The Inquirer
Want to know what’s on the minds of our metro columnists, or tell them An inspiration Pa.orthopedist what’s on yours? Join the mashup, at philly.com/blinq and awinner. B2 is rebuked. B4
B Wednesday, May4,2011 ★ Section B Pa.legislators tell of gifts they accepted
Disclosurereports show and galas. Dinners galore. Even in these belt-tightening times, tickets, travel, meals,and such gifts and travel are all part of the Football, Music, Shamrocks, and More trophies, althoughsome life of aPennsylvania legislator, ac- cording to the latest statements of fi- Dwight Domenic John Pippy took onlytheir paycheck. nancial interest filed with the State EthicsCommission. Evans Pileggi Trips to Beijing and New Delhi: By Angela Couloumbis In annual filings that were due Mon- One ticket to Conference on $19,340. INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU day, some elected officials reported Eagles playoff “The European and LauraOlson no gain in 2010 aside from the pay- game: $670. Union and the Trips to PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE check that comes with the job. Northern Ireland Twotickets to Euro” in Dublin, HARRISBURG —Conference trips Others accepted meals, trips, and and Academy of Ireland: $2,147. to faraway places like China, India, assorted trinkets. Senate Majority Switzerland: Music gala: and Ireland. Tickets to pro football Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Dela- $12,292. $2,000. games. Passes for pricey receptions See GIFTS on B11 Cultivating anetwork Pa.DEP’s Mexican Philadelphians use cornmeal to aid their homeland. drilling
By MichaelMatza INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Heads bowed, worn sacks of seeds slung violations across their shoulders, the farmers of San Mateo Ozolco toil to exhaustion, planting and harvestingcorn by hand near an ac- tivevolcano 50 miles from Mexico City. Barely eking out $7 aday, they feel the curbgone pull of jobs in America, where minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. The incentive to cross the border, legally or otherwise, is Inspectors no longer have to get almost irresistible, even though the Unit- ed States is hundreds of miles away. clearancefromthe agency’s chief. In the last decade, an estimated 2,500 of San Mateo’s 4,500 residents have moved By Craig R. McCoyand Joseph Tanfani to the Philadelphia region to find work, INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS according to aLatino advocacy group. The state Department of Environmental “People are sucked here” because of Protection has killed acontroversial direc- need, said Zac Steele, director of Juntos, tive that required all of its shale-gas drill- based in South Philadelphia. “It is not a ing inspectors to get approval from the choice that people want to make. It is an agency’s chief before issuingviolations. economic necessity to be able to support Katy Gresh, the agency’s spokeswoman, their loved ones.” said the DEP’s top staff had reaffirmed to “Blue Corn Alianza” aims to slow the field inspectors that they have the full pow- exodus by giving San Mateo’s young men er to write up polluters without getting an economic reason to remain on their prior approval from DEP secretary Mi- home soil —growing astrain of corn as chael Krancer. old as Aztec civilization, for export to She said acontroversial March 23 e-mail Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jer- to agency workers —meant to be internal sey. but leaked to the media —had been badly “The idea is to empower people, here written in saying that Krancer would have and there,” said Steele, “and create afair- “final clearance” over citations. trade network.” “The secretary’s intent was not clearly Created by about two dozen “Mexadel- communicated” at the time of the memo, phians” who once lived in San Mateo,the Gresh said Tuesday. All Krancer was seek- project will pay farmers up to 150 percent ing was to ensure that he was notified of of the domestic price for blue cornmeal, regulatory actions, Gresh said. which sells for $1.25 apound in Mexico Jeff Schmidt, director of the Pennsylva- and is consumed in tortillas and porridges nia chapter of the Sierra Club and one of as traditional comfort food. several critics of the original directive, The first shipment of 1,100 pounds of said Tuesday that the DEP was now gener- the meal —called potehtli in the Aztec ating atale of “smoke and mirrors” to pre- dialect, and pinole in modern Spanish — tend there had been no reversal. See CORNMEAL on B11 In the original March 23 e-mail, atop Kranceraide wrote that “effective immedi- ately,”all violations must first be sent to him and another senior aide —with “final clearance” from Krancer, the new agency chief as anominee of incoming Gov. Cor- See SHALE on B7 Longtime
MAX MATZA Phila.butcher Alfonso Rocha (right), an organizer of Blue HARVEY FINKLE Corn Alianza, points to blue-corn offerings Farmers of San Mateo Ozolco, Mexico, members of Amigos De Ozolco Cooperative, plant corn. at the Cinco de Mayo festival in Phila. The town is in the shadow of Popocatepetl, an active volcano. pulls up stakes
Moneywoesafactor in HarryG. Therecording of theincidentled Ochs’leaving Reading Terminal. The human cost Haverfordpolicetocharge threeworkers By MichaelKlein at theQuadrangle nursing-carefacility. PHILLY.COM of schools’cheating Facing eviction, the century-old Harry G. Ochs &Sons butcher shop has vacated its stand at Reading Terminal Market. Ihad flashbacks over the weekend read- Hidden camerashows The denouement of aPhiladelphia retail ing about the mysterious, miraculoustest- landmark came quietly, after closing time score gains at Theodore RooseveltMiddle Monday, when owner Nicholas Ochs re- School in East Germantown. movedsigns, his butcher’s block, and per- As reported by my colleagues Kristen staffabuse of patient sonaleffects from the stand. Graham and Dylan Purcell, Roosevelt —a Afew hours later, his wife posted news of persistently dangerous school where near- Ochs’ relocation on Reading Terminal’s Face- ly nine in 10 students dwell in povertyand By Mari A. Schaefer sent Mary French and her husband, book page. Ochs is now an employee of Main afourth receive special-ed services — INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Paul, to their computer. Street Market in Manayunk, managing the jumped an astonishing 52 points in math Almost from the time Lois McCal- “I Googled hidden camera,” Paul butcher operation there at Main and Grape and 51 points in reading on the critically lister was moved to the dementia French said Tuesday. With afew Streets, effective Tuesday morning. Four of important statewide assessments known as unit at the Quadrangle nursing- more keystrokes and $250 on a his employees are also working there. the PSSAs. care facility, her daughter says credit card, he bought ananny cam Ochs’ sudden departure surprised Read- The stunning two-year turnaround bested all comparable there were troubling signs. to secretly placeinhis mother-in- ing Terminal Market management, which in Philadelphia public schools and earned Roosevelt’s principal Her mother’s $5,000 hearing aids law’sroom. February sued Ochs, alleging that he owed gold stars from Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and then- went missing, Mary French said. Afew nights later, the couple sat more than $21,000 in rent and utilities on the Gov. Ed Rendell. If only the success story didn’t read like Staff members were overheard with their laptop and watched in prime spot that his father had operated in such afantasy to Roosevelt teachers claiming the triumph is shouting at one another. Insurance horror as three caregivers hit and the center of the market since 1947. the result of cheating. forms, to be filled out by the staff, pulled on ahalf-naked McCallister. The eviction notice was just one issue. In interviews, the teachers described an anything-goes cul- went unfinished. The recording of the incident led On April 4, the business filed for protec- ture when it came to the state tests. They said they were But it was her mother’s claim Haverford police to bring charges tion under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankrupt- See PRINCIPAL on B6 that people were hitting her that See CARE on B8 See OCHS on B8 B6 B www.philly.com THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Wednesday, May4,2011
Commentary By Monica Yant Kinney DONATE YOUR CAR *100% TaxDeductible Ahuman cost when schools cheat *FreePick-Up
PRINCIPAL from B1 revealedthat he’d been pres- mands of the federal No fused Philadelphia principal Support encouraged to drill specific sured to cook test books in 2005 Child Left Behind Act. who thought Carruth might concepts known to be on the at the magnet school filled with be just the man for an impos- exams, ano-no. On test day, Camden’sbest and brightest. Awhite hat, blacklisted siblytall task. Our Veterans they saw answers scrawled Carruth refused the order, “You’re asking me if Ire- “She was really worried on blackboards and watched but Brimm’s scores still gret it, right?” Carruth clari- about losing her job and said 1-800-Help-Vets an administrator return com- jumped acurious 21 fies when Icall him ‘If we keep failing, they’re go- pleted booklets to students to percent that year. this week at home ing to close us down.’ ”here- fix mistakes. Three months af- in Delaware. calls. “She misunderstood my www.HelpOurVeterans.org One teacher recalled an ter Carruth went pub- “Professionally?” story and thought I had cheat- alarming scene in the school lic, he was fired over He pauses. “Unfor- ed. Because she said, ‘I’m library: Roosevelt’s principal loud protest from tunately, yes,” he tempted to bring you on and sitting and chatting with stu- grateful students declares with a let you get our scores up!’ ” Bonjour! dents as they took the test. and stunned support- sigh, explaining Carruth, now 43, laughs faint- Three paragraphs into the ers. how doing the right ly at his peculiar predicament. story, Ifelt like I’d been trans- As predicted, thing cost him ev- He long-ago exhausted unem- ported to Camden, circa 2006, Brimm’s subsequent erything. ployment and supports his wife at the dawn of the cheating scores tumbled, lend- “If Iwas those and two daughters with help scandal that stained asimilarly ing more credence to Philly teachers, I from family and friends. He struggling school district. Carruth’s charges. Joe Carruth blew probably wouldn’t spends time each day reading In both cases, educators An investigation con- the whistle on go public.” the Bible wondering “Who or seemingly lost their minds in cluded that ahigh- cheating, then Ayear after he what does God want me to be?” the quest to meet lofty ranking district offi- lost his job. was fired, Carruth If he’s ever going to work in a AL’ECOLE FRANCAISE achievement goals. But this cial tampered with landed ajob as avice school again, Carruth needs to time, the whistle-blowers the 2005 tests after principal at aPhila- win his whistle-blower lawsuit Where YouWill Enjoy Your came forward anonymously. Carruth balked. But, inexplica- delphia charter school. But awaiting trial in Camden. But, French Classes &Amaze Yourself! They knew better.Call it the bly, that guilty man was al- that, too, was short-lived. The he notes, reinstatement could Joe Carruth effect. lowed to remain on the payroll. former math teacher has amas- come with anew set of political- alecolefrancaise.com Since then, cheating scan- ter’s degree in administration, ly imposed ethical dilemmas. The price for doing right dals have erupted from coast has nearly finished his doctor- “Now they’re talking about 610.660.9645 Surely you remember Car- to coast, with chagrined ate, and is certified in two linking teacher pay to student ruth, the rookie principal at school officials blaming what states, but hasn’t worked in performance,” Carruth frets. Brimm Medical Arts High who they see as unrealistic de- three years. “Don’t people see that’s areci- Government Insured Loans Carruth believes he’s been pe for disaster?” blacklisted for wearing the No Equity, No Appraisal, No Down Payment WET BASEMENTS STINK white hat. He’s applied for “400 Reach me at The US Deparrtment of Housing&Urban Development (HUD)()under Title One or 500 jobs,” but suspects that [email protected] or of the National HousingAct, has made it possible for families to improve their Mold, mildew and water leaking into your basement causes homes where financial considerations might have otherwise made it impossible. health and foundation damage. What can be done to fix districts cutting corners see 215-854-4670. Read me at the problem? Allstate American Waterproofing is an hon- him as asnitch, asecurity risk philly.com/blinq. Connect on Homeowners may qualify immediately for up to: est, hardworking local company.Wewill give you aFREE not even worth an interview. Facebook and Twitter at evaluation and estimate and afair price. We have repaired Well, there was one con- philly.com/kinney. thousands of basements in the area; we can provide local $25,000 references. When your neighbors needed water proofing, they called Allstate American. Why don’t you? Call now to receive a20% discount with your FREE inspection. No Equity or Appraisal Required. National Home Improvement Lenders and Private Investors Fire chief reprimands have made it possible for families to make major improvements to their homes..... CALL 1-800-420-7783 NOW! without whose help it might not have been possible. WWW.DRYFLOOR.COM You may be eligible NOW...no matter how long you have owned your house, ethnic fireman forsexyphoto background, location, condition, income, age &martial status. Approved Remodeling Projects: Model &Actor Search •Vinyl Siding •Heating •Sunrooms •Decks By RobertMoran Seattle, and St. Louis. •Additions •Roofing •Kitchens •Doors INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Only Philadelphia has IMTA •Bathrooms •Windows •Basements •Electrical Philadelphia’s fire commis- made an issue of afirefigh- International Model &Talent Association scouting actors &models sioner decided Tuesday that ter’s modeling for the calen- •Plumbing •GarageDoors •Other projects can be approved for major national &international agencies. Fashion, soaps, afirefighter could return to dar, which is set for release No Down Payment Required. LowMonthly Payments. TV series &major films. Opportunity to be seen by top agencies his elite unit after getting into this summer. in our industry. All ages &types. trouble last month for posing Kostreva said that she Call Now To See If YouQualifyFor This Program Neshaminy Mall for asexy firefighters calen- hoped to work something out dar, officials said. with the city, but that she also HUD/FHA Insured Loans May 7th &8th Mall Hours Jack Slavinski, 31, posed had no plans to remove Call 610-337-2693 for Scheduled Times shirtless at the Swann Memo- Slavinski. 888-990-8886888-224-2217 rial Fountain forthe calen- NJPA 064053LIC#06405313VH00172300NJNJ13VH00068590013VH00685900 dar, whichwill feature fire- Contact staff writer Robert Moran Important Notice: Loans are originated through athird-party Insurance company. HUD/FHA does fighters from cities around at 215-854-5983 or not originate loans; they only insure them, and does not favor any lender. HUD/FHA does not allow the country. The photogra- [email protected]. consolidation of your bills. DiamondAmericanIndustriesIcon is not connected to, or endorsed by the FHA or HUD pher, Katherine Kostreva, in any way. has made similar calendars with New York firefighters. Slavinski was expecting that the modeling gig would NEW HEARING AID CENTER make $10,000 for alocal fund that helps the widows of fire- fighters, aunion official said. Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, however, said it was aviola- tion of department policy and transferred Slavinski from Rescue 1toanengine compa- ny in Overbrook. “The commissioner’s posi- tion is that we’reinthe safety business, not the beefcake business,” said Mark Mc- Donald, spokesman for May- or Nutter. Slavinski appeared at a Get your home ready for thesummer! hearing Tuesday and was fac- ing three disciplinary charg- es,said union official Mike SAVE UP TO SYSTEM TUNE UP Kane. In asurprise move, Ayers appeared at the hearing and OFF ONLY agreed to simply give Slavins- $500 $99 ki an oral reprimand and reas- sign him back to Rescue 1. RICHARD CLCLAFFEYAFFEY,BC/HISC/HS Kane said he had participat- Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences InstallationofaNew Full Inspection ed in more than 50 such hear- AirConditioning andCleaning ingsand “it was the first time System Includes standardfilter the commissioner walked Save$100 on every $1000 New Customers Only into the room and talked to Purchase up to $5000 Price is per system, under 5tons. anybody.” CHESTER HEIGHTS Residential customers only.Discounted Slavinski’s appearance in rate cannot be combined with any other Not valid with other offers or offer –service does not include high the calendar, which has yet to prior purchases. efficiency filter replacement be published, remains in HEARING AID CENTER,LLC. doubt. The city is weighing Hurry,both offers end June 16, 2011. PA #026423 whether to take legal action to preventhis photo from be- 327 W. Baltimore Pike (Rte 1Sth.) 610.491.9400 ing used, McDonald said. Kostreva, the photogra- 856.669.0200 pher, said the other cities in LocustHill Professional Center, Flr #1 SCHEDULEONLINE AT the calendar included New ChesterHeights, PA 19063 sila-air.com York, Chicago, San Francisco, 484.574.8777 Fax: 484.574.8828 •30Years in Hearing Industry •World Class Hearing Aid Products •Free Office Service After Sale •Home Service Available •Free Hearing Tests &Product Demo’s •30Day Trial
WELCOMETOOUR HOME. PLEASE CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. The Inquirer
Want to know what’s on the minds of our metro columnists, or tell them Area votes in Providing prom what’s on yours? Join the mashup, at philly.com/blinq Congress. B5 finery. Kevin Riordan, B2
A Sunday, May15, 2011 ★ Section B What’s at stakefor region’s voters Tuesday Many active races in Phila. Aquiet season in suburbs
By Marcia Gelbart Sestak and Hoeffel. By LarryKing mary elections become coronations.” INQUIRER STAFF WRITER But none of it may add up to much INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Warren’s angst aside, it has been a The mayor’s race may be aforegone Tuesday, with political insiders project- Brimming with confidence that somnolent primary season across the conclusion, but Philadelphia’s primary ing turnout between 10 and 20 percent they’ll win the GOP primary Tuesday, Pennsylvania suburbs. election does feature the first fully blind of the city’s 1,014,088 registered voters. Bucks County Commissioners Charles The Bucks commissioners’ race and a City Council candidate, aprofessional Still, the electionresults will be any- Interactive H. Martin and Robert G. Loughery have GOP struggle for sheriff in Montgom- impersonator of Eagles coach Andy thing but insignificant. effectively started their fall campaigns ery County are the only nonjudicial con- Reid,aformer Pennsylvania House For one, the mayoral primary Voters’ Guide already. tests Tuesday, except for school board speaker, and, of course, afederal ex-con- amounts to areferendum on Mayor Nut- At anews conference Monday, the and municipal races. vict who owes nearly $400,000 to the ter, who is expected to win handily yet Foraguide to incumbents touted their achievements Here’s alook at the landscape: city he hopes to lead. will end his first term with an unsettling Tuesday’s primary, in Doylestown and laid out goals for Thereare also more than just run-of- number of detractors. including another term. Bucks County. Republicans have domi- the-mill endorsements,with some city As aresult, most election-day bets in- Philadelphia’s They all but ignored their two foes in nated county government since 1988, candidates trying to get aboost from volvehow many votes will go to his races for mayor the primary, including former four- and for all but seven of those years the the likes of New York Mayor Michael well-known rival, T. Milton Street Sr. — and all seats on term Commissioner Andrew L. Warren. majority hasincluded Martin, 69, of Bloomberg, Harvard University law pro- who is still under federal supervision City Council, go to “They’ve avoided me like the plague,” Southampton. fessor Laurence Tribe, and two former for tax crimes —or, in asimilar vein, www.philly.com/ said Warren, who had hoped for ade- The former public-relations execu- U.S. representatives named Joe — See PRIMARY on B6 voterguide bate. “I have areal problem when pri- See COUNTIES on B10 Hotsausage wit’ nostalgia Billaims to shift At Brunish’sinPottstown,hungry customerskeep coming backfor decades. Maybethe secret’s in the N.J. tax sandwiches —orinthe tradition.
By KathyBoccella INQUIRER STAFF WRITER burden To qualify as agreasy spoon, Brunish’s would have to upgrade. The Pottstown sandwich shop is an institu- TheGreenwald measure tion in this weathered Schuylkill mill town, where fortunes were once tied to the iron and would let townsimpose steel industries. The mill furnaces stopped income and saleslevies — firing up along time ago, but Brunish’s is still cooking away, acement bunker of an eatery and lowerproperty taxes. just more than six feet high that extends im- probably from the basement of Dan Brunish’s By Maya Rao home to the sidewalk. INQUIRER TRENTON BUREAU At lunchtime, customers line up out the The tax on Kathleen Santomero’s door for the hot sausage and hot dogs, the two-bedroom house has doubled to most popular items —and for many years the more than $9,000 in adecade, and only ones. Most people slam down at least the Evesham resident knows it will two, slathered in mustard, ketchup, onions, only grow. and relish, the only condiments. “It’s madness for asenior,” said It’s as if time had stood still on this corner Santomero, 59, who had hoped to of Lincoln Avenue and old Dan Brunish, the stop working in current owner’s grandfather, still lived above afew years in or- the store he opened with his wife in 1937, der to travel and “Wedon’t near the end of the Great Depression. spend more time have a Back then they sold candy and groceries to with her retired neighborhood families. But by 1955, his son husband. revenue and daughter-in-law, Dick and Jane, had tak- New Jersey is problem. en over and started steaming smokedsausag- addicted to prop- es and hot dogs at the front of the claustro- erty taxes to We have phobic, cavelike shop. There were lots of cor- fund its towns abroken ner groceries in Pottstown, but Brunish’s and public claims to be the first to offer cheap take-out schools, say structure.” food. some critics of It was the same year alittle roadside stand the current system. Because it is called McDonald’s began franchising asimi- not income-based, the tax dispro- lar idea. portionately burdens retirees, For local baby boomers, sneaking out of young couples, and homeowners class at Pottstown High School for aBrun- who have lost their jobs or taken ish’s hot dog was amustard-drenched rite of pay cuts, they say. passage as memorable as Little League pop Could the Garden State learn fliesortheir first sock hop. They’ve kept re- from Pennsylvania,which leans turning, now with their kids, or even grand- less heavily on property taxes in kids,intow. favor of an array of local taxes that “I’ve been coming here since Iwas alittle CHARLES FOX /Staff Photographer some say creates afairer system? girl,” said Sandra Scott, who was ordering Owner Daniel Brunish stands at New Jersey Assemblyman Louis her usual, ahot sausage with everything, the door of his tiny shop, above, Greenwald thinks so. which costs abuck fifty. Hot dogs are adol- which is just abit more than six The Camden County Democrat lar. “We use to leave high schooltocome feet high. “We’ve been the same said last week that he had drafted here. Everybody did it.” since 1955,” he says. “No sense legislation that would let towns “They still do,” Denise Quigley, 48, said improving.” Customer David vote on imposing local income and from behind the counter, where she was Merkel, left, has been eating the sales taxes of up to 1percent each. scooping out sausages from the steamer and sandwiches for 54 years. Towns would have to lower the slapping them into ordinary hot dog buns. No property levy adollar for each dol- fancy wrappings, just awhite napkin to wipe lar collected through the new tax- up the drippings. See TAXES on B7 Unlike alot of legendary postwar food joints, Brunish’s hasn’t been gussied up or glossed over with expansions or renovations. The biggest change in recent years was the not-so-radical move of adding steak sandwich- es and hoagies in 2000. Before that, the only COMING MONDAY See BRUNISH on B8 Video Chat on Cyberbullying
Join The Inquirer’s Philly moms issue an SOS: Save Our Schools Kristen Graham from noon to 1 p.m. Monday for a special What aweek it was for education in the In related news,Gov. Corbett still in- off, expect the 28 donated guitars he live video chat Keystone State. tendstoslash public-education funding scored for his young rockers to gather on cyberbullying featuring The already flush University of Penn- for wee Pennsylvanians instead of taxing dust. Tina Meier, above, a nationally sylvania got arecord $225 million dona- adults engaged in lucrative enterprises “The kids know what’s happening,” ex- acclaimed cybersafety speaker tion for its medical school from philan- such as natural gas extraction or tapping plains Cook parent Cheryl Dore. “They whose daughter took her thropists Raymond G. and Ruth Perel- an estimated $500 millionbudget sur- are well-aware that unless something own life at age 13 after being man. plus. happens, Mr. Dorsaneo is leaving.” cyberbullied. Philadelphia University,not an Ivy but And three moms from Wissahickon inching closer in tuition and ambition, drove aNissan Maxima to Harrisburg to Say adios to Spanish Readers in the chat will be able received $5 million from an anonymous ask astate senator whether they have What could happen, if or when he to ask questions of Meier and alum to help build a38,500-square-foot any hope of saving the music teacher at leaves, remains as much amystery as Graham via webcam or by engineering and design center in East Cook-Wissahickon Elementary School. how the School District of Philadelphia sending in a written question. Falls. His name is Nic Dorsaneo. If he’s laid See EDUCATION on B8 B8 A www.philly.com THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Sunday, May15, 2011 GOODWIN HEARING AID CENTER MAKING ADIFFERENCE SINCE 1982 MARTHA GOODWIN HEARING INSTRUMENT SPECIALIST
ONE SPECIALIST “No Gimmicks” ONELOCATION “No Come-Ons” KEEPING IT SIMPLE Appt.Preferred.Walk Ins Welcome
2555 Huntingdon Pike,Huntingdon Valley,PA19006 www.goodwinhearing.com • 215.947.2606 Feeling
Dorky?thinGs! 1st of the swinG Lesson Get into geekiest geek even the . FREE We can make dance floor king of the look like the couples welcome. Singles and TODAY. CALL oli Pa ave th 20 Wlancaster narber yave 993-9305 913 Montgomer (610) (610) 668-8870 .amdancestudio.com www ©Ami
CHARLES FOX /Staff Photographer Owner Daniel Brunish stands outside his shop with Denise Quigley,who makes and serves sandwiches behind the counter. Brunish’s grandfather opened the shop in 1937, selling candy and groceries. His father added take-out sandwiches in 1955. At Brunish’s, sandwiches /0'6I8J' H<45C'%<:I= areservedupwithnostalgia +8>C'3D4 BRUNISH from B1 sign of progress was the intro- duction of ketchup —one of B the store has alively pres- served on the side. shrieks of kids playing in and spending it on asausage ence in cyberspace —specifi- The hot sausage, achubby the streets. sandwich at Brunish’s in- Commentary By Monica Yant Kinney Philly moms’SOS: Save Our Schools EDUCATION from B1 teachers. So we’re looking at ing and all manner of educa- when she arrived. But Dore —with 150,000 students, 30 kids per class.” tional agitation. says they must also prepare 250-plus schools, rampant vio- “We’re losing Spanish, Rebecca Poyourow orga- to lose. lence, and a44percent drop- which was brand new this nized the meeting with Sen. “We’re talking about wheth- out rate —can prepare future year,” she adds. “And our gift- Vincent Hughes (D., Phila.), er we fund-raise to restore doctors or engineers with ed teacher —who is only the minority appropriations programs or create a‘Parent $629 million less the next here twice aweek, seven chair. The road trip was the Corps’ to help deal with larg- school year. hours aday —will be limited women’s first visit to the er class sizes.” The nuclear option calls for to 35 hours for the whole Capitol since they were stu- “We’renot resigned or ac- jettisoning nearly 4,000 em- year.” dents. cepting anything,” she insists. ployees, killingfull-day kin- Hughes tells me he They’re just moms doing dergarten, andidling buses. SOS: Save Our Schools warned the moms not to what moms do: fighting for If that doesn’t sound awful, The firsttime Imet Ashen- waste time preaching to the their kids and planning for all listen to Lisa Ashenfelter ex- felter, in 2009,she was urging choir and urged them to possible outcomes. plain the pain on tap for her neighbors to stop paying push revenue-generators Cook, athriving and diverse for private school and give such as closing corporate Reach me at 430-student neighborhood Cook achance. When I loopholes or imposing a [email protected] or RF/0 <9F4?L,!,/!CADKC7?-N %A42 (I L,A+?I :?*>/FC- PC/0 K-8 with soaring enrollment caught up with her again in Marcellus Shale tax. 215-854-4670. Read me at and no racial achievement late March, she was sitting in “Always write the governor, philly.com/blinq. Connect on DKC/-?+(2M>*CANL,7?/&F+>/ gap. aRoxborough Starbucks with because he needs to hear it Facebook and Twitter at EEE D>,AI@ QFA? MJ26=?C+I?/&F--?NP(61"8GE85G;;$8 “We’re going to lose one adozen converts, plotting a and can’t live in avacuum,” philly.com/kinney. RF/0 <9F4?N %A42 (I )?>/3?.C+KFA3I>A:?*>/FC- PC/0 first-grade teacher, one sec- counterattack to the looming Hughes says. “But prioritize ond-grade teacher, and the budget blow. with House Republicans. Arally to support public S>KA M2 MC77N L,7?/&F+>/ third-grade teacher we were Since then, they have They could sway him.” education in Northwest $; LI?AI>A(&?26P-@*>,IK:??IFA3N P( 6O";G$E1G1;O5 supposed to hire,” Ashen- launched aFacebook cam- Poyourow, who has afirst Philadelphia is scheduled for 1 RFR /0CAJ9F4?=,A?/C-'>*?+24>* felter tells me on the way paign called “Save Our grader at Cook and apre- p.m. Sunday in front of the home from Harrisburg. “We’ll Schools,” which has become a schooler en route, left Harris- Trolley Car Diner on #1;"" LHB% also lose two kindergarten clearinghouse for letter-writ- burg more optimistic than Germantown Avenue. The Inquirer MontCo Memo Blog Collingswood keeps abounce www.philly.com/montcomemo in its step. Kevin Riordan, B2 A Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 ★ Section B Highwaytolls keep rising —for manytasks Pa., N.J. divert thefunds to other By Paul Nussbaum expand their roads. on projects that reduce traffic congestion on INQUIRER STAFF WRITER “The only fair and responsible use for atoll the turnpike and parkway,” she said. transit projects.Some object. Struggling to pay for roads, bridges, and is to use it for the purpose it was collected,” The New Jersey Turnpike Authority last transit, Pennsylvania and New Jersey increas- said Jim Lardear,spokesman for the AAA week agreed to contribute an additional $324 ingly are tapping their turnpike drivers. MidAtlantic auto club. million ayear to the state. Since 2007, the Rather than rely on traditional sources such as “Turnpike toll revenues, for example, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has sent higher gas taxes or motor-vehicle fees, both should only be used for their intended pur- $3.1 billion —more than it collected in tolls — states are raising tolls to provide hundreds of pose, which is providing awell-maintained to Harrisburg for statewide use. millions of dollars to non-toll-road projects. turnpike for its travelers,” he said. Tolls will go up again Jan. 1onthe New Some transportation and environmental or- Kate Slevin, executivedirector of the Tri- Jersey Tu rnpike (53 percent), Garden State ganizations have cried foul, arguing that the State Transportation Campaign, which advo- Parkway (50 percent), and Pennsylvania Tu rn- burden for statewide transportation costs cates for more transitfunding in New Jersey, pike (10 percent for cash customers; none for should not rest so heavily on the users of just New York, and Connecticut, said it was rea- E-ZPass users). one or two arteries. sonable to ask toll roads to share the wealth. “There is so little appetite to find new reve- And toll-road operators say the diversion of “Our transportation network is intercon- nue that toll roadsbecome an easy target, File Photograph revenue will mean less money to repair and nected, so it makes sense to use toll revenue See TOLLS on B4 Christie STEM Academyis Afull slowshis rooted in science, math plate as goals for schools legislators Frustrated in getting an return education billthrough theLegislature,heis trying adifferent tack. Ashale drilling feeseems possible. Butother Pa.issuescould drag on. By Matt Katz INQUIRER TRENTON BUREAU By Angela Couloumbis Gov.Christie may have de- INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU clared this the“year of educa- HARRISBURG —School vouchers, afee on tion reform,” butfor legisla- natural gas drillers, privatizing liquor sales, tors, this is the year of reelec- and, now,amove to divvy up Pennsylvania’s tion. electoral votes: The Republicans who control Amid campaign fund-rais- the legislature have lined up an aggressive ing and door-knocking this agenda as they begin returning to the Capitol fall, legislators are only spo- this week for their fall session. radically convening to consid- SHARON GEKOSKI-KIMMEL /Staff Photographer They are adifferent crew than the old er bills.That means Christie’s At Downingtown STEM Academy, Halle Smith, 14, raises her hand to answer aquestion in adata guard in Harrisburg, vestiges of which go on efforts to overhaul public edu- accessing information class. The school, with 450 students, opened Aug. 29. trial this week, in acourtroom near the Capi- cation have slowed until after tol. But many of the issuesthey are poised to November. tackle have been kicking around for decades, So far unabletopush asin- without aconsensus, without asolution. gle significant education bill This year,even with the legislative cham- through the Democratic-con- Putting an accent bers in sync politically —Republicans hold trolled Legislature,Christie is the majority in both the House and Senate — lowering his short-term goals, there is still no meeting of minds on policy.In easing the antiunion rhetoric, fact, there doesn’tappear to be much agree- and highlighting more mild ment between the two chambers about what aspects of his reform agenda. on innovation should dominate the discussion. During visits to three “Even if incredibly well-intentioned by all schools last week, Christie parties, it’sunlikely everything will be fully laughed with students and resolved this year,” said David W. Patti, presi- sought advice from superin- By KristinE.Holmes ships with area businesses. dent and chief executive officer of the Penn- tendents,downshifting from INQUIRER STAFF WRITER “I feel like I’m apioneer,” said STEM Acade- sylvania Business Council. the aggressivestyle he used Downingtown Area School District officials my student Jenna Simcox, 14, afreshman. “I Patti,who follows the legislature closely, earlier this year in weekly, approached their predicament like the prob- want to be an innovator.” noted that although there has been “a lot of jam-packed town-hall meet- lem solvers they hope to develop at the dis- The STEM Academy is also an effort by the work over the summer to get the Republican ings to successfully sell pub- trict’snewest high school. district to offer specialized education in sub- leadership in the two chambers together lic employee benefits chang- The equation included student overcrowd- ject areas where careers are plentiful and more …there are still fundamental and insti- es. ing, alimited budget, and aplan to modernize employers often go wanting. tutional differences.” With bigger education programs with acutting-edge curriculum. The new high school helps with another Even so, the odds look good for resolving plans on hold, Christie used Their solution opened its doors Aug. 29, See MAGNET SCHOOL on B8 one issue that has causedsome of the biggest one stop to unveil aprelimi- when the new Downingtown STEM political headaches in recent years: whether nary report from an Educa- Academy held its first classes for to slap alevy or fee on extraction of natural tion Transformation Task 450 students in one of the Chester gas from the Marcellus Shale. Force he appointed in May. County district’soldest buildings. See GOP on B11 The task force’sproposals, The new magnet high school of- many of which Christie could fers specialized curriculum in sci- enact through gubernatorial ence, technology,engineering, and authority alone, include ask- mathematics (STEM). It is one of a ing for awaiver from the fed- growing number of similar pro- U. Darby police: eral No Child Left Behindlaw grams and schools popping up in so the state can create anew, the region. less cumbersome accountabil- The academy offers aprogram ity system. that includes arigorous curriculum 2women admit Such asystem is used to of high school and college-level monitor schools and inter- courses that are recognized interna- vene in failing districts, but tionally.Students pick aspecial arobberysweep the one currently in place is area of academic focus in their jun- considered too onerous and ior and senior years. They also paperwork-heavy.The super- must participate in community-ser- The school’s Knowledge Commons, an open space where By Mari A. Schaefer intendents Christie gathered vice projects and work in intern- students can hang out and attend classes. INQUIRER STAFF WRITER See CHRISTIE on B5 Tw o19-year-old Upper Darby women have ad- mitted to burglarizing 29 area homes but fled one residence they were trying to enter when they saw alion inside, police said Friday. “They were climbing in the window and they They say they Remarkable city school feelssqueeze saw what they de- scribed as alion,” said stole laptops, Michael J. Chitwood, su- Cook-Wissahickon’s class size swells, key staff gone, funding lost. Still it thrives. perintendent of police. jewelry, and He said police were con- cash from 29 Barbara Trent has been ateacher popped into her remarkably con- cal parents to give the neighborhood tinuing to check the home for42years, including 23 spent corral- trolled classroom. “I’ve got 27 now — school atry. where the animalwas re- area homes. ling cute kindergartners at Cook-Wis- including 18 boys! I’ve never had this By 2009, the once-languishinginsti- ported. No one was there sahickon Elementary. many kindergartners before.” tution had 345 diverse, nonviolent, Friday and police did not hear any unusual To see her in action, alone adult Regular readers know I’ve got asoft high-achieving students. In 2010, the noise, he said. surrounded by scamps, is to be ren- spot for Cook, aself-made city suc- K-8 enrollment swelled to 430, asurge “If we find alion, it will be abigger story dered instantly exhausted. Especially cess story straddling Roxborough and led by parents now actively searching than this,” said Chitwood. this fall, as schools like Cook contend Manayunk. for homes within the school’sbound- Harley R. Gifford and Britney Singleton, of the with Gov.Corbett’sbudget cuts and Five years ago, Cook was shunned aries —even those with children still 7100 block of Marshall Road, have been arrested, the institutionalchaos of the Philadel- by local families who had never in diapers. according to police, who expect to charge them phia School District. stepped inside the building. Then, a In the spring, Cook’salready-en- with the crimes when their initial investigation is “I had 17 students last year,” Trent combination of hectic commutes and gaged parents galvanized around the completed. said wistfully last week when I painful tuition bills persuaded skepti- See SCHOOL on B7 See BURGLARIES on B7 Sunday, September 18,2011 THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER www.philly.com A B7 Commentary By Monica Yant Kinney Remarkable school feelssqueeze SCHOOL from B1 Karen Thomas. “They want in adisappointingly reconfig- years ago from aNorth Phila- district’s$629 million budget what’sbest for their chil- ured special-needs class and delphia school where “he deficit. They started aFace- dren.” another in a“crowded” kin- wasn’tbeing challenged.” book group, signed petitions, But with 503 students this dergartenroom. She’sstill thrilled. lobbied legislators, and fall, Cook is nearing building “It has been atough few “WaseemisanAand Bstu- Rely on awell established business packed School Reform Com- capacity of 550. No one is weeks,” she said. dent,” Brinkley praises. “At mission meetings. They sure what to do if districtwide But if Waseem Talbert, 12, Cook, they keep him busy and when selling your treasures fought for all they hold dear, closures send more students has noticed change at Cook, give him extra work. That’s Buying New,Old &Broken Old Jewelry but prepared for pain the scurrying to the school. it hasn’tdampened his what Ilike.” next school year. Maintaining standards will drive. He’sthe first student •Costume Jewelry Silver &Coins The future is now.How did require volunteers and ingenu- in ages who walked up to me Contact Monica Yant Kinney •Sterling Silverware •Old Clocks they fare? ity.The “Power Hour” after- and asked confidently,“Can at 215-854-4670, school tutoring club lost fund- my name be in your newspa- [email protected], •Old High Grade Watches &Pocketwatches The new normal ing. The lunchtime guitar club per?” or @myantkinney on Twitter. •Watchmakers Estates •Old Dolls Before 1970 “Welost our Spanish teach- has 27 donated instruments, Lurae Brinkley tells me she Read her blog •Old ToyTrains •Buying RolexWatches er and librarian,” parent Cher- but no chief strummer. moved her son to Cook five at philly.com/blinq. yl Dore reports. “And now, Teachers like Trent may the music teacher is here seek an extra set of adult only two days aweek.” hands, Dore says, “or at least Cook also said goodbye to people cutting paper at DONATE YOUR CAR an assistant principal, a home” for art projects. Ama- *100% TaxDeductible school police officer,and teur librarians will find books funding for the intellectually galoreinneed of shelving. *FreePick-Up Ad, gifted. The guidancecounse- “In the past, we asked par- Small lor must handle more stu- ents to volunteeratfund-rais- Big Buyer dents with no help. Parents ing events and with our art cleaned up after Hurricane program,” explains Home Support Irene, since the custodial and School President Carol staff has also taken ahit. Haslam. “Now,we’re asking Our Veterans Doing Business in Philadelphia Since 1894 and NOT Leaving! Enviable 20-student classes for ongoing weeklycommit- jumped substantially in size, ments.” thanks to an unexpected in- But many parents work. 1-800-Help-Vets flux of 100 pupils: 24 from fail- And those who step up may ing schools across the city,40 be asked to dig even deeper: www.HelpOurVeterans.org 7402 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19136 volunteer transfers, and 36 Classroom volunteers need Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11:30-6 •Sat. 10-4 neighborhood converts. $20 background checks. “I completely understand why parents select this Early reviews? school,” says proud principal Jo-Ann Rogan has one son Finally,free yourself 2women admit thefts,policesay from back pain. BURGLARIES from B1 The majority of thefts hap- pened since July and during daylight hours. The pair en- tered the homes through un- locked first-floor windows. Af- ter they lootedthem, they ei- ther walked or took public transportation home, said Chit- wood. Harley Gifford Britney In one burglary,the pair alleg- is charged in Singleton edly left with a55-inch flat- the home allegedly hit screen television and walked robberies. aresident. down the street with it to their apartment afew blocks away. shoe” work by two detectives, “They just enjoyed stealing,” Brad Ross and Jeff Dougherty, said Chitwood. “They used peo- who went door-to-door in Up- ple’shomes as their own pri- per Darby,showing aphoto of vate shopping center.” Singleton and trying to find a They allegedly stole iPods, lead to the pair. laptops, jewelry,toys, electron- One man who lived in the ics, sneakers, makeup, purses, same apartment building identi- household items such as toilet fied the photo and told police paper,religious statues, and he thought Singleton might about $22,000 in cash. have burglarized his unit, Capt. Chitwood called the pair George Rhodes said. “Lo and the “Thelma and Louise ban- behold, she did.” dits.” The two women are current- Upper Darby police were in- ly being held on unrelated vestigating astring of burglar- charges, according to court ies in the Cardington, Stone- documents. Police expect to hurst and Bywood sections of charge the pair with burglary, the township and Lansdowne criminal trespass, theft, re- Borough. They found that two ceiving stolen property and women wereseen at the loca- other related crimes, accord- tions where burglarieswere ing to court documents. reported. The investigators Chitwood said the women contacted other Delaware sold or fenced many items. County police departments He said astolen .22 derringer and learned of asimilar bur- handgun was fenced by the glary in Prospect Park. pair.They are trying to recov- There, ahomeowner had er missing items, he said. been in hit in the back of the head while confronting an in- Contact staffwriter Mari A. truder.Singleton was later Schaefer at 610-892-9149, identified as asuspect. [email protected] or Chitwood credited the “gum- @MariSchaefer on Twitter. Attend our complimentary Medical Seminar. Call 1-866-471-6696 today to register: Saturday,September 24 at 10 a.m. Laser Spine Institute Tuesday,September 27 at 5p.m. 656 E. Swedesford Road, Suite 100 Wayne, PA 19087 Learn about minimally invasive spine surgery. We’ll discuss the latest surgical techniques to relieve your back or neck pain, and answer your questions. Meet one-on-one with our physician. Bring your MRI or CT scans to the seminar, and our medical professional will review them and discuss treatment for your specific condition. Laser Spine Institute’sminimally invasive procedures are the safe and effective alternative to open back or neck surgery. Each month, more people come to Laser Spine Institute to relieve their pain than to any other spine surgery center in the nation. •Outpatient procedure •Less than 1-inch incision •Nofusions or hardware •Nolengthy recovery •Nogeneral anesthesia •93.8% patient satisfaction Register today at 1-866-471-6696 or www.SpineSeminar.com The Inquirer Want to know what’s on the minds of our metro columnists, Former delinquent aims to save or tell them what’s on yours? Join the mashup, at philly.com/blinq Camden youth. Kevin Riordan, B2 A Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 ★ Section B Mayoral control of PHA proposed Twobills beforethe legislature callfor changes. Nutter gotachilly reaction fromcityHouse Democrats. By Jennifer Lin LAURENCE KESTERSON /Staff Photographer INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Jim Myers’ biplane comes in for alanding on the runway at Valley Forge National Historical Park during ameeting of the Valley Forge Signal Seekers. When the Philadelphia Housing Authority went into atailspin last year, Mayor Nutter tried to seize the momenttoput the state-char- tered agencyonadifferent course. Philadelphia was the only major ASOARING PASSION city in the country where the mayor did not control the housing authori- ty. Nutter argued that this lack of Remote-control airplane club finds accountability contributed to Acall to the excesses of true spirit of ahobby at Valley Forge park. former PHA Ex- add four ecutive Director more to By To mInfield er gaming, and myriad otherattrac- Carl R. Greene. INQUIRER STAFF WRITER tionsofa24-hour society. He testified be- PHA board. Some guys, now at or near retire- But Louderback is among more fore lawmakers in ment, never grew out of flying the than 180 hobbyists —mostly men Harrisburg ayear ago that PHA was balsa-wood airplanes of their boy- in their 50s, or older —who are an isolated island that should be hood in the 1960s. members of the Valley Forge Signal more connected to other city agen- Guys like Glenn Louderback. Seekers, athriving model-airplane cies building affordable housing. These days, you’re apt to find club. Now, two bills are before the Gen- him playing with radio-controlled After retiring several years ago eral Assembly that would change model planes on awide-open field from Xerox Corp., Louderback, 64, that by giving the Mayor’s Office at the south entrance to Valley of Bala Cynwyd, had the time to control over the Housing Authority. Forge National Historical Park. pursue ahobby. In aSenate version, the size of Hobbies aren’t what they used to He had always been interested in PHA’s board would increase from be. How many people do you know model planes, so he enrolled in a five to nine, with the mayor appoint- who collect stamps? Or play bridge? class at Main Line School Night ing every commissioner. Or build model railroads? Fewer taught by amember of the Signal AHouse bill would make the than in the old days, we’ll bet. Seekers. same changes to the board size but Many of the pastimes that used Very quickly, he became en- has another provision that would to occupy Americans have been tranced with the thrill of hearing affect all housing authorities in whittled down by the demands of a the tiny engines revving up, guid- Pennsylvania. longer workweekand the compet- ing his plastic planes down a Chuck Keller carries his plane to the runway.The thrill of flight, Keller The Republican-sponsored bill, in- ing allures of high-defTV, comput- See RC PLANES on B8 says, is only part of the allure —“it’s the camaraderie.” troduced by State Rep. Mike To- bash of Schuylkill County, would See PHA on B7 S. Jersey Marine ‘a gemofahuman being’ By George Anastasia bat operations in Helmand province,” ac- his life with pride and noted his passing INQUIRER STAFF WRITER cording to abrief statement issued by with sadness Friday. His death was to be Those who knew him said he was a the U.S. DefenseDepartment on Thurs- marked by amoment of silence at Fri- patriot in the purest sense of the word, a day. day night’sfootball game, said Kingsway man whose love of God and country was Word of Iannelli’s death spread quick- principal Craig Stephenson. unshakable. ly throughEast Greenwich Township, “He was one of the nicest, most gen- On Wednesday, he died in Helmand Gloucester County,where he was raised uinehuman beings Iever met,” said province, Afghanistan. and where his parents still live. Stephenson, who was ateacher and an Funeral arrangements were being Iannelli, who graduated from King- assistant baseball coach when Iannelli made Friday for Marine First Lt. Ryan sway in 2002, was class president, a was astudent. K. Iannelli, 27, aGloucester County resi- member of the National Honor Society, “Always in these situations, people go Your guide to the latest dent and graduate of Kingsway Regional and captain of the baseball team that out of their way to say the right thing, treatments, research, and Ryan Iannelli as High School, where he was astandout won the Tri-County Conference champi- but the thing about Ryan was that he support. 2002 Kingsway student and athlete. onship his senior year. was agem of ahuman being. …Ispoke class president. Iannelli died “while conducting com- Friends and school officials recalled See MARINE on B4 Aplacetoplay— “Carmen” on the mall, free. at long last—for Anight at the opera with alittle rain N. Phila.school By Quan Nguyen “I think it’s wonderful. It re- INQUIRER STAFF WRITER minds me of the old days of When Anna Brown began teaching fifth grade “Tonight we are not alone,” Robin Hood Dell” when the at St. Malachy School in North Philadelphia 30 Stephen A. Madva, board Philadelphia Orchestra years ago, she learned that recess was abreak in chairman of the Opera Com- played outdoor summer con- name only. pany of Philadelphia, said to certs, said Mary Dickler, 75. “They played on concrete and nearly 2,200 people Friday at Her friend examined the loose gravel. It was so unsafe,” the Academy of Music as he people around them. recalls the 77-year-old retired ed- introduced what is arguably “One thing Ithink is nice is ucator still subbing for fun. the most popular opera of all that when you look around, “Some girls jumped rope and DAVID SWANSON /Staff Photographer time. you get to see all age groups,” some boys played football, but His words rang true to an- said Jan Ackerman, 81. mostly it was alot of running “We had children go to the hospital after trying Kindergartner other crowd, 5,300 strong, The turnout was diverse. around” in acramped, fenced to slide off that balcony,” notes Cindy Allen, point- London Williams braving the rain on Indepen- College students, parents and square next to the faculty’s ing to the offending ledge. Fun-seekers wriggled gets alift from dence Mall. their children, grandparents parked cars. through the broken fence and hid in acrawl Carolyn Hayden As their compatriots and their grandchildren, for- Until Friday,Brown’s daugh- space under the stairs, only to get caught by of Keystone watched inside, the crowd on eigners, all there to be capti- ter faced asimilar problem: grown-up minders. Mercy,which the mall was treated to afree vated by Carmen,shown on a how to help her 21 kindergart- “I’d teach them hand-clap games and rhymes, donated play simulcast of the company’s 40-foot-wide screen. ners blow off steam using only pavement and but the children suffered not having aplayground.” equipment to St. season-opening production of They sprawled on blankets their imagination. See PLAYGROUND on B5 Malachy School. Bizet’s Carmen. See OPERA on B7 ADVERTISEMENT GET ACLUE. OPENS THIS WEEKEND! SOLVE THE CRIME. Visit www.fi.edu fortickets. ®CBS ©2000-2011 CBS Broadcasting,Inc.and EntertainmentABFunding LLC. AllRights Reserved. Sunday, October 2, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER www.philly.com *AB5 DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer Cindy Allen (center), a kindergarten teacher at St. Reg. $44900 $ $ 00 Malachy,thanks 379 SAVE 70 Keystone Mercy volunteers for the play equipment. TUB & SHOWER IN-LAYS Commentary By Monica Yant Kinney After150 years, school gets aproper playground PLAYGROUND from B1 With nothing to scale or dis- mount, no toys needing to be pushed or pulled, no spot so hot youngsters had to learn to wait their turn, her students didn’t develop gross motor skills and couldn’t practice conflict resolution. It was bad enough that they lived in neighborhoods so rough they couldn’t safely frolic outside. Given the limi- tations at school, “they really didn’t know how to play.” Slides save lives In 1997, the last time I wrote about recess, only four Rajenne Warren (left), Saana Parker, both 5, break in the slide. of the city’s 173 public elemen- Without aplay area, many pupils “didn’t know how to play.” tary schools had aplay- ground. Liability and the As aresult, explains third “I DID THE MONKEY threat of vandalism were con- grader Donte Kent as suc- BARS AND THE SLIDE!!!” stantfears. cinctlyaspossible, “recess squeals Rajenne Warren, a The district has sincewel- was kind of boring.” 5-year-old pausing briefly to comeddonated playgrounds, tie her tiny pink Nikes. but most urban elementaries Letthe games begin As she pants, aclassmate remain asphalt deserts sur- St. Malachy’s students may races by yelling, “Monster rounded by barbed wire that have waited 150 years, but club!” Rajenne looks at me, chokes development of both the last four hours were defi- then him, then takes off. the mind and body. nitely the worst. Whatever the club is, and “If you have atotally blank They were dressed in Key- wherever, she’s joining. slate, what can you do?” asks stone T-shirts and sweat- Dr. Eric Berman, Keystone bands to mark the occasion. Contact columnist Monica Yant Mercy Health Plan’s regional From their classrooms, they Kinney at 215-854-4670, chief medical officer. Color- could see the electric red, [email protected], or ful, adaptable play equipment blue, and purple structure @myantkinney on Twitter. Read provides “an enzyme” that begging for atest drive: her blog at philly.com/blinq. stimulates creativity, flexibili- more than 1,000 square feet ty, and healthy living. Laugh of climbing walls, movable if you must, but as Berman tic-tac-toe games and steer- explains it, slides can stave ing panels atop recycled off diabetes; monkey bars can rubber flooring more forgiv- lower cholesterol. ing than concrete to tiny ILOVE Since 2008, Keystone has feet. awarded mostly free play- But Allen’s noon recess grounds to adozen worthy featured yetanother stir- public,private, and parochi- ring rendition of the “Hokey TO FIX STUFF. al schools. St. Malachy’s be- Pokey” as Keystone volun- came the 13th after asimple teers put the last coat of pitch: paint on the hopscotch Its kids have made do with board nearby. SO ISTARTED nothing for 150 years. Finally, after stamping And because the Catholic their hands on an accompa- K-8 founded in 1861 no longer nying mural, the kids got receives money from the arch- the green light to unleash WITH MY diocese, all fund-raising goes their glee. In an instant, the toward operating expenses playground was ateeming and scholarships for its 210 sea of sneakers, pigtails, needy students. and white teeth. WEIGHT. TerryP.—Today Fairless Hills, PA Temple Bariatric Patient LOSING ALL THOSE POUNDS MEANS ICAN POUND AHAMMER AGAIN. TerryP.—in 2009 “I’ve always been ado-it-yourself kind of guy.But there wasone thing Icouldn’tseem to fix on my own: my weight. The heavier Igot, the less Iwas able to do what Iloved Learn more at one of our FREE seminars: most —making home improvementsand staying active. Finally,at348 pounds, I’dhad enough. That’swhen I Wednesday, October 5 turned to the bariatric team at Temple University Hospital. 7:00 –9:00 PM Their surgeons, dietitians and psychologistsall worked TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL together to create aplan of action forhelping me get 3401 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia healthyand active again.” To register call: Let us help you take thefirst important 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) step towardachieving ahealthier weight. Attend our FREE seminar. Temple University Hospital has been designated as aBariatric Center of Excellence® by the American Society for Metabolic &Bariatric Surgery TempleBariatric.org www.facebook.com/templebariatric Bariatric surgery can be safe and effective in helping men and women lose weight and reduce health risks.1-3 Surgical risks may be higher in some men4 (e.g., due to co-existing diseases or certain types of extreme obesity) and that’swhy men should find an experienced bariatric surgery group to identify and properly manage all risks.3,4 (1Obes Surg. 2010;20:776-790. 2Br JSurg. 2010;97:877-883. 3NEngl J Med. 2009;361:445-454. 4Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007;3:134-140.) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® is aregistered trademark of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Used by permission of ASMBS.All rights reserved.