Please Help Us Help Rose

Dear LoMo Neighbors,

As you may know, just after midnight on New Year’s Eve, one of LoMo’s residents, Joseph Testa, was killed in a stabbing on Jessup Street as he attempted to intervene in a fight outside his home. He was the primary caretaker for his sister Rose, with whom he lived. Rose is mostly housebound and needs constant care. We visited with Rose last weekend to talk to her about some of her needs, and to see if there was a way our civic association could assist her.  Her daughter lives in New Jersey, but is unable to care for her mother full-time, and Rose moving in with her daughter is not an option.

One of their main concerns is getting in-home care for Rose, and we are going to provide her and her family with information on the different services the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging (PCA) can offer and other resources for the elderly and disabled.

Rose’s brother shopped, cooked and cleaned for her and she doesn’t know how she will be able to manage without him.

We would like to raise funds toward the purchase of a generous gift card to Shop Rite. A long-time neighbor who lives across the street has offered to help her purchase groceries online, which can then be delivered to her home.

We would also like to raise funds to purchase two days of housecleaning for Rose, until she can get cleaning services via PCA or another organization.

Last, Rose would welcome homemade, nutritious meals that can be frozen and are appropriate for someone who is diabetic.  She particularly enjoys Italian food or traditional American food. We found this helpful link to recipes for diabetics online: http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/diabetic-recipes/italian/

Please assist us in helping our LoMo neighbor in need by making a tax-deductible gift of any amount to the Lower Moyamesing Civic Association. Our goal is to raise these funds to assist Rose by Friday, February 10. You may make a contribution online securely and instantly via PayPal by clicking here or you can send a check via mail to: Lower Moyamensing Civic Association, P.O. Box 37522, Philadelphia, PA 19148. Please be sure to include a note with your contribution that this is for Rose.

In the interim, if you would like to make a meal for Rose, please contact us and we will arrange to pick the meal(s) up from you and bring over to Rose’s home.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and feel free t

Sincerely,

Kim Massare                                          Ashley Lomery
President                                                 LoMo Neighbor

Contact: lomophilly@gmail.com
267-544-9597

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TreeCycling Day is January 7

If you’ve already donated your RecycleBank points to support LoMo’s gardening project at South Philly High and are looking to take your green deeds one step further, why not try recycling your Christmas tree? Tannenbaums left at the curb on trash night will be left to suffer a sad, sad fate at the landfill.

A number of local civics have teamed up to make tree-cycling easy and convenient for South Philly residents. You can take your pick of any of the following three locations:

OPTION 1::
Bring your tree to Columbus Square Park ***
Date: Saturday, January 7, 10am – 4pm
Location: 13th & Reed Sts.
Prep Work: Remove all ornaments, decorations, and lights
Cost: A $5 donation is requested to offset the cost of equipment rental and to support South Philly civics.

OPTION 2::
Bring your tree to Marconi Plaza ***
Date: Saturday, January 7, 1 – 4 pm
Location: Bigler Street, west of Broad St.
Prep Work: Remove all ornaments, decorations, and lights
Cost: A $5 donation is requested to offset the cost of equipment rental and to support the Friends of Marconi Plaza. You can also register for RecycleBank and pick-up a recycling bin at this location.

OPTION 3::
Bring your tree to the Sanitation Department’s Depot
Date: Tuesday, January 3 thru Saturday, January 14, 8 am – 6 pm
Location: Citizen Drop-Off Center at 3033 S. 63rd Street
Prep Work: Remove all ornaments, decorations, and lights
Cost: Free
For more info, visit www.philadelphiastreets.com or call 3-1-1.

These events are part of a broader effort throughout the city to divert trees from landfills and encourage sustainability in the City of Philadelphia. Click here for greenlimb’s list of all participating sites in Philly.

*** Tree Transport is available on January 7 for residents without vehicles.  If you would like us to pick up your tree, email lomophilly@gmail.com or call 267-544-9597. An additional $5 donation is requested for pick-up.

If you would like to volunteer to help out at either Columbus Square or Marconi on Tree-cycling Day, please email lomophilly@gmail.com for more details.

Congratulations to the Winners of LoMo’s 3rd Annual Holiday Decorating Contest!

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Thanks to everyone who cast a vote in this year’s Holiday Decorating Contest — we logged a whopping 6,444 votes!

All of the homes that participated in this year’s contest were absolutely spectacular and we wish to congratulate everyone for helping to make our neighborhood so festive this time of year. Take a stroll around the neighborhood and check out these houses, if you haven’t already. They all look amazing!

LoMo was featured in the Metro as one of the best decorated 'hoods!

Special thanks also to the following businesses who donated fabulous prizes for this year’s contest:

ShopRite of Front & Snyder
Los Gallos Taqueria
Trader Joe’s
Matteo’s Italian Foods
John Paul Salon
Big Dan’s Deli

And special thanks also to our LoMo board members who worked so hard to organize this year’s contest. 

On behalf of the Lower Moyamensing Civic Association’s Board of Directions, Happy Holidays to all and best wishes for the New Year!

3 years and 200 trees later…

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It was waaaaaay back in the fall of 2008 that LoMo embarked on its first tree planting adventure.  On a cold November morning, with the help of twenty volunteers, we planted seven trees.

Three years and six tree plantings later, we’ve planted nearly 150 trees throughout our neighborhood. Each and every tree has been free to homeowners, thanks to the TreeVitalize program.  All told, the dollar value of three years of our tree plantings can been estimated at over $45,000, plus the numerous environmental benefits that are a bit harder to quantify.  We are incredibly grateful for the support of our neighborhood’s Tree Tenders, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Philadelphia Dept. of Parks and Recreation, our sister civic associations, our volunteers, as well as the local businesses that have donated food and refreshments over the years. We couldn’t have done it without you!

This fall, on November 19, from 9 am to noon, we invite you to join us for LoMo’s 7th neighborhood tree planting. We’ll be planting an additional 50 trees in our neighborhood – bringing our grand total to 200! — and we are teaming up with our friends from East Passyunk Crossing and Newbold Civic Associations to do so. The meeting location will be the parking lot of South Philadelphia High School at Broad & Snyder.  Morning refreshments and supplies will be provided, and there will also be a celebratory after-party at the Adobe Cafe on Passyunk Avenue.

If you’d like to help with our fall tree planting, please contact Rachel Reilly, LoMo Environment Committee Co-Chair for more info at rreilly@phillycityspace.com. Or if you would like to help LoMo’s ongoing greening work grow with a tax-deductible contribution, please click here. Thanks for your support!

Tree Care Tips

Trees need care, just like we do! Here are a few tips to keep your tree happy and healthy.

PIT CARE

• Gently loosen the soil around your tree.  Remove any weeds and waste materials.  Water your tree first and you can remove weeds with less effort.
• If you want to go the extra mile, apply compost and wood chips around the base of your tree in the form of a donut, away from the trunk. No volcano mulching! Piling mulch up high and packing it around a tree’s trunk in a cone shape can be really harmful to a tree.
• Over time, your tree may outgrow the pit it was planted in. Removing more conrete to enlarge your tree pit will increase the lifespan of your tree and will prevent sidewalk upheaval. Seek the help of a certified arborist when you are ready to enlarge your tree pit.

WATERING

• 15 gallons at a time.  It’s important to water slowly and deeply. Use a bucket, drip with a hose, pole holes in a bucket, or use tree gator bags. 
• Water your tree twice a week during regular weather conditions; 3X during periods of drought. 
• It’s best to water early morning or evening.        

PRUNING

• Always seek out the advice of a certified arborist when considering pruning for your tree.
• Tree topping (or removing whole tops of trees or large branches, leaving stubs or lateral branches) is always a bad practice and is always discouraged.
• Wintertime, when a tree is dormant, is a good time to assess your tree for structural defects, like cracks and rubbing branches.

PROTECTION

• Temporary fences are a good option for discouraging dogs and foot traffic in/around your tree pit. Permanent fences, however, need to be monitored over the life of a tree. The fencing should be removed well before the tree begins to grow into it; otherwise the fence will severely damage your tree and shorten its lifespan.
• Never apply bricks around the base of your tree. This will limit the amount of water and air that can reach your tree’s root system.
• Never build a wall around your tree. This will limit the amount of rainwater that can flow into your tree pit.
• Flowers around the base of your tree may encourage people to respect your tree, but can create competition for root space, water, and nutrients. Choose annuals, rather than perennials.

If your tree is in need of pruning or is dead and need to be removed, call 3-1-1 or click this link for the Tree Maintenance Request Form. If you tree is dead, please consider requesting a new tree to help keep our neighborhood green!

LoMo Launches Community Composting Program!

LoMo has recently started a managed compost pile in our garden at South Philadelphia High School and this summer we will offer ten neighborhood households the opportunity to participate in our first ever community composting program. Composting – like other forms of recycling – lessens our neighborhood’s carbon footprint. An added bonus is that composting also produces a fantastic fertilizer that gives plants a natural boost.

Whether you’re new to composting or a seasoned composting pro, we’d love for you to take part in this new program! Many of us with tiny backyards lack the space to have our own compost pile, but LoMo’s Community Composting Program makes it easy and convenient to start turning those food scraps into something your plants will love.

To participate in the program, we ask that interested households first review our Community Composting Guidelines, which includes a list of what you can and can’t compost. To sign-up for this program, simply sign & return a copy of the guidelines and send a tax-deductible contribution of $25 by check, money order, or paypal to: Lower Moyamensing Civic Association, P.O. Box 37522, Philadelphia, PA 19148. You will be issued a handy bucket with lid in which to transport your kitchen scraps. Your $25 contribution will help us purchase the necessary tools and supplies to manage our composting pile and also support greening initiatives in our neighborhood.

Feel free to contact us with any questions: lomophilly@gmail.com.  Happy Composting!

 * Interested in other Philly composting services that will pick-up kitchen scraps directly from your doorstep? Check out Bennett Compost, who has been a great supporter of LoMo’s greening initiatives!

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New Monthly Happy Hour at Bomb Bomb!

Beginning May 2011, LoMo will be hosting a monthly Happy Hour at one of our favorite neighborhood spots, Bomb Bomb! 

Join us the second Wednesday of each month from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm for $1 off drafts and appetizers. All are welcome! Bomb Bomb is located at 1026 Wolf Street, between 10th & 11th Streets.

Whether or you’re new to the neighborhood, new to LoMo, new to Bomb Bomb, or none of the above – you’re invited to join us and mix & mingle in a casual atmosphere. And yes, there will be door prizes that are sure to surprise and delight.

We’re hoping these monthly get-togethers will become just as much a neighborhood fixture as water ice in the summer… pigeons on a wire… and parallel parking!

Hope to see you there! Feel free to bring a neighbor or two along!

Curated Guide to Random Acts of Knitting

What: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_bombing
How-To: yarnbombing.com
LoMo knitters: who’s in?

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Related Articles

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Become a Tree Tender!

Over the past three years, LoMo has planted over 200 trees in our neighborhood! We never could have done it without the help of LoMo’s Tree Tenders, a group of residents who each have received hands-on training through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. LoMo’s Tree Tenders are our neighborhood’s tree ambassadors – they encourage more residents to plant trees and care for them properly, and also lead volunteers during our spring and fall plantings.

Want to join the ranks of LoMo’s Tree Tenders and help make this our greenest year yet? Sign up for a PHS Tree Tenders course this year!

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders® program offers nine hours of hands-on tree care training for residents of the five-county Philadelphia region. The training will cover tree biology, identification, planting, proper care and working within your community.

Available for ISA, PA LA, Act 48 and PLNA credit. Given the intensity of the training and the evening hours, the course is not appropriate for children under 16.

Classes take place at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s offices, located at 100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA. The fee for each course is $25. Visit the PHS website for the latest class schedule.

To register online, click here: https://www.pennhort.net/sslpage.aspx?pid=366. When you register, be sure to indicate that you are a member of LoMo’s Tree Tenders group!

And to support LoMo’s ongoing cleaning & greening efforts, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support your civic organization. Click here to make a secure online donation to LoMoor you can mail a check, made payable to “LoMo,” to P.O. Box 37522, Philadelphia, PA 19148. All donations will be acknowledged with a personal thank-you and a receipt to use for tax purposes. Thanks for your support!

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Seeking Friends for Mifflin Square Park!

Parks are a great asset to a neighborhood, but in order for these public spaces to truly thrive they need our help. Some exciting developments have recently been underway at our local Mifflin Square Park, located between 5th & 6th Sts., Wolf & Ritner. Several local organizations, including LoMo, have been collaborating on a series of positive programs in the park this summer. In order to keep this momentum going, we need to get organized!

Monthly meetings are now being held to discussing programming and ideas for park improvements. Get involved in making good things happen in Mifflin Square Park and please help spread the word to your neighbors! For more info, email Cory Miller, Program Director for the SouthEast Philadelphia Collaborative, at CoryMiller@ucsep.org.

City Service Updates: Weekly Recycling and 3-1-1

 WEEKLY RECYCLING has arrived in our neighborhood! Continue to put out your recyclables on the same day that you would put out your trash– The only difference is that now you can do so EVERY week! To find out what your trash day is, what to recycle, or for more information about recycling in general, visit our Beautification page. To request a FREE blue recycling bin for your household, email lomophilly@yahoo.com .

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311 is the only number Philadelphians need to find out information or to access a Philadelphia City service. 311 can be reached via the telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year or via the walk-in centered located in Room 167 of City Hall during normal business hours. 311 is a free service available to anyone who needs to know more about Philadelphia, City services, or general information. 911 is still the number to use in case of emergency.

Success at Southern!

Our Philly Spring Cleanup at Southern High School on Saturday, April 4, was a resounding success! What an inpiring day it was — Over 75 volunteers from across the city came out to our local high school to plant 14 trees, give a fresh coat of paint to the old wrought iron fence line that stretches from Snyder Avenue to Jackson Street and also pick up a lot of litter from school grounds and along Snyder Avenue. Mayor Michael Nutter stopped by in the afternoon to plant our last tree with us and say a few words, and we even were featured on Channel 6 News, KYW News Radio and the front page of the South Philly Review!

It takes a village to pull off an event of this size and we received a lot of help from many different people and organizations. We are incredibly grateful for all of the support we received from our local businesses! Special thanks goes out to City Pizza (Front & Snyder), Cosmi’s Bakery, Nuts About You, ShopRite, Stadium Pizza, Starbucks and Steak ‘Em Up for their generous donations, and also to City Year for coming out in force on the day of the event.  We couldn’t have done it without you! We are also thankful for the support of the 4th Police District and local Engine 49, who came out to water in the new trees at the end of the day. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the state-sponsored TreeVitalize program provided the trees, thanks to a generous donation from Feeney’s Nursery, and Mindy Maslin and Mike Hardy of the PHS Tree Tenders program provided expert guidance to our tree-planters on the day of the event. Fairmount Park delivered a big load of mulch for us and also lent us tools, as did UC Green! And last but not least, LoMo would like to send out a big THANK YOU! to the Philadelphia Streets Department, the Office of the Managing Director and the Mayor’s Office for organizing a tremendous event! We are already looking forward to participating in the 3rd Annual Philly Spring Cleanup!

Click on the thumbnails below to check out our photos from the event. 

   

 

Mo’ LoMo on Facebook

Now you can keep in touch with LoMo and meet new neighborhood folks on Facebook! Check us out at www.facebook.com/lomoca and send us a friend request. We promise we won’t give you the cold shoulder! We’ll be posting upcoming meetings and events on the calendar and we recently uploaded a bunch of historic photos from the neighborhood. Be sure to check them out!

Trash Night Tips

Are your recyclables creating litter? Here are a few tips to keep those items in the bin overnight and off of our sidewalks, courtesy of our friends from the Queen Village Neighbors Association:

1. Squash those cans! Both plastic and aluminum cans can be compacted with either squeezing or  the trusty foot-stomp method. Not only are they less likely to blow away that way, but you’ll also be able to fit more recyclables in your bin.

2. Don’t top off! Creating a pyramid of plastics, glass and cans above the rim is a recipe for a sidewalk mess.

3. Don’t overstuff! Brown grocery store bags may be handy for setting out your paper items, but there is a definite splitting point, which often occurs on the sidewalk. And if there’s a chance of rain that night, your paper bag will turn to pulp and you’ll be left to clean up a soggy mess the next morning.

4. Put lightweight paper underneath heavier recyclables to prevent them from escaping. Those receipts and scraps of paper have a way of being taken down the block with a strong gust of wind. 

5. Use a plastic bin or pail or any kind– not thin plastic grocery bags. If you need a recycling bin, contact us at lomophilly@yahoo.com.

6. Consider the weather: On windy days, be creative in finding ways to secure paper and plastics. Putting glass bottles in a cardboard box is not ideal on a dry day and can be even worse on rainy days.

Do plastic bags have a future in Philly?

UPDATE: Legislation introducing a plastic bag fee was unable to move through Council due to concerns about its affects on low-income shoppers. On June 10, Council’s Committee on the Environment voted unanimously to endorse a ban on plastic bags starting in 2011, however not enough members of Council supported the initiative when it was taken a full Council vote and the bill was voted down on June 18. 

Philadelphia isn’t the only city grappling with this issue. Cities across the world, including San Francisco, Bombay, as well as the nations of Australia, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, and Taiwan have either banned or taken action to discourage the use of the ubiquitous plastic bag, which many believe to have serious environmental consequences, as well as constitute a serious waste of environmental resources.

Biketopia!

We were honored to have Sarah Clark Stuart of the Greater Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition join us for our June 17 general meeting at the Fumo Library. The take home message: YOU can help create a Biketopia, right here in Philadelphia!

Here  are a few immediate ways to take action:

• Become a member of the Bicycle Coalition!
• Sign the online petition to complete the Schuylkill River Trail.
• Support the initiative to “Take Back MLK Drive,” which began in response to a near-fatal car crash involving a father and his 4-year old son who were struck by an automobile while bicycling on MLK Drive (aka West River Drive) on May 21 of this year. Sign the online letter to Mayor Nutter to express your desire to make this roadway safe for all users.
• Bike Freedom Valley on Father’s Day, or participate in any of the other annual events organized by the Bicycle Coalition, like Biketoberfest!
• Educate yourself! Get a bike map and learn the rules of the road. LoMo is looking into hosting a presentation in our neighborhood by one of the Bicycle Ambassadors. 

* Special thanks to our local Cara Cakes for sweetening up the evening with her amazing strawberry lemonade cupcakes! If you’re looking for baked delights for your next special occasion, look no further! This girl’s got skillz.

Got Compost?

Are you already composting, or interested in starting? Well, Philly Compost has embarked upon a project to create a map of all composters in the city. The map not only shows where compost is already happening, but is meant as a resource for those searching for a nearby place to deposit food scraps and other biodegradable materials. Their website also provides tips and links to online resources to help you on your way to start reducing your household waste stream. Everything you’ll need to start composting is right there at your fingertips!

If you are a LoMo composter, get on the map! Individual households in our neighborhood that have backyard composting bins or even vermiculture kits are encouraged to participate in the mapping project order to help quantify the combined effects of our efforts. Not only does compost provide soil with nutrients that can be reincorporated into your garden, but the act of composting also helps to reduce carbon and methane emissions in our region.

We are currently working on creating a LoMo community composting site that will be open to the public, but for now there is a private site in our neighborhood that is able to accept your compostable materials on a limited basis. Email lomophilly@gmail.com to make arrangements. If you are already composting and are willing and able to accept compost from other households in our neighborhood, please let us know! Drop us an email and we’ll be happy to help get the word out to other LoMo members, and be sure to get your site on the Philly Compost map.

Happy composting!

Before you contract a contractor…

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has announced that consumers can now contact the Attorney General’s Office to check on the registration status of any home improvement contractor in Pennsylvania by visiting http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hiccon.aspx?id=4502 or by calling 1-888-520-6680. The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, which requires all contractors who perform $5,000 or more in home improvements in a year to register with the attorney general’s office, went into effect July 1. The intent of the act is to protect consumers from unscrupulous contractors, to provide new protection for consumers who hire home improvement contractors and to authorize criminal penalties for home improvement fraud.

Checking with the Attorney General’s office to see if a contractor is registered is important for a few reasons:

• It shows that the contractor is complying with the law.
• It shows the contractor’s insurance information. 
• It shows whether or not a contractor has a criminal record or if there were any civil judgments (including bankruptcy) against them.

The new web site includes information for each registered contractor, including:

• Contact and insurance information;
• A description of the company;
• Information on any prior home improvement businesses;
• Names of anyone with an interest in the business;
• Any contractor licenses;
• Bankruptcy, criminal plea and conviction history;
• A map showing where the business is located;

Along with checking with the Attorney General’s office when choosing a home improvement contractor, consumers should also contact the Better Business Bureau, check the contractors’ references and obtain multiple estimates – the Attorney General’s office is not endorsing any particular contractor’s quality of work or honesty.

SEPTA’s gone Google

On July 1, officials announced that schedules and routes for all SEPTA trains and trolleys will be synchronized with the web-based trip-planning program Google Transit. On the Google Transit Web site, part of the larger Google Maps program, users can now enter a starting point and destination in the Philadelphia region – keywords like Independence Hall, Lincoln Financial Field, or even exact addresses – and Google will display a SEPTA route. Google Transit’s goal is to encourage travelers to learn their options before getting into a car, said Google spokesman Sean Carlson.

It’s easy– Visit www.google.com/transit then enter your starting location and destination. I tried out “Fumo Family Library, Philadelphia” and chose “City Hall, Philadelphia” as my destination. You can indicate the exact time you’ll be traveling, as well. Google computed, then I was asked to further refine my destination by chosing from a list of options provided. (This may or may not happen to you during your search.) Then, voila! A great set of directions and Google even provided a link at the end of the page to the SEPTA website, in case I had any questions about my fare.

Currently, only subway and regional rail routes have been incorporated into the online system. SEPTA officials predict that the system’s bus routes will be searchable by the end of the year.

Philadelphia is one of over 400 cities that now have their transit systems synched with Google Transit. Miami, Portland, Ore., Chicago, Baltimore, New York, and Pittsburgh are all on board, which means that users can plan their multi-city public transportation trips using the system. Don’t worry, you can ask Google Transit for walking and driving directions, too.

And to further its technological advances, SEPTA will launch a new Twitter account on July 10, which will enable travelers to “follow” SEPTA’s travel alerts and other announcements.

Yes, SEPTA, we are getting there.

Tired of tires?

Throughout the year, residents may bring up to 2 tires at a time to our local Streets Department Citizen Drop-Off Center at 3033 S. 63rd Street, near Passyunk Avenue, along with discarded computers, televisions, and appliances. Also, please note that the amount of trash bags put out on your curb on trash night should not exceed (4) – 32-gallon receptacles or (8) – 30″x 37″ bags. Anything in excess of this amount should be brought to our local Citizen Drop-Off Center. Compactable furniture, such as, sofas, mattresses, etc. can be left for collection at curbside, up to two items per week. For more information on Streets Department curbside collection policies, visit: http://www.phila.gov/streets/Sanitation_FAQ.html, or call 215-685-4290.

Our neighborhood’s past, through the lens of Peter Capano

New Wilmington Art Association and Adaptation present “All For One” photography exhibit by Philadelphia artist Peter Capano
September 4-17
Opening reception: September 4, 6-9pm
Closing reception: September 17, 6-9pm
4 West 5th Street, Wilmington, DE
To view the exhibition by appointment, call 302-312-5493.

 
 
To view more images from the show online, visit http://adaptationart.wordpress.com/.

Stiff Penalties for Curfew Violators & Their Parents

Call 9-1-1 to report curfew violators or file an online report at http://www.ppdonline.org/rpts/.

POP QUIZ: What watershed does LoMo belong to?

A: The Delaware Direct Watershed. 

Philadelphia Water Department staffer, Joanne Dahme, joined us during our Sept. 2 General Meeting to give us the inside scoop on how our City’s sewer system works, how her department is working to comply with the EPA’s Clean Water Act, and how we can all help improve the health of our watershed.

PWD’s “Green Cities – Clean Waters” initiative is a multi-tied, long-term plan that is broadly focused on improving the environment of the Philadelphia area. One goal of the new program is to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff from the City’s built environment. Did you know that during periods of intense rain in Philadelphia, rainwater gets mixed in with sewage, which then gets emptied into our streams and rivers? Imagine the damage this causes to fish and other creatures who call our bodies of water home! By reducing the amount of “hard,” impervious surfaces (i.e. concrete & asphalt) throughout Philadelphia and creating greener streetscapes, rain will be diverted from our over-burdened sewer system and will instead follow a more “natural” cycle. LoMo will be working with PWD to select areas within our boundaries that will be considered for participation in the “Green Streets Program.” If you have a suggestion for a particular block of section of our neighborhood that should be added to the list, please let us know!

Rain barrels are another way to divert rainwater from our sewers and repurpose it in useful ways, like watering your garden or washing your car. The Water Department has, to date, given away over 1,500 rain barrels which they estimate have kept 5,187,456 gallons of water a year out of our sewers and waterways. Pretty impressive! LoMo co-sponsored a rain barrel workshop with EPX on August 22 and over 40 neighborhood residents took home a free rain barrel. We hope to offer another rain barrel workshop in the future so that more LoMo residents can take advantage of this program and start making a difference in the health of our watershed. Interested in buying your own rain barrel? Check out more info on the model offered by the Water Department here.

And last, but not, least, the Water Department is encouraging residents to participate in the TreeVitalize program and plant a tree in front of their property as another means of diverting stormwater from our sewers. Street tree pits capture the flow of stormwater, letting it soak back into the soil naturally and nourish the tree planted there. Trees, in turn, provide shode, improve air quality, absorb noise, and beautify neighborhoods. LoMo will be organizing its third tree planting this fall – Details TBA soon! – so please come out and support this important neighborhood effort!
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Check out another local blogger’s post about our recent meetings with the Water Department here.

Lessons Gleaned from City Biking 101

Special thanks to the Greater Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition for dispatching two of their Bicycle Ambassadors down to our neck of the woods for the Sept. 9 “City Biking 101″ workshop, and thanks also to our local library for use of their waterproof venue! Participants took home a head full of tips and helpful info, including the fact that it is REQUIRED BY LAW that bicyclists use a red light on the back of their bike and a white light on the front during evening hours. Strange, though, that it isn’t required by law that bicyclists wear helmets, but don’t let that stop you from using one!

For other helpful tips, including how to properly adjust your helmet and lock you bike the right way, check out the Bicycle Coalition’s list of handy links: http://www.bicyclecoalition.org/resources/materials. And check out one local blogger’s account of the workshop here.

All too familiar a sight?

Here’s how to report a tagged mailbox to the U.S. Postal Service:

1) Go to www.usps.com

2) Click on “Customer Service” in the top right hand corner.

3) Click on “Email us,” enter zip code.

4) Select “Problem” from the drop down menu, then “Customer Service,” then “Support,” then “Vandalism/Theft Problem,” then click “Continue.”

5) When asked “Where Did This Problem Occur,” select “Collection Box” then provide information about the location of the tagged box.

The little garden that did!

Our lovely little Gas Station Garden at 11th & Snyder has been awarded an HONORABLE MENTION in this year’s PHS City Gardens Contest! Launched in 1975, the contest now receives over 300 entries with teams of volunteer judges visiting each site during the months of July and August. We have been invited to an Awards Reception during the 2010 Flower Show and will receive a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society certificate for our participation. We competed in the community gardens category and we are incredibly pleased to have been recognized for our efforts! This is a great honor for our young garden – it turned just 1 this summer – and the best is still yet to come. Look out, 2010 City Gardens Contest!

The garden was visited by the City Gardens Contest judges (pictured above) on Thursday, July 9, when several community members happened upon the judges and stopped to tell them just how much the garden means to the neighborhood. We found out a few weeks later that our garden made to the final round of judging and it was visited a second time on August 8.

Many thanks to all of the dedicated LoMo members who have pitched in over the course of this year and last to get the garden going and keep it hydrated and happy during the hot & dry summer months. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Please Take a Moment for Fire Prevention

In light of the recent tragedy on the 2400 block of S. Warnock Street, LoMo is urging all residents to take a moment and test the batteries in your home’s smoke detectors. If you don’t currently have one installed or are in need of a new set of batteries, don’t delay! Purchase them today! Anyone who does not have a smoke alarm and cannot afford one should call the SMOKE DETECTOR REQUEST LINE at 215-686-1382.
 
The Fire Department also offers a “Remembering When” fire and fall prevention training program for senior citizens located at local senior centers and or churches. For more information contact the Philadelphia Fire Prevention Division at 215-686-1382. Be a good neighbor – Take a moment to ask your elderly neighbors if they are in need of a smoke detector. It could save a life.

We will be joined at our next general meeting on Wednesday, October 7, by Capt. Mike Goodwin of local Engine 49 who will give a brief presentation on fire safety and answer any questions on the topic. All are welcome to attend. We commend local Engine 49 for their valiant efforts.

We also would like to take this opportunity to thank Councilman Frank DiCicco who, along with Councilwoman Anna Verna, helped to prevent the shutdown of late-night medic hours of our local Medic 11, housed at Engine 49.

Residents can obtain additional fire safety and education information at www.phila.gov/fire.

Report Graffiti Online. Get Results.

The City of Philadelphia has a great Anti-Graffiti Network that responds promptly to requests they receive to remove graffiti.

• Did you know that you don’t have to be the property owner of a graffitied property in order to request that it be removed?
• Did you know that you can report graffiti online, completely anonymously, and that it can be removed in just a few days?

Take down all of the important details regarding the graffiti: Address of the graffitied property, type of surface it is on (brick, concrete, street sign, wood, etc.), what color paint the surface is (if applicable). Then visit www.phila.gov/antigraffiti/removalform.html and provide the info requested. 

Thanks for helping to keep our neighborhood graffiti-free!

Check out the Neighborhood Safety section of our website for more helpful links to report abandoned vehicles, sanitation violations, etc.

Giving thanks and looking ahead

At  our last general meeting of the year on November 4, we were joined by some very special guests – Senator Farnese and his aid, Bob Theil, as well as Tim Bennett of Bennett Composting. At the end of the meeting, we had a chance to think back on all the good things that happened in the neighborhood in 2009 and also to share our hopes for 2010. Here were some of the responses:

“We were thankful for the Mischief Night Party… We’re new to the neighborhood and this gave us the opportunity to meet some great people. We are also thankful for our new tree, coming November 21! We hope to make new friends and get involved in the civic association [in 2010].“

“I was thankful for the opportunity to meet the Mayor during our Philly Spring Cleanup event in April 2009.”

“Late on Mischief Night, a car drove up next door and I heard eggs being thrown. By the time I got to the door, three other neighbors were outside their doors, too. The car sped off. A safe neighborhood is not one where nothing happens, but one that when something happens, people are there to respond. [In 2010], I’d love to see less trash, people not throwing trash (dog poop bags) down the sewer.”

“[In 2010, I'd like to see] more composting!”

“[I am thankful for] the increasing number of new young neighbors who are really involved in improving the neighborhood, enthusiastic, and fun! Welcome! [In 2010, I'd like to see] more trees, less litter; more planters, fewer drugs; more flowers, less poop; more safety, less crime; more collaboration, less graffiti.”

What in the neighborhood would you like to give thanks for in 2009? What are your hopes for the neighborhood for 2010? Please feel free to share your thoughts below!

Fall Tree Planting Results

Over 100 volunteers took part in LoMo’s fall tree planting on Saturday, November 21, including many students from Temple University and the SEPC Youth Leadership Council. Many thanks to everyone who came out and lent a hand! This was our biggest planting yet with 20 new trees introduced to the neighborhood. We joined up with other South Philly civics for a combined tree planting this year which meant that our greening efforts were amplified; Over 150 trees were planted throughout South Philly on the day of the event! The trees were made available to property owners free of charge thanks to the state-sponsored TreeVitalize program – an estimated value of $500! (The next open call for TreeVitalize applications will be announced in a few months.)

Special thanks to ShopRite, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, Hot Bagels for supplying food & refreshments for our hard-working volunteers and the Adobe Cafe on Passyunk Avenue also hosted a great after-party. Boy Scout Troop 147 was also on hand in the morning to collect canned goods for their Thanksgiving Food Drive. 

As of our fall planting, LoMo has introduced a grand total of 53 trees to the neighborhood! With the number of trees in our neighborhood growing, LoMo is actively trying to recruit folks to join the ranks of its Tree Tenders group, which is composed of people who are dedicated to caring for our neighborhood’s trees. These folks have completed the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders training course. This free & fun educational series will teach you all you need to know to plant, care, and maintain trees in the urban environment. The next course is coming up in January and will take place over two Saturdays – You can register online here or by calling 215-988-8844. Be sure to tell them that you are a member of the Lower Moyamensing Civic Association’s Tree Tenders group!

Winners Announced for LoMo’s First Annual Holiday Decorating Contest

First Place Winner! 1215 Snyder Avenue

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make LoMo’s First Annual Holiday Decorating Contest such a great success! All of the homes that participated in this year’s contest were absolutely spectacular and we wish to congratulate everyone on helping to make our neighborhood so festive this time of year! Special thanks to all of our generous neighborhood businesses – Debra Mazda of ShapelyGirl Fitness, ShopRite, Cosmi’s Bakery, and Hollywood Nails – for supplying our great prizes! 

All entries were judged on the following criteria: Theme, Creativity & Originality, Lighting, and Full Use of Space. Our top winners – which we highly encourage everyone to see for themselves! – are listed below:

FIRST PLACE: 1215 SNYDER AVENUE – Received a $100 ShopRite gift card

SECOND PLACE: 1232 WOLF STREET – Received a year of wellness with Debra Mazda of ShapelyGirl Fitness

THIRD PLACE: 1135 RITNER STREET – Received a lovely tray of holiday cookies from Cosmi’s Bakery

RUNNER-UP: 2549 S. ALDER STREET - Received a free manicure courtesy of Hollywood Nail Salon
– — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – –
It’s not too soon to get those creative juices flowing for next year! Next year’s contest registration forms will be available around Thanksgiving 2010, but if you’d like to pre-register you can send an email to lomophilly@gmail.com.

Be sure to check out the great feature on this year’s contest in the December 24th issue of the South Philly Review: http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/lifestyles/Deck-the-walls-79921572.html.

19148 on the real estate rise!

As we all know, U.S. real estate prices have fallen dramatically over the past year, but some parts of the country - including ours! – have managed to buck the trend. A new report, recently released by Zillow.com and profiled on CNBC, highlights places that had the biggest year-over-year price increases during the third quarter. And don’t you know, 19148 made it to #3 on the list! Of course there are many factors that influence housing values, but we like to think that our collective efforts as a civic association are a small part of that equation. Check out the links below for more details!

Philadelphia, Pa. (19148)
Year-over-Year Price Growth: +16.9%
Zillow Home Value Index: $164,661

http://www.cnbc.com/id/33733815?slide=14
http://www.cnbc.com/id/33733815

New Recycling Rewards Program is coming to Philly!

The new Philly Recyling Rewards is expected to start up in our neighborhood this May! The City of Philadelphia has made great strides in recycling since the introduction of single-stream recycling in 2009 and this new incentive-based recycling program is expected to give another boost to our citywide residential recycling rates.

Recycling always rewards us by conserving natural resources and saving the City money. Now you can also earn personal rewards just for recycling regularly and right. With the new Philadelphia Recycling Rewards program, powered by RecycleBank, the more you and your neighbors recycle the more rewards points you earn. Redeem them for valuable gift cards, gift certificates, discounts and more! (from phillyrecyclingpays.com)

Here’s how it works: 1) You sign up for a free sticker to place on your recycling bin. 2) Every week that you recycle, you get rewards!

To sign up for your Recycling Rewards sticker and find out more info on how the program works, visit phillyrecyclingpays.com or call 1-888-769-7960. Stickers are due to be mailed out in January.  The more folks in our neighborhood recycle, the more points we qualify for, so help spread the word and help to get more people participating in the program!

Hours Restored at Fumo Family Library

Good news! Beginning February 4, our local Fumo Family Library at 2437 S. Broad Street will once again be open on Thursdays! The library was temporarily forced to close on Thursdays due to security guard shortages but the issue has been resolved and we can all enjoy our libraries an extra day once again!

FUMO FAMILY LIBRARY HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday, Thursday, Friday – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday and Wednesday – 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday – CLOSED

Our nearby Donatucci Branch (1935 Shunk Street) will be operating on the following schedule:

Monday and Sunday – CLOSED
Tuesday and Wednesday – 12 pm – 8 pm
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – 10 am – 5 pm

To read a recent Inquirer article on the library’s security guard shortages, click here.

Sign up for ReadyNotifyPA!

Find out first! ReadyNotifyPA is a great system that helps officials send emergency text alerts and other important notifications to citizens quickly. Alerts can be sent to your cell phone, pager, BlackBerry, PDA and/or E-mail account. You decide how you’d like to be notified. These alerts are free; however, your cellular provider may charge for text messaging. You can sign up for a variety of different types of groups: weather warnings, health alerts, City government closings, transit alerts, Sunoco Refinery notifications, and police district alerts. Registration only take a few minutes! Sign up today!

GreenWorks Small Business Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Last week Mayor Nutter announced $27 million in funding to support Philadelphia businesses. The Commerce Department will be managing one of those programs, called the GreenWorks Small Business Energy Efficiency Rebate. This program will provide grants – in the form of a rebate – to Philadelphia businesses making energy improvements to their buildings or equipment.  Applicants will be eligible for up to a 50% rebate on project costs, up to $10,000. 

The following documents are attached and available for download:

1 – The full grant guidelines and application for the energy rebate; and 

2 – Energy Assessment Application; all rebate applications will require the submission of an energy assessment or audit showing the improvements meet the required energy efficiency guidelines.  The City is hiring a consultant that will conduct these audits for qualified businesses intending to apply for the rebate who do not wish to pay for their own audit or assessment.

Johnny Be Good!

A LoMo resident is recognized for his good deeds during the recent blizzard in a Letter to the Editor in the February 25, 2010 issue of the South Philadelphia Review

To the Editor:

During this winter for the ages, it’s easy to lose your temper with neighbors. There are those who don’t shovel their sidewalk; those who put chairs in the street to save parking spots; and those who let you shovel out a spot and then use it as their own. Yes, there are plenty opportunities to talk about neighbors, but sometimes there are too few opportunities to recognize a good one. The 2300 block of South 11th Street has a great one who needs to be recognized. His name is Johnny Johnson.

John is your basic good Samaritan. Although probably going on 65 with some health issues of his own, John has been the first out on the street after each of the snowstorms to shovel in front of his house and all the homes on his side of the street. He has often gone out of his way to assist me with such things as carrying groceries or putting out trash cans.

I’ve witnessed him assisting other neighbors with everything from snow removal off their awnings to digging out their cars. Other times, I’ve watched him clean the sidewalk, the streets and even clear a path to the sewers to keep our block looking good.

If I even try to help him, his wife, Margie, will tell me, “Pete, go inside. John will take care of it!” And, he does. Every time.

If the Review had a category for “Best Neighbor” in their annual “Best of” issue, Johnny Johnson would get my vote.

-Pete Santini
South Philadelphia

The New Big Bellies

Have you noticed the sleek new trash cans & recycling receptacles that have been popping up along Broad Street in our neighborhood? Originally, these beauties were found only within the confines of Center City, but thanks to a grant from the federal government, the City of Philadelphia has recently been able to swap out the old traditional cans and install more of these solar-powered trash compactors throughout our neighborhoods. The new Big Bellies are only slightly bigger than a regular city trash can, but they can hold four to five times more than a regular trash can, which means the Streets Department doesn’t have to empty them as frequently. Who knew a trash can could be so smart?

In addition to the fact that these nifty bins harness the power of the sun to compact the trash they contain, some of these Big Bellies also have bins for recyclable materials, like cans, plastics, and paper. Way to go green, Philly!

If you happen to accidentally throw away something important in one of the cans, call the City of Philadelphia Hotline at 3-1-1.

April in Photos

April sure has been a busy month for LoMo! We logged over 675 volunteer hours, planted over 35 trees, created a new community orchard (with the help of Mayor Nutter!), painted & pruned, swept streets & cleaned up our local parks, hosted a flea market & craft fair, and cared for our neighborhood gardens… Phew! All in one month!

Enjoy this little slideshow of some of our big events!

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A More Beautiful May!

In addition to all of the great projects LoMo organized for Love Your Park Day on May 8, we also have two heavy hitting cleanups planned this month. We hope you can join us at one (or heck, both!) of these events and help make the month of May of a bit more beautiful for the neighborhood!

SATURDAY, MAY 15
9:30 AM – NOON
WOLF STREET CLEANUP
Meet at 8th & Wolf
LoMo is proud to be supporting the residents of Wolf Street in a clean sweep from 8th to Broad Sts. Meet up at 8th & Wolf. All supplies provided. BBQ following cleanup!

SATURDAY, MAY 22
10 AM – NOON
SNYDER AVENUE CLEANUP
Meet at Broad & Snyder
LoMo is excited to be partnering with our friends from the East Passyunk Crossing (EPX) Civic Association for this cleanup, which is a part of the larger Snyder Avenue Project (SNAP). Residents & business owners are invited to participate in this event and learn about ways that we can all work together to improve this major neighborhood corridor in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, and local non-profits. All supplies provided. BBQ to follow cleanup!

The “Coolest Block” in Philly is in LoMo!

Yesterday, atop the roof of 1515 Market Street, Mayor Nutter announced that our very own 1200 Block of Wolf Street has won the RetroFIT PHILLY “Coolest Block” contest! Nutter’s announcement followed the signing of legislation aimed at helping Philadelphia become “the Greenest City in America.” The new law requires installation of energy-efficient reflective roofs or green roofs on all new no- and low-slope roofs throughout the city.

Organized by the Energy Coordinating Agency, the City of Philadelphia and The Dow Chemical Company, the contest allowed residents of Philadelphia row homes to compete to win an energy efficiency upgrade for their entire block, including an energy-saving “cool roof,” air sealing and insulation. The Dow Chemical Company contributed products and technologies, and The Dow Chemical Company Foundation provided financial support.

All homes on the North and South side of the 1200 block of Wolf Street will receive:
•An energy audit – from basement to rooftop – assessing all the opportunities to save energy, save money and solve energy-related health and safety problems in the home;
•Application of a white, reflective “cool roof” coating;
•Installation of Dow’s sealants and insulation products in the participating contestants’ residential homes, in both the basement and the attic to help increase comfort and energy savings; and
•A block party on June 19, 2010 to celebrate!

Entries were reviewed by a panel of judges including representatives from local media, environmental organizations, and the building industry. The judges reported that the 1200 block of Wolf Street stood out among the entries because of its high resident participation, condition and type of roofs currently installed, and essay submission.

Congratulations to all of the residents of the 1200 block of Wolf Street on officially becoming the “Coolest Block” in the City of Philadelphia!

To the Lightpole

Local artist Joe Boruchow gets around. The Johnny Appleseed of public art, Xerox copies of Joe’s cutouts grace the lightpoles and bulletin boards of coffee shops thoughout the city of Philadelphia.  And from there, very often, they magically find their way into homes, exhibited on kitchen fridges or thumbtacked to walls. Or perhaps you’re lucky enough to own one of Joe’s original delicately crafted cutouts, composed with an X-Acto knife on a single piece of black paper mounted on white satin, or know someone who does.

What began as a way to promote performances for his band, The Nite Lights, has grown – mutated, if you will – into something bigger. Recently, Joe was awarded a grant to create a 100-page graphic novel, entitled Stuffed Animals, which debuted on the big screen at Johnny Brenda’s, with a score performed by none other than The Nite Lights. An encore performance was also held at Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens on South Street.

Even more recently, Joe has created a LoMo-inspired cutout, which if you go outside right now you might find on a lightpole near you, hand-stapled there by Joe himself. That is, if some zealous LoMo member hasn’t already taken it down, slapped a magnet on it, and stuck it to their fridge. As for the inspiration behind the LoMo cutout, Joe says that he was “trying to capture the sense that many civic actions are often small and anonymous while also bringing attention to the endless variations within the architectural uniformity of our neighborhood.”

If you’d like to request your very own copy, you can contact Joe by email at boruchow@yahoo.com. The original cutout will be for sale sometime this fall during Joe’s annual show at the Bean Cafe and t-shirts are in the works! If you’d like to pre-order one for yourself or a loved one in LoMo, send us an email at lomophilly@gmail.com.

Philadelphia2035: What do YOU see?

Not since 1960 has the City undertaken an effort to create a master plan for all of Philadelphia.  PHILADELPHIA2035 will guide the City’s future for the next 25 years.  It is the blueprint for our City that will thrive with new growth and opportunities, connect to the region and the world and renew its valued resources for future generations.

Join us for an engaging evening at one of our four public meetings, each held at a landmark location.  The meeting will be hands-on with participants working with their neighbors to envision the Philadelphia of 2035!

First Meeting) Thursday, May 27, 6-8 pm. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (118 N. Broad St.)

Second Meeting) Tuesday, June 1, 6:30-8:30 pm. Please Touch Museum (4231 Avenue of the Republic)

Third Meeting) Monday, June 7, 6:30-8:30 pm. Esperanza College (4261 N. 5th St.)

Fourth Meeting) Tuesday, June 8, 6:30-8:30 pm. Knowlton Mansion (8001 Verree Road)

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/phila2035, email phila2035@phila.gov,  or call 215-683-4672.

New Food Co-op Coming to South Philly!

A group of residents from across South Philly have been meeting formally since April and the groundwork is now being laid for this exciting new member-owned and operated retail food cooperative. At this point, the target market is south of South Street, between the rivers, but anyone who is interested is welcome.

Want to learn more? Email southphillyfoodcoop@gmail.com or visit http://southphillyfoodcoop.wikispaces.com/. The next general community meeting is scheduled to take place sometime in September or October. Stay posted for more details!