Saturday, June 7, 2014

CCRA Newsletter



















  
       
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WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD


FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT ON 23RD/NAUDAIN EXPLOSION
Approximately 100 people attended a second public meeting convened by City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson regarding the May 1 explosion on the 2300 block of Naudain.  Representatives from the Fire Marshal's office reported  that (1)  a PECO electrical wire had faulted at 2300 Naudain but that (2) the  point of origin for the fire/explosion was not at the 2300 location and that (3) the  office could not determine the ignition source of that explosion or what ignited. Readings taken by Fire Department before the explosion showed carbon monoxide levels of 2000 parts per million, the highest reading  their instruments could measure.  However, according to PECO's representatives, the level for carbon monoxide required for combustion is more than 60 times those readings. In response to questions from the audience, the Fire Marshal advised that  PECO's lines were only deenergized approximately three and a half  hours after Fire Department personnel notified PECO of possible electrical involvement. Neither PECO nor the Fire Marshall could inform the audience when PECO's representatives first arrived on the scene. A Philadelphia Gas Works representative stated that although readings taken at the scene showed the presence of methane gas, the gas detected had neither the  molecular blueprint nor the odor of gas delivered via PGW lines. PGW's workers at the scene found no detectable natural gas in the building that exploded and were the last ones in that building before the explosion. PECO representative Ed Mc Bride reported that PECO had retained independent experts whose reports  concluded that the PECO line fault at 2300 Naudain did not cause the explosion at 2310. McBride refused to deliver the reports to the public.

CCRA NEWS

PASSING OF DOLORES 'LOLLY' LA GRECA:  FORMER CCRA PRESIDENT
Lolly, who lived for more than three decades on the 2300 block of Delancey, passed away after a long illness on May 30. In addition to serving on the Friends of Fitler Square board, she was an active CCRA board member for many years then served as the Association's 26th  president from 1997 - 1999, the culminating years of the Rendell Renaissance, an  active time in the City's development history.  Her interest in the neighborhood and the Association continued. It was Lolly's suggestion that led to this year's launch of the Association's Urban Garden initiative (a/k/a "Street Scene Competition").  Lolly started her professional life as a dancer in the corps de ballet of the  Pennsylvania Ballet Company and danced in the Company's inaugural season in 1963. She also taught dance and was one of the City's first proponents of Pilates.  In 1982 she teamed up with Joanne Davidow to form Midtown Realty, which was Center City West's leading realtor until its acquisition by Fox and Roach in the late 90's. Surviving Lolly are her daughter Nicole and Fred Gehring, her life partner.  

Donations may be made to the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107; to BalletX via www.balletx.org; or to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, via www.phillypaws.org.

CCRA MERCHANT MEMBERS DISCOUNT PROGRAM
Support our local merchants and save money too. These local merchants will provide a discount (described here) to any member who shows a current CCRA membership card (Di Bruno Bros. has its own CCRA card) and personal identification.

Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St., (215-772-1911)
Computer Troubleshooters ,108 S. 20th St. (215-825-2101)
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center (215-665-9220) 
Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098)
Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937)
Hello World, 257 S. 20th St (215-545-5207)
Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769)
PhotoLounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651)
Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889)
Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735
Rittenhouse Pet Supply, 135 S. 20th St (215-569-2555)-6311)

 CCRA EVENTS

ATTENTION URBAN GARDENERS
Join 24 of your  fellow container and window box gardeners in a
friendly competition designed to beautify our neighborhood.  All are welcome but Commercial contestants sorely needed.  All entrants will be invited to an awesome end of season party, celebrating all of our neighborhood gardeners and prize winners.

Free to enter!  For more information or to enter your creation, click here Must enter by June 30 to win!

"My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece"
--Claude Monet

OCT. 19 HOUSE TOUR SEEKING TOUR HOMES 
Our 56th Annual House Tour will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19, is an important fundraiser for the Association.  As hundreds of your neighbors have done before, would you be willing to place your home, apartment, or condo on the Tour this year?  We provide insurance and multiple on-site hosts/hostesses.  You receive our deepest thanks, as well as recognition in our Tour Book and the Center City Quarterly.  Please contact the CCRA office for further information at 215-546-6719 or centercity@centercityresidents.org.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS

RITTENHOUSE SQ. FINE ART SHOW FRI 6/6 - SUN 6/8


Hours: Friday and Saturday - 11 AM to 7 PM
           Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM

For more information, click here. 

FRED  J. COOPER MEMORIAL ORGAN DAY, SAT, 6/7, 11 AM, KIMMEL CENTER, BROAD AND SPRUCE STS.
Come to the Kimmel Center for a day of FREE family fun and hear the country's largest mechanical action concert hall organ! Experience the 'King of Instruments' with a day of music, recitals, demonstrations and collaborations, family activities, and even a few silent films. For more information, click here.

OPERA PREMIERE  SAT, 6/14 AND  SUN, 6/15, ACAD. OF VOCAL ARTS, 1920 SPRUCE STREET 4 PM
Concert Operetta Theater presents the Philadelphia premier of Frederica by Franz Lehár, starring Megan Monaghan as Frederica and Dominick Chenes (Academy of Vocal Arts) as the poet Goethe with music director and pianist Richard Raub. $30.00/general admission, $20.00/seniors, $10/students, under 16 years old are free. For more information call 215.389.0648.  

DISCOVERY CAMP AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE
The Franklin Institute is offering weekly Summer Camp sessions starting June 16 through August 29. Each Summer Camp session will follow an independent theme, with session activities made age-appropriate for each grade level.  More information can be found on their website by clicking here.

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