| 1 President’s Message by Bruce Holberg, President, Society Hill Towers Owners Association eptember seems to be identified several offsetting deliveries. This has maxed out Sa pretty musical month. economies. Our goal is a our package storage capacity There is “See you in Septem- minimal increase, if any, for and caused larger packages such SOCIETY ber,” “September in the Rain” 2020. We will present our as furniture, rugs, TVs, and (as it’s doing as I write), budget later in the year. tires (yes…tires) to sit in our lobbies, cluttering these places HILL TOWERS ”September Song” (thank As for the HVAC project, for days on end. At our Open you Mr. Sinatra), and it is we have decided to begin Meeting on October 2nd, 2019 Earth Wind and Fire’s favorite replacing certain ceiling piping news (7:30 p.m. in the Community month. Council is spending on the 17th floor of all three Room) we will be proposing a this lyrical month working buildings. We had anticipated new policy with the twin goals harmoniously on our budget doing this in later years, and September, 2019 of preventing such objects for next year, including capital although there is no particular Issue 337 from becoming unsightly improvements, planning two urgency, it makes common and potentially hazardous, more phases of the HVAC sense to do the project now and speeding up the delivery project, developing a new rather than later. STEEVco of other, smaller packages. policy regarding how to best Construction will begin work We will be seeking your input handle packages, and preparing in the north tower this month, before finalizing the policy. for our annual fall Open Meet- and the west tower either the ing to be held on October 2nd. first of the year, or a bit later, Additionally, we will discuss With regard to the budgets, depending on the weather. the state of the One Dock Street we are well aware that the SageWater will do the same appeal, which was heard in percentage increase in your project in the south tower Common Pleas Court on monthly fee was substantial contemporaneously with their September 12th. The going into 2019. You may riser replacement. Work in remainder of the agenda will recall that was due almost the south tower is set to begin consist of items you want to entirely to a sharp increase in in late September or early discuss. Please attend! electricity costs. Throughout October. More details have So, the laziness of summer this year, we made a thorough been, and will continue to is gone and the rhythm of study of the situation utilizing be, furnished to the affected life in the fall is picking up. our staff and a consultant, and 17th-floor owners. Maybe that’s a reason there engaged PECO in our efforts According to Brett Scioli, are so many songs about this to see if there was a mistake Executive Assistant to the transitional month. I can think in our billing. Unfortunately, General Manager (and “GM of half a dozen solid titles… there was no change in the Elect”), SHT residents received how about you? numbers. We don’t anticipate over 15,000 deliveries in the seeing an increase like that first half of the year! The vast Bruce Holberg Photograph by Bonnie Halda in the year ahead and have majority were UPS or FedEx President, SHTOA n In this Issue Wednesday, October 2nd Thursday, September 26 Movie Group, page 2 Annual Fall Open Meeting Friday, September 27 7:30 p.m. Wine Tasting, page 3 Society Hill Towers Community Room Friday, October 4th Come to the Open Meeting Blood Drive, page 5 and learn about Capital Improvements, Saturday, October 12 and the next two phases of the HVAC project. Shredding, page 6 Plus, we’ll be seeking yourinput Friday, October 18th on the new Package Delivery Policy. Penn’s 375 Birthday, page 7 How can we reduce clutter in our lobbies? 22 | Society Hill Towers News Thursday, September 26th “Miracle of Miracles” Movie Group Meeting By Bob Uris he Movie Group will be Ritz Five. Of course it’s it’s performed Tdiscussing “Fiddler: A about “Fiddler on the Roof,” somewhere in Miracle of Miracles” at its a wonderful musical about the world every upcoming meeting to be held tradition and change that day, resonating on Thursday, September 26, opened 50 years ago. The everywhere. at 7:30 p.m. in the Community creators of “Fiddler” thought It should Room. “Fiddler: A Miracle it might only be appreciated provide for a of Miracles” is playing at the by Ashkenazi Jews, but in fact great discussion. n SOCIETY HILL TOWERS news Monday Mornings With Donna By Donna Cotzen Published by Welcome Exercisers Society Hill Towers Owners’Association e will be starting our exercise types including Pilates you can modify using a chair 285 St. James Place W exercise class again on and yoga. For part of the time or asking us to help you get Philadelphia, PA 19106 Monday, September 30th from we will use body bands, which up and down. We are happy 215-923-4105 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Com- I supply. All you need to bring to help you! Council Officers munity Room. This class focuses is your mat and your energy. Please join us. I look forward Bruce Holberg on stretching and toning, and Part of the time we are on the to being with you again. n President we do a combination of floor. If that presents a problem Jerrold “Jim” Moss Vice President Jeremy Siegel Calling all Residents Treasurer Wendy Handler Secretary Send In Your Ideas for Activities Council Members Ben Avicolli ociety Hill Towers has about activities community helpful if you have a suggestion Maggie Schultz San ongoing Activities members would enjoy. We of a volunteer co-facilitator. J Otis Smith Committee composed of welcome your ideas for All of our activities are resident Management volunteers. Part of its role activities! They can be one-time volunteer led. Please send Beverly Shien Sherman is to encourage activities for events or ongoing activities. your ideas to ddalicandro@ General Manager the benefit of our residents. Our only restriction is that societyhilltowers.com in the Design We also provide ideas to they not be events that would office. Thanks for supporting Judy Lamirand volunteers and council promote a single business. It is our activities. n Editor / Designer, ParallelDesign Scholarships Awarded to Staff Family Members Editor’s note: In the article about I.M. Pei published in he Scholarship Committee, The awardees are Rafiq Paris the July 2019 issue Tcomprised of Peter Conn, and Kenyotta Brown-Kidd. of this newsletter it William Johnson, and Annie Rafiq, grandson of Security was implied that the Westcott, selected two students Officer Yac Anderson, will be three sculptures at from among the children and attending Lincoln University. the Fountain Circle were created by grandchildren of our staff Kenyotta will be attending Jacques Lipschitz. members to receive this year’s Clark Atlanta University in In fact, these three scholarship awards. Georgia. Kenyotta is the son sculptures are the of Desk Clerk Leon Kidd. work of Leonard Rafiq Paris and Kenyotta Brown-Kidd Baskin. Photo by J Otis Smith September, 2019 | 3 Friday, September 27th Seasons Change, Wine is Eternal By Tom Newman n what is destined to become The Tower Tastings, organized guests, so the chefs will prepare Ia cherished Towers tradition, by residents on an all-volunteer enough snacks for everyone. on Friday, September 27th at basis under the aegis of the For more information, and 6 p.m. we will lift a glass to the Activities Committee, provide to register, sign-up forms are conclusion of another wonderful an education in the wonders available from your desk season with an outdoor wine of the grape, suitable for any- clerk, at the office or on tasting at the pool. The admission one with an interest in learning BuildingLink. n fee (to cover expenses) is $25 about wine, regardless of your and includes an always-gener- prior knowledge. It’s a perfect ous selection of excellent fine opportunity to meet new wines, perfect for the season. incoming residents, catch up with neighbors who sum- Fabulous homemade hors mer down the shore, or just d’oeuvres prepared by acclaimed take in the evening glow with Towers home chefs will pair your friends. There was univer- with the wines so you can fully sal agreement that the spring appreciate the affinity of food tasting at the pool was achingly and wine. You will relish the beautiful. If you missed that, late summer warmth with guest here is your do-over. experts, who will be on hand to help you train and delight If you can join in the fun, your taste buds. please sign up ahead, including Guests enjoyed wine at the spring Towers Tasting. Photo by Tom Newman. “Let’s Talk” Returns After Summer Break Talking About Transportation By Jo Holz hiladelphia Inquirer looming financial crisis which P reporter and Towers the city faces with the sunset of resident Jason Laughlin spoke laws that mandate significant to a packed house about the revenue payments from the problems and possibilities Turnpike Authority to city ahead for Philadelphia’s transit public transportation. The will share her experiences Jason Laughlin spoke system at the latest “Let’s Talk” audience listened intently as dancing the tango around about Philadelphia’s transit system at a recent speaker series meeting on the subject clearly resonated the world, and there may even “Let’s Talk” lecture.