Philadelphia Free Press - 09-23- 2020 Digital Edition

Philadelphia’s affordable housing crisis Nathaniel Lee Philadelphia Free Press Correspondent

H

ome ownership is becoming less possible in the City of brotherly love as many who were born and raised within its boundaries find it hard to maintain their properties or even find affordable rentals.

This trend is not peculiar to

rising property values and subsequent rise in property taxes make it financially impossible.

Philly but is common through- chase their first homes or facPoint Breeze, West Philadelout many urban cities around ing the risks of foreclosure. phia, Kensington – you name the nation.

“You never would have it, says Bigos, and they are “It is definitely alarming imagined that such areas of to see the increasing prices the city would see such devel- seeing sweeping development and with it increases in propfor home buying that is far opment.” erty values and rents which outpacing income that you Unfortunately, although it low- and moderate-income never would have expected,” defies the imagination it has said Kenneth Bigos, executive become the reality for so many families just can no longer afford. director of Affordable Housing who either cannot afford to “As a result, there are fewer Centers of Pennsylvania which buy or rent in Philadelphia or, places where there is affordassist low and moderate inif they already own property, come families seeking to pur- stay in those homes where the able housing or rentals.”

Kenneth Bigos, executive director of Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania

Bigos would know, his job puts him directly with low Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper income families who come to him for help and guidance.

September 23, 2020 “The areas where our clients purchase their homes I would say are the Olney, Tacony, Mayfair, West Oak Lane and Overbrook, the sections that are on the far outskirts of the city so they are being pushed out closer and closer to the suburbs because Center City is up and coming and unaffordable,” he said.

Personally, I think the people have been failed by the leadership and decision makers in the city but, hey, nobody asked me. That said, I’ll keep my opinion to myself – for the Thom Nickels ly liberal. In the Sixties it was menical theology at Tubengin moment.

So, what does he suggest Contributing Editor touting liturgical change and University in Germany. In his being done to help those with modernism at any cost, advo- author photos he is usually moderate means to afford the ometime in the 1980s cating for the reform of the old depicted in a shirt and tie (no ever more illusive American I attended a lecture by Latin Mass and the reinvenRoman collar for him). His radical Swiss Cathotion of Church architecture. shock of thick John F. Kennedy dream of owning a home, or lic theologian Hans Kung at The magazine excelled in abhair has always been one of his even, for those who prefer, renting a home in a decent Temple University. Kung in stract illustrations of post Vati- signature traits. His modernthose days was the Catholic can II Church altars: kitchen ist look was a far cry from the neighborhood?

Subsidies and housing equivalent to secular philosotables that held two sticks that look of some of the old pasvouchers could help. One pher, Jean-Paul Sartre. Many vaguely resembled a cross. tors from my grammar school big sore spot in Philadelphia of Kung’s books were as dense America magazine terrified days: Irish priests with red is that of property X tax abateand thick as Sartre’s Being and me as a high school student bulbous noses. ments where developers are Nothingness. Although Kung because it seemed to welcome After meeting Kung, I inter- ... offered massive tax incentives was much better looking than the wholesale deconstruction viewed Episcopal bishop John for development projects in Thom Nickels Sartre, he did not, like Sartre, of a liturgy that I had known Spong in a Center City coffee the city. Tax abatements have bed young women en masse, and loved since childhood. house where I was struck by although many Church people I had (and continue to have) the prelates’ tall and lean dip- come under fire as they are Kung was a frequent conbelieved by many to line the “in the know” assured me that tributor to America magazine several books by Kung in my lomatic frame. He reminded pockets of rich developers Kung lived with a woman and when I was a high school stu- library. Kung turned 90 in me of an English Vicar. Grawho then pay little or no taxes didn’t honor his priestly celicious and gifted with a keen dent. America is Jesuit run and 2018. Officially he’s known to build housing Page x units that bacy vows. operated, therefore exceeding- as Professor emeritus of ecucontinued on page 4 low- and moderate-income X of the city tax-paying residents cannot afford. ...

“We have to address the circumstances of tax abatements

By Jarred Cruz sicians of Philadelphia, Miand with those tax abatements For Philadelphia chener Art Museum, and ONE making sure that there are subNeighborhoods North Broad. sidies and assistance available Volpe’s company hosts for low and moderate income arge events have been about 800 weddings and households that want to purpostponed or canceled events a year across six vencontinued on page 2 across the region due ues: Vie, Tendenza, Cescaphe to COVID-19 restrictions. BusiBallroom, Downtown Club, PHILA THEATRE ness has slowed severely. WedThe Lucy, and Waterworks.

Philadelphia dings with large guest lists are Loevy and Volpe discuss Theatre Comthe core of a catering business, the possible future of caterbut social distance guidelines ing in Philadelphia, including pany begins its 46th season ban large gatherings. what they have been doing with the rollPeter Loevy has been presito prepare to offer a safe and dent of Catering by Design sanitary environment for their ing world prefor 28 years. The business clients when restrictions on miere...

Joe Volpe, 0wner of Cescaphe (Courtesy Cescaphe) was created in 1991 with the gatherings finally lift.

Page 10 mission to bring innovative Overall, how has the corothe owner of Cescaphe, which past five months.

CRIME/POLITICS...........................3 cuisine and design together navirus affected the entire prides itself on classic cuisine Loevy and his team cater SPORTS.......................................5 for clients seeking an extraor- fit for any event, he said. Both over 125 weddings a year at catering industry? dinary event experience, acLoevy: I’m one of 16 caterers NOTES ON MUSIC..........................7 companies have seen a sharp venues like the Bolingbroke cording to Loevy. Joe Volpe is decline in business over the Mansion, The College of Phycontinued on page 4 CLASSIFIEDS..............................11

City Safari: My doxy is Orthodoxy, Russian, that is!

S

COVID-19: How the Catering Industry is managing to stay afloat

L

2 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

CRISIS

continued from page 1

available for low and moderate income households that want to purchase homes or be able to provide the subsidies for housing vouchers for rents.”

Phillies First Home Grant was one example of a subsidized program that worked. Under this program, first time buyers could receive up to $10,000 down payment assistance, 6 percent of the sales price, receive housing counseling and help with closing costs.

“The average was closed $174,000,” said Ken which greatly helped those who wanted to become homeowners and otherwise would be unable to without assistance.

“First make sure that all that all available housing structures are healthy places that people are able to live and enjoy because not all housing units may be up to the necessary conditions for someone to live,” he said when asked what he would

suggest city officials do to address the crisis of affordable housing within the city limits.

To do this, funds could be used to bring the existing housing to habitable conditions.

“Low down payment grants that could be applied to for home repair services and also promote home repair programs that people under a certain income would be able to access.”

Bigos said that it is much more expensive to break ground for new housing than it is to restore and repair existing housing and suggest that an assessment of available properties be made and ensuring that they are preserved.

Oddly enough, there are solutions available but many of our readers and far too few of the residents of our city know about them because such information isn’t readily available.

Why? “In terms of what the assistance programs that they have rolled out, I would say, are doing what can be done. The problem is that very

few people know about them.”

“I would say that government has to learn how to market their solutions. They are trying to create solutions but they are poor at marketing them.”

There are programs available that could significantly help those seeking home ownership or housing assistance and despite the crisis, they aren’t applied for in the numbers hoped.

Jennifer Bennett of Perfect Place Real Estate sees the impact of this affordable housing crisis firsthand as those who come to her for housing find fewer and fewer opportunities to do so at affordable prices.

“What I am seeing right now is the housing crisis increasing in the neighborhoods over the last 3 years. The people who could afford houses in these houses in these neighborhoods before, a lot of them cannot afford property in these same neighborhoods now,” said Bennett.

Bennett says that there are still properties that continued on page 8

4th Annual Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival brings the wonders of the planet straight to your home in first-ever virtual film festival Presenting an international slate of environmentally-focused shorts and features, the Festival showcases 50 inspiring new films from September 23-27

P

hiladelphia Environmental Film Festival (PHEFF) is excited to bring the wonders of the planet straight to your living room with its virtual film festival September 23-27. The 2020 Festival aims to use the power of exceptional environmental films to entertain, inform and inspire personal action.

“We are honored to bring the beloved Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival directly to Philadelphians via our state-of-the-art online platform,” said Executive Director Debra Wolf Goldstein. “This year’s Festival showcases critical environmental issues and will captivate audiences with films showing the beauty and fragility of our planet.”

The line-up includes 13 programs offering 39 shorts and 11 feature films that explore a wide variety of environmental challenges and solutions – plus filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, award announcements, and other great extras.

“We carefully selected the best new environmental films from around the world for the 2020 Festival which address a broad range of timely and powerful issues,” said Alexandra Drobac Diagne, Artistic Director. “Our curated programming offers visually dynamic and impactful films. This year’s virtual format offers viewers the flexibility of a customized viewing experience.”

The 2020 Festival includes Honeyland, the historic 2020 Academy Awardâ nominee for both Best Documentary Feature and Best Foreign Film. Honeyland tells the story of Europe’s last female beehunter, who, embarks on a journey to save her

hive after a family of nomads invade her land and threaten her livelihood. This film includes special greetings to Festival viewers from the film’s directors, Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov.

The Festival’s 13 curated programs highlight films touching on timely and powerful topics including: Environmental Racism -- featuring Director Alexander John Glustrom’s Mossville: When Great Trees Fall, tells the moving story of a century-old black community uprooted by petrochemical plants, and one man’s refusal to give up; Indigenous Perspectives -- featuring Tribes on the Edge by Céline Cousteau, granddaughter of renowned filmmaker and conservationist Jacques Cousteau. Building on the family legacy of exploration and spellbinding storytelling, Cousteau asks viewers to hear the human story and act in solidarity with indigenous peoples to help preserve their communities and the Amazon itself; and American Adventures -- featuring The River and The Wall, Director Ben Masters’ 1,200-mile adventure to document the huge environmental and social impacts of the proposed border wall between Texas and Mexico. This groundbreaking documentary follows five friends on their epic journey to shed light on this controversial project.

PHEFF’s line-up also features captivating short films from around the globe, including regionally made shorts from local talent, such as Beyond the Philth, exploring Philadelphia’s vexing trash issue; and Organize for Our Lives, a Roxborough youth’s first-hand account of Philadelphia students’ strike for climate justice in 2019.

Among many extras included are a special

message from politician Beto O’Rourke, who makes a cameo appearance in The River and the Wall; Discussion and Award acceptance with Tribes on the Edge filmmaker Céline Cousteau; greetings by the Honeyland Directors from Macedonia; special talks with other feature Directors; a panel discussion on environmental racism; an educational youth program; and more.

PHEFF is proud to be partnering this year with lead sponsor Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University to offer discussions as part of the Festival with Academy scientists about environmental topics explored in the films.

Additionally, in line with its mission to engage, inform and entertain, PHEFF is excited to offer several filmmaker and expert events free of charge.

Unlimited Virtual Passes to see all 13 curated programs are only $30; individual program tickets are $12 . Tickets and passes will be available for purchase beginning September 4 on the Festival website: www. philaenvirofilmfest.org.

The Festival’s lead sponsors are the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, USA. Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival brings the planet to Philadelphia through the power of environmental film. The Festival showcases exceptional new shorts and features about the beauty and fragility of the earth that entertain, inform, and inspire personal action.

For more information, visit www.philaenvirofilmfest.org Facebook: @PhilaEnviroFilmFest Instagram: @PhilaEnviroFilmFest Twitter: @PhilEnvFilmFest

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 3

Crime Blotter

Crime Statistics & Crime Report Updates. If you have any crimes to report, please send them to N.C. at newsdesk@pressreview.net by press time, Monday at noon. Note: this crime report does not cover the entire boundaries for each police district. Instead, it reflects statistics in or near our circulation areas.

The following crimes occurred between Thursday, Sept 10th and Sept 15th.

3rd DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 3rd District, please call South Detective Division at 215-686-3013. Reporting 3rd District crimes from South St. to Mifflin St. and Delaware Ave. to Broad St. Assault: 700 S Front St; 1500 S 10th St; 600 S 12th St; 1200 S Juniper St; 700 S Philip St; 700 Morris St; 1100 Annin St; 1100 Greenwich St; 1200 Dickinson St; Burglary: 1700 E Passyunk Av; 900 S 5th; Robbery: 500 Reed St; Theft: 1300 E Passyunk Av; 800 S 2nd St; 1200 S 2nd St; 1400 S 5th St; 1700 S 5th St; 1800 S 6th St; 1300 S 10th St; 1400 S 10th St; 800 S 12th St; 300 South St; 700 South St (3 incidents); 1100 Fitzwater St; 100 Carpenter St; 1100 Carpenter St; 100 Washington Av (2 incidents); 1100 Cross St; 200 Tasker St; 600 Moore St; Vandalism: 700 S 4th St; 1600 S 12th St; 200 Montrose St; Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 1600 S 5th; 1500 S 6th; 1200 S 10th St; S Front & Mifflin St; S 10th St & Reed St; 500 Kater St; 500 Clymer St; 1100 Watkins St; 6th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 6th District, please call 215-686-3060.

Reporting 6th District crimes from Spring Garden St. to South St. and Front St. to Broad St. Assault: 100 S 9th St; 100 S 10th St; 200 S 12th St; N 2nd St & Market St; 1100 Spring Garden St; 1200 Vine St (2 incidents); 1000 Race St; 1300 Race St; 1300 Filbert St; 600 Market St; 1300 Walnut St; Burglary: 0 Bank St; 400 N 5th; 100 S 11th St; 300 S 12th St; 1200 Chestnut St; 1300 Spruce St; Robbery: 100 S Broad St; 1200 Sansom St; Theft: 400 S 2nd St (4 incidents); 400 N 5th St; 300 N 12th St; 300 N 13th St; 200 S 13th St; 100 S Juniper St; 500 N Broad St; 200 S Broad St; S 8th St & Market; S 11th St & Clinton St; 200 Spring Garden St; 500 Spring Garden St; 800 Spring Garden St; 200 Callowhill St; 100 Vine St; 1200 Vine St; 200 New St; 100 Race St; 1000 Filbert St; 600 Market St; 800 Market St; 1000 Market St (4 incidents); 1300 Market St (2 incidents); 1100 Chestnut St (3 incidents); 1300 Chestnut St; 800 Sansom St; 1100 Walnut St; 500 Spruce St; 800 Lombard St; 1000 South St. Vandalism: 400 N 5th St; 300 S 13th St; 200 S Broad St; N 6th St & Wood St; N 12th & Race St; 300 Wood St; 100 Vine St; 100 New St; 200 Florist St; 700 Race St; 900 Arch St; 400 Market St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 200 S 3rd St; 500 S 5th St; 500 Randolph Ct; 300 S 11th St; 200 S 13th St; S Juniper & Locust St; 700 Race St; 100 Arch St; 100 Pine St; 900 South St. 9th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 9th District, please call 215-686-3090.

Reporting 9th District crimes from Fairmount Ave. to Lombard St. and Broad St. to the Schuylkill River.

Assault: 0 Franklin Town Blvd; 2100 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy; 200 N 16th St; 100 S 18th St; 1400 Spring Garden; 1600 Callowhill St; 1700 Arch St; 2100 Ludlow St; 1900 Chestnut St; 2100 Walnut St. Burglary: 300 S 18th St; 2000 Spruce St; 2300 Spruce St. Robbery: 600 N 18th St. Theft: 2000 Pennsylvania Av (3 incidents); 2200 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy; 400 N Broad St (3 incidnents); 600 N 15th St; 100 S 15th St; 200 S 15th St; 100 S

17th St; 500 N 18th St; 200 S 18th St; 700 N 22nd St; 500 N 23rd St; 100 N 23rd St; S 21st & Rittenhouse Sq; 2300 Fairmont Av; 1600 North St; 1400 Wallace St; 2100 Wilcox St; 2000 Hamilton St (2 incidents); 1800 Arch St; 1600 John F Kennedy Blvd (2 incidents); 1900 Market St; 2000 Market St; 1500 Chestnut St (2 incidents); 1700 Chestnut St; 1900 Chestnut St; 2000 Chestnut St; 1700 Walnut St (2 incidents); 1500 Locust St; 2300 Spruce St. Vandalism: 2000 Pennsylvania Av; 100 S 15th St; 100 N 20th St; 1900 Waverly St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 2400 Pennsylvania Av; 1700 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy; 2200 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy; 500 N Broad (2 incidents); 600 N 17th St; 0 S 18th St; 400 N 21st St; 100 S 22nd St; S 18th St & Walnut St; N 21st St & Hamilton St; 1600 Spring Garden St; 1600 Cherry St. 12th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 12th District, please call 215-686-1320.

Reporting 12th District crimes within Southwest Philly bounded by Baltimore at 50th St. to Bartram Dr. at 60th St. Assault: 5400 Baltimore Av; 5700 Baltimore Av; 1600 Cobbs Creek Pkwy; 1100 S 52nd St; 1300 S 53rd St; 2700 55th Dr (2 Incidents); 1400 S Vodges St; 2200 S 56th St; 1700 S 58th St (2 incidents); 5800 Angora Ter; 5400 Thomas Av; 5800 Thomas Av; 5600 Whitby Av (2 incidents); 5400 Malcolm St; 5700 Beaumont St (2 incidents); 5600 Windsor St (2 incidents); 5900 Windsor St; 5600 Chester Av; 4800 Woodland Av (2 incidents); 5400 Eastwick Ter. Burglary: 900 S Conestoga St; 1400 S 55th St; 2700 S 57th St; 5200 Reinhard St. Robbery: 5400 Woodland Av. Theft: 700 S 52nd St; 1700 S 55th St; 1900 S Alden St; 2000 S 58th St; 2000 S Redfield St; 6000 Angora Ter; 5500 Regent St; 4900 Saybrook Av. Vandalism: 700 S 52nd St (2 incidents); 2000 S Frazier St; 5300 Thomas Av; 5500 Florence Av; 5400 Kingsessing Av; 4800 Woodland Av; 5800 Woodland Av; 5300 Glenmore Av. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 1600 Cobbs Creek Pkwy; 1400 S Fallon St; 1000 S 51st St; 1300 S Wilton St; 2000 S Frazier St; 2100 S Cecil St; 1200 S 58th St; 1400 S 58th St; 1700 S 59th St; 5300 Thomas Av; 5100 Hadfield St; 5600 Pentridge St; 5300 Warrington Av; 5600 Windsor St; 5700 Springfield Av (2 incidents); 5800 Springfield Av; 5900 Trinity St; 5300 Chester Av; 5500 Greenway Av. 16th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 16th District, please call 215-686-3160.

Reporting 16th District crimes from Girard Ave. to Market St. and from the Schuylkill River to 52nd Street Assault: 700 Dekalb St (2 incidents); 800 N 39th St; 0 N 40th St; 900 N 42nd St; 900 N 48th St; 300 N 52nd St; N 47th & Wyalusing Av; 4300 Westminster Av; 4000 Ogden St; 3300 Spring Garden St. Burglary: 300 N 41st St; 0 Dearborn St. Robbery: N 34th St & Powelton Av; 4000 Wyalusing Av. Theft: 2800 John F Kennedy Blvd; 3400 Lancaster Av; 4000 Lancaster Av; 0 N Preston St; 800 N Markoe St; 200 N 52nd St; 300 N 52nd St; 4300 Wallace St; 3400 Hamilton St; 3600 Pearl St; 3200 Powelton Av. Vandalism: 3900 Warren St; 800 N 39th St; 300 N 41st St; 800 N 42nd St; 900 N 48th St; 900 N Saint Bernard St; 200 N 52nd St; 3800 Poplar St; 4600 Westminster Av; 5100 Brown St; 4900 Olive St; 4200 Market St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and

may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 3800 Lancaster Av; 4000 Lancaster Av; 200 N 36th St; 0 N 39th St; 600 Union St; 700 Union St (4 incidents); 300 N 40th St; 600 N Preston St (4 incidents); 800 N 42nd St; 1100 N 42nd St; 800 N 43rd St (3 incidents); N 47th St & Lancaster Av (4 incidents); N 49th St & Olive St (2 Incidents); N 51st & Wyalusing Av (2 incidents); N 52nd & Westminster Av (4 incidents); N Paxton St; & Haverford Av; 4100 Aspen St; 5000 Aspen St; 3700 Wallace St. 17th DISTRICT: To report a crime to the 17th Police District, please call 215-6863170. Reporting 17th District crimes from South St. to Mifflin St. and Broad St. to the Schuylkill River.

Assault: 800 S Broad St; 1400 S Bancroft St; 1600 S 27th St; 1500 S Etting St; S 24th St & Moore St; 2100 Catharine St; 2500 Federal St; 2200 Tasker St; 1900 Pierce St. Burglary: 1300 S 30th St; 2600 Wilder St. Robbery: 2800 Grays Ferry Av; S 23rd St & Federal St; 1700 Washington Av; 2000 Federal St. Theft: 1400 Point Breeze Av; 800 S Broad St; 1000 S Broad St (2 incidents); 1300 S Chadwick St; 1500 S Garnet St; 700 S 21st St; 1200 S 22nd St; 1500 S Marston St; 1600 S 28th St; 1200 S 29th St; 1500 S 32nd St; S Broad St & Washington Av (9 incidents); S 29th St & Tasker St; 1800 South St; 1400 Bainbridge St; 2100 Fitzwater St; 2400 Washington Av; 1900 Titan St; 1800 Reed St; 2200 Greenwich St. Vandalism: 2700 Wharton St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 1200 Point Breeze Av; 1000 S 18th St; 1200 S 23rd St (2 incidents); 1500 S 23rd St; 1700 S 28th St; 1200 S Dover St; 1300 S Dover St; 1300 S Stanley St; 1400 S Napa St; 1500 S 33rd St; 2300 Washington Av; 3300 Reed St; 2500 Moore St. 18th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 18th Police District, please call 215-6863180. Reporting 18th District crimes from Market St. to Woodland Ave. and 30th St. to Cobbs Creek Pkwy.

Assault: 100 S 46th St; 100 Farragut St; 120-122 S 56th St; 700 S 57th St; 700 S 58th St; 3300 Market St; 4100 Chestnut St; 5700 Chestnut St; 4400 Sansom St; 3900 Walnut St; 4300 Walnut St (2 incidents); 5200 Walnut St; 6100 Walnut St (2 incidents); 6100 Locust St; 5300 Cedar Av; 5500 Pemberton St; 5600 Walton Av (2 incidents); 5600 Montrose St (2 incidents); 5800 Washington Av. Burglary: 100 S 52nd St; 4900 Sansom St. Robbery: 200 S 43rd St; S 40th St / Walnut St; Farragut St / Locust St; 4500 Pine St; 5100 Pine St; 4400 Osage Av. Theft: 4900 Baltimore Av; 100 S 39th St; 100 S 42nd St; 100 S 46th St; 300 S 47th St; 0 S 59th St; 200 S 60th St; 1100 S 60th St; 200 S 62nd St; 5100 Market St; 4200 Ludlow St (5 incidents); 4000 Chestnut St; 4200 Sansom St; 5000 Sansom St; 5800 Sansom St; 3600 Walnut St; 5700 Walnut St; 4600 Locust St; 4000 Spruce St; 5900 Osage Av. Vandalism: 300 S 47th St; 0 S 52nd St; 4300 Ludlow St; 5800 Ludlow St; 5200 Chestnut St; 4200 Sansom St; 4400 Sansom St; 4600 Locust St; 4600 Locust St; 4800 Pine St; 5900 Osage Av; 6000 Walton Av. Other Offenses (Any Incident That Does Not Fit Into Other Definitions, And May Include Public Drunkenness, Runaways, Loitering, Weapons Offense Or Missing Person): 5200 Baltimore Av (2 incidents); 300 S 47th St; 200 S 49th St; 100 S 50th St; 600 S 51st St; 200 S 52nd St; 100 S 54th St

(2 incidents); 500 S 54th St; 200 S 55th St; 600 S 56th St; 600 S 60th St; 400 S 62nd St; S 55th St / Locust St; 3500 Market St; 4000 Market St; 6200 Market St; 5400 Chestnut St; 3900 Walnut St; 5100 Locust St; 6000 Locust St; 5000 Irving St; 5700 Spruce St; 4900 Pine St; 5600 Pine St; 5800 Osage Av; 5100 Hazel Av (2 incidents); 5500 Pemberton St; 5800 Pemberton St; 5800 Walton Av; 5500 Catharine St; 6100 Catharine St; 6200 Ellsworth St. 19th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 19th Police District, please call 215-6863190. Reporting 19th District crimes from City Ave. to Market St. and 52nd St. to 77th St. Assault: 4100 Monument Rd; 4200 Monument Rd; 4900 Wynnefield Av; 5200 Lancaster Av; 6100 Lancaster Av; 6300 Lancaster Av; 2100 N 49th St; 2400 Bryn Mawr Av; 100 N Wilton St; 200 N Wilton St; 0 N Peach St; 0 N 54th St; 1500 N 54th St; 1400 N 56th St; 1500 N 56th St; 2100 N 56th St; 100 N 58th St (2 incidents); 100 N Hobart St; 1400 N Hobart St; 2000 N 59th St; 1600 N Redfield St; 2200 N Salford St; 300 N 61st St; 0 N Dewey St; 200 N 63rd St; 500 N 63rd St (2 incidents); 700 N 63rd St; 600 Wynnewood Rd; 1000 N 66th St; 1100 N 66th St; S 60th St / Market St; 4200 City Av; 7600 Wyndale Av; 6600 Lotus Rd; 5400 Lebanon Av; 5400 Master St; 5900 Master St; 5500 W Girard Av; 5400 Vine St; 5500 Winter Pl; 5400 Spring St (2 incidents); 5600 Race St; 5300 Arch St; 5600 Arch St; 5700 Filbert St; 5600 Market St. Burglary: 5600 Haverford Av; 2200 Bryn Mawr Av; 7000 City Av. Robbery: 1100 N 64th St; Edgemore Rd / W Girard Av; 5200 Arlington St; 5400 Euclid St; 5400 Spring St. Theft: 4200 Monument Rd; 3900 Conshohocken Av; 4000 Ford Rd; 5600 Lancaster Av; 2700 N 45th St; 1200 N 50th St; 400 N Wilton St; 0 N 56th St; 500 N 56th St; 1700 N 56th St; 200 N Alden St; 2500 Cardinal Av; 1200 N 58th St; 1400 N Wanamaker St; 1300 N Hobart St; 500 N 59th St; 400 N Redfield St; 100 N Millick St; 100 N Robinson St; 200 N 63rd St; 1100 N 63rd St; 3900 City Av; 5000 City Av; 6100 City Av; 7500 Woodcrest Av; 5700 Wyndale Av; 5300 Gainor Rd; 5400 W Berks St; 5600 W Berks St; 5400 Euclid St; 6300 Jefferson St; 5400 Lansdowne Av; 5000 Master St; 6500 Callowhill St; 5600 Vine St; 5800 Vine St; 5900 Filbert St; 5600 Market St. Vandalism: 0 N Yewdall St; 1300 N 56th St (2 incidents); 300 N Redfield St; 300 N Felton St; 300 Horton St; 5400 W Montgomery Av; 7500 Sherwood Rd; 6100 Nassau Rd; 4600 Westminster Av; 5100 Brown St; 5400 Spring St; 5600 Market St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 4000 Presidential Blvd; 5000 Wynnefield Av; 4000 Conshohocken Av; 5200 Lancaster Av; 5600 Haverford Av; 6500 Haverford Av; 1200 N 50th St; 2200 N 51st St; 200 N 54th St; 2200 N 54th St; 200 N 57th St; 1700 N 52nd St; 100 N Allison St; 2100 N 56th St; 1300 N Frazier St; 1500 N Frazier St; 1600 N 57th St; 1200 N Alden St; 200 N Cecil St; 1700 N 59th St; 1400 N 61st St; 1600 N 61st St; 1700 N 61st St; 300 N 62nd St; 200 N 63rd St; 1200 N 65th St; 900 Atwood Rd; 1400 N 75th St; Belmont Dr / Parkside Av; N Paxon St / Haverford Av; N 47th St / Lancaster Av (4 incidents); N 49th St / Olive St (2 incidents); N 51st St / Wyalusing Av (2 incidents); N 52nd St / Westminster Av (4 incidents); N 59th St / W Thompson St; Market St / S Redfield St (2 incidents); 7500 City Av; 7300 Drexel Rd; 7500 Brentwood Rd; 5700 Woodcrest Av; 7300 Malvern Av; 5400 W Berks St; 5800 Master St; 5500 W Girard Av; 6000 W Girard Av; 6200 Callowhill St; 5500 Cherry St.

District Attorney Krasner Announces Charges Following Arrest of Defendant for July Shooting of Pregnant Partner (F1),Aggravated As-

D

istrict Attorney Larry Krasner on Tuesday announced three counts of Attempted Murder and related charges have been filed against a Philadelphia man who had been wanted by the Philadelphia Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for shooting three people, including a woman pregnant with his child, in the Fairfield section of the city last July.

Nicholas Fuentes (DOB: 6/16/1998) was arrested by police in Wisconsin on August 31st. He has been sought for his role in the July 22nd shooting of a woman who was 36 weeks pregnant with his child, along with two other adults who were helping the woman move out of her house following a domestic dispute with the defendant.

Philadelphia Police responding to the scene recovered 20 fired cartridge casings. The onemonth-old baby of one of the victims was at the scene, but not struck.

All three victims continue to recover from their injuries.

“There is no excuse for unlawfully firing at least 20 bullets on any block, in any community, in our city,” District Attorney Krasner said. “I am grateful for the diligence of law enforcement in Philadelphia and in Wisconsin for helping my office make sure Fuentes is brought to justice and held accountable for his violent acts. In and out of court we stand with these victims and will support them in every way possible as they work to heal from their wounds and trauma.”

Fuentes is charged with three counts each of Attempted Murder

sault (F1), Simple Assault (M2), and Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2).

He is also charged with Aggravated Assault of Unborn Child (F1); VUFA 6105 (F1), 6106 (F3), 6108 (M1);Discharge into Occupied Structure (F3); and Possessing an Instrument of Crime (M1). He is being held without bail.

“We can end the culture of intimate partner abuse and violence by

continued on page 8

Review UNIVERSITY

CITY

218 South 45th Street

218 South 45th Philadelphia, PA Street, 19104 Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel (215) 222-2846 Tel (215)222-2846 Fax (215) 222-2378 Fax (215)222-2378 Email editor@pressreview.net Email newsdesk@pressreview.net editor@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net Editor & Publisher Editor Publisher Robert& Christian Robert Christian Associate Publisher Assistant Editor Claudia Christian Jack Firneno Bookkeeping Associate Publisher Alexandra Christian Claudia Christian Graphic Designers Bookkeeping Kelly Kusumoto Tina Davis Kasia Gadek Graphic Designers Contributing Writers Kasia BobGadek Behr Kelly Kusumoto Haywood Brewster Marc Holmes III Contributing Writers Richard Lord Dea Contosta Mallin Nicole Thom Bob Nickels Behr David Traub Haywood Brewster Napoleon F. Kingcade Columnists Nathan Lerner JohnMallin Lane Dea Henry Lazarus Thom Nickels Tim Legnani Contributing Editor Paulina Malek Thom Nickels Columnists Correspondent Jennifer Jones Nicole JohnContosta Lane Nathaniel Lee Henry Lazarus KamSales Williams Claudia Christian Sales Claudia Social Christian Media Tim Legnani Kelly Kusumoto Social Media Kelly Kusumoto

4 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

CITY SAFARI continued from page 1

sense of humor, I enjoyed the interview despite the little verbal bombs he delivered: Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead, and many of Jesus’ miracles were, well, grossly exaggerated. Spong seemed to take delight in these proclamations, including whether Jesus was really the Son of God. Since my main concern was Spong’s views on homosexuality, I let the deeper issues slide.

Spong was pro gay so for this reason I dubbed him one of the good guys. After the interview, when I seriously began to read his books, I found that I could no longer continue to read him.

The question: Why does this man even bother to call himself a Christian? began to torment me. The negative power of Spong’s writing became amplified when a good gay friend of mine confessed that Spong had almost caused him to lose his faith.

Some quotes by Spong: “The Bible is not the word of God. It’s the tribal story of a particu-

lar people…”

“Live fully, love wastefully.” (A good motto for gay bathhouses prior to 1984.)

For many years, theologically speaking, I was between a rock and a hard place. I liked liberal theology but I didn’t like the liberal (and often wacky) liturgy that went with the liberal liturgy but it seemed you couldn’t have both.

I could never get used to women priests although I did my best to come to terms with this when I went (for a season) to Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church on Locust Street in Center City. Saint Mark’s is a church that I have admired since I first saw it during a high school outing. I was shocked then to discover such a Catholic looking edifice labeled Episcopalian. St. Clement’s Church on Appletree Street was another Episcopal marvel. I was so taken with that church that I talked my great aunt into attending Mass there one Sunday. After Mass we both agreed that St. Clement’s was “more Catholic than the cathedral on the Parkway.”

1. Lots of incense.

2. Better vestments 3. Better music 4. No table altars That was then and now is now, as they say.

Saint Clement’s has since modernized, incorporating female acolytes into its liturgical life, something that would have been considered too low church barely twenty years ago. Female acolytes or altar servers are common in most Roman Catholic parishes except those that follow the Traditional Rite. In many Catholic parishes the female altar servers far outnumber male altar servers. Altar serving has become primarily a girl’s club, causing boys to vacate the premises. Traditionally, the idea behind having only male altar servers was to “school” boys into entering the seminary.

Change is a constant in life, as we are often reminded. Hans Kung’s once radical views have now gone mainstream, in that when it comes to theology and liturgical practice, each Catholic parish now seems to be a law unto itself. Roman Catholic parishes now are now formulated theologically according to the orthodoxy or non-

If you would like to receive the Philadelphia Free Press

and/or

University City Review,

please send your email address to: editor@pressreview.net and specify which publication (or both) you would like to receive.

orthodoxy of the pastors.

They range from strict to casual and easy going, from (almost) open communion to stern announcements from the altar that, “Only Catholics are permitted to share in the Eucharist.”

This is most evident at weddings and funerals when many of the guests might be from different faiths. Some Catholic priests refuse communion to politicians who support abortion, while other Catholic priests are indifferent to the matter.

At my Russian Orthodox parish there are no female altar servers or women priests. If a priest suspects that someone in the communion line is not Orthodox, he will not hesitate to ask the potential communicant if he or she is Orthodox. The vast majority of priests will not give communion to non-Orthodox but I have witnessed, on rare occasions, communion given to Roman Catholics.

An additional, complicating problem has infected Orthodoxy which in effect dates the question, “Are you Orthodox?” Today’s question would be, “What kind of Orthodox are you?” This is a result of the tragic schism between Moscow (Russian Orthodox Church) and Constantinople (Greek Orthodox Church). This mostly geo- political split has nothing to do with theology or the tenets of Orthodoxy per se (all Orthodox believe the same thing) but with church politics and nationalistic interests. For several years, the priests in my parish would concelebrate with Greek priests but once the schism was formalized the Greek priests could no longer participate in this manner. This is a tragedy that matches the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Roman Church, and it weakens considerably Orthodoxy as a world force.

While Orthodoxy may hold the ancient torch of Tradition to its breast in a way that Rome has never been able to achieve, it still suffers from geo-political squabbles that splinter it into many factions. I’m reminded of the words of French theologian Jacques Maritain: “The spirit of Orthodoxy is

not the same thing as the Russian spirit; the spirit of Catholicism is not the same thing as the Latin spirit. Once these things are well and truly realized on both sides, unity will not be far to seek.”

Recently, I happened to attend a Mass at historic Old Saint Mary’s Catholic Church on S. 4th Street where I ran into an old work acquaintance of mine, a convert to Catholicism from the Episcopal Church. This person, whom I’ll call X, joined Old St. Joseph’s parish, the historic Jesuit church also located on 4th Street, after his conversion.

When I asked X if he still felt comfortable at Old St. Joe’s he surprised me when he said that he had left the parish and was now considering joining St. Mary’s because the Jesuits were “pushing heretical ideas.”

I asked X what he meant and he cited a book that the parish was recommending for parishioners, a work by Sister Elizabeth Johnson, a retired Fordham University theologian and a sort of female version of Hans Kung, who has put forth ideas like: “No one has to die for our sins. It’s time to rethink the crucifixion.” Johnson is the author of many books, including “Quest for the loving God,” (2011), which drew criticism from the US Bishops Committee on Doctrine.

X also told me that Johnson questions the Resurrection, a key point—in fact, the most central point in all of Christianity.

Later, I did some research on Johnson and found a 2015 article about her on BuzzFeed where the theologian recounts the censure of her book by the bishops this way: “There were these men and they had all the power. I was vulnerable and at their mercy. There was patriarchy using its power against me, to deprive me of what, in fairness, I should have been given. I kept thinking that in another century, they would be lighting the fires outside.”

I wished X the best of luck at Old Saint Mary’s where, presumably, there are no Jesuits.

CATERING

continued from page 1

that is part of a consortium that we’ve been working to try and deal with the effects of the coronavirus on the industry. We’re the hardest hit industry of everyone right at the center because it really comes down to the dance floors.

That seems to be the focus of the issue because that’s when everybody gets up, gets together, and is jumping around it has the greatest COVID risk.

The first goal is to separate ourselves in the government’s mind from restaurants, bars, and dive bars. Especially the wedding industry, with that kind of association, but we’re not. We’re a very specific industry and what separates us is that we’re able to control the guest count differently than restaurants and every part of the event is controllable. Granted, the dance floors are an issue.

But if you want overall numbers, I would say that almost every caterer is down anywhere from 80% to 90% of their business.

Volpe: We usually do about 800 weddings a year, but since March 15 we have not done a single event. It’s been devastating for the entire catering industry and food service hospitality industry. We are at the end of July and it seems like we’re making some progress. But nothing that we could set a date for and say, “We’re going to be open for business once again.”

With the new guidelines being implemented what changes should bride and grooms expect to see?

Loevy: There are numerous COVID-19 guidelines. The first thing is that everyone has to wear a mask, including the guests when they enter the building, just like any other building right now. And they are urged to wear a mask throughout the location, except when they’re sitting down to eat. The staff has to wear a mask and gloves. The building is sanitized on a regular basis, whatever site that happens to be.

One thing they need to do: everyone needs to

continued on page 6

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 5

West Catholic High guard Destiney McPhaul picks Virginia Tech to play college basketball

By Napoleon F. Kingcade U.C. Review Correspondent

I

t came down to five colleges and Destiney McPhaul had to pick one of them.

When the moment came, the 5-8 West Catholic guard had to make her final decision. At Haddington Recreation Center, the All-Catholic basketball star turned her back towards the crowd. Like a magician, Destiney McPhaul took off her jacket and made it disappear. At that moment, she pulled off her own magic trick. When the high school basketball star turned back around, she was wearing something different.

In a blink of an eye, the senior guard had fooled the crowd. At that moment, she stood tall and proud. The West Catholic guard had a big smile on her face. She had finally done it. Destiney McPhaul was glowing with excitement. She stood there wearing a brand-new Virginia Tech basketball shirt. At that moment, the crowd went wild.

For quite a few weeks, the West Catholic guard had kept everybody in suspense. She never told anybody what college she wanted to attend.

She kept everybody in total darkness. Especially for the last three weeks after Destiney McPhaul received her final stack of college letters. Going into this month, the senior guard had over 30 college offers on the table. Colleges like South Carolina and the University of Tennessee were knocking on the door. However, they were not knocking hard enough.

Maybe that explains why the First Team AllCatholic basketball star knew exactly which college wanted her the most. Before Destiney McPhaul picked Virginia Tech as her number one choice, she had Penn State, Michigan, West Virginia and the University of Pittsburgh as her four other choices.

However, last week

on Thursday, September 17, McPhaul made her decision to hold a press conference to announce her college pick. She wanted her family and friends to know which college she would finally pick. Wisely enough, she picked the outdoor courts of Haddington Recreation Center to make her big announcement. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the doors of Haddington Recreation Center were still closed. Despite the situation, that didn’t stop a huge crowd from showing up at Destiney’s press conference.

After Destiney McPhaul made her big announcement, the crowd went wild. People were screaming and shouting.

During the celebration, her grandmother was standing in total shock.

Her grandmother never expected Destiney to pick pick Virginia Tech.

The grandmother was shocked about the decision.

“To be honest with you, I don’t know if she ( Destiney ) made the right choice because I was stuck on West Virginia,” said Destiney’s grandmother, Marsha Baldwin. “Yes, I like West Virgina, but I’m happy with whatever college that Destiney chooses. I just pray that she made a good choice and that she’s happy where she’s at. I know all the colleges were good choices. I know I will be praying for her. I hope she has a good college basketball career.”

Besides her grandmother, her mother and her brother Tymir Johnson also attended last Thursday’s press conference. West Catholic girl’ basketball coach Beulah Osueke was also on hand at the press conference. She grabbed the microphone and gave an emotional testimony about her star basketball player.

“Destiney is a great basketball player,” said the West Catholic coach.

“The way she [Destiney] erupted in the Catholic League championship, she made me proud to be a basketball coach. I

really mean that. That’s why I can stand here today and say I love her.

I love the example that she’s setting for other players. It shows how great a player she really is. That’s why I’m proud to have her on my basketball team.”

Because of Destiney McPhaul’s great play on the basketball court, the Lady Burrs finished last season with a record of 22-6. Last season, Coach Beulah made history when she led the West Catholic Lady Burrs to the Philadelphia Catholic League title for the first time in 22 years.

She also became the first Black basketball coach to win the Philadelphia Catholic League title in league history.

Last season, Destiney McPhaul led the team in scoring with an 18.6 point-game average.

She also surpassed 1,000 points in her high school basketball career. In addition to those great stats, McPhaul was also a great rebounder in the Philadelphia Catholic League. Last season, McPhaul dominated the boards as a powerful guard. For West Catholic, McPhaul was able to average 7.4 rebounds per game. Because of her hard work and her love for the game, Destiney McPhaul has been able to remain one of the top high school guards in the nation. Today, ESPN currently ranks Destiney McPhaul as the 5th best high school female guard in the country.

Today, her popularity keeps soaring and soaring.

It’s been that way since Destiney McPhaul started playing basketball in the sixth grade at Discovery Charter School. Even today, she spends hundreds of hours in the gym.

However, since the outbreak of COVID-19, Destiney McPhaul continues to do private workouts inside her home. Before this happened, she was doing hard workouts at Haddington Recreation Center. She usually scheduled her workouts with Haddington basketball coach Woo Robinson.

Woo Robinson has spent

Destiney at the age of 12. Right: Napoleon F. Kingcade, Destiney McPhaul her brother Tymir Johnson

a number of years with McPhaul at the recreation center. He runs different types of basketball drills that keeps the West Catholic basketball star focused on her game.

“Woo teaches me a lot about the game of basketball,” said McPhaul.

“There are times when he will teach me things that go beyond basketball. He tells me a lot about how to conduct myself. And how to deal

with things on and off the court. He teaches me how to deal with tough situations. He teaches me about the game of life.”

Another person who has been a strong supporter in her life has been her brother, Tymir Johnson. Johnson once played basketball at Math, Civic and Sciences High School and now he plays basketball in college. Tymir Johnson has

always been a person who stays in Destiney’s ear. He talks to her about the game and teaches his sister about the pros and cons that happens every day.

“He talks to me about my game almost every day,” said McPhaul. “We even watch the games together. He shows me things that I need to be focused on. He constantly talks to me about the

continued on page 8

Celebrate our 32nd Year with us!

A FUNDRAISING APPEAL Name: Address:

Method of contribution:  Check (Please make checks out to either Philadelphia Free Press or University City Review, and mail to 218 South 45th Street, Phila., PA 19104. Phone 215.222.2374)  Credit Card Name on credit card: Address:

Credit Card Number: Expiration date: Security Code: Billing Address: If it is different from your address

You can also go to GoFundMe.com and search for “Keeping Community Papers Alive in Philadelphia”.

6 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

CATERING continued from page 4

sign a waiver to not hold the caterer, the facility, or the host liable for coming down with the coronavirus. So, that is something that every bride, groom, and every guest has to do.

Every guest fills out a form with their contact tracing information.

There are signs everywhere. When you walk in, there’s a sign for the waiver, of what we do, what the venue does, and what the guests need to do. The seating is spaced 6 feet apart. But we group the guests in bubbles, that is, people that are comfortable sitting together. Whether it’s a family or a work unit, they can all be together. That’s how we seat people following the mandated up to 10 people per table.

Volpe: Most of our work and preparations will be done prior to the guests seeing these big changes. The changes will include a variety of sanitation right after each wedding or event. The cleaning of tables, chairs, and high touch surfaces every night.

The major change in the industry is the planning and preparation prior to each event, nothing that they will see. Things that they will see include social distancing between tables, spread apart 6 feet, multiple sanitizing stations in several areas, and all employees will be wearing masks. These giant changes will keep people safe.

There’ll be a health certification and there’ll be telling their guests what to expect when they come to the weddings. Bride and groom

will take people’s names and gather contact tracing information. We will keep the entire guest list 30-days prior to the wedding, noting their names, where they’re from, and where they were two weeks prior to the event.

God forbid there is an outbreak, but we can notify everybody and trace if back to where it came from.

What has your company been doing for the past several months during shutdown?

Loevy: We’ve been fortunate! We have been working with Step Up to the Plate where we feed the food insecure in Center City and Kensington.

At one point we were delivering up to 8,000 meals a week. We’re down to about 6,000 a week now.

Developing a COVID guide is what we’ve done to be prepared and communicate with all of our brides and grooms.

Very few have canceled, most have deferred and moved to other dates, sometimes more than once. We have encouraged that and made it easy to do. We want to be as lenient as much as possible for everybody.

We are ready to go once we get the cue!

Volpe: While we were shut down and waiting to flatten the curve, we thought being proactive would be the best way to go. We created sanitation training videos that we had our entire team go through online. We worked with a professional company called MBB Hospitality, and they helped us create new safety sanitation online training programs.

Also, working with our couples to reschedule their weddings and helping them make good

Frizz control designed for curly hair.

Ouidad's anti-frizz products will let your curls shine no matter the weather. find your solution at hairvyce.com/nofrizz

decisions as to when and where they should be looking at it. Some were able to push it off a year, some 18 months, and others needed to get married now to move on with their lives.

What do you expect to do with guests coming from out of state?

Loevy: Nothing, because the mandate will determine what is allowed. I thankfully do not have to be the judge and jury on this. That means a lot of families and friends coming from different states, if there is a mandate, it’s up to the guest and the host to regulate that. They are expected to follow the same protocols and fill out the same paperwork as everyone else.

Volpe: I think initially, in the beginning there will be not a lot of guests coming from out of state to attend weddings.

Brides and grooms are starting to realize now that it’s probably not a good idea to do so at the moment. I do believe by the first and second quarter of next year that things will go back to the way they were.

What do you expect in the next year? What does the future of catering look like to you?

Loevy: I’m carrying on next year coming back online to some capacity.

There’s a lot of conversation going on about this, but people feel that until there’s a vaccine or proper testing, that we’re not going to come back online at all. It’s going to just keep perpetuating, especially given the behavior of our citizens.

The challenge for us is how do we persevere through the first quarter, which I believe will be pretty much dead. As will the fall, which is going to be very sparse.

If the spring doesn’t happen for all of us, then without government intervention and more grants, I just don’t see how we persevere through that. And we are in better shape than many, so I would see a lot of businesses going out.

If the spring happens, then I think we pick up where we left off and have a decent year.

Volpe: Well, I think the good news is that there’s a demand for people wanting to celebrate their new marriage and come

Italian Market Coffee House hosting National Coffee Day Celebration to Support Children with Dyslexia

A

nthony’s CoffeeFor-A-Cause 2020 Adopts Local School to Support Improvements in Reading Literacy.

Anthony’s Italian Coffee & Chocolate House located at 903 S. 9th Street in the Italian Market announces hosting, their signature National Coffee Day celebration on Saturday, September 26, 2020 with an all-day fundraising effort to support Children with Dyslexia.

This all-day event compliments the company’s fundraising efforts through their “Coffee for a Cause” initiative. The 2020-2021 beneficiary is, Our Lady of Hope Regional School in Blackwood, NJ, supporting the school administration’s commitment to further improve reading literacy for all students, including students with dyslexia.

The all-day fundraiser ends with the 3rd Annual Al Fresco Dinner on the Italian Market. A collaborative effort with local businesses including Talluto’s, DiBruno Bros., Ralph’s Italian Restaurant, 12 Steps Down, Rosa Foods, Triple Play Sports and others.

“Celebrating National Coffee Day gives us an opportunity to bring our community together while raising awareness about dyslexia, its prevalence in our schools together with their families. I think now, more than ever, they want to have a celebration since they haven’t been able to do that.

So, I believe there’s a huge demand for large weddings. Unfortunately, we will not be able to do that, probably until the first quarter of next year, 2021, when there’s a vaccine out and people will get back to living their lives. People will be extremely happy and have an reinforced sense of how lucky we are to be able to do weddings.

Please email any questions or concerns about this story to: editor@philadelphianeighbors.com.

Outside Anthony’s Italian Coffee House. Photo courtesy of italiancoffeehouse.com

and how to help children overcome it,” said Anthony Anastasio, owner of Anthony’s Italian Coffee & Chocolate House.

On Saturday September 26th beginning 9am at Anthony’s Italian Coffee & Chocolate House FREE Cups of Coffee for everyone providing a donation. 100% of all donations will be sent to the school. 20% of ALL SALES for the day will be also be donated to honor the 20% of the

population with dyslexia.

Family fun activities are planned throughout the day & the event will end with the fundraising pasta dinner al fresco style on the Italian Market, beginning at 6pm.

Dinner Tickets are now available online at www.

AnthonysCoffeeForACause.com All social distancing protocols will be followed throughout the day & for the outdoor dining event.

Shop Center City Saturday returns this fall!

S

upport the businesses and people who create Center City’s unique shopping, dining, and social experiences. Shop Center City Saturday on September 26; help restore jobs.

It’s an entire day of specials from places like Benjamin Lovell Shoes and DFTI; to re-openings at key retailers like Boyd’s; and free gifts and giveaways from Ritual Shoppe and Reading Terminal Market. Plus, fuel up with free fries from Shake Shack Center City.

Check our website often for the most up-to-

date list of participants.

Businesses have implemented increased health safety and cleaning procedures. Please do your part, check each business’ website for their current safety protocols before visiting and adhere to all CDC guidelines. Wear a mask, except when eating or drinking. Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from others. If you feel sick or have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, please stay home.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 7

O

ur city’s beloved BalletX kicks off its 15th anniversary season on Sept. 23 with the world premiere of four virtual works on “BalletX Beyond”. available only on the company’s new virtual subscription series platform at www.

BalletX.org/beyond In addition, the 7 p.m. premiere will also feature a 25-minute documentary film about the history of the company and the “process of building this Premiere Contemporary Ballet”. The four choreographers involved are Rena Butler, Loughlan Prior, Cali Quan and Penny Saunders.  According to weather and arborist experts, all signs point to wonderful opportunities for the annual fall leaf-peeping drives and strolls and biking expeditions. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources describes the weeks ahead as “the best” and other forestry experts suggest that the peak will be the last week in October.

Crowds are expected throughout the state and especially in the easternmost mountainous areas. More information at Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, 570-8442001.  Live opera and a banquet too are offered by Amici Opera on Sept.

26 at 4 p.m. when their piano production of Verdi’s “Aida”, performed in Italian by young operatic voices, takes to the stage at Horsham’s Fountainside Ristorante, 537 Easton Road. Only 25 seats are available, social distancing will be observed and masks are required. Details at 215224-0257. 

Another local museum reopens on Sept. 26 when UPenn’s Museum of Contemporary Art unveils its new exhibition, “Milford Graves: A Mind-Body Deal”, a multi-media presentation of the artist’s expansive works. Free. 118 S. 36th St. 215-898-7208.  The Capital Philharmonic of NJ, under the baton of Maestro Dan Spalding, offers a free afternoon concert on Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. “Our American Heritage” will boast a program of marches, Broadway hits and patriotic works by all-American composers including Richard Rodgers, Leroy Anderson, William Schuman and John Philip Sousa., performed outdoors by the Philharmonic’s 29-piece wind ensemble. Rain date is Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.

Pavilion at Cadwalader Park in Trenton. Information at 609-558-2292.  The Philadelphia Orchestra and Maestro Yannick Nezet-Seguin launch their 20/21 season on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. on the Digital Stage. This 121st season opener officially inaugurates a reimagined season featuring works

by Rossini, Verdi, Mozart and others as well as Valerie Coleman’s “Seven O’clock Shout” commissioned by the PO and written to honor the frontline workers in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program will also include a performance by soprano Angel Blue, a virtual collaboration with actor/musician Steve Martin, a remote performance by pianist Lang Lang plus an appearance by sports icon and owner of the Philadelphia Freedoms,

Billie Jean King. www. philorch.org or 215-8931999.  Bookstores and publishers are joyfully announcing that book sales are zooming during these months of isolation and escapism. One that Philadelphians will surely want to know about is” Becoming Philadelphia: How an Old American City Made Itself New Again” by the Inquirer’s Pulitzer-Prize winning architectural critic Inga Saffron. This collection of her columns from 1999 to 2019 touches on a wide variety of hot topics including the demise of the crossDelaware tram project, the handsome Cira Centre’s lobby, the Barnes Foundation, Rittenhouse Square and the Comcast Technology Center, among so many other thoughtful ponderings.  How about a short drive or train ride to Hamilton, NJ for a charming and thrilling visit to Grounds for Sculpture, a 42-acre park and museum founded in 1992 by the American artist Seward Johnson, whose aim was to promote a better understanding of contemporary architecture. Now re-opened with timed tickets, just under 300 works of art are on view, many by Mr. Johnson as well as such others as Beverly Pepper, Austin Wright, Kiki Smith, Anthony Caro and Magdalena Abakanowicz. groundsforsculpture.org or 609586-0616.  Another handsome drive a bit further away is to the brand-new Harriet Tubman Museum now officially open in Cape May, NJ set in the old parsonage house at Macedonia Church on Lafayette St. and revealing in its renovated and expanded quarters African art and history collections, artifacts of slavery and the country’s abolitionist movement. This corner of what was a haven for Black families was also where Harriet Tubman arrived in the summer of 1852 to work in hotels and as a cook for private families, earning and saving money for her Underground Railways missions, allowing Black

residents of Md. to escape to freedom. 410221-2290.  Chinese pipa star Gao Hong performs on the pear-shaped lute for an evening hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. asia. si.edu/events-overview.  The NY Times fashion editor Vanessa Friedman chats with celebrity stylist Karen Welch on Sept. 25 as they delve into the intricacies of Fashion Week, the red carpet, and the current age of sweatpants culture.12:20 p.m., live at instagram.com/ nytimesfashion.  The 24-Hour Plays’ Viral Monologues series offers brief dramas that are written, rehearsed and recorded in 24 hours or less and

You can now get Mary Allegra’s: “Come Into My Kitchen” A book full of her delicious recipes, informative cooking tips, and entertaining stories - by contributing to Curio Theatre’s Mary Allegra Spotlight Fund.

Just go to the website: curiotheatre.org. Learn what innovative things that Curio Theatre is doing. Then in the upper left hand corner, click on the tab: “Spotlight Fund”.

You get a soft bound cover for each $50 donation and a hard bound cover for each $100 donation. For larger donations, you can get multiple copies in any combination that you can send as gifts to your friends and family.

And for your donation Curio Theatre will take care of having them shipped to different addresses for you!

continued on page 8

W W W. W I S D U M B P O D C A S T. C O M MUSIC | TECHNOLOGY | PARENTHOOD | CULTURE | TRAVEL | GAMING | BUSINESS | LIFESTYLE | LOS ANGELES | NEW YORK | PHILADELPHIA | SAN ANTONIO | MEN’S HEALTH | PHOTOGRAPHY | VIDEOGRAPHY | LITERATURE | KNOWLEDGE

Two long-time friends and musicians talk about music, life, society, technology and so much more in this podcast aimed at trying to understand why we get dumber as we get wiser.

L I S T E N

O N :

8 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

CRISIS

DA KRASNER

Attorney’s office and the courts have also continued from page 2 continued from page 3 ensured continuous access to emergency are affordable but those making sure survivors that fit this category are are supported and that Protection From Abuse often in poor condition. all people are educated Orders (PFAs)throughout the COVID-19 panSo, what’s driving the about healthy, safe prices of Philadelphia demic, both in person relationships,” Dishousing up? and remotely.” trict Attorney Krasner “There are a lot of Temporary PFAs may added. “For access to people from other cities information about inti- be requested by email, that are coming to our TempPFA@courts. mate partner violence, town buying real estate, contact the Women phila.gov, by phone there are a lot of people at 215-686-6311, ext. from New York that are Against Abuse 24/7 ho- 19217; and in person tline at 1-866-723-3014 buying,” she said. for quality, compassion- at the Criminal Justice “There’s a huge deCenter. mand and there’s always ate, and nonjudgmental been an interest in Phila- services. The District delphia, but it seems to neighborhood where to afford a $200k house.” have heightened after I’m located,” said BenBennett said that she Covid-19 started.” nett whose office at 514 believed families would Asked if she believed nd S. 52 Street is located soon have to either put Philadelphia was betheir incomes together coming unaffordable for across the street from or live together to even moderate income work- Malcolm X Memorial Park on 52nd Street behave a chance at affording families and Bentween Larchwood Aving a home the area. nett answered without “That’s the only other hesitation, “I believe so, enue and Pine Street.

“You’re looking at way that I can see for yes.” $200k and up for almost people to be able to af“I see a lot of people any house and a lot of ford these properties,” making $10, $12 even she said. $15 an hour and its very people who are in the low- and moderate-indifficult for them to come bracket aren’t able find properties in this

DESTINEY continued from page 5

teams and the players.

He’s always stays in my ear. He’s my protector and my teacher.”

Today, ESPN.com describes Destiney McPhaul as being an athletic point guard.

She’s also described as being a quick leaper who can rebound the ball and can find the rim with constant regularity.

ESPN.com says McPhaul is a player known for attacking the rim with great force. ESPN.com also describes McPhaul as being a mid-range shooter who can break down any defense that comes her way.

ESPN.com also ranks McPhaul as being a talented guard who can drive off the dribble and knock down jumpers from different ranges of the floor. ESPN also says McPhaul is a player who can finish off plays with great results. She’s a powerful player on the basketballl court.

There was a time when Destiney McPhaul couldn’t help but remember when West Catholic went on a fourgame losing streak. It started back on January 3 and didn’t end until January 10. That’s when West Catholic beat Archbishop Ryan. And that’s when West Catholic went on a rampage. The Lady Burrs won 11 of their last 12 regular season games. And they’ve never lost a game ever again.

“It feels great to win the Philadelphia Catholic League championship,” said McPhaul who will most likely become the captain on

the team once the new season possibly starts in the spring.

“A lot of people didn’t expect us to make it to the title game, said McPhaul. “You could see people stop sharing the love when we were on that losing streak. We felt a lot of people were jumping ship. It was mainly the outsiders who didn’t believe in us.

Everything was going downhill, but we kept fighting and fighting. We never gave up. Once we started winning again, it opened people’s eyes.

For our team, it showed our hard work was finally paying off. Those losses taught us a great valuable lesson.”

Almost a week after winning the Philadelphia Catholic League title, the West Catholic girls basketball team won the PIAA District 12 3A Title. West Catholic defeated Imhotep Charter, 71-46 to become the District Class 3A champions for the fourth time in five years.

During that time, the Lady Burrs were rolling in the PIAA state playoffs. Their next goal was to win the PIAA state girls basketball title. But that didn’t happen. The world got hit with a large dose of Covid-19. The Lady

Burrs were scheduled to play the (27-1) Dunmore Bucks girls team back on March 13 in a state semifinal game. But the game got postponed and the rest of the playoffs were canceled.

“It was our year. I wanted to win a state title. We knew we had to keep on winning if we wanted to get to the Giant Center in Hershey.

We knew we had to keep on working on our game. We were winning and everything was going right for us. I know I want to win another Catholic League title.

But I don’t know if we will have another (basketball) season.”

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Philadelphia Archdiocese made the decision to cancel all Fall Sports. However, there’s still a chance the Archdiocese will play Fall sports in the spring. But it’s still not a guarantee. It’s up to the Archdiocese to make that decision. And that’s a good enough reason to believe why Destiney McPhaul held her press conference. She did it to avoid any trouble getting into Virginia Tech.

That was a smart decision made by the talented West Catholic High female basketball star.

NOTES

past performances. Each Tuesday at 8 p.m. and available for a week on YouTube, Facebook and the City Ballet website.

The Met Opera’s generous free nightly showings of great operas in stupendous productions with the world’s greatest singers continues on Sept.

23 with an all-Puccini week, 7:30 p.m. and available until 6:30 p.m. the next day. First up is “Manon Lescaut” starring Kristina Opolais and Roberto Alagna, ; Sept. 24, “Madama Butterfly” with Patricia Racette, Maria Zifchak and Marcello Giordani; Sept. 25, “Tosca” with Sonya Yoncheva, Vittorio Grigolo and Zeljko Lucic; Sept. 26, “Turandot” with Christine Goerke and Academy of Vocal Arts alumnus James Morris; Sept. 27, “La Boheme” with Angela Gheorghiu and Ramon Vargas. metopera. org. 

continued from page 7

this week they’re all musicals! Sept. 26 all day until Midnight.

24hourplays.com. •  More digital dance, this time from NYC Ballet which opens a virtual season on Sept. 28 with archival footage during its first four weeks of

LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY ORIENTED FREELANCE WRITERS

There are career paths that you might not know about.

Whether you’re making a change or just starting out, you have more options than you think. Get started at FindSomethingNew.org

To cover local stories and community meetings in Center City and University City.

Please send resume & cover letter to Bob Christian, Editor at editor@pressreview.net

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 9

Interview with Dr. Kent Bream – At the Sayre Health Center in West Philadelphia, things are looking better!

By Nathaniel Lee Press/Review Correspondent

T

he Covid-19 pandemic continues to dominate the news and social distancing measures remain in place as Summer gives way to Fall. Not only are our nation’s resources strained but so are the nerves of those who are left inside their homes, physically distancing themselves from their friends and loved ones.

The mainstream news media daily report hour after hour of doom and gloom causing some to become so overwhelmed that they either turn it off altogether or limit the time they consume it.

But through all of the darkness, there is some light. Yes, things are bad, but they aren’t ALL bad.

At least that’s the opinion of Dr. Kent Bream, a family practitioner at Dr. Bernett L. Johnson, Jr. Sayre Health Center at 5800 Walnut Street in West Philadelphia. At the Dr. Bernett L. Johnson, Jr. Sayre Health Center, they have provided free Covid-19 to those desiring such tests and have tested some 13,000 people since May. “I think that one of the things that I think it is important for everyone to realize is that any epidemic or pandemic is a serious thing, but every pandemic has what’s called an ‘epidemic window’,” said Dr. Bream.

So, what’s an ‘epidemic window’ and why is it relevant. Glad you asked: “There’s a really quick increase in the number of cases and then it peaks, and it comes back down,” said Dr. Bream.

According to Dr. Bream, there are positive signs that we might be climbing out of that window here in Philadelphia.

“The good news in Philadelphia is that we have been coming back down,” he said.

“I say this from the perspective of the Sayre Health Center. When we started testing people in the beginning of May, we saw rates in one pop-

ulation where up to 40 percent were positive.”

These were largely among the African American and Hispanic populations, Bream explained.

“Our average American rates that we have tested have averaged around 17 percent which is a very high rate.”

Not so good but wait.

It gets better.

“What we have seen is a gentle decline in that just as you would expect to see with the epidemic.

So, we went from a high of 17 percent to our most recent week that we reported where we had a total population positive rate of 1.38 percent.”

Oh, but there’s more: “The good news is that, at Sayre, since July 20th, it’s never been higher than 4.06 percent since July 26th.”

This is important says Dr. Bream because the World Health Organization (WHO) uses the base rate of 5 percent as a measure of how controlled the virus is in a given community.

“So, if you are below the rate of 5 percent for more than 2 weeks you can certainly think ‘we’re doing well’. We should still be safe, and we should still be cautious, but we don’t have worry as much when we have been below 5 percent for so long,” he said.

This is good news for West Philadelphia which well exceeds the WHO’s benchmark of 5 percent for a significantly longer period than the 2-week window specified.

“At Sayre Health Center in the Cobbs Creek community of West Philadelphia, we’ve been below the 5 percent positive rate for 7 weeks.”

What can we credit for the decline in positive test results in the West Philadelphia area?

“I have to credit it to two things, one’s a little bit scary and the other is a little bit exciting,” said Dr. Bream.

“The scary one is really what people talk about is herd immunity.

For every single person who gets Covid-19 gets better, they become a part of the community-

wide protection against Covid.”

Huh? “Every person who has been asymptomatic who has had Covid or has had mild symptoms and got better, has antibodies and t-cells that not only protect [him or her] but protects the community by reducing the risk of transmission from a positive person to a negative person.”

“So, the first scary thing is that we see less transmission because so many people have been positive,” he said.

“When you see the news that millions of millions of people have tested positive, that’s millions and millions of people that are now protecting other people from getting Covid. It’s scary thinking about that many people getting positive but its good news in that because they start protecting others.”

The other thing Dr. Bream believes helps fuel the decline is physical distancing, the term Dr. Breams prefers over the more common term ‘social distancing’.

“That’s really each of us taking care of our friends, our families and each other and we do that by washing our hands, maintaining our distance and not visiting a group of friends and then another group of friends and then another group of friends because our going from group to group potentially passes the infection if one person in one of those groups is infected.”

“Every single thing you can do to maintain physical distancing also reduces transmission.”

With more people working from home, unable to go to concerts and sporting events or enjoy a night on the town is having an impact on the way we live.

However, Dr. Bream cautions that life can go on even during physical distancing with proper planning and some creativity.

“We’re still able to go outside, we’re still able to exercise we’re still able to see a friend via Zoom or maintain-

Dr. Kent Bream

spread SARS- Cov2 or Center, call them at 215Covid 19.”

474-4444 or visit them ing a distance of 6-feet, For more about testonline at www.sayrewashing our hands and ing at the Dr. Bernett L. health.org. taking care not to spread Johnson, Jr. Sayre Health the virus.”

It’s obviously working in West Philadelphia.

“Our August 30th number, again, was 1.38 percent which is the lowest Free Month Rent since we’ve starting testing as a population here Open 7 Days in Cobbs Creek.”

Across the state, Dr. Great Rates Bream says there are both optimistic and pessimistic views related to the virus and future prospects. The pessimists see subsequent waves of the virus sweeping through the state while the optimists see a gradual return to 5500 Sansom Street (at 55th Street) our normal lives.

So, what do Dr. Bream see?

“I do think there is an optimistic message in the State of PennsylvaYOU STOPPED SMOKING nia just like, to me, there NOW START SCREENING is an optimistic message here in Philadelphia and FRANK we see that with our restaurants starting to open and our businesses starting to open,” said Dr. Bream.

“I look out my window and I see people exercising on the field, they’re separated by 6-feet so they are physically distant, so there’s an optimistic message Now there’s a new screening that can across the state that catch lung cancer early and could save lives. we can live, we can be Talk to your doctor or learn more at friends, we can be family and we don’t have to

All City Self Storage

215-471-1002

www.selfstorage.com

QUIT AFTER SMOKING 22,000 PACKS OF CIGARETTES OVER 30 YEARS

10 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents newly commissioned Play Cycle - The Days Of Re-Creation Ortiz, who contributed

P

the play La Egoista.

Directed by Rebecca Aparacio, the play features seven 10-minute plays relating to the seven days of creation from the Book of Genesis. Tickets for the play are free, but patrons must register for a link at philatheatreco.org, or by calling 215-985-0420.

All performances are performed virtually and are able to be viewed on any streaming device, including YouTube.

Immediately prior to the broadcast, at 6:45 pm, Producing Artistic 4424 Market · 386-3293 4424 Market Street ·Street 215-386-3293 Director Paige Price will announce the ComIn West Philly Since 1970 pany’s plans for the control control programs. programs.

Healthy & Sick Pet Visits 2020-21 Season and new Going onPrevention vacation?

Going Heartworm on vacation?

Resident Artist Jeffrey We offer shortterm or long term boarding!

We offer short or long boarding!

Flea and Tick Meds L. Page will be introRoutine Surgeries duced.. Price and PTC advantageadvantage 5% Discount 5% Discount PROGRAMPROGRAM FRONTLINE FRONTLINE Hospital Hours: (By appt.)

Managing Director EmM-Th 9-5 with coupon with coupon Friday 9-12 Dr. David Littlejohn ONLY ily Zeck are focused on Dr. DavidDr.Littlejohn David Littlejohn SaturdayONLY 9-12 One coupon per customer.

One coupon per customer.

Sunday Closed Hospitalwww.onealanimalhospital.com Hours: Hospital(By Hours: appt.)

(ByM-F appt.)

8-6M-Th Sat 9-noon 9-5 • F-Sat 9-noonExp. 3/31/11 Exp. 3/31/11shifting programming to the virtual space for the 2020-21 Season. PTC is excited to meet the challenges of the current moment in two ways — creating opportunities for artists and addressing racial inequity in (on the Parkway) American theatre with direct action.

“We’re very excited to kick off the season with something brand new,” said PTC Artistic Director Paige Price.

When my colleague Dev 70th & Cobbs Creek Parkway Janki came to see if PTC would be interested in Philadelphia, PA 215-729-8811 participating in a national rolling premiere, I saw that Erlina Ortiz (co-artistic director of Power Street Theatre Company) was one of the commissioned playwrights. Immediately, I agreed. The piece also appeals to me because it’s very ofthe-moment. Many of these short plays deal with storylines inspired The fabric of Philadelphia: by this time of isolation Without your patronage, businesses, and questioning. Live & restaurants, theaters and institutions In Color commissioned these wonderful playdo not survive. wrights of color, and We all value the fabric of our city. it’s a wonderful way to bring a variety of new It is what makes Philadelphia a great city. writers to our audience’s Please support local business. attention. Finally, it allows us to offer work to artists, which is going to

hiladelphia Theatre Company begins its 46th season with the rolling world premiere of The Days of Re-Creation: A Virtual Play on September 30, 2020 at 7:00pm.

The play cycle (a collection of short plays around the same theme) is the brainchild of Devenand Janki, Artistic Director of the company Live & In Color, which

commissioned seven prolific playwrights of color, including B.D. Wong (Tony award winning actor), Lauren Yee (Signature Theatre resident and writer of Cambodian Rock Band and The Big Leap), and Masi Asare (winner of the Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award), AriDy Nox, SEVAN, Nandita Shenoy, and Philadelphia playwright Erlina

O’Neal AnimalHospital Hospital O’Neal Animal

a

A

®

Courtesy of Philadelphia Theatre Company

®

CRABDADDY’S MARYLAND HARDSHELL CRABS By the Dozen or the Bushel

Review UNIVERSITY

CITY

Kimberly S Fairbanks. Courtesy of Philadelphia Theatre Company

be a main focus of our season.”

We live in a time of incredible upheaval.

Our daily lives are unrecognizable from a year ago. As a country, we are undergoing a deep reexamination of our institutions. Each day it feels like we are recreating ourselves as individuals and rebuilding in new and better ways what has been corroded or purposefully torn down. So, 2020 will be seen as a pivotal year in the history of mankind.

While it is a year full of fear, exhaustion, conflict, and death, it also has the potential to be a year of revolution, rebirth, and re-creation. The Days of Re-Creation: A Virtual Play is seven 10-minute plays on this theme of re-creation which relate in some way to one of

the seven days of creation from the Book of Genesis. These plays were written to be performed specifically on a virtual platform with a run time of 80 minutes.

They include: Light and dark… by BD Wong (The Three Karens) Sky and water… by Masi Asare (The Strong Friend, and Company) Land and plants… by SEVAN (Soilmates) Planets and stars… by Nandita Shenoy (To the Stars With Love) Fish and birds … by Lauren Yee (The Nerd) Land animals and humans…by AriDy Nox (S.C.R.I.) Rest… by Erlina Ortiz (La Egoista) Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) is a leading regional theater company that produces,

develops, and presents entertaining and imaginative contemporary theater focused on the American experience.

Founded in 1974, PTC has presented 153 world and Philadelphia premieres. More than 50 percent of PTC’s world premieres have moved on to New York and other major cities, helping to earn Philadelphia a national reputation as a hub for new play development. PTC has received more than 201 nominations and 55 awards from the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. In 2007, PTC was instrumental in expanding Philadelphia’s thriving cultural corridor by opening the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on the Avenue of the Arts.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 11 600-MARKETPLACE

508-HOME SERVICES

Satellite Internet That is Unlimited With No Hard Data Limits!

2

25 Mbps Download Speed 25mbps download and 3mbps upload1

No Hard Data Limits Wi-Fi Built-In Connect your wireless devices at home

2

TO ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS CALL 215.222.2846 104-HELP WANTED

LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY ORIENTED FREELANCE WRITERS

To cover local stories and community meetings in Center City and University City.

Please send resume & cover letter to Bob Christian, Editor at editor@pressreview.net 402-INSURANCE

Dental Insurance

Get dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company to help cover the services you’re most likely to use –

Cleanings

X-rays

Fillings

Crowns

Dentures

1-877-308-2834

Call now to get this FREE Information Kit! dental50plus.com/cadnet

all the details! 1-888-6233036 www.dental50plus. com/58 #6258 500-PROFESSIONAL

READER ADVISORY: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also, beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

ADVERTISE to 10 Million Homes across the USA! Place your ad in over 140 community newspapers, with circulation totaling over 10 million homes. Contact Independent Free Papers of America IFPA at danielleburnett-ifpa@live.com or visit our website cadnetads.com for more information.

502- EDUCATION

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now!

Now offering a $10,000 scholarship qualified applicants. Call CTI for details!

888-449-1713 (M-F 8am6pm ET)

AIRLINES ARE HIRING Get FAA approved hands on Aviation mechanic training.

Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement bestos Pre-1980 at Work or assistance. CALL Aviation Navy? You May Be Entitled Institute of Maintenance to a Significant Cash Award! 888-686-1704 Smoking History Okay! Call 855-591-0517 TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! BeSERIOUSLY INJURED in come a Medical Office Proan AUTO ACCIDENT? Let fessional online at CTI! Get us fight for you! Our net- Trained, Certified & ready to work has recovered millions work in months! Call 888for clients! Call today for a 572-6790. (M-F 8am-6pm FREE consultation! 1-888- ET) 409-1261

400-FINANCIAL-LEGAL 401-FINANCIAL

BOY SCOUT COMPENSATION FUND - Anyone inappropriately touched by a Scout leader deserves justice & compensation!

Victims may be eligible for significant cash settlement.

Time is limited. 833-7290164 RECENTLY DIAGNOSED w/Lung Cancer or Mesothelioma? Exposed to As-

NEED IRS RELIEF $10K - $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness Call 1-877378-1182 Monday through Friday 7AM-5PM PST 402-INSURANCE

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for [350+ ] procedures. Real dental insurance -NOT just a discount plan. [Don’t wait!]

Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-3082834 www.dental50plus. com/cadnet #6258 ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS! You can protect your appliances & systems. For just a little more than a $1.00/day. Call now for 1st month free, $75.00 /off 1st year. 1-855-514-1183

Pricing varies by region

CALL TODAY - LIMITED SPECIAL OFFERS IN YOUR AREA!

1-855-973-9254

HughesNet is a registered trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company.

2 If you exceed your monthly plan data, you will experience reduced data speeds until the start of your next billing period. Reduced speeds will typically be in the range of 1 – 3 Mbps and may cause Web sites to load more slowly or affect the performance of certain activities, such as video streaming or large downloads/uploads.

NO MORE GUTTER CLEANING, OR YOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEED!

501- BUSINESS TO BUSINESS

Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-4433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN).

6154-0120

Call For Special Offers In Your Area

507-MEDICAL SERVICES

LIFE ALERT. One press of a button sends help fast, 24/7!

At home & on the go. Mobile Pendant w/GPS. Free first aid kit with subscription. 877-537-8817 free brochure.

508-HOME SERVICES

DIRECTV - Switch and Save! $39.99/month. Select All-Included Package. 155 Channels. 1000s of Shows/ Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade.

Premium movie channels, FREE for 3 mos! Call 1-855781-1565

GENERAC Standby Generators. The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages.

FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!) Schedule your FREE in-home asDENTAL INSURANCE from sessment today. Call 1-844Physicians Mutual Insur- 334-8353 Special financing ance Company. Coverage for qualified customers. for 350 procedures. Real dental insurance. NOT just DISH TV $59.99 For 190 a discount plan. [Don’t wait!] Channels + $14.95 High Call now! Get your FREE Speed Internet. Free InstalDental Information Kit with lation, Smart HD DVR In-

CALL US TODAY FOR

A FREE ESTIMATE

15

%

OFF

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE*

AND!

1-855-995-2490

10

%

OFF

+

SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS

5%

OFF

TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS!**

Promo Number: 285 Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. ** Offer valid at estimate only. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #107836585501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 License# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H

605-MARKETPLACE

FREE PHONE

ENROLL IN LIFELINE - FAST AND EASY!

TALK + TEXT + DATA

620-AUTOS WANTED

CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 COMPOSITE DECKING, 30 and Newer. Nationwide Free Truck Loads available, 20 Pick Up! Call Now: 1-800Colors $1.79 Linear Foot. 864-5960.

Fiberon White Railing 6’ $110, 8’ $140 Slate Rd Sup[CARS/TRUCKS WANTply 717-445-5222 ED!!! All Makes/Models 2002-2019! Any Condition.

605-GENERAL Running or Not. Competitive NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Offer! Free Towing! We’re Page Publishing will help Nationwide! Call Now: you self-publish your own 1-888-368-1016 book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why SELL YOUR ANTIQUE OR wait? Call now: 866-951- CLASSIC CAR. Advertise with us. You choose where 7214. you want to advertise. 800450-6631 visit macneton606-MEDICAL SUPPLIES line.com for details.

HEARING AIDS! BOGO FREE! High-quality re- CARS/TRUCKS WANTchargeable Nano priced ED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any 90% less than competitors. Condition. Running or Not. Nearly invisible! 45-day Competitive Offer! Free money back guarantee! Towing! We’re Nationwide!

833-669-5806 Call Now: 1-888-416-2330.

603-BUILDING MATERIALS

STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub.

Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-481-3969 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/ national VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

24/7 CALL NOW! 888-4455928 Hablamos Espanol

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 2002-2019! Any Condition.

Running or Not. Top $$$ Paid! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-985-1806 900-REAL ESTATE 952- HOUSE FOR SALE

SELLING A FARM OR HOUSE? Advertise it here and neighboring publications. We can help you.

This is a Lifeline service provided by SafetyNet Wireless. Lifeline is a federally funded Contact MACnet MEDIA @ government assistance program. Only qualified consumers with documentation proving 800-450-6631 or visit our eligibility may enroll. Lifeline services are nontransferable and limited to one benefit per GENERIC VIAGRA and site at MACnetOnline.com household, consisting of either wireline or wireless. Willingly making false statements to obtain the benefit or receiving multiple Lifeline benefits can result in fines, imprisonment, CIALIS! 100 Pills $99.00 de-enrollment or being barred from the program. You must use your phone to continue to FREE Shipping! 100% guarreceive service. After 30 days of non-usage you will be de-enrolled in the program. $0 anteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! Pricing includes domestic Plan Offering: 350 Talk / Unlimited Text / 3GB of Data. cluded, Free Voice Remote. TWO GREAT NEW OF- 888-889-5515 calls only. Activation fees may apply. Please visit Some restrictions apply. FERS forFROM AT&T Wirewww.safetynetwireless.com/lifeline-plans-other-states/ less! Ask how to get the ATTENTION 1-833-872-2545. the most up-to-date plan offering.

OXYGEN Next Generation Samsung THERAPY USERS! Inogen CALL EMPIRE TODAY® to Galaxy S10e FREE. FREE One G4 is capable of full schedule a FREE in-home iPhone with AT&T’s Buy 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only estimate on Carpeting & one, Give One. While sup- 2.8 pounds. FREE informaFlooring. Call Today! 1-855- plies last! CALL 1-866-565- tion kit. Call 877-929-9587 8452 or www.freephones404-2366 now.com//cadnet VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills ELIMINATE GUTTER for $99. 100 pills for $150.

CLEANING FOREVER! Le- PROTECT YOUR HOME FREE shipping. Money back afFilter, the most advanced with home security moni- guaranteed!

1-844-596debris-blocking gutter pro- tored by ADT. Starting at 4376 tection. Schedule a FREE $27.99/mo. Call now to get LeafFilter estimate today. a Free equipment bundle HEARING AIDS!! Buy one/ 15% off Entire Purchase. including: Keypad, motion get one FREE! High-quality 10% Senior & Military Dis- sensor, wireless door and rechargeable Nano hearing counts. Call 1-855-995-2490 windows sensors. Call 833- aids priced 90% less than 719-1073 competitors. Nearly invisAT&T INTERNET. Startible! 45-day money back ing at $40/month w/12-mo CROSS COUNTRY MOV- guarantee! 888-986-3616 agmt. Includes 1 TB of data ING, Long distance Moving per month. Get More For Company, out of state move 608-WANTED TO BUY Your High-Speed Internet $799 Long Distance MovThing. Ask us how to bundle ers. Get Free quote on your WANTS TO PURCHASE and SAVE! Geo & svc re- Long distance move. 1-844- MINERALS and other oil and gas interests. Send strictions apply. Call us to- 452-1706 details to P.O. Box 13557 day 1-888-796-8850.

ELIMINATE GUTTER Denver, Co. 80201 DIRECTV NOW. No Satel- CLEANING FOREVER! Lelite. $40/mo 65 Channels. afFilter, the most advanced !! OLD GUITARS WANStream news, live events, debris-blocking gutter pro- TED!! GIBSON, FENDER, sports & on demand titles. tection. Schedule a FREE MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to No contract/commitment. LeafFilter estimate today. 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. 1-866-825-6523 15% off and 0% financing CALL TOLL FREE 1-866for those who qualify. PLUS 433-8277 DISH Network $59.99 For Senior & Military Discounts.

609- AUTOS FOR SALE 190 Channels! Add High Call 1-855-402-0373 Speed Internet for ONLY DONATE YOUR CAR TO $19.95/month. Call Today DISH TV $59.99 FOR 190 VETERANS TODAY! Help for $100 Gift Card! Best Channels + $14.95 High and Support our Veterans.

LIKE US ON Value & Technology. FREE Speed Internet. Free Instal- Fast - FREE pick up. 100% Installation. Call 1-855-837- lation, Smart HD DVR In- tax deductible. Call 1-8009146 (some restrictions ap- cluded, Free Voice Remote. 245-0398 ply).

Some restrictions apply.

1-855-270-5098.

www.safetynetwireless.com

Classified word ads are: $15 for the first 15 words and $3 for the box.

Call

215.222.2846 Review UNIVERSITY

CITY

12 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force to Hear Public Testimony on Experiences in the Juvenile Justice System

H

Staying home saves lives.

For more information, visit

coronavirus.gov

ARRISBURG, PA (September 22, 2020)— In December 2019, Governor Tom Wolf, Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas G. Saylor, and General Assembly leaders from both houses and parties jointly established the Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force. Co-chaired

by Sen. Lisa Baker, Sen. Jay Costa, Rep. Tarah Toohil, and Rep. Mike Zabel, the Task Force is

charged with delivering data-driven findings and recommendations at the conclusion of the Task Force process. At the request of Pennsylvania leaders, the recommendations will serve as “the foundation for statutory, budgetary, and administrative changes to be considered during the 2021-2022 regular session of the General Assembly.”

For two upcoming meetings, Pew Chari-

Real Estate Listings Open Houses Rentals

Call 215.222.2846 to place a Classified ad

Cooks Books + Fresh New Looks Something for everyone, in the heart of the nation’s most beautiful and historic university campus.

Shop Local.

Shop Penn.

Shop Penn offers an inspired, contemporary shopping and dining experience, open to all. Spanning ten city blocks from 30th to 40th Streets and across Spruce, Walnut, and Chestnut Streets, Shop Penn features dozens of carefully curated shops, eateries, and cultural destinations.

GET TAKEOUT. VISIT STORES. ORDER ONLINE. Explore our diverse offerings including national brands and independent shops - in person or visit our website to order online from home, with many retailers providing both delivery and curbside pickup for your convenience.

#S H O PPE N N @S H O PSATPE N N

SHOPSATPENN.COM

table Trusts and the Crime and Justice Institute (who are providing technical assistance to the Task Force) have invited public testimony.

Juvenile Law Center and other partners in the community fully believe that any effort to reform this system requires that youth and families most impacted by youth incarceration be at the center of discussions for reform. We will thus be convening youth to share their direct experiences of youth prisons and the justice system in Pennsylvania.

The Task Force is meant to serve the public; it is a critical tool in the urgent move for juvenile justice reform in the Commonwealth. We urge journalists to attend and cover these meetings, both to stay on top

of what the lawmakers are engaged in on this front and to capture the stories from people with lived experience. Below are more logistical details.

• Wednesday, September 30th, from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST for regular meeting, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm for public testimony • Wednesday, October 14th, from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm for public testimony • Please join at the link below; http://www.pacourts. us/pa-juvenile-justicetask-force PEW Charitable Trusts is convening the meeting. For any tech concerns or needs, please contact Jaspal Bhatia at jbhatia@pewtrusts. org.