MerryChristmas
s o u t h p h i l l y r ev i ew.c o m
Vo l. 6 5 N O. 51
DECEMBER 20, 2012
The second in a three-part series on developers vying to construct a South Philly casino.
Seed money A prominent produce provider hopes to plant a casino and a hotel over a two-block radius. By Joseph Myers
J
R e v i e w S ta f f W r i t e r
oseph G. Procacci desires to work until he reaches 96. The 85-yearold founder and CEO of Procacci Bros. Sale Corp., 3333 S. Front St., the East Coast’s largest tomato supplier, is hoping his future will find him heading another lucrative endeavor. That yearning last month led the businessman to add his name to the bidders list for Philadelphia’s second
TAKING A
GAMBLE
See CASINO REVOLUTION page 8
Sports
A stroke of pluck
Point Breeze’s Christopher Fine donned a Santa suit to make the feast even more festive for his pool pals.
S ta f f P h o t o b y G r e g B e z a n i s
Two South of South tness classes honored their leader as part of their annual holiday celebration.
By Joseph Myers
Festive footwork
A luminous holiday jaunt helped running clubs collect food for the hungry. By Joseph Myers..........Page 37
R e v i e w S ta f f W r i t e r
“B
eing in a pool is as therapeutic for me as any medicine,” Carrolyn Minggia said Friday at Essington’s Clarion Hotel Conference Center. “Having great friends, though, has no healing equal.” The 57-year-old lacked a watery haven
that afternoon but bonded with 47 acquaintances from the Christian Street YMCA, 1724 Christian St., for their eighth annual holiday luncheon. Though Minggia had hoped only to give them recognition for their roles in building her well-being, she received a surprise as they commended her tireless fight against a rare ailment and devotion to their vitality. The Southwest Philly resident — for-
merly of 20th and Pemberton, and 23rd and Christian streets — has served as an arthritis aquatics instructor for the 98-yearold South of South facility for five years, strengthening a presence that also has included volunteer duties and time as a water aerobics facilitator. The guests consisted of members from her classes, dubbed The See YMCA page 10