July 2008,Vol
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July 2008,Vol. 37, No. 7 Manager’s Corner Ogontz Store Open for Business, Grand Opening Set for July 1 by Glenn Bergman, General Manager by Jay Winston PHOTO BY We have all worked hard over the last Weavers Way Ogontz, the Co-op’s new J few years to make this co-op a viable busi- OSH location in West Oak Lane, is now open for ness for our members, but also for our G business. Two weeks prior to the July 1 IGLIN community here in Mt. Airy and the North- Grand Opening, Store Manager Luis Cruz west section. I am proud when I read about and Assistant Manager Anton Goldschnei- all of the grants given out through our En- der opened the doors for a soft opening. vironment Committee to many neighbor- While they have been working out the kinks hood groups that are not asking for a lot, and ironing out the wrinkles, word about but just want to get out there on a Saturday the new store has quickly spread. Business or Sunday to clean a park, plant trees, or has been somewhat erratic, but at times just help make their neighborhood better. customers have lined up out the door. With The vast number of people who have sent the help of new Weavers Way Ogontz their plastic and cardboard recycling to our staffers Bernadette Jackson, Marcus once a month collection site have helped Spencer, and Renee Champion, Luis and make this program work. People from all Anton have kept things moving smoothly. walks of life and different socioeconomic “The enthusiasm has been great,” says levels working together and getting a Cruz. “We’ve already had repeat customers, chance to interact and mingle, even for only and even requests to open Sunday, so a few minutes. Teaching our kids that recy- maybe we’ll think about that some more, a cling can be done as a community event, STORE MANAGER LUIS CRUZ (R) AND ASSISTANT MANAGER ANTON little bit down the road.” and that we are not alone. GOLDSCHNEIDER (CENTER) LEEP UP WITH A STEADY STREAM OF CUSTOMERS “At this stage it’s more about building a This month, after many years, the AT THE NEW WEAVERS WAY OGONTZ STORE. rapport with the community than building Weavers Way recycling program comes to lot of feedback from the customers already, all the great, healthy food and fresh produce. sales,” says Josh Giblin, who has been an end. The city says it will be accepting and we’ve already made some changes Weavers Way Ogontz is located at 2129 working hard getting the store ready for plastic and cardboard. Let’s hope they will based on that. We’re trying to respond to 72nd Ave., at the corner of 72nd and Wal- opening. “But sales have been growing.” and that this works well. I am sure that the requests as quickly as possible.” nut Lane, just off Ogontz Avenue. Hours The product lines carried at the small WW Environment Committee will want to Cruz reports strong interest in member- are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sat- store are still being tweaked and adjusted. hear from you about the program and make ship among shoppers at the new store, but urday. “We’re definitely still revamping the prod- sure that we are not giving up something mostly people are still just enthusiastic about For more information, call 215-276- uct lines,” explains Cruz. “We’ve received a (continued on page 4) having the store open and having access to 0706. Lively Debate on Bylaw Changes at Ground Broken at MLK Farm Spring General Membership Meeting PHOTOT BY PHOTO BY ROBIN S OL L EVY C ANNICLE AFTER ENJOYING A LAVISH SPREAD AND A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH EACHOTHER, MEMBERS HEARD A PRESENTATION ON EXPANSION AND VOTED ON BYLAW CHANGES AND NEW BOARD MEMBERS by Jay Winston nouncements, including the information that a sign language interpreter will now be On Sat., May 17, as Weavers Way held available for Co-op meetings as needed, its Spring General Membership Meeting at and approval of minutes from the fall 2007 Summit Presbyterian Church, Co-op Presi- General Membership Meeting. Co-op Pur- dent Stu Katz emphasized the importance BREAKING GROUND AT THE SEEDS FOR LEARNING FARM (L-R): EMILIO MATTICOLI, chasing Manager Norman Weiss then paid of keeping a vision of our ability to change CHIEF OF STAFF, FOUNDATIONS, INC.; CHARLES IRELAND, HOUSE PRINCIPAL, tribute to Weavers Way founder Jules the world. At the same time, some mem- MARTIN LUTHER KING HIGH SCHOOL; PENNSYLVANIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE Timerman and presented an inscribed bers may have found themselves agreeing WIGHT VANS CHOOL EFORM OMMISSION HAIRWOMAN ANDRA UNGEE bench in his honor. The bench is now in D E ; S R C C S D with the sentiments of the first song played front of the store. GLENN; FOUNDATIONS, INC. CEO RHONDA LAUER; OARC PRESIDENT AND CEO during the meet, eat, and greet, “You Can’t Getting into the business of the meet- JACK KITCHENS; FOUNDATIONS, INC. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL SERVICES Always Get What You Want.” While the ing, Vice President Nancy Weinman meeting was largely harmonious, with pre- SHERRINE WILKINS; AND WWCP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RACHEL MILENBACH. brought up proposed changes in Co-op by- sentations on expansion and the Weavers sounds clearly drew the attention of atten- laws, initiating the some of the liveliest and by Barbara Sherf Way farm and board member elections, dees and the array of television crews, re- most contentious discussions of the As groundbreaking ceremonies for the strong disagreements and concerns were porters and photographers on hand. evening. Most of the recommended Seeds for Learning program at the Martin voiced concerning changes in bylaws. “No, you don’t have to duck,” said changes involved minor and largely uncon- Luther King High School in Germantown The meeting began with general an- Sherrine Wilkins, Executive Director, got underway June 13, the “pop, pop, pop” (continued on page 6) School Services, Foundations, Inc. as the audience jumped at the sound of the bal- Weavers Way Cooperative Association Presorted Standard loons popping due to the heat. “This is a 559 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119 U.S. new era at Martin Luther King High. You Inside: www.weaversway.coop POSTAGE will see firsthand the growth here, the seeds Product News 3 PAID of change through the Seeds for Learning Philadelphia, PA Permit No. 2658 program.” She thanked the media for cov- Election Results 7 ering a positive story in the neighborhood Film Series 8 where television crews typically arrive fol- lowing a shooting or violent crime. Others Suggestions 24 echoed her remarks. And of course... scads more (continued on page 20) PAGE 2 THE SHUTTLE JULY 2008 Editor’s Note PHOTO BY by Jonathan McGoran D AVID We have a new store Z ELOV in West Oak Lane, a new farm at Martin Luther King High School, a new Farm in Full Summer Swing board of directors, but the big news is ...stinkbugs. Not just any by David Zelov, Weavers Way Farmer $6,600 in 2008. This is old stink bugs, because that wouldn’t really Summer is here, and with it comes heat mainly due to three be news; I’m talking about those big Chi- and an abundance of fresh produce from things: growing many nese stinkbugs that first showed up in my the farm. Yes, that’s right; you’ll no longer greens we did not grow house three years ago. We found a picture have to subsist on greens and root crops last year, having more of them in my son’s “big book of bugs.” alone! In fact some of the greens will be space to grow early in Shield bugs, they were called, and they disappearing until the cooler fall tempera- the season, and selling at PHOTO BY were cute, in a buggish kind of way. The tures arrive, but will be replaced by green farmers’ markets (where S book didn’t say anything about them being beans, carrots, eggplant, okra, onions, pep- we get retail price for OL L stink bugs or exotic invasives. And it didn’t pers, and 15 varieties of heirloom toma- our veggies). We had EVY tell us that they would be soon be climbing toes, certain to please the most discerning record sales during the up curtains, bouncing off light fixtures, palate. Hopefully the weather will continue first couple weeks of the and falling into un-watched beverages. to be seasonally appropriate and these Headhouse market – Yecch! crops will grow well. over $1,100 in one par- I did a little research and was shocked Though we had a warmer than usual ticular day (over the to learn they were an invasive species and April, May brought with it some wonderful course of about 2 ½ that in a few short years they had spread spring-like temperatures and rainfall that hours, actually). Not all across most of Pennsylvania in great num- gave us gorgeous greens and beautiful of the produce vendors bers. Suddenly, they seemed downright sin- broccoli, and also kept the flea beetles at were selling yet, so we ister. And I hadn’t even smelled them yet. bay. Regular intervals of rain helped to were almost the only That treat didn’t happen until just a keep the soil moist for direct-seeded root source of fresh greens, couple of months ago, on one of those, crops and also helped establish our spring and we sold just about FARM INTERN NICOLE SUGERMAN DELIVERS PRODUCE TO “There’s a Blackhawk helicopter buzzing planted summer crops.