Every game has its tipping point, and sometimes it comes earlier than others. When the Pioneers of Girard Academic Music Program, 2136 Ritner St., met the Lancers of Central High School for Friday afternoon’s blustery ballgame, that point came in the top of the first inning.
Alfonso Gambone Birth date: 34 Hometown: 21st and Shunk streets Reside now: 21st and Shunk streets Family: Dr. Rita Carabello, wife; Alfonso Antonino Gambone, child Education: St. Monica, 1720 Ritner St.; St. Joseph’s Prep; Bachelor’s degree in science business administration from Villanova University; Juris Doctorate from Temple University Law School; Military Commission at U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Office Basic School Experience: Active duty U.S. Army captain 2004-’07; deployed to Baghdad, Iraq with 1st Brigade Combat Team prosecutor with 10th Mountain Division, ‘05-’06; Private Law Practice ’07-’12; Capone & Gambone Attorneys at Law managing partner Why are you running for the 1st District seat? We need to grow our state’s economy, not our state’s government. We need to encourage business owners with lower taxes, less regulation and innovative business development programs to encourage entrepreneurs and self-starters. We need to ensure that our children’s education prepares [them] to become productive members of society and not dependent on it. I support: • The consolidation of administrative and technological services between state agencies to eliminate waste, lower our taxes and makes government efficient. • The privatization of Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board to fund infrastructure improvements, senior health programs, and community development. • The expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program...
A senior at Center City’s Roman Catholic High School, Michael Leitner earns high marks as a committed leader. As head of the Community Service Corps and an avid participant in many school clubs, the resident of the 2300 block of South 17th Street is a mentor and outstanding example to fellow students.
By Amanda L. Snyder
Two suspects were taken into custody last week for a Girard Estate bank robbery that occurred in December.
By Amanda L. Snyder
Police released footage of a man, who stole money from an account at a Quartermaster Plaza bank last month.
Young, aspiring athletes need a strong foundation to help them to develop into future high school varsity standouts. There are many different paths to choose from, but the Catholic Youth Organization tends to be a popular starting point.
Like any true Roman Catholic, Rev. Joseph Kelley possesses a modest mentality. The ninth-year pastor at St. Monica, 1714 Ritner St., credits predecessors Monsignor Aloysius F.X. Farrell and Bishop Louis A. DeSimone with making his Girard Estate haunt such a devout locale, but readers decided that despite his believing he is just “following their outline,” he deserves top priest distinction.
By Jess Fuerst
Louis “Luigi” Borda came from Italy in 1969. His 1967 Fiat 500, which he bought about five years ago, made that trip at about the same time. Borda came with his mother, Angelina, and older siblings Anthony and Adeline from Calabria at age 3 to reunite with his father, Fioramanti, who had come to South Philly earlier to work as a laborer with his brother.
By Jess Fuerst
Cara Colantuono lost her grandfather Cpl. Andrew Colantuono Dec. 19. However, the 26-year-old knows she will be honoring his memory everyday, as she works to set up Support Homeless Veterans, which will provide housing and assistance for struggling former military members.
By Amanda L. Snyder
The 1st District is seeking anyone interested in joining the town watch to attend a meeting 6 tonight at 1st District, 2301 S. 24th St.
By Joseph Myers
Age typically increases maturity, but it customarily decreases mobility. For the last eight years, Bonney DosSantos has worked to ensure it does not also diminish dignity. As the director of the St. Monica Eldercare Program, based at St. Monica Junior School, 1720 Ritner St., she strives to allow the seniors of South Philly’s largest parish to enjoy life within Girard Estate for as long as possible.
Beneath our streets of notoriously double-parked cars and SEPTA buses, in alley garages and behind bulkhead pavement doors exists an underground society about which few people know. Its members share trade secrets. They borrow equipment from each other and compare notes. Their alliance does not have a name, a mission statement or a political agenda.
»COMMUNITY PROFILE
Boundaries: Passyunk to Oregon avenues, 17th to 25th streets. The Girard Estate historic district — the only one in South Philly — is roughly bounded by 17th to 22nd streets, Porter to Shunk streets and 21st to 22nd streets, Passyunk to Shunk.
Origin of Name: The area was established by the deed of Stephen Girard, a French merchant.
Brief history: Stephen Girard landed in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. In 1797, he purchased a farm he named "The Places" at the southern end of Philadelphia County, an area known as Passyunk Township. The original farmhouse, along with the two later additions built by Girard, still stand today at 21st and Shunk streets. Although Girard never lived in the farmhouse, his daily regimen included visits to the farm where he would perform much of the manual labor himself.
In 1830, the Horticulture Society of Pennsylvania recognized the farm for being among the best in the country noting the orchard included Seckel pears that were “second to none,” and the gardens included America’s first artichokes as well as a variety of other fine vegetables. Fruits, lemons, mandarin oranges and the only known citrons grown in this country filled his greenhouse while the land was profuse with jasminion bushes and 20-foot high Marseillaise fig trees.
Girard and his attorney, William Duane, spent many hours at the farmhouse composing Girard's will. When he died in 1831, most of his $6-million estate was left to the City of Philadelphia. Girard’s will stated; however, the city must establish a college for poor white boys in his name, and his house must not be sold. In response to the second stipulation, the Board of Recreation Tours of City Trusts developed Girard Estate, which initially were all rental homes, between 1907 and 1916. The planning of these homes was loosely based on the "Garden City" concept by Ebenezer Howard and were designed by the father-and-son team of James and John Windrim. Envisioned as a low density, semi-suburban setting with modest lawns and cottage-like twin houses, the Girard Estate homes reflect the popular styles of the early 20th century. In 1950, the city received permission to sell all 481 homes to private owners. Within two years, all were sold.
Famous Residents: Stephen Girard
Major Landmarks: Donatucci Library (formerly Passyunk Library), 1935 Shunk St., was constructed in 1914 through a grant from railroad tycoon Andrew Carnegie; Girard Park, site of Girard’s farm and house, between 21st and 22nd streets and Porter and Shunk; Quartermaster Plaza, 23rd Street and Oregon Avenue.
Architecture: Outside of the Girard Estate historical district, two-story brick rowhomes built in late 1910s and ’20s are most prevalent. Within the district, architect James H. Windrim, along with son John, built semi-detached homes from 1906-16 in many styles, including bungalow, prairie, mission, Jacobean revival and Colonial revival. Homeowners must follow guidelines set by the Philadelphia Historical Commission to preserve the aesthetics of the homes.
U.S. Congressional District: 2nd, Chaka Fattah (D)
U.S. Senators: Bob Casey (D); Pat Toomey (R)
Pennsylvania Governor: Tom Corbett (R)
State Senate District 1st, Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. (D)
State House District: 185th, Maria Donatucci (D)
City Council District: 2nd, Council President Anna Verna (D)
Ward: 26th
Police District: 1st, Capt. Louis Campione; Community Relations Officer Paul Bryson
Civic Groups: Broad Street West Civic Association; Girard Estate Area Residents; Girard Estate Neighbors' Association
Libraries: Donatucci, 1935 Shunk St.
Schools: St. Monica Junior School, 17th and Ritner streets, and Senior School, 16th and Porter streets; Girard Academic Music Program (once Edgar Allen Poe School), 22nd and Ritner streets; Philadelphia Job Corps, 2810 S. 20th St., Building 12
Places Of Worship: Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church, 2310 S. 24th St.; Monica Roman Catholic Church, 1714 W. Ritner St.; St. Edmond's Church, 2130 S. 21st St.; and Trinity Lutheran Church, 2300 S. 18th St., and
Rec Centers: Guerin Recreation Center, 16th and Jackson streets in Newbold.
Parks: Girard Park, 21st and Shunk streets.
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