2003
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April 2003 |
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Libraries May Close - Transit Routes CutGovernor Rendell's austere budget, passed by the state legislature, would slice local subsidies from the current state funding. State budget cuts may force the Free Library of Philadelphia to trim 40 full-time staff positions and close seven branches. Fifty percent of the public computers may be eliminated and funds for new books will vanish. Remaining branches would close on weekends. SEPTA proposed cutting the Route 35 bus along with a selection of other routes. The Route 35 is the route SEPTA, Councilman Nutter, MNC, and local residents spent so much energy trying to improve. SEPTA would also cut segments on other routes such as shortening the Route 27 to omit the segment to Plymouth Meeting. All City transit would operate Sunday service on Saturdays, drastically reducing Saturday service. Fares would be increased by about 5 percent. You can help stop these draconian cuts to services necessary for our urban community by writing state and local officials. Philadelphia and Manayunk in particular are attractive places to live because we have free libraries, good transit, parks and recreation centers. We have to fight to keep them. Please take the time to write or call your elected officials listed below. Governor Edward G. Rendell 225 Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120Telephone: 717-787-2500 Senator Vincent Hughes 4601 Market Street, First Floor Philadelphia, PA 19139-4616 215-471-0490 Fax: 215-560-3434 Hon. Kathy M. Manderino 6526 Ridge Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19128 215-482-8726 Fax: 215-482-9066
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Pretzel Park is a Wreck!Vandalism hit the park hard over the winter. Graffiti is all over the new benches and play equipment. A cement ball by the park house was knocked off the cap and left hanging by an iron rod. The new play equipment has been ravaged. The plexiglass cover was broken off the new kiosk. The cement contractor, adding pillars at the St. John's entrance, repaired the ball at minimal cost. The play equipment manufacturer is replacing the damaged and missing parts at no cost. He will also install new protective caps & other measures to help deter vandalism. Volunteers will repair the rest. We are lucky that these repairs are being done with the help Sam LePera of the City's Capital Program Office. We need to come together as a community to prevent further vandalism. If you live near the park, please become a steward of the park by calling 911 to report suspicious activities. The biggest deterrence to vandalism is pedestrian presence and human vigilance. Join a friend and take a walk in the park whenever you can. You can help us and improve your health. Please take the time to check out the perennial garden along Rector and Cresson Sts. and the Memorial Garden at Cotton and Silverwood.
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Boundaries of MNCManayunk Neighborhood Council had no boundaries until the bylaws were amended in 1998. At that time an area of representation and focus area were defined. The territory of representation is the area as defined by the 21st Ward of Philadelphia. The territory of representation is designated for the purpose of membership, community outreach, and mutual support. The territory of focus, is the area bound by the Schuylkill River to the West, Ridge Avenue to the South, Manayunk Avenue to the East, and Fountain Street to Smick Street then LaMonte Street to the North. The territory of focus is designated to define a core location for projects, actions, and responsibilities. We believe fixed borders are often arbitrary. Issues do not respect civic boundaries. Problems often have a center and a surrounding area of impact. Developments that draw or impede traffic impact residents in other areas. Every issue is unique. While we lay out specific streets to provide a frame of reference the concept is more diffuse. There are no absolutes. The farther something is from the focus area, the less it is an MNC issue. The more an issue is within the territory of another civic and the more involved that civic is, the less it is an MNC issue. The degrees to which issues affect the focus area help decide our level of involvement. Our "Territory of Representation" acknowledges that just as individual blocks are part of a Neighborhood, neighborhoods are part of the continuum that is our region. People from the surrounding area have a vested interest and a right to representation. MNC does not own anyone within it's territory of focus or representation. We encourage residents to participate in as many groups as they feel beneficial. We welcome anyone who wishes to participate in MNC. We believe this is the best way to represent, protect, and improve the community and we hope other residents and civics feel the same way.
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Guest Speakers, May 7Zero Tolerance Update from Sgt. Fran Healy and Captain Willie Maye Townhouse Proposal (5 to 10 homes) for Ripka and Wilde Streets by developer Sam Sherman Manayunk Travel Awareness Campaign, Dennis Winters
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Spring into Your ParkPRETZEL PARK SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2003 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Paint benches, spread mulch, weed the flower beds, rake leaves and enjoy your park! FREE T-SHIRTS provided by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
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VENICE ISLAND UPDATEThe proposed apartment projects on Venice Island are still in court and will be there for some time to come. Do not confuse these developments with the two "mainland" devlopments. A 60 unit condo/apartment complex was recently completed on the mainland side of the canal opposite the Namico site. A 60 unit apartment complex is currently being constructed next to the CVS on lower Main Street near Ridge and Main. These developments are not in the floodway, are not on the island, and are much smaller than the proposed venice island developments. In summary, there are two proposed developments for Venice Island. One by Dranoff Properties at the Namico soap factory near Leverington and Main--160 units. One by Realan Properties/Connelly at the Connelly container site next to the VI rec center at the bottom of Cotton Street--270 units. The following has occurred for both properties
In the Dranoff case
We don't have an automatic right to appeal the Commonwealth decision to the PA Supreme Court. We must first ask the court if they will hear an appeal. If they accept, then we go on to present our appeal to the PA Supreme Court. In the Realan/Connelly case, if the rehearing is approved then we get to present our case, again, to the Commonwealth (state) court. If the rehearing is denied, or the court re-hears the case and decides against us again, then we move on to the PA Supreme Court, as in the Dranoff case. As the Review article pointed out, the PA Supreme Court could take as long as a year to decide to accept the appeal and as long as two more years to hear the appeal. The whole Commonwealth to PA Supreme Court trip will probably cost close to $10,000. If you support the cause, now is the time to step up with a generous donation. Checks should be made out to Manayunk Neighborhood Council and sent to P.O. box 4667, Philadelphia PA, 19127. A big thanks to those who have already given generously.
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City Planning CommissionCIVIC LEADERS TO MEET WITH CITY PLANNING COMMISSION The City Managing Director Philip Goldsmith and City Planning Commission Executive Director Maxine Griffith have agreed to meet with the local civic coaltion to discuss the City's plan for our community. The local civics, Central Roxborough Civic Assoc., Manayunk Neighborhood Council, Ridge Park Civic Assoc, Wissahickon Interested Citizens Assoc., and Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Assoc plan to meet with these public officials soon to ask for her help in controlling new development and the conversion of single family homes to apartments.
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Tree TendersFREE TREE TENDERS TRAINING Save the dates for the next Tree Tenders Training: Wednesday June 11, 18, 25 at 6 - 9 pm and Saturday June 14 at 10 - 2pm Contact Mindy at 215-988-8844 or mmaslin@pennhort.org for more information
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Roxborough ResevoirRoxborough Reservoir Friends Report The City of Philadelphia is undertaking a strategic planning process for Fairmount Park. National park and recreation consulting firms have been hired to conduct this project. During the first phase of the strategic plan, firms will be conducting a series of stakeholder interviews and focus group meetings. Kris Soffa represented the Roxborough Reservoir Friends in a recent "key leader group interview" meeting under the umbrella of the Friends of the Wissahickon. She urged the Fairmount Park Commission and the City to look beyond the current budget and management problems and take a long view. She asked them to consider adding the Roxborough Reservoir and the Shawmont Pumphouse to park land to preserve and protect these regional assets. We wish the Roxborough Reservoir Friends the best of luck on their endeavors.
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Farm Fresh ProduceFarm Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Manayunk and Roxborough Grass Roots Café, 110 Cotton Street, is in its second year of offering farm fresh produce to local residents. Each week a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered to them from a nearby farmer. The produce is divided into boxes for pickup after 2 P.M. on Fridays. The program requires a prepaid fee so the farmer delivers the proper quantity. For example, a $100 deposit will cover the cost of $10 worth of produce a week for 10 weeks. The program also offers fresh eggs and raw cow or goats milk. For more information, stop by the café or call them at 482-0300. Roxborough is planning a similar program of Community Supported Agriculture from a Lancaster County farm. Each Roxborough member buys a 'share' of the annual harvest. In return, the farm delivers a weekly share of the produce. This program runs for 20 weeks, June through mid-October. The pickup location has not been selected. For more information on this program, contact Farm to City at 215/733-9599 or e-mail: farmto.city@verizon.net.
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