City To Wield The Ax Parade Decision On Your Mummers? Decided Tonight!
CITY WILL make a decision tonight on whether to ax 2008 Mummers Parade.
Vol. II No. 51 (Issue 63)
13 Schools Top City ‘Best of’ List by R. George Linton Thirteen is widely considered an unlucky number by some, but among this area’s schools it isn’t. In fact, if you look at the School District’s best schools of 2006-07, it shows South Philadelphia is lucky to have 13 of the city’s best! That’s how many schools from the Southern Area made the School District’s ‘best of’ list for 2006-2007. In the nine regions in the city, 62 schools were honored by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education last week, and our region rang the gongs with 13 awards. Principals from the likes of Bok and GAMP were honored for their school’s achievement by the Dept. of Education with a Keystone Achievement Award in recognition of the school’s outstanding academic performance. Each award-winning principal received a blue-and-gold keystoneshaped placard, from Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Education Diane Castlebuono. Among the 62 schools honored in the nine regions in the City, South (Cont Page 22)
by R. George Linton Today is D-Day for the 2008 Mummers Parade. The City will decide this evening if this year’s parade will be cut or not. Keeping their fingers crossed are Mummers brigades, clubs and fans, all hoping there will be a parade down Broad Street this year. However, South Philadelphia’s Mummers have been in turmoil since Mayor Michael Nutter announced the City was eliminating a $355,000 contribution to the costumed performers because of citywide budget cuts. He
“Reporting South Philadelphia the way it deserves”
later restored $300,000. The Mummers say the price tag for the annual strut could be twice that amount. The Mummers Association met with City officials for more than two hours last weekend. They were planning to reenter negotiations tonight with the City. Both sides remain cautiously optimistic about an agreement. Mayoral spokesman Doug Oliver says keeping the parade around six hours would cut costs significantly. (Cont Page 2)
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Jurist Enters Crowded Race: Judge Bonavitacola, Senior Eleven Candidate by Lois Bartella Because of his lifelong service in the legal system and distinguished career as an outstanding and highly acclaimed jurist, Judge Alex Bonavitacola has been selected as a candidate for the 2009 Senior Citizen of the year award. Judge Bonavitacola’s illustrious career included admissions as a Judge to the US District Court, Circuit Court, Supreme Court, Common Pleas Court, Commonwealth Court, Superior Court and the highly prestigious Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
‘Santa’ Verna Gifts Kids New Bicycles Council President, 30 Sets Of Wheels Come To 12 Schools
COUNCIL PRESIDENT Anna Verna presents brandnew bicycles to three lucky students at St. Gabriel’s School in South Philadelphia. Lucky kids are Jessica Finnigan, 12, Deanna Freeman, 7, and Rory McNabb, 5.
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by Rory G. McGlasson With the credit crunch hitting us all hard and the dwindling economy worsening, parents could be excused if Santa’s sack is little light this year. Affording holiday gifts is a grind at the best of times. Imagine what it’s like for the Cherry family, who have13 kids to surprise on Christmas Day! However, for one of their kids, Ruben, Santa has come a little early. City Council President Anna Verna stopped at W.G. Smith School in South Philadelphia Monday to surprise youngsters like Cherry with a brand-new bike for Christmas. Instead of Santa’s sleigh, Verna was followed by a tractor-trailer containing CH2M Hill’s volunteer employees and 30 bikes. It was the second stop as part of a (Cont Page 22)
...Judge Alex Bonavitacola The Judge served on numerous Boards and committees including the Pennsylvania State Disciplinary Board, Mayor’s Commission of Economic Development and Holy Spirit Church Home-School Association. He chaired the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustments and Unico Village, Inc., was elected vice president of the Fairmount Park Commission and was director Packer Park Civic Association. Among his many awards are the (Cont Page 2)