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Hey, Neighbors!
WELCOME TO 2021 !!!
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IT'S NOT TOO LATE!
If you haven't yet contributed to the Holiday Basket Drive, please consider doing so now! Help make this season happier for families in need!
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CITY ANNOUNCES PLAN TO CONTINUE MOST RESTRICTIONS THROUGH JAN 15
Some restrictions are expected to be lifted Jan 4, including museums, outdoor sports, gyms, in-person learning for high schools, outdoor catered events. But indoor dining still prohibited at least until Jan 15.
GOV. WOLF ANNOUNCES LIFTING OF RECENT "TIME-LIMITED" RESTRICTIONS ON JAN 4
UNEMPLOYMENT CASH WON'T BE CURTAILED DESPITE LATE TRUMP SIGNATURE, OFFICIAL SAYS [www.inquirer.com]
CITY IS IMPLEMENTING CODE BLUE MEASURES DUE TO EXTREME COLD
CITY UPDATES TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PLASTIC BAG BAN
Implementation begins 7/1/21. Enforcement begins in the following year.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS PANDEMIC RELIEF AND GOVERNMENT-FUNDING MEASURE [www.inquirer.com]
SEPTA ONCE AGAIN PUSHES BACK FARE HIKES - THIS TIME TO JULY [www.inquirer.com]
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA TO PROVIDE FREE, ONLINE ADULT EDUCATION
Available courses include reading, writing, math, basic computer classes, high school equivalency preparation, and English for speakers of other languages.
RECENT COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS FOR PHILADELPHIA:
Week of 12/25 - 12/31 (Fri to Thu) ( Jan 1 figures will be included next week):
New confirmed cases: 3721 (average of about 542 cases/day)
Deaths: 94
Data are from press briefings by the City and Department of Health, such as this one covering 12/25 - 12/28. These figures do not include "presumptive" new cases, a much smaller number of cases which are reported each day by the City.
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER SECTIONS
COVID-19:
CLICK HERE to jump to the Newsletter's constantly changing COVID-19 update section.
CLICK HERE to jump to our Pandemic Virtual Events section.
CEDAR PARK HISTORY CHEST
CLICK HERE to jump to CPN's ongoing pictorial exploration of local history.
PHILADELPHIA + BEYOND
CLICK HERE to jump to our expanded news section
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You know the mantra:
- stay indoors as much as possible.
- wear a mask when outside (it's mandatory) and practice social distancing
- wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
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Dear Friends and Neighbors of Cedar Park,
Since 1985, the Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Baskets Food Drive has brought together donations and volunteers to prepare and distribute food baskets to local families in need in partnership with community and religious organizations.
During this unprecedented pandemic year, Cedar Park Neighbors and its board remain steadfast in their commitment to “neighbors helping neighbors” and doing so in a manner that prioritizes the health of both volunteers and recipient families. Consequently, in lieu of food baskets, CPN will be working with our local partners to distribute grocery store gift cards safely and securely to families.
This season – with its dual and intertwined health and economic crises – may be among the most challenging in the drive’s history. As a result, we are asking those who can give this year to please do so to the extent they are able and donations of any amount are very welcome. Please click here for our donation campaign page on MemberPlanet. Alternately, you may mail checks made out to “Cedar Park Neighbors” with Memo line “Holiday Baskets” to us at 4740 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.
We want to reach as many families as we can and your financial support will allow us to do so. As a committee, we are exploring how best to help families not currently connected to one of our local partner community and religious organizations.
As in years’ past, neighbors will be able to use this donation form at the same time to join or renew annual membership with Cedar Park Neighbors.
Next year, we very much hope to return the regular Holiday Baskets Food Drive format. Over the decades, this program has become far more than just a volunteer event. It is a special morning where old friends reconnect, and new friendships are formed! Children, first brought along when they were babies, return grown and even begin to help out with the baskets. Families that we have gotten to know through years share how they have been doing and the meaningful impact of this assistance.
Thank you in advance for your continued support! Any updates will be posted to the Cedar Park Neighbors website.
Business Owners: if you would like to donate gift cards, please contact Michelle Lewis at mlewis1071@gmail.com.
Take Care,
Michelle Lewis, Chair
Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Baskets
Cedar Park Neighbors is a federally recognized 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-exempt to the extent permitted under law.
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REPORT ON THE
COMMUNITY ZONING MEETING
HELD THURSDAY DEC 17
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At a Community Zoning hearing on Dec 17, the owner/operator of Renaissance Nursing Home and his representatives faced sharp questioning from members of CPN's Zoning Committee as well as representatives of other community groups and individual community members. The subject was the proposal by Renaissance to build a four-story multi-family apartment building (83 units) anchored at the corner of 48th Street and Chester Avenue (the site of the former dog park and, much earlier, a previous apartment building).
South West District Services (SWDS), an RCO adjoining the area covered by Cedar Park Neighbors, sponsored the meeting, which was held on Zoom. Over a hundred people attended (there was so much interest that the size of the meeting had to be adjusted partway through).
In a way, the outcome of this particular meeting could have been foretold, as the project personnel came to the meeting with one idea in mind - to present only the design of the project and begin the conversation with the community - and the several neighborhood organizations and other interested parties had other expectations, such as answers to specific questions. Several community members expressed the concern that, regardless of promises, this would be the community's only chance to voice its opinion. At the end of the meeting, Mike Ross of SWDS, who chaired the meeting, was clear that the letter he would write would be a letter of non-support for the project, based on the opposition and distrust that was evident in the community. The development team is tentatively scheduled to return (via Zoom) for a second community meeting on January 14th. The project must pass two required hurdles - the city's Civic Design Review, which is a required but advisory step for large projects, and then the Zoning Board of Adjustment for the variances that the project team is currently requesting.
Besides technical issues with the project (including provision of adequate parking for the 83 contemplated units and lack of clarity regarding zoning regulations), several people emphasized that affordable housing concerns were not being adequately addressed, and there were additional concerns regarding the increased traffic that would result.
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STATEMENT BY CEDAR PARK NEIGHBORS ON RACIAL JUSTICE
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George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor - the list of racially motivated murders demands action. Black Lives Matter. The forces of change have motivated movements across the world, in our nation, and within our communities to fight for racial justice. This past Friday, June 19 was Juneteenth, commemorating June 19, 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to ensure that all enslaved people were freed. Freedom, though, does not guarantee racial equality. Cedar Park Neighbors supports the human rights initiatives and protections embedded in the Black Lives Matter movement. We stand with our black and brown neighbors!
- June 22 2020
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CONGRATULATIONS TO
THE AWARDEES FOR THE 2020-2021 GARY BRONSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS
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Cedar Park Neighbors is happy to announce the recipients of our 2020-21 Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarship Awards. The names of this year's ten winners can be found on the CPN website. We congratulate these neighborhood students on their academic achievements, contributions to the community, and pursuit of their educational goals!
For more information about the scholarship program, see our committee website. You can also support our neighborhood students by donating to the scholarship fund online.
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The Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarship was renamed in 2015 in honor of our visionary neighbor and friend, who founded this scholarship 30 years ago.
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The Streets Department's 2021 Christmas Tree Recycling program runs Monday, January 4th to Saturday, January 16th (8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, NO Sundays) at the City’s six Sanitation Convenience Centers. (The nearest to Cedar Park is at 5100 Grays Ave)
Christmas trees brought to these sites should be free of all decorations and ornaments, and untied.
Trees can also be brought to one of 13 Saturday drop-off locations, but only on Saturday, January 9th and Saturday, January 16th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Visit this website for the 13 locations.
The Streets Department emphasizes that Christmas trees should not be burned as fuel in fireplaces. The sap from the tree creates foul odors and can coat the chimney with creosote, which can cause a fire in the chimney.
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WAYS TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
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University City District (UCD) is sponsoring several programs to provide support to a number of local businesses and other institutions, including many in our area, during the pandemic.
You can donate to individual businesses and non-profits (sort of mini-GoFundMes) through the West Philly Forward program.
You can also support some businesses by buying gift packages through UCD's West Philly Favorites program. These packages are described as "curated series of gift packs filled with handcrafted and locally produced items from neighborhood small businesses". The program extends over four weeks beginning in mid-January. Until Jan 8, you can buy a subscription to all four weeks' worth. Or else you can buy individual packs. up to two weeks before scheduled pick-up dates (the first pick-up date is Jan 29). Visit this website for fuller details.
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PREVENTION TRILOGY - A ZOOM EVENT ON PERSONAL SAFETY
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
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COVID-19, lockdown, loss of income, loss of social interaction - it's a lot to cope with. Cedar Park Neighbors maintains here and on its website a list of resources that may help. We recommend those in our list because they are accepting of sliding-scale fees, especially for "self-pay" beneficiaries (those with minimal or no health care plan).
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REGULAR WEEKLY UPDATE SECTION
This section of the CPN Newsletter will continue to highlight new developments in areas where the COVID-19 health emergency has had an impact on our lives. Additional details can be found on the COVID-19 page on CPN's website, where it is just a click away. |
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CITY CURRENT RESPONSE TO INCREASING SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
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WHERE TO FIND RELIABLE COVID-19 INFORMATION
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[UPDATES 01/04/21:] The School District's regular Friday food distribution will restart on its regular schedule on Friday Jan 8.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
The City is operating or helping to support several different kinds of free food distribution sites ( https://www.phila.gov/food/#/). These sites operate on different schedules and are aimed at different clienteles, but all serve the purpose of offering access to food for those in need. All have been operating since early in the pandemic and continue to operate even now.
YOU CAN FIND OUT MOST SCHEDULE AND LOCATION DETAILS ON-LINE AT: https://www.phila.gov/food/#/. THAT LINK ALSO PROVIDES A MAP TO HELP YOU LOCATE A FREE FOOD SOURCE IN YOUR AREA.
You can view further details and suggestions on the CPN website. |
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EVICTION MORATORIUMS [UPDATE 01/01/21:]
The eviction moratorium issued by the Federal government, through the CDC, was extended until Jan 31 2021 upon signing of theCOVID-19 Relief "stimulus" bill.
EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This program closed Nov 4 - no new applications for assistance are being accepted. However, you can still visit the website to check on status of an existing claim or to find out about "Phase 3" benefits.
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA'S EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM:
sets up a mandatory negotiation process in which tenants and landlords can try to reach an agreement that will help let tenants stay in their homes. The negotiation process is mandatory for all landlords. City council has extended this program until 3/31/2021.
OTHER SUPPORT
For others looking for support, visit the website of phillytenant.org.
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HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
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The Congressman's office will also answer questions from small-business owners who call his office at 215-276-0340 asking about the provisions in the law and how they might apply.
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Clark Park :
[UPDATE:] Clark Park Farmers Market has reopened as of Saturday January 2, 2021.
Rittenhouse:
[UPDATE:] Market is back on regular Saturday schedule
Hours are now Saturday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., with 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. reserved for seniors and immuno-compromised customers.
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1916-01-30: Philadelphia Inquirer advertisement for American Loan company at 5145 Chestnut Street with services including "confidential loans to ladies."
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CPN Board Meeting 2021 Schedule
NOTE: public meetings including public sessions of the Board Meetings are cancelled until further notice due to the ongoing health emergency. The CPN Board will continue to meet in virtual fashion each month. The schedule below is informational only.
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Watch this space for the CPN Board's schedule of 2021 meetings.
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Have a topic, concern, project, or initiative you would like to submit to Cedar Park Neighbors for a potential board meeting presentation? Contact us!
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