East Falls wins ‘indefinite delay’ on charter school • Page 3
Vol. 2, No. 2
June 2019
eastfallsnow.com • FREE
Study envisions fewer Catholic parishes; Potential impact on St. Bridget unknown by John T. Gillespie
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study by an organization dedicated to producing leaders and analyzing the needs of the Catholic Church envisions the possibility of a significantly smaller Philadelphia archdiocese in the years ahead. The study by the Waynebased Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) was commissioned by the archdiocese as part of its strategic planning. Natalie Ramsey enjoys a face painting from ace face painter Kelsie Lilly, of iface- In the study’s most dramatic paint.com, at Love Your McMichael Park Day. Story, Page10. projection, the five-county Philadelphia archdiocese would shrink to 65 parishes from the current 217. In another scenario, the number of parishes would fall to 165. The different scenarios take into account declining congregations, the priest shortage, formed by the Young@Heart by Mary Flournoy financial realities, and the Chorus, whose members changing nature of parish life. average 81. An award-winast Falls Village will The study does not commit ning documentary about the hold its Summer Gath- chorus will be shown at 2 pm the Philadelphia church to an ering at Jefferson Uni- Wed., June 5, followed by a explicit course or set a versity’s Tuttleman Center, timetable for change. It does, discussion. All are welcome School House Ln. and Vaux however, speak to the possito attend this free film showSt., at 3 pm. The program bility of a system-wide reorgaing at the Falls Library. will begin with a lively perThe 2007 film chronicles formance of oldies and folk seven weeks of rehearsals in music by the Village Ramthe chorus’ home town of blers, and end with a social Northampton, MA. The chohour. Anyone interested in rus was formed in 1982, and the Village can attend. Reg- is still rocking! The chorus he East Falls Community ister by calling 267-444-4507 was formed to present a posiCouncil has asked Leslie or emailing info@eastfallsvil- tive view of aging through Richards, Secretary of the lage.org. music and to prove that it’s Pennsylvania Department of possible to grow old without Transportation, to support the Young@Heart growing boring. installation of speed cameras “I Feel Good,” by James on Henry Ave. Brown, is one of the rock, (Continued on page 13) John Gillespie, Chair of the punk, and R & B classics perEFFC’s Traffic Committee, said that he raised the issue with the Secretary when she was in the neighborhood on May 10 for the dedication of the Henry Ave. Bridge in the memory of Brigadier Gen. Anna Mae Hays. Gillespie said that he disMifflin student cussed speeding problems on Henry Ave. with Richards and Andre Ward followed up with a letter to her decided that he on May 22. liked his artwork “We have been working so much that closely with Bruce Masi in PennDOT District Six on plans he bought it to make the road safer and are for himself! hopeful that PennDOT’s proposed changes in the Highway Safety Improvement Plan will Story, Page14 do just that,” Gillespie said. “Despite PennDOT’s best efforts, we believe that speeding will continue to remain a problem and are asking your office to support speed cameras
EF Village sets summer meeting for June 2
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nization that would have been unheard of not long ago. Ken Gavin, Chief Communications Officer for the archdiocese, emphasized the preliminary nature of the study. “The information presented by CLI represents potential models and scenarios for future planning consideration and nothing more,” Gavin said. “Any move by the archdiocese to engage in further strategic and pastoral planning would have to be vetted and go through a multi-layered consultation process before approval by the Archbishop. None of that has taken place. In addition, any move would be broadly communicated to all parishes, parishioners, and the media.” A shrinking archdiocese is not new. Churches and schools have been closing or merging for years. Just last week, the archdiocese announced it was merging three parishes in lower Northeast Philadelphia -- Saint Adalbert, Saint George, and Mother of Divine Grace -with Nativity B.V.M. Parish,
effective July 1, 2019. The churches will remain open “for the time being” for weddings, funerals, feast days, and special occasions. (Continued on page 5)
EFCC Meeting June 10
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he final East Falls Community Council meeting before the summer is set for 7 pm Monday, June 10 at the EF Presbyterian Church, Midvale Ave. and Vaux St. The agenda includes the election of officers, voting on the grants proposed at the May meeting, and a presentation on signage plans by Meredith Johnson, Executive Director of the East Falls Development Corp. For the latest news from the EFCC Zoning Committee, visit www.east-
EFCC seeks speed cameras on Henry Ave.
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on Henry Ave.” pilot program to install camGillespie said that a legislaeras between Hunting Park tive proposal to install the cam- Ave. and Port Royal Road in eras was introduced last year (Continued on page 5) by St. Rep. Pam DeLissio -- a
(L) Gen. Anna Mae Hayes; (R) new sign marking the dedication of the former Henry Ave. Bridge in honor of Gen. Hayes.
Henry Ave. Bridge dedicated to first woman general
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hat Fallsers have known as the Henry Ave. Bridge, spanning Wissahickon Creek and Lincoln Dr., is now the Brigadier General Anna Mae Violet McCabe Hays Memori-
al Bridge. Anna Mae Hays was an American military officer who served as the 13th chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corp. She (Continued on page 15)
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