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February is Black History Month
Monday Feb 22 is the 182nd birthday of Octavius Catto


HEADLINES

 

SCHOOL DISTRICT HYBRID LEARNING PLAN DELAYED ONE WEEK TO MAR 1

CONVENTION CENTER TO HOST A MASS VACCINATION SITE WITH SUPPORT FROM FEMA AND OTHERS

Site may be open by March 3

PHILADELPHIA ANNOUNCES POTENTIAL BUDGET GAP OF $450 MILLION, ASKS FOR RESIDENTS' INPUT

CAN VACCINATED PEOPLE STILL SPREAD COVID-19? SCIENCE TRIES TO FIND ANSWERS TO THIS AND SIMILAR QUESTIONS


BIDEN EXTENDING BAN ON HOUSING FORECLOSURES DURING PANDEMIC
Foreclosure ban extended to June 30. Eviction ban for renters remains through March 31 for now.

BIDEN:  U.S. IS SECURING 600 MILLION COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES BY JULY

PHILA. WILL OPEN SIX MASS VACCINATION SITES - PLANNED START IS FEB 22    
 [www.inquirer.com]
One such "community vaccination site" will be locally
located at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

CDC GIVES NEW ROAD MAP FOR SCHOOLS WITHOUT REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO REOPEN  [www.inquirer.com]

CDC STUDY: TWO COVID-19 MASKS ARE BETTER THAN ONE    [www.inquirer.com]

SHOPRITE, WALGREENS TO OFFER VACCINES FOR OLDER PHILADELPHIANS  [whyy.org]
Also: Health Dept. takes over PFC clinic






RECENT COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS FOR PHILADELPHIA:

Week of 02/13 - 02/19 (Sat to Fri)  (7 days):

New confirmed cases:   1688  (average of about 241 cases/day)
Deaths: 62
First Dose Vaccinations: 164,728  as of 2/19/21 8:20 a.m.
Second Dose Vaccinations: 82,439  as of 2/19/21 8:20 a.m

Philadelphia's population is over 1.5 million.

Data are from press briefings by the City and Department of Health, such as this one covering 02/13/21-02/16/21. These figures do not include "presumptive" new cases, a much smaller number of cases which are reported each day by the City. Vaccination data now available here.




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  
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.
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE CITY'S "VACCINATION INTEREST" FORM. IT'S HOW YOU CAN REGISTER TO BE ALERTED WHEN THE CITY WILL BE SCHEDULING VACCINATIONS FOR YOUR "PHASE".
Click here for more info

YOU CAN ALSO CALL  (215) 685-5488 OR EMAIL covid@phila.gov.
CPN'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY BASKET FOOD DRIVE

This year's Holiday Food Drive has been a smashing success. We are able to keep this program running due the generous outpouring of support from neighbors and the wider community - Thank you! The Holiday Basket committee is continuing to distribute grocery store gift cards and CPN hopes to have final statistics available in an upcoming newsletter. 

CPN ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2020
2020 was a challenging year for Cedar Park Neighbors, for Philadelphia, and for the world. By the end of March, the single most central characteristic of daily life was our response to the COVID-19 pandemic - our response as individuals, as family members, as neighbors, as American citizens, and as members of the human race.

Each year, CPN publishes an account of its accomplishments during the preceding year. documenting the work of its Board and its many active committees.. The account for 2020 is available on Cedar Park's website
 
STATEMENT BY CEDAR PARK NEIGHBORS ON RACIAL JUSTICE
 

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

CONGRATULATIONS TO
THE AWARDEES FOR THE 2020-2021 GARY BRONSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS


The names of this year's ten winners of Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarships 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!

The Scholarship Committee raised over $8000 during the past year's fundraising effort, even though our main fundraising event had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. We would like to emphasize how much we appreciate the donations from individuals and businesses that helped us reach that total in a challenging year.

For more information about the scholarship program, see our committee website. You can contribute to fundraising efforts for 2021 awards by donating to the scholarship fund online.
Donate
The Gary Bronson Memorial Scholarship was renamed in 2015 in honor of our visionary neighbor and friend, who founded this scholarship 30 years ago.
TOUR THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM AT BELMONT MANSION

Did you know that the Underground Railroad was once connected to an actual aboveground railroad that passed through present day Fairmount Park and brought many enslaved people to freedom? Learn about this and other fascinating stories on a virtual visit to the Belmont Mansion Underground Railroad Museum in West Fairmount Park.

The lunchtime tour on Thursday 2/25 will also feature performances by interpreters portraying Cornelia Wells and William Still, the Philadelphian who is considered the father of the Underground Railroad.
PHILADELPHIA'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS A BUDGET-BUSTER - AND THE CITY WANTS YOUR HELP ON IT
The budget proposed by Mayor Kenney this week leaves a $450 million deficit (here's a short Inquirer article on that topic). It's no secret that much of this deficit - both unexpected spending and falling revenues - is due to the city's response to the pandemic. In turn,  the city is asking for advice from its residents on what to do about it. And - possibly confident that many people are ready with opinions on the subject - it would like to know those opinions by this Sunday, Feb 28.

The city has set up an on-line questionnaire, fashioned as an exercise in trying to inject priorities into the city's next budget.  You're first asked how you would split up $100, if you had authority to do so, among major categories of city obligations, such as Fire Department and ambulance response; housing; anti-violence; and others. You're separately asked questions about which city functions need more money, and  you are asked to choose how you would provide that extra money - i.e. raise taxes and fees or spend less elsewhere? 

Others will be responding to this survey and if you want to add your voice, you should take the time as well. Be prepared to think about your answers - the exercise is not as easy as it may seem.
During a 24-hour period last week at the Liacouras Center, the now well-known Black Doctors organization dispensed OVER 4000 COVID-19 vaccination shots. Long lines of people were waiting all day and through the night. The Inquirer article and a WHYY article each document the story.

The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium has been active since almost the beginning of the pandemic. This latest effort - which they hope to repeat - concentrated on those in the "1a" and "1b" phases of those awaiting vaccination, and  focused on residents in parts of the city (including all of West Philadelphia) where many people of limited means live.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH:
FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA EVENTS
The Free Library of Philadelphia will be hosting a series of events, most of them virtual, and most (not all) for free. These events are themed for Black History Month.

Use the link below to browse the catalog of events, then read the instructions in each one that explain how to register for the event.

Calendar of Events - Events - Free Library

In addition, check out the Library's digital archive of ten historic African-American newspapers.
Through His Eyes: Youth Activism in The Civil Rights Era In Philadelphia
 - an online exhibition that pulls from the Jack T. Franklin photographic collection at AAMP to explore Philadelphia’s often overlooked civil rights activists: Black youth.

Rendering Justice
- a powerful exhibition, curated by artist Jesse Krimes, that showcases an expansive examination of mass incarceration and an unflinching depiction of contemporary America
 
greenPhilly's guide covers CFL, LED, Halogen, and incandescent light bulbs.
 
This multi-day event includes:
  • By-appointment gallery viewing from April 1st-April 10th at the Arts League
  • Silent auction on GiveSmart from April 1st-April 10th
  • Live Auction and Zoom event on April 10th at 7:30pm
  • plus more perks and bonuses by ticket tier!
Bid on art created by local Philly artists and support UCAL!
Tickets and further info available at  https://e.givesmart.com/events/k99/
 

PENN POLICE CAPTAIN OFFERS TIPS FOR PERSONAL SAFETY
Responding to a recent rash of violent crime, including carjackings and hold-ups, Captain Nicole McCoy of Penn Police met with the CPN Board on Jan 25 and offered some statistics and a set of tips for personal safety. This was in direct response to a rash of violent crimes (45 from Dec 1 through Jan 25) in the University City area.

Among the tips which Captain McCoy highlighted were these:
  • If you have porch lights (front or back) keep them on overnight
  • If a streetlamp on your block is out, report it to 311
  • Don't sit idle in your car. It provides an opportunity for carjacking or robbery
  • Try not to walk alone. Remember that the University City District Ambassadors provide a service to accompany people home late at night.(their phone number is 215-387-3942 - it's a free service, 10am - 3am, seven days a week).
  • The 18th District offers an additional service: making a security assessment of your home. Contact Officer S. Baukman of the 18th District (email:  shamssadeen.baukman@phila.gov)
These tips will soon also be maintained on the CPN website.
UNIVERSITY CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
BOOK TALK SERIES
(ON ZOOM)
Meet two local authors and members of UCHS who will discuss their recently published books.

These events are free and open to the public.  Registration is required.


 (1) Historic Real Estate, Market Morality and the Politics of Preservation in the Early United States       

Featuring: Dr. Whitney Martinko, Associate Professor of History at Villanova University
When: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 7:30 PM (EDT)

 [This event has already taken place]



(2) City of Neighborhoods, Philadelphia 1890-1910

Featuring: Mr. Joseph Minardi, award-winning local photographer

When: Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 7:30 PM (EDT)
 



 

COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH

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).

 
 
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.
CITY CURRENT RESPONSE TO THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
You can read The City's "Safe at Home" plan gives the fullest description of the current restrictions

Vaccination: Philadelphia has opened up vaccination to priority group 1b (additional front-line workers  plus everyone 75 or older) as well as 1a (health care professionals and residents of nursing homes). Although the State of Pennsylvania has OK'd vaccination for all who are 65 or older, the City of Philadelphia has authority to set its own rules regarding the prioritization of vaccine doses.

If you are looking to "sign up" for COVID-19  vaccination, visit the city's "vaccine interest" site and fill out the requested information (you can also call (215) 685-5488 or email covid@phila.gov). Your name and contact info will be kept in line so you can be informed when a possible vaccine appointment becomes available.

The city publishes a map of sites that will be involved in distributing vaccines (follow the link and scroll halfway down the page). The city emphasizes that these are not walk-in sites, that not all receive vaccine doses yet, and that you cannot make an appointment with them - you can do so only through signing up on the "vaccine interest" website mentioned above.
WHERE TO FIND RELIABLE COVID-19 INFORMATION
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA INFORMATION RESOURCES:

The City's home page for COVID info:   https://www.phila.gov/COVID-19
"Reopening" guidance:    https://www.phila.gov/reopen
COVID Testing:    https://www.phila.gov/testing
Food support:    https://www.phila.gov/food

You can sign up for daily Coronavirus updates via text message: Text COVIDPHL to 888-777. The text messages will come from PHLOEM, Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management.

The city's published list of priority groups and their order of receiving the vaccine can be found here.

Still further Philadelphia resources are described on the CPN website's COVID-19 page.

OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Other sources of information are available on the CPN website, including State of Pennsylvania, Federal, and some private sources.
TESTING
Where You Can Get Tested:
Start by using the City's COVID-19 test site finder. Note whether the site requires an appointment, and whether it has eligibility requirements for testing.

Some community organizations and religious institutions have created "pop-up" testing sites. These usually operate one or two days and can be best found by going through local social media. Other steady sources include the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium and Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers.  In addition, the Department of Health posts these events on its COVID-19 web page.
FREE FOOD SUPPORT
GENERAL INFORMATION

The City, in partnership with the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging and with Philabundance,  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 free access to food for those in need. All have been operating since early in the pandemic and continue to operate now.

YOU CAN FIND OUT THE LOCATION OF NEARBY SITES ON-LINE AT: https://www.phila.gov/food/#/. Some sites also list schedule information.

Families are encouraged to confirm locations and schedules by calling 311 or visiting phila.gov/food before their first visit to a site.. In some cases you may need to call the site to confirm the hours..

You can view further details and suggestions on the CPN website.
HELP FOR RENTERS
EVICTION MORATORIUMS

[UPDATE 02/05/21:] NEW STATE AID IN SUPPORT OF RENTERS AND LANDLORDS
Governor Wolf signs bill offering fresh relief grants to cover arrears in rent, among other goals. 

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA'S  EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM:  extended by City Council through 3/31/2021.

Also, the eviction moratorium issued by the Federal government, through the CDC, was extended until Mar 31, 2021 by an executive order signed by President Biden.


OTHER SUPPORT

For others looking for support, visit the website of phillytenant.org.
HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
[UPDATE 01/22/21:] CITY AND PIDC ANNOUNCE SMALL GRANT PROGRAM TARGETED AT GYMS AND RESTAURANTS
The "COVID-19 Restaurant and Gym Relief Program" will be open for applications Thursday Jan 28 through Tuesday Feb 9

[UPDATE 02/05/21:] NEW STATE AID TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND OTHERS
Governor Wolf signs bill offering fresh relief grants to small businesses.

PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) IS BACK

The new version of the law is both familiar and improved. Here's an Inquirer article about "8 things small businesses need to know."

NEW STIMULUS PLAN

Congressman Evans's office
 will answer questions from small-business owners who call his office at 215-276-0340 asking about the provisions in the new stimulus law and how they might apply.


THE GENERAL RESTRICTIONS NOW IN EFFECT

On Jan 4 and again on Jan 12, 2021 the city relaxed some restrictions on business activities. Allowed as of Jan 4: museums, gyms, casinos, outdoor sports and outdoor catered events. Allowed as of Jan 12: indoor dining at 25% seating capacity (later raised to 50% under certain specified ventilation standards); theaters and other indoor performance venues; and in-person classes at colleges. Still prohibited: indoor gatherings such as catered affairs, even in a home.



COMCAST RISE:

A three-year plan to provide grants and business services to small businesses

The second round of applications is now closed. Monitor the website for announcements of further rounds.



OTHER FORMS OF GRANTS AND LOANS:
 
You'll find these described in more detail on the CPN website:


FILING FOR A USE AND OCCUPANCY TAX REFUND

Follow the link (above) for instructions. This is targeted specifically at business owners who have paid U&O taxes covering a period during which they could not operate their business premises due to COVID-19 closures. It can include the portion of restaurants and bars used for indoor dining 

Filing for a partial refund of Use & Occupancy Tax can now be based on unused portions of bars and restaurants due to restrictions on indoor dining.
CITY TAXES
The city has a number of programs under which financially stressed residents and businesses can set up payment plans for taxes (including real estate taxes, school taxes, business income taxes, and water bills). Follow this link for the city's introductory website to these programs.
SEPTA - PATCO - PennDOT
NATIONWIDE FACE MASK MANDATE

[UPDATE 02/15/21:] Has your SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card expired or is it about to expire? SEPTA has extended the validity of all Senior Fare Cards expiring in 2020 or in 2021 through calendar 2022.


The CDC, in connection with the Federal Department of Transportation, has announced a nationwide face mask mandate for anyone riding any form of public transit - subways, buses, trolleys, trains, aircraft - and also for any person at a public "transportation hub" such as a bus or railroad terminal, subway stop, or airline terminal.

Note that SEPTA has long required that riders wear face masks or face coverings and practice social distancing where possible.


Use the following links to keep informed of other service changes for SEPTA, PATCO, and PennDOT:

SEPTA's home page
SEPTA's COVID-19 page
PATCO: Check this website for updates on PATCO schedules
PennDOT: visit this link and select Driver and Vehicle Services.

 
SCHOOLS
SOME STUDENTS MAY RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING

[UPDATE 02/21/21:]  Some K-to-2nd-grade students are expected to return to school part-time on Mar 1, but this depends on a mediation still going on between the School District and the teachers' union.  As of Sunday evening 2/21/21 no decision has been announced.

[UPDATE 02/12/21:]  The Federal CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has issued guidelines for reopening of schools.  The guidelines are not a mandate.
 
GETTING CONNECTED:
 
Parents can get information regarding PHLConnectED either on-line or by dialing 211

See also this information about ACCESS CENTERS (as in "Internet access") being operated by the City of Philadelphia.
 

MASKS:

Children in Pennsylvania schools (all types) will need to wear masks at all time.

 
LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS
Clark Park :
Hours are:
9:30-10:0 for seniors and immunocompromised shoppers
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for general commerce

Rittenhouse:
Market is back on regular Saturday schedule. Hours are Saturday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
There is also a Tuesday market at this location.
 
VIRTUAL EVENTS

UCHS Book Talk Series: Session 2: City of Neighborhoods, Philadelphia 1890-1910. Free event, registration required

Prevention Trilogy: hosted on Zoom by the Holly Street Neighbors CDC.
Download the flyer  at this site.
Last session March 6th.

Free Library of Philadelphia: The Free Library of Philadelphia now maintains a calendar of virtual events and programming!

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge:  leads live nature programs on its Facebook page every Tuesday and Thursday until further notice.

Ahimsa House: Ahimsa House is holding some virtual classes, including a poetry reading and a silent meditation. Click to their website for details.

Cedar Park History Chest
1913: Postcard view of the Pennsylvania Railroad YMCA at 41st and Westminster envisioned by company managers and directors to serve as place of refugre for employees in repsonse to political and worker unrest. Image via West Philadelphia: University City to 52nd Street.
1910: Bromley Atlas view of the property at center. Image via atlas.phila.gov.
1967: Mother Divine rings a bell signifying the start of a Holy Communion Banquet. In 1943, members of Father Divine's International Peace Mission Movement purchased the then abandoned PRR YMCA, and later transfered it to the organization's Unity Mission Church and Home Training School. While the PRR YMCA had been restricted to employees, the Unity Mission Church took a more public approach to the buillding and offered haircuts, a public gymnasium, and bowling alleys among other amenities at no charge to area residents. Image via the September 23rd, 1967 edition of The New Day, a newsletter publication of the IPMM accessed through the nomination for city historic designation.
1945-03-20: Community activist and teacher at the Charles Richard Drew Elementary School, Celestine Fulchon attends "the weekly Righteous Government Banquet to honor Divine and the Peace Mission for their efforts in restoring a key resource in what the city had come to see as simply a deteriorating neighborhood and community. Fulchon noted that she had 'worked in this community for twenty years' during which time, residents repeatedly 'told them down at the City Hall, that in this community we need a building like this for all Americans.' Prior to the efforts of the Peace Mission’s cadre of men who restored the building, as Fulchon explained, the community’s 20,000 school aged children had no 'place between the Schuylkill River and 47th Street and the railroad and Market Street to play and exercise themselves.'" [Emphasis added.] Quotation from J.T. Roane's article, "Queering Growth in Mid-20th Century Philadelphia," appearing in The Review of Black Political Economy. 2020; 47(2).
Philadelphia + Beyond

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. 

Feb 22
Mar 15
Apr 19
May 17
Jun 21
 
Jul 19
Aug 16
Sep 20
Oct 18
Nov 15
Dec 20
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