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March is Women's History Month
HEADLINES
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CPN News
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR MEMBERSHIP ON CPN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PUBLIC (VIRTUAL) COMMUNITY MEETING SCHEDULED MAR 24 FOR PROPOSED MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AT 48TH & CHESTER
Coronavirus News
THOSE AGE 65 OR OLDER NOW ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION IN PHILLY [whyy.org]
FOR FIRST TIME IN A YEAR, SOME PHILLY SCHOOLS REOPEN TO STUDENT, PARENT CHEERS [www.inquirer.com]
NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR PHILADELPHIA BUSINESSES IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Starting 11 a.m. Mar 15, PIDC begins taking applications for CHIRP - Pennsylvania's COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program. Webinars about CHIRP are also available.
WHAT THE NEW STIMULUS MEANS FOR PHILLY [billypenn.com]
DEATHS DROP, BUT HEALTH EXPERTS URGE VIGILANCE [www.inquirer.com]
NEXT 2 WEEKS: SIX MORE COMMUNITY VACCINATION SITES WILL OPEN AROUND THE CITY
Some details given in Health Department daily update for Mar 9. (look under "Community Vaccination Centers") One site will be in West Philly "near the Market Street corridor".
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN SAFELY DO ONCE YOU'RE FULLY VACCINATED, SAYS THE CDC [www.inquirer.com]
PHILADELPHIA COVID-19 VACCINE REGISTRATION CAN FINALLY KEEP OUT LINE JUMPERS, OFFICIALS SAY [www.inquirer.com]
PHILLY WILL SEND CONFIRMATION EMAILS TO ALL ON CITY VACCINE REGISTRY [billypenn.com]
CITY AND SEPTA EXPAND CCT SERVICE TO ALLOW GREATER ACCESS TO CONVENTION CENTER VACCINATION SITE
RECENT COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS FOR PHILADELPHIA:
Week of 03/06 - 03/12 (Sat to Fri) (7 days):
New confirmed cases: 1785 (average of 255 cases/day)
Deaths: 21
First Dose Vaccinations: 334,845 as of 3/13/21
Second Dose Vaccinations: 133,708 as of 3/13/21
Philadelphia's population is a little over 1.5 million.
Data are from press briefings by the City and Department of Health, such as this one covering 03/06/21-03/08/21. 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
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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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NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR CPN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Are you interested in serving your community as a board member for Cedar Park Neighbors? We’re looking for new members to serve two-year terms that begin on June 1, 2021. Please email your nomination (name, email address, home or work street address, and why you wish to run for the board) to David Hincher, 1st Vice President by Friday, March 12th at 5pm.
Are you a long-time resident or recently moved to the neighborhood? Are you a renter, homeowner, or business owner? If you live or work in Cedar Park and want to help your community, consider running for your neighborhood board!
View the CPN map to check if you live or work in our boundaries (map link).
We will host a virtual information session via Zoom to share more about the responsibilities and opportunities of a Cedar Park Neighbors board member at the following times:
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Friday, March 5th from 11:00am-12:00pm
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Friday, March 12th from 12:00-1:00pm
Zoom meeting info:
https://nelsonww.zoom.us/j/97156136499?pwd=VXJvaWFadi9ZRVVOYUJQWkMvMEJJQT09
Meeting ID: 971 5613 6499
Passcode: 807031
More information will follow regarding our annual membership meeting and board elections scheduled for mid-April.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CEDAR PARK NEIGHBORS BOARD MEMBERS
Cedar Park Neighbors is the recognized community organization (RCO) for the Cedar Park area. As representatives of the community and the organization, CPN Board Members behave in a responsible, accountable organization, promoting the general welfare of the community. The basic responsibilities of a CPN Board Member are:
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Participation in monthly two-hour CPN Board Meetings, which are typically held the 3rd Mondays of each month from 7:00-9:00pm. All meetings are virtual until further notice.
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Join a Committee (Scholarship, Zoning, Holiday Food Basket, Jazz, Communications, Transit, or start one that you feel is needed!)
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Encourage neighbors and friends to join CPN and participate in our activities
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Maintain your annual membership during your term
Please note that in order to stand for election as a CPN board member or to vote in the elections, you need to be a current CPN member. Click here to join (or renew membership) with CPN!
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PUBLIC (VIRTUAL) MEETING REGARDING DEVELOPMENT AT 48TH AND CHESTER
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A public hearing will be held March 24 at 6 p.m. regarding the proposed multi-family development at 48th and Chester, the site of the former dog park.
"Zoom" access and telephone access information to attend the meeting are given below.
There will also be a formal Zoning Board hearing on this project in April.
The meeting is sponsored by the RCO of record, Southwest Philadelphia District Services, but formal notice was sent to all nearby RCOs and adjacent property owners.
You can read the entirety of the formal notice by following this link. It includes a description of the project, including details regarding number of units, parking spaces, etc.
Virtual meeting info below:
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REPORT: PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS ON COBBS CREEK PARKWAY AND NORTH 63RD STREET
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John Schaeffer of CPN's Transportation Committee recently attended (via Zoom) a meeting regarding safety improvements to Cobbs Creek Parkway and North 63rd Street, and gave this summary:
Last week, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier hosted a community meeting featuring city and state officials regarding safety improvements to Cobbs Creek Parkway. You may have already seen the new flex posts and speed humps on part of the parkway as part of this effort, all of which are designed to make the road safer for everyone. More changes will be coming through this summer from Woodland Ave to Hoffman Ave, including resurfacing, more flex posts, and speed humps. Community feedback so far has been positive, and Cedar Park Neighbors looks forward to further improvements being made (extending into 2023) to keep our neighbors safe. If you'd like to receive more information about the project, you can sign up for official PennDOT updates at https://pima.penndotpi.com/public/subscribe/stakeholder-info?project_id=101.
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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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CCT EASES TRAVEL TO CONVENTION CENTER SITE FOR THOSE OVER 65 AND UNABLE TO USE MASS TRANSIT.
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SEPTA's CCT service and the city have teamed up to provide for a ride, courtesy of CCT, to and from the vaccination site at the Convention Center for those 65 and older who could not get there by other means, including mass transit.
The city spelled out the details in the daily briefing from the Department of Health on March 5th (follow the link and look for the section entitled "Access and Functional Needs Transportation"). They caution that this is only for those who have a confirmed appointment for a vaccination shot, and that the request for a ride should be made at least 72 hours ahead of the appointment date.
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MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
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VIRTUAL TOWN HALL ON GUN VIOLENCE
TUESDAY MAR 16
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Invited speakers include:
Danielle Outlaw, Police Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia
Erica Atwood, Senior Director of Criminal Justice & Public Safety, City of Philadelphia
When: Tuesday March 16 6:30 p.m.
Registration: follow this link
This event was organized by Councilmember Allan Domb.
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CITIZENS BANK PARK CAREER FAIR
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A socially distanced, in-person hiring event for individuals interested in exploring careers in the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics industry.
Thursday, March 25
9AM-1PM
Citizens Bank Park
Here's where to register: [click here]
Questions? Contact
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"SAFER-AT-HOME" RULES ARE SLIGHTLY RELAXED AS OF MARCH 1
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As new COVID infections continue to fall, the city's Health Commissioner has once again relaxed certain restrictions affecting activities that generally bring people into close contact. These new instructions go into effect as of March 1. Here is a summary, reprinted from the city's Friday Feb 26 public update:
- Retail settings and religious services are allowed to double their capacity limit from 10 people per 1,000 square feet to 20 people per 1,000 square feet.
- Senior centers are allowed to reopen for the first time since the start of the pandemic; attendees and staff must be masked the entire time with either a KN95 mask, or double-masked with a procedure mask and a cloth mask.
- Indoor theaters and performance venues are allowed to expand to state capacity limits and can allow food service, but only if diners sit in groups of four or fewer consistent with indoor dining guidance.
- Other gatherings and events are allowed to expand to state capacity limits: 20 percent of capacity at outdoor events and 15 percent of capacity at indoor events. (this includes sporting events). Philadelphia is now following this State rule.
- Restaurants can now allow up to six people per table outdoors only; there is no change in maximum capacity for indoor dining, which remains at four people per table.
- Outdoor catered events, like celebrations and weddings, are now allowed to have a maximum capacity of 100 people.
Note that indoor catered events are still not allowed.
These changes bring Philadelphia closer into agreement with rules established earlier this year for Pennsylvania as a whole.
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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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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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CORONAVIRUS: THE CITY'S CURRENT RESPONSE. VACCINATION PLANS
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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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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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Mar 16 2021: Public Safety Town Hall focused on the Gun Violence Epidemic in Philadelphia. 6:30 p.m. Register here. Sponsored by Councilmember Allan Domb
May 8 2021: 13th Annual Oral Cancer Walk & 5K: sponsored by Penn Dental Medicine. Not so much "virtual" as "remote". Register here and click here for the event flyer.
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.
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1927-5-16: Walton Avenue looking South from 51st Street. Image via PhillyHistory.org.
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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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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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