February is Black History Month
Monday Feb 22 is the 182nd birthday of Octavius Catto
HEADLINES
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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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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".
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CPN'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY BASKET FOOD DRIVE
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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.
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CPN ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2020
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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
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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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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.
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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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TOUR THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM AT BELMONT MANSION
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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.
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PHILADELPHIA'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS A BUDGET-BUSTER - AND THE CITY WANTS YOUR HELP ON IT
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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.
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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.
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH:
FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA EVENTS
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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.
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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.
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greenPhilly's guide covers CFL, LED, Halogen, and incandescent light bulbs.
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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/
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PENN POLICE CAPTAIN OFFERS TIPS FOR PERSONAL SAFETY
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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.
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UNIVERSITY CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
BOOK TALK SERIES
(ON ZOOM)
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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)
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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 THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
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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.
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WHERE TO FIND RELIABLE COVID-19 INFORMATION
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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.
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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.
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HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
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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.
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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.
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1910: Bromley Atlas view of the property at center. Image via atlas.phila.gov.
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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.
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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).
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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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Feb 22
Mar 15
Apr 19
May 17
Jun 21
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Jul 19
Aug 16
Sep 20
Oct 18
Nov 15
Dec 20
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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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