June 2014
Cedar Park Neighbors Newsletter President’s Message: Welcome, New Board Members By Michael Froehlich his month, Cedar Park Neighbors T (CPN) welcomes several new board members. It’s heartwarming to see that,
even after 54 years, CPN still inspires neighbors to join the association and work to make a difference in their community. The new board members are an exciting and diverse group of people: Suzanne Anderson, David Hincher, Amara Rockar, Lisa Johanningsemier, Shawn Markovich, Mavil Spence, Saba Tedla, Malcolm Burnley, Renee McBride Williams, Far McKon, Ryan Spak, JJ Tiziou, and Michael Williams. We’re super excited by their energy and the commitment they have made to improving Cedar Park. To learn more about your new board members, please visit our website to see their photos and read brief biographies: www.cedarparkneighbors.org/events/meetthe-candidates-for-cpn-board-of-directors/. We’re also saying good bye to several wonderful Board Members: Monica Allison, Naomi Fiordimondo, Ana Lisa Yoder, Gregg Mohrmann, Ariel Ben Amos, Beverly Rouse, Mahari Bailey, Marcus Presley, and Karen Allen. They have been working tirelessly over the past years and decades to make sure that Cedar Park continues to be the best neighborhood in Philadelphia.
A very special thank you to our sponsors, too. Without them, we simply would not be able to present this wonderful series. If you appreciate the jazz series as much as we do, please consider dropping a few dollars in the bucket as it comes around. Your support allows Cedar Park Neighbors to keep bringing you neighborhood activities all year long. Thanks again for being a member of Cedar Park Neighbors and supporting our great community. After you’ve read this newsletter, consider passing it along to another neighbor and encouraging them to become a member. Membership starts at just $7 per year for seniors, students, and the unemployed. A membership form is at the back of this newsletter. You can also join online at cedarparkneighbors.org/join.
See you at Cedar Park this Friday! GRETCHEN ELISE LIVE!
Although we’re sad to see the departing board members rotate off of the board, we know that they will continue to be active in our neighborhood and, in many cases, will continue to work and serve on CPN committees and other projects. In this issue, you’ll read more about Cedar Park Neighbors annual jazz series. It kicked off this month on June 6th. Please join your neighbors and friends every Friday during the summer from 6 to 8 p.m. in Cedar Park. This concert series is now in its eighth season, and Algernong Allen and the jazz committee have done a tremendous job putting it together.
Gretchen Elise and Crew performed live at the April 6th Scholarship Fundraiser, and wil make an encore appearance at Cedar Park on June 27th. Read more about Cedar Park Live on page 2 and more about Cedar Park Scholarships on page 7.
Susanna Gilbertson and CPN President Michael Froehlich
Cedar Park Neighbors Presents Live Music in Your Favorite Park By Algernong Allen
pres
A
fter a long and cumbersome winter, summer is once again smiling on West Philly. Listen! A neighborhood in bloom calls you forth from your home in order to enjoy the vitality of the outdoors at our parks and along our avenues. Every year Cedar Park Neighbors brings jazz to our favorite park on Baltimore Avenue between 49th and 50th. Cedar Park Live will take place every Friday, starting June 6th and ending on August 1st. Outdoor fun for the whole family with an on-site playground, Jazz in Cedar Park is one of the truly special social events for the CPN community. From senior to toddler, the evenings are great moments to share. Bring a chair, or bring a blanket and a picnic, and enjoy some great entertainment and neighborhood interaction! Be sure to stop by on June 27th and exprience the encore performance of Cedar Park’s own Gretchen Elise and Crew, who wowed the crowd at the Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Fundraiser. Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
parallel
June 13 Mixed People June 20 Shirley Lites Band June 27 Gretchen Elise and Crew July 4 -------------------------
in Cedar Park 49th & Baltimore Fridays, 6p - 8p
designs online. BeyondTheLibertyBell.org Parallel-Design.com PruettRabe.com 215-476-4040 BABA Logo! Websites Banners Brochures This Newsletter!
Page 2
CPN Newsletter
July 18 Gregory McDonald and Friends July 25 Glenn Bryan and Friends August 1 Broke and Blue Band
SPONSORED BY
Cedar Park Neighbors, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Holly Mack-Ward &Co., PFCU, Gold Standard Café, Little Baby’s Ice Cream, UC Review, VIX Emporium, Dock Street Brewery, Baltimore Avenue Business Association.
Contributions Welcome At www.cedarparkneighbors.org/support, please reference JAZZ in the “optional note” section.
design
Find our
July 11 Rich Tucker and the Universal Experience
Exciting Work, Exciting Times at the Calvary Center By Richard Kirk ot too many current residents of N Cedar Park can remember when Calvary was an empty building, literally
falling apart before everyone’s horrified eyes. Today, most of us think of Calvary Center for Culture and Community (815 S. 48th Street) as the community hub that it has indeed become. In residence are a great theater company, world music at Crossroads, several worshiping congregations, a great preschool, and office space for many community organizations. Cedar Park Neighbors established its first permanent office in Calvary because its leaders understood the crucial relationship between saving and using the building and the revitalization of the whole neighborhood. The halo effect of Calvary’s redevelopment is already quite apparent. Congregation members are buying homes and starting businesses in the neighborhood, and a plethora of restaurantswhich make the area a real destination spot have sprung up around Calvary Center! Now, it is time to take the center to the next level. This summer, plans are being finalized for more renovations and restorations. Work will start with installation of an elevator system, which will finally make its “all means all” mantra more of a reality. The work will culminate with a restoration that will return the sanctuary
to its rightful place as one of the greatest interior spaces in all of Philadelphia — a place of genuine pride and real enjoyment for the whole community. To make this happen, we need the support of Cedar Park neighbors. We received a $100,000 matching grant from the Wyncote foundation. In order to collect the grant, $100,000 must be raised by the end of 2014! About $60,000 is already raised, and to get us to the $100,000 mark, we will hold a fall gala extraordinaire on September 27th. Meeting the gala’s goal of raising $40,000 is important to every resident of Cedar Park, where Calvary Center sits at the virtual center. Your help is needed in two ways. First, volunteers are needed to participate on the programming, decorations and auction committees for the gala, and another few folks are needed to develop a commemorative booklet about Calvary Center and sell ads. Each of these endeavors will require some time and work in order to ensure success in attaining our goal. Second, you can attending the gala, which, by the way, will be the party of the year in the ‘hood, for sure!!!!
Make plans to attend the Fall Gala Extrodinaire on September 27th at the Calvary Commuity Center. Help to raise matching funds for renovations.
So, number one, SAVE THE DATE, SEPTEMBER 27, AND COME TO THE GALA! And number two, here’s how you can sign up to volunteer: email info@calvary-center.org and please include your contact information.
June 2014
Page 3
Zoning Committee Update By Shawn Markovich t has been a busy winter and spring Icityfor the CPN Zoning Committee. The changed its Registered Community
Organization (RCO) requirements in the early part of the year and required all community organizations to reapply to receive RCO status. CPN reapplied and was granted RCO status. The committee held five community meetings informing residents about requested variances in the neighborhood. 5029 Hazel Avenue was asking to turn a single family home into a triplex, or three-family unit. Neighbors were opposed to the triplex. The Zoning Committee worked with the applicant to change the request from a triplex to a duplex or two-family unit, which neighbors supported. The Zoning Committee wrote a letter of support for a duplex and the ZBA approved it for a duplex.
645 S. 52nd Street and 5223 Webster Street requested to turn homes from single family into duplexes. Neighbors did not object to either variance and the Zoning Committee wrote letters of no objection.The ZBA approved both properties for duplexes. 4718 Winsor Avenue made a request for a six-foot side yard set-back for a rear addition, where an eight-foot set-back was required. No neighbors objected and the Zoning Committee wrote a letter of no objection. At 5013 Hazel Avenue a special exception was requested to turn a single-family home into a group living situation. One neighbor was in support of the application and the Zoning Committee wrote a letter of no objection. The ZBA approved a temporary two-year exception for a maximum of five people with 24-hours-a-day supervision.
Zft-!xf!TFSWF! Now offering a hsfbu!gppe/ $20 three-course meal evenings JuĂ–t!cfdbvtf!xf! after 4 p.m. NBLF!hsfbu!gppe! pvstfmwft"
the CafĂŠ
Page 4
CPN Newsletter
June 2014
Page 5
Page 6
CPN Newsletter
Thanks to All for a Fabulous 7th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser By Ana Lisa Yoder n Sunday April 6th, neighbors and friends gathered at The Cedar Works for the 7th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser. Guests enjoyed food from local restaurants, music by Gretchen Elise and her band, and bidding on handmade jewelry, gift cards from local restaurants, and many other auction items.
O
We also remembered the enormous contributions of Scholarship Committee founder Gary Bronson, who passed away in February 2014. Former scholarship recipient Simon Haileab, now a Philadelphia lawyer whose success embodies the reason this work is so important, shared beautiful words about the deep impact that Gary had on his life. Others remembered Gary through memorial donations, totaling nearly $2,000.
Thanks to many generous neighbors and businesses, we expect to distribute more than $8,000 to support young people in their pursuit of higher education this year. Funds will help local college students defray the cost of books, fees, travel or other expenses. Special thanks go out to The Cedar Works for donating their beautiful space, Dock Street Brewery for donating beer and to all of the businesses that donated auction items.
Ana Lisa Yoder
Finally, thank you to members of the Scholarship Committee who dedicated many volunteer hours to make this event happen. All of these contributions, whether through time or money, honor the work that Gary Bronson started to support the aspirations of young people in our neighborhood.
David Hincher dispensed Dock Street beer to Sean Dorn.
Algernon Allen and Simon Haileab
Scholarship recipients Briana Lane and Andrew Kulasegram-Wilson
Fred Wolf and board member Pat Warner
State Rep. Jim Roebuck and wife Cheryl Arrington
Ellie & Nick Cernansky, David & Vandana Miller
Friendly Neighbors Kelvyn & Suzanne Anderson Diane Bezella Darryl Bundridge Susanna Gilbertson & Michael Froehlich Lori Ginzberg & Joel Steiker Rob Gurney, Christian Association, UPenn Anne Kringel & Wendell Pritchett Thomas Lee Mary Anne Lucey & Pat Warner David Miller & Vandana Miller
Lisa Mitchell & Ram Rawat Amara Rockar Elizabeth Sands Jim & Sharon Smith Wayne’s Garage
Sponsors
Sustainers Gregg & Rachel Mohrmann Benefactors Baltimore Avenue Business Association Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Fred Wolfe Patrons Dock Street Brewery Friends to Elect Algernong Allen Fancyhouse Housing Cooperative Melani Lamond, Urban & Bye The Cedar Works William Brown & Rebecca Wright
In memory of Gary Bronson Alfred Giosa, Jr. & Michael Jennings Ana Lisa Yoder & Tony Lapp Christopher Dupont Johanna Fine Laura Lee June 2014
Page 7
Tips for Preventing Tick and Mosquito Bites
S
ummer marks the peak of tick and mosquito season in our region. It is important to remember that these insects can spread illness. Tick bites can cause Lyme disease and mosquito bites can cause West Nile Virus infection. Both illnesses can result in long-term health problems, and severe West Nile Virus can be fatal. Adults 50 years of age and older and those with weak immune systems are at greatest risk from West Nile Virus. Those who work or spend a lot of time outdoors are more likely to get bitten by a tick or mosquito and possibly infected. Preventing tick and mosquito bites is the best way to protect yourself and your family from Lyme disease and West Nile Virus. Read and follow the tips below to help you “Fight the Bite!” Protect yourself before heading outdoors:
• Wear insect repellent on exposed skin when outdoors. Remember to apply sunscreen first and then repellent. Follow label directions closely, especially for children. • Spray clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent. Consider keeping a set of treated clothes for outdoor activities. • When weather permits, wear longsleeved shirts and long pants. Find and remove ticks after being outdoors:
• Shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within 2 hours). • Conduct a full-body tick check, especially in hair and remove any attached ticks as soon as possible. • Examine gear and tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks. • Check your pets, since they can bring ticks into your home. Also, discuss use of a tick preventative product for your dog with their vet.
Mosquito- and tick-proof your home and neighborhood:
• Drain or remove sources of standing water outside your home. • At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, buckets, barrels, cans, and any other items outside your home. • Remove unused tires, and other items that could collect water. • Empty and store kiddie pools on their side. • Check for clogged rain gutters and clean| them out. • Secure screens tightly on rain barrels. • Check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home. • Keep and repair screens on windows and doors. They should be well-fitted to keep mosquitoes outside. • Regularly mow grass, remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush around homes. Call the Philadelphia Department of Public Health Vector Control Program’s Mosquito Complaint hotline at 215-685-9027 to report mosquito problems in your neighborhood. Call your doctor if you experience fever or rash. Anyone experiencing symptoms of severe West Nile Virus, which includes fever, headache, neck stiffness, and/or disorientation, should seek medical treatment immediately. For information on selecting an insect repellent, visit:
cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html Visit the following websites for more Lyme disease and West Nile Virus prevention information. www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/index.html www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html www.westnile.state.pa.us/
Annual Block Leader Brunch n Saturday, May 31st, 15 dedicated O block leaders from Cedar Park met to share ideas, connect with resources, and
enjoy a meal together. The African Cultural Center on 50th & Springfield donated space, and block captains and leaders enjoyed meeting with the organizations
that had set up tables at the Resource Fair: UC green, University City District, Mental Health First Aid, Books Through Bars, Food Not Bombs, Ahimsa House, Dining For Women, and Cedar Park Neighbors. All attendees received a folder full of resources and left with great connections!
Cedar Park Neighbors Membership Application/Renewal ● New Member
Name
● Renewal ● Multi-year (max. 3 years) ● ● ● ● ●
# of years_____ $10 Individual $15 Household (2 persons or more) $ 7 Senior/Student/Unemployed $30 Business $40 Sponsor (one free CPN t-shirt!)
Additional contribution: (Write $ amount)
_____ Holiday baskets _____ Scholarships _____ Jazz Series _____ Park _____ Other, specify _________________________ CPN t-shirt: (Write $ amount if not Sponsor and circle size)
_____ Short Sleeve Adult S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL,4XL, 5XL, 6XL ($15) _____ Short Sleeve Kids S, M, L, XL ($15) _____ Long Sleeve Adult S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL ($20)
Address
Phone Email ● Yes, I would like to receive an email notice with
a link to the current newsletter on the CPN website (and do not deliver a paper copy to my home). Email Website Phone
membership@cedarparkneighbors.org www.cedarparkneighbors.org 267-531-4147
Return form with check to: Cedar Park Neighbors Calvary Community Center 4740 Baltimore Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19143
_________TOTAL ENCLOSED
Check your areas of interest for potential participation: ● Block Organizing: Maintain list of Block Leaders, organize forums, ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Review block grant applications and help awardees implement projects etc. Board of Directors: CPN leadership and decision-making body. Cedar Park Garden Tenders: Plant and maintain gardens at Cedar Park. Education Committee: Interaction with local schools and parents on issues. Fundraising: Special events, grant writing. Holiday Baskets: Coordinate and assist distribution to needy Cedar Park families. Membership/Newsletter Committee: Promote membership to residents and businesses, Writing, publishing, photography and distribution of newsletter. Development Impact Task Force: Monitor, evaluate, and influence commercial and residential development. Scholarship Committee: Raise funds, promote program, and select awardees. Website: Technical support, maintenance, updating info/pictures etc. Zoning Committee: Monitor & communicate issues to residents; represent Cedar Park before Zoning Board of Adjustment. Cedar Park Neighbors is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. All contributions are fully tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.
June 2014
Page 9
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 Emily Kovach & Judy Lamirand Newsletter Design Judy Lamirand, Parallel Design To Contact Cedar Park Neighbors or submit Newsletter items: contact@cedarparkneighbors.org www.cedarparkneighbors.org 267-BALT-AVE (267-225-8283)
Thanks to Bartram’s Garden for sponsoring this issue.
CPN Board President
A Slice of Heaven
Fireworks Come to the Firehouse
elcome Pound Cake Heaven, recently or freelancers, entreprneurs, and anyW F opened at 5029 Baltimore Avenue! one else not working the traditional This full-service bakery with an original nine to five, long hours of working alone
location in Yeadon now calls Cedar Park its second home for its second shop. Owner Pam Thornton whips up all sorts of sweet delights, including their signature sour cream pound cake, carrot cake, and cupcakes. Pound Cake Heaven is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
Page 10 CPN Newsletter
can be a drag. The Fireworks, a new coworking community space housed on the third floor of the Firehouse on 50th & Baltimore, is a solution to this dilemma. Fireworks offers flexible, reasonably priced plans, ranging from five days a month to full access, to those looking for a communal, creative work environment. For more information visit thefireworksphilly.com.
Michael Froehlich 1st Vice-President Suzanne Banning Anderson 2nd Vice-President David Hincher Treasurer Amara Rockar Directors
Sean Dorn Ivana Dussell Margaret Ferrigno Lisa Johanningsmeier Michelle Lewis Shawn Markovich Far McKon Ryan Spak Mavil Spence Saba Tedla JJ Tiziou Pat Warner Michael Williams Renee McBride Williams Trena Woodson