Pet First Aid and CPR Lessons: Learn how to take care of your pet in an emergency!  The American Red Cross will be providing FREE pet First Aid and CPR lessons.

Discounted Pet Insurance: Learn about the benefits of Pet Health Insurance through Petplan.  A special discount will be given to those who purchase insurance through QVK9.

St. Philip Neri Church,  218 Queen Street, 

Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m.

June Meeting:

         Penn’s Village Informational Session:

Find out about the this not-for-profit community organization that helps residents thrive in their own homes as they age, and lends support when residents of any age have special needs.  Find out about all the ways in which you might volunteer with Penn’s  Village, from giving a ride to the doctor’s office, offering a little computer support, and more.

Followed by:

We welcome and encourage all residents to come!

 767 SOUTH FIFTH STREET

Application is for the consolidation of lot lines to create one (1) lot from three (3) lots and the erection of a three (3) story attached single family dwelling with front and side bays at the second and third floor levels, cellar, roof deck with an accessory pilot house, a sic (6) foot high 4rear yard fence with a rolling gate and one (1) off-streets open air parking slot.

 All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

1.    632 S. FIFTH ST, 616 s.5^TH, 618 S.5^th, 620 S. 5^th, 622, S 5^th, 624-626 S. 5^th,628 S. 5^th, 630 S. 5^th, 511 Bainbridge St., and 624R-626 S. 5^th St.

Application for the relocation of lot lines to create four (4) new lots (Parcel A, B, C, and D) and proposed easement (no encroachments within easement) from thirteen (13) existing deeded lots. .   . . On proposed Parcel A, to remain a multi-family residence (3 apartments) in an existing three (3) story structure with pilot house and roof deck.  On proposed Parcel B, to remain a food, beverages and groceries on 1^st floor and basement and household living on the 2^nd floor in an existing two (2) story structure. On proposed Parcel C, for the erection of one (1) roof access structure and two (2) roof decks above the existing two (2) story portion with two (2) existing tenant spaces on the 1^st floor as follows: Space 622 S. 5^th to remain an existing take-out restaurant and space 620 S. 5thSt to remain for use as personal service (beauty salon) with two-family dwelling abode.  On proposed Parcel D, for the erection of a one(1) story addition above the existing two (2) story portions with roof access structure and roof deck with vacant commercial spaces located on the first floor (use registration permit required prior to occupancy) with a multi-family dwelling (eleven(11) dwelling units from the 1^st-3^rd floor.  Size and location as shown on application/plan.

 2.  626 SOUTH FRONT STREET

Application is for the change in use to a single family dwelling, the legalization of two off-street parking slots inside a private residence parking garage, the use of a rooftop sundeck (size and location to be as shown in the application) to an existing vacant building.

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Sat. May 18th, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Featuring the Food Trucks of Zsa’s Ice Cream, Chef Johnny Bravo, Tacos El Rodeo, Foo, Innovative Rocco Gallelli

Info 215 389-15113  https://www.old-swedes.org

A central figure in the international avant-garde for fifty years, Rochelle Owens is a poet, playwright, translator, and video artist. She has published eighteen books of poetry and is the author of four collections of plays. George Economou is the author of fourteen books of poetry and has published many translations from ancient and Modern Greek and medieval European languages. They have both received many awards and fellowships and have given readings of their work at numerous universities and literary venues in the United States and abroad. They have lived in Center City Philadelphia since 2001.

Examples of upcoming events in this series include:  “Teaching Speaking Skills to Art Students”;  “The Muse Behind the Artist” and “Featured Works by Local Artists”.

The inaugural poetry reading will take place at the Philadelphia City Institute at 19th & Locust St. from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on May 20, 2013.  Wine and cheese will be served. For reservations, please telephone 215 925 7333 or email info@pennsvillage.org

If you’re considering adding a video-surveillance system to your home, take a step back and do some homework before you buy. Residential-grade systems are increasingly cheap and easy to install. But some of them are little more than a feel-good placebo, systems that perform poorly, are hard to manage and — worst of all — produce poor images that are useless after a crime has occurred.

What constitutes a good system?
The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) encourages homeowners to register their systems with the PPD “SafeCam” program, but it does not recommend vendors, manufacturers or specifications.

Take a clue, though, from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, which has issued minimum specifications governing commercial systems. Those specs are not completely applicable to residential systems, but they provide guidance for the heart of any system: the cameras and digital video recorder (DVR). Those minimum specs are:

• Camera resolution: 480 TVL (total vertical lines).
• DVR resolution: 640 by 480 pixels.
• Speed: 15 frames per second.
• Length of storage: 30 days.

Other issues you’ll face are the type of camera (color? tilt-and- pan? night-vision?); storage (dedicated DVR? personal com- puter?); and management (smartphone? personal computer? dedicated remote control?).

A major decision is where to place the cameras; on this, the PPD does offer meaningful advice to city homeowners: “At least one of your rowhouse surveillance cameras should be mounted either above or to the side of ingress points like the front or back door,” the PPD advises. “Burglars who see exterior cameras at entrance points like front doors, back doors, and windows are likely to be spooked off as a result.”

Interior cameras should be placed at “choke points” such as stairways, or near windows that are vulnerable to being forced open.

To learn more about the basics of camera place, read the full PPD advisory.

And don’t forget to register your system with the “SafeCam” program at https://safecam.phillypolice.com.

Police Department statistics show it clearly: Queen Village is one of the very safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

Why? Because we DON’T take that fact for granted.

The QVNA’s Public Safety Committee, headed by Kim Maialetti, is ready to begin a number of initiatives to make our safe little village even safer.

One of the major programs is to encourage everyone who owns and operates a video-surveillance system to register it with the Police Department’s “SafeCam” program.

Using the year-old “SafeCam” registry, investigators can draw on a far-flung armada of private cameras trained on dark corners and out-of-the-way places that are off- limits to public surveillance networks.

Here’s how “SafeCam” works:
You spend 10 minutes telling the Police Department what surveillance equipment you operate, and what fields of view it covers. After a brief interview with you, they add your watchful “eyes” to their database of private resources. Only if there is a crime in your immediate locale will the police contact you to ask for a copy of your surveillance data.

The police make no connection to your system and will not be able to view your coverage directly. So your privacy is preserved, yet you make a valuable contribution to keeping Queen Village free of crime.

How important is video evidence in the courtroom? Very.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, paraphrasing a Philadelphia attorney who’d just won a furiously-argued criminal case by using video, recently put it like this: “Video evidence now carries more weight [with jurors] than eyewitness testimony and other forensic evidence.”

To learn more about “SafeCam,” visit the official SafeCam website.

Join us in Queen Village as we hit the streets and sidewalks to install temporary RAIN ART developed by the community with renowned environmental artist Stacy Levy. Celebrate with food, music, and art-making activities. This fun, free, event is open to art enthusiasts of all ages.

Mark your calendar now! Check back with us in mid-May for additional event details.

For more information contact:

Shari Hersh, Senior Project Manager
City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
The Lincoln Financial Mural Arts Center
at the Thomas Eakins House
1727-29 Mount Vernon Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
shari.hersh@muralarts.org

cell 267-972-3944

The Friends of Bainbridge Green have received a design grant from the Community Design Collaborative (CDC) to begin the process of revitalizing the tree-lined space on Bainbridge between Third and Fifth. The Friends imagine the Green will be a space where neighbors and visitors alike come to relax, socialize and be entertained. Some initial design ideas include expanding the sidewalk to make for easier passage, planting herb and flower gardens, installing a water feature and creating seating, bike storage, and other amenities at each intersection.

In conjunction with an already approved CDC streetscape project being undertaken by the South Street Headhouse District, the intersection of Fourth & Bainbridge will be designed as a gateway to the retailers on Fabric Row. The Philadelphia Water Department has also identified the area as a future site for a storm water management project.

Throughout the design process, the Friends will seek input from residents and local businesses. If you’d like to get involved or support the Friends, contact the group by using QVNA’s Contact Us form. For updated information on the project and to share your ideas, please like the Friends of Bainbridge Green on Facebook.

Photo by Tricia Pompilio

The Shot Tower — it’s one of the iconic structures in the neighborhood, seen from near and far. Built in 1808, and one of the first towers of its kind in the United States, the tower now has a new interpretive sign worthy of its history. Visit the Front Street side of the playground and you’ll learn not only a bit of the history of Shot Tower, but with the aid of clear graphics, you will better understand the physics behind the making of ‘shot’.

The Friends of Shot Tower, led by Cynthia Temple (pictured with young friend, Fiona Savarese) received approval for the interpretive sign project from the Department of Parks and Recreation, and funded it by combining their own money with grants received from the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and QVNA.

______________________________________________

The Physics of Producing Shot

A drop in zero gravity, like in space, will form a perfectly round sphere out of any liquid, from water to molten lead.  Why?  The surface of tension of the object pulls it into a round shape.  On earth we have gravity, a natural force pulling us down toward the earth, so liquids dropped a short distance will form into a drop, not a round shape.  But free falling objects can experience zero gravity if dropped from a certain height.  When molten lead is dropped through a sieve at the top of the tower, each small piece becomes weight-less and forms a perfectly round shape, then begins to cool and harden as it drops, landing in water at the base.

______________________________________________

To learn more about the history of the tower, visit the Shot Tower Playground on Front and Carpenter Streets.

Leigh from Opportunity Barks Behavior & Training lent her training expertise and provided some basic leash training techniques to help our pups while maneuvering our city and neighborhood streets.   Instructions including walking backwards and marking stopping points by clicking or saying the word “yes,” turning and walking next to your dog, and getting your dog back on track after a distraction.

She also recommended the following “no pull” equipment:
• Body harnesses: Easy Walk, Sensible Harness or a Freedom Harness
• Head halters: Gentle Leader or Halti.

To see these techniques in action, take a look at this instructional video on loose leash walking:

Many thanks to Jacki and John at BarKadelphia for partnering with QVK9 to make this event a success!

ALL ARE WELCOME to this wonderful evening of music and community.

Come to 3rd and Bainbridge to:

•  Learn about the plans to revitalize this green area.  
• Contribute your ideas on design and programming!  Kids welcome and encouraged to share their ideas.

And at noon, join the Friends to recreate the historic photo taken over 100 years ago in front of the Annie L. Lowry fountain at 3rd and Bainbridge.

Featuring:

Frecon Farms–many tree fruits, sweet and hard cider, and fruit butters

Wagner Farmstead–large selection of vegetables, berries, melons, herbs, seedlings, and honey

Shore Catch–just caught fish from Barnegat N.J. docks

Philly Cow Share–grass-fed beef:  Angus, Devon, Irish Black, and Scottish Highlander

Lanci Bakery–country bread and other baked goods from one of South Philly’s great Italian bakers

Li’l Pop Shop–sweet and savory popsicles

And occasionally . . .Neil’s Sharpening Service

Farm to City   Real Farmers, Real Food  farmtocity.org

One of the largest outdoor flea markets in the city!

We welcome and encourage all residents to attend!

Guest speakers at the May 16 meeting: Democratic Candidates’ for City Controller forum.  Come hear what the candidates have to say, and ask questions. If you’d like to educate yourself  ahead of time about the Controller’s office and the candidates, go to the Committee of Seventy web site  http://www.seventy.org/City_Controller.aspx  and http://www.seventy.org/OurViews_Who_is_the_Controller.aspx

Come and indulge in delicious cakes, pies, cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, banana pudding, and other sweet treats just in time for Mother’s Day!

For more information or to place an order, call (215) 475-8192 or email threadedwvirtue@gmail.com.

This guide provides advice on how you can help your new trees get started and care for older, established trees.

Tree Pit Care

First, cultivate the soil around your tree. Use a hand cultivator to keep the soil around your tree loose. This allows water to penetrate.

If the soil around your tree is completely compacted, rake it gently with a hand cultivator, then keep it mulched. It may take several months, but eventually the soil will break down and soften up. Each time you mulch, try to rake a bit in with the soil.

When planting a new tree, remove all plastic tags, all tree wrapping and any visible burlap or rope left on the root ball at the base of the tree. Tree wrapping can trap moisture and foster insects. Exposed burlap wicks away moisture. Rope left tied around the base of the tree will cut into the bark as the tree grows.

Mulching

Mulch new trees to a 2″ depth. Mulch keeps roots cool. It also keep weeds from growing and helps to absorb water during a rain. As the mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients to the soil.

Be sure to keep mulch away from the base of the tree. Don’t create a “mulch volcano” around the tree. Bark and tree trunk cells are different than those in the roots. Bark needs to be exposed to the air. Moisture held by mulch can rot the bark at the base of the tree and prevent nutrients and water gathered by the roots from reaching the rest of the tree.

Mulch once a year, or as necessary to maintain a 2″ depth, keeping it away from direct contact with the trunk.

Stakes and Wires

Remove stakes and wires from a new tree after one year. Staking trees is useful only during the first year to all the roots to get established. Staking also provides a symbolic first line of defense against passerby. After that first year, remove the stakes and wires. As the tree grows, wires will cut into the tree. This prevents the flow of food and water through the outer layers of the trunk. If you leave wires on, it will slowly strangle the tree.

Pruning

If you think one of your young trees needs pruning and you are not sure how to prune it, contact the Queen Village Tree Tenders for assistance. Pruning of large, older trees should be handled by a professional arborist. You can also contact the Fairmount Park Commission to get on the waiting list to have your tree pruned by the city.

Fertilizing

In most cases, trees do not need fertilizer.

Enlarging Your Tree Pit

If your tree pit is smaller than the minimum recommended 3′ x 3′, it may be worthwhile to enlarge it. Contact the Queen Village Tree Tenders for assistance.

Water

Unless there has been a good, soaking rain, water your tree once a week during the first two years after it had been planted. A young tree needs about 15 gallons of water each week.

TIP: Take a 5-gallon bucket and punch 10-15 nail holes in the bottom. Set it next to your tree. Fit it 3 times, moving it each time around the base of the tree and you will have given your tree 15 gallons. You can also purchase a “treegator,” a zippered, heavy-duty plastic bag with drip holes at the bottom that holds up to 22 gallons. Visit www.treegator.com for more information.

Tree Boxes

Don’t raise the level of the soil around the tree trunk within the box. The bark of a tree is made up of cells that are different from root cells. The bark needs to be exposed to the air. Raising the soil level several inches around the trunk is not healthy for the tree. A properly planted tree flares out slightly at the base of the trunk. It should not look like a telephone pole.

Posting Signs

Do not staple or tape signs around tree trunks. Puncturing trees creates openings for insects and disease to enter. Tape or strings tied around the trunks of trees will cut into them as they grow, strangling them.

Get Involved

Get involved with the Queen Village Tree Tenders and make Queen Village a green village!  Contact the Tree Tenders to get involved.

What is the Homestead Exemption?

The Homestead Exemption offers Real Estate Tax savings to all Philadelphia homeowners by reducing the taxable portion of their property assessment by $30,000 (exemption amount may be subject to change), starting in Tax Year 2014.

For more details, read the Homestead Brochure.

Who is eligible?

You must simply own the property and live in it as your primary residence. There are no other requirements.

How do I apply?

• NEW: Apply over the phone! Call the Homestead Hotline at 215-686-9200 and you can easily apply in minutes. Language access services are also available to apply over the phone in numerous languages.
• Or apply online.
• Or print a blank Homestead Exemption application

Once you are approved, you will get the Exemption every year, unless you move or the deed to your property changes

The suspects fled on foot running north on 4th Street and as the robbery victim chased after them, one of the suspects turned and fired his weapon striking the pharmacist in his shoulder. The pharmacist is currently recovering in the hospital.

Police are asking that residents and businesses check your surveillance cameras for footage on Monday night between the hours of 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM. The two offenders are described as:

Suspect #1 – African American male, dark complexion with a beard and mustache, 25-30 years old, 5’8”, heavy-set about 225 lbs. and he was wearing a black sweatshirt and dark pants.

Suspect #2 – African American male, 6′, 25-30 years old, approximately 170 lbs., thin-build, and he was wearing a grey hoodie and dark pants.

Police are seeking any CCTV footage of the suspects entering the area, committing the robbery and/or fleeing the neighborhood for possible information that could aid the investigation and/or lead to an arrest.

If you have available CCTV footage or information about this incident, please contact Lt. Patrick Doherty, Special Investigations Unit, Central Detective Division, at (215) 305-7181 or via email at Police.CO_CDD@phila.gov.

Thank you for your support.

Opening day will bring your favorite local farmers and producers back to Headhouse.

Plus: Activist, restaurateur and author Judy Wicks will be signing her new book, Good Morning, Beautiful Business: The Unexpected Journey of an Activist Entrepreneur and Local Economy Pioneer.

Available for purchase:

• Flowering Perennials
• Flowering Annuals

Bring the whole family!

We’ll have fun activities and everyone can pitch in and be a gardener for a day!  Funds raised will go to help those affected by the recent Fabric Row Fire.

Philadelphia – Deputy Commissioner Donald Carlton announced today the pilot program for early set out time of 5pm for Sanitation collections in the 1st, 6th and 10th Councilmanic Districts will return to the regular set out time of 7pm beginning Monday, April 22. This change affects residents and small businesses that receive City Sanitation services within these Councilmanic Districts. Beginning Monday, April 22 these constituents must set out trash and recycling collections no earlier than 7PM the night before and no later than 7AM the day of their regularly scheduled collection day, as stated in the City’s Sanitation regulations. Citations will be issued to residents who do not adhere to the 7PM to 7AM set out time. The Streets Department urges citizens to follow sanitation guidelines to ensure proper set out and to avoid violation notices and fines.

The reinstatement of the 7PM set out time decreases the health and safety risks where unsightly litter and trash sits at the curb. The early set time of 5PM was part of a pilot program that began on Thursday, November 1, 2012 to evaluate if the two additional hours would have an impact on litter reduction. The study did not show significant changes on litter reduction.

Residents and businesses affected will receive automated phone calls through the Streets Department’s voicemail system. This method of outreach has proven to be very effective with regard to being a timely and efficient method of notification. Citizens should also look for press releases in community newspapers for the area.

Constituents who have questions may contact the Streets Department’s Customer Affairs Unit at 215-686-5560, Councilman Henon’s Office at 215-686-3444, Councilman Squilla’s Office at 215-686-3458 or Councilman O’Neill’s office at 215-686-3422. For all City services, residents should contact 3-1-1.

Queen Village is fortunate enough to have a group of dedicated volunteers who help maintain all of our green spaces.  Saturday, May 11, is Love Your Park Day, sponsored by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy

• Mario Lanza Park (200 block between Catharine and Queen Streets) - Friends of Mario Lanza Park will be at the park from 9am – 1pm.  Join us for a bit of  weeding and seeding, spreading mulch or sweeping up. Kids welcome and teens,  get those volunteer hours in!  Please spread the word and invite friends, we need more than help than usual because a couple of our regulars are away.  This is a great opportunity to meet neighbors and enjoy the outdoors.  Please show up for an hour or two. As a bonus coffee and donuts will be served, courtesy of Java Cafe.
• Moyamensing Point (Christian and Moyamensing at 2nd) - The Friends of Moyamensing Point will be out in force doing weeding–all welcome!
• Shot Tower Playground (100 block of Carpenter Street) - Show the Shot Tower Playground a little love by helping your neighbors clean up the playground. We’ll provide shovels, garbage bags, wheel barrels, flowers, and compost.  Our “clean up” plan involves planting annuals in containers, placing compost around all of the trees, and giving the large blue garbage cans a new coat of paint.  Be sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Weccacoe Playground (400 block between Catharine and Queen Streets)  - 9 a.m. – 1 pm - Come meet your friends and neighbors, bring your children, and help in the spring cleaning of the playground!

THERE WILL BE A QUEEN VILLAGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013, AT 7:30 PM AT THE WECCACOE PLAYGROUND BUILDING ON CATHERINE STREET BETWEEN 4^TH AND 5^TH STREETS TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

  813 S FOURTH STREET

Application is  for the construction of a rear three story addition, pilot house, and roof deck onto a three-story duplex.  The roof deck will include an open frame for growing vines.  No change to current approved use of building:  office and residence.

 521 WASHINGTON AVE.

Application is for the personal services (nail salon, waxing, pedicure, manicure, and SPA pedicures) and for the erection of one (1) flatwall sign (15’ x 2’5’).  Size and location as shown in the application.

207, 209  MONROE STREET, AND 718 THROUGH TO 724 s. SECOND STREET

Application is for:  the relocation of lot lines to create one lot from six (6) lots, for the erection of two roof decks, a rear deck on the roof of the third floor, for the reconfiguration of parking spaces for eight parking spaces including one H/C space, all for use as a nine-family dwelling, on a previously approved eight-family dwelling with eight off-street parking spaces with a unity of use for six lots considered as one zoning lot with restrictive covenants, agreements, and easements to be recorded by deed to bind current and future owners. (Size and location as shown on the application).

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

 207, 209 MONROE STREET AND 718 THRU 724 S. SECOND STREET

Application is for:  the relocation of lot lines to create one lot from six (6) lots, for the erection of two roof decks, a rear deck on the roof of the third floor, for the reconfiguration of parking spaces for eight parking spaces including one H/C space, all for use as a nine-family dwelling, on a previously approved eight-family dwelling with eight off-street parking spaces with a unity of use for six lots considered as one zoning lot with restrictive covenants, agreements, and easements to be recorded by deed to bind current and future owners. (Size and location as shown on the application).

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Congratulations to Jon Kostesich for submitting the winning design for the Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) Logo Design contest. Jon serves as an art director at HB&M and has been an active member of our community for almost 10 years.

Jon’s winning design incorporates two features that make Queen Village a distinctive Philadelphia neighborhood. Our eclectic mixture of historic and modern homes are represented with the silhouette of a row house. Our many green spaces and tree lined streets are conveyed in the color scheme along with the letter Q shaped to evoke a leaf.

Our new logo will soon appear on all official communications from QVNA and will be featured on our website, the Crier, and in other promotional materials.

This month, State Representative Mike O’Brien is our guest.  Come with your questions and concerns.

On Wednesday April 24, the Friends of 4th Street are planning a street/neighborhood wide benefit day. Local businesses from South Street & Queen Village are participating in donating portions of their sales on this date to benefit those directly affected by the fire. This includes residents who were displaced and lost their homes due to the fire, the businesses who were directly affected by the fire, and the family of Fire Captain Michael Goodwin, who sacrificed his life for our safety.

Come and support our wonderful community and help a great cause. For more information on how to become involved, please contact us through our website: http://friendsof4thstreet.com/

Thanks in advance for your support!

On April 6, 2013, a 3-alarm fire struck historic Fabric Row in Queen Village. Due to the rapid response of the Philadelphia Fire Department, damage was limited to 2 buildings. However, the fire claimed the life of Captain Michael Goodwin of South Philadelphia’s Engine 27. Our hearts and minds are with the family of Captain Goodwin as well as the entire Fire Department.

In addition to the tragic loss of Captain Goodwin and injury to Andrew Godlewski, there was extensive property damage to several businesses and residential apartments. Information is still coming in, but at present it seems that several uninsured renters have lost most or all of their possessions.

The Board of Directors of Queen Village Neighbors Association has created a Fabric Row Fire Relief Fund and has voted to put $500 from the QVNA treasury into the Fund. The Fund will be available to help victims of the fire rebuild their lives.

We ask neighbors who wish to donate to please do so by clicking on the button below. Donations are tax deductible.

Donate

Discover one of Old City’s hidden treasures and learn more about the storied history of St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church at the open house on Saturday, April 20 from 6:30 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. Founded in 1786 as the first permanent establishment of the Augustinian Order in the U.S., St. Augustine Church was the beneficiary of donations from George Washington, Commodore John Barry, and Stephen Girard that helped finance the original building. The Church’s original steeple bell is the sister bell to the bell in Independence Hall, cast from the same mold. More recently, St. Augustine Church has been featured in several films, including The Sixth Sense and Shooter.

Tours of the Church will be given and guides will be on hand to discuss the significance of the artwork, architecture, and culture. Food and beverages will be served in the social hall. This is a FREE event and all are welcome to attend, including your favorite pet! St. Augustine is located at the corner of 4th and Vine Streets in Philadelphia. For more information please contact the Parish office atstaugustineparish09@gmail.com

Contact:

Old St. Augustine Church
243 North Lawrence Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
April Gagne
215-627-1838
web: www.st-augustinechurch.com
email: staugustineparish09@gmail.com

All interested are welcome to attend

Sponsored by the Society Hill Civic Association, the tour’s proceeds will be used for neighborhood improvement and beautification projects.  Take advantage of the DINING DISCOUNTS by showing your house tour name tag and enjoy lunch before or dinner after the tour at 5 local area restaurants that include SSHD’s Bridget Foy’s & Bistro Romano!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

We will close the park during the clean up and a few hours after to let the surface set. We’ll be communicating this via email, FB and signs at the park.

Click here to RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/151265871706012/.

The Spring Festival will take place on South Street between 2nd and 8th and on the 2nd Street Plaza between South and Lombard.  District restaurants and bars will be serving up a full complement of food and drink, featuring the tastes of cuisine from around the world.  Enjoy and sample the fare from over 20 area establishments, as well as enjoy the Maifest celebration at Brauhaus Schmitz on the 700 Block of South Street.

The Street Festival will be filled with music, dancing, and entertainment sure to appeal to all tastes.  The main stage at 5th and South will feature 8 popular local acts. The sounds of rock, blues, and other great combinations programmed by the Legendary Dobbs and Twisted Tail music venues will be sure to keep the crowd moving and grooving.  The young local talents of the School of Rock Band and the Tune Up Philly youth orchestra will also be featured throughout the day.  Other musical performances will fill the air at five additional street locations, as well as at participating bars and restaurants.

The Kids Zone will be packed all day with engaging activities for the young and the young at heart. Local retailers and artists will be there to showcase their products, services, arts & crafts.  More details about additional Spring Festival programming and activities will be announced in the coming days.

A guided bird watch will start at 8:30 am, so bring your binoculars and bird guides.

Washington Avenue Green contains three distinct habitats for birds:

• Riparian (wooded area along the river)
• Open meadows
• Open river

Meet behind the Sheet Metal Workers Union Building, Delaware Avenue and Washington Avenue.  And bring binoculars if you have them.  A limited supply will be available for loan.

This event is sponsored by the DRWC and Friends of Washington Avenue Green.

Come by to participate in fun and family-friendly activities, learn about your Advisory Council and Friends Group, sign up for upcoming events, and much more, while enjoying refreshments and winning prizes!

The South Street Headhouse District’s 82nd Annual Easter Promenade will kick off at Passyunk Avenue and South Street at 12:30pm , rain or shine, with “Mr. Halloween” himself, Henri David. The crowd will promenade and Bunny Hop its way down South Street with The Philadelphia Free Band, the Tallest Easter Bunny and, of course, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Cotton Tail. The parade route will end at the 2nd Street Plaza (2nd Street between South & Lombard Sts.)
Immediately after the parade, the annual Easter Attire Contest will take place. The Honorable Councilman James Kinney and State Representative Brian Sims will be on hand to judge and announce the winners of the following categories:

· BEST DRESS LITTLE GIRL (2-5 yrs.)
· BEST DRESS LITTLE BOY (2-5 yrs)
· BEST DRESS YOUNG GIRL (6-12 yrs.)
· BEST DRESS YOUNG BOY (6-12 yrs.)
· BEST DRESS TEEN AGE GIRL (13-19 yrs.)
· BEST DRESS TEEN AGE BOY (13-19 yrs.)
· BEST DRESS WOMAN (20+yrs.)
· BEST DRESS MAN (20+ yrs.)
· BEST DRESS FAMILY
· BEST DRESS PET
· BEST EASTER BONNET
· BEST SOUTH STREET RAZZLE DAZZLE

Enjoy music, Easter treats and plenty of photo-ops with the Easter Bunny for an unforgettable holiday! Come to the District before the Promenade or stay afterwards to enjoy a fabulous brunch at one of our wonderful restaurants or enjoy a day of shopping in our wide variety of stores. South Street Heeadhouse District – a great place to eat, shop, play, and live.

The Mayor’s Philly Spring Cleanup Day is a city-wide event.  Below are sites in the neighborhood where you can help out.  Come with a pair of work gloves in hand.

•  Beck Park ( Second and Beck Streets)   9:00 a.m. to Noon Cleanup

• Jefferson Square Park and Sacks Playground (300-500 Washington Ave) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.    greenlimbs, a Queen Village-based nonprofit focused on issues of urban sustainability is hosting this event.  This year in addition to litter containment we will mend fences, repair benches, patch broken concrete, and plant trees.   The park and playground are a tremendous asset to the city as a whole and serve as vital open, green space for our neighbors to the south and many Nebinger families. (Nebinger students and staff are cleanup participants.)    For more information, please visit http://www.greenlimbs.com.

• Shot Tower Playground (Front and Carpenter Streets)  10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Weccacoe Playground  (400 block of Catharine Street)  9 a.m. to Noon 

Later, the wading pool was repurposed into a spray pool for small children. Working on and off over the years, it’s about to be completely refurbished, “greened” and ready for use in the summer 2013!

Drawing of the New Shot Tower Playground Spray Pool

The spray pool revitalization project started in 2009 when the Friends of the Shot Tower (FOST) won a grant through GreenPlan Philadelphia. The GreenPlan grants are being implemented by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS), and they saved the best for last – this project! In 2012 FOST reviewed design sketches from the staff of PHS. Then PHS reviewed them with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR), made some changes, and began to move the project forward. Original ideas of the “greening” included crape myrtle trees, ginkos (the sweet smelling kind only), oak leaf hydrangeas, pretty purple verbena, and grasses.

As landscaping maintenance is not a regular part of PPR staff’s duties, it’s up to the community to keep the new green material alive and healthy through regular watering and care. FOST needs volunteers to help with this important job to keep the aesthetics of the environment all that they can be. FOST have watered and tended to the many potted plants in the Tot Playground over the past five years. Please contact the FOST through Facebook (Shot Tower Playground), QVNA website (committees) or directly through any watering volunteer.

Top quality products are being selected to use as the pool bed and seating. A product called “urbanite” uses the cement they will dig up and repurpose it for seating. PHS will help try to resolve the uneven brick space under one tree just outside the spray pool area through shaving the roots down and laying some mulch in a wide spectrum around the base, then relaying the bricks.

The spray pool is expected to be available for use when the recreation center is staffed, usually week days and Saturdays, closed during meal breaks. Plenty of parking for the Shot Tower Playground is available on Carpenter, Front and Water Streets.

By now, you have received your 2014 property tax assessment based on the actual value of your home or business in today’s market. The 2014 tax assessment is the result of Mayor Nutter’s Actual Value Initiative (AVI) to assess all real property, both residential and commercial, at market value.

Your total 2014 assessment is based on the assessed value of your land and the assessed value of your improvements. At this point, land assessments appear to be dramatically undervalued across the entire city, while improvements appear to be overvalued. This doesn’t make sense and needs to be questioned by City Council. In fact, the entire AVI assessment methodology needs to be explained to Council and to us as taxpayers.
The new AVI system, will benefit owners of 10-year tax-abated properties, since those taxes are computed only on land values, not improvements. Based on a 1.25% rate, most owners of tax abated properties will see their taxes go down substantially from 2013. Meanwhile, owners with no abatements will be paying taxes on both land and improvements resulting in mostly higher taxes, in some cases up to 100% or higher.

In fact, owners with no abatements can be expected to pay up to 10 times what an owner with an abatement pays. For example, taxes on a property valued at $500,000 with no abatement with a land value of $50,000 and an improvement value of $450,000 would be $6,250 based on a rate of 1.25%. For a similar property with abatement, the taxes would be $625 since only the land value of $50,000 would be taxed, and the $450,000 improvement value is not taxed.

Alan Butkowitz, City Controller, says his AVI shows the city’s tax burden will shift dramatically from commercial property owners to residents. “It’s going to squeeze a lot of people at a time of a tough economy.”

The Office of Property Assessment (OPA) is responsible for determining the actual value of all real property in Philadelphia in a fair, accurate, and understandable way; the process is supposed to ensure that properties with the same characteristics in the same condition are taxed the same. The OPA looks at a property’s size, condition, age, location, and use, e.g., home or business. For residential properties, the OPA analyzes recent sales of similar properties, making adjustments for differences in the characteristics between the homes that sold and your home. For commercial and large multi-family properties, the OPA examines the income and costs of operating the property to determine its value.

If you disagree with your assessment, you can request a First Level Review. Complete and submit the appeal form included in the mailing assessment and submit it to the OPA by March 31. If you’re not successful with the OPA, you can file an appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes (BRT) by October 7,2013.

This spring City Council will debate and supposedly adopt AVI. But there’s no “done deal” here. Issues come to light daily. Once Council and the Mayor agree on the 2014 budget and any tax relief measures to mitigate sharp spikes in from AVI-created tax increases, a final tax rate can be set. This should happen by June 30. The city currently estimates total property value at around $100 billion. The 2014 tax rate without any tax relief is now estimated at 1.25%; with tax relief such as the Homestead Exemption and other measures, the tax rate could be 1.5% or higher.

Much attention has been given to the $30,000 Homestead Exemption for taxpayers whose home is their primary residence. This measure would reduce your assessed value by $30,000, but it has not yet been enacted. Councilmen Bill Green and Jim Kenney introduced a bill in Council on February 7 to eliminate it; our Councilman, Mark Squilla, plans to amend the exemption to 5% of a home’s assessed value.

Other tax relief measures in addition to those already introduced in the state General Assembly include freezing taxes for seniors and capping increases in annual property tax assessments and revenues. These measures, including gentrification relief, would be separate and in addition to, any Homestead Exemption. We have to be mindful, though, that any tax relief measures will result in an increase in the overall tax rate.
We’ll keep you up to date as discussions on the budget and AVI unfold. AVI will affect all Philadelphians now and in the future and is arguably the most important issue we’ve faced in many years. How the city handles AVI will set the tone and direction of Philadelphia’s tax policy for years to come.

Tax Facts
Excerpted from a Pew Charitable Trust Report on AVI published last November (www.pewtrusts.org/philaresearch)

• The Actual Value Initiative (AVI) is an assessment of all of the city’s 579,383 pieces of real estate. Chief Assessor is Richie McKeithen.
• In 2010, 54% of homes in the city were owner-occupied; that number was down from 59% in 2000.
• In 2011, the city had 24,404 fully tax exempt, non profit properties, representing 30% of all properties in the city.
• Owners of more than 100,000 properties have outstanding tax bills. The city has a higher delinquency rate than any big city in the country. The city is owed roughly $295 million in property taxes, interest and penalties; about 20% of those delinquencies are more than 10 years old and presumed to be uncollectible. Mayor Nutter and Council in early February announced aggressive collection initiatives. Such efforts would help recover the millions owed in back taxes and help stabilize and reduce the tax burden for all responsible property owners.
• Philadelphia’s 10-year tax abatement, enacted in 1997, taxes only land, not the building. City-wide, the abatements amounted to $37 million in forgone revenue in fiscal 2012. AVI, as presently struc- tured, will give a much larger tax break in 2014 to owners of abated properties than in 2013. City Council needs to clarify how much that tax break will total and determine if the current abatement program should be modified or terminated under AVI.

The deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2012 is June 30, 2013. For more information on property tax relief or the rent rebate program, visit http://www.revenue.state.pa.us.

The mission of the committee is to: “Make Queen Village the safest neighborhood in Philadelphia by encouraging community members to take an active role in the safety and security of our community; educating residents about how to enhance the safety and security of our neighborhood; serving as a mechanism for sharing information about issues that affect the safety and security of our community and serving as a liaison between the community and law enforcement.”

Come out and join QVNA and the Public Safety Committee at the March 21 General Meeting for the launch of the “Leave Your Light On” campaign, designed to encourage residents to leave their outside lights on at night in order to keep our streets safer and discourage crime.

Help kick off the campaign by attending the March 21 meeting and entering a drawing for one of 20 free photoelectric switches for your outside light. This solar cell will power your light, turning it on when it gets dark and turning it off when it gets light. Never forget to turn your light on (and off) again!

In addition to entering the drawing, you will have an opportunity to meet police Lt. Michael Goodson, who is stationed at the South Street mini-station and will address concerns about neighborhood crime and provide tips for staying safe. Goodson, along with a representative from the city’s 311 system, will also discuss when to call 911 and when to call 311.

Don’t miss this important and informative meeting and don’t forget to enter the drawing for a free photoelectric switch. Winners will be announced that night.

For more information about the QVNA Public Safety Committee, contact Kim Maialetti Maialetti@earthlink.net.

Come to the QVNA General Meeting on Thursday, March 21 to find out more.

A representative from 311 will explain how to use that system in the most effective way.  Lieutenant Michael Goodson from the South Street mini station will address concerns about neighborhood crime and provide safety tips.

Join the Safety Committee’s “Keep Your Outside Light On” campaign—there will be a drawing at the meeting for 20 free photoelectric switches for outdoor lights.  Once installed you won’t have to think about turning that light on or off again.

St. Philip Neri Church 218 Queen St.

For $10, paint a mug or a bowl, which will be fired in Starr Garden’s very own kiln! Enjoy Irish music! Fun for all ages!

Refreshments will be available for purchase.
All proceeds will benefit the “greening” of our park!

Please spread the word and we hope to see you there! As always, check us out on Facebook!

We are pleased to announce that our FREE app is now available for the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry phones.

The QVNA app contains the following features: a calendar of neighborhood events and meetings, news and announcements about timely community and city issues, links to important resources such as Philly311 and the Office of Property Assessment, gorgeous photographs of Queen Village landmarks, a community feature which enables neighbors to interact and engage with each other, and more! Plus, the app contains all of the baked in features offered in iOS and Android. You can add events and meetings directly into your calendar and opt to receive push notifications from QVNA about important neighborhood programs and initiatives.

Download instructions: If you have an Android smartphone, click on this link to download the app or search the Google Play store for Queen Village or QVNA. If you have an iPhone, click on this link to download the app or search the App store for Queen Village or QVNA. Or, if you have a Blackberry or other smartphone device, you can access a limited feature version of our app at m.qvna.org.

QUEEN VILLAGE ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE AND GARDEN TOUR 

Explore  your own neighborhood (and Philadelphia’s oldest) in a self-guided walking tour, featuring a range of beautifully restored and renovated houses and styles, from 18th century trinities to 21st century homes, traditional to contemporary. Hidden courtyards await you as well, along with two historic churches and two community gardens.  The tour raises funds for QVNA projects in addition to being a delightful community event.

Complimentary light refreshments are served and restrooms are available.

Tickets are $25. Advance ticket purchase is suggested.   Wear comfortable walking shoes.  Tour takes place rain or shine (and it looks like plenty of shine on Saturday).    All sales are final.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.qvna.org or contact QVNA by calling (215) 339-0975,  e-mailing info@qvna.org, or directly through Event Brite http://qvhousetour.eventbrite.com/

  250 CATHARINE STREET  (Southeast corner of 3^rd Street)

Application is for an eat-in restaurant (coffee shop) on first floor and two (2) apartments above (one apartment each on second and third floors)

420 BAINBRIDGE ST.

Application is for a day care center in space “A” on the first floor in the same building with an existing physical therapy facility in space “B” on the first floor within an existing two (2) story attached structure

All residents are welcome and urged to attend.  TENANT:  Please note – If landlords do not reside on property being circulated, please notify them so that they may have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

The average household is responsible for 21% of all US emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide. Not only that, but our old and, sometimes not so old, homes are energy hogs.

For these reasons 1,500 homes in the Delaware Valley have decided to take action to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint with an energy assessment.

Now in the second year of our ongoing effort to make Queen Village a more environmentally friendly place to live, the QVNA Sustainability Committee is continuing to promote the Home Energy Assessment. The program is offering discounted home energy assessments for less than half of the market price. This first step can result in a significant reduction in energy consumption. After renovation, one QV house has reduced air loss through infiltration by over 50%, which will nearly halve the home’s energy use.

What is a Home Energy Assessment?
A home energy assessment, or home energy audit, is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. Home Energy Assessments include the following:

• Consultation with an expert to advise you on easy ways to save
• Testing to make sure your HVAC systems are working safely and efficiently
• Recommendations and advice regarding contractors to manage upgrades
• Detailed information regarding current local, state, and federal incentives

What are the benefits of a Home Energy Assessment?
A Home Energy Assessment is critical to understanding how to make your home more energy efficient and points the way to:

• Lower utility bills
• Increased health, comfort, and safety
• Reduced Environmental Impact
• Increased home value

How much does it cost?
The Queen Village Neighbors Association is making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to get a Home Energy Assessment with a local certified auditor, Star Energy Solutions. Energy Assessments will be available for a limited time at the following prices.

• Homes under 2,500 square feet: $150
• Homes over 2,500 square feet: $150 plus $50 for every additional 500 square feet.

How do I participate?
Email Clayton Bedwell at ctbedwell@gmail.com by Sunday, March 31, with your name, address, and preferred method of contact.

QVNA and EnergyWorks
EnergyWorks is currently offering Queen Village homeowners $50 rebates on their home energy assessments. If you move forward with an energy improvement project of at least $1,000, Energy Works also will make loans available to qualified, approved applicants for as low as 0.99% fixed interest for 10 years, and will follow up with independent quality assurance to ensure all work has been done correctly. For more information on EnergyWorks, visit the program website at www.EnergyWorksNow.com

10:50 am – 11:20 am - School of Rock Band (SE corner of playground)

11:00 am – 2:45 pm - Young Rembrandts – Drawing lesson (east side of playground), Queen Village Art Center – Make and Take (east side of PG), Magic Garden – Make a tile with magnetic back $1 (tennis court), Face Painting $2  (tennis court); Face painting ends at 2:15 pm, Sustainability Fair  – renewable energy, energy audits, bikes/transportation,  blue recycle tub giveaway, composting, water use  composting, water use/reuse (NE corner of playground), Food tables (all food $1 and $2), Raffle Table, Buy a FUNfilled Festival T shirt $10

11:00 am – 2:00 pm - Zhang Sah – Martial Arts Mini lessons (tennis court)

11:30 am - Project Capoiera – Performance (SE corner of playground), Urban Jungle – Green Walls and Green Roofs  (sustainability tent)

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm - School of Rock Band (SE corner of PG)

12:30 pm - Settlement Music School performance (SE corner of PG)

12:30 pm -1:30 pm - Window Boxes!  (sustainability tent)

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm - School of Rock

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm - Zhang Sah Martial Arts Demonstration (SE corner of PG), Energy information (sustainability tent)

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm - inMovement Performance (SE corner of PG) Arts

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm - Recyclebank – The benefits! (sustainability tent)

3:00 pm - Raffle Drawing

We have some really great raffle prizes this year. Spend a $1 on a raffle ticket and you could win any of the fabulous prizes below…..and you would be supporting Weccaoce Playground. Prizes include: Salon On 4th ($50 GC), The Saloon (Dinner for 2), Beau Monde ($40 GC), 4th St Nails (Mani/Pedi), Bridget Foy’s ($50 GC), Laurentius Salon (Mani/Pedi), Laurentius Salon (Haircut with Ashley), QV Family Dentistry (Sonicare Toothbrush), Girasole Ristorante ($50 GC), Garces Restaurants ($50 GC), Please Touch Museum (8 tickets), Cafe Paradiso ($100 GC), Little Fish BYOB ($100 GC), New Wave Cafe ($50 GC), Dig Yoga (5 classes), Head House Books ($25 GC), For Pete’s Sake Pub ($50 GC), La Veranda Ristorante ($100 GC), 1518 Bar and Grill ($100 GC), Cochon BYOB (Dinner for 2), and Blue Belly BBQ ($20 GC)

View plans for the proposed Queen Village Community Center

Check out the Friends of Weccacoe FB page for updates and information. Don’t forget to “like” us on FB.

Friends of Weccacoe will use the funds collected to maintain the playground. Construction of the new playground is expected to begin in the fall of 2013, with our first design review meeting in late January or early February.

Friends of Weccacoe Playground would like to thank all our sponsors for our 2013 FUNfilled Festival. Please be sure to stop by, thank them and patronize their businesses. THANK YOU.

• Southwark Restaurant (701 South 4th Street)
• Barrie Yallof and Craig Unmscheid
• Book Worms Early Learning Center (307 N. 3rd St., 267-273-1941)
• juju salon and organics (728 South 4th Street, 215-922-3235)
• Laurentius Salon (815 Christian Street, 215-238-0764)
• South Philadelphia Pediatrics (701 South 2nd Street, 215-592-0715)
• The Abstract Company (1713 Pine Street,215-545-1180)
• VSEC Veterinary Specialty Emergency Center (1114 South Front Street, 267-800-1950)
• Wiccaco Market (4th and Catharine Streets)

With the specter of AVI (Actual Value Initiative) looming for property tax year 2013, 16 neighborhood associations formed the Fair Tax Coalition under the leadership of your President, Jeff Hornstein. With the perseverance and leadership of our Councilman Mark Squilla, we delayed the Mayor’s plan for a year. This gave the Office of Property Assessment (OPA) time to do the assessments right and to do it in a transparent way. This also gave time for all parties to meet in forums to make an effort to make it fair for all residents, but especially those who may have special needs such as seniors, retirees on low income, and those in gentrified areas who have lived in the same home for decades.

It’s up you to act if you feel the assessment on your property does not reflect its market value, so it’s most important to know the time line below:

FEBRUARY 15-20: Assessments will be in your mail box, along with a form. If you disagree with your assessment you should fill out the form. Mail it back immediately. You will get a phone call from OPA for an informal meeting. If you are not satisfied, you can then make an appointment with the Bureau of Real Estate Taxation (BRT) for a formal meeting where you should be fully prepared with information that would help prove your case.

MARCH THROUGH JUNE: City Council will meet. The Mayor will submit his budget, and based on the aggregate of property taxes, he will come up with a millage rate. The mayor is committed to this first year being revenue-neutral to 2013. We have six council members led by Councilpersons Squilla and Kenney, who are ready to fight for a fair tax rate, delayed taxation for the needy, income tested relief, etc., but nine are needed for passage. So we will need to put pressure on the other members of council to get that vote. We will let you know when council is in session so that we can fill the gallery. We will let you know how you can send a letter or sign a petition.

SEPTEMBER, 2013: You receive your 2014 tax bill

FEBRUARY 28, 2014: You pay your tax bill with a discount

MARCH 31, 2014: Last day to pay your tax bill

The Philadelphia Delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives hosted a public hearing on the property tax relief package on Monday, Jan. 28, at the National Constitution Center. Giving testimony were PEW Trust Research staff; Councilpersons Squilla and Kenney; City Financial Director Rob Dubow; and speakers from community organizations. The State Delegation Chair, State Rep. Cherelle L. Parker, D-Phila., described the stated property tax relief package for Philadelphia homeowners:

“We recognize the financial strain the new tax system may place on many city homeowners and homestead relief may not be enough,” said Parker.

“Therefore, the delegation is proposing common sense legislation in an effort to provide relief to residents as they transition to the new rates under AVI.”

The property tax relief package is comprised of four pieces of legislation:

• State Rep. Cherelle L. Parker, D-Phila. is introducing legislation to provide Philadelphia with additional authority to collect delinquent property taxes. The city will be authorized to place liens on all properties under common ownership in Pennsylvania when at least one is delinquent in the taxes owed to Philadelphia. When the property owner attempts to sell any of his/her property located within the Commonwealth, the lien must be satisfied.
• Rep. Michelle Brownlee, D-Phila., is proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing two classes of properties (residential and commercial) to be taxed at different rates in Philadelphia. Currently, all property in Philadelphia is taxed at the same rate.
• Rep. Mike McGeehan, D-Phila., is recommending a bill to give Philadelphia the ability to provide eligible Philadelphia homeowners the option to make property tax payments in periodic installments.
• Rep. Mike O’Brien, D-Phila., is offering a bill to provide relief for long-term owner-occupants by amending the First and Second County Property Tax Relief Act to afford Philadelphia the same authority to use age and financial need when considering relief for long-term owner-occupants, often referred to as gentrification relief.

“We recognize that there can be unforeseen circumstances when enacting such sweeping reform,” Brownlee said. “Because of this, we thought it prudent to offer this amendment as a resource, or tool, in the event county officials need to modify assessments as they seek an equitable tax code of our city.”

“Working together, we have come up with a plan that we firmly believe will not just solve problems in Philadelphia, but can be used as a model throughout the commonwealth,” McGeehan said. “The times change – and this is our concerted attempt to change with them. We want to place some new tools in the hands of those who desperately need them.”

“It is proper and necessary for state lawmakers to step in and provide a lifeline to homeowners who can least afford a property tax hike, some of which will be up to 300 percent. It would be a disservice to our public school children and homeowners alike to stand back and do nothing,” said O’Brien.

“With the assistance and support of Mayor Nutter and Council President Darrell Clarke, we were able to create legislation that will benefit all Philadelphians and lessen their property tax burden,” Parker said.

We will advocate for the passage of these bills, and will call on you when it’s important to have community support. We also are here to help any individual who may need help.  For more information, please contact the QVNA Office at info@qvna.org.

This will be the 34th year for the tour and every year the mix is fascinating—from trinities dating to the eighteenth century to twenty-first century houses. Here’s how it works. The self-guided walking tour takes place from noon to 4 pm. Upon paying, tourgoers are given an identifying badge and a booklet with a map and brief descriptions of the homes. The QVNA Open House Committee supplies house sitters (most of whom are seasoned regulars who volunteer every year) to help keep an eye on things during the tour.

Here’s what homeowners say about putting their houses on the tour:
“It was an incentive for me to get several little projects done.”
“It was fun!”
“I met so many nice people.”
“The people who took the tours were so interested in the house— made me appreciate it in a new light.”

What have past tour-goers said about the house tour?
“I met several of the owners who graciously explained the history of their home.”
“Beautiful homes and charming owners—I got wonderful ideas for home décor.”
“I really enjoyed the houses.”
“I enjoyed that so many homeowners were on hand.”

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Request for Proposals

Background: The Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) is a non-profit organization established in 1969 to help restore and preserve the historic value of the neighborhood, and to bring together people who are willing to work to improve their properties and to make the community an attractive place in which to live and bring up their families. The geographic boundaries of historic Queen Village are: Lombard Street on the north, Delaware River on the east, Washington Avenue on the south and South 6th Street on the west.

Objectives: QVNA is seeking a new logo to communicate its activities to the public, focusing on the dual goals of honoring the neighborhood’s history and working for its future. The logo will be used on the QVNA website, its letterhead, other public communications and promotional items, such as T-shirts, shopping bags, banners, postcards, etc.

Criteria: All submitted logo designs should represent what QVNA is about, taking into consideration:

• QVNA is a not-for-profit civic organization
• Queen Village is the oldest neighborhood in Philadelphia
• QVNA wants to help restore and preserve the historic value of the neighborhood
• QVNA is planning for the neighborhood’s future
• QVNA wants to bring people together to make the neighborhood an attractive place to live and in which to bring up their families.
• QVNA members are diverse, spanning all ages, ethnic groups, economic and educational levels

Fee: $500 will be awarded to the designer of the winning logo, and the winner’s name will be published in The Crier, QVNA’s monthly publication.

Submissions: Designers should submit one logo, in both color and black and white, in high-resolution .jpeg format, no less than 300 dpi, along with a brief rationale for the design via email to info@qvna.org no later than March 31, 2013. The email message must include the designer’s contact information (name, address, email address and phone number). Residents of Queen Village are particularly encouraged to apply.

Judging: Submissions will be evaluated by a committee appointed by the QVNA Board of Directors. The evaluating committee may request that one or more designers re-submit their design with suggested modifications within a specified time frame. The winner will be notified by email. QVNA retains the right not to select any logo design submitted. Once the logo has been completed and delivered in all required formats and resolutions, the winning designer will be given full payment. Non-winning designs will be returned to the submitter.

Deliverables: The winning designer must submit the approved logo for both high resolution and low resolution presentation, in both vector (.eps and.ai) and raster (.jpeg and .png) formats, within two weeks of being selected.

The winning logo design must be an original work and will be considered a “work for hire.” The copyright and any trademark rights in and to the logo design will be owned by QVNA. If, for any reason, the logo design is deemed not to be a “work for hire,” the designer, by submitting the deliverables and receiving the fee therefor, hereby assigns all of designer’s right, title and interest in and to the copyright in the logo design. The designer agrees to execute any documents and take any further reasonable action required to vest title in QVNA, at QVNA’s expense.

*Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) builds strong relationships between farmers and consumers. Customers pay the farmer at the beginning of the season and receive a box of local produce every week.

Neighborhood Foods also cooperates with other urban producers to pool resources and promote each other’s products, including Philadelphia home-made jam, honey, bread, and coffee.

The state-funded Tree Vitalize Program provides the trees and tree pit cuts for free; volunteers led by trained Tree Tenders plant the trees.  Note that submitting a request form does not guarantee that you will receive a tree—there are site criteria. Existing stumps are the homeowner’s responsibility.

To request a form email the office at info@qvna.org.  Please put “Street tree request” in the subject header.

For more information and to purchase tickets click here!

Ignatius “Nace” Beck was a common man forced by prejudiced state of affairs to uncommon levels of accomplishment and action. He was a person of courage, integrity and sound judgment, who was proclaimed “respectable in his appearance and demeanor, and unimpeached by a whisper against his veracity or general character.”  He was an individual noted for his piety and temperance.  Acknowledged respectfully in his later years by the African American community as “Uncle Beck,” he was a dedicated family man and an early member of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beck was a trusted associate of its founder, Reverend Richard Allen, who appointed him a “Class Leader.”  In addition, Beck was the first chairman (1830) of the Free Produce Society of Philadelphia. The Society advocated for the purchase of food and textiles only raised by the labor of freemen and to boycott those items that were raised by the labors of enslaved men and women.

Buried in the Mother Bethel Burying Ground in 1849 at 75 years of age, he epitomized the African American determination and struggle to exercise control over their destiny.  The story of his life adds significantly to the historical record. During a time of violent intolerance and white supremacy, Black Philadelphian citizens like Beck hammered back with tenacity, courage and acumen.’

Capitol Builder

Ignatius “Nace” Beck was born to an enslaved woman of color on the plantation of Joseph Beck in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 1774 or 1775.  Joseph Beck granted emancipation to Ignatius when he reached the age of twenty-five in either 1800 or 1801 depending on the exact date of birth date which is not recorded. The reason for the manumission is not reported.

Ignatius was sixteen years old when Joseph Beck created the legal document that promised the young man his freedom when he reached twenty-five years of age. The document was witnessed and notarized and placed in the Prince George’s County, Maryland, Land Records under the file number “Liber JRM#1, ff. 184-185.” I had the Maryland Genealogical Society perform this research.

The next mention of Ignatius that I can locate is when he became one of approximately 400 slaves that labored on the construction of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., when the city was just a muddy construction site. Ignatius was “rented out” for the year 1798 by Joseph Beck, to the construction company that was erecting the Capitol Building.

According to payment accounts in archives of the Library of Congress records titled RG 42: Records of the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, 1790 – 1951, Joseph Beck received $70 for a year of Ignatius’ labor. His only obligations were to provide a set of adequate clothes and a blanket for Ignatius. His duties could have included foundation digging, timber and stone sawing, brick making, bricklaying and the strenuous hauling that comes from these tasks.

According to author and journalist Jesse Holland there are very few of these African American men who labored on the Capitol Building are able to be tracked after their labors were finished.

Federal archival records show payments for “Negro hire” to assist in the construction of the United States Capitol Building beginning on February 11, 1795 and ending on May 17, 1801. In total there were 385 payments made out during that period. Initially, the contracted annual rate for slaves was $60 which all went to the slave’s owner. The owner’s only obligations were to provide a set of adequate clothes and a blanket which offered little protection against the deadly mosquitoes in summer and the bitter cold in winter. Beck’s duties could have included timber and stone sawing, brick making, bricklaying and the strenuous hauling that comes from these tasks.

Freeman 

Initially, the Beck family lived at an unknown address on south 7^th Street in Philadelphia. In 1810 they moved to 14 St. Mary’s Street (now Rodman Street), which runs between 6^th and 8^th Streets and Lombard and Pine Streets. The tenement was located behind what is now a city playground, Starr Garden Park and within sight of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church. Mr. Beck, at approximately 36 years of age, worked out of his home making “blackball.” Beeswax, lampblack and animal fat were mixed in combination to make a substance that was rolled into 1 ounce balls. The predecessor to shoe polish, this “blackball” was used to blacken shoes, boots and military leathers. With the invention of shoe polish in 1800 the use of blackball was only used by certain segments of society. Each maker of blackball had their own formula and Mr. Beck’s must have been was very popular as the city directories have him manufacturing it out of his home until at least 1814.

Kidnapped

Residing on St. Mary’s Street in 1810 and struggling with the cost of raising a family, Beck cast his fate to the wind. He was approached by a seemingly respectable and well to do white man, living on Lombard Street, with an offer of employment. Beck was to accompany him as his man servant to North Carolina for a period of time and for this service he would be well paid. Financial circumstances dictating the decision he agreed to the terms and looked forward to the day he could return to his wife and children. The arrangement was going well as the two men approached the border shared by Virginia and North Carolina. They arrived at an inn on a Saturday evening obtaining lodging and food. The next morning, the Sabbath, the white man suggested that Beck might want to accompany a local group of slaves owned by the inn keeper to a Baptist meeting seven miles down the road from the inn. Disposed to do so, he made the journey and returned to the inn that evening only to find his employer had departed. Bewildered, Beck asked the inn keeper how he was to get back home to Philadelphia. He replied that he was home and that he now belonged to him since he purchased him from “his master.”

Now a prisoner in a hostile land the “shrewd and sensible man” did not rebel or fight back against his kidnapper. Temporarily accepting his position he went about convincing the whites around him that he was not a threat to escape or seek revenge. Secretly, Beck went about inquiring if there was a white man in the area who might be sympathetic to his plight. He was told to seek out a local man, a justice of the peace, who “appeared quite friendly.” At great risk he introduced himself to this individual who listened to the history of the case and with “great joy” heard the compassionate man state that “he was willing to render all the assistance in his power.”

The sympathetic magistrate asked Mr. Beck what evidence he might have to prove his claim. He stated that the Reverend Richard Allen, pastor of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, would be able to substantiate his claims. The magistrate wrote Allen and told Beck to go back to the inn while they waited for a reply. However, the innkeeper caught wind of the plot and Beck fled to the magistrate’s home where he was kept hidden in the cellar as slave catchers and night riders roamed the country side attempting to collect the bounty on the fugitive’s head. In the intervening time, Reverend Allen received the request from the magistrate and solicited the assistance of Isaac Hopper, an uncompromising Quaker abolitionist and activist who was known as the “Father of the Underground Railroad.” Allen and Hopper put together the necessary letters and official documents proving that Ignatius was indeed a freeman and a person of “unimpeachable general character.”

The brave magistrate received the documents, but fearing that Beck would not receive justice from the local vigilantes he hatched a plan. The magistrate had his son escort the escapee on a dangerous journey north for 100 miles while dodging the local sheriff and slave catchers. Successful in their mission, Beck was given forged papers by the young, white Virginian “to prosecute the remainder of his journey.” Beck completed his journey home without recorded further incident. After several weeks back in Philadelphia he saw his kidnapper on the street and followed him to his home on Lombard Street. He procured a warrant for his arrest and accompanied the constable to the home of the criminal. But the offender had fled and was never heard of again by Beck or the local abolitionists.

In court documents Beck stated that he was away from Philadelphia during this period from 1810 to 1812.

Soldier in the War of 1812

Martin R. Delany (1812-85) was a historian, journalist, abolitionist, Harvard graduate, physician, and judge. He was the first African American commissioned a major in the Army and widely considered America’s first African American Nationalist, the forerunner of Marcus Garvey, Paul Robeson, and Malcolm X. In his role as historian he wrote and published “one of the most important books to be written by a free African American in the nineteenth century.”

In his seminal work, “The Condition, Elevation, Emigration and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States,” Delany writes of the response and participation of Philadelphia African Americans to the call to arms (picks and shovels actually) by the Reverends Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. With the looming threat of invasion by the British on Philadelphia, the Engineer Corps of the U.S. Army requested assistance from the citizens of Philadelphia in erecting ramparts or breastwork on the west side of the Schuylkill near Gray’s Ferry. The African American community’s response was robust. Primary sources (government documents) do not exist for an official register or list of names for the company of men that responded. Estimates of their numbers range from 1,000 to 2,500. However, Delaney reports from Federal court documents (see footnote # 3) and possibly from oral histories, that Ignatius Beck was one of the “Black Warriors” or “Black Pioneers” of 1812. He would have been approximately 38 years of age.

The Stansbury Case

By 1839, William Stansbury had been an acquaintance of Ignatius Beck for almost 30 years. Stansbury helped Beck moved his furniture into the St. Mary’s Street tenement back in 1810 and on occasion was paid to haul wood up to his apartment and perhaps perform other small jobs. Whereas Beck chose to work out of his home, Stansbury held various jobs on the wharves of the Delaware waterfront. Again, unlike Beck, he was born free in New Bedford, Massachusetts; like Beck, he was one of the African American Philadelphians to join in building the breastworks over the Schuylkill during the War of 1812.

In January of 1839, Mr. Stansbury was “seized in the streets of Philadelphia” by the notorious slave catcher George F. Alberti and accused of being a fugitive, a runaway slave who 23 years previously escaped his Prince George’s County enslavement. Mr. Stansbury’s case was quickly taken up by The Pennsylvania Abolition Society and two highly experience attorneys, Charles Gilpin and David Paul Brown, were charged with defending Mr. Stansbury.

In a landmark case tried before Judge Joseph Hopkinson of the United States District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania in Philadelphia Ignatius Beck was the key witness for the defense. The trial beginning on 31 January 1839 and ending in March of the same year ended with Judge Hopkinson finding that William Stansbury was a freeman and not a fugitive slave. In his ruling, Hopkins stated that Beck was “a very important witness” who was submitted to a “very severe cross-examination” and showed himself to be “respectable in his appearance and demeanor, and unimpeached by a whisper against his veracity or general character.” Ignatius Beck was 65 years of age.

The Citizen

For the next 10 years Beck was employed as a rope maker, chimney sweep, master sweep and a dealer of unspecified material. He would serve his community, church and race well. He would be witness to numerous riots and acts of racial and ethnic violence on and around St. Mary’s Street. Perhaps that is why he moved his family to within sight of Independence Hall and rented the rear of a building at 198 South 5^th Street hoping for a more peaceful existence. The area in the 19^th century was made up of a diverse group that produced manufactured good as compared to the 18^th century when it was a neighborhood of artisans. There were devastating fires in 1851 and 1855 that probably destroyed where the Beck’s had resided. What was built over that land was eventually torn down by bulldozers in 1959 to make way for Independence Mall.

He died on October 14, 1849 at 75 years of age from Tuberculosis. His family asked friends to attend his funeral at the Beck home, 31 Barclay Street (now Delancey Street) bears 6^th and Spruce Streets.  City directories do not show him listed in business for the last several years of his life. He is buried on Queen Street in the Bethel Burying Ground.

Mr. Beck’s official Death Certificate, City of Philadelphia Department of Health

The Philly 311 Mobile App provides a real-time civic engagement platform empowering Philadelphians to be community heroes and report neighborhood issues directly into City Government work order systems from their smart phone.  Using an iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry device, you can report issues such as graffiti, potholes, litter, and more. Your report will generate a work order and you will be automatically notified when your request is resolved!

For more information, visit http://www.phila.gov/311/.

Your ticket price includes dinner, drinks, and entertainment from South Philly’s #1 DJ –Johnny Looch

The Meredith Home and School Association uses the
money raised at the auction to support student programs at Meredith School. Past auction proceeds have helped pay for a new sound system for the auditorium, laptop carts, and a diversity curriculum.

In addition to good music and good food, you’ll also have the opportunity to bid on sports tickets, gift certificates to local restaurants and stores, theme baskets, gifts created by students and parents especially for the auction – and much more!

If you or your business would like to donate an auction item, or make a general donation contact, Meredith Auction Chairpersons Donielle Calabrese (doniellecal@comcast.net)
or Rebecca Makuen (rmakuen@yahoo.com).

If you have questions or need more information, contact Meredith Elementary School at 215-351-7360.

The Philadelphia 76ers will host the Queen Village Neighbors Association “School Spirit Night” on Sunday April 14, 2013, at 3:30pm at the Wells Fargo Center. The Meredith & Nebinger Elementary School choirs will perform, live, on the concourse before the game (performance is from 2:30pm-3:20pm). Tickets cost $30 for Adults and $15 for students. Proceeds will benefit both elementary schools. If you can’t make the game, consider purchasing a ticket to sponsor a student or family.

Ticket Pick-up Option at the QVNA Office, or Meredith and Nebinger Elementary Schools

For more information or to reserve and arrange to pick up tickets contact Carla at Queen Village Neighbors Association at 215-339-0975, or email info@qvna.org

Online sales have ended. If you are still interested in purchasing tickets, please contact qvnaschoolnews@gmail.com.

Or, make checks payable to Queen Village Neighbors Association. Write on the memo line: 76ers School Spirit Night
Send Checks to:
QVNA
P.O. Box 63763
Philadelphia, Pa 19147

With AVI assessments scheduled to be released the middle of February, there is still much to learn. “Too many residents still have no idea of what AVI could mean to them” Dr. Moylan said. He added “as a community organization, we have a responsibility to inform our residents of their right to appeal their assessment if they choose”.

The meeting, scheduled for Monday, January 28 at 7 pm, at the Ed O’Malley Athletic Association, 142 Moore Street, is not just for Pennsport residents. It is is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the City’s new method of taxing real estate. Panelists include elected officials and civic leaders from other communities. State Representatives Bill

Keller and Mike O’Brien have been invited along with First District Councilman Mark Squilla and Councilman At-Large Jim Kenney.

AVI (Actual Value Initiative) will affect many home and business owners in communities throughout the City. Matt Ruben, President of Northern Liberties, one of the panelists, expressed his concern by saying “there will be so little time, only until March 31, for residents to appeal if they disagree with the new assessment.”

Although for some, taxes may be reduced, residents in areas where there has been significant development may likely experience the biggest increases. Richard Wolk, Queen Village Neighbors Association member, also a panelist, talked about the effect of large, sudden increase in taxes. “Today’s homeowners, especially seniors and retirees, do not have large amounts of disposable income they can draw on to cover considerable increases in their housing expenses.”

AVI, which was slated to begin this year, was delayed a year as a result of a bill introduced by Councilman Squilla. Councilman Kenney expressed his ongoing concern for the middle class throughout last spring’s Council hearings. Both Councilmen will be in attendance.

No reservations are required to attend the meeting at EOM (Ed O’Malley Athletic Assn.), 142 Moore Street, Monday, January 28 at 7 pm. Come and learn more about how this new tax system may affect you.