Daily Record

Vol. II No. 7 (166)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

February 21, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Ancestral Blessing CONGRESSMAN Chaka Fattah enters into Congressional Record a commemoration of his great-greatgreat-grandmother Frances Ellen Watkins Harper at 1st Unitarian Church in Rittenhouse Square Sunday. A prominent religious thinker, civil-rights author and campaigner, Harper died 100 years ago. A new portrait of her was unveiled in her home congregation, behind Fattah. See story page 2.

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MAYOR Michael Nutter picked up quite a few signatures for his nominating petitions from bowlers as he joined them at Lucky Strike Bowling Alley in Center City.

Prayer Group To Pressure Torresdale Gun Shop A public prayer vigil by the Neighborhood Partners To End Gun Violence, a coalition of multi-denominational faith communities and organizations in Northwest Philadelphia, will take place in front of Delia’s Gun Shop, 6104 Torresdale Avenue at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Clergy and lay people from churches, synagogues, faith institutions and civic organizations from the Northwest and across the city and suburbs who seek to end gun violence will gather to ask the gunshop owner to sign and adopt a code of professional ethics developed by Mayors Against Illegal THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Guns (also known as the Code of Conduct/Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership). Adopting these measures will curtail the sale of guns to straw purchasers, who illegally sell handguns to others, who in turn use them in crimes and disputes with deadly results.

Congressman Fattah, Family And City Honor Ellen Harper Congressman Chaka Fattah, his parents Falaka & David Fattah, and other family members unveiled a portrait of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, the 19th-century poet, author, abolitionist-activist who has been an inspiration to his family for four generations. The Congressman read from Frances Harper’s work during the church service to begin the week long commemoration of the centennial of her death on Feb. 22, 1911 at age 85. Fattah’s mother, daughter and great-grandmother are all named in honor of this compelling Philadelphia woman. The City Council Resolution will be presented to Falaka Fattah by Councilwoman Janie Blackwell.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was the best-known African American poet of her age.

She published her first book of poetry when she was 21 and her famous novel Iola Leroy when she was 67 and used her art to promote the causes she believed in and was 21 JANUARY, 2011

a dynamic speaker for abolitionism, women’s suffrage and temperance, continuing her public speaking until she was nearly 80.

In 1858, she refused to relinquish her (illegal) seat on a Philadelphia trolley car – this, 100 years before Rosa Parks, nor did she waver in her support of John Brown, while many others abandoned him, and stayed with Mary Brown during the weeks before John was executed.

She lived at 1008 Bainbridge Street and associated with a group of like-minded people who did much to make Philadelphia and the world a better place. Harper was “Queen Mother” Falaka Fattah’s great-greatgrandmother. She is buried at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pa.

COUNCILWOMAN Jannie Blackwell pays tribute to Harper as her Congressman Chaka Fattah holds up City Council resolution she introduced saluting Harper’s centennial.

Portrait unveiling was one part of a weeklong commemoration of Harper’s life and accomplishments organized by Larry Robin of Moonstone Arts Center.

Lectures, panel discussions, performances and concerts have been scheduled across the city.

FALAKA FATTAH gazes at her ancestor’s portrait.

REV. NATHAN C. WALKER leads Unitarian Universalist worship service as lit chalice casts glow on new portrait of famous member of his congregation Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911).

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UNIVERSAL African Dance & Drum Ensemble delivers electrifying performance to conclude service in Harper’s honor.

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Casey Discusses Health Lunches At Willard School US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) will highlight healthy school lunches at a tour of the Frances E. Willard School, 19309 E. Elkhart, with US Dept. of Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition & Consumer Services Kevin Concannon and School District Officials.

Feb. 22- 5th Ward GOP hosts meeting for all Republicans at St. Michael Orthodox Ch., 335 Fairmount Ave., 6:30-8:30 p.m.

RSVP Nate Shrader (267) 5192410.

Feb. 22- State Sen. Shirley Kitchen hosts free blood-pressure screenings at her District office, 1701 W. Lehigh Ave., 10 a.m.-12 m.

Feb. 24- State Rep. James Roebuck hosts birthday bash at Warmdaddy’s, Columbus Blvd. & Reed St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Great jazz, good food. RSVP (215) 382-1268.

Feb. 24- Willie Jordan’s 44th Ward hosts Jazz Night at VFW Post, 4812 Fairmount Ave., 6-10 p.m. For info (215) 879-6630.

Feb. 25- State Sen. Shirley Kitchen hosts free blood-pressure screenings at her District office, 1701 W. Lehigh Ave., 2-4 p.m.

Feb. 25-26- Free clothing and other items giveaway at Mt. Hebron Baptist Ch., 1415 Wharton St. For info Pastor Richard J. Walter, Jr. (215) 336-8163.

Feb. 25- Donna Aument’s 33rd Ward Fundraiser Beef & Beer at Juniata G.C. For info Donna (215) 427-1645.

Feb. 28- Tea Party PatriotsSouth Meeting at Champs, 2100 S. Columbus Blvd. (near IKEA), 7 p.m. All welcome. Joe McColgan speaker.

They will discuss efforts to improve child nutrition by offering healthier food choices in schools. The Frances E. Willard School is one of four schools in Philadelphia that participate in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. This program provides participating schools with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in an effort to provide healthier food choices, increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and combat childhood obesity by helping children learn more healthful eating habits. The Frances E. Willard School also participates in the Universal Feeding program, a program that allows schools serving a high number of low-income families to provide free school lunches for all students, reducing paperwork and removing a stigma for financially eligible children in the cafeteria.

Community Forums Shed Light On Turnaround Schools Community forums are scheduled for this week at the six Philadelphia public schools designated to be operated as of 2011-12 under a turnaround plan called the Renaissance Match model. This is one of four blueprints to turn around historically low-performing schools through The School District of Philadelphia’s Renaissance Schools Initiative.

Parents and guardians of students at Gratz, King, Olney East and Olney West HSs and Birney and Clymer ESs, as well as community members from these neighborhoods, are invited by the respective School Advisory Councils to participate in the forums. SAC members want to hear stakeholders’ ideas about what is needed to transform and shape the future of their school. Feedback will be shared when each SAC meets with representatives of turnaround teams, one of which will be operating the school as of 2011-12.

Childcare and refreshments will be provided at the forums. The schedule is: Tuesday, Feb. 22 – King HS auditorium, 6100 Stenton Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Birney ES auditorium, 900 W. Lindley Avenue, 4 to 6 p.m. Gratz HS auditorium, 1798 W. Hunting Park Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m.

Olney East HS auditorium, 100 E. Duncannon Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m. Olney West HS library, 100 E. Duncannon Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 24 – Clymer ES auditorium, 1201 W. Rush Street, 6 to 8 p.m.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

21 JANUARY, 2011

Philadelphia Wins National Recognition for “Age-Friendly” Initiatives Philadelphia Corp. for Aging has received the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 “Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Commitment Award.”

The award is given to communities that have developed and are implementing plans for smart growth and in support of active aging. “Over the past several years, PCA has worked with a wide array of private, not-for-profit, and government agencies on issues related to creating a senior-friendly, age-friendly Philadelphia,” said PCA President Rodney Williams.

“Many organizations that haven’t previously worked together have come together around aging issues.”

“PCA received the commitment award as a result of its leadership in bringing together city planners, public health experts, and nonprofit leaders to collaboratively create an Age-friendly Philadelphia agenda,” said Kathy Sykes, senior advisor, US EPA Aging Initiative.

“Age-friendly Philadelphia is successfully facilitating the incorporation of older adults into new policies, plans, and programs city-wide.”

separated from pedestrian walkways.

Areas of focus for Age-Friendly Philadelphia include: government policies that provide a high quality of life for persons of all ages; a built environment that facilitates social connectedness; an aging network that considers the effect of the environment on the well-being of their consumers; universities that partner with the community to create cutting edge research; and emerging leaders from all fields who incorporate older adults in their work.

In Historic First, Mayor Lets Sun Shine On His Box Tickets The City of Philadelphia has released the names of those who received tickets to the Mayor’s Box from October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 (fourth quarter, 2010). The City’s ticket policy is the first time distribution of Mayor’s Box tickets has been governed by a written, public policy. It provides for the equitable distribution of complimentary tickets received by the City of Philadelphia.

Some report highlights are as follows:

Philadelphia has the highest proportion of residents age 60+ among the nation’s 10 largest cities.

“I am delighted that Philadelphia has received this affirmation from the EPA of our commitment to creating a walkable, livable and hospitable city,” said Mayor Michael Nutter. “Supporting our large senior population is a high priority for my administration,” Nutter said. “PCA is to be commended for its initiative in expanding awareness of the needs of Philadelphia’s senior citizens, and for coalescing the efforts of both public and private sectors around this issue.”

One of the endeavors already in motion is the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Dept.’s initiative to identify parks near senior community centers against an “age-friendly” checklist. The list includes stairways with railings, well-maintained and accessible public toilets, shaded areas, outdoor seating and bike paths 21 FEBRUARY, 2011

1,230 tickets were distributed during the fourth quarter of 2010.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, 595 (48%) tickets for events in the Mayor’s Box were distributed to children from recreation centers, nonprofits and other groups who attended Wachovia Center, Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, The Dell and Mann Center events.

From January 2010 through December 2010, over 5,000 tickets have been distributed. 2,711 (52%) tickets have been distributed to schools, nonprofits, recreation centers and other groups.

Since the policy’s inception on Apr. 4, 2008, 13,070 tickets have been distributed. 6,997 (54%) tickets have been distributed to schools, nonprofits, recreation centers and other groups.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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