May 2005

Cedar Park Neighbors Newsletter

Neighbors Spring Into Their Park: A Cedar Tree for Cedar Park!

On Saturday, May 7, a young redCedar tree arrived in Cedar Park to

take root in the new planting bed estab-lished behind the War Memorial at the49th Street entrance. Approximately 25neighbors sprung into action to spruce upCedar Park as part of a citywide “SpringInto Your Park” event, sponsored by thePhiladelphia Green Parks RevitalizationProgram. Tree pits were mulched, theMemorial Garden was renewed and thenew garden was planted. We hope thatour Cedar tree will flourish for years tocome and grow tall to better frame theMemorial. We owe special gratitude tothe children from Catharine Street andthe men of Pi Kappa Alpha who did someheavy lifting and shoveling to open upthe new garden bed. Our neighbors onCatharine have been generous with sup-plying water to get the plants started.Residents will also notice other positivechanges in Cedar Park this season as theCedar Park Improvement Committee con-tinues its work. Most recently we achievedour goal to remove the unsightly perimeterfence, giving the Park a more open andwelcoming feel. Come and enjoy the park!

Many in Cedar Park were shocked andsaddened to learn of the sudden death

of long-time Cedar Park resident BethShowell, due to a fire in her home on theevening of Saturday, April 2. Beth was amember of Cedar Park Neighbors formany years and served as its president inthe mid-eighties. Beth taught many of ouryoung people biology at West PhiladelphiaHigh School until she retired in the early90s. She was an active member of CalvaryUnited Methodist Church where shebecame known as the chef extraordinairefor the Calvary Café which served deli-cious meals to concert goers attending the

Crossroads Music Series. Many enjoyedher nutrition and cooking demonstrationsat the Clark Park Farmer’s Market. Shehad a love of nature and worked withneighbors to establish Florence Garden ona vacant lot near her home. Beth was a anaccomplished potter and tireless supporterof the University City Arts League. BethShowell was active in so many neighbor-hood efforts and organizations that herMemorial Service at Calvary Church wasfilled to overflowing and was a fitting andinspiring tribute to a life that was commit-ted to service and so fully embraced thediversity of our community.

Obituary: Cedar Park Grieves Loss of our Wonderful Neighbor, Beth Showell

Neighbors gathered onMay 7 to plant a Cedartree in the new plantingbed in Cedar Park.

Photo: Tu Huynh

Page 2 CPN Newsletter

By Judith Harvey

There was never a question in mymind as to whether or not I would

go to college. The only question was howI was going to pay for it and what I wouldstudy. As the fifth of eight children, mybrothers and sisters had all done collegeand scholarship applications before me,and I knew that I was in for a long anddifficult road.

I went to Philadelphia High Schoolfor Girls, and my guidance counselorsuggested that I look at Chestnut HillCollege. Since Chestnut Hill is an all-women’s college, they had scholarshipmoney available for students from singlesex high schools. I fell in love with theschool and was thrilled to be accepted.The College did have a small scholarshipavailable and I got another one from myhigh school, based on merit and need.There was, however a gap between whatI won in scholarship and how much eachyear of tuition would be and I didn’tknow how I was going to make that up.

I am not sure now who mentioned CedarPark Neighbors to me, but I certainly amglad that they did. I had done some workwith CPN—but only as a volunteer—and Ihad no idea that they were a source forcollege funding. I filled out the application,and sent it off, thinking that maybe some-thing would happen. I was thrilled to findout that I had been chosen for a $500scholarship, along with three or four otherneighbors. The scholarship covered allfour years of college and was somethingI could always depend on.

The night of the awards ceremony was areally exciting one. Besides the membersof CPN, the families of all the awardwinners were there, including my ownparents. For all the students and their par-ents, this award was a public declarationof how much the neighborhood valued,trusted, and wanted to support the youngstudents. It was an honor to feel that prideand support from our neighbors. It wasinteresting to see the diversity of my fellowstudents, some of whom I knew and somewho were new to me. The thing that weall had in common was the desire to learnand then, in turn, give back to the commu-nities that had raised us.

In my four years of college (1996-2000)

the check from CPN helped me out inmany ways. I was able to buy books, andsupplies, all with no strings attached. Thefact that the check was made out to me,rather than the College directly, gave meflexibility, and more importantly, a proudfeeling that I was being entrusted withsuch a big responsibility.

I graduated from Chestnut Hill Collegewith a BA in Fine Arts & Technologyand was an Interdisciplinary Scholar.This was a special program that allowedstudents to participate in seminar-styleclasses that combined disciplines, likePhilosophy and Biology. This gave me agreat desire to pursue the interdisciplinaryapproach to learning. I found a programat the University of Chicago that used thisapproach to graduate learning, and in2000 I applied to the program and gotaccepted. I moved to Chicago in the sum-mer of 2000 and quickly realized that Iwas not prepared for the expense of grad-uate school right away. I took a year towork and get my financial aid, includingscholarships and grants, in line. My under-graduate degree helped my get a job doingGraphic Design, which helped me save forgrad school. I began the program in 2001and was thankful that I had so few loansfrom my undergraduate years.

I graduated from the University of Chicagoin 2002 with a Master’s degree in Human-ities. After graduation, I was offered a pro-motion and stayed with my job in design.The confidence I got from having complet-ed my Master’s degree really gave me theself-assurance to achieve bigger and biggerthings. Looking back, that feeling is verysimilar to the pride and self-reliance that Ifelt standing in from of the CPN Board,receiving my scholarship check. It was agreat feeling, then and now.

I have recently moved to Oregon andbought a house for the first time, and allof a sudden I am thinking of my neighbor-hood in a very different way. I have joinedour neighborhood association and evenvolunteered to chair our NeighborhoodWatch. I thank the neighbors of CedarPark and the Board, for having the visionto begin the Scholarship Fund. Hopefullyit will be well funded into the future tohelp more young people learn the values oftrust, hard-work, and how far one can gowith the support of their neighbors.

Scholarship Story: How Far One Can Go with the Support of Neighbors

This award was apublic declarationof how much theneighborhood val-ued, trusted, andwanted to supportthe students.

The students,in turn, shareda desire to givesomething back tothe communitiesthat raised us.

Page 2 CPN Newsletter May 2005 Page 3

A generous Cedar Park resident haschallenged neighbors to raise $3,000for this year’s scholarship fund.

Our anonymous donor will match it –dollar for dollar – up to $3,000! Thatmeans that CPN has the possibility toraise at least $6,000 for this yearsscholarship drive.

This is an unprecedented gift. Never beforehas a fellow resident shown such generosi-ty. Now everyone must do their part toreach at least $3,000. And we need to actimmediately.

Shortly, you will receive your letter anddonor form to contribute to the scholar-ship fund. Don’t recycle it… Don’t throw itaway… Don’t put it in a stack of papers tolook at later… Sit down, write your check toCedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Fund, com-plete the donor form, and send both back inthe self-addressed envelope. Every dollarbrings us closer to our goal. Please give asmuch as you can. Donations are tax-deduct-ible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Help our students buy books, pay fortransportation or purchase much neededsupplies. Invest in the future of our stu-dents and our community.

We dare you to read this! We double-dare you to conquer the challenge!

In response to this annual scholarship fund appeal, to assist youth committed to our neighbors, in post-secondary schools,please enter my contribution as follows:

____ $ 25 Neighbor

____ $ 50 Friend

____ $100 Educator

____ $150 Mentor (a quarter scholarship)

____ $300 Patron (a half scholarship)

____ $600 Benefactor (a full scholarship)

AMOUNT OF MY CONTRIBUTION: $_____________ Please make your check payable to “CPN Scholarships”.

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone: Email Address

Cedar Park Neighbors is a 501[c]3 not-for-profit organization. All contributions are fully tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

C P N S C H O L A R S H I P D O N A T I O N F O R M

supports OUR students and invites you to attend a Scholarship Brunch

820 S. 47th Street

11 am - 2: 30 pm

Sunday May 22nd • Sunday June 26th • Sunday July 24th • Sunday August 28

5% of Proceeds support Scholarships for Students in Cedar Park

abbraccirestaurant

By Maureen Tate, Block Organizing Committee

The CPN Block Organizing Committeewas pleased to learn that our Block

Organizing Proposal was recently acceptedfor funding by the Citizens Bank Neigh-borhood Partnership Fund. Block Organ-izing was identified by the CPN Boardas one of 4 major components of a longrange plan in the Spring of 2003. Sincethat time the Committee has sponsored aBlock Leaders Conference, initiated CedarPark Block Improvement Grants andconducts an email Network for blockcontacts. Members of the Committee:Angie Coghlan, Trina Dow, SarahScheckter, Marianne Smith, MaureenTate and Carol Walker.

The $6000 grant from Citizens Bank willbe matched with $2,000 from Cedar ParkNeighbors plus volunteer services andsweat equity valued at $4,000. The BlockOrganizing Project will address four needsidentified by block leaders: communica-tion, education, resources and interven-tion. Elements of the Project include:

• Expansion of the Block ImprovementGrant Program

• Development of the Block Network ofBlock Leaders

• Implementation of a Second BlockLeaders Conference on November 5,2005

• An Outreach Campaign to extend theefforts and membership of Cedar ParkNeighbors to areas of the communitywhere residents have not been reachedpreviously.

Specifically grant funds will be used toimplement 6 Block Improvement Grants,pay for cement removal for tree planting,finance a special issue of the Cedar ParkNewsletter to be delivered to all house-holds within Cedar Park as part of ourupcoming Block Canvasing Campaign aswell as cover expenses for the fall BlockConference. The grant will also fund anIntern Position to assist the Block Organ-izing Committee. A job description hasbeen developed for the Intern and weencourage all members to review thejob description and direct inquiries ofinterested applicants to: Maureen Tate,(215)726-8664; tatemch@aol.com

Page 4 CPN Newsletter

Citizens Bank Awards $6000 Grant to CPN for Block Organizing Project

Block Improvement Grant Deadline – June 30, 2005

Residents interested in working with neighbors on greening, treeplanting and other improvement projects are encouraged to sub-mit applications for Fall projects by June 30, 2005. Informationabout Block Improvement Grants, project ideas and applicationsare available on the CPN website: www.cedarparkneighbors.orgBlocks that have already successfully completed projects include:900 and 1000 blocks of Farragut St. (pictured at left) and the800 and 1000 blocks of S. St. Bernard St. (pictured above).

Block Improvement Grants: Neighbors Work to Beautify Farragut and St. Bernard Streets

Cedar Park Neighbors is a not-for-profitassociation of diverse households and

businesses based in the Cedar Park neigh-borhood of West Philadelphia. The organi-zation fosters collaboration among mem-bers of the neighborhood, promotes com-munity development, provides a forum forcommunication and community education,responds to neighborhood concerns, andadvocates for the general welfare of theCedar Park community.

We are seeking an intern who is passionateabout improving urban communities. Theposition would start September, 2005, andthe intern will work with the Cedar ParkNeighbors Block Organizing Committee.The intern will be required to attendseveral meetings throughout the season.The goal of the intern position is to:

• help CPN meet new residents of thecommunity

• register resident questions and concerns

• help the Block Organizing Committeeidentify block leaders

• update the Block Network database

• Assist the Block Organizing Committeein planning and execution of the bi-annual block leaders conference inNovember, 2005. The goal of thisconference is to bring members of theCedar Park Community together toaddress issues such as maintenance

of open/green space, zoning concerns,crime and safety issues, etc.

This internship offers the chance to havean in-depth view of working for a non-profit community organization. The internwill become acquainted with the value ofneighborhood networks and will partici-pate in shaping a strategy to solicit andrespond to community feedback. CPNwill work with the intern to ensure thatnon-traditional hours work with theintern’s schedule.

We are looking for someone who is a teamplayer with good attention to detail. Theideal candidate will also be self-motivated,out-going, open-minded, willing to learn,have good computer skills, and will enjoyworking with and listening to communitymembers.

Terms of compensation: Maximum of 100 hours @ $10/hourApplication deadline: August 1, 2005Application instructions: Email yourresume and a cover letter tocontact@cedarparkneighbors.org or mail itto Intern Position, Cedar Park Neighbors,c/o Calvary Community Center, 4740Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia PA 19143.

Please indicate the following: area ofstudy (if currently a student); any degreesheld; prior community or volunteer experi-ence; relevant experience for this position;reasons for your interest in this position.

May 2005 Page 5

CPN Seeks Intern for Block Organizing Project

Internship OpportunityNeighborhood Network Intern

This issue of the CedarPark Neighbors News-letter is sponsored byO’Donnell Real Estate.

Coming to a Block Near You... Volunteers Needed for Limited Engagement

Cedar Park Neighbors is embarkingon an ambitious campaign this spring

to reach out to residents in the com-munity. On Saturday, June 11, from 10am - 1 pm, rain or shine, thirty volunteerssporting stylish CPN T-shirts will go doorto door throughout Cedar Park in teamsof two, to meet neighbors, distributeinformation about CPN and listen toneighbors’ concerns.

A special issue of the Cedar ParkNewsletter, funded by Citizens Bank, will

be distributed to all households, contain-ing helpful contact information to addressproblems, crime prevention and safety tipsas well as descriptions of CPN projects toinvite greater participation.

We need canvassing volunteers! Ourgoodwill ambassadors will gather atCalvary Church at 9:30 am for coffee,doughnuts and a brief orientation. If youcan join us, please contact Maureen Tate;(215)726-8664; tatemch@aol.com.We expect to have a good time!!

As residents of the Cedar Park area weare constantly reminded of the good

and not so good of living in a very oldcity! Spring has brought forth the greeningand “covering”of our many mature treesand shrubs against the backdrop of large,well built and often historical buildings(houses, apartments, churches etc) allaround us. Isn’t it beautiful?

And the not so good…Recently my neigh-bor was forced to dig up old water andsewer pipes leading to his house. Anotherfriend described how her sidewalk wascaving in on her street. And just yesterdayI noticed the State finally “refilling andcovering over” two large sinkholes onBaltimore Avenue. Those of us who arehomeowners all know the constancy ofkeeping up with the minor (and sometimesnot so minor) repair jobs on our one hun-dred plus year old buildings and streets.

It is within this context Cedar ParkNeighbors Community Association mem-bers work and persevere. We are an oldcommunity organization with a nice mixof the old and new of Cedar Park repre-sented in our Association. (even with a few“old sinkholes” and new “rough edges”).I have been privileged to be part of theleadership of this Association over the pastyear. I have learned how hard the work isas a completely volunteer organization to

encourage and foster the existing good inour neighborhood and effect change inareas of need.

Our Cedar Park Revitalization committeeworks to take what is good in “our park…Cedar Park” and make it better bytearing down fences, providing newgreenery and planning to upgrade theequipment in the park. Our Crime andSafety Committee aims to make ourstable neighborhood even safer. OurZoning Committee becomes involvedwhen residents want to alter a buildingor its intended use… or when neighborswant to resist that change. Our BlockGrants Committee offers money, adviceand assistance to blocks within CPNwho want to plant trees to complementthe existing uniqueness of their street.

Cedar Park Neighbors will continueto respond to the old and new in ourneighborhood. I am confident our presi-dent-elect Carol Walker will take CPNto an even more prominent role in ourcommunity. The best thing we can doto help Carol do this is to VOLUNTEER(or continue to volunteer) on a CPNcommittee, project or activity. We areonly as good as our volunteers! Finally,Thank you for the privilege to serve on theleadership team of CPN for the past year.What a good bunch of people you all are!!

Page 6 CPN Newsletter

President’s Message: Cedar Park – an Exciting Mix of Old and New

Recycling Pays Off to the Tune of $2330

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of AlAirone, Recycling Chair, volunteers

and neighbors committed to recycling,CPN has just received its latest checkfrom Partnership Recycling for pastmonths tonnage which amounted to$2330! These proceeds regularly fundScholarships, greening projects andother community efforts of Cedar ParkNeighbors. Keep those plastics and paperbundles coming in folks! This is a realcommunity success story. Many thanksto all who participate.

Four volunteers from City Heroes —a middle-school branch of City Year —helped out at Recycling at the Firehouse

Farmers Market on Saturday May 7.Caylin, Calou, Mahogany and Melanasorted through many hundreds of items,removing a number of unacceptable itemsand several hundred bottle caps. Removingbottle caps is one of those jobs there neverseems to be time for, and their help wasmuch appreciated. The four were partici-pating in a recycling-related program ofactivities organized by City Year.

Al could certainly use more volunteers.If you appreciate having this programas way to cope with recycling waste,please consider helping an hour or twoevery month. Contact Al Airone at 215-729-5170; herons@ucwphilly.rr.com.

Jim KurtzCPN President

May 2005 Page 7

PhillyCarShare, the local community-based non-profit car sharing organiza-

tion, has officially relocated its businessoffices to the top floor of the historic Fire-house Market at 50th Street and BaltimoreAvenue. The organization independentlymanaged and funded a months-long reno-vation project on the building’s unusedthird floor, resulting in a breathtakinglyhip redesigned office space that retains thebuilding’s old-world flavor while providingthe new tenants with a tastefully utilitarianworkplace environment.

The decision to move to Cedar Park rein-forces PhillyCarShare’s dedication to com-munity-building through concerted effortsto keep money circulating within the localeconomy. By employing local designers,contractors and laborers, PhillyCarSharecemented its investment in the neighbor-hood. Even a cursory glance at the refur-bished space makes it clearly evident thatthe organization is in for the long haul.

“We’re eager to make a real, long-terminvestment in the neighborhood and hopethat our presence enhances the commercialappeal of the area,” said Clayton Lane,one of PhillyCarShare’s co-founders. Theorganization was attracted to the Fire-house because of its historic character andeasy accessibility via public transportation.

PhillyCarShare aims to reduce relianceupon car ownership by promoting carsharing, wherein several members withina community share a single vehicle, thusreducing pollution, congestion andparking problems citywide. PhillyCarSharetakes its dedication to preserving the localecology a step further by populating itsever-growing fleet (33 vehicles, andcounting) with a high percentage of gas-electric-powered hybrids. In fact,two such hybrids make their home righthere in Cedar Park, in the open-airParking Authority lot on the 4700block of Baltimore Avenue.

PhillyCarShare Takes Up Residence in Cedar Park’s Firehouse Market

Cedar Park Neighbors Membership Application/RenewalYES, I want to make Cedar Park a better place. My annual Cedar Park Neighbors membership dues are enclosed.

___ New Member ___ Renewal

___ $7 Individual

___ $10Household (2 persons or more)

___ $20Business

___ $5 Senior/Student/Unemployed

___ $30Sponsor

Enclosed is my additional contribution

of $________________________

Cedar Park Neighbors welcomes your participation. Please check your areas of interest and return the form to CPN, CalvaryCommunity Center, 4740 Baltimore Ave, Phila, PA 19143_____ Block Organizing

_____ Cedar Park Fair

_____ Community Development

_____ Education

_____ Fundraising

_____ Greening Activities

_____ Holiday Baskets

_____ Membership Committee

Name

Address

Phone

Email____ I would like a free CPN T-shirt with my renewal of $30 or more. Adult Size: ___M ___L ___XL

_____ Neighborhood Clean-up Committee

_____ Neighborhood Safety

_____ Newsletter (writing, publishing, delivery)

_____ Recycling Project

_____ Scholarship Fund Committee

_____ Website

_____ Zoning Committee

For more informationon our new neighbors,check them out on theweb by visiting www.phillycarshare.orgor call 215.730.0988.

Page 8 CPN Newsletter

CPN Board

PresidentCarol Walker

Vice-PresidentMaureen Tate

Vice-PresidentJosh Schneider

SecretaryDorothy Welch Berlind

TreasurerKaren Allen

DirectorsMonica AllisonPatty BulackAndrew DillerSean DornBruce HansenVictoria IannottaJim KurtzSarah MackWayne MarquardtChima OrjiEmma PadenJoanne PhamShirley RandlemanRobert SchnollRichard WarnerRene Warnick

CPN Mission Statement:Cedar Park Neighbors is anassociation of diverse house-holds and businesses based inthe Cedar Park neighborhood ofWest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The purpose of the associationshall be to foster collaborationamong all persons living andworking in the Cedar Park neigh-borhood, to promote communitydevelopment, to provide a forumfor communication and commu-nity education, to respond toneighborhood concerns and toadvocate for and promote thegeneral welfare of the CedarPark community.

Newsletter EditorsMaureen Tate & Judy Lamirand

Newsletter DesignJudy Lamirand, Parallel Design

To Contact Cedar Park Neighborsor submit Newsletter items:contact@cedarparkneighbors.orgwww.cedarparkneighbors.org267-531-4147

c/o Calvary Community Center4740 Baltimore AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19143

All Scholarship, All the Time!

By Darryl Bundrige, ChairScholarship Committee

This issue of the CedarPark Neighbors

Newlsetter is dedicated toraising awareness andexcitement about thescholarship fundraisingdrive underway in ourneighborhood.

• Generous donor setsChallenge Match forFundraising Drive!!!

• Read the story of pastscholarship awardeeJudith Harvey who doesa wonderful job of shar-ing how the generosity ofher neighbors helped herafford the many costsassociated with college.

• Enjoy a ScholarshipBrunch at Abbbraccio

Restaurant which isdonate a portion of itsproceeds to the Scholar-ship Fund on the 4thSundays, May throughAugust.

• Cut out the donationform and help us meetour match!

• Download ScholarshipApplications from theCPN website to sharewith local students.

May is CPN Scholarship Month See Pages 2-3 inside this issue for Scholarship Stories!