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Looking Good and Doing Good at Tanika’s Top Notch Unisex Salon!

This Good Looking Salon Offers To Make You Even More Good Looking!

Tanika’s Top Notch Unisex Salon won the Frankford CDC’s Holiday Contest for Best Decorated Business on Frankford Avenue! Congratulations, Tanika, and this is a well-deserved award. If there were a Valentine Day’s Contest, the salon would win again – hands down!

Have you noticed the brightly decorated and inviting Tanika’s Top Notch Unisex Salon at 4844 Frankford Avenue? We have and we visited there on Wednesday to interview the owner, Tanika Jamaladdin. Immediately, you are impressed with this young woman who obviously enjoys her craft and is proud of what she has been able to accomplish. She should be!

Born and raised in Frankford, Tanika began her career in hair styling when she was 14 years old by helping her mother, Anisa, at home – a block away from her shop. Later, Tanika attended Gordon Phillips Beauty School and honed her skills participating in a clinic assignment at the Empire Beauty Salon.

Tanika Jamaladdin

Opening her shop a year and a half ago was the realization of a dream for this young entrepreneur. Inside the shop, it is immaculate and well-kept. You are immediately welcomed and all of her staff are friendly. Business has been good and Tanika is expanding with the addition of a barber and two stylists. Tanika’s Top Notch Unisex Salon provides services for both men and women. Here is a price list as well as some of the services that are offered. Many of her customers are from the local area, and, of course, they become repeat customers. Tanika’s Top Notch Unisex Salon is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 AM until 7:00 PM! Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcomed!

In addition to her Salon, there is another cause dear to Tanika’s heart! She started a drill team, FKD Top Notch Steppers Drill Team! Having been part of a drill team herself, Tanika offers that same opportunity to boys and girls ages 12 – 16. Many positions are available and the drill team practices at Gambrel’s Recreation Center at 4800 Ditman Street, Mondays through Fridays, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM! You can find additional information here!

For hair styling that is “Top Notch” or to be a “Top Notch Stepper”, Tanika is the one to call at 215.288.8100!

Tanika, we wish you continued success and we thank you for your committment to Frankford and our youth!

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Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory

A few weeks ago, Jim noted that Google is now showing businesses on Google maps.  One of businesses that turned up in frankford was the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory.  That sounded interesting and I looked up their web site to see what I could find out about them.  They have recently moved into the Globe from their original location in South Philly.  It became obvious that there would be no ship construction going on in Frankford.  This turns out to be an educational/youth development program.  I emailed to find out if anybody would like to talk about it.

A couple of days later got a call from a guy named Brett who said he would be happy to give me the story and we could meet at the Globe over on Worth Street.  I met with him last Wednesday and got a better story than I had bargained for.

Brett Hart is thirty something and lived on Hawthorne Street and attended Frankford Friends.  He is the Executive director of the Philadelphia Wooden boat Factory.

They have a canoe building program that is up and running now.

PWBF Canoe Program is a long-term boat building program that is available free to eligible Philadelphia area schools.  Taking place typically over a 12-week period during either the fall or spring academic semester, Philadelphia area students (14-18 years old) work three hours a week to complete a 15-foot canoe.  Participating students become proficient with academic fundamentals and practical application of skills such as reading blueprints, understanding and using scale, linear measurement, applying material properties, applying trigonometric/geometric principle, safe tool use/care, and fine woodworking.  Additionally, in a group setting, students further develop critical/analytical thinking, problem solving, conflict resolution, responsibility, and self-reliance skills.  PWBF’s unique educational philosophy, in conjunction with the canoe project, enables students to creatively develop and apply academic, personal, and interpersonal skills in a practical hands-on environment.

In addition they are looking to start a new after school boat building program.  This pilot program is slated to begin for a group of twelve 8th grade students on January 25th with a five-month restoration project that will lead into a competitive sailing program by June.  The restoration will entail rebuilding a boat called a Lightning.  One was in the shop the day I visited and Brett was going to pick up the second this past weekend.

I had fairly simple questions.  Safety with kids around wood working equipment is important.  The shop is equipped with a table saw that will stop if it is touched by any part of the body.  I had heard of them but never saw one in person.  The dust collection system looks up to the job.  They are partnering with the Broad Street Y for swimming lessons to make sure all the kids who go out on the water can swim. 

Anyone having an interest in this program can contact Brett Hart via email at Brett@woodenboatfactory.org.  Visit their web site for a good look at the philosophy and more pictures.

This is another of the interesting things going on over at the Globe in historic East Frankford.

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FiOS in Frankford

A couple of weeks ago, one of the geniuses at Verizon sent us an email announcing that we would be having FiOS installed on a particular date.  That was new and exciting news as you can imagine.  Watch out Comcast.  Of course we called to confirm and were told that it was an error and Fios might be available in Frankford in a couple of years.

Last week we saw FiOS driving down the street on the back of this truck. Well they were almost right.  Those folks pulled the fiber optic cables right down our street.  Guess it will take a couple of years to get them connected.  That’s progress for you.

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Frankford Real Estate Transactions

Thanks to our friends at Cityspace, we have some of the real estate transaction in Frankford during December of 2009.

 

2041 Wilmot St $25,000
2123 E Sanger St $34,000
1380 E Sanger St $46,000
5409 Erdrick St $91,000
5326 Large St $93,900
4561 Milnor St $118,000
1964 Pratt St
5438 Torresdale Ave $102,000
5111 Jackson St $105,000
5042 Charles St $30,000
2116 E Sanger St $38,000
2014 Orthodox St $69,900
1385 E Sanger St $83,000
5214 Akron St $99,900
1121 E Cheltenham Ave $100,000