Despite Ladder Cuts, Fire Fatalities Down In ’09
HATS OFF TO our firefighters! Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers tips his hat to men and women of Philadelphia Fire Dept. for work in the community in 2009, which saw record low number of fires and fatalities in the region.
Vol. IV No. 2 (Issue 119)
What a difference a year makes. At the end of 2008, the Philadelphia Fire Dept. was dealing with the aftermath of one of the worst fires in Philadelphia history, a fire that devastated the Liberian community; a year later, fire fatalities are down in the City. The fire that killed 10 members of the Liberian community in Southwest Philadelphia in 2008 will never be forgotten; however, members from the Liberian community joined Mayor Nutter and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers on a more positive note Monday.
“Reporting South Philadelphia the way it deserves”
Mayor Nutter and Fire Commissioner Ayers announced Monday that there were 30 fire fatalities in 2009, a 23% reduction from the previous year. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell also joined them at Ladder 40 in Southwest Philadelphia. This is the fewest number of lives lost to fire in Philadelphia history. This amazing milestone was accomplished during a year that started with the deactivation of five engines and two ladders. The Philadelphia Fire Dept.’s “Freedom from Fire” campaign, an aggressive fire-safety (Cont. Page 2)
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January 14, 2010
Saluting The “Dreamer” South Philly Prepares For MLK Day Of Service Text Alerts The 4th Police Dist. wants you to sign up for its brand-new text-message alert service. The new, innovative services which started at the end of 2009, sends messages from the 4th Police Dist. right to your phone or computer. Alerts include information on Citywide alerts, traffic alerts and community meetings via email or text messaging, through RSAN (Roan Secure Alert Network). According to Capt. Anthony Clark, he wants more people to register their contact information for this service on www.readynotifypa.org. (Cont. Page 2)
by R. George Linton Over three-hundred seniors are expected to participate in a day of activities to salute the dreamer, Martin Luther King, Jr., this Monday. Sponsored by community organizers and volunteers, the 3rd Annual Senior & Youth Inter-Generational Expo at Scottish Rite Towers will highlight a Day of Services saluting the civil-rights leader. The inter-generational day of festive celebration will take place next Monday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1525 & 1530 Fitzwater Street. Activities include a complimentary meal, a youth talent showcase (Cont. Page 2)
Anthony H. Williams: Champion of Change
Mike Fera Public Servant Of The Year 2010 Come celebrate with us our Public Servant of the Year 2010. We will be honoring Cement Masons Local 592 President/Business Manager MIKE FERA. A Celebratory Supplement and dinner will be Feb. 4th, 2010. For more information call John David:
215-755-2000 or John@PhillyRecord.com
ANTHONY H. WILLIAMS ...remembering a great Philadelphian
by Tony West Martin Luther King drew his power from other people. When he came to Atlanta or Chicago or Birmingham, he came not just as himself, but as many. In Philadelphia, some say, he arrived as Hardy Williams. The former State Senator, a native son of West Philadelphia, was a pioneer in the Northern civil-rights movement. When he died on Jan. 7, 2010 at the age of 78, he left behind a City transformed by a massive social and political evolution he had helped usher in. Williams was one of a handful of brilliant African American tacticians who found one Philadelphia in the (Cont. Page 12)
Ron Panepinto Jewelers 700 Sansom St. 215-923-1980
www.PanepintoJewelers.com We Buy Gold & Diamonds
Rep. Bill Keller: Dredging River Creates Jobs by Maria Merlino Could we finally see the start of the dredging of the Delaware River in 2010? That’s the hope of local Rep. Bill Keller. The Port of Philadelphia is one of the nation’s 14 strategic ports. New York has dredged the Hudson River to 50 feet. Philadelphia last did a major dredge during WWII, when it was dredged to a depth of 34 feet. “Here it is in a nutshell,” said State Rep. Bill Keller. “This project has been around for 15 years. Look at every airport. In the last 15-20 years, airports have expanded to make more runways. Just as airplanes have gotten bigger, ships are getting bigger.” He does the math for me. “If a ship is 34 feet, it needs at least that much plus a safety. We need to (Cont. Page 18)
Bill Keller is fighting for jobs…
Jim Stevenson 9371 ROOSEVELT BLVD. PHILADELPHIA, PA 19114 215-698-7000 JStevenson@ChapmanAutoGroup.com
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South Philadelphia Business Association Oldest Business Association in South Philadelphia – Chartered in 1897
www.phillyrecord.com
The South Philadelphia Public Record • Januray 14, 2010
To join as a member of the SPBA, please call: (215)-336-1108
1904 S. 30th Street Philadelphia, PA 19145 (215)-336-1108 (215)-336-1149 (fax) Executive Board: PresidentVice-PresidentSecretary/TreasurerExecutive DirectorPast-President
Board Members
Daniel Olivieri Vince DeFino Esq. Reggie Lozzi Edward J. Wright Jr. Louis Lozzi, Sr.
Board Members Denise D'Eletto Ralph Digneo Jackie Fitzpatrick Louis Galdo John Savarese
Growing SPBA Members Adobe Cafe - Mariano Herrerias A.J. Mechanical - John Franklin A.T. Hauling & Cleanouts - Scott Grayson Academy of Sacred Arts - Sr. Paula Allstate Insurance Agent - Michael Phillips Alpha Realty Group - Joseph Bianco Armando Rey Jewelers - Armando Rey Beneficial Savings Bank - Donna Gallagher Blue Suede Saloon - Bruce Ciampitti Bomb Bombs Restaurant - Frank Barbata Capozzi Real Estate - Barbara Capozzi Career Link - Basil Gordon Dir. Carmana Designs, Ltd. - Annamarie Vona Catch - Ray Pescatore Cedar Shopping Ctrs. Partshps - Bruce Nobile Century 21 - Stephanie Capocci Century 21 - Albert Perry Cheech’s Beef & Ale - Frank Spatocco Chickie’s Deli - Henry George Citizens Bank - Darlene Cellucci Clinical Research Serv. - Tracy Abraham R.N. Conestoga Bank - Jackie Fitzpatrick Creative Financial Group - Tom Hayn Decat Construction Company - Paul DeSantis DeFino Law Associates - Vince DeFino Esq. DeMarino Chiropractic Ctr. - James DeMarino Farmacia Drug Store - Bao Tran Foot Comfort Center - William Ciampitti Jr. Frank Genzano - Insurance Agent Frontier Co. Ken H. Chan Galdo’s Catering - Lou Galdo Gangemi Funeral Home - Vince Gangemi Gaetano P. Piccirilli Esq. Vince Giusini, Esq. Goebel Insurance Agency - Chris Goebel Gold Medel Disposal - Lou Gentile Goldstein’s Men’s Clothing - Vince Talatta Home Helpers - Ralph Digneo House Buying Solutions,LLC --Michael DeNoia Landmark Prof. Design - Vince Mancini La Veranda Restaurant - Antonio Cardillo Louis’ Tag Agency - Louis Cerino Lou’s Automotive - Louis Lozzi Sr. M & S. Garage - Sonny Marino Marra's Restaurant - Maurizio DeLuca Mason’s Local #592 - Mike Fera Mercury Realty - Greg Ferry Metro Men's Clothing - Tom Longo Micolex Pest Control - Michael Busillo Money Mailer of Philadelphia - Thomas Cimino Monti-Rago Funeral Home - Mark Rago
New York Bakery - Stephen Candeloro New York Life - Rosetta Conigliaro Olivieri Jewelers - Daniel Olivieri Oregon Window Co., Inc - Tony Nardy P.N.C. Bank - Chad Shank P.N.C. Bank - Joanne Baccari Pacifico Ford - Rocky DeGregorio Packer Café Inc. - Pete Ciarrocchi Ron Patterson, Esq. Paul Borriello - Century 21-Forrester Penna Burial Company Inc. - Victor Baldi Jr. Petal Pusher Florist - John Vacca Public Accountant - John S. Galati Phila. Family Medicine - Dr. Joseph DiRenzo Phila. Performing Arts School - Joan Pescatore Phil’s Excellent Auto Repair - Phillip Rick’s Point Breeze Ave. Business Assoc.Inc.Conrad Fuller-Pres Precise Realty - Ray Rizzo Presto Printing - John Savarese Professional Custom Tailoring - Pat Scioli Point Breeze Performing Arts - Alfred Brown Prudential Savings Bank - Nick DiGiannvittorio Public Record - Jim Tayoun Real Estate & Land Attys. Damon K. Roberts & Assoc. Rizzio’s General Auto Repairs - Mike Rizzio Scaramuzzi Construction Co. - Frank Scaramuzzi Sign - A- Rama Center City - Neal Herzog Simonetta’s Italian Deli - Philip Simonetta South Philly Orthodontic Assoc. - Steven Cohen South Philly Pretzel Factory - Sam Sklaroff Southern Auto Tags - Anthony Prisco Southwark Civic Association - Karen Brown Spectrum Realty - Mike Guida Stolfo Funeral Home - Paul Stolfo Sunoco Oil Refinery - John McCann Swan Caterer’s - Carmen D’Aquilante T.D. Bank - Roseanna Chiappetta The Cutting Point - Jerry Masciantonio Title Inusrance - Nick Palmer Today’s Styles - John Palella United Check Cashing - John Shegda United Savings Bank - Denise D’Eletto William Festa Realty - Ed LeClair Your Optimal Health LLC - Freddie Ganno Ron Donatucci- Register of Will JohnDelGaiso DDS. Michelle Eisenhower MD William Mestichelli, DDS
Paid for by funding through a DCED Grant, Commonwealth of PA
Fire Education Lowers Deaths (Cont. From Page 1) and education program, played a key role in reducing fire fatalities. “While even one Philadelphian perishing from fire is too many, I am proud that the Fire Dept. has been so successful in reducing the loss of life,” said Mayor Nutter. “A 23% reduction is astounding. Clearly the PFD’s focus on fire prevention has been a
winning strategy for the City.” The PFD responded to 268,996 emergency incidents in 2009, approximately a 1% increase from 2008. Of those, 221,133 were emergency-medical incidents and 47,863 requests fire and other 911 publicsafety services. Since 2008, the number of responses to fire requests declined by 2.5% and the number of
emergency-medical incidents increased by 1.9%. These numbers are in line with Department trends in service requests. “I would like to thank the men and women of the Philadelphia Fire Dept. for their diligence and commitment to the citizens of Philadelphia within their fire-safety and education districts,” said Commissioner Ayers.
FIRE COMMISSIONER Lloyd Ayers and Mayor Michael Nutter announced 2009 Fire Fatalities Statistics in Southwest Philadelphia Monday. In 2009, the Philadelphia Fire Dept. recorded a 23% reduction in fire fatalities. This is the lowest loss of lives by fire in Philadelphia’s history. Mayor Nutter and Commissioner Ayers are joined by Liberian and members of community at Ladder 40,Monday.
Seniors To Salute Dr. King (Cont. From Page 1) of acting, singing and musical interpretation, free health screenings, individual photo sessions, senior re-living storytelling and much more! “I look forward to the Day of Service each year. The show the youth and volunteers provide is a blessing and it’s nice to get recognized instead of overlooked as a senior in my community,” said Margaret Wright, Scottish Rite Tower resident. State Sen. Larry Farnese & State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson will be available for your questions at 1 p.m. Real Men Charities, Inc./Real Men Cook will provide the culinary delights. Entertainers Expressions from the Heart, Momma
Sylva, Ron Ross, Shadow Trax Media & Tanja Dixon will provide the music.
(Cont. From Page 1)
King Honored American Legion Henry Hill #385 hosts 15th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day of Service at Mt. Zion Pentecostal Church, 1226 Point Breeze Avenue, 9:30 a.m.
Helping A Child “Helping A Child Get An Education,” hosted by Southwark Civic Association and Colonzi Café, located on the
For more information, please call Tiye Thompson at (215) 768-5054. corner of 13th Street and Moymensing Avenue, will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Cost is $30 for a beef ‘n’ beer, in which proceeds go to giving “Colin”, a child in need, an education. Please come and support this worthy cause!
Membership Drive Variety Club of Philadelphia will host a membership party in Center City. “A Night of Laughs and Networking with Young Professionals” will take place at Helium Comedy Club on Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information,
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3 Guv Hopefuls Probe For Support
In his quest for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Allegheny Co. Executive Dan Onorato’s campaign announced this week it has passed $8 million in campaign donations. A number like that should enable him to run an effective primary campaign this winter
and spring, with ample funding for statewide workers and an advertising budget. Onorato has been sitting on a surplus of $2 million left over from his successful reelection bid in 2007. Onorato has been staffing up throughout the state, with a campaign manager, communications di-
rector and multiple political and field operatives. Official campaign-finance reports will be filed next month. If Onorato’s competitors have good numbers of their own to leak, expect them to be released before then, to offset the impression of a huge financial lead given by Onorato’s camp. If they wait until the February filing deadline – in that case, no news will be good news for Onorato.
Wagner Gains NE Penna. Backers
Sheriff Green’s Important Steps to Saving Your Home Step 1: Assemble your current financial information, and call your lender.
Step 2:
Visit www.phillysheriff.com to learn more about borrowers’ rights, loss mitigation and abusive servicing practices. Contact the Sheriff’s Office at 215-686-3525 for more information
Step 3: If you feel uncomfortable handling mortgage negotiations, consult a professional housing Counselor
Step 4: Take time to carefully investigate the offers you receive to avoid becoming a fraud victim Sheriff John D. Green Philadelphia
Two leaders of the Democratic Party in Northumberland Co. have announced their endorsement of Auditor General Jack Wagner for Governor. “We back Jack to be Pennsylvania’s next Governor because he has a proven track record of fighting for the interests of Pennsylvania families and taxpayers,” said Paul Niglio, chair of the Northumberland Co. Democratic Committee. “Jack has been an outstanding Auditor General, and he'll make an excellent Governor.” Niglio was joined by Democratic State Committeeman Jim Boylan. Wagner said he was honored by the early endorsement and excited about the momen-
tum that his campaign was gaining. “I look forward to working with these and other local leaders on the important issues facing Pennsylvania in the months and years ahead.” As Governor, Wagner has vowed to provide a HOPE Scholarship Program to help families afford the cost of higher education; to reform State government operations to provide vital services without raising taxes; to maximize the state’s new Marcellus Shale energy resources in an environmentally responsible way for Pennsylvania to become an energy leader; and to create high-quality jobs for its citizens. Wagner, twice elected with bipartisan support as the State’s independent fiscal watchdog, received recordbreaking vote totals in his reelection in 2008. He has been adding more supporters and endorsements every week to his campaign for Governor, including the chairs of Democratic Party Committees in Bedford, Cameron, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson, Lebanon, Lycoming and Somerset Cos., as well as the affiliated political-action committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council. Labor support
comes from Henry Nicholas, president of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees and president of District 1199c of the national union. Jack Wagner is a decorated Vietnam War combat veteran of the US Marine Corps, former member and president of the Pittsburgh City Council, and former State Senator representing Allegheny Co. Between the time of his military service and his service as an elected public official, Wagner worked his way through college on the GI Bill and as a paramedic, followed by 10 years working as a Certified Safety Professional, helping to ensure that businesses provide safe work environments for their employees. He was chosen by Pennsylvania families and taxpayers as Pennsylvania’s 50th elected Auditor General in 2004, and then he was reelected in 2008 with 3.3 million votes and 59% of the vote.
State GOP Opens City Branch
The Republican State Committee has established an outpost in Philadelphia that is independent of the Republican City Committee. It will be headed by Al Schmidt, who, last November, ran for City Controller on the GOP ticket. Prior to that race, he had served as RCC’s executive director. The State organization is looking for ways to increase the grass-roots structure of the City Party. It is planning to establish an office in the Fishtown area. The huge Democratic ad(Cont. Page 5)
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Daryl La Fountain Candidate In 2010
Senator Tina State Sen.
Shirley M. Kitchen 3rd Sen. District 1701 W. Lehigh Ave.Ste 104 • Philadelphia, PA 19132 215-227-6161 • www.senatorkitchen.com
For District 175
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1063 Bridge St. Philadelphia, PA 19124
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Hoeffel Receives SE Endorsement” "I’m thrilled to be endorsed by Philly for Change,” said Democrat Joe Hoeffel, candidate for Pennsylvania Governor. “Since Philly For Change was created five years ago, more people have been inspired to get involved in progressive electoral politics and advocacy cam-
paigns. This kind of civic engagement is vital.” Philly For Change endorsed Hoeffel at its first monthly meet-up of the year on Wednesday night. With more than 4,000 members, Philly For Change is one of the largest progressive organizations in the greater Philadelphia area. Since its founding in 2004 by a group of people who met while volunteering for Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, Philly For Change has been instrumental in helping to elect progressive-minded candidates
Specter Builds On Labor Foundation In a major showing of support for a longtime friend of labor, the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council unanimously endorsed five-term US Senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, for a sixth term in office at a rousing press conference at Sprinkler Fitters Local 692’s Northeast Philadelphia union hall on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Among the many notable labor leaders who joined the Senator on the jam-packed stage were Building Trades Business Mgr. Pat Gillespie, Sprinkler Fitters Local 692 Business Mgr. Wayne Miller, Cement Masons Local 592 Business Mgr. Mike Fera and IBEW Local 98 Business Mgr. John J. Dougherty. “Sen. Specter has been and continues to be a dear friend of the labor movement,” said Gillespie.
R EP. A NGEL C RUZ DISTRICT OFFICE 2749 N. 5th St. • 215-291-5643 Staffed by
Ready to Serve you
State Rep.
William Keller 184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street
215-271-9190
RONALD G. WATERS 191st Leg. District 6027 Ludlow Street, Unit A
215-748-6712
State Rep. Cherelle
Parker 200th Legislative District 1536 E. Wadsworth Ave. Phone: (215) 242-7300 Fax: (215) 242-7303 www.pahouse.com/Parker
State Rep.
Frank Oliver 195th District 2839 W. Girard Ave. Phila. PA 19130
215-684-3738 STATE SENATOR
LEANNA M. WASHINGTON DISTRICT OFFICE
1555-D Wadsworth Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19150 (215) 242-0472 Fax: (215) 753-4538 WEB SITE www.senatorwashington.com
Sestak Snags Pittsburgh Pols Democratic US Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak’s two-day tour of the Pittsburgh area brought him to the steps of the CityCounty building, where he accepted the endorsements of five key Pittsburgh Democratic leaders. Joe met with hundreds of Democrats to make his case for why he is the best choice for the Democratic Party.. At the news conference, Joe was joined by State Sen. Jim Ferlo, City Controller Michael Lamb, City Council Members Bruce Kraus and Doug Shields, and 14th Ward Chair Barbara DalyDanko. Ferlo, who was reelected to a second term at the end of 2006, urged Democrats who want a second Democratic Senator to support Joe Sestak” "Facing Republican Pat Toomey, Specter will lose and Sestak will win,” Ferlo said. “While Joe continues to work hard to become a house hold name here in Pittsburgh, he's been working hard for working family house holds in Congress. As Senator, Joe Sestak will be a leader for creating jobs, passing robust health
reform, and keeping our nation safe and sound.” These endorsements came as the climax of a whirlwind tour of Allegheny Co. In his bid to unseat incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter, who has cultivated 30 years of name recognition in Southwestern Pennsylvania, freshman Congressman Sestak has grown familiar in his native Southeastern Pennsylvania market but is still relatively unknown beyond it. On his way downtown, Joe made two more stops at a Veterans Care Center, followed by a Meet and Greet with University of Pittsburgh students. His visit to the Veterans Center comes in advance of his scheduled meeting with Veterans Affairs UnderSecretary for Health, Gerald Cross, with whom he will discuss ways to improve accountability and transparency when it comes to the facilities that care for our Veterans. At the University of Pittsburgh, Joe highlighted the need to do more to help students and their families afford college in this difficult time and his push for the Senate to pass key legislation to aid students..
The Philadelphia Flag Day Association and I are hosting a Presidential Idol Contest. Students in grades K-8 attending schools in Senate District 5 are invited to participate in a Presidents Day poster contest. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in a public speaking contest. Prizes will be awarded to one winner from each grade. The winner and their family will be honored at an awards breakfast on Presidents Day. For more information about this contest, please visit my website at www.senatorstack.com or call Mike Axelrod at 215-333-8604.
State Rep.
Parkwood Shopping Center 12361 Academy Road, Phila., PA 19154, 215-281-2539
1809 Oregon Ave, Phila., PA 19145
8016 Bustleton Avenue Philadelphia PA 19152 215-695-1020
ROBERT C. DONATUCCI 185th District 215-468-1515
Councilman Wm.
JOHN SABATINA JR.
Room 580 City Hall P. 215-686-3446/7 F. 215-686-1927
174th District State Representative 8100 Castor Ave Phila, PA 19152 Hours: 9am to 5pm Telephone: 215-342-6204
Greenlee
State Representative
for Governor of Pennsylvania. We are behind you 100% and will work for your success in the 2010 primary election. We wish you all the best!” “I am honored that the Wissahickon Democratic Committee has endorsed my candidacy for Governor,”said Hoeffel. “I look forward to working together in the months to come.” These Southeastern Pennsylvania endorsements may be the first of others to come. According to Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners, the greater Philadelphia region makes up 40% of the vote in the Democratic primary statewide vote. Hoeffel’s 41% of the vote in the Philadelphia suburbs is comparable to Onorato’s strength in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania (42%) and far outpaces Wagner’s strength in Central Pennsylvania (25%) and in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania (17%), and Doherty’s strength in North eastern Pennsylvania (25%). Hoeffel’s strength in the Philadelphia suburbs affords him an enormous – and unique – advantage in a General Election.
State Senator
REP. BRENDAN F. BOYLE 7215 B. Rising Sun Ave.
Larry Farnese First Senate District
Phila. PA 19111 • P (215)-342-1700
Tel. 215-952-3121
14230 Bustleton Ave.
1802 S. Broad St.• Phila. PA 19145
Phila.PA 19116 • P (215) 676-0300
www.SenatorFarnese.com
Open Mon. - Fri. 9:00 AM - 5 PM
Sen.Mike Stack SERVING THE 5TH DISTRICT
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Joe Evangelista • Debbie Toro
“Whether it's fighting to protect the Davis-Bacon Act and the principle of prevailing wages, leading the charge on health-care reform or championing the Delaware River dredging project, Arlen Specter has stood up for working families, which is why we are standing by him once again in this important election. “The Building Trades’ unanimous endorsement of Sen. Specter should send a clear signal that Philadelphials labor households believe Sen. Specter has earned a sixth term and we will do everything in our power to ensure his ultimate victory.”
to public office, including Congressman Patrick Murphy, Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez, and State Rep. Tony Payton, Jr., among others. Philly For Change is the Philadelphia affiliate of Democracy For America.” “We feel that Joe Hoeffel has the best vision, values, and experience to lead our Commonwealth through the next four years,” said Sam Durso, political director of Philly For Change. “His progressive stands on protecting our environment, creating green jobs, reforming health care, defending women’s reproductive freedom, and ending discrimination against the LGBT community set him above”the other candidates." Last night, Hoeffel received another Southeastern Pennsylvania endorsement from the Wissahickon Democratic Committee. Shelly Waldman, the committee’s chairperson, said, “The Wissahickon Democrats are proud to be the first area of the Montgomery Co. Democratic Committee to officially endorse you as our candidate
The Public Record • January 14, 2010
(Cont. From Page 4) vantage in registered voters in Philadelphia is now regarded as the chief obstacle Republicans must overcome to win statewide contests.
Page 5
Sestak Lands Pgh. Muscle
Page 6 The South Philadelphia Public Record • Januray 14, 2010
Branding Mummers To Raise Parade Money Southwark Gym of last year. The new merchandise program will be rolled out in two stages, the first being an online store featuring novelty printed-apparel, books, music and DVDs. A retail on-site program will begin in February at local museum gift-shops, tourist attractions and other appropriate retail venues. At that time, the merchandise
NB2, a Philadelphiabased apparel design company and online merchandiser, has partnered with SaveTheMummers.com to develop a unique merchandise-branding program to generate revenue to preserve the parade and legacy of the Mummers. The concept was presented to the Mummers by NB2 president Fred Lavner in the summer
line will expand to include such items as musical Mummer bobbleheads, wind-up fancy strutters, comic finger-puppets, musical-chip tees and much more. “I’ve always believed the Mummers are a Philadelphia folk icon and as important and relevant to Philly as Music City is to Austin, as the blues are to Memphis, as the Grand Ole Opry is to
Nashville and as jazz is to Chicago,” Lavner said. “Yet, virtually everything about Philadelphia souvenir merchandise is skewed to Ben, Betsy and the Bell. What about supporting the unique and longstanding tradition of our Mummers?” continued Lavner. For more information, please visit www.mummerabilia.com.
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by Saddie Agnes In a section of South Philly not lucky enough to have a recreation center or park in its backyard, the Southwark Civic Association has reopened a gym for the kids to play. Children can come in out of the cold and off the streets and play, exercise or just hang with their friends on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at South-
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wark School; it’s open and free. “Keeping the kids safe is our top concern,” said Southwark Civic President Karen Brown. “Getting the kids to come in and play keeps them safe and off the street diverts their energies from crime. Keeping the kids off the street helps keep or seniors safe.” For more information, please call (267) 246-6347.
YOUNG Bobby Gregerson III gets some help from volunteer spotter at Southwark Gym. Photo by Lee Buchanan
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Band”. I turned around just as four men of a certain age began to set up their equipment. I recognized Zambrano right away and I knew this was going to be a good show. I wasn’t disappointed. Their strong harmonies, vocals and perfection of instrumentation, coupled with songs ranging from The Temptations to the Eagles rocked a room full of The Fancy Division of The Vikings. After the set, I had to know more about this band. Zambrano directed me to Mark Sassano. “This guy is ridiculously humble! He’s a multi-talented musician and great at everything he does: vocals, backup vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar and harmonica. The reason why the band has such great harmonies is because of Mark’s patience to sit in front of his keyboard and literally figure out all the harmony parts. Even if some harmonies are really tough and intricate, Mark will find a way for us to get to it.”
Growing up in Epiphany Parish, Sessano was a typical rambunctious first-grader sitting in Room 101 with elderly Sister Collette as his teacher. “At the time,” Sassano divulges, “I was always getting reprimanded by the nun. I told my mother about it and she had a talk with Sister. She told the nun, ‘Don’t worry if you have to punish him, because when he comes home, I’ll punish him, too! Fortunately, the only pain I met was when my mom sent me to Payne’s Music for lessons!” By the time he was in the 10th grade at Bishop Neumann HS, he met fellow student and drummer Vince Schiavo. What was he like? “They say drummers are guys that hang out with musicians and are a dime a dozen. Nobody could be further away from that description than Vince,” expresses Sessano. “When I first met him, he was a keyboard player! Unlike most drummers, Vinnie actually knows music. Thirty (Cont. Page 18)
Union Labor... Building it right for a better and stronger community!
The South Philadelphia Public Record • January 14, 2010
A few years back, I had a desire to write an album of original material. My emotions were spilling out of me and fortunately they manifested into songs and music, and thankfully, not mischief and mayhem! I wanted each melody to have its own sound. I needed a doo-wop type of background for the first number called “Underneath A Star”. I immediately went to musician John Zambrano. Playing guitar since he was five years old, he was the lead singer and front man for The Spiral Staircase (who had a 1969 hit “More Today Than Yesterday”) and toured the south with them for a while in 1981. I went to his basementstudio and within a couple of hours, he created the perfect sound. I credited him for his talent on my CD and if it ever hits, Zambrano will share in the profits. A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting with friends in Quattro Bar and Grille when I saw a big banner on the wall that said “The Good Lovin’
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Good Lovin’
Laborers’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and vicinity is comprised of four unions: Local 135, Daniel L. Woodall, Jr., James Vail Business Manager L.E.C.E.T. Management Trustee Local 332, Samuel Staten, Jr., Vincent Primavera, Sr. Business Manager L.E.C.E.T. Management Trustee Local 413, James Harper,Sr., Fred Chiarlanza Business Manager L.E.C.E.T. Management Trustee Local 57, Walt Higgins Harry Hopkins Business Manager L.E.C.E.T. Management Trustee Laborers District Council, Ryan N. Boyer, Business Manager. Samuel Staten, Sr., Business Manager Emeritus of the Laborers’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity and Local 332. Laborers’ District Council promotes a safe work environment, jobs completed on time and on budget, and represents union members, who are well trained, productive, professional, and take pride in their work. Union labor…building better and safer communities in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. This ad is presented by LECET
Web: www.ldc-phila-vic.org Administrator, Juan Ramos
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The Laborers Employers Cooperation and Education Trust 319 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Telephone: 215-922-6139 Fax: 215-922-6109
Page 8 The Public Record • Januray 14, 2010
by Michael A. Cibik, Esq. American Bankruptcy Board Certified Question: Why is “current monthly income” not current
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take the average of your gross income from all sources – another point of controversy – for the last six months. We then divide this by 6 to get a “current monthly income” and then multiply this by 12 to find out what your income for a year would be at the rate of the average gross income you received during the past 6 months. Then we compare this to the median income for your state and for a family your size to see if you are above or below the median income. However, once we figure out the current monthly income, that’s not necessarily what you’d pay to the Chapter 13 trustee during the course of a Chapter 13 plan. That’s because in Chapter 13, you pay “projected monthly income”, which is not necessarily the same as “current monthly income”. But what the heck is “projected monthly income”? We don’t really know, because that term is not defined in the Bankruptcy Code and it will take a Supreme Court decision to finally figure out what it means. More about that another time! Next week’s question: Why do creditors rarely show up at a Chapter 7 Meeting of Creditors Hearing?
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where vaccinations are offered, visit flu.gov for a list of locations by Zip Code. “The H1N1 flu continues to be a health threat, so this is no time to be complacent,” said Tom Foley, American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter CEO. “The supply for the vaccine is no longer an issue, and we don’t know whether another wave of H1N1 will occur. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is by being vaccinated.” In the fall of 2009, the supply of H1N1 vaccine was lim-
ited, but now the vaccine is readily available. The vaccine was developed in the same manner as the seasonal-flu vaccine, manufactured using the same standards and quality-control measures, and is considered safe. Even though the number of people getting the flu is decreasing, the H1N1 virus is still a threat. In the past, sea-
sonal flu usually peaked in January or February and occurred as late as May. H1N1 first appeared in the spring of 2009, and reoccurred in the fall. Officials for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention caution that they still don’t know what seasonal-flu outbreaks will be like this year, and if there will be additional waves of H1N1.
Besides vaccination, there are other simple steps to take to help prevent the spread of the flu. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve; cough into the elbow area, not hands. Wash hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid close contact with people who are sick and please stay home if
MEDICAL RECORD you are sick yourself. The Red Cross has educational tools available to help households, schools and workplaces be well informed and promote healthy habits that help reduce the spread of the flu. Visit redcrossphilly.org for more information.
The Public Record • January 14, 2010
The H1N1 (swine) flu virus is still prevalent across the nation and the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania joins with the national American Red Cross to encourage everyone to get vaccinated against the virus, now that the vaccine is widely available. National Influenza Vaccination Week, now through Jan. 16, serves as an opportunity for people to learn how to prevent the spread of the flu and to encourage people and their loved ones to get vaccinated against both H1N1 and seasonal flu. To find out
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Page 10 The Public Record • Januray 14, 2010 www.phillyrecord.com
As promised, this week, Trunk Man is taking a close-up look at some key State races in Philadelphia. Obviously, it is not necessary to discuss all of them, but there are certain seats worth analyzing. The race that tops everyone’s list of races to watch is the open gubernatorial race in the Keystone State. The primary election field for the Elephants just got cut short with the exit of moderate CONGRESSMAN JIM GERLACH from the Southeast. That leaves frontrunner ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT, of Bonusgate fame, and conservative STATE REP. SAM ROHRER, of Berks Co. With Gerlach in the race, it was a safe bet to place the AG at the front of the pack, considering Rohrer’s low name-ID in a three-way primary. Now, it turns into a two-way primary between a moderate establishment candidate and a conservative outsider. Let us keep in mind the 2004 primary between ARLEN SPECTER and PAT TOOMEY. See any parallels? Now, keep in mind the potential 2010 primary between Specter and Toomey. Specter jumped ship because he did not want just that race. Things are slightly different in this race, however. Corbett’s negatives among conservatives are nowhere near where Specter’s were and Rohrer will not be as well financed as Toomey. Unless the tea-baggers can drum up enough grassroots support for Rohrer, Corbett should win this primary pretty handily. The General Election matchup is anybody’s guess. No matter who wins the Donkey race, the fall will be played out as Corbett vs. Democrat. Given recent elections of GOP Governors to Dem seats in New Jersey and Virginia, and adding in Corbett’s popularity and high nameID in the state, the General Election is a foregone conclusion. Trunk Man’s prediction: Corbett wins. There are a few State legislative races worth watching as well. First, in the 170th Dist. in Northeast Philadelphia, can STATE REP. BRENDAN BOYLE hold onto the seat he won in the midst of a Democratic wave in 2008? Probably. Because if the GOP’s failure to field (as yet) a top-tier candidate to face this lackluster incumbent, Boyle seems a safe bet for reelection. Trunk Man’s prediction: Boyle wins. The other hot seat is again in the Northeast’s 172nd Dist., held by former SPEAKER JOHN PERZEL. Rumored Donkeys are KEVIN BOYLE (brother to State Rep. Brendan), along with past candidates TIM KEARNEY and RICH COSTELLO. Given that neither Kearney nor Costello made great inroads on their turns, Trunk Man suspects Boyle will be (Cont. Page 17)
Yo! Here we go again. At breakfast one morning, I decided to have a cup of instant coffee. As I drank it, I read the label and saw that it was “freeze-dried”. Hmm, I wondered ... what was freeze-drying? So off to the trusty internet, where I searched and gathered these facts about this interesting subject. I am sure you have seen freezer burn – the dried-out crust which forms on food that has been in the freezer too long or wasn’t wrapped correctly. It is caused by evaporation. Water molecules, even when something is frozen solid, move fast enough to fly off the surface of the food. They either get pulled back – slam into air molecules and bounce back onto the food – or fly off into space. Freezer burn is also known as “sublimation” and that is what freezedrying is – drying something out while it is still frozen. In the 19th century, scientists discovered that a vacuum chamber speeds sublimation. They tried for the next 50 years to speed up sublimation in a practical process and they finally succeeded. They then began to freeze-dry anything and everything. The first practical uses were in the medical field. By WWII, blood plasma and penicillin went to war. Freeze-dried instant-coffee tablets were also in the GI’s “K” rations. Ten years after WWII, food companies poured millions of dollars into making freeze-dried foods. The challenge was not so much thinking of such foods, but making freeze-dried foods palatable. The possibilities seemed limitless. Hundreds of freeze-dried products hit the market. A few, like freeze-dried coffee, made it, but most freeze-dried products wound up as flops. For example, cereal with freeze-dried strawberries and bananas. It turned out freezedried fruit only gets soft on the outside but stays crunchy on the inside, and, if left to soak in the milk, the cereal becomes soggy waiting for the fruit to re-absorb the milk. And how about freeze-dried ice cream? Same problem. They tried freeze-dried steak, which looked like a brownish sponge. Supposedly, by soaking it in hot water for a few moments, the “sponge” blossomed into a steak that was supposed to taste almost as good as one from the local butcher. It didn’t. What really killed the idea was that the freeze-dried steak cost more than a good T-bone steak – but tasted like a “beef sponge.” Well, back to the drawing board they went. There will be more about freeze-drying in another of my columns – look for it.
What my column for this week was going to discuss became kind of obvious when I heard the news former State Sen. Hardy Williams had died due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. While I may be a Philadelphian by choice and not by birth, I know enough about this city’s African American community to know the late Sen. Williams was a big part of it. I know he was the first legitimate African American candidate for Mayor in this city’s history and he had to take on the Democratic City Committee machine to pull that off. I also knew there are a lot of politicians who owe their political careers to his hard work, particularly W. Wilson Goode, John Street and Michael Nutter, the three African Americans who eventually went on to hold the City’s highest office. But what I found out through interviewing the people who knew, worked with, loved and respected Sen. Hardy Williams is he wanted people to know that when Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” he was talking about representative government. “He wanted people to understand that you can’t complain about your government if you don't demand anything from it,” said his son, State Sen. Anthony Williams. “He used politics to make demands on behalf of people who felt that they weren’t being heard by their government.” While he was an Ivy League-educated man with a list of accomplishments that would intimidate anyone with whom he could have come in contact, Williams was a man who felt at home within any group he talked with, said Lynette Brown-Sow, a longtime family friend who also worked for Williams. “He was a Renaissance Man who worked in the grass roots,” she said. “He could go from the White House to public housing and could relate to anyone.” Williams organized the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus in 1972, and served five terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before being elected to the State Senate in 1982.He also created or oversaw several community-service groups including the Crisis Intervention Network, Black Family Services, Blacks Networking for Progress and the 8th Dist. AIDS Task Force. (Cont. Page 13)
SNOOPER’S “SPECIAL” MEMO: (EMAIL) this comes from a person who is disgruntled with THE P.P.A. (Philadelphia Parking Authority). Chief, he stated, “The PPA stinks, and all they want to do is make money and they don’t care how they do it. These people are ‘heartless’ and are very arrogant”. Sir, if I may, let me inform you of some interesting facts that I would like you to know. (1) You are absolutely WRONG with every thing you have told me in your letter of frustration. I went to their Administration offices at 3101 Market Street. There I met a very pleasant receptionist named MARY KATE DOUGHERTY, one who really cares about every person she meets, and I can tell you she does whatever it takes to take care of their specific problems. I also met a very pleasant and absolutely professional person, SUE CORNELL. She happens to be the Executive Secretary to CARL CIGLAR; this is The Man! (2) The P.P.A. is absolutely concerned about THE SAFETY of every one who drives here in Philadelphia and their facts and figures prove this point very well. THANK GOD FOR THE P.P.A.! SNOOPER SIGHTINGS: Whew – I thought I went to POLITICAL HEAVEN as I stepped into THE KIMMEL CENTER. The first person I spotted was our new D. A., HON. SETH WILLIAMS, and he looked really excited and ready to do THE JOB. Here comes a slew of this City’s top Judges, including The Chief Justice of this State, HON. RONALD CASTILLE. There goes LYNNE ABRAHAM, the former District Attorney, and she had some pep as she was walking towards The Center. Here comes both President Judges of The Courts, HON. PAMELA PRYOR DEMBE and HON. MARSHA NEIFIELD. I just saw HON. FREDERICA MASSIAH JACKSON, President Judge “Emerita”, going up the steps. Yo Chief, I also saw you and The Boss, and both of you looked really excited about this HISTORIC EVENT. The Public Record congratulates SETH WILLIAMS and ALAN BUTKOVITZ. SNOOPER’S POLICE BLOTTER BUREAU: The family whose SON was shot and killed by SGT. FRANK TEPPER, Police Officer, asked us to thank COMMISSIONER CHARLES RAMSEY for his swiftness in dealing with this tragedy. They are also elated, that finally A GRAND JURY was impaneled to investigate the actions of this Police Officer. The Police Commissioner, after reviewing all the facts in this case, FIRED this Officer. I’m told by one of the family members there will also be a CIVIL SUIT filed in this case, regardless of the (Cont. Page 17)
Page 11 The Public Record • January 14, 2010
King Day Of Service:
It’s Still Making History! Service Act to transform the King holiday into a nationwide call to citizen action. President Clinton signed this legislation into law later that year on Aug. 23, which created the national Martin Luther King Day of Service. In 1996, Bernstein organized the first King Day of Service in the nation in Philadelphia. Some 1,000 volunteers, particularly Philadelphia public-school students and AmeriCorps national-service members, turned out for dozens of King Day of Service projects, just days after the city had been paralyzed by the largest snowfall in its history. In 1997, the Day of Service expanded beyond Philadelphia’s boundaries into surrounding Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Cos. and drew more than 3,000 volunteers. In January 2003, the Day of Service expanded beyond the fivecounty southeastern Pennsylvania region into Camden Co., N.J. More than 30,000 volunteers participated in 500 projects. The following year, Burlington Co. was added and some 40,000 people volunteered in about 500 projects throughout the seven-county region. In January 2005, the 10th annual King Day of Service drew another record turnout – 45,000 volunteers in nearly 600 service projects. A Kids’ Carnival was added at the signature project focusing on teaching hundreds of children, ages 5-12, about Dr. King and how kids could follow his example of helping others. After campaigning for years to use the Greater Philadelphia organizing
model for a nationwide expansion effort through the Corporation for National and Community Service, Bernstein was asked by David Eisner, CNCS CEO, to help lead such an effort. In 2006, the Greater Philadelphia event expanded once more, with 50,000 volunteers serving throughout Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware in some 700 projects. In January 2008, the 13th annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service drew more than 60,000 volunteers in nearly 750 service projects. Throughout the spring and summer of 2009, MLK365 organized weekly projects for King Day of Service partners and others. MLK365 staff worked with sponsors to help design and implement ongoing corporate employee volunteer programs. Planning is underway for the 15th annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service, with an expected more than 65,000 volunteers and 900 projects. The signature project, with more than 3,000 expected volunteers, will take place at historic Girard College in North Philadelphia on the 45th anniversary of Dr. King’s demonstrating and speaking outside the exclusive school’s entrance gates, calling for a court reversal of its discriminatory admissions policies. What started 15 years ago as a project in Philadelphia has grown into a national movement in hundreds of cities and towns, with more and more projects turning into sustainable service opportunities and ongoing partnerships. MLK365 and the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther
King Day of Service are programs of Global Citizen, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement, community volunteering, civic responsibility, and sustained active citizenship among diverse groups, particularly young people. Global Citizen promotes democracy building, voter education, and participation and brings together people of all ages and backgrounds to build ongoing service partnerships, resulting in growing understanding of how much more we have in common than our differences.
CHRISTINE JANE Brown, former president of the United Way of Southeastern Penna. and co-chair of Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, paints a mural at Strawberry Mansion HS in 2001 project.
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After years of campaigning by individuals and groups across the nation, President Ronald Reagan signed into law on Nov. 2, 1983 a bill making the third Monday in January a national holiday to celebrate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The first national King holiday was observed in 1986, 18 years after his death. In 1988, Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry Harris Wofford, a close friend and colleague of Dr. King during the Civil Rights movement, and his executive assistant, Todd Bernstein, had a conversation one evening in Harrisburg just days before the King holiday. They discussed the irony of how so many had lobbied for a federal holiday honoring Dr. King and yet, in the two years since the national observance started, it was becoming for millions just another day off. They were particularly concerned that young people might use the holiday to simply sleep late, go to a mall or watch television. Wofford knew Dr. King would be appalled if he was aware young people were doing nothing on the day to celebrate his life of action and fighting for social justice. The discussion between Wofford and Bernstein focused on an idea of uniting diverse groups to engage in a community-building process, to turn concerns about societal challenges into citizen action, and building ongoing partnerships. In 1994, while serving in the US Senate from Pennsylvania, Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, both colleagues of Dr. King during the civil-rights movement, coauthored the King Holiday and
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Hardy Williams:
The Public Record • Januray 14, 2010
Champion Of Change
I am proud to celebrate the legend of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With all my constituents! Congressman
ROBERT BRADY
(Cont. From Page 1) 1960s and turned it into a different Philadelphia by the 1980s. His generation also included the likes of Lucien Blackwell, Bill Gray, Cecil B. Moore, Charles W. Bowser and C. DeLores Tucker. The apparatus of official Jim Crow did not exist where Williams grew up. But although they were already the most numerous single ethnic group in town, Blacks were underrepresented and underempowered in the city’s political establishment. Williams, a talented lawyer, swore to change that. Zeroing in on the power of the vote, he worked to develop a new breed of streetwise young politicians who worked together to drive for structural changes in City and State governments. They did not wait to be given offices; rather, they fought to win them. “He was the father of independent politics,” recalls Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, whose husband Lucien Blackwell was then, like Williams, a rising ward leader in West Philly . “We had a poster as big as a billboard and all campaigned for him when he ran for Mayor in 1971. Those were exciting times.” Williams was the first Black to seek the Mayoralty. “He didn’t win,” notes State
Hardy Williams Sen. Shirley Kitchen, “but the number of votes he received made everyone realize an African American could win in the city of Philadelphia.” In years to come, he would be followed by Lucien Blackwell and Charles Bowser. Finally, in 1983, W. Wilson Goode, Sr. succeeded. All three of them learned politics at Williams’ side. Williams pushed to get Goode named managing director under Mayor Bill Green III – the springboard from which he won citywide elective office. “Hardy Williams was the vanguard,” says David Fattah, founder of the House of Umoja, a trailblazing West Philadelphia youth worker of that era. “Vincent Hughes, Chaka Fattah, Curtis Jones, David Richardson, Blondell Reynolds Brown and many more – all received an impetus from Williams.” All these persons went on to illustrious
careers in City Council, Harrisburg or Philadelphia. Winning campaigns begin with voter registration and Williams was a lifelong crusader to pump minority registration. His lawyerly acuity led him to many a victory before the Board of Elections. As it grew clear Williams could deliver votes, that in turn enabled him to become a powerbroker. At his Black Political Forum on 52nd Street, and at churches around the city, Williams schooled a rising generation of Black leaders. “The communities met as one and discussed strategies,” Kitchen relates. “He was the person who pushed them all together.” He was the first educated, well-credentialed man that I thought was still cool,” Jones, now a Councilman, remembers. “The four coolest guys are Sean Connery, John Shaft, Barack Obama and Hardy Williams.” To politics, Williams brought both personal charm and mental precision. A funny, generous and handsome man, he could walk into any bar in West Philadelphia and connect with citizens. “He had more balance, in my eyes, than all the rest of us ever since,” Kitchen judges. “He could do the political strategy but also the human emotions. Since then, I (Cont. Page 13)
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Celebrating the Achievements and Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. May We Take His Example in the Service of our communities
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
STATE SENATOR
CHRISTINE M. TARTAGLIONE
--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Rep. Jim Roebuck Salutes the life and legacy of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
1061 Bridge St Phila. PA 19124 215-533-0440
Norris Square 127 W. Susquehanna Ave. Phila. PA 19122 215-291-4653
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(Cont. From Page 12) haven’t seen anybody else that’s been able to do that.” And he was brave. He backed down from no chal-
lenge. “But he was not intractable,” says Jones. He knew how to deal when the time was right. Observers credit Williams with clearing
Out & About
tribute, which will feature speakers including Mayor Nutter, former Mayor Goode, State Rep. Dwight Evans and Philadelphia Daily News columnist Elmer Smith begins promptly at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 10 a.m at the Sharon Baptist Church, 3955 Conshohocken Avenue. There will be a viewing at 8 a.m. The burial itself will be private. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Hardy Williams Education Fund. Please send all contributions to the GPUAC/Hardy Williams Education Fund, P.O. Box 25250, Philadelphia, PA 19119.
(Cont. From Page 10) But, while trying to help those most in need could make someone feel hopeless at times, that was never the case with Williams, said Paul Bennett, a longtime friend and aide to the Senator. “He was an eternal optimist,” he said. “He always saw the bright side, the positive side.” A Tribute to Hardy Williams: The Man and the Movement will be held tonight at 6 p.m. at the Bible Way Baptist Church, 1323 N. 52nd Street. There will be a viewing at the church from noon to 5:30 p.m. and the
the path for Ed Rendell’s successful primary run for Mayor in 1991. His own career took him to the General Assembly, first as State Representative and then as State Senator. There, he fought to deal with
issues that mattered to West Philadelphia: housing, welfare and minority inclusion. His political legacy, though, may lie in another role. “My father was driven to get people to understand certain lessons in life,” says his son, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, who took
over his father’s seat in 1999. “He was always trying to teach. “His legacy is established. Yet to complete that legacy is our responsibility. He created the foundation, the platform; it is our generation’s duty to figure out what we’re going to do with it – to participate in government at its
highest level.” Teachers leave lessons behind. And lessons are memories in other people. Says Falaka Fattah, David’s wife and the Queen Mother of the House of Umoja, “In the African tradition, you are not dead as long as you are remembered.”
The Public Record • January 14, 2010
Champion Of Change
Proudly Celebrating
The Memory Of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. www.phillyrecord.com
Raymond A. Pescatore, CEO Edward C. Mintzer, Jr., Chairman Royal E. Brown, Vice Chairman Emilio R. Matticoli, Treasurer
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The Public Record • Januray 14, 2010
Page 14
cial breeders that kept their breeding stock in filthy, crowded conditions in order to produce as many offspring as possible at the lowest cost. Not only was it inhumane for the animals, a large number of dog buyers later found themselves with beloved pets afflicted by chronic health problems related to puppymill conditions. McGeehan, who supported the tougher standards enacted in 2008, said many of the operators have turned their remaining dogs over to shelters, which are under strain to handle the sudden influx. Shelters have been screening the puppy mill refugees for physical and behavioral problems and providing treatment. “The cost of adoption is
minimal and usually involves just paying for spaying or neutering,” said McGeehan. “With most of these dogs being pure-breeds, that’s a great bargain, both in costsavings and in the amount of love one will get back from a rescued dog. “If anyone is seriously considering adopting a fourlegged companion, they can visit a local shelter and see what I mean.” McGeehan added for the locations of area animal shelters, one can go to the website of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at http://www.pspca.org, or can reach it through his website at www.pahouse.com/McGeehan.
State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas last week was appointed by House Speaker Keith McCall to serve as chairman of the House Urban Affairs Committee. Thomas said he was asked by the speaker to fill a vacancy. “While I have enjoyed my tenure as chairman of the House Intergovernmen-
tal Affairs Committee, I am excited to take on the responsibilities of my new position,” Thomas said. Thomas said his new chairmanship will allow him to oversee the movement of legislation that would impact all Pennsylvania cities, including his legislative District in Philadelphia. He said the Committee
currently has before it approximately 30 bills regarding issues such as abandoned properties, casino neighborhood improvement districts, City audits, and landlord and tenant conduct. “I look forward to the diverse challenges this new chairmanship will afford me,” Thomas said.
Lynne Calls Halt To Shooting
The Public Record • January 14, 2010
When the New Year rang in, Pennsylvania’s new puppy-mill law went into force, and commercial dogbreeding operations that could not meet the improved breeding-kennel standards had to close. State Rep. Mike McGeehan says the result is that the public has an opportunity to benefit both themselves and the puppy-mill survivors. Now commercial breeding facilities must adhere to sanitation and cage-size standards, along with specific levels of veterinary care, ventilation and fire detection. Unable or unwilling to meet the new standards, more than 100 commercial operations shut down, hopefully ending Pennsylvania’s reputation as a haven for commer-
Thomas Named To Chair Urban Affairs Committee
Page 15
McGeehan Says Adopt Puppy-Mill Survivors
CRIMEFIGHTERS from across city joined outgoing DA Lynne Abraham as she pressed to bring a halt to New Year’s Eve shooting.
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Page 16 The Public Record • Januray 14, 2010 www.phillyrecord.com
Our Opinion ... What Would King Do Now? Each year, on the third Monday of the first month, we continue to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., arguaby the most influential civil-rights leader of the 20th century. What he accomplished in his too-short lifetime was integral for the movement in which many people fought so rigorously to bring to the forefront of society. And the changes that came about as a result of their courageous battle are evident today. After all, who would have thought way back in 1964, when Dr. King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, that one day within the next 45 years, we would elect an African American to the most prominent office in our mighty nation? Much progress has been made in the fight to end racial segregation and discrimination since his time. Moving forward, it seems as if much of Dr. King’s work has been accomplished. Clearly, the results are imperfect and we still have not eliminated all abuses against underprivileged and minority citizens. But the civil-rights movement of the 1960s has progressed to a point where some challenges have been overcome and less work is needed than before. Numerous other social issues have yet to be addressed, to which we must devote our attention today. The questions remain: What does our generation want to be our legacy? And how should we define our accomplishments as a people? The civl-rights leaders of yesteryear are slowly dwindling away with time. It is now time to take up a new battle in the war for social change. It is now time for each citizen of today’s United States of America to become “your own King.” The myriad community-service projects that are offered throughout Philadelphia as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service provide a tremendous way to promote the idea of doing good for one another. It is also a great way to honor the feats and sacrifices of the men like Dr. King who came before us. Pewrhaps, in your act of service, you will discover a new issue that matters to you and to all of us. Where is our society lacking today? Which cause is worth struggling for? You, the King of tomorrow, must decide for yourself.
Jan. 15- Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.’s Recession Buster fundraiser at Park Avenue, 4942 Parkside Ave., 7 p.m.12 a.m. Food and music. Tickets $20. Jan. 16- State Rep. Ronald G. Waters hosts annual Community Service Awards Gala and Banquet. 5 p.m. at Renaissance Phila. Hotel Airport, 500 Stevens Dr. Jan. 18- Senior & Youth Inter-Generational Expo at Scottish Rite Towers, 1525 & 1530 Fitzwater St. Jan. 18- Phila. Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management offers free Personal & Family Emergency Preparedness Workship at 9:15 a.m. and Pet Emergency Preparedness Workshop at 10:45 a.m. during MLK Day of Service at Armory of Girard College, Girard Ave. &
Corinthian St. To register email oem@phila.gov or call (215) 683-3250. Jan. 18- American Legion Henry Hill #385 hosts MLK Day of Service at Mt. Zion Pentecostal Church, 1226 Point Breeze Ave., 9:30 a.m. Honoring community leaders. Jan. 18- National Constitution Ctr. celebrates life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Music, drama, crafts and quilting service project for Women Against Abuse. First 1,000 visitors receive free admission to the National Constitution Center, compliments of Merck. Jan. 18- Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania sponsors African American Museum in Philadelphia’s commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Free admission as well as special events, including Citizens Bank Scavenger Hunt for Heritage, aimed at helping children learn about Museum and African American history. 701 Arch St. 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Jan. 18- 14th Annual Playing For The King at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 70th & Woodland Aves., 2-5 p.m. Jan. 18- Jonathan Saidel hosts Remember The Dream fish & chicken fry at Genesis Tavern, 4421 Wayne Ave., 2-6 p.m. Tix $12. For info Andrew Davis (215) 805-4691. Jan 18- “Friends of Karen Brown” host dinner at Malone’s Café, 18th & Ritner Sts., 6:30-10 p.m. For info Gene Van Arsdale (215) 6882917. Jan. 21- Symbolic Ringing of Liberty Bell, sponsored by Phila. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ass’n for Nonviolence Inc. at Liberty Bell Pavilion, 5th & Market Sts., 11 a.m.12 p.m. Jan. 21- State Rep. Cherelle Parker with 9th Ward Leaders John O’Connell and Kenneth Powell, Jr. will host 9th Ward town-hall meeting at Jenks MS, 8301 Germantown Ave., 7-9 p.m. For info (215) 2427300. Jan. 22- Council President
Anna C. Verna and State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson host special Energy Workshop at Preparatory Charter School of Math, Science, Technology & Careers, 1928 Point Breeze Ave., 2 p.m. Jan. 23- Campaign kickoff for State Rep candidate Will Mega at Club Damani, 638 N. 66th St. Cocktails and announcement 8-10 p.m. AfterParty 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Feb. 1- Tom Johnson hosts Brady Bunch Winter “Ski” Party at Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd & Spring Garden Sts., 69 p.m. Feb. 4- Maurine McFarlane, author of “Release the Prophetic Destiny in
Philadelphia, a City Under Reconstruction,” signs book signs at Penn Book Store, 3601 Walnut St., 5-7 p.m., in celebration of Black History Month. For info (215) 8985965. Feb. 10- Germantown Republican Club hosts Attorney General Tom Corbett as guest of honor at 121st annual dinner at Union League, 6 p.m. Tickets $65. For info Jack Morley (215) 389-1768. Feb. 20- Annual National Italian American-PAC Carnevale at Loews Phila. Hotel, 1200 Market St., 6 p.m.-12 a.m. Honorees Sal Patti, Anthony Cagano, Lorraine Ranalli and Donna M.
Fluehr. Feb. 26- 44th Ward Democrats’ Evening of Jazz at Cousin Danny’s Banquet Hall, 50th & Market Sts., 610. Tickets $150. For info (215) 429-4819. Mar. 4- 1st Annual, 82nd Airborne All American Dinner and Award Ceremony, location TBA, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. David H. Oh, Esq., Chairman, Hajdak-Mokan Chapter, 82nd Airborne Ass’n. For info (215) 5692800, ext. 1157. Apr. 17- Ducky Birts’ Medallion Awards Banquet at 1st Dist. Plaza, 3801 Market St., 6:30 p.m. Tickets $65 each, two for $100.
Elephant Corner (Cont. From Page 10) the Democratic nominee. Fumo was able to control his seat from under the shadow of an indictment and Trunk Man thinks Perzel will too. Only this time, it will be Perzel and not a surrogate. The common theme in the voter-rich heart of the District, Mayfair, is Perzel has done too much good to be outweighed by these charges. Trunkman’s prediction: Perzel wins his last term and Boyle is the 2012 frontrunner. STATE REP. JOHN TAYLOR, of the 177th Dist., should always be vulnerable but never is. Taylor is known to work his District hard during election and non-election years. This man is able to fit in at Harrisburg’s most elite watering holes and the corner bars in
Rocky has been in the auto business since 1994. He has been recognized by Ford Motor Company with numerous achievements including Master Certified in car and trucks. He’ll use his experience to help you maximize your benefits and reduce your expenses!
PROUDLY MANAGING PENNSYLVANIAʼS INTERNATIONAL SEAPORT SINCE 1990
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority A Promising Future By Championing the Channel-Deepening Project And Substantial Port Expansion
Once Again, We Thank Gov. Ed Rendell For Giving Our Port A Great Opportunity And
John H. Estey, Esq. Chairman
James T. McDermott, Jr. Executive Director
Senior Deputy Executive Director
John F. Dempsey
Deputy Executive Director Administrative Offices: 3460 N. Delaware Ave. 2nd Fl., Phila., PA 19134 (215) 426-2600 • Fax (215) 426-6800 www.philaport.com
2400 E. Somerset Street Philadelphia, PA 19134
mate politico who was RESPECTED by everyone. Whenever you uttered the word F-I-R-S-T, you immediately thought of him: HON. HARDY WILLIAMS. He was a former STATE SENATOR, WARD LEADER and first-class GENTLEMAN. His son stepped in to take his Dad’s place. All loved this man who had done so much for his beloved Philadelphia. R.I.P. He was a true “class act” who even became friends with HON. FRANK L. RIZZO!
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Kensington. Trunk Man’s prediction: Taylor wins easily. STATE REP. DENNY O’BRIEN, in the Far Northeast’s 169th Dist., has gone unopposed in each election since his reelection in 2000 – well, sort of. In 2008, with nobody filed to run against him, a write-in candidate emerged in an attempt to secure a spot on the Democratic ballot in November. O’Brien ran a counter-campaign and won big. Will the Democratic Party in this area try to save face and run a credible opponent, or will they realize that doing so will once again result in a resounding defeat, leading to greater embarrassment? Trunk Man would relish seeing the Donkeys lose so big in Philadelphia, but also likes seeing an Elephant running unopposed. It’s a win-win for the GOP. Trunk Man’s prediction: O’Brien wins. Once again, Trunk Man is upset that the only races which matter to the GOP in Philly are those just discussed. Maybe one day we will expand our horizons. See ya on the campaign trail, my politicking pachyderm pals!
response to a lot of calls he was receiving about his supposed retirement. He asked we correct the so-called ‘reliable source’ who gave us the item, saying, “I AM NOT RETIRING”. David was glad his many friends cared and were worried about him. His engagement, on the other hand, is TRUE. SNOOPER’S POLITICAL NEWS BUREAU: It is with a ‘heavy heart that I must inform all of you a POLITICAL ICON has passed on. He was the ulti-
The Public Record • January 14, 2010
(Cont. From Page 10) outcome of CRIMINAL ACTIONS. The family stated, “OUR SON was ‘murdered’ for NO REASON!” This Officer has been in trouble before, shooting his gun, yet there was
NOTHING DONE about it. Commissioner Ramsey, thanks! SNOOPER SCOOPER: HON. DAVID LAWRENCE, Court Administrator for the 1st Judicial Dist., stated, “RUMORS OF MY DEATH HAVE BEEN GREATLY EXAGGERATED.” This was in
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Snooper
Page 18 The South Philadelphia Public Record • Januray 14, 2010
Still Rocking In S. Philly (Cont. From Page 7) years and I’m still fascinated by how he can handle any cockamamie vocal harmony we give him from behind the drums. What a gift he has!” Under the name of Junction, they played their own sophomore hop, junior and senior proms in addition to after-hours clubs and private parties. Zambrano got on board with Junction in the mid 1980s, but they dis-
banded in the 1990s and fell into The Good Lovin’ Band. Sessano asseverates, “At this point I have to acknowledge our bass player, Sevy Varano. Sevy is not only the best bassist I’ve ever played with but he is far and away one of the best one or two musicians I’ve ever worked with. Like Vince, he has an incredible ear for harmony and has just about one of the most pleasant voices I’ve
ever heard. Kind of reminds me of Dave Mason and James Taylor, whose voices I’ve always adored! I’m the keyboard player and he’ll tell me to play a major 7th chord or whatever and he’s always right! Stopped arguing with him six or seven years ago! Got tired of being wrong all the time! This band is a democracy and we really have no “leader” to speak of, but I have a tendency to do exactly whatever
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA Sealed proposals will be received by the School Reform Commission at the School Administration Building located at 440 North Broad St., 3rd Floor, Office of Capital Programs, Philadelphia, PA 191304015, until 2:00 P.M., on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. A non-refundable fee for each set of bid documents is as scheduled. The School District will only accept bids from companies that have been placed on its current Pre Qualified Contractors List as shown at psit.org. All School District Project require MBE/WBE participation as shown in the specifications. BUDGET FEE B-027 (C) of 2009/10 General Service Contract $75,000.00 $25.00 Trailer Modernization Various Locations B-031 (G) of 2009/10
Mechanical Service Contract $200,000.00 ATC Service and Repair Various Locations
$25.00
Specifications and/or plans and contract documents may be examined and copies thereof obtained from the School Reform Commission, 440 North Broad Street, 3rd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Information as to contract documents, etc., may be obtained at the above address, or telephone 215-4005225. Make checks payable to the School District of Philadelphia. The School Reform Commission reserves the right to reject any and all bids and make the awards to the best interests of the School District of Philadelphia.
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA
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Sealed proposals will be received by the School Reform Commission at the School Administration Building located at 440 North Broad St., 3rd Floor, Office of Capital Programs, Philadelphia, PA 191304015, until 2:00 P.M., on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. A non-refundable fee for each set of bid documents is as scheduled. The School District will only accept bids from companies that have been placed on its current Pre Qualified Contractors List as shown at psit.org. All School District Project require MBE/WBE participation as shown in the specifications. FEE BUDGET B-029 (C) of 2009/10 Mechanical Service Contract $200,000.00 $25.00 Boiler Refractory Repairs - Various Locations
B-028 (C) of 2009/10
Mechanical Service Contract Boiler Repairs Various Locations
FEE BUDGET $200,000.00 $25.00
Specifications and/or plans and contract documents may be examined and copies thereof obtained from the School Reform Commission, 440 North Broad Street, 3rd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Information as to contract documents, etc., may be obtained at the above address, or telephone 215-4005225. Make checks payable to the School District of Philadelphia. The School Reform Commission reserves the right to reject any and all bids and make the awards to the best interests of the School District of Philadelphia.
GOOD LOVIN’ Band…Mark Sassano – Keyboards, Electric Acoustic Guitar, Lead & Background Vocals; John Zambrano – Electric Guitar, Lead & Background Vocals; Vince Schiavo – Drums, Percussion & Background Vocals; and Sevy Varano – Bass Guitar, Lead & Background Vocals.
Sevy asks or tells me to do.” With no end in site, I’m told that the band will continue as long as they maintain their health. “You know when people say, ‘Keep your day job’? Well we hear the opposite. Why do you guys have day jobs?” Sessano wisecracks. The Good Lovin’ Band can be contacted at (215) 6031170 or through www.myspace.com/thegoodlovinband.
Photo by Maria Merlino
Port Drives Our Economy (Cont. From Page 1) dredge 40 feet and give a draw of 5 feet for safety.” On Jun. 23, 2008 with a great flourish of his Gubernatorial pen, Gov. Edward G. Rendell signed a historic agreement, the Delaware River Mainstem and Channel Deepening Project, and hailed it as a major effort to expand commerce and enhance economic development in the region, and a milestone in maritime commerce. Sen. Arlen Specter, Congressman Bob Brady and Sen. Bob Casey were also acknowledged. “When William Penn came up the Delaware the channel was 17 feet deep,” asserts Pennsylvania State Rep. William “Billy” Keller. “That’s the reason he landed here. Philadelphia became the largest city in the colony because there was the deepest water on the Philly side. If it had been deeper on the Jersey side, Camden would be Philly today!” he quips. Keller, who is also chairman of the Delaware River Maritime Enterprise Council, knows how valuable the River is and all the jobs it creates for the neighborhood. It’s not just a limited area that is affected either. “The River has always been important to the business of South Philly. The 9th Street Market is 10 blocks of fruits and vegetables merchants. Fruits come from the ports. We get big shipments of bananas and grapes.” Continuing in the enumeration of the positive aspects of that project, Keller is optimistic about the future
of South Port, the 85 acres at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. “Knock on the doors around here, in Pennsport, Whitman, Queen Village, and someone is directly related for income. For example, longshoremen, checkers, fumigators, expeditors, warehousemen, teamsters, insurers and any ancillary position that has to do with the river, and you’ll find someone working it. Most are union jobs and the unions keep the middle class alive. The highest-paying jobs in the US are marine-transportation jobs. They pay $80,000 to $100,000 per year. That translates to a lot of taxes that the City will collect. These workers spend their money, too!” emphasizes Keller. “Some neighborhoods go by the wayside but we’ve sustained our rowhomes.” Keller, a former 1291 International Longshoreman Association (ILA) member, has encouraged training in this field. He joined forces with Jamie McDermott of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, the ILA and the Ports of the Delaware River Marine Trade Association (PMTA) with its employer members and the financial support of the State, and developed a certification program for industrial-truck training with the Community College of Philadelphia. There are certifications for forklift operators with a lifting capacity of less than 18,000 lbs, forklift operators with a lifting capacity of greater than 18,000 lbs and top-pick operators. “These
are not $10-an-hour jobs, either,” McDermott lets me know. “No one is more in tuned in the neighborhood and the quality-of-life issues as Bill Keller. He’s a former longshoreman and knows the neighborhood like the back of his hand.” Keller wants to know, “Where else can you get a good-paying job without a college degree?” According to The Army Core of Engineers, the sediment is not toxic. There are oyster beds and other aquatic species in the River. There is scientific documentation that there will be no adverse impact the oysters. To positively make sure that these marine animals are not harmed, continuous monitoring will be performed at every critical stage from pre-construction to post-construction. Work will adhere to dredging windows for any type of biological event. The 7.4 million cubic yards of sand dredged from the Delaware Bay will be used for a manmade wetland and for beach nourishment. The project will run approximately 100 miles, from the Delaware Bay to the Philadelphia/Camden area. Officials from Delaware and New Jersey and five environmental groups filed a lawsuit suit in November 2009, which has stalled the start of the dredging project. “This is the biggest economic development in 50 years. There will never be another opportunity like this. In 300 years, we doubled the depth now we need to do this; It’s our generation to do it,” said Keller.
meat he would use in his sandwiches. Eventually Jim, along with his wife, Agnes, started selling their steak sandwiches out of their front window and slowly transitioned the bottom floor of their house into a family-operated restaurant simply called Jim’s Steaks. Somewhere between the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Pearligni’s two sons assumed all responsibilities of the business, and they would eventually open several different locations of Jim’s Steaks, successfully franchising the restaurant as one of the combatants in Philly’s cheesesteak wars. There are four Jim’s Steaks outlets today — at 431 N. 62nd Street; Bustleton & Cottman in the Northeast; 469 Baltimore Pike in Springfield, Delaware Co.; and the one at 400 South Street. All have different owners. Today Abner Silver, who will soon be 75 (but doesn’t look a day over 55), is the owner of Jim’s Steaks on
South Street. Silver joined the business in 1976, by which time the Pearligni sons were no longer involved in it. Silver had become frustrated after years of practicing law
and as a result of his wife’s encouragement, he decided to exchange his legal briefs for cheesesteaks. In the early days, Silver (Cont. Page 20)
The South Philadelphia Public Record • January 14, 2010
by Len Lear You just might meet a TV personality while waiting in line to be served at Jim’s Steaks, which is entering its 34th year at 400 South Street. Even Oprah’s favorite doctor, Mehmet Oz, took his wife to Jim’s Steaks on their first date. Dr. Oz, who now has his own nationally syndicated talk show, was quoted in the November issue of Philadelphia Magazine as saying: “I met my wife Lisa at Penn. I cooked chicken dinner for her, and she said, ‘I really appreciate it, but I think I mentioned to you that I’m a
vegetarian.’ So we went to my favorite place to eat — Jim’s Steaks. There was a very long line; we waited for 20 minutes, and I asked her, ‘What kind of cheesesteak do you want?’ She said, ‘I don’t eat meat. That’s what vegetarian means.’” Not too many restaurants in the city date back to before World War II, but Jim’s Steaks was conceived in 1939 at a bus station on 62nd Street in West Philadelphia. Jim Pearligni would sit by the window of the station talking to neighbors about everyday things as they waited for their rides. Jim, the ultimate people person, didn’t just provide conversation; he began to prepare homemade food for his pals at the bus stop. Jim would make steak sandwiches from the meat he purchased at the local kosher butcher shop. At that time, it was rare to find a kosher butcher in West Philly, but Jim insisted it was the best product available and the only
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Jim’s Steaks: 70 years of pleasing customers
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Page 20 The Public Record • Januray 14, 2010
Hughes, Rev Not Silent
REV. JIM BAKER stands beside State Sen. Vincent Hughes during press conference on Breaking The Silence. Photo by Ron Allen
We Gladly Accept Food Coupons
Carl Jeff & Barbara
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Chicken - Chicken parts - Turkey - Turkey parts Ribs - Bacon - Eggs - Hamburgers - Hot Dogs - Sausage Roasters - Box Lots Available In the Heart of Philadelphia’s Italian Market • 1031 South 9th Street (215) 925-9059 • 1037 South 9th Street (215) 629-1796
PGW Gets Green Teachings Grant Philadelphia Gas Works has received $465,000 from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act through Pennsylvania’s Green Energy Works Grant Program to significantly reduce PGW’s carbon footprint and educate customers about how they can save with natural gas. The grant will pay for 50% of the installation of a natural-gas-fired microturbine and a 40-ton absorption chiller at PGW’s corporate headquarters, 8th Street & Montgomery Avenue. This energy-efficient 200kilowatt microturbine system will also serve as a demonstration tool to educate commercial and industrial customers on the economic, technical and environmental benefits of using a Combined Heat and Power system. It will also drastically reduce the company’s energy usage and carbon emissions by providing approximately 40% of the building’s peak-electrical and 20% of peak hot-water
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Oak Lane Diner
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needs. Additionally, waste heatenergy from the microturbine will provide 17% of the facility’s peak-cooling demands. Once operational, this project will be available to local university and high-school stu-
dents for educational research. “PGW is extremely grateful to receive funding from Pennsylvania’s Green Energy Works! Grant Program,” said Thomas E. Knudsen, PGW President and CEO. “Not
only does installing naturalgas-powered microturbines provide great environmental benefits to PGW, it also gives us an opportunity to offer our customers more clean energy options at a more affordable cost.”
Wrap Star Features Bones and Beers (Cont. From Page 19) and his wife would make cheesesteaks downstairs while their children slept in the office. It wasn’t long before lines of locals, tourists and even celebrities were forming and wrapping around the South Street property. (Silver said Jim’s Steaks founder, Jim Pearligni, has passed away, but neither he nor anyone else I spoke to could provide any specifics.) Just last month, for example, Guy Fieri’s film crew stopped by Jim’s Steaks on South for lunch while in town for only 24 hours. (Guy Fieri is the host of “Diners, Driveins and Dives” on The Food Network. He was in town for “The Guy Fieri Roadshow” at the Merriam Theater.) In the December issue of Philadelphia Magazine, Brian
Williams of NBC Nightly News insisted he was another fan of Jim’s Steaks. “My favorite things in Philly revolve around food,” he said. “I’m a Jim’s Steaks guy. Plain, double Whiz. Two of them and a large Coke. I add ketchup from my perch upstairs, especially if a table by the window overlooking South Street is available.” The Philadelphia Daily News also recently named Jim’s product as “the best cheesesteak in the city.” A regular steak at Jim’s is $6.70, and a cheesesteak is $7.45. Lots of toppings like mushrooms, peppers and pizza sauce are available for a little extra charge. For more information, call (215) 9281911 or visit http://www.jimssteaks.com/S outhStreet.html
A Wrap Star The Wrap Shack Kitchen & Bar, 120 S. 18th Street, just started “$5 Mondays,” featuring a dozen signature wraps, a mini-rack of five ribs and a duo of draft beers for $5. Wrap Shack’s $5 Monday deal runs from lunch through 10 p.m. every Monday. You might say owner Scott Hockfield is charging five bones for five ribs. And beer buffs can enjoy any two draft beers from Wrap Shack’s beer menu for $5. Located just off Rittenhouse Square, Wrap Shack is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and late night. Call (215) 569-1666 for take-out orders, or visit http://www.wrapshackpa.co m/ for more information.
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1958 Butler Pike, Suite 100 Conshohocken, PA 19428 Office: 1 610.825.4748 Fax: 1 610.825.6785 www.cybersoft.com frank@cybersoft.com software for all Microsoft computers. Main reason we did this, we are unhappy seeing people getting laid off because of the bad economy, computer security products are overpriced and by providing high quality with lower priced products we can save hundreds of jobs maybe even thousands of jobs. Here is a simple example, say you have 400 licenses (unix-linux), first of all you can use as many users as you want on a single license. If you are paying $2,500,000.00 for your UnixLinux needs at 400 licenses and you get pulled into a minimum only contract whereas, no matter how little or how much you really need you are still stuck paying $2,500,000.00. Use CyberSoft with the same 400 licenses and you can use our VSTK at $1,195.00 x 400 = $478,000.00, and if you use our VSTK TURBO at $1595.00 x 400 = $638,000.00 and if you use our VSTK PROFESSIONAL at
$2,195.00 x 400 = $878,000.00, you get better products, better quality, better service and best of all better price. The math speaks for itself! Let’s take this a step further, for example, if the average city worker is making $30,000.00 a year and the city spends $20,000,000.00 a year on anti-virus and computer security needs but because of this teaming agreement can spend $10,000,000.00, therefore that equates to 330 plus jobs saved for that one scenario, multiply this by the number of companies in our region and that equals possibly thousands of jobs saved. ** THESE EXAMPLES AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEMONSTRATION ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO MISLEAD IN ANYWAY!
The Public Record • January 14, 2010
CyberSoft Operating Corporation is one of the oldest Unix-Linux anti-virus software companies in the world. We are a Pennsylvania based company located in Conshohocken Pa. Our company operates under the principals of Quality, Service and Cost Effectiveness. We stand by these values of providing very high quality at a lower price which equates to continued standards of excellence under a not so good economy. Just recently, a new international teaming agreement between CyberSoft Operating Corporation and the very famous AhnLab of South Korea took place in Philadelphia. We wanted to partner with a company that would enable us to continue our quality and low pricing for all computer system needs not just the UnixLinux market. When you can’t increase income you have to cut cost, it is better to cut things instead of people. Better yet is to get high quality at a lower price that saves jobs. CyberSoft Operating Corporation specializes in anti-virus software for all non Microsoft computers; AhnLab an international company centered in Asia with Corporate headquarters in Seoul, South Korea specializes in anti-virus
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CyberSoft Operating Corporation
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