November/December 2012 The Newsletter of The Society Hill Civic Association SOCIETYHILL Reporter www.societyhillcivic.org Comprehensive Tax Reform Is Needed ark Wednesday, November 14, on your The Commission also found that Philadelphia Mcalendar. That evening, Jeff Hornstein, compounds the problems of a high overall president of Queen Village Neighbors Asso - tax burden by relying too heavily on wage and ciation, will be joining the Society Hill Civic business taxes — the taxes that are most likely to Association (SHCA) at its General Member - drive residents, businesses and jobs from the city. ship Meeting. Jeff will speak about the need The city’s incomparably high wage and business for comprehensive tax reform in Philadelphia. tax rates have damaged Philadelphia’s economy As reported in past issues, the Society Hill over the past three decades, ultimately reducing Civic Association has joined with 12 other tax revenue and the ability of the City and School civic associations to form the Tax Fairness District of Philadelphia to finance services. Jeff Hornstein, Coalition. Earlier this year, the Coalition Jeff Hornstein, former Service Employees speaker at SHCA’s advocated for delay in implementation of the International Union leader, lives in Queen November General Actual Value Initiative (AVI) until the City had Village and is now president of the Queen Village Membership Meeting completed a thorough and fair assessment. Neighbors Association. He’s also president of the Cooler heads prevailed and Council post- Philadel phia Jewish Labor Committee and has poned the implementation of AVI over the worked for the American Federation of Teachers. recommendation of Mayor Michael Nutter. The General Membership Meeting will take This prudent move by Council offers place at 7:30 p.m. in the Zubrow Auditorium an excellent opportunity for Philadelphia on the first floor of Pennsylvania Hospital, to take the time to broaden its tax reform just inside the main entrance at 8th Street and design a 21st century taxation system near Spruce. All neighbors are invited to attend. that is both competitive and fair. Prior to the General Meeting, we will hold The Tax Reform Commission’s study of the our monthly Board Meet ing at 6 p.m. in the City’s tax system demonstrates that, as a city, Hospital’s Great Court Conference Room. we tax what others do not; our taxes are too All current members of the Society Hill high; and our taxes are unfairly imposed. Civic Association are welcome to attend. WED. MARK YOUR CALENDAR WALKING IN THE PARK Nov. Society Hill Civic Association Meetings 14 Wednesday, November 14, 2012 Pennsylvania Hospital 8th & Spruce Streets 6:00 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting Pennsylvania Hospital Great Court Meeting Room All SHCA members are welcome. 7:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting Pennsylvania Hospital Zubrow Auditorium All neighborhood residents are invited to attend. Speaker: Jeff Hornstein, President Neighbors met for the Philly Walking in the Park Queen Village Neighbors Association kickoff on October 22. Coordinated walks through beautiful, historic Washington Square start at 8 a.m. Topic: Comprehensive Tax Reform on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Come join us! PAGE 2 SOCIETYHILL Reporter SOCIETYHILL Liberty Tree Reporter by Thomas Paine Managing Editor Press Release Liaison Sandra Rothman c/o Matt DeJulio A song written early in the Columnists [email protected] American Revolution. Marilyn Appel Advertising Manager Claire Batten Lenore Hardy In a chariot of light from the regions of day, Jane Biberman [email protected] Matt DeJulio The Goddess of Liberty came; Submission Deadlines Martha Levine Ten thousand celestials directed the way Jim Murphy January/February Issue And hither conducted the dame. Keri White Advertising: December 1 A fair budding branch from the gardens above, Contributors Editorial: Where millions with millions agree, Paul Boni December 10 She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, Nancy Frenze Mike Harris Society Hill And the plant she named Liberty Tree. Laurel Landau Civic Association P. O. Box 63503 The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground, Lauren Leonard Avalie Saperstein Philadelphia, PA 19147 Like a native it flourished and bore; Rob Taglieri tel: 215-629-1288 The fame of its fruit drew the nations around, Graphic Design Website To seek out this peaceable shore. [email protected] www.societyhillcivic.org Unmindful of names or distinction they came, For freemen like brothers agree; Submissions With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued, We want to hear from you. Our goal is to print news of interest to Society Hillers — happenings in and around And their temple was Liberty Tree. our community for residents, businesses and professionals. Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old, Direct your editorial submissions and/or queries to Sandra Rothman by phone at 717-715-5791 or email Their bread in contentment they ate, [email protected]. To publicize an event, submit Unvexed with the troubles of silver and gold, all press releases directly. The cares of the grand and the great. Materials must be submitted in writing — via mail or With timber and tar they Old England supplied, email — and must include the name of a contact person. And supported her power on the sea; Edited submissions will be considered for publication Her battles they fought, without getting a groat, if the subject matter is community related and if space allows. Otherwise, upcoming events of interest may be For the honor of Liberty Tree. listed in the Community Calendar. Letters to the Editor But hear, O ye swains, ‘tis a tale most profane, will be considered for publication only if signed and the writer provides contact information. How all the tyrannical powers, Kings, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain To cut down this guardian of ours; Society Hill Civic Association From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms Board Officers and Directors Through the land let the sound of it flee, President Northeast Quadrant Let the far and the near, all unite with a cheer, Steven Weixler 2013 Lorna Katz Lawson In defence of our Liberty Tree. Vice President 2014 Lenore Hardy 2015 Heather Steiner Jim Moss Northwest Quadrant Secretary 2013 Lawrence Burstein George Dowdall 2014 Sissie Lipton Treasurer 2015 Diane Rossheim Marc Feldman Southeast Quadrant Directors-at-Large 2013 Robert Curley 2014 Jane Ahn 215. 886. 6111 | Oreland, Pa Mike Duffy Bernice Hamel 2015 Laura Temple 215. 725. 3637 | Philadelphia, Pa Certified Arborist George Kelley PD-1766A Southwest Quadrant 215. 572. 6937 | Fax Martha Levine 21 years experience Kim Williams 2013 Melvin Buckman www.libertytreecare.com 2014 Francisco Carreno 2015 Marilyn Appel NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012 PAGE 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY STEVEN WEIXLER Your Civic Association at Work can’t quite say why, but I always find this repaving of streets is (slowly but surely) taking I time on the calendar to be invigorating — place. Our thanks go to preservationist groups, giving me the “umph” to set new goals as I head Councilman Mark Squilla and government into the new year. Perhaps the arrival of brisk agencies for all their hard work and collaboration. autumn winds blows away some of the cobwebs! Thanks also to board members Martha Levine The community life of Society Hill picks up and Lorna Katz-Lawson for following this long as well, and there are many Civic Association process through to the final details. members at work to make our neighborhood I am effusive in my praise of the many people a better place. who contribute to our community through the You may have observed some of our efforts — Civic Association. As we approach our November others are less obvious, but just as important Membership Drive, I encourage you to join us if Steven Weixler, President to our community. This summer, I was honored you are not already a member or to renew your to participate in the re-dedication of both of membership — and to contribute an additional Washington Square’s guardhouses — recently amount if you are able. In addition, urge your restored to historic standards. SHCA, led by friends and neighbors to join us in our work. Sissie Lipton and her crew of stalwart volunteers, Our community life becomes stronger and is a major force behind this project — and in more robust with the more people we represent keeping Society Hill’s “front yard’ well-groomed. and the more input we receive from involved You cannot help but notice that the long-anticipated and committed residents. Please help us renovation of our sidewalk crossings and meet our goals by joining SHCA! Happy Return of the Guardhouse Holidays Gather for Holiday Cheer ump-start the J holidays with neighbors and friends on Monday, December 3! Gather for an evening of good food and drinks, plus lots National Park Service’s Special Events Coordinator of fun. Check SHCA Andrew McDougall and SHCA Chair of the Washington weekly email blasts Square Committee Sissie Lipton thank neighbor Joan Johnson (right) for her generous contribution that for more info. helped restore the Square’s historic guardhouse. In This Issue… Page 5 Page 13 Page 17 Page 29 Fall Clean-Up Day Exploring the City: Philly Food Lovers: The Beat of the Street Page 11 Mosaic Artist Isaiah Zagar Bistro Romano (South Street) Fix the Brix: One Brick Page 15 Page 21 Page 34 At a Time On Our Shelf: Ups and Why is New Market Nifty Neighbors: Del Connor Winter Tips for Homeowners Downs of Northern Liberties Stalled? and the Physick House PAGE 4 SOCIETYHILL Reporter NEED TREEWORK, LANDSCAPING, MASONRY, OR IRONWORK? NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012 PAGE 5 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Fall Clean-Up Day here’s nothing worse than walking through Coordinators are encouraged to remove these T wet, soggy leaves as you go about your day! signs as near to 1 p.m.