The East Frankford Civic Association has changed its name to the the Frankford Civic Association. Read about it and other issues discussed at the recent meeting here.
Category: News
Frankford resident in the news
Thanks to a tip from a reader it’s a pleasure to highlight Barbara Kellam. Read the entire story on phillycom here.
Harmonizing
Twenty amateur singers have been holed up at Mount Airy Presbyterian Church many nights as they rehearse for the NBC reality series Clash of the Choirs.
Premise: Five celebs – Patti LaBelle in Philly, Kelly Rowland in Houston, Michael Bolton in New Haven, Conn., Nick Lachey in Cincinnati, and Blake Shelton in Oklahoma City – choose and train 20-member choirs in their hometowns to sing on the four-night live series, starting Dec. 17 in New York.
“This is not your father’s choir,” says executive producer Jason Raff, immediately apologizing for the cliche. “They won’t be in robes holding song sheets.” The music and contestants are diverse. R&B star Rowland’s crew is rehearsing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Winners will fund a local charity; LaBelle’s is With Our Voices, a health-outreach program.
Juniata’s Tim Bolognone, 30, a Frankford High and Bob Jones U grad, apprentice in the cabinetmakers’ union, and worship leader at Grace Bible Church in Northeast Philly, has had some stage experience with a barbershop quartet, “but not in front of 11 million people.”
Frankford’s Barbara Kellam, an airline customer-service rep at Philadelphia International Airport, calls it “surreal” to have been chosen by LaBelle to represent Philly. “I’m seeing myself in commercials, and then I go to work,” marvels Kellam, daughter and granddaughter of singers. This is “my breakthrough year,” she says. “I was 315 pounds, had gastric-bypass surgery and lost 140 pounds. I also turned 30. I’m on fire!”
Rounding out LaBelle’s choir are Amanda Gordon and Liimu McGill of Glenside; Christina Blue of Trenton; Frank DiCristo of Media; Joshua Womer of Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa.; Lucas Lasagna of Allentown; Katie Romano of Norristown; and Philadelphians Arlyn Wolters, Danielle Baker, Darian Moore, Jessie Reed-Benton, J’onett DeVeaubray, Mary McClinnaham, Niesha Cherry, Rachael Sutliff, Robbie Cunningham, Sharon Gary-Dixon, and Shonse Hawkins.
History in the Northeast
There is a story in the Northeast Times this week about a new and exciting development. The cooperation of our various historical societies is something that makes so much sense you have to wonder why it has not come before now. However the time seems to be right for this new opportunity to preserve and teach the history of the Northeast. Have a look at the full story.
Frankford Special Services District
There is a letter to the editor in this week’s Northeast Times opposing the re-establishment of the Frankford Neighborhood Improvement District. Councilman Savage introduced the bill and hearings have been held. The letter writer asks what is the benefit when a previous version of this idea has been tried and did not result in much improvement.
Unless this new version fits into a comprehensive plan for the future of Frankford, residents and business owners may not see the benefit. If that plan exists, it certainly has not been well publicized.
Civic group officials explain leader’s ouster
The Northeast Times this week carried two letters from East Frankford Civic’s board members which can be read here. These were responses to the Times article covering this month’s meeting and the election of a new president.
