December 2007
Cedar Park Neighbors Newsletter Best Wishes from Cedar Park Neighbors to All – A Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year! by Carol Walker, CPN President Cedar Park Neighbors (CPN) looks back on 2007 with a feeling of gratitude, hope, and renewal.
Gratitude: For the support of our membership during this past year. Your good wishes, your participation, support and your kind words help strengthen and motivates the Board even more. We thank you!
Our park gets a new playground in addition to the renovations that have already been completed. Pedestrian lighting is coming to Baltimore Avenue all the way to 52nd Street. The triangle at 46th & Baltimore has broken ground. Also, our block captains and block leaders continue to be a gift to our neighborhood through their commitment and good work to improve their blocks and build a better community.
Renewal: And we look forward to 2008 with renewed vigor, purpose and a recommitment to continuing to make a positive difference here in Cedar Park.
Our plate is full, but there is room for you — we could use your help actively serving on a committee. We are working on many issues — Zoning, Housing Property Task Force, Block Committee, Block Grants and the Education Committee, a new committee chaired by a new CPN member, Ms. Shani Evans. This committee will be reaching out to the schools in our area to be of service and support.
A lot has been accomplished. Dock Street has opened, the Wine & Spirits shop will be opening very soon. The new Vietnam Restaurant will open shortly along Restaurant Row. The murals in the parking lot next to Benny’s Barber Shop and the A-Space are almost complete.
So I look forward with great optimism to meeting the challenges that lay ahead. CPN is strongly committed to this neighborhood and will continue to do all that can be done to continue to make Cedar Park the best neighborhood in the City of Philadelphia.
Hope: That what the CPN membership sets out to accomplish, will be accomplished, with all of us working together, slowly but surely, meeting by meeting, event by event it will be completed.
Education Committee Forms
Holiday Baskets
by Shani Evans, CPN Board Member
Our annual Holiday Baskets Project, providing food for local families through local churches and organizations, is underway. Volunteers are needed to pack food on Saturday, December 22, 2 – 4pm (NOTE THE NEW TIME!) at St. Francis de Sales School Auditorium, 47th Street above Springfield Ave. For information and to volunteer please contact committee co-chair: Joanne Pham, 215-386-8102.
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n November 29th, ten Cedar Park residents discussed strategies for supporting local schools, students, and parents at the first Cedar Park Schools Committee meeting. Our next steps include collecting information from local schools about how our committee may be helpful and developing a plan for our work. Anyone interested is invited to participate in our next meeting at the Calvary Community Center on Tuesday, January 15th at 7pm. More information, including minutes from the first meeting, can be found at https://cedarparkschools.wikispaces.com.
There is always something good happening in Cedar Park!
Park Improvement Moves On to the Next Phase by Monica Allison, Park Co-Chair
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t was a beautiful fall day when the sitting walls facing Catharine Street were completed in Cedar Park. The Mural Arts program, with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society and University City District, in conjunction with Cedar Park Neighbors, did enough fundraising to have the sitting walls completed to match the sitting wall at the 50th street entrance of the park. The falling autumn leaves perfectly complement the newly painted wall and tiles. The Mural Arts program had our original artist Mike Smash and Johnny Bus come back and complete the project. As in the past they have not disappointed us. Thanks guys!!!
This brand-new version of the teeter-totter is one of several new playground equipment pieces coming to Cedar Park. Looks like fun!
The design for the new playground has been completed. Demolition and building should begin in the spring of 2008. The playground design includes play equipment to accommodate ages 2-10. The design of the equipment and play area will lead children into the park, instead of onto 50th street as the current design does. To bring cohesion to the park, the playground will be partially enclosed by fencing similar to the fencing at the Memorial Garden. The colors will complement the existing landscape. So over what may seem to be a long winter, look forward to spring when the next phase of work will be done in our park. Enjoy your Holiday!
We Need You!! Continue To Recycle With Us at 50th and Baltimore!! by Peggy Nowak, Recycling Coordinator
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ur CPN recycling program needs your help! Over the past 15 or more years, this program has been the major source of funding for CPN’s activities. Now the City recycling program has expanded its curbside pickups. This has resulted in a reduced number of recyclers at our 50th and Baltimore pick-up spot every first and third Saturday of the month. And... if you feel so inclined we’d love to add you to our list of volunteers (about one Saturday every six months) to assist neighbors as they drop by with their recyclables. To volunteer for recycling contact CPN: 267-531-4147; contact@cedarparkneighbors.org.
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Thank you for recycling!
New Baltimore Avenue Pedestrian Lighting Will Extend to 52nd Street by Dorothy Berlind, CPN Secretary and Representative to the UCD
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CD informs us that light poles have been delivered and are ready to go— we await final documentation from the Streets Department and PennDot before the final phase of actually installing the lights. The original plan was for lighting from 45th to 50th Streets on Baltimore Avenue; in response to the community’s desire to extend the lighting to 52nd Street UCD sought additional funds from the City and thanks to support from the Councilwoman received that funding from NTI money. This project is the result of several surveys in University City that indicated that improved pedestrian lighting was a very high priority for the community. Businesses on the Avenue placed safety as the second most important issue for them, right after parking. A survey of existing lighting levels on Baltimore Avenue showed a significant number of large gaps, leaving many dark areas on the corridor. The lights are 14 feet high and will be spaced
80 feet apart. They will replace the overhead street lights and will meet the national lighting standards for sidewalks and roadways. The project is being funded by grants from the William Penn Foundation, PennDot, and the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. And, the lights will shine on our newly beautiful Cedar Park, a new Wine and Spirits store, lovely new planters installed by UCD, and community folk out and about dining, and shopping, and doing errands at the new and old shops and restaurants on the Avenue. Something good is always happening in Cedar Park!
Cedar Park Block Leaders Meet to Identify Common Concerns
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pproximately 40 block leaders attended the Third Bi-Annual Block Leaders Conference at Greater Enon Baptist Church on Saturday, November 17. Participants gathered in small group discussions and to get to know nearby block leaders and identify common concerns. Speakers addressed several issues that frequently arise for block leaders. Mr. Michael Spokane, of Park Pleasant Nursing Home, and Ms. Julie McNair, of the Philadelphia Corporation on Aging, shared information and resources addressing the needs of elderly neighbors. Mr. Brett Mandel of Philadelphia Forward provided an update on Philadelphia tax assessment issues and answered residents’ questions. Mr. Marty Cabry, of Councilwoman Blackwell’s office, and CPN President Carol Walker talked about zoning issues and how community residents can have a voice in addressing local zoning changes. Participants were also challenged by questions while playing a neighborhood census Page 2
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game prepared by Angie Coghlan and Naomi Fiordomondo. The lucky few with the closest answers to the questions took home a special prize — boxes of gourmet chocolates donated by John & Kira’s Chocolates (www.johnandkiras.com). These local Philadelphia treats were recently featured on Oprah, in Gourmet magazine and rated best chocolate by Consumer Reports. The day ended with lunch. CPN acknowledges the work of the Block Organizing Committee in organizing the conference: Angie Coghlan, Naomi Fiordomondo, Beth Nixon, Rosa Thomas, Maureen Tate and Carol Walker. Block leaders also were given an updated Block Organizing Kit full of information and resources for problem solving, block clean-ups, block grants, city resources, crime prevention, safety tips, etc. Ongoing block leaders’ forums will be held in 2008. If you are interested in this committee or wish to get a Block Organizing Kit, please contact Maureen Tate, 215-726-8664, tatemch@aol.com.
Participants got to know one another and share common concerns at the Block Leaders Conference.
December 2007
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Cedar Park Residents Honored for Leadership and Service
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everal Cedar Park members and residents have recently received special honors for leadership and service. We are proud to call them neighbors and congratulate them for achievements. Monica Allison, CPN’s very own vice president, affectionately known as the “Park Lady” was honored as a Volunteer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, at the annual Party For the Parks on December 6, for her leadership in the renovation of Cedar Park. Monica has been a vigilant advocate for Cedar Park and was instrumental in working with the CPN Park Improvement Committee on design, establishing the new gardens and planning the new playground. She has organized Spring and Fall Into Your Park events, monitored daily use as well as maintenance and safety concerns, mediated issues between neighbors and users of the park and has established a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We salute Monica and express our gratitude for her great efforts on behalf of the community. Arthur Read, General Counsel for Friends of Farmworkers, Inc, a legal services provider in Philadelphia, was awarded the 2007 Morris Dees Justice Award at a reception in New York on November 15. The award is named in honor of Morris Dees, co-founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama. The award is given annually to a lawyer who has devoted his or her career to serving the public interest and pursuing justice, and whose work has brought about positive change in the community, state or nation. The award recognized Art Read for nearly 30 years of tireless, courageous, and effective representation of farmworkers and immigrants. Art is a lecturer and author on workers’ rights and is well known for his advocacy on behalf of Pennsylvania migrant workers, especially in the mushroom industry. We congratulate our neighbor Art Read for this award and honor
Curio Theatre Company Presents by Timothy Martin and Drew Petersen based upon the story by E.T.A. Hoffman Page 4
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him for his commitment to legal services on behalf of those who suffer injustice. Joshia Cohen (14) and Noah Cohen (15) of the 800 block of South 48th Street received the Junior Block Award of the Year in the 2007 Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee Clean Block Contest at the annual PMBC Awards Banquet in November. Sons of Seth and Ann Cohen, these young men exemplify civic involvement. They were nominated for the award by block captain Michael Williams, who commends them for their work assisting elderly neighbors, maintaining public spaces around Calvary Church by weeding, watering grass, pruning, picking up litter and many other efforts on behalf of their neighbors. Honor students at Delaware Valley Christian School, the boys also volunteered in the summer months, in Camden and Chester County, working on neighborhood projects as well as mentoring children and assisting with literacy programs. Joshia and Noah are also Boy Scouts who are currently working on their Eagle Badges. Their 48th Street neighbors as well as the entire community which benefits from their hard work are indeed fortunate. We applaud their commitment to service and the model they provide for other young people in our community.
Monica Allison, our very own Vice President, was honored as a Volunteer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
The Nutcracker
NOTE: A Classic Holiday Fairytale Visit us online at Winter classes begin January Playing at The Calvary Center www.curiotheatre.org 4740 Baltimore Avenue Or call 215-525-1350 for 26; also after school classes on Mondays beginning January 28. Dec. 7-29 at various times tickets and showtimes
New Wine and Spirit Store to Open in the New Year by Maureen Tate, CPN Vice-President
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new façade has generated excitement and relief among neighbors anticipating a new Wine and Spirits Store for Baltimore Avenue. Four years ago, as we addressed park improvement issues and other concerns along the Baltimore commercial corridor, Cedar Park Neighbors named a new State Store as one of its goals in the long-range plan for neighborhood improvement. CPN approached the PLCB and launched an effort to document resident concerns and collaborate with the state agency to identify a new location for the new, expanded, full-service Wine and Spirits Store.
CPN will continue to monitor management of the new store in order to ensure that problems associated with the old store do not recur. We have emphasized to the PLCB that we expect a store that is an asset to the business corridor and that supports responsible alcohol consumption.
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Neighbors who patronize the new store will help grow a new local customer base and ensure that this reinvestment in our business community is a success.
The opening of the new store is planned for January 14. A grand opening with further community involvement will be scheduled a few weeks following. CPN representatives have been invited to do a walk-through of the new space as soon as construction debris is cleared, and we are in the process of dialogue with regional managers to plan for the opening. Many neighbors have asked questions and raised concerns about the product line that will be carried in the new store. CPN and the PLCB staff will plan how to obtain input from local residents and businesses about wine selection and other products that neighbors would like to purchase locally. After
THE ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ORGAN RESTORATION SOCIETY PRESENTS:
Cedar Park Blocks Are Beautiful
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No admission charge.
wo Cedar Park blocks participated in this year’s Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee Clean Block Contest, the 5000 block of Catharine Street and the 800 block of S. 48th Street. A total of 41 blocks from around the city competed. The competition had to be stiff, because these two Cedar Park blocks are among our best looking and best spirited. Although neither block was among the top four receiving awards, the Junior Block Captains from 48th Street did receive the Junior Block Award. In addition to beautification efforts, participating blocks prepared block histories and summaries of activities. The contest judges arrived in buses with police escorts and were welcomed by cheering neighbors. Fortyeighth Street residents involved children from St. Francis de Sales School who greeted judges singing and dancing to a variation of a song from the musical Hairspray celebrating West Philadelphia. It is hard to imagine how the winning blocks could top that!
Donations great and small gratefully accepted for the Organ Restoration Society.
Congratulations to our neighbors of the 800 block of 48th Street and the 5000 block of Catharine for lifting your blocks up as models for what others can do when they work together.
A Christmas Sampler St. Francis de Sales Chorale Annual Concert Sunday, December 16, 2007 3:00 PM St. Francis de Sales Church 47th St. & Springfield Ave.
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Park Pleasant Nursing & Rehab Center Offers Service to our Community by Michael Spokane, Director of Admissions, Park Pleasant Nursing Home
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ark Pleasant Nursing and Rehab Center has been part of the University City community since 1947, when Edward Brody took an old boys’ school and converted it into a nursing home. That building still stands at 4703 Kingsessing Avenue and can be used for community meetings and events. The new building, at 4712 Chester Avenue, still family owned, is administered by the founder’s daughter Nancy Kleinberg, M.Ed., LNHA. Park Pleasant is unusual in today’s climate of large, impersonal nursing home corporations because it has long been rooted in our community and gives personal, individual-centered service. In addition to providing short and long term care, Park Pleasant offers our community education on all aspects of nursing home care. Anyone may call to ask questions, learn about the types of care offered and payment issues. The Admissions Director, Michael Spokane, MA, recognizes how important it is for him to educate community members about nursing home care. Spokane says, “It is far better to learn about all this before a family is in an emotionally charged, urgent situation. Medicare, Medicaid, rehabilitation therapy, short term respite stays are complicated.” Mr. Spokane is available to the community by phone and is also willing to speak to community groups to answer questions and provide information. Park Pleasant residents come from their own or relatives’ homes, straight from the hospital or from other nursing homes. Many come for short periods to recuperate while receiving care and physical, occupational or speech therapy. Others make this their home for years. However long the stay, there is an effort made to provide a calm, home-like atmosphere and to keep the residents integrated in community life. There are weekly visits from the Chester Avenue Dog Park. Temple University students who are learning English as a second language come weekly. There is an ongoing relationship with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Project, and Donald Gensler from the project and a University of Pennsylvania instructor comes weekly to work with a resident club. Club members’
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self portraits have been on display at Abbraccio this fall. The residents have much to offer the community. This is clearly a two-way street. Generous Generations, a group of seven families who want their children to experience the value of giving at a young age, come and interact with the residents in fun-filled, youthoriented activities. They believe they get as much as they give. Individuals and groups of all ages are welcomed. Neighbors can use their talents and give of themselves in infinite numbers of ways, such as playing music, taking video or oral histories, quiet chatting or helping with holidays. Activity and Volunteer Director, Alfreda Benyard, helps neighbors find the best ways to be involved. Park Pleasant is part of your community and wants you to be part of their community. The sick and elderly must not be isolated. Community and friendship can enhance the lives of everyone involved. If you have any questions about nursing or rehabilitative care or wish to volunteer and be involved, call Park Pleasant, and they will be more than glad to assist you. Park Pleasant Nursing and Rehab Center at 4712 Chester Avenue, University City, 215-727-4450 For Admission or Financial information call Michael Spokane, extension 130. For Community Relations or Volunteer Information call Alfreda Benyard, extension 158.
This issue of the Cedar Park Neighbors Newsletter is sponsored by Park Pleasant Nursing Home
Cedar Park Neighbors Membership Application/Renewal
December 2007
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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 o West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The purpose of the association shall be to foster collaboration among all persons living and working in the Cedar Park neig borhood, to promote communit development, to provide a foru for communication and commu nity 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.o www.cedarparkneighbors.org 267-531-4147 CPN Board
Lucien E. Blackwell Apprenticeship Program at Penn he University of Pennsylvania T launched the Lucien E. Blackwell Apprenticeship Program in cooperation with the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council in August 2007. The program’s purpose is to provide construction skill training opportunities to residents from West and Southwest Philadelphia. The program will assist participants in successfully passing various apprenticeship tests for eventual work opportunities on University construction sites, or at other available sites in the area. The length of training depends on the specific skill’s trade and can range from 6-10 months and will be customized for each participant. The University has partnered with the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition and the Diversity Apprenticeship Program to administer portions of the program that include referral, interviewing, intake/admissions Page 8
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and training and monitoring activities. If eligible, participants will be referred for additional assessment to insure proper placement in the program. The status of participants will be monitored throughout the program for placement opportunities.
Pre-Application Requirements • 18 years or older • Reside in West and Southwest Philadelphia • High School Diploma or GED • Valid PA Driver’s License • Letter of support from a community leader or an elected official serving as the applicant’s sponsor For information regarding the application process, contact the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition at 215-851-1829.
President Carol Walker Vice-President Maureen Tate Vice-President Monica Allison Secretary Dorothy Welch Berlind Treasurer Karen Allen Directors Emily Devaney Sean Dorn Shani Evans Bruce Hansen Fred Kauffman Shawn Kelly, Jim Kurtz Wayne Marquardt Peggy Nowak Joanne Pham Kristopher Reese Shirley Rheinhart Rosa Thomas Richard Warner Renee Warnick