PhiladelphiaDaily Record

Vol. II No. 7 (166) Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia February 21, 2011

CONGRESSMAN Chaka Fattah enters into Congressional Record a commemoration of his great-great-

great-grandmother Frances Ellen Watkins Harper at 1st Unitarian Church in Rit-

tenhouse Square Sunday. A prominent religious thinker, civil-rights author and

campaigner, Harper died 100 years ago. A new portrait of her was unveiled in her

home congregation, behind Fattah. See story page 2.

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Mayor Strikes A ChordWith Voters

MAYOR Michael Nutter picked

up quite a few signatures for his

nominating petitions from

bowlers as he joined them at

Lucky Strike Bowling Alley in

Center City.

Prayer Group To Pres-sure Torresdale GunShop

A public prayer vigil by the Neigh-

borhood Partners To End Gun Vio-

lence, a coalition of

multi-denominational faith commu-

nities and organizations in North-

west Philadelphia, will take place

in front of Delia’s Gun Shop, 6104

Torresdale Avenue at 4:30 p.m. to-

morrow.

Clergy and lay people from

churches, synagogues, faith institu-

tions and civic organizations from

the Northwest and across the city

and suburbs who seek to end gun

violence will gather to ask the gun-

shop owner to sign and adopt a

code of professional ethics devel-

oped by Mayors Against Illegal

Guns (also known as the Code of

Conduct/Responsible Firearms Re-

tailer Partnership). Adopting these

measures will curtail the sale of

guns to straw purchasers, who ille-

gally sell handguns to others, who

in turn use them in crimes and dis-

putes with deadly results.

Congressman Fattah,Family And City HonorEllen Harper

Congressman Chaka Fattah, his

parents Falaka & David Fattah, and

other family members unveiled a

portrait of Frances Ellen Watkins

Harper, the 19th-century poet, au-

thor, abolitionist-activist who has

been an inspiration to his family for

four generations. The Congressman

read from Frances Harper’s work

during the church service to begin

the week long commemoration of

the centennial of her death on Feb.

22, 1911 at age 85. Fattah’s mother,

daughter and great-grandmother

are all named in honor of this com-

pelling Philadelphia woman. The

City Council Resolution will be

presented to Falaka Fattah by

Councilwoman Janie Blackwell.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was

the best-known African American

poet of her age.

She published her first book of po-

etry when she was 21 and her fa-

mous novel Iola Leroy when she

was 67 and used her art to promote

the causes she believed in and was

2 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 21 JANUARY, 2011

a dynamic speaker for abolitionism, women’s suffrage

and temperance, continuing her public speaking until

she was nearly 80.

In 1858, she refused to relinquish her (illegal) seat on

a Philadelphia trolley car – this, 100 years before Rosa

Parks, nor did she waver in her support of John

Brown, while many others abandoned him, and stayed

with Mary Brown during the weeks before John was

executed.

She lived at 1008 Bainbridge Street and associated

with a group of like-minded people who did much to

make Philadelphia and the world a better place. Harper

was “Queen Mother” Falaka Fattah’s great-great-

grandmother. She is buried at Eden Cemetery in

Collingdale, Pa.

Portrait unveiling was one part of a weeklong com-

memoration of Harper’s life and accomplishments or-

ganized by Larry Robin of Moonstone Arts Center.

Lectures, panel discussions, performances and con-

certs have been scheduled across the city.

REV. NATHAN C. WALKER leads Unitarian Uni-

versalist worship service as lit chalice casts glow on

new portrait of famous member of his congregation

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911).

COUNCILWOMAN Jannie Blackwell pays tribute

to Harper as her Congressman Chaka Fattah holds

up City Council resolution she introduced saluting

Harper’s centennial.

FALAKA FATTAH gazes at her ancestor’s portrait.

UNIVERSAL African Dance & Drum Ensemble

delivers electrifying performance to conclude serv-

ice in Harper’s honor.

21 FEBRUARY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 3

Feb. 22- 5th Ward GOP hosts

meeting for all Republicans at St.

Michael Orthodox Ch., 335 Fair-

mount Ave., 6:30-8:30 p.m.

RSVP Nate Shrader (267) 519-

2410.

Feb. 22- State Sen. Shirley

Kitchen hosts free blood-pres-

sure screenings at her District of-

fice, 1701 W. Lehigh Ave., 10

a.m.-12 m.

Feb. 24- State Rep. James Roe-

buck hosts birthday bash at War-

mdaddy’s, Columbus Blvd. &

Reed St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Great

jazz, good food. RSVP (215)

382-1268.

Feb. 24- Willie Jordan’s 44th

Ward hosts Jazz Night at VFW

Post, 4812 Fairmount Ave., 6-10

p.m. For info (215) 879-6630.

Feb. 25- State Sen. Shirley

Kitchen hosts free blood-pres-

sure screenings at her District of-

fice, 1701 W. Lehigh Ave., 2-4

p.m.

Feb. 25-26- Free clothing and

other items giveaway at Mt. He-

bron Baptist Ch., 1415 Wharton

St. For info Pastor Richard J.

Walter, Jr. (215) 336-8163.

Feb. 25- Donna Aument’s 33rd

Ward Fundraiser Beef & Beer at

Juniata G.C. For info Donna

(215) 427-1645.

Feb. 28- Tea Party Patriots-

South Meeting at Champs, 2100

S. Columbus Blvd. (near IKEA),

7 p.m. All welcome. Joe McCol-

gan speaker.

Casey Discusses Health Lunches At Willard School

US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) will highlight healthy school lunches at a tour

of the Frances E. Willard School, 19309 E. Elkhart, with US Dept. of

Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition & Consumer Services

Kevin Concannon and School District Officials.

They will discuss efforts to improve child nutrition by offering healthier

food choices in schools. The Frances E. Willard School is one of four

schools in Philadelphia that participate in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Pro-

gram. This program provides participating schools with a variety of fresh

fruits and vegetables in an effort to provide healthier food choices, in-

crease children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and combat childhood

obesity by helping children learn more healthful eating habits. The Frances

E. Willard School also participates in the Universal Feeding program, a

program that allows schools serving a high number of low-income fami-

lies to provide free school lunches for all students, reducing paperwork

and removing a stigma for financially eligible children in the cafeteria.

Community Forums Shed Light On TurnaroundSchools

Community forums are scheduled for this week at the six Philadelphia

public schools designated to be operated as of 2011-12 under a turn-

around plan called the Renaissance Match model. This is one of four

blueprints to turn around historically low-performing schools through The

School District of Philadelphia’s Renaissance Schools Initiative.

Parents and guardians of students at Gratz, King, Olney East and Olney

West HSs and Birney and Clymer ESs, as well as community members from

these neighborhoods, are invited by the respective School Advisory Councils

to participate in the forums. SAC members want to hear stakeholders’ ideas

about what is needed to transform and shape the future of their school. Feed-

back will be shared when each SAC meets with representatives of turn-

around teams, one of which will be operating the school as of 2011-12.

Childcare and refreshments will be provided at the forums. The schedule is:

Tuesday, Feb. 22 – King HS auditorium, 6100 Stenton Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Birney ES auditorium, 900 W. Lindley Avenue, 4 to

6 p.m. Gratz HS auditorium, 1798 W. Hunting Park Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m.

Olney East HS auditorium, 100 E. Duncannon Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m. Olney

West HS library, 100 E. Duncannon Avenue, 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 24 – Clymer ES auditorium, 1201 W. Rush Street, 6 to 8 p.m.

4 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 21 JANUARY, 2011

Philadelphia Wins National Recogni-tion for “Age-Friendly” Initiatives

Philadelphia Corp. for Aging has received the US Envi-

ronmental Protection Agency’s 2010 “Building Healthy

Communities for Active Aging Commitment Award.”

The award is given to communities that have devel-

oped and are implementing plans for smart growth and

in support of active aging. “Over the past several

years, PCA has worked with a wide array of private,

not-for-profit, and government agencies on issues re-

lated to creating a senior-friendly, age-friendly

Philadelphia,” said PCA President Rodney Williams.

“Many organizations that haven’t previously worked

together have come together around aging issues.”

“PCA received the commitment award as a result of its

leadership in bringing together city planners, public

health experts, and nonprofit leaders to collaboratively

create an Age-friendly Philadelphia agenda,” said

Kathy Sykes, senior advisor, US EPA Aging Initiative.

“Age-friendly Philadelphia is successfully facilitating

the incorporation of older adults into new policies,

plans, and programs city-wide.”

Philadelphia has the highest proportion of residents

age 60+ among the nation’s 10 largest cities.

“I am delighted that Philadelphia has received this af-

firmation from the EPA of our commitment to creating

a walkable, livable and hospitable city,” said Mayor

Michael Nutter. “Supporting our large senior popula-

tion is a high priority for my administration,” Nutter

said. “PCA is to be commended for its initiative in ex-

panding awareness of the needs of Philadelphia’s sen-

ior citizens, and for coalescing the efforts of both

public and private sectors around this issue.”

One of the endeavors already in motion is the

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Dept.’s initiative to

identify parks near senior community centers against

an “age-friendly” checklist. The list includes stairways

with railings, well-maintained and accessible public

toilets, shaded areas, outdoor seating and bike paths

separated from pedestrian walkways.

Areas of focus for Age-Friendly Philadelphia include:

government policies that provide a high quality of life

for persons of all ages; a built environment that facili-

tates social connectedness; an aging network that con-

siders the effect of the environment on the well-being

of their consumers; universities that partner with the

community to create cutting edge research; and emerg-

ing leaders from all fields who incorporate older adults

in their work.

In Historic First, Mayor Lets SunShine On His Box TicketsThe City of Philadelphia has released the names of

those who received tickets to the Mayor’s Box from

October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 (fourth

quarter, 2010). The City’s ticket policy is the first time

distribution of Mayor’s Box tickets has been governed

by a written, public policy. It provides for the equi-

table distribution of complimentary tickets received by

the City of Philadelphia.

Some report highlights are as follows:

1,230 tickets were distributed during the fourth quarter

of 2010.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, 595 (48%) tickets for

events in the Mayor’s Box were distributed to children

from recreation centers, nonprofits and other groups who

attended Wachovia Center, Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln

Financial Field, The Dell and Mann Center events.

From January 2010 through December 2010, over

5,000 tickets have been distributed. 2,711 (52%) tick-

ets have been distributed to schools, nonprofits, recre-

ation centers and other groups.

Since the policy’s inception on Apr. 4, 2008, 13,070

tickets have been distributed. 6,997 (54%) tickets have

been distributed to schools, nonprofits, recreation cen-

ters and other groups.

21 FEBRUARY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 5