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Farrell smokers
have her fired up
With all the smoking bans, you would think teachers would think twice about lighting up in front of children.
I mean, for God’s sake, you are their role models and are supposed to set a good example for them.
On mornings, I walk my grandchildren to school. I see one of the same three men smoking either in the front entrance of the school or on the side.
I have to detour to avoid walking my grandchildren through a cloud of secondhand smoke while entering school.
When the children see them and say hi to them, I have to give them an explanation on how bad it is to smoke, and tell them that those faculty members are very unhealthy and shouldn’t be smoking in front of them because it can get them sick.
If these faculty are that in need of a cancer stick, they should at least wait until all the kids are in school, or go to their car and do it in there. I even see one of them that patrols the yard smoking after school in the school yard with them. If I’m not mistaken, smoking in the school yard can warrant a fine!
All of you should be good role models and stop teaching children bad habits, and go to work instead of smoking.
Our young minds shouldn’t be influenced by your bad habits and affected by your secondhand smoke.
Clara Miles
Bell’s Corner
Thief can’t still
community’s helping hands
On Jan. 24, three people perished in a horrible fire, including a 4-year-old little boy, at 2052 Anchor St. I would like to take a minute to let you know how I came to know my neighbors:
Prior to Jan. 24, I always walked my German shepherd past their house on her morning/evening walks, and the little boy would always want to pet "Lady Dog."
She was 96 pounds and he was 35 pounds, but he was afraid of her because she was so big. As the days passed and I continued to walk Lady past his house, he would always stop and talk to her, as I would to him. Eventually he relaxed enough to come down the steps and pet my dog.
That was all it took; every time he would see us coming up the street it was like Christmas time — his eyes would light up and Lady Dog would get excited as she got to know the little boy also and looked forward to her pets every day.
My neighbors were very nice people so we decided to help. My neighbor Kelly and myself took up a collection to help the victims’ families. We collected $520. So I decided to distribute six collection jars at locations including Valentino’s Pizza Shop at Anchor Street and Torresdale Avenue; Juliano’s Deli at Cheltenham and Torresdale avenues; Wawa at Harbison Avenue and Comly Street; and Dunkin Donuts and Harbison Beverage.
People were so generous and so willing to help, it was wonderful to see the neighborhood come together in a time of need. However, there was one problem. Some person or persons stole one of the donation jars from Harbison Beverage. There was between $50 and $200 in the jar.
I just want the person or persons to know that they did a horrible act and they will not get away with this. You cannot get anywhere in life when you steal.
Upon hearing of this atrocity, the neighborhood again came together and we managed to collect another $265 for a grand total of $785.
I wanted to say a special thanks to everyone who helped in this family’s time of need. It is so very much appreciated and it is nice to see that our neighborhood will come together and help each other in times of trouble.
P.S. The two families of the victims were completely overwhelmed and so grateful for everyone’s generosity.
John Gadziala
Wissinoming
A memorial for one,
memorials for all?
Imagine this: In 10 years there will be memorials on every pole, tree, guardrail and fire hydrant, every spot where someone died a horrible death. Or maybe just an ordinary death like heart attack or choking on a hamburger on the street corner on the way home from work, every spot someone happened to croak on.
Could be your lawn. Could be in front of your child’s school. Could be next to the picnic bench, fountain or pond near you. Someone could make one in your living room. What if someone happened to crash their car through your window and the family wants to put some stuffed animals, poster boards and plastic flowers on your couch for a few years? Where does it end? Does everyone get to be "memorialized?" Everyone? What has everyone done to deserve that?
How will we tell the great people like the ones who discover cures for cancer, win battles in war, or just sacrificed their lives for someone, like our cops and firemen, from the rest of the memorials?
It reminds me of the line from the movie The Incredibles. It is said three or four times in the movie: "When everyone is special, then no one is."
We don’t need plaques on every spot that someone died on. Because if one person gets one, we all want one.
Mariellen Anderson
Wissinoming
Holy Redeemer’s fine,
except for the $52 question
In response to Kim Wilson’s letter to the editor in last week’s Northeast Times (She’s just wild about Holy Redeemer), I also would like to commend the staff at Holy Redeemer Maternity, with one caveat.
We just had our first child there and the staff and technology were absolutely tremendous. But later we received a statement totaling $54,000, all of which was paid for by insurance, except for some kind of charge for the TV and phone for $52.
I got to thinking, how can a $3,852-a-day room not include a TV and phone? I can go to a rinky-dink hotel on the Boulevard for $40 a night, and it includes a TV and phone.
Holy Redeemer claims that these are extra charges they have to incur. Well, so is the electricity we use when we walk into the room. So is the toilet paper we use. So is the trash collection when a private Dumpster company comes to collect.
Are they going to mount a counter next to the toilet paper roll? It should just be part of doing business. And if they didn’t have such administration set up to collect this money, it would cost them even less.
Fifty-two dollars out of a bill of $54,000 is the equivalent of going to the store to buy something for $100 and you’re 9 cents short.
Do you think the store would even care about the 9 cents? It’s just a way to squeeze money from unsuspecting patients.
And then this TV they wanted me to pay for had an in-house religious channel that had a show on with a discussion panel about how IVF (in-vitro fertilization) is immoral. They just insulted a good percentage of their patients (mothers and babies).
Other than that, if we had to do it again, Holy Redeemer would be our first choice…if they let us in for the past due amount of $52.
Brad Zacharia
Bustleton
Library saga needs
a happy ending
It really ticks me off that the PFT is going to get away with what they have done to 900 children at Edwin Forrest School. Due to their greed, our kids no longer will have a library. I know that myself and many other parents are outraged by this.
If a job was posted and someone applied for it, didn’t it go through the proper channels to get there? So because someone at the district messed up, our kids will now suffer, because that’s what’s going to happen. Some children depend on the library to do reports and just to read because they don’t have books at home.
Now that all the hard work is done, the PFT wants to have a hand in the library. I say, ha! That’s just not right to the people who worked hard to see the library open for this year.
Our school supported it, so why is their union against it? I hope and pray that the three library technical assistants are reinstated to their positions. If not, someone should be held accountable!
Sharon Weiseman
Mayfair
• • •
As a parent, I have put a total of four children through school; the last two happen to be students at Forrest. Can you guess how many times I have walked through a library door? Why all of a sudden is it a problem for Lorraine Rosenberg, the library technical assistant, to hold the position she does when all the steps needed to be taken were met?
As a parent, I feel that the union should have nothing to do with this. This is our business and should stay that way. We have fought long and hard for this library, and it should be a proud time for us, not one needed to be negotiated over. We didn’t use any school district money, and Lorraine’s pay does not come out of people’s taxes. Leave us alone and let our children learn.
Kathy Wisniewski
Mayfair
Catholic school kids
need lockers
On March 6, the 4 p.m. news made a big deal about adult women carrying heavy handbags. The bags weigh somewhere between 10 and 15 pounds. You would think an adult would have enough sense to lighten that load by taking some unnecessary articles out of the bag.
They say that there is the risk of shoulder and neck injury. Letter carriers carry a bag full of mail on their shoulders up and down steps all day to deliver mail. These bags could weigh up to 40 pounds. My grandson and all his classmates carry a school bag to and from school every day that weighs about 25 pounds.
The reason for this, I think, is, parochial schools are too cheap to provide lockers for the children, so the kids have to carry all their books home and back even if they don’t need them for homework. My point here is: Adult females can lighten their load, letter carriers and Catholic school children can’t.
Isn’t it time that something be done to ease their suffering? The children are still developing, and those heavy school bags may cause neck and back problems later in life. Give them lockers before these injuries occur.
A. Antonelli
Morrell Park
Windows offer a glimpse
at a Band-Aid for schools
After perusing the Northeast Times, I was truly amazed by the goals our city leaders have chosen to pursue in order to ensure the health of Philadelphia residents; while, completely overlooking a more glaring concern affecting our public school students and teachers.
It’s baffling to see how funds have been allocated to enact and police the new smoking ban in our fine city and, now, our city resources are being utilized to help Philadelphia become the first city to ban trans fats. Meanwhile, our public school system does not have the money to fix the broken windows in our neighborhood schools; many of which have injured both students and teachers alike. Instead, they have proposed to nail all, but two or three windows closed in each classroom, which, by the way, are not air-conditioned.
Every education course I have ever taken has emphasized that learning cannot occur without students’ physiological needs first being met. I believe that air is probably included within these needs. Have you ever been in classrooms during the warmer months of the year? It’s often stifling even with all of the windows open. Can you imagine the temperature without those open windows? How effective can these learning and working environments be for Philadelphia students and teachers?
Does the school district ever intend to fix the windows or will they remain nailed shut forever in the name of "safety"?
How predictable that we once again choose to place a Band-Aid upon a gaping wound rather than actually exploring ways to truly solve a problem.
Julie Tangradi
Sandyford Park
Secondhand smoke . . .
trans fats . . . what’s next?
To all businesses that are being affected by the mayor’s new laws (smoking policy, and trans fat cut), new laws will be presented in the future that hurt our businesses if you do nothing about it. We have to write letters and call our Council members and elected officials every day, and tell them we need their help. Have your customers and patrons do the same.
Another thing we can do is, buy our supplies out of the city, or relocate out of the city. Where is our compensation for the business we are losing? Our taxes don’t decrease, just our profit. And for the tavern owners, you all need to organize. We are losing so many battles. We have a better chance in numbers. Join the Licensed Beverage Association.
More laws will come about that will hurt your business. Don’t wait ’til it’s too late. And to you, Mayor John Street, and former Councilman Michael Nutter (who introduced the smoking ban), if your main goal for this law is to protect the rights and health for all employees, why are cigar shops and private clubs exempt?
Does the health of employees matter less in cigar shops and private clubs than those in a corner bar? I’d bet, if one of John Street’s or Michael Nutter’s brothers owned a tavern, this law would have never been passed.
Michael Capobianco
Tacony
Unite, don’t divide
State Rep. Mike McGeehan feels the need to question the ethics of Al Taubenberger and his position on the PPA board, and at the same time admits to being a "partisan Democrat." (Ashdale says Taubenberger stays, March 1 edition).
In a weak attempt, you try to convey that the Republican party and the PPA are the only partisan/patronage havens in the city. How about putting the partisanship aside for a change and dealing with the concerns of the district instead of creating the usual division?
I’ve yet to see the partisanship, patronage and waste addressed concerning MARC or any questioning of the contracts awarded to your friends to paint bridges, etc., or with the people connected to any of your other "partisan" pet projects.
Any particular reason there’s a need for two employees to water flowers? Any response to the obvious political activity being done on your behalf by so-called prohibited employees every election?
Maybe it’s time to get the massive ego in check if you want everyone else to play along with the rules and you do the same. I thought this possibly happened when you realized the crushing defeat you would have suffered if you decided to enter the primary for the 6th Councilmanic District, but apparently not. Let’s stop the usual grandstanding and put the effort to the real concerns of the district for a change. Or is it that you’re just not as partisan to this side of the Delaware River anymore?
Tom McDevitt
Holmesburg
Which Perzel did it?
Did the Northeast Times really confirm the March 1 Guest Opinion entitled Don’t lease the turnpike to foreign investors, allegedly written by the ex-state House Speaker John Perzel?
Isn’t the real John Perzel the "king of takeovers"? So why would he be against the leasing (a takeover for money) of the turnpike? Could it be that he and his cronies don’t pay for their takeovers, they just change the laws?
In this alleged Perzel letter he speaks as to a governor raiding a fund. Isn’t that what he and his cronies did to the state treasury with that middle-of-the-night enormous pay raise in 2005?
Also in this alleged Perzel letter, Perzel is concerned about workers receiving cheaper wages and benefits. Isn’t that the outcome for the employees of charter schools, where most of the employees are not represented by a union like the Philadelphia School District employees are? Didn’t Perzel champion the existence of all those charter schools?
The best and most unbelievable issue is where this alleged John Perzel cares about costs to motorists. Didn’t the real Perzel put up all those cameras in the Northeast that fine red light runners $100 apiece, with the proceeds going to his political patronage haven the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)? Isn’t the PPA trying to increase the fines on tickets?
Could John Perzel’s loss of the speakership to Denny O’Brien really affect his judgment this much?
Mayer Krain
Modena Park
Crime, not cats, Jack
In regard to the Guest Opinion last week by our esteemed member of Philadelphia City Council, Jack Kelly, who took the opportunity to educate the readers on the pet population issues in Philadelphia, I began to wonder about a few things.
While the opinion is enlightening I wondered why the councilman didn’t address some real issues concerning Philadelphia. In a time where it’s unsafe to go to school for both students and teachers, and when the guns and violence rule the streets in our city, our councilman wants to speak out against pet euthanasia! I mean, come on, Mr. Kelly! Did the "feral cat vote" get you your seat on City Council?
Mr. Kelly, in a time when our city needs leaders to guide us through these problems, you decide to address this issue! The reason Philadelphia isn’t considered a world-class city is because of its elected leaders like you. These are hard times, Mr. Kelly, and Philadelphia needs answers to its problems.
I would like to quote you: "Nearly 25,000 animals will be needlessly euthanized this year." So far this year, Philadelphia has had more than 70 murders. These were senseless killings, too! You must be committed to the two-legged citizenry, Mr. Councilman! Hopefully, the next time the editors offer you this platform to communicate with its readers, please, Mr. Kelly, use it wisely. Please offer us real solutions for real issues.
Kevin M. Coughlin
Fox Chase
Let women
have abortions
A recent letter in the Northeast Times advocated the use of contraception to reduce unwanted pregnancies and curb abortion. Many reasonable people agree with this position.
However, fervent adversaries of legalized abortion believe meaningful human life, without exception, begins at the moment of conception. National organizations like the American Life League, the Pro-Life Action League, and the Priests for Life ministry denounce forms of birth control such as hormonal pills and patches, emergency contraception, and intrauterine devices based upon this belief.
These birth control methods work primarily by inhibiting ovulation (the release of an egg by the ovary) and thickening cervical mucus so that sperm cells cannot pass through and cause fertilization. Because they can occasionally prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg by changing the lining of the uterus, the methods are deemed "abortifacient" and, therefore, unacceptable.
The Pro-Life Union of Southeastern Pennsylvania, which is the local group responsible for the weekly protests outside the Northeast Women’s Center, shares the viewpoint described above. One only needs to examine the group’s Web site to confirm this information.
For example, the Pro-Life Union’s December newsletter (http://www.chooselifepa.org/newsletters.html) refers to contraception as a "great sin" and "the seed of the Culture of Death."
Clicking on the "Stats" section on the Web site’s menu will reveal the Pro-Life Union’s disappointment that the Metcalfe Amendment was not added to the Pennsylvania state budget this year. The amendment, introduced by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe of Butler County, sought to cut all state funding to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood uses these funds to provide discount contraception, medical services such as cancer screening and prenatal care, and sexual health educational programs for adolescents and adults.
Some Planned Parenthood centers do offer abortion care. Typically, patients pay for these services utilizing their own financial resources.
The state of Pennsylvania will only finance abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s life is in danger because of a pregnancy. Extensive documentation is required to receive this funding (http://www.prochoicepennsylvania.org/s08/pfurestriction.shtml).
There are no perfect methods, or perfect people. Even with advances in birth control technology, sometimes women will need abortions. They deserve the same respect and compassion other patients receive from healthcare personnel.
Judilyn Brown, RN, BSN
Mayfair
Pro-life? Pro-choice?
Hypocrite?
For all who think they’re pro-life or pro-choice, I ask this question. Which one of the Ten Commandments don’t you want to obey? Are you for or against abortion, which is killing, for or against the death penalty, which is killing, for or against war, which is killing?
If you’re for all three, you are not a pro-life person. If you are against all three you are a pro-life person. If you answered for some and against others on the list, you are neither for life nor for choice in this matter. You’re a hypocrite.
My reply to any question on this subject is which one of the Ten Commandments don’t you understand?
Ted Haskins
Modena Park
Cell phones near gas pumps
spark concerns
Guest Opinion
By Richard Weiss
Fairly recently, while filling up at the pump, I noticed a posting just beside the pump that listed several warnings. The notice cautioned to make sure cell phones were turned off before pumping gas.
As I read this, I noticed another customer chatting away on his cell phone in one hand, while holding a gas nozzle in his other. Although I thought that the chances were remote of his cell phone igniting gas fumes, I still felt a little uncomfortable. After all, why had this warning been posted, as were similar reminders at just about every other gas station? Even cell phone manufacturers have included warnings in their users’ manuals about potential dangers posed by using phones at the pump.
In today’s high tech world, could a modern cell phone pose such an imminent hazard?
I have read quite a few Internet e-mail chain letters over the past few years that reinforce my concerns. Most of these letters state that sparks from cell phones have ignited gasoline fumes near gas pumps, causing fires that severely injured those who were talking on their phones while fueling their cars. However, my low regard for information provided by Internet chain letters led me to dig for some cold facts regarding this hot issue.
The results? According to information at Web sites that debunk urban legends, including Snopes.com, Urbanlegends.com, and even information from Esdjournal.com (Electro Static Discharge Journal), the chances of a cell phone starting a fire at the gas pump are nil.
Robert Renkes, a spokesman for the Petroleum Equipment Institute, said he has documented every reported gas station fire for the last several years.
"We have not found a cell phone responsible for any fire since the beginning of mankind," he said.
Although I believed my Internet references were sound, I took my research one step further and contacted someone who I thought was reliable and knowledgeable with regard to the cell phone fire rumors.
Catherine L. Rossi, manager for public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, told me this: "According to most sources viewed, there has not been a confirmation of this ever occurring when the rumors have been investigated. The Discovery TV show Mythbusters was unable to ignite gasoline with a cell phone."
She further explained that petroleum manufacturers and cell phone companies issue warnings to cover themselves legally, even though cell phones have never actually caused a fire.
One of the most publicized rumors of a cell phone- induced fire relates to the story about a student who received minor burns at a Mobil station in New Paltz, N.Y., on May 13, 2004. Although the initial story indicated that his cell phone started the fire, the fire was later attributed to static electricity caused by the customer re-entering his car and then returning to the pump.
Although I determined that cell phones pose no problem at the pump, I verified through numerous sources (including AAA) that static electricity has actually ignited gas fumes.
Sparks attributed to static electricity — the same type that we experience when we trudge across a carpet and then touch the metal base of a lamp — have been known to discharge from gas station customers, starting fires near their vehicles. Because of this potential threat, if you must re-enter your car during refueling, make sure you touch your hand to the side of your car before approaching the gas nozzle.
Touching your car will discharge any static electricity you may have absorbed while brushing against your car seat. Information that warns about hazards due to static electricity also appears on gas station notices, and, in this case, these dangers are genuine.
Cell phones pose a much higher risk when used while driving a vehicle than while refueling one. The distraction factor inherent to cell phone usage, as well as other electronic devices, has been proved to lower a driver’s response time, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
"I could no longer continue to teach," former Philadelphia schoolteacher Susan Saltiel told me, "after a driver who was using her cell phone barreled into my vehicle in May 2003. I was driving through an intersection near Oxford and Summerdale avenues when the other driver completely ignored the stop sign and lopped off the front of my vehicle."
Saltiel explained that although it took her years to acquire her teaching degree, she could no longer physically meet the demands of the field. Since the accident, she continues to suffer from pain in her back, feet and hands and spends a great deal of money to visit a myriad of medical specialists. She blames her disabilities on a driver who was so distracted by her cell phone conversation that she disregarded a stop sign and smashed into her vehicle at a speed exceeding 45 mph.
Although it’s a good idea to leave your cell phone in the car and pay attention while pumping gas, it’s an even better idea to turn off your cell phone while driving your vehicle.
We face a much higher risk of injury and even death when we talk on our cell phones from within our cars than beside the pump. ••
Richard P. Weiss is a freelance writer and former Castor Gardens resident. He can be reached via e-mail at RichardPWeiss@aol.com
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