Pr 928 s by The Public Record

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA

Vol. XIII No. 45

Issue 531

November 9, 2017

ONE OF A KIND

“The good things we do must be made a part of the public record”

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PUBLIC RECORD Publisher Jimmy Tayoun was a legend in Philadelphia politics and society. Coverage of his life begins P. 3

VETERANS

ELECTION

DAY

RESULTS

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South Philly Lions Pack the Hall

THE LIONS get together for fun. In addition to awards, there was topof-the-line catering for which this caterer is famous, along with music and dancing.

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SHARING a moment were, L-R, Nick Campione, Barbara Ritchie, Mike Giangiordano and Vanessa Campione.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA Lions Club’s meeting at the Waterfall Room last week was a roaring success. L-R here were Russell Shoemaker, Joe Giampietro the friendly Lion, and Barbara Ritchie. Photos by Wendell Douglas

City of Philadelphia Public Hearing Notice The Committee on Finance of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, November 16, 2017, at 1:00 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:

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An Ordinance amending Chapter 12-2800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Administrative Adjudication of Parking Violations,” to establish an amnesty program for fines, fees and penalties on parking violations; all under certain terms and conditions.

Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on Finance, open to the public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed item. Copies of the foregoing items are available in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall. Michael Decker Chief Clerk

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COZY the comedian kept the crowd in stitches.

READ THE PAPER LEADERS READ: - THE PUBLIC

The Philadelphia Public Record (PR-01) (ISSN 1938-856X) (USPS 1450) Published Weekly Requested Publication ($20 per year Optional Subscription) The South Philadelphia Public Record 325 Chestnut St., Suite 1110 Phila. PA 19106 Periodical Postage Paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing office POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: The Public Record 325 Chestnut St., Suite 1110 Phila. PA 19106 (215) 755-2000 Fax: (215) 525-2818 editor@phillyrecord.com EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor: Greg Salisbury Executive Editor: James Tayoun, Sr. Managing Editor: Anthony West Editorial Staff: Joe Sbaraglia Everyday People Editor: Denise Clay Contributing Editor: Bonnie Squires Correspondent: Eldon Graham Photographers: Leona Dixon Wendell Douglas Harry Leech Bill Myers Office Manager: Allison Murphy Production Manager: Sana Muaddi-Dows Sales Director: Melissa Barrett Account Exec: Bill Myers Circulation: Steve Marsico Dawood Starling Yousef Maaddi James Henderson The Public Record welcomes news and photographs about your accomplishments and achievements which should be shared with the rest of the community. Contact us by phone, fax, e-mail or by dropping us a note in the mail. If you mail a news item, please include your name, address and daytime telephone number so we can verify the information you provided us, if necessary. The Public Record reserves the right to edit all news items and letters for grammar, clarity and brevity. No reproduction or use of the material herein may be made without the permission of the publisher. City & State will assume no obligation (other than the cancellation of charges for the actual space occupied) for accidental errors in advertisements, but we will be glad to furnish a signed letter to the buying public. The Philadelphia Public Record is a publication owned by:

City&State PA LLC 325 Chestnut St. Philadelphia PA, 19106 215-490-9314 Copyright @2017 City & State PA LLC Local 779-C

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T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

James “Jimmy” Tayoun

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Army Times after the war. In the 1960s, he began his career as a restaurateur, joining his brother Edmond in running Middle East, the family’s restaurant in South Philadelphia. Eventually, Jimmy Tayoun took a flyer on the then-sketchy and undesirable neighborhood of Old City and turned a former industrial building on Chestnut Street into a multi-level enterprise featuring a restaurant famous for its belly dancers, a catering facility and a comedy club. It was through his dealings with the city’s regulatory structure for the restaurant that he realized he wanted to enter the political arena. In addition to representing the state’s 183rd Legislative District and Philadelphia’s 1st District, Tayoun served as leader of the city’s 1st Ward for 21 years. His political career ended in 1991, when he was convicted on federal charges of mail fraud, racketeering, tax evasion, and obstruction of justice. “They threatened to include other members of my family unless I pled guilty to a host of charges,” he recalled in an interview. “It was the best route, I

thought at the time.” Not one to miss an opportunity, he turned his experience behind bars into an advice book for others going into the penal system, Going to Prison? In 1999, Tayoun again reinvented himself, this time as the founder, publisher and editor of the Philadelphia Public Record, a weekly newspaper focused on Philadelphia’s political world. In a statement on Tayoun’s passing, City Council President Darrell Clarke acknowledged the influence of both Mr. Tayoun and the Public Record, stating “Jimmy was no fool. If you screwed up, he let you know it – often with a bullhorn by way of the Public Record. But if you did something good, especially something that helped people who really needed help, he would compliment you just about every time you saw him.” Tayoun leaves behind his wife, Dolores, six children and 15 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Maron’s Church at 1013 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.

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BY GREG SALISBURY AMES “JIMMY” Tayoun, a larger-than-life figure in Philadelphia for decades thanks to incarnations as a city councilman, state rep, restaurateur and newspaper publisher, died Wednesday morning. According to his daughter, Nora, Tayoun, who founded and was executive editor of the Public Record, collapsed as he was getting into a car outside his South Philadelphia home. Attempts to revive him by EMTs were unsuccessful. Mr. Tayoun was born March 27, 1930, in Philadelphia, to Lebanese immigrants. He attended Southeast Catholic High School, where, he recalled in an interview, “being caught up in the middle of gang fights between the Irish kids and the Italian kids.” He graduated from Temple University and worked for a number of newspapers in the region, including the Pottstown Mercury and the Kensington Guide. During the Korean War, Tayoun wrote for division newspapers and was published in Stars and Stripes. He continued his military journalism career with

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The Well-Lived Life of Jimmy Tayoun es to the end. Jimmy the veteran, who gave back to his fellows in service. Jimmy the man of faith, a rock for the church he was born into. Jimmy the family man, head of a huge clan. Jimmy the man of his own people, an Arab Christian community now in far-flung diaspora. Jimmy the sailor, whose favorite respites were his shore home and his fishing boat. Jimmy the photographer, a compulsive lifelong snapshot-taker. You couldn’t just deal with one part of Jimmy Tayoun. Whether you realized it or not, you were always dealing with a whole man, made up of many parts.

AS A YOUNG soldier, Jimmy Tayoun enjoyed a chance to meet film star Debbie Reynolds.

BY TONY WEST Y acquaintance with Jimmy Tayoun began in 1983. I was editing the Observer, a biweekly trade newspaper with a line of insider political coverage for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Tayoun was a two-term incumbent City Councilman for the 1st District, engaged with a challenger in a fierce Democratic primary race. (South Philadelphia politics in that era was famed for its colorful factions, rivalries, betrayals and grudges.) That’s when I learned Tayoun could chew gum and whistle at the same time. He called me up out of the blue and asked if he could show me an article he had written about his race. This was an odd request. But our newspaper didn’t use bylines and kept our writers and sources confidential. I said he could come in. And he did … bringing in a crisp, informative, balanced piece of work that eyed both sides of the campaign with dispassionate clarity. It was excellent work – and it came free of charge. I published it. In that moment, I saw

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that Jimmy was different from the ordinary pols I dealt with. He was all in as a politician, for sure; but he was equally all in as a journalist. He loved both fields and balked at norms that said you must be chiefly one thing or another. Twenty-three years later, I began to work as a political editor again, this time with Tayoun as my boss. We had both been through a lot in those intervening years, both led complicated lives. Along this journey, I came to see Jimmy in the round. Indeed, it took a holistic understanding of his personality to work with him. He was a man of strong beliefs and principles – but you absolutely could not put him in a box. There was Jimmy the journalist, in print and on radio. Jimmy the nightclub impresario, who brought a dead city to life. Jimmy the political contender, who thrilled to the drumbeat of campaigns. Jimmy the public servant, who devoted himself to helping every person who came with a need or an ask. Jimmy the unionist, who backed labor’s caus-

A Journalist First and Last

Tayoun started in the working world as a newspaperman, and a newspaperman he died. He graduated from the Temple University journalism school – in time for the Korean War. He was drafted – and wound up working in

Philadelphia Public Record. Weekly tabloids were still a success story at that time, so it seemed like a conventional scheme, perhaps. But nothing Tayoun did was ever conventional. He ran the paper his way, to suit his varied tastes and to unite his varied connections. He broke all the rules of journalism in the 1990s, by defiantly modeling himself after the journalism of his youth. It didn’t go after a predetermined niche; instead, it created a niche for itself. As it turned out, this “old man’s paper” has survived, in an age when print newspapers are either going extinct or are threatened species. It has always paid its way. You are reading it today. So Jimmy was right, while many other publishers who went by the book were wrong.

Bring on the Belly Dancers

Tayoun’s parents ran a restaurant catering to a small Lebanese neighborhood near the Italian Mar-

BELONGING TO A THEN-TINY MINORITY TAUGHT TAYOUN HOW TO DEAL WITH OTHERS OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS. military newspapers until after the war. He served in several publications around the region, including a stint as sports writer for the Philadelphia Daily News. He started a Lebanese American national newspaper which he later sold. As a politician, Tayoun always treated reporters like colleagues. Like many office-holders, he loved coverage; but it went further with him. He was fond of feeding reporters the headlines for their stories, for instance; and they worked. Decades later, having reached retirement age, Tayoun returned to his roots. He hosted a talk-radio show in the late 1990s. In 1999, he launched his own tabloid publication, the

ket. In the 1950s, following tradition, he spent more time in the family business, eventually taking it over with his brother Eddie Tayoun. It flourished. Jimmy’s newspaper instincts transferred well to that of restaurant host. He had a gift for publicity and boundless self-confidence. Once, he hired a camel to stand outside his Middle East restaurant, which he brashly moved from South Philadelphia to (gasp!) Old City in 1969. Old City then was not Olde City now. It was a stagnant, moldering, former downtown in one of America’s duller big cities. Its nightlife consisted of Bookbinder’s, where old folks in suits ate rich, overpriced seafood.

HE WOUND UP, however, with Dolores Tayoun.

The new Middle East sparked an entertainment explosion in Old City. Its cavernous five-story building on Chestnut Street hosted private party rooms, performance spaces, a comedy club. Its Middle Eastern music and belly-dancers were the hottest new scene in a city that Playboy and hippies had scarcely touched. It was the talk of the town. Others followed – a trickle at first, then a torrent. By 1979, the nearby Khyber Pass was featuring edgy local rock bands. By 1989, galleries were springing up on a business strip once devoted to restaurant supplies. In the mid-’90s, the restaurant closed. Tayoun was not in a position to manage it, so the family sold the property. But the seed had been sown. Today, Olde City has become a major engine of Philadelphia’s nightlife industry, drawing big revenue from locals and tourists alike. Philly’s hipsters owe a debt to Jimmy.

Church Politics Opened the Door

It was impossible to know Tayoun without knowing

how devoted he was to his church and his people – which are one and the same. The Tayouns belong to the Maronite Catholic Rite. Based in Lebanon, they are an ancient Arab Christian community. Cosmopolitan by nature, they are drawn to international trade and emigration. But among their own, they are loyal to and protective of each other – a healthy habit in the Middle East (the region, not the restaurant), as all can see who follow the news today. Belonging to a then-tiny minority early taught Tayoun how to deal with others of different ethnic backgrounds – a skill that paid off well in the rest of his life. There are hundreds of Tayouns sprawled across two hemispheres, and Jimmy is a family hero to them. He made seven trips to Lebanon and Israel, reinforcing his familial and cultural ties – and also familiarizing himself with the complexities of Levantine life and politics. St. Maron’s Church at 10th & Ellsworth Streets was the heart of the Lebanese community. Tayoun (Cont. Page 25) 11/8/2017 10:50:02 AM

BY JUDGE PATRICK DUGAN O PHILLY, Veterans Day is here. It’s a day off for most. A day many go to the mall for a sale or catch up on chores. Well, put your shopping bags and rakes down for a moment and reflect on what Veterans Day means. Veterans Day is a day to give thanks to those who have served in the military.

ly, WWI was not the war to end all wars. The word “Armistice” was changed to “Veterans” under President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 to include all veterans, not just the vets from WWI. People sometimes confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. For veterans and those personally affected, EVERY DAY is Memorial Day. Our fallen are never forgotten by their Gold Star families, friends and those who served with them. But Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor and remember those who have died in military service to our nation. Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank all those who have served our nation in military service. Veterans come in all shapes and sizes. It is not a homogenous population. Men, women, rural, urban,

suburban, all ethnicities, all religions, all sexual orientations, all economic classes, all political parties – veterans are truly a cross-section of America. Today, veterans who enlisted after 1973 all were volunteers. Many before also volunteered and some were drafted. But all did their civic duty and served their nation in military uniform and

were subject to being put in harm’s way. Some saved the world from tyranny by jumping into Normandy or landing on Iwo Jima; some guarded missile silos in South Dakota; some were mechanics at Fort Dix. Some were clerks or grunts in Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. Some veterans have served in combat

and some have not. Veterans have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, Active Duty, Reserves and National Guard. But all served their nation. (There are legal and technical definitions of what a veteran is and what benefits that individual is (Cont. Page 11) N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

JUDGE Patrick Dugan

It is a day that was set aside to give thanks to all veterans, living or dead, but especially to living veterans who served this country honorably during peacetime or war. It was first called Armistice Day in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson commemorating the end of World War I, aka the “War to End All Wars.” On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, hostilities ceased between the U.S., her allies and Germany. The actual treaty declaring the war over was signed on June 28, 1919 in Versailles. In 1938, Armistice Day became a federal holiday. Following WWII and Korean War, the US had a new crop of veterans to honor and thank – over 21 million men and women served in these two wars. Obvious-

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

The True Meaning of This Holiday

Lest We Forget! Saluting All Branches of the Military,

Happy Veterans Day Robert Brady

Congressman 1st District Paid for by Committee to Elect Bob Brady

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Active and Retired!

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You can also volunteer at the Philadelphia USO (www.libertyUSO. org), Support Philadelphia Honor Flight (www.HonorFlightPhiladelphia.org – this organization takes older veterans on a visit to the memorials in Washington, D.C.) and Support PA GWOT Memorial (www.

PaGWOTmemorial.org – this organization is building a memorial to those Pennsylvanians fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan). You can attend a Veterans Day service. There are many throughout our area but here are a few – on Saturday, Nov. 11: 10 a.m. at Washington’s Square,

7th & Walnut; 11 a.m. at Korean Memorial, Front & Dock; 12:30 p.m. at Vietnam Memorial, Front & Spruce. Thank veterans by doing – as they have. Judge Patrick Dugan is Retired US Army – Infantry Paratrooper, Civil Affairs and JAG, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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(Cont. From Page 5) entitled to from the Veterans Administration – but not for this article.) All veterans raised their right hand and swore to defend the Constitution of the United States. And most

form. You can honor veterans by being a good citizen and do some of the following: Vote in every election, show up for jury duty, serve your community by helping clean up your block, look in on your elderly neighbors, visit veterans at the VA hospital.

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Dugan

understand there is no end date to that oath. How can you honor or thank those veterans? It’s simple. President Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Veterans answer President Kennedy’s call to serve by serving in uni-

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BY ELDON GRAHAM HERE ARE many great organizations that give veteran assistance, but one standout is Citizens Acting Together Can Help. Located in South Philadelphia, CATCH provides community behavioral-health and developmental-services to communities west of Broad Street. It has chosen to maintain a focus on veterans’ needs with two long-term programs. One is Patriot House and the other is the Nicky Z Veterans Social Services Center. The latter was established recently to honor fallen soldier Nicholas “Nicky Z” John Zangara. Zangara, son of Richard Zangara, a longtime CATCH

employee, was killed while on patrol by an improvised explosive device in Tikrit, Iraq a week before he was to come home. In his memory, CATCH developed this outreach facility. It is available to veterans of the United States Armed Forces who are residents of the City of Philadelphia and have needs, both service-connected and non-service-connected. John Bumbaca, director of mental-health services and the man behind the creation of the center, was passionate from the get-go to make sure the Veteran Social Service Center was secured as he envisioned. “One of the concepts behind Nicky Z was that it was going to provide two types of so-

Nov. 9- State Rep. Joanna McClinton hosts Veterans Resource Fair & Luncheon at Myers Rec Ctr., 5803 Kingsessing Ave., 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 10- 242nd Marine Corps Birthday at Laurel Hill Cemetery Education Ctr., 10:30 a.m. Free parking at Grave of 7th Commandant. Capt. Francis Spencer, speaker. Free. “Killed in Action” tour. Nov. 10- Veterans Day Lunch at Union League, 11:30 a.m. Nov 10- USMC Birthday All-Day-Night Street Fest at 1000 blk. Oregon Ave., noon. With Tom Lamaine, MC, Judge Jimmy Lynn. Nov. 10- Mayor Kenney’s “Marine Week” Proclamation at Mayor’s Reception Rm. Nov. 11- Veterans Day Friends of Clark Park Service with Gen. George Meade (aka Dr. Andy Waskie) at 43rd & Baltimore site of Satterlee Civil War Hosp. Free. Nov. 11- Take advantage of local restaurant free vets’ meals and store discounts!! Nov. 11- City service in Washington Sq., 10 a.m. Nov. 11- Korea Memorial Service at Front & Dock, 11 a.m. Nov. 11- Vietnam Memorial Service at Front & Spruce,

12:15 p.m. Nov. 16-18- The Lincoln Forum. Nov. 11- British Officers Club Remembrance Service at Chapel of 4 Chaplains, Navy Yard. Free event and parking. Meal $45. Nov. 12- Vets Comfort House Funder at Tony Luke’s, 26 E. Oregon Ave., 11 a.m. $10 per car. Nov. 15- Breakfast Series at War College: Army Installations Mgmt. Nov. 16- Philly Vet’s Job Fair at Lincoln Financial Field, 11-3 p.m. Nov. 26- Friends of Washington Crossing, 1 p.m. Meet White House Xmas decorator and author Christian Burke. $35 coffee meet. $15 lecture. Dec. 1- Philly Pops Vets Christmas Concert. Dec. 4- 5th Annual Veterans Shark Tank at Union League. Dec. 6- State Legion Commander Visit to Delaware Valley Vets Home. Dec. 8- Formal Pre-Game Dining Out at Union League, 5:30 p.m. $140. Vice Adm. Raquel C. Bono, guest. Dec. 9- Army-Navy Game at Lincoln Financial Field, 3 p.m.

cial services,” Bumbaca said. “There is hard-core social service: Somebody comes in with a problem and then he finds the resource for them. The other concept we had when we put this together was advocacy.”

Sometimes, other services come into play as well. “A lot of times, vets are connected to a service, but either the service has a tremendous waiting list or the service is just not doing what their supposed to do,” Bumbaca noted.

That’s where Evelis Perez, social worker for Nicky Z, comes in. She acts as the advocate for the veteran to get them the help and service they need. Perez has run the program for over a year. A key aspect of her work

with veterans is financial. “Money management is key in helping the veterans,” said Perez. “Sometimes it’s as simple as getting them connected to their online banking, so that way they can (Cont. Page 18)

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CATCH: Services for Service Vets in Need

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Veterans’ Events

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THE COMFORT HOUSE, with Director Bill Champion, welcomes all veterans to West Philadelphia.

When finished, the Comfort House will be able to accommodate six homeless vets for up to 30 days while long-term solutions are sought. In the meantime, explained Executive Director Bill Champion (himself a veteran of the Army’s 1st Armored Division), the place functions as a drop-in center for up to 50 homeless and low-income veterans each month, most ranging

from 50 to 70 years of age. “Klondike bars are a big draw,” explained Champion, who moves about 150 a month. But the center also receives donations of food, clothing and bedding, while its office provides resource information. Its phone is manned 24/7. The Comfort House relies heavily on volunteer labor as well, drawing students from many schools and colleges.

“During a rigorous selection process among highly qualified candidates, Carlo’s passion for community and for public service really stood out,” Clarke said. “He is not just knowledgeable about the challenges veterans face; he is authentically empathetic and determined to solve problems. City Council created the Veterans Advisory Commission to provide support and services to Philadelphians who have served our nation, and I’m confident our City will have even more effective outreach to veterans under Carlo’s leadership.” Aragoncillo was recently appointed Commander for Bravo Company, 392nd Ex-

peditionary Signal Battalion, and he will continue to serve as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. Among the recognitions he has earned are the Meritorious Service Medal, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Aragoncillo said, “This city has already effectively ended homelessness among veterans – a huge accomplishment that indicates Philadelphia is capable of setting the bar nationally for support of veterans. I am eager to get to work for a community and city that I love.” Aragoncillo lives with his wife, Shelley, in South Philadelphia.

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schedules eligible veterans for an assessment to determine appropriate needs and levels of care, and directs them to benefits to which they may be entitled. The assessment determines the veterans’ suitability for an array of VA programs, including any required treatment (alcohol, drug, mental health or medical) as well as housing, job training and job referrals. After consultation with a defense attorney, if an eligible veteran chooses to accept the terms of the offer from the Philadelphia district attorney to participate in this voluntary program, the veteran is paired with a mentor. The mentor will assist the veteran in working toward a successful resolution of the criminal charges, including a change in life

choices, so that future contacts with the criminal-justice system can be avoided. To learn more about becoming a mentor, visit the Veterans Court Mentor page. This collaborative initiative between the Court, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Veterans Administration and numerous veterans agencies, although a bit more challenging than normal criminal-case processing, will witness a tremendous benefit to veterans, as they overcome the burden carried from service to our country, now exacerbated by involvement with the criminal-justice system. The city is extremely fortunate to have Philadelphia Municipal Court judges presiding, who are veterans, and fully aware of the burdens and the sacrifices they made.

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New Head Is Named To Vets’ Commission

ARLO Aragoncillo began service this week as director of City Council’s Veterans Advisory Commission. The son of a serviceman, Aragoncillo was born on a Marine Corps base in Yokota, Japan. At the age of three, he relocated with his family to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Aragoncillo earned a Bachelor of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2007 and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University in 2010. He joined the U.S. Army in 2011, and went on to serve in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, as well as in response to Hurricane Sandy.

BY LESHA SANDERS COURT COORDINATOR HE PHILADELPHIA Veterans Court represents the latest problem solving court initiative, in Municipal Court, addressing a holistic “treatment court” approach to dealing with justice-involved veterans. The judicial leadership in Municipal Court recognizes the tremendous service members of our Armed Forces provide to our country. This initiative started with the premise of providing veterans involved in the criminal-justice system with a program and services to overcome the challenges they face. Veterans are directed to representatives of the Veterans Administration, who are on site in one of our courtrooms. The VA staff

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Holistic Pathways

HILADELPHIA Veterans Comfort House, a facility in Spruce Hill close to the VA Hospital, is undergoing an important change of mission as the needs of veterans evolve. Founded in 1994 by a group of veterans and tradesmen in a two-story rowhouse at 4108 Baltimore Avenue, its original purpose was to provide temporary lodging to veterans and their families who had come from faraway homes to the hospital for extended courses of treatment like chemotherapy. Eventually, though, the Veterans Administration developed internal resources to meet that need. And the building, although in an attractive neighborhood, was 100 years old, and sorely overdue for repairs and upgrades. In 2012, a new board of directors took up the challenge, spearheaded by noted philanthropist Dana Spain. Their target: homeless veterans. The building is in the midst of a total makeover, scheduled to be complete next year.

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New Comfort for Vets Veterans Court Provides

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Veterans and Friends Take to Market St. COLOR GUARD of the Benjamin Franklin Post 405 American Legion of the Union League march. Seen from left are Dr. Theodore Whitney; Dr. Andy Waskie; Scott Sigman, Esq.; Ed Berna; Albert El; Kathy Berna; and Post Commander Jon Peterson. Want to join? Photos by Public Record correspondent Joe Stivala, Post Adjutant.

L-R, BURLINGTON County Freeholder Ryan Peters is joined in the march by Councilmen Allan Domb, David Oh and Mark Squilla, with Mark, Jr.

AN AIR FORCE veteran, C, greets Hon. Seamus McCaffery and Judge Dan McCaffery. Justice McCaffery served in the Marine Corps and Air Force; Judge McCaffery was an Army Airborne soldier.

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U.S. ARMY soldiers and U.S. Coast Guardsmen prepare to march.

M US L IM AMERICAN Veterans Association traveled from Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual Veterans Parade.

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CONGRESS MAN Dwight Evans, C, and Medal of Honor recipient Walter Marm greet a member of the historic Tuskegee Airmen.

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FRANKFORD High School Junior ROTC Cadets carry the names of war dead - never to be forgotten.

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THE NATIONAL ANTHEM was sung by William F. Mead, a Marine veteran.

A PSALM was read by Marine veteran Father Brian O’Neill.

GEORGE PÉREZ, Marine veteran and aide to Congressman Bob Brady, presented a Congressional Record Tribune to the Chapel of Four Chaplains Foundation members Capt. Louis A. Cavaliere, USN; Ms. Christine Beady, Executive Director and Sr. Chaplain Gary Holden.

LEGION OF HONOR Award was presented to Juvencio González, Marine veteran and aide to Lt.Gov. Michael Stack by Capt. Louis A. Cavaliere, USN; Christine Beady, executive director; and Senior Chaplain Gary Holden.

LEGION OF HONOR Award was presented to John Spadea, C, by Capt. Louis A. Cavaliere, USN; Larry Haney Army veteran, board member; Christine Beady, executive director; and Senior Chaplain Gary Holden.

LEGION OF HONOR Award was presented to Mary J. Bencivenga by Capt. Louis A. Cavaliere, USN; Christine Beady, executive director; and Senior Chaplain Gary Holden.

LEGION OF HONOR Award was presented to Joseph Murphy (center) with friend Thomas Davis, by Capt. Louis A. Cavaliere, USN; Christine Beady, executive director; and Senior Chaplain Gary Holden.

IN ATTENDANCE was Dec. 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor survivor Alex Horanzy, U.S. Army.

LEGION OF HONOR Special Presentation went to Bron Mogenis with his wife and daughter, by Capt. Louis A. Cavaliere, USN; Christine Beady, executive director; and Sr. Chaplain Gary Holden.

AT THE NEW submarine veterans of WW II Memorial were State Sen. Sharif Street, 2nd from L, standing with submarine veterans, and Christine Beady, CFC’s executive director.

HOLDING his award is Juvencio González, Marine veteran and aide to Lt. Gov. Michael Stack, with members of his American Legion Post 840, on his right George Pérez, Marine veteran and aide to Congressman Bob Brady.

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T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

U.S. COAST GUARD handled the Presentation of Colors at the Chapel of Four Chaplains at the Philadelphia Naval Base earlier this fall. Photos by John J. Kline

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Chapel of Four Chaplains Issues Awards

11/8/2017 10:42:58 AM

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

Pull the Plug The News in Black & White On the SRC

OPINION

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N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

T SEEMED like a good idea at the time. And perhaps it worked for a while. In 1998, Philadelphia’s tax base was bottoming out, even as state-level commitment to funding local schools was withering. School District Superintendent David Hornbeck responded with the nuclear option: He would close the schools unless the Commonwealth did something. Republicans and Democrats were evenly balanced in Harrisburg at that time, and moderation prevailed on both sides of the aisle. The Republicans agreed to bail out the suffering city in return for a modicum of state control over how it was spent. PSD did not have a great accounting reputation in that period, so many even in Philadelphia were content to have an outside eye on its affairs. A state School Reform Commission was set in place in 2001 to eliminate local control of Philadelphia schools. That was then. This is now. Sixteen years in, bipartisanship on Capitol Hill is an endangered species; fiscal competence may actually be extinct there. That bickering menagerie is the exact opposite of Philadelphia’s current ruling figures. Our economy is a

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superstar in the Northeastern USA. Under Mayor Jim Kenney and Superintendent Dr. William Hite, PSD and the City present a coordinated, thoughtful, inclusive front with lean school management and a strategic view of how education fits into the city’s future. We’re balancing our budgets even as Harrisburg drops the ball on its own. So it’s time for this city to take back its school board. How to go about it is one question; the best answer is “with careful planning.” There is time for that. But planning cannot begin until we finally pull the trigger. Can any system be designed that automatically guarantees great scores, low costs and happy taxpayers for a major urban school district? No. Council President Darrell Clarke put his finger on it when asked why the outcome under local control can be different today than it was in the last century. His answer was simple: “It’s the people.” Clarke believes we have the people to do this job now, if we are wise enough to choose them. No administrative structure can assure that fair and competent public officers will always rise up to run it. That’s on the citizens to push for, and swiftly to hold accountable those who fall short. If Philadelphia is sick of schools that don’t equip all our children for 21st-century success, Philadelphians must lead the way. We must insist that the Commonwealth fulfill its constitutional duty to fund our schools equitably (it does not now). But we need a local team in place with the power to fight for our own.

A MAJORITY of City Council stood together in chambers last week to show their intent to press for abolition of the state-controlled School Reform Commission, thereby returning the School District of Philadelphia to local control.

MARK your CALENDAR Nov. 9- State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown hosts “Stop & Go Public Hearing” at Christian Stronghold Bapt. Ch., 1-4 p.m. For info: Yolanda Braxton (215) 879-6615. Nov. 9- State Sen. Art Haywood hosts Town Hall Mtg. at Janes United Methodist Ch., 467 E. Haines St., 6-8 p.m. Nov. 14- State Rep. Jason Dawkins hosts Weatherization Event at Houseman Rec Ctr., 5091 Summerdale Ave., 6:30-8 p.m. Advice & resources for stay-

ing warm & saving money this winter. For info: (215) 744-7901. Nov. 15- Republican League hosts Dinner at Paddy Whack’s, 2nd & South Sts., 7 p.m. Guest speaker: Dr. Robert Field on ACA & policy changes. For info: Charlie Forshee (717) 372-9083. Nov. 16- State Rep. Emilio Vázquez hosts “Meet, Greet, Obtain Constituent Services” at Susquehanna Village, 1421 W. Susquehanna Ave, 3-4 p.m. Nov. 16- Phila. Public Record honors Ryan Boyer as “Public Servant of the Year” at Galdo’s Catering, 20th & Moyamensing Ave., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres & dinner. Tickets $50 in advance, $60 at door, tables of 10 for $450.For info: events@cityandstatepa.com. Nov. 16- Sheriff Jewell Williams hosts Fish & Chicken Fry at Lou & Choo’s, 2101 W. Hunting Pk. Ave., 5:30

p.m. Tickets $12. For info: Andrew (215) 609-5876. Nov. 18- State Rep. Donna Bullock hosts “Is My Home Making Me Sick” Healthy Home Workshop at Prince of Peace Baptist Ch., 1844 N. 32nd St., 2nd fl., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Learn about lead, carbon monoxide poisoning & other toxins, also pest control & fire hazards. Free. For info (215) 684-3738. Nov. 22- State Rep. Pam DeLissio hosts APPRISE counseling for Medicare open enrollment at 6511 Ridge Ave., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For app’t: (215) 4828726. Nov. 28- State Rep. Jason Dawkins hosts Weatherization Event at Ziehler Plg., 200 E. Olney Ave., 6:30-8 p.m. Advice & resources for staying warm & saving money this winter. For info: (215) 7447901. Nov. 30- Phila. Office of Community Empower-

ment & Opportunity hosts “Uniting to Fight Poverty Summit” at Arch St. Mtg. Ho., 320 Arch St., 8 a.m.3:30 p.m. Keynote speaker: State Rep. Chris Rabb. Tickets $35. For info: Jennifer.Selpa@Phila.Gov. Dec. 6- State Rep. Pam DeLissio hosts APPRISE counseling for Medicare open enrollment at 6511 Ridge Ave., 1-3 p.m. For app’t: (215) 482-8726. Dec. 7- State Sen. John Sabatina hosts Holiday Happy Hour at Blue Duck on Broad, 220 S. Broad St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. For info: (215) 821-7606 or re.elect.johnsabatina@ gmail.com. Dec. 13- Pa. Soc. meets at N.Y. Hilton Midtown, 1335 Ave. of Americas, N.Y.C. For info: (215) 233-2650. Dec. 21- State Rep. Emilio Vázquez hosts Constituent Meet & Greet at Susquehanna Villa, 1421 W. Susquehanna Ave., 3 p.m.

11/8/2017 11:33:23 AM

City Commissioner

Lisa M.

Deeley Room 132 City Hall

Philadelphia PA 19107

215-686-3460 Rep.Maria P.

Donatucci D-185th District 2901 S. 19th St. Phila PA 19145 P: 215-468-1515 F: 215-952-1164

Delaware County. But the most-striking victory was gender-based. All seven winners in contested races were women. In Philadelphia, a municipal bond sailed through with 69% support. On a state ballot issue – the Homestead Property Tax Assessment Exclusion – Philadelphians turned it down by 61%; statewide, however, it passed with 54% of the vote. The outcome left something for both parties to crow about. Democratic State Committee Chair Marcel Groen remarked, “History was made for Democrats in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Delaware County Democrats were elected to countywide seats for the first time since home rule was enacted. Democrats in Chester State Senator

State Representative

Emilio Vazquez

Sharif

Street

197th Legislative District Office

1621 W. Jefferson Street Philadelphia, PA 19121

2733 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133

215-425-5708

215-227-6161

Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

County swept all four county row offices – treasurer, controller, clerk of courts, and coroner – and all four are women. Democrats in Montgomery County won both judge seats, picked up a number of township, borough, and school district offices to continue to solidify the strength of the party in the region. And Democrats made huge gains in Bucks

184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street

215-271-9190

Representative

Angel Cruz

District Office 3503 ‘B’ St. 215-291-5643 Ready to Serve you

State Rep.

Councilman

Mark

Joanna E.

Squilla

McClinton 191st Leg. Dist. 6027 Ludlow St. Unit A Phila., PA 19139

1st District City Hall Room 332

T: (215) 748-6712 F: (215) 748-1687

215-686-3458/59 State Rep.

Kevin J.

Youngblood

Boyle

198th District

310 W. Chelten Ave.

172nd Dist. 7420 Frankford Ave. Phila., PA 19136

Phila PA 19148

City Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker 9th District City Hall, Room 577, Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-686-3454 or 3455

www.phlcouncil.com/CherelleParker

Facebook: CouncilwomanCherelleLParker Twitter: @CherelleParker9

P: 215-849-6426 STATE REP.

215-331-2600 State Rep.

John

Donna

(R) 177th Dist. 4725 Richmond St. Phila., PA 19137

195th Leg. Dist. 2835 W. Girard Ave Phila, PA 19130

Taylor 215-744-2600

Bullock T: (215) 684-3738 F: (215) 235-4629

190th Legislative District

1435 N. 52nd St. Phila. PA 19131 (215) 879-6615

Always Hard At Work for You!

District Office: 4667 Paul St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (215) 744-7901 M. – Th.: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. F.: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Room 506 City Hall P. 215-686-3446/7 F. 215-686-1927

Representative

Vanessa Lowery Brown

State Rep.

Dawkins

Greenlee

County.” Mayor Jim Kenney released the following statement: “I extend my sincerest congratulations to District Attorney-elect Larry Krasner and his team. I look forward to working with him to continue the (Cont. Page 29)

William Keller

State Rep. Jason

Councilman Wm.

Rep. Rosita

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MAYOR Jim Kennedy did his civic duty, voting in the 2017 general election on Tuesday at the Old 1st Reformed United Church of Christ on 4th Street. Photo by Eldon Graham

N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

BY JOE SHAHEELI UNITED Philadelphia Democratic Party brought home its municipal candidates for district attorney and city controller, Larry Krasner and Rebecca Rhynhart. With 98.1% of the vote tallied, Krasner had 147,666 to Republican Beth Grossman’s 50,107. That was actually a good result for Republicans – 25% of the vote – since registered Republicans are only around 15% of the electorate. Grossman ran a feisty campaign throughout the city, taking several positions that showed thoughtful independence. She had solid support from public-safety

Court Justice Sallie Mundy edged out Democratic challenger Judge Dwayne Woodruff by 1,076,701 to 980,462, with 99.21% of the vote tallied. Superior Court’s four openings will be filled by Democrat Judges Maria McLaughlin, Carolyn Nichols and Deborah Anne Kunselman, along with Republican Mary Murray, who appears to have noses past her running mate Craig Stedman for the fourth seat. For Commonwealth Court, Republican Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon and Democrat Judge Ellen Ceisler will both move up. One clear winner in the state judicial races: Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania. McLaughlin, Nichols and Ceisler are city dwellers, and Fizzano Cannon hails from neighboring

State Senator

Anthony Hardy Williams 8th Senatorial District

2901 ISLAND AVE. STE 100 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153 (215) 492-2980 FAX: (215) 492-2990 ---419 CHURCH LANE YEADON, PA 19050 (610) 284-7335 FAX: (610) 284-5955 6630 LINDBERGH BLVD.

2103 SNYDER AVENUE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19145 (215) 755-9185 FAX: (215) 952-3375 ---SENATE BOX 203008 HARRISBURG, PA 17120 ROOM: 11 EAST WING (717) 787-5970 FAX: (717) 772-0574

“Paid for with Pennsylvanian taxpayer dollars”

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POLS on the STREET

unions, which were discontent with Krasner’s history of opposition to police and prosecutors. But it was not enough. Krasner spent his campaign touching all bases and making carefully conciliatory comments, allaying fears that he would be too radical in office – while not alienating his progressive supporters who hope he will be radical. Rhynhart faced no serious contest, taking 83% of the vote. Republican Mike Tomlinson did his best but had no resources and no issue that resonated with the electorate. City controller is a technical officer, whose duties most citizens seldom think about. Important statewide races for appellate judgeships resulted in a partisan wash. The party makeup of Supreme Court and Commonwealth Court remained unchanged while the Dems picked up one seat on Superior Court; Republicans will still form an 8-7 majority on it, however. Republican Supreme

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

Krasner Cruises; Locals Do Well Statewide

11/8/2017 11:09:18 AM

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

ELEPHANT CORNER

N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

AST WEEK, Philadelphia and, for that matter, Pennsylvania lost two political icons. JIMMY TAYOUN, journalist, politician and, last but not least, a dedicated family man, passed away last week. He founded this paper and ran it before selling it last year. Jimmy, a Democrat, not only believed it was necessary to cover the minority party in his paper, but felt it was important for Republicans to be able to express their voices through

EVERYDAY PEOPLE BY DENISE CLAY N TUESDAY, we all went to the polls to cast our votes for district attorney, controller and a whole bunch of judicial races here in Philadelphia. We also saw new governors elected in New Jersey and Virginia; mayors elected in Pittsburgh, New York, Atlanta, and New Orleans; and ballot issues ranging from the Homestead Tax Exemption here in Pennsylvania to the override of a gubernatorial veto of a bill allowing for the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid Expan-

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this column. Jimmy, a kind gentleman, will be greatly missed by those of us who, like me, were proud to call him our friend. FRED ANTON also left us last week. Anton was the president and CEO of both the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Insurance Co. and the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, a nonprofit, statewide trade organization representing the manufacturing sector in Pennsylvania’s public-policy process. Anton, an attorney, started with the insurance company in 1962. He rose to the positions of president in the insurance company and the PMA in 1972 and 1975 respectively. He was considered by many as the godfather of the conservative movement in Pennsylvania. U.S. SEN. PAT TOOMEY aptly expressed the sentiments of many Republicans when he said, “I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear about the

passing of Fred Anton. Fred was an icon in Pennsylvania’s conservative movement. He was a passionate advocate for the city of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for the country he loved.” I was about to say, “Let’s turn to happier thoughts”; but when I am talking about most of GOV. TOM WOLF’S statements, I am not usually happy. However, his recent comments on the severance tax and the proposed federal tax overhaul are somewhat amusing. Wolf said the Republican tax-cutting package currently being reviewed by the U.S. House of Representatives would be a tax increase on middle-class Pennsylvanians by ending a state and local tax deduction. Eliminating these deduction “amounts to the federal government rolling its problems downhill onto state taxpayers,” Wolf said. (Cont. Page 23)

sion in Maine. In order for people to exercise their franchise, people manned the polls, did last-minute canvassing, ate bag lunches and made sure the machines worked. Then, they went to election-night parties and either popped Champagne in celebration or downed tequila shots to soothe the agony of defeat. Usually, whatever column I wrote post-election would either earn what passed as effusive praise, usually something along the lines of “You wrote something good. Keep it up!” or a firm rebuke, something along the lines of “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” from Jimmy Tayoun, the former owner/ creator of the Public Record. For the first time since I started writing this column in 2005, I won’t have to worry about that. And I’m kind of bummed about it. As regular readers of the Public Record know, Mr. Tayoun (I couldn’t call him

Jimmy, because that would have been in the same disrespect ballpark as my calling my late father “Jack”) died last week. He was laid to rest on Saturday. When I came into the old Public Record offices on Ritner Street to talk to Mr. Tayoun about this column for the first time, he told me that he wanted me to write about the Black community and what was most important to them politically. Thing is, we didn’t always agree on what that was. For example, I believed that Philadelphia’s Black community cared as much about the Opening Day for the Philadelphia Phillies and the chance to see Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard play as it did the activities of the city’s ward leaders and other politicos. He didn’t. And while we argued about it a little, he still ran my columns. But he did do something that folks weren’t lining up (Cont. Page 29)

WALKING the BEAT

HE 3RD annual VETERANS DAY PARADE went well. It was shorter this year – just the right size. I was disappointed that the 1ST JUDICIAL DIST. unit lacked JURISTS (?). We are in an era of judicial outreach. I was happy to meet the new City Director of Veteran Services CARLO Aragoncillo. He lives downtown, and is still serving as an Army Reserve as a Company Commander. Best of luck to him. A wise choice by City Council President Darrell CLARKE.

CITY HALL SAM

MONG those saluting the passing of the great JIMMY TAYOUN were CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY, STATE REP. MIKE DRISCOLL and LT. GOV. MIKE STACK. Tayoun made his name first as a state Rep. and then as a city councilman in Philadelphia. He was also an extraordinary restaurant owner who started one of the first Middle Eastern restaurants in town. The restaurant was so authentic that it included belly dancers. Jimmy went to prison

Words of praise flowed on the life of Publisher JIMMY TAYOUN. I can remember him as a somewhat-liberal in bowtie working for a newspaper run by an ultra-conservative. As a City Councilman, Jimmy directed his wife DOLORES to set two extra plates for dinner each night, where the homeless and hungry ate. It is said that he broke the rules. I disagree; he made municipal, state and federal agencies respond to constituents in the way that they should. I looked around the church during the viewing. There were scattered VIPs, but mostly MANY ordinary folks that he HELPED over many years. Some say his time has passed. Not really. His brand of constituent-caring is NEEDED MORE THAN EVER. He had no flaws; he did have turbulence, activity, energy and FIRE. Perfect PEACE to him (if he will slow down in Heaven)!

Congrats to AFSCME Agent Mike BONNETTI, who became a grandpop with the birth of LUKE VINCENT in Baltimore! Spend some dollars on the kid, pop-pop. Ed HARKINS, Political Officer for LOCAL 13 BOILERMAKERS, received the “Outstanding Labor Leader Award” recently. The event was attended by JILL BIDEN, wife of the best Vice President ever. The AFL-CIO and The Convention Center are enjoying a good RELATIONSHIP. Danny BAUDER of the AFL-CIO is a good liaison! A City study shows the SODA TAX is not hurting area stores (stores say otherwise). The study found ONLY a 57% DROP in store REVENUES. Only 57%. That is SIGNIFICANT. Mayor Kenney: Consider lowering the soda tax rate in your fourth year as Mayor. (Cont. Page 22)

after pleading guilty and then his true fame took off. He wrote a book called Going to Prison, which explains fundamentals of transitioning into incarceration. The book was utilized by such famous individuals as STATE SEN. VINCE FUMO, who was a tenant of Ashland federal prison for about 3 years. Tayoun then founded the Public Record – the essential Philadelphia weekly newspaper that focused entirely on politicians and their goings and comings. The Public Record was packed with photographs of politicians attending events across Philadelphia. What made the newspaper so special is that it showed the politicians celebrating and enjoying each other’s company. The mainstream media make their money by portraying politicians as sleazy or evil without ever capturing the more-authentic side. The human side of the political world is what

made Jimmy’s conception so enjoyable. Jimmy Tayoun put his heart and soul into the newspaper. He was responsible for hustling around to get advertising commitments. He and his lovely wife DOLORES would be on the scene taking pictures and you could always ask Jimmy to take another shot to include another person. He loved people, he loved his family, he loved politics, and he loved life. Jimmy’s loves were always took center stage in the Public Record. MAYOR JIM KENNEY has taken the leap and will withdraw Philadelphia from the School Reform Commission. The SRC was created to give control of the City schools to Harrisburg. For many years, the SRC governed the schools but now the almost 200,000-student institution will be in the hands of parents and the city. (Cont. Page 23) 11/8/2017 11:10:51 AM

(Cont. From page 13) look at their income flow and what’s coming out. I have been

doing a lot of that with the guys that I work with.” Some of the veterans have income by way

Vote! May 15, 2018

Nicholas DiDonato Jr Democrat

Pa State Representative 184th Nicholas DiDonato, Jr. •Retired Police Officer •DA Detective •Proponent/Active Advocate of Public Safety •Seeking solutions for: o Cleaner Streets o Parking o Opposes the Soda Tax o Educational Funding o Healthcare William Keller • Representative for South Philadelphia-25 years • Has made being a politician his career

• Integrity/Transparency • Strong-willed, outspoken • Will provide South Philadelphia with a voice, will represent the people and not look to complete deals to benefit himself • Seeks to end party lines • Term Limits

• Politics as Usual • Invisible • Party Machine Puppet

We aren’t sure what Keller has done for South Philadelphia. How about you?

#didonato2018 facebook/twitter

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David J. Nevrotski President

2512 Orthodox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19137

215-533-0652

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the medical treatment,” said Michael Lewis, residential director. “You want people to be on their own and independent anyway. So we don’t say, ‘you got to go here’ and ‘you got to go there’; that’s their choice.” CATCH has their own crisis-management service to deal with those afflicted by drugs and alcohol. It’s a way to deal with those afflicted who may not warrant a hospital visit. A sub-acute unit helps the patient deal with their addiction. It has come in handy few times dealing with someone, as they did not have to take them offsite and were able detox them in-house, as CATCH is a sober environment. Bumbaca acknowledged the personnel that run their programs. “A lot of times in this business, the right person comes along at the right time to do the right job. And that’s what happened here,”

he said. Bumbaca selected Mark Jones. “Mark worked for me in another lifetime as a children’s case manager, so we had some history together,” Bumbaca said. He also praised Perez: “Eve was just pure luck of the draw. I interviewed a bunch of social workers, had my choice and I said to Mr. Pescatore, ‘I think this lady is the one that can really make the Nicky Z thing happen,” said Bumbaca. Nicky Z administrative assistant Diana Storomon has two daughters involved with the service. One is a retired vet and the other is in active service. Tomorrow, CATCH is celebrating both programs during a veterans’ luncheon. The father of Zangara, Richard Zangara, is scheduled to give a presentation of his son’s Shadowbox, which includes a Purple Heart, Bronze Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.

VMC Unites Vet Services

E T E R A N S Multi-Service Center exists solely to “serve those who served” this great nation, our veterans. Located at 214 N. 4th Street in Old City, it is the only nonprofit agency in Philadelphia and surrounding areas that provides a comprehensive resource center available to all veterans in need. VMC was founded in 1980 to address the multiple needs of Vietnam veterans. Since that time, its programs and assistance have grown and diversified to encompass the needs of veterans of all wars and conflicts, up to and including Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn Veterans. Executive Director Tim Williams is a retired Army Special Forces colonel with over 30 years of active-duty service. He is a com-

bat-wounded veteran and holds the Combat Infantryman’s badge with Star with service in Desert Shield/ Storm, Somalia and multiple tours in Iraq. He has extensive service throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Central Asia states. He has master’s degrees from Louisiana State University, the University of Canberra in Australia and the United States Army War College. Housing is a major need facing many veterans--service agencies these days, and VMC is no exception. It is also active in seeking out training and employment opportunities, a particular focus for younger veterans. VMC has been selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to mentor and guide other nonprofit agencies in delivering services to veterans because of its longstanding experience

and established level of program excellence. A rising sector of operations is work with women veterans. VMC is developing a Women Veterans Center. “Women make up the fastest growing population of vets; post-9/11, their numbers have become the highest in American history. One percent of the population are veterans; 10% of that 1% are women,” said Lincoln Strehle, deputy executive director. “A defined ‘separate’ space is incredibly important, as some women veterans may not otherwise seek the help they need or feel comfortable opening up in a male-dominated setting,” Strehle added. “VMC was determined to break down that barrier, and the Women Veterans Center was established for all women veterans to come and seek the services they truly deserve in a comfortable setting.”

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

process of finding homeless veterans in the city of Philadelphia. “We get all our referrals from the city Office of Homeless Services. As long as they have made contact with the Veterans Multi-Service Center or a regular shelter, part of the questionnaires now used around the city is to ask if someone is a veteran. If they are, their referral will go through to OHS and then they will send the referral over to me,” said Jones. CATCH focuses on veterans with behavioral diagnoses, such as mental-health issues or drugs and alcohol. As long as there is some type of diagnosis, CATCH will try to assist. CATCH acts as an advisor for most of their clients or tenants, particularly when it comes to finances or medical care. “Whatever communities they grew up in, hang out in – that is where they go to get

N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

SERVING veterans in their community are CATCH employees, L-R: Evelis Perez, Social Worker for Nicky Z; Diana Storomon, administrative assistant of Nicky Z; Mark Jones, program coordinator for Patriot House; John Bumbaca, director of mental health services; and Michael Lewis, residential director. Photo by Eldon Graham

of Supplemental Security Income, Veterans Affairs Benefits or obtaining a job. An equally impressive CATCH program, Patriot House, is a residential environment that consists of a 15-apartment complex for homeless veterans. Patriot House targets chronically homeless veterans – by definition, that’s someone who has been homeless for at least 12 consecutive months. Homeless veterans are sometimes classified by differences in their episodes of homelessness. Mark Jones, program coordinator for Patriot House, explains episodic homelessness this way: “You might be staying with somebody and then you can’t stay there anymore, so that day that you can’t stay there anymore, if you go present yourself at a shelter, that’s considered an episode of homelessness. You can end up staying with somebody else for a couple of weeks later, but those couple of days at the shelter are considered an episode of homelessness.” The veterans that are housed now in the apartments provided by CATCH have very much like an ordinary tenant-landlord relationship. Those who pay rent have the comfort of having their own rooms, as long as they adequately maintain the rooms. Jones touched on how the

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11/8/2017 11:33:06 AM

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1301 South Columbus Blvd. Philadelphia 215-336-7404

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(Cont. From Page 20) The SRC is to be replaced. Praise God. If the new board stumbles at any point, watch for the media to swoop in and compare. Mayor KENNEY made the announcement to move the Rizzo Statue on the heels of the SRC announcement, which was good timing in the wake of a popular move. Both announcements are popular with the millennials and minorities. This seems to reinforce a feeling that Kenney is endearing himself to the two groups and shedding his traditional support (?). Has Kenney already TRANSITIONED?... A LOCATION for the RIZZO statue can only be MARCONI PLAZA. Critics should not oppose it. It is curious that a lot of detractors were NOT BORN or WERE IN DIAPERS when Rizzo was Mayor. Including one media commentator who seemed MEAN-SPIRITED. Maybe the reporter wanted to be “COOL” with peers. Reporters need a following and get “votes” if a group agrees with them. Was the sentencing by a military judge of BERGDAHL correct? No, it was too light. A local federal judge seems to see merit in the City argument that it is eligible for federal grants, despite SANCTUARY CITY status. A wise view, if so. An OP-ED article by a former U.S. PROSECUTOR from the old days says Larry KRASNER is not fit to be DA. The writer is a DECADES-LONG Republican; he should have told the readers that. Of course KRASNER IS FIT to be DA. Your disagreement with his views does not authorize you to DECIDE FOR US from a lofty law perch. Give someone else those column inches.

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CITY HALL SAM

schools. Everyone agrees they haven’t been. Every politician in the city should be working furiously as a united front to make sure that the Philadelphia schools, absent the SRC, succeed. Fans and foes of the mayor must unite to help him succeed on this issue. The future of the city and generations of children are depending on the success of this move.

(Cont. From Page 20) In my opinion, the elimination of these deductions does the opposite. These deductions dump the budget problems of high-incometax states on the federal taxpayers living in low-incometax states. In 2015, roughly 1.8 million Pennsylvania federal income filers (about 30%) took those deductions in 2015. I ask Wolf: What about the other 70% of Pennsylvania federal filers? I am pretty sure the answer is they did not make enough money to make taking these deductions worthwhile. So I

adults in politics. His office is reported as stating that the state and local tax deduction encourages state governments to raise taxes that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans. Nearly one-third of the total value of the state and local tax-deduction benefit goes to Californians and New Yorkers.

Wolf also complained recently that he did not get his severance tax on natural gas from shale formations. He said he was denied a vote on the issue, as the tax did not get out of the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee. The failure to get out of committee I highly doubt had anything to do with him, but rath-

er because there were not 23 enough votes in the committee to move it forward. Republicans and a number of Democrats from districts outside of the Southeast understand the negative economic impact on the commonwealth of selectively taxing one industry currently suffering from low market prices.

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(Cont. From Page 20) It’s the right move and it’s overdue, but it is still filled with risks for the mayor. The dysfunction of the district is wellknown and its funding shortfalls are omnipresent. But if Philadelphia is to be truly a worldclass city, it must control its own schools. Those schools must be quality

he does understand that the federal rebate for the 30% of the highest-paid Pennsylvanians makes it more palatable for those paying high to accept Pennsylvania’s tax burden. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvanians have the 15th-worst tax burden. Once again, Toomey shows he is one of the

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think we can safely assume this majority of Pennsylvania federal filers will benefit from the proposed increase in the standard deduction. Another way to look at this is that the wealthier people in the commonwealth get a rebate for up to 39% (the highest federal personal income-tax rate) while the less-affluent among us pay the whole 3.07% supposedly flat Pennsylvania state income tax. U.S. SEN. BOB CASEY said, “This deduction has allowed counties and communities to cover spending on important priorities like education, police, firefighters, transportation, health and other essential services.” So

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ELEPHANT CORNER

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understanding BANKRUPTCY BY MICHAEL A. CIBIK AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY BOARD CERTIFIED uestion: Student loans and the elderly: How to stop student loan collectors and Social Security garnishment? Answer: An increasing number of our senior cit-

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izens are faced with the same problems faced by many of our young adults: student loans. A recent PBS story, “More older Americans than ever are struggling with student debt,” highlights an issue that many bankruptcy attorneys have seen in recent years. As the article notes,” The number of Americans age 60 and older with student-loan debt quadrupled between 2007 and 2017 to nearly 3 million. And the average amount they owe has nearly doubled from $12,000 to almost 24,000.” That’s a lot of debt. My cheap calculator doesn’t have enough digits to display it, but it works out to about $72 billion. Parent Plus loans;

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co-signing on private student loans; children and grandchildren who go into default on these loans; and even old, unpaid student loans they took out years ago are all resulting in collection efforts against seniors who just wanted to help a child or grandchild get a college education. Once a loan goes into default, the powers of the student-loan collectors are massive. If a government loan, there is no statute of limitations, meaning that they can collect, quite literally, forever. Government collectors can obtain an “administrative garnishment,” meaning that they can garnish wages and attach your bank accounts without having to sue and get a judgment. They can even garnish your Social Security! Private student loan collectors do have to deal with the statute of limitations, and do have to sue you before they can garnish or attach. What are your options if you are faced with a student loan in default? One option that you may not have considered is a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. “Aren’t student loans non-dischargeable?” most people ask. Not always. However, depending on circumstances, it nevertheless (Cont. Page 31)

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(Cont. From Page 4) worked for it all his life, funding some of its programs in secret. It was Jimmy’s devotion to St. Maron’s Church that turned Jimmy onto politics, some say. As his daughter, Nora Truscello, tells it, at the same time Tayoun opened the Old City restaurant, he was involved in a serious confrontation with his own priest at St. Maron’s. “The priest was stealing money from the parish and my father caught onto it,” Truscello related. “The priest retaliated by banging the restaurant to city officials.” (Restaurants are vulnerable to a host of complaints to City authorities.) “My father was ticked off because he wasn’t getting help from elected officials. So he decided to run against them,” said Truscello. In the end, that priest was excommunicated, according to Truscello. So Jimmy won that round. Throughout his life, Tayoun dwelt regularly on the teachings of his church and guided his actions in the world by them. Jimmy married Dolores, a fellow Maronite. Together, they brought six children into the world, five of whom survived: Nora, Jamile, Yasmine, David, Adele and Paul. There are many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. All Tayoun’s children grew up working in the restauPPR_p025.indd 15

rant. Dirty work, necessary work. “There was none of this ‘You’re the boss’s kids,’” Truscello recalled. “And no age limits. His attitude was anybody could do anything if they only tried.” As a busy father, he was seldom at home. “He gave us no more attention than he would to a total stranger,” said Truscello. “But he gave us no less either –100% if you needed something.” Through sweet times and bitter, Jimmy and Dolores remained in love. They were partners in politics, partners in faith, partners in family. Everyone who truly knew Jimmy knows Dolores as well. She retired from a fruitful career at the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Jimmy Tayoun’s Running Game

Tayoun first ran for office, for state representative, as a Republican. That was normal in South Philadelphia in those days; it was traditionally Republican. He got creamed the first time out, in 1967. He didn’t have the connections yet, and connections were all when time came to count votes in South Philly in the 1960s. He was still living in Chestnut Hill, although voting out of his restaurant. Tayoun adjusted. He moved back to South Broad Street, where his family has lived ever since. He ran as a Democrat in 1969 and won by a narrow margin. He lost

“THERE WERE ALWAYS STRANGERS IN OUR HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS, WITH GIFTS WRAPPED FOR THEM” – NORA TRUSCELLO It was a talent he took with him when he was elected to City Council for the 1st District in 1975. He served in that district until 1984, when he resigned for an unsuccessful run for Congress. Back again in 1987, he won a fourth term. Along the way, Tayoun burnished a reputation for political advice that endured long after he left office. Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.) met Tayoun 40 years ago, when Tayoun was a councilman and Brady was City Council’s sergeant at arms under Council President George Schwartz. “When I ran for 34th Ward leader, Jimmy told me to do it and gave me tips,” Brady recounted. “When I ran for Democratic Party chair, Jimmy nominated me. When I ran for Congress, Jimmy said, ‘Do it, do it!’” Politics can be bruising, however. Tayoun was always ready to mix it up, old school. His florid confrontations in

my was the common man’s political genius. My father was my political mentor, but when we needed help with something, we called Jimmy. He will remain an abiding influence on my commitment to second chances.” Even more than doing politics, Jimmy loved to teach politics. The influence of Tayoun’s political wisdom and counsel transcended party lines and ideological divides. Marc Stier, of the Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center, commented, “It was impossible to walk away from a conversation without liking him or learning something from him.” “He was a politician’s politician. They came to him all the time for advice, even from other states,” remarked his son-in-law Anthony Truscello.

Public Service Was His Mission

Tayoun was everywhere in his district in those

days. “He kept an office at Democratic City Committee,” recalled Brady. Like his legendary predecessor, Congressman Bill Barrett (D-Phila.), he held office hours in the district five nights a week, when any constituent who needed him could consult with him. Seasoned hands say they have never seen a councilman who was more handson with his constituents. They were a hardscrabble lot for the most part. Society Hill aside, the 1st Councilmanic District of 1975-1990 was mostly populated by beleaguered blue-collar people in a deindustrializing city. These people were awash. They included the broke, sick, unschooled, addicted, criminal, hopeless. Tayoun devoted his life to his walking wounded. He was rarely home at night because he was always on the job, helping his constituents. He rescued drug users from abandoned factories in Kensington. He soothed conflicts between rival mobsters in South Philly. He coped with the problems of a poor city fallen on hard times. Today’s City Council members would do well to use Councilman Tayoun as a benchmark for their own constituent service. Observers have commented that Tayoun was the most talented ward leader and the most talented district councilman in recent history,

JIMMY at leisure, sheik-like, contemplating the siren song beside the sea.

when it comes to mastery of this demanding field. “He was always for the underdog,” noted Councilwoman and Ward Leader Jannie Blackwell (3rd Dist.). “He always was a great supporter and offered important words of encouragement while I served as a State Representative and later as a Councilman,” remarked Councilman Kenyatta Johnson (2nd). “He also emphasized the importance of doing constituent services, stressing that anything outside the district wasn’t as important as serving the people who put you into office. “My grandmother always talked about how when he served as a councilman, he would do great constituent services for the people who lived in the Martin Luther King housing project. He was also the councilman when Dr. King visited that housing project, where my family grew up.” Tayoun drew no distinction between his public service and his home life. “There were always strangers in our house at Christmas, with gifts wrapped for them,” Truscello related.

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City Council were legendary. “A long, lively chapter in Philadelphia politics has come to a close,” said Council President Darrell Clarke. “Jimmy Tayoun was sharp, occasionally bruising, definitely flawed, and never boring. He certainly had a heart full of love for this city. I will miss running into him – wincing and feeling warm all at once – as he slaps me on the back and says, ‘You’re doing good, Darrell.’ “I like to joke sometimes that Council used to be less boring. When I do, I see Jimmy on the chamber floor, mixing it up with Fran Rafferty and John Street. God forbid we ever go back to that time, but it’s an era I feel lucky to have personally witnessed.” Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, also a ward leader, said, “Jim-

Life of Work, Love of Labor

Although Tayoun graduated from college, he identified strongly with the blue-collar world of Philadelphia. He took hard work for granted, but he wanted (Cont. Page 26)

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JIMMY TAYOUN was a devoted family man.

his seat in 1970 by a narrow margin, won it back by a narrow margin in 1972. Along the way, he learned South Philly politics. Key was taking over the 1st Ward Democratic Committee. Not an easy task, given an unending series of powerful foes: Congressman Tom Foglietta (first R, then D-Phila.), State Sens. Buddy Cianfrani and Vincent Fumo, and IBEW leader John Dougherty. In this messy school, Tayoun mastered Philadelphia street politics to a high level. Observers have noted that he may be the greatest ward leader of all time, both for his canny grasp of electoral mechanics and for his fanatical commitment to constituent service – 24/7, he was at it, at no charge.

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Politics Was a Mission - and a Passion

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Philadelphia, Jimmy’s on the Phone (Cont. From Page 25) working people to be able to lead a good life and take care of their families. As a result, he was loyal to organized labor. In his

youth, he even served as shop steward for a union of restaurant employees. Throughout his political career, he supported labor’s causes. As a

young journalist, he was a union member. As a publisher, he placed the health of Philadelphia’s labor movement at the core of his mission.

Life Began Down the Shore

If you only saw Tayoun in town, you didn’t know the full Jimmy. He loved shore life. Per-

NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE - WHEREAS, on May 29, 2009, a certain mortgage was executed by William J. Leahan Jr., as mortgagor in favor of MetLife Home Loans, a Division of MetLife Bank, N.A. as mortgagee and was recorded in Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County in Mortgage Philadelphia Document Number 52072820 (“Mortgage”); and WHEREAS, the Mortgage encumbers property located at 5920 North Ella Street Philadelphia, PA 19120, parcel number 612500100 / 147N11-41 (“Property”); and WHEREAS, the Property was owned by William J. Leahan Jr. and Agnes M. Leahan, his wife by virtue of deed dated December 7, 1965 and recorded December 14, 1965 in Book CAD 613; Page 247; and WHEREAS, Agnes M. Leahan died on February 3, 2008. By operation of law title vests solely in William J. Leahan Jr. and Agnes M. Leahan is hereby released of liability pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1144. William J. Leahan Jr. died on August 15, 2013 intestate and is survived by his heir(s)-at-law, Elizabeth Castaldi; and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“Secretary”), pursuant to an assignment recorded on 7/20/2012 in Philadelphia Document Number 52511117, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage (paragraph 9 (a)(i)), as William J. Leahan, Jr. died on August 15, 2013, and that upon the death the entire principal balance becomes due and owing, and that no payment was made, and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this Notice; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of November 1, 2016 is $133,115.77 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable; NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, l2 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR Part 29, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on September 29, 2011 in Misc. Instrument #: 52395684, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, notice is hereby given that on November 29, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the Southeast Entrance of Philadelphia City Hall located at Broad Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, DESCRIBED according to a Survey and Plan thereof made by Joseph F. Delany, Esquire, Surveyor and Regulator of the Fifth Survey District on the Twenty-Eighth day of May, A.D. 1952, as follows, to wit: SITUATE on the Westerly side of Ella Street (Fifty feet wide) at the distance of One Hundred Seventy-Four feet Three and One-Half inches Northwardly from the Northerly side of Nedro Avenue (Sixty feet wide) in the Forty-Second Ward of the City of Philadelphia. CONTAINING in front or breadth on the said Ella Street Sixteen feet, Three inches and extending of that width in length or depth Westwardly between parallel lines at right angles to the said Ella Street (the Northerly and Southerly lines thereof passing partly through the center of the party walls of the building erected on this lot and the buildings erected on the lots adjoining to the North and South thereof) eighty-five feet to a certain line of a certain fifteen feet wide driveway which extends Northwardly into Champlost Avenue (seventy feet wide) and Southwardly into the said Nedro Avenue. TOGETHER, with the free and common use, right, liberty and privilege of the aforesaid driveway and for passageway, driveways, and watercourses at all times hereafter, forever, in common with the owners, tenants, and occupiers of the other lots of ground bounding thereon and entitled to the use thereof. SUBJECT, however, to the proportionate share of the expense of keeping said driveway in good order and repair. BEING No. 5920 North Ella Street. BEING PARCEL NUMBER 61-2-5001-00. The sale will be held on November 29, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the Southeast Entrance of Philadelphia City Hall located at Broad Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $133,115.77 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date. Ten percent (10%) of the highest bid is the deposit required at the sale. The amount that must be paid to HUD by the mortgagors or someone acting on their behalf so that the sale may be stayed is the total delinquent amount of $133,115.77 as of November 1, 2016, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement. There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale. When making their bid, all bidders, except the Secretary, must submit a deposit totaling ten percent 10% of the Secretary’s bid as set forth above in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. Each oral bid need not be accompanied by a deposit. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of ten (10%) percent must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within thirty (30) days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the high bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveyance fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them. The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for fifteen (15) days, and a fee will be charged in the amount of $150.00 for each fifteen (15) day extension requested. The extension fee shall be paid in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due. If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder’s deposit will be forfeited, and the Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD Field Office Representative, offer the Property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder. There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein.

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haps it was the call of his seafaring Phoenician ancestors. In 1975, he bought a bayside house in Atlantic City that is still in the family. Most summer weekends he spent there with his family and the usual continuous flow of visitors. The family largely lived there all summer. It was all about the water. Jimmy was a competent captain who owned a small fishing boat and spent as much time as possible at sea. He was a strong swimmer as well, who took delight in diving off his dock into the bay to the end of his days.

Tools of His Trade

The Tayoun clan is devoted to picture-taking. It was a habit that served him well in publicity. As a restaurant promoter, a politician and a newspaperman, he took great pride in a wellplanned photo-op. And then there was the telephone. The only time Tayoun’s phone wasn’t ringing was when he was calling out himself. Back in the landline era, his children joked that the home phone was another sibling – and his favorite! When cellphones became the norm, his became a constant presence for others in his company. Planning for his funeral, Truscello thought about burying him with a brand new cellphone, fully charged. After the funeral, Brady smiled and said, “He died the way he hung up on the phone – suddenly.” Tempestuous by nature, Tayoun was quick to swing into action, quick to stand up in a fight – and quick to forgive. He lived for the future, not the past. “He was a great man,” mused Brady. “A pure Damon Runyan character. He didn’t suffer fools gladly but he had a big heart. “I’m sure he’s up there right now, having a fight with Buddy Cianfrani.”

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square. Of the estimated 35,000 Allied POWS who successfully escaped, an estimated one-third were aided in their flight by the rigged Monopoly sets. Everyone who did so was sworn to secrecy indefinitely, since the British government might want to use this highly successful ruse in still another, future war. The story wasn’t declassified

until 2007, when the sur- 27 viving craftsmen from Waddington’s, as well as the firm itself, were finally honored in a public ceremony. It’s always nice when you can play that “Get Out of Jail Free” card! I realize many of you are (probably) too young to have any personal connection to World War II, but this is still an interesting bit of history. T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

screwed together 3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian and French currency, hidden within the piles of Monopoly money! British and American air crews were advised on how to identify a “rigged” Monopoly set – a tiny red dot, cleverly designed to look like an ordinary printing glitch, located in the corner of the Free Parking

Court of Common Pleas Phila. County Civil Action – Law No. 170602317 Notice of Action in Mortgage Foreclosure Midfirst Bank, Plaintiff vs. The Unknown Heirs of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Austin Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Benjamin Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Isabella Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in Her Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Luke Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased & Mackenzie Biedrzycki, Solely in Her Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendants To: The Unknown Heirs of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Austin Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Benjamin Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Isabella Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in Her Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Luke Biedrzycki, a minor, Solely in His Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased & Mackenzie Biedrzycki, Solely in Her Capacity as Heir of Angeline Biedreycki a/k/a Angeline Bierdzycki a/k/a Angeline Biedrzycki, Deceased, Mortgagor and Real Owner, Defendants whose last known address is 2642 Tilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125. This firm is a debt collector and we are attempting to collect a debt owed to our client. Any information obtained from you will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. You are hereby notified that Plaintiff, Midfirst Bank, has filed a Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint endorsed with a notice to defend against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Phila. County, PA, docketed to No. 170602317, wherein Plaintiff seeks to foreclose on the mortgage secured on your property located, 2642 Tilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, whereupon your property will be sold by the Sheriff of Phila. County. Notice: You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after the Complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint for any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you. You should take this paper to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, go to or telephone the office set forth below. This office can provide you with information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford to hire a Lawyer, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee. Community Legal Services, Inc., Law Center North Central, 1410 W. Erie Ave., Phila., PA 19140, 215-227-2400/215-981-3700. Phila. Bar Assn., One Reading Center, Phila., PA 19104, 215-238-6333. Michael T. McKeever, Atty. for Plaintiff, KML Law Group, P.C., Ste. 5000, Mellon Independence Center, 701 Market St., Phila., PA 19106-1532, 215.627.1322.

N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

O! HERE we go again with this story about the game of Monopoly sent to me by Rich R. (You’ll never look at the game the same way again!) It has been checked out and, as far as I can tell, is absolutely true. Starting in 1941, an increasing number of British airmen found themselves the involuntary guests of the Third Reich. The Crown was casting about for ways to facilitate their escape. Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to

happened, “games and pastimes” was a category of item qualified for insertion into CARE packages, dispatched by the International Red Cross to prisoners of war. Under the strictest of secrecy, in a securely guarded and inaccessible old workshop on the grounds of Waddington’s, a group of sworn-to-secrecy employees began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to each region of Germany, Italy, and France or where ever Allied POW camps were located. When processed, these maps could be folded into such tiny dots that they would actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece. While they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington’s also managed to add: 1. A playing token, containing a small magnetic compass 2. A two-part metal file that could easily be

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the WAFFLE MAN

that end is a useful and accurate map, Paper maps had some real drawbacks – they make a lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear out rapidly and, if they get wet, they turn into mush. Someone in MI-5 (similar to America’s OSS, the precursor to the CIA) got the idea of printing escape maps on silk. It’s durable, can be scrunched into tiny wads and unfolded as many times as needed, and makes no noise whatsoever. At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that had perfected the technology of printing on silk, and that was John Waddington, Ltd. When approached by the government, the firm was only too happy to do its bit for the war effort. By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U.K. licensee for the popular American board game Monopoly. As it

11/8/2017 10:52:54 AM

T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

2017 public servant of the year

N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

Mr. Ryan N. Boyer

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20th & Moyamensing Avenue, Philadelphia Please R.S.V.P. by November 9th by calling 215-755-2000 Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door or tables of 10 for $450 Buy tickets online: http://tinyurl.com/pprpublicservant2017

Join us in honoring his contributions to our community on November 16th in the Public Servant of the Year Commemorative Issue.

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For advertising information, please contact Melissa Barrett 215-755-2000 Ext. 5 mbarrett@phillyrecord.com, 11/8/2017 9:37:53 AM

29 T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D

CELEBRATING at the Continental Restaurant were, L-R, State Rep. Jordan Harris, Rebecca Rhynhart, Judge Carolyn Nichols and State Sen. Sharif Street.

(Cont. From Page 19) City’s MacArthur Safety

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

(Cont. From Page 20) to do, and that was to let me write about Philadelphia’s politics. Mr. Tayoun also taught me a lot about it as well. He could read the electoral tea leaves better than most people and was also able to explain how a lot of things that you wouldn’t commonly associate with politics actually had a lot to do with them. In all honesty, there’s a lot that I wouldn’t have been able to do as a reporter, a columnist and a radio host had I not had the benefit of Mr. Tayoun’s insight, which is why election day felt kind of different this year. While Philadelphia will always have its share of colorful people in politics, I’m pretty sure we won’t be getting another Jimmy Tayoun anytime soon. So I’d like to send my condolences to his family. And to you, Mr. Tayoun, I give my thanks. Rest In Peace. PPR_p029.indd 15

and Justice Challenge and our other efforts to make the criminal -justice system more equitable and effective. While we’ve reduced our incarcerated population by nearly 20% in the last two years, there is still important work to do. “I also congratulate Controller-elect Rebecca Rhynhart. As a cabinet mem-

ber in my administration, and the budget director under Mayor Nutter, she has worked in City government for many, many years. And as someone who was involved in one way or another in developing how much of our current processes operate, she will be a great partner in creating a more efficient and effective government.”

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POLS on the STREET

N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

LARRY KRASNER exulted in his victory in a gathering at the William Way Center. Photos by Wendell Douglas.

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(Cont. From Page 24) can be difficult and expensive to obtain the discharge in bankruptcy of student loans. But a discharge isn’t always necessary for a Chapter 13 to help. When you file for Chapter 13, a provision of the Bankruptcy Code called the Automatic Stay goes into effect immediately. The Automatic Stay prohibits all creditors – including student loan creditors – from taking any action

that could be considered an attempt to collect a debt from you or your assets. All proceedings immediately stop. The Automatic Stay remains during the entire course of your case, five years for a typical Chapter 13. What do you need to do during that time? You have to make a monthly payment to a trustee, who takes that payment and distributes it to all of your creditors. How much will that payment be? It depends on your circumstances. But many of my senior clients in these circumstances have little more than Social Security and

a small pension as income, so their payment is small – maybe $75 a month. And as long as they make it, the Automatic Stay completely protects them from all collection efforts. A Chapter 13 isn’t a longterm remedy for student loans. It usually will not result in the discharge of the student loan. But it will stop the immediate problems, the calls, letters, garnishments and attachments. It will relieve a significant amount of stress, both emotional and financial. It will let you move forward instead of being dragged backwards.

42nd Ward Rallies

PRE-ELECTION 42nd Ward Dems’ party drew the likes of, L-R, Lydia and Damar Canty with their sister, judicial candidate Deborah Canty and hostess Ward Leader Sharon Vaughn. Photos by Wendell Douglas

AT LOU & CHOO’S fish fry, L-R, were statewide judicial aspirant Judge Carolyn Nichols, Tonia King and Sharon Vaughn.

PUBLIC RECORD CLASSIFIEDS

31 T HE S O U T H PHIL A D EL PHI A P UB L I C R E CO R D

understanding BANKRUPTCY

SMALL ADS BIG DEALS

‘93 Cadillac Allante convertible w/ Northstar 32 valve engine. Needs work. $5000 obo 215-368-4426 anytime.

regions across the commonwealth. Go to the Keystone Purchasing Network at www. theKPN.org for locations and bid information. Bid openings

‘68 Cadillac Deville convertible. Needs restoration. Call for details. 215-368-4426 anytime.

Dec 4 & 5, 2017. Miscellaneous: SAWMILLS from only $4397.00 – MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own

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Financial Services: REAL ESTATE FINANC-

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CERTIFIED BUYER will PICK UP and PAY CA$H for R12 cylinders or cases of cans. (312)291-9169; www. refrigerantfinders.com

N OV E M B E R 9, 2017

Bid Notices: ezIQC® (indefinite quantity construction contracts) GC, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Civil Pre-Bid Meetings in 6

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www.drive4highway.com

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11/8/2017 10:54:50 AM

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