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Vol. II No. 36 (Issue 48)
“Reporting South Philadelphia the way it deserves”
Value 50¢
September 4, 2008
Marian Anderson Rec Gets A Makeover By Volunteers Marian Anderson Recreation Center is surrounded by an iron fence that circles an entire city block. It’s as long as the Great Wall of China and its drab, rusty olive paint would look right in place around the Addams Family house. On Tuesday all that changed. Thanks to the labors of 240 youthful City Year volunteers armed with rows of buckets and brushes, the entire fence of 2,000 G-foot poles was sparklingly repainted in one afternoon. Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson and City Year executives joined the City Year recruits and volunteers to announce a 10-month com-
mitment of service to the City of Philadelphia, focusing on Marian Anderson’s beloved and heavily-used, but aging, facilities. “It’s a big load off me,” said Michael Mecchella, Rec’s director of maintenance. “I don’t have the money for this in my budget.” "I am excited about the commitment these young people bring to our recreation centers and to the City of Philadelphia and I am encouraged about their commitment to serve the children and families in our communities," said Slawson. Since City Year has partnered with the Dept. of Recreation all across Philadelphia, its volunteers have donated more than
Take This Bus To Lower Drug Costs This morning you can take a quick trip that can cut your prescription-drug costs ─ without ever leaving the neighborhood. The United Way and State Rep. Bill Keller are sponsoring the “PPA bus”, which will be making two visits to the 184th House Dist. The first one will come today, to the ShopRite at Front & Snyder Avenue (Snyder Plaza), from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The second visit will be on Oct. 16 at the Acme Store at 10th & Reed Streets, also from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (toll-free, 1-8884PPANOW; http://www.pparx. org) is the only source that provides a single point of access to the more than 475 patient assistance programs, which include more than 180 programs offered by the pharmaceutical industry. On board the bus are 10 computers, keyed into a pharmaceutical-industry database. People can come by to check to see if they can get their medications for a reduced cost, or even free, from the drug companies.
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Saluting Labor Day At Parade ...Page 13
GIVING A HAND to 240 young City Year volunteers, who cheerfully returned compliment, Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson thanked them as they prepared to repaint fence around Marian Anderson Rec Center.
Local Author Gets Students ‘Buzzing’
Why Our Docs Keep Quitting ...Page 3
For the past six weeks, a group of high-school-age boys met at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center at 17th & Fitzwater Streets for academic review and a hands-on experience about the workings of local and state government. As part of the academic experience, the youth read Friday Night Lights. They had a chance this week to meet the author in person. Jerome Nottingham, who helped to start the UVA Rising Stars Program, thought, "It would be great if the young men were able to meet Mr. Bissinger in person ... since he is a Philadelphia native, I thought I would take a chance and reach out to him." The meeting concluded ceremonies for the UVA Rising Stars/Peace Not Guns Young Leaders In Government summer work program. In addition to maintaining their academic skills, the youth worked with State Representative candidate Kenyatta Johnson to get an inside view of City Council, the Pennsylvania State Capitol and the Court of Common Pleas. This was accomplished YOUNG LEADERS at Marian Anderson Recreation Center met up with author “Buzz” Bissinger, whose through lunch meetings with book, Friday Nights Lights, they read as part of their City Councilman Curtis Jones, (Cont. Page 2) program.
VP Nominee Palin in Town ...Page 3
Waffleman. . . Page 9