January/February 2014 The Newsletter of The Society Hill Civic Association SOCIETYHILL Reporter www.societyhillcivic.org Stay in the Loop o limit the huge increases some • Real estate taxes on the property must be T residents are seeing under the Actual paid in full or be up-to-date on a payment plan. Value Initiative (AVI) tax-reform effort, the • There are income limits based on house- City of Philadelphia has initiated the Longtime hold size. Owner Occupants Program (LOOP). Recall that AVI is a citywide property tax assessment • The property cannot have received a tax overhaul that determines real estate taxes abatement now or in the past. on a property’s true market value, instead Residents must apply by January 15. More of a predetermined rate. Best wishes information and a tool to check eligibility and amount of savings are available by calling for a happy, The program will benefit lower-income homeowners who have been in their homes 215-686-9200, or visiting www.phila.gov/loop. healthy and for at least a decade and saw their property Assistance and information is available in prosperous assessments increase by 300 percent or more multiple languages online and over the phone. New Year! this year. For 10 years after they enroll, LOOP participants will be taxed on no more than triple their old assessments. A DECEMBER DELIGHT Loop Eligibility Requirements • The property’s 2014 Market Value minus the $30,000 Homestead Exemption must be more than three times the 2013 Market Value. • Homeowners must own and have lived in this property as their primary residence since or before July 1, 2003. • The property is a single-family or a multi-unit property with no more than three residential units and one commercial unit. WEDNESDAY MARK YOUR CALENDAR January Society Hill Civic Association Meetings Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Pennsylvania Hospital 15 8th & Spruce Streets 6:00 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting Great Court Meeting Room All SHCA members are welcome. The first General Membership Meeting of 2014 is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. Society Hill is transformed into a winter wonderland. Enjoy more photos on page 18. PAGE 2 SOCIETYHILL Reporter SOCIETYHILL Reporter Managing Editor Press Release Liaison Sandra Rothman c/o Matt DeJulio Columnists [email protected] Marilyn Appel Advertising Manager Claire Batten Lenore Hardy Jane Biberman [email protected] Diana Burgwyn Matt DeJulio Submission Deadlines Lorna Katz-Lawson March/April Issue Martha Levine Advertising: February 1 Jim Murphy Editorial: February 3 Richard De Wyngaert Society Hill Contributors Civic Association Laurel Landau P. O. Box 63503 Harriet Mishkin Philadelphia, PA 19147 Photographer tel. 215-629-1288 Bonnie Halda w Website Graphic Design Find past issues of the w design group, llc Judy Lamirand Reporter with color photos [email protected] at www.societyhillcivic.org. mike waddell / landscape designer mwdesigngroupllc.com / 267.872.8814 Submissions We want to hear from you. Our goal is to print news of interest to Society Hillers — happenings in and around our community for residents, businesses and professionals. Direct your editorial submissions and/or queries to Sandra Rothman by phone at 717-715-5791 or email [email protected]. To publicize an event, submit all press releases directly. Materials must be submitted in writing — via mail or email — and must include the name of a contact person. Edited submissions will be considered for publication if the subject matter is community related and if space allows. Otherwise, upcoming events of interest may be listed in the Community Calendar. Letters to the Editor will be considered for publication only if signed and the writer provides contact information. SHCA Board Officers and Directors President Northeast Quadrant Steven Weixler 2014 Lenore Hardy 2015 Heather Steiner Vice President 2016 Lisa Unger Jim Moss Northwest Quadrant Secretary 2014 Sissie Lipton George Dowdall 2015 Diane Rossheim Treasurer 2016 Amy DeMarco Marc Feldman Southeast Quadrant Directors-at-Large 2014 Jane Ahn Bob Curley 2015 Laura Temple George Kelley 2016 Jeff Berry Martha Levine Southwest Quadrant Kim Williams 2014 Francisco Carreno 2015 Marilyn Appel 2016 Daniel Horowitz JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014 PAGE 3 Bulletin Board Marilyn Active in our civic association Appel is since its inception in 1967, another of Marilyn is currently a Southwest Society Hill’s Quadrant Director, heads up our energizer Safe and Sound Committee and bunnies, writes the Reporter’s Safe and a woman who has only If Greg DiTeodoro looks Sound column. Interestingly, out gotten busier since retiring in familiar to you, it could be of 22 citywide PDACs, only Sixth 2003 as Assistant Dean from because he hand-delivers a District publishes a crime update. what is now Drexel University copy of the Reporter to every Marilyn combined her love of College of Medicine. household in our community. cooking and music when she The Appels are original community This native South Philadelphian, edited a fund-raising cookbook pioneers. They quickly learned the who has lived in Society Hill since for the Academy of Vocal Arts a realities of living in a transition 1993, wears many hats and has few years ago. Her newest project zone when their eight-year-old many talents. His B.S. degree from is hot off the press and benefits daughter was mugged while trick Drexel University, in Accounting the Philadelphia Orchestra. or treating and suffered a broken and Computer Systems Manage - Titled Kitchen Compositions: nose defending her Halloween ment, gives him the skills to A Symphony of Recipes, it loot! Unbelievably, their seven- manage SHCA’s books. features over 150 mouth-watering year-old was robbed the next recipes from the orchestra’s Greg is also a Certified Massage day on her way to purchase musicians and staff. To order, Therapist, as well as a personal some groceries. call Marilyn at 215-922-2626. trainer and yoga instructor. Add Marilyn was so impressed with to that a real estate license and the kindness and professionalism work as a professional musician of the Sixth District Police Station All residents are encouraged and vocalist, and you have one that she became involved as to attend the monthly busy man! a representative of the citywide 6th District PDAC meeting. Police District Advisory Council Free lunch is included. (PDAC), and has served as chair The mission of this police — of the Sixth District since 1980. community partnership is to enhance the quality of life, improve public safety, reduce fear and lower the incidence Many thanks to Mary Purcell, of crime in Society Hill. Let who helped SHCA members Captain Brian Korn hear your jump-start the holidays by concerns and issues regarding organizing our Winter Social our community. Call Police at Bridget Foy’s in early December. Community Relations Officer A good time was had by all! Julie Carpenter, at 215-686- 3063, for more information. In This Issue… Page 5 Page 13 Page 18 Page 23 McCall School At Risk Philly Food Lovers: Talulah's Out and About: South Street Headhouse for Blight Double Identity Let It Snow District: Toll Brothers update Page 11 Page 15 Page 21 Page 34 Welcome to Diana Burgwyn Exploring the City: On Our Shelf: The Mommy Meet Sherry Shamansky and Music(al) Matters Christ Church Code by Keri M. White and Wally Wing PAGE 4 SOCIETYHILL Reporter NEED TREEWORK, LANDSCAPING, OR MASONRY? We do it all. Our specialized crews include some of the top individuals in the industry. • Outer crown reduction techniques to keep trees and shrubs perfect size • Removing the largest of trees in the tightest of spaces • Educated in the etiquette of transporting debris through your house • Insect/disease control & fertilization • Designers and Builders to create and install your ideal outdoor living space O.C.I. 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Contact attention that City course of your day? If so, you may soon be look- Scenic Philadelphia to find out how you can Council has closed ing at a constantly flashing billboard, hawking help by calling 215-731-1796, or emailing its 2013 legislative ads for sneakers, fast food and sodas. [email protected]. session without taking a vote on this issue. The School Billboard Bill, # 130694, would Councilwoman Reynolds permit soaring monopoles erected in the- Brown stated that the schoolyard, huge wall wraps on the building community has raised legitimate concerns, facade and towering billboards on the school and that more time roof. It allows billboards in places where is needed to consider they have been prohibited for decades. them. This is proof that your voice is heard — As one of the largest landholders in the city, keep up the pressure! the District’s properties are in every neighbor- hood, and located in the places where families live and children play.