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Frankford Friends School Shapes Minds and Community!

Frankford Friends School

Frankford Friends School

Frankford Friends School, founded in 1833, continues to instill the Quaker values of spirituality, independence and responsibility in its students and acts as a beacon within our community from the top of the hill at Penn and Orthodox Sts. While other schools are consolidating and/or closing, Frankford Friends has been growing. Now serving 143 students in PreK through 8th grade, the school’s motto is “Love, Learning and Peace”. More students who attend the school live in the 19124 zip code than any other. And, of course, “children of all faiths and all ethnic, racial and economic backgrounds are welcomed”.

PrincipalPenny

Principal Penny Colgan-Davis

Continuing their focus on children and how they learn best, Principal Penny Colgan-Davis visited the Frankford Civic Association’s meeting last month to share with us two new efforts that would both benefit their students and the community. Ours is an urban neighborhood with more than its share of eyesores. Following the collapse of the Central United Methodist Church, almost 2 years ago, there is a barren lot where that proud church once stood. Research has shown that when children interact with the natural world, they benefit by the “increased activity, healthy development and overall well-being”. Isn’t that true for all of us? Who can’t wait to get outside on a sunny day? I am personally interested in this as well because living and teaching in an urban area, our children have too little experience with natural spaces. Principal Penny explained to the group that this lot would become a “natural play space, like a garden, where children could explore a wooded area and it would be open to the community”. Hopefully, this project is scheduled for the fall.

griscom and orthodox (1)

Former Parsonage & Lot Where Central United Methodist Church Stood

With the help of the Frankford Unity and Arch Street Meetings, the parsonage building (next to the lot) would also be acquired and used to house a first floor ArtRoom. The second and third floors would be housing for Quaker volunteers who graduate from college and wish to do volunteer work in the community. Relying on the various Meetings’ funds, there is no definite date for this project to be completed.

Gillingham St House

Gillingham St House

There has been a known drug house behind the school on Gillingham Street that the school is planning to transform into a school library and offices.

Principal Penny invited us to visit the school and be sure to attend their Spring Fair being held on Saturday, May 18th, from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM.

We thank all those connected with Frankford Friends School for their commitment to our children and our community! This is also Teacher Appreciation Week! Have you thanked a teacher yet?

 

 

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Frankford Civic Gives Thumbs Up to Jackson Street Day Care

meetiing 05022013At the Frankford Civic Association meeting on May 2nd, the group voted to support the zoning request to operate a day care center at 5045 Jackson Street.  Pete Specos, President of the Civic Association, had reviewed all the paperwork made a site visit prior to the meeting.

The residents of the 4700 block of Griscom Street are up in arms about sanitation.   With a large vacant lot on the block, people come to walk their dogs and fail to clean up afterwards.  One resident noted that its even spread to Frankford Avenue.  They want signs posted warning the offenders that there is a $300 fine for this offense.  Pete Specos said he would refer the problem to the sanitation police.

Other issues at the meeting:

  • The group voted to support a variance for a kitchen extension at 1950 Bridge Street.
  • A case for a garage at 1728 Orthodox which was discussed at last month’s meeting and did not find support. It was continued by the zoning board at the hearing downtown.  The Civic took another vote and the result was to support the variance.
  • The application by the owner of 4731 Griscom Street for a variance for a take out Crown Fried Chicken store was withdrawn. He hopes to find a use for the property the meets approval by the community.
  • A resident reports that two dead dogs have been found in Northwood Park recently.  That issue will be referred to the proper authority.
  • A resident of the 4800 block of Oxford Avenue attended the meeting looking for guidance in becoming block captain and organizing a clean up.  Several other block captains offered advice.

This was an unusually well attended meeting with close to 30 people in the meeting room.  The next Frankford Civic Association meeting will be held on June 6th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

 

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African American History at the Historical Society of Frankford

The Board of Directors of the Historical Society of Frankford are grateful to Leon Brantley for his offer to work with us to promote greater appreciation of African-American history in Frankford.  We accept the offer enthusiastically.

We invite anyone interested in African-American history and the history of other ethnic groups in Frankford or anywhere in Northeast Philadelphia to get in touch with us by e-mail to jvb9@comcast.net; by regular mail to:

The Historical Society of Frankford
P.O. Box 4888
Philadelphia, PA 19124;

or by telephone, at 215.743.6030.

We also encourage anyone so interested to visit our website, www.frankfordhistoricalsociety.org, and to attend our next meeting, on May 14 at 7:30, at the society, 1507 Orthodox Street, and subsequent ones, on the second Tuesday of June, September, October, November, December, March, and April.

We encourage anyone interested in history in Frankford to join the society and to work with us on the identification of sites of interest, documentation, and presentation of our neighborhood’s history.

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Frankford Community Development Corporation at a Crossroads

Funding for a critical position at the Frankford CDC has been lost due to economic conditions and as a result Tracy O’Drain, Managing Director, has left the organization.  In addition, Marie Delaney, President of the CDC has left to pursue other interests and Michelle Feldman, Commercial Corridor Manager, has left to run Keep Philadelphia Beautiful  an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.  The board has not yet met to determine a course of action for the future.

Tracy O’Drain managed the CDC during a period when it was on the verge of bankruptcy and returned the organization to stability.  She worked for the CDC for 9 years, serving as the Business Corridor Manager prior to taking over as Managing Director.

Michelle Feldman, came in as the Commercial Corridor Manager early in 2011 and was instrumental in bringing several new businesses to Frankford.  She served as Secretary of the Frankford Business and Professional Association and was well known and appreciated by the business community.

Marie Delaney leaves with these words:

It has been a pleasure and an honor, to serve as the president of the Frankford CDC, Board of Directors since 2006. Moving into my new endeavors, I wish for the Frankford CDC to continue growing and prospering under the new Frankford CDC Board leadership and staff. I would like to thank all those who have made the Frankford CDC the best in the city. I will always be grateful being a part of this dynamic CDC.

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PDAC Honors Sugar and Spice

At the 15th District PDAC (Police District Advisory Council) meeting on April 19th, honor was paid to the Sugar and Spice store at Frankford and Foulkrod in “grateful appreciation for all the support you have given to the 15th Police District and the citizens of Philadelphia”.   Accepting the plaque was Sam the owner and Letitia, former employee.

Also honored at the meeting for their help were Chickie and Pete’s (Paul Coyle) and Bachmann Industries  (Rodney Watkins).

At the same meeting, awards were given for Officer of the Month for February to Officers William Yancer and Patrick Mangold.  Officer of the month for March was awarded to Officers James Putro and Stanley Galiczynski.

Congratulations to all.

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