On August 8th, Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that the Administration in cooperation with the District Attorney’s Office, the Philadelphia Municipal Court, Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) community groups, business owners and other stakeholders would launch a coordinated response to “flash mobs” and teen violence, including more enforcement and sustainable, positive opportunities for young people. 



“Today, we are issuing an enforcement response and a community response to these terrible acts by a small number of reckless teenagers who have damaged our city and our citizens,” said Mayor Nutter. “Through the coordinated efforts of City officials, the Philadelphia Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, the Courts and concerned citizens, we will put a stop to this violence in the heart of our city.” 



Tauheed N. Browning, 8, of West Philadelphia, who has been playing tennis at Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (AAYTE) since he was five-and-a half years old, walked off with two titles, singles and doubles, in the 10-and-under competition at the American Tennis Association National Tournament in Atlanta, GA last month.

In singles, Browning defeated No. 1 seed Mikeal Carpenter, of Suitland, MD, 6-1, 6-2. Browning teamed with his cousin, Marcel Mordecai, 7, of West Philadelphia, who is also in the Future Stars program, to win the 10-and-under doubles competition, 6-2, 6-0, over Donovan Spigner, of New York, NY, and Coltrain Williams, of Atlanta. Mordecai also took fourth place in the 10-and-under singles competition.

Doreen Franklin recently held the grand opening of a business she has been planning for years. Sweetsies, a sugar-free bakery, is located at 3420 West Allegheny Avenue, just a few blocks from Allegheny and Ridge. 

When her mother was diagnosed with diabetes, Doreen, who always loved baking, decided to learn how to make some of her mother’s favorite desserts—minus the sugar.  She had been meeting other people who needed sugar-free foods as well and began experimenting with recipes—trying them out on friends and family. 

With the slogan “This so beats a coma” scrawled on his arm, East Falls resident and Philadelphia school teacher Doug Markgraf visited with supporters at Murphy’s Irish Saloonery on August 20th. The next day he would complete his coast to coast bike ride that began in San Francisco, finishing in Toms River, New Jersey.

A plain metal (lead) box, no adornment, not even a handle. But Greg Peltzer, building operations manager at Falls Center, the former MCP Hospital site on Henry Avenue in East Falls, realized immediately what it was.

The box had been found inside a wall next to the 1929 cornerstone of the original hospital building, which was undergoing renovations and being fitted with apartments for Philadelphia University students arriving in August.

Inside the box was a treasure trove of memorabilia, each a snippet of life in 1930 when it was determined the box had been sealed and placed.
There were five different Philadelphia newspapers, a copy of the Saturday Evening Post plus brochures, photos and memorabilia of students and graduates of the Medical College’s former location on College Avenue in Center City.

We had a nice turn out for Shakespeare’s Richard III on the evening of July 13th under starry skies...low humidity..and a serious performance by Commonwealth Classic Theater.  A departure from the lighter fare that the company has successfully produced to date, (including Moliere’s The Miser and Shakespeare’sMuch Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream), this production promised to be—in the words of director, Dan Hodge—a “rollicking thrill-ride” ...and it was.  Interesting sword  ights and clever executions kept the audiences attention. Surprised to see the kids staying till the very end.

Membership
About 30 members attended the first East Falls Village members’ meeting on Sunday, June 26 in the Kanbar Center at Philadelphia University.  The meeting began with a short video about Boston’s Beacon Hill Village, where the “village” concept was born.

EFV chair Charlie Day presided and each committee chair spoke: Mary Flournoy, Membership; Julie Camburn, Marketing; Anne Hagele, Village Services. Frankie Jueds and Katy Hineline spoke about the Social-Educational Committee and Joe Terry spoke about the EFV phone line, which can be used to access services such as requesting transportation or the names of vendors from the vetted vendor list.

Long-time Fallsers often reminisce about the company Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Co. (PWR), which was known for its quinine production to fight malaria during the Civil War. Also, often mentioned is the former Ravenhill Mansion on Philadelphia University’s Ravenhill campus, a beautiful stone building famous for being the home of one of the company’s heads and one of Pennsylvania’s wealthiest, William Weightman.

PWR’s origins date back to predecessors in the early 1800s. Powers and Weightman (P&W) began in 1847, when Thomas Powers and his nephew William Weightman took over after one of the original founders died. Weightman became well known not only for the company, but also known for being one of America’s greatest property owners. Upon Weightman’s death in 1904, his only surviving child, Anne, inherited his estate and became one of the world’s wealthiest women.