SOSNA News, June 2002

Marketing South of South | Farmer's Market | Seconds on South | Help Wanted | Jamaican Jerk Hut Film Festival | Local Business News | Health Screening | Home Ownership Fair

SOUTH OF SOUTH CHOSEN FOR NEW DEMONSTRATION MARKETING PROGRAM

SOSNA has received notice that our neighborhood has been chosen to participate in the new Demonstration Marketing Program which is sponsored by the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation and funded by the William Penn Foundation. We are one of six neighborhoods chosen for the program out of 13 which had been under consideration.

Modeled after the success of the Center City District, the program is designed to retain existing residents and attract new residents to the neighborhood, by publicizing the attractions of living in our area. The program will fund an advertising campaign to promote the area designed by a professional public relations firm. It is anticipated that the campaign may include a new name for the area, but the name is yet to be chosen.

Steering Committee to be Formed
SOSNA will nominate a Steering Committee of about 12 persons to work with the public relations firm hired to design the advertising campaign. It is anticipated that 3 of the members of the committee will represent various block associations active in the area. Invitations have already been extended to Joan Miles, Block Captain of the 2100 Block of Catharine, Marian Jones of the 1900 Block of Montrose, and Gloria Jackson of the 2300 Block of St. Albans, the Garden Block An invitation has also been extended to Lois Fernandez, founder of Odunde, the major annual festival in the area. Universal Community Homes will be asked to participate as well. While the complete make-up of the committee has not yet been finalized, it is recognized that the committee must incorporate a broad range of perspectives as well as the geographic scope of the neighborhood.

Invitations were also extended to Laura Blanchard of the 2000 Block of Christian and Ann Hoskins-Brown of the 900 Block of S. 25th St. Both Ms. Blanchard and Ms.Hoskins-Brown were instrumental in securing the award for our neighborhood, by frequently emailing information and ideas to Stephen Kazanjian, the consultant to CPDC who worked on the neighborhood selection process. Mr. Kazanjian was so impressed with their input that he specifically asked that they be named to the Steering Committee.

In thinking about the advertising campaign, a representative from the faith-based community is also considered important because of the large number of worshippers at area churches who have roots in the neighborhood but now live elsewhere. One marketing theme that might be developed is: "Wouldn't you like to live near your church?"

Funds for Beautification and Crime Prevention
According to Stephen Kazanjian, CPDC will ask the William Penn Foundation for additional moneys for greening, beautification, police, and safety measures, in order to bolster the marketability of our neighborhood. There is no indication at this point how much funding will be available under the program or where and how it will be spent.

"This is a real coup for our area," said SOSNA Chair Angela Richardson. "We know that growth is underway in the neighborhood, but this gives us a tremendous opportunity to direct that growth. We want to work with area residents, real estate companies, local businesses and developers to promote our neighborhood as a great place to live and work. Two weeks ago, we received an award to undertake a survey of key historical and architectural sites in the area, and now this is the second piece of good news in a month. It is all very exciting and is a reflection of the hard work of so many people both inthe SOSNA organization and our neighborhood."

FARMERS' MARKET AT 17TH & SOUTH ON SIDEWALK
The Wednesday Afternoon Farmers' Market will be held on the sidewalk at 17th and South from 3 PM to 7PM until further notice. This location is directly adjacent to the old location, which has been sold to a private developer. Because of the hot real estate market and the liability insurance required to operate the market, the Reading Terminal Farmer's Market Trust has been unable to obtain an alternate location.

SECONDS ON SOUTH: The SOSNA Thrift Shop at 1635 South Street. There's always a bargain to be found. To make tax-deductible donations to our non-profit thrift shop, call 215-732-8151.

HELP WANTED:
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR SOSNA NAC OFFICE
SOSNA seeks an Administrative Assistant to work at the SOSNA NAC Office on a parttime basis 4 hours per day for a 20 hour week. The salary is $10 per hour. Applicants must be computer literate. The Administrative Assistant reports to the Executive Director. Duties include client in-take, writing letters, preparation of reports, other requirements of the NAC contract, and other duties as directed. Send resumes to Doug Norman at 1711 South Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19146. Fax: 215-732-2016.

THURS NITE FILM SERIES AT JAMAICAN JERK HUT
The Jamaican Jerk Hut at 1436 South Street has inaugurated a new film series entitled Better than Bootleg. From Italian classics such as Cinema Paridiso, to camp classics, such as the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and on to everyone's favorite Jamaican movie The Harder They Come, featuring the Reggae music of Jimmy Cliff, the film series will offer the best of film and video to stimulate social dialogue and awareness. Screenings will be on Thursday night, from 7 to 11PM outdoors next to the restaurant. Suggested donation is only $3. Information is available from Sherice Campbell at 267-467-4944.

If you have not yet dined at the Jamaican Jerk Hut, you are missing one of the best culinary experiences in our neighborhood. Dinner outdoor on The Veranda at the Jerk Hut is a summer delight. The East Indian Tropical Fruit Salsa, the curried goat or chicken, and the Roti wholewheat flatbread used to wrap curried meats and vegetables are consistently excellent. The Jerk Hut has a BYOB policy, and many patrons bring rum to mix with the homemade fruit juices served at the restaurant. With soft summer breezes and live island music on the weekends, The Veranda at the Jerk Hut is the place to be. Call 215-545-0765 for reservations.

SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES
Let's all try to support our neighborhood businesses.

We have some great restaurants and shops on South Street. If you are new to the neighborhood, you must check out:

• Ron's Ribs at 1627 South Street where a South Street tradition lives on, and the barbecue sauce is tops.
• Govinda's at 1408 South Street for fine vegetarian & Indian cuisine
• My Thai at 2200 South Street, for elegant Thai cuisine. Liquor License.
• Ms. Ann's at 20th & Kater. Always a crowd for down-home cooking.
• Matty's Pet Stop, the pet supply store, is relocating to new and expanded quarters at 1729 South Street.

Let's keep business growing in the area.

SOSNA BRINGS NEW HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAM TO AREA
SOSNA will inaugurate a new program of free, community-based health prevention and services in the area in cooperation with Thomas Jefferson University. A health survey will be the first phase of the program, to assess the needs of the community. The surveys will most likely be undertaken at 3 senior citizen residences in the area, plus other community centers such as St. Rita's at 20th and Christian and the Marian Anderson Recreation Center. It is anticipated that the full program of clinical and social services will be underway sometime in the fall, provided by a team of physicians, social workers, and medical students. SOSNA wishes to thank our new Board Member, Morris Gaines, who developed the program for our community. Thank you, Morris, for a great start to a year of service on the Board.

Call 215-686-9723 for information on the Greater Philadelphia Homeownership Fair, scheduled for June 20, 2002 from 10AM-2PM at Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall. There will be information on first-time homebuyer programs, financing options, home improvement loan programs, and exhibits by federal and city government housing agencies.

Published by South of South Neighborhood Assoc., Inc.
Doug Norman, Executive. Director. Angela Richardson, Chair, Doerte Smith, Vice Chair. Alan Mandel, Treasurer, Sam Porter, Controller, Paul Sanders, Acting Secretary, M.Showell, Asst. Controll.

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SOSNA is the Neighborhood Advisory Committee for the area from South Street to Washington Avenue, Broad Street West to the Schuylkill River, funded by the Office of Housing and Community Development to provide citizen input into their redevelopment process in our community. SOSNA is a registered nonprofit corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Site contents copyright SOSNA except where indicated.