I just got an anonymous tip that supposedly, a major motion picture will be filming extensively on Penn's campus this summer.

Click to find out which film!

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Friday, November 9, 2007
8am-5pm
PA Convention Center

The time has come for us to stop talking about the problems in our neighborhoods and start acting. This year’s conference is inspired by the community activists and youth leaders who work hard to make our neighborhoods places of opportunities where people excel, ideas grow and dreams are realized. By bringing together young people ages 14-21 and adults from around the region, we will begin to create real solutions to the many challenges in our communities. Workshops and interactive sessions will empower youth to effectively address the challenges they face everyday and enhance adults’ capacity to nurture the potential of every youth. We invite everyone, both youth and adults, interested in making a positive and lasting impact in their community to “Step Up!” and “Be the Change”.

**This year’s conference will feature an exciting keynote speech by Ephren W. Taylor, CEO of City Capital Corporation and the youngest African-American CEO of a publicly traded company ever!**

*The conference will also feature a lunchtime comedy performance by Philadelphia’s own Keith from Up Da Block!*

For more information, or to register, visit us online at www.greatsettlements.org or call Amanda at 215-925-7875.

What Do You Do After You Pray:
The Church's Response to Gun-Violence in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA – With more than 250 murders after the first half of 2007, the city once known as the City of Brotherly Love has instead quickly become known as Kill-a-delphia, forcing many residents to live and operate in fear as a result of the gun-violence inflicting the city.

On Saturday, August 25, 2007, Philly Koinonia Ministries (pronounced koy-no-NEE-yah) will organize its initial effort dealing with this problem, the "2007 Gun-drive and City Fellowship". This will be an outdoor effort beginning at 10 a.m. taking place at the Dorothy Emmanuel Recreation Center, located in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. To effectuate a change in our culture, we must not solely rely on the power of prayer, but also take responsibility with our actions to address the stronghold embattling our city; for our actions speak louder than our words. The organization identifies fear as the stronghold that simultaneously creates gun-violence, and results from gun-violence, and therefore will focus using this effort to present an understanding of God’s love to combat the stronghold of fear dwelling in this city as a result of gun violence; for God is love (1John 4:16) and in love there is no fear (1John 4:18).

In addition to the gun-drive (individuals will receive a gift card in exchange for their gun), this effort will also include an appearance by Mayoral Candidate Michael Nutter; messages given by local Pastors, such as: Bishop Keith W. Reed, Pastor Kevin M. Aiken, Pastor Chandra I. Williams, Pastor Daniel Sutton, Pastor Larry Anderson, Pastor Eric Mason, among others; performances by local choirs and other guest artists; and also a nonprofit/vendor area featuring more than 30 tables of advocates, businesses, and non-profit organizations that offer programs and services related to the focus of this effort.

For more information, please visit www.PhillyKoinonia.org.

News Item:
Cancelled display lights up the sky,
after everyone goes home.

The City of Philadelphia celebrated the 4th of July in its usual grand style. Nothing new there. The day started at 10am with events all around town. Historical events, commemorative events, all kinds of good stuff. The parade along the Parkway filled most of the afternoon, toward the end of which the rain started coming down. By the time Philly native Patti LaBelle took the Art Museum stage, festival goers were soaked.

The show still went on, with the vibrant Ms LaBelle at one point stepping out from under the cover of the stage overhang, stating "If you all can stand in the rain to hear me sing, I can sing out here in the rain for you". Other Philly homeboys, Darryl Hall and John Oates, followed in similar style. They and fellow band members were constantly wiping their instruments dry, but never missed a beat, and even came back out for an encore.

By the end of the concert, thunderstorms were moving in, and the decision to cancel the fireworks display was made, for the very logical reason that lightning strikes posed a safety hazard for the thousands who had stayed throughout the night. The announcement was made around 10:30pm, and folks started drifting away. Shortly after 11pm, the Parkway heard its first BOOM, and the fireworks went off without a hitch, to a very appreciative audience of 'none'. Go figure...

News Source: 6 ABC

Cartoon from Sid in the City

Check out The Philly Wire for ongoing updates across the region and the What's New page for updates here, and subscribe to your favorite local Philadelphia blogs.

Philly.com has a nifty guide to holiday events and a regional fireworks finder.

Urbi et Orbi folks,

- Karl

By now, most everyone knows of the horrible fireworks accident in neighboring Upper Merion.

Who knows the rules on how close to people and homes fireworks can be detonated?

To be honest, the township who does their fireworks at the greatest distance from homes and people is Radnor. Radnor Township fireworks are very beautiful. Narberth aslo does fireworks, but they seem much closer to people and homes because the area IS densely populated.

Here is Bonnie Cook's Inquirer article:

Cause found in firework blast
Investigators said a "salute" fell and detonated in the Upper Merion crowd, injuring 15 people, 1 seriously, during a July 4 show.
By Bonnie L. Cook
Inquirer Staff Writer

The blast that injured 15 onlookers during Fourth of July fireworks in Upper Merion was caused by an "errant projectile" that fell during the township display into the crowd before exploding, authorities said yesterday.

Police and township officials said a fuse that should have caused a fireworks device called a "salute" to go off in midair during the show's finale did not trigger on time.

Instead, the apple-sized device, which appears as a loud white bang when it bursts in the air, detonated after falling to the ground.

Authorities credited the 11-year-old son of the township's cable-TV director for shooting the videotape that helped police piece together what caused the mishap.

The video made by Andrew Herbert, a sixth-grader at Wissahickon Middle School in Lower Gwynedd, showed a pattern of loud flashes followed by one delayed flash coming from the crowd, and onlookers exclaiming, "Oh my God."

The explosion seriously injured a 31-year-old man as he folded his picnic blanket. The man, whose identity was being withheld by police, was taken by helicopter to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he was in serious condition yesterday following hand surgery.

Four others required hospital treatment. Ten people were treated at the scene by medics for minor injuries. Police said the injuries included a punctured eardrum, burns, lacerations, and eye irritation. The ages of those treated ranged from 8 to 43.

Authorities did not know what caused the fireworks device to misfire. Officials at Lorusso Fireworks of Netcong, in Netcong, N.J., which staged the show, did not return phone calls yesterday.

"This was an unfortunate accident and something we did not want to occur," township manager Ronald G. Wagenmann said at an afternoon news conference.

He said the township would be evaluating the fireworks company's performance, and would decide later whether to hold the $11,000 fireworks show next year.

David Broida, the township's park and recreation director, said Lorusso had produced the fireworks display without incident since 1997.

"At about that time, we asked around to other municipalities. Lorusso worked for other municipalities in the area, and that's why we hired them," Broida said.

Two witnesses who attended with their families reported seeing fragments of a fireworks device fall to the ground.

.....Investigators from the Upper Merion Police Department, the Philadelphia Bomb Squad, the Montgomery County Bomb Squad and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked all night seeking the cause of the explosion, said Upper Merion Detective Sgt. Jeff McCabe.

SAC Note: this is why authorities always say leave fireworks to the professionals - and even when the professionals do it sometimes there are accidents

description:

During the Centennial year of 1876, Philadelphia was host to a celebration of 100 years of American cultural and industrial progress. Officially known as the "International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine," the Centennial was the first major World's Fair to be held in the United States, which opened on May 10, 1876 on a 285-acre tract of Fairmount Park overlooking the Schuylkill River. The fairgrounds were host to 37 nations and countless industrial exhibits occupying over 250 individual pavilions. The Exhibition was immensely popular, drawing nearly 9 million visitors at a time when the nation’s population was 46 million.

The most lasting accomplishment of the Exhibition was to introduce America as a new industrial world power, soon to eclipse the might and production of every other industrialized nation, and to showcase the City of Philadelphia as a center of American culture and industry. Since many of the high profile political, industrial and financial leaders of this time later made Laurel Hill Cemetery their final resting place; the site is a remarkable embodiment of the celebration of our nation’s 100th birthday.

1876: The Centennial and Laurel Hill, a walking tour, will take place on Sunday, July 9th at 2:00pm.

The cost is $15 per person, with discounts for students and members. Children are free.
Laurel Hill Cemetery is located at 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia 19132. For reservations
or information, please call 215-228-8200, or write to tours@thelaurelhillcemetery.org.

What does Independence Day mean to you?

Of course it's the day we celebrate our independence. And here in Philadelphia, we have such a historical link to the occasion, it makes sense that we celebrate with just a little bit more style than most places do. Whether you're attending Welcome America festivities, or any of the dozens of other area celebrations, there are plenty of options to consider.

Philly.com has a list of events. So do the folks at PhillyBurbs.

Do you have any deep thoughts for the occasion? How do you plan to celebrate? Do you know of an event that didn't make the lists referenced above? Feel free to answer any of the previous questions in the comments.

Suggested reading: The Declaration of Independence

Here we are on the eve of our nation’s birth: July 4th. In 2006, are we better than 2005?

On Friday our friends the Cristofaros and Susette Kelo of New London, CT reached a deal. They are leaving, and developers are staying.

description:

6/27/06
For more information: Georgette Chalker, 215-317-0464
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marchingbandsforpeace/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

MARCHING BANDS FOR PEACE MARCH
TO SUPPORT THE DECLARATION OF PEACE DEMONSTRATION
Area Peace Activists, Musicians and Entertainers to assemble at Christ Church Courtyard at 2nd and Market Streets, July 3rd at 6:00 PM. to march down Market St to support the:

“DECLARATION OF PEACE” Demonstration & Pledge Signing, beginning at 7PM, in front of the Phila. Federal Building, 601 Market Street. The demonstration is organized by the Brandywine Peace Community, www.brandywinepeace.com and is endorsed by many area peace organizations.

The Marching Band for Peace parade vision is to bring attention to the official opening of the Declaration of Peace campaign. Wearing strips of orange to symbolize solidarity, the all-volunteer band made up of local musicians, peace activists and entertainers will march in "Fife and Drum" manner, lead by Hal Sawyer playing the bagpipe, to join the Brandywine Peace Community. The march will consist of political puppets, peace flags and banners to symbolizes our focus on the people and the politicians that are trying to end the war.
All puppets and marching materials donated by Justice Works of the renown West Philadelphia Spiral Q Puppet Theater, www.spiralq.org/justiceWorks.html.