Journalists Anjali Kamat and Petra Bartosiewicz tell the stories of Muslim communities in New York and New Jersey grappling with increased law enforcement scrutiny chalked up to the “War on Terror.” Specifically, they detail three cases, including the “Newburgh Four,” four men accused of bombing a community center in Newburgh, New York. The cases question the FBI’s use of paid informants in conducting the investigations of “homegrown terror.”
We’re not sure whether to laugh or cry after this ABC6 story about parents braving frigid temps to get their kids into Penn Alexander’s kindergarten, which is capped at 50 students. We’re happy that such a school exists (full disclosure: we have a child there) and that parents care so much about their child’s education, but we’re sad that they are so scared of the alternatives that they feel they have to sleep outside on the coldest night of the year to get in.
This kind of stand-in-line, first-come-first-serve enrollment system obviously isn’t sustainable. Penn Alexander, which prides itself on small classes, is filling up quick in the lower grades as parents move to the neighborhood (some before they even have children) looking for the Holy Grail of a nice urban neighborhood and a good public school.
Philadelphia schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman will meet with concerned West Philadelphia parents and others on Monday, January 24 at the Philadelphia Business and Technology Center (5070 Parkside Ave., first floor) at 1 p.m. West Philadelphia Coalition for Neighborhoods and Businesses is organizing the talk and Ackerman is expected to discuss, among other things, the district’s strategic plan – Imagine 2014 – and community involvement in schools.
The meeting organizers want to remind those interested in attending that the entrance is on Columbia, not on Parkside.
We found this breezy little piece on the Philadelphia Magazine website earlier this week that continues to chronicle the growing legend of Fiume, the perfectly quirky little beer and whiskey bar at 45th and Locust. Writer Robert Huber uses the lack of televisions at Fiume to underscore what happens every night at this place – impromptu, elbow-to-elbow conversations with a wide swath of folks. In Huber’s case on this night, it’s a couple of Greek Ph.D. students and a social worker.
Huber writes:
There are no TVs. I am sorry to harp on a simple point but it is also so dark in here that reading would be a challenge, so there are three possibilities:
Drink.
Listen to Billie Holliday, now singing. It could be Tammy Wynette. Or Tiny Tim.
Or talk.
Not bad choices these days. You can read the entire piece here.
Here are a few things plucked from a full slate of weekend activities on the left bank. If we missed something that you are dying to tell us about, write editor – at – westphillylocal.com.
Friday, January 21
• Taxing Carbon: The Simple Solution to the Climate Crisis • Tabernacle United Church • 3700 Chestnut St. • 7 p.m.
Charles Komanoff, a widely known for his work as an energy-policy analyst, transport economist and environmental activist in New York City will talk.
Saturday, January 22
• Clark Park Farmer’s Market • Don’t forget that it’s open in the winter too • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
African Cultures Day • Penn Museum • 3260 South Street • 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. • Free with museum donation ($10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for kids)
Sonic Liberation Front is an afro-futuristic creative music ensemble. Its members are a who’s who of Philly’s finest genre-bending improvisers, composers and folkloric musicians (and sometimes dancers). Bobby Zankel leads an innovative jazz outfit. The Boston Phoenix wrote that Zankel “deserves any Talent Deserving Wider Recognition Award that the Jazz Press might offer.”
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