PhilaNet.com

Franklin Institute
Opens May 5

In SPY: The Secret World of Espionage, learn the importance of intelligence gathering and discover how real men and women can change the world every day—one secret at a time. Featuring over 200 historical artifacts and the stories they have to tell—including a collapsible motorbike, a two-man submersible, and a CIA robotic catfish—combined with firsthand spy experiences like personal disguises, voice alteration and navigating through a field of laser beams—find out what it’s truly like to be a spy!

There has never been a shortage of intrigue in the world of spies, and the artifacts and interactive displays in the exhibit vividly tell their stories, past and present, through actual tools, technologies, and testimonials. Discover the real-life evolution of spy technology and experience life as a spy by navigating through an actual laser field, using voice altering technologies to conceal your voice, and creating your very own spy disguise.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The City of Philadelphia filed suit Common Pleas Court against a former vendor of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office and former Sheriff’s employee, including former Sheriff John Green, in an action that seeks monetary damages and payments of money owed to the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW).

The filing was prompted by an action commenced by the City in October 2012. After an independent forensic audit of the Office of the Sheriff, City Controller Alan Butkovitz released a forensic investigation report prepared by Deloitte Financial Services, LLP in the Fall of 2011.

City Controller Butkovitz urged City Solicitor Shelley R. Smith to initiate civil action to recover from two primary service vendors, Reach Communication Specialists, Inc. (“Reach”) and RCS Searchers, Inc. (“RCS”), and others specified in the report for various apparent fiscal improprieties including: excessive fees and overcharges paid to Reach and RCS; unpaid amounts due PGW as a result of gas liabilities for properties sold at sheriff sale and other unpaid pass-through amounts; and improper, unauthorized or unsupported payments.

The Controller’s forensic report identified potential improper relationships, conflicts of interest and other alleged wrongdoing by and among former Sheriff John D. Green and other former Sheriff Office employees, as well as James R. Davis, Jr., his companies Reach and RCS, and others related to Davis and his companies. Moreover, the report noted that millions of dollars remained unaccounted for and millions of dollars in payments were unauthorized or unlawful.

With the assistance of attorneys at the law firm of Kaufman Coren & Ress, P.C., a prominent, well-regarded commercial litigation firm, the City initiated a lawsuit by writ of summons in October 2012 against the Reach entities and others. Today, the law firm has filed a complaint in that action on the City’s behalf.

In this action, the City seeks to recover for the wrongdoing of the Defendants named therein. The City asserts the following claims, among others: (a) an accounting with respect to the payment and disposition of more than $115 million that flowed from the Sheriff’s Office to Defendants Davis and his companies, and a judgment in favor of the City for the return of all ill-gotten gains established by that accounting, including any sums that may have been overcharged to the Sheriff’s Office in connection with the advertising of Sheriff sales, and $600,000 unpaid to the Philadelphia Gas Works; (b) treble damages for violations of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act; (c) treble damages for the submission of false claims in violation of The Philadelphia Code; (d) breach of fiduciary duty and fraud; (e) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and fraud; (f) conversion; (g) unjust enrichment; and (h) civil conspiracy.

In addition to those named above, the Defendants include Sheila R. Davis; Karen Coursey; Crystal Stewart; Darrell Stewart; Tyrone Bynum; Processing Link; Rory Lane Gazaway; Yellow Rose Enterprises; 400 PTM, L.L.C.; and Jackiem Wright.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware
5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
215 632 5330

POPULAR BIRD WALK RETURNS TO GLEN FOERD

Come join us on Saturday, April 27th, @ 7:00am for an enjoyable and educational walk around the grounds of Glen Foerd. The fall walk is an excellent chance to learn about area birdlife and enjoy one of the beautiful green spaces remaining in Northeast Philadelphia. The walk will be led by experienced birdwatcher and local educator Frank Windfelder. The program begins at 7:00am in the Glen Foerd mansion and ends at about 9:00am. Light breakfast will be provided. Dress casually and wear comfortable walking shoes. Binoculars are recommended.

GLEN FOERD MEMBERS – FREE
NON-MEMBERS $3.00

Glen Foerd on the Delaware
5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
215 632 5330

Children’s Art Classes
Begins June 1st 10:00 – 11:00am; Five Saturday Classes for Ages 6 – 10 years.
Registration required. $85.00 for members, $90.00 for non-members
Join this class for colorful fun at Glen Foerd on the Delaware; paint, collage, sculpture and more. Abrakadoodle’s award-winning program will have students exploring exciting artists from around the world as they experiment with a variety of cool art materials in a creative and fun environment, a new masterpiece will be created each class.

Children’s Theatre Classes
Begins May 1st 4:00 – 5:00pm; Five Wednesday Classes for Ages 7 – 12 years.
Registration required $50.
Future actress and actors learn theater skills through traditional acting exercises that lead to performances of monologues and skits using situational drama. Frank Turco, an experienced professional actor and teacher with the Philadelphia Community Arts network, will be the instructor.

The Art Museum
August 31st to September 1st, 2014

Featuring:
Nine Inch Nails, Beyoncé, Deadmau5, Phoenix, Queens of the Stone Age, Calvin Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Gaslight Anthem, Public Enemy, Solange

CONTAINER GARDENING WORKSHOP AT GLEN FOERD
Saturday, June 1st from 11:30am to 1:00pm
Registration required $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

Have you always admired those lovely pots of flowers at public gardens or nurseries? Want to learn how to create them for your own backyard patio? This workshop will teach you the basic techniques and design considerations to produce beautiful ornamental container plantings. This is a hands-on class, so bring your gardening gloves and a container to plant and take home. Please – no containers larger than 10 inches in diameter and height, with drainage hose in the base.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware
5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
215 632 5330

NEW YORK CITY
by the Occupy Movement

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) gets another victory! The city of NY will have to pay for destroying the OWS library, Global Revolution’s media equipment, and Time’s Up NY’s bike generators when they cleared Zuccoti Park during the eviction. The Bloomberg administration was also forced to write an essay about what it learned from the incident. “Plaintiffs and Defendants recognize that when a person’s property is removed from the city it is important that the City exercise due care and adhere to established procedures in order to protect legal rights of the property owners.”

Fans of justice will be glad to hear that New York City will pay for all those books and all that media equipment that the police trashed when it famously raided the Occupy Wall Street camp on November 15, 2011. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York just announced a $366,700 settlement in Occupy’s case against the city for the damage caused during the raid as well as all of the legal fees the movement’s poured into seeking retribution. New York City Will Pay Over $365,000 for Its Destructive Raid on Zucotti Park ADAM CLARK ESTES http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/04/new-york-city-has-fork-over-365000-its-destructive-raid-zucotti-park/64062/ also- Under the terms of today’s settlement, Brookfield agrees to pay the city $15,666.67. While not an outright admission of blame, the language Siegel referred to does read a little like the Bloomberg administration was forced to write an essay about what it learned from the incident: “Defendants acknowledge and believe it is unfortunate that, during the course of clearing Zuccotti Park on November 15, 2011, books were damaged so as to render them unusable, and additional books are unaccounted for. Defendants further acknowledge and believe it unfortunate that certain library furnishings and equipment likewise were damaged so as to render them unusable, and other library furnishings and equipment may be unaccounted for. Plaintiffs and Defendants recognize that when a person’s property is removed from the city it is important that the City exercise due care and adhere to established procedures in order to protect legal rights of the property owners.” City Settles Lawsuit Over The Destruction of the Occupy Wall Street Library http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2013/04/city_settles_la.php see settlement agreement here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/135002275/Occupy-Wall-St-v-City-of-New-York-Settlement

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Over the past decade, PA has given tax cuts to big corporations. This has drained resources from our schools, healthcare and communities while failing to produce good jobs. Loopholes do not work as incentives, yet PA is 1 of only 8 states that has not taken common sense steps to close loopholes.  Now, Gov. “Corporate” has proposed “reform” that is a big new tax break for profitable corporations. He is making loopholes bigger!

JOIN US this Thursday April 11th 10am as we travel to Harrisburg to protest this on a day of a budget hearing about these issues. We will depart from Fight For Philly at 10am & return by 4:30pm. Come with us, invite friends on Facebook or BOTH!  Just reply to this email to rsvp.

The 227th graduating class of the Philadelphia High School for Girls (Class of 1983) celebrates its 30th reunion weekend:

Friday, May 31, 2013
Pink Marble Hall Reception at Girls’ High
5:30 – 8:30PM

Saturday, June 1, 2013
30 with Finesse Semi-formal Soiree
Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant River Club
4120 Main Street
Philadelphia, PA
7:00 – 11:00PM

Fore more information contact GHS227reunion.30@gmail.com