CPN newsletter March 2003

March 2003

Cedar Park Neighbors Newsletter From Plan to Action “It is a great night for Cedar Park Neighbors”! This comment by a member, and the enthusiastic turn out of approximately 120 residents at our February 3 Community Meeting, was all the encouragement we could have asked for. After months of discussion and planning, the Board of CPN presented a proposal to the community for the association’s future work. We then turned to our neighbors with the question, “What do you think?”

Many expressed their support and raised additional areas of concern. Small group discussion provided another opportunity to be heard and share ideas. We received many feedback forms and offers to help move the plan forward.

We have included the proposal in this newsletter with a summary of responses from the meeting for those who were not able to be with us. There is an additional response form included and we encourage you to return the form so we have your input as well.

by Maureen Tate, CPN President Now we continue the work of integrating community feedback and taking steps toward implementation. We look forward to reporting on progress in future issues.

Our first step is scheduled follow-up meetings to address each of the plan’s objectives. Those who indicated interest will be notified and we encourage anyone else interested to attend. The meetings will focus on developing specific strategies for accomplishing our goals. All meetings will be held at Calvary Church, 48th and Baltimore (enter on 48th Street). We hope you will join us for one of the following: Community Promotion and Development Monday, March 10 7:00 PM Block Organizing Wednesday, March 12 7:00 PM Education and Youth Development Thursday, March 20 7:00 PM

Member News

by Jim Kurtz, Membership Chair

Keeping in Touch

Volunteers

To enhance communication with our members, the CPN Board has agreed to email the following to all members:

Many members have come forward in recent months to help build a stronger community association. The Board has prioritized member involvement, and Jim Kurtz has taken on the job of matching members with their interest. We are fortunate to have volunteers with much needed professional expertise. We would like to acknowledge Katherine Hopkins for bringing her computer expertise to the very important work of database management.

You will also notice our newsletter taking on a more polished look thanks to Judy Lamirand who has come forward with graphic design and publishing experience to be our new newsletter editor.

• Agendas for monthly CPN Board Meetings (in advance...so interested members may attend) • Minutes of CPN meetings • Occasional/emergency updates.

Presently, only about half of our members have given us email addresses. If you would like to receive the above items and have not already given us your email address, please do so now. Send your email address to kmhopkins@earthlink.net

Special Insert: Long-Range Plan Proposal and Response form

Changes: CPN Board Responds to Sale of Firehouse Market The Firehouse Market is for sale. Owner Bill Coleman has put the property on the market. The CPN Board reacted to this news with expressions of concern, disappointment and sadness. The Firehouse Market Project was a bold undertaking for our community association fifteen years ago. What enabled Cedar Park Neighbors to consider such a major community economic development project was the possibility of partnering with a competent, committed and community minded private partner. Our partnership with Firehouse Market owner Bill Coleman enabled the transformation of an abandoned facility into a valuable community resource.

This is a success story in and of itself.

of the Market to Bill five years ago, and he has fulfilled all of the terms of the agreement of sale. CPN retains the income from that sale in a special reserve fund earmarked for future community development projects. We thank Bill for his service to the Cedar Park community and wish him well in his new endeavors.

We wish to acknowledge the energy, creativity and commitment that Bill brought to this project despite the challenges of trying to run a business as a community endeavor. CPN sold its 50 percent share

We have every confidence that this is not the end of the story for the Firehouse Market. CPN has renewed its commitment to working for the vitality of our commercial corridor. We are fortunate to have a valuable resource in Eli Massar, our Baltimore Avenue Commercial Corridor Manager, to further this effort, and we are encouraged by the new businesses which have recently opened on the Avenue.

We are very interested in helping to identify new possibilities for the Firehouse and it is our hope that even greater things are yet to come.

Speak Up! LCB is Listening

Events for Women: Celebrations & Self-Defense

At our membership meeting on February 3 we let you know that we have begun conversations with Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) personnel about our store on Baltimore Avenue. The LCB representatives were very willing to hear from us—we let them know that we are concerned about the impact that the store has on the park across the street.

We suggested that although many neighbors enjoy the convenient location, the store, in its present state, is unsatisfactory due to its negative impact on the neighborhood, its appearance and limited offerings.

Women’s Day

Now we would like the LCB to hear from you about this issue. You may pick up a Customer Comment Card, available at any Wine and Spirit Shop; call 1-800 272-PLCB; or submit an easy-to-use response form online at www.lcb.state.pa.us/agency/consumerform/asp.

The Liquor Control Board is listening—please talk to them! When you have done so, let us know by emailing Maureen Tate at tatemch@aol.com, or giving Dorothy Welch Berlind a call at 215-898-1727.

Together we make a difference.

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CPN Newsletter

Rev. Joy Bagwell, Pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church, and the Calvary Women’s Day Committee invite you to join them on Sunday, March 16 for a day of “Wise Women Celebrating Our Diversity and Transforming Our World.” The celebration begins at 11am with Sunday services, followed by an Anna Crusis Women’s Choir performance at 12:30. After the concert, enjoy a 2pm luncheon with keynote speaker Rev. Sue Cole, Senior Pastor of Arch Street United Methodist Church.

The cost for the day’s events is $10 for adults and $5 for children aged 2-11.

Calvary United Metholdist Church is located at 801 S. 48th Street (48th & Baltimore Avenue). For more informatio, or to register, call 215-724-1702.

For Women Only: Rape Agression Defense (RAD) is being offered by the University of Pennsylvania Police Department.

RAD is a physical defense program for women that offers no-nonsense, practical techniques of defense and provides realistic and dynamic hands on training. Studetns receive a comprehensive reference manual and are entitled to free life time return and practice sessions. RAD Is FREE for community residents!

Each course consists of 4 threehour classes. The next series will begin on Wednesday March 19, continuing on March 26, April 2, and April 9. Classes meet from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Penn Police HQ, 4040 Chestnut Street. Preregistration is required.

Contact: P/O Stacey Livingston University of Penn Police Dept.

4040 Christnut St. 215-898-3590 e-mail: stacey2@pobox.upenn.edu

Share the Road: University Launches New Safety Campaign Due to increasing accident and injury resulting from collisions between bicycles and automobiles, the University of Pennsylvania has launched a “Share the Road” campaign to promote safety for bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians and is enlisting community support.

The current effort focuses on community safety awareness and education regarding the rules and rights which govern the use of all vehicles, autos as well as bicycles, on our city streets and sidewalks. The Penn police department will begin by issuing warnings to those violating vehicular traffic rules. Strict enforcement and ticketing will commence in the spring.

In Pennsylvania, a bicycle is considered a vehicle governed by a general set of rules common to all vehicles. Bikes, cars, trucks and buses all play by the same rules of the road. With the right skills and knowledge, riding a bicycle in the street can be faster and safer than riding on the sidewalk.

And it’s easier than you may think.

Read the following guidelines and share the road!

Tips for Bicyclists

Tips for Motorists

Stay off the sidewalks. It is illegal to bike on sidewalks in Philadelphia if you’re older than 12. Leave the sidewalks to pedestrians—give bike lanes a try; learn how to use them.

By law, bicyclists may use the road in the same ways as motorists. But the consequences of error are much more severe for the bicyclist. Watch out for your fellow road users.

Ride on the right, with traffic.

But don’t hug the curb.

Motorists will know where you’re coming from.

Be considerate. Bicyclists have the same rights as any motor vehicle to operate on the roadway—and may “take the lane” when traveling as fast as traffic.

Ride predictably. Ride a straight line. Signal your intentions.

Check for traffic when entering the street or changing lanes.

Obey all signs and signals.

NEVER pass on the right when approaching an intersection.

Play a good defense. Make eye contact with motorists.

Anticipate bad moves. At night use headlights, flashers, and reflective tape or clothing.

Stay away from the door zone.

Ride more than an arm’s length from parked cars. A surprise car door opening can ruin your day!

Wearing a helmet can save your life.

Pass with care. Give bicyclists at least five feet, or stay back until you can safely pass.

Yield to bicyclists as you would any vehicle. The same right of way rules apply to cars and bikes.

Don’t blow your horn at bicyclists unless they are in imminent danger.

Don’t drive in the bike lane unless you are preparing to turn right or park.

Check for bikes in your side view mirror before opening your car door, whether you’re parked next to a bike lane or not.

Share the Car: PhillyCarShare Opens at 4700 Baltimore Avenue!

New Prius Hybrids at PPA Parking Lot Tired of making insurance and car payments when you only use a car several times a week? Consider PhillyCarShare if you:

The vehicles, including a Toyota Prius and a Matrix hatchback, have hybrid gas/electric power and thus emit 84 percent less greenhouse gases.

• are committed to improving the environment and community.

Car sharing is similar to car rental, except members pay for cars by the hour, not by the day. Cars are parked in secure off-street “pods” located a short walk from your home. Members only need a license.

All other costs, including insurance, are already covered. Simply reserve a car online or by phone and then drive away. You’re only billed for the hours and miles you drive. JOIN TODAY!!!

• are a business with employees who use cars for work-related trips.

For more information call 215.386.0988 or log on to www.phillycarshare.org.

• are a SEPTA user who doesn’t need a car everyday.

• have a seldom-used second car.

• drive less than 10,000 miles per year.

• are a low-income household that cannot afford the high costs of car ownership.

March 2003

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Feedback: Participants React to Cedar Park Neighbors’ General Membership Meeting The following summary of reactions to Cedar Park Neighbors’ general membership meetings is based on the thoughtful responses to our feedback form completed by forty-two of the meeting’s participants. The form asked participants to describe what they were most excited by, what concerns they had, at what they would like to see happen at future meetings.

Excitement generated by the large turnout was the most common reaction in the first category. Several people listed the long-range plan’s objectives and the opportunity for community organizing as strengths.

A number of people were most excited by plans for business development, community promotion and development, the Crossroads project, educational outreach, block captain organizing, greening efforts, and the creation

of a website. Other responses included excitement about block improvement grants and that the plan focuses on areas west of 48th Street.

The most common concerns raised in response to the design and implementation of the plan included finding the funding, organizing volunteer efforts for effective follow through, and increasing communication of the plan and available resources within the community. In addition, several people advocated for enlarging the boundaries of the area that the plan would affect, while one response indicated that the focus area should be small.

A concern was raised about how plans to develop Cedar Park would affect current park users. Many participants included their general concerns about the neighborhood on the feedback form as well. They include: vacant and

underutilized properties, gentrification, abandoned and unsafe housing and squatter/landlord issues, absentee landlords, litter, affordable housing, petty crime, noise, and the lack of variety of retail stores.

Several participants expressed the desire to see community youth welcome and present at future meetings. Many expressed that the contact information mentioned during the meeting and knowledge of current community resources be made widely available, including and not limited to the use of email. One response suggested that future meetings should have more information available about current Cedar Park committees, and another expressed the need for more frequent meetings so that concrete steps can be further planned and taken.

Follow-Up: Small Groups Evaluate Long Term Plan Objectives at Membership Meeting Community Promotion and Development The Community Promotion and Development group’s participants discussed the current efforts being made to revitalize commercial development in the area. The group discussed the desire to see the diversity of businesses continue to increase. Updates were given on current projects such as greening efforts and discussions with the Liquor Control Board to renovate the Baltimore Ave. liquor store. The group discussed the need for distributing information and directing efforts towards addressing troubled properties and vacant land.

Suggestions were made about extending Penn’s housing program and UCD’s services to 52nd street, and that CPN also expand west and south. The group also discussed the need to develop plans for how to effectively organize and carry out volunteer efforts.

Cedar Park Neighbors Long-Range Plan

Block Outreach Group The block outreach group’s participants identified concerns on their respective blocks, discussed strategies that have been used to address these issues, and brainstormed steps needed to foster communication and collaboration among blocks in the Cedar Park neighborhood. Many of the following concerns were shared by several or many blocks: abandoned properties, delinquent landlords, illegal dividing of properties into units, abandoned cars and car theft/vandalism, prostitution, dumping, noise, and a negative atmosphere created when large amounts of alcohol are sold at delis.

The group discussed making a handbook available to all blocks including how to access websites with information about property ownership. Some of the blocks represented in the group have identified block captains and the residents meet to discuss and address concerns. The group discussed updating

the current block captain data and attempting to identify a block captain or contact on every block. After doing so, meetings could be held with groups of block captains sharing similar concerns and working towards common goals.

Education and Youth Development The Education and Youth Development group identified mapping the educational assets in the neighborhood as a priority. They discussed developing and administering a needs assessment for youths and their families. The group stressed the importance in involving youth in the process and getting their feedback. After these initial steps are taken, goals and projects can be identified. The group plans to recruit volunteers to assist in these efforts, as well as develop institutional relationships and expand our knowledge of opportunities outside the community that our youths can participate in.

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