In January, Harry Patel remodeled the exterior of his mini shopping center at Frankford and Sellers. It brightened up that area quite a bit. That same month the Frankford NAC began holding 
meetings on zoning issues.
In February, the Northwood Academy Charter School dedicated their new wing on Castor Avenue which brought students under one roof for the first time.
In March, Overington Park got a new tool shed. The building with the bathrooms was closed at Simpson playground and a Subway opened on the Avenue.
In April, Hidden City came to Frankford at the Historical Society of Frankford and the Globe Dye Works. Also Frankford’s oldest building at 1548 Adams Ave. was nominated for the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.
May saw a change in leadership at the Frankford CDC with the departure of Tracy O’Drain and Michelle Feldman. Kim Washington moved in
from the EPIC Stakeholders and the board took on new members with Gary McLaughlin as president.
June was a busy time in Frankford. The Citizens Engagement Academy held classes at St. Marks. The String Theory at Edmunds held a concert downtown at the Kimmel Center. Harding Middle School students displayed their art at the Barnes on the Parkway and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia closed both Mater Dolorosa and St. Joachim parishes.
In July, we began to see some new store fronts go up on Frankford Avenue as Façade Improvement project began to be implemented.
In August it was time for the 9th annual Old Heads softball game at Gambrel recreation center. The Philly Cup skateboard competition came to Carmella playground at Torresdale and Wakeling. Frankford resident, John Valentin, went on to take the city title for his age group.
In September, the Friends of Overington Park received the Community Greening Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The first public meeting to plan the Frankford Greenway Trail was held. The dedication of the completed Frankford murals was held at Womrath Park.
October saw the birth of the destination frankford. Destination Frankford will create a vibrant public space in Womrath Park, artfully designed signage and street furniture, a storefront dedicated to local artists, and an arts-focused marketing campaign. The project will increase exposure to Frankford’s growing arts scene, add vibrancy to Frankford’s commercial corridor, and attract new artists, businesses, and residents to Frankford. Also the architecture firm DIGSAU of Philadelphia was presented with a 2013 Award for Design Excellence for Frankford Friends School’s new Margaret Passmore Trickey Building.
In November the competition was opened for artists to submit plans for a public sculpture in Womrath park. The Frankford Y made some progress as old debts were settled which makes it possible to plan for its return to community use.
In December Health Partners Plans renewed their sponsorship of the Frankford Gazette print edition through 2014. We thank them for helping us bring the print edition to you each month.
