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‘Them That Do’ Profiles of West Philly block captains: Lisa Barkley, 5500 Vine Street

December 11, 2013

Editor’s Note: We’re proud to present the sixth in a series of vignettes of local block captains drawn from Them That Do, a multimedia documentary project and community blog by West Philly-based award-winning photographer Lori Waselchuk. Go to Them That Do for more information, updates and additional photos.

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Lisa Barkley, Haddington Homes, 5500 Vine Street

Lisa Barkley / Photo: Lori Waselchuk.

 

Lisa Barkley shows me the view of her fruit tree orchard from the window of her bright yellow kitchen.

“We have apple trees, pear trees, plum trees, cherry trees, peach, apricot and nectarine trees,” Barkley says. She sounds surprised by the bounty she helped create. “A grapevine – we have Concord grapes out there. Wow!”

Barkley lives in the same 2-bedroom unit in the Haddington Homes public housing project at 55th Street and Vine where she was born. As a child, she played games on Pearl Street. As a young woman, she was the secretary for the Haddington tenant council and in 1999 she was voted the block captain.

From her home, she has watched her community evolve. “There were never flowers, no plants, just trees and some shrubbery here and there,” she remembers. “But it was clean. The adults really took ownership of where they lived.“

But as time went on, the community seemed to lose that sense of collective responsibility. The children lost safe play areas. The local cleaning business was torn down. The city blocked off Pearl Street, creating a dark, abandoned space. Haddington’s parking lot became a staging ground for stolen cars.

“Public housing is transient, so people move in for a while and move out. As a block captain, I want to see the neighborhood be neighbors again.”

Through Barkley’s leadership and with planning and material help from Urban Tree Connection and Mission Philadelphia (Facebook page), the Haddington residents have transformed the parking lots and Pearl Street into a playground, community gardens, and an orchard.

Barkley has reserved the orchard for the adults who live at Haddington. She encourages them to plant their own vegetable plots or use the orchard as a place of refuge.

“Gardening is a natural de-stresser, right? When I plant a seed in the ground and nurture a little sprout, the feeling I get inside – it’s fulfillment. “

The orchard feeds Barkley’s imagination and passions. She inspires others as well. On a sunny Saturday morning in September, eight women attended Barkley’s class on juicing, which she held in the orchard. The women laughed as they placed copious chunks of pineapple, grapes, pears, and spinach into the juicer. They teased each other during the tastings.

The orchard brings beauty into Haddington Homes, and beauty is Barkley’s highest priority. “I want to embrace life now and do all the beautiful things and live the beautiful way that I envision.”

Lori Waselchuk

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Energy efficiency help & tips

December 11, 2013

As temperatures outside drop, many older West Philly houses can feel drafty and cold inside while your energy bills skyrocket. Air sealing and insulation alone can save up to 25 percent on these costs, but not everyone can afford this type of work on their house. We learned that The Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (Keystone HELP) is a special program designed to help homeowners improve the comfort of their homes and save money through energy efficiency upgrades.

Homeowners can qualify for a 0.99 percent interest loan of up to $15,000 to finance the upgrades. As a first step for loan qualification, a home energy audit must be completed that assesses a home’s durability, energy efficiency, and health and safety. Other qualifying improvements include heating and cooling system replacements, hot water heater replacement, windows and doors. The pre-qualification loan application can be completed on Keystone HELP’s Web site, http://www.keystonehelp.com/, and you can search for a local contractor by clicking the “Find A Contractor” button.

Also, click here for quick tips for energy efficiency.

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Snow causes some closings, schedule changes

December 10, 2013

Today’s snowstorm has disrupted plans for many residents and some organizations and businesses in our area. West Philly Local already reported about public school closings announced by the School District of Philadelphia. As of 11 a.m. the somewhat heavy snow turned into light and it looks like we have avoided the mayhem this time. We haven’t heard of any business closings in the area, except for Firehouse Bicycles and Wolf Cycles (Facebook page). Libraries are open, too, and invite folks to stop by and bring their kids. If you hear of any other closings, please post them in the comments.

Erica Maust, Program and Communications Coordinator of The Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion, has sent a note that due to the snow, the gates to The Woodlands grounds will be open to pedestrians only today until 5 p.m. No vehicular traffic will be permitted through the gates to ensure the safety of visitors, monuments, and the site. The Woodlands welcomes visitors on foot to enjoy the snow and the beautiful views (see photo below, courtesy of The Woodlands).

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Snowfall in West Philly: scenes from the neighborhood

December 9, 2013

Many West Philly residents, especially kids, have been enjoying the first snow this season. Some residents are not very happy though, especially car owners. Prepare for more snow tomorrow – it can start falling as early as 7 a.m. and may be “unpredictable,” according to authorities. (Photos by Annamarya Scaccia).

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As holidays approach, more help coming to improve “West Philly’s Main Street”

December 9, 2013

Another holiday season has come to 52nd Street and efforts are continuing to help the teeming commercial strip regain its reputation as “West Philly’s Main Street.”

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52nd Street Station after renovation.

Over the past five years, the Enterprise Center’s Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) has invested in the renewal of 52nd Street, a once busy commercial corridor hit hard by the 10-year Market-Frankford EL reconstruction project. Providing guidance and support, the neighborhood initiative group has worked to spur economic growth in the area, hoping to bring back its vitality.

As part of those efforts, TEC-CDC recently hired Akeem Dixon as the retail gateway’s first-ever Commercial Corridor Manager, made possible by support from the Philadelphia Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC). In his role, Dixon will primarily oversee a cleaning contract managed by the center, funded in part by the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, aimed to “help make 52nd Street the best it can be,” said Bryan Fenstermaker, TEC-CDC’s senior director of programming.

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52nd Street Station before the 2007-2008 reconstruction project / Photos: Wikipedia.

“Our [work] is to make 52nd Street the most attractive and vibrant corridor that it can be,” Fenstermaker told West Philly Local. “52nd Street is really the livelihood of West Philadelphia … A number of people grew up here on the corridor and remember what it used to be like. There’s no reason it can’t come back.”

Hiring a portal manager is a major development not only for the corridor, but for the local organization,  which has a hand in its planning and economic growth. According to Fenstermaker, the new manager will also serve as a soundboard for the “wants and needs” of the area, helping TEC-CDC leverage the requests of 52nd Street’s businesses and residents. Dixon will, in effect, act as a liaison for those partners involved in the corridor—be they local community associations or business owners and street vendors—so there’s full engagement among everyone who has a stake in 52nd Street’s success.

“What we would like to see is the businesses and vendors come together to support somebody that’s full-time on there as a sustainable practice,” said Fenstermaker. “We’re there to support the stakeholders and the corridor, so I see us being there long-term.”

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Where to buy a Christmas tree in West Philly

December 8, 2013

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Curtis (left) and his crew are back in Cedar Park selling Christmas trees. Photo: Mike Lyons/West Philly Local.

 

If you’re looking for a Christmas tree, here’s great news: Curtis and his crew are back in Cedar Park, selling trees at the triangle across from Dock Street at 50th and Baltimore. Curtis & Co. are selling trees daily from about 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

If you live in Walnut Hill or Cobbs Creek, we also spotted a Christmas tree selling place at 52nd and Spruce. Also, you can buy a Christmas tree at 39th and Lancaster, according to a neighbor report. If you know of more places where you can buy a Christmas tree in West Philadelphia please let your neighbors know in the comments.

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