Home of the week

You can find this one on Horrocks street in the 5300 block. It was a nice afternoon but a little overcast. These folks had an interesting treatment of the front lawn. Map

Who is Andrew Altman and why should Frankford care?

Ed Bacon (Keven Bacon's father to you young folks) inspired Andrew Altman to become a city planner. The Philadelphia native has landed back in Philadelphia to become mayor Nutter's deputy mayor and commerce director.

What is city planning? It is what good cities do to plan for their growth. That is something we haven't seen in Philadelphia in, well a long time.

Altman's credentials are being touted as evidence that Nutter is serious about making planning important again, and ending years of seat-of-the-pants deal-making that marginalized the city's professional staff.

This means that we are going in a new direction. There will be plans for the entire city.

Nutter has also talked about the riverfront as a "huge opportunity," Altman said. "He told me about all the failed plans and said now is the time to get it done." But, he said, he also expects to focus on neighborhoods bypassed by the recent development boom.

It would be an understatement to say we have been bypassed. Yes folks it's time to get serious. Read the entire story from the Inquirer here.

Frankford rehab center uses video games to improve therapy

From the Philadelphia Business Journal:

Patients at the Transplex Center (map) for Medicine and Rehabilitation don't just stretch, lift weights and use stair-climbers during therapy sessions.

They also play baseball, golf, bowl and even box -- all without leaving the Frankford health-care center in Northeast Philadelphia.

Read the entire story here.

Presbyterian Church of Frankford set to enter its third century

From the Northeast Times and reporter Diane Prokop:

The church will hold its 200th anniversary celebration of its transfer to the Presbyterian Church (map) on Sunday, May 4, with a luncheon at noon and celebration
services at 2 p.m.

Read the entire story here.

Next week in Frankford

• Butch Ballard
  WhenSun, Feb 17, 8pm – Mon, Feb 18, 12am

  WhereWRTI 90.1 on your FM dial

  DescriptionWill be on the air and encourages all his friends and neighbors to listen and call in.
• Northwood Civic Association Meeting
  WhenTue, Feb 19, 7pm – 9pm

  WhereSt. James Lutheran Church
• From the GAR museum -5th Annual Temple University: Underground Railroad & Black
  WhenFri, Feb 22, 4pm – 7pm

  WhereTEMPLE UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS Philadelphia, PA - Gladfelter Hall

  DescriptionFebruary 2008 Civil War & Black History Event in Philadelphia! 5th Annual Temple University: Underground Railroad & Black History Conference “Journeys of Discovery in 19th Century African-American History” Friday, FEBRUARY 22, 2008 Conference at TEMPLE UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS Philadelphia, PA CHAT Suite (Center for the Humanities at Temple) 10th Floor Gladfelter Hall 11th & Berks Sts. Philadelphia, PA 19122. 4:00 (registration) – 7:00PM Pre-registration: $15 or ($20 for on-site); Light Refreshments Temple students are FREE Panel of distinguished scholars; Keynote Address; Symposium and Refreshments included; book displays & signings by authors! Center for the Humanities Temple University Gladfelter Hall, 10th Floor 1115 West Berks Street Philadelphia, PA 19122 e-mail: humanities@temple.edu Dr. Andy Waskie: 215-204-5452 Our program will feature presentations by Nat and Yanna Brandt, Allison Dorsey, Bettye Collier-Thomas, and Diane Turner; our focus is on the research process (how scholars move from topics to arguments). ALL Welcome!

Twins at Powder Mill

We took a look at the construction progress today. Still a lot of earth moving equipment on site but footings have been laid for the houses along Cayuga Street (map) and concrete block has been distributed.

Take a look.




See all of our pictures here on flickr.com

Frankford Business and Professional Association

The general meeting of the Frankford Business and Professional Association was held at at Frankford Hospital on Wednesday, February 13th, with 19 in attendance. The meeting was chaired by Elizabeth McCollum Nazario the new President.

• Discussions centered around the ongoing issue of crime and safety and the perception of Frankford as an unsafe area. While statistically crime has declined in the area, headlines have not.
  
• Guest speaker Maria Quinones Sanchez, new City Council representative, talked about her first month in office. She plans to return to a future meeting of the FBPA for more detailed discussions of what can be done to develop the area economically.
• Scott Lodise, Chief of Staff for State Rep. Tony Peyton made a presentation on National Safe Place. He encourages businesses in the area to consider joining this network.

The next general meeting of the FBPA is scheduled for Wednesday April 9, 2008. If you are in business in any way in Frankford you are invited to join the FBPA.