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THIS

WEEKFEBRUARY 3, 2016

VOL. 13NO. 05

PRESS

HOTOFF THE

COHOX YOGA

9

We visit Wednesday’s yoga class in a Port Richmond

rec center.

LOCAL LENS

2

Thom discusses the unlikely story of Thomas

Merton.

TASER UPDATE

7

Medical examiner reveals cause of death in

Kensington taser incident.

CLEAN PLATE

11

Recipe for Ramen.

WTF IS THAT?!

4

What is the history behind 2155 Castor Avenue?

REVIVE 95

6-7

Sometimes you need a better angle to appreciate

construction work.

The Riverwards are a haven for creative people to live and express themselves through whichever medium suits them best. Some artists use photography, painting and music as a way to exhib-it their expression. Others create functional pieces that can be

found anywhere around the neighborhood.It can take the form of a rail-ing, a door or any handmade work that enhances the look and feel of the community. This type of art goes largely unnoticed or is taken for granted as we walk down the street or pass by on a busy trolley. Even though we don’t always notice art like this, it remains as a permanent reminder of the blood, sweat and occasional tears that go into making functional and public art. Robert Phillips was an artist who used the urban landscape as his canvas with metal as his paint. He fastened his steel and wrought iron work to concrete and his art became a permanent fixture to the Fishtown area. Phillips passed away suddenly and tragically at his shop in 2012. Since then, his widow Cheryl Levin has kept the shop’s doors open and allows the space and Phillips’ tools to be rented for use. The shop, currently known as Metal, Inc., is keeping Phillips’ legacy of functional and pub-lic art alive as a new generation of creators use the same tools he did to make their own imagination come to life. Spirit News sat down with Levin so that she could shed some light on the man behind so many metallic sculptures and functional pieces that are part of the landscape of this part of town and beyond. Though a large portion of Robert Phillips works can be found in the River-wards, he grew up in West Philly in the 1970s. According to Levin, growing up in a racially diverse section of Philadelphia helped shape Phillips as an artist. “At the time, West Philly was pretty racially drawn,” Levin said. “He grew up in a very eclectic atmosphere and that’s what his artwork was. He had

a lot of influences from where he grew up.” Though Phillips would go on to be known for his metallic creations, he actually wanted to take wood shop in high school. But when all the seats in the class filled up, Phillips enrolled in a plumbing class. It was there that he learned how to weld. Blacksmithing soon became Phillips’ passion. “He was a very extreme person and metal is very extreme: It’s really hot, and then it’s really cold. It was kind of like his personality,” Levin said. He studied the work of Samuel Yellin, a pioneer in modern blacksmith-ing. According to Levin, Phillips also had great artistic admiration for Al-exander Calder and Pablo Picasso. In late 80s and early 90s, artists like Levin and Phillips were moving to Old City and Northern Liberties and forging new neighborhoods where artists could flourish. “It was the beginning before everyone really started to move there,” Levin said. Phillips first moved to a studio on N. American Street, but eventually opened his studio — Phillips Metal — on Arizona Street. He also became a founding member of the High Wire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave). It was there that he met Levin. “It was a whirlwind, we did so much together,” she said. Levin, who is a painter herself, often helped with Phillips work. “I enjoyed being part of his artwork,” she added. “We were a team.” According to Levin, Phillips was a natural artist who saw creative poten-tial in just about anything he found. “He could make something out of anything,” Levin said. “Everything he touched turned into art.” He also had an appreciation for nature — many of his works feature fish and insects. “Fire, water, earth — you need all these things to work with metal,” Levin said. “Bob was a very spiritual person in his own way. He

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C O M M U N I T Y N E W S – F R E E P U B L I C AT I O N – P I C K O N E U P !

Page 2 The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

THOM NICKELS

IS A PHILADELPHIA BASED AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, POET, FILM CRITIC &

FEATURE WRITER FOR SPIRIT NEWS.

local lensT H E

Recently I reread the journals of Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk and author of the best selling book, “The Seven Story Mountain” The book was written shortly after Merton entered the

monastery of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Louisville, Ken-tucky, at age 26. Merton, who was born in France and educated in En-gland (University of Cambridge), originally wanted to be a novelist when he migrated to New York City to resume his studies at Columbia. Merton’s life on Perry Street in Greenwich Village was typical of the life of many young bohemians of the era: bar hopping, cafes, women, book-stores, films and other intellectual pursuits. This life soon paled for the budding mystic. “The Seven Story Mountain” chronicles his conversion to Catholicism and then his decision to become a monk. Mer-ton first applied to the Franciscan Order, but the vocation director there rejected Merton because he admitted that he’d once gotten a girl pregnant. The Trappists, however, were willing to look the other way. Until the day he died — December 10, 1968 — Merton (Father Louis) was never a sanctimonious holy roller, but a man subject to all sorts of temptations. As a seasoned monk he drank beer, read Lenny Bruce, Nietzsche and defended the poetry of Allen Ginsberg. Merton became a monk in the years before Vatican II, when Catholicism had a more traditional cast. Vatican II changed many things in Catholic life, especially the ru-brics of the Mass. Merton was ambivalent about some of these changes. In his journal he notes: “Catholic Aggiornamento: A priest is amazed that some of his people continue to say the Rosary at Mass. He an-nounces a special service. Sunday evening all are to bring Rosaries and candles… walk in procession to a spot out-side the Church where they will find a hole has been dug. They are to throw their rosaries in the hole. Spirit of lib-erty of Vatican II.” Merton, in this instance, sounds like Archbishop Lefeb-vre of the SSPX. In the mid-60s, Merton had a major crisis involving mo-nastic celibacy. This life changing experience occurred when he underwent an operation in a Louisville hospital and befriended a young nurse. ”I remember being fed by a nurse at my first meal…,” he wrote, “then trying to eat one myself and picking a small piece of veal off a plate with my fingers and sticking it in my mouth.” His relationship with the nurse, known in the journals as ‘M’ (Margie), evolved into a romantic obsession. The world famous monk-author suddenly found himself sneaking around the monastery late at night in order to make hushed phone calls to his beloved. In May 1966, he wrote: “The trouble is that with M. and me it is not a game… Humanly speaking the situation is impossible. We are terribly in love, and it goes very deep, perhaps more even with her than with me…” Other journal entries make him sound like a love sick ad-olescent: “She is the sweetest person I have ever known.” At other times he comes off like a hippie at Woodstock: “We [M.] ate herring and ham (not very much eating!) and drank our wine and read poems and talked of ourselves and mostly made love and love and love for five hours.” Merton was able to spend time with M. because Dom James, the Abbott with whom Merton did not get along, gave him permission to live as a hermit in a small house on monastery grounds. Flocks of visitors found their way to his door. The Berrigan brothers, poet Denise Levertov, Wendell Berry and Joan Baez came knocking while ran-dom tourists would show up uninvited. Religious fanatics sought him out to tell him their dreams or that his life was in danger. On more than one occasion Merton found him-self hiding behind a tree to avoid the religious paparaz-

zi. He was in many ways the Catholic version of the Dalai Lama. Living in the hermitage gave him freedoms denied the other monks: he could ditch his habit for work clothes and escape to downtown Louisville with friends to grab lunch (and beer) at a favorite eatery, then come back and change back into his habit again. In June 1966, he wrote: “I realize that what is most wrong in my relationship with M. now is that I no longer trust her fully.” In fact, a close friend of Merton’s at this point tells him to forget M. because she is “narcissistic, selfish, and not capable of loving another human being.” Their rela-tionship continues, however. Merton continues to think about Catholic renewal: “There is too much spite, envy, pettiness, savagery, and again too much of a brutal and arrogant spirit in this so called Catholic renewal: too much conceit and hubris, and in the end the same old authoritan and intolerant ways in a new form…” He also writes about the “incredible number” of men leaving the monastery, especially the Trappist monastery in California. All over the world, it seems, there is an ex-odus of monks and nuns from convents and seminaries. Merton’s eclectic reading habits at this time include writers like Faulkner, Sartre and Camus. He also becomes more interested in Zen. Intense pangs of conscience con-tinue to torment him when it comes to M. and his battles with Dom James plunge to a new low. Merton describes the Abbot as “the very incarnation of New England middle class, efficiency loving, thrifty, crafty, operating, sancti-monious religiosity.” Naturally, when Dom James even-tually discovers Merton’s affair with M. — this happens when a (younger) monk who drove Merton to Louisville to meet M. spills the beans — there’s hell to pay. When Joan Baez visits, she and Merton picnic on the her-mitage lawn. “We talked of my love for M. and I read some of the poems and Joan was ready to drive ninety miles an hour through the rain to Cincinnati so I could see M. when she got off at the hospital” After another struggle with his conscience, Merton breaks ties with M. then changes his mind again. “Yester-day I had to go to Louisville for a bursitis shot in the elbow. M. and I had arranged with Jim Wygal that we would bor-row his office and get together there, which we did with a bottle of champagne.” M. and Merton talk about marriage, but their plans never materialize. Merton realizes he is a monk “through and through” and that he must end the affair. When Dom James finds out about M., the boom is lowered. Merton complains: “Meanwhile, I have to accept the pun-ishment the Abbott is giving me. Nothing great in itself, really, only his scorn and his narrow-mindedness bearing down on me more directly, cutting off liberties and what were really privileges — so I cannot truly complain…” M. was not Merton’s first sexual temptation. John Cooney writes that in 1963, three years before Merton met M., his dormant sexuality was shaken by a beatnik tourist claim-ing to be a distant relative, but who was really a nympho-maniac. Merton said that the woman “gave me a wild time — a real battle, at times physical, and finally when I got away alive and with most of my virtue intact (I hope) I felt shaken, sick and scared” When the relationship was finally over, Merton burned all of M’s letters although he was haunted by her memory for some time. He continued to dream about her and he was even tempted to call her while in Louisville on doc-tor’s visits. Occasionally he found solace in Schlitz beer: “So I go and get another beer. The supply is already run-ning out. I only had five cans. It is a hot night. Where will I be when the dark falls and the dragons come and there is no more beer?” Cooney says that at this time of his life Merton resem-

bled a well-fed Friar Tuck, rather than the pale, ascetic he was on ordination day. Cooney adds: “Now bald-headed, he looked like Pablo Picasso.” Merton begins to question everything. He writes about transferring to a Trappist monastery in Chile or New Mexico. His interest in Zen and Buddhism intensifies so that he begins to quote Chinese masters and non-Chris-tian scripture as often as he quotes Christian saints. He also comes down hard on his brother monks: “The fact is that this community is full of half-sick people, immensely vulnerable, wasting their lives in petty, neurotic machi-nations—and one simply does not needle such people. It does no good, and it encourages their sickness.” Although he’s invited to religious conferences all over the world, Dom James says no to virtually every request. Merton prays for strength under pressure. “I kneel down by the bed and look up at the icon of the nativity. The soft shaded light plays over the shelves of the Buddhist books in the silent bedroom.” In another entry, he goes completely bawdy: “The other day I was in town. It embarrasses me. Of course, I had to see the proctologist and that is always embarrassing — with your head down and your asshole up in the air, trying to talk about Mexican Indians.” When Dom James announces his retirement and when a new Abbot is elected, Merton experiences a sense of ela-tion. He’s given a green light to travel to conferences in San Francisco and then to a series of conferences in the Far East where he will meet with the Dalai Lama, tour Bud-dhist monasteries and meet other Catholic clergy. It is in the Far East where his life will end suddenly. His unexpected death was reported on page one of The New York Times. According to Cooney, “The end, in fact, came at a conference cottage in Samutprakarn, some 20 miles from the Thai capital, on December 10th after he ad-dressed fellow monks at 10.45am on Marxism and Monas-tic Perspectives. Looking stressed, he retired for a shower. That afternoon he was found lying on his back with a five-foot fan which had landed diagonally across his body.” Merton wrote more than 70 books, most of them on spir-ituality and social issues.

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Page 3The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

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bled a well-fed Friar Tuck, rather than the pale, ascetic he was on ordination day. Cooney adds: “Now bald-headed, he looked like Pablo Picasso.” Merton begins to question everything. He writes about transferring to a Trappist monastery in Chile or New Mexico. His interest in Zen and Buddhism intensifies so that he begins to quote Chinese masters and non-Chris-tian scripture as often as he quotes Christian saints. He also comes down hard on his brother monks: “The fact is that this community is full of half-sick people, immensely vulnerable, wasting their lives in petty, neurotic machi-nations—and one simply does not needle such people. It does no good, and it encourages their sickness.” Although he’s invited to religious conferences all over the world, Dom James says no to virtually every request. Merton prays for strength under pressure. “I kneel down by the bed and look up at the icon of the nativity. The soft shaded light plays over the shelves of the Buddhist books in the silent bedroom.” In another entry, he goes completely bawdy: “The other day I was in town. It embarrasses me. Of course, I had to see the proctologist and that is always embarrassing — with your head down and your asshole up in the air, trying to talk about Mexican Indians.” When Dom James announces his retirement and when a new Abbot is elected, Merton experiences a sense of ela-tion. He’s given a green light to travel to conferences in San Francisco and then to a series of conferences in the Far East where he will meet with the Dalai Lama, tour Bud-dhist monasteries and meet other Catholic clergy. It is in the Far East where his life will end suddenly. His unexpected death was reported on page one of The New York Times. According to Cooney, “The end, in fact, came at a conference cottage in Samutprakarn, some 20 miles from the Thai capital, on December 10th after he ad-dressed fellow monks at 10.45am on Marxism and Monas-tic Perspectives. Looking stressed, he retired for a shower. That afternoon he was found lying on his back with a five-foot fan which had landed diagonally across his body.” Merton wrote more than 70 books, most of them on spir-ituality and social issues.

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Page 4 The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

On Monday we watch a storm come up from the south and bring us some precipitation. Now, this storm has yet to develop and it could bring mostly rain. However, I think we will get some snow out of it and it could be significant. Not a blizzard, but plowable snow. The storm would wrap up on Tuesday and we would watch another storm develop to hit us later in the week. There’s still a lot of details that need to be worked out with these storms but keep the umbrella and snow boots handy. The weather winner of the week is Saturday; the weather loser is Monday. ·

accu reggieS E V E N D A Y F O R E C A S T F O R T H E R I V E R W A R D S

T W I T T E R : @ A C C U R E G G I E • F A C E B O O K : A C C U - R E G G I E

This past week featured a warmth surge that melt-ed the blizzard snow and made a lot of us hap-pier. Don’t get used to it though. This week we start off extremely warm — in the 60s! However,

by early next week we will be watching another potential snowstorm and get locked into the cold winter pattern again. The pattern is just rebooting for a final 6 weeks of the season, so get ready for another bout with “Old Man Winter.” Snow chances this week: It will rain on Wednesday and then we will cool things down for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We’ll be watching a storm try to come up the coast

and bring us either snow or rain (or both) for Monday and Tuesday. Then there is another storm after that and anoth-er one after that! Yeah, you get the point; it’s about to get stormy around here. More shoveling will be in order soon! I will keep you updated on all these snow chances on Twit-ter and Facebook. Wednesday is the ‘scorcher of the week. It will feel like spring. Unfortunately, it will be cloudy and rain will arrive in the evening. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday all feature chilly weather. It will not be brutally cold, but temperatures will be in the 40s each day with lows near freezing each night.

Dr. Joseph R. McQuaite of Bridesburg died suddenly on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 of an apparent heart attack.Born in Reading, Pa. he was the beloved husband of Le-nore Kobrynski McQuaite for 49 years. Graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1972, Dr. Joe had practices in Holland, Pa. and in Bridesburg. In his retirement years, he was a driver for Sterling Limou-sine in Newtown, Pa. He proudly served in the U.S.Army and during the Viet-nam conflict, he was awarded the bronze star for bravery. He is also survived by Dr. Jeffrey and his wife Maureen, Marc and his wife Joy, and his daughter Dr. Kristen Doyle and her husband Dr. Donald Doyle. He is also survived by the “magnificent 7” grandchildren: Colin, Evan, Matthew, Hanlon, Kayla, Griffin, and Justin. He also will be missed by many friends, relatives and patients. Interment with Military Honors was held at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. ·

W R I T T E N B Y J I M M C G O V E R N

WTF is That?!W R I T T E N B Y A U S T I N N O L E N

2 1 5 5 C A S T O R A V E N U E

Our featured building for this week’s issue is another reader request: the old industrial building located at 2155 Castor Avenue in Harrowgate. Like the building at 4080 Frank-

ford I profiled in September, the structure at Castor and Sepviva was built for the textile industry before being re-purposed in recent decades. In 1884, Schlichter Jute and Cordage Company pur-chased the land on which its old factory now sits from one Mr. Charles H. Mason. The building was likely constructed by 1900. In 1967, the factory was sold to the Philadelphia Indus-trial Development Corporation. While the reason for the sale is not recorded, textile manufacturing in the city had already been in decline for several decades when the prop-erty changed hands. One of the functions of the PIDC, a non-profit with ties to city government, is to buy land and then lease it to in-dustrial ventures. Taking advantage of the opportunity, a new company moved into the old textile plant: the Sterling Paper Company, whose slogans now adorn the building. In 1978, Sterling Paper bought the building for itself, us-ing a separate corporation with the same directors to own and manage the property. Today, the company is still making paper boxes at 2155 Castor Avenue. The current president, Martin E. Stein, has been with the company since 1947, when the mili-tary veteran and Temple alum was hired as a salesman after a company executive heard his performance as a radio announcer. ·

SCHLICHTER JUTE AND CORDAGE WORKS, AROUND 1900. WARREN-EHRET COMPANY PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS (2002.251). COURTESY OF THE HAGLEY MUSEUM & LIBRARY.

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW ALBASI

Page 5The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

Dr. Joseph R. McQuaite of Bridesburg died suddenly on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 of an apparent heart attack.Born in Reading, Pa. he was the beloved husband of Le-nore Kobrynski McQuaite for 49 years. Graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1972, Dr. Joe had practices in Holland, Pa. and in Bridesburg. In his retirement years, he was a driver for Sterling Limou-sine in Newtown, Pa. He proudly served in the U.S.Army and during the Viet-nam conflict, he was awarded the bronze star for bravery. He is also survived by Dr. Jeffrey and his wife Maureen, Marc and his wife Joy, and his daughter Dr. Kristen Doyle and her husband Dr. Donald Doyle. He is also survived by the “magnificent 7” grandchildren: Colin, Evan, Matthew, Hanlon, Kayla, Griffin, and Justin. He also will be missed by many friends, relatives and patients. Interment with Military Honors was held at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. ·

The Best of UsW R I T T E N B Y J I M M C G O V E R N

R E M E M B E R I N G F R . M O R I A R I T Y

“There’s a little bit of the bad in the best of us, and a little bit of good in the worst.”

Just about every sermon I heard from Father Dan Moriar-ity had that little tidbit in it. That kind of welcoming and forgiving attitude may have been the reason he was so beloved. 28 years at Nativity — so long at one stop likely due to the special bond Fr. Dan had with Nativity (they re-ally were kind of synonymous) as were the little pieces of candy he ALWAYS gave out. In the warm and wonderful funeral sermon delivered by the pastor, Father Fedak, we found out the source of the candy idea. Seems when Dan was about 13 or 14, following a serious talk he had with a priest, he was given a piece of candy. Years later doing the same would become a staple of his ministry. Father Fedak also spoke of Fr. Dan coming home and matter-of-factly stating he’d just heard another con-fession in Wawa. Then there was the testimony of Greg Gillespie of Port Richmond Books (at Clearfield and Rich-mond) that Fr. Dan came into Mick’s Bar to give out ashes on Ash Wednesday… and heard a confession or two while he was at it. I got my last two pieces of candy from Fr. Dan about a month ago, sitting on the bench in front of the Mary hold-ing the Baby Jesus statue outside Nativity. I told him what high school I went to a couple of times… we talked a bit about the world, about how things have changed. Not the slightest bitterness or rancor in his voice, he did not judge or condemn, he spent his life looking for the good in us

all. Likely his major ministry was to get people to come back to church. He’d always ask. One look in at the emp-ty pews in an inner city church some Sunday morn would lead you to feel he was not a success. But that is SO not so. The important thing is he never gave up… I think of Thom-as Merton’s notation that if we try to do God’s will, we are doing it. I remember a few years back going to a service on Martin Luther King Day and how a young rapper related the story of how a pastor protested scheduling a march on Easter as that was a “Church” day. King responded by saying we needed to move our churches outside. Fr. Dan had that one down pat. It was on January 20 when he passed on. Ten days after my birthday. From now on when I sit on that bench in front of Mary and the Babe, there will be no hoping Dan will be coming ‘round the corner or out the rectory door. I will not be a couple of pieces of candy heavier when I leave. I will not be left chuckling at something he said. But maybe come some Sunday morn, because of what a warm, kind and gentle man he was more of us will embrace that good in us and honor his request to stop on in.

Jim McGovern is a local writer whose stories and op-eds have been published in the Philadelphia Inquirer and other local publications. He can be reached at ‘12steps-forall.com’ or at batesius33@gmail.com. His latest book Inclusion can be purchased through Amazon.com. ·

MULLEN, LILLIAN M (nee Villaneuva), January 18, 2016; beloved wife of the late Joseph. Loving mother of the late Richard Andrillo, Sr. and Diana Shields. Dear grandmom of Linda, Tony, Chris Andrillo and Brandon Shields, Tommy and Billy Dawson and the late Anthony Shields and Richard Andrillo, Jr. Also survived by 5 great grandchildren.

FR. DAN MORIARITY

Page 6 The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

Revive I-95W R I T T E N B Y G R A C E S H A L L O W – P H O T O S B Y M I C H A E L K L U S E K

D E S P I T E I N C O N V E N I E N C E , I S P O S I T I V E F O R R I V E R W A R D S

Most Riverwards residents are familiar with the Revive 95 project due to the recent work on interchanges at Girard Avenue and Ara-mingo Avenue, causing headaches for com-

muters and folks living near the construction. The photos accompanying this article, however, show inconvenience does not exclude beauty. The proposed end results of the project are optimistic for Riverwards’ residents as well. “Others are exploring ideas at ground-level to connect Philadelphia’s River Wards to the Delaware Riverfront and bring other quality-of-life touches to those living, working, and moving in and around the neighborhoods adjacent to it,” Revive I-95’s website said. Improvements include the Penn Treaty Park Gateway, a project involving the construction of a new parking lot and “new landscaping, public art and lighting improvements” at northwest intersection of Columbia and Delaware Ave-nues to transform the “pedestrian experience.” Another improvement is the Richmond Street Streets-cape located North of Girard. Upon the completion of the project, multiple modes of transportation will be accom-modated with the installation of 10-foot wide sidewalks, bike lanes, trolley tracks and a turning lane. The Riverwards are affected by any changes in the mo-bility of I-95. “I-95 is also a critical intermodal road… Any decision made affecting the flow of traffic on I-95 will result in a domino effect on all means of mobility in the region,” the website said. Despite being inconvenienced by detours or the recon-struction of interchanges, the Riverwards community is able to get involved with Revive I-95 through the Sustain-able Action Committee (SAC), created in mid-2010. Members of SAC include representatives from commu-nity groups, businesses and non-profits from the project area. Discussions revolve around street-level improve-ments, like those listed above. Through Digging I-95, PennDOT is also attempting to

educate residents on the area’s history in a virtually inter-active way. Digging I-95 reports about the artifacts uncovered by archae-ological excavations completed before construction on I-95 started and specifically targets the neighborhoods of North-ern Liberties, Kensington, Fishtown and Port Richmond. Some artifacts found so far include a clay tobacco pipe manufactured in Kensington and the heads of porcelain dolls made for children. Pedestrians’ safety is another goal of the project. “The years and usage of Pennsylvania’s I-95 have taken a toll on the condition and capacity of the roadway and bridge structures, creating disruptions that impact both

users and neighbors throughout the corridor,” Revive I-95’s website said. “Some segments are beyond the point of maintenance. Bridge structures and roadway need to be repaired/reconstructed before they become unsafe and unusable.” Revive I-95 is much more than a detour you have to take or an added 20 minutes to your daily commute. It is a chance for the enhancement of the infrastructure of the Riverwards community. Community members are able to get more involved in the Riverwards’ history and the cur-rent changes occurring. Revive I-95 is also a way to see there is a positive to every-thing; sometimes you just need a better angle. ·

Page 7The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

W R I T T E N B Y G R A C E S H A L L O W – P H O T O S B Y M I C H A E L K L U S E K

D E S P I T E I N C O N V E N I E N C E , I S P O S I T I V E F O R R I V E R W A R D S

reportW R I T T E N B Y A U S T I N N O L E N

O V E R D O S E C A U S E O F D E A T H I N S E P T A T A S E R I N C I D E N T

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office has found that a drug overdose was the cause of death of a man who died after being stunned with a Taser by SEPTA Police at Huntingdon Sta-

tion in Kensington. According to a report on Philly.com, a spokesperson for the Medical Examiner told the paper that Omar Lopez, who died last October, had suffered a PCP overdose and that the death was ruled accidental. The autopsy ruling clears the way for the release of an in-ternal investigation into the incident. SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel recently told Spirit News that “shortly after the Medical Examiner issues their findings, I will issue a report on the Internal Affairs investigation.” Diagnosing deaths following Taser use is controversial. University of Miami neurologist Deborah Nash recently told Spirit News that substance abuse and mental health issues are often the cause of death following the use of a Taser. Others are skeptical of this claim, however. Eric Balaban of the American Civil Liberties Union told the Washington Post that an excessive focus on drug and mental health in these cases is a way to “whitewash” use of excessive force by police. Nestel told Philly.com he will comment on the case after meeting with Lopez’s family next week. Stay tuned to Spirit News for updates as this story progresses. · PHOTO BY THOMAS WEIR

Page 8 The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

pat cainW R I T T E N B Y M A X P U L C I N I

C O A C H P A T C A I N H O N O R E D B Y C I T Y C O U N C I L F O R C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E

Congratulations to Coach Pat Cain who was honored last Thursday by Philadelphia City Council for 53 years of volunteer work with the children of Fishtown. Cain accepted his award,

accompanied by an entourage of friends, family and for-mer athletes he has coached throughout the years. “I was surprised, it was a good honor to have,” Cain said. “There can’t be too many other Fishtowners given this honor.” Cain started giving back to the community more than five decades ago at the Hancock Recreation Center. He began coaching soccer at West Catholic in 1975, where he coached for three years. From West Catholic, Cain took a job at Roman Catholic High School. When Cain first got there, Roman was in the cellar of the Catholic League and was regularly dominated by Saint Joe’s Prep, Father Judge and La Salle. The school hadn’t made the playoffs for eight consecutive years and was often considered an afterthought on their opponent’s schedules. Just as Cain began coaching at Roman, open enrollment began in Philadelphia Catholic Schools, so the new Cahil-lite coach could bring kids he worked with in Fishtown, Port Richmond and Mayfair down to Roman with him. And then Cain began to win games — 250 of them to be exact, which is more than any other soccer coach in Roman Catholic history. Over the course of his 17 years at Roman, Cain’s teams made the playoffs in 16 seasons and won at least 10 games in every year but one. Cain’s Cahillites also had a remarkable 48-game win streak against Southern Di-vision opponents that lasted from 1993 to 1998. The crowning achievement of Cain’s illustrious coach-ing career at Roman came in 1997 when his squad won the Catholic League Championship. Widely considered as the one of the greatest teams in Southern Division his-tory, the entire 1997 Roman Catholic roster was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2008. Recently, Cain was inducted into the same Hall of Fame

individually as a coach. He was inducted on the basis of his overall record, his famed championship run and the culture and program he cultivated at Roman. He currently coaches girls soccer at Hallahan High School. In addition to coaching, Pat has run a soccer camp each summer for children to learn and play the game. We Care Soccer Camp offers neighborhood children a fun and free chance to learn the game of soccer each summer. Found-ed in 1994, the camp has grown each year, now attract-ing more than 200 children ages 4 to 11. Cain is looking forward to having his camp again this year so that a new

batch of young people from the neighborhood can enjoy soccer camp free of charge. Cain was also instrumental in the fundraising for and founding of “Stan the Cut Man Field” — a small, artificial turf field that Cain’s campers and Fishtown A.C. mem-bers play and practice on. The field is is named in mem-ory of Stanley Maliszewski, a Fishtown firefighter and friend of Cain’s who helped start We Care Soccer Camp. “It was just a nice day for me,” Cain said. “I’ve won a bunch of awards, coach of the year, but this was one of the nicest honors given to me.” ·

PAT CAIN (CENTER) STANDS WITH HIS FAMILY AFTER RECEIV-ING AN AWARD FROM CITY COUNCIL

Page 9The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

The people here at the shelter tell me that I’m somewhere around 3-5 years old. I’m a pretty big guy too; a large and lanky 59 pounds. Come on over to ACCT and meet me! Don’t forget to bring some treats! If you have dogs of your own, you’ll need to bring at least one in to meet any po-tential dogs and make sure there is no major personality clash. Please also bring proof that you are allowed dogs/cats at your home if you rent. Dutch is located at ACCT, 111 W. Hunting Park Ave. To learn more call 267-385-3800 or email adopt@acctphilly.org.

ACCT Dog ID number A30526509

meetDUTCH

Yoga at CohoxW R I T T E N B Y J E N P A I N T E R

W H E R E T H E C O M M U N I T Y F L O W SC O A C H P A T C A I N H O N O R E D B Y C I T Y C O U N C I L F O R C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E

Every idea starts with a point of interest. Hopeful-ly, that starting point takes you somewhere unex-pected and real. In this case, a yoga class took me straight into the heart of Port Richmond.

Each Wednesday night a group of women show up at their local rec center for yoga. “For us, we feel like it’s a necessity,” said Amanda Bossard who has led the class for 6 years. The group welcomes new faces and always expects to see familiar ones. Flossie Haze, 68, a class participant for 15 years, has been going to the Cohocksink Recreation Center, better known as Cohox, since she was little. “When I was a kid, I swam here,” Haze said. “I hung here as a teenager and I still hang here.” Cohox is a cultural anchor for generations of residents, offering swimming, sports, after school programs, chess, zumba and dance from Irish to hip hop. Viola Toner, a regular in the yoga class for 2 years, comes for flexibility, exercise and help with her arthritis. Bossard responds to such individual needs with appropriate warm ups, breathing and poses. She believes leading this class has been life changing. “[The class] allowed me to see that I wasn’t alone in those instincts I had, to be around people and adults in my com-munity, and to do something for myself, that I was wel-comed,” Bossard said.

Yoga at Cohox, Wednesdays 7:15PM - 8:15PM, 2889 Ce-dar St. For a full schedule of programs, visit www.phila.gov/findafacility ·

YOGA IN SESSION AT COHOX

AMANDA BOSSARD, CLASS LEADER

VIOLA TONERFLOSSIE HAZE

Page 10 The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

loved that he was working with nature.” Phillips, like many artists honing their craft, also had a day job. He worked as a house painter for years. He also began creating railings, gates and staircases for residen-tial and commercial buildings across Philadelphia. “If someone asked him to make a table, it would come out amazing,” Levin said. “It always turned out to be a piece that could be in a museum.” Phillips would hand draw plans for whatever he was working on, whether it was art, work or a mix of both. “He made a lot of drawings for all his commissions,” Levin said. “He would work during the day and at night, while he was watching TV with the kids, he would be doing draw-ings for his commissions.” There are plenty of examples of Phillips work in Fishtown and many of them feature detailed sculptures of fish. One can be found on Day Street just off Girard Avenue, toward Thompson Street. It’s easy to miss, but if you walk a quarter of the way down Day Street and look up, you will see a giant metal fish attached to the side of a house. A dentist’s office on the 200 block of E. Girard Avenue fea-tures a railing by Phillips characterized by an ornate fish swimming through plant life. If you cross Girard Ave and walk halfway down Shackamax-on Street, you will find a gated courtyard. Phillips created the very detailed entrance gates to “Shackamaxon Court,” which he spells out on the gate using shaped metal. You may have locked your bike up to his red “Bicycle Art Rack,” which is a permanent fixture outside Johnny Bren-da’s on Frankford Avenue, except when the occasional er-rant vehicle crashes into it. Levin was alsoquick to bring up the gates that Phillips created for what is now Steep and Grind Coffee Shop at Frankford and Columbia Avenues. Each gate features rays of sun shining on a butterfly surrounded by fish and angels. “Those gates were a trade for my wedding ring,” Levin said. Phillips also created a metal security door for the jeweler next door. In 2006, Phillips completed his largest commissioned work titled “Metamorphosis.” This project, located at Gi-rard Avenue and 31st Street, contains a series of fabricat-

ed steel sculptures and glass mosaics. It was also Mural Arts’ first major sculpture installation. The work features fabri-cated metal butterflies and dragonflies fastened to posts to give the impression that they are in flight. While Phillips was fabricating the metal insects, Levin teamed up with Mural Corps Youth to install mosaic tiles on a 95-year-old concrete bridge along West Girard Avenue leading up to “Metamor-phosis.” The bridge and the fabricated steel sculptures mark the entrance to that section of Fairmount Park.

Robert Phillips passed away on September 8, 2012 at the age of 50. Levin believes that Phillips would be hap-py knowing that his shop and tools are still being used to create functional art and sculptures. “I feel honored that people want to be in his space, and carry on his leg-acy...keeping blacksmithing alive,” Levin said. “I think he would be floored that there’s people in there working in his space. That makes me feel good that he’s still being used in a way.” ·

THIS GATE, NOW PART OF THE ENTRANCE TO STEEP AND GRIND COFFEE SHOP, WAS A TRADE FOR A LONG AWAITED WEDDING RING FOR PHILLIPS’ WIFE CHERYL LEVIN.

THIS “BICYCLE ART RACK” HAS SURVIVED AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE TAKING IT OUT. IT’S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PHILLIPS’ LOVE OF ABSTRACT PUBLIC ART.

HERE IS ONE OF TWO ORNAMENTAL GATES FOR SHACKAMAXON COURT ON THE 1200 BLOCK OF DAY ST. THE OTHER IS LOCATED ON THE 1200 BLOCK OF SHACKAMAXON ST.

THESE GIANT BUTTERFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES ARE PART OF PHILLIPS LARGEST COMMISSIONED WORK TITLED “METAMORPHOSIS.” IT SITS PROMINENTLY AT THE BUSY CORNER OF W. GIRARD AVE. AND POPLAR DR. IN BREWERYTOWN.

YOU CAN FIND THIS RAILING ALONG THE 200 BLOCK OF EAST GIRARD AVENUE.

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ON THE 1200 BLOCK OF DAY ST. IN FISHTOWN LOOK UP AND YOU WILL SEE THIS ENORMOUS METAL FISH STARING BACK AT YOU.

Continued from Page 1.

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Page 11The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

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clean plateW R I T T E N B Y C A S E Y A N N B E C K

R A M E N

When one of your roommates is a toddler who attends daycare, your house-hold becomes a haven for germs and your immune system gets a work-out. It’s as if there’s a welcome mat at our door, specifically to attract the latest ailment that’s making its rounds. After the holidays, we were hit

hard by the common cold and each of us came down with varying degrees of congestion, coughing and sore throats. Last week, just as we started to feel somewhat normal, the worst of the winter viruses paid us a visit: the dreaded stomach bug. We seriously cannot catch a break. The baby was hit first and we were initiated into a milestone phase of parenthood when he woke up sobbing in the middle of the night after his first ever bout of puking. Uncon-ditional love and, luckily, survival instincts, allowed us to get through it but we knew we were next. Inevitably, my husband and I spent the better part of the weekend taking turns getting sick and feeling sorry for ourselves. Although a stomach bug simply has to run its course, I’ve found that — when you’re brave enough to try to eat or drink — the road to recovery lies in Gatorade and Maruchan Ramen Noodles. Though the long, curly noodles are really the only reason anyone eats the plastic-wrapped soup, the powdered, salty flavor packet — which is generally pretty bad for you — is what always nurses me back to health. After managing to keep a bowl of ramen down, I just wanted to eat more of it. Knowing I needed to reserve that flavor packet for dire emergencies, though, I decided to use the noodles in a broth flavored with ginger and garlic and filled with vegetables. After adding marinated chicken thighs and a boiled egg, it was truly a meal.

Chicken Ramen

Chicken Thighs4 boneless chicken thighs, with the skinSalt and pepper2 tablespoons fresh lime juice3 tablespoons soy sauce1 ½ tablespoons honey1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Soup1 tablespoon olive oil2 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons ginger, minced3 tablespoons soy sauce2 tablespoons sherry cooking wine4 cups chicken broth1 large carrot, grated¾ cups shiitake mushrooms, sliced1 cup roughly torn spinach leaves9 oz. dried ramen noodles2 tablespoons Thai basil leaves, chopped4 soft- or hard-boiled eggs

Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in a large, sealable plastic bag. Combine lime juice, soy sauce and honey in a small bowl and pour into bag. Seal and use hands to distribute marinade over chicken. Marinade for approximately 4 to 8 hours, turning bag over occasionally. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a large oven-safe skillet Add the chicken, skin-side down and cook until the skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for another 5 minutes, until golden. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for about 20 minutes, until fully cooked. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Slice neatly and set aside. To prepare soup, heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, until shimmering. Add the garlic and ginger, cook for a few minutes until softened. Add the soy sauce and sherry and stir to combine. Cook about one minute. Add the chicken broth, stir, cover and allow to boil. Remove the lid and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add carrots, mushrooms and spinach and cook for another 3 minutes. Add ramen noodles and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, until soft. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. To serve, add soup to bowls, top with basil, chicken and boiled eggs, cut in half. ·

Is there something going on a that’s a little funky in your neighborhood that you want us look into? Have something juicy you want to leak? Know of something fun or interest-

ing going on that you think we should know about?

We rely on sources like you for news that effects our neigh-borhoods. No tip is a bad tip.

Drop us a line at news@spiritnews.org.

Page 12 The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

MEETINGS

CALENDARC O M M U N I T Y

N E W S @ S P I R I T N E W S . O R G • 1 4 2 8 E . S U S Q U E H A N N A A V E • 2 1 5 . 4 2 3 . 6 2 4 6

EVENTS

NKCDC OPEN OFFICE HOURSNKCDC is hosting open office hours in the 19134 zip code at two locations. They will be at the Firm Hope Bap-tist Church on Tulip and Auburn Streets every second Wednesday of the month from 4-7PM. They will assist you with signing up for benefits like SNAP, connecting to housing counselors for any housing needs, rent and prop-erty tax rebates, food referrals, health insurance and safe-ty or quality of life issues in your community. For further information contact Tess at tdonie@NKCDC.org or 215-427-0350 x 139.

AL-ANON AT HOLY NAME CHURCH HALLMeetings are held every Monday night from 7-8PM at Holy Name Church Hall at 701 Gaul Street. Anything shared at a meeting stays there and everyone is welcome to attend. Al-Anon meetings are free, anonymous and confidential.

Wednesday, February 3PROPAC MEETING The Port Richmond on Patrol and Civic Association will host a meeting at the Columbia Social Club (3521-29 Al-mond St) at 7PM. It will discuss zoning issues, crime stats and updates, as well as general Port Richmond news and upcoming events. Check the PROPAC Facebook page for updates.

Monday, February 8EKNA NEIGHBORHOOD REZONING MEETINGThis public meeting serves to provide input on proposed rezoning of the neighborhood. The zoning of East Kens-ington is being remapped by the Philadelphia City Plan-ning Commission. This will be part of a community pro-cess, and will reflect the recommendations of the East Kensington Transportation and Community Develop-ment Plan and the Frankford Ave Arts Corridor Plan. The current and proposed zoning maps of the neighborhood can be seen at ekna.org/ekna-committees/zoning/. The meeting will take place at the Circle of Hope (2007 Frank-ford Ave) at 7PM.If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to provide input, please email info@ekna.org or call 215-334-EKNA.

Tuesday, February 9FNA ZONING MEETINGThe projects up for discussion and a community vote in-clude 227 E. Allen St – proposal for a new construction (3) unit multifamily building and 230 E Girard Ave – pro-posed single room residence in an existing building. All residents and business owners in Fishtown are eligible to vote. Please bring proof of residence or business own-ership in the form of a driver’s license or a photo id and a lease, utility bill, or recent piece of mail addressed to your home or business. The meeting will take place at the Fishtown Rec Center (1202 E Montgomery Ave) starting at 7PM.

Wednesday, February 10EKNA ZONING MEETINGThis zoning meeting will be regarding 2135 E Sergeant St – Proposal for new construction single-family house (lot is partially zoned industrial), 2115 & 2117 E Arizona St – Pro-posed new construction single-family houses with below minimum open area and rear yard, and partially zoned industrial and 2529 Frankford Ave (former VFW building) – Proposed subdivision of parcel with below minimum lot size, open area, and rear yard. The meeting’s agenda sub-ject to change. It will take place at the Circle of Hope (2007 Frankford Ave) at 7:15PM.For more information on this meeting and EKNA, visit EKNA.org.

Monday, February 15EKNA FEBRUARY MEETINGJoin us for the monthly general meeting. Topics will in-clude update on Arts Fest, zoning, and future planning for committee structure. The meeting will take place at the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Doors open at 6:30PM and the meeting starts at 7PM.Please review previous months minutes at ekna.org.

FRIENDS OF ADAIRE EVENTSAdaire Schoolyard Revitalization Update – Friends of Adaire invite the community to learn more about the Adaire Schoolyard Revitalization Project on Wednesday, February 3, from 6-8PM at the Fishtown Recreation Cen-ter. As the first public Friends of Adaire meeting of 2016, there will be plenty of opportunities for people to get in-volved, either in the schoolyard project or with Friends of Adaire’s many other initiatives this year. Our partners who are helping make a dream of a greener, safer, more fun, and modern schoolyard a reality will be on hand to explain the process and answer questions, including the Trust for Public Land and the Philadelphia Water Department. For more information, contact friendsofadaire@gmail.com

FREE TAX PREPARATIONThe team of rock stars at CEIBA are hosting workshops throughout North Philadelphia in February to help you file your annual tax return. Four of those workshops are happening here in the neighborhood thanks to Finanta, who is generously permitting use of their space. The work-shops are appointment-only and for families with an in-come less than $54,000 annually. The workshops will take place on February 4, 11 and 18 from 3:30-7PM at the Finata Building, 1301 N. 2nd Street.Call 215-634-7245 or 215-427-3463 to schedule. If you can’t make one of the Thursdays at Finanta, visit ceibaphiladelphia.org to view other opportunities.

APPLY FOR A STREET TREEApply with Philly Tree People for Spring 2016 planting at phillytreepeople.org. Philly Tree People beautifies the neighborhood by bringing tree coverage to the streets of East Kensington, Kensington and Fishtown.

PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM Get the skills you need to succeed in today’s job market. Lutheran Settlement House at 1340 Frankford Ave. is run-ning six free two week career development boot camps on topics such as career planning, resume building, interview skills and workplace math. The second intake session takes place on February 11.Call 215-426-8610 x 1242 to apply.

Friday, February 5YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NIGHTEngage new and early collectors with Benefit 2016 Young Professionals Night from 5-10PM. Be among the first to view and place advance bids on artwork and other items in our silent auction. Learn about the importance of partici-pating in the arts economy through a talk on collecting at the start of the event. Register for the event at inliquid.org

Saturday, February 6INLIQUID’S 16TH ANNUAL BENEFITThis much-anticipated event is not only a fabulous social happening but also a showcase for exceptional contem-porary art featuring work from the emerging to the estab-lished. Most importantly of course, this benefit event is the major annual fundraiser for InLiquid, which supports and promotes visual artists while serving as a comprehen-sive hub and catalyst for our region’s arts community. The Benefit returns to the Icebox Project Space at Crane Arts, where the first floor space will be transformed into a three-day only showcase of 250+ works by emerging and estab-lished artists. The theme for the weekend is Press Bid to Play, celebrating InLiquid’s third year of revolutionizing the local art auction sphere through a virtual transforma-tion, in which guests will reboot their collections and ex-perience a crash-course in visual mediums. Painting, pho-tography, fashion, furniture, and more will be available via mobile bidding platform 501 Auctions, where works at every price point are just a smartphone click away. Throughout the evening, tablet-wielding concierges will be on-hand to assist the audience with their purchasing questions. The event takes place at The Ice Box at Crane Arts, 1400 N. American St. from 4:30-10PM.

Saturday, February 6ANNUAL KOSCIUSZKO TRIBUTE CEREMONYThe Polish American Congress, Eastern PA District, in conjunction with The Polish American Cultural Center Museum in historic Philadelphia, extends an invitation to everyone to attend the Annual Kosciuszko Tribute Ceremony, honoring American Revolutionary War Hero and Designer of the fortifications at West Point, the site of America’s Military Academy. The ceremony will take place at the Kosciuszko House, 3rd & Pine Streets in his-toric Philadelphia at 12PM. Following the ceremony there will be a luncheon in the Polish American Cultural Center Museum, 308 Walnut Street.For additional information or luncheon reservations, call Theresa Romanowski at 215-922-1700 or 215-813-2780.

Saturday, February 6SUPER BOWL BINGOThe Visitation BVM School Hall at 300 E. Lehigh Ave. will host a Super Bowl Bingo event from 6-9PM. There will be 8 games for $10. Two special prizes include a 32” TV and $250 jackpot.

Saturday, February 6BINGOKEEP CALM and PLAY BINGO WITH THE (drag) QUEEN OF ENGLAND! Basket bingo presided over by her majes-ty, the Queen – as only Pearl E. Gates could bring us. $5 admission includes one card per game (15 games) with additional game cards, 50/50 tickets, and food available for purchase. BYOB. Proceeds donated to organizations working to end LGBT homelessness. Bingo takes place at the Atonement Lutheran Church, 1542 E. Montgomery Ave. Doors open at 5:30PM.

ST. FRAN CIS VILLACath ol ic Health Care Ser vices will hold ap plic a tion days for St. Fran cis Villa on Monday, February 8, from 10AM-3PM and Monday, February 15, from 10AM to 1PM at Cir-cle of Hope, 2007 Frank ford Ave. For more information call 610-260-1152.

Tuesday, February 9MAKE YOUR OWN CLEANING SUPPLIESLearn how to make your own safe and eco-friendly clean-ing products! At the event you will learn about the dangers of conventional cleaning products and how they effect our health. We will then help you make your own natural cleaning solutions that you can take home. All supplies will be provided. The workshop takes place at the Coral Street Arts House, 2446 Coral St., and starts at 6PM. To register for the event, please contact John Tracy at 215-427-0350 x 125 or jtracy@nkcdc.org.

Saturday, February 13HEARTFESTIs this inclement weather making you want to have some-thing to look forward to? Penn Treaty School is hosting “HeartFest” full of fun for all ages: food, games, basket-ball competitions, a raffle, etc. Cost at the door is $5. Hope to see you there from 11AM-2PM.

Sunday, February 14WINTERFEST AT NORTH BOWLIt’s the annual NLNA Winterfest at North Bowl! Get out of winter doldrums and celebrate the neighborhood with food, drink, bowling, raffle prizes and more from 1-5PM.Reserve your discounted tickets now using this convenient on-line form at the nlna.org.

Wednesday, February 17DUFFY STRING BAND OPEN HOUSEFishtown’s very own Duffy String Band will be holding our annual Open House at our Clubhouse, starting at 7PM. We are hoping to get the word out to the community. We are looking for musicians, dancers, people who want to help behind the scenes, or anyone who just wants to stop in and meet the band. We are located at 2230 Cedar Street in Fishtown.

Saturday, February 27DESIGNER BAG BINGOFriends of MDG will host a Designer Bag Bingo at MDG Church Hall, located at 2918 E. Thompson St. Tickets are $30 each. There will be more than 10 chances to win! Doors open at 6PM and games will begin at 7PM.For more information and/or to purchase tickets please con-tact Chris Yancer at 267-688-9470, Frank Valentino at 267-408-4926 or Joe/Claire Briscella at 215-680-1870.

Page 13The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

CHILDREN

FAITH

markets

SENIORS

sign ups

SIXERS NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUEHancock Rec has more openings for players in their SNBL league held at Moffett Elementary School. For more in-formation please contact Coach Larry @215-685-9877, or come to Moffet to register on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-6PM.

TuesdaysFISHTOWN LIBRARY EVENTSSit with a PAWS therapy dog and read them a story. Chil-dren improve their reading and communication skills in a fun, non-judgmental environment. Open to all reading levels. The event takes place on Wednesday, January 27, February 10 and 24 at 4PM.For more information call the Library at 215-685-9990.

WednesdayPRESCHOOL STORYTIME AT RICHMOND LIBRARYThis program is intended for children ages 1-4 and their caregiver. Siblings are always welcome. Daycares should call for separate appointments. Richmond Branch of the Free Library, 2987 Almond Street.For further information call 215-685-9992. CHILDREN’S THEATER ARTS Come grow, play and explore with the Portside Arts Center. Students will use their imaginations and learn acting skills like speech, movement, improvisation and character de-velopment through the use of theatre games, exercises and preparation for performance. Children will showcase their skills in a shared performance that will be presented at the end of the term. The class will be taught by Portside’s ce-lebrity acting instructor Angela Goethals, an accomplished film, television and stage actress who has appeared in films such as Home Alone and Jerry Maguire.For information and to register visit portsideartscenter.org.

DANCE PROGRAMMs. Jaclyn Scarborough will host hourly classes that take place on Tuesday evenings at 5:30PM for ages 3 and up. Also forming classes for 8 and older in jazz/Hip Hop from 7:30-8:30PM. Fee is $25 a month, with a $20 non-refund-able registration fee also required at sign up.

CIONE SIGNUPSChess Club – For beginner to advanced players of all ages. Meetings take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-8PM.Arts and Crafts for Kids – Meetings for 5-12 years old. Arts and crafts have no cost and takes place every Saturday from 12-1PM.Zumba – Adult classes are on Fridays from 7:30-8:30PM, and the cost is $5 per class.Tumbling – Class for ages 3 and up. Classes held on Mondays.Hip Hop Class – For ages 7 and up. Classes will be held on Mondays from 7-8PM.Both Tumbling and Hip Hop classes have a $20 Registra-tion Fee Non-Refundable and costs $25 per month. Summer Day Camp – We will be holding registration for kids 5-12 years old starting on March 1. There will be a $100 non-refundable registration fee. More information will follow in the next few weeks.

For more information call 215-685-9880.

LEPRECHAUNS COACHESThe Leprechauns are in need of coaches for this upcoming baseball, softball, teeball season. The Leprechauns have been providing sports including football, cheerleading, basketball, baseball, softball, teeball, & recently soccer to the children of Port Richmond and surrounding neighbor-hoods. They have learned sportsmanship, teamwork, and they have a passion for playing for over 50 years. We do not want to let the children down this year, but unfortunately if we don’t get the help we need will not be able to have these sports. We are doing everything we can, but we need your help. If you have the enthusiasm, and drive to help the chil-dren in the neighborhood please contact us immediately. The Leprechaun’s club house is located 2973 Gaul St. Please call us at 215-423-6309 emails us at leprechaunssports@yahoo.com or find the Leprechauns Sports Association on Facebook.

Wednesday, March 9SEPTA SENIOR PHOTO ID EVENTSEPTA is changing to a new fare system. It’s time to get a free SEPTA Key Senior ID card so you don’t have to use your driver’s license or other ID. A SEPTA representative will be at Taylor’s Port Richmond office to sign up seniors and issue them a new photo ID. The event will take place at Representative John Taylor’s office at 2901 E. Thomp-son St. from 9AM-3PM.For more information and to register, contact Taylor’s district office at 215-425-0901.

SundaysSUNDAY BINGOSt. Anne Church will host bingo on Sundays in the Social Hall, Memphis and Tucker streets. Doors open at 4PM; bingo starts at 6PM. Cost is $10. Call 215-739-4590 for more details.

LUTHERAN SETTLEMENT HOME EVENTSLutheran Settlement House Senior Center, 1340 Frank-ford Ave. Computer Classes: Level 1: Tuesdays from 9-10AM and Thursdays from 12-2PM. Level 2 Classes take place on Mondays from 1-3PM and Thursdays 2-4PM. Dancercise with Rita, Mondays at 9AM and Tai Chi with Milt on Wednesdays at 12:30PM.For further information call 215-426-8610.

FridaysART WORKSHOP FOR SENIORSSt. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St., is of-fering an art workshop for people age 50 and older. “Clay Creations” will meet weekly on Fridays, from 12:30-2 PM Participants will learn about the art of hand building to create pots and other clay forms. Those interested should register in advance.For more details call 215-426-9799.

SENIOR EXERCISE CLASSESExercise classes for people 50 and older will be offered at St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St. Class schedule will be Enhance Fitness on Mondays and Thurs-days at 9:30 AM, Chair Yoga on Tuesdays at 9:30AM, Tai Chi on Wednesdays at 10AM, and Line Dancing on the first and third Friday of every month. For more information call 215-426-9799.

Wednesday, February 10ASH WEDNESDAYAsh Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lent season – a journey of 40 days (not including Sundays) prior to Easter. Whether you are a seasoned Christian or simply beginning to explore the Christian faith, you are welcome to join Liberti Church East for our 7:30PM service at 2424 E. York Street. Read more at libertichurcheast.org.

Wednesdays FIRST PRESBYTERIAN BIBLE STUDY GROUPA Bible study group meets at First Presbyterian Church, 418 E. Girard Ave at 7PM . Come and bring a friend for in-formative, exciting and lively open discussions. As always, everyone is welcome.

ThursdaysST. ANNE WEEKLY NOVENASt. Anne weekly Novena Thursday evening service, 7:30PM Church of Saint Anne, Memphis St. and Lehigh Ave.

NOLIBS REC WINTER PROGRAMSThe Northern Liberties Recreation Center at 321 Fair-mount Ave will host many programs for those of all ages, including boxing, ceramics, chess, hoop dancing, improv comedy, karate, playwriting and more. For information and prices, visit nolibsrec.org.

BRIDESBURG REC CENTER Zumba – Classes are Mondays and Thursdays from 7-8PM, and the cost is $4.Scrapbooking – Scrapbooking group meets on Wednes-day evenings from 6:30-9:30PM. The cost is $5 per class and everything will be supplied except a book and photos. For more information call Miss Jackie at 215-685-1247.

PORTSIDE ARTS CLASSESDrop-in Weekly Arts Classes for Kids – Arts and Crafts and Girl Power Arts – Learn about famous artists, practice art in a variety of mediums, and complete fun projects all your own!Teen Art Studio – Learn exciting new art forms and brush up on fundamental skills in this teen class. Great for stu-dents entering high school or college, especially those preparing for a portfolio review. Adult Visual Arts Classes at Portside Arts Center – Get creative! Learn how to use oil paint, glass, found objects, and recycled materials to create one-of-a-kind fine art. All materials are provided!Give the Gift of the Arts – Portside Arts Center offers gift certificates for all of our art, theater, and music classes. For information on these classes and more, visit portside-artscenter.org.

Saturday, February 13MOVING SALEThe 2733 Buckius St in Bridesburg will host a moving sale from 9AM-2PM. For questions call 267-738-5414.

Saturday, February 27WINTER WARMERSThe Philly Homebrew Club presents it annual chili cookoff and homebrew festival. It will take place at the Skybox Event Center at 2424 E York St. from 4-7PM. For more information visit phillyHBC.org.

Monday, February 29IMPROV UNDER THE EL: BENEFIT FOR TJ REILLY AND MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATIONIt’s that time again - your bi-monthly dose of comedy up north. This month is a very special show. We’re raising money to benefit both the family of TJ Reilly, a 12 year old boy who recently lost the fight with an extremely rare form of brain cancer called Gliomatosis Cerebri and Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, N Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. The show is $5 at the door (or more if you want to donate more to the cause). Doors open at 7:30PM and the show runs from 8-10PM The event is BYOB and no one will be admitted after 8:45PM.

Sunday, March 6VALLEY FORGE CASINO TRIPThe Ladies of Port Richmond are hosting a bus trip to the Valley Forge Casino. The proceeds will go towards breast cancer research. The cost is $35, but you will receive $25 in slot plays. All money is due in advance. The bus will depart from Campbell Square at 11:30AM. For more information call Marylou at 215-427-3222 or Marie at 215-423-3414.

TuesdaysPRAYER MINISTRY First Emmanuel Prayer Partners Church, 711 W. Girard Ave. Prayer Ministry is looking for Prayer Partners. Every-one is Welcome to come pray with us.For further information call 215-456-9974.

MISSING: Tabby Cat, answers to “Stretchy” - last seen at Tulip & Hagert on Tuesday Jan. 26. Small, friendly and knows the neighborhood well. Most likely someone picked her up thinking she is a stray. She’s not. We miss her very much. If you see her or have her please call us at 267-664-5173. ·

missingcat

Page 14 The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – February 3, 2016