SOSNA NEWS, May 2002

Farmer's Market | Historical/Architectural Study | Donald Rae Award | People to People Ambassador | SOSNA Objects to Bank Closing | New Board Members | Mural/Summer Kids Program | Ingrid Burnett Steps Down | New Support for SOSNA

FARMER'S MARKET WILL MOVE TO NEW LOCATION
The Wednesday afternoon Farmer's Market, which had operated at 17th and South Streets from 3-7 PM, will move to a new location this year. Unfortunately, the location has not yet been secured.

The red hot real estate market is the cause of the move. The parking lot at 17th and South has been sold to a developer who has just completed plans and is about to begin the community and zoning approval process. Four new town homes will be developed on the Rodman Street frontage of the parking lot, and a new building with a commercial first floor and apartments above will be constructed on the South Street frontage of the lot.

The Reading Terminal Farmer's Market Trust, which coordinates the Farmer's Market with SOSNA, is negotiating with Graduate Hospital for use of either its 18th and South surface parking lot, or its lot on the north side of the 1800 block of Lombard. The SOSNA News will apprise you of the site of this highly popular Farmer's Market as soon as it has been determined. [UPDATE: The market is operating on the sidewalk at 17th and South.]

AWARD FOR HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF NEIGHBORHOOD
The Philadelphia Foundation, one of the largest grant-makers in the Delaware Valley, will award SOSNA a $5,000-$6,000 grant to fund a study of the architectural and historic assets in the neighborhood, leading toward publication of a booklet and/or CD detailing our area's rich historical legacy. SOSNA is also expected to allocate some of its own funds for the study. SOSNA will also seek matching funds from the corporate and foundation sectors to raise the additional moneys needed.

"We are very pleased by the support for this project," said SOSNA Treasurer Alan Mandel, who wrote the proposal to the Philadelphia Foundation. "We have only scratched the surface in identifying and memorializing the historic sites in our neighborhood. We intend to use this study to invigorate the tourist infrastructure in the neighborhood, and to collaborate with other groups in the area, such as the Marian Anderson Historical Society, to promote our neighborhood as a tourist destination."

MAY 30TH IS FINAL DATE FOR COMPUTER AWARD APPLICATION
If you wish to compete for the Donald Rae Citizenship Award, or to nominate someone for the award, applications are available at the SOSNA Office (215-732-8446). Applicants are required to fill out an application, submit copies of grades from the last two semesters, provide one letter of recommendation from a teacher, and write a 250-word essay on how you will use the computer system to advance your work at school. This award is open to students who are in the third year of high school or above. The prize is a computer system.

AREA STUDENT CHOSEN FOR PEOPLE TO PEOPLE STUDENT PROGRAM
Vaughn Towns, a neighborhood student in the 8th grade who lives on the 1800 Block of Webster Street, has been chosen for the People to People Student Ambassador Program, which involves travel to several European countries this summer and meetings with students and groups in those countries. SOSNA has provided Vaughn with a $100 grant to help with expenses of the trip, but Vaughn still needs additional funds. If you can help Vaughn, please send a check to the SOSNA Office made out to the People to People Student Ambassador Program. Congratulations to Vaughn and his family on his selection for this prestigious program. Keep up the good work.

SOSNA OBJECTS TO SOUTH PHILA BANK CLOSING AND TRIGGERS FDIC STUDY
The Board of Directors of SOSNA at its February 27th Board Meeting voted to object to the closing of Sharon Savings Bank at 1730 Snyder Avenue and to the proposed opening of a new branch at 420 Bainbridge Street, and sent a letter of protest to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This move triggered an investigation by the FDIC of banking services in the South Philadelphia area. SOSNA complained that between South Street and Snyder Avenue, and between Broad Street and the Schuylkill River, a large number of mostly low-income and minority residents were underserved by banks and had to rely on check cashing agencies with high fees. The opening and closing of banks is regulated by the FDIC, which must approve all proposed banking activity.

SOSNA Treasurer Alan Mandel had pressed the SOSNA Board to vote the objection. "I always read the Legal Notices in the Inquirer," said Mandel, "and when I saw a legal notice on Sharon Savings Bank, I remembered that a guy stopped bank closings 20 years ago in poor sections of the Bronx using the same tactic. We need new banking services in our area to make life a little more convenient for residents."

The CEO of Sharon Savings Bank recently toured the area to look at potential bank locations, and is reportedly examining several sites on South Street. Speaking for the Board of Directors of SOSNA, SOSNA Chair Angela Richardson said: "While Snyder Avenue lies outside the SOSNA service area, if we can jumpstart new banking operations here, this is a great tactic."

SOSNA BOARD MEMBERS
Five SOSNA Board Members were elected by acclamation to one year terms at the April 10th General Meeting. They are:

• Laura Blanchard of the 2000 Block of Christian,
• Morris Gaines of the 1500 Block of Cater,
• Ted Lee of the 2200 Block of Carpenter,
• Paul Sanders of the 700 Block of S. Cleveland, and
• Gary Spahn of the 700 Block of S. 17th Street.

NEW MURAL FOR 15th AND FITZWATER PLUS KIDS PROGRAM
SOSNA has applied for a grant of $5,000 from the Philadelphia Activities Fund to support a children's program this summer at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center, which will assist mural artist Mike Mash to complete a mural arts installation on the side wall at 731 S. 15th Street. Entitled "Music and Art in an Urban Environment," the proposed mural will also be funded with a grant from the Mural Arts Foundation. Mr. Mash, a resident of the neighborhood, previously completed a mural east of Broad Street in the Hawthorne area. Mr. Mash, who works with glass, ceramic tile and paint, presented his concept to residents at the April 10th General Meeting.

INGRID BURNETT LEAVES AS SOSNA NAC DIRECTOR AFTER 8 YEARS
Ingrid Burnett, the SOSNA NAC Director, resigned her position effective May 17th, after 8 years of service to take another job with a higher salary and greater benefits. "This was a difficult decision," said Ms. Burnett, "but with a daughter in college I had to make a hard decision about what was best for my family."

"Everyone loves Ingrid," said Doug Norman, the SOSNA Executive Director. "We all became very close over the years, just like family. I will miss Ingrid very much."

Angela Richardson, the SOSNA Chair, said: "Ingrid had a demanding job, ran the office, and could always be counted on to respond to problems with patience, humor and warmth. I will miss her."

Alan Mandel, the SOSNA Treasurer, announced a dinner in June to honor Ms. Burnett, and also Jack Kmetz, the former SOSNA Board Secretary, who resigned and moved to Delaware in February. "Right now we are very busy with a lot of neighborhood initiatives. But when things calm down, we will have a dinner to honor Ingrid and Jack, good friends who devoted themselves to this neighborhood, and always made friends for SOSNA."

SOSNA INVITED TO SUBMIT APPLICATION TO THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SOSNA has been invited to submit an application to The Philadelphia Foundation for general operating support for the foundation's grants which will be announced in October 2002. SOSNA asked for $15,000 to be allocated as follows: $3,000 in support of the Five Year Strategic Planning Project; $3,000 for greater printing and distribution of the SOSNA News; $4,500 to operate a Junior Block Captain Program for teens in high school and junior high school; $4,500 to be allocated toward the Architectural & Historical Survey of key sites in the neighborhood.

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SOSNA is the Neighborhood Advisory Committee for the area from South Street to Washington Avenue, Broad Street West to the Schuylkill River, funded by the Office of Housing and Community Development to provide citizen input into their redevelopment process in our community. SOSNA is a registered nonprofit corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Site contents copyright SOSNA except where indicated.