Philly Chit Chat

Last Tuesday was busy not only did I cover the Comcast preview show, the Digital newstand, but I also covered the John DeBella Annual Turkey Drop at Love Park all before noon. Crazy day. Then I went and saw my sister for her 49th birthday. Judy is still with us, and I do appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

John DeBella & MGK are once again raising money & food for City Team Ministries – a LOCAL organization dedicated to feeding the hungry & less fortunate in the area. Make a SECURE donation to City Team Ministries- HERE (DONATE HERE)

Lee Schneider, Kelly Cummings, ABC6 Anchorwomen Monica Malpass, WMGK morning man John DeBella and Brianna Ulrich. The girls are the “Parkettes” from the Parx casino. Mr Philadelphia, Concierge from the Independence Visitor Center’s Albert Lee has been participating as the turkey for the past 8 years!!

Frozen turkeys, turkey coupons, and monetary donations were being accepted from 6am-10am.

Last year, 7,000 turkeys were collected during DeBella’s turkey drive. He hopes to top that number this year. Parx Casino made a donation of $30,000 consisting of cash & poultry. Look there’s Carrie Nork Minelli in her new position working for Parx Casino. (undefined title at this writing)

You can also make a donation online at www.wmgk.com . Every $100 that is raised will be matched by Parx Casino.

Yesterday Franklin Square had their holiday light ceremony as reported here by my friend Hadas Kuznits of KYW Newsradio http://easyuri.com/51aa5
TONIGHT: Philadelphia City Hall and Love Park will have their Tree Lighting Ceremonies:

You will recall that the local community rallied together to raise the necessary funds to pay for the Rittenhouse Square lighted balls this year:

Friends of Rittenhouse Square:

LET THERE BE LIGHTS! Thanks to an outpouring of support from many generous donors, and a lot of help from our Friends, the popular tradition of holiday lights on Rittenhouse Square has been saved.

We thank Inga Saffron of the Philadelphia Inquirer for helping bring public attention to this project, and for making the case why the holiday display is important. A huge thank you to John J. Dougherty, the IBEW 98, and Michael Barnes at IATSE Local 8 for providing free labor to install and un-install the lights. This not only saved us money – it saved the day for the lights at night. And much gratitude to all who gave donations by paypal, in the mail, and in person. This is what Friends are for.” (all these pixs are mine, I just tagged some of them)

The Square’s balls are in place and lit, the Tree Lighting will be tomorrow:

At 4:00 stop by the 10 Rittenhouse Square’s Walnut Street lobby (next to Barney’s) for complimentary warm beverages Also at 4:00, bring your little ones to Tavern 17 at 220 South 17th Street for a complimentary ornament making activity Then, meet us in the Square for complimentary souvenir photos from Philadelphia Magazine, restaurant gift certificate contests from Infiniti, holiday movie giveaways set to the festive sounds of WOGL 98.1 FM. The public is invited to bring a new unwrapped toy for a deserving child for the CBS 3 and CW Philly 57 Joy of Sharing campaign to benefit The Salvation Army. At 5 p.m. The Rittenhouse Square Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin, featuring holiday entertainment, character visits, a special visit from Santa and other holiday surprises. Celebrate the holidays under the glow of the giant TD Bank Tree and the spectacular lights surrounding the park. CBS 3 Meteorologist Kathy Orr will host the event. From 5:30-7:00, visit TD Bank at the corner of 18th and Walnut Streets to visit with Santa and enjoy complimentary refreshments

Join us in the heart of the Square at 5 PM on Thursday, December 3 for the magical moment when the holiday tree is illuminated…along with the light globes overhead.
Santa, caroling, character visits, cocoa, and lots of excitment.� This is a wonderful family activity. You are invited to bring a new toy (please do not wrap it) to benefit The Salvation Army.
Chanukah in the Square! FreeOn Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 5 PM, join us at the Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, to enjoy the amazing Budapest Jugglers. Doughnuts, dreidels, and chocolate gelt! This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Rittenhouse Ssquare and Lubavitch of Center City.

UPDATE: Jennifer Carroll filled me in 12/2 about the book signing in SF, of course what she said was off the record until I can tell you in 2 weeks. Just know that she is no longer on the book tour, but will be preparing your meal next Wednesday for the Finale, posing for pixs & signing your menus. See info below with changes (last nites pixs that I took should be on Michael Klein’s blog today ):

Top Chef Finale News December 2009:

This week taste her Top Chef dishes available Tues thru Sat during dinner.

As I told you a few weeks back 10 Arts is having two finale parties. The first party is a low key event on 12/2/09 with their regular three-course Bistro Supper menu $35 price fixed menu that Top Chef Chef’testant Jennifer Carroll will be on hand to prepare. She may stop by your table, but she prefers to invite folks to peak into the kitchen if they’d like. During the show it’s been her habit not to pop out. You might also want to catch the show in the bar area where there are several large screen TV’s set up, some on Closed Captioning so you can catch every word. Party starts at 7PM and goes until 11PMThe Grand Finale Party is on 12/9/09; Jen will prepared a special meal that is off the menu, and will be priced @ $65 per person and includes a glass of Champagne. (Hmm champagne?)

In fact, fans in NYC will get a chance to catch Top Chef Contestants on the Top Chef Book Tour too!!

(as it’s written on the book signing website)
The top four contestants from “Top Chef”, signing copies of Top Chef Quickfire Cookbook

• Monday 12/7/09 7:00 PM at Borders Books – Colombus Circle. New York, NY.
• Wednesday 12/9/09 6:00 PM at Borders Books – Union Square. San Francisco, CA.
• 

Holiday Happenings at 10 Arts include:
Indulge in a delectable Hot Chocolate and Cupcake menu created by Pastry Chef Monica Glass, now until Dec 30

An A la carte dinner on Christmas Eve 2PM – 8PM (Finally Jen will get home at a decent hour.)
Christmas Day – $110 Holiday Dinner 2PM – 8PM
New Years Eve – Celebrate ringing in the New Year with their four course tasting menu, midnight champagne toast, live music, a 2010 balloon drop at midnight, and favors $155 per person, starts at 7PM
Jan 1 – Dinner from 5:30PM to 9PM, but feel free to come in from the mummers cold all day long for hot or spirited beverages in the lounge.

Years ago on 12/1/09 World AIDS Day, there would be a march to Love Park to hear speeches and demand a cure for AIDS. (It wasn’t raining, the were specialty made umbrellas for the day with the proceeds going to AIDS organizations; or people could bring their own black umbrellas.)
The Marchers would even cover the Love statue in a black cloth as it’s message is “A Day Without Art.” The statue would be uncovered after the sunset. (I do have pixs somewhere of the entire statue covered, which they did in the earlier years. I should look for them.)
There are a lot of events marking this day, World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

http://www.actionaids.org/

In the Philadelphia area there are a wealth of various events and ways to be involved! Click attending to show your support and participation and check back here for updates!

Manna is hosting events:
http://mannafestsatsquare1682.eventbrite.com/

There is a Vigil in Doylestown:
http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/intelligencer/world-aids-day-vigil-set/

Safeguards at the Broad Street Ministry:
http://www.safeguards.org/?p=129

MUSIC: Today is World AIDS Day. Some events you can attend. http://ow.ly/HvDC

Press Conference with Action AIDS: Tuesday: John Wind to announce his new limited-edition line of jewelry to raise money for local AIDS research, education and services

Details of the John Wind AIDS Jewelry Project will be unveiled at a World
AIDS Day press conference at 5:15pm

WHAT: Press conference and reception to announce “Take Action,”
ActionAIDS’ new advertising campaign – its largest since the early-90s – and
the launch of the John Wind AIDS Jewelry Project

50 percent of the proceeds from the project will go to ActionAIDS,
Pennsylvania’s largest AIDS service organization, and the Mazzoni Center,
Philadelphia’s LGBT Health Center.

WHERE: Raw’s SumoLounge, 1224 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
(Frosted white glass facade)

(I’d like to take this moment to remember some of my friends who have passed away from AIDS: (My BFF’s) Shawn Conley, Wayne Cohen, Michael Root and my friends who are currently living with the disease who I will not name. Including my friend Philip who was diagnosed in 1985 is still alive today too, just finishing his 2nd Masters this time in Library Science. He’s very open about his status and gives talks.)

Friday 12/4/09 there will be a fun fundraiser that will have a direct impact on local youth living with HIV/AIDS. The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s third-annual TOY returns this year and is expected to draw a record number of guests, and I hope you will be one of them.

The toy drive will be held from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Marc Phillips Showroom at Marketplace Design Center, 2400 Market St. Each guest is asked to bring one unwrapped non-plush toy, which will be donated to the pediatric HIV/AIDS Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS: 2008 co-chairs Heshie Zinman (left) and Joe Matthews are surrounded by some of the more-than 500 toys collected last year for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Tickets to TOY are $30 and can be purchased by visiting www.dvlf.org. photo: Scott A. Drake

Over on Sansom Street the WRAP is up on the windows to Bar

announcing that it is coming soon.

What’s does this mean?Zavino’s announced that In October, Chef-partner Steve Gonzalez will debut Zavino (112 South 13th Street, 215-732-2400), an Italian pizza kitchen and wine bar. Featuring a seasonal menu, classic cocktails, an approachable selection of wine and beer and the area’s best late-night menu, Zavino is sure to become a neighborhood favorite in the city’s trendy Midtown Village.

They’re a little behind schedule, but the wrap is off the windows as to restore the confidence of the neighborhood. Watch us we’re going be finished soon, and it sure does look like they are moving along.
The exposed brick

Looks like the rendering…

From 7th grade until 2004 we had a house in Stone Harbor, NJ and spent many holidays at that house too. For the past two years, to be close to Judy & her family who live in Somers Point, we have rented a cousins house in Avalon (I have the number if you need it, beach block with ocean views). First thing I did when we landed on 15th Street was to see how the beach did after the Nor’easter the other week. Not so good. I will now refer this beach as the Avalon Cliffs.
But there was good shell hunting to be had. (Not pictured, my brother in laws fishing every night, after a few beers, on that slippery jetty in the background. No Stripers were hurt in the process.)I took the girls to one of my favorite places down the shore, the Cape May Zoo
It’s open everyday, but Christmas.Hello
(I saw Judy for a brief time during her birthday on 11/24, but then spent the next 4 days waiting to see her again. She never made it to the house for Thanksgiving, and that was heartbreaking. I knew that her time was limited as she would never miss a holiday with the family.)
One rainy day I brought the kids to the toy store and told them to pick out their Christmas gifts. Kevin wanted a Lego Pirate Castle. Nicole got magic tricks, Kelsey make-up, Dillon a kite, hmm I guess I owe a few more gifts. TJ was nice enough to put the Lego Pirate Castle together for Kevin. Even I couldn’t figure it out.
Llama ready for my close-up
Back at the house, Crista and her family arrived. L-R bro-in-law Frank, sister #3 Margaret, Michael Bateman Jr, who calls me Uncle Chewey, and sister #5 Crista
Niece Nicole and Ella, Nephew Timmy, and Kevin. Nicole is amazingly smart. When we were at the zoo she knew all the technical terms for the animals, and their species. Ella she’s precocious.
Between Nov/Dec there are about 6 peeps in the family that have bdays. This Wegman’s cupcake cake was delicious. The two guys are bro-in-law Joe and brother #2 Ray. I’m #1. (Not pictured: us all going to bed at 9PM)
The day after Thanksgiving, The Batemans and I traveled to Flyertown Railroad. You have to to go there, great train sets, towns and toys for sale. Only $3 Fun times. Here we attempt a Bateman Holiday Card. Don’t worry this isn’t in. Couldn’t get everyone to look up at the same time.
Flyertown is one of those little “undiscovered” gems of neat places to visit. Whether you are a model railroad enthusiast or just want a fun place to take the kids and watch their jaws drop in awe, Flyertown Toy Train Museum and Operating Model Railroad. 2044 Route 9 just north of the intersection of Routes 9 and 83, in Clermont, New Jersey. (Near Avalon, NJ)
Then it was to Cape May and the Lobster House. I took Michael, Jr into the fish market so he could see the lobsters in their tank, just like my dad did with me when I was a kid. Then we ate one.
Mom’s wondering how many people can she feed is she bought a 37lb lobster. (I had the best lobster/crab cake at the Crab Trap in Somers Point on Sunday.)
Almost every evening my sisters and/or mom would go see Judy and help where needed. We did catch some good movies the Tom Hanks Devils movie (watched it twice, I’m slow), Wedding Crashers, The Break-up and Thomas the Tank. On Saturday I was excited to take the kids to the Wetlands Institute, just outside Stone Harbor. I spend a lot of time here when I am down the shore, looking at the exhibits, and exploring the wetlands.
Santa Claus, Tommie the Train and other North Pole friends are just a few of the scheduled activities for the Wetlands Institute’s annual Holiday Hoopla – Saturday, November 28th from 9:30AM to 4:00PM. L-R Ella, Kelsey, Dillon & Timmy
The kids on the train, they are waving to me. If you squint your eyes you can see our house in Stone Harbor on the bay.
Face Painting. (Not Pictured: A sad looking Dillon who could not get face painted green/white for the Eagles game he was going to the next day. He had to settle for a shark.)
The kids had a good time petting the star fish and sea urchins.
I prefer to just look at my sea creaturesThen I took the girls to my favorite beach on 7 Mile Island, The Point. You may have seen my sunshine pictures from here before. Here’s Ella looking adorable. The Atlantic Ocean is flat as a lake cause the wind coming off the land was about 25 – 35MPH and really laid those waves out.
Kelsey wanted to stick her feet in the water. She’s crazy, but makes a good model. What you can’t see is Stone Harbor suffers the same fate as Avalon, and the cliffs are just as high here. (Not Pictured: Ella jumping into the water with her new Uggs and Skinny Jeans, then traipsing thru the sand. Her mom is probably mad at me.)
Finally caught the sunset after 3 days of clouds and drizzle.
Saturday night was the famed Stone Harbor Holiday Parade.
Thanks to Diller & Fisher for keeping us feed and warm with hot chocolate, hot dogs, candy canes and popcorn.
Talking about food, I did not go hungry this weekend, that was a problem. Everyone loved the turkey, left overs, the abundance of food mom brought, and the MANNA baked pies. I bought 4. We still had some pecan left when we left on Sunday.
Behind Thomas Tank is Polly’s Place and Peace of Pizza. Two of my fav places in Stone Harbor. Besides Fred’s Tavern where my sister Margaret worked during her summers in SH. Tracy worked at the Stardust in Wildwood, another fav spot. Marg & Janine worked at Papagallos, and Crista at Hennys.
Shrek on the Wildwood Firetruck
By 8:45PM the kids were freezing and it was time to go. We didn’t get to see Santa, but we did write him a letter and drop it off at the Post Office.
Avalon on a beautiful sunny day. Of course it was Sunday and we were outta there. But the whole reason our family gathered there was to be close to Judy.
Finally I got the OK to visit, and I had the most extraordinary visit with her. I was able to say the things I wanted to say, she responded and I am at peace.
It’s just a matter of days until she is at peace.

Charles Dickens’ touching tale of an orphan boy who runs away from the orphanage and tries to pick a pocket or two for Fagin, but gets caught. As Fagin tries to save him, all Oliver wants to do is go to his uncle, and live a good life. Currently playing at Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre.

I went right after work last week, and it was a breeze. On the 2nd floor of the theater they have self serve lockers in which to place your coats & brief case. You get to hold on to the key.

Oliver has an enormous cast of over 40 kids: The Walnut Street Theater has done it again, the set design and acting is outstanding. Mike says “I thought I was on Broadway.”
Oliver!, according to WST, “is the story of a young orphan boy who wanted ‘more.’ From the orphanage to the mean streets of London, the ever-optimistic Oliver strives to survive through thick and thin. This proves no easy task as the boy encounters both saints and sinners on his journey.” I wasn’t familar with the story before and it reminded me of Annie with a twist. I really enjoyed the musical numbers and story.
The kids in this production are: Jonathan Block, Timothy K. Johnson, Jahad Martin, Will McQuoid, Matthew O’Connor and Tommy Van Dean of Philadelphia; Gavin Becker of Villanova; Nicole R. Bosurgi of Turnersville, NJ; Gaby and Greg Bradbury of Ardmore, PA; Willa Capper and Arin Edelstein of Elkins Park, PA; Jacob Horner, Justin Cade Accardi and Danielle Leigh Rosenthal of Cherry Hill, NJ; Uvay Trivedi of Columbus, NJ; Casey T. Curcio of Marlton, NJ; Timmy Webb and Allison Sparrow of Haddonfield, NJ; Julyza Commodore of Newark, DE; Alexander Carr of Ringoes, NJ; Reese Diaz of Coplay, PA; Matt Ludovico of Logan Twp., NJ; Neil Goldenthal and Amadea Smith of Wayne, PA; Favian Harris of Coatesville, NJ; Colin O’Malley of Huntington Valley, PA; Conrad Sager of Kimberton, PA; Jillian Suprenant of West Chester, PA; Mary Rose Pomykacz of Lebanon, NJ; Seth Silverman of Penn Valley, PA; Daniel Flick of Gladwyne, PA; Evan Robert Smith of Gwynedd Valley, PA; Tyler McClellan of Doylestown, PA; Anthony Scarpone-Lambert of Chalfont, PA and Richard Fusco of Blue Bell, PA.
In this life, one thing counts
In the bank, large amounts
I’m afraid these don’t grow on trees,
You’ve got to pick-a-pocket or two

You’ve got to pick-a-pocket or two, boys,
You’ve got to pick-a-pocket or two.

Hugh Panaro, Philadelphia native and star of Broadway, is Fagin in Walnut Street Theatre’s holiday-season production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! I didn’t want to spoil the show by focusing too much on plot and close ups, but Hugh Panaro’s costume and make-up is unbelievable.
Tickets are available by calling (215) 574-3550, ext. 6 or by visiting walnutstreettheatre.org.

All Photos by Mark Garvin

Here’s Judy & Walt’s wedding picture. They were married in 1983, the year Madonna hit it big on the Billboard Chart’s with “Everybody”, when she told Dick Clark she wanted to rule the world. I’m Thankful for my family, extended family, friends, to the people who allow me to write about their lives, which helps me achieve my mission of promoting the City and Charities; and thanks to everyone that read’s PhillyChitChat.My sister was a really special person, professionally a nurse, she had a great set of values, living by the Golden Rule; The Golden Rule is an ethical code that states one has a right to just treatment, and a responsibility to ensure justice for others.

Later in her career she became a patients advocate, helping those in need navigate our confusing health care system (Ironically, the same system rejected her several times for medical Pet Scans that would have located a few of her hidden tumors, until it was too late as one doctor thought it was better to do an MRI/eye exam anyway. He missed two tumors near her kidney, jerk.)

She was also very involved in her daughters lives, coaching cheer leading, field hockey, while her husband coached the girls softball team and became school board president. Judy also was involved in PTA, ran the car washes, plant sale and worked and made it to most of her kids games when she wasn’t coaching them. She and her family had a sense of adventure, often taking on impossible dreams of travel, taking their time getting to places so they could stop and smell the roses along the way.

Walt & Judy 12/07 (4 months before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer). Theirs was a love affair that I was honored to see. I really never saw two people so in tune with each other.
Judy’s still with us, but her spirit has gone. I rededicate myself in that spirit of kindness to continue to write about the good, the interesting and the fabulous as well as continuing to cover charities giving them a voice they may not otherwise have in a media format, and personally I will try and embody Judy’s spirit of living by treating everyone equally without judgment.

CENTER CITY DIRECT, CBS STATIONS TO LAUNCH PHILADELPHIA’S FIRST DIGITAL NEWSSTANDSThe newsstand owners are also excited about the new addition to their stands, according to John Rocco, President of the Newsstand Association of Philadelphia. “This is another way that the City newsstands can provide new and information in the electronic age,” he says. “It also provides us with a way to give back to the community.”The CBS Always On newsstand network is also wired to provide alerts in case of a city emergency, including Amber alerts, coordinated through the City’s Office of Emergency Management. The initiative is the end product of an ordinance introduced by City Philadelphia Council Member Frank DiCicco this past summer and signed by Mayor Michael Nutter allowing digital signage for this purpose. Center City Direct manages the technology, the content and the advertising which covers the cost of the program at no cost to the City. Thirty-nine newsstands in Philadelphia will go live at 7 a.m. that day with CBS Always On — a 24-hours news ticker and a flat-screen High Definition Television set to broadcast news, weather and sports updates along with tourist information about Philadelphia. Plans are to eventually expand to120 digital newsstands city-wide. Eyewitness News will provide the TV news updates throughout the day. The CBS Radio stations will provide content for the marquee.
City Philadelphia Council Member Frank DiCicco
City Philadelphia Council Member Frank DiCicco with the Digital News stand to the right
The Digital New stand will also have warning alerts in case of an emergency, and Councilman DiCicco said perhaps we could put messages up there that tell the bicyclers to stay off the sidewalk.
Councilman Bill Greenlee
Center City Direct Team with Eyewitness News’ President and General Manager Jon Hitchcock next to Donna Coghlan (I apologize for not filling in everyone’s name as I left within 30 mins of this event to go on vacation, but thought it was important to get the word out.)
The Ribbon Cutting
is a success.
The stands also provide a natural extension for the CBS stations locally. “CBS 3 and The CW Philly have expanded our Eyewitness News brand across both stations, online and to cell phones,” says President and General Manager Jon Hitchcock. “Providing a street-level news service is another way to provide the viewer with the news and information they need wherever they are and whenever they need it. Ultimately, we want CBS to be the news sources locally.” “The combined voices of our two television stations and five radio stations represent the complete package,” says Marc Rayfield, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for the CBS Radio Stations in Philadelphia. Whether the news of the day is sports, music, entertainment or politics, we have an authority on staff that can provide the latest headlines and beyond.”
Center City Direct, a division of Alternative Media Holdings, LLC, is a Philadelphia based marketing and technology company. Center City Direct uses its proprietary, web-enabled, closed-circuit TV technology to broadcast content to digital monitors installed in retailers, office buildings and on the street. Center City Direct customizes the content for each of its networks depending on the venue including broadcasting in multiple languages.
CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation. KYW Newsradio 1060, 98.1 WOGL, 94 WYSP, SportsRadio 610 WIP and The Big Talker 1210AM WPHT are owned and operated by CBS RADIO.

Cole & Heidi Hamel’s welcome their guests onto the Moshulu, and thank them for supporting the Hamels Foundation which has a dual mission to provide support for quality education in the United States and establish a school in Malawi, Africa. The Hamels Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and giving them the tools to achieve their goals.
This past year they donated $50,000 to the John B Stetson Middle School. The price point for this event was $50, which allowed a lot of the general public/fans to meet & greet with Cole & Heidi. Here Kathy Dugas gets her photo with Cole Hamels.
Dr. Gabrielle Young and Steve Rockman make the scene. I wonder if they ever made it out to LA to celebrate Dana Spain’s 2nd birthday celebration?
Greta Russo and Bill Andrews both of Lotus Events
Erin Elmore sporting the latest fashion that is flying off the racks. The faux fur vest.
She really needed it this night to as Tropical Storm Ida was blowing mighty hard outside.
Stephen & Tamar Olibky with Philadelphia Style Magazine’s Publisher John Colabelli.
Krista Guidi, Brett Rosenbloom, Laura Vail, Michael Pomerantz, Cistin Farrell, and Caitlin Murphy
Heidi’s mom from Misourri, Heidi Hamels and Danielle Triplett, American Association for Cancer Research.
Jill Rizen and Andrew Henning get ready for the big move, as Jill packs and heads South to Jersey in the new year.
The Hamels Foundation takes a community-based approach to education by providing assistance to inner-city schools in the United Sates. Our primary focus is to directly serve or impact ‘at-risk’ students by funding programs that address their needs. Currently, an annual grant is awarded to a Philadelphia Public School that serves ‘at-risk’ students due to low socio-economic conditions including, but not limited to lack of educational materials, poor learning environment and inadequate structural conditions. Our goal is to improve Philadelphia’s future through better educational opportunities today.