First Fridays in Kensington

It's one of Philadelphia's unique traditions. During the First Friday of every month, artists get together and host galleries, music festivals and get a couple drinks or two at the local bars. This phenomenon is not only in Old City, but on Frankford Ave. in Kensington as well. It is trully a night of art and culture.

For December's First Friday in Kensington, the plan is to have Kristmas in Kensington. Many local businesses and organizations will partake by hosting some of the festivities. There will be plenty of events, and plenty of opportunity to buy your loved ones some special gifts.

On December 5th, many shops will participate in the Kristmas in Kensington Light Spectacular. Stores in the community will light up their businesses with pure, electric yule that will light up sculptures and window displays.

Like I've mentioned there will be a plethora of events to attend. Check it out!

Adrian Fedkiw and Carmen Del Mastro

Kensington Team 4

Port Richmond's High Truancy Rates

Philadelphia schools are plagued with overcrowding, high drop-out rates and higher truancy rates. An estimated 15,000 students skip school every day, despite the city’s tough efforts to combat truancy and keep kids in school.

A recent article by Hayden Mitman of Star Publications showed that Port Richmond had one of the highest truancy rates of the entire city. The article stated that the 19134 zip code, which covers parts of Port Richmond and surrounding communities, had one of the highest truancy rates in 2008 with more than 60 percent of students missing a week or more of school. The 19125 zip code, which also covers parts of Port Richmond, had a high truancy rate with about 40 to 50 percent of students missing a week or more in 2008. These students are considered “chronically truant,” but the city is implementing plans to fight back.

Each week Philadelphia students are given free weekly SEPTA passes, which is only a small part of their effort to combat truancy rates. Students are also provided transportation via yellow school buses.

The city has also implemented a daytime curfew between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. If students are seen wandering the streets between these hours on school days, the city will fine parents a minimum of $25 and the parents of repeat truants may face fines of up to $300.

Students who are chronically truant are more likely to be involved in crime and are also more likely to drop-out of school before they graduate.

-Stephanie Hobson and Amy Fuhrmeister, Group 7, Port Richmond

Northeast Philadelphia: Somerton Civic Association Loses their Leader

On Tuesday evening, Nov. 10, the Somerton Civic Association held their meeting and had to go on without their President, Mary Jane Hazell.

The respected leader passed away early Sunday, Nov. 8 in her daughter's home. She was 76 years old and had been suffering from respiratory problems.

It is not often that you find someone who is passionate and committed to serving and giving back to their neighborhood. The neighborhood of Somerton in Northeast Philadelphia, was lucky to have the late Mary Jane Hazell, who was president of the Somerton Civic Association and served for 43 years as an active member.

With her help, Somerton was able to become one of the best neighborhoods in the Northeast and the Somerton Civic Association came to be known as one of the most influential in the whole city. In 2007 she won an award from the Philadelphia Eagles and Dunkin' Donuts, being placed on the list of the 75 Greatest Living Philadelphians. In addition, Republican state Rep. Brendan Boyle has said that she was one of the most important civic leaders in the history of Northeast Philadelphia.

(Hazell is in the picture above wearing yellow, second from left. Photo edited by Bill Achuff.)

Christeen Vilbrun and Sean Supplee, Group 20, Northeast Philadelphia

Fishtown's Mission

Philadelphia Brotherhood Rescue Mission is an organization that services Fishtown and those from surrounding areas. This organization has been standing for about 100 years and has aided thousands of individuals since its founding. The Philadelphia Brotherhood Mission is located between E. Columbia Ave and Girard Ave. They provide emergency and transitional housing for 75 to 100 men per night, but they offer meals and donate clothing to residents all over the Philadelphia area. Throughout their long history, they have never turned a needy soul away without assistance. Although the mission does great work, it often goes unnoticed. Walking into this faith-based organization, it is surprising to see how much work needs to be done on the building. The mission helps an enormous amount of residents and it keeps it doors open because of the generous donations they receive. The men that are helped are given spiritual guidance and life coaching in attempts to enhance their personal growth. The administration consists of men who are trained on how to assist addicts and men who are ordained ministers. Many of the ministers have been down their own paths of addiction and are able to help be the support that another man needs in order to transcend their situation. These men not only provide a safe place for those in need, but the give them a family and act as brothers.

Germantown: "We Want Better Heathcare!"

The people have spoken: health care is a serious problem in America, and it needs to be resolved. It has been a topic throughout the years, and documentaries – more specifically the Michael Moore piece “Sicko” – have brought the debate to the populace. It was somewhat surprising to see how many people referenced the documentary when our group took a preliminary survey of the area. Others, of course, had their own nightmarish experiences to go off of in terms of health care: visits to the emergency room that have taken hours before people are actually seen, prioritizing pain by person, category and means of insurance and countless others.


While no one wanted to go on the record about their experiences, plenty had a lot to say or to comment in the matter. The general consensus is not surprising: as with the rest of the nation, the populace is not sufficed with the method of health care that we have now. Many, however, are optimistic that the matter will be resolved by the Obama administration within the near future. The citizens in the neighborhood have put their trust in the president and his fellow members of cabinet, but only time will tell if that trust is indeed valid.


Raymond Andrews and Katie Annesley, Team 12, Germantown.

Mantua: Safe Issues, Different Setting

This week, my partner and I had the opportunity to spend some time working in a different neighborhood. We ventured to Germantown to attend the first annual Northwest Philadelphia Community Café. The event was a forum for members of the Germantown and Mt. Airy community, featuring roundtables discussing important issues. We may have been far from Mantua (or at least it seemed that way), but we weren’t far from the same community issues expressed to us by residents.

Thinking back to one of our first stories, we listened to senior citizens in the Mantua community and their concerns about health care. It was conveyed to us that this percentage of the population was extremely important to the neighborhood and they would like to be able to take care of themselves, without worrying about insurance coverage The discussion about health care at the event in Germantown was definitely filled with the most emotion. No matter what legislation is passed, senior citizens are concerned about where they stand. It was interesting to see the similarities between the residents in the two neighborhoods. Many, who have not been to these neighborhoods to actually interact and observe residents, would probably never see the comparison.

Samantha J. Williams and Emily Freisher - Group 6 - Mantua

Kensington: Taking Out the Trash

I still remember the first day that my partner and I started to do field work in Kensington. We tried to make a general consensus of the area in terms of ethnicity, economy, culture, safety, etc. We would go back and forth discussing how the neighborhood was predominantly Latino, and the businesses all seemed to be shut down. But from day one, the one thing that has always stuck in our minds was the amount of trash found in the neighborhood.

For the most part it seemed as if many people lost hope for the neighborhood. I recall a neighbor throwing a full bag of Dunkin Donuts and coffee right onto the sidewalk, even though the garbage was only a few feet away. At that point I knew that Kensington's environmental state would be a great topic to cover, and hopefully we will be able to focus on this topic for our final project.

So far I have been able to get in contact with a few community organizations, which are trying to help preserve Kensington's environment, and minimize it's trash problem. I found that the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society launched an initiative about five years ago called the "Green City Strategy." This initiative focuses on several parts of Philadelphia, which include New Kensington. I was also able to contact the New kensington Development Corporation, and the East Kensington Neighbors association.

Overall it seems that there are groups that are trying to help remove some of the trash in Kensington, but I have yet to see anything being done. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will be able to see some of the actions these groups are taking in order to help their community.

Herry Pierre-Louis and LaToya Allen, Kensington, 01

Logan: A New Thrift Store to the Area

On a warm afternoon in Logan, we walked up a street with retail shops located on both sides. We came across Muster Seed Consignment and Thrift Shop, a small thrift store on the corner of Old York Road.

A moderate sound of gospel music flows down the street, luring customers inside as they sing along. The thrift store is run by Brian Hampton and his wife Helena Hampton. Ninety days into business, the Hamptons have been selling new and barely used clothes such as shoes, shirts, coats and accessories. Both men and women’s clothes are sold. Designers brands like Apple Bottoms, Steve Madden and Baby Phat are provided. Prices vary from five to a hundred dollars, however, it is customer satisfying.

Helena’s idea to take over the thrift store would help sell more of their wholesale items that she hasbeen selling at flea markets for the past three years. At the counter, items such as jewelry, hand bags, sunglasses and much more are sold. Although the Hamptons are not the original owners, they are proud to provide discount items. The store is open six days a week from eleven in the morning until six in the evening and closed on Sundays. Their busiest time of the day are usually around noon, soon after opening.


Kaira Patrick and Chelsea Sexauer
Group 14 Logan/Feltonville

A Slice of Unconventional Originality

“Ring, ring,” the Fishtown pizza truck is right on time. Dieter Neumann's pizza truck drives down the winding streets ringing its bell to call towners out for its tempting slices.

The truck comes around at 10p.m. like clockwork to the neighborhoods of Fishtown and New Kensington and has been around for years. Hungry at that hour or not, who couldn’t splurge on a single slice of pizza?

Rita Neumann is the cook. The pizza dough is made in the back of the truck on a small oven and the sauce is homemade and sweet. The crust is thin, the cheese is gooey and the taste sensation is like boardwalk or carnival pizza and an experience unlike the corner store take out or delivery- it’s coming to you this time.

Some Fishtowners differ on the taste and quality of the pizza, but most agree that it’s a tradition and a memory that they treasure, of summer nights chasing down the truck and catching it on Berks, ordering Arctic freezes and a slice for $1. Now the price has risen to about $2.50 and there are additions to the menu, but the truck will always be known as a novelty and as a niche business idea in the neighborhood.

Melanie Menkevich and Jenn Matusiak. Group 9. Fishtown.

Strawberry Mansion: The "Mansion" of history

After having spent weeks working the phones, and talking to strangers with very little forward movement, I was driven back in time in just two hours on Monday. I woke up to a phone call from a gentleman who had written a book about Strawberry Mansion and its rich jewish history, Alan Meyers. Meyers was in the city (he lives in South Jersey) and wanted to know where I lived and if he could pick me up and show me around the neighborhood where he grew up. I ran to center city to get a camera and he picked me up, and within 90 minutes of having rolled out of bed, I was in over my head with information. I filled two tapes with footage and with interviews, and was able to go down almost every street. At least ninety percent of the churches in the neighborhood were synagogues, 33rd Street was the busiest street, and people used to go for walks around the reservoir on a regular basis.

Meyers then bought me a soda, and went through his phone and literally called friends of his who can help me with my research. I don't know it it was luck or persistence, but I went from organizing my thoughts to begin working on a project, to figuring out how to best utilize the surplus of information I have into two video packages and short written articles.

I am excited to share my findings with not only my classmates, but current residents of Strawberry Mansion. I am sure they know very little about the rich jewish and affluent immigrant population that once made their neighborhood one of the most influential and successful of Philadelphia.

By Evan Macy and Joli McTerrell, Group 18

Program ReStore in Mantua

Mayor Street along with City Council members, Neighborhood Transformation Director Eva Gladstein and community representatives launched the ReStore Philadelphia Corridors program on October 10, 2009. The citywide project was created to help revitalize many of the commercial corridors throughout the city, in order to encourage people to continue visiting the historic sights. Thirty-six commercial corridors received awards, including Lancaster Avenue in the Mantua area, which received the highest award of $2,000,000. The money, which is designated to streetscape design and construction, is a blessing according to many Mantua residents.

“I think fixing Lancaster Avenue up is going to be great for our area. More people are going to want to shop around here, which is good for our economy,” said Robert Howell, who has been a resident of Mantua his whole life.

Not only will the program fix up the business section, but it will also go towards pedestrian lighting, public signage, sidewalks and greening, according to Phila.gov. All of this is being done with hopes to raise property value, and eventually turn the area into a great place to live, learn, shop, work, and play.

Tiffany Jackson & Dustin Khebzou, Group 8, Mantua/Parkside

Ludlow: Project Rainbow

During our visit to Project Rainbow, we spoke with Director Ann Marie Collins about the families that come to the Drueding Center for temporary housing and the many number of other resources they provide to help homeless women and their dependant children.

Collins explained that many of the problems women face—substance abuse, domestic violence, and poor education—are a result of childhood patterns repeating continuously. The women are abused by partners because they were by as children, they turn to drugs and alcohol because it has surrounded them all their lives, and many of them are illiterate because their public education failed them and allowed them to slip through the cracks.

Project Rainbow understands that these patterns cannot be broken with temporary solutions. This is why the program puts such a strong emphasis on counseling, because its impossible for a person to succeed if they are crippled by the events of their past. Project Rainbow also councils and tutors the children in the program, helping them to adjust to the unstable environments they’ve grown up in. Collins told us that many of the children in the program under the age of 12 have attempted suicide.

The caseworkers at Project Rainbow have tried to give more to these families than temporary support. Workers visit families up to seven years after they have graduated from the program, reminding women of their goals, keeping them from falling into old habits, and giving them education and resources such as job training, day care and advice. This checking up is what makes Project Rainbow such an exceptional organization—they don’t view these families as incoming and outgoing cases but as people with complex problems who sometimes need to be reminded that someone believes they can succeed.

Jessica Fowler and Evan Casey, Group 15, Ludlow

Hunting Park: Ayuda's Art House

I'm posting a blog this week about this story, because I think it's important, and because it didn't make the cut for the site.

Ayuda Community Center has an after school program for the kids of Hunting Park, called the "Art House." Or rather, the "Art House" is the location for the programs, but it offers a wide variety of programs for the youth. On Saturday, the 14th, they toured the house to show the community what is going on behind its walls, which fell into Ayuda's possession in August. They have made the house into several different studios for different mediums, from mixed media, to recording arts, to a music room. Michaelanne Harriman is the director and says it's "the most exciting thing to happen to Ayuda in a while."

The update that would be unlike the story is that the kids have their fall exhibit on Friday, December 11th, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Admission is $10, and there will be several points of interest. The mixed media and pastels group will be displaying their artwork, the choir will be performing, and the video class will be displaying their works. I got to see some of the work, and recommend that anyone who can, go check it out.

Nicetown-Tioga: Race Affects Treatment in Health Care System

Dr. Bert M. Petersen, Jr. described one example of disparities in health care. He is the Chief of Breast Surgery and Co-Chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at the Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. At his center a patient's salary determines when he or she is able to have an appointment with Petersen. Those who can not pay for health care out of pocket must come to his office on clinic days; those who can afford health care come the opposite days.

"They look the same," Petersen said. "You wouldn't know by looking at a waiting room, who is coming to the clinic and who can pay out of their own pocket, so why can't they have contact?"

Though racial disparities in health care may be blatant, it is more often the little things that add up to an unequal system, a system that relies on physical markers like race to signify who is able to pay and, therefore, who deserves more attention.

Petersen, Jr. is one doctor who was interviewed for the documentary The Deadliest Disease in America, which was screened at Temple University's Medical School on Thursday, Nov. 12. The film is about unequal treatment in health care based on race. After the screening, Petersen, the director and others involved in the film participated in workshops to discuss the content of the film. Director Crystal Emery is screening the film with these workshops across the nation, as part of her goal to - as the Web site states - "reduce barriers of access to health care."

Organizers and participators of the event were positive about its outcome.

Walnut Hill: Students Compete in $10 million Car Contest

Two weeks ago, I wrote about how West Philadelphia High School has been one of the most dangerous and under-performing schools in the state for over a decade now.

But unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to really focus on all the great things that school has been doing. Most notably, their Academy of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering and the West Philly Hybrid X Team.

Aside from being the only certified auto academy in the city’s 291 public schools, it’s 15-member EVX team has won numerous awards including the 2002, 2005 and 2006 Tour de Sol and the 2007 21st Century Automotive Challenge.

And now, they’re looking to win another: the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize.

The competition requires entrants to create an affordable, four-passenger car that gets 100 mpg and has amenities such as air-conditioning and a sound system. They must also submit a business plan which shows that it’s possi

ble to manufacture at least 10,000 of the vehicles a year and sell them at a competitive price.

The contest will award $5 million for the best four-door economy car and two prizes of $2.5 million for the best two-seater cars. Having submitted applications for both categories, the West Philly EVX team have a chance to bring home $7.5 million which would go into a scholarship fund.

They submitted their plans for both vehicles to X PRIZE judges early this year along with 90 other teams from around the world. And last month, they were one of the 43 contestants chosen to continue on.

A week after they got the news, the students of the EVX team were making national headlines. They even appeared on The Today Show where they unveiled their hyper-modified Ford Focus car.

Not only is West Philadelphia H.S the only high school in the competition but they’re competing against several Fortune 500 companies and some of the most prestigious universities in the country such as Cornell University.

So what are the chances that a couple of kids from a notorious inner-city high school could win a multi-million dollar prize and potentially revolutionize the auto industry?

Well, already the editors at Popular Mechanics, which evaluated the finalists' proposals, have put them in their list of the top-10 contestants most likely to win.

The only thing standing in their way: money.

So far the school has raised $300,000 in grants while Drexel University is helping them develop their business plan. But considering the impressive bank accounts of their competitors, the West Philly EVX team still needs at least $80,000 for them to really stay in the game.

They’re currently accepting online donations at evxteam.org and will be holding a big fundraiser in January.

In the meantime, the students will continue to work diligently to finish their cars and business plans before the spring deadline. The winners will be announced next October.

During their Today Show appearance, former first-daughter, Jenna Bush Hager asked team member Azim Hill what keeps the group motivated.

“We’re showing that young people from the inner city can achieve, especially when you give them the right resources,” he replied.

-Nicole Finkbiner and Candice Walker, Group 23, Wanut Hill/Garden Court

Fairhill: House Sitting

William Anderson Payne is under the bridge at Second Street and Indiana Avenue. He stands beside the freight tracks in a make shift bedroom. The bed has risers and a headboard. Someone has managed to pull a garden house under the bridge. It constantly gushes water and under it lies old toothbrushes and needles muddy in the dirt. “It's someone's house,” says Payne of the set up.

“I'm just waking up, ya'll gotta let me get my shot up, get my drugs in my first,” he says as he turns his back to us and empties light brown powder into a metal “cooker” used to heat the drugs.

He tells us we make him nervous, and periodically asks us if we're cops. Then he is calm.

Payne lives on the street, and spends most of his nights in an abandoned van. Some nights, he will sign up for a bed at the RHD Ridge Center, a shelter on Broad Street and Ridge Avenue.

“They give you a bed but if you stay out and don't go in when you're supposed to they give your bed to someone else,” he says of the shelter.

Payne is the youngest of 14 children. All of his siblings are girls. He says he could stay with them, but he chooses not to.

“I'm my own man. I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do when I'm gonna do it,” he says. He plans on visiting one of his sisters in Massachusetts in a few weeks. His favorite place to visit is Denver. He says he doesn't mind the cold.

When we tell Payne we're journalists, he asks us if we help people get housing. He looks disappointed when we say no. Nikki Volpicelli and Jonathan Vigeurs Group 11 Fairhill

Nicetown Court Construction Slated to Begin Next February

The Nicetown Court, a brand-new low-income tax-credit housing and commercial building, will bring nothing but a positive economic boost to the Nicetown neighborhood. The building complex, which will be built at the 4300 block of Germantown Avenue, includes about 4,000 square feet of commercial space along with 37 affordable rental units. The Nicetown Community Development Corporation (CDC) received approximately $2.5 million from State Representative Chaka Fattah, who represents the state's 2nd District, which will go directly towards the Nicetown Court construction project.

The Nicetown Court Project is one of several projects headed by the Nicetown CDC aimed to stimulate the economy of the neighborhood. The past twenty years have been tough for Nicetown as there was little economic development. However, over the years, the Nicetown CDC has sought initiatives aimed to counter those years of underdevelopment. The Nicetown CDC also works closely with the Nicetown Business Association on other development projects including the plant-potting initiative, where both organizations potted plants throughout the neighborhood in order to also work on the physical aesthetics of the area.

Lawncrest: Honoring Veterans

Around 100 people joined together this morning at The Grove at Lawncrest Recreation Center for a Veterans Day service. The crowd was made up of veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. There were even a few people who served in World War II. The rainy weather did not stop the ceremony as almost everyone in attendance received an American flag to wave. The group participated in several activities such as raising the American flag while singing the National Anthem, and several people read poems describing their feelings of what it means to them to be a veteran. Two 5th grade classes from local schools joined the veterans and around the flagpole. Students from Franklin Elementary and St. William’s School participated in an essay contest. The students had to write an essay about what a veteran meant to them. Some of the essays brought tears and laughter to the many people in attendance. The services were conducted by the Rising Sun V.F.W. #2819 and the Crest-Lawn American Legion #832.

Group 20 Northeast Philadelphia Sean Supplee and Christeen Vilbrun.

Hunting Park: Needing to Re-Build

One can't help but notice the state of the buildings in Hunting Park. In fact, everywhere you turn there are buildings practically screaming to be improved. With so much potential, the changing and updating of these buildings is just what Hunting Park needs in order to help turn itself into a more flourishing part of the city.

For years these building have been accumulating graffiti, defacing, have weathered destruction from the environment as well as the individuals who take it upon themselves to aid in the wreckage of building that have so much intrinsic. These buildings, aside from the home that need re-building, are the keys to the success of this city. Not just in Hunting Park, but all over the city of Philadelphia, there are large, historic buildings which hold so much capability. If these buildings were to be fixed up, there is no doubt that tourism would have a stronger change of making a comeback, and the city could finally see economic changes that are much needed.

The key is within these buildings, which hold congenital qualities, to our city's future. If continued to be run down, it will eventually be too late to turn these buildings into something special.

Olney: Who Needs Grocery Stores Anyway?

It doesn’t take the most astute observer to notice the lack of grocery stores in Philadelphia, especially in low income neighborhoods. Throughout the years, a lack of healthy food options has resulted in staggering rise in obesity throughout the city. Building large, new grocery stores is difficult for many neighborhoods due to lack of space and funding.

According to customers at J&S Produce, located on 5th and W. Chew Ave., local produce stores may be a better option than grocery stores. Due to the location in the neighborhood as well as its proximity to local homes and business, shopping healthy becomes more convenient for residents.

The customers also enjoy the intimacy of the store, as people entering the shop are greeted with smiles, while regulars engage in friendly conversation with employees and fellow shoppers alike.
Prices may be higher than the competition, but customers don't seem to mind, knowing that the money they spend here is money invested into the community.

Although space is limited and the selection is not as extensive as grocery stores, J&S keeps a steady flow of customers throughout the day. The shop has been providing fresh produce to the area for over 20 years.

Matt Bell and Kristen van Genderen
fa0903olney

Germantown Attempts to Tackle Blight

Recent changes to local zoning laws in Germantown have opened up the area to proposals to renovate and update almost 50 sites around the community.

Most of the buildings that are being considered are blighted property of commercial or historical significance. Places like the old Germantown Town Hall and even the Wayne Junction is on the list, but most of the focus is on commercial assets. After traveling around the neighborhood a few months, it doesn't take an engineer to see that Germantown is a very old place and therefore literally crumbling.

All over Germantown buildings are abandoned and many constitute a threat to safety, yet industrial and commercial centers are not the only buildings crumbling. Many homes around Germantown are over 100 years old and are also failing.

Assessing the soundness of some of the residential structures of need would be a good start and would show the people of Germantown that their leaders care about their safety. Then again it is easy to speculate and who knows how many people would be out of a home if every building was thoroughly inspected.

There is a fight amongst community leaders over group housing - an issue they consider pressing but if the "group" that is being housed didn't have a home then they would likely be out on the streets.

“If we could tackle group homes for Germantown through zoning we would, but we can’t,” said one official to the Germantown Courier. "Zoning-out" this type of housing has been declared federally illegal and a form of discrimination.

One might wonder why more isn't being done to update many of the facilities that offer group housing to those who can not afford there own. The YMCA of Germantown is a prime example of a place that needs the money to update the facilities but it isn't being considered. The Germantown YMCA is in fact older than the original YMCA and was home to many historical significant African-American sports figure. The building has also provided a home for many local homeless men a practice that may unofficially still be occurring.

It seems like once again officials run local governments like a business and do more in terms of generating revenue than protect people. It is a noble cause to update many of the failing structures, some even historical landmarks; but to not consider improving the conditions of the residents of Germantown is another example of a government showing the people who a bureaucracy really works for - anyone with the money.

Kensington: Unemployed Employment Services?

It’s sad to know that there are more pawn shops in Kensington than employment agencies. My initial story idea for our last assignment was to explore how well employment services work to help those who are unemployed actually find jobs. I was shocked to discover that the services people should be able to go to for help in finding jobs had become unemployed themselves.

Using Google, I found three local employment services in Kensington: Temporary Employment Services Inc., Eagle Employment and Minority Personnel Inc. I thought I was off to a good start until I started making phone calls. I was met with the monotonous recording that we’re all too familiar with: “The number you have dialed is currently not in service…” Immediately I thought this was a tragic situation. Not because I had to come up with another story idea but because of the statistics of Kensington residents. Of the total population, 12 percent are unemployed and 53 percent are not in the labor force. The media household income is $17,136 and a staggering 49 percent of Kensington residents are below the poverty level.

This information is readily accessible in the most recent U.S. census to anyone who cares to see it. Local officials need to start paying more attention and combat this issue directly. Employment services in Kensington need to be re-opened or new ones need to be established so that the situation of those living in Kensington can be improved by their accessibility to more jobs.

LaToya Allen and Herry Pierre-Louis, Group 1, Kensington

Food Not Bombs

In these troubled times everyone can use a little extra help. It becomes too easy to just overlook the needs of people in your community and focus on yourself. While doing my story on The West Philadelphia Food Not Bombs it amazed me just how little time and money it takes to help out people in need.

For the past 10 years Food Not Bombs have recovered food that is just past its selling date and used it to feed people in need. Setting up at 5 p.m. every Wednesday in Clark Park, 50th and Baltimore, the organization provides vegetarian and vegan food to approximately 50-80 people—rain or shine. The group has no corporate backing and is very loosely organized by one or two people at time. It is a collective of three to four volunteers from the community who get together each week to help those in need in their own neighborhoods. It took the volunteers a little over an hour to cook the food, about 40 minutes to transport it and 30 minutes to serve the food in the park.

Covering this story really made me realize just how effective a couple hours of your week can be, and how much of a difference a single person can actually make.

Dustin Khebzou and Tiffany Jackson,
Group 8, Mantua Parkside

Strawberry Mansion Residents Struggle With SEPTA

"I have spent almost $100 for taxis alone then still gotta pay for the regional rail,. This is ridiculous," said Strawberry Mansion resident as she stood along the platform of Suburban Street Station.

Last week's SEPTA strike caused the entire Philadelphia community to struggle in finding ways around the city. Strawberry Mansion residents found themselves walking long stretches of city blocks to their nearest regional rail station. For many it seemed like light years away. Older residents in the community that usually used SEPTA to travel throughout the community, were forced to stay in.

SEPTA has been one of the only way residents have been able to get to work. Many were forced to lose hours of pay. Money was being used on gas and taxis that never serviced the Strawberry Mansion community otherwise.

"This whole thing is disorganized. We were not prepared for this," said an older gentleman who had just gotten out of a Center City cab.

Many jobs accommodated many of their workers by starting work late however could not make up for the struggle residents encountered. Even young children were forced to walk to schools that were neighborhoods away from their front doors.

Although SEPTA were trying to make a voice for themselves in order to get their demands reached, they inconvenienced Philadelphia residents who could not afford for taxi trips and regional rail tickets.

Joli McTerrell and Evan Macy Strawberry Manion/Brewerytown Group18

Big Polish Church Perserves Big Culture Influence

It’s obvious that Port Richmond has a major Polish influence when you look at the businesses and shops down the street and on the corners, but what’s the most spectacular is the Polish church with the sea-foam green roof on the corner of Allegheny and Thompson Streets.

The church of St. Adalbert dates back to 1904—and that it shows, with its fine crafted architecture and sculpting. Like many churches years ago, St. Adalbert’s held its masses in Latin and activities in Polish. The church opened its doors initially to Polish American’s back in the immigration decade and also developed St. Adalbert’s school—a Polish-catholic Private school.


With changing times comes changing titles, as the school
was renamed Our Lady of Port Richmond Regional School and services at the church now being served in English along with Polish.

This hard to miss church might be a big sight but it doesn’t make a big commotion. It sits quietly along the busy Allegheny Street next to a likewise community park.


Amy Fuhrmeister
Group 7, Port Richmond

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

It doesn’t seem like Garden Court was named that for no reason, because this West Philadelphia neighborhood, most certainly lives up to its name. Not only do the streets look like a scene out of movies like “The Stepford Wives” and “Truman Show,” but I think it’s just about the most neat, clean, and orderly spots in West Philadelphia. In fact, it’s so immaculate I daresay everything about the entire neighborhood; even the set up and arrangements are staged.




When walking on the sidewalks, rest assure, no matter how hot the sun is, or whatever may be clouding your mind that day, you can always find reprieve under the shade that the great big, hale and hearty trees provide. The leaves are verdant green grass, and the air seems even more fresh and unpolluted than the “everyday” contaminate city air we breathe. And the people seem even friendlier, I would imagine because the environment around them is so clean, light and relaxing.

Neighborhoods like these should be models for others that aren’t so lucky. What better motivation than spic and span streets and spotless sidewalks. It was just about heavenly to walk through such a sparkling neighborhood-almost like being next to godliness…surprising, how cleanliness can make a person feel.


By: Candice Walker, Group 23

Logan: The Impact of the Septa Strike on the Locals

“All Aboard!” was the headline the Daily News used on Monday, Nov. 9th considering the end of the almost week long Septa strike. It was a sign of relief for those depending on public transportation in Philadelphia. The Septa strike was finally over for most of the people in Logan we talked too who were very pleased. Logan is conveniently located along Board Street, which gives residents easy access to bus and subway lines transporting them in and around the city. Even though Regional Rail lines were still running during the strike, Logan residents arranged for rides, walked and even caught cab rides.


For students traveling to the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), located on Spring Garden, the subway line is the quickest and easiest way for them to get there. Logan resident, Sara Medaciel traveled forty minutes to school during the strike because of traffic. Even though it was only a ten minute increase to her usual routine with Septa, it was an inconvenience in getting to class on time.

Many say using Septa is quicker than driving, especially during the strike. The added traffic doubled the normal traveling time for most who took Septa. Logan resident, Derrick Wood was affected during the strike as well. He had to ask friends for car rides to pick up his children. If that wasn't available, he had to walk. His normal routine was 30-45 minutes but doubled during the strike. Some think the trains are still running late, even after the strike.

Chelsea Sexauer and Kaira Patrick

Group 14 Logan/Feltonville

Fishtown: SEPTA Fires up its Residents

The SEPTA strike came as a surprise to everyone, making it impossible for many Philadelphia residents to get to work or school. It posed even more of a pain for me, trying to get to Fishtown because the only way to get there is the Market-Frankford line. So I did the only thing I could think of; I mapped the hike from Temple's campus to Fishtown, where I was supposed to be attending a Nintendo party. Forty minutes and a long walk later, I finally got to my destination, where a guy with a mohawk had everyone's attention as he was ranting furiously. I could only assume it was about the strike.

And I was right. Mike Kranik had just endured a three hour train ride on top of a half hour taxi cab ride. Total cost? Thirty-six dollars. "I was just trying to come home from a friend's house in the suburbs," he said. "The train was delayed over an hour, and then it took forever to finally get to the city." Kranik couldn't believe the amount of people that were in Suburban Station, waiting in lines for trains, the last hopes of public transportation during the strike. "And they made me pay for that," said Kranik. "I mean seriously, if the train is delayed over an hour, how the hell can you even make people pay for a ticket? It's just ridiculous." Kranik says that everyone on the train that day was in a terrible mood; endless rows of angry, bitter people. I'm sure that those people are grateful that the strike is now over.

By Jenn Matusiak and Melanie Menkevich

Fairhill: The Same Technique

With our last couple of stories due within the next month. Nikki and I decided it would probably be a good idea to start brainstorming. Like usual, she came up with a plethora of relevant ideas that we could use for the last project. I, on the other hand, came up with nothing.

Our plan is pretty simple and hasn’t changed much since the beginning of the semester: we’re going to walk around Fairhill and try to find anyone that will talk to us. Unlike the beginning of the semester, now we have a leg up. We have connections. We’re going to use the contacts we’ve made over the past few months to establish new contacts

and write amazing stories, I hope. We’re going to go back to Prevention Point Philadelphia and ask about the community clean ups they run. We’re want to find our patrolling officer friends and ask them what really happens on those abandoned train tracks. From above the tracks may look like a community garbage can, but the over passes provide invaluable shelter for those without homes. And I’m sure our friend Clyde from the t-shirt shop will something to say about the topics of housing, health care, or the environment.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is, our final project is going to be something special.

Jonathan Viguers and Nikki Volpicelli. Group 11. Fairhill.

Tough Times at Northeast Catholic High School

Last month, we learned of the future closing of one of Fishtown’s most beloved schools: Northeast Catholic High School. Since the opening of its doors in September 1926 according to the schools website, Northeast Catholic High School “educates students according to Catholic, Christian tradition enabling them to function well in the world”. With a focus on religion and academic excellence, Northeast Catholic is also the only all male high school in the Fishtown area, servicing young males from the Port Richmond, Bridesburg, Kensington, Fishtown and Frankford neighborhoods.
The recent news of the June 2010 closing of Northeast Catholic has caused many of its alumni to protest, write letters and flood the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s office with multiple phone calls in an effort to save their beloved alma mater. Many of Northeast Catholic’s alumni still reside in their childhood neighborhoods. The Archdiocese cites their decision for the schools closing based on an in-depth study, stating that the enrollment has been reduced to half of its maximum occupancy. During the 1950’s, Northeast’s occupancy reached an all time high of close to 5,000. Some Fishtown residents although upset with the devastating decision, believe that the current loss of economy and businesses within the Fishtown area may be to blame for the closing of Northeast Catholic. Only time will tell the future of Northeast Catholic and its students.




By: Ninah Bell and Ayana Comrie, fa0921fishtown

Changes For the Better on Girard

When developers took interest in the area off of 30th and Girard things in the neighborhood began to change. Two developers, Westrum and Penrose have invested in the area bringing with them new signs of life for the residents in the area.

Eddie Branch (pictured), lives on 31st street right near Girard- just a few feet away from the Brewerytown flat's, Westrum's town home development. He sees the investment in his neighborhood to be a good thing but wishes it was a little cheaper.


"To make you want to live here you got to have plenty of money," said Branch. "A guy like me couldn't afford that."

He says the homes are sold from anywhere between $225,000 to $350,000. Branch sees why so many would want to move to the area.

"Center City is 15 mins way, it's easy access," he said.

It's even made his life a little easier. With more residents at a higher price point services like delivery, safety and transportation are easier to come by.

"I noticed since they built the houses down here you get a lot more cab service," said Branch. "Before you couldn't get a cab to come down here."

But not everyone is so quickly charmed. Vanessa Jones, an Upper Darby resident works at Penrose Development.

"I think it needs to be built up a little better," said Jones. "A lot of strange people and strange things going on."

Kevin Cook and Marilyn S. D'Angelo
Group 2

Mantua: A Characterization of the Past

The neighborhood setting for Mantua remains dismal after

abandoning Lancaster Avenue for the more residential side streets surrounding the busy throughway. This was all discussed in a previous blog entry denoting the “nicer” housing situated close to police stations and other safe habors. This week, however, compiling research for our final project on housing for low-income or homeless families prompted another question regarding the aesthetics of the neighborhood.

People’s Emergency Care Center houses families, typically single mothers, who cannot afford traditional housing opportunities. There are options for emergency, transitional, or permanent housing, and a new apartment complex, just off Lancaster Avenue on 39th Street . After visit

ing the new building, in all its newly renovated splendor, one can’t help but notice it is particularly….bland. Yellow brick siding, white-trimmed windows, and nary an ornamental fixture or oddly angled roof panel in sight.

Yes, the houses across the street are deteriorating. The front porches are falling apart, and the

sidings are spotted with years of renewed paint jobs. And this isn’t to say the PEC, a non-profit affording functioning housing for people who might otherwise call the street their bedroom, should be going all out to create detailed, luxury accommodation. But the older streets in Mantua have so much more character. There is, among the dreary, a lived-in quality coming from the colorful bay windows in alternating shades. So which is better? An ancient but humanized row home or a non-descript apartment complex? Is it fair to say Mantua has the best of both worlds?

Kensington: The weeHouse

To improve the community of Kensington, the New Kensington Community Development Center is putting together a way to make vacant land more useful. By Introducing "Modular Housing," the neighborhood will start to build a brand new look.

The NKCDC has provided the groundwork for a project that places rendered weeHouse developments on existing vacant lots within the community. By managing the wide number of vacant land in the area the weeHouse will soon be a vital part of the community.

Along with remodeling existing structures, NKCDC seeks to provide additional low and middle-income housing opportunities within the neighborhood. Pursuing design innovation while meeting the criteria for government financial support for these projects is both a goal and constant challenge.

Over time, and with a willingness to adopt new strategies, programs like weeHouse can evolve into an accepted option for innovative housing that proves beneficial in its cost-efficient process.

Hopefully with the addition of the weeHouse it will lead to more projects along these lines to improve the overall quality of the community.

By Carmen Del Mastro
fa0904kensington

Remembering Our Heroes

Living in America, we are lucky enough to have the things that are most important to us, including our freedom. However, we sometimes tend to forget those who fight for us to get where we are. Our soldiers and veterans are important and vital to our American life--even when we do not agree with the war.

Bill Eves fought during the Vietnam War and at the time, most Americans were against it. According to him, coming home and readjusting to American life was hard because most people did not want to talk about the war, yet along see the soldiers. He says he can relate to those who are currently over in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting a war that the rest of the country is against. He also emphasized the importance of supporting our soldiers and making them feel loved. Otherwise, they can become isolated, making it difficult for them to get on with normal everyday life. Bill himself, has been going to therapy for over 40 years to help him get through his experiences.

Today, Bill is the chairman of the Philadelphia Compound Veterans Committee at the Naval Support Activity Center in Northeast Philadelphia. With Veterans' Day coming up, he is currently helping to put together the annual celebration honoring our brave soldiers.

Christeen Vilbrun and Sean Supplee,
Group 20, Northeast Philadelphia

Sensitivity on the Beat

As a human being, I know the importance of being aware of the feelings of those around you and especially to proceed with caution when dealing with those who may be dealing with troubling or even embarrassing circumstances. As a journalist, I’m learning that that awareness is doubly important, which is a lesson that Marco and I, to some extent, learned on the fly in our recent adventures uncovering a story in Germantown.

While working on our individual enterprises, Marco and I ran into a bit of a sensitivity issue. That issue was dealing with and working around homeless families while attempting to film a move into a new church. See, several churches in the Germantown area house homeless families for several weeks at a time and sort of rotate them around from church to church. As we were filming one of these moves, we found it very important to be sensitive towards the families and their wishes to either be on camera or not. More importantly though, we found it almost essential to build a trust with the families and let them know that we weren’t there to make it known that they were homeless, but to instead tell the story about how these local churches help the homeless.

In order to build a relationship with the families, we decided to not just film the move but to also help with the move which in turn, helped us interact with those involved instead of just be watchers from the outside in. Through this, we found that many of the family members became accepting of us and even began approaching us as the day went on. Despite the fabulous story we got out of they day, I think both of us also walked away with a sense that we were apart of something good and even felt good about ourselves for not acting like just a couple of journalists focused on trying to get a story, but instead as people who firstly wanted to help and secondly wanted a story.

Fa0905Germantown

Kensington Needs a Fourth School

While searching for information and interviews for my individual enterprise project, I came along an interesting group of Kensington students. A few years ago Kensington High School was broken up into different schools in order to preserve the quality of education. Classrooms were congested, students had absolutely nor relationship with their teachers, and the students weren't getting the type of care they deserved. Youth United for Change was one of the main organizations which helped with the initial break-up of the schools. YUC is an organization which basically gives students in the Philadelphia schools system a voice. Now the students are claiming that they were not given what they asked for.

Karla Elis Mota Rojas, 17, is a high school senior at Kensington CAPA, which was one of the smaller schools. Rojas explains that the problem with the separation of the schools was that they weren't necessarily "separated." The school district simply built a wall that turned one school into two.

"We weren't given what we were promised," explained Rojas. "But after fighting with my fellow youth leaders at YUC, Kensington CAPA will be opening their new building next September."

There will be two meetings, November 10th and November 18th, which will further the talks of improving Kensington's schools. Rojas and other youth leaders from YUC will be attending the meeting. Even though she will be in college by the time the new school opens, Rojas is proud that her hard work and voice helped make a difference. Rightly so.

Herry Pierre-Louis and Latoya Allen, Kensington, 1

Gentrification, Who's to Blame?

Over the last decade, the housing market in Philadelphia has steadily grown, finally hitting its limits earlier this year when the bubble popped. But before the end of $500,000 South Philadelphia town homes the borders of Center City were pushed.

Gentrification is a term sometimes used in passing by universities and developers but when a historically low-income neighborhood with property rates of $8000 per home is now competing with new construction selling for $200,000+ the word takes on a whole new meaning.

Chain stores and vinyl siding move into an area displacing its original tenants. Those who have lived in the neighborhood for years can no longer afford rental rates. Businesses are now saught after and property owners raise rents as well, keeping local business owners out of the loop in their own neighborhoods.

But from the other side of the argument, underdeveloped areas with high rates of abandoned houses, and empty lots, limited economic recourse and few jobs, the gentrified areas are only helping the greater economy and market. But who is right and who is to blame? Right and wrong is not the answer but it affects the old residents as well as the new families to move into the area.

Friends of Campbell Square Park Brings Community Together Down Winding Paths

Campbell Square park is one of the only parks in the Port Richmond section, yet its size and beauty make up for its absence of other ones. This park, quiet and peaceful, gives other famous Philly parks, like Fairmount park a run for its worth.

Walk around anytime of the day and the age range will differentiate accordingly. Caution beware though after dark in the open area, just as anyone should be in a city setting. Visitors are seen frequently with strollers, dogs and walkers. All walks of life stroll around in this green filled setting.

The park is started by a non-profit group of volunteers called The Friends of Campbell Square. Their rejuvenation of the park made for a suitable and able setting for residents to enjoy. The park was once neglected until the group took it under its wing and made the transformation for the better. The artwork of the arch welcomes new and old faces to the inside of a community gathering place.

The Friends of Campbell group is interactive with the community by bringing events to the wandering walks of the park on week nights and the summer season.

Amy Fuhrmeister & Stephanie Hobson
Group 7, Port Richmond

Kensington Resident to be on Ghost Lab

Kensington resident Joanne Hulme was excited! The charming lady is making an appearence on the Discovery Channel show, Ghost lab. She will make her appearence on November 24th, at 10:00 P.M.

The show itself is about a pair of brothers who explore into the paranormal. The siblings have uncovered some astonoshing results, this includes a recording of Civil War Soldiers talking. The goal of the show is to scientifically explain supernatural activity. They do this with state of the art equipment. The repoirte includes survellance video cameras, humidity and dew point data loggers, digital cameras, thermal imaging cameras, audio recorders and 8,000 feet of video cable.

Another thing she mentioned was that she is the jinx to why the Philadelphia Phillies are losing in the World Series. She said, "Everytime I watch them play they lose, I like hockey better anyway, go Flyers." She must've not watched game 6!

It's a shame that I forgot to take a picture of her. She is in my story on the Coral Streets Art House on Philadelphia Neighborhoods.

Olney: The need for Day Care Funding

Day care centers in Olney, Philadelphia were hit hard this past summer. This past July, the budget did not pass which allowed state funding for day cares. It turns out that 90 percent of Olney day care centers rely on state funding to function accordingly.

Michele Pankey, director and owner of Natural Touch and Nurturing Academy Childcare, partnered with her daughter in opening their own daycare center a year ago. Luckily, having saved money previously, they were able to make it through without funding. However, they did not get paid at all during that time.

Out of a classroom of 13 students, only 4 of them pay to attend Natural Touch. The other 9 children are covered by the state funding.

Pankey stated that the larger day care centers could not afford to keep their employees due to budget cuts. This, in turn, led to an improper ratio of care givers verses children, which ultimately led to the closings.

Thanks to higher tax rates, the day care funding from the state has returned, and hopefully now the funding can be more reliable.

Kristen van Genderen and Matt Bell. Group 3. Olney.

A Fishtown Kitchen with a Nightmare

The Keller sisters and sister-in-law who opened the Hot Potato Cafe in 2007 and agreed to a makeover from Gordon Ramsay and Kitchen Nightmares in 2009 are hoping for the best.

They also said that Chef Ramsay could at times be mean and utterly blunt; but they were not surprised and they accepted the criticism that they hoped was constructive.

Claire and her sister Kathryn live about ten minutes away from the Hot Potato Cafe. Even though he never entered her home, Claire said Ramsay could hit close to it, asking questions about her personal life and making her nervous about coming in to work each day.

Owning a restaurant is hard enough without having to worry about the financial difficulties. “The financial hardships are huge,” said Erin.

“The amount of money that all three of us have invested is mind-blowing, so ultimately it affects our personal lives and our individual families. I appreciate that I co-own this business because of the amount of time that has been invested. I couldn't imagine being a single owner and not having anyone to share the work with. My family would have never seen me.”

The restaurant has changed its hours from serving lunch to only dinner and canceled their Sunday brunches in an effort to cut costs and cope with slow business.

Melanie Menkevich and Jenn Matusiak. Group 9. Fishtown.