Join us for free beer and pizza, a silent auction, and live music by Wayside Shakeup.

Tickets are $40 and are available using the button [...]]]> The 5th Annual Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Fundraiser supporting local West Philadelphia youth’s pursuit of higher education will occur on Sunday, March 25, 2012 from 4-6pm at Dock Street Brewery (50th & Baltimore.)

Join us for free beer and pizza, a silent auction, and live music by Wayside Shakeup.

Tickets are $40 and are available using the button below.

Questions?  Email us at scholarships@cedarparkneighbors.org

Pleased that the expansion was not just about size but [...]]]> It has been exciting to see Mariposa Food Co-op expand into their new location at 4824-26 Baltimore Avenue, as they move forward with speed, energy and local support. A fresh food market was the number one priority identified by local residents in last year’s Baltimore Avenue Conversation.

Pleased that the expansion was not just about size but also about outreach to more households and that the variety of membership categories would allow for greater access to the market for the general public, CPN has provided tangible support to the effort. To achieve these goals for the community, the CPN Board voted to invest in Mariposa in the form of a 3% loan in the amount of $10,000 over a 10-year period. We are excited to see this project take shape and look forward to celebrating the Grand Opening in the new year.

CPN is pleased to share the following updates provide by Chakka Reeves, the new Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for Mariposa.

Construction on the new store at 4824 Baltimore Avenue started on September 6th. The store is on track to open January 2012.

The new store will be open to everyone, but members will still receive discounts and other benefits.

Mariposa Food Co-op reached 1,000 members on September 27th 2011! They are extremely excited that the expansion allows them to welcome so many new members. They hope to reach 1,300 members by Grand Opening.

This summer Mariposa Food Co-op introduced a non-working member option, for members who want to be involved in Mariposa but are unable to contribute work hours. For more information on joining, visit or stop by the current store at 4726 Baltimore Avenue.

For any additional questions, please contact Mariposa Food Co-op’s new Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Chakka Reeves at chakka@mariposa.coop.

West Philly Coalition for Neigh­borhood Schools (WPCNS) is a grassroots group that aims to bring the vibrance of our community and all of its resources into our local neighborhood public schools, with a focus on Lea Elementary. The Lea Visual Arts program, a collaborative effort to improve school climate through innovative interior design and [...]]]> By Amara Rocker

West Philly Coalition for Neigh­borhood Schools (WPCNS) is a grassroots group that aims to bring the vibrance of our community and all of its resources into our local neighborhood public schools, with a focus on Lea Elementary. The Lea Visual Arts program, a collaborative effort to improve school climate through innovative interior design and visual art throughout the school’s hallways and stairwells, is a recipient of a 2011 Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts grant in the amount of $1,999. Many thanks to WPCNS member Justin McDaniel for his grant writing assistance with Lea Visual Arts program founder, Yvette Almaguer.

The Greening Lea Committee, led by WPCNS members Julie Scott, David Hincher and Jen Martel, has successfully applied for a Commu­nity Design Collab­orative planning grant to green the Lea schoolyard, with the Enterprise Center CDC serving as the fiscal sponsor. The Collaborative proposed that the Lea project, along with another school, John B. Kelly, be part of a design charette exploring urban school sites next spring.

The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC)’s Open Books, Open Minds program and its volunteer librarians have transformed the Lea Library! Additions include a giant teddy bear surrounded by bear-related stories, a plush reading rug, a tiny rocking chair reading nook with reading lamp, and a book display about the ocean, complete with sea shells. The piece de resistance is a book display about caterpillars and butterflies, complete with a butterfly net and a terrarium containing butterfly eggs that have hatched into caterpillars and spun cocoons (though every student knows the proper term for cocoon is “chrysalis”). More important than the cosmetic changes are the stellar library services, brought to Lea by the volunteer librarians in collaboration with Lea’s teachers. We-PAC has quickly become one of the most popular and beloved programs at Lea.

Thank you so much for awarding me this scholarship. My first year at Bryn Mawr College has been amazing beyond belief. I did not know it until I started here, but I love this school and I love college. I have already learned so much. My interest in food production and agriculture policy [...]]]> Dear Cedar Park Neighbors,

Thank you so much for awarding me this scholarship. My first year at Bryn Mawr College has been amazing beyond belief. I did not know it until I started here, but I love this school and I love college. I have already learned so much. My interest in food production and agriculture policy used to be a hobby, something I would only read books about. Thanks to Bryn Mawr, now I know it’s something you can actually study. Although I’m still unsure of my major, I have decided that to pursue my interest in food, I would like to minor in Environmental Studies.

This first year would not have been possible without your support, financial and otherwise. The care package was so thoughtful; I cannot tell you how much it meant to me in the final weeks before winter break.

I thought you might like to know where your money went. There are three books I was able to purchase this year thanks to the Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship and that I highly recommend:

Book: My Soul is Rested by Howell Raines

Class: The Long 1960’s

This book is an incredible compilation of interviews of those involved in the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1968. The story of the civil rights movement comes through clearly in the voices of those who were involved.

Book: Homefront by Catherine Lutz

Class: Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies

An interesting look at the interconnections between the military town Fayette­ville, North Carolina, and its military base, Fort Bragg. More generally, it explores the connection between the military and the home front, and the unexpected toll this relationship takes on those at home.

Book: A River and Its City by Ari Kelman

Class: American Environmental History

American Environmental History was absolutely my favorite class this year. It is American history, but it pays close attention to the interaction between people and land, the ways people think about land, and the effect this has on human choice and historical events. A River and Its City is a study of the complex relationship between New Orleans and the Mississippi River.

I am so grateful for all of your help. It has been an amazing first year, and I could not have done it without you!

Thank you, Miranda Siddall

Greetings from the Scholarship Committee! We’ve had a wonderfully productive and successful year. Once again, our fundraising efforts paid off in a big way; through the generous support and donations of our neighbors, we were able to award eight students $800 each in scholarships. As you can tell by reading [...]]]> By Laurie Friedman and Melissa St. Pierre, Co-Chairs

Greetings from the Scholarship Committee! We’ve had a wonderfully productive and successful year. Once again, our fundraising efforts paid off in a big way; through the generous support and donations of our neighbors, we were able to award eight students $800 each in scholarships. As you can tell by reading Miranda Siddall’s letter of thanks on page 5 of this newsletter, our student recipients are greatly appreciative.

We’ve also added a mentoring component to our efforts, whereby a committee member checks in periodically with one of our scholarship winners during each semester. As a committee, we’ve gained a few new members (although we are always looking for more!). Finally, we are asking our scholarship recipients to commit to giving back to our community, as a way to “pay it forward” and thank this amazing neighborhood called Cedar Park. As part of their award, they’ve agreed to participate in some CPN-­sponsored activity during the year.

But with all the work we’ve done, there’s always more to come. As our scholarship winners approach finals, the committee will be shipping them care packages filled with school supplies and home-baked goods. We are reviewing our application process, and in the next few months, will begin recruiting for next year’s applicants. The application will be posted on the Cedar Park website by February of 2012. And early in the new year, we will begin our planning for next year’s annual fundraising event at Dock Street Brewery.

Lastly, the committee would like to send a special thank you to Laura Tate-McHugh, who served as chair of the committee for many years. Her dedication to the work we do has truly been an inspiration. We are thankful for her organization and attention to detail that makes filling her large shoes a bit less daunting.

We look forward to another exciting year and once again, thank you all for your support and contributions. Questions or comments about the scholarship committee can be sent to: scholarships@cedarparkneighbors.org.

Cedar Park Neighbors is committed  to ensuring that local residents are informed about proposed zoning changes in the community and have an opportunity for their voices to be heard. CPN’s Zoning Committee is recognized by the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) as the representative of residents and businesses within the boundaries [...]]]> By Maureen Tate, CPN Zoning Committee

Cedar Park Neighbors is committed  to ensuring that local residents are informed about proposed zoning changes in the community and have an opportunity for their voices to be heard. CPN’s Zoning Committee is recognized by the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) as the representative of residents and businesses within the boundaries of Cedar Park. The committee is composed of CPN member volunteers who monitor zoning notices, solicit community input about proposed zoning changes, communicate neighbors’ positions to city officials, intervene in zoning disputes, and represent the Cedar Park community before the ZBA.

In one year alone, Zoning Committee members reviewed and processed sixteen actual or anticipated applications for zoning changes within the borders of Cedar Park. This work entails: meeting with applicants; researching particular zoning issues; writing and distributing community notifications to local residents; hosting neighbor forums to meet with applicants to learn more about the issue; writing letters informing the ZBA and Councilwoman Blackwell regarding local opinions on each issue; and appearing at the scheduled hearings before the ZBA.

Residents and businesses frequently seek a change in use for their property. If the use is other than that which is allowed by the City of Philadelphia Zoning Code, then the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspection refers the applica- tion to the ZBA, which holds a hearing and decides on the application. Applicants are required to give public notice by posting an orange notice on the property in question, indicating the change of use requested and the date of the hearing. The ZBA also requires applicants to notify their elected officials and local community associations to inform and seek approval for their applications in order to alleviate possible tensions and disputes in zoning matters.

We invite you to read the full CPN Zoning Policy on our website to learn more about CPN’s process for addressing zoning issues. If you see an orange notice posted in your area, have questions about zoning issues in Cedar Park or are interested in joining the committee, we invite you to contact Cedar Park Neighbors.

Addressing Vacant Properties: CPN Property Housing Task Force

David Hincher, Property Housing Task Force

The CPN Property Housing Task Force is an all-volunteer working group. It studies, evaluates and develops strategies to address issues of vacant and blighted properties and land within the Cedar Park boundary, in order to move such properties toward positive occupancy and use. The task force looks to develop mitigation strategies such as connecting property owners with the critical resources needed to reduce the severity of these issues.

Recently, the task force completed a census of abandoned properties. In collaboration with the Community Design Collaborative, It also facilitated a year-long series of com­munity conversations, titled the “Baltimore Avenue Conversation,” which resulted in the Baltimore Avenue Com­munity Corridor Design Study. The Baltimore Avenue study targeted the blocks from 49th to 52nd Street and engaged neighborhood residents, businesses, and community organizations in a broad discussion of desires and goals for this area. Additional information on this conversation and the exciting ideas it generated are found within the final report, which can be downloaded from the Cedar Park Neighbors website at www.cedarparkneighbors.org/.

Since our last Baltimore Avenue Conversation, in the Fall of 2010, we have met with various political representatives — State Senator Anthony Williams, State Representative James Roebuck, and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell — to familiarize them with the study and elicit their advice and support for advancing some of the community

priorities and desires. There are ongoing discussions with Councilwoman Black- well and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission to move the study forward, bringing in other City agencies and additional resources. We look forward to ongoing conversations with other community stakeholders that want to assist with elements of this report.

Since the study was completed, Mariposa Food Co-op has moved forward with plans for a new and larger fresh food grocery located on the 4800 block of Baltimore Avenue. A fresh food grocery was the top desire from the community conversations; and with assistance from Cedar Park Neighbors, we hope this will address that goal.

The Task Force is also in conversation with the University City District regarding their renewed commitment to community and business development. UCD is now directing staff and resources toward assisting property owners in overcoming barriers and obstacles that had prevented them from achieving their goals for their properties. Several owners of severely blighted properties are taking advantage of these resources and we look forward to seeing the results, as some formerly vacant properties are rehabbed and occupied.

Cedar Park is an ever-changing, diverse and vibrant community. But it doesn’t happen on its own! Our community relies upon the contribution of time and talent from its residents to thrive.

One way to get involved shaping the future of our neighborhood is as a board member of Cedar Park Neighbors. The [...]]]> By Ray Murphy, CPN Board Member

Cedar Park is an ever-changing, diverse and vibrant community. But it doesn’t happen on its own! Our community relies upon the contribution of time and talent from its residents to thrive.

One way to get involved shaping the future of our neighborhood is as a board member of Cedar Park Neighbors. The next board elections are scheduled for the spring of 2012, so the nominations process is open now.

From street clean-ups, to safety issues, to zoning, to the development of the Baltimore Avenue Business corridor, Cedar Park Neighbors represents esponsible for writing the organization’s annual budget and for making critical decisions about all sorts of issues that affect our neighborhood.

In order to be nominated to run for board membership, all you have to do is make sure you are up to date on your Cedar Park Neighbors membership dues. And yes, you can nominate yourself! Even if you are not interested in serving on the board, please take a minute to think about someone you know who would make a good candidate. People of color, neighbors who live south of Baltimore Avenue and young people are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for the board, please call CPN at 215-531-4147 or contact membership@cedarparkneighbors.org. The deadline for nominations to fill current vacancies is November 30, 2011. Nominations for the annual April election will be considered by the Nominations Committee in early 2011.

Have you gotten your copy of the Cedar Park Centennial Commemorative Booklet? The booklets were first distributed to current Cedar Park members at our Centennial Fair on August 6th. If you didn’t pick up your copy at the fair, a booklet was hand delivered by a volunteer CPN member to your house. Your next chance to get the booklet describing the history of Cedar Park Neighbors and our greenspace, Cedar Park, is by renewing your membership to Cedar Park Neighbors or purchasing the booklet for $5.

Of course, we would much prefer that you renew your membership. If you simply want to order the booklet or buy additional copies of the booklet, send an e-mail to CedarPark100@gmail.com and send your payment of $5 per booklet to: Cedar Park Neighbors, 4740 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.