afraid of having
a vacancy at NXNW.
Market Reopens After Tragedy
Kim still surround Andy’s Market on Chew
For nearby neighbor Carlo Gonzalez,
seeing the store open was a relief.
“It’s positive,” he said. “What happened
was really bad, I think it’s good that he
wants to get back in there.”
But for 13-year-old Melvin Harris the
loss of Mrs. Kim was still too close to the
surface. He had known her since he was a
toddler and he liked her very much. Melvin
wasn’t at Andy’s Food Market that morning. He was way down at the other end of
the block doing yard work for his grandmother. He was quiet too. For him, everything was still too soon.
“It still feels sad,” he said.
Undoubtedly Mr. Kim would agree. His
voice faltered when he emphasized the reason he needed to open the store so soon.
“I respect the neighbors very much,” he
said. “I love them.”
July 30, 2009
Page 3
Computer Whiz, 15, Earning Fame for ‘Jailbreaking’ Abilities
By JAY PABARUE
Editorial Staff Intern
Most would take one look at
Apple’s iPhone 3GS, with its
email capabilities, its navigation
system, its video camera, its
voice automation, and its tens of
thousands of additional downloadable applications, and deem
it “enough.” Ari Weinstein didn’t. So the 15-year-old did what
he does best — he hacked.
The term for unlocking a
device’s software and bypassing
Apple’s restrictions on coding
and file accessing is “jailbreaking.” Users can write their own
codes and download custom
applications on jailbroken iPods
or iPhones, making the devices
endlessly upgradeable—one can
do anything from changing the
main screen to “tethering” a
device, which turns an iPod or an
iPhone into a portable Wi-Fi
access station that lets a user to
connect to the Internet from anywhere.
Jailbreaking itself is nothing
new for Ari, who’s been hacking
devices and manipulating software since he was 11. “I started
with my iPod,” he says, “I just
wanted to be able to play my
Gameboy games on it, so I
learned how. I really enjoyed the
whole process.”
But as Ari’s hacking ambitions
got higher, and the encrypting got
more complicated, the advanced
nature of his work began to garner attention from the coding
community. In 2007 he wrote and
released “iJailbreak,” a free software product for the iPod Touch
that made jailbreaking easy for
the public. The program was
downloaded over one million
times and Ari, who goes by the
alias AriX online, was contacted
by fellow teenaged computer
whiz Will Strafach, known as
“Chronic,” through an internet
forum. Weinstein, Strafach, and
approximately six other young
hackers now form the “Chronic
Dev” team, a group that develops
software and “tries to educate
people about technology.”
“We all work together and have
a great time,” Ari says. “We each
have different specialties, and
have to use all of them when
we’re working on a project.” So
far, Chronic Dev team has been
highly productive, releasing jailbreak software for both generations of the iPod Touch and for
all three versions of the iPhone,
including the 3GS, which was
put on the market in mid-June.
Chronic Dev not only writes
and releases programs for the
public to download free of
charge, but also posts how-tohack videos and other instructional tidbits on its website.
Which is all well and good. But
what about the legality of this
device manipulation? Should this
software probing be stopped?
And could it be?
Ari emphasizes that he doesn’t
“do any illegal hacking” and that
his work “only benefits people.”
In his view, says the poised 10th
grader, “We’re making Apple’s
products better. I wanted to make
the advantage of having hacked
iPods available to the general
public. And really, there’s just a
small community of hackers that
tries to get applications for free
and steal stuff. They embarrass
the rest of us.”
From a legal standpoint Apple
seems to have its hands tied at the
moment. The company submitted
a statement to the U.S. Copyright
Office contending that the
manipulation of phones should
be considered infringement of the
Digital Millennium Copyrights
Act, and an Apple spokeswoman
told the Wall Street Journal that
jailbraking “modifications not
only void the warranty, they also
cause the iPhone to become
unstable and not work reliably.”
But
jailbreaking’s
legality
remains unresolved, and many,
including Ari, believe that an
individual is entitled to do anything he or she pleases with his or
her personal property.
Though it might seem like this
game has a clear-cut set of opponents – rogue hackers against
Apple – Ari doesn’t see it that
way. In fact, one day, he might be
writing the very firewalls and
safety plugs that he and his
friends have been diligently
decoding. “If I could work for
Apple,” Ari says, “that’d be pretty cool. I’d also like to start my
own software company.”
“In [Philadelphia], there isn’t a
big software or computing community,” he observes, “so I’m
looking forward to going to college and being surrounded by
other people who do the same
thing.”
Ari is working with Chronic
Dev on “seven or eight” different
program-writing projects. On the
table are jailbreaks for the
Amazon Kindle E-book reader
and the Palm PRE smartphone.
In addition, Ari is spending his
summer touching up another
product that he created with a
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friend called “Deskconnect,”
which will allow iPhone users to
remotely access their computer’s
desktop and all of its files.
As carefully as he is planning
for the future, and as involved as
he is with hacking and coding,
Ari tries not to get carried away.
Different organizations from
around the world have offered
him computing jobs, but he’s
turned them down, opting instead
to keep up the tradition of attending a month-long summer camp
in Manchester, VE—with no
Internet access. “The free work
that I’m doing, and all the fun
work, already feels like a job,” he
says. “It can get overwhelming.”
He has every right to feel over-
whelmed. His schedule has been
jam-packed with interviews and
talk show appearances (his story
was told on page 1 of the Wall
Street Journal) and he still makes
time to work on software and to
relax a bit during summer vacation. “I feel like I’m getting the
best of both worlds. I’m trying
not to get swept up in it,” he says.
“Even if I come back and my 15
minutes of fame is over, that’s all
right.”
But the way he and his Chronic
Dev teammates have been producing, there’s every chance their
time in the limelight will last.
Ari’s band of hackers, and others
like them, may be the shapers of
tomorrow’s technology.
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Page 4
July 30, 2009
Editorial
Yesterday in the German Township …
Abandoned?
On July 16 Mayor Michael Nutter applied for $58 million in federal stimulus
money to help rid the city of vacant properties. The application focused on 15
neighborhoods, including parts of the Northwest, with a particular focus on
three areas in the city that are already slated for large public investments. One of
these is Wayne Junction.
According to Deputy Press Secretary Maura Kennedy, the final word on this
competitive grant, which would come through the Federal Neighborhood
Stabilization Program, will be at least three months in coming – the length of
the grant review process. But although Philadelphia is competing against other
cities across the country for the funds, there is some hope.
“They were very, very receptive to our application,” she said. “They said it was
strong.”
The strategies Mayor Nutter plans to implement are centered on “market transformation.” Some of them include, financial incentives for “owner-occupant
buyers of foreclosed homes,” expansion of existing programs to renovate foreclosed and vacant homes, gap financing for new affordable housing construction
on vacant land and for certain foreclosed multifamily structures, and expanded
code enforcement and selective demolition of blighted structures, according to
a city press release.
The plan’s focus on vacancies in areas like Wayne Junction, where SEPTA will
be spending $28 million over the next five years, is rooted in the hope that such
significant public investment will boost the value of any redevelopment of nearby blighted properties, Kennedy said. But since everything is still in the planning
stages and the funds are far from guaranteed, Kennedy said it was too early to
tell just how neighborhoods would benefit from the program or how the money
would be dispersed.
There are an estimated 35,000 vacant properties in Philadelphia, but it is hard
to know just how many of them are in the Northwest. And while neighborhoods are clearly impacted by this it is also difficult to track that impact.
The Independent would like to figure some of that out and we could use your
help. If you know of vacant or blighted properties in Mt. Airy, please tell us
about them and where they are. You MUST include the actual street address of
the property in any communication. And if you are affected by such things we
would like to know that too. Please call, email or write the newspaper with your
comments. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 215-4384000.
Patrick Cobbs
Staff Writer
Mt. Airy Independent
5275 Germantown Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-438-4000 • fax: 215-754-4245
germantownnewspapers.com
Jim Foster, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Publisher
Karl Biemuller, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Managing Editor
Scott Alloway, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Associate Editor
Patrick Cobbs, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Staff Reporter
Bob Canner, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Advertising Director
Rachel Goodwin, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . .Sales Representative
Chris Warfield, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . .Sales Representative
Avis Mudrak, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sales Represntative
Phyllis Sunberg, [email protected] . . . . . . . . . .Classified Advertising
The Mt. Airy Independent is owned and operated by Germantown Newspapers, Inc., and
has offices at 5275 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144. The Mt. Airy Independent
is published every Thursday and is circulated door-to-door throughout Mt. Airy with a press
run of 14,000 copies each week.
The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising. All content ©2009 Germantown
Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Germantown Newspapers Mission Statement
Almost everyone immediately missed the print journals that served both advertisers and residents in this most diverse and eclectic of Philadelphia neighborhoods. If there is anything I
took from residents it is that they want more information, not less, as to events, community
meetings, civic challenges and decisions from government that affect their lifestyle. The most
often repeated phrase was that they learned much of what was going to impact their community after it had been decided, and not while they might participate in the process.
The Germantown Chronicle and Mt. Airy Independent will reverse that process and prioritize comprehensive news coverage and open forums for letters and opinions for all responsible sources. Without agenda or bias, we will deliver improved and locally owned newspapers
whose sole purpose is a more informed Northwest Philadelphia.
This barn, built in 1756, was in back of the Lehman house at 5524 Germantown Avenue. It was torn
down in 1911. “Yesterday in the German Township” is presented in conjunction with the Germantown
Historical Society to give a look back at the way life was once lived in Germantown, Mt. Airy and Chestnut
Hill, the old “German Township.”
Opinion: Much Work to be Done for Kids’ Health
By SHELAH HARPER
How healthy are Philadelphia’s children and youth, compared to the nation? How healthy are the children and
youth residents of the Northwest?
Healthy People 2010 (HP2010), a year 2000 Federal
plan, established multiple goals towards improving the
health and welfare of the nation’s children and youth. It
selects specific targeted goals and reports how Philadelphia
and Northwest children and youth rank in comparison.
One prime goal was to reduce infant mortality (the number of children dying under age 1) to 4.5 of every 1000
births by 2010. In 2000, Philadelphia’s average infant mortality rate was 10.3 per 1000. In the latest (2006) reports
this number had increased to 11.2 per 1000. The Centers
for Disease Control report over the last decade mortality
among African American infants was three times higher
than other racial groups.
In the Northwest, however, with a more proactive
response we analyzed year 2000 data, and brought to the
attention of Councilwoman Marion Tasco, chair of City
Council’s Health and Welfare committee, that infant mortality rates had become critically high in zip codes 19144,
19138, and 19150. As many as 19.96 of every 1000 infants
born were dying, the highest rate in all Philadelphia.
Council convened three full days of hearings on infant
mortality in Philadelphia and the critically higher
Northwest rates. Hospitals, physicians, universities, advocates, and concerned community stakeholders provided
needed testimony and input. The outcome resulted in
extending the North Philadelphia Healthy Start program
to include the Northwest Health Center #9 community.
The Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) committee
also began, and efforts were undertaken to bring the
Maternity Care Coalition to focus on health and welfare
concerns for children and youth of the Northwest.
Today it is wonderful to report that a 2009 report from
the Maternal, Child, and Family division of the
Philadelphia Health Department that infant mortality has
declined to 6.4 per 1000 infants in the Northwest, a
remarkable 68 percent decline. The Northwest now has the
lowest rate in all of Philadelphia, bettering the current 6.7
per 1000 national Infant mortality rate although short of
the HP2010 goal of 4.5 per 1000. A combination of
increased public awareness, focusing program resources
and volunteers on the problem, implementing “Back to
Sleep” (placing infants on their backs to sleep), or “Safe CoSleeping” messages are all working to reduce infant mortality here. It is important we maintain these improvements
and replicate this successful model to all areas of the City.
Regrettably, how we measure up on other critical HP
2010 goals indicates that we have a lot of work to do.
Of major concern are rising poverty levels in
Philadelphia and their far-reaching negative impact on
children and youth. In 2006, 39 percent of Philadelphia’s
children under age five and 35 percent of children under
age 18 lived below federal poverty levels. (These numbers
predate the recent 2008 surge in job loss.) Now the numbers exceed 2006 rates, and children and youth living in
poverty are at even greater risk of abuse and neglect.
In the Northwest, zip code 19144 has the largest number
of CPS cases (serious child abuse and neglect) reported in
the region. While CPS services have remained stable in
recent years, there has been an 76 percent increase in substantiated general protective service (GPS) cases reported
to DHS for the Northwest, compared to a city-wide 67
percent increase during the same period. This implies
increasing neglect rates in the Northwest where there is
potential harm but not apparent injury to children.
The Northwest has one of the highest pre-pregnancy
obesity rates at 50 percent of all women of childbearing age,
compared to a city average of 44.5 percent. The Strawberry
Mansion area has the highest rate at 54.5 percent. This
results from poor nutritional intake of starchy, fatty, sweet,
fast foods, and few fruits, vegetables and grains combined
with little physical activity. High obesity rates are overwhelmingly highest in largely African American communities. High Northwest obesity rates negatively influence the
percent of low birth weight babies at 13.2 percent, compared to an average of 12.8 percent for all city Public
Health Centers. Research has shown women who are obese
before pregnancy are at increased risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, increased cesarean sections, and complications at delivery. Infants of obese mothers have a lower
infant birth weight, thus increasing the risk of poor health
outcomes. The majority of Fetal Infant Mortality Review
(FIMR) cases reviewed showed enhanced child risk when
mothers were obese before the onset of pregnancy. Obesity
is a leading cause of death for at-birth complications for
Continued on page 5
July 30, 2009
Page 5
Letters to the Editor …
Still Noisy at Playground
Recycling ‘Book Ethic’ Alive and Well in Mt. Airy
To the editor:
I got home from vacation yesterday to hear the loudspeaker at the
Mt. Airy Playground blasting away
again. This continues the pattern of
many years. The neighbors complain, it gets turned down for a time
and then returns full force.
Frankly, even when it’s turned
down, it’s annoying. When it’s
turned up, as it was yesterday, it’s
unbearable. I live two blocks from
the playground and can hear it in my
house. The loudspeaker blared with
play by play all afternoon, not just
during warm-ups and half-time, as
the stated in agreement referenced in
your article (Agreement on Noise at
To the editor:
I read with interest the article in the
Independent entitled “Mt. Airy
Businesses Go Green in Big Way” and
I applaud the efforts of these businesses to decrease their environmental
footprint. However, I was disappointed that the article failed to mention
used booksellers, a business that has
been reusing, recycling and reducing
before those concepts were even
penned.
We have long been not only a
repository for the rare and unusual
books that don’t survive in our public
libraries and a place where the thrifty
could afford reading materials but
also a “recycling center” for book
lovers who have run out of room on
their shelves (or floors) but just can’t
stand to throw books out. I’m here to
report that this “book ethic” is alive
and well in Mt. Airy.
At Walk a Crooked Mile Books, we
the Mt. Airy Playground/July 23).
This continues to be an unbelievably frustrating experience. I love
youth sports and applaud everyone
who volunteers their time to make
them happen. I do not like grossly
inconsiderate behavior from my
neighbors.
I have asked the Recreation
Department, once again, to please
turn off the loudspeaker. I’m thinking of making my request over a
loudspeaker next time, perhaps
while doing play by play for the
Recreation Commissioner at her
home.
Dan Winterstein
Mt. Airy
Help for Peace Activist
To the editor:
The Friends of Christine Oliger,
www.friendsofchristine.com, held a
benefit concert at Walk a Crooked
Mile Bookstore outside the Mt. Airy
Train Station. Christine is a peace
activist who has been diagnosed with
ALS, also known as “Lou Gehrig’s
disease.”
With the help of the Germantown
Chronicle and Mount Airy
Independent, 85 people attended this
event in which singer/songwriter
Kenn Kweder performed. We would
like to thank Greg Williams for the
use of his venue and Kenn Kweder for
his delightful rendition of many wellknown favorites.
If any readers of the newspaper
missed this benefit but would still like
to help with Christine’s medical
expenses, they may send a check or
money order to “Christine Oliger
Trust,” c/o Chestnut Hill Friends
Meetinghouse, 100 East Mermaid
Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118.
For more information call 215843-4256 or e-mail to [email protected].
Chris Robinson
Germantown
Honduran Coup Not ‘Glorious’
To the editor:
Former Honduran Justice Minister
Carlos Pivel argues that the military
coup against the Honduran people
was a “Glorious Revolution”
(Philadelphia Inquirer, “On a Path to
Dictatorship,” Sunday, 07/05/2009).
Pivel gave as the pretext the invention
that Zelaya “contemplated running
for a second term.” A true picture of the coup was given
by rally participant Alejandra
Fernandez, a university student. Ms.
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Fernandez explained to a journalist
that Zelaya “raised the minimum
wage, gave out free school lunches,
provided mild for babies and pensions
for the elderly, distributed energy-saving light bulbs, decreased the price of
public transportation, and made
scholarships available for students.
That’s why the elites can’t stand him
and why we want him back.”
Lou Incognito
Mt. Airy have so many of these book lovers
that we often have to impose a
month-long embargo on receiving
books for trade or donation so that
we don’t get buried in a mountain of
well-loved books. During these
embargoes we do our best to sort
through for books that we can use in
our jam-packed shop, but put the rest
out in our 20 shelves of free books
that live outside our shop.
These books take many different
paths.
Many boxes have been shipped to
Korea by an alumnus of a Korean college where the library is in need of
more tomes. Before shipping costs
escalated, some encyclopedia sets
were sent home by a Haitian emigre
hoping to pass on knowledge.
Commuters pick many of the volumes and, hopefully, leave them on a
bench when they’re done and give a
book yet another life. Some books
have even been used in art installations and as dramatic sets for local
thespian productions. I confess that
I’ve had to put some books on the
curb for recycling, but books are sturdy things that can be resurrected time
and again by readers who treasure
rather than disdain a thumbed volume.
The number of used bookstores
have been declining not only in
Mt.Airy and Philadelphia but
throughout the U.S. I think this was a
reflection of our capricious consumerism and overabundance that
led, perhaps, to the devaluing of many
things of value, including books.
Perhaps one aspect of our current
restructuring of our economic life as
well as our gentler use of the environment will be a revitalization of these
wonderful institutions.
Greg Williams
Walk a Crooked Mile Books
Opinion: Some Progress for Northwest Kids
children ages 0-14.
Regarding asthma prevalence
among
children
under
18,
Philadelphia averages 21.8 percent
while city health centers average 24.2
percent. However, the Northwest
shows 24.4 percent. These failing
numbers far exceed the target 1.7 percent HPeople 2010 goals. Poor living
conditions, including inadequate
housing, poor nutritional intake, and
increased exposure to insects (specifically roaches), influence the number
of children and youth asthma sufferers.
Other areas of concern as indicated
in Philadelphia’s Safe and Sound 2005
community report card: zip code
19144 had one of the lowest percentages (72 percent) of child immunization rates for children ages 14-35
months, compared to a citywide rate
of 81 percent. With controversy and
speculation associating immunizations and increasing number of children with autism, it would be good to
know how the Northwest fares in
terms of number of children diagnosed with autism, although our
attempts to attain this data by
Philadelphia area zip code have failed.
In 2006, homicides represented 42
percent of all deaths for youth ages 1419, an increase of 56 percent between
2004-2005. In the Northwest, the
19144 zip maintains the highest number of gunshot and homicide victims
ages 7-24, and the highest number of
juvenile arrests for drug-related offenses for youth age 17 and under.
Shelah Harper is founder and CEO of
the Asia Adams Save OUR Children
Foundation, co-chair of District
Health #9- Mattie Humphrey Center,
and past co-chair, Child Welfare
Advisory Board .
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Page 6
July 30, 2009
Community Calendar
Week of July 30 to August 5
Video
Library,
7141
Germantown Ave. FridaySaturday 8 p.m., Sunday 7 p.m.
Great movies every week in the
Little Theater at Video Library.
This week: “Harvard Beats Yale
29-29,” about wild Harvard-Yale
football game in 1960s. $6
includes
popcorn.
Info:
www.mtairyvideolibrary.com.
JAZZ AT CUBA
Cuba Restaurant and Gallery,
8609 Germantown Ave. Live
Latin jazz every Friday evening
at Cuba. Info: 215-967-1477.
THURSDAY 30
FREE CONCERT
Walk a Crooked Mile Books,
Gowen Ave. and Devon St. 7-9
p.m. Jameson Sister in free concert, featuring Ellen Tepper on
harp and Terry Kane on mandolin
playing Celtic, popular, classical,
folk and opera music. Rain date
Friday, July 31. Bring blanket or
chair. Info: 215-242-0854.
SWING DANCING
Give and Take Juggling Studio,
6122 Greene St. 7-9 p.m. Series
on lindy, balboa and Charleston,
DJ dancing to jazz 9 p.m.-midnight. $5. Info: 215-668-2227.
FREESTEP DANCE
Commodore Barry Club, 6815
Emlen St. FreeStep Dance Night
at Irish Center. Info: 215-3601850 or www.freestepping.com.
WORD 4 WORD
Art Noir, 7175D Ogontz Ave. Art
Noir hosts “Word 4 Word” open
mic poetry every Thursday
evening. Info: 215-438-5366.
NINE SCULPTORS
Woodmere Art Museum, 9201
Germantown Ave. “Intention:
Nine Philadelphia Sculptors”
exhibit features works by Warren
Angle, Martha Gelardon, Warren
Holzman, Paul Hubbard, Jeanne
Jaffe, Scot Kaylor, Joe Mooney,
Barry Parker, Robert Roesche.
Through August 2. Info: 215247-0476 or www.woodmereartmuseum.org.
FRIDAY 31
MOVIES AT
VIDEO LIBRARY
free rx delivery
For 1 Week with This Coupon
Germantown Pharmacy, Inc.
215-844-1319 Fax 215-438-3947
Let us oversee the care of your elderly relatives.
or bring you RXs to you if you can’t get out. Not
our customer? Call us for easy RX transfers.
Serving Our Community Since 1878
Best of the
Northwest
2007 2008
SATURDAY 1
PEOPLES FESTIVAL
Vernon Park, 5800 block
Germantown Ave. 1-8 p.m. 31st
annual Peoples’ Festival features
music, information, booths, vendors, more. This year’s theme
honors “Mother Earth.” Free.
Continues August 2, 1-8 p.m.
info: 215-248-3544 or www.peoplesfestival.org.
WALK THE WISSAHICKON
Meet at gate at end of Kitchen’s
Lane. 3 p.m. Nature walk with
Friends of the Wissahickon Trail
ambassador
Shelly
Brick.
Suitable for ages over 6. Free.
Lasts up to 2 hours. Sponsored
by Friends of the Wissahickon.
Info: e-mail to [email protected].
STORY TIME
Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551
Carpenter Lane. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kids’ story time presented in
conjunction with Black Women’s
Arts Festival. Free. Info: 215844-1870.
SINGLES SCENE
Unitarian Universalist Church,
6900 Stenton Ave. 7:30 p.m. 12:30 a.m. Weekly program for
The Jameson Sisters are returning for a free concert at Walk a Crooked
Mile Books in the Mt. Airy Train Station, Gowen Avenue and Devon
Street, on Thursday July 30, 7-9 p.m. The combination of Ellen Tepper
on harp and Terry Kane on mandolin with the two joining in song made
for a great concert in June. Their large repertoire of Celtic, popular, classical, folk and opera music means this will be a great performance of
new and different songs. This is an outdoor concert, so bring a chair or
blanket (raincoat and umbrellas?) and a picnic. The rain date is Friday,
July 31. For questions call 215-242-0854.
mature single adults. Donation
$7. Info: 215-247-2561 (press 7).
SUNDAY 2
SENIOR ARTISTS
INITIATIVE
Woodmere Art Museum, 9201
Germantown Ave. Fifth Biennial
Exhibition of Seniors Artists
Initiative features works by Nancy
Barch, Murray Dessner, John
Formicola, Lois Johnson, Hedi
Kyle,
Pat
Martin,
Mira
Nakashima, Harry Sefarbi, Sarah
Van Keure and Paula Winokur.
Also, exhibit of works by
Pennsylvania
impressionist
painter John Pierce Barnes, native
of Germantown. Through August
30. Info: 215-247-0476 or
Sharpest Cuts Around
Men & Children
Walk-Ins Welcome
9 AM - 9 PM
215-438-8917
www.woodmereartmuseum.org.
MONDAY 3
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
Chestnut Hill Center for
Enrichment, 8431 Germantown
Ave. CHAC has numerous programs each day for seniors,
including exercise, crafts, games,
workshops, discussions, more.
Info: 215-248-0180, e-mail to
[email protected].
BLUE MONDAY
LaRose Catering/Social Club,
5531 Germantown Ave. 6-9 p.m.
Jazz for everyone each Monday
with Tony Williams Quartet. $8.
Info: 215-248-1718.
TUESDAY 4
ANTIQUES,
COLLECTIBLES
Continued on page 7
July 30, 2009
Page 7
31st Annual Peoples’ Festival
Join hundreds of people this
weekend
for
the
31st
Anniversary Peoples’ Festival,
Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2
for two days of entertainment,
education and empowerment
from 1-8 p.m. in Historic Vernon
Park on the 5800 block of
Germantown Avenue.
This year the festival honosr
Mother Earth by sharing information about our responsibility
to do our part for the preservation
and improvement of our local
and global community. APF
encourages organizations whic
are committed to sharing the
The Northwest-based Philadelphia Blues Messengers, with vocalist
Lisa Chavous and saxophonist Elliott Levin, will perform on Thursday,
August 6, 7:30-9:30 p.m. as part of the Abington Art Center’s Concert
at the Manor series. Located on the grounds of Alverthorpe Manor at
515 Meetinghouse Road, Abington, the event is free and open to the
public. Bring a blanket, lawn chair and picnic along with friends and
family to enjoy the Philadelphia Blues Messengers’ rock-solid innovative Philadelphia blues on the newly named Abington Bank Stage in
the Sculpture Park. Community Calendar
Center for Enrichment, 8431
Germantown Ave. 1 p.m.
Antiques and Collectibles group
invites everyone to bring family
heirlooms and tell their stories.
Free. Info: 215-248-0180.
KIDS BINGO
Lovett
Library,
6945
Germantown Ave. 3:30 p.m.
Kids Bingo summer reading for
kids, Tuesdays through August
11. Info: 215-685-2095.
TABLE TENNIS
Earth Bread + Brewery, 7136
Germantown Ave. 9 p.m. – midnight. Ping-Pong Night every
Tuesday at Earth Bread. Info:
215-242-6666.
TEXTURE OF TREES
Morris
Arboretum,
100
Northwestern Ave. 10 a.m. - 4
p.m. “The Texture of trees” features work of photographer
Andrea Baldeck on trees in all
their forms. Free with regular
admission. Through September.
Info:
215-247-5777
or
www.morrisarboretum.org.
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WEDNESDAY 5
OPEN AIR MOVIES
Grumblethorpe,
5267
Germantown Ave. All invited to
bring dish for pot luck supper
starting 7:30 p.m., followed by
outdoor film on lawn. This week:
classic 1941 film noir “The
Maltese
Falcon”
starring
Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor,
Peter
Lorre
and
Sidney
Greenstreet. Info: 215-439-5973.
PHOTOS AT EARTH BREAD
Earth Bread + Brewery, 7136
Germantown Ave. Photography
exhibit by local artists Ellie Seif,
Sol Levy and Judith Levy on dis-
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PLYMOUTH MEETING
610-940-1635
We help people under Federal Bankruptcy Laws
TRANSMISSION LEAKING?
FRONT & REAR SEALS
Front Wheel drive vehicles
Barber Shop • Hardware • Bicycle • Repair Shop
Community Enrichment
Programs, Inc., Live Tracks
Digital Media and Coca Cola.
This year’s performers include
Steve Green and The Elevators,
The Wicked Way Band, Ghetto
Song Bird and Ronin Ali, Steven
Wise Katrel, Philadelphia Youth
Artist, Tha Truth, Shawna K, The
Blind Date Band, Supernova
Slom, All Up On It, To Be
Continued featuring Donald
Williams, Rick Tucker and the
Universal Concept, Plan B and
more to be announced.
Rain dates are Saturday and
Sunday, August 8 and 9.
Admission is free.
For more information e-mail
Ahlia Love at [email protected], visit www.peoplesfestival.org, or call 215-248-3544.
Bankruptcy:
IS YOUR TRANSMISSION SLIPPING?
ASK FOR ARTHUR
message of how important it is to
start living a greener lifestyle to
inquire about our recessionfriendly Green Vendor and
Sponsor incentives.
On Saturday, August 1, APF
will take note of Women in
Communications, Entertainment
and Activism as three women in
the comunity will be honored —
Queen Mother Falaka Fattah of
The House of Umoja, Makeup
Artist Extraordinaire Ursula
Augustine and WDAS FM personality Patty Jackson.
The awards presentation will
be followed by a tribute to the
late great Michael Jackson. Our
sponsors this year include
Backline Magazine, Panthera
Entertainment, Bank of America,
Rock Star Gallery, Future Steps
TOO MANY BILLS?
• Any Make • Any Model
• Automatic or Standard
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Clean or Replace Solenoid
play through September. Info:
215-242-6666.
GARDEN CLUB
Cliveden House, 6415 Musgrave
St. 6 p.m. Cliveden Park
Environmental Garden Club
meets every Wednesday. Info:
215-843-3127,
e-mail
[email protected].
OLDIES NIGHT
LaRose Banquet Facility, 5531
Germantown Ave. 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Oldies Night every Wednesday.
60s and 70s DJ music, dancing,
buffet. Adults over 34. Proper
dress required. $5. Info: 215844-5818.
Two of the performers at the Peoples’ Festival are Shawna K (above left)
and Steve Green. They’ll be joined by the Wicked Way Band, Ghetto
Song Bird and Ronin Ali, Steven Wise Katrel, Tha Truth, the Blind Date
Band, Supernova Slom, All Up On It, To Be Continued featuring Donald
Williams, Rick Tucker and the Universal Concept, Plan B and more.
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Page 8
July 30, 2009
Gunpoint Robberies Discussed
Work has just begun on a
mural outside of Earth Bread +
Brewery, 7136 Germantown Avenue
(on the corner of Durham Avenue). It
is sponsored by the Philadelphia
Mural Arts Program and the artist is
Mt. Airy local Brian Ames. Ames
says, “The name of the image is
‘Walk the Wissahickon.’ It’s sort of a
reflection, an inspirational drawing of
the Wissahickon’s four seasons –
winter, spring, summer, to fall - left to
right. I’m hoping to finish it by Labor
Day.” This is the second mural Ames
has done. His other mural can be
seen at the St. Francis Inn in
Kensington.
Weavers Way to Discuss Chestnut Hill Store
On Wednesday, August 5, Weavers Way Co-op
will host another in a series of community meetings
at Chestnut Hill Library, 8711 Germantown
Avenue, to discuss Weavers Way’s expansion into
Chestnut Hill. This meeting will give members of
the community a chance to learn more about
Weavers Way and the Co-op’s plans for the future.
Neighbors will hear how membership in the Co-op
can benefit them and their community and how
they can be a part of Weavers Way’s success in
Chestnut Hill. This meeting will also be a valuable
opportunity for Weavers Way to get feedback and
insights from neighbors in Chestnut Hill, and to
answer questions.
Join representatives from Weavers Way in the
Library’s meeting room from 7 – 8 p.m. on
Wednesday, Wednesday, August 5 for an informative discussion about Weavers Way and this exciting
new development for Chestnut Hill.
For more information, call Stu Katz at 215-2429256, e-mail us at [email protected], or
visit us on the web at visit www.weaversway.coop.
You can download a PDF of this issue on our website.
Go to germantownnewspapers.com
Advertisers: Your Germantown Newspapers Ad Puts You
on the Web. Check Out the Ad links on Our Site.
All are invited to the next
WMAN Quality of Life
Committee
Meeting
on
Wednesday, August 19 at 7:30
p.m. at the Summit Presbyterian
Church on Greene and Westview
streets. WMAN’s Streetscapes
Committee will make a presentation about the importance of
greening in West Mt. Airy and
how to make it a priority.
Katherine Gajewski, the City of
Philadelphia’s
Sustainability
Director, will join the meeting for
a discussion about how we in Mt.
Airy can partner with the City’s
GreenWorks Philadelphia agenda.
During the Quality of Life
Committee meeting on July 15,
Officer Hall, the Crime Prevention
Officer from the 14th Police
District, made a presentation
about recent gunpoint robberies in
the area. Below are her key
points:
“O” and “L” Sectors of the 14th
district were affected by the robberies (O Sector encompasses
Germantown Avenue-Carpenter
Avenue-Carpenter Lane-Kitchens
Lane-Livezey Lane-St. Georges
Road-Allens Lane-Germantown
Avenue; L Sector encompasses
Carpenter
Lane-Germantown
Avenue-Johnson
Street-Park
Line.)
There have been three robberies
by gunpoint in “O” sector since
March 1.
Captain Singletary of the 14th
District has increased patrols in
Sectors O, L, and adjoining sectors. Since the increase in patrols
there have not been any more robberies.
Officer Hall also shared the fol-
lowing safety tips:
• Be aware of your surroundings; do not use earphones, do
not talk on your cell phone, etc.
• Do not carry key documents
in your wallet or purse.
• Limit the number of credit
cards and amount of cash that
you carry
• If you are the victim of a robbery, don’t fight. Drop your wallet or purse. Then, if possible,
try to look past the barrel of the
gun to get a look at the perpetrator.
Officer Hall offered these
resources to the community:
The 14th Police District website
(www.14thppd.org) offers crime
information and local resources
A Home Security Survey.
Officer Hall will examine your
property and recommend how to
make it safer against crime.
Contact Officer Hall directly at
215-685-2148 for more details.
Milt
Cohen,
WMAN’s
Community Relations Specialist,
reported that he was successful in
asking North by Northwest, 7165
Germantown Avenue, to close its
windows during sets to keep the
noise down.
Several attendees expressed
interest in hearing about when Mt.
Pleasant Avenue would be relined
by the Streets Department.
Dan Rhoton, WMAN’s Vice
President of Community Affairs,
invited all present to WMAN’s
next Quality of Life meeting on
Wednesday, August 19 at 7:30
p.m. at the Summit Presbyterian
Church.
The purposes of the WMAN
Quality of Life Committee are to
facilitate neighborhood responses
to a variety of issues which affect
the quality of life of residents, and
to pool our knowledge, resources,
and networks to work effectively
in promoting public safety
throughout West Mt. Airy. For
more information call WMAN at
215-438-6022 or e-mail to
[email protected].
The Maternal Wellness Center,
606 Carpenter Lane, will host Birth
Educator Training on August 7- 9.
Become
a
Birth
Works
Childbirth Educator. Birth Works
embodies the philosophy of developing a woman’s self-confidence, trust,
and faith in her ability to give birth. It
is the goal of our Childbirth Educator
and Doula Certification Programs,
and our childbirth classes, to promote
safe and loving birth experiences
through education, introspection and
confident action. Birth Works affirms
that birth is an intensely felt and
uniquely empowering transformation
for women, babies, and families. The
three-day workshop fulfills pre-requisites for certification. For more
information contact Kathleen Furin
at 215-713- 2666, e-mail to [email protected], or visit
www.birthworks.org.
July 30, 2009
Page 9
Police Briefs in Mt. Airy
If you have been the victim of a
crime and would like information
or services, call Northwest Victim
Services, 6301 Germantown
Avenue, at 215-438-4410. Their
services are free.
West Mt. Airy Neighbors requests
that all crimes committed in Mt.
Airy be reported to WMAN at
215-438-6022.
The following crimes were
reported in Mt. Airy from July
20-26, 2009.
THEFT FROM AUTO,
ATTEMPTED AUTO THEFT
July 21: 7200 block Wayne Ave. shoulder bag with camera, papers,
checkbook, misc. items taken
from 2002 Subaru Forester.
July 23: 7300 block Bryan St. 2004 white Subaru entered and
ransacked, nothing taken.
STOLEN AUTO
July 20, 1200 block Yerkes St. black 2003 Buick stolen.
BURGLARY
July 21: 6400 block Cherokee St. location entered through rear
kitchen window, Apple laptop,
rings, watches, credit card taken.
July 23: 1300 block E. Cliveden
St. - boards removed from front
window at location, roofing materials removed. Items left on sidewalk, were recovered.
July 25: 200 block E. Meehan St. -
building broken into, brass wall
fixtures taken.
July 25: 6300 block Gardenia St. basement door to location kicked
in, sneakers, DVD player and ring
taken.
July 26: 300 block W. Johnson St.,
10 p.m. - witness said two males
knocked on apartment door, then
kicked it in and entered. They fled
when they saw witness, nothing
taken.
THEFT
July 20: Germantown Ave. and
Sedgwick St. - complainant left
purse in cart in parking lot, was
missing when she returned to get
it.
July 20: 300 block Crest Park Rd.
- complainant stated he had hired
moving company to move belongings, noticed that box containing
papers, car title, bank statement,
cash, jewelry and bonds was missing.
July 21: 400 block W. Durham St.
- complainant alleged that clothing, silver chains, camera, perfume and cash stolen by offender.
Some items recovered.
July 21: 7200 block Germantown
Ave., 7:30 p.m. - offender grabbed
carton of cigarettes from counter,
fled on bicycle without paying for
them
July 22: 500 block Pleasant Pl. -
Kids’ Story Time
stone flower pot taken from front
porch.
July 23: 6400 block Belfield Ave.
- track light fixtures removed from
front lawn.
July 24: 7000 Ardleigh St. - solar
lights taken from front lawn.
ROBBERY
Ave., 11:30 pm. - complainant
walking on Pleasant St. towards
Germantown Ave., was grabbed
from behind by three offenders,
complainant blacked out. When he
awoke, offender was going
through his pockets. Wallet and
cash taken.
July 21: 1000 block E. Cliveden
St., 5:30 p.m. - while making food
delivery, complainant approached
by offender who started going
through his pockets, told complainant to give him food.
Complainant threw food at offender, then ran away.
Ave., 1:30 p.m. - bank teller
shown note by offender that said
he was armed and demanded
money. Offender took money,
placed it in Nike bag, fled on foot.
July 23: 600 block W. Cliveden
St., 9:25 p.m. - offender
approached complainant with
black handgun, demanded money.
Taken was wallet with cash, credit
cards, ID.
July 23: 6700 block Sprague St.,
12:05 p.m. - complainant cornered
at gunpoint by two offenders who
went through his pockets. Nothing
taken, offenders fled.
July 24: Boyer and Ellet sts., 12:15
a.m. - complainant approached by
offender with black handgun who
took cellphone, wallet with ID and
cash, then fled.
July 24: Gowen Ave. and Devon
St., 12:20 a.m. - two offenders
jumped out of 2000 Crown
Victoria, brandished gun, took
complainant’s cellphone and paycheck, then fled.
July 25: 500 block N. Pleasant Pl.
- complainant alerted police that
he had just been robbed. complainant ID’d alleged offender,
suspect arrested.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
July 22: unit block Montana St. complainant alleged that family
member began punching him
while he was asleep. Alleged
offender gone when police
arrived, complainant taken to hospital.
July 25: Johnson and Boyer sts.,
10:30 p.m. - complainant alleged
that acquaintance pointed shotgun
at her in front of location. Police
recovered shotgun and narcotics,
suspects arrested.
A Family Tradition of Excellence
Since 1937
AL JEFFERSON
215-849-4343
The
Big
Blue
Marble
Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane,
is pleased to present the Black
Women’s Arts Festival (BWAF)
“Kids Storytime” on Saturday,
August 1, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
This event is free and light
refreshments will be served.
This is the 6th annual Black
Women’s Arts Festival, an event
celebrating black women’s creativity. A showcase of 50 black
women artists will participate this
year, from spoken word to music,
dance, theater, film, and visual
art.
For a complete up-to-date festival schedule and additional information, please visit the festival
websiteat www.bwafphilly.org.
For more about the event at Big
Blue Marble, call 215-844-1870.
Framing
by WAlt Ardley
We Custom Frame Art
Authorized Dealer for Charlie Bibbs
215-849-9192
4519B Wayne avenue
Phila., Pa 19144-3606
[email protected]
BRICK &
stone
poIntIng
Alfred Jefferson is the number one contractor for the tri-state area. If you need
complete construction services for your home or business, then he is your go-to
guy!
Jefferson is the owner of Al Jefferson Brick & Stone Pointing, a family trade since
1937. His late father, Al Jefferson, Sr., initially taught him the business and the art
of brick and stone pointing and also wood graining, which is a unique technique of
transforming any door (wood or metal) into a beautiful work of art with the appearance of a wood-grained effect that is all done by hand. You have to see it to believe
it!
Neigbors in Mt. Airy thank him for giving their neighborhood a beautiful face lift
and great curb appeal! If you ride through the streets of Mt. Airy, Germantown or
West Oak Lane, you are sure to see his famous brick and stone pointing. His signs
are seen all over Mt. Airy, Germantown, West Oak Lane and South Philadelphia.
For more information, call 215-849-4343 and get a free estimate. You will be so glad
you made the call.
• Steps
• Patios
• Ext. & Int. Painting
• Concrete Walks
Also Custom Door Graining
• Rough Cast Cellar Walls
• Glass Block Windows
Page 10
July 30, 2009
Business Services Directory
BERNIE
Do It Right
Drain & Plumbing
• DRAIN CLEANING
• Residential / Commercial
• City-Wide Service
• Repair or Replace BROkEN pIpES
24
• Custom Kitchens & /Baths
• City Violations Corrected
No Job Too Small or Too Large • Licensed and Insured
We’ll beat anybody’s price
or we’ll take 10% off!
7 Days
Cell: 215-869-8656
Emergency
Service
Lic.#0390
The Small Job Specialist
Electric Sewer & Drain Cleaning
• We install BATHROOMS
Hours
Cell
DELIvERy SERvICE
DAy or NIGHT
Convenient Service
LOW PRICES
FREE ESTIMATES
549-3687
You Got a Friend in the Business.
Let’s Beat the Recession Together
“We Do It All!”
Phillip’s Home Improvement
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Tile Floors
• Plumbing
• Roofing &
Additions
• Drywall
• Brick Pointing
• Windows &
Doors
• Siding
Licensed & Insured
FREE Estimate
CALL
215-913-9657
or
215-913-9662
Also Moving & Hauling
F
CityofPhiladelphiaElectircalLicense#000868
Heating & Air Conditioning
Repairs
Outlets • switches • Lights
100-200 Amp Circuit Breakers
Air Conditioner Outlets
Appliance Lines
Ceiling Fans
Doorbell Repairs
Dryer Lines
Real Estate Certification
FULLy iNsURED
Formerly Honest Roofing
You can download a PDF of
this issue on our website.
Go to
Advertisers
Your Germantown Newspapers
Ad Puts You on the Web.
Check Out Your link on Our Site.
or
Insured
SameDayRepairs•Installations•ServiceUpgrades
im
Est
215-335-1448
Bonded
AFFORDABLE ELECTRICAL SERVICES
ates
ree
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Voted
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2004 2006, 2007
FLAT RATE Prices Given
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AAA & AARP
CiTy & UNiON DisCOUNTs
CHURCH MEMBERs
sENiOR CiTizEN
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No Coupon Needed to Get the Lowest Price!
We Will Beat Any Written Estimate
All Types of Roofing • Specializing in Rubber Roofs
(267) 816-5268
• Wallpaper
Low Rates • Fast Services
Up Front Prices • 100-200 Amp Breakers
Troubleshoot Repairs
Clean Out Specialist
Basement, Garages, Attics
Backyards, Apartments
Fallen Tree Removal
Oil Tank Removal
Free Estimates
• Electric
215-396-2804
MARIO BROS.
Moving & Hauling
• Plastering
ADVANCED ELECTRIC
SERVICES, INC.
O ver 15 Y ears e xperience
D epenDaBle & r eliaBle
F ree e stimates
n O J OB t OO s mall
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Cypress & Sons
• Cement
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Beautiful Finishes
Heating & a.C. RepaiRs
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Senior Citizen
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• Roofing
Reasonable Prices • (215) 748-6497
267-266-7078
ELECTRICIAN
SMALL AD
SMALL PRICES
215-925-0606
• Painting
215-927-1100
215-535-6990
Affordable
Electric, Inc.
Lic & Insured - Lic #000142
Prices Quoted Over the Phone
www.affordableelectric.com
We accept
all credit &
debit cards

All Types of
Electrical Work
•troubleShooting
•100/200ampUpgrades
• indoor/outdoor Lighting
• 220 Lines / AC Lines
• Doorbells / Ceiling Fans
• Fuse Box Repairs
• Dryer Lines
FREE
ESTImATES
SenioR
Citizen
DiSCount
Quality Work at Prices
You Can Live With!
Residential & Commercial
• Rubber Roofs
• Coatings
• Skylights
• New Shingle
Roofs
Roofing Sale!
Will Not Be
Undersold
2006
• Roof
Certificates
• No Job Too
Small
• Roof Repairs
Senior Citizens & Handicapped Persons Discount
25% OFF wIththISaD.
FHA Financing • No Money Down
All Work Guaranteed • Lic. #00793
ServingMt.airy,
westOakLane
Germantown
215-722-7131
Licensed & Insured • *Up to 500 sq. ft.
July 30, 2009
Page 11
Business Services Directory
BAILEy CONCRETE
Small Ad Small Prices
•
•
•
•
Concrete & Cement of All Kinds
Basement Waterproofing
Garage & Home renovations
Power Washing
Summer Special
15% OFF
With This Ad
Cantor’s Electric
100-200 amp service
Outdoor – Indoor Lighting
No Job TOO SMALL • 10% OFF with this ad
215-495-9336
215.632.4823
samuel J. BaileY • geneRal ContRaCtoR• liC & insuReD
Fully Licensed & Insured
no Job too small
Best Handyman Service
HSpackle
HPainting
HDrywall
HCeramic
HFloors
Ceilings
tile
HCeiling
Fans
HRepair Work
HCement work
H15 yrs. Exp.
Free Estimates
Senior
Discount
Roofing Sale
Siding • Windows • Emergency Repairs
Ask About Our
15 Year Guarantee
215.332.6600
Fully Insured
JOSEPH’S AFFORDABLE
PLuMBING & HEATING
• 24 Hour Service / 7 Days a Week
• City Violations Corrected
• Hot Water heaters Replaced
• Drain Cleaning Specialist
• New Gas & Oil Heaters Installed
• Certifications
• Trouble Shooting
• 100/200 Amp Upgrades
• Indoor/Outdoor Lighting
• 220 Lines / AC Lines
• Doorbells / Ceiling Fans
• Fuse Box Repairs
• Dryer Lines
O FREE O
Troubleshooting
Emergency
O
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Service
Serving mt. Airy, Germantown & West Oak Lane
215-768-6431
termite inspections and extermination is Just a Phone Call Away
ENTERPRISE ExTERMINATING
Save 10%
with this
coupon
We Deliver
Do-It-Yourself Supplies
& Supply Co.
bIRd • FLEA • SQUIRREL & ROdENT SPECIALISTS
QUALIFIEd TO MAKE FHA & VA CERTIFICATIONS
CoMPLete PeSt, inSeCt & MiCe ControL
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215-849-7070
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Up to 400 Sq. Ft.
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$57
Heater Sale
$1195
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$80.00
Starting at
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Call Now 215.456.1300
FAST EMERGENCY SERVICE
OFFICE: 215-673-7700 • 215-6041728
CELL: 267-984-3088
lowest prices • FRee estimates
New Roof
Philadelphia Gas Heating
& Air Conditioning
Registered 3rd Generation #3922
$aVe eleCtRiC
With Coupon
as low as
Family Owned and Operated
for Over 44 Years
215-927-3656
We Do All Jobs With Care
• Living room
• Dining room
• Stairway & Hallway
Lic. & exp.
For estimate, Cal H. robbins
215-276-1011
Cell: 267-255-9647
Financing Available • Free Estimates • Fully Insured
All Types of Roofing
Lic & Ins. 057860
H.R. Interior Painting
Do You have
a Service?
Are You in
the
Directory?
Call Rachel
and Put Your
Business on
Display in
Northwest
Philadelphia.
Phone Jacks Installed
‰ Lines Repaired
‰ 25 Years Experience
“We put them where you want them.”
$5
w/Ad
DMAC Telecom
215
438.4000
215-239-8469 • 215-438-2716
[email protected]
You’ ll Find Our Entire Paper on the Web.
Download a PDF of the Germantown Chronicle or the Mt. Airy
Independent from our website.
Germantown Newspapers • 5275 Germantown Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-438-4000
Page 12
July 30, 2009
Last 2009 PMBC Clean-Up
On Saturday, August 22, the
Philadelphia More Beautiful
Committee (PMBC), part of the
Streets Department’s Sanitation
Division, will wind down its
2009 volunteer cleaning season
with the last of three clean-ups
scheduled for the 5th, 14th, 35th,
and 39th Police Districts. Block
captains and community group
leaders in the area who wish to
schedule their block(s) for the
last clean-up are urged to call
their PMBC Clean Block Officer
three weeks in advance of the
cleaning date. The following
Clean Block Officers should be
called for the corresponding
Police District:
John Barnett, 39th Police
District, 215-685-3976; and
Santa Conix, 14th Police District,
215-685-3982.
Thus far, this season, 43,740
volunteers, including the Block
Captains, neighbors, and community groups filled over 58,908
bags on 6,828 blocks during their
cleaning activities.
PMBC reminds citizens of the
following tips when participating
in Clean Block Events:
• All debris should be bagged
and placed at either end of the
block to facilitate collection.
• No bulk or household trash
will be collected during the
Saturday Clean-Up Program.
• Do not sweep trash or dirt
into inlets.
• Streets should not be
blocked off with parked cars
during cleaning.
Blocks that wish to organize
and elect a Block Captain, and
blocks that wish to revitalize an
inactive block club, should contact the Philadelphia More
Beautiful Committee at 215-6853981. Upon request, the Clean
Block Officer for your area will
come out to help organize the
block. For all City services, call
3-1-1.
Saturday Services at Mt. Tabor
Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, 110 West Rittenhouse Street, will be
starting a Saturday afternoon worship service. Pastor Melvin
McAllister states that it will be a contemporary “Come As You Are”
worship service. Saturday services will begin on August 15 at 5 p.m.
For more information call 215-844-2756.
Pastoral Aniversary at Haines St.
Haines Street Baptist Church,
214 East Haines street invites the
community to celebrate with them
the 11th pastoral anniversary of
their shepherdess, Pastor Brenda
J. Bellamy, on Aug. 1 - 2.
August 1 events include an
anniversary luncheon at 1 p.m.,
panel at 2 p.m., and concert at 3
p.m.
Assistant Pastor Judge Rayford
A. Means will preside.
On Sunday, August 2 at the 11
a.m. service Pastor Bellamy will
be the preacher, Sister Yvonne
Vaughn presiding.
DUBLIN
FUNERAL SERVICE, INC.
• Prearrangement Planning
• Monuments
• Cremation
• Traditional Services
• Memorial Services
Marcell D. Dublin, FD, Supervisor
www.dublinfuneralserviceinc.com
“A Noble Level of Funeral Care.”
Please Visit Us at Our New Location
5800 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120 • Ph 215-927-2000 • Fax 215-927-1153
Serving Pennsylvania and Delaware
MOUNT TABOR BAPTIST CHURCH
Invites You to Worship
at 5 P.M.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP SERVICE
"COME AS YOU ARE"
NIM Conversation on Community for Young Adults
The Neighborhood Interfaith
Movement (NIM), continuing
with its series targeting individuals who are spiritual but not religious, is seeking unaffiliated
young adults to participate in a
conversation on community with
local clergy. This casual dinner
gathering will take place at Earth
Bread + Brewery, 7136
Germantown
Avenue,
on
Thursday, August 13, from 6-8
p.m. NIM hopes to bridge the gap
between local congregations,
which have predominantly older
member bases, and younger
adults who are spiritual and/or
secular but are seeking ways to
build and unify the Germantown,
Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill com-
munities.
Recent surveys show that
young adults in the 25-40 age
range are less likely to be members of congregations and participate
in
organized
religion. Moreover, the percentage of people who consider
themselves to be spiritual has
risen over the past century. In
response, NIM aims to include
this segment of the Northwest
Philadelphia community in its
efforts to serve the neighborhood, rebuild and establish new
relationships among local residents, and revitalize the region.
The conversation will take place
the evening of Thursday, August
13 at Earth Bread + Brewery, 6-8
Summer Activities at Affirmation Lutheran
There are a variety of summer
activities
at
Reformation
Lutheran Church, 1215 East
Vernon Road. They include:
Church Picnic. Reformation
will host its annual Church
Fellowship Picnic on Sunday,
August 16, from noon until 9
p.m., at the popular Alverthorpe
Park, Forrest Avenue and
Jenkintown Road, Elkins Park.
In addition to an “All You Can
Eat Buffet” of picnic food
favorites, there will be sport
activities including, volley ball,
soft ball, wading pool, face painting, badminton, card games,
miniature golf, tennis, 1.7 mile
walk-a-thon, 3.6 mile race, a
bike-a-thon, lake fishing, and
loads of activities the entire family can enjoy. Adult tickets are
$15 each, $5 each for children
under age 10.
Free
Healthy
Living
Seminars. Teens, aged 13 and
older, are invited to participate in
free Healthy Living Seminars
held every Wednesday, through
August 19,
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the church.
Hosted
by
the
church’s
Scholarship Committee, teens
and adolescents will discuss and
learn about building healthy relationships, self-esteem and selfrespect, peer pressure, harassing
behaviors, violence prevention
and other life skills that are necessary for their successful transition from youth to adulthood.
Healthy Living Seminar facilitators are from Women Against
Abuse, Women Organized
Against Rape and BEBASHI
organizations.
Camp RC. A bus tour of New
York City’s theater district, a day
at New Jersey’s Adventure
Aquarium and a Mann Music
Center workshop are just a few of
the activities that children and
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is JOY!"
youth have enjoyed during the
first weeks of CAMP RC, a summer program of Reformation
Lutheran Church, which operates
there Monday through Friday, 9
a.m. - 3 p.m., through August 21.
Camp RC began in 1987 and has
enrolled hundreds of children
and youth from the community.
It is an affordable summer
enrichment program for children
and youth ages six through 14,
grades 1-8, with before and aftercamp services available. Camp
RC incorporates creative and
performing arts education as part
of its core youth developmental
curriculum. New campers can
still enroll.
For information on these activities, please call Reformation
Lutheran Church at 215-5484332. Established in 1942, the
church is an affiliate of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of
America.
Obituary: Francis J. Malley, 66
Francis Joseph Malley, 66, of
Mt. Airy, formerly from Chestnut
Hill and “The Highlands” in
Ambler, Montgomery County,
passed away on July 25.
He was the beloved son of the
late Katherine [nee Duffy] from
Skaheen, Kilmovee, Mayo,
Ireland and Patrick Malley from
Coor Point Donegal, Ireland. He
was a devoted father to Courtney
Katherine [Sam Cohen] Malley
and Bryan Patrick Malley, a loving grandpa to Rosemarie Munn,
Ryan Malley, Emily Kiefer,
Keiran Cohen and Katherine
Cohen, the brother of John
[Sarah] Malley and James
[Marikay] Malley. He is also
survived by his dear companion
Connie Koppe, his former wife
Rose Marie Malley (nee Burke),
many nieces, nephews, cousins
and friends from the United
States and Ireland.
Frank was a structural steel
detailer. He was a member of
the Philadelphia Ceili Group,
Hair Crave
6335 Germantown Avenue • Philadelphia 19144
Exclusively for New Clients
Beginning Saturday, August 15, 5 P.M.
110 West Rittenhouse Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 844-2756
p.m., where participants will be
able to order their own meals.
During these two hours the attendees will have the opportunity to
engage in discussion and learn
about NIM’s mission, both in its
work in Northwest Philadelphia,
as well as in its commitment to
interfaith engagement.
Young adults between the ages
of 25-40 as well as local clergy
are welcome to attend. In order to
accommodate all attendees at the
dinner table, please RSVP by
Thursday, August 6. Anyone
desiring more information should
contact Keith Griffin at [email protected]. He may also
be reached at 215-843-5600,
extension 107.
50% Off All Hair Services • By Appointment Only
50% OFF
All Hair
Services
215-432-3366
Ask for Nafeesa
serving on the board and as
Chairman for the Philadelphia
Ceili Group’s Irish Festival for
many years, and a member of the
Philadelphia Folk Song Society
for over 35 years. Frank was also
a musician and avid storyteller.
A memorial service will be
held on Saturday, August 1, 3
p.m., at the Irish Center, Emlen
Street and Carpenter Lane in Mt
Airy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to
any one of the Breast Cancer 3Day “Team Canada” members at
www.the3day.org.
New Jerusalem
Community Day
A Community Day will be held
August 8 at New Jerusalem
Baptist Church, 2119 West
Diamond Street, from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. There will be free, fun, food
and fellowship for all. For information call 215- 254-4328.
July 30, 2009
Page 13
Dear Dot: One Chapter Closes, Another Opens
By DOT NEWTON
Guest Writer
Editor’s note: Dot Newton is
the former director of the
Germantown Settlement Mature
Adult Center.
Dear Readers: I only hope
that you have missed me as much
as I have missed you.
Throughout my daily travels I
often run into readers asking the
same question: “When are you
going to start writing the column
again?” I have both good news
and bad news in answering that
question.
The good news, I hope, is that I
am back, starting with this
month’s column. I will no longer
write the column under the name
“Dear MAC,” but I will continue
writing the mature adult informational column under “Dear Dot.”
Please send your questions
and comments to
[email protected].
Unfortunately, however, after
providing an array of services to
mature adults for many years, the
Adult Center will close as of July
31. Although the senior center is
closing, Germantown Settlement
will continue to provide services
to mature adults at that site and
throughout Germantown and
Philadelphia.
The closing of the doors on
July 31 will close a ten-year
chapter of my life with
Germantown Settlement. Amid
all the criticism, bad press and
negativity against the agency, as
an insider I would like to walk
out the door saying “Thank you”
to Germantown Settlement for
the countless number of people it
has served during my tenure, and
whom it continues to serve from
the cradle to the grave via its
Welcome New Babies, Parent
Education,
Youth
Services,
Safety,
Truancy, Housing and
Energy, Emergency
Food, HIV and AIDS
and Afterschool programs, and many
more.
I cite those programs
because
although my primary
role was in the area of
aging, my other hat
required
minimal
oversight of those programs. This
afforded me the opportunity to
observe the importance, need,
and depth of services provided to
the faces of fear and desperation
that walked through the doors,
and the smiles and even tears of
joy that walked out with a sense
of hope and relief. That’s what it
has always been about for me not the politics, not the opinions
inside or out, but “the people.”
If most of Germantown
Settlement’s critics would separate their personal feelings about
personalities and count the number of persons whose utilities
were turned on, mortgages were
saved, youth who received
employment, babies
that received cribs, diapers, clothes and milk,
seniors who received
health
screenings,
lunch and much more,
then maybe they too
will be able to look at
those being served and
people’s needs being
met to say “Thank You,
G e r m a n t o w n
Settlement.”
Finally, to all my
readers, I would like to thank you
all for your support during the
Dear MAC years and I look forward to serving, educating, and
updating you on crucial areas and
important topics as they relate to
your population and issues of
concern.
I would like to extend thanks to
Karl Biemiller, editor, for
approving and supporting this
column from its inception to its
transition to the Chronicle and
from Dear MAC to Dear Dot, for
without him it would not be possible, and to Jim Foster, publisher, for his role in the process.
Information for former
GSMAC
members:
LuBel’s Christian Academy
PA Board of
Education
Accredited
500 E. Mt. Pleasant Avenue • Philadelphia 19119
215-242-4663
Infants • School Aged • We Offer Pre-K & Kindergarten
6 AM – 6 PM
Motto:
We Want to Learn,
We Can Learn, We Will Learn.
We Waive Registration When You Bring In This Ad
August is
Education Month
Education Pages Will Run on
August 6, August 13 and August 20
Back to School Pages Will Run on August 27
Advertise your College, School, Day Care Center, School
Supply Store or any education-related business on our
special-bannered Education Pages and reach more than
35,000 homes and businesses every week in August.
Special Rates available to advertisers who run a
minimum 10-column-inch ad each week in August
on our Education/Back-to-School pages.
Contact Your Advertising Sales Person Today!
215.438.4000
Adult Center (GSMAC) is
expected to have some funds
remaining from its program
income after paying its July, 2009
bills. An Emergency Fund will be
established with those funds for
former members (within the past
12 months) of GSMAC and present members of Germantown
Now Enrolling
Seniors United to Serve. The
funds will be distributed ($25 per
eligible applicant) until the fund
is exhausted.
To apply for the fund, please
call 215-849-7288 no later than
July 31. Give your contact information and you will be contacted
to determine eligibility and when
the funds are being distributed.
Now Enrolling
CALL FOR APPOiNTMENT
DR. A. H. WiLLis
PRiNCiPAL
HOPE Charter High School
9th through 12th grades
• A tuition-free high school in West Oak Lane
• Student enrollment from all areas Philadelphia
• For the youth who needs extra help & small classes
• For information, 215-849-2112 ext 5112
• Or email [email protected]
HOPE CS is designed to give the underachieving high school student new
hope for a bright educational future and a career
We are accepting applications for the school year 2009-10
international
Christian
High school
Quality Education Since 1968
Co-Ed Grades 9-12 • Racially Diverse
Strong College Admissions
Award-winning Teachers
College Credit Courses • Christian Values
Safe Environment • Honors Courses
Scholarships • Tutoring Program
Athletic & Music Programs
Languages • Laboratory Sciences
Affordable Tuition• Financial Aid
http://www.ichsphila.org
413 E. Tabor Road
Philadelphia, PA
215-455-9334
Page 14
July 30, 2009
MAUSA Seeks Advisory Board Members
Mt. Airy USA is seeking
Neighborhood Advisory Board
members. Volunteers are needed
to advise our Board of Directors
on community issues.
Their function is to provide
feedback on current community
programs; contribute to the vision
and efforts of Mt. Airy USA’s
neighborhood development and
revitalization; and report on stakeholder interests and serve as voices of the community in Mt. Airy
USA’s planning process.
Responsibilities include: meeting with Mt. Airy USA’s
Community Organizer and a representative from the Board two to
three times yearly to discuss community issues; learning about Mt.
Airy USA’s programs; assisting
with monitoring and measuring
the success of projects and programs provided by the organization; and acting as a pipeline
between neighborhood stakeholders to and from Mt. Airy USA and
its Board.
Volunteers must be 18 years of
age or older and live, work, or
own a business in Mt. Airy, the
ideal
boundaries
being
Washington Lane to Gorgas Lane
and Boyer Street to Lincoln
Drive. Volunteers may also consist of current Mt. Airy USA
clients.
Volunteers will benefit from the
establishment of a partnership
with Mt. Airy USA to aid in the
improvement of the quality of life
in the Mt. Airy community.
To apply to become a Mt. Airy
USA Neighborhood Advisory
Board volunteer contact Cynthia
Bradley at 215-844-6021 ext
214, or e-mail to
[email protected].
Register Now for Tony Williams Jazz Festival
The 19th Annual Tony Williams
Scholarship Jazz Festival in memory of Pernell “Percy” Council will
take place on Labor Day weekend
(Friday, September 4 - Monday,
September 7) at the Embassy Suites
Hotel (Airport), 9000 Bartram
Avenue,
Philadelphia.
The
Scholarship Festival will welcome
world-renowned headliners including trombonist Don Collins; saxophonists Louis Taylor, Tim
Warfield and Bruce Williams;
vocalists Nina Bundy, Ella Gahnt,
Barbara Morrison and Jackie Ryan;
pianists Aaron Graves, Roy
Meriwether, Dick Morgan, Dave
Posmontier and Phil Wright; and
drummer Lucky Thompson.
This year’s honorees include
musical educators Mike Boone,
Jamal Dickerson and Mark
Mitchell; founder of the Council of
Jazz Advocates (COJA) Thelma
Anderson,
and
festival
publicist/supporter Verna Edwards.
Special festival guests include
Philadelphia’s own Bill Cosby, and
Dr. Verolga Nix and the Intermezzo
Choir.
Festival honorees will be presented with their awards Saturday
evening preceding Jackie Ryan’s
concert at 8:30 p.m. Additional
events include a reception each
night in the Atrium, a pool-side
jam, vendors, workshops, and
much more.
Festival weekend packages, day
passes, and individual event tickets
are available. For more information
please contact MACC at 215-7530232 or 215- 248-4415, or visit the
Website at www.maccjazz.org.
Acclaimed guitarist and teacher
Jim Dragoni present an eclectic
mix of songs with his trio featuring
Mike Boone on acoustic bass and
Andrew Dragoni on drums at the
Top of the Hill Café, Evergreen
Avenue behind the Wachovia Bank
at Germantown and Evergreen
avenues, on Saturday, August 1
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition
Jim’s protege Naomi Grigorian will
be singing, with historian John
Dean on tenor sax playing interludes and a cameo by Kristen Jesse
on vocals.
Avenue Update
The schedule for the reconstruction of Germantown Avenue
for the week of
Monday, July 27 through
Friday, July 31 is as follows:
Coulter Street to Church
Lane. Germantown Avenue is
closed from just south of Coulter
Street to just south of Church
Lane. Vehicular traffic will be
able to access Church Lane from
Germantown Avenue. Coulter
Street has been temporarily
changed to accommodate twoway local traffic between Greene
Street and Germantown Avenue.
The current detour remains in
effect for Germantown Avenue.
The detour begins at Seymour
Street, continues to Wayne
Avenue,
and
returns
to
Germantown Avenue by way of
Maplewood
Avenue/Armat
Street.
The contractor will continue
the reconstruction of the roadway
between Church Lane and
Coulter Street with the placement
of the new concrete track structure. The concrete placements
will require a temporary closure
of the Church Lane intersection
while the work is being performed. The contractor is scheduled to work from 7 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. but will work extended early
morning hours during concrete
placements.
High Street to Walnut Lane.
The intersection of East High
Street and Germantown Avenue
is closed as of July 27. East High
Street will be temporarily
changed to accommodate twoway local traffic between
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Baynton Street and Germantown
Avenue. Northbound traffic
should follow the extended
detour on Wayne Avenue returning to Germantown Avenue by
way of Washington Lane.
Northbound
Germantown
Avenue will be closed from just
south of East High Street to just
south of Walnut Lane for the total
reconstruction of the northbound
roadway. The intersection of
Walnut Lane can be accessed
from southbound Germantown
Avenue. The northbound SEPTA
Route 23 bus will be detoured
along Greene Street and return to
Germantown Avenue by way of
Walnut Lane.
The contractor will install concrete barriers through the intersection of East High Street in
preparation for the roadway
reconstruction. They will also
continue with the installation of
the new granite curbs at High
Street and begin the reconstruction of the intersection of High
Street with the removal of the
existing roadway. The work is
scheduled between 7 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
Ashmead Street to Queen
Lane. The parking restrictions
will continue along the north side
of Queen Lane to accommodate a
temporary two-way traffic pattern
from Germantown Avenue to
Greene Street. The contractor
will continue with the installation
of the sidewalks on the west side
of Germantown Avenue from
Bringhurst Street to Queen Lane.
The contractor will also work to
energize the new lighting in this
area. This work will result in
parking restrictions and shifts
during working hours. The contractor is scheduled to work
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
Queen Lane to Coulter Street.
Germantown Avenue is open to
local traffic between Queen Lane
and Coulter Street. The intersection of Coulter Street is currently
closed, but access is available for
pedestrian traffic to local businesses and institutions. Utility
relocations will continue along
the east side of Germantown
Avenue. The contractor is also
scheduled to continue storm water
inlets between Penn Street and
Coulter Street. Parking restrictions and lane shifts will be present during working hours, 7 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
After a brief hiatus, the
Germantown Avenue
Construction Committee will
reconvene its bi-monthly meetings effective Friday, July 31,
9:15 a.m., at State Rep. John
Myers’ office, 5847 Germantown
Avenue. For information call
215-849-6896.
Mount
Airy
July 30, 2009
Independent
WE HAVE A COLUMN FOR YOU DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO WANT ENVIROMENTLY FRIENDLY SERVICES AND
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APARTMENTS & HOUSES
CLEANED
Health-based cleaning system
Other services upon request
Avail. Day/Night; 7 days a week
Call today for an appointment
215-901-6564
A GREENER APPROACH
TO YOUR PAINTING NEEDS
*** TOM SPERANZA PAINTING***
Local References
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Call: 610-832-9162
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Guaranteed old world craftsmanship
Chemically & environmentally
safe finishes.
New installations, repairs,
sanding & refinishing. Bonded & insured.
Free comprehensive estimates!
Call Don at 267-784-4042
CHEAP FUN
WALK A CROOKED MILE BOOKS
In the Mount Airy Train Station
Gowen & Devon Aves.
has 80,000 used books in all areas!
Check out our special paperback sale –
hundreds of best selling titles @ 25c ea.
Open Mon-Sat till 6:30 pm
CALL: 215-242-0854
ADVERTISE YOUR LEGAL
NOTICES (CORPORATE, ESTATE)
AND LEGAL SERVICES
VERY REASONABLE RATES:
$50/3 TIMES FOR 2 PAPERS
34,500 HOUSEHOLDS
CALL CLASSIFIED: 215-438-6608
or
E-MAIL:
[email protected]
Page 15
Classified Advertising
GARAGE SALES/FLEA MARKET
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE
HOUSE & GARAGE SALERS
Anyone planning house
or garage sales…
Advertise with us—
we reach over 32,000 homes!
We deliver our papers;
they do not sit in boxes
$15 for one paper; $20 for two
Call Sunny: 215-438-6608 or E-mail:
[email protected]
*** EQUAL HOUSING ***
All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act,
which makes it illegal to advertise “any
preference, limitation, or discrimination
because of race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitation, or discrimination.” We
will not accept any advertising for real
estate which is in violation of the law. All
persons are hereby informed that all
dwellings are available on an equal
opportunity basis.
NEWLY RENOVATED DUPLEXES
New Modern Kitchen & Bath
W/W carpeting, ceiling fans.
New frost-free refrigerator, AC,
Window treatments, off-street parking.
Nicely landscaped, Close to train & bus
1BR from $725.
CALL: 215-848-2760
UPSCALE TENANT IN MT. AIRY BUS.
DISTRICT LOOKING TO
Share/sub-lease office suite which
includes:
• Completely furnished office
• Computers w/full internet access
• Phone system
• Printer/Scanner/Fax Machine
• Spacious Conference Rm (seats 8)
• Monitor(s) for presentations in conference room
• Cable viewing in bullpen
• Kitchenette area w/microwave &
Refrigerator
• Free off-street parking
• Phone service (optional)
215-248-9900 x102
for more info/pricing
FAITH COMMUNITY UNITED
FOR A HEALTHIER GERMANTOWN
2ND ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR
Sat., August 15, 2009, 10 AM to 3 PM
VERNON PARK (5800 blk.
Germantown Ave.)
VENDORS WANTED!
Participant must provide a table.
CALL: Tunji @ 215-475-2854 or
Hilde @ 215-520-2466 for more info
& to reserve your space.
YARD SALE AND BBQ!
Sunday, Aug. 9th, Noon-6PM
MUST HAVE ITEMS MUST BE SOLD
GREAT items (no junk), GREAT prices!
Furn., china, art, mini-fridge, books &
shelves, electronics & more
528 E. ALLENS LANE,
Philadelphia, 19119
HUGE YARD SALE!
6920 BOYER ST.
between Sedgwick & Gorgas Ln.
Sat. Aug. 1st, 8 am to 4 pm
Bikes, furn., antiques, collectibles,
loads of vintage clothing & linens,
RAIN OR SHINE
FAMILY YARD &
HOME-BAKED GOODS SALE
Sat. August 1, 8am to ???
214/16 E. HORTTER STREET
Stove, washing machine, furniture
toys, books, jewelry, CDs, handbags
and much more!
HELP WANTED
Seeking P/T Volunteer Coordinator.
Knowledge of aging, mental health issues, public social service system. Excellent communication/interpersonal skills. Req. BA/BS.
Reliable transportation needed.
Fax to 215-843-0305 or e-mail [email protected].
Germantown
Newspapers
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215.438.4000
fax: 215.754.4245
classifieds@
Classified Advertising Policy
Germantown Newspapers Inc. accepts
classified advertising for listings including, but
not limited to, Items or Cars for Sale, Real
Estate for Sale or Rent, Help Wanted, Services
Offered and other categories. Germantown
Newspapers Inc. reserves the right to reject
or revise the classification of any advertisement. It assumes no financial repsonsibility for
typographical errors other than to publish a
correction. Germantown Newspapers prints
the Germantown Chronicle and the Mt.
Airy Independent.
GERMANTOWN RENTALS
CLEAN AND NEW
ONE BEDROOM: $565. + utilities
TWO BEDROOM: $595. + utilities
Call: 215-438-8280
MT. AIRY—CHESTNUT HILL
7500 GERMANTOWN AVE
Newly renovated luxury 1 & 2BR apts.
W/w carpet, h/w flrs, garbage disposal,
dishwasher, A/C, cable ready,
laundry & off-street parking.
CALL: 215-275-1457, OR
215-233-3322
1ST FLOOR STOREFRONT
Available now
Will arrange to suit,
$1600/mo. includes heat,
other utilities extra
CALL: 215-266-6855
CRITTENDEN MANOR APTS.
1 BEDROOM apartment available
in Mount Airy.
Utilities included
except for electric.
CALL: 215-842-2500
Leave message for
Crittenden Manor
GARDEN STYLE
APARTMENT COMPLEX
IN MOUNT AIRY
NICE 1 & 2 BEDROOMS
Utilities included
except for electric.
Lv. message for Sprague Court
215-842-2500
MOUNT AIRY
79XX RUGBY ST. 2BRs,
2nd Floor, $750/mo + utilities.
GERMANTOWN
1XX W. MANHEIM ST.
Furnished Rooms, $90 up/wk.
Call: 215-849-4385 or
267-476-4942 (cell)
APARTMENT IN GERMANTOWN
6325 Germantown Ave.
2nd floor, private entrance,
1BR, 1 bath
$650/mo. includes utilities.
Call: 215-266-6855
APARTMENT IN MT. AIRY
1BR w/ private entrance
and backyard.
Wall to wall carpeting.
Newly remodeled.
$575/month + utilities
CALL: 267-226-0918
MARTIN ELFANT, INC.
Call Jeff Elfant @ 215-844-1200
GARAGES AVAILABLE
Multiple Sites, Single & doubles
From $75/month
[email protected]
5802 Greene St.
2nd floor of triplex
1BR, 1B w/den
hw floors, updated kitchen
$775.
366 W. Duval
1BR, 1B w/hw floors
Spacious kitchen,
Walk to train, heat included.
$650.
139 Tulpehocken
1BR, 1B, h/w floors
Renovated unit, heat included!
$725.
262 E. Cliveden
1BR, 1B w/w carpets.
Very spacious, off-street parking.
W/D on site, free heat!
$625.
TOTALLY RENOVATED 2BR HOUSE
Mt. Airy/Germantown Area
Bonus room off patio. Near
shops, transportation and
Parks. Avail. 8/1/09
$765./month + utilities
CALL SUE: 1-646-402-4765
BRIGHT, SUNNY, 2ND FLOOR
TRIPLEX
1BR, Porch, Yard, Off-street parking.
Large modern eat-in Kitchen
with 10 ft. counter! Johnson St.
overlooking Cliveden Mansion.
$700./mo includes heat
Call: Dr. Robinson 215-844-4953
A Very Special House
in the Heart of Mt. Airy
7205 Howard Terrace
$209,000
3 BR, 1 Bath sunny Rowhouse off the
beaten path. Entire house renovated:
New roof, new kitchen, ash hardwood
floors, full dry basement, rear fenced
yard with pretty garden.
Call Loretta Witt
Prudential Fox @ Roach
215-247-3750
SERVICES
MR. MAGOO CARPET
CLEANER
Carpet Cleaning Sale
2 rooms for $35.00!
We rotary shampoo & steam extract –
you get 2 for the price of 1
Vacuuming, moving furniture, stairs &
Hallway, color brightening, static proofing,
stain removal, scotch guard, disinfecting &
dry cleaning a little bit more.
We also clean furniture.
Accepting all major credit cards
CALL NOW:
215-729-1274 or
267-250-9764
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PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
Apartment/Rooms Renovations
Clean-outs, Painting, Facility upkeep,
Roof repair and more!
Call: 267-244-9221
or Email:
[email protected]
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A&J CUSTOM PAINTING &
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Specialized & all Painting needs
Fully insured; Free estimates
Interior/Ext. ; deck restoration
Call: 267-784-9486 or go to
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Put Your Ad Here.
Call Sunny in
Classifieds
215-438-6608
Page 16
July 30, 2009
FreshVisions Educates About History Through Performances
By CHARLES STILL
Editorial Staff Intern
FreshVisions Youth Theatre Company
(FVYTC) is quite literally one of the bestkept secrets in Philadelphia. Located at
4821 Germantown Avenue, this small theater company has transformed the lives of
hundreds of young people.
Established in 1989 under the name
Mitchell-Robinson Youth Theatre, it
branched off and become FreshVisions
about six years ago.
Bruce Robinson, founder of FVYTC,
wanted to use theater as a way to empower the youth of the community. He says of
the name, “When you think of
FreshVisions, you think of renewal or
rebirth. It connects to the way we feel
about kids.”
Established upon an Afro-centric foundation, FVYTC seeks to empower community youth by educating them about
their history, and teaching them how to
perform what they’ve learned. “I wanted
to do theatre with children that was not
cute, I wanted to work their souls,”
Robinson says.
One thing that sets FVYTC apart is that
it’s open to youth of all ages. The youngest
is five and the oldest is seventeen. “At FV
we don’t screen and we don’t audition, we
teach,” Robinson says. In the acting
department, Robinson and the staff specifically teach acting technique, improvisation, modern and ethnic dance, and speech
Above left: Brianna Bailey and Michael St. John in FreshVisions popular “Cocoa Brown and
the Seven Homies.” Above right, the company on a visit to actor Will Smith in 2004.
development.
He and the FVYTC staff believe that as
the company’s name suggests, children
have an amazing ability for rebirth, and
with the right kind of motivation and support can achieve anything they want. “Our
kids learn confidence and maturity. They
are fearless, articulate, and not afraid to
fail,” states Robinson.
Robinson speaks highly of all the youth
who come through his doors. He has
numerous success stories to recount of
lives that have been turned around and
transformed. One such student is Justin
Coffey.
When he first came to FVYTC, says
Coffey, he was a shy five-year-old who
hardly made eye contact. Now he’s seventeen, he says, “I’m attached to the arts.
I’ve been apart of FV since I was five, and
couldn’t see myself doing anything elseunless it’s football.”
Coffey has appeared as Martin Luther
King Jr. in Robinson’s Marching to
Freedomland. Coffey hopes to one day
succeed his mentor at FVYTC. “I’d like to
make this a national organization,” he
says, adding that the values instilled by the
staff should be passed on to as many youth
as possible.
Coffey credits Robinson with helping
keep him off the streets and out of jail.
“He’s been like a father to me,” he says.
“My dad passed when I was two, but since
I’ve known Mr. Robinson, he’s been there
pushing forward every step of the way.”
Another youth Robinson speaks highly
of is Sadiq Afif. At age eleven, Sadiq has
secured a role in an upcoming film called
Stringbean and Marcus in which he will
plays the role of “Colin” along side the
film’s star Kerry Washington. He was last
seen in God’s Country, Off Route Nine.
Most recently at FVYTC, Sadiq appeared
as Emmit Till in Marching to
Freedomland.
Past FVYTC productions include
(among many others) Coco Brown and the
Seven Homies, Alicia in Ghettoland, and
Marching to Freedomland, all of which
Robinson wrote. “I’ve written about thirty
or so plays from an African American
point of view, and I’m always having fun
with it,” says Robinson.
Robinson also says that at this point participants don’t have the opportunity to perform their own work, but that is something
he’d like to change. “We would love to
have a budget that goes beyond $40,000.
Those are the types of resources we’d need
to perform our participants work,” he says.
FreshVisions does not restrict itself to
youth productions. Its Adult Series has
featured many classic works and its next
performance will take place on three
weekends in August: Lonne Elder III’s
powerful Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.
The dates are August 7-9, 14-16, and 2123. Tickets are $15. The play is suitable
for ages 12 and up.
Open enrollment for those interested in
Fresh Visions Youth Theatre Company
begins Saturday, September 19. For further information contact Bruce Robinson
at 267-226-7135, or stop by the theatre at
4821 Germantown Avenue.
Explorers Den
has re-opened!
New & Improved!
Steaks • Hoagies • Wraps • Salads
2160 W. Olney Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Open 7 Days • 11 am – 11 pm
Fast Pick-up
215.621.6572