Review UNIVERSITY CITY Media Kit January 2018 — December 2018 Penn’s Arthur Ross Gallery celebrates 35 years.
By Tim Legnani Special to the Press/Review
he Arthur Ross Gallery (ARG), of the Universi- ty of Pennsylvania, will be celebrating its 35th anniver- sary this February. Located in Penn’s Fisher Fine Arts Library Building on South 34th Street,
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the ARG aims to “[advance] scholarship, collaboration, and outreach through direct en- gagement with original art and artifacts,” providing cultural and educational resources for several audiences, especially the local community. The ARG places emphasis on off ering a variety of exhibitions
and programming, which, aside from conventional art mediums, include symposia, seminars, fi lm, music, spoken work, and other performances. The gallery’s educational pro- graming includes weekend student docent tours, as well as an outreach program, “En- gaging Minds through Art,”
Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper
which works with elementary school students in underserved neighborhoods of West and NE Philadelphia. The gallery also maintains a Student Advisory Board to facilitate involvement from Penn’s student commu- nity.
Director of Development and Marketing, explained that 2018 will be a year
Warm wishes and a look ahead from local law makers January 10, 2018
Sara Stewart, Assistant
Compiled by Jack Firneno Staff reporter
Last week, the mayor, city council members and state and U.S. repre- sentatives took a moment to send University City Review readers warm wishes for the holidays and off er a glimpse into what’s in store for 2018.
Happy New Year 2018!
By Jack Firneno Staff Reporter
South streets — and, arguably, the entire strip on a dreary, snowy Sunday in January— of- fer only a glimpse of the South Street that once was. But, a crowd gathered down the block generated all the warmth needed to rekindle the good old days.
Copa Co-owner, Bill Curry and Cathy Blair. Photo by Jack Firneno.
Last weekend, a few dozen people came to South Street for a reunion of sorts. They were the musicians, staff and regulars at JC Dobbs, the rock
Philadelphia Works announces $6 Mil- lion Youth Employment Initiative
ment initiative directed to serve four distinct popula- tions of young adults ages 17 through 21.
P They are:
• Youth identifi ed as having autism or an intellectual/ developmental disability;
• Youth who have been ad- judicated (court-involved
hiladelphia Works will announced a $6 million youth employ-
in the past fi ve years);
• Youth who are aging or have aged out of foster care;
• Youth who have gradu- ated from Career & Tech- nical Education Programs.
The initiative will connect young people to work experi- ences, customized/supported employment, and unsubsi- dized employment opportuni- ties. Targeted youth will also receive peripheral supports
including on-the-job training, career guidance, legal coun- seling, fi nancial literacy, high school equivalency comple- tion, and a range of other ser- vices.
The goal is to provide a critical piece of employment- focused support that will lead each young person into a career pathway. Providers are expected to begin startup operations immediately with full-scale operations com- mencing in March.
he “Dobbs” signs hang- ing above papered-over windows near 3rd and
ney Mayor Jim Ken-
Henri Matisse, Nadia in Sharp Profi le, 1948. Aquatint, Yale University Art Gallery, The Arthur Ross Collection
SERVING THE WEST PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY
“T e place to be” South Street veterans remember JC Dobbs T
Happy New Year 2018!
club with the wooden exterior and garage door-style windows that reached legendary status in Philadelphia for nearly three decades. Gathered at Copa Havana’s just a few storefronts down, they caught up, shared stories and, for a few hours, recreated what the culture that made the club, and the street where it resided, one of the most impor- tant in the city when it came to arts and music.
said William Curry, a regular at Dobbs in the 70s and 80s and part owner of the Copa. “There was no other place like it.” The venue originally fl our- ished from its opening in 1975. Well-known acts like George Thorogood and Robert Hazard came up through the club, as did countless local and regional performers. Before it closed in 1996, the club hosted seminal bands like Nirvana, Green Day, Tool and Rage Against the Machine. Af- ter that, the club changed hands and became Pontiac Grille until it closed in 2005. It later reopened as “The Legendary Dobbs,” but closed for good in 2015.
Before that, however, the club and its culture were immortal- ized in the 2011 documentary “Meet Me on South Street: The Story of JC Dobbs.” According to Curry, who was a columnist for the Philadel- phia Daily News when the club
By Jack Firneno Staff Reporter
rate stories. But, in making his argument for education reform, the group that went with him expanded their perspective even wider than that.
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Hughes, the state Senator for parts of West Philadelphia and Montgomery County, held a press conference at Mount Car- mel Baptist Church in the Had- dington section of West Phila- delphia last week. Accompanied by the parents, educators and church and community leaders who joined him earlier that day, he spoke after the group toured Upper Dublin High School in
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incent Hughes framed his recent visits to local schools as two sepa-
“Dobb’s was the place to be,” Remembering Lesley Mitchell, a celebrated artist and dancer in Philadelphia
of transition for the ARG, including a rebranding with the release of a new logo, and the establishment a new advisory board. The ARG will continue to focus on off ering an eclectic scope of exhibits and programing. According to Stewart, “Anytime time you walk into the gallery, it can look completely diff erent.” The ARG’s founder, Arthur Ross, was born in New York and attended the University of Pennsylvania during the Great Depression. Although he was forced to return home to sup- port his family before complet- ing his undergraduate degree, according to the ARG website, he “remained loyal and grate- ful for his Penn education.” By the 1980s, Ross was a suc- cessful New York investor, phi- lanthropist, and art collector, and in February 1983 opened the ARG in collaboration with Penn President Martin S. Mey- erson. A 35th anniversary exhibi- tion, “Impressions in Ink:
X ... MLK DAY
Lesley Mitchell painting in her art studio at her Buttonwood Street home. Page 5
Here are just a few of the many activities and opportunities in Philadelphia that will honor the memory of Dr. King....
PHILLY DINES OUT
Do not forget, next week starts the beginning of Restaurant Week in Center City...
By Paulina Malek Contributing Writer
The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, featured the work of Les- ley Mitchell, a celebrated visual artist in Philadelphia whose art- work has spanned more than two decades.
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was “Volcano Triptych,” an oil on board painting on a set of three hinged-together panels. The painting displays human fi gures, wolf-like creatures and birds at the site of active volcanoes under a full moon.
One of the pieces in the exhibit
n Oct. 8, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), a program of
illuminates the tall buildings. Mitchell’s show at POST was her last. She passed away less than a week later after losing her battle with cancer.
DECEMBER 27, 2017
devoted to defending the values of the City of Brotherly Love un- der the current administration in
“2017 was an eventful year for Philadelphia. As Mayor, I’ve been
Washington. Most recently, I’ve been focused on providing ade- quate fi nancial funding resources to our teachers and students, so that every Philadelphian has a quality school in their neighbor- hood. That’s why I announced that we would be returning the School District to local control. I look forward to continuing this
important work and much more in the new year. Contact me at
james.kenney@
phila.gov. Happy holidays and best wishes for a great year in 2018!”
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, District 3
“I’d like to wish
everyone a blessed new year and thank you for all you do and the fellowship between everyone here in West and Southwest Phil- adelphia. we’re so glad to have so many residents, businesses, social venues and who realize what a gift West Philadelphia is “As we address the school district and community rebuild program especially next year, we look forward to hearing from all our communities so that ev- eryone’s opinions and views are included in the future of West Philadelphia.”
Happy Kwanzaa!
www.ucreview.com
lawmakers, school officials, parents and others have had about the state of education in Pennsylvania. However, it also points the way toward improv- ing it.
Her body of work extends to artists books, prints and mixed media works on paper featured in solo and group exhibitions across the Philadelphia and New Jersey region.
One oil on panel painting, a cityscape called “Romance de Bar- rio,” shows a rooftop tango dance scene while the fuchsia sky above
In 2014, Mitchell’s painting of Marian Anderson, the famed opera singer who helped break racial barriers, was featured in “Extraordinary Gifts: Remarkable Women of the Delaware Valley” by Melissa Tevere. “In researching Marian Ander- son’s life in preparation for my painting, I was struck all over again by her talent and artistry, but more than that by her sheer
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West Philadelphia parents, community leaders tour urban and suburban schools
Montgomery County and Over- brook High School in West Phila- delphia.
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The idea behind it was to shed light on the inequities between public schools in Philadelphia and its adjacent suburbs while fi nding ways to implement STEM technology and “move all schools forward into the 21st century.” It’s not a new topic, but, sug- gested Hughes, one that’s espe- cially relevant now, at the end of 2017.
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The state-run School Reform Commission, which ran the Philadelphia school district since 2001, voted in November to dis- solve itself, paving the way for a new school board run by Phila- delphia residents.
of the recent revelation that the Philadelphia Parking Authority shorted the Philadelphia public
By Jack Firneno Staff Reporter
From left to right: Cecelia Thompson, Reverend Gregory Holston, Edward Parker, Senator Vincent Hughes, Reverend Donald Moore, Sheila Armstrong and Terry Pittman discuss their tour of local schools at a press conference in West Philadelphia.
schools out of nearly $78 million dollars over the past fi ve years through mismanagement. The shortfall came as budget cuts from the state left the district with a $304 million defi cit. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has
The tour also came on the heels
struggled with allocating funds for its school districts. Gov. Wolf signed a fair funding formula into law last year when Penn- sylvania was one of just three
states without such a measure. A fair funding purports to take into consideration the number of charter schools and children liv- ing in poverty in a district when allocating funds. However, some public school and community advocates, including those ac- companying Hughes, believe the state’s implementation needs improvement.
By Jack Firneno Staff Reporter
from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in University City. But, when you suddenly find yourself making that drive day after day, it starts to feel like it’s a world away.
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That’s what happened to Erica and Rich Spencer. When their three-week-old son Mason became pale and lethargic, they took him to their local pediatrician. After some lab work, they took Mason to CHOP. There, said
or the past few years, LuLu Maynard had the idea that it was time for her bar to get with the times. By then, she’d been bar- tender and manager of Grace Tavern, at 23rd and South just at the beginning of Grays Ferry Avenue, for about a decade. The bar was a neighborhood institution, but as the area around it changed for the bet-
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he small town of Langhorne, PA may only be about 30 miles
New report opens debate on how to regulate PA charter schools A
new report on char- ter schools confirms some of the concerns
Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper
or challenges we have experi- enced over the past year. Once again, this year was special for me because I had the opportu- nity to visit many of our schools and spend time with our young people. I was proud to continue my support of our public schools and to personally donate nearly $50,000 in support of education initiatives. But the reality is our schools will be facing serious fi - nancial challenges ahead. “Fortunately, a new year often
Last week, the nonprofit
group Public Citizens for Chil- dren & Youth released data comparing the performances of public and charter schools across the state. National policymakers, along with local lawmakers and school officials discussed the findings at a
aff ords us the opportunity to seek a resolution – whether per- sonal or collective – and I intend to recommit myself in my pursuit to collect monies owed that will help the Philadelphia School District receive some of the much needed resources they need and deserve.”
...
Grants help give Grace Tav- ern a facelift
new year. City Council is ready to pick right back up in 2018 where we left off , tackling the issues
continued on page 2 ... SHERRIF’S
ter, little things about it seemed out of place.
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One day, West Philadelphia Speedboys guard Aaron Har- rison would love to start up his own business...
Page 10
The black-and-red paint exterior was getting old, but not in a cool vintage way. And, the bars on the windows and door didn’t mesh well with the new green space and fountain across the street. “We saw a lot of improve- ments going on around us, and we wanted to change with the neighborhood,” said Maynard. And, when she became part- owner in early 2016, Grace Tavern got the chance to get with the times.
SALE ADS PAGES 5-6 &
PAGES 11-13Page x AARON HARRISON continued on page 2
CRIME/POLITICS ........................3 NOTES ON MUSIC .......................7 ALMANAC ...............................14 CLASSIFIEDS............................15
Grace Tavern. Photo by Jack Firneno
Councilman Derek Green, At- large “From my family to yours, I wish you Happy Holidays and a wonderful
X January 17, 2018
lan Domb, At-large “The holiday season is always a special time to refl ect on the re- warding moments
panel discussion at the United Way building in Philadelphia. The report comes a few months after a bill to reform charter schools stalled in the state General Assembly, and as Philadelphia prepares for its first city-controlled school board since 2001. The city
lawmakers, school officials, parents and others have had about the state of education in Pennsylvania. However, it also points the way toward improv- ing it.
boasts 84 charter schools serv- ing 70,000 students, the major- ity of the nearly 200 charter schools across the state. The report show public school students outperforming those in charters on the Penn- sylvania School Performance Profile, or PSSA, standardized
SERVING THE WEST PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY
Zion Baptist Church Gives MLK Award to local Heroes For Puerto Rican Rescue Mission
By Barbara Grant Special to the Press/Review
forward to provide aid to the victims of the devastated is- land of Puerto Rico. On Martin Luther King Day, January 15, 2018, a group of these local heroes were honored with the Martin Luther King Com- munity Service Award at Zion Baptist Church’s annual King Day Worship service in North Philadelphia.
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“These Philadelphians worked under extreme and dangerous conditions to bring
n the aftermath of Hur- ricane Maria, many Philadelphians stepped
tests. In math, 45 percent of public school students tested on their grade level in the PS- SAs, compared to 21 percent in charters. Elsewhere, 42 percent of charter students passed the reading portion of the PSSAs, versus 63 percent of traditional public school students. The Pennsylvania School Performance Profile (SPP), which the state Department of Education uses to measure all public schools, shows similar: Just 24 percent of the state’s 161 brick-and-mortar cyber schools scored high enough to be considered a “good school” by state standards. The numbers were also much worse for cyber charters: 62 percent of their students state- wide did not test at grade level for reading, and 85 percent did not pass math. And, none met the “good school” threshold in the SPP.
Much of the problem, ac-
cording to the PCCY and others, lies in the law: Penn- sylvania adopted legislation authorizing charter schools in 1997. Like other states, the idea was to provide charter schools with more flexibility and less mandates than public schools so they could find innovate ways to boost students’ perfor- mances.
Families, founders and lawmakers celebrate $1M grant for Ronald Mc- Donald House
By Jack Firneno Staff Reporter
Families, founders and lawmakers celebrate $1M grant for Ronald Mc- Donald House
from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in University City. But, when you suddenly find yourself making that drive day after day, it starts to feel like it’s a world away.
T
That’s what happened to Erica and Rich Spencer. When their three-week-old son Mason became pale and lethargic, they took him to their local pediatrician. After some lab work, they took Mason to CHOP. There, said
he small town of Langhorne, PA may only be about 30 miles
However, where nearly ev- ery other state has since tight- ened regulations on charters in order to make them more effi- cient, Pennsylvania has not. As a result, the study argues, the state’s charter schools have fal- tered without proper oversight.
X ... continued on page 4 MLK MONTAGE
Across Philadel- phia, people from all walks of life participated in all sorts of ways for the Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service...
Governer Tom Wolf came to the Ronald McDonald House at 39th and Chestnut streets on Tuesday to celebrate a $1 million grant for the nonprofit’s expansion project. Photo: Jack Firneno
Page 5
Governer Tom Wolf came to the Ronald McDonald House at 39th and Chestnut streets on Tuesday to celebrate a $1 million grant for the nonprofit’s expansion project. Photo: Jack Firneno
Erica, “Everything just started getting out of control.” Mason was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease,
which meant his kidneys had stopped functioning. He went into surgery that day, and the family spent a month
at that hospital as Erica and Rich learned how to give their infant son dialysis.
continued on page 2
A satisfying conclusion to a long series, in Fantasy and Science Fiction is as important as the first tale that set events in motion...
Page 8
CRIME/POLITICS ........................3 NOTES ON MUSIC .......................7 ALMANAC ...............................10 CLASSIFIEDS............................11
Erica, “Everything just started getting out of control.” Mason was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease,
SCI-FI
which meant his kidneys had stopped functioning. He went into surgery that day, and the family spent a month
at that hospital as Erica and Rich learned how to give their infant son dialysis.
continued on page 2 JANUARY 17, 2018 Councilman Al-
New report opens debate on how to regulate PA charter schools A
new report on char- ter schools confirms some of the concerns
Last week, the nonprofit
group Public Citizens for Chil- dren & Youth released data comparing the performances of public and charter schools across the state. National policymakers, along with local lawmakers and school officials discussed the findings at a
panel discussion at the United Way building in Philadelphia. The report comes a few months after a bill to reform charter schools stalled in the state General Assembly, and as Philadelphia prepares for its first city-controlled school board since 2001. The city
boasts 84 charter schools serv- ing 70,000 students, the major- ity of the nearly 200 charter schools across the state. The report show public school students outperforming those in charters on the Penn- sylvania School Performance Profile, or PSSA, standardized
www.ucreview.com
tests. In math, 45 percent of public school students tested on their grade level in the PS- SAs, compared to 21 percent in charters. Elsewhere, 42 percent of charter students passed the reading portion of the PSSAs, versus 63 percent of traditional public school students. The Pennsylvania School Performance Profile (SPP), which the state Department of Education uses to measure all public schools, shows similar: Just 24 percent of the state’s 161 brick-and-mortar cyber schools scored high enough to be considered a “good school” by state standards. The numbers were also much worse for cyber charters: 62 percent of their students state- wide did not test at grade level for reading, and 85 percent did not pass math. And, none met the “good school” threshold in the SPP.
Much of the problem, ac-
cording to the PCCY and others, lies in the law: Penn- sylvania adopted legislation authorizing charter schools in 1997. Like other states, the idea was to provide charter schools with more flexibility and less mandates than public schools so they could find innovate ways to boost students’ perfor- mances.
(Left to Right) Chief Inspector Michael Bastone, Sergeant Joshua Perez, Deputy Enrique Marin, Deputy Alessandro Carrasquillo, PECO Lineman Emilio Sanchez Photo: Barbara Grant.
help to people who would not have survived without imme- diate aid”, said Sheriff Jewell
Williams, one of the sponsors of the award. “We wanted to recognize their dedication as
we remember a man for whom sacrifice and service meant so much.”
continued on page 2
However, where nearly ev- ery other state has since tight- ened regulations on charters in order to make them more effi- cient, Pennsylvania has not. As a result, the study argues, the state’s charter schools have fal- tered without proper oversight.
X ... continued on page 4 MLK MONTAGE
Across Philadel- phia, people from all walks of life participated in all sorts of ways for the Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service...
Page 5 SCI-FI
A satisfying conclusion to a long series, in Fantasy and Science Fiction is as important as the first tale that set events in motion...
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CRIME/POLITICS ........................3 NOTES ON MUSIC .......................7 ALMANAC ...............................10 CLASSIFIEDS............................11
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