Old School Needs New Books Good Cop
Southwark School Principal Jill D. Silverstein and Library Materials Assistant, Roman Lukasiewicz
by Maria Merlino In 1909, the 27th President of the United States, Howard Taft, during a 10” snowstorm, was inaugurated; the first Lincoln Head penny was issued by the U.S. Mint; Joan of Arc was declared a saint; Shibe Park, which later became Connie Mack Stadium, was opened; singer Kate Smith, who was the Flyers good luck charm, was born and the Southwark Elementary School was founded for the children of the growing immigrant community. On April 1, the 100th Anniversary Gala of the kindergarten through 8th grade school will be celebrated with dinner, dancing and an open bar at The Waterfall Room. The party
will be a fundraiser to help build a and library skills otherwise they’ll be new library for the school. Friends (Cont. Page 2) and alumni welcome! Principal Jill D. Silverstein, a reading specialist, is ardent about her students’ needs. “Basically, our children deserve the same resources as other kids in the neighborhood schools. We need to make each child more proficient in Empty school library shelves waiting for books. research materials Photos by Maria Merlino
Gets Bad Benefits
EMIL BUCCERONI
Vol. III No. 11 (Issue 76)
“Reporting South Philadelphia the way it deserves”
Value 50¢
March 19, 2009
End Of An Era: The Curse Of The 1st!
Fumo Joins local Pols Targeted by Feds
SEN. VINCE FUMO joins a string of first district South Philly politicians sentenced to jail time.
by R. George Linton To the majority of those who understand the political system well, it was a foregone conclusion Stare Sen. Vince Fumo would be found guilty. When you understand the system, it becomes obvious any target of the Federal Government must eventually go under the heavyweights of the investigative prosecutorial onslaught that comes with such investigations. Fumo, for a long time a giant among giants, especially in this city, and positively enshrined in South Philadelphia, had to bend under the onslaught of the long-standing investigation mounted against him. Unsurprisingly, the cynics among
us quickly referred Fumo’s indictment to the “curse of the 1st Dist.” Over the past 40 years, one Congressman, two State Senators, including Fumo, and two Councilmen, all representing the 1st Senatorial Dist. (or a seat in a different branch of government contained therein) became subjects of Federal investigation.
They were Congressman Michael “Ozzie” Myers, legendary State Sen. Henry “Buddy” Cianfrani, and Councilmen Leland Beloff and Jim Tayoun, the publisher of this newspaper. For some reason, they were always first to extend themselves on behalf of their South Philadelphia and River (Cont. Page 2)
Golden Hearts
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Local Banks Open Credit by Maria Merlino With all the gloom and doom that you hear about the economy, it’s was gratifying to know that our own community banks are alive and well, and willing to lend money to our neighbors and business people. At the latest South Philadelphia Business Association meeting, at Swann Caterers last Tuesday. Many Branch Managers and local bankers (Cont. Page 2)
Ron Panepinto Jewelers
Claymont, Delaware
5 Minutes from Comm. Barry Bridge, Naaman’s Rd, Turn Left, Next to K-Mart
Marlboro
by Tony West On good days, Police Officer Emil John Bucceroni can get around somewhat. On other days, he gets around less. A virulent strain of hepatitis C has wreaked havoc with his liver, leaving him weak and tired all the time – and too sick to perform his duties. Normally, public-safety workers who contract hepatitis C have been presumed to suffer from a job-related illness ever since the case of firefighter Mary Kohler in 2003. That’s (Cont. Page 7)
GOLDEN HEARTS! President of the Variety Club, Joe Sweeney, CoChair and President of Acme Markets, Judy Spires, congratulate Philadelphia Eagle John Runyan, and Gold Heart Recipient, President of the Philadelphia Building Trades, Pat Gillespie at Variety Club’s Photo by: Maria Merlino. (Story & pics page 23.) Golden Heart fundraiser.
700 Sansom St. 215-923-1980
www.PanepintoJewelers.com We Buy Gold & Diamonds