We'll Miss You, Snooper Remembering Grays Ferry To Get Makeover The only person who didn’t know he had long been found out as the Snooper was Frank Talent. He had sworn us to secrecy when we asked he cover City Hall and the Courts for us in his inimitable fashion. We would often get calls by City workers “to tell Frank” to put their item in his column. We would, without mentioning to him how it got to us. Frank was never successful in keeping his other identities a secret. He could be found at charity fundraisers donating his time in costume as the Shadow and as Batman. But most of time his voice gave him away; it was uniquely identifiable. He was happiest refereeing boxing, wrestling matches, and coaching and refereeing sandlot teams in the Northeast.\ As unsuccessful as he was in keeping his identity a secret, so successful was he at making people happy, at being a true public servant, at being a total giver. Go to your reward with our prayers, Snooper. You’ll find many of those you helped waiting for you in heaven.
Frank Talent by Maria Merlino It was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Sep. 8, when my phone rang. I thought it was my friend Sister Paula bringing me good news about the Blessed Mother. But it wasn’t Sister Paula, it was mobile disc jockey, “Sneaker Pete“ Thompson. His voice sounded heavy as he greeted me. “I have some sad news to tell you: Frank Talent died.” For those unfamiliar with Talent, he lived three quarters of a century and in his 75 years on earth, made a (Cont. Page 2)
The Grays Ferry community will unite on Saturday to clean up some of the vacant lots in the area. Members of the Miracle Temple of Christ, volunteers and leaders from community organizations will join State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson at a Grays Ferry Beautification Cleanup. The City has an estimated 40,000 vacant properties in the city. Grays Ferry has long been plagued with blighted vacant lots. It’ll be on Saturday, September 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cleanup will begin at the corner of 27th & Earp Streets. “The problem of blight in the region could best be resolved by having the entire community work to-
gether,” Johnson said. “This effort is an immediate response to rectify the issue of blighted properties in the area.” In a direct response to Johnson’s Summer Nights Constituent Block Meetings, a unique series of community meetings taking place throughout South and Southwest (Cont. Page 2)
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Vol. V No. 36 (Issue 205)
The Only Union Newspaper Reporting South Philly The Way It Deserves
Sep. 15, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19114 215-698-7000 JStevenson@ChapmanAutoGroup.com
Praying For A Compromise Catholic High School Teachers Continue Strike; Negotiations With Archdiocese by Rory G. McGlasson Toni Galdi has been teaching foreign languages at Neumann-Goretti for 39 years. She can speak Italian, French and Spanish fluently; she has helped thousands of children master a second language. However, the veteran Catholic school teacher is worried she will be saying “Arrivederci” to her class this year unless the Archdiocese changes its new contract with the Catholic-school teachers. Galdi was one of 30 Neumann-Goretti teachers hitting the bricks this week in a strike, who joined 711 Catholic teachers across the five-county region. “It’s not about money, “ said Bill Belovitz, president of Catholic Teachers Union Local 1776. “Those that think this is all about money have the wrong perception on what is really going on.” Belovitz joined Neumann-Goretti teachers in a rally on Monday. He said, “The strike is simply about preserving the seniority and tenure, while providing each teacher with the security they deserve.” (Cont. Page 2)
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BILL BELOVITZ, president of Catholic Teachers Union Local 1776, joins Neumann-Goretti schoolteachers in a strike this week. They are Kevin Cassidy, a 20-year teacher; Kristin Jannelli nine years; Kim Gorski, two years; and Rachel Cammasa Cantz , five years. If you have been injured on the DOCKS, PIERS, or SHIPS doing loading or repairing work. You need our free advice....We fight for your right to benefits and we never ask you to pay a fee.... We have successfully helped get money for thousands of injured workers over the last 30 years.
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