Merry Christmas
Vo l . 6 2 N O. 5 2
w w w. s o u t h p h i l l y r ev i e w. c o m
DECEMBER 24, 2009
Changing with the guards A system-wide staff shortage has prompted Thursday closures at the Fumo Branch, but library officials say it’s only temporary. By Lorraine Gennaro R e v i e w S ta f f W r i t e r
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ll Free Library of Philadelphia branches are closed two days a week as standard operating procedure since the City’s budget took a hit, but one local outlet has been shuttered a third, prompting many to wonder why, as well as to fuel resident concerns that more branches may follow. Since Dec. 7, the Fumo Family Branch, 2437 S. Broad St., has been dark Thursdays in addition to Saturdays and Sundays because of a shortage of security
Elaborate costumes such as these may not be as abundant Jan. 1, as Mummer groups struggle with the loss of City prize money.
See FUMO BRANCH page 11
Sports
File Photo
Cutting back to move forward California beamin’
Point Breeze native Rasual Butler helped his Clippers melt the Sixers as snow pounded the region Saturday. By Joseph Myers..............Page 40
The Mummers have devised cost-saving measures to keep their strut going strong on New Year’s Day.
By Amanda L. Snyder R e v i e w S ta f f W r i t e r
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ven through hard economic times, the Mummers are committed to putting on a good show. While area groups have been practicing a few times a week leading up to the big day, many that typically spend thousands on a performance had to find ways to cut back. “The overall look of the suits are a little less expensive than they normally are,” Fralinger String Band Chairman Steve
Coper said, “but Fralinger really focuses on the quality of the music, the energy, performance and presentation.” When formulating a theme for the 2010 parade after last year’s first-place finish, Fralinger chose the hillbilly route with “Feudin’, Fussin’ and Fightin’” knowing it would not call for such elaborate props, the Downingtown resident said. “If you want to look like a hillbilly, that’s pretty easy to do and we found it cost effective,” he said. See MUMMERS page 8