Staying Connected and Informed
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July/August 2020 The Newsletter of The Society Hill Civic Association SOCIETY HILL Reporter www.societyhillcivic.org Staying Connected and Informed Be in the Loop — Society Hill-Style Weekly Email Blast For a timelier source of neighborhood t’s vital for us to stay connected and informed information, anyone can sign up for our in these uncertain times. Here in Society Hill, I weekly email newsletter at our website or we are fortunate to have several options to keep by contacting administrator Matt DeJulio us abreast of what’s happening locally. at [email protected]. Newsletter Block Coordinators As the bimonthly voice of the Society Hill Civic SHCA initiated a Block Coordinator Program Association (SHCA), our national-award-winning in 2001 as a conduit for important information Reporter has been keeping the neighborhood communicated on short notice. We now have informed since 1958, when it began as the Society over 60 volunteers, each serving as a point person Hill News. Visit our website at www.societyhill- to pass on news such as trash collection changes, civic.org to access the Reporter’s archives for a We’re Number One! The road closures and Clean-Up Day information. fascinating glimpse of our community’s history. Reporter has again been Block coordinators also pass information back awarded first place for In normal times, the Reporter is hand-delivered to SHCA, like names of new neighbors who excellence in a national competition for neigh- to every household. Please note that concerns for might want a Welcome Basket or locations borhood newsletters. safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated of graffiti that needs cleaning. They are there publishing the May/June issue online. to communicate the community’s concerns to the SHCA Board via quadrant directors. Website In addition to full-color past and current issues During these troubling times, SHCA encourages of the news letter, our website offers access residents to share their email addresses with to infor ma tion about community resources, their block coordinators. Contact Matt for services and events. your coordinator’s name and email. TWO SIGNS OF THE TIMES Who WasWho That MaskedWas That Man? Masked Man? Humans have worn masks for almost as long as they’ve had faces. Early cultures all over the world used ceremonial masks for religious rites, celebrations of marriage, childbirth, coming of age — and death rituals. Throughout history, humans have worn masks for protection, disguise, performance and entertainment. Now, masks are everywhere you look. We’re all characters in a new worldwide release called COVID-19: Revenge of the Super Virus. You can tell the heroes in this flick; they wear masks. Many of them work in hospitals. Others spend their days making sure the rest of us ordinary citizens can get food and medicine and mail — and their packages delivered. Others work in ware- houses and factories, making and shipping our food and other essential goods. Others keep our streets and homes safe. Most people are showing their support for the heroes by wearing masks — not just in sympathy, but in the knowledge that if more of us wear masks, fewer of us will get the plague, and the sooner all of us can show our faces again. Mask wearers in Washington Square protect their own health, as well as those around them. Excerpted from an article by Bruce VanWyngarden for the Memphis Flyer page 2 society hill Reporter In This Issue… NUSA SOCIETY HILL Award-Winning Newsletter First Place Reporter 2020 Page 5 Pulling Some Positivity from a Pandemic Editor in Chief Graphic Design Sandra Rothman [email protected] Columnists Press Release Liaison Marilyn Appel c/o Matt DeJulio Claire Batten [email protected] Pages 6-7 Jane Biberman Advertising Manager Restaurants that Deliver: Claudia Carabelli Keeping them Solvent William Jantsch Al Cavalari [email protected] Matt DeJulio Mike Harris Submission Deadline Martha Levine September/October Issue: Fred Manfred August 1 Page 11 Sandra Rothman Society Hill Civic Association Keeping Posted: Larry Spector P. O. Box 63503 The Walnut Street Theater Kelsey White, Keri White Philadelphia, PA 19147 Richard De Wyngaert Tel. 215-629-1288 Contributors Website Irene Levy Baker, Viktoria Find past issues in color Lange, Tyrone Smith at www.societyhillcivic.org. Page 15 The Philadephia Navy Yard: The views set forth in the opinion articles are the views Plenty of Space to Social of the authors and are not necessarily those of SHCA. Distance Submissions If you have news that would be of interest to Society Hillers, email Sandra Rothman at [email protected]. Materials must be submitted in writing and include the name of a contact person. Page 17 Edited submissions will be considered for publication if space Washington Square: A Place permits. Letters to the Editor must be signed, with contact information. to Gather, Connect and Heal SHCA Mission Statement The aims and purposes of SHCA are: to promote the improvement of the Society Hill area of Philadelphia, including its cultural, educational and civic activities, and the preservation and restoration of its historic buildings; to represent the residents of Society Hill in matters affecting Page 20 the City of Philadel p hia generally and Society Hill in particular; and In Memoriam: to interpret the value and significance of Society Hill to the public. David Charles Auten SHCA BOARD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS (as of June 1, 2020) Quadrant Directors Page 21 President Northeast: Lorna Katz Lawson, On Our Shelf: Larry Spector Lisa Unger Island of the Sea Women 1st Vice President Northwest: Amy DeMarco, by Lisa See Mary Purcell Wendy Glazer, Bill Jantsch 2nd Vice President Southeast: Jeff Berry, Martha Levine Joe Dillon, Barbara Gelman Treasurer Southwest: Claudia Carabelli, Page 27 Brian Wengenroth Kim Williams Best Practices: Secretary Condominium Maintaining Your Ben Speciale Home’s Plumbing Representatives Directors at Large Bingham Court: Frank Chudnow Jeff Berry, Susan Collins, Hopkinson House: Robert Kramer, Andrea Layden, Concha Alborg Lorna Katz Lawson, Page 30 Independence Place: Jerry Yablin Sissie Lipton, Al Meinster, Nifty Neighbors in My Own Penn’s Landing Condos: Carla Petri McMullen, Backyard: Man on South Loretta Burton Mary Tracy American Street: Bob Curley Society Hill Towers: Terry Conn Continuing Director St. James Court: Sharon Simon Rosanne Loesch The St. James: Norm Lieberman july/august 2020 page 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY LARRY SPECTOR e are all still dealing with the stress of and Development, and two more selected by Wthe pandemic, a depressed economy and those three. Such a bill would reduce bargaining the soul searching prompted by the crying out power of RCOs. that Black Lives Matter. I trust that many of you When this issue of the Reporter is available, the have talked with family, friends and coworkers annual election of Board officers and directors on these subjects and that these discussions will have taken place via electronic ballot due will lead to actions creating better days ahead. to our inability to convene an in-person annual Meanwhile, it remains SHCA’s primary function meeting and because of a contested race for to focus on and to keep you involved in the positions of Director at Large. We hope that goings-on affecting our immediate neighborhood. we can convene an in-person annual meeting in September where members could have SHCA President We were disappointed when told by Councilman Larry Spector an overdue opportunity to speak out on any Squilla’s office that our vetoed zoning bills, since issues of interest to our community. revised, were not on the agenda for the June 17 meeting of the City Council Rules Committee. As you read this issue of the Society Hill Reporter, They would not be considered until at least I hope you appreciate the effort of those who September 2020 because, due to the pandemic, contribute to it and how well they portray in City Council would consider only legislation words and pictures the people, history and related to the city’s economic recovery efforts. current events in our neighborhood. We know Yet zoning bills sponsored by other council that Neighborhoods USA does. NUSA is a members are being processed. We also foresee national non-profit organization committed to delay on the bill we proposed to allow bike strengthening neighborhood associations and delineator posts within 60 feet of Spruce promoting their communications with both public and Pine Street intersections east of and private sectors. It annually recognizes excel- 8th Street. lence in neighborhood publications. The Society Hill Reporter is the sole winner of NUSA’s award Another bill has been proposed reportedly of First Place among all nominees nationwide because of the perception that some Registered of hard copy newsletters. It will be recognized Community Organizations (RCOs) may not as such at an NUSA annual meeting in Texas. adequately represent certain segments of their With great pride and gratitude, we congratulate neighborhood’s population. Bill 20005 provides editor Sandra Rothman, graphic designer Judy that for large impactful developments, negotia- Lamirand and advertising manager Bill Jantsch, tions to reach a Community Development and we thank those of you who contribute to, Agreement with a developer would take place not read and support the Reporter. exclusively with the RCO, but with a five-member Host Community Board consisting of one Larry Spector is an attorney handling business member appointed by the local City Councilman, disputes and related litigation. He has lived in Society one representative of the RCO, one member Hill since 1976, married, and raised two daughters appointed by the City’s Director of Planning here with wife, Ann. page 4 society hill Reporter 12th & Arch Streets parallel Philly, PA 19107 design CAL LO Find our P O designs H online.