PhiladelphiaDaily Record

Vol. II No. 63 (223) Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia May 13, 2011

ON STAGE at Liacouras Center for Temple graduation ceremony yesterday was a host of dignitaries,

including Dr. Bill Cosby, trustee Dan Polett, board chairman Patrick O’Connor,

and honorary doctorate recipient Chris Matthews, of “Hardball” fame.

Matthews and his whole family come from N. Phila., and he was pleased to be

back once again. More pictures page 6. Photo by Bonnie Squires

Owls’ Roost

2 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 10 MAY, 2011

Casey Pushes For Training

In Children’s HospitalsUS Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) cosponsored bipartisan

legislation yesterday to reauthorize funding to the

Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education pro-

gram. For over a decade, the CHGME program has

provided children’s teaching hospitals with federal

support for job training for physicians who care for

children.

“Children are not just little adults. They have very

different medical needs and it is essential that we

have a specialized workforce to care for them,” said

the Senator. “Each year through this program, over

5,000 residents are trained to care for our youngest

patients.”

Pennsylvania has three hospitals that would be af-

fected by the cut. The Children’s Hospital of

Philadelphia, the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of

UPMC and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

would be significantly affected by the elimination of

the CHGME program, which provides funding to

children’s hospitals for job training for physicians

who care for children. These three hospitals received

approximately $40 million in federal funding in 2010.

“We are grateful to Sen. Casey for introducing legis-

lation to protect the CHGME Program, which is criti-

cal to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s ability

to train the pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists

needed to care for our patients,” said Carolyn Jack-

son, CEO of St. Christopher’s. “Elimination of this

vital program would exacerbate the current shortage

of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists and ham-

per the ability of hospitals to meet the needs of the

community.”

Steven M. Altschuler, MD, CEO of The Children’s

Hospital of Philadelphia, said, “Sen. Casey’s legisla-

tion would provide critical funding necessary for us

to train physicians who will provide medical care to

children. Without this funding, The Children’s Hospi-

tal of Philadelphia and other freestanding children’s

hospitals will be less able to fulfill our goal of provid-

ing the most appropriate treatment to each child at the

right place and time.”

The bipartisan bill to reauthorize funding for

CHGME is S. 958, the Children’s Hospital GME

Support Reauthorization Act of 2011.

Toomey Presses For Policies

To Lower Gas Price, Boost SupplyAs gas prices skyrocket across

Pennsylvania and drivers face sup-

ply disruptions, Sen. Pat Toomey

(R-Pa.) is fighting for policies that

will revamp the United States’ en-

ergy policy and lower prices for

consumers.

Toomey signed a letter May 11 to

Lisa Jackson, administrator of the

Environmental Protection Agency,

urging the EPA to study the effect

of the increased use of different

types of fuels in different localities

on the rising price of gas. The En-

ergy Policy Act of 2005 directed

the EPA to undertake a fuel harmo-

nization study in order to assess

the effect varying fuel standards

might have on the price of gaso-

line. Six years later, the federal

government mandates 17 different

types of fuel blends for different

parts of the country, and the EPA

has never undertaken the study.

The bipartisan fuel-harmonization

letter was also signed by eight

other Senators and a number of

House members.

In addition, the Senator is also a

cosponsor of the Gas Accessibility

& Stabilization Act, S. 511, that re-

duce the probability of gas price

spikes by simplifying our coun-

10 MAY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 3

try’s complex gasoline system. Current mandates re-

quire special blends of gas to be used in different

states and cities, complicating the supply chain and

causing unexpected price hikes if a particular blend is

in short supply. The GAS Act will reduce the number

of approved fuels and allow communities more flexi-

bility in times of shortages.

“It is critical that we pass energy legislation to keep

the cost of gasoline down,” Toomey said. “Right now,

Pennsylvanians are suffering from sky-high gas

prices and supply issues, and the administration is

simply ignoring the growing energy crisis. If the GAS

Act passed, states would have more flexibility to

meet demand and prevent price hikes. This would

offer relief to Pennsylvania suppliers and residents

right now.”

Jersey Shore House Prices

May Be StabilizingAfter several years as the most ad-

versely affected area in the Mid-

Atlantic region, the Jersey Shore’s

housing market showed continued

improvement in its vital signs this

past winter.

Following a multi-year decline in

home values that significantly ex-

ceeded that of Philadelphia and its

surrounding counties, most Shore

communities exhibited either flat

or positive price changes, accord-

ing to the latest quarterly data.

In the most recent analysis com-

pleted for Prudential Fox & Roach

by Econsult and University of

Pennsylvania economist Kevin

Gillen, the typical Jersey Shore

home declined in value by a scant

0.1% on a quality and seasonally

adjusted basis in Q1. This further

deceleration in house price de-

clines follows a decline of 1.8% in

the previous quarter, which came

on the heels of a more pronounced

decline of 6.2% in Q3 last year.

The full report can be accessed at

http://www.econsult.com/NJ_2011

_Q1.htm

When this most recent decrease is

added to the continuous price de-

clines since the market’s peak in

2006, the typical Shore dwelling

has now dropped in value by an

average of 32%.

Although the average change in

house prices this past winter was

essentially zero, there was signifi-

cant variation across communities.

In particular, Margate exhibited a

large decrease, while Atlantic City

showed a large increase. This is in

contrast to most of the previous

quarters last year, when all com-

munities were showing continued

declines in average house prices,

often in the double digits. From

smallest to largest, the average

change in house values by commu-

nity in Q1 were: Margate (-

20.3%), Somers Point (-6.5%),

Cape May* (-6.5%), Ocean City (-

5.3%), Longport (-3.4%), Ventnor

(+1.1%), Brigantine (+1.6%),

Avalon/Stone Harbor (+2.3%),

Wildwood (+3.2%), Sea Isle

City/Strathmere (+4.9%) and At-

lantic City (+24.2%).

Although price declines may be

moderating, home sales continue

to run well below average levels,

even for this time of year. Accord-

ing to the data, 295 homes trans-

acted between Brigantine and

Cape May in Q1. This is 33%

below the quarterly average of

about 430 homes, but up slightly

from the winters of the past two

years.

According to the federal govern-

ment agency FHFA, the average

US home has fallen in value since

2006 by 21%, while the average

Philadelphia and New Jersey

homes have declined by 16% and

14%, respectively.

Sen. Williams Hosts

Conference For

‘Grands-As-Parents’

This WeekendNationwide, more than 7 million

children live with grandparents,

and some one in five of those

grandparents serve as primary

caretakers – an increase of more

than 30% within the last 20 years.

And these tallies don’t include the

countless uncles, aunts, cousins

and older siblings who, despite

considerable additional financial

and emotional burdens, choose to

4 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 13 MAY, 2011

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T h e P h i l a d e l p h i a P u b l i c R e c o r d C a l e n d a r

May 12-

State Rep. Mike O’Brien hosts

Community Mtg. on small-busi-

ness development for 175th State

House Dist. at Old Pine Commu-

nity Ctr., 401 Lombard St., 6-8

p.m.

May 13-

Dem. 13th Ward Fish Fry at Lou &

Choo’s, 21st & Hunting Park Ave.,

5-10 p.m. Donation $10. For info

Mike Pender (267) 973-0193.

May 13-

Committeepersons Special for ju-

dicial candidate Jim DiVergilis at

Finnigan’s Wake, 3rd & Spring

Garden Sts., 5-8 p.m. Tickets at

door $40.

May 13-

Sid Booker hosts Shrimp Rally for

Mayor Michael Nutter outside

Stinger La Pointe Restaurant,

4600 N. Broad St., 6-8:30 p.m. All

invited.

May 13-15

Phila. Chapter of National Con-

gress of Black Women kicks off

Black Splendor Weekend at Fri-

day formal at 1st Dist. Plaza, 7

p.m. honoring Onah C. Weldon.

May 14-

Mayfair Fallen Heroes 5K Run &

Walk at Lincoln HS, Ryan &

Rowland Aves., 8:30-10:30 a.m.

$25 proceeds support education of

police/fire survivors. For info

mayfairbiz.com/run.

May 14-

E. Mount Airy Neighbors hosts

Swing Into Spring dance party

fundraiser from 7 to 11 p.m.

Music by Doc Gibbs. Open

wine/beer bar, hors d’oeuvres and

desserts. Tickets $90, tax de-

ductible. Benbow Hall on

Lutheran Seminary Campus, 7301

Germantown Ave., 7-11 p.m. Free

Parking. For more info www.east-

mountairy.org.

May 14-

State Sen. Anthony H. Williams,

with Grands As Parents and Turn-

ing Points for Children, hosts day-

long workshop for kinship

caregivers from 8:30 a.m. to 3

p.m. at the McNeil STC Building

at Univ. of Sciences, 42nd &

Woodland Ave., 8:30 a.m.-3 Free

public event. Lunch. Registration

needed. Call Brenda Rich (215)

875-4955 or birch@turningpoints-

forchildren.org.

May 14-

Fundraiser for 8th Dist. Council

candidate Robin Tasco at 7165

Germantown Ave., 7 p.m.-12 a.m.

Buffet dinner and dancing. Dona-

tions $100-$1,000. For info Ros

(267) 593-1571 or www.robin-

tasco.com.

May 14-

E. Mt. Airy Neighbors hosts

Swing Into Spring at Lutheran

Theological, Brossman Bldg.,

Benbow Ha., 7301 Germantown

Ave., 7-11 p.m. Tickets $90, under

age 35 $60. For info (215) 242-

4170.

May 15-

Democrats of Oak Lane Team

present Marion Wimbush’s annual

Breakfast and Meet & Greet can-

didates at Oak Lane Diner, 6528

N. Broad St., 9 a.m.-12 m. Broad-

cast over WURD 900 AM.

May 15-

Friends of Marian Tasco present

Jazz Brunch at View, 800 N.

Broad St., 8th fl., 1-4 p.m. En-

trance on Brown Street. Featuring

Sherry Wilson Butler. $65 person.

No tickets will be sold at door.

Contact Jalila Brown or Nedia

Ralston (215) 437-3294.

13 MAY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 5

step into that breach when parents walk away.

A distinguished panel from academia, the judicial

system as well as municipal and civic associations

will discuss this important and timely issue tomorrow.

Despite the daunting statistics, the tools to make these

efforts easier too often are not apparent. This confer-

ence changes that by offering caregivers legal, finan-

cial, educational and behavioral health workshops

and a resource pavilion all in one place.

The conference will run Saturday, May 14 from 8:30

a.m. to 3 p.m; opening session at 9:15 am. It will be

held at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia,

McNeil STC Center, 43rd & Woodland Avenue.

Workshops run 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. The keynote lunch

speaker at 1 p.m. will be Daily News columnist Elmer

Smith.

There will be a panel discussion 1:30-2:30 p.m., mod-

erated by Trudy Haynes, pioneering broadcaster. Pan-

elists include Dr. Arthur Evans, Philadelphia

Behavioral Health Commissioner; Hon. Kevin

Dougherty, Administrative Judge, Family Court;

Anne Marie Ambrose, Human Services Commis-

sioner; Karren Dunkley, executive director, Parent,

Family, Community Engagement & Faith Based Part-

nership, Philadelphia School District; and Robin

Mekonnen, project director, Penn State and CHOP

studies.

Curry: Gov. Corbett

Has Declared War On SeniorsState Rep. Lawrence Curry (D-Northeast) today said

Gov. Corbett has “declared war on seniors.”

“The Governor’s proposal to slash $1 billion in edu-

cation funding will force an increase in local property

taxes,” Curry said. “The House Republican version

of the budget does not do much to make that better.

They propose cuts of more than $900 million.”

The House Republican version of the Governor’s

budget (HB 1485) was reported out of the House Ap-

propriations Committee Wednesday.

“In order to restore that small portion to education,

House Republicans steal from the Dept. of Public

Welfare,” Curry said, “eliminating services for sen-

iors, women and children. This is not acceptable.”

Curry is Democratic chairman of the House Commit-

tee on Aging and Older Adult Services.

“Already our local school boards have announced

their responses to the loss of State dollars,” Curry

said. Springfield will increase its millage rate by 1.4;

Jenkintown plans a 4.96 mill increase and a pay

freeze for administrative and teaching staff; and in

order to avoid a tax increase, Cheltenham has an-

nounced a pay freeze but will also eliminate adminis-

trative, support and teaching staff.”

HB 1485 is slated for floor debate in the House on

May 23.

6 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 13 MAY, 2011

Temple Sends Off Another Class

TEMPLE TRUSTEES, from left, Bob Rovner, Esq., Dr.

Bill Cosby and Pat Eiding gather before Temple’s Com-

mencement on Thursday at Liacouras Center.

STATE SEN. Mike Stack greets Chris

Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball”

daily show, before Matthews received an

honorary doctorate from Temple at Com-

mencement.

BILL COSBY regaled thousands of graduates, their families, and faculty and staff, by telling them he

had invited FEMA to come distribute water, blankets and checks for those graduates who had no idea

where to go after receiving their diplomas.

13 MAY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 7

Sen. Kitchen: Hip Hop Artists to Sur-

prise Dobbins HS Students With ConcertLocal hip hop artists will encour-

age Dobbins Technical HS to reach

for the STAARS with a concert

this afternoon at1:30 p.m. The

Senator will join Principal Charles

Whiting and the STAARS music

program to encourage students to

reach for the stars through a free

concert featuring Philadelphia rap

artists Young Chris and Neef of the

popular hip hop duo Young Gunz,

Freeway and other new up and

coming artists. STAARS stands for

STressing Academics through

ARtS.

Dobbins is located at 2150 W.

Lehigh Avenue.

Baldi MS Partnership Boosts Arts Education

IN MS. PATRICIA ELDER’S

art classroom, Abington Art

Center’s Mosaic Mural Making

Residency with Carol Stirton-

Broad enlisted, from left, Ms.

Elder, Stanley Kanevsky, George

Kurudimov and Mr. Stuart

Friedberg, art teacher.

PARTNERSHIP, fostered by ArtsRising,

will help expand equitable access to high-

quality arts education for children in

Greater Phila. Here, Ms. Jennifer Maz-

zuca’s class experiences Literacy Through

Photography with Liz Gilly of Moore Col-

lege of Art. From left, Pedro Palmer,

Tamia Scott, Nathaniel Carroll and Eliza-

beth Merrigan.

ARTSEE OPEN HOUSE at C.C.A.

Baldi Middle School celebrated school’s

new arts residency partnership with

Abington Art Center and local artists.

Here, Mr. Brian Bernardini’s music

class experiences the Peace Train Resi-

dency with Sharon Katz. From left,

Kristina Colon, Khakiza Ibrogimova,

Kaitlin Summers, Hailey Iovino, Aimee

Papadopolous, Ashley Ryan and Somya

Vats.

8 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 13 MAY, 2011

ROSS BESCHLER plays “The Man” in EgoPo’s

PIFA production.

by Adam Taxin

EgoPo’s world-premiere production of Hell, with

three performances remaining (tonight and tomorrow

at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 5 PM), offers a relatively grip-

ping, proto-existentialist study of solitude versus at-

tachment to other human beings.

The play, performed in the venerable, if unorthodox,

venue of the library of the German Society of

Philadelphia (611 Spring Garden Street), is based on

a widely-read French novel by Henri Barbusse which

was considered extremely scandalous upon its 1908

release. The novel has been adapted for stage by Lane

Savadove, EgoPo’s producing artistic director, and

Ross Beschler, who plays “The Man,” the play’s 30-

something, World War I-veteran narrator/central char-

acter.

Set in a Paris boarding-house room, the play enables

audiences to ponder issues of loneliness, sexuality,

vulnerability and aging through the prism of The

Man, who is not particularly connected to any other

humans or to his work. Any audience member should

be able to identify with at least a few of the issues

with which The Man struggles in his mind (perhaps

in particular those of us who are almost 40, unmar-

ried, childless and not employed in a conventional-of-

fice way).

The device used to develop the play’s story and

themes is a mysterious hole in the wall which enables

peeping on the boarding house’s other guests. One

imagines that things would be a lot different had The

Man then had available certain technologies we today

take for granted, but the protagonist becomes quite

absorbed by the other guests’ lives and own struggles,

reconsidering himself in the process.

Beschler, a veteran of EgoPo’s Waiting for Godot and

Marat/Sade, as well as productions at Peoples Light

& Theatre, Lantern Theater and Theatre Exile, ab-

sorbs the audience from the start, although his con-

stantly-extremely-dramatic delivery becomes slightly

tiresome toward the latter part of the production of

over two hours. (One may get tempted during the per-

formance to speculate for analogies … in this re-

viewer’s case, it was that of Howard Cosell trying to

squeeze drama out of a meaningless mid-1980s pre-

season Monday Night Football game involving the

Detroit Lions and Houston Oilers.) But on the whole,

Beschler provided a very engaging performance, as

were those given by, among others, Ed Swidey (re-

cently, Angus in Macbeth at the Wilma) and Mary

Lee Bednarek (several roles in Lantern’s Henry IV,Part I).

Audiences probably should be made aware in ad-

vance that at one late point in the play the costuming

Better Act Quickly

If You Hope To Go To ‘Hell’

13 MAY, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 9

for one particular actress is minimized to an extent

that does not even officially take place a few blocks

down Spring Garden Street at Delilah’s Gentlemen’s

Club & Steakhouse. (It should be noted that, aestheti-

cally speaking, that particular visual earns a heartily

positive review).

EgoPo, whose name means “the physical self,” relo-

cated to Philadelphia from New Orleans in 2005 after

Hurricane Katrina. Savadove, the company’s artistic

director, has a long history of directing and adapting

classic French theater for the stage.

Performed in conjunction with the Paris-in-1911-

themed Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts

(PIFA), Hell is the finale to EgoPo’s 2010-2011 sea-

son. The season, devoted to French Avant Garde and

Theater of Cruelty, has included Marat/Sade and Ar-taud Unbound. EgoPo’s 2011-2012 season theme will

be “Festival of Jewish Theater” and will feature TheDiary of Anne Frank, The Golem and The Dybbuk.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Note: a slightly different version of this review article

appears today in the author’s “Philadelphia Jewish

Culture Examiner” page on examiner.com.