Category: Miscellaneous

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Veteran of the Month – Leonard W. Stephens

Leonard W. Stephens was born in 1943 and was the oldest of three children, of the late Leonard Lee Stephens and the late Ida Knowles. Leonard attended schools in the Philadelphia school system and graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1961.

He knew he wanted to travel, so after graduation joined the United States Air Force, where he served for four years. After coming out of the service with an honorable discharge in 1965, Leonard decided he wanted to serve and protect his community, so he joined the Philadelphia Police Force.

While on the force, Leonard decided to go back to school to further his education. He attended LaSalle University where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees. He was promoted to detective and served in that position for over 21 years.

During his career on the Police force, he received a commendation for bravery in 1986 when he apprehended an armed bank robbery suspect while he was off duty and unarmed.

After retirement from the force, he changed his occupation and joined the Philadelphia school system. He served as a long-term substitute teacher for 10 years at Henry R. Edmunds Elementary School at Large and Dyre Streets in Northwood.

Leonard loved food, people and challenges in life. His mother Ida was his best friend and he called her every day. Everyone he met admired him for his humor, wisdom, jokes, and friendliness.

Leonard was well versed in many subjects and a Jack of all trades. His hobbies were playing cards, performing magic tricks and writing poetry. For several years, Leonard tutored many Korean children in English as a second language.

He lived on the 1600 block of Kinsey Street for over 30 years and had many friends along Frankford Avenue that he made over the years. He was a fixture and made the rounds greeting his friends with his trademark phrase, “Dilly Dilly”.

On Tuesday January 29, 2019 God called Leonard home. He leaves to mourn his brother Raymond Stephens (Helen), sister Gloria

Stephens Frazier-Green, a niece Lisa Kim Frazier (preceded), 4 nephews: Jerome Frazier Sr. (Shanel), Michael Frazier, Damien Stephens, Quincy Stephens (Kia), 10 Great nieces and nephews and one Great-Great–Niece Lisa Nichole West and many family and friends.

He is also mourned by his Friends on Frankford Avenue who feel the loss of his friendship and good humor. Thanks to Gil Pons and Stephen at the video store with helping with the preparation of this story.

Leonard W. Stephens –thank you for your service!!!

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Happy 70th Birthday to Tyrone “Big Poppa” Forrest

Happy Birthday Tyrone

A life long resident of Frankford, Tyrone has been married to Loretta Forrest for 30 years and is the father of 3 (Tyrone, Quinten Sr, (Neva) and Dawn) and  Grandfather of 4 (Quinten Jr., Sean, Jasmine, and Mya).

He is a retired Philadelphia Police Officer and in his younger years, he coached Football for the Frankford Chargers.

His family wishes him a happy birthday and many more to come.

 

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SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS SORELY NEEDED

As of October 24, 2019, the 15th Police District had 107 school crossing guard posts, of which 21 posts were unfilled.  Among the intersections that lack a guard is Large-Wakeling, where a vehicle passes every 4 seconds on average immediately before and after the former H. R. Edmunds school is in session.  Some intersections, such as Castor-Dyre and Castor-Pratt, have been without a guard for longer than a year.  Similar situations exist in other Police districts in Philadelphia.  To fill the unfilled posts, qualified applicants are sorely needed.

A school crossing guard position offers steady, secure, part-time work with benefits.  Pay exceeds $15 per hour.  Guards work 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. when schools are open. As a civilian employee in the Police Department, a guard receives Civil Service benefits, such as paid time off (vacation and sick) and health insurance, and is eligible to earn retirement pay.

To qualify for training, an applicant for the position need not take a written test, but must undergo a physical examination, a drug test, background checks (for crime and child abuse) and a financial investigation (for money owed to the City of Philadelphia).  Application is required to be done online.

To help reduce the shortage, the Northwood Civic Association has asked the 15th Police District to request that the Police Department increase advertising of open school crossing guard positions.  Also, the Civic is encouraging residents to inform friends and neighbors of the need for qualified applicants.  Most importantly, the Civic urges interested people to apply online as follows:

  1. Go to joinphillypd.com/index.php/civilian-careers. Click on the green rectangle, which will take you to www.phila.gov/personnel.
  2. At the bottom of phila.gov/personnel, under Quick Links at the bottom of the screen, click on Login / Create Account, which will take you to phila.peopleadmin.com/user/new.
  3. On phila.peopleadmin.com/user/new, click on the dark green rectangle. Create the account.  Next, under Quick Links, click on Job Interest Notifications, which will take you to www.phila.gov/personnel/specs/JobInterestForm.html.
  4. On phila.gov/personnel/specs/JobInterestForm.html, type 6D44 in the Search rectangle, which will take you to a one-line description of Job 6D44, School Crossing Guard (B), including pay per day. Click on the 6D44 below Class Code, which will take you to https://www.phila.gov/personnel/specs/6D44.htm, where you can view a detailed job description.  Close the SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD tab at the top of the screen to return to the one-line job description.  Click on the feather pen at the right end, which will take you to https://www.phila.gov/personnel/specs/JobInterestForm.html.  Fill out and submit the Job Interest Form.  Next, under Quick Links, click on Civil Service Job Opportunities, which will take you to https://www.phila.gov/personnel/jobs/CivilServiceJobOpps.html.
  5. On https://www.phila.gov/personnel/jobs/CivilServiceJobOpps.html, click on Job Opportunities to see whether Job 6D44, School Crossing Guard (B), is listed as currently open. When an opening is announced, the City of Philadelphia will notify you via the email address that you provided on the Job Interest Form.

For questions about the hiring process, interested people are advised to call Captain’s Clerk Maureen Wharton of the 15th Police District at 215-686-3150.  Ms. Wharton is a former school crossing guard.

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I-95 Reconstruction Project Public Open House Meeting

PennDOT invites you to attend a Public Open House Meeting for the Interstate 95 Improvement Project from the Betsy Ross Bridge to Levick Street (near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge) in Philadelphia. This project includes the rebuilding and widening of I-95, and improvements to ramps and connecting local streets. The purpose of this meeting is to present revised design plans and obtain feedback on proposed plans and design concepts. Important design changes have been made in response to public input in 2013.

The meeting will be held November 12, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. John Cantius Church gymnasium, located at 4415 Almond Street (parking is available in church lot on Almond Street). The Public Open House will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a brief presentation at 6:30 p.m. This will be followed by a brief Question & Answer Session and a Public Open House Plans Display with comment and feedback stations, project maps, and informational boards. The plans display will also include information on the project’s Section 4(f) uses to the public parks within the project area.

The facility is accessible by SEPTA Routes 25, J, or 73 and is also accessible for persons with disabilities. If you require special accommodations or additional information, please contact Don Gusic, at (610) 263-2627 or visit www.95revive.com.