Daily REcord

Vol. I No. 126

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

December 28, 2010

Philadelphia

Daily Record

Order Of March

THE OFFICIAL parade-watcher’s manual is inside. See page 2.

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All You Need To Know To Watch The Mummers Parade ne of the hottest and oldest events in town is scheduled to step off this Saturday at 10 a.m. when the city’s beloved sequined Sultans of Strut, the Philadelphia Mummers, dust off their fancy golden slippers to take center stage in the spectacular 111th annual Mummers Parade.

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The extravagant showcase of talent and feathery finery kicks off with the Comics Division at 10 a.m. at Broad Street & Washington Avenue, followed by the Fancy Division (at 10:30 a.m. at Broad & Moore Streets); the String Bands (at 11 a.m. at Broad Street & Oregon Avenue) and the Fancy Brigades (at 1:30 p.m. at Broad Street & Oregon Avenue).

Said Leo Dignam, Mummers Parade director: “It promises to be a banner year in light of the overwhelming fan response to the 2010 Mummers Parade, and with a shorter, more streamlined parade, the event continues to grow into a bigger and better tradition and attraction. It is a day of celebration when the City of Neighborhoods comes together. The City of Philadelphia is excited to partner with the Mummers for another spectacular year of fantasy, fancy and fun.”

Dignam noted some of the changes for the 2011 parade include the addition of the Pennsport String Band and the departure of the Irish American String Band and the Oregon fancy club, which will be marching this year as a Wench Brigade.

There are now three comic clubs, two fancy division units, 17 string bands, 10 fancy brigades and 8 Wench Brigades in the Mummers Parade lineup.

The Fancy Brigades are scheduled to march in the parade on Broad Street, from Oregon to Washington Avenues, and will be judged at one of their indoor shows (rain or shine), while the remaining three Mummers’ divisions will end their competitive The parade also promises to will performances at the City Hall be more fan-friendly with the rejudging area in Center City. turn of the Pine Street performance area and bleachers and other THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

28 DECEMBER, 2010

amenities at the six performance ning at 5 p.m. areas.

Comics start at 10 a.m., Broad With bleachers, DJs, food and Street & Washington Avenue, bathroom facilities, the perform- Fancy Division Starts at 10:30 ance areas or “zones,” are some a.m. at Broad & Moore Streets. of the best perches to view the String Bands step off from Broad Mummers Parade. They are free Street & Oregon Avenue at 11 and located at the following cross a.m., followed by the Fancy streets along Broad at Shunk, Brigades Division, which will Wolf, Washington, Spruce and march from Broad Street & OreSansom. Families can warm up gon Avenue, north to Washington and enjoy additional entertain- Avenue at 1:30 p.m. ment at the HS for Creative and Information Headquarters will be Performing Arts at Broad Street at the Dept. of Recreation, One & Washington Avenue and at the Parkway, 1515 Arch Street, 10th Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Floor, (215) 683-3691 or 683streets. Perhaps the ultimate view 3595. will be from the Grand Stand entertainment zone near City Hall at In case of inclement weather, a 15th & Market Streets. Tickets marching decision will be made for the City Hall bleachers are by 4:30 a.m. January 1 at the $19 for all ages to assist with the Municipal Services Building. cost of the performance zones.

Representatives from the City The main judging stand for the String Bands, Comics and Fancies will be located at 15th & Market Streets. Additional judging will take place along the parade route for Comics and Fancies. Twelve judges will score the String Bands, while six judges will rate the Fancy units and nine will score the Comic units. The Fancy Brigades will be judged by six judges at the 14th annual Fancy Brigade Finale in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1001 Arch Street, begin-

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and Mummers will make the decision and parade-information headquarters will be notified.

KYW 1060 AM Newsradio also will broadcast whether the parade has been postponed or delayed, as soon as the decision is made. The media also can obtain information about the marching decision by calling information headquarters at 215-683-3691.

weather permitting.

SEPTA will reroute all public transit on the parade route and around City Hall for the parade.

SEPTA bus routes 2, 7, 17, 23, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 44, 48, 57, 64, 68, 79, 124/125, C and G will operate on local detours in and around Center City during the parade. On New Year’s Eve, all service will run on a Saturday schedule and the SEPTA Customer Service office at (215) 5807800 will be open, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., for riders seeking information about scheduled services.

On New Year’s Day, all service will run on a Sunday schedule and the Customer Service office will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

About 10,000 Mummers who make up three parent clubs in the Comic Division, two parent organizations in the Fancy Division, 17 groups in the String Band Division and 10 units in the Fancy Brigade Division. The Murray Comic Club (Comics), Golden Sunrise Fancy Club (Fancy Division), Pennsport (String Bands) and 2nd Satin Slippers (Fancy Brigades) officially will kick-off their respective divisions in the marching order.

Sunday, Jan. 2. If the parade is postponed on the rescheduled Scheduled designated performdate of Jan. 2, then the parade ance areas are Broad & Shunk will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, Streets, Broad & Ritner Streets,

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Broad Street & Washington Avenue, Broad & Pine streets, Broad & Sansom Streets (near Union League) and the judging area (near City Hall).

Grandstand seating tickets at 15th & Market Streets are available at the Independence Visitor Center, 6th & Market Streets, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and at the Fairmount Park Welcome Center in JFK Plaza (LOVE Park), 16th Street & JFK Boulevard, Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $19 each. Please call (215) 965-7676, for ticket availability.

Scheduled food vending areas are Broad & Moravian Streets (near Walnut), Broad & Bach Streets (near Locust), Broad & Pine Streets, Broad Street & Washington Avenue, City Hall (west side) and various selected performance areas on south Broad Street in South Philadelphia.

Organizers of the 2011 Mummers Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, invite residents and visitors to enjoy a Mummers performance in a warm, high-energy environment (rain or shine) on Saturday, Jan. 1. With elaborate, larger-than-life costumes and props and themes coming to life, it’s Mardi Gras Meets Broadway, as 10 Fancy Brigade clubs and more than 3,500 Fancy Brigade performers participate in two fancy fun-filled shows: the family show at noon and the evening show at 5 p.m. Tickets to the 2011 Fancy Brigade Finale performances can be purchased at www.comcasttix.com or at (800) 298 4200. Single tickets are $20 (center seats) and $15 (side view seats); tickets for groups of 25 or more are $18 and $13. Groups greater than 45 people receive

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two complimentary tickets. Children aged three and younger are admitted free. For more information on booking group tours with the Mummers Fancy Brigades, which includes a behind-thescenes sneak preview of the making of the Mummers, contact Scott Brown at (856) 832 -7244 or by email at scottbrownuopenn@comcast.net.

Leading up to the competition, from today to Friday, Dec. 31, enjoy the spectacle of MummersFest -- a four-day, interactive, family-friendly festival, also at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. For $4, attendees can make-and-take crafts, try on authentic Fancy Brigade Division Mummers costumes (which make for perfect picture-taking), and can watch the clubs rehearse their “drills” or presentations. Tickets are available at the door at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

For more information, visit www.fancybrigade.com.

PHL17 will provide coverage of the Broad Street parade including the comic, fancy and string band divisions in high definition and in its entirety, beginning with the special pre-parade feature “Breakfast with the Mummers.”

Pre-parade coverage begins at 9 a.m. PHL 17 also will televise the Fancy Brigade Finale indoor 28 DECEMBER, 2010

show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, in a tape-delayed broadcast, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Day.

Stars 4.

South Philly Vikings 5.

Golden Crown 6.

Downtowners 7.

Clevemore 2010 MUMMERS PARADE 8.

2nd Street Shooters LINEUP 9.

Jokers 10.

Saturnalians COMIC DIVISION 1.

Murray Mummery dates back to ancient 2.

Goodtimers Roman laborers who ushered in 3.

Landi the festival of Saturnalia by marching in masks while exFANCY DIVISION changing gifts and satirizing the 1.

Golden Sunrise issues of the day. Locally, during 2.

Hog Island the 1600s, Swedish settlers to Philadelphia dressed up, chanted STRING BAND DIVISION and fired weapons in the air to 1.

Pennsport honor Christmas; they enter2.

Fralinger tained their amused neighbors in 3.

Woodland 4.

Broomall Irish American exchange for desserts and beverages. The tradition eventually 5.

South Philadelphia moved to New Year's Day and 6.

Durning evolved into a series of neighbor7.

Greater Kensington hood parades. As immigrants 8.

Aqua moved to the area from Ireland 9.

Polish American and Italy, each group added their 10.

Trilby own cultural flavor to the local 11.

Uptown customs. In 1901, the tradition 12.

Hegeman began in earnest with the first rec13.

Duffy ognized and judged Mummers 14.

Quaker City Parade organized by the City of 15.

Avalon Philadelphia on Broad Street. The 16.

Greater Overbrook famous term "Mummer" is Ger17.

Ferko man and means "to costume or FANCY BRIGADE DIVISION masquerade." Established with just a few hundred revelers, today 1.

Satin Slipper more than 10,000 participate in 2.

Avenuers 3.

Bill McIntyre’s Shooting the parade.

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Dec. 30Friends of Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., host year-end fundraiser “Curt Ain’t Crying the Blues” at Le Cochon Noir, 5070 Parkside Ave., Suite 5100E 7 p.m.-12 a.m.

Dec. 30Breakfast fundraiser in honor of Cindy Bass hosted by Congeressman Chaka Fattah, Shulick Law Offices at 8:30 am., 100 N. 18th st., Suite 1900. 215-844-5443.

Jan. 27Edward J. Lowry, founder of Phila.

Veterans MultiService & Education Ctr., will be honored on retirement at Waterfall Rm. in Plumbers Local 690 Union Hall, 2791 Southampton Rd., Cocktails 6-8 p.m., followed

by Tribute Program. Tickets $65.

Order by phone (215) 238-8050.

Event Chair Ed Keenan, Board Chair Jim McNesby and Exec. Dir. Marsha Four.

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Sen. O’Pake Dies Suddenly en. Michael O’Pake died Monday morning in the Reading Hospital & Medical Center from complications resulting from heart surgery.

Berks Co. and the Commonwealth. He was one of the mosteffective members of the Pennsylvania State Senate. And he was a loyal friend of Gov. Casey and me. My thoughts and He was the longest-serving memprayers are with him and his famber of the General Assembly and ily.” served the State Senate Democrats as Minority Whip. He was Senate Democratic Leader Jay elected to the State Senate in Costa (D-Allegheny) said, “Sena1972 after two terms in the State tor O’Pake was the first chair of House of Representatives. the Senate Aging & Youth Committee. He wrote the protectiveSen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said, on services law for children and his passing, “Mike O’Pake was a fought tirelessly for juvenile-jusdedicated public servant for tice reform. He also was a leader

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in trying to make college more affordable for Pennsylvania students.

“Mike was a friend and colleague who could be counted on for kind words and sage advice in the most trying circumstances. He worked across the aisle and built bridges trying to find solutions that help all Pennsylvanians.”

O’Pake was honored recently as the St. Joseph University “Man of the Year”. Flags are flying at half mast over the Capitol as ordered

by Gov. Ed Rendell.

SEPTA Express Trains Make It An Easy Trip On Game Night ports fans who don’t want to risk their vehicles on snowy streets and highways will find SEPTA a blessing today.

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SEPTA Broad Street Line “Sports Express” service is set for the 8 p.m. Philadelphia Eagles-Minnesota Vikings game this evening at Lincoln Financial Field.

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Express trains will leave3 Fern Rock every 10 minutes between 6:08 p.m. and 7:38 p.m. en route to AT&T Station and Lincoln Financial Field. They stop only at Olney, Erie, Girard, race-Vine, City Hall and Walnut-Locust. The express trip from City Hall to the Sports Complex takes only eight minutes. Regular local and express Broad Street Line trains

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will also be in service throughout the evening.

In addition, SEPTA will also open the lower-level platform at ZAT&T Station before and after the game, allowing for easier travel into and out of the station.

After the game, fans will find local and express trains waiting to take them back to Fern Rock.

28 DECEMBER, 2010

Christmas In Bethlehem: Then And Now

by James Zogby he Christmas story as it is told in the West, in scripture and tradition, contains timeless elements that have shaped our culture in significant ways. As we tell it, year in and year out, the story conveys to those who listen powerful themes evoking deep feelings.

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It is, at its core, a tale of a helpless child, born as an outcast, whose role became transformative in human history. Unrecognized, at first, the importance of this birth was initially only understood by the lowly of the earth, “the shepherds of the field.” Later, Kings from the East” came to pay homage, bringing gifts. Their appearance raised the ire of the local rulers forcing the baby's parents to flee in order to save the life of their newborn child.

pation, much as it is today. In some ways, though, the conditions back then allowed the residents of occupied Palestine greater mobility than the current inhabitants of that land. As we are told, Joseph had to take his expectant wife from Nazareth, where they were living, to Bethlehem in order to fulfill a requirement, imposed by the authorities, to register in their ancestral village as part of a nationwide census.

pray. And Arab Christians from Jerusalem, likewise, cannot easily go the Christmas services in Bethlehem to pray alongside their European and American co-religionists who dominate at the seasonal event.

Bethlehem of old was overcrowded and under siege. Today, as well, the city itself is being strangled, hemmed in by settlements that have confiscated the town’s ancestral lands to make way for a 30-foot barrier wall and massive Jewish-only housing cutting the Arab residents off from nearby Jerusalem. The constriction of growth and the lack of economic opportunity have forced Bethlehemites to flee in search of jobs and freedom, with tens of thousands of them and their descendants now living in the U.S. and the Americas. They can return to visit with difficulty, but are not permitted by the occupation authorities to take up permanent residency in the town of their origins.

Today, of course, all this would be impossible. In the first place, no Palestinian originally from Bethlehem could ever have moved to Nazareth. The occupation and closure of the West Bank makes that sort of movement impossible. Furthermore, Israeli law now prohibits an Arab from Nazareth from marrying a Bethlehemite and bringing their I want to take a moment to reflect spouse across the Green Line to on the elements and themes of reside in Israel. this story, seeing contemporary Additionally, while thousands of realities through its prism.

Palestinians in Bethlehem, both Two thousand years ago, Pales- Muslim and Christian, can see While the kings of old, we are tine was subject to a harsh occu- Jerusalem from their homes, they told, were able to travel from afar cannot go to the Holy City to bearing gifts to honor the new28 DECEMBER, 2010

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born child, one can only imagine the difficulties they would encounter today dealing with Israeli soldiers at the Allenby Bridge.

Having endured their interrogations, myself, I can hear the kings answering hours of questions, such as “Where are you from?”

“Who are your parents, grandparents?” “Why are you here?”

“Who are you visiting?” “What are these gifts for?” And on and on. In the end, it is doubtful whether those hapless “Kings from the East” would have gained entry.

That Joseph and Mary and Jesus were able to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s vengeful wrath was possible back then. Today, that option is unlikely.

The barrier/wall that encapsulates the West Bank and the closure of Gaza would make such a trip impossible.

Finally, as I reflect on the birth of Jesus, I cannot help but think of the nearly 400 babies who will be

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born, this very day, to Palestinian parents in the West Bank and Gaza. I think as well of the number of those who will perish at birth because of inadequate medical services (some babies have been put at fatal risk at checkpoints, because Israeli soldiers would not permit their delivering mothers to pass). And I think of Mary, 2,000 years ago, and am grateful that, despite all she endured, there were no checkpoints blocking her way to Bethlehem.

Our traditions tell us that Mary’s joy at the birth of her son was tempered by foresight. She knew her child would grow and endure great suffering. Likewise, the joy Palestinian parents experience when greeting new life these days must, no doubt, be accompanied by concern. Not only must they question how they will provide for their new child, but they must face down their fears of bringing up a son or daughter under occupation, with its dangers and hardships. From the pressures and

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humiliations encountered daily

by Palestinians in the West Bank, to the grinding poverty and despair facing those trapped in Gaza, life under hostile foreign rule can drain joy out of even the most blessed events.

There is a traditional Christmas carol that asks the question, “What child is this?” – the answer, of course, being “Jesus, the son of Mary”. But given the universal message conveyed by the Christmas story we also understand that the child is for us, a reminder of our responsibility to care for the helpless and the unrecognized. And so when we think of the vulnerable children born today not only in Palestine, but those born anywhere where life is at risk, we are not to ask, “What child is this?” -- because we know that they are ours -- to acknowledge and protect, like the shepherds and kings, enabling all of these children to grow and to help change our world.

28 DECEMBER, 2010