In the Neighborhood Annual Report 2011 Growing and sustaining a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Central Philadelphia
1430 W. Susquehanna Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19121 215.236.1760 www.treehousebooks.org facebook.com/TreeHouseBooks
A special acknowledgement goes to Temple University’s New City Writing for financially supporting the printing of this Annual Report.
Table of Contents
Letter from the
Board President
Letters from the Board President and Staff Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Our Bookstore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Program Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Timeline 2011: In the Neighborhood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Statement of Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Board of Directors and Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Thank You to our Donors and Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Volunteer Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Picture Wall 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Dear Tree House Friends, I am once again excited to be introducing this great look at the past year at Tree House Books. We are truly part of the fabric of the neighborhood here in North Philadelphia and while we started as a bookstore with afterschool programs, we are now much more than that. Tree House is a place where curiosity and information come together. During our after-school tutoring we engage young people in a creative dialogue with lifelong learning. Not content with merely mentoring teenagers, our dedicated staff and volunteers create roadmaps that empower teens to become mentors. Instead of providing a service to parents, we are engaged in an ongoing conversation with parents about how we can partner with them to be better advocates for their children. None of this is possible without you. You are in the neighborhood with us, and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you for reading, loving, and supporting. This will be the last letter you receive from me in this capacity, as I am concluding my term as board president in June. But I will remain active and involved. And knowing that we have such a broad and deep network of friends and supporters, I know that Tree House’s future is bright. Warmly, Jonathan Weiss, President
Mission Statement
Tree House Books is growing and sustaining a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Central Philadelphia.
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OUR BOOKSTORE
Letter from the
STAFF
Dear Tree House Friends, Our theme for 2011 was “In The Neighborhood” because we believe that if you want to transform a community then you have to truly be a part of the community. Our mission is to grow and sustain a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Central Philadelphia, and our daily motto is “life with books grows here.” Our goal is to ensure that every child who walks through our door receives the information, motivation, and affirmation they need to live a life of purpose, options, and abundance. How do we do this? By understanding that we are a family. Your concerns are our concerns. Your sorrows are our sorrows. Your joys are our joys. The Tree House family had many joys in 2011. Students from Temple University helped prepare our new office space. Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church donated a portion of their Resurrection Sunday offering to us. Parents helped chaperone summer field trips and attended our first ever Back-to-School Orientation and Parent-Tutor Conferences. More than 100 neighborhood children wrote songs, harvested plants, read tons of books, and taught their adult tutors, even as they were being taught.
The Tree House bookstore is stocked with new and lightly used books, and we specialize in children’s books and African-American literature. In addition to the books we sell, we give many away.
BOOKS GIVEN AWAY OVER THE YEARS 2008
2009
2010
1305 books given away
2500 books given away
4817 books given away
2011
Tree House Books is blessed to be part of a great family—where everyone is a giver and receiver. The challenges facing young people may seem steep, but we know that many communities working together as a neighborhood of advocates can do powerful things. Warmly,
photo by Cory Popp
Darcy Luetzow, Executive Director Michael Reid, Program and Development Coordinator Lauren Macaluso, Volunteer and Tutoring Time Coordinator
6621 books given away
“Books open your mind, broaden your mind, and strengthen you as nothing else can” -William Feather
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photo by Cory Popp
photo by Cory Popp
PROGRAM REPORT
Magazine Project
Tutoring Time Tutoring Time is held Tuesdays through Fridays from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. An average of 25 children, ages five to 11, gather with their volunteer tutors for after-school academic and mentoring support. In 2011, we served 85 children in our Tutoring Time Program.
Our Magazine Project is on a mission to provide an avenue for members of the community to creatively express their stories. Magazine Project meets every Wednesday night, from 5:30pm — 7:00pm. In 2011, we served 56 children at Magazine Project.
At Tutoring Time we read books, do our homework, eat snacks, and do activities. I like doing activities and reading because it’s fun and you can read all kinds of books, and on Fridays you get to go outside sometimes. -Gregory age 10
When I go to Magazine Project I do creative things. We get to paint a lot, draw and color, write, talk, write stories, and write poems. -Trinetta age 9
Tutoring Time!
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Ave. The
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photo by Cory Popp
photo by Cory Popp
PROGRAM REPORT cont.
Junior Staff Member (JSM) Program
Tree Shade Summer Project
The JSM Program is our leadership program for adolescents and serves as an avenue of support for the youth of North Central Philadelphia as they grow into readers, writers, thinkers, and future leaders of their neighborhood. In 2011, we trained 12 JSM leaders.
Being a JSM means being a leader and always being able to help. What I like about being a Junior Staff Member is being able to see the growth of the kids you tutor. -Nyseem (JSM Captain) age 17 STAFF
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Tree Shade is a unique summer project designed for kids ages seven — 16 that lasts six weeks. This year’s camp was titled “The Tree House Canvas and Plate Institute: Beyond Ordinary Art and Cooking.” The goal of our camp was to balance out the food access and arts inequities in our neighborhood, and to empower our campers as self-nourishers. In 2011, 52 children participated in the Tree Shade Summer Project.
We were in the garden. We had fun and cooked. We were reading. We had goodie bags. We had new volunteers we didn’t know. Mr. Art was cooking for us, he was the chef. -Taliah age 9
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Neighborhood Map
W. Dauphin St.
January 17TH
Tree House Books partners with Temple Unversity’s Office of Community Relations for Martin Luther King Day of Service.
February 18TH
September 1st
First session of collaborative workshop with Neighborhood Bike Works: Writing and Wrenching.
East River Bank begins a corporate sponsorship of Tree House Books.
April 9th
THB students go to the Philadelphia Book Festival.
September 9th
W. Susquehanna Ave.
April 24th
Friday night movie screenings begin and continue every other Friday.
September16th
2nd Annual Tree House Golf tournament at Worcester Golf club.
N. 13th St.
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church donates a portion of their Resurrection Sunday offering to Tree House Books.
April 27 th
THB hosts a CD release party for The Uptown’s Greatest Hits. Tree House kids wrote, recorded, and performed these hits!
2nd Annual Tutoring Time Awards.
N. 15 th St.
Tree House Books participates in the West Park Arts Fest. Gives away 282 books.
N. Broad St.
June 11th
June 17th
November 11th
Tree House’s friend, Barbara Aronson presents every Tree House student with their own dictionary.
December 10th
THB hosts a book signing for local author Pastor Carolyn Howard.
The Do Gooders visit THB, and present the kids with books and holiday treats.
Tree Shade Summer Project begins.
MAP LEGEND
September 20th
Back-to-School Orientation.
December 12th
July 5th
In the Neighborhood
July 22th
Eagles Youth Partnership BookMobile visits Tree House Books.
W.Norris St.
Tree House Books
Our Neighbors
Temple University
46+20+1711231 34+17+16148632 3.3% .6% 2.9%
11.5%
45.1%
16.8%
19.8%
2.8%
2%
6.5%
8.1%
33.6%
13.9%
16%
17%
statement of Activities
board of directors and staff
Fiscal Year: January 1, 2011—December 31, 2011
Officers
Jonathan Weiss, President TempleTown Realty & Equinox Management and Construction President
Revenue: Grants
$83,500
45.1%
Individual Giving
$36,626
19.8%
Organizational Giving
$31,109
16.8%
Annual Fundraising Event
$21,285
11.5%
Space Usage Fees
$6,080
3.3%
Corporate Giving
$5,369
2.9%
Earned Income (book sales, workshop fees, merchandise)
$1,144
.6%
Total Revenue:
$185,113
Barbara Easley-Cox, Vice-President (served as Vice-President until April 2011) Tree House Books Volunteer & Community Advocate Community Resident
Expenses: Payroll Expenses
$57,521
33.6%
Direct Program Costs
$29,122
Development Expenses
$27,348
16%
Fixed Expenses (rent, utilities, insurance)
$23,828
13.9%
Fundraising
$13,876
8.1%
Professional Fees
$11,148
6.5%
Office Expenses
$4,823
2.8%
Staff, Volunteer, & Board Development
$3,335
2%
TOTAL EXPENSES:
$177,001
Net ordinary income:
$14,112
Year end balance:
$30,723
17%
Melody Wright Oak Lane Cultural Arts Program Program Director
Staff
Darcy Luetzow Executive Director
Edward Swenson, Secretary Edward F. Swenson & Associates, Inc. President
Michael Reid Program and Development Coordinator
Bruce Schimmel, Treasurer Philadelphia City Paper Founder and Editor Emeritus University of the Arts Senior Lecturer, Ethics
Satia Koroma Junior Staff Member Coordinator
Lauren Macaluso Volunteer and Tutoring Time Coordinator
Colwin Bocasan Magazine Project Coordinator
Directors
*all percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth.
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Max Tuttleman Tuttleman Family Foundation Philadelphia Advocate
Star Bocason TempleTown Realty & Equinox Management and Construction Marketing Manager Catherine Cavella, Esq. Cavella & Associates Managing Partner / Owner Johnathan Davis Columbia North YMCA Executive Director Eli Goldblatt, Ph.D. New City Writing Executive Director Temple University, English Department Associate Professor
interns
Kelly Cox Lili Dodderidge Lily Glickstein Florence Opara Ijshanya Williams
work study staff Stephanie Alleman Whitney DiTaranto Sara Goldrath Max Williams
spring 2011 artist-in-residence Serena Saunders
Yvonne King, Ph.D. Division of Educational Support Services Community College of Philadelphia Coordinator, Developmental Programs Cassandra Oryl Slice Communications Principal
photo by Jay Hiatt/
Overjoyed Photogra phy
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Thank you to our donors and partners Forest Partners
Bill & Jody Charles College of Education Student Council: The Claneil Foundation Temple University The Connelly Foundation Sue & Steve Compton Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Mindy & Rodney Crawford Hamilton Family Foundation Creative Circle & Kevin Yoshimoto The Junior League of Philadelphia Lenore & Howard Denbin Patricia Kind Family Foundation Kevin Duffy Samuel S. Fels Fund Omari Dyson Bruce Schimmel Barbara Easley-Cox Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation Amy Evans Temple University’s New City Writing: Alexander Feinberg Institute for the Study of Literature, Sean Fogarty Literacy, & Culture, with special thanks to Katrina Gamez Sue & Bob Wieseneck for their support of Nancy Geryk NCW’s partnership with Tree House Books Aaron Goldblatt & Laura Foster Tuttleman Family Foundation Eli Goldblatt & Wendy Osterweil Water Works Restaurant & Lounge Marc & Maureen Goldrath Jonathan & Jacquelyn Weiss Goodsearch Sue Greco ROOT Partners Guardian Civic League (gifts of $1,000-$4,999) Elizabeth & Gerry Gutierrez Alston-Beech Foundation Francis Hagarty Anonymous Marie Hoguet Barbara & Ted Aronson Rachel Howe The Barra Foundation Invisible Children: Temple Chapter James Buzzard Olivia & Sandra Johnson The Coleman Foundation Haile Johnston The Do-Gooders Gary Jonas The Douty Foundation John & Mary Ann Judge East River Bank Jay Kamin Liberty Insurance Brokers Sheldon Kivell Rosenlund Family Foundation Amy Kretzing Linda Sall Andrea Laepple The Seybert Foundation David & Hertha Lange Slice Communications Hope Luken Chip & Marcie Staddon Salvatore & Carrie Macaluso TempleTown Realty Barry Meyers Union Benevolent Association Alex Mulcahy Wells Fargo Community Partner Program Patricia Mullaney Lori Yamashita Pastor Lewis Nash Young Friends of Tree House Books: Joe & Nancy Nath Temple Chapter Network for Good Nutritional Development Services Branch Partners Eun Ok & Young Sik Kim (gifts of $100-$999) Abigail Orenstein Alusiv, Inc. & Richard Cress Ruth Ost Tibor & Edith Balazs Kevin Overholt Wanda & John Beilenson Beneficial Bank Brad Palmer Charles Brenton Judith Palmer Jonathan Broder & Joy Bernstein Ruth Perlmutter Lane Brown Samuel Perloff Peter & Miriam Burwasser Phi Alpha Delta: Temple Chapter David Bushnell Phi Sigma Sigma: Temple Chapter The Capital Group Companies Charitable Chip & Sandy Pressman Foundation in honor of Terrence Reid Vincenzo & Brittany Prosseda Elizabeth & Charles Carmalt Carolee Risk Catherine Cavella
(gifts of $5,000 or more)
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Kel Rohrbaugh David & Laura Rosenberg San Damiano Daily Giving Janice Shindler Howard & Deb Sitron Smile Frown Theatre Guild James & Carol Smolen Andrew Starfield Meghan Stephens Craig & Patricia Swanson Temple University: Office of Community Relations Temple University: Office of the President Ruth Tueting Sharon Turner Evan Urbania Norma Vandyke Linda Watson-Patterson Jill Wilkerson WLM, Incorporated Delinda Yoakum James Yoakum & Katelyn Allen Yoakum Young Friends of Tree House Books: Professional Chapter Youth Service America Zarwin, Baum, DeVito, Kaplan, Shaer & Toddy
Acorn Partners (gifts of $50-$99) Stephanie Alleman Sam & Jonathan Beasley Aaron & Brenda Bleznak Kenneth Bleznak Colwin Bocasan Star Bocasan Brenda Brooks Eric & Cheryl Brozell Marla Buckholder Business Honors Student Association: Temple University Robert Cheetham Brett Ciarelli Fai Coffin Coretta Cooper Tom & Virginia Dailey Pete & Annie d’Entremont John DiNome Vincente DiPietro Eric Dolaway
Kim Duffy Ellin Effinger Dr. Semih Erhan Joan & Lawrence Geist Matt Goldfine Sarah Goldrath John Gorman
Thank you so much!! Ally Greco Pamela Groves Dr. Sandy Harrill Greg Heller Lissa Hilsee Marilyn Hoffman Robert Isaacs Babette Josephs Nitin Khanna Yvonne King Neil Kleinman Gerald Kolpan J M Lindsay Chris Malcomson Lisa & Paul Marcus James Marr, Jr. Judith Miller David & Beverly Moyer Kristin Mullaney Kia Murrell Lisa Nwankwo Cassandra Oryl Cheryl Oryl Rachael Parrish Ethel Parsons Postgreen Homes, LLC Joe & Karin Purcell Hayward Ratliff, Jr. Eugene & Brenda Reid Eugene Reid II Michael Reid Terrence & Dolores Reid Marjorie Rosenblum Rachel Rubel Emily Ruger Sarah Sall John & Shirley Salvucci Kathy Santana-Wilkins Patricia Schrieber Julia Sheetz-Willard Richard & Gloria Shiavi Bill Sloyer Angela Sorrentino & Bob Wirthshafter Liz Spikol & Vince Bertolini Jeffrey Stein
Robert Steinman Mary Sturdivant Michelle Vascavage Lorraine Wasserman Chelsea Welcker Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign Mitchell & Eileen Wolfson Bonnie Young
Friends (gifts of $1-$49) Courtney Allen Chelsea Allen Ana Almeida-Halassa Anthropology Club: Temple University Mary Armstrong Kathleen & Daniel Barone Ariel Ben-Amos Staci Bender Eileen Bing Helen Boose Kevin & Frances Boyle Irma Brown Alec Bugg Donna Burke Kierra Bussey Elissa Buxbaum Adam Caputo Lillian Clarke Rachel Compton Kristin Conradi Janice Conway Orletta Copeland Elliott Curson Gabriel Cutrufello Grace d’Entremont Karen & Dr. Dan DiTaranto Susan Doersch Elizabeth Downey Bruce Duffield Lucy Edwards Karisha Ewell Christine & John Fantuzzo Josh Fernandez Daniel Figg Max Furman Alyssa Goldrath Jeanette Gordy Laura Green Nanine Gramigna Jordan Grob Kimberly Haas Celine Haber Lindsey Hagarty Peter Hagarty Antoine & Voncia Haywood Linda & Timothy Hess Irene Hodes Robert & Barbara Hoe Maureen & Michael Hoffman Godfrey Holder & Associates Caryn Hunt Robert Ingersoll Jane Kauer & David Fleece Peter Key
Thomas Kolesk John Landreau & Sherri Grasmuck Nancy & Robert Landy Kinard Lang Suzanne Latham Karen Lazarus Stacie & Thomas Lehmann Sonja Lengel Amanda Lisle Christopher Locke Jim & Heidi Lynch Rita Lynn Maahs Lauren Macaluso William Macaluso Keri Maiello Kathleen Maloles & Christopher Joynt Lynne & Patrick Maloy Molly Marnella James Marr, Jr. Bonnie & Matt Marshall Roland Martin Susan Matuszak Shayna McConville Maria & Stanley McLeroy Jim Militello Jane Minerly Cindy & Gregg Minster Sara Mitchell Patricia Mullaney Richard Munoz & Gail Howard Mark & Joan McConnon Susan McCrary Gloria McHugh Clarissa McNair Lauren McTiernan Melissa McTiernan Alison Mierzykowski Jane Militello Teresa Montano Amelia Moskauski National Panhellenic Council: Temple University Alice Niles Pat O’Connor Robert Odell Steven Odell Florence Opara Organization of African Students: Temple University Ruth Ost Ethel Parsons Louise & Rachel Perry Nicholas Pizzola Continued on Page 14
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Friends continued Evelyn Salcedo Darcella Sessomes Nancy Shaw Lily Sitron Jennifer Smith & Jonathan Myers Sheryl & Jonathan Smith David Starr Robin Stricoff Chester & Dorothy Sutton Roxanne Terry & Larry Lipsitz Sullivan Strategic LLC Rev. Donald & Marilyn Stump Chip & Dorothy Sutton Andrea Swan Maryam Tabrizi Temple Knitting Club
Marsharelle Tobert Catherine Triandafillou Theresa & Peter Triandafillou Rob Tribuiani John Turner Willie Mae Turner Bullock Max Tuttleman Grace Valarezo Elaine Vanderhorst Ellen Wallenstein Rochelle Weissbarth Myron & Nancy Walker Tim Whitaker Owen Williams Maxwell Williams Mekenzie Williams Mitchell & Eileen Wolfson
In 2011, many people and organizations gave generously, in many creative ways. Tree House Books acknowledges the perfectly-placed contributions of these:
Community Partners
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Anthropology Club of Temple University Business Honors Student Association Fox School of Business, Temple University Camden Riversharks Cantina Dos Segundos John Charles & the Kimmel Center Do-Gooders Drinker’s West Eagles Youth Partnership East River Bank Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Esperanza Health Clinic Field House Sports Bar & Tim Adams The Franklin Institute & Dr. Frederic Bertley & Larry Dubinski, Esq. Fresh Grocer Grid Magazine Invisible Children, Temple University Chapter Junior League of Philadelphia Knitting Club of Temple University Roxanne Terry & Larry Lipsitz Leslie Miles Liberty Insurance Brokers Marathon Farm & Adam Hill National Pan-Hellenic Council, Temple University Chapter Organization of African Students, Temple University Chapter Phi Alpha Delta, Temple University Chapter Phi Sigma Sigma, Temple University Chapter Rho Reed Rita’s Water Ice Andrew “Koji” Shiraki Slice Communications Smile Frown Theatre Guild & Kevin Stackhouse Sweet Freedom Bakery TBar Temple University’s Computer Recycling Center & Jonathan Latko Temple University’s Office of Community Relations & Beverly Coleman & Andrea Swan
*To the best of our knowledge, the information above is correct. If we have misspelled, omitted or improperly listed your name or organization, please accept our apologies and call or email us so that we can correct your record. Thank you for your support!
Volunteer STAFF Over 150 volunteers contributed more than 4200 hours of work to support the mission of Tree House Books in 2011. (According to the Economic Impact of Volunteers Calculator provided by the national non-profit Points of Light Institute, the monetary value of Tree House Books combined volunteer hours is approximately $82, 000.) The following volunteer staff members contributed 75 or more hours of their time.
Volunteer StafF TempleTown Realty Tyler School of Art, Ceramic & Glass Departments Water Works Restaurant and Lounge & Sophia Stogiannis West Park Arts Fest & Patty Bulack Whole Foods Worcester Golf Club Yards Brewing Company Young Friends of Tree House – Temple University Chapter We have enjoyed working with these:
Program Partners
Architecture In Education & Kristin Mullaney Chipping Hill Micro-Farms & Howard Brosius Columbia North YMCA Emily Culver Bart Lyons Mighty Writers & Rachel Loeper Neighborhood Bike Works Nutritional Development Services Abby Orenstein Courtney Stanton Timi Tanzania University of Arkansas Department of English & David Jolliffe Urban Blazers And we are particularly grateful for these:
extraordinary friends Barbara & Ted Aronson Dawn Bundick Eric Dolaway Pat Gottshalk Lissa Hilsee Will Macaluso Rebecca Mitchell Art Staddon David Starr Linda Watson-Patterson Mitch Wolfson Dameon Wright Lori Yamashita
Stephanie Alleman, Team Leader Leigh Buzzard, Team Leader Christine Castro, Team Leader Whitney DiTaranto, Team Leader MaryKate Higgins Mira Kim, Team Leader Justin Lewis Lauren McTiernan Cory Popp Nina Rosenberg Jamie Smolen, Team Leader Sharon Turner Max Williams
Junior Staff members Brittany Bland Kiana Bland Darren Denheart Sheron Gardner Christian Holmes Rynesha Savage Nyseem Smith Nona Watson Ijshanya Williams Richard Williams Donte Wright Michael Wright
young friends of tree house—Professional chapter
The Young Friends of Tree House—Professional Chapter was formed in February 2010 and empowers working professionals to raise “friends and funds” for Tree House Books.
2011 Members
Cassandra Oryl, Chair Staci Bender, Vice Chair Rachel Rubel Andrew Starfield Katelyn Allen-Yoakum James Yoakum YOUNG FRIENDS OF TREE HOUSE —TEMPLE UNIVERSITY CHAPTER
The Young Friends of Tree House—Temple Chapter was also formed in February 2010 with a mission to connect the Temple University community with the surrounding neighborhood as well as to generate conversations about education inequity.
2011 Members
MaryKate Higgins, Co-President Lauren McTiernan, Co-President Grace D’Etremont, Vice President (January 2011 - June 2011) Brianna Rooney, Secretary (September 2011 - Present) Liz Schwartz, Secretary (January 2011 - June 2011) Jessica Wagner, Treasurer Nora Ahearn Stephanie Alleman Molly Brozell Leigh Buzzard Christine Castro Zachary Cetlin Kelsey Deighan Catie Duffield Ally Greco Lily Kay Mira Kim Ali Makos Mounika Muttineni Kati Myers Nina Rosenberg Kristi Sadow Nicole Saylor Nicholle Tulina
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Picture Wall 2011
In the Neighborhood!
THANK YOU!
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