From the EPIC Stakeholders political forum last night, Marie and Warren spoke on behalf of their candidacies.

Warren Bloom is running for City Commissioner in the Democratic primary election on May 17th:

Primary elections will be held on May 17th.  Well for once I was at the right place at the right time last night.  The stakeholders sponsored an opportunity for the candidates to come in and make their pitch.  It was a pleasure to meet Warren Bloom, Marie Delaney, Isaiah Thomas, Danny Savage and Maria Quinones Sanchez in person.  I have video on all five.  I had to edit it down a bit but I did my best to present the most important moments.  If hate sound bites, so they clips tend to be long.  This first post is for the City Council Candidates.

Isaiah Thomas is running for Philadelphia City Council At-Large:

Maria Quinones Sanchez is running in the Democratic primary for re-election to the Philadelphia City Council in the 7th District:

Danny Savage is running in the Democratic primary for election to the Philadelphia City Council in the 7th District:

• Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
  When – Sun, May 1, 12pm – 5pm

  Where – 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: NO PROGRAM – NESHAMINY REENACTMENT
• Frankford Special Services District Quarterly Board Meeting
  When – Mon, May 2, 8:30am – 9:30am

  Where – St. Mark’s Church (Griscom St Entrance) (map)

  Description – All meetings are open to the public.
• 611 Action to Keep the Bar at Hawthorne and Margaret Closed
  When – Mon, May 2, 10am – 11am

  Where – Courtroom 426 at City Hall (map)

  Description – The 611 Action hearing to keep the Hawthorne Street bar shut down is May 2nd, at 10am, in . Courtroom 426 at City Hall. Concerned citizens are encouraged to attend.
• Friends of Overington Park
  When – Tue, May 3, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – CORA Neuman Center at 1000 Orthodox Street (map)

  Description – Come out and discuss our park and what we an do to make it a safe and pleasant place for everyone.
• Frankford CDC’s Mother’s Day jewelry and craft show,
  When – Wed, May 4, 5pm – 7pm

  Where – Simply Flawless Salon (4616 Frankford Avenue) (map)

  Description – Come celebrate Mother’s Day at the Frankford CDC’s Mother’s Day jewelry and craft show, being held at Simply Flawless Salon (4616 Frankford Avenue) on May 4th from 5pm to 7pm!
• Frankford Civic Association Meeting
  When – Thu, May 5, 7pm – 8pm

  Where2nd floor conference room, Aria Health, 4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
• Gun Buy Back
  When – Sat, May 7, 10am – 2pm

  Where – 2nd Baptist Church, Meadow and Mulberry Sts. (map)

  Description$50 Shop Rite give certificate to turn in your guns. Limit one certificate per family.
• Frankford Garden Club Annual Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale
  When – Sat, May 7, 10am – 1pm

  Where – Frankford Library at corner of Frankford Ave & Overington Street (map)

  Description- In front of the Frankford Library at corner of Frankford Ave & Overington Street Frankford Garden Club, Annual Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale.
• Northwood Civic Association Meeting
  When – Tue, May 10, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
• Historical Society of Frankford program
  When – Tue, May 10, 7:30pm – 9:00pm

  Where – 1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – NE’s HARRY GOLD & ATOMIC ESPIONAGE Allen M Hornblum Author: “The Invisible Harry Gold: The Man Who Gave the Soviets the Atomic Bomb” Did you know that a crucial actor in the most disastrous case of espionage in the history of the world lived among us and within living memory? Noted author Hornblum shares the history-making story of NE Phila’s Harry Gold.
• Concerned Citizens of Northwood Meeting
  When – Thu, May 12, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – Simpson Playground – Orthodox St. (map)
• Youth Activity Focus Group Meeting
  When – Thu, May 12, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – Aria Health, 5000 Frankford Avenue, 2nd floor (map)

  Description – We hear you Frankford. PhillyRising will be hosting a series of focus group meetings with a special emphasis on the quality of life issues that you expressed were most important in your community. We would like to hear your ideas as to ways to improve the Frankford community and develop a plan of action.
• 15th District Police Advisory Council Community Day
  When – Sat, May 14, 10am – 2pm

  Where – 3500 Ryan Avenue (map)
• Frankford Garden Club
  When – Sat, May 14, 10am – 1pm

  Where- Overington Park, Orthodox and Leiper Streets (map)

  Description- Frankford Garden Club will volunteer with the Friends of Overington Park – planting seeds, perennials, shrubs.
• Infrastructure Focus Group Meeting
  When – Thu, May 19, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – Aria Health, 5000 Frankford Avenue, 2nd floor (map)

  Description – We hear you Frankford. PhillyRising will be hosting a series of focus group meetings with a special emphasis on the quality of life issues that you expressed were most important in your community. We would like to hear your ideas as to ways to improve the Frankford community and develop a plan of action.
• Frankford Garden Club Trip to Scott Arboretum
  When – Sat, May 21, 10:00am – 4:30pm

  Where – Wissinoming Park Rec Center Parking lot on Cheltenham Ave between Frankford Ave and Charles St. (map)

  Description – The Frankford Garden Club invites you to come along on our trip to Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College on Saturday, May 21st. Along with the Gardens to tour, Scott Arboretum is holding an “Unusual Tropical and Annuals Plant Sale” selling hard to find plants. Experts will be there to advise. We will meet our Yellow School Bus at 10am at the Wissinoming Park Rec Center Parking lot on Cheltenham Ave between Frankford Ave and Charles St. We will leave the Gardens at 3:30, so we should be back home by 4:30pm. We will be eating outside, so bring picnic food! The Garden Club will supply the paper goods and beverages. I attached the Garden Club Flyer, along with the SIX page list of plants that will be for sale at Scott’s on the 21st- wow! about the Gardens- you can go to www.scottarboretum.org/gardentour for a look- they have a rain garden (Biostream), ponds, teaching garden, a rose garden to name a few. Plants are labeled with their scientific and common names and often grouped in collections to make easy comparisons. They represent the horticultural diversity of the Delaware Valley region (Zone 6-7), serve as a living museum for homeowners seeking ideas for their gardens. We should learn a lot! oh- even tho you do not NEED to reserve a seat, please do call Johnnie Mae (215-537-0145) or I (see below) to let us know if you are coming, and if you are bringing guests. THANKS!

Attendance was a bit low last night at the PSA meeting but there was a lot to discuss regardless.

Pete Specos of 15th district PDAC (Police District Advisory Council) announced that there would be another gun buy back on May 7th at the Second Baptist Church at Mulberry and Meadow Streets.  The last event was very successful with about 50 guns taken in.  The offer incentive is a $50 Shop Rite gift certificate per gun or family.  The event will run from 10AM till 2PM.

The PDAC will have its annual community day coinciding with the Mayfair Fair Day on May 14th from 10AM till 2PM.  The PDAC will be set up on the 3500 block of Ryan Avenue, just off Frankford Avenue.  Refreshments, exhibits and fun stuff for the kids all available.

Lt. Casselli, PSA Area 1

Lt. Casselli noted that thefts from autos are down since the beginning of the year which coincides with the campaign to make people in the area aware of the risks of leaving cars unlocked and with clues that valuables like gps or ipods might be within.  Arrests were made and that was good news.

Further discussion of specific crime areas and strategies followed.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 24th.  You can check the schedule at the 15th districts web site community meeting listing.

PhillyRising will be hosting a series of focus groups in Frankford to develop a plan of action.  We haven’t seen a plan in frankford in a long time.  See the flier below and come out to one of those meetings that interest you.  Don’t sit on the sidelines.