SHCA Annual Election
The membership will hold its annual meeting and election this year at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12.
It will be at a new location – in the auditorium of the recently opened University City Chinese Christian Church at 4501 Walnut St. (Come and see what a great job the church has done in rescuing this property that stood empty and unfinished for so long.)
The Nominating Committee of the SHCA Board of Directors has recommended the following slate:
- Monica Calkins – president.
- Andy Cole – executive vice president.
- Mark Wagenveld – vice president (operations).
- Marie McCullough – secretary
- Judy Powers – treasurer.
Ten seats on the 20-member board are up this year. The Nominating Committee is recommending five newcomers and five incumbents.
The newcomers are: Sylvia Hamerman-Brown, Haven Henderson, Brennan Maier, Mary Ellen McCarty, and Andrew Richman.
The five incumbents are: Monica Ferguson, Rich Guffanti, Lee Huang, Justin McDaniel, and Pamala Williams-Diaby.
Leaving are the current president, Andy Lochrie, and board members Bob Behr, Monica Calkins (to run for president), Anne Froehling, Matt Wolfe and Mark Young. Thanks to all for their service to the community!
Under the bylaws, independent candidates may also run. They must have a petition signed by at least 10 SHCA members and present it to the Nominating Committee two weeks prior to the annual meeting. That would be Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Officers serve one-year terms and board members serve two-year terms.
– The Nominating Committee (Marie McCullough,
Sue MacQueen, Cindy Roberts and Mark Wagenveld, chair).
What new retail would you most like to see in Spruce Hill?
By Lee Huang, Chair, Business Attraction Committee
Retail is an important part of a neighborhood’s sense of vitality, safety, and identity. Where people choose to shop is, of course, a personal decision, as is where merchants choose to locate, what they choose to sell, and how they choose to keep up their storefronts. However, we make better choices when we are better informed: about what’s out there to buy, about what people want to buy, and about how our choices have an impact on others and on the neighborhood and world in which we live.
The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) Business Association Committee ( BAC ) was formed this year to do three things in support of SHCA’s efforts to improve the quality of life in our neighborhood.
- First, we try to keep an ear to the pulse of what the neighborhood wants and doesn’t want in terms of storefronts.
- Second, we seek to be a point of contact for developers, landlords, and businesses who want to know what the neighborhood thinks and wants.
- Third, we actively network with other neighborhood-serving groups that are trying to do the same kinds of things.
One of our first official actions is to conduct a survey of retail preferences. You can complete this 10-question survey online or email shca.bac@gmail.com to request a copy. Please participate so we can best understand your interests and opinions. And please consider joining SHCA and/or BAC if you are interested in helping out on this issue. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Halloween Tot Parade Thursday, Oct. 31
Spruce Hill’s annual Halloween costume parade for little kids will be held again this year.
The date is Thursday, Oct. 31 (no rain date).
As it has for the last several years, the parade will start gathering after 4 p.m. on 45
th St. just north of Baltimore Ave. (next to Milk and Honey).
The kick-off time is 4:30 p.m., when marchers, led by drummers from the Penn marching band, will go north on 45
th to Larchwood Ave., down to 43
rd St., and then on to the 4200 block of Osage. There the block residents will welcome them – as always – with cider and goodies and some amazing Halloween decorations.
The University City District will be assisting in directing traffic around the parade route. Parents, please be alert while crossing Baltimore Ave. and other busy streets.
Parking on the 4200 block of Osage will be restricted Thursday afternoon to accommodate the parade. Overnight parkers will be able to get their spots once the clean up is done and all the ghosts and goblins are safely home.
Spruce Hill Community Vision
Posted 2/19/2013
Spruce Hill launched a Planning Process in conjunction with the city’s remapping and rezoning of lower southwest Philadelphia in order to help shape the outcome. A “Visioning Statement” and a set of “Placemaking Principles” emerged from a public workshop attended by some 90 area residents on the 13th of this past December. Conducted by a professional planner the workshop provided a preliminary road map for additional discussion at the next open planning session scheduled for Wednesday, February 27th, 6:30pm at the Wilson Student Center of the University of the Sciences. The outcome of that session will shape a new plan for Spruce Hill over the years to come.
