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Family Assistance Workshop

LIHEAP APPLICATIONS WILL BE DONE ONSITE!
What to bring: Identification, Social Security Numbers for all household members, Proof of family income, Current Utility Bill
Presenters: Maria Adames– PECO, Nyisha Chapman– PGW, Cheryl Mackey– Utilities Emergency Services Fund (UESF), Jerry Bennett– Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA)

family assistance workshop 2014

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Life and Death at the Polls

Political Commentary by John Buffington is another installment in a series.  His opinions are entirely his own.

If you plan to die within three years, have no descendants living hereabouts, and don’t care about anybody else either, perhaps you needn’t bother to vote in the governor’s race on November 4th.  I plan to do everything that I can to live more than another three years, so I am going to vote and do all that I can to get others to vote too.  Because:

Governor Corbett is engaged in a well-publicized project to turn Pennsylvania into the Saudi Arabia of Natural Gas.  And it is working.  Pennsylvania is now second only to Texas in natural gas production.  However:

Texas imposes a hefty extraction tax, so that the citizenry gets some payback.  Like three other states that are among the top five producers.  Only Pennsylvania lets the plutocrats keep the proceeds, except for a modest charge to cover some of the short term local damage.  So:

In this Commonwealth our patrimony has been sold for a pittance.  We are being robbed with the collusion of people supposedly elected to protect our interests.

Tom Wolfe proposes an extraction tax, which makes him preferable to the current industry puppet.  It would be nice if he also showed some concern about the health issues.  Such as:

The sudden surge in natural gas production is produced by fracking, which includes injecting highly toxic chemicals into a bore-hole to bust up shale way underground, so that gas will gush to the surface to be collected, transported, and consumed to generate electricity or heat.

Some of the deadly fracking junk gets burped back up along with the gas, collected, and transported for disposal.  Sometimes disposal means injection into another bore hole in Ohio, so that it becomes a problem for the people in Ohio, not us.  Other parts of the poisonous crud gets delivered to local sewage treatment plants, where it kills some of the bugs that are essential to treating normal sewage and becomes a problem for whoever is downstream.  But wait, there’s more:

Some of the contaminated goo escapes collection and makes its way into fractures in the underground stone.  It eats ever bigger passages down there, gradually contaminating an ever expanding portion of the water table.  And:

The water table is the reservoir from which people draw water, by means of household or municipal wells.  Then real people use water contaminated by toxic sludge for drinking and cooking.  And real people get sick.  Today.  Real people are being poisoned today by Governor Corbett and his natural gas industry allies.  It gets worse:

Complaints about poisoning are investigated by staff members in the Health Department.  The usual investigators have been instructed to kick complaints upstairs, to political appointees.  The Department denies that anybody has been poisoned.  Moreover:

The toxic fracking chemicals are a trade secret.  Doctors who treat poisoning victims are allowed to know what the junk is that is making their individual patients sick, but they are prohibited from telling anybody else, which puts another cork in the effort to develop a public health approach to a public health problem.  Not just willful indifference; this is going to become mass poisoning.  And it’s not just poisoned water:

Once the gas is produced it has to be transported by pipeline to points of use or export–a city like Philadelphia being a prime destination.  Natural gas is natural poison.  Pipelines leak.  Watch for lots of respiratory problems coming to your hometown soon.

Philadelphia area legislators couldn’t stop this atrocity, so they—Democrats mostly, but also some conscientious Republicans–cut the best deal that they could: there’s a temporary moratorium on fracking in the Delaware River watershed.  That’s why we can’t taste it in Philadelphia yet.  However:

When ruthless politicians and greedy plutocrats conspire to get more powerful and richer, it is going to escalate and hurt an ever larger portion of the public until we get to the polls and throw the rascals out.  Don’t bet your grandchildren’s health that the conspiracy won’t get to the point where our water is undrinkable too, and they will get richer and more powerful while our air becomes poisonous.  By the time we are tasting and smelling poison in Philadelphia, this may be the State of Saudi–Plutocrat Gas Production.

Polls have been showing Governor Corbett losing to candidate Wolfe.  But the gap tends to close at the end.  If this particular rascal is thrown out, he will be the first incumbent governor ever defeated here.  We need to be absolutely sure that that happens.  Moreover:

It isn’t good enough just to defeat Governor Corbett.  We need to deliver a crushing, humiliating, record-breaking repudiation.  We need to make every legislator understand that we reject being robbed and poisoned.

We are not hapless peasants in Saudi Arabia.  We do not have to resign ourselves to abuse.  People fought and died in the American Revolution so that we can turn out on November 4th and speak up.  Women raised hell in the 1890s and 1910s so that women today would get to vote on November 4th for their own health and the future of their children.  African Americans raised hell in the 1950’s and ‘60’s so that African Americans today can go to the polls and say no to yet another abuse.

Please, let us all join hands and change the future of our Commonwealth.

John Buffington
Johnbton47@gmail.com

About the author:

John Buffington has no connection with the Tom Wolfe campaign, the Democratic party of Pennsylvania, or the Democratic party of Philadelphia, other than voter registration.  He was registered Republican until recently.

Mr. Buffington was an enforcement attorney in the newly created Environmental Protection Agency under Republican President Richard Nixon.  Then he served as the first Regional Counsel in Region III in Philadelphia of the US Department of Energy.  He was then Chief Counsel for the Governor’s Energy Council, under Republican Governor Dick Thornburgh.  Then he was a Visiting Professor at the University of Delaware, studying “Ethics and Energy Policy” under grants from the Exxon Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

He has worked as a volunteer in 14 political campaigns, 12 for Republicans, one for a Green Party candidate, and one for a Democrat.

In a recent article in this space he endorsed Republican Matt Wolfe for City Council.

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Coming Up in Frankford 11/1 to 11/28/2014

  • Latinas in Motion Fun Run – Sun, November 2, 7:45am – 10:00am,  I St. and Ramona Ave.
  • Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House – Sun, November 2, 12pm – 5pm, 4278 Griscom Street – Presentation at 1:30 PM: Ed Bonekemper – General McClellan
  • Nature’s Hidden Surprises – Wed, November 5, 9:30am – 11:30am, Tacony Creek Park, I and Ramona – Themed nature walk with TTF environmental educator Judith Gratz
  • Healthy Habits Demonstration –Thu, November 6, 1:30pm – 2:30pm, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Our case worker will be cooking up some healthy foods and discussing the benefits of each ingredient. Free of charge event.
  • Interested in Becoming a Foster Parent? –Wed, November 5, 6:00pm – 7:30pm, Turning Points or Children, 4329 Griscom St – Attend an orientation session – refreshments will be provided. RSVP at 215-287-4353 or 215-287-4745
  • Satellite Office of State Rep. John Taylor – Every Thursday, 5pm – 7pm, Simpson Playground, 1010 Arrott St. – Open to the public to meet Rep. Taylor or a member of his staff to discuss whatever issue is on your mind.
  • Frankford Civic Association Meeting – Thu, November 6, 7pm – 8pm, Aria Hospital, 2nd floor
  • Day of Service in Honor of Veterans Day –Sat, November 8, 10am – 2pm,St. Mark’s Church, Frankford 4442 Frankford Avenue – Frankford CDC along with Philly Rising and the Travis Manion Group will be doing a massive clean up of the corridor from the 5200 to 4200 of Frankford Avenue. We will be cleaning Frankford Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood but we need your help!!! For additional information or to register as a volunteer, please contact Sanya Brown, Northeast Divisional Coordinator with PhillyRising at 215.686.8413
  • Historical Society of Frankford program – Tue, November 11, 7:30pm – 9:00pm, 1507 Orthodox St – FRANKFORD’s DEED RESTRICTIONS Including Northwood’s Burk Deed Joseph Menkevich and Debbie Klak, Researchers Learn of the genesis and current impact of the Frankford area’s various historic deed restrictions—with a special look at Northwood’s Burk Deed restrictions
  • Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting – Thu, November 13, 7pm – 8pm,2nd Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow St
  • Family Assistance Workshop –Sat, November 15, 10am – 2pm, NET, 4625 Frankford Ave. – LIHEAP Applications done onsite, PGW, PECO, Energy Coordinating Agency, Utilities Emergency Services Fund – light refreshments served
  • Love Your Park Fall Service Day – Saturday, Nov 15, 2014 – All Frankford Parks
  • Arts & Crafts Fair –Sat, November 15, 10am – 3pm, Frankford Friends School, Penn and Orthodox Sts. – Artists, Crafters and Vendors
  • Friends of Overington Park –Tue, November 18, 7pm – 8pm, Overington Park, Orthodox St. – We will meet in the park in fair weather and at 1500 Orthodox St. , the Friends Meeting House, in bad weather or cold months.
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting – Tue, November 18, 7pm – 8pmSt. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street.
  • Healthy Habits Demonstration –Thu, November 20, 1:30pm – 2:30pm, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Our case worker will be cooking up some healthy foods and discussing the benefits of each ingredient. Free of charge event.
  • Cookology Class –Fri, November 21, 10am – 11am, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Please join us for our cookology class on Friday, A certified Dietitian will be whipping up some delicious, nutritious treats for all to sample! A very popular, free of charge event
  • Movie Matinee –Mon, November 24, 12:30pm – 3:00pm, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Please join us for Movie Matinee Monday. You pick it, we play it! Popcorn and beverages served. Free of charge
  • Senior Breakfast – Tue, November 25, 8am – 10am,  Aria Health, Frankford – 2nd floor cafeteria- Aria will provide our community seniors with monthly, insightful tips and information on issues that are directly affecting you and your health. Breakfast will be provided free of charge. To reserve your seat call 1-877-808-2742 and then press 2.
  • Monthly Birthday Party –Tue, November 25, 11:45am – 12:45pm, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Come celebrate your birthday! We have a monthly birthday party. Join us for cake, ice cream, lunch, and live entertainment!
  • Northeast Philadelphia EPIC Stakeholders Group –Thu, November 27, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, 2nd Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow Street

 

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Coming Up in Frankford 10/18 to 11/14/2014

Posted on 17 October 2014 by Gil

 

  • Flea Market – Sat, October 18, 7am – 1pm,  McIlvain Playground, 5200 Penn Street – We are across from the Frankford Transportation Center. $12 per spot, 2 for $20. Call 215-685-1228 for more information. Sponsored by McIlvain Playground Advisory Council
  • Overington Park Fall Festival – Sat, October 18, 12pm – 3pm, Overington Park, Leiper and Orthodox Sts. – Pumpkin patch, games, candy and fun
  • Friends of Overington Park – Tue, October 21, 7pm – 8pm – We will meet in the park in fair weather and at 1500 Orthodox St. , the Friends Meeting House, in bad weather or cold months.
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting – Tue, October 21, 7pm – 8pm,  St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street.
  • Peter Bressi 30th Anniversary Banquet – Fri, October 24, 11:30am – 1:30pm, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Come join us to celebrate our 30th Anniversary with our very special Anniversary Banquet. Pre-registration is required. Please reserve your seat with Karen at 215-831-2926. $4.00 per plate donation requested.
  • HIV and Hepatitis C Testing – Sun, October 26, 11am – 4pm,  St. Mark’s Church, 4442 Frankford Avenue – Philly Faith in Action was brings the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Drexel University with their mobile medical center to St Marks for rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing, counseling and follow up care. They will be here the 2nd Saturday of every month.
  • Philadelphia Open Studio Tour at the Globe – Sun, October 26, 2pm – 4pm,  Globe Dye Works, 4500 Worth Street- http://philaopenstudios.org/post/neighborhood/east
  • Frankford Garden Club – Mon, October 27, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, Wissinoming Park Playground
  • Senior Breakfast – Tue, October 28, 8am – 10am,  Aria Health, Frankford – 2nd floor cafeteria- Aria will provide our community seniors with monthly, insightful tips and information on issues that are directly affecting you and your health. Breakfast will be provided free of charge. To reserve your seat call 1-877-808-2742 and then press 2.
  • Monthly Birthday Party – Tue, October 28, 11:45am – 12:45pm, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Come celebrate your birthday! We have a monthly birthday party. Join us for cake, ice cream, lunch, and live entertainment!
  • Frankford Business and Professional Association – Tue, October 28, 12pm – 2pm, NET, 4625 Frankford Ave. – Hear from our President, Diane Richardson about our accomplishments from 2013 -2014 and learn about what we have in store for the upcoming year. Representatives from Ready Philadelphia will be joining us to discuss business emergency preparedness and Project HOME will be discussing what we can do to help address the issue of homelessness in Frankford. SEPTA will also be in attendance to give an update on the 2015 Arrott Terminal (Margaret Orthodox Station) construction project.
  • Frankford Parks Group – Tue, October 28, 6:30pm – 7:30pm,  CDC Building, 4900 Griscom St.
  • Dance Movement Therapy Class – Wed, October 29, 10am – 11am, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Please join us for our Dance Movement Therapy Classes. Come join this hot new program!
  • Greensgrow Fruit and Vegetable Truck – Thu, October 30, 12:00pm – 1:30pm, Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center 4744 Frankford Ave. – Greensgrow Fruit and Vegetable Truck will be here. Fruit and vegetable can be purchased with food vouchers, access card, or cash.
  • Northeast Philadelphia EPIC Stakeholders Group – Thu, October 30, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, 2nd Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow Street
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Forum – Thu, October 30, 5:30pm – 8:00pm, Sankofa School, 4290 Penn Street – 5:30 – 6PM DINNER & RESOURCES, with handouts & giveaways – 6PM – 7PM Special performance by Henrietta Hadley titled “Promises, 7pm – 8pm Panel discussion with Shenise N. Henderson, the Enhanced Home Visitation Project – For More Information, please email Nafisah Lewis : nlewis@coraservices.org Tanya Morris: tamorris@tp4c.org R.S.V.P by October 23rd
  • PSA1 Meeting – Thu, October 30, 7pm – 8pm, Aria Health Frankford Campus, 4900 Frankford Ave.
  • Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House – Sun, November 2, 12pm – 5pm, 4278 Griscom Street – Presentation at 1:30 PM: Ed Bonekemper – General McClellan
  • Interested in Becoming a Foster Parent? –Wed, November 5, 6:00pm – 7:30pm, Turning Points or Children, 4329 Griscom St – Attend an orientation session – refreshments will be provided. RSVP at 215-287-4353 or 215-287-4745
  • Frankford Civic Association Meeting – Thu, November 6, 7pm – 8pm, Aria Hospital, 2nd floor
  • Day of Service in Honor of Veterans Day –Sat, November 8, 10am – 2pm,St. Mark’s Church, Frankford 4442 Frankford Avenue – Frankford CDC along with Philly Rising and the Travis Manion Group will be doing a massive clean up of the corridor from the 5200 to 4200 of Frankford Avenue. We will be cleaning Frankford Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood but we need your help!!! For additional information or to register as a volunteer, please contact Sanya Brown, Northeast Divisional Coordinator with PhillyRising at 215.686.8413
  • Historical Society of Frankford program – Tue, November 11, 7:30pm – 9:00pm, 1507 Orthodox St – FRANKFORD’s DEED RESTRICTIONS Including Northwood’s Burk Deed Joseph Menkevich and Debbie Klak, Researchers Learn of the genesis and current impact of the Frankford area’s various historic deed restrictions—with a special look at Northwood’s Burk Deed restrictions
  • Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting – Thu, November 13, 7pm – 8pm,2nd Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow St
  • Love Your Park Fall Service Day – Saturday, Nov 15, 2014 – All Frankford Parks
  • Friends of Overington Park –Tue, November 18, 7pm – 8pm, Overington Park, Orthodox St. – We will meet in the park in fair weather and at 1500 Orthodox St. , the Friends Meeting House, in bad weather or cold months.
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting – Tue, November 18, 7pm – 8pmSt. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street.
  • Senior Breakfast – Tue, November 25, 8am – 10am,  Aria Health, Frankford – 2nd floor cafeteria- Aria will provide our community seniors with monthly, insightful tips and information on issues that are directly affecting you and your health. Breakfast will be provided free of charge. To reserve your seat call 1-877-808-2742 and then press 2.
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Happenings at McIlvain Playground

  • Instructional Basketball

This program boys and girls ages 3, 4 & 5 will be held on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 and Saturday mornings at 9:30. Ages 6, 7 & 8 will play on Thursday evenings at 6:00 and Saturday mornings at 10:45. All games and practices will be held at Frankford High School. The cost of the program is $20.00 per child and includes a tee shirt, trophy and end of the season party. Coaches are needed.

 

  • Breakfast with Santa Claus

Come enjoy breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 13th. There will be two sittings at 9:30 and 11:00. The event includes breakfast consisting of pancakes, sausage and juice, a small gift from Santa and crafts. Bring your camera for personal pictures. The cost is $7.00 per child. This event is for children 10 and under. Breakfast for parents is $5.00.

 

  • Christmas in Frankford

McIlvain Playground invites you to come join members of the Frankford community for a night full of holiday sounds. The show will be held on Thursday, December 18th and performed by children, teens, adults and families. The event will be held at the Grace City Church of Wissinhoming. Tickets are $5.00 in advance and $7.00 at the door and can be purchased at the playground.

 

  • New Programs

McIlvain is looking to start the following programs as of January 2015. Please contact the playground if you are interested. Also, if you have an idea for programs please let us know for we are here for you. This is your community and your playground. New Programs planned include: ZUMBA, Adult Salsa Dancing, Karate, Children’s Arts & Crafts, Adult’s Craft Club, Flag Football, Women’s Softball, Aerobics Class, Yoga and Ceramics.

 For more information regarding any of this events or programs please stop by McIlvain Playground at 5200 Penn Street (across from the Frankford Terminal) or contact us at 215-685-1228.

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49 Acres of Land on the Friends Hospital Property Secured for Public Use

State Rep. James Clay Jr., D-Phila., today said the Commonwealth Financing Authority has awarded a $150,000 grant to Natural Lands Trust Inc.

Clay said the funding will be used to purchase 49-acres of streamside lands on the Friends Hospital Property, which is currently owned by the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation. The land will help protect a newly installed public trail, conserve the wooded valley adjacent to Philadelphia’s Tacony Creek Park. Clay said the acquisition will also ensure public access to the property.

“I am grateful that the CFA has recognized the importance of this project to the people of Northeast Philadelphia,” Clay said. “This funding will go a long way in helping conservation efforts in this part of the city, and increase the quality of life for those in the community.”

The grants were awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent state agency that evaluates and administers funding for projects that create jobs and invest in the state’s financial growth. To find out more about CFA programs, visit www.newpa.com.