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Fall 2015 THE of BELLA VISTA S p o n s o r e dNEWS b y B e l l a V i s t a N e i g h b o r s A ss o c i a t i o n I n c . , a r e g i s t e r e d c o m m u n i t y organization Civic Association Update The Bella Vista Neighbors Association t’s been almost 2 years since Bel- staffing a sign in table at a meeting. (BVNA) improves Bella la Vista Town Watch members From the BVNA Start YOUR involvement in Bella Vista’s quality of life Ivoted to approve a name change President Vista by attending a meeting: Zon- and strengthens com- to Bella Vista Neighbors Associa- ing (1st Tuesday each month, 7:30 munity bonds. BVNA tion. The newer name reflects our purpose better pm, Palumbo Rec), Beautification (2nd Tuesday, encourages civic - to serve as a resource for all who call BV home. 6:30, Palumbo), PSA1 police-community discussion involvement, provides We host informational meetings and this year have (1st Wednesday, 6:30, Santore Library) or upcom- a neutral and public presented speakers including a state senator, the ing events: TreePhilly Giveaway & Weird Waste discussion forum, pre- director of the Office of Emergency Management, Recycling, October 10, 10 am-1 pm, Palumbo; Kids serves and augments and a representatives from the Department of Pumpkin Painting, October 16, 4-6 pm, Palumbo; our institutions and Streets, Planning, and Mayor’s Office of Transpor- Pumpkin Carving Workshop, October 28, 6 pm, character, supports the tation and Utilities. We’ve hosted happy hours and Fleisher Art Memorial. Please visit our website for delivery of government collaborated with other groups to sponsor events. updates to our meeting and event schedule. If you services, and promotes BVNA’s accomplishments are only as great as have an idea you’d like to work on or want to get dialogue with elected its volunteer capacity and we are always seeking involved but don’t know how, please get in touch officials. We are an to improve both. There are many ways to get in- with me: [email protected]. n independent and non- volved - everything from delivering this newsletter profit organization. to planning a happy hour, applying for a grant or – Claudia Archer BVNA Board of Directors For 2014-2015 Officers Bike Share Is On a Roll In Bella Vista Claudia Archer President By Jonathan Geeting Utilities says this indicates there Even so, we still beat the [email protected] is more demand for bike share in ’s ridership projections, and Robin Tama y the city’s count, a great Bella Vista than the two stations officials had to add more bikes Vice President many of our neighbors can satisfy. here faster than expected. have used Indego Bike [email protected] B This isn’t surprising. For “Based on higher than ex- Share, as Bella Vista is home to Jon Geeting years South has pected demand for bike share two of the busiest Indego Bike ranked nationally in the top 25 in Bella Vista, we expanded the Secretary Share stations in the city. [email protected] neighborhoods for percentage of Ridership varies depending bike commuters. See BIKE SHARE Ric Hayman on weather and the day of the Continued on Page 3 Treasurer week, but this summer there [email protected] have been over 1600 trips to and BVNA Directors from the Darien & Catharine sta- tion, and over 1400 trips to the Liana Ottaviani 11th & Washington station every [email protected] month. Matt Skolnik Looking only at ridership, [email protected] these two stations are in the Contact BVNA middle of the pack. But that only P.O. Box 63955 tells part of the story. Philadelphia, PA 19147 Among those stations serving 215-627-0057 mainly residential areas (versus www.bellavistaneighbors.org commercial corridors, or the [email protected] central business ), the station at Darien & Catharine is Follow us on Facebook the third most popular neighbor- and Twitter hood bike share stations. The Darien & Catharine sta- Sign up for tion is also more frequently in our WEEKLY an empty or full state, especially e-newsletter at during the morning and evening commuter peaks. www.bellavistaneighbors.org Cara Ferrentino at the May- or’s Office of Transportation and Indego Bike Share has proven to be a popular new addition to Bella Vista. 2 Page 2 News of Bella Vista • Fall 2015 Restoration Pays Tribute to Store’s History

By Martha Freeman the butcher shop that in time recently enough that Pether- the Wharton School. became known as the best in bridge figured there might be “I sent her an email at her malia Petherbridge had the city. The last owner of the family members around. Soon school address,” Petherbridge a good feeling about the shop was Vito Guarrera, Sal- she turned up Alexa Ellman, said. “I didn’t think she’d get Astorefront she was re- vatore’s grandson. His wife, Vito’s granddaughter. Alexa back to me. I figured she was habbing to serve as a sewing Rose, was a celebrated host- grew up in Florida but, as luck a kid and the history wouldn’t school. ess and cook. would have it, happened to be mean much to her. To my sur- The retail space on the The shop closed in 1996, in Philadelphia, studying at prise she replied immediately, southwest corner of Eighth and she was overjoyed. She and Catharine streets had had never been to the shop but deteriorated by the time she she had heard stories about started work in 2014. But the it.” tilework on the front step, Rose Guarrera died in 1992, punched tin ceilings and inte- and Vito in 2011. But through rior tile – exposed when the Alexa, Petherbridge met dry wall came down – led her Vito’s daughter, Marianne – to think a previous owner had who is Alexa’s mother -- and loved it as much as she did. his sister, Serena, who had But who was that owner? lived above the shop at one She got her answer one time and been a designer and day in line for a hoagie at Sar- dressmaker specializing in cone’s Deli. On the wall she children’s wear. Like Pether- noticed a 1990s-era map that bridge herself, she studied at identified neighborhood busi- Moore College. nesses. The one on her corner In the spring of 2015, Alexa was a butcher shop, Guarre- and her brother, Brad, Brad’s ra’s Quality Meats. wife, Veronica, and Marianne Curiosity piqued, Pether- visited the by then trans- bridge did some research and learned that in 1920 Salvatore Pictured from left to right in front of Butcher’s Sew Shop: Alexa Ellman, Brad See SEW and Anna Guarrera opened Ellman, Marianne Guarrera, Amalia Petherbridge and Veronica Ellman. Continued on Page 8

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BIKE SHARE Continued from Page 1 At community meetings this past spring, there was Darien & Catharine station strong interest in a station by 14 docks, up to 29 docks serving the Palumbo Rec- total,” Ferrentino said. reation Center, and there Given Indego’s popularity, have been recent discussions we’re probably in line for more about a South Street station stations in the next round of near Whole Foods and Super Suckling Pig Party installations in 2016. Where Fresh. should those stations go? “Based on high demand Ferrentino said that based for Bike Share at the Darien on the spatial gaps officials & Catharine station,” Fer- see in the network, it would rentino said, “we know that make sense to install new sta- another station in the heart Spanferkel tions to serve the northern of the neighborhood would section of Bella Vista and the improve service to the area South Street commercial cor- by providing additional docks Our Roasted Suckling Pig ridor. and bikes.” n is perfect for sharing served family style stuffed with house made sausage and four delicious sides: herb roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, sauerkraut & spätzle $42 Per Person Add a Beverage Package Try our $20 - 2 Hr. Bottomless Bier waffle special! $25 - 2 Hr. Bottomless Bier & Wine $30 - 2 Hr. All Inclusive Open Bar

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Direct: 215.440.8345 | WWW.MCCANNTEAM.COM | Oice: 215.627.6005 News of Bella Vista • Fall 2015 Page 5 5 Rite Aid at 801 South 9th St, Philadelphia 19147 is very proud to Ritebe part Aid ofat the801 Bella South Vista 9th St,Community. Philadelphia Please 19147 stop is byvery our proud store to to be see part the of new the Bellalook, Vistawe have Community.remodeled our Please store stop recently by our and store have to expandedsee the new our look, selections we have and remodeled added a Wellness our store recentlyAmbassador and tohave help expanded support theour Healthselections and and Wellness added of a ourWellness customers. Ambassador Also as toa reminder,help support if theyou Healthhave not and updated Wellness your of Wellnessour customers. card to Also Plenti, as a our reminder, staff is ifready you haveto assist not youupdated to update your Wellnessyour card cardfor continued to Plenti, ourbeneficial staff is rewardsready to forassist you you as ato loyal update Rite your Aid cardcustomer. for continued We look ben - eficialforward rewards to continuing for you toas bea loyal part Riteof the Aid Bella customer. Vista community We look forward for many to continuing years to come to be and part of thehope Bella to see Vista each community of you in forour many store years in the to future. come and hope to see each of you in our store in the future.

Rite Aid at 801 South 9th St, Philadelphia 19147 is very proud to be part of the Bella Vista Community. Please stop by our store to see the new look, we have remodeled our store recently and have expanded our selections and added a Wellness Ambassador to help support the Health and Wellness of our customers. Also as a reminder, if you have not updated your Wellness card to Plenti, our staff is ready to assist you to update your card for continued beneficial rewards for you as a loyal Rite Aid customer. We look

forward to continuing to be part of the Bella Vista community for many years to come and hope to see each of you in our store in the future.

6 Page 6 News of Bella Vista • Fall 2015 Clean Your 16 By Robert Bershad one such heroine. A longtime Bella Vista resident, Fitzwater lean Your 16 is a Bella Street block captain, and com- Vista Neighbors Associ- mittee person, Squillaciotti Cation initiative intended has been keeping the sidewalk to beautify the neighborhood. in front of her home clean for Look for Clean Your 16 infor- so long that is has become “au- mation and tips in the weekly tomatic.” She enjoys keeping News of Bella Vista email. (Subscribe to the email news- See CLEAN letter for free at www.bel- Continued on Page 8 lavistaneighbors.org/home/ newsletter). Clean Your 16 means keep- ing the 16 feet in front your home clean. Why 16? Because 16 feet is the width of many Philadelphia row homes. Clean sidewalks look great and even help keep your street safe. “Criminals avoid clean, well maintained streets in fa- vor of vandalized and poorly maintained ones, which signal that residents have resigned themselves to crime,” accord- ing to the Philadelphia Row- house Manual. Clean Your 16 will provide tips for keeping your side- walk clean. And it will fea- ture neighborhood heroes and heroines who lead by example. Marianne Squillaciotti is Marianne Squillaciotti, neighborhood heroine.

F A I R M I N E D & E T H I C A L L Y S O U R C E D News of Bella Vista • Fall 2015 Page 7 7 8 Page 8 News of Bella Vista • Fall 2015 CLEAN Continued from Page 6 it clean because it looks nice Cianfrani and it’s rewarding to see work Park Capital pay off so quickly - and vis- ibly. Squillaciotti also recruits Improvements neighbors to join in Philadel- phia’s Cleanup Events. She The Cianfrani Park Capital is someone who makes Bella Improvements project is sched- Vista a great place to live. uled to start in mid-October. Clean Your 16 wants your You can read all about it on suggestions for neighborhood the park bulletin board (8th & heroes and heroines and your Fitzwater) or on the Cianfrani tips to making Clean Your 16 Park blog at CianfraniPark.com. easy. Send your candidates The Friends of Cianfrani Park and tips to info@bellavista- Meetings are held in the small neighbors.org, and look for room at Palumbo Recreation them in upcoming e-newslet- Center at 7:00PM on the first ters. Tuesday of each month. All are In the meantime, Clean welcome. n Your 16! n

SEW Continued from Page 2 formed shop. the loyalty of chefs from Phila- Marianne Guarrera was delphia's finest dining estab- touched that her family’s leg- lishments. With our name, we acy was being honored, Peth- pay homage to the Guarrera erbridge said. family and to the legacy of “From what I understand, lives earned through diligent it was a pretty hard decision commitment to a craft.” for them to sell the building Speaking of the name, and close the business,” she Petherbridge had been casting continued, “and they feel re- about for just the right one. lieved that it's in the hands of When she learned the store- someone who respects what front’s history, bingo, she had they built.” it: Butcher’s Sew Shop. Petherbridge, whose un- “Now that I’m a year into dergraduate degree from Bryn having my own business,” said Mawr is in anthropology, sees Petherbridge, “I find the ac- continuity in the storefront’s complishment of maintaining use first as a butcher shop and one in a single family for al- now as a sewing school. most 80 years to be unimagi- “Sewing, which is what I’m nable.” teaching people, is a trade that Do you have a story you'd uses your hands. It’s not dis- like to share about Bella Vista similar to being a butcher,” history? Write to us at info@ she said. As her website puts bellavistaneighbors.org and it, “Guarrera's maintained a we'll try to include it in the level of excellence that earned print or e-newsletter. n

A Non-Profit Corporation BVNA is a volunteer organization. None of our members receive compensation for their service. Your involvement and contributions are essential to our success and the quality of life in our area. YES! I SUPPORT BELLA VISTA NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION, INC. I am interested in helping as (circle your choices) Newsletter sponsor $______Mail to: Contributor $______BVNA Enclosed is my check for $______PO Box 63955 Name Philadelphia, PA 19147

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