Category: Meetings and Events

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Coming Up in Frankford

  • Frankford Special Services District Board Meeting
    When – Mon, May 3, 8:30am – 9:30am
    Where – St. Mark’s Church, 4442 Frankford Ave, Griscom Street entrance. (map)
    Description – Open to the public.
  • Rachael Ray Shines on Frankford High
    When – Mon, May 3, 10am – 11am
    Where – TV ABC (map)
    Description – Rachael Ray show comes to Frankford.
  • PSA 1 meeting
    When – Tue, May 4, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – Aria Health, Frankford and Dyre Streets, second floor conference room (map)
    Description – Patrol Sector Area 1 – bring your crime issues directly to the 15th district captain.
  • Frankford Garden Club Annual Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale
    When – Sat, May 8, 9am – 10am
    Where – In Front of the Frankford Library, corner of Frankford Ave and Overington St (map)
    Description – We will have “Growing from Seed” Workshop at the Sale and at the Park VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
  • LOVE Your Park Day in Overington Park Planting, Mulching Flower Beds and “Growing From Seeds” Workshop
    When – Sat, May 8, 12pm – 3pm
    Where – Overington Park (map)
    Description – LOVE Your Park Day in Overington Park Planting, Mulching Flower Beds and “Growing From Seeds” Workshop
  • Historical Society of Frankford program
    When – Tue, May 11, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
    Where1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – FRANKFORD’s “SLOW FOOD” EFFORTS and LEGACY HSF Collections and Frankford Friends School Students HSF’s 2010 exhibit features aspects of food in Frankford and the Northeast. Frankford Friends School students have been researching food, urban farming (such as Kensington’s Greensgrow Farms — national leader in urban farming), and other aspects of slow food. View HSF’s display of historic food use, preparation, and storage items.
  • Frankford Business & Professional Association Meeting
    When – Wed, May 12, 8:30am – 10:00am
    Where – Northeast Treatment Centers, 4625 Frankford Avenue (map)
    Description – The next general meeting for Frankford Business & Professional Association will be held on Wednesday, May 12 at 8:30am. There was a scheduling conflict with the previous locations. At this meeting there will be presentations from SEPTA on the upcoming construction of the Margaret-Orthodox El Stop and from The Enterprise Center on the programs they now offer for Frankford businesses.
  • Happy Birthday Frankford High Open House
    When – Sat, May 15, 10am – 3pm
    Where – Frankford High, Oxford Ave. & Wakeling St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Join us for a full day of fun, food and reminiscing!! FHS students, staff and alumni are invited Be a part of the fun! Tours of the Building Memorabilia rooms Gathering spaces for clubs, teams, and music groups Frankford Souvenirs Tickets will be on sale for the 100th Anniversary Banquet November 26th Current
  • Italian Style Family Dinner
    When – Sat, May 15, 4:30pm – 8:00pm
    Where – St. Joachim’s Church, 1527 Church Street, Phila., PA 19124 (map)
    Description – MARK YOUR CALENDAR Every Third Wednesday from September thru May Italian Style Family Dinner The Dinners will be served from 4:30 PM to 8 PM in Fitzmaurice Hall Take-out will be available. COST: $8.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Children. Come Join us!
  • ANTIQUE (and COLLECTIBLE) APPRAISAL FAIR
    When – Sun, May 16, 10am – 3pm
    Where – Historical Society of Frankford, 1507 Orthodox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – ANTIQUE (and COLLECTIBLE) APPRAISAL FAIR Annual fundraiser. Have your cherished items appraised by local appraiser/auctioneer Barry S Slosberg. Who knows — you may have a priceless treasure just waiting to be discovered! Cost: $8 per item; maximum 3 items per person.
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting
    When – Tue, May 18, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
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Coming Up in Frankford

  • Frankford Garden Club Meeting
    When – Tue, April 27, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
    Where –  Wissinoming Recreation Facility (map)
    Description – we need to iron out Plant Sale plans and plan more trips! Bring your ideas and a bite to eat. Coffee and tea provided by Nancy.
  • Groundbreaking of the restoration of the historic house at Greenwood Cemetery
    When – Fri, April 30, 10am – 11am
    Where – Greenwood Cemetery – Adams Avenue (map)
  • Frankford Special Services District Board Meeting
    When – Mon, May 3, 8:30am – 9:30am
    Where – St. Mark’s Church, 4442 Frankford Ave, Griscom Street entrance. (map)
    Description – Open to the public.
  • Rachael Ray Shines on Frankford High
    When – Mon, May 3, 10am – 11am
    Where – TV ABC (map)
    Description – Rachael Ray show comes to Frankford.
  • PSA 1 meeting
    When – Tue, May 4, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – Aria Health, Frankford and Dyre Streets, second floor conference room (map)
    Description – Patrol Sector Area 1 – bring your crime issues directly to the 15th district captain.
  • Frankford Civic Association Meeting
    When – Thu, May 6, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – Frankford Hospital – 2nd floor conference room (map)
  • Frankford Garden Club Annual Day-Before-Mother’s Day Plant Sale
    When – Sat, May 8, 9am – 10am
    Where – In Front of the Frankford Library, corner of Frankford Ave and Overington St (map)
    Description – We will have “Growing from Seed” Workshop at the Sale and at the Park VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
  • LOVE Your Park Day in Overington Park Planting, Mulching Flower Beds and “Growing From Seeds” Workshop
    When – Sat, May 8, 12pm – 3pm
    Where – Overington Park (map)
    Description – LOVE Your Park Day in Overington Park Planting, Mulching Flower Beds and “Growing From Seeds” Workshop
  • Historical Society of Frankford program
    When – Tue, May 11, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
    Where1507 Orthodox St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – FRANKFORD’s “SLOW FOOD” EFFORTS and LEGACY HSF Collections and Frankford Friends School Students HSF’s 2010 exhibit features aspects of food in Frankford and the Northeast. Frankford Friends School students have been researching food, urban farming (such as Kensington’s Greensgrow Farms — national leader in urban farming), and other aspects of slow food. View HSF’s display of historic food use, preparation, and storage items.
  • Happy Birthday Frankford High Open House
    When – Sat, May 15, 10am – 3pm
    Where – Frankford High, Oxford Ave. & Wakeling St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – Join us for a full day of fun, food and reminiscing!! FHS students, staff and alumni are invited Be a part of the fun! Tours of the Building Memorabilia rooms Gathering spaces for clubs, teams, and music groups Frankford Souvenirs Tickets will be on sale for the 100th Anniversary Banquet November 26th Current
  • Italian Style Family Dinner
    When – Sat, May 15, 4:30pm – 8:00pm
    Where – St. Joachim’s Church, 1527 Church Street, Phila., PA 19124 (map)
    Description – MARK YOUR CALENDAR Every Third Wednesday from September thru May Italian Style Family Dinner The Dinners will be served from 4:30 PM to 8 PM in Fitzmaurice Hall Take-out will be available. COST: $8.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Children. Come Join us!
  • ANTIQUE (and COLLECTIBLE) APPRAISAL FAIR
    When – Sun, May 16, 10am – 3pm
    Where – Historical Society of Frankford, 1507 Orthodox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)
    Description – ANTIQUE (and COLLECTIBLE) APPRAISAL FAIR Annual fundraiser. Have your cherished items appraised by local appraiser/auctioneer Barry S Slosberg. Who knows — you may have a priceless treasure just waiting to be discovered! Cost: $8 per item; maximum 3 items per person.
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New Frankford Community Y Stakeholders Meeting

Felicia Richardson of New Frankford Developers Presenting

Friday night my father and I attended a dinner meeting at Gallo’s Friday night for a presentation on the new plan for what is going to happen to the New Frankford Community Y.  Among the attendies were democratic ward leader Dan Savage, State Rep Tony Payton Jr and his chief of staff Jorge Santana, representatives from state senator Christine Tartaglione, and counselwoman Sanchez.  Francis Clay and Barry Howell from the Frankford and Northwood Civics were also in attendance.

After an optimistic initial presentation, discussions of the Y’s future turned contentious and questions of legality were raised when the development team proposed to turn the non profit center into a for profit business, with the Northwood Civic voting last month to file a suit in Orphan’s Court to see the past financial records of the center.

The new proposal, (the main portion is linked at the bottom) has the Y staying a non profit with an infusion of funds from the for profit company New Frankford Developers, which owns an apartment building on the block.  Exclusive the benefits to the community, NFD will profit by the management fee they will charge, along with intangibles such as  having better neighborhood amenities to offer their tenants.

To ease neighborhood local fears, the Y will have an advisory board composed of members of the community and neighborhood associations and also noted they would not be opposed to signing a written community commitment agreement.  As Jorge Santana pointed out, it wouldn’t be a legally binding document, but it would list, in simple terms, the commitment by the Y towards the community it serves.

When questions opened up, there were still issues toward the financial viability of the project, Tony Payton noted that the proposed budget had a high percentage of operating funds from government programs.  Presentation leader Felicia Richardson said that it was a best case situation and that funding for many programs  had not yet been secured.  She said that the minimum opening programs would be the day care and computer centers and that they’d build out from there, she also noted that they’ve already secured a grant writer.  Also raised was skepticism of how this plan would work while Terry Tobin was unable to keep operations afloat before.  Richardson responded that she has composed a team, while Terry was a one man show.

Tons of other stuff to note:

  • Apparently being defensive about a rumor I personally started on the message board about them turning the facility into a teen party mecca, they promised no disco, only family style parties and pool parties
  • Barry Howell brought up that they’ve lost a lot of credibility with the Northwood Civic over the financial records issues, but that stated clearly he’s known Terry Tobin a long time and doesn’t believe Terry Tobin was involved with any financial improprieties.  Ms Richardson welcomed Mr Howell to investigate the records
  • they plan on renaming the Y after the late Edward Becker, the former federal appeals judge that once sat on the board.  They stated they had already approached his family for permission

The meeting ended well, all parties expressed cautious optimism of the future, with the presenters pledging a fresh start.

New Frankford Y Proposal [PDF]

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Historical Society of Frankford Meeting

There were over forty people in attendance at the meeting Tuesday night at the Historical Society of Frankford to hear Torben Jenk’s presentation “LOCAL COLOR” — Five Generations of GLOBE DYE COMPANY (1965–2005). I noted that many of the attendees were from outside of Frankford.  That the HSF can attract folks from far and wide is a tribute to the quality of the program.

What drew me to this program were two points of interest.  The story of the Globe Dye Works is all about work and what drew people to come to Frankford to live.  My great grandfather came to this country in 1869 and settled in South Philly.  He first went to work as a shoe maker in a factory but within a few years he got into the textile industry.  I traced his movements around the city when in 1891 I found him in Frankford working as a Beamer in the textile mill.  So the textile business in Frankford is why I am here today.

The other point of interest is that the Globe Dye Works building is undergoing a renaissance under its new owners the Globe Development Group (GDG). Matt and Charlie Papajohn of the GDG were on hand to talk about what is being done to the building, how it is being preserved and what lies in the future.

Torben Jenk gave an engaging talk with power point slides on the history of the Globe from its earliest beginning when it straddled the little Tacony creek which is now Torresdale Avenue through its closure in 2005.  The big story was the tremendous size of the textile industry in Philadelphia.  Mr. Jenk is a founder of the web site workshop of the world which is very informative about the industrial history of the city.  The small but even more interesting story was that of the people of Frankford who worked at the Globe as seen in a Globe publication “Local Color”.

Charlie and Matt Papajohn discussed the restoration of the building and direction they are heading for in the future.  You can find a lot of this at the Globe Dye Works web site.  They did note that all the archival materials found at the Globe have been donated to the HSF.  One interesting tidbit is that a new tenant at the Globe will be producing hard cider called “Revolutionary Cider” in that it follows the recipes of the colonial era.

It was an an entertaining and fast paced hour.  Visit the HSF web site for an up to date listing of future events.

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Frankford Cleans Up

The third annual Philly Spring Cleanup got off and running today with a burst of activity here in Frankford.  It was a beautiful day for sweeping and weeding or in our case videoing those folks in the community who were doing those things.  It was hard to drive a block without stumbling over one group or another who was hard at work.

In case you have not heard, the city has decided to ask people to stop littering.  That is an original and long overdue idea whose time may have just about come.

The Philadelphia Streets Department is proud to announce UnLitter Us, the first sustained public service campaign to rid our City of litter once and for all. The same litter that blights neighborhoods, hurts business, and keeps people down. We won’t put up with it any more. Philadelphia deserves better, and the Streets Department stands firm in its commitment to attack litter on every front.

Yes for some folks it does not come as second nature to be clean as is evidenced by the state of the streets and lots in the city.  So this would be an educational campaign which just might have an effect.

Below, a short tour of the cleanup here and our thanks to all the volunteers from the various groups who made a big difference today.