Our local Brightside Academy, located at 1627-29 Meadow Street, hosted a “Meet Your Legislators” event on Friday, 1/13/12, to bring our local legislators, parents and students together. Part of the program included a photo display of students’ concerns about our community. The students had been given disposable cameras to capture and record what they would like to change about Frankford. Students also prepared questions to present to the legislators. As I looked at the photo display, there were pictures of littered streets and abandoned buildings. We, too, share these young citizens’ concerns. Parents gathered in the meeting room of Brightside Academy, munching on provided snacks, to await the arrival of the legislators.

This was our first visit to Brightside Academy and we were warmly greeted and impressed with the brightly painted and decorated classrooms. This Brightside Academy is one of 30 academies in the city according to Davida Garr, Community Affairs Specialist. Brightside Academy is a part of many of our city neighborhoods and are reaching out to connect with their families and support the local communities. Early education and care are provided for children aged 6 weeks – 12 years. Academies are open year-round from 6 AM until 6 PM (may vary slightly by location). Juana Ramos, Area Business Director, explained that Brightside Academy opened in 1999 at this location. The name “Academy” is very important to staff as they provide an educational environment, work to enhance their own qualifications through staff development and work to reach higher levels in the Keystone Stars program. Keystone Stars is a PA Early Learning initiative that gives accreditation to day-care centers based on the highest performance level they achieve – Star 1 through Star 4.

I had a chance to speak with parents who are unanimously very pleased with this facility. They feel staff are pleasant, there is a family atmosphere and they recommended them highly. One mother has had three children in Brightside Academy and the oldest is now 11. We visited a class where a student was celebrating an 8th birthday and cupcakes had been shared!

State Representative Tony Payton arrived, as did City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Unfortunately, State Senator Christine Tartaglione had a previous commitment. Students welcomed them and introduced themselves asking questions about litter, jobs and money for education. These future voters did themselves well!

The Northeast EARN Center (located on Frankford Avenue) had representatives and a table of information at the event. This agency provides support for those transitioning from welfare to work in northeast Philadelphia. You must be referred to them by your caseworker if you are receiving assistance from the Department of Public Welfare. If you have any questions or think you might be eligible, talk to your caseworker.

For more information, visit their website at Brightside Academy or call 215.289.0641 or 877.868.2273. Kudos to all those involved in this event! Our Frankford community is the better for them!

Wilmot Park saw a crush of volunteers Friday from Honeywell and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.   Volunteers at the event replaced backboards, built benches for basketball spectators, planted trees, installed a flagpole and a commemorative sign to honor the park’s previous life as a cemetery for veterans, and carried out a general cleanup of the site.

Additionally, to further honor the park’s history as a cemetery for veterans, Honeywell employees were building a ramp at the American Legion Post 224. Commanders from Post 224 were to be on site to later in the afternoon to raise the American flag and direct the park’s first flag raising ceremony.

This is continuation of the improvements which were started by a grant from Councilwoman Sanchez office last year for the removal of the old playground equipment and the installation of new in the Spring.  The basketball league that was restarted this year played under difficult circumstances though with the old backboards and hoops.  These improvements will make a big difference for the kids and neighbors using the park.

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The was a good crowd on hand last week for the Frankford Civic Association Meeting.  Chris Wink has a great report on NEastPhilly.com which hits all the right notes.  He was tardy and missed a short but important discussion we had at the very start concerning the property at 1520 Orthodox Arrott Street.

This is the location of the former Primo’s Sports bar that was closed as a nuisance.  That closure is only effective for a year and then the premises are free to be reopened.  Given the location and unregulated drug market that has surrounded the area, it is clear that it will once again become a problem.

Construction is now underway in the building.  It has been reported on Philly311.com.  Calls have been made to Councilwoman Sanchez office and to Tony Payton’s office.  Jason Dawkins commented on our previous post linked above:

Our office did report out about the above location, the bar does not have a liquor license, which means it will not be a bar…. The location was shut down 7yrs ago and the owner never renewed his license, and there is no current application on file for another license. Folks should not make statements that are not true, if anyone has any questions please call our office and ask for me.

The reason why the folks are up in arms about this bar is that they have a history of ignoring the law and regulations.  Not having a liquor license but still in business for the next 6 years would be one cause for concern.  Building construction with no permits is another.  So if it did not stop them before, it will not stop them now.

In fairness to Jason, I am sure he will do his best to keep it closed.  You can call him directly at Councilwoman Sanchez office at 215-686-3448 or 3449.

The primary election on May 17th was a low turnout event as was expected.  Councilwoman Maria  Quiñones-Sánchez defeated Danny Savage for the Democratic party nomination for the 7th District City Council seat.  Congratulations to them both for a hard fought contest.

I was curious about who was supporting which candidate.  Sanchez raised over twice as much money as Savage did, so I took at look at the contribution reports.  Both candidates got  a lot of money from other politicians, businesses, unions, lawyers, PACs and such.  There were also many small donors in the hundred dollar range.

There was only one surprise and I found it on the Sanchez contribution list.  The 8th largest contributor gave $5,200 on April 4th.  This contributor, COSAN LLC is the owner of the property where the Bridge has proposed to relocate on Adams Avenue.

A zoning variance is required before that can happen since the property is now zoned G2 heavy industrial.  At present the Northwood and Juniata Civics have both indicated that they would write a letter of support to the zoning board for the change (past coverage here).  Tony Payton, State Representative has also indicated support.  Councilwoman Sanchez at last hearing said she was undecided.

Jason Dawkins Says:
April 14th, 2011 at 12:04 pm edit

Bob, Councilwoman Sánchez did not express any decision on the Bridge. She stated before that she was going wait until all community members voted, before making any public decision.

There is nothing wrong with giving to the candidates.  Many of the donors gave to both candidates, I guess to cover all the bases.  Many of the donors gave to other candidates for other offices in the election.  The donors make their donations for various reasons.  See the Inquirer story from Sunday about the donations from the soft drink folks.

Thanks to a commenter, I have another surprise.  I did not know Terrence McSherry but he is the CEO of NET (Northeast Treatment Centers).  He donated $100 to the Savage campaign and $100 to Sanchez.  Thanks Kathleen. If anybody finds anything else, let me know.

Elections cost a lot of money.  Money has to be raised and there is nothing inappropriate in taking any donation you can get.  That is a fact of life.  It’s politics.

You can see what the donations for Sanchez and Savage look like below.  If nothing else, it’s interesting.  Thanks to the Committee of Seventy for help in finding the information.

Sanchez donations here.

Savage donations here.

Tom Waring of the Northeast Times covered the great debate last week and his report is linked here.  This is an important election for our community, keep informed.

Savage website here.

Sanchez website here.