This is a PhillyRising event coming up on May 19th at the Gambrel Playground.  Time is short to make plans for summer.

• Garden Club’s Annual Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale
  When – Sat, May 12, 10:00am – 1:00pm

  Where – In front of the Frankford Branch of the Free Library, 4634 Frankford Ave, (map)

  Description – Once again, it is time for the Frankford Garden Club’s Annual Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale! Come early if you want the best pickings! We will have Hanging Baskets for $12 4packs and flats of marigolds, impatiens, coleus, and more potted Geraniums, Patio Tomatoes and more These are great plants, grown by a local family-owned nursery, for great, low prices! Frankford Garden Club members will be on hand to answer questions and offer gardening advice. All proceeds benefit the Frankford Garden Club
• Community Gardening
  When – Sat, May 12, 9am – 2pm

  Where – Wilmot and Tackawanna Sts.

• Hedge Street Park Cleaning and Flower Planting
  When – Sat, May 12, 9am – 2pm

  Where – Hedge and Orthodox Sts.

• Circle of Honor Re-dedication
  When – Sat, May 12, 12pm – 2pm

  Where – Cedar Hill Cemetery (map)

  Description – There will be a re-dedication ceremony for 33 newly installed Federal military gravestones for the Union veterans buried in the “Circle of Honor” surrounding the monument. This is the culmination of phase 1 with the repair, cleaning, sealing, and preservation of the monument itself designated as phase 2.
• Nature Walk
  When – Mon, May 14, 2:30pm – 4:30pm

  Where – Cedar Hill Cemetery, Entrance on Cheltenham Ave. (map)

  Description – Dr. David Hewitt, botanist from the Academy of Natural Science and a member of the Philadelphia Historic Plants Consortium is leading the walk.
• Northwood Civic Association Meeting
  When – Tue, May 15, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
• Tony Payton Presents a Senior Fair
  When – Thu, May 17, 10am – 3pm

  Where – Bressi Northeast Senior Center, 4744 Frankford Ave. (map)

  Description – The event is free and includes prizes, music, food and Zumba classes. There will be lots of useful information on local and state programs that are geared towards seniors, and more importantly, it’s a chance for me to hear directly from you about what’s on your mind. In addition, local and state agencies will be present to talk to seniors about their services and hand out information. Workshops will provide information on safety, health, finances and seniors’ legal rights. For more information, contact my constituent service office at 215-744-7901. Please spread the word to your friends!
• Homebuyer and Seller Seminar
  When – Thu, May 17, 6pm – 8pm

  Where – Frankford CDC, 4900 Griscom Street (map)

  Description – What to pay for a new home. Financing options, credit repair and more. Call 215-743-6580 to sign up. Sponsored by Century21 Advantage Gold
• PSA 2
  When – Thu, May 17, 7pm – 7pm

  Where – WIISSINOMING RECREATION CENTER (CHELTENHAM & HAWTHORNE) (map)

  Description – PSA 2
• 15th District PDAC Community Day
  When – Sat, May 19, 10am – 2pm

  Where – Frankford and Cottman Aves. (map)
• Perennial Plant Sale
  When – Sat, May 19, 10am – 1pm

  Where – Overington Park, Leiper and Orthodox Sts. (map)

  Description – We will be planting our flower beds, seeding the beds and giving away seed packs to our volunteers. We are also having a perennial plant sale at the same time in the park. We will be selling plants gathered by our members, the Frankford Garden Club, and anyone else who would like to donate their overflow of plants. As we get closer I might have more information on what plants are available.
• Summer Camp Expo
  When – Sat, May 19, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

  Where – Gambrel Recreation Center – 4800 block of Ditman Street (map)

  Description – PhillyRising will be hosting a Summer Camp Expo at Gambrell Rec Center.The expo is an opportunity for parents to find out about summer camp providers in their neighborhood. It is provided as a service to the public; there is no cost to providers for hosting a table and no cost to residents to attend.
• JAMES GALWAY
  When – Mon, May 21, 4pm – 5pm

  Where – Frankford Branch of the Free Library, 4634 Frankford Ave (map)

  Description – JAMES GALWAY will bring his reptilian friends to the Frankford Branch of the Free Library, 4634 Frankford Ave on Monday May 21, 2012 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come and see Mr. Galway’s snakes, lizards and other reptiles, ask him questions, and even hold a snake if you want! Free, fascinating and fun for the whole family. Call 215-685-1473 or email baxterb@library.phila.gov for more information.
• PSA 1
  When – Tue, May 22, 7pm – 7pm

  Where – FRANKFORD HOSPITAL / 2ND FL CONFERENCE ROOM (4900 FKD AVE) (map)

  Description – PSA 1 PROGRESS, CONCERNS, ACTION PLAN
• Discover the history and process of paper making
  When – Wed, May 23, 4pm – 5pm

  Where – Frankford Branch of the Free Library, 4634 Frankford Ave (map)

  Description – Discover the history and process of paper making and try it yourself at the Frankford Branch of the Free Library. Presenter Richard Aldorasi is an artist, educator, and founder of the Philadelphia Handmade Paper Company. Free; recommended for ages 12 and up. Call 215-685-1473 or email baxterb@library.phila.gov for more information.
• Filling in the Blanks and Connecting the Dots
  When – Wednesday, May 30, 2012

  Where – Campbell AME and 2nd Baptist Churches (map)

  Description – First Annual Frankford Freedom Fighters Event
• Filling in the Blanks and Connecting the Dots
  When – Wednesday, May 30, 2012

  Where – Campbell AME and 2nd Baptist Churches (map)

  Description – First Annual Frankford Freedom Fighters Event
• Health Fair
  When – Fri, June 1, 11am – 2pm

  Where – Aria Health Parking Lot (map)
• Grand Army of the Republic Museum Open House
  When – Sun, June 3, 12pm – 5pm

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

  Description – Presentation at 1:30 PM: With the 71st PV at the Angle at Gettysburg by Dan Cashin
• Friends of Overington Park
  When – Wed, June 6, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – Overington Park – Leiper and Orthodox Streets (map)

  Description – Come out and discuss our park and what we an do to make it a safe and pleasant place for everyone. If it is raining that day then the meeting will be held at the Frankford Historical Society.
• POETICISM
  When – Thu, June 7, 3:45pm – 4:30pm

  Where – Frankford Branch of the Free Library, 4634 Frankford Ave. (map)

  Description – Listen to, create,critique and share your words. Presenter: Jaamil Kosko, founder, Philadiction. Ages 12 and up. 215-685-1473 or baxterb@freelibrary.org to register

Tomorrow is a big park day here in Frankford.

There will be a nature walk on Monday May 14th at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Dr. David Hewitt will be leading the walk.  He is from the Academy of Natural Sciences and a member of the Philadelphia Historical Plants Consortium.  I was on a tree walk with Doctor Hewitt last year and it was high adventure.  He is entertaining and at the same time highly informative.  He knows everything about anything you see.  The walk will start at the entrance to the cemetery on Cheltenham Avenue.  You can see more information here.

He gave a great talk last night to a crowd of about 30 at the Historical Society on the natural history of Frankford.  His presentation was really a verbal picture of this area going back to before the first settlements.   He uses information from the archives of the Natural History Museum to look back in time at Frankford. He knows his stuff.  If you have time on Monday, stop by and wear your walking shoes.

Below some pictures of the meeting at the HSF.

Every year the Frankford High School Alumni selects two graduates to receive this award. This year the Alumi selected a previous graduate, who also came back to his school to contribute to his old football team. Michael Capriotti came back to Frankford High School to coach varsity football. Helping the team win two championships.

Congratulations Coach Capriotti!

On Saturday April 21, 2012, the Pioneer Battalion Raiders team competed against 10 other schools. Pioneers won  third place in the 3Km Run, Land Navigation, and Rope Bridge. In our strong efforts we received 3rd place overall. Which means that we ranked third best against 11 schools in total! Congratulations to our Raiders team!