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Mar 9, 2021

Mar 01, 20218 days agoNOTES (0)

In coordination with the five neighborhood associations that serve on our Board of Directors, University City District launched a $15,000 fund to provide financial assistance to local businesses and organizations through 15 $1,000 grants. We worked with representatives from the Garden Court Community Association, the Walnut Hill Community Association, the Spruce Hill Community Association, the Powelton Village Civic Association, and Cedar Park Neighbors to select up to three brick-and-mortar businesses or non-profits operating within each neighborhood to receive $1,000 grants to help alleviate losses tied to COVID-19. Working with the neighborhood associations allowed us to put grant decisions into their hands so they could determine the best allocation of the funds to businesses and non-profits in their coverage areas, outlined below. 

After launching, UCD and an anonymous local donor raised the fund’s amount to $20,000, allowing for each neighborhood association to select an additional small business or non-profit to support, bringing the total to 20 businesses funded, or four per neighborhood. We received over 120 applications for the funds, and after careful consideration, the grantees have been selected by committees from the neighborhood associations, and are listed below by neighborhood. 

“I am delighted and so very appreciative of this grant from the Garden Court Community Association and the UCD. The fact that community organizations are even thinking of, let alone organizing for, small businesses such as ours is enormously gratifying.”

Barbara Scott, Owner, Fresh on 47th Catering

The UCD Community Group Fund was made possible thanks to a generous donation from neighbors Barry Grossbach and Mike Hardy, and further contributions from University City District and an anonymous donor.

UCD Community Group Fund Grantees

Cedar Park Neighbors:

• Amari’s Restaurant 
• Indie-Life Media 
• Spinning Chairs Barber Shop 
• The Green Tambourine Music Studio 

Garden Court:

• Best Laundromat of Pine Street 
• Fresh on 47th Catering 
• Solomon Fruit & Produce Truck 
• Education Garden Learning Center 

Powelton Village:

• A Part of Me Women’s Clothing 
• Cornerstone Bed and Breakfast 
• El Taco 
• La Pearl Beauty Emporium 

Spruce Hill:

• Alif Brew and Mini Mart 
• Hadramout Restaurant
• Philly Cuts Barbershop
• Saias Cleaners 

Walnut Hill:

• Authentic Ethnic Cuisine
• Creative Repute, LLC 
• Hakim’s Bookstore & Gift Shop 
• West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/ Paul Robeson House Museum

Mar 9, 2021

Normally the SHCA board meets at 7:30 pm, on the 2nd Tuesday of the month in 257 S. 45th St. This year we will be meeting via Zoom.com
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81469988969?pwd=Q0ErTTZlQWZZdlJNaThnYXFORWlmdz09

The meetings are open to the public. Any changes to the following calendar will be announced on our Email list. ([email protected])

Jan 12: No Guest Speaker.
Tue, Feb 9: No Guest Speaker
Tue, Mar 9: Kiersten Mailler from Connect the Dots Insights and
Natalie Wiltshire, COO of KIPP Philadelphia.
Tue, Apr 13: TBA
Sat, May 9: May Fair in Clark Park Cancelled
Tue, May 11: TBA
Tue, Jun 9: TBA
Tue, Sep 14: TBA
Tue, Oct 12: Jamie Vann: Halloween Parade
Tue, Nov 9: Annual Meeting summarizing our year

Mar 8, 2021

The Free Library is launching a new initiative for job seekers in April 2021 — Philly Career Launch. Philly Career Launch’s vision is simple yet bold: Philadelphia job seekers, especially newly unemployed and newly entering workers at the low end of the labor market, improve their economic prospects by qualifying for family-sustaining opportunity occupations.

To realize this vision, we are rolling out an ambitious agenda of resources and programming, including an expanded job seeker website, virtual day-long sessions of career exploration through individual reflection and small group discussion, and virtual career fairs for making vital connections with training program leaders and potential employers.

And we need your help to get the word out! As a trusted voice in your community, we invite you to learn more about Philly Career Launch by attending an information session. In these sessions, we will share how you can sign up to receive promotional materials, such as flyers, posters, and t-shirts, as well as digital materials for social media postings. Choose from one of three dates and register for the session by clicking on the link:

Tuesday, March 16, 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 18, 4:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 24, 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Mar 4, 2021

Last Friday, Cpt. Gillespie from the 18th police district held a community meeting by Zoom to discuss the recent uptick in gun-involved crimes in Spruce Hill and neighboring areas.  For those of you unable to attend that meeting, Cpt. McCoy from Penn Police and UPenn’s Division of Public Safety has shared the tips below on how to stay safe:

• Consider doorbell cameras & motion lighting
• Cut bushes surrounding property (eliminating hiding spots)
• Leave porch lights on
• Request that city lights in your area be repaired (Contact 311 or the 18^th District)
• Don’t sit idle in vehicles for extended periods
• When you can avoid it, don’t walk alone:
  • UPenn Walking Escorts: 215-898-WALK(9255)
  • UCD Walking Escorts: 215-387-3942
• If an incident occurs, prepare for questions the police will ask:
  • What happened
  • Description of the perpetrator
    • Male/female, complexion, clothing, hair style, height, weight
  • Which way did the perpetrator go
    • Were they in a car or on foot
  • What items did they take
• For more information or to share concerns, 18th district Community Relations Officers:
  • P/O S. Baukman ([email protected])
  • P/O J. Harris ([email protected])

Sincerely,

Richard Moore, SHCA

Jan 20, 2021

Dear Neighbors,
The registration period runs from *January 19th to Feb 5th*, and that there are some differences in the procedures than in prior years. Please forward this information on to others who may not be on the SpruceHillCA google groups list!

For the 2021-2022 PAS kindergarten registration process Please copy and paste the URL below into your address bar.

https://pennalexander.philasd.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/579/2021/01/PAS-K-2021-22-Registration-Process.pdf

P.S. To join our email list send an email to:
[email protected]

Best,
Monica Calkins
SAC PAS SHCA rep

Jan 15, 2021

Philadelphia Inquirer, Wed, Jan 13, pg B5

Was born on May 20, 1927 in Whitney, PA and passed away at home on January 8, 2021 at 93 years old with his loving wife Betty at his side. After graduating from Latrobe High School he joined the Army Air Corps in 1945 and was recruited by Army Intelligence. He was posted to the United States Embassy in Moscow from 1946 through 1948 . While in Moscow, he applied by telegram to the University of Pennsylvania. He entered the Wharton School in 1949, and when the Korean War interrupted his studies he was recalled to active duty and posted to the Pentagon as an expert in strategic intelligence, achieving the rank of 1st Lt. He graduated from Penn in 1954 and married Betty Kendi, and they raised their family in the University City neighborhood of West Philadelphia.

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1957, and practiced as a Philadelphia attorney for over 50 years, initially with the law firm of Goff and Rubin and then with Fell & Spalding. He and his extraordinary wife had six children: Mark (deceased), David, Karen, Douglas, Beth and Bruce, plus 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Joseph and Betty Moloznik became fixtures in the West Philadelphia University City community. He established the Spruce Hill Community Association and was one of the founding members of the University City Swim Club, probably the first private, integrated swim club in Philadelphia. He represented the West Philadelphia Consortium and was active in community matters including the University City Arts League and Clark Park’s annual May Fair. All of those institutions remain vibrant parts of the West Philadelphia community five decades later.

He was also active with St. James Parish Council, the West Philadelphia Corporation, Boy Scouts of America and Philadelphia Bar Association. He helped establish a 25 member sportsmen’s club in Central Pennsylvania in 1962 which is still active. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Francis Xavier Church Organ Fund, 2319 Green St. Phila., PA 19130

Jan 14, 2021

Hello Neighbors – 
Below are some reminders and new details about services, volunteer opportunities and voting reminders during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A host of other resources, including those outlined below, are available in our online resource document.

• A reminder that the deadline for mail-in ballots is May 26! Polling locations have been reduced due to the pandemic, and voters have the option to vote by mail-in ballot rather than going to their polling place on election day. Find our more details here.
• Jamie Gauthier’s office has set up a phone bank to check on neighbors in the 3rd District, to see if they need help and to connect them to resources. They are in search of volunteers to make calls and drivers to deliver aid. Please use this form to sign up. In it’s pilot phase, the program has been able to deliver food to hungry residents, encourage reluctant, symptomatic neighbors to get tested for COVID, and offered friendly conversation to seniors who were feeling lonely.
  
• Lockdown Letters is a student-run initiative collecting and sending letters of appreciation to front line workers who are dedicating their time and energy to support our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sending a letter can boost morale and make these heroes smile during tough days. Instructions for letter submission and other details can be found at lockdownletters.org.
  
• UCD has launched its Retail Restart Fund to help offer financial support to small businesses in the community. To learn more or donate, please visit the UCD website. SHCA will be launching a matching gift program to help support this initiative shortly. Details to come!  
• UCD is surveying local restaurants to gauge how they can best assist them in their re-opening plans. If you are a restaurant owner in the neighborhood, please complete the online survey.  The information from restaurants will help shape UCD’s plans and partnerships moving forward.

As always, stay well and thank you for all your support.

SHCA Board

May 25, 2020

This toolkit is a resource for individuals and organizations throughout Philadelphia. It recognizes the importance of sustaining the city’s older buildings and sites — with a broad definition of what makes something “historic.” From grassroots to the government, community members have the power to preserve and revitalize the older places that matter in the city of neighborhoods.

This toolkit is based on the knowledge and input of community members from across Philadelphia, inspired by conversations about how current public policies affect or harm the character of their neighborhood.

This toolkit can be used by anyone in your community: homeowners, renters, business owners, developers, and neighbors of all ages and education levels.

Sep 13, 2018