| 1 President’s Message
by Bruce Holberg, President, Society Hill Towers Owners Association
uite a lot has happened lead. The results for the north needs. Shortly, Sue’s will be Q since our last edition, tower are back and the units providing you with a new menu so let’s dive right in! are certified to be free of these. of delicious made to order deli The testing in the remaining items. As we reported last time, SOCIETY We held the Council elections Towers is being conducted now. new tables, chairs, and planters without incident, and we have been ordered for the Plaza HILL TOWERS welcome Wendy Handler to As you have noticed, the area, and these should begin the Council. Wendy already has surface parking lot has been to arrive by July. news demonstrated a real dedication out of service. A storage trailer to the organization and has presently sitting in the lot will We have the honor of celebrating volunteered for several duties. be joined by other storage Mayor James Kenney’s birthday June, 2018 Congratulations to Wendy as facilities before long. We are at Society Hill Towers this year. Issue 332 well as those members who hopeful that we will have enough The celebration will take place were re-elected, Jim Moss, free space to re-open the lot on August 9th, 2018 and will Jeremy Siegel, and Maggie (albeit to a limited number of be composed of two events. Schultz. At the May meeting, spaces) when storage require- The first is a dinner with the we re-elected officers to their ments are fully determined. Mayor in my condo. This will, positions. We’re in good hands. In the meantime, please invite of course, be limited to paid your guests to park in the guests who by their payment The HVAC project is continuing. garage at the same rate as will be supporting the Society At this writing (mid-June), the open lot charged. Hill Towers Community SageWater is busy replacing Political Action Committee. isolation valves in all three Sue’s Produce has opened! It will be great one-on-one time towers that allow the draining Sue’s carries beautiful produce with His Honor. Following that, and refilling of the system to and so much more. It is a vast the entire Towers population be accomplished in half the improvement over our previous is invited for cake, champagne previous time. Unfortunately, stores in a lot of ways. We hope punch, and singing “Happy we need to shut down the air you will make a real effort to Birthday” to the Mayor in conditioning a day at a time in support the store regularly and the area around the pool. the tower in which the upgrades ask your friends to do the same. Save the date, and be on the are being made. Thankfully, the If there are items that you think lookout for more details soon. AC comes back on line quickly they ought to have and they are at the end of the day. In a related not stocking them, please tell Finally, our management development, we have had the the Sue’s staff. They have a real company, CAMCO, recently Towers tested for asbestos and desire to be responsive to our continued on page 3 Photo by Bonnie Halda
Summer Calendar
Saturday, June 30th ence starts things off, then, Thursday, August 9th 5:30 p.m. 8-10 p.m. picnic away! FREE for all Mayor Kenney’s Birthday Bash Free Concert and Fireworks at residents, $35 per person for Paid guests are invited to join In this issue… Penn’s Landing Great Plaza non-resident guests (includes Mayor Kenney at 5:30 p.m. for The United States Army Band, pool guest fee). There’s still a buffet dinner with wine. $125 Wine Tasting aka “Pershing’s Own,” serves time to register for this ticketed per person supports Society See page 2 up patriotic tunes, followed by event. Use the form on Page 3. Hill Towers Community PAC. patriotic pyrotechnics featuring July 4th Buffet Picnic Wednesday, July 25th By the pool, a brass band will new-this-year special effects. See page 3 6:30 p.m. strike up at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 4th Tower Tastings by the Pool everyone is invited to a Q&A Dining Club at Frieda’s 12:30 - 4 p.m. session with the Kenney. Enjoy See page 4 Savor seven fine wines, perfect Buffet Picnic at the Pool for summer sipping. Only $20 cake, champagne punch and Recycling Reminders A fife and drum parade cele- until July 20th ($25 after that). join in singing “Happy See page 5 brating America’s independ- More delicious details on Page 2. Birthday” to the mayor. 22 | Society Hill Towers News
Continuing Activities Debating Merits of Movies by Bob Uris
or more than two years, to pick a film each month selection actually was good, Fa group of movie lovers that is not just interesting to which only adds to the debate at the Towers has been watch, but complex enough of a dozen or more people meeting monthly to discuss to spark a good discussion. sitting in a circle and consid- SOCIETY particular films. The only The idea behind it is that ering the complex process HILL TOWERS rule of the participants is most of us walk out of a that goes into movie making. that the movie has to be movie and say something news one currently playing at like, “that was really good” The movie group is open to one of the neighborhood Ritz and then proceed to dinner all residents of the Towers. Published by theaters. That way, residents or something else without It typically meets on the last Society Hill Towers can get to the films easily. thinking about what actually Thursday of each month, Owners’Association made it good. Of course, except August, and skips a 285 St. James Place The leaders of the group, members frequently disagree month when there doesn’t Philadelphia, PA 19106 Annie and Bob Uris, try about whether a particular seem to be a worthy film. n 215-923-4105 Council Officers Bruce Holberg Exercise with Donna President Jerrold “Jim” Moss he Monday morning include workouts in a chair Vice President T9:30-10:30 exercise group for those who would prefer Jeremy Siegel continues with Donna. This not to get down and up from Treasurer group includes stretching the floor. Don’t be put off by J Otis Smith and strengthening. We use this as these workouts are Acting Secretary DVDs from Miranda Es- challenging!! You can come Council Members mond White, YouTube and regularly or drop in as you Ben Avicolli Pilates. We are expanding to like. Join us! n Wendy Handler Maggie Schultz Management July 25th: Towers’ Tastings by the Pool Beverly Shien Sherman General Manager by Tom Newman Design Summertime and the Living is Easy – Judy Lamirand Editor / Designer, Especially with a Taste of Bubbly ParallelDesign omething special hap- Sanderbeck, a veteran of These delightful vintages Spens when friends enjoy previous Towers’ tastings, are perfect for the season — good wine under a warm will pour pink, white, red full-flavored, fruit-forward, evening sky as golden hour and two (!) sparkling wines, nuanced, richly textured and fades to twilight. The Towers guiding our palates and easy to drink. They’ve been presents its first outdoor wine educating our senses. You curated by Bistro Romano, tasting by the pool July 25th will mingle and compare the neighborhood gem whose at 6:30 p.m. Join the fun, notes with neighbors as wine list has won high acco- learn something new about you savor seven fine wines, lades for years. Bottles will be fine wine from the experts, perfect for summer sipping. available for retail purchase and share some summer bliss. It’s ok if you are not a pool at the Bistro Romano wine member, all residents are shop, a new alternative to the Light snacks to complement welcome. Cost of admission state store chain. We encour- the wines will be served is only $20 until July 20th age you to check out their ad by Annie Uris, one of the ($25 after that). Sign up in this newsletter. Supporting Tower’s legendary hostesses. and pay at the Management local small business helps us Wine authority Andrew Office in advance, please. continue these activities. n June, 2018 | 3 President’s Message continued from Page 1 opened up an analytics office a compounded annual rate This obviously excludes special and provided us with a full of only 2.29 percent and our assessments. The Towers is not report on how the Towers reserve contributions have alone in special assessments, by compares with other condos increased only 3.3 percent. By the way. Of the 23 buildings in in Philadelphia in a number of the way, please note that over the market sample, 43 percent metrics such as costs and condo the period we have spent $20 have had a special assessment fees. At the May Council meet- million dollars on maintaining in the past five years! ing we received their first full our first-class facilities. We are an efficiently run facility, report. We intend to circulate How does this compare with and we need to tip our hats to a condensed version of that other buildings? Over the past our management team for that. report to residents in the future, five years (period for which but in the meantime, here are We hope that you have not been complete data are available some fabulous facts. terribly inconvenienced by the from CAMCO) our home- HVAC project and that all in We have experienced a very owner fees have grown by 1.39 all you are having a wonderful low increase in fees compared percent while the fees at a sam- summer. See you at the pool? to the market. Over the period ple of comparable mid and high between 2001 and 2017, our rise buildings in Philadelphia Best Wishes, condo fees have increased at has increased by 2.95 percent! Bruce Holberg n
July 4th Buffet Picnic at the Pool Races 3-4 p.m. 12:30 - 4 p.m. Fife and drum parade with UNCLE SAM Fun & FREE for all residents Prizes $35 per person for non-resident guests (includes pool guest fee) Tickets will be delivered to your apartment
Please give this slip to a desk clerk no later than June 29th
n I/we will attend the 4th of July Picnic. Names of residents attending:
n I will bring guests to the 4th of July Picnic. Enclosed is a check payable to SHTOA for______guests @ $35 each = $______
Names of guests attending:
Please deliver tickets to my apartment, Unit # 44 | Society Hill Towers News Dining Club at Frieda’s There’s Something Special About April in Paris
e knew that we were in awaiting our dinner service. Wfor a fabulous evening, Our first course (entrée in because there is something French) was a plate of spring magical about April in Paris, asparagus, topped with cured and something special as well salmon, poached quail egg, about Frieda on Walnut Street. hollandaise, and Parmesan We put together a springtime cheese. Next, our main dish menu with Chef David Wong (plat principal), which consisted that would capture the essence of a roast deboned Cornish of it all. The image and promise hen stuffed with mushrooms of April in Paris invigorated and topped with Port wine 50 of us enough to make sauce, and sides such as gratin reservations for The Society dauphinois and seasonal Hill Towers Dining Club vegetables. A salad and three June 19th dinner at David cheeses and then a fabulous and Michael’s wonderful café strawberry tarte finished up and neighborhood meeting the meal. The dinner success- place. The sellout was the fully reflected the blush of spring fastest that the dining club in Paris (and Philly for that has ever experienced. matter) when nature comes Unfortunately we could back to life and love is in the air. accommodate only 30 people As you may know, we are a that night. That said, those club in the most relaxed sense. of us who made the cut had While we have a fair number a wonderful evening. There of regulars, you needn’t come was camaraderie, warmth, and, to every dinner or even any of course, sumptuous food. previous event in order to To start, baskets of gougieres attend. We are working on were passed around and around our next dinner right now, as we sat sipping our wine and so please stay tuned. n
ues Produce is ranging from your everyday Try our new deli with Boar's Sa family-owned household to organic Head meat and our coffee grocery store serving the pro ducts. We have a wide from La Colombe. Fresh Now Open! city of Philadelphia for over selection of fresh fruits and sandwiches for breakfast Mon-Sat 7am-9pm 40 years. We provide our vegetables with seasonal and lunch are made to Sunday 8am-8pm customers with personal products such as rhubarb, order. Come by and see 215-982-1678 service and deliver products fresh figs, cherries, etc. what you are missing. Photos by Bonnie Halda June, 2018 | 5
Recycling Reminders: What Goes Where Single-Stream Recycling and Solid Waste
hat happens to your paper, plastic, glass and metal rate at which these materials Wtrash and recyclables are mixed together in collection are imported. “National Sword” after you discard them? bins and taken to their material is a policy in China that has Republic Services is the recovery facility, where every- banned the importation of company that takes the Towers thing is sorted and then sold. certain types of plastics, as trash. There are two kinds of Your recyclables DO NOT go well as set strict contamination trash: single-stream recycling down the trash chutes. They limits on recyclable materials. and solid waste disposal. may be left in paper bags or This means that China will not Solid waste is garbage, and cardboard boxes in the trash accept shipments that are mixed anything non-recyclable that room, where they will be picked with trash, the wrong type of you are discarding. If if will fit up by staff and taken to the recyclables, or low-quality recy- into the trash chute in the trash recycling center in the sub- clables like greasy paper goods. basement below the garage. room on your floor, put it into What Can We Do About It? a plastic bag, tie the bag shut, Or, you may take them to the recycling center bins yourself. Although you may be unable to and put the bag into the chute. change international recycling Discarded articles that do not Who Buys Recyclables? policy decisions, you can still fit into the trash chute may be China has been the world’s help make sure our recyclables left on the trash room floor. biggest importer of waste for get sold instead of landfilled! Please ask Resident Ser vices decades. China has imported Keep them clean. Ensure that to remove them immediately. paper, plastic, and scrap your recyclables are clean Recyclable materials are the metal from other nations by washing out food particles. paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and processed these materials Keeping your recycling clean and plastic items outlined for reuse in the products they helps Republic Services by below. Republic Services’ produce for export. However, preventing a slowdown of Single Stream or “All in One the implementation of a new the sorting process in order Recycling” is a system in which customs policy has reduced the to deal with contamination. n
PUT IN to Recyclables KEEP OUT of Recyclables
ll recycling is single stream, meaning you hese materials have little A can put all of your recyclables together in one Tor no value as raw materi- paper bag or cardboard box — cans, glass, mixed als, damage recycling equip- paper, cardboard and most plastic containers. ment, and injure workers. There is no need to sort or separate them. Please leave them out! • Plastic bags Paper Glass • Electronics • Newspapers, inserts, paper bags Emptied and rinsed – caps OK. • Food waste • Magazines, brochures, catalogs • Beverage containers • Light bulbs NO Plastic Bags • Junk mail, notepaper, envelopes • Glass food jars • Tissues, paper towels, napkins • Phone books, paperback books We Mean It! Plastics • Porcelain and non-container glass During sorting, plastic Cardboard Emptied and rinsed – caps OK. • Wet or food-soiled paper bags wrap around recy- Flattened, dry, and free of grease. • Water bottles, soda bottles cling equipment, which • Cassette tapes (VHS and audio) brings it to a grinding Corrugated cardboard boxes Hard plastic takeout containers • • • Needles and syringes halt. In order to safely • Clean pizza boxes Metals • Greasy pizza boxes recycle plasticbags, return them todrop-off • File folders and poster board Emptied and rinsed. • Waxed paper plates, cups, locations at specially- • Dry and frozen food boxes and takeout containers • Aluminum, steel, tin cans marked recycling bins • Milk cartons • Empty aerosol cans • Styrofoam™ food/beverage located at the front of containers and shipping/ • Non-metallic greeting cards • Metal trays and baking dishes most supermarkets, gro- packing material cery or big box stores. 66 | Society Hill Towers News
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Sun-soaked Corner Two Bedroom on a High Floor SOLD! We can sell yours, too! Two bedroom, two bathroom offering unobstructed sunrise river views to the east and views of the city to the south. The home has wood floors, a large great room, generously sized bedrooms, an updated master bath and washer/dryer. 1,253 sf | Offered for $525,000 Allan Domb Real Estate PHILADELPHIA’S LARGEST SELLING CONDOMINIUM REALTOR® WE COOPERATE WITH ALL REALTORS® 1845 Walnut Street, Suite 2200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: 215.545.1500 allandomb.com [email protected] | Society Hill Towers News 1212 Society Hill Towers Owners’ Association 285 St. James Place, Philadelphia, PA 19106
SOCIETY HILL TOWERS news
Selling at Society Hill Towers for 38 Years
Some of our recent sales Thinking of buying at Society Hill Towers
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