Philadelphia Daily record by The Public Record

Vol. II No. 31 (191)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

March 29, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Jazzy City BLOWING THE HORN for cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jazz life outside City Hall yesterday were cultural and government leaders to announce start of Jazz Appreciation Month (which actually starts Friday). Story Page 5. Photo by David Ickes

Casey Backs President’s Libya Address – With Conditions US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the President’s speech on U.S. engagement in Libya:

tributed to the military effort. The Arab League has unique and important responsibilities in Libya – I call upon its member countries to play a more active and constructive role by contributing financially to the effort.

“I support the action taken by the U.S., our NATO partners and the Arab League to prevent the killing of tens of thousands of Libyan civilians. Now that the U.S. has established the conditions for a no fly zone, I support the expeditious transfer of lead responsibility to NATO and the non-military measures that the administration has taken to sustain pressure on the Libyan regime, such as the freeze of Qaddafi’s assets and international sanctions.

“We also need to be honest about the evolving role of the U.S. moving forward. The U.S. has the most substantial military in NATO and we will likely incur some additional expenditure by participating in this continued engagement. We need to take a close look at these costs and weigh them against our continued missions in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as our commitments to vital domestic interests. The Senate has an important oversight role to play and I look forward to pressing administration officials on these issues in the weeks ahead.”

“This burden must be shared more broadly. To date, only UAE and Qatar from the Arab League have con-

After One Month, Sen. Stack Deplores AdultBasic’s Demise Exactly one month after adultBasic coverage ended for 41,000 Pennsylvanians, State Sen. Mike Stack yesterday urged the General Assembly to include the low-cost health program in state budget negotiations.

lion Pennsylvanians were on the adultBasic waiting list — there is a true need for basic coverage. These men and women cannot wait another three years for the federal health exchange. They need health care now.”

“One month ago today, Pennsylvania turned its back on hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who either relied on adultBasic or who were on the waiting list,” said Stack, whose Northeast Philadelphia district had the second highest number of adultBasic recipients in the state. “We must include this issue as part of the budget negotiations.

Stack has authored legislation (SB 420) that would allocate the General Assembly’s $188.5 million budget surplus to fund operating expenses for adultBasic for at least a year. The bill currently sits in the Senate Banking Insurance Committee.

“In this economy, when so many working adults are just trying to make ends meet, health care is crucial. AdultBasic helped many people afford basic care,” he said. “There’s a reason why a half-mil2|

Stack’s legislation has support from senators across the state. Stack is also a co-sponsor of SB 729 sponsored by Sen. Jay Costa, Jr. This legislation uses $25 million from the current year’s $264 million budget surplus to continue the adultBasic program. Stack is also considering alternative opTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

tions, including an Earned Income Tax Credit-style program that would enable private companies to donate to a fund in exchange for tax credits.

Council Candidate Tyner Says City Could Take Back School District On Monday, 8th Dist. City Council candidate Verna Tyner issued the following statement in response to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s ongoing “Assault on Learning” series detailing the alarming level of violence plaguing Philadelphia’s public schools: “The Inquirer’s investigation into the violence, misbehavior and downright destructiveness plaguing Philadelphia’s public school 29 MARCH, 2011

system is the latest, and perhaps most shocking, sign that the City’s school system is in unacceptably dire straits. “As a Tioga resident for the past 40 years, a product of this City’s public schools, and a former junior block captain, I understand that establishing a safe learning environment for our students is absolutely essential to improving our public school system’s abysmal graduation rate and disheartening dropout rate. Ensuring that our students feel safe and supported enough to concentrate on learning is a crucial part of their effort toward intellectual achievement, emotional growth, and personal progress. “This is why I have made improving our City’s public education system a centerpiece of my campaign for City Council. Yes, it is true that the City does not control the schools. But as the Inquirer’s

investigative work makes glaringly clear, our students – as well as teachers, staff and administrators – need as many advocates as possible at this critical time in their lives and our City’s history. I intend to be among their loudest and most passionate advocates in City Council.” “One way to address the problem might be a return to the pre-School Reform Commission form of governance, in which the mayor has more influence over the school board. I realize that the City agreed to the SRC model in part because it would result in additional state funding, but with that funding drastically cut and inschool violence continuing to mount, we must at least give consideration to letting the mayor and his appointees have the opportunity to improve the situation.”

risk and struggling students at a young age and involve our business groups, local non-profits and community groups in a comprehensive effort to improve our schools. I continue to believe that increased community participation is essential to working to empowering our teachers, administrators and students to reinvigorate our neighborhood schools. Last January, for example, I celebrated Martin Luther King Day by participating in a service project geared towards overhauling the school library at Roosevelt Middle School. I was struck by what 100 or so people accomplished in a single day. It was an inspiring testimony to the positive impact that a broad community volunteer effort could have in our schools, and one I would immediately seek to replicate throughout the Eighth District.”

“We must also work to identify at-

Employee-Benefits Lawyer Presents At Labor Law Sympopresented an overview of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the annual Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Labor Law Symposium.

sium WENDY PONGRACZ Philadelphia employee-benefits lawyer

Louise F. “Wendy” Pongracz of Willig, Williams & Davidson, recently 29 MARCH, 2011

During the PBI program titled “Health Care Reform: Answers to the Questions You Were Afraid to Ask,” Pongracz addressed many of the key questions that business clients have been asking their attorneys regarding the PPACA. The presentation covered a number of areas, including the intent of the Act, the treatment of collectively bargained health care plans under the Act, the Act’s patient protection provisions, the grandfathering of existing plans under the Act, the THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

advantages and disadvantages associated with grandfathering existing plans, the Act’s effective dates and the practical implications of those dates. Pongracz was joined by Stevens & Lee attorney Frank C. Sabatino of Philadelphia in presenting the program. An experienced Pennsylvania employee benefits attorney, Pongracz is a partner in Willig, Williams & Davidson’s Employee Benefits Department. She possesses nearly 25 years of experience in labor and benefits matters, counseling and representing public and privatesector single and multi-employer funds in a comprehensive range of employee benefits issues. Pon|

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State Sen. Shirley Kitchen hosts Energy Conservation Workshop at St. William’s Ch. Parish Ha., 6238 Rising Sun Ave. Military Women Day on lawn at Independence Mall, 6th & Market Sts, 2 p.m. Honoring historical women veterans Harriet Tubman, Cathy Williams and Deborah Garnett Sampson, among others. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell will speak. For info Cathy Santos (215) 834-4228. Democrat 39B Ward hosts Spring Fundraiser at Chickie’s & Pete’s, 1526 Packer Ave., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets $50. For info Matt Myers (215) 467-4643. 12th Ward Democrats Fundraiser at Champagne, 21.Chelten Ave., 6-8 p.m. Contributors $60, Sponsors $250. For info John Connelly (215) 760-8912. Progressive Fundraiser for Joe Grace at Yards Brewing Co., 901 N. Delaware Ave., 6-8 p.m. For info info@electjoegrace.com. Birthday fundraiser for Vern Anastasio at Villa DiRoma, 936 S. 9th St., 6:30 p.m. Suggested birthday gift $100 for 1st Council District campaign. For info (215) 586-3236. 9th Ward Wine & Cheese Candidates Night at Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave., 6-8 p.m. $50 at the door. RSVP John O’Connell (267) 312-1925. Featuring music of Violino, one man Italian Band. Germantown/Lehigh Business & Merchants Ass’n leads Corridor Cleanup at Germantown & Lehigh Aves., 9 a.m. To volunteer and for info Cornell Brown (267) 385-1939. Al Schmidt for City Commissioner Campaign Office Grand Opening at 3545 Ryan Ave. (Cottman & Frankford), 2-4 p.m. For info (215) 624-1930. Fundraiser for judicial candidate Jonathan Irvine at Avenida Restaurant, 7402 Germantown Ave., 1-4 p.m. S.W. Concerned Citizens holds Voter Education Summit at McCreesh rec Ctr. 67th & Regent St., 4 p.m. For info Tracey

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Gordon (267) 235-0091. Congregation Beth Solomon CC and European Immigrant Benevolent Ass’n’s 25th annual gala honoring Rabbi & Rebettzin Solomon Isaacson at Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Line Ave., 5 p.m. Single $250. Featuring famous Ed Goldbertt & Odessa Klezmer Band and mentalist and illusionist David Blatt. Gov. Ed Rendell and David Cohen, Event Chairs. Randy Robinson and Malik Boyd host Candidates Forum at Ashes Cigar Lounge, 4453 Main St., 6:30-9:30 p.m. 1st Dist. City Council debate hosted by Philadelphians for Ethical Leadership at Veteran Boxers Association Hall, 2733 E. Clearfield Ave., 6:30 p.m. Space limited. RSVP Fred Druding, Jr. (215-) 2212374. Dr. Norman Finkelstein discusses Palestinian situation at Walk Auditorium, Ritter Ha., Temple Univ., 13th & Montgomery Ave., 6-9 p.m. For info Razi Fareed (215) 692-3396. Reception for judicial candidate Leon King at Fiso Lounge, 1439 South St., 6 p.m. Tickets $35, couples $50. Open bar and hors d’oeuvres. State Rep. Rosita Youngblood sponsors Career Fair at 1st Presbyterian Ch., 35 W. Chelten Ave., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For info Dayne Cofer at 215-849-6426. Join Jerry Blavat “Geater with the Heater” at Beef & Beer for Common Pleas judicial candidate Fran Shields at Emerald Rm. of Sprinkler Fitters Union Ha., 14002 McNulty Rd., 7 p.m.-12.a.m. $45 per person, $80 per couple. For info Wayne Miller (215) 671-1692 or Tony Yanni (610) 825-1121. Send contributions to Committee to Elect Fran Shields, Constitution Place, Suite #515, 325 Chestnut St., Phila., PA 19106-2614. Democrat 42nd Ward Candidates Night at Local 6 Bakery Hall, 5416 Rising Sun Ave. (enter on Lima St. through parking lot), 7-11 p.m. Music, food, dancing. Tickets $20, $25 at door. For info Elaine Tomlin (215) 457-4024. 29 MARCH, 2011

gracz is also a consistent lecturer and frequent author on topics ranging from benefits in labor negotiations to compliance with federal benefits laws and regulations, including ERISA, IRC, HIPPA and COBRA matters. The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans frequently calls upon Pongracz to speak on ERISA and health care compliance issues. Pongracz previously served as a hearing officer for the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission

and prior to practicing law, worked with the non-profit organizations Common Cause and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. Pongracz is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia bar associations. Willig, Williams & Davidson is one of the largest and most respected union-side labor law firms in the United States.

City Welcomes Jazz Appreciation Month in Philly City officials yesterday announced efforts to celebrate its rich jazz legacy and the current vibrant music scene in Philadelphia through a series of activities held throughout April. At a kickoff event outside of City Hall, organizers of Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month launched a local celebration citywide, which will begin on April 1. The theme is adopted from National Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) observed by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the national celebration. “Celebrating National Jazz Appreciation Month in Philadelphia gives us a great platform for recognizing Philadelphia as a worldclass jazz city,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “It gives us an opportunity to raise appreciation and awareness about the many places in our city where we can 29 MARCH, 2011

listen to, learn about and study the art of jazz.”

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215-468-5363 Philadelphia Jazz Appreciation Month is led by the City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy in partnership with the Office of the City Representative. Participating in the kickoff were City Representative Melanie Johnson; Gary Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer and Director of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy; Don Gardner, Managing Director, The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts and Warren Oree, local jazz musician. Oree, a veteran of the Philadelphia music scene, and his band — Warren Oree and The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble – performed the music. JAM is designed to draw more public attention to the iconic tradition of jazz and its importance as an American cultural heritage. The goal of JAM is to stimulate the current jazz scene and encourage THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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people of all ages to participate in jazz by studying the genre, attending concerts, listening to jazz on radio and recordings, reading books on the topic and supporting institutional jazz programs. Philadelphia has an extraordinary jazz heritage, beginning with Ethel Waters, and extending to John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Joe

Venuti, Eddie Lang, Stan Getz, the Heath Brothers, Dizzie Gillespie, Sun Ra, McCoy Tyner, Grover Washington Jr. and other music luminaries. In the mid-20th century, Philadelphia contributed to the development of bebop-style jazz assisting to popularize this inventive genre, which was born in afterhour New York City clubs. In the 1940s, the city’s lively jazz scene

was based out of clubs along Columbia Avenue in North Philadelphia and in South Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts and Pep’s). Many of these clubs and jazz legends with Philadelphia roots have inspired an active roster of premier musicians and venues over the years, and now in the modern era.

Lantern Theater Offers Bawdy Take On Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Adam Taxin It is a testament to the strength of the Philadelphia theatrical and general cultural scene that a production as masterful as the Lantern Theater’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream could, for many, slip somewhat under the radar. This production of one of the most frequently performed works of William Shakespeare, recently extended for two weeks to run through Sunday, Apr. 17, offers outstanding acting, numerous laughs and a true-to-title dreamy kind of zaniness in a particularly intimate venue. For the production, St. Stephen’s Theater (in a church at 10th and Ludlow Streets) has been rearranged so that characters frequently enter, exit and circulate among various parts of the audience. Because Midsummer involves three semi-interconnected storylines (basically taking place in a forest near Athens) and has elements of unreality typical of a dream, following the plot requires slightly more careful attention than a typical Shakespeare play. It 6|

might be worthwhile for many to read a quick summary before seeing it. While the performances of the cast are generally strong, the performance of six-time Barrymore Award nominee Benjamin Lloyd (who last year played the title role in the Lantern’s Scapin) is so outstanding that it should be singled out, especially for the sense of energy the actor brings. Every time Lloyd is on stage, as weaver Nick Bottom, who eventually has his head transformed into that of a donkey, one gets the feeling something highly amusing will be occurring within seconds. Lee Ann Etzold, winner of a Barrymore for The Comedy of Errors, also deserves particular acclaim for her humorous portrayal of the jealous and skeptical Helena, a less attractive semi-rival of the Athenian beauty Hermia (two-time Barrymore nominee Charlotte Ford). Many scenes and lines in Midsummer, as is the case in so many Shakespeare plays, whether comedies, tragedies or histories, are quite poignant today. For example, early on, a discussion between Hermia and Helena ponders the romantic advantage one can obtain by “playing hard to get.” For me at least, that particular dialogue, which includes Hermia’s “The more I hate, the more he follows me” followed by Helena’s “The more I love, the more he hateth me” brought to mind a discussion between the Mike Damone (Robert

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Romanus) and Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) characters in the 1982 teen classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High. This Midsummer’s overall excellence, including its staging, gave me more of a sense of what the atmosphere might have been like at the Globe Theatre in London in the early 1600s than any other Shakespeare production I have ever seen. I could almost picture tipsy Londoners, settled in for an afternoon’s

entertainment, reacting heartily in particular to the play’s bawdy references, to its bumbling theatrical troupe characters and to what today would be called a “catfight.” Tickets to Midsummer are $20-$36 and are available online at www.lanterntheater.org or by calling the Lantern Box Office at (215) 829-0395. $10 student rush tickets are available, for cash only, 10 minutes before curtain with valid ID.

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

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SHERRI XANTHOPOULOS RUSSO will be representing Collegeville, Pa. in pageant.