Vol. III No. 100 (465)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
June 18, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
Middle East In S. Philly
ST.MARON’S MARONITE CATHOLIC CHURCH in S. Phila. celebrated its unique Lebanese heritage all weekend long with food, music and dabkeh dancing.
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Jun. 21Entry-level Job Fair at Zion Baptist Ch., 3600 N. Broad St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Over 209 confirmed employers. Breakfast, lunch included. For info Jill Gromen (267) 4089027. Jun. 221st annual Chick or Fish Fry hosted by Congressman Bob Brady, State Rep. Mark Cohen, Shirley Gregory and 49th Ward at Lou & Choo’s, 2101 W. Hunting Pk. Ave., 5-9 p.m. $10. For info Sonja Thomas (215) 200-6144, Ducky Birts (215) 510-1057, Teresa Tanner (267) 270-8088, Tommy Blackwell (215) 992-4425. Make checks payable to Shirley Gregory/49th Ward, 5803 N. 12th St., Phila., PA 19141. Jun. 22Cocktail reception for Joe Rooney, Republican 13th Dist. congressional candidate, hosted by Donna Parisi at A Child’s Place, 524 Sugartown Rd., Devon, Pa. Tickets $150$1,000. For info Maria Diezel (610) 430-0419. Jun. 23William Dunbar campaign headquarters opening, 2302 E. Allegheny, noon to 5 p.m. Special guest lists includes Congressman Bob Brady, Sen. Christina Tartaglione, DA Seth Williams and Mayor Nutter,
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Jun. 24Celebration Of The Drum at Hatfield House, 33rd & Girard Ave., 12-7 p.m. No cost. Bring your family, instruments, blankets or chairs. Jun. 2714th annual Youth Anti Violence Health Awareness Initiative at Myers Rec Ctr., 58th & Kingsessing Ave., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free event. Jun. 28Tom Matkowski’s GOP 65th Ward hosts fundraiser at Flukes Bar & Grill, 7401 State Rd., 6 p.m. Tickets $40. For info (215) 2982251. Jul. 7- Councilman Curtis Jones’ Block Captain Boot Camp at Belmont Picnic Grove, Belmont Ave. & Belmont Mansion Dr., 12-6 p.m. Workshops, picnic, games. Jul. 21Fundraiser for State Rep. John Taylor in N. Wildwood at Coconut Cove, 400 W. Spruce Ave., N. Wildwood, N.J., 2-6 p.m. Cash Bar. For info (215) 545-2244. Jul. 21Olney HS Class of 1979 Bowling Party at Liberty Lanes, 6505 Market St., Upper Darby, Pa., 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Cost $20. BYOB (beer or wine only).
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Toomey Joins Bipartisan Concern Over Iran US Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in signing a letter to President Obama expressing their concerns that the Iranian government is using the P5+1 negotiations to advance its nuclear program and stall new sanctions.
Absent full verifiable Iranian compliance with all Security Council resolutions and full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Senators call on the President to maintain current sanctions and those scheduled to come into effect at the end of this month. Fi-
nally, if no progress is achieved, the senators urge the president to reevaluate the utility of further talks and to increase pressure on the Iranian government through crippling sanctions and the administration’s demonstrable commitment to a military option if necessary.
Fattah Cheers President’s Call On Young Illegals Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Phila.), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, issues this statement in support of President Obama’s directive on new immigration policy for undocumented students and others: “President Obama has surmounted Washington gridlock and done the right thing to strengthen the American economy and protect American students marginalized through no fault of their own. Impor-
tant provisions of the Dream Act, stalled for so long on Capitol Hill, are no longer simply a dream. No one benefits by keeping young adults who play by the rules, many of whom have no memory of their country of birth and consider themselves Americans, in the shadows of society. We need comprehensive immigration reform and with this policy now in force the President has taken a significant step toward that goal.”
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Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one out of five enjoys it? Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with? If people from Poland are called Poles, then why
aren't people from Holland called Holes? If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled? Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a racecar is not called a racist? If it's true that we are here
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to help others, then what exactly are the others here for? Do Lipton Tea employees take 'coffee breaks?' What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men? Hamm! I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what Chinese mothers use. Toothpicks? Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail? – Not a bad idea! Is it true that you never really learn to swear until you learn to drive? If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose? Whatever happened to Preparations A through G? At income tax time, did you ever notice: When you put the two words 'The ' and 'IRS' together, it spells 'THEIRS'? To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com
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Vermeil Calls The Play To Save SS United States LEGENDARY NFL COACH Dick Vermeil is lauded for his volunteer work for the Save SS United States campaign at reception held at Independence Seaport Museum. Vermeil, who recently recorded a public-service announcement to aid Conservancy’s efforts, joins Susan Gibbs, executive director of the SS United States Conservancy and board member Marc Byers. Photo by Rory McGlasson
Greens Slash Proposal To Sell PGW The City Committee of the Green Party of Philadelphia has taken a firm stand against the sale of Philadelphia Gas Works. Green Party leaders say Mayor Michael Nutter has failed to make his case in favor of selling PGW to the highest bidder. Since 1836, PGW has provided our citizens with gas for many purposes. Currently, PGW has more than 514,000 customers. PGW is the largest municipally-owned gas utility in the US, and the utility’s 1,654 employees are required to live within Philadelphia, where they are part of the city’s tax base.
When Nutter slapped a “FOR SALE” sign on PGW, Green Party leaders questioned this move. “After all,” said GPOP Chair Vivek Ananthan of Northern Liberties (5th Ward), “PGW pays the City an $18 million franchise fee each year.” Nutter is so sure he can sell PGW that he has already begun hiring lawyers, financial advisors, lobbyists and communications specialists to work on the sale. Next, he plans to hire a broker to handle the nitty-gritty of the sale. Green Party leaders point out no one yet knows how much the preparation for a sale will cost Philadelphia, but Nutter does want PGW’s cus• PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD tomers to pay for this expense. That idea does not sit well with members of GPOP’s City Committee. Nor does it have the agreement of the Philadelphia Gas Commission, which offered the following statement to the press, “We have grave reservations about the wisdom and appropriateness of such expenditures and how they would be of benefit to PGW’s customers.” Carol McLean, a GPOP City Committee member from Germantown (59th Ward), is worried about the effect of the sale on PGW’s workers. “Privatizing PGW is clearly an attack on union members,” said McLean. “Gas Workers Local 686 helped PGW get back on its feet by making significant concessions in their last contract. Apparently, Mayor Nutter did not appreciate their effort. Eliminating union jobs with benefits is not a fiscally sound policy. When Nutter is done slashing and cutting municipally-owned services, who will be left standing?”
Sale of PGW may also have a particular effect of low-income consumers. The Lazard Assessment says Philadelphia will require PGW’s new owner to honor PGW’s “Senior Citizen Discount Program and to preserve all PUC-mandated discount programs currently in place.” This is not enough to satisfy McLean, who warns, “Once PGW is privatized, there is absolutely no assurance the new owner will honor subsidized rates for low-income and elderly consumers.” “Privatization of basic utilities is the most egregious example of erring on the side of profit for the few at the expense of the needs of the many,” said Belinda Davis, GPOP Treasurer from Chestnut Hill (9th Ward). “After the most recent examples of corporate greed and its disastrous effects, why would the City even think of selling PGW, except as a short-term budgetary fix? This is shortsighted in the extreme, and the residents of Philadelphia will have to pay for it.”
PHA Residents Celebrate Father’s Day At Wilson Pk.
RICHARD NEGRIN, managing director of City of Phila., told Wilson Park residents attending a special PHA Father’s Day event that kids who have a father or father figure in their lives are far more likely to become successful citizens. He said there are many single mothers doing a great job, but they need help. 6|
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD The Philadelphia Housing Authority honored the hard work of fathers and other male role models in the community at a special Father’s Day event, “Daddy & I”, at Wilson Park.
“Kids are five times more likely to drop out of school, get incarcerated, or get in trouble,” he said. “Fathers play such an important role. We’ve got a lot of great single moms out there doing everything they can, but
they need help, whether it’s your biological father or just an important father figure in your life. Father’s Day is about our ability to help out our kids and get involved.”
The idea behind the special occasion was to allow children to spend quality time with their fathers or male role models while taking part in invigorating activities and gaining useful knowledge. Arts and crafts, health and fitness, literacy and storytelling, basketball, and a hula hoop contest were among the featured activities. Dr. Samuel Little, deputy executive director of resident and community services, said fathers are important to not only the well-being of the family, but more specifically to children in public housing communities. “Events always have the opportunity to transform the way one thinks and the way one behaves,” he said. “By all means, events like this one today tend to excite dads and are turning points in their relationship with family members, especially children. We think a byproduct of special events with the focus on dads will lead a greater number of dads to be very active not only in their community, but also as a leader for children.” Richard Negrin, managing director of the City of Philadelphia, who was also present, said the statistics on kids without fathers are pretty clear.
TWAIN MAJOR, a group leader at Wilson Park Boys & Girls Club, performed a lively and entertaining rap number “Dollar Bills” during PHA’s Father’s Day event at Wilson Park. Idea behind event was to allow children to spend quality time with their fathers or male role models.
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Job Fair Promoted For This Thursday
LORAINE BALLARD MORRILL of ClearChannel radio, extreme right, interviewed, from left, Diane Lackey, planning manager of Phila. Intellectual Disability Services, and Kathy Sykes, director of IDS, about Jun. 21 Job Fair to be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Zion Baptist Church, 3600 N. Broad Street. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. There will be sessions throughout day focusing on résumé writing, dressing for success, using internet to locate job openings, and preparing for job interview. State Sen. Shirley Kitchen, Networks for Training & Development, and the International Caucus of Women of the African Diaspora are co-hosts. More than 50 employers will be on site to conduct interviews. These include private businesses, municipal and state agencies, social service providers, and a large range of companies. For information call (215) 685-5994 or check website at zionbaptphila@aol.com. Photo by Bonnie Squires
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Powerball® Tik Worth $2 M Sold In S. Philly One Powerball ticket worth $2 million from the June 16 drawing was sold at Long Newsstand, 310 Oregon Avenue. The ticket correctly matched all five white balls, 08-14-15-16-27, but not the red Powerball 26, and added Power Play®, which sets the prize at $2 million, less 25% federal withholding. The retailer will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling this winning ticket. Lottery officials cannot confirm the identity of the winner until the prize is claimed and the ticket is validated. Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes.
ticket to sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at (717) 702-8146 and file a claim at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County, or at any of Lottery’s seven area offices. Claims may be filed at headquarters Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at area offices. The Powerball jackpot grew to an estimated annuity value of $50 million, or $33.3 million cash, for the Wednesday, June 20, drawing. In the 2010-11 fiscal year, in addition to awarding nearly $271.6 million in prizes to Philadelphia County winners, the Pennsylvania Lottery contributed nearly $215 million to programs serving Philadelphia Co.’s older residents.
The Lottery encourages the holder of the winning
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