City Safari: Seeing stars with Jacqueline Bigar By Thom Nickels Contributing Editor
J
acqueline Bigar, the writer of horoscopes for The Philadelphia Inquirer and many other newspapers, died March 1st of this year in her home in Glendale, Arizona. Her son, Geoffrey Livingston, described the death on his Facebook page as stemming from “natural causes.”
I met Jackie in the late 1970s after she began her astrology column in The Daily News. I was writing for the South Street Star at that time and arranged a reading and interview with her in her house near Fifth and Lombard Streets. She suggested I bring a cassette tape so I could record the reading. The reading was conducted on the floor of her living room where we both sat squat style as if in
a teepee. She read from a chart she had prepared. These were the calculations she made regarding my birth chart given to her one week in advance. Jackie asked me if I’d like a drink. Since she was having a Scotch, I followed suit. She gave a less than hopeful reading on a love interest of mine — the reason for my visit. When the reading was over, I started my interview. It
was at that point that I had the feeling that we would become friends. I was startled, however, when she insisted that she read the interview before publication. This is something that no journalist should ever do; but I made an exception in her case because I liked her. As it happened, she liked the piece very much. Two weeks later I was hanging out in her house once again only this time she ordered a take-out pizza, some salad, and opened a bottle of wine.
Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper
March 11, 2020
Philadelphia Councilmembers call for unity as WFP announces Bernie Sanders endorsement will always Sanders campaign,” stand said Helen Gym,
“All who believe in racial and economic justice must unite around Bernie,” said WFP-backed elected officials after the Working Families Party announced they’ve endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination.
up for primary on April 28th. “In Philadelphia, and across working the country, when movepeoments come together, we win amazing things,” said Kendra ple.” Brooks, WFP City Councilmember At-Large. “As we “I’m prepare to take on Donald thrilled Haywood Brewster Trump and build an Amerto see the Staff Reporter ica for all of us, the stakes couldn’t be clearer. I am proud Working Yesterday as the Working to endorse Bernie Sanders for Families Party join Families Party endorsed Sen. President and stand firmly in Bernie Sanders, Philadelphia the movement supporting him the City Councilmembers Kendra ready to fight and orgaBrooks and Helen Gym call nize for the change for the left in Philadelphia to we need. It’s time unify around his campaign for us to come toand to help get out the vote for gether to vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders him ahead of the Pennsylvania a candidate who
Philadelphia City Councilmember AtLarge. “Fighting together is how we won Philadelphia, and building a movement together is how continued on page 4
Bill requiring community approval for supervised injection site advances to full Council vote impacted communities and without community approval By Haywood Brewster Staff Reporter
T
he Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services Monday passed an amended version of Bill No. 200189 out of committee with a favorable recommendation of 4-2. Councilmembers Oh, Bass, Henon, and Thomas voted in favor while Councilmembers Gym and Brooks voted against the bill. The bill, introduced by Councilman David Oh,
Councilman David Oh
requires the City of Philadelphia to hold public hearings and get approval from
Council before opening a supervised injection site. The legislation originally required 90 percent approval from residents, businesses, and institutions within a onemile radius. The amended version lowers the approval threshold to 80 percent within a half mile and also includes amended language to cover “mobile” supervised injection sites The legislation was introduced two weeks ago in response to the sudden announcement by Safehouse to operate a supervised injection site in South Philadelphia
or notice. “The passage of the bill is an important step in addressing the unprecedented issue of supervised injection sites,” said Oh. “Following the Federal Court decision that the sites are legal, and this being Safehouse’s second attempt to operate a site without consulting the community, we must ensure residents have a voice in this process.” The legislation will move to the floor for a full vote before Council next Thursday
Jacqueline Bigar
Jackie amazed me with her advanced views on sexual orientation, gender, and what it meant to be married. She seemed to know everyone at The Daily News, thanks to her talent as an astrologer and the valuable connections provided her by her husband, Tom Livingston. Jackie moved quite a bit when she lived in Philadelphia. From Lombard Street, she moved to another house, and then to another house after that. I could barely keep up with all the moves. For a time, she lived on Front Street in a beautiful home that reminded me of a house in New Orleans. When I showed up for a reading there, she left the door of the house open for me. Walking inside, I noticed a large open bottle of white wine on the kitchen counter and several snacks. Jackie was with another client in another room. I was told beforehand to make myself at home. She told me a lot of things about various Philadelphia personalities, many of whom were in broadcast X news. She talked about growing up with ... Action News’ Jim Gardner. When it came to her professional life, she could be quite competitive. One day during a visit to her place I noticed that she had the Maury Povich “People Are Talking” show on TV. Maury’s Page x guest was Philadelphia psychic Valerie Morrison. Morrison, dressed CHRISTENDOM in a fl owing Sebastian pink chiffon gown,may was filmed walking Barry into the studio audience carrynot be exactly ing a candelabra. Povich, who a household had introduced Morrison as a name here in psychic/astrologer, listened as America... Morrison gave predictions for continued on page 4
PHILA THEATRE
Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Theatre Company is ready to get back in the ring...
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CRIME/POLITICS ..........................3 NOTES ON MUSIC .........................7 CALENDAR ................................10 CLASSIFIEDS .............................11
