Philadelphia Public Record

Vol. II No. 26 (186)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

March 22, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Traitors “SPIES, TRAITORS & SABOTEURS” will occupy National Constitution Center until May 30! Fortunately, it’s only a show. Exhibit, created by International Spy Museum, offers an interactive view of threats and terrorism throughout America’s history. Some items included in display are fragments of federal building from Oklahoma City bombing. Visitors will uncover stories of espionage, treason and deception in the United States from 1776 to today. Discover little-known accounts of foreign agents, militias and radicals, and learn how responses to domestic attacks have driven counterintelligence that continues to affect our everyday lives. Fox 29 TV is exhibit’s media partner. At preview, seen here are, from left, Mike Jerrick, co-host of Fox 29 TV “Good Day” show; Karen Corbin, COO of International Spy Museum; behind the spy glasses is David Eisner, Center’s mysterious CEO; and James Doolin, Jr. of FBI. Photo by Bonnie Squires

Buxco Rep Demands Inquest Into Philly School Funding State Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) is calling on the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education to do an immediate investigation into irregularities found in an audit of the School District of Philadelphia. Petri also wants to know what measures PDE took to ensure Philadelphia schools received appropriate levels of state education funding.

back a decade, auditors said they were unable to conclude whether the District received the appropriate State subsidies and reimbursements,” Petri said. “The report said these findings are particularly disturbing because in those 10 years, the District received approximately $9.1 billion of State money based on those reports.”

Petri’s challenge follows a recent audit report by State Auditor General Jack Wagner, in which Wagner’s team found widespread statistical deficiencies in student enrollment and attendance records in the Philadelphia that date back at least 10 years. This data is essential in determining the amount of state and federal funding school districts receive.

Philadelphia is, by far, the largest recipient of State education funding.

“Due to a lack of reliable and verifiable documentation on student enrollment and attendance in Philadelphia schools that goes

Auditors found attendance records maintained by teachers didn’t match the District’s computerized records. The report stated the School District of Philadelphia’s “failure to accurately maintain and report this data calls into question the legitimacy and appropriateness of the bulk of its State taxpayer funding.”

the Commonwealth that must be addressed,” said Petri. “Each year, funding disbursements for Philadelphia have been going up, based on questionable data. Meanwhile, other school districts that were dutifully submitting accurate figures saw their education funding slashed. Each of the schools in my legislative District is losing $3 million in this year’s budget.

“I am calling on the Dept. of Education to investigate how Philadelphia can continue to receive State funding when it cannot provide sufficient data to prove it is entitled to it,” said Petri. “I want to know how pervasive this problem is and how PDE proposes to fix it.

At a time when education funding is seeing drastic cuts, it is imperative this limited funding goes where it is most needed - based on accurate and verifiable information.”

“This is a fairness issue throughout local businesses asking for matching donations.

Elementary School Kicks Off Funder For Japanese Quake Victims

The 4th-grade class is sponsoring the fundraiser and will work to launch and promote the event.

On Wednesday, Mar. 23 at 9:00 a.m., students at the General George McCall ES will launch “Quarters for Comfort,” a fundraiser to benefit the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.

Direct Wine Shipments Sought By Farnese

From Thursday, Mar. 24 through Thursday, Mar. 31, students will be collecting and bringing coins from home to deposit into donation boxes provided by the Red Cross. Students will also draft and send letters to 2|

State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-S. Phila.) today announced he is seeking co-sponsors and will introduce legislation that will change the way wine is sold and expand consumer choice.

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22 MARCH, 2011

Farnese’s legislation would allow consumers in Pennsylvania to order wine by mail from anywhere in the United States and have it shipped directly to their home.

Current law does not allow any direct shipments.

“The bill is meant to expand con-

sumer choice,” said the Senator.

“There is a growing movement in Pennsylvania for privatization.

But when you drill down, people want privatization as a means to choice: choice of product and choice of price. I want to make sure that we have consumer choice.”

Farnese announced his legislation during today’s testimony by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board during budget hearings in Harrisburg. Farnese is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Schmidt Gets Housing Police Endorsement

AL SCHMIDT, right, candidate for City Commissioner in the Republican primary, received key union backing from Rodney Little, president of Fraternal Order of Housing Police.

PRO-ACT Adds New Family Addiction Education Programs Pennsylvania Recovery Organization – Achieving Community Together announces the expansion of its free Family Addiction Education Program with the addition of two new locations in North Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia.

addiction and support for families impacted by the disease,” said Noni West, who coordinates the family program. “With the addition of these two new sites, we are able to extend our reach and provide hope to families who need these resources.”

The Family Addiction Education Program provides information and support to help individuals and families recognize and address an addiction problem in a spouse, parent, child or other loved one.

In April, PRO-ACT will begin offering the monthly program at the Philadelphia Recovery Community Center at 1701 Lehigh Avenue in North Philadelphia.

Sessions will be held on the first three Wednesdays of the month, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“There is a tremendous need for information about 22 MARCH, 2011

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2011 Mar. 24Fundraiser for Marnie Aument Loughrey at Law Offices of Daniel McCaffery, 2 Penn Center, Suite 1030, 5:30-7:30 p.m. For info (215) 427-1645.

Mar. 24Reception honoring Marty Bednarek, Democrat candidate for City Council, 6th Dist., at Historic Glen Foerd on Delaware, 5001 Grant Ave. 7-9 p.m.

RSVP by Mar. 20. For info (215) 6241700.

Mar. 24State Sen. Anthony Williams promotes School Choice forum hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Bright Hope Baptist Ch.’s Sr. Pastor Kevin Johnson, at Bright Hope Youth Center, 12th and Cecil B. Moore Ave., 7-9 p.m.

Mar. 25State Rep. Michelle Brownlee hosts Open House for constituent feedback at office, 2839 W. Girard St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; free breakfast 9-10:30 a.m. For info (215) 684-3738.

Mar. 25Spring Fundraiser for Victim/Witness Services of S. Phila. at Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catherine St., 6-9 p.m. Tickets $50. Light fare, wine, beer and music.

Mar. 25Gov. Tom Corbett addresses 82nd Airborne Phila. Chapter All American Dinner & Awards Ceremony at Iron Workers Union Hall, 11600 Norcom Rd., 7-11 p.m. Tickets $35. For tickets Eunice Lee at elee@zarwin/com or (215) 569-2800, ext. 1179, or David Oh, chairman, ext. 1157.

Mar. 25Springtime Cabaret fundraiser for State Rep. Rosita Youngblood and 13th Ward Democrats at 5551 Germantown Ave., 8 p.m.-1 a.m.

BYOB. Tickets $20. For info Shiela (267) 581-0025 or Dayne (267) 5939156.

Mar. 25Rep. Michelle Brownlee hosts open hosue at her cxonstiuent service officd at 2839 W. Girard Av., from 9 to 5 p.m. with Continental Breakfast at 9 a.m. to 10:3 a.m.

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Starting in May, the Family Addiction Education Program will also be available at CORA Services, 8540 Verree Road in Northeast Philadelphia, on the first three Tuesdays of the month, 7-9 p.m.

“There are huge gains to be realized in Northeast Philadelphia from this service,” said Mary Doherty, director of CORA’s Community Services Division. “We see so many families where the person with the addiction is resistant to treatment. The family is desperate, but they don’t qualify for funded services. Now we have something to offer family members who don’t have access to other resources.”

who have been in the same situation, the Family Addiction Education Programs run one evening a week for three consecutive weeks.

Each session lasts two hours.

PRO-ACT launched its first Family Program in 2001 in Bucks County. The group has served more than 2,000 families throughout the Delaware Valley. Today, PRO-ACT offers the free, confidential program at multiple locations in the five-county area.

Pre-registration is required. To register, call PRO-ACT, weekdays 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., at (800) 2216333, or visit www.proact.org and click the Family Addiction Education Program link.

Facilitated by trained volunteers

Local Talent Swings In Mary Poppins At Academy of Music, Starting Tomorrow

ELIZABETH EARLEY shows up in all sorts of places in this production of Mary Poppins.

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22 MARCH, 2011

by Adam Taxin The touring Disney/Cameron Mackintosh production of Mary Poppins opens tomorrow night at the Academy of Music for a fourweek run through Sunday, Apr. 17.

Based on a series of children’s books written by the Australianborn British novelist/actress/journalist P.L. Travers starting in the 1930s, Mary Poppins was released as a movie in 1964, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Andrews won the “Best Actress” Oscar for her role as the title character, and the film also won Oscars for “Best Film Editing,” “Best Original Music Score,” “Best Song” (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”) and “Best Visual Effects.” The theatrical version opened in London in 2004 and New York in 2006, picking up seven Tony Award nominations, including for “Best Musical.”

Mary Poppins tells the story of a strong-minded nanny of mysterious origins who arrives in London and soon gets the job of looking after Michael and Jane, the somewhat spoiled but certainly redeemable children of the no-longer-as-well-off-as-theyonce-were Banks Family.

Elizabeth Earley, originally from West Chester (West Chester East HS), is a member of the cast in a “swing” role. According to Earley, “I cover nine different women.

And I can play any different combination of those women. Sometimes if a couple people are out, we, as swings, have to double up.

“I’m also a dance captain. There are two total, one female, one 22 MARCH, 2011

male. We’re responsible for maintaining the choreography of the show in addition to teaching the new people coming in. And then also, when people are out on vacation or sick or personal days, we have to make sure we regulate the choreography and fill in the holes of the people that are missing.”

Earley emphasizes audiences, especially adults, should not expect quite the same story in the show as in the movie: “This story goes back to the original Mary Poppins character from the book, and combines her with the familiar Mary Poppins of the movie. It’s not exactly the same tale that is told in the movie, but it is very similar here and there. The movie seems to be just for children, but the actual Broadway show has a lot in it that’s a little deeper for the adults as well.”

The actress mentions the relevance of the show to the current economic times, which may be a surprise to many. “People tell me there’s much more in this than they were anticipating. I find people comparing the market, financial world and difficult times that we’re in right now to the show.

The show also really touches on a lot of key, core family values.”

Asked for her personal favorite songs in the show, Earley doesn’t mention the musical’s more-recognizable “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” According to Earley, “‘Step in Time’ is a blast to perform every night. That is probably the number for which we get the largest amount of applause. There are some extraordiTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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nary things in there that we just say are ‘Disney Magic.’ My other favorite is ‘Anything Can Happen,’ which is when Mary Poppins takes Michael and Jane to the heavens and shows them the world not just from their own little view. They’re basically like angels. It’s a beautiful number, the lighting is incredible.”

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Earley, who spent much of the winter performing in (very cold) Midwest locales, is quite excited to perform in Philadelphia. “It’s so much fun to perform in your home area, because not only are you seeing family, but the teachers and the people who played important parts in your life get to come and see your shows as well. You feel like you’re giving back.”

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

-------------------Adam Taxin, a Center City attorney, can best be contacted via Facebook or at adamtaxin@gmail.com.

22 MARCH, 2011