Frankford Community Blog | Local News, Events, Community Resources
Northwood Civic Association filed suit yesterday to stop the destruction of all the trees on the 900 block of Herbert Street. Although there were some trees in need of removal, all the trees on the block were marked for destruction which prompted their action. A stop order was granted pending further court order.
Education is vital to our children to achieve their dreams and a meaningful life! We know that our educational system today is in great turmoil as we try to figure out the best way that children learn. Our ultimate goal has to be instilling a love of learning that lasts for a lifetime that affects all aspects of our lives.
Photo couresy of Alexander Iziliaev
The School District of Philadelphia identified our local H.R. Edmunds School at 1197 Haworth St. as a “Renaissance School”. By this identification, the School District acknowledges that Edmunds has been one of the lowest performing schools, thus, the School District wants to “bring about a dramatic improvement in student achievement”. 1 There are several organizations that specialize in turning around schools. So, the task becomes finding the right match for H.R. Edmunds. With input from Edmunds’ School Advisory Council, the School District decides which organization will take over management of the school. One of our contributor’s, Lea Pfeiffer, and her daughter, visited the String Theory Schools and presented their opinions about their visit to the School Reform Commission meeting in April, 2012. Lea has shared a copy of her remarks with us and we are sharing some of them with you here. Lea said, “It was what I saw, far more than what I was told, that convinced me String Theory was the best choice. I saw the compassion, respect and love that they have for every child….It was this passion and compassion that convinced me that String Theory will not stop until our students are able to achieve and succeed…” That passion is what makes String Theory Schools believe that they will make a difference at H.R. Edmunds and help every student achieve. The School District announced that String Theory Schools, a Non-for-Profit Education Management company, was awarded the contract to take over Edmunds Elementary.
We have reached out to String Theory Schools and we would like to share with you their vision, in their words, of exciting changes that will be taking place this coming school year. “When the students return from summer recess, they will be walking through the front doors of the new Charter School for the Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds, under the leadership of String Theory Schools, an education management company, whose flagship model is the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School. Performing Arts is one of the most successful charter schools in the city of Philadelphia with 11 years of academic excellence.
On June 5th, H.R. Edmunds hosted students from Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, who presented excerpts from their spring concert at the Kimmel Center, which included orchestral selections, ballet, and choral music.
Courtesy of Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School
String Theory Schools is being recognized locally and nationally for its STEM+ Arts (STEAM) educational model, which encourages the collaboration of the arts (performing, visual, and literary) with the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
The new Charter School for the Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds will feature an engaging, art-infused curriculum with a strong focus on academic excellence. Every student in grades Kindergarten through fifth will be given a violin and taught to play. Each young student will also study ballet, vocal music, and visual arts. Science Lab, French language, and the art of creative writing will also be included in the curriculum. In grades sixth through eighth, students have the opportunity to choose to major in either academic or arts subjects. Students will spend 90 minutes each morning on their selected major. Majors include: Creative Writing, Innovations in Science, French, Ballet, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, and Visual Arts.” 2
All current Edmunds’ families must enroll their children (including incoming Kindergarten children) to attend the Charter School for the Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds in September, 2012. Packets were sent home with all currently enrolled students. Please see the flyer below for more information!
We wish all involved in this effort much success in the coming year!
Notes:
The main presentation at the June 7th Frankford Civic Association meeting was by David Orphanides on behalf of the Harry Patel, owner of the Quickie Mart at Frankford and Unity. A zoning application and liquor licencing is in the works to allow for beer sales at the Mart. The owner says he needs to the new business to stay competitive. The result would be a remodeled Quickie Mart with indoor seating for over thirty with tables and chairs where you can eat in or take out. There was some fervent discussion on both sides of the issue. Mr. Patel is seeking community support for the change.
The possible opening of the property at Hawthorne and Margaret Sts. formerly known at the T&T bar as a bodega has been dropped and another more community friendly use is being explored.
Manny Citron of PhillyRising talked about CLIP citations which are now coming out as the summer growing season arrives. CLIP gets complaints and send and investigator to see if your grass it too high or whatever. If the investigator issues you a notice at that first inspection, it is not a citation. He will be back in ten days to see if corrective action has been taken. At the second visit, he may issue a citation. You should appeal that citation by calling the L&I Review Board at 215-686-2428.
Jason Dawkins of Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez office announced that zoning has approved the application of an institution to open
4834 Penn Street
a 36 unit drug rehab facility for men at 4834 Penn Street (corner of Penn and Harrison). No community input was heard by the zoning board. An investigation is underway as to how this could be done behind the back of the Councilwoman’s office when it is publicly known that there is a moratorium on opening new facilities of this type in Frankford.
The next meeting of the Frankford Civic Association is on July 5th at Aria Health.
The 4800 block of Penn Street is a quiet residential block and is not the appropriate location for a facility housing 36 men in recovery. Frankford has carried a disproportionate share of the burden of rehab and other neighborhoods need to start carrying their share of the load. The argument will be made that the facility is located where it is needed. The reason why we have so many people in recovery in Frankford is that for years the facilities have been put here. If they start locating them on Society Hill or Chestnut Hill then the need will suddenly be in those neighborhoods.
Last year a clinic tried to open in a commercial area of Holmesburg. It was passed by zoning but the neighborhood came together and it did not open. The time to come together has arrived in Frankford.
If you would like to get updates via text message on this or any other urgent issue:
Therice Denby opened her soul food shop and bakery on Frankford Avenue a year ago, and has seen her business thrive in those short twelve months, attracting Frankford residents and bringing new folks to the Avenue who might not normally make their way to Frankford.
Like all good small business owners, Therice knew when she opened her doors that the road ahead would not be an easy one, but that if she worked hard and stuck to a sound plan, she could build a sustainable business that created positive energy here in our community. And she has done just that, using her savvy marketing skills to promote her delicious soul food and baked goods. She’s learned some lessons along the way, of course, about promotion and the day-to-day management of a storefront, which she’ll use to expand upon the client base she’s cultivated so skillfully over the past year. Stay tuned for information about open mic nights, karaoke, and more!
If you haven’t stopped by her shop yet and indulged in a cookie or piece of cake, you are missing out on more than some of the most delicious food in Frankford. You’re missing out on a restaurant with some good, old-fashioned warmth and hospitality. To know Therice is to love her. And the Frankford CDC is constantly amazed by the talent that shines through her specialty cakes.
So, we send our heartfelt congratulations to Therice, and are looking forward to working with her for years to come!
Visit Therice online here: www.facebook.com/Denbys.Sweet.Sensations. Look out for pictures of her amazing specialty cakes, just some of which we’ve included below.
