PhilaNet.com | Contact Us | Advertise






School District Layoffs

June 10th, 2013

Mayor Michael A. Nutter issued the following statement in response to the announcement by the Philadelphia School District to lay off 3,783 teachers and support staff:

For months, the School District has been open and honest about the impact that its $304 million budget shortfall would have on District students and employees and the quality of education that it would be able to provide.  Today is the reality of that disastrous, bare-bones budget.

The layoffs of the 3,783 teachers and school support staff is devastating not only to those individuals who will lose their jobs but to the thousands of students and parents and the school communities that will suffer because of these regrettable personnel reductions and other budgetary cuts

This has been an exceptionally difficult process for Dr. Hite, the School District leadership and the School Reform Commission.  No one wants to close schools, lay off teachers or staff but the current leadership is determined to make the District’s fiscal health, immediate and long-term, a top priority.

To help the children of this City, there has to be a real commitment from the Commonwealth, City and the unions to find critical funding for Philadelphia public education.  I have proposed a revenue package that would provide the District with $95 million in vital funding.  Now, we need action in Harrisburg and City Council to pass that legislation.  We need Harrisburg to do its share and support the School District.  And, we need the education unions to accept critical economic and work rule changes.

Philadelphia Museum of Art: Name Your Own Price

May 28th, 2013

Admission: Pay-What-You-Wish
On the first Sunday of the month and every Wednesday after 5 p.m., you can name your price of admission.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 763-8100

Monsanto Protests

May 26th, 2013

WEST CHESTER, PA — On May 25, 2013, protests against Monsanto were held throughout the nation including several locations in the Delaware Valley. Consumers are concerned about the company responsible for making Agent Orange continuing to expose citizens to the harmful effects of their experiments on humans. The pesticide Round Up is speculated to be behind the bee colony collapse. The company’s attempt to create a monopoly over seeds through GMO patents was one of the crowds gravest concerns.

IMAGES FROM THE MONSANTO PROTEST IN WEST CHESTER, PA

A song written at the protest: Can You Hear The Alarm?

Legalize Protesters Released

May 26th, 2013

PHILADELPHIA, PA — On May 18, 2013 two speakers at the NORML protest rally were arrested and placed in the Federal Detention Center. The rally was being held at the Liberty Bell on Federal Park land. The leader of the demonstration, N.A. Poe, was charged with felony offenses.

N.A. Poe Being Released From Federal Detention in Philly

N.A. Poe Being Released From Federal Detention in Philly

Sailing Regatta

May 22nd, 2013

ANNUAL SAILING REGATTA AT GLEN FOERD

Come celebrate almost two decades of dining and sailing as the Racing Fleet of the Delaware River Yacht Club opens the 20th Annual Glen Foerd Regatta on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at 5:30 PM. Guests will dine riverside on a picnic style summer buffet. Iced tea, lemonade, and assorted soft drinks are included with buffet and a cash bar will be available so that you can raise your glass to your favorite sailboat! Musical entertainment will be courtesy of maritime music specialist and Glen Foerd favorite Charlie Zahm. Tickets are priced at $30.00 for our members and $35.00 for non-members. Reservations are confirmed with advance cash, check (payable to Glen Foerd on the Delaware), or credit card payment. Payment must be received in advance. Call, 215-632-5330 to purchase tickets. This event sells out fast, so don’t delay!

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

Primary Elections

May 21st, 2013

Voting is one of the most critical rights granted to us as U.S. citizens and I wanted to remind you that Primary Election Day is May 21st.

Below is information you may find useful concerning voting in Pennsylvania.

Identification

If you are voting for the first time in a polling place, Pennsylvania law requires voters present approved identification.
Acceptable photo identification includes, PA driver’s license or ID card issued by PennDOT, ID issued by any other Commonwealth agency, ID issued by the U.S. Government, U.S. Passport, U.S. Armed Forces ID, Student ID, or an employee ID.
Acceptable non-photo identification forms includes voter’s identification card issued by the voter registration commission, non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth, non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government, firearm permit, current utility bill, current bank statement, current paycheck, or a government check. Non-photo ID must include your name and address.
If you don’t have any of these items at the polls, you can still request a provisional ballot.
If you are not voting for the first time in a polling place, you may be asked to present identification, but it is not required.

Election Day Hours: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line at 8 p.m., you can vote!

How to Vote: Voting systems vary county by county in Pennsylvania. For more information on the system used in your county or city visit the Pennsylvania Department of State’s web page on county voting systems.

Polling Place Locations: The location of your polling place is listed on your voter identification card. If you are unsure of your polling place location contact your local board of elections or visit: http://guide.seventy.org/.

Look for information: Polling stations are required to provide public notice of voting rights, information on how to use the voting machines, and information on how to file a complaint if you believe your rights have been violated.

Ask questions: Polling workers are on hand to answer questions you may have concerning your right to vote and the voting process. If you have questions about how to use a voting machine or would like to request a provisional ballot, ask a polling worker for help. Polling workers can also direct you to the correct polling place if you are at the wrong voting precinct.

Provisional voting: If your name doesn’t appear on the voter registration list or you have forgotten to bring an ID to the polls, under Pennsylvania law you can still vote by asking for a provisional ballot. After you have completed the provisional ballot, you will be provided with a provisional ballot receipt that will include information on how you can check to see if your vote counted. Within three days after the election, Pennsylvania county or city election officials will review the ballot to determine whether or not it counted. You should contact the phone number listed on the provisional ballot receipt to check if your ballot was counted or disqualified. You will be asked for the identification number listed on your provisional ballot, so remember to keep your provisional ballot receipt.

Useful phone numbers and Web sites for additional information:

Montgomery County Board of Elections
Phone: 610-278-3275

Philadelphia City Commissioners
Phone: 215-686-3460

Pennsylvania Department of State
Phone: 1-877-868-3772

Election Assistance Commission
Phone: 1-866-747-1471

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Voting Section
Phone: 1-800-253-3931

Summer Concert Series

May 15th, 2013

Tuesday, June 25 – PSQ: Philadelphia String Quartet

Tuesday, July 16 – Sounds of Swing

Tuesday, August 20 – Hot Taters: Dixieland/New Orleans Mardi Gras

ALL CONCERTS BEGIN AT 7:00PM
New Policy for Admissions: Premium seats in the air-conditioned tent are $3.00 for non-members, FREE for members. Only 160 premium seats are available and will be sold at the door on a first come, first served basis. Lawn seating is free for all.

Pennsylvania Pension Reform

May 14th, 2013

Corbett Supports Landmark Legislation for Pension Reform

Harrisburg –Governor Tom Corbett today joined Senator Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) and Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester) as they introduced a comprehensive pension reform plan that stems skyrocketing pension costs and provides significant taxpayer and budgetary relief for Pennsylvanians, now and well into the future.

The legislation mirrors the governor’s proposal introduced during his February budget address.

“I commend Senator Brubaker and Representative Ross for their leadership in supporting Pennsylvania taxpayers through pension reform and I strongly encourage the legislature to follow suit,” Corbett said. “New calculations show that our unfunded liability has risen to a staggering $47 billion; we can no longer ignore our debt to Pennsylvania. We must take action now.”

Without reform, the governor’s budget office has calculated that pension costs will consume approximately 60 percent of all new general fund revenues in the 2013-14 fiscal year.

“This legislation ensures the pension system is sustainable for the future and implements critically-needed reforms in both the short term and long term,” Brubaker said.

Due to rising pension costs, more than one-third of Pennsylvania’s school districts have applied for exceptions to increase property taxes above the school district’s established index.
“Pennsylvania’s pension funding situation is quickly reaching a crisis,” Ross said. “Something must be done soon to bring these costs into line. Failure to do so would not only be irresponsible, but would threaten our schools and the state’s ability to meet its obligations.”

With reform, school districts and local education agencies would realize savings of more than $1 billion over five years, nearly $140 million in 2013-14 alone.

The legislation rebalances the state’s obligations to both pension funds and the general fund. It also provides short-term budgetary relief to avoid deep cuts in core services and programs offset by long-term reforms that produce an overall savings to the pension systems.

The legislation:
• Contains no changes to current retiree pensions.

• Keeps current employees and retirees in the same type of retirement plan, a defined benefit plan.

• Respects current employees by protecting retirement benefits already accrued and allowing contribution flexibility to opt out of future benefit recalculations.

• Automatically enrolls new employees in a defined contribution plan, starting in 2015.

o State Employees’ Retirement System, or SERS, employees hired after Jan. 1, 2015
and Public School Employees’ Retirement System, or PSERS, employees hired after
July 1, 2015 will be enrolled in a 401(a) defined contribution plan, similar to a
401(k) plan. Consistent with the plans today, state employees will be required to
contribute 6.25 percent of their salary to the plan, while public school employees
will contribute at least 7.5 percent.

• Recalculates future benefits only for current employees through:

o Capping how much of current employees’ future wages and overtime can be used
to calculate their pensionable income, helping to prevent excessive retirements,
and ensuring that the pension reflects an employee’s entire career and not just a
few years where he or she may have earned more overtime or higher pay; and

o Fixing the formula to adjust the way that monthly pension benefits are paid out if
an employee takes a lump sum payment when leaving employment, preventing
employees from getting more money than their pension earned when they retire.

• Limits the amount by which the state’s employer contributions can be increased to provide short-term budgetary relief.

Corbett, Brubaker and Ross were joined for the announcement by Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Clarion), Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford), Rep. John McGinnis (R-Blair) and Rep. Fred Keller (R-Snyder) as well as stakeholder organizations representing local school districts, small and large businesses, and policy and financial industry leaders.

For more information about the pension crisis in Pennsylvania, visit www.pa.gov.

Legislation will be available on www.legis.state.pa.us.

New Real Estate in Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA

May 13th, 2013

Philadelphia Carriage Houses: Elegant style and the convenience of Roxborough / Manayunk

Kingsley Court Real Estate for Sale in Philadelphia

HomeSite PlanFeaturesLocationFloorplansContact Us
Public, tree lined cul-de-sac street
Individual driveways, sidewalks, and street lights
2400 square feet of living space
Finished 3rd floor multi-purpose loft (4th BR, office)
Optional finished basement additional 300 sq. ft.
One year builder warranty
CONSTRUCTION & ENERGY SAVING FEATURES
Energy Star rating-construction and appliances
Insulation above today’s standards
High efficiency HVAC system
50 Gallon gas hot water heater with a special
hot water circulating system
Dramatic first floor 9′ ceilings
Lower level laundry room with gas hook up, utility tub
and faucet
200 amp electrical service
Radon piping in place
One car garage, insulated and dry-walled
Basement stairs stained oak treads
EXTERIOR FEATURES
30 yr dimensional roof shingles
Vinyl/aluminum cornice
Brick veneer front and partial side with vinyl siding
Aluminum spouting & seamless gutter
2 hose bib hook-ups (garage & rear)
2 electrical receptacles (garage & rear)
Asphalt driveway, concrete walk way & stairs
Graded & seeded yards
Public gas, water and sewer
Landscape package
INTERIOR FEATURES
Wood railing & spindles in foyer
3.75″ Oak hardwood flooring on 1st floor
Stairs 1st floor to 2nd stained oak treads & landing
12×12 ceramic tiles in foyer and powder room
Wall-to-wall carpeting on 2nd floor
Raised panel doors throughout
3 5/8″crown molding on 1st floor
5″ colonial base trim on 1st floor
3.75″ case molding door & window trim
Brushed nickel hardware on doors & cabinets
Pre-wired cable TV outlets in bedrooms, loft, living
room, family room, kitchen
Light fixture package including recessed
All bedrooms and great room have switched outlets
GFI receptacles-Garage/Basement/ Kit/Bath/Laundry/
Exterior
Switched outlet in each bedroom
Dining room chandelier
KITCHEN FEATURES
42″high maple cabinets with soft closed doors and
dove tailed joints, stained
Built in pantry with ventilated shelves
Selection of brushed nickel hardware
Hardwood floors
Choice of granite countertops (upgrades available)
3″-4″ matching granite backsplash
Stainless steel appliances including:
Self cleaning gas range/oven
Microwave range hood
Dishwasher
Space for 38″ refrigerator with return
Single bowl stainless steel sink
Garbage disposal
Pull out single lever kitchen faucet
Waterline for ice maker
2 recessed lights
Pendant island lights
MASTER BEDROOM SUITE
2 recessed lights on bed wall with low switches each
side
Walk in closets
Master Bath
Ceramic tile shower with soap/shampoo shelf
Granite double bowl maple 34″ high vanity
1-pc elongated toilet
BATHROOM FIXTURES
Ceramic 12×12 tile floors
Water saving, elongated toilets white
Mirrors above all vanities
Side medicine cabinets
Fan/Light combination in all baths
Pedestal sink in Powder Room
Hall bath
Porcelain steel tub with ceramic tile surround
Cultured marble single bowl maple vanity

New Programs For Children

May 10th, 2013

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.

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