Philadelphia Folk Songwriters
May 15th, 2015Songwriting and recording at Penn’s Landing and South Street, Philadelphia, PA over top of Interstate 95, as well as, the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Philadelphia Water Works:
Philly Music Scene
May 7th, 2015
Love Your Park Week
May 7th, 2015PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the Fairmount Park Conservancy will devote an entire week to celebrating parks in Philadelphia during the 4th Annual LOVE Your Park Week from May 9 – 16, 2015. LOVE Your Park Week is a celebration of Philadelphia’s diverse parks featuring eight days of service projects, fun events, educational programs, family activities, and more.
LOVE Your Park Week kicks off on Saturday, May 9, when PP&R, the Conservancy, LOVE Your Park sponsors, and hundreds of volunteers from dozens of neighborhood park stewardship groups host the LOVE Your Park Service Day at more than 80 neighborhood parks from 9am-12pm.
Printer Cartridge Fraud
April 23rd, 2015PHILADELPHIA — United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and City of Philadelphia Chief Inspector Amy Kurland announced that Derek Willis, 50, and his wife, Danita Willis, 36, owners of Laser Cartridge Plus Inc. (LCP), were sentenced to prison time and were ordered to pay full restitution to the City for their participation in a scheme that defrauded the City of more than $1.3 million.
Derek Willis, 49, and Danita Willis, 35, of Russellville, Ark., pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice and perjury for knowingly making false statements to a federal grand jury on April 29, 2014.
Beginning June 4, 2016, Danita Willis will serve 12 months and one day in prison, which will be followed by 36 months of supervised release. She is required to pay a $700 special assessment. After her release, Derek Willis will serve 36 months in prison, which will be followed by 36 months supervised release. He is required to pay a $900 special assessment. Both will pay full restitution of $1,368,091.19 to the City.
“This case highlights the City’s need for more effective oversight and the importance of the public’s participation in rooting out corruption, fraud and abuse. Like this one, most of our cases originate from tips and complaints from the general public,” said Inspector General Kurland. “This sentence serves as a powerful reminder that the OIG will not tolerate the theft of City dollars that are sorely needed for City services. We will do whatever we can to prevent similar wrongdoing in the future.”
The investigation began in September 2011 when a City employee reported patterns of suspicious purchases to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The Willises owned Laser Cartridge Plus, Inc. (LCP), a business located in Russellville, Arkansas. They were contacted by Calvin Duncan who, at the time, worked as a mailroom clerk in the Philadelphia Water Department. As part of his responsibilities, Duncan was responsible for mail deliveries and purchasing supplies, including printer ink and toner cartridges, for the PWD’s administrative offices.
Duncan submitted requests for approval to purchase printer ink and toner cartridges, falsely claiming that the cartridges were for PWD employees. After receiving the cartridges from vendors – at the City’s expense – Duncan sold them to LCP at prices significantly lower than those usually charged by ink and toner cartridge vendors. The Willises knew that the cartridges were stolen.
The scam resulted in the City paying about $1,368,000 on purchase orders and shipping costs for ink and toner cartridges that were never used by the City. The Willises paid Duncan, who pleaded guilty in 2013, about $545,400, which was not due him.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tomika N. Stevens.
Lux Coming To Philly
April 8th, 2015Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that Lux Products Corporation, an innovative HVAC controls company formerly based in New Jersey, has relocated its headquarters to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The company’s employees settled into their new Philadelphia location as of April 1st.
“Lux Products joins the increasing number of companies choosing to start, stay and grow in Philadelphia and we could not be more excited to welcome their team to our city,” said Mayor Nutter. “With our unemployment rate back to pre-recession levels and more jobs created in the city last year than any time since 2000, Philadelphia’s economy is on the rise.”
Lux is a privately held company based in the U.S. with a sales, marketing, logistics, customer service and technical support center in Philadelphia, PA and distribution center in Laredo, Texas. Lux is the second largest retail brand of thermostats, having sold more than 10 million thermostats, and regularly winning a “Best Buy” rating from well-regarded consumer magazines.
“The Navy Yard is an exciting blend of past, present and future,” notes Rob Munin, newly appointed President of Lux Products. “For Lux it is the perfect location for us to plant our flag and look forward; the Navy Yard campus mirrors our own commitment to smart energy innovation and sustainability, we’re very excited for what this means for our brands and our customers.”
The Philadelphia Navy Yard is home to a growing number of companies with approximately 11,000 people now working at the former military base. The Navy Yard offers a unique urban location mixed with historic buildings and modern architecture, renovated and built for today’s high performance technologies and LEED® certifications all along Philadelphia’s waterfront.
“The Navy Yard is the perfect place for Lux Products’ new headquarters,” said John Grady, President of PIDC, which manages the Navy Yard. “We are delighted to welcome them to Philadelphia. By relocating to The Navy Yard, Lux Products joins the many sustainability focused companies on the campus and gains the space to continue to innovate and grow.”
According to the latest preliminary employment information released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for February 2015, there are more jobs in Philadelphia than for any February since 2001. In addition, Philadelphia added more jobs last year than any year since 2000.
“In the last few months we have welcomed HOK, Hill International, Integrichain, American Bible Society, and now Lux Products to Philadelphia,” said Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. “These decisions and investments are a vote of confidence in our city and a signal to the marketplace that Philadelphia is a great choice for companies looking to grow, attract talent, and be part of a dynamic, innovative economy. I want to thank all of our partners for their continued efforts to create jobs and bring new companies to Philadelphia.”
Bird Watching
April 8th, 2015Glen Foerd on the Delaware, the 18-acre historic estate located in Northeast Philadelphia is a public park that has long been a destination for local birders. Situated on the bank of the Delaware River, the site attracts a variety of bird from bald eagles to blue herons. Right off of the estate’s shores is a nest that is home to ospreys, a bird listed on the threatened species list by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Glen Foerd will be celebrating their winged friends with a Feathered Fun Day in coordination with Elmwood Park Zoo and the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. The Elmwood Park Zoo, located in Norristown is an accredited zoo by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They maintain a collection of over 100 species with the mission of inspiring active participation in conservation. Elmwood Park Zoo will be bring their live raptors for guests to view. John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove will be bringing objects from their touch collection. Guests will be able to learn what makes each bird different and how the various types of birds have adapted to their habitats. Children’s crafts will also be available for families to enjoy.
Pricing for the event which will run from 11:00-1:00 PM is $5 per person, children under 5 are free. The day will kick off with a 9:00 am Bird Walk lead by the Delaware Ornithological Club around the grounds of Glen Foerd. Ticket pricing for the Bird Walk $5. Special joint ticket pricing of $8 will be available if you would like to attend both events.
Glen Foerd on the Delaware is the last of the grand Philadelphia riverfront estates open to the public. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Landscapes Survey. Glen Foerd connects visitors to the legacy of the estate through programs in the arts, nature and history and preserves and protects the landscape, buildings and collections for the enjoyment and enrichment of the community and future generations. Glen Foerd is a Fairmount Park property operated by the Glen Foerd Conservation Corp. in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and supported in part by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.
Local Illustrator
March 28th, 2015 Helping Horace Helfin
Written by John Philip McCarthy
Rated: 3.9 on the KART Kids Book Scale Children (8 – 12) – Will receive a 4 Star Rating on our website
The winter holidays are over and Christmas may be the last thing on most readers’ minds; but fans of the loveable dynamic duo, Horace Helfin and Sally Connors, are in for a special treat. Original creatures and cultures, fascinating foods and amenities, and unique friends and foes set the stage in John Philip McCarthy’s action-packed third installment of this adventure series.
The North Pole is in shambles. An evil elf dictator has overthrown the democracy of the elfin society, Santa has taken refuge in the Human World, and robot, yes, robots have destroyed goodness and removed joy from the residents of the North Pole. With the former Christmas and Halloween escapades behind them, Horace and his team of unlikely heroes must now prepare for the ultimate battle. Using newly discovered supernatural abilities, Horace, Sally, and friends hone their talents and discover that true power comes from working together.
Combined with Paulette Bensignor’s meticulous drawings and illustrated glossary, McCarthy’s vivid details and thought provoking topics (such as the value of believing in your own gifts and talents, instead of yearning for those of another person and what may seem small to you may be the most powerful of all) provide a wonderful landscape for teachers and parents to develop discussion questions while older elementary and middle school students immerse themselves in this epic fantasy of friendship and self-discovery.
With the Blessing of Santa, enjoy Helping Horace Helfin.
– KART Kids Book Reviews, New Jersey, USA Copyright © 2015 PediNatural® All rights reserved. Kids Are Readers Too (KART)
How the Northwest was Won
March 18th, 2015April 22nd
To be held at:
Journey’s Way
403 Rector Street
Philadelphia, PA 19128
@ 7 PM
Guest Speaker – Kristine Soffa, Community Advocate
“How the Northwest was Won” (The Upper Roxborough Federal Historic District).
Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society
Philadelphia During the Civil War
March 18th, 2015March 25th
To be held at:
Journey’s Way
403 Rector Street
Philadelphia, PA 19128
@ 7 PM
Guest Speaker – Joseph Jaworowski Jr., Historian
“Philadelphia During The Civil War”
Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society
Longwood Gardens Light Show
March 12th, 2015CHESTER COUNTY, PA –
Coming July 1.
Light. Sound. Spectacle.
This summer explore the Gardens by day—and by night. Get ready for an immersive evening journey around our Gardens. You’ll encounter moving imagery and light set to music, brought to life by the natural canvas of our plants, leaves, trees, and lakes. Created by Klip Collective of Philadelphia, this innovative display will showcase never-before-seen views of Longwood at night.
Complete the experience with a visit to our Beer Garden, offered only during Nightscape. You can enjoy delicious food, try our signature Longwood brew, and sit with friends and family under the stars. The Beer Garden is open from 6-11 pm (serving until 10:30 pm) on evenings Nightscape is on view.
On select evenings, guests can enjoy these special Nightscape programs:
Nightscape Opening Week, July 1–4
The wait is over, celebrate the opening of Nightscape
July 1 & 2—Open exclusively for Members.
July 3 & 4—Open for General Admission and Members.
Family Nights, July 15 & August 19
Children can enjoy a nature-inspired seek-and-find activity, and guests can engage with staff in must-visit locations throughout the Gardens, including our Meadow Garden, Waterlily Display, and Children’s Garden.
Gardens On Tap, September 16 & October 21
Explore the art, chemistry, and horticultural techniques behind botanically inspired cocktails, spirits, and brews. Longwood experts will be on hand to answer your questions.
Live Music in the Beer Garden, Every Thursday
Join us on Thursday evenings for live music in the Beer Garden.
Artist & Friends, July 10, August 14, September 11 & October 9
Join the creator of Nightscape, Ricardo Rivera, and an engaging panel of urban technologists and artists as they discuss themes in art, music, technology, and design.
