by Mike Roth
This past month the Hunting Park community saw two beautiful new additions. On the forty-two hundred block of Seventh Street, two young Autumn Brilliances were planted. The Autumn Brilliance is a beautiful flowering tree, which reveals white flowers in the spring, stunning foliage in the summer and fall, and even tasty berries in the winter. These two trees were planted by the Rosado and Morales Families.
Maria Morales believes that planting trees is a great way to improve our environment. She says, “We need a lot of trees, it improves the quality of the air…it is important we do not just think of ourselves.” Her 13 year old son Ralph also likes the idea of having a new tree, “trees provide nice shade for kids and adults.” Three doors down lives the Rosados, a long time Hunting Park family. The father of the house, Ray Sr., has played a big role the planting. He helped pick up the trees and helped in planting them. He and his son Ray Jr. believe, “Trees give the block a facelift and improve the tone of the neighborhood.” Both these families are excited to see their trees blossom and grow.
The truth is that trees do exactly what the Morales and Rosado family said they do and more. Trees can benefit communities and the environment in tremendous ways. Trees themselves are a testimony of the beauty they bring to an area. While the aesthetic benefits are easy to see, there are some things that might surprise you about trees. Studies have been done showing that trees can actually reduce crime in a neighborhood and raise the property value in a community. Trees can reduce cooling and heating costs in homes by providing shade in the summer and a wind barrier in the winter. The value of a tree to our environment is quite staggering. Trees help purify the air we breathe by absorbing pollutants. The USDA forest service reports that “Philadelphia’s 2.1 million trees currently store approximately 481,000 metric tons of carbon with an estimated value of $9.8 million.” If I listed all the benefits of trees you would probably get tired of reading, so I won’t. The point is clear: trees benefit us.
Interested in planting your own tree? Through the Treevitalize program Philadelphia residents have a unique opportunity to have a tree planted for the price of only $25. The city subsidizes the bulk of the tree price and recently has even paid for and completed concrete cutting. One of the many advantages to this program is that you are able to select your own tree. The trees available are placed into categories small, medium, and large. Smaller and medium trees will not damage your sidewalks. All of the trees are proven street trees. This means that they are hardy enough to withstand the tough city environment. They also have less aggressive root systems, so your pipes stay safe. You are able to pick a tree that will fit your block and space. For more information on planting your own tree please contact Mike Roth at 215-370-8029.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Child Safety
by Regina Hardaway
Hi neighbors,
I am the crossing guard at 6th and Cayuga, serving students from Cayuga Elementary, Hunting Park Christian Academy, McClure Elementary, Clemente MIddle School, De Hostos Charter, C.E.P., Esperanza Academy, and even Olney High. Every day these students are crossing streets while those in cars are running late to work! It is a dangerous situation for our little ones and requires all of us to be mindful of their safety. Thankfully, my corner has never had a traffic accident involving a student. Keep praying!
I'd like to begin by commending all of you for teaching your children to be very careful and to look both ways before crossing at an intersection. Also, for helping them to remember not to cross between cars for their own safety (i.e. many drivers aren't able to see children when they cross between cars until itt's too late).
Children do as we do, not as we say. Thank you for obeying all traffic lights at all corners in the neighborhood, even when you're in a hurry to get to your bus or to get to work and your children are with you. By obeying the traffic signals, we're teaching them that no matter how rushed you are, it's better to be safe.
I leave 6th and Cayuga at 9am. So if your child is running late, my suggestion is that you walk them to the school yard and not let them walk unattended, especially the little ones. To the parents who walk their children daily to school, I want to personally thank you for keeping a watchful eye out for those who do not have the best interest of our children in mind.
I also want to thank after school programs such as the one at Ayuda Community Center for taking care of those children whose parents are still at work when school lets out. If your child is currently unsupervised after school, consider enrolling them at Ayuda or another after school program. The cost of the program is minimal compared to the value of your child's safety!
Keep up the good work and let's all work together towards a safe rest of the school year!
Hi neighbors,
I am the crossing guard at 6th and Cayuga, serving students from Cayuga Elementary, Hunting Park Christian Academy, McClure Elementary, Clemente MIddle School, De Hostos Charter, C.E.P., Esperanza Academy, and even Olney High. Every day these students are crossing streets while those in cars are running late to work! It is a dangerous situation for our little ones and requires all of us to be mindful of their safety. Thankfully, my corner has never had a traffic accident involving a student. Keep praying!
I'd like to begin by commending all of you for teaching your children to be very careful and to look both ways before crossing at an intersection. Also, for helping them to remember not to cross between cars for their own safety (i.e. many drivers aren't able to see children when they cross between cars until itt's too late).
Children do as we do, not as we say. Thank you for obeying all traffic lights at all corners in the neighborhood, even when you're in a hurry to get to your bus or to get to work and your children are with you. By obeying the traffic signals, we're teaching them that no matter how rushed you are, it's better to be safe.
I leave 6th and Cayuga at 9am. So if your child is running late, my suggestion is that you walk them to the school yard and not let them walk unattended, especially the little ones. To the parents who walk their children daily to school, I want to personally thank you for keeping a watchful eye out for those who do not have the best interest of our children in mind.
I also want to thank after school programs such as the one at Ayuda Community Center for taking care of those children whose parents are still at work when school lets out. If your child is currently unsupervised after school, consider enrolling them at Ayuda or another after school program. The cost of the program is minimal compared to the value of your child's safety!
Keep up the good work and let's all work together towards a safe rest of the school year!
The Future is in Your Hands
by Ryan Kellermeyer
A handshake often determines our first impression of someone. Are they confident, passive, weak, strong, kind, or rude? Often you can tell simply by how they use their hands. Looking around, we can see how our neighbors are using their hands. On one corner, people are planting seeds in a new community garden. On another, money and drugs are being exchanged.
A group of neighbors have used their hands, hearts, and minds to put together this newsletter. We call ourselves the Hunting Park Civic Association and we've begun meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at Spirit and Truth Fellowship Church on the corner of 6th and Cayuga. We want to celebrate what's good in Hunting Park and work together to fix what is broken. This newsletter will be published monthly throughout 2008 and it will tell the stories of what we find in Hunting Park.
The Hunting Park Civic Association is a group of neighbors coming together to make our community more beautiful, clean, friendly, safe, and healthy. We have a long way to go and there is a lot of work to be done. You are invited to roll up your sleeves with us. Just like fingerprints, no two people have the same exact skills. You are unique and your contribution is important. The future of Hunting Park is in your hands. Our next meeting is May 13th at 6:30pm. We hope you will join us.
A handshake often determines our first impression of someone. Are they confident, passive, weak, strong, kind, or rude? Often you can tell simply by how they use their hands. Looking around, we can see how our neighbors are using their hands. On one corner, people are planting seeds in a new community garden. On another, money and drugs are being exchanged.
A group of neighbors have used their hands, hearts, and minds to put together this newsletter. We call ourselves the Hunting Park Civic Association and we've begun meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at Spirit and Truth Fellowship Church on the corner of 6th and Cayuga. We want to celebrate what's good in Hunting Park and work together to fix what is broken. This newsletter will be published monthly throughout 2008 and it will tell the stories of what we find in Hunting Park.
The Hunting Park Civic Association is a group of neighbors coming together to make our community more beautiful, clean, friendly, safe, and healthy. We have a long way to go and there is a lot of work to be done. You are invited to roll up your sleeves with us. Just like fingerprints, no two people have the same exact skills. You are unique and your contribution is important. The future of Hunting Park is in your hands. Our next meeting is May 13th at 6:30pm. We hope you will join us.
What is Ayuda Community Center?
by Bob Crawford
The Ayuda Community Center on Cayuga and Marshall Sts. has been serving our Hunting Park community for over 15 years. We have been committed to gathering the resources and people needed to develop and provide programs and services that will address the real needs of families and individuals in our community. We have been committed to providing opportunities like our S.O.S. after school and Community Arts programs, and our Boy Scout Troop that have goals of not only helping to keep children off of the streets and discover and develop certain skills, but to bring them help to build the character and confidence they will need for a hopeful life tomorrow. Our Legal Clinic is not offered to only help people sort through complicated issues in their lives and find answers, but to stand with them in those struggles and find new hope for their present and future.
Come and find out what Ayuda is all about. Come down to the corner of Cayuga and Marshall and sit down with Pam Ramos. Speak with Kate Perez or Ryan Kellermeyer and find out what and how Ayuda offers and hopes for. Come and share with us your hopes and goals for you and your family and our neighborhood. Come and see what we are all about. Ask us how you can join with others and be part of a community in transformation. Our doors are open from 9-4 on week days, and everyone is always welcome. Our Legal Clinic offers free legal services on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, from 3PM- 6PM. And be sure to join us on Saturday June 14th on Cayuga street between 7th and 6th Sts for our Annual Family Fun Day.
The Ayuda Community Center on Cayuga and Marshall Sts. has been serving our Hunting Park community for over 15 years. We have been committed to gathering the resources and people needed to develop and provide programs and services that will address the real needs of families and individuals in our community. We have been committed to providing opportunities like our S.O.S. after school and Community Arts programs, and our Boy Scout Troop that have goals of not only helping to keep children off of the streets and discover and develop certain skills, but to bring them help to build the character and confidence they will need for a hopeful life tomorrow. Our Legal Clinic is not offered to only help people sort through complicated issues in their lives and find answers, but to stand with them in those struggles and find new hope for their present and future.
Come and find out what Ayuda is all about. Come down to the corner of Cayuga and Marshall and sit down with Pam Ramos. Speak with Kate Perez or Ryan Kellermeyer and find out what and how Ayuda offers and hopes for. Come and share with us your hopes and goals for you and your family and our neighborhood. Come and see what we are all about. Ask us how you can join with others and be part of a community in transformation. Our doors are open from 9-4 on week days, and everyone is always welcome. Our Legal Clinic offers free legal services on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, from 3PM- 6PM. And be sure to join us on Saturday June 14th on Cayuga street between 7th and 6th Sts for our Annual Family Fun Day.
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