Center City Quarterly
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CENTER CITY QUARTERLY Newsletter of the Center City Residents' Association Vol. 10 No. 4 Winter 2019 Contents It’s Academic It’s Academic Peace Education at Greene Towne Montessori ... 1 Peace Education: Part of Montessori’s Past, Center for Literacy at Peirce College ...................... 8 Preparation for a Complex Future By Nicole Leapheart, Director of Communications and Marketing, GTMS Town Square CCRA Membership News ............................................ 2 Each fall, Kindergartners at Greene Towne Volunteering at Penn’s Village Montessori School collaborate on an artistic Is a Gift to Giver ...........................................................13 message for peace that they share with the school community and Philadelphia’s Emily Grant President’s Report ........................................................ 3 Logan Square neighborhood, as a symbolic Our Greene Countrie Towne and powerful wish for the world at large. Neighborhood Beautification Through this project they join children the Acknowledgments ........................................................ 4 world over as part of the International Day What You Can Do about the Climate Crisis .......... 7 of Peace celebration. “Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Green Energy Solutions for Cities ............................ 7 Peace Day provides a globally shared Tree Tenders Play Favorites ......................................11 day for all humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute Schuylkill River Park Tree Tenders ..........................13 to building a Culture of Peace” (https:// City Lit internationaldayofpeace.org). PCI’s Programming Draws All Ages ......................... 5 Guided by Greene Towne’s art teacher, PCI Lift Contractor Chosen ......................................... 5 Some Kindergarten students show off their pinwheels for peace. Emily Grant, this year Kindergartners CCStreetwise created a mural of mixed media hearts “please” and “thank you” or “excuse me” Uniform Price Auctions for Parking Permits? ..... 8 titled “Peace Begins in the Heart,” currently when navigating the classroom. Mindfulness CCCulture installed in the school’s main lobby. The is practiced at this age with the “silence The HeArt of the City .................................................... 9 students also made Pinwheels for Peace, candle” exercise, in which a candle is lit and which they planted along Arch and Croskey there is a moment of silence as the children What’s Going On CCRA Winter Calendar ...............................................15 Streets; as the wind blows, the pinwheels reflect on students who may be absent or spin, carrying the children’s wishes for peace listen to their heartbeats to establish calm. Out & About into the world. We Are Number One! .................................................15 Older children will exercise budding conflict- House Tour Committee Seeks Volunteers...........16 More than a “feel-good” holiday, resolution skills at a designated peaceful area Montessori’s emphasis on peace is part of the classroom, such as a peace table where of Dr. Maria Montessori’s mission in the the children use a “peace flower” as a sort CENTER CITY Montessori educational philosophy and of talking stick. Children take turns holding RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION approach from its start in the early 20th the peace flower and speaking about their 1900 Market Street, 8th Floor century. Beginning with foundational lessons feelings. Quite often, after listening to one Philadelphia, PA 19103 in “Grace and Courtesy” in the Montessori another and sharing their needs, the conflict 215-546-6719 philosophy, even toddlers are instructed in is resolved and the children return to the [email protected] using respectful manners such as saying focused work of the classroom. www.centercityresidents.org Continued p. 4 Town Square CCRA Membership News CCRA is very excited to launch our enjoy some of our events for free. Our membership-driven organization, and new Residential Membership Levels fan-favorite House Tour and Celebration your support allows us to continue to be and Benefits. We will continue to offer of Center City Living are included in the people-powered voice of Center City "Senior" and "Under 35" discounted some of those levels. West. If you have any questions, levels. Plus, we will be introducing feel free to contact Travis Oliver at "Individual" AND "Family" memberships. The new membership levels will take [email protected] for We are retiring the Sustaining level. effect January 6, 2020. For current more information. All membership levels offer the same members, you will have a greater benefits, such as local merchant discounts, selection when it is time to renew Please refer to the Residential weekly e-newsletters, and the quarterly your membership. From Individual Membership Benefits chart below and see newsletter. We will continue to offer 3 Memberships to Legend Memberships, what the membership levels include. higher-level memberships with new and you are sure to find the package enhanced benefits, allowing people to that's right for you. CCRA is truly a ResidentialResidential Membership Membership Benefits Benefits Under 35 Senior Individual Family* Patron* Angel* Legend* $40 $45 $55 $85 $200 $500 $1000 Receives 1 membership card ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Receives Weekly Enewsletter and Center ● ● ● ● ● ● ● City Quarterly (CCQ) newsletters A voting member in membership meetings ● ● ● ● ● ● ● (excluding board meetings) Merchant Member Discounts ● ● ● ● ● ● ● CCQ Recognition (optional) ● ● ● Recognition at Annual Meeting, Website**, ● ● ● and other Social Media (optional) 1 free ticket to House Tour ● ● 1 free ticket to Celebration ● $50 donated to Neighborhood ● Beautification Campaign $100 donated to Neighborhood ● Beautification Campaign 2 free tickets to Celebration AND House ● Tours 2 free tickets to any standard CCRA event ● * Each Family, Patron, Angel, and Legend Member (over the age of 21) will receive their own membership card. Maximum members are 4 in these categories. ** Patron level will be recognized on website only. Page 2 Center City Quarterly | Winter 2019 CCRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President’s Report Maggie Mund ........................................ President Donna Cordner.............Executive Vice President New Year, New Agenda Philippa Campbell ........................Vice President Since becoming should help address congestion in Barbara Halpern ...........................Vice President Nicolini Andres president of CCRA, the neighborhood Charles Robin ................................Vice President it has become Robin Sweet ...................................Vice President increasingly apparent to • Adopted CCRA Policy to join Richard Gross ........................................Secretary me that most members, Neighbors’ Zoning Board of even longtime Adjustment Appeals Lauren O’Donnell ................. Assistant Secretary supporters, have little Matthew Schreck...................................Treasurer idea of what CCRA • Adopted a CCRA Mission Statement DIRECTORS (term ending) Maggie Mund really does. So, while that clarifies our value to the Guy Aiman (2020) Douglas Mellor (2021) CCRA President the Board discusses and community (see sidebar pg 4) Michael Bowman (2020) Harvey Ostroff (2021) debates important policies, developments Elena Cappella (2021) Lea Oxenhandler (2020) and possible actions every month, unless • Adopted the recommendations of the Paula Cohen Buonomo Nathaniel Parks (2021) you’re “in the room where it happened” Membership Committee restructuring (2020) Paul Rathblott (2022) you might be in the dark. In an effort to CCRA residential membership levels Jane Epstein (2020) Nanette Robinson (2022) make CCRA activities more transparent so and benefits Michele Ettinger (2022) David Rose (2022) members and friends can stay informed, Kate Federico (2022) Dawn Willis (2022) we have begun to circulate monthly Board • Adopted an Extraordinary Zoning Ayanna Haskins (2021) Benjamin Zuckerman agendas and meeting summaries in the Committee Policy, whereby the Amy Jared (2021) (2020) weekly eNews. And beginning with the standard operating procedures Susan Kahn (2022) September Board meeting, complete of the zoning committee may be COMMUNICATIONS & Board packages are posted on the website altered because the proposal may be OPERATIONS MANAGER http://www.centercityresidents.org/Board- controversial and of significant interest Travis W. Oliver Meeting-Information. Check it out! and importance to residents, businesses, HOUSE TOUR CHAIR or other entities beyond those in Kathleen Federico For now, here is a look at the official actions the proximate neighborhood of the taken by CCRA’s Board between September property in question COUNSEL Stanley R. Krakower and November. Additionally, in these three months CCRA ZONING CO-CHAIRS (sit on Executive Committee) • Adopted two Community Development board members worked assiduously Wade Albert and Benefit Agreements with both on issues related to streets, trash and Samuel Gordon Parkway Corporation (for the proposed congestion, homelessness, historic PAST PRESIDENTS (active) Morgan Lewis office tower at 23rd and preservation and designation, the Blatstein Wade Albert Eugene Dichter Market) and Brandywine Realty Trust event, the Spring House and Garden Tour, Charles Goodwin Samuel Weinberg (for a proposed mixed-use development other liquor license issues, and zoning Jeff Braff Wm. J. D. Jordan in the