Month: June 2010

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Coming Up in Frankford

  • Mayor Nutter Walks Frankford Avenue
    When – Sat, June 26, 1:30pm to 2:30pm – 2pm
    Where – 4600 block of Frankford Avenue Business District (map)
    Description4500, 4600, 4700 block on Saturday the 26th from about 12 noon
  • Northwood Academy Charter School Public Meeting
    When – Mon, June 28, 6pm – 7pm
    Where – 4621 Castor Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Northwood Academy Charter School proposes to construct a new building on the grounds of the school. There will be a public information meeting on Monday, June 28, 2010, 6:00 PM. Enter through the double red doors on the Adams Avenue side of the building. Please attend – and bring your neighbors!
  • Frankford Civic Association Meeting
    When – Thu, July 8, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – 2nd floor conference room, Aria Health, 4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
  • Northeast Philadelphia EPIC Stakeholders Group
    When – Thu, July 22, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
    Where – Edmunds School, 1197 Haworth St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – The ultimate goal is to create a process that enhances the community’s ability to solve issues surrounding truancy, domestic violence, child safety and substance abuse.
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Taking a Walk

In the three years that we have been publishing the Frankford Gazette I have been all over the neighborhood.  I found places I had never seen and looked again at places that I had never really stopped to look at before.  We ran a series on the home of the week and we took 100 pictures of what we thought were some of the best homes in Frankford/Northwood.  It was fun to find them and enlightening at the same time.

Some of those pictures had to be cropped very carefully because it was not all that unusual to find one beautiful house among the ruins of a block.  It was great training in the powers of observation.  I learned that we will often not look beyond our perception.  If I am driving down the street and most of the houses or poorly kept, my brain will not let my eyes see the beauty that might be hidden in plain sight.

The video below is not one of those situations.  During my hunt for the house of the week, I could easily have used almost every house on this block.   For some of us, this is what Frankford looked like when we grew up.  In fact, I really don’t think it looked this good.  It’s about two and a half minutes and is silent.  There will be more about this area in future posts.

If anybody recognizes it, feel free to post a comment.

 

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Safety Ambassadors Return to Frankford Avenue

Safety Ambassadors and their supervisor

The Frankford Special Services District today announced the return of the Safety Ambassador Program to the Frankford Business Corridor, starting June 24, 2010.

The Safety Ambassador Program, which was a part of Frankford in the late 1990s, will consist of uniformed personnel patrolling Frankford Avenue with the goal of increasing commerce on the Corridor.
Ambassadors will help shoppers with concerns such as directions, bus schedules and escorting. In addition, they will visit every business on the Corridor weekly to check-in and see if the business owner has anything to report. Along their routes, Ambassadors will report quality of life concerns such as graffiti and potholes, and will reinforce the safety of Frankford Avenue by documenting and reporting all suspicious activity. “It will be great for shoppers and business owners to have an extra set of eyes on the Corridor,” said Gilbert Pons, owner of Gilbert’s Upholstery.
This program has been tried and tested in many business corridors across the country, including Frankford Avenue, and has been effective in reducing crime and making shoppers feel safer and more welcome.  The Frankford Special Services District (FSSD) has been focusing on this project since it surveyed the businesses at the beginning of the year and received an overwhelming support for safety initiatives.
The FSSD is proudly reinvesting in the community it serves by hiring for these newly created jobs from the local EARN Center, and purchasing its uniforms from Cramer’s Uniforms, both of which are located on Frankford Avenue.  The Ambassadors will patrol Frankford Avenue from the Frankford Terminal to Womrath Park. They will be on duty five days a week from 10-6pm.
Shoppers and business owners are welcome to approach Ambassadors with their concerns or call 267-777-SAFE to speak with them over the phone. Any questions about the program can be directed to Tim Wisniewski, the Executive Director of the Frankford Special Services District, at 215-535-2637.
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School District of Philadelphia Offers Summer Events and Learning for Parents!

The School District of Philadelphia is sponsoring two events, next Tuesday, June 29th and Wednesday, June 30th! On Tuesday, June 29th, in the Auditorium of the School District’s Education Center, a panel discussion to engage parents and students through the arts. Meet Quinton Aaron, the actor from the movie “The Blind Side” and Helena Cortez, an acress and entertainment consultant. The specific information is posted below!

Then on Wednesday, June 30th, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman invites you to attend the Superintendent’s Parent Roundtable for dinner and a program featuring Moms for Peace Antio-Violence Workshop and a Conversation with the Superintendent. The specific information is posted below.

Finally, here is a link to the Summer 2010 Program Description and Course Offerings for Parent University. Research has shown and we know that when parents are actively involved in learning themselves, this increases a child’s opportunity for success! Check it out and participate!!!!!