It can be a long process to see public improvements take place to improve our neighborhood It is a lengthy process that involves planning and funding and then detailed design development. I’m taking this opportunity to review the process.

The EFDC has a concept “Riverfront Master Plan,” created in 1998. It calls for a number of improvements, as well as an overall development plan. As we move forward and specific concepts are developed, the EFDC will present more detailed plans to the East Falls Community Council for approval. These details may be developed by the City or a private entity, depending on the circumstances. As designs are developed, changes are made; this is part of the design development process. This is how the parking lot under the Twin Bridges was developed.

Recently the Philadelphia region has seen the expansion of cooperatively owned food markets, in Elkins Park, Chestnut Hill and Ambler. Weavers Way, a local food coop (in Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill), is actively assisting communities considering starting their own food coop. The East Falls Development Corporation brought in Weavers Way to have a discussion about the possibilities for this grass-roots effort here. We are now looking to see whether there are enough neighbors interested in forming an exploratory committee for a community-owned food co-op in East Falls.

Andrew Vernon and Aleeyah Ellis, Sixth grade members of the Mifflin Green Team, were 12 students who participated in the “Arboretum Clean Up.” Photo by Colleen Yarnall

Kindergarten Open House
The Thomas Mifflin Elementary School will hold a Kindergarten Open House on Tuesday, May 22nd, from 9:00-11:45. Parents are invited to meet the teachers, learn about the curriculum, see the classrooms, and observe the school atmosphere. “Just show up; we think you’ll be pleased with the quality of education we provide,” said Principal Leslie Mason.

Andrew Vernon and Aleeyah Ellis, Sixth grade members of the Mifflin Green Team, were 12 students who participated in the “Arboretum Clean Up.” Photo by Colleen Yarnall

Kindergarten Open House
The Thomas Mifflin Elementary School will hold a Kindergarten Open House on Tuesday, May 22nd, from 9:00-11:45. Parents are invited to meet the teachers, learn about the curriculum, see the classrooms, and observe the school atmosphere. “Just show up; we think you’ll be pleased with the quality of education we provide,” said Principal Leslie Mason.

The Friends of Falls of Schuylkill Library is still seeking donations of books in good condition for the Spring Sale to be held on Saturday, May 12, 9:30 to 2:30 pm. The organization will accept, and welcome: hardbacks, paperbacks, books-on-tape, musical tapes, CDs, videos, DVDs, and children’s books.  No textbooks, encyclopedias, or magazines, please.

You may bring your donations, boxed or bagged, to the library’s meeting room door (on Midvale) during regular library hours (Monday and Wednesday: 12 – 8pm; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays: 10am – 5pm).  Please alert the staff upstairs that the books are there.  Donations will be accepted through May 10th.

If you have any questions, or if you are unable to bring your donation to the library, please call Wendy Moody at 215-848-5131 or Linda Koons at 215-848-3185 ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

The Spring Sale is one of the library’s major fundraisers.  Proceeds are used to purchase new materials for the branch.

Not everyone realizes that Philadelphia is the birthplace of America's “consumer culture” as well as the birthplace of America.
A pictorial overview of the city's famous department and specialty stores, as chronicled in the newly-published Arcadia book, Philadelphia’s Golden Age of Retail, will be presented by the East Falls Historical Society on Monday, May 21, at 6:45pm. The event will be held at the Falls of Schuylkill Library.
Following the program, the book’s authors, Thomas Keels and Larry Arrigale, will sign and sell their book. Mr. Keels is a lecturer, commentator, and author of numerous books on Philadelphia history.

On Tuesday, May 15, Fred Vincent, tour guide and Village member, will lead East Falls Village members and guests up the “new”  Ben Franklin Parkway to see many of the recent changes: the new Sisters City Park (and café) across from the Cathedral, the exterior of the new Barnes Museum, and the re-landscaped Rodin Museum. Meet at the East Falls Train Station at 9:30 am.  All tours are free for EFV members; non-members are asked to donate $10.

June 5 – the Atheneum. Meet at the train station at 9:30am. The Atheneum, a special collections library, is the outstanding resource for American architecture and interior design, especially the period from 1800 – 1945. We will have a guided tour of the collections and the National Historic Landmark building at 219 S. 6th St. Lunch will be at Kanella Greek Cypriot Kitchen, 10th & Spruce Sts.

This month, we’re sharing more of the memories of Harry Prime, the big band singer from East Falls.  Growing up here in the 1930s, Harry vividly recalls what he did for fun:

Where did you go for recreation as a child?
Every day I practiced baseball at Dobson Field - each kid would bring his own glove.  I couldn’t wait to get my school clothes off, practice ball, and then play the game at 6pm.  Baseball, football and boxing were the three big things.  We’d played tackle football near where the Hohenadal beer trucks parked.  Basketball didn’t mean anything back then.

Sometimes, we’d play football at P.H. Kelly’s, where Mifflin School is now.  That was a wonderful place with a huge lawn for football.  All the players had nicknames - Sonny White, Booby Ledley, Dimmo McCann, Iceman, “Torch” Gotwols (he had red hair).