DEAR READERS:
Letters to the editor must be accompanied by your daytime and evening phone numbers for verification purposes. Letters without phone numbers cannot be considered for publication.
A question for The Answer
I read the article in the Northeast Times (July 10 edition) regarding Kevin Johnson, and I think it is a disgrace that Allen Iverson has not PERSONALLY gone to the hospital himself and visited this boy.
The reason why I feel so strongly about this is because this young man held down a job on his own, paid for the jersey himself, and his legend/hero/person he looked up to was Iverson himself.
Kevin Johnson did not know that wearing an Allen Iverson jersey would put his life on the line, and he wound up on life support because of it.
You would think that Allen Iverson would care enough about people that he would have enough passion for this young man and go visit him.
This young man needs to see Allen Iverson in person so that will give him enough courage and strength so he can overcome his paralysis.
When somebody is in your court and believes in you, then at least that gives you a chance to overcome the obstacles and fight even harder.
So it is safe to believe that Allen Iverson does not give a damn about people or kids. The only thing he cares about is himself and the money. He has no passion for life.
I have called the 76ers public relations department and got nowhere with them, because all they tell me is that they went with the coach to visit the boy and gave him some jerseys and they will bring him to a game.
Big deal!
That is not what this young man needs. He needs to know that Allen Iverson is in his corner.
After all, he got shot because of him. That is the least he could do.
Marsha Glick
Wissinoming
Lifeguards drop the ball
There are a few things that upset my wife and I would like to share one of them with you.
Swimming is supposed to be a fun and relaxing pastime. But at the Vogt Recreation Center, there is much to worry about. It seems that each time we go there to swim my wife and I seem to be playing lifeguard.
I was raised in a swimming family in Bridesburg and I went through the swimming lessons and took the lifeguard course. Some of my brothers and sisters became lifeguards. We were taught that the lifeguard was in charge of the pool. The lifeguard watches the swimmers, guards them from danger and saves lives.
Never once have I seen such a loose ship as the one I see at the Vogt Recreation Center pool. The guards sit there like they’re on the beach relaxing. So many times we see them sitting next to each other, having conversations and not even watching the pool. There are at least 100 swimmers or more cooling down from the heat while the lifeguards ignore them.
Is this the way it’s supposed to be? Are the lifeguards there to have fun or are they there to protect and serve? Are there any other parents out there who see this same behavior happening? How about at the other city pools — is it happening there, too?
Over the past few years there have been multiple drownings in our city pools. This is alarming, to say the least. When are the lifeguards going to take responsibility and do their job?
Mike Sharkey
Tacony
Message for the trashmen
To the department of trash collection:
We at the Far Northeast Senior Citizens Center, Southampton and Townsend roads, try our best to adhere to the city’s laws, rules and regulations. The city’s trash collections for recyclables are not performing to the same standard. We had recyclables sit on our sidewalk for six weeks. After many telephone calls, we were successful in having them picked up. The same condition is happening again.
With the weather turning hot and humid, we are creating a health condition by having trash sit around. The city is very faithful in picking up trash every Monday, and we are thankful.
Consider this letter as another attempt by us to abide with Philadelphia’s trash collection system. We do not have the space at our center to store numerous cans of recyclables to be collected every six, seven or eight weeks. We sincerely hope someone in your department will take the time to correct this situation. If someone could help us, I’m sure our 780 members would greatly appreciate it.
Ken Chalmers
President, Far Northeast Senior Citizens
Thank you for saving Tyler
Dear 15th Police District Captain Everitt:
We would like to express our family’s gratitude to Police Officer Vincent Maroney for his actions taken to save our son’s life.
On the evening of July 5, off-duty Officer Maroney and his family were attending a barbecue party at our home, when we found our 4-year-old son on the bottom of our swimming pool. Officer Maroney remained very calm and composed as he helped rescue Tyler from the pool. As soon as Ty was on the ground, Officer Maroney and Joan Neri, RN, started CPR. Miss Neri was breathing for Tyler, and Officer Maroney performed chest compressions to revive Ty.
Rescue arrived just after Tyler was revived and calling for his mother. Thanks to their quick response and training, our son Tyler is home with us, enjoying the world as a happy and healthy 4-year-old.
Our deepest and most sincere thanks go to Officer Maroney and Joan Neri for their quick action and to the City of Philadelphia’s Police Department for the training to its officers for just such an emergency.
The Ackerman Family
Burholme
The life of Brian
In response to reporter William Kenny’s article on Brian the homeless man (July 10 edition):
While I sympathize with the plight of the homeless, Brian could better serve his interests if he would quit smoking and properly dispose of the trash he leaves behind each day!
Raymond Pascali
Somerton
A vote for a U.S. Rep. Melissa Brown . . .
As most of you know, on Thursday Dr. Melissa Brown announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Brown, a Republican from Flourtown, has run in this district before and came within single-digit percentage points of beating Joe Hoeffel.
Melissa Brown is the best candidate for the 13th Congressional District, as she has been all around both parts of the district and has been accepted by the constituency as a person who wants to work for affordable health care, lower taxes, a better quality of life in Northeast Philadelphia by REFORMING the Section 8 Housing Program and as a person who is for creating jobs, which she knows is desperately needed.
It is not usual for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Teenage Republicans to endorse a candidate for any office in the primary, but we are straying from that policy to endorse Dr. Melissa Brown for Congress.
Melissa is a woman of compassion, a woman with a great love for Philadelphia, and she is your next representative in the United States Congress. Please join me in helping Melissa take her “Cause of the People” to Washington!
David M. Kralle
Modena Park resident and chairman, Southeastern Pennsylvania Teenage Republicans
. . . And a vote for a Councilman Jack Kelly
In his letter to the editor in last week’s Northeast Times, Ron Shulski missed the point of my June 26 letter, which was that it’s lowball politics to send anonymous letters to anybody at any time, and whoever uses that strategy is very short on integrity and ethics.
The point of Mr. Shulski’s letter is that Jack Kelly lost a close election to Dan McElhatton in 1991 that had Ed Rendell at the top of the Democratic ticket with the Republicans struggling to find a replacement for the late Mayor Rizzo.
Jack Kelly supported initiatives to help Summerdale, Oxford Circle, Lawndale, Crescentville, Burholme, etc., that included projects to upgrade business districts on Rising Sun Avenue, the upgrading of recreational facilities at Lawncrest and Jardel, opposing Section 8 housing when it was unpopular to do so at the risk of lawsuits from activists, and he has continued his interest in our communities with his membership and support of the Jardel Advisory and Burholme Civic Association and Town Watch.
Council has not had a Northeast Philadelphia resident in an at-large seat for almost 30 years. Jack Kelly’s candidacy provides us with a tremendous opportunity to have our community voices heard in city government.
You can’t squander this opportunity. I would love to see the voting records and community involvement of the candidate that Mr. Shulski supports. Looking forward to a great campaign.
Michael E. Hartey
Burholme
Readers have still more to say on CLIP
In response to Susan Clydesdale’s CLIP bashing letter (July 10 edition):
Ms. Clydesdale, are you aware that included in your list of eight “bigger problems” are five that CLIP has been implemented to deal with?
The Community Life Improvement Program has been designed to make people take responsibility for their pets, curbing their dog, taking care of their property, cleaning up litter and graffiti, and violations of public noise ordinances, loud music and noisy scooters.
Maybe you should be angry at the Street administration for not taking the program citywide. However, don’t bash a program you are misinformed about.
Jennifer Fioravanti
Mayfair
• • •
Thank you, Susan Clydesdale, you are right about CLIP. It is not fair to target one group and let the rest get away with not obeying the law.
If CLIP is to be taken seriously, it must be in all the city, not just the white ones. All the people of Philadelphia must be included in the CLIP program — if not, then do away with it.
Also, to letter writer Kate Gallagher: I pay taxes, too, but I would like to keep my money so I can take better care of my home so CLIP will not fine me.
If CLIP is to work, it must work in the whole city. By the way, Kate, for your information, the Northeast is the biggest source of tax revenue for the city, so stop giving your money up without getting something for it.
And stop thinking that the city cares. If it cared it would stop wasting all the tax money on dumb programs and let the people keep the money they worked so hard for.
That way they will have the money to take care of their homes. Also, tell the mayor that if he does not stop wasting the city money, the only thing he will leave the city to remember him by, is the debt that he gave us.
Bruce Wiley
Fox Chase
• • •
A letter about the CLIP program under 300 words? It’s simple: The CLIP program is for lazy homeowners that don’t take care of their homes. Keep up the good work.
Joe Gilmore
Mayfair
• • •
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “trespassing” as “to go on another’s land or property without permission or right.”
If anybody feels that their property or rights have been violated by the notorious Streets Department “trash police,” they should immediately contact a lawyer.
Only when the city is faced with numerous lawsuits will it consider looking into the mismanagement and ill-trained personnel of the CLIP system.
Ron Zabielski
Mayfair
• • •
Cheers for the letter from Liza Jacobs (Stay off my property, June 19 edition).
CLIP workers, in their apparent effort to police and annoy homeowners, are stepping over the boundary and moral lines by attempting to dictate what homeowners can and cannot do in and on their own properties.
As long as homeowners keep neat, well-tended homes free from debris, along with clipped lawns, flowers and shrubbery, who cares if they have trash cans on their patio, cookout stoves and pools and/or child swings, decorations, religious or secular items about their property, front or back, American eagle or rainbow flags hanging?
This is truly America and the freedom to express oneself in our own home and property is guaranteed to all of us by our own Constitution.
We are not a totalitarian country, socialist or otherwise, and we are free to express ourselves and our individual views are always guaranteed by the Constitution.
CLIP organization, mind your own business. Clip your wings and fly away, harmlessly!
Carl P. Fasciocco
Mayfair
• • •
This city is so screwed up, creating more and more departments and handing out fines for stupid stuff.
I’m talking about the CLIP program. These people have nothing better to do than interfere with life where they know they can put liens on property or other ways to get the Northeast to pay.
Do they fine in North Philly? Lots of luck if you think they do. A great way to help kids of all ages is to repair things that we already have; for example, the fish hatcheries on Linden Avenue. The ponds are a disgrace. I don’t even know if there is any possibility to catch fish the way we — who are over 30 — remember. All I hear is it’s not in the budget. We all pay taxes that are too high.
Kids enjoy fishing, so let’s get the right department involved and just fix it. Do it right, do it for our kids.
Tom Walsh
Mayfair
Bank can count on her discontent
On a recent Saturday, I stopped into the newest bank on Frankford Avenue, you know, the one that says that it is “America’s most convenient bank” but certainly not the “most customer friendly” from my experience. I had been actually thinking of seeing how they were and possibly opening an account in the near future.
I asked to have $5 in quarters but was told by the teller that I could only “buy” $10 in quarters. I only had a $5 bill on me and needed the quarters for the parking meter where I was going in Germantown. I even asked the teller for only $3 in quarters because I saw quarters in a tray next to his elbow. He then asked if I had an account there.
Since when has it become necessary to have an account at a bank in order to get change there? I usually bank at a credit union farther up in the Northeast, but I did not have the time to go there when I realized I didn’t have any change. Where does one have to go in order to exchange coins for paper money? Into a store, which then needs to get more coins from the bank?
So, I went down the street to a bank that now doesn’t even have a sign outside because they are changing their name to one that has to have the pronunciation under it. The teller there happily obliged my request for $5 in quarters without asking if I had an account.
Commerce Bank, you lost a potential customer for your inability to be customer-oriented, and I don’t care how convenient you state you are, because you weren’t for me!!
Sharon Williams
Mayfair
Pickets disturb the peace
I’m writing in regard to the article dealing with Santucci’s Square Pizza and the unions (July 3 edition).
Why should someone pay more money to do work around a store that they bought if they can do it themselves cheaper? I also think it’s ridiculous that they are picketing and handing out fliers. For one thing, they are disturbing the neighborhood with their loudspeaker that screams out “This is a message to the public. Keep our neighborhood clean of rats.”
It makes it sound like Santucci’s has rats and that’s why they shouldn’t eat there. I recently heard the people across on Knights Road complaining about them.
Michele Jones
Far Northeast
• • •
Mr. Coughlin, the business agent for the carpenters union, said his tactics are an exercise of his rights. Well, Mr. Santucci has rights, too, and he can hire whomever he wants. This is America.
I just want to let Mr. Santucci know that he is doing a great job and that I’m still going to be a dedicated customer at his store. By the way, I was going to build a bird house. Maybe Mr. Coughlin can gather up some men and help me!
Ron Delgado
Mayfair
There’s no family time for pools
My concern is the public pools. We as taxpayers pay a substantial amount of city and state taxes that contribute to the recreation centers. Why, then, are our pools only open for families for two hours on the weekends?
There are a lot of families that aren’t able to take their children to amusement parks or to the shore. Local pools are all some of these families have. Why would the mayor close so many down, and the ones that are left open, are only open for two hours on the weekends?
Julia Wilkes
Torresdale
Noisy cars on Rowland Avenue
I live in a corner house on Rowland Avenue across from Lincoln High School. All day and all night, cars with boom box radios and loud mufflers go up and down all the time.
The police do nothing about this. I called it in many times but nothing ever happens. I see the cops just sitting in the parking lot of the school. The noise shakes my house; the mortar from my bricks falls out every time they race by.
James Kern
Mayfair
Timberwalk: Dennis, don’t be a menace
In March of 2003 the Timberwalk Association was made aware of the reactivation of the Woodhaven Extension Project. Since that time there has been what we found to be an abundance of PennDOT misinformation, press articles and commentaries that don’t reflect the fundamental concerns or positions of our neighborhood association with respect to this project.
In fact, the public portrayal of this issue has been characterized more by neighborhood political infighting and urb vs. burbs diatribes that only contribute to greater confusion and divisiveness.
At that time we believed — and still believe — that it is important for our legislative representatives to understand clearly our concerns on this volatile issue.
The Timberwalk Association was established two years ago to represent the interests of the Timberwalk community. In that time we have addressed a variety of quality-of-life issues related to such things as noise pollution, the scope of city services and a host of other concerns.
By virtue of the 2001 reapportionment process, Timberwalk’s elected representatives now include U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel and state Rep. Dennis O’Brien.
In March 2003 we were approached by Jim O’Neill, a neighboring friend from the Tri County Coalition who wanted to inform our membership of the Woodhaven Project plans.
Mr. O’Neill attended our March 12 meeting and virtually stunned the membership. After all, this was the first time we heard that the Woodhaven Project was moving forward. But worse, Mr. O’Neill showed us the PennDOT plans that included Northeast Boulevard as an artery connected to the Woodhaven Expressway.
And while our elected officials did not initiate nor address the issue at first, most of them eventually did get involved and are attempting to address the concerns specific to the Northeast Boulevard residents.
Many of them have met with us (despite their opinions or positions on the issue.) But there is one exception: Rep. Dennis O’Brien. When it comes to our community, Mr. O’Brien is missing in action. We understand that he is in favor of the extension of the Woodhaven project, so we have made attempts to obtain a meeting with him to discuss our specific concerns — unfortunately to no avail. Perhaps Mr. O’Brien resents our community because we are new to his district.
Well, Timberwalk is, and will be for at least the next 10 years, Mr. O’Brien’s new constituents, so it is time for him to represent the 158 households of Timberwalk and meet with the people who helped put him into office.
Raymond Alvarez
President, Timberwalk Association
Calling all WWII heroes
We are developing a television program series highlighting the romantic relationships between WWII military personnel and their loved ones back at home. While numerous films and documentaries have captured heroes, battles, and the brutality of war, few, if any, have focused on the relationships that suffered, endured, even thrived after wartime years of aloneness, hardship and hoping against the unknown.
We are currently collecting stories of the “everyday” heroes during WWII —the many men and women who kept their love and commitment intact despite the hardships of war. We want to share reminiscences that teach us how they coped. How did their love and commitment survive? How did they keep hope alive? Where did they find their strength? How, in the midst of war, did new love begin and old love sustain?
Our goal is to give a platform for these wartime heroes — both the veterans AND their families — so that we may benefit from the wisdom of those who lived, loved, and hoped during the years of World War II. We believe their stories would call this generation to a higher standard in its commitments, character and relationships.
We know this generation of veterans and their spouses are passing from us, and we have missed opportunities to talk to some of them directly. Hopefully, however, those who have gone will have stories still alive in their children.
If your readers would be interested in our project — if they have a love story to tell, if they desire to share the lessons they learned during an amazing time in our country’s history, or if they know someone who does — we would appreciate hearing from them via e-mail or U.S. mail. Thank you.
• Email:
mindi@heroproductions.com
• U.S. Mail:
The Reunion Project
c/o Hero Productions
PMB 286
3807-GH South Peoria
Tulsa, OK 74105
Mindi Mathews
Producer, Hero Productions
Praise for the SPIN teachers
I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to SPIN’s autistic support class teachers Michele Turner, Sandi Gilreath and Donna Meehan.
I am so grateful for all of your support, hard work, tireless hours and most of all the patience all of you put into helping not only my son, but all of the children in that class.
You have proven what a great team you are and how working together as a team has certainly benefited all of the children in the class. I know how much my son has been helped and many family and friends recognize the improvement in him. We owe the three of you a debt of gratitude that no price tag could ever be enough.
In the year and a half that he has been in your class, I have watched him grow into the SPIN family. I will always treasure the time you had together.
Now it is time for my son to move on. I wish there were a way I could take all of you with him, because I know he has grown to love all of you and will miss you very much. If his new teachers are half as good as the three of you, then I know my son will be very lucky.
We will miss all of you.
Holly and Billy Derricks
Morrell Park
She didn’t have a ball at graduation
I attended the graduation ceremonies at Northeast High School on June 17. I was appalled at what I saw and heard. The kids were being kids, and they were being wonderful. The keynote speaker spoke about being in trouble when he attended school there so many years before.
This was all well and good. The kids did the same thing I have witnessed at other graduations there over the years: They blew up beach balls and tried to have one last bit of fun. Many balls were blown up but because of the wind they did not stay up long and were taken off the field.
One young man was singled out. He was thrown out of the graduation. The staff made themselves look like fools. The young man was asked to leave the stadium.
The parents and guests let the staff know they did not like it. They chanted “let him stay,” they booed, and the young man returned to his seat — not because he was told he could, but because the teacher who was escorting him out called him a name for his childlike behavior. Teacher, that was not the act of a mature adult role model. He then called for backup and had everybody leave the podium.
You guys sure look tough! I just thank God that was not a real emergency. What a joke.
Then, to make this even more ridiculous, the vice principal told this young man he will not be given his diploma, and that they will not release his school records. The school will not allow him to use them as a reference for any further education or employment opportunities. Hello, it was a beach ball, one of many.
Sharon Rosenblatt
Oxford Circle
Please don’t feed the birdies
PLEASE stop feeding the pigeons on Leon Street. What is meant to be a humane act for the birds is becoming an unsanitary breach of my family’s health. Pigeons are filthy animals that I equate with rodents.
The birds have been roosting and subsequently “dropping” quite a mess on my windowsills and deck. My deck furniture and children’s toys have become a purple and white spectacle. We wake up in the morning to the birds clattering on our air conditioner.
What you are doing is feeding the rodents and nuisance animals of the neighborhood, and it is time it stopped. I wish I would catch you one of these days and give you a real piece of my mind. Better I would invite you to inspect some of the properties that have reaped the rewards of your kindness.
Maybe you could just drop the 40 gallon bag of garbage in your own back yard for the birds to eat and see how your neighbors appreciate your act of kindness.
It’s time it stopped. Can the CLIP organization or the Mayfair CDC help this matter any?
Mary McCann
Mayfair