July 2004
Cedar Park Neighbors Newsletter Robert Siddall
Signs of Progress: New Plantings Bloom in Cedar Park By Maureen Tate, Cedar Park Improvement Committee ome signs of progress are already in S evidence to those passing by 49th Street and Baltimore Avenue, the point of Cedar Park. A new memorial garden has been installed, thanks to the hard work of CPN greening volunteers and Catharine Street residents. Planted in a patriotic red, white and blue scheme, the garden complements and highlights the long-neglected World War I Memorial at the eastern end of the Park, circa 1925, that has recently been repointed and cleaned. Further work is planned to restore the missing decorative eagle swag that was original to the Memorial. The Cedar Park Improvement Committee has commissioned local commercial sculptor and CPN resident Dustin Dowd to recreate and install the missing eagle with work to be completed this Fall. Immediately east of the Memorial garden new landscaping has been added to the concrete traffic triangle that defines the intersection at 49th and Baltimore. This project is a collaboration between CPN, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and the University City District (UCD). Landscape design services and installation were provided by PHS, one of two projects completed with funds earmarked for Baltimore Avenue and part of a citywide program to facilitate greening improvements along commercial corridors. The other location that will benefit from this program is the 45th Street traffic triangle. UCD gave $6,000 to the triangle project as its contribution to the Cedar Park Improvement Project and is working with Cedar Park Neighbors to assist with an ongoing maintenance and watering plan. But we have saved the best news for last! We have had wonderful encouragement from our political leaders in our efforts to restore Cedar Park. We are pleased to announce that thanks to the support of Councilwoman Blackwell, we have been allocated $100,000 to implement the large
scale improvement plan for Cedar Park! This is a huge confirmation that we will be able to achieve our goal, and we can go forward with confidence. In addition, thanks to Representative James Roebuck we have secured a State Community and Economic Development Grant in the amount of $10,000 to complete important elements of the improvement plan. To date, the Cedar Park Improvement Committee has raised over $130,000 in funds or pledges of support! We also owe a great deal of thanks to Citizens Bank for the first commitment of $8,000 that enabled us to develop the plan and leverage additional support.
Newly planted, red, white and blue flowers complement World War I Memorial at the eastern end of Cedar Park.
A sign has been designed and ordered for placement at the triangle landscape. Philadelphia Green has has made a generous donation to cover the cost of this sign, which should be installed by the end of July or early August.
Get Involved: An Invitation from CPN’s New President By Lisa Johanningsmeier would like to introduce myself to the members of Cedar Park Neighbors. Having resided in this community for 17 years, I know that living in our neighborhood can be rewarding and inspiring but occasionally frustrating as well. It is the purpose of Cedar Park Neighbors to do whatever we can to open the way for the rewarding and the inspirational, and offer an open forum for resolving and addressing problems. We hope that in the coming
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year you will become actively involved with Cedar Park Neighbors and its environs. There are many issues before this community that need everyone’s input, from the construction of a new West Philadelphia High School to the revitalization of the Baltimore Avenue Business Corridor and the restoration of Cedar Park. I invite all of you to participate in building a solid community, which — in the end — is why we choose to live in this little part of Philly.
Friday Night Jazz: Summer Treat Swings into Action at the Firehouse ring a busy work week to a close B with some down time at the community jazz concerts held every Friday night at the Firehouse Market, 50th and Baltimore Avenue. CPN is pleased to co-sponsor this FREE concert series — featuring some of Philadelphia’s best jazz talents — presented by local jazz diva Denise King. Refreshments are available, so you may as well make it dinner and a show! Here’s the line-up for the remaining weeks:
July
9 16 23 30
Barbara Walker Story Walter Bell and LJU Arpeggio Jazz & Music Ensemble Jeannie Brooks
August
6 13 20 27
Philly 5 Larry McKenna Luv Park with Orrin Evans Juanita Holiday
Sept.
3 10 17
Bootsie Barnes TBA Dexter Wansel and Universe
Cedar Park Fair: Date Set; Plans Underway; Volunteers Needed! lanning meetings have set in motion P some of the early steps in preparation for the annual Cedar Park Fair, which will be held this year on Saturday, September 18th, from noon to 5:00 pm. Chairs of this year’s Fair Committee, Wayne Marquardt and Roger Harman, will be ably assisted by CPN members Nancy Chapin-Freeman, Jim Kurtz, Matt Myers, Peggy Stamos and Maureen Tate. The Fair is a major fundraiser for CPN activities, and it is a great way for members to make a big contribution by helping in small ways. We need volunteers to help prepare and implement children’s activities, line up entertainment and demonstrations, work at the membership table, assist with set-up and clean-up, donate raffle prizes, sell raffle tickets and help out with many other small tasks that will make the Fair a success. If you can give just two hours in some capacity, the whole of Cedar Park benefits. Page 2
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Let us know if you are interested. We’ll find the right spot for you! Contact Wayne Marquardt at 215-476-1258 or WAYNERx@aol.com; or Roger Harman at 215-747-9423 or kiddo@ix.netcom.com
Save the Date: Cedar Park Fair Saturday, September 18th
Helping out at the Fair is a great way to get to know your neighbors!
Calvary Church: Community Center Re-Invigorates a Neighborhood Anchor Story and Photos by Andrew Diller est Philadelphia churches occupy a W large percentage of corner lots in the neighborhoods, and an even larger percentage of the skyline. While looming large and striking at first, they soon become part of the background, a piece of the scenery. But behind their imposing edifices lie surprising secrets. Calvary Church, located at the corner of 48th street and Baltimore Avenue has a fascinating history and the potential for an encompassing future.
unique revitalized church can provide. The Church has become a true community nexus. Calvary Church is now home to variety of secular organizations, three concert series, and several faiths which use its chapel for services. Cedar Park Neighbors is just one of many groups to use offices and meeting space at Calvary.
Calvary’s 1905 cornerstone.
I’ve walked by Calvary Church many times, each time briefly looking at the church and main windows (rather dulllooking from outside) and not giving it
When Calvary United Methodist Church was built in 1905, it used cutting-edge technology (steel superstructure); and employed innovative New York architects. When the church opened, it housed a large and proper congregation and was the pride of the Philadelphia’s United Methodists. Time passed, the proud congregation melted away, and the church was sold to another congregation. Unfortunately, the buyers were themselves on the verge of insolvency and had no funds to apply to the badly deteriorated church. In desperation the main Tiffany dome was sold to a collector, removed, and crated for shipping to its new owner. Just as the glass was leaving, a group of concerned neighbors intervened and convinced the buyer of the dome to donate the priceless glass back to the church. The sale of the church was withdrawn from the new congregation, and a new group of secular and religious patrons was formed to protect the church and start the long job of raising money to bring the building back to its once proud and packed state. Calvary now finds that its future will depend on services directed towards the secular, as well as religious, community. The formation of the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (CCCC) in 2001 was a defining moment in the church’s history. The CCCC’s twofold mission is to raise funds to repair the church and to promote culture and the arts in West Philadelphia through the venue that the
much more thought. But after going inside the building, I can see what an irreplaceable treasure it is. The sanctuary windows are mesmerizing, the scagolia columns amazing and the space and volume of the interior uplifting.
Rich Kirk of the Calvary Center for Culture and Community perches atop the steps leading to the Chapel Dome in the attic of the Calvary Church.
Organizations are already in place to help the community benefit from what Calvary Church can offer. All you have to do is ask and, hopefully, lend a hand to bring the building back to an even more useful and sustainable state. Contributions of time and money are needed. Read through the CCCC brochure included in this issue of the newsletter, and decide how you can participate! You will find more information about the CCCC at www.calvary-center.org. Calvary will be 100 years old next year — together we can make it a memorable centennial for the whole community. For more photos, visit www.dillernet.com/pix/cccc/
July 2004
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comes to west philly! By Christy Ellingsworth Co-moderator, West Philly FreeCycle
much better — AND more convenient — to share with those directly around you!!
For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, freecycling is a way to use the internet to dispose of your unwanted items without using landfills or thrift shops, having a porch sale, or hassling with eBay. Freecycling matches a person who has something to give away with someone who wants or needs it.
To offer a brief example, my daughter is 9 months old and an eager eater. We go through a ton of baby food jars. I posted to the freecycle group, offering these jars (which would otherwise get recycled) to anyone interested in them for storage, craft purposes, etc. Several people responded expressing interest and we’ve made arrangements for pickup. Now we’re both better off — a win-win!
It’s a win-win proposition. You rid yourself of excess clutter — things that have long outlived their usefulness to you — and you get the satisfaction of helping someone in need. In the case of FreeCycling, this person is likely to be an actual West Philadelphia neighbor. Not only are you doing a kindness to a neighbor, but it’s also a great opportunity to open and strengthen friendships and lines of communication throughout the community. Freecycling has received quite a bit of press lately — the main Philly FreeCycle group just had an article published about them in the Inquirer. (Read the article at www.markis.com/fc/press.htm) West Philly FreeCycle promotes freecycling in general and freecycling in West Philadelphia in particular. The main Philly group has seen an explosion in membership since the Inquirer article was published, and the time is ripe for the West Philadelphia group as well. Freecycling works better when more people get involved. We want our West Philly group to grow and develop. It’s so
But it’s not just baby items, it’s anything. Absolutely anything that you have and no longer want or need, you can post an OFFER message to the group, and often within minutes you will receive emails from people offering to come pick up said items at your convenience. Conversely, if you are in need of something, you can post a WANTED message to the group asking others if they have what you need. And very often (particularly when more people get involved!) someone will! I have received a pair of beautiful French doors, twelve (yes, TWELVE) boxes of cookbooks, school uniform items for my older daughter, a lampshade, many toys, etc. I have given a comforter set, the above-mentioned baby food jars, miscellaneous baby items, a toddler-size sleeping bag, and a big bag of fabric. And I’m just one person. So you see, it really runs the gamut. And when you get lots of people involved, it’s simply amazing. To read more stories about freecycling, visit www.markis.com/fc/kudos.htm.
Feel free to join us! For more information visit groups.yahoo.com/group/westphillyfreecycle/ I welcome your questions and comments at christin_ellingsworth@yahoo.com.
Firehouse Jazz Series Free Concerts Every Friday June 4 - September 3 50th & Baltimore Avenue co-sponsored by
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Robert Siddall
A Tribute to Beauty: New Mural Honors African American Entrepreneurs
By Deborah Good here is a new mural on the southwest T corner of 52nd and Rodman Streets. Despite the fact that 52nd has been called West Philadelphia’s Main Street, there were not any murals along this well-travelled strip south of Market—until now. Shirley and Paul Randleman began campaigning for the mural two and a half years ago, gathering 1,500 signatures from neighbors and support letters from neighborhood groups, and then waiting for the approval of the Mural Arts Program. They wanted a mural that would honor the beauty industry. Between barbers and beauticians of all stripes, the beauty industry makes up a large portion of the businesses in Philadelphia’s African American business corridors. Artist Karl Yoder of the Mural Arts Program designed and painted the mural. The wall portrays a variety of faces — from local barbers to people well known in the beauty industry. Annie Turnbo Malone overcame enormous obstacles and, through her work in the beauty industry, amassed a fortune of $14 million by 1923, an amazing feat for an African American woman living one generation after slavery. Her face appears near the mural’s upper left-hand corner. “These stories need to be constantly told,” said Shirley Randleman, founder of the Philadelphia Beauty Showcase and National Historical Museum, which is located one block north of the mural. “What this really salutes is that ‘can-do’ spirit. You can do. You can hold onto your dreams and your visions, and you can persevere. Most of the people painted in the mural did not really think about the fact that they were
blazing a trail. They were living life, trying to move forward and create a better economic platform for their families and their loved ones. These were ordinary people, never realizing that they were really doing extraordinary things—making history.” A committee of beauticians, community leaders, and the daughters of two barbers portrayed in the mural are planning an unveiling ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30 p.m. Ronnie Florence-McPherson is part of the committee. Her father, Amos Florence, Jr. (known by his customers as “Process, Jr.”) has been in business since the early fifties. Junior’s Downtown Barbershop is still located at 1513 South Street. As a child, Florence-McPherson did not realize the significance of her father’s accomplishments as an African American, owning his own business for so many decades. “I grew up spending every Saturday in my dad’s barber shop,” she said. “Today, to see my dad’s picture on a wall in Philadelphia and know that so many people consider him one of the icons of the community… It’s fantastic knowing that long after he’s gone, people will remember him.”
A new mural at the southwest corner of 52nd and Rodman Streets honors African American entrepreneurs’ contributions to the beauty industry.
Following Emancipation, more than three hundred African-American barbers and beauticians started businesses in Philadelphia, creating means of self-sufficiency in a country that had given them little to start with. These entrepreneurs were trailblazers in Philadelphia’s black community and in the beauty industry as a whole. The mural at 52nd and Rodman, five blocks north of Baltimore Avenue, is a stunning tribute to their perseverance, and to the contributions of so many barbers and beauticians in the years since. July 2004
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Protect Your Home! Report Thefts; Document Period Details in Your Home By Greg Montanaro President, University City Historical Society ccompanying, but not limited to, the A recent encouraging house restorations occurring in University City is an ongoing wave of thefts of period architectural elements from our older historical homes. These have included mantels, decorative glass, and porch railings. There was even an attempt to dismantle an entire staircase! Often the thefts have occurred during the day or at the end of the workday when contractors hired by the owners were not present. Nor have these thefts been limited to houses undergoing restoration. The most recent case is the removal of a period porch railing and balustrade from a vacant property on S. Melville between Locust and Walnut Streets. This makes the property’s ultimate sale and restoration that much harder. It is critical that those affected report these thefts to the local police at 215-686-3180 and to John Fenton, Director of Operations at the University City District, john@ucityphila.org, who is monitoring these crimes. Only by reporting crimes can we insure adequate police protection assigned to our community. Tips about those who may be responsible should be reported to the Citizens Crime Commission at 215546-tips, where rewards of up to $8300
are still available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. This program was put in place several years ago by local community organizations to counter thefts, to help convict the criminals responsible, and to aid in the recovery of the stolen items. The University City Historical Society (UCHS) encourages all homeowners, especially those working on renovations, to photograph all architectural details, including outside metal ornaments, in order to create the documentation needed for any efforts at recovery or replacement. During the restoration, owners should provide for special security measures (alarms, timed lights, neighborhood alerts) for their properties. UCHS is also considering a program to provide an electronic “archive” of such photographs for homeowners along with a window decal announcing that “all the period architectural details in this property have been marked and photographically documented to insure that, if stolen, they can be identified and recovered. A reward for their recovery and the prosecution of those responsible is available from the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-tips.” If you favor or would like to work on this project, please contact UCHS at 215-387-3019 or info@uchs.net.
Volunteer! Mentors Needed to Help College-Bound Juniors Reach their Goals By Emily Hirshorn, Mentoring Coordinator, Southwest Community Enrichment Center he Southwest Community Enrichment T Center, located at 46th and Woodland Avenue is seeking volunteers to serve as long-term mentors to the students participating in our Teens ’N Technology (TNT) Program. The TNT Program aims to motivate high school juniors from West Philadelphia and Bartram High Schools to stay in school by developing their computer skills and teaching them to be successful in higher education and the business world. While most TNT students plan to attend college, many have not been able to graduate due to factors beyond their control.
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Research has shown that students are far more successful in reaching their goals when they are provided with the assistance and guidance of a mentor. The role of mentors in the TNT Program is to help students reach their full potential, expose them to options and opportunities, guide them in exploring realistic goals, and help them develop their self-esteem. Ideally, mentors will have experience with admissions testing, the college application process, financial aid, school selection and the expectations of colleges and employers. For information about the mentoring program, contact Emily at 215-386-0641 or ehirshorn_tntmentoring@hotmail.com.
It’s a good idea to use a camera to document period architectural details inside and outside your home.
Cedar Park Neighbors Membership Application/Renewal ___ New Member ___ Renewal
Cedar Park Neighbors welcomes your participation. Please check your areas of interest and return the form to CPN, Calvary Community Center, 4740 Baltimore Ave, Phila, PA 19143 _____ Block Organizing _____ Neighborhood Clean-up Committee
___ $7 Individual
_____ Cedar Park Fair
___ $10 Household (2 persons or more)
_____ Community Development _____ Newsletter (writing, publishing, delivery)
___ $20 Business
_____ Education
_____ Recycling Project
___ $5 Senior/Student/Unemployed
_____ Fundraising
_____ Scholarship Fund Committee
___ $30 Sponsor
_____ Greening Activities
_____ Website
Enclosed is my additional contribution
_____ Holiday Baskets
_____ Zoning Committee
of $________________________
_____ Membership Committee
YES, I want to make Cedar Park a better place. My annual Cedar Park Neighbors membership dues are enclosed.
_____ Neighborhood Safety
Name Address Phone Email ____ I would like a free CPN T-shirt with my renewal of $30 or more. Adult Size: ___M ___L ___XL
Tree Tending: Time for a Trim? ave you always fancied that you could H give a great haircut? Do you secretly think you could be a sculptor? Or do you just like to tidy up? If so, tree pruning may be for you! Twice-monthly community tree pruning workshops are underway throughout University City from 6:30-8pm on Tuesdays, led by the Cross Baltimore Tree Tenders. Please email locations of any trees that need pruning to abenner@ucgreen.org. These should be smaller trees and branches that are reachable without a ladder. (We won’t be cutting anything thicker than 4 inches.) Include any trees that have: • damaged or broken branches • low-hanging branches that get in the way of cars or pedestrians, or • small trees that look “droopy” and out of proportion for their size
This “limbing up” will primarily clear branches that are broken or damaged, are growing into the street at traffic level, or are hanging too low over the sidewalk. If you have already taken Philadelphia Green’s Tree Tender course, this will be a way to practice and learn from an experienced Tree Tender. Bring your TT saw and pruners if you have them! On July 6th we’ll move to 45th St. north of Baltimore and continue on to blocks as we get requests. Please email in those addresses of shaggy trees that need trimming! Amanda Benner Executive Director UC Green, Inc. 215-573-4684 fax 215-898-2167 abenner@ucgreen.org www.ucgreen.org/
May 2004
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c/o Calvary Community Center 4740 Baltimore Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143
CPN Mission Statement: Cedar Park Neighbors is an association of diverse households and businesses based in the Cedar Park neighborhood of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the association shall be to foster collaboration among all persons living and working in the Cedar Park neighborhood, to promote community development, to provide a forum for communication and community education, to respond to neighborhood concerns and to advocate for and promote the general welfare of the Cedar Park community. Newsletter Editors: Maureen Tate & Judy Lamirand Newsletter Design: Judy Lamirand, Parallel Design To Contact Cedar Park Neighbors or submit Newsletter items: contact@cedarparkneighbors.org www.cedarparkneighbors.org 267-531-4147
Applause! Scholarship Fund Recipients to be Announced
Movies & Stories: Summer Fun for All Ages in Clark Park
Come out and applaud our Scholarship Awards Recipients at the annual awards ceremony that will be held during intermission at the Firehouse Jazz Concert on Friday, August 6. CPN members have responded generously to this year’s Scholarship Fund drive. If you have not had a chance to send in your contribution we invite you to send donations to CPN, Attention: Scholarship Fund. Deadline for Scholarship applications was July 1. Awards will be announced August 1.
Movie nights are back! These evenings are presented by Jim Kietzman and by Ann Dixon of Friends of Clark Park. All films are shown with some shorts, and start at dark, approximately 8:45 pm. Bring your own chair to the cement viewing platform near 45th and Chester Ave. No rain dates.
Thanks to Chair Gary Bronson and his committee: Darryl Bundridge, Cheryl Corbett, Liz Harvey, Katherine Hopkins, Mary Martin, Lola Rooney, Ernie Waugh and Joan Wells for their contributions to this great effort.
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Saturday, July 10th, “Sherlock Holmes Faces Death” Saturday, August 7th, “Phantom of the Opera” This 1925 movie features Lon Chaney Sr. and has a color sequence in the middle.
Come to Storytime in the Park! Back by popular demand!! Families loved Thursday Storytime in Clark Park so much that it has been extended it into July. Join Friends of Clark Park and the ParentInfant Center for Storytime on Thursdays, 7pm, by the turtle in North Park. Listen to read-aloud stories for children 7 and under. Bring a blanket, and wear your jammies!!
CPN Board President Lisa Johanningsmeier Vice-President Sean Joe James R. Kurtz Secretary Dorothy Welch Berlind Treasurer Karen Allen Directors Monica Allison Bilal Bell Patty Bulack John Ellingsworth Eric Grau Judy Lamirand James D. Lander Rickey Lee Wayne Marquardt Reggie Morgan Chima Murphy Orji Emma Paden Jerlee Rhodes Josh Sevin Maureen Tate David Timoney