• Northwood Town Watch
  When – Sat, May 19, 9am – 10am

  Where – Knights of Columbus, 5323 Oxford Avenue (map)

  Description – New members invited to sign up if you missed the first meeting last Tuesday.
• 15th District PDAC Community Day
  When – Sat, May 19, 10am – 2pm

  Where – Frankford and Cottman Aves.

• 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
• Northeast Philadelphia EPIC Stakeholders Group
  When – Thu, May 31, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

  Where – Aria Hospital’s Frankford Campus (4900 Frankford Avenue) in the 2nd floor meeting room. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (map)

  Description – The ultimate goal is to create a process that enhances the community’s ability to solve issues surrounding truancy, domestic violence, child safety and substance abuse.
• Frankford Youth Rally Sponsored by NE EPIC Stakeholders
  When – Fri, June 1, 10am – 3pm

  Where – Large and Wakeling St. (map)

  Description – Food, Games and performances – Healthy relationships, violence prevention, health and wellness, HIV/AIDS awareness, drug and alcohol awareness, summer youth employment, college resources
• Health Fair
  When – Fri, June 1, 11am – 2pm

  Where – Aria Health Parking Lot

• 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 the library meeting
  When – Wed, June 6, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

  Where – Frankford Branch Library Meeting Room (map)

  Description – Topics to be covered will include the book sale, and summer programs
• 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
• Frankford Civic Association Meeting
  When – Thu, June 7, 7pm – 8pm

  Where – 2nd floor conference room, Aria Health, 4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124

• Community Planning Meeting
  When – Tue, June 12, 6:30pm – 8:00pm

  Where – St. Martin of Tours School, 5450 Roosevelt Blvd. (map)

  Description – Review input from the first community meeting. Hear draft recommendations for the plan.Work with City Planning Commission staff to determine future development scenarios.
• Historical Society of Frankford program
  When – Tue, June 12, 7:30pm – 9:00pm

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

  Description – SPRING TEA – FLAGS OF THE CONFEDERACY PHILADELPHIA FLAG DAY ASSOCIATION – Michael C Axelrod, Vice President – Frankford provided more recruits for the Civil War than any other town of its size in America. Learn more about this “War Between the States” through a display and presentation of Flags of the Confederacy. This is our traditional Spring Tea, so bring refreshments to share.

Continuation of Lyle (Corky) Larkin remembers:

Toasters

They were made of metal and were shaped like a pyramid with slots running up all four sides. You placed them on top of the gas stove and placed the slices of bread upright against the sides. As the heat reached up inside the toaster, it would blacken or if you were lucky, brown the side of the bread. You would then have to turn the slice over to get it done on both sides. Many a burnt finger was caused by this process.

Hangouts

We as teens, hung out at “Big Boys” drive-in on the Boulevard near Cottman Ave. They had the cutest waitresses with short skirts and sweaters as uniforms, complete  with “Bobby Socks”. Pull your car into one of the many parking spaces and have a girl come out and take your order. In just a little while, she would return with a tray  full of food and hook the tray on your car door. The milkshakes were the best! Even if you didn’t have any money for food, it was fun and the accepted thing to drive  very slowly through the parking lot (cruise) to see who was there that evening. It was also a great place to be seen with your date.

The Front Porch

The front porch was probably the most important part of keeping a neighborhood together; it was also a way to escape the heat. During the summer months, it was a  relief just to be able to get out of these hot houses. Each afternoon, people would wander out of their houses to enjoy the cool air. This was before air conditioning. Almost every house had it’s own front porch, complete with a decorative railing to protect you from going off the edge. Some were furnished with swings suspended  from the ceiling with chains, or gliders others had wicker furniture, complete with coffee tables and upholstered sofa and chairs. Toward late afternoon, many of the  folks would be sitting on their porches having iced tea and chatting with their neighbors. However, they were never too busy to stop and greet the people who were  coming home from work as they walked down the street. There were no strangers on my block. Moms and dads would use this vantage point to look out for each  others children who might be playing outside. If a skirmish might rise up, it was the unspoken duty of any grown-up within shouting distance to keep things under  control. The magic part of all this is that the kids had enough respect instilled in them to “Listen To Their Elders! When you walked home, many times you would say hello to as many as twenty neighbors and even catch up on the latest news. Some of the folks used to sit on their porches from early morning till dusk, reading the  paper, catching up on the sewing or even doing some of the preparation for that night’s dinner. Many times my grandmother and I would sit there and snap beans or  peel potatoes. As time went by, some of these porches were glass enclosed and they were called Sun Porches. This process made them useable during part of the  colder months as well as the summer. It was not unusual to come out of your house during a rainstorm and find one of your neighbors taking refuge on your porch.  (“Just till the rain lets up a bit.”) It was also a great place for the kids to stay out of the weather and it was large enough to accommodate the kids and their toys. A lit porch light was always a sign of “Welcome”, it was also an indication that you were in trouble for being late if you were a kid and just getting home! I‟ll wager that  many lasting romances began on these very porches Perhaps your parents began their courtship on one of them.

Please join The Frankford CDC, Health Partners, and Aria Health on June 1st!

First meeting of the Northwood Town Watch

Northwood Town Watch First Meeting

A weekend distribution of fliers throughout Northwood brought about 30 people to the initial organizational meeting of the Northwood Town Watch at St. James Lutheran Church at 6PM prior to the regular Civic meeting.  An hour was spent on discussion of the role of the Town Watch, discussion of the proposed bylaws and election of temporary officers.  A second organizational meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 19th at 9 AM at the Knights of Columbus at 5323 Oxford Avenue.  Anyone who is interested in participating in Town Watch in any capacity is encouraged to attend.  Future Town Watch meeting will precede the Northwood Civic Association meetings.

At the Northwood Civic Association meeting,

the minutes of the last meeting were read.  A verbal treasurers reports was made. A member questioned whether the new Treasurer has audited the previous Treasurer’s records. No audit has been done and the member asked that future reports be printed and made public.  The Treasurer said that she would take that under advisement to the Board.

Frank Bennett VP and Joe Krause President of Northwood Civic

Members approved a motion  to fund start up costs of the newly formed Town Watch with $300 to cover the cost of printing fliers, etc.    Members questioned if the Town Watch will be funded in the future.  Vice President Bennett said that the Town Watch would fund itself.  This expenditure is to help get it off the ground.

A new member spoke about vandalism in the area of Kenwyn and Horrocks.  Young people are breaking windows.    A discussion followed about what is the most effective way to report this type of issue to the police.  Some recommend making it a roll call item and others say the best thing to do is to attend a PSA meeting and talk to the Lt. directly.  Town Watch members were present and will follow up on this issue.

Committees were formed to deal with Vacant Properties, Deed Restriction Issues and Zoning.  Volunteers for the committees met after the meeting to provide contact information to communicate at a later time.

James Clay, Democratic party candidate for State Representative in the 179th district spoke to the membership and answered questions.

James Clay

The next meeting of the Northwood Civic Association is scheduled for June 19 at 7 PM at St. James Lutheran Church.

Steel framing rose for the new building at Frankford Friends School last week. The project, the culmination of many years of planning at the school, will allow it to offer high-quality Friends education program to more local families by expanding the space in middle school classrooms. The new building will provide a multipurpose space, a music room, and three more classrooms. The building, which is among several new construction projects now happening in Frankford, was designed by DIGSAU and is being built by CVM Construction.

Energy use at the new building will be reduced through the use of a highly insulated envelope, an efficient HVAC system, exhaust fans, operable windows, natural light, highly-insulated walls, and solar shades that block summer sun while bouncing winter sun more deeply into the rooms. A large north-facing skylight in the multipurpose room minimizes lighting costs. Rain barrels will keep rain water out of the city stormwater system and provide free water for classroom and ornamental gardens. All materials and carpet will are low VOC. Budget allowing, the exterior will be clad in reclaimed red cedar.

The school, which has been on its historic campus since 1833, expects to enroll over 130 students in grades PreK-8^th in the coming year. There are still some openings in grades 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7; the others have waiting lists.  For more information, www.frankfordfriendsschool.org