Daily Record

Vol. II No. 120 (280)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

August 11, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Delivering Jobs

CONFERRING with UPS’s Chesapeake head Rosemary Turner at its South Phila. location, Congressman Chaka Fattah toured facility this morning as part of a drive to promote education for a growing manufacturing sector. More pictures page 3.

The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar

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Aug.11Friends of Ron Donatucci hold Delaware River Cruise at Independence Seaport Museum Terrace Ballrm., Columbus & Walnut Sts., 6:30-9:30 p.m. $145 per person.

For info (215) 271-1667.

Aug. 11St. Edmond’s Parish hosts Fish Fry celebrating St. Edmond’s 100th anniversary. at 21st & Snyder Ave., 58 p.m. Cost $10. For info (215) 334-3755.

Aug. 11Fundraising event for Republican Council at Large candidate David Oh in Library Lounge at Union League, 140 S. Broad St., 6-8 p.m.

Special guest Anthony Szuszczewicz, Chairman, CEO and

President of Polonia Bank. Music.

Contributions $100 to $1,000.

RSVP by Aug. 8 to Eunice Lee (215) 561-2000.

Aug. 12-13 Nicetown CDC hosts Give Back Festival at Nicetown Park, 4300 Germantown Ave., starting with Boxing Exhibition on Friday.

Aug. 13Celebration of 20th reunion of IBEW Local 98 retirees and active members at Keenan’s in Anglesea, N. Wildwood, N. J. Starts 4 p.m.

Aug. 13State Rep. Angel Cruz hosts Seminar on How To Buy At Sheriff Sales, 2 p.m. at his officve, 3503 N. B Street, Corner of Tioga. Unit 7. Plenty of parking. All invited.

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11AUGUST, 2011

Fattah Rallies To Get Tomorrow’s Workers Ready

CONGRESSMAN CHAKA FATTAH (D-Phila.) hasn’t been taking the summer off from school. He has been busy this week talking with students and workers to promote workforce readiness. This morning he participated in a panel discussion at UPS in S. Phila. with area college students recruited by Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

YESTERDAY the Congressman took part in one of his favorite activities – speaking with CORE Scholars, recent Phila. high-school grads who are heading off to college with help from the program he founded.

Seated beside Fattah is CORE Scholars Executive Director Donyale Reavis.

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Philly Firefighters To Take Lead In National Search & Rescue Congressman Robert A. Brady (DPhila.) announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency has selected the City of Philadelphia Fire Dept. as the new Sponsoring Agency for Pennsylvania Task Force One, one of the 28 task forces that comprise the National Urban Search & Rescue Response System.

The City of Harrisburg, Bureau of Fire (the current Sponsoring Agency for PA-TF1) is relinquishing its role as the Sponsoring Agency and will transition to Participating Agency status.

The National US&R Response System is a framework for organizing Federal, state and local partner emergency response teams as integrated Federal search and rescue task forces. The 28 National US&R Task Forces, located throughout the continental United States, can be deployed by FEMA to assist state and local governments in rescuing

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victims of structural collapse incidents, or to assist in other search and rescue missions.

Brady, who wrote to FEMA in support of the selection of Philadelphia, said that the Philadelphia Fire Department has been a Participating Agency of PA-TFI since its inception and was well prepared to take on an enhanced role. “The Department has demonstrated sufficient ability, commitment and the historical record to meet the need of our nation’s front lines in this critically important new responsibility.”

FEMA convened a National US&R Response System Sponsoring Agency Selection Evaluation Board to appoint a new Sponsoring Agency on Aug. 9. The board consisted of representatives from FEMA, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and National US&R Response System

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leadership. The SASEB conducted an integrated assessment of the relative strengths, weaknesses, deficiencies, and risks of each applicant, in order to determine which agency offered the best opportunity to manage PA-TF1 as a Sponsoring Agency. Based upon their evaluation, the SASEB made a recommendation on the selection of a new Sponsoring Agency to FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate, the designated Sponsoring Agency Selection Authority.

The Congressman Brady said that the assistance provided by FEMA through the US&R Taskforce in Pennsylvania saves lives, and provides a vital safety net in spite of disaster threats. “And, it was imperative that the taskforce continued with the experience of one of its most loyal team members, the Philadelphia Fire Dept.”

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NYC Housing Inspector General Joins PHA To Target Waste, Fraud, Abuse The Philadelphia Housing Authority has hired New York City Housing Authority Inspector General Kelvin Jeremiah to serve as the new Director of Audit and Compliance, PHA’s internal watchdog.

trol.”

During his time in New York, Jeremiah increased arrests and criminal prosecutions by more than 30%. He also achieved an impressive 200% increase in restitution collections in fraud cases.

As inspector general, he worked with Michael P. Kelly, who had been general manager in New York before moving to PHA. In this role, Jeremiah reported to NYCH and New York City Dept. of Investigation. As part of his duties, Jeremiah partnered with law-enforcement agencies in various investigatory activities.

“When I began to identify the leaders that I hoped would help me build a new culture at PHA, Kelvin was top on my list. His laser focus on ensuring ethical and efficient government should give everyone confidence in how PHA conducts its business,” said Kelly, who is now serving simultaneously as PHA executive director and HUD’s administrative receiver.

Kelly’s goal has been to rebuild and restore the public’s confidence and trust in PHA and return the agency to local control. It has been under federal control with a one person board since March. Jeremiah will report to both the Board and the Ex-

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KELVIN JEREMIAH ecutive Director.

“I’m confident in the pieces Michael is putting in place for the path ahead,” said Estelle Richman, PHA’s board and acting deputy secretary for the US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development. “PHA is building an extremely impressive team. The recent addition of General Counsel Barbara Adams and today’s announcement concerning the former NYCHA Inspector General Kelvin Jeremiah will greatly assist PHA’s risk-assessment and internal-monitoring efforts. Both are critical if the PHA is to eventually transition back to local con-

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“Citizens have a right to expect that their tax dollars are spent on their intended purpose. PHA has long been known for being at the forefront of innovative finance and real estate development. My purpose is to ensure that we remain innovative and compliant with all federal rules and regulations at the same time,” Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah, who will be paid $153,000 a year, will play a critical role, both in helping various investigative agencies complete their look into past business practices and guarding against future misconduct.

His service begins immediately.

PHA is a place public housing professionals want to come to. When a man with Kelvin Jeremiah’s track record for integrity and performance chooses to work here we know we are on the road to recovery. PHA will return to a locally run housing authority that we can all be proud of,” said Kelly.

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Philly YRs Regroup

PHILA. YOUNG REPUBLICANS showed a vigorous growth in Party interest by reorganizing at SmokeEaters’ pub in Mayfair Tuesday evening. Turnout was strong as candidates vied for Board positions.

Mayoral candidate Karen Brown, from left, congratulated new Board members Steven C. Boc (chairman), Jennifer Fail (events coordinator), Seth Bluestein (public affairs), Barry Scatton (political outreach), Phil Innamorato (vice chairman), Matt Gabor (treasurer) and Owen O’Connell (secretary).

Castor Family Reunion Celebrates 275 Years Of Penna. History Over

200

descendants

of

Hans

Gerster/Castor, who emigrated from Basel, Switzerland to Philadelphia, will be gathering here the weekend of Aug. 12-14, 2011 to mark his 300th birthday with food, music, and programs on the history and contribution of 12 generations and 275 years of the Castor family in America.

A national reunion will be held at the Radisson NE – Bensalem. Even as they celebrate, they will also discuss the difficulties facing an immigrant to America in the 1730s.

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Workshops all day Saturday will present the experiences of this early immigrant, his relationship with the Indians, and the numerous contributions he and his descendants made to Philadelphia as they trace their colonial roots. Topics include: “The Suffering and Solutions of a Socially Stymied Swiss Family,” “Gone or Made Go: Switzerland and its Emigrants in the 19th and 19th Centuries,” “The Worlds of Elsbeth Spahr, Hans Gerster, and THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Eva Gysin,” and others.

Hans Castor earned a living as a linen weaver in Philadelphia, where he lived with his wife. In 1762 they purchased a 202-acre plantation in what was Oxford Township (N.E. Philadelphia) and the road leading to their farm was named Castor Avenue. Hans and his sons George, Frederick and Jacob, were founding members of the Presbyterian Church of Frankford – formerly the 11AUGUST, 2011

German Reformed Church.

Another descendant, George Castor, moved to Pennypack Farms. Architect Horace Castor (1870-1966) was responsible for designing over 1,000 area buildings, including Einstein Hospital, Methodist Episcopal Hospital, Scottish (Shriner’s) Town Hall and numerous other churches, schools, and industrial plants.

George A. Castor, a US Congressman from Philadelphia, died in office in February 1906. He built “Stonyhurst” mansion on the

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grounds of what is now Father Judge HS and now owned by the Nuns of the Missionary Servants of the most Blessed Trinity. Gen. Samuel Castor was commander of the troops escorting Marquis De Lafayette through Philadelphia in his farewell tour to Washington in 1824. Thomas Castor and his brother and other relatives built carriages and rail cars and invented many new features such as the dumping wagon and the spiral staircase for the double-decker rail cars – including Barnum & Bailey Cir-

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cus wagons.

A third book of the Castor family, A Castor Family in America, Volume III, is being updated by Robert Castor and will contain present information of family charts, pictures and stories. The reunion will conclude on Sunday with a service at the Frankford Presbyterian Church and a visit to the Historical Society of Frankford. The group will then travel to Stonyhurst mansion for a tour of the grounds and the first floor.

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