Saturday, December 19, 2020

CCRA Newsletter

 

Call Us Today:
215.546.6719
Weekly E-Newsletter - December 17, 2020
News And Updates
Last Chance to Win a Trip to the African Safari Ongava Game Reserve in Namibia for 2022. Please donate what you can.

In this unique fundraising year, CCRA is excited to introduce our expanded Clean, Safe, and Green Appeal to fund our sidewalk cleaning and related programs.  

Your generous contributions fund a $30,000 contract with the Center City District for sidewalk cleaning after each week's trash collection. Also, two generous CCRA supporters have pledged to match each gift of $100 or more received by the end of the year, doubling the fundraising power of every qualifying gift. Furthermore, anyone who donates $200* or more will be recognized as a Green Star Donor and entered to win a 5-night, 4-day stay for two at the Ongava Game Reserve hunting lodge in Namibia, Africa, in 2022. Each additional donation of $200 earns another entry into the raffle. The winner will be selected in January. Please note that flights are not included.  To enter, we must receive your donation by December 31, 2020.

Click here for more information about the Ongava Game Reserve.

*If you are the lucky winner, please consult your tax advisor about this prize's retail value ($3000).
Useful Links
Our Sponsors:
CCRA Zoning Committee Meeting
Tuesday, December 22, 7 pm
Via Zoom

You can view the agenda as well as previous reports here.

Zoom information

Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
Utilize A Questionnaire To Improve Our Public Spaces

CCRA has prepared the linked Sidewalk Conditions Survey to elicit reports as to observed instances of offensive and/or threatening behavior on the sidewalks of Center City West. 

We are distributing this survey to our members and residents of high rises between Broad Street and 20th, which have been participating with CCRA members in a "Sidewalk Conditions" initiative. You can also find the link under "Useful Links" in the enewsletter and on the homepage of our website. The goal: to obtain data as to the time, location, and nature of any problematic public space activity. The data will be used to educate and inform City officials about neighborhood concerns in Center City West. 
Thank you, Irene Levy Baker!

On December 1st, Irene Levy Baker, author of 100 Things To Do In Philadelphia Before You Die and Unique Eats and Eateries of Philadelphia, owner of Spotlight Public Relations, a firm specializing in restaurants and hospitality, delighted zoom guests with a fabulous book talk about how to plan a staycation.

If you've missed it, you can see it here on our YouTube Channel. Learn where to have adventures including good places to social distance, secret destinations that even long-time locals don't know about, where to create fun family memories and how to help restaurants survive with limited capacity - all based on her newly-published second edition of "100 Things To Do In Philadelphia." It was an enjoyable and entertaining event to kick off the holiday season! Thank you, Irene! 
CCRA would like to thank all of our Business Members whose support is greatly appreciated, especially during these unprecedented times. Please take a peek, and see who these unsung heroes are part of our CCRA family. They vary from retail businesses, nonprofits, civic/community associations, schools & learning centers, apartment buildings, air b&b’s, banks, home care, legal and medical services, and more. Please see the full list here.  
Their support helps CCRA continue its mission. Thank you!
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Office Closure

In observance of the Holidays, CCRA will be closed from Thursday, December 24, and reopen on Monday, January 4. All phone messages and emails will be returned beginning January 4, 2021.

The board and staff would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday and fingers crossed for a wonderful New Year.

Trash Collection

In observance of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, no trash will be collected on Friday, December 25, and Friday, January 1. Collections will resume on Saturday, December 26 for Christmas, and Saturday, January 2, 2021, for New Year's.

Please make sure your trash and recyclables are out on the curb neatly so we can help our sidewalk cleaners' job much easier during these winter months.
A Code Blue is enacted during icy conditions when temperatures feel near or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. During a Code Blue, the City takes special measures to keep people who are homeless safe. These measures include:

  • 24-hour outreach to find people who are homeless and transport them to safe indoor spaces.
  • Opening all available beds within the emergency housing network to people who are homeless.
  • Allowing homeless people to stay inside emergency housing throughout the day.

If you see a person who appears to be homeless during a Code Blue, call the City’s Homeless outreach hotline at (215) 232-1984.
Free Covid-19 Tests for Restaurant Workers Available Jan. 7

A rare but most welcome bit of good news for Philly’s beleaguered restaurant workers: Free Covid-19 testing for restaurant workers – and their families – will be made available beginning January 19th at The Goat, Fergus Carey’s sprawling Rittenhouse Square pub. The testing, which will begin weekly on Thursdays, will be provided by Ivee and will be paid for by the Cares Act, with testing results available within 24 to 48 hours. (https://bit.ly/3aihV0F)
COVID-19 Updates

Covid-19 Vaccine Questions Answered by CHOP’s Paul Offit - The arrival of Covid-19 vaccines is wonderful news, and it happened insanely fast, but there are questions. Paul Offit is Director of CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center, and he answers the FAQ’s.



Visit our special COVID-19 page on our website for more news and info.
Community Info and Events
Looking to Donate This Winter?

Here’s Where and How It’s always a lovely idea to donate warm clothing during the holidays, but this year? Please. Now more than ever, please do donate to any of the following:

• Bethesda Project Homeless Shelter (https://www.bethesdaproject.org)
• Broad Street Ministry (https://www.broadstreetministry.org)
• People’s Emergency Center (https://pec-cares.org)
• Potter’s House Mission (https://pottershousemission.org)
• Prevention Point (https://ppponline.org)
• Project HOME (https://projecthome.org)
• Saint John’s Hospice (https://saintjohnshospice.org)
• Youth Service inc. (https://ysiphilly.org)
Proper Christmas Tree Disposal, Philly-Style

Christmas trees are a beloved part of the Holiday season, but like all good things, they come to an end, and then what? How to properly dispose of said tree? Well, in Philly, you don’t trash your tree; you recycle it, and here’s how: philadelphiastreets.com/holiday.

Unfortunately, though, another Holiday tradition is the less-than-stellar disposal of trash following Holiday gatherings. While we can’t stop the perps, we can report them: philadelphiastreets.com/report-a-problem/sanitation-code-violation. Not sure of the specifics of what and when re trash pickup? Look here: https://bit.ly/37qwuxp.
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Holiday Events Begin at Dilworth Park

Deck the Hall Holiday Lights - Illumination and sound effects on the west façade of City Hall, Sunday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. through January 1.

Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market - Support local small businesses by buying handmade gifts, treats and crafts, through January 1.

Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink at Dilworth Park is open seven days a week, now through February 28, with limited number of skaters at one time. Purchase tickets in advance online for 90-minute, timed skating sessions all season long.
CCRA Merchant Partner Discount/Promotion Program

Support our local merchants and save money too. These local merchants will provide a discount or promotion to any member who shows a current CCRA membership card and personal identification.

Good Karma Cafe, 331 S. 22nd St, (215-546-1479)
Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769)
Liberty Pet Vets, 265 S. 20th St (888-458-8587
Nature's Gallery Florist, 2124 Walnut St (215-563-5554)
Photo Lounge, 1909 Chestnut St (267-322-6651)
Raven Lounge, 1718 Sansom St. (215-840-3577)
Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311)
Seafood Unlimited, 270 S. 20th St (215-732-3663)
The Bake Shop on 20th, 269 S. 20th St. (215-644-9714)
Ursula Hobson Fine Art Framing, 1528 Waverly St (215-546-7889)
Veda Modern Indian Bistro, 1920 Chestnut St, (267-519-2001)
Alimentari Restaurant at Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St, 2nd Floor 
Astral Artists - Use promo code "CCRA" to receive a $10 flat rate on all tickets to their virtual concerts.
Blue Sole Shoes, 1805 Chestnut St, (215-496-9244)
Branzino Italian BYOB, 261 S. 17th St, (215-790-0103)
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St, (uses a separate card, see info here)
Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098)
East West Acupuncture, center city office closed, but you can use the 10% discount at her Narberth office (415-758-1057)
Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937)
1900 Market St, Fl 8
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.546.6719

Center City Residents' Association | 1900 Market St, FL 8, Philadelphia, PA 19103