NEWS
May 19, 2013 | By Jeff Gammage and Suzette Parmley, Inquirer Staff Writers
The destitute Philadelphia schools are counting on Kevin Sosinavage, and others like him, to come to the rescue by continuing to do what they're doing: smoking and drinking. Sosinavage, 45, sat at the bar at SugarHouse Casino on Friday, sucking on a Marlboro and sipping from a bottle of Heineken, both of which would be heavily taxed under Mayor Nutter's plan to avoid doomsday for the school system. "I wouldn't mind the tax increase if my salary increased as much, but that's not the case," said Sosinavage, a warehouse worker who lives in Northeast Philadelphia.
NEWS
May 5, 2013
Upbeat region if taxes, regs eased Philadelphia needs to step up its game to foster small-business growth. As a business owner and entrepreneur who chose to start and grow my business here, I was proud to see Young Entrepreneur magazine recently list Philadelphia among the top 10 nationwide start-up hubs. But I wasn't surprised to read that, despite this ranking, we get D's and F's in networking opportunities, and for burdensome regulations and policies. A blasé business community paired with high taxes and strict regulation is at best unattractive.
NEWS
May 5, 2013
Harris Wofford is a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania John Gomperts is president and CEO of America's Promise Alliance Seeing images of the living presidents together last month in Dallas brought us back to Philadelphia. Sixteen years ago, we had the privilege of helping organize another presidential gathering - a summit whose influence can still be felt. From April 27-29, 1997, Presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald R. Ford (with Nancy Reagan representing Ronald Reagan)
NEWS
May 3, 2013 | BY JOHN F. MORRISON, Daily News Staff Writer morrisj@phillynews.com, 215-854-5573
CATHY ORTIZ worked hard to bring beauty and good works to her city. Her activities for the greater good included Habitat for Humanity, Philadelphia More Beautiful, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, YMCA/YWCA and a number of organizations for young people. All that while teaching in public schools for 33 years, running several businesses, raising a family and traveling the world. She also managed to fit in four college degrees. Catherine Janice Vinson Rivera Ortiz, who was also an outstanding cook whose peach cobbler and fried chicken were always in demand, died Saturday.
NEWS
April 4, 2013 | BY VALERIE RUSS, Daily News Staff Writer russv@phillynews.com, 215-854-5987
CHRISTOPHER Watson said he feels an obligation to write music about the violence and other life stories in his North Philadelphia neighborhood. Recently, a close friend suffered a broken jaw and a broken hand when a group of young men jumped him. "It makes me upset," said Watson, a 17-year-old rapper who uses the stage name "Bless. " "It's just not right. He could have died. . . . I write about stopping the violence. " Watson, a high school senior, is one of several young people set to perform Friday as part of the Uptown Theater's Youth Got Talent showcase.
NEWS
March 29, 2013
By Shirley Greening and Cheryl Feldman These days, it is rather impossible to discuss workforce development and education issues without hearing about STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. The main reason behind this increased buzz is that there are not enough young people pursuing STEM careers to meet the demand for the high-technology jobs of the 21st century. Recent reports from the U.S. Department of Commerce found that STEM jobs grew at a rate three times that of non-STEM jobs in the first decade of this century, and they are projected to grow by 17 percent during the second decade.
NEWS
March 26, 2013 | Associated Press
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis celebrated his first Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, encouraging people to be humble and young at heart and promising to go to a youth jamboree in Brazil in July, while the faithful enthusiastically waved olive branches and braided palm fronds. The square overflowed with a crowd estimated by the Vatican at 250,000. Pilgrims, tourists, and Romans jostled each other in an effort to glimpse Francis at the start of solemn Holy Week ceremonies, which lead up to Easter, Christianity's most important day. Keeping with his spontaneous style, the first pope from Latin America broke away several times from the text of his prepared homily to encourage the faithful to lead simple lives and resist the temptation to be sad when obstacles come their way. "Don't let yourselves be robbed of hope!"
NEWS
March 25, 2013 | By Larry Eichel, For the Inquirer
Philadelphia is becoming a test case for a new theory of American urban development. The conventional wisdom used to be that economic development was the key to cities' dynamism. Create jobs, the argument went, and people would follow, incomes would rise, and all would be well. Now an alternative idea is being preached by a growing number of urban analysts. It holds that quality of life has become more crucial to a city's prospects, because young adults demand it, and many jobs no longer have to be in a particular place.
NEWS
March 7, 2013 | By Carolyn Davis, Inquirer Staff Writer
Most of the lot at 335 Righters Ferry Rd. in Bala Cynwyd doesn't look like much, with its tangle of trees and weeds on hilly ground. But to Lower Merion Township officials, it is the beginning of turning the unremarkable and unwalkable area around City Avenue into a pedestrian's paradise. The township's Planning Committee on Monday night heard an initial presentation from Nolen Properties to construct an 11-story apartment building on the Righters Ferry site, bounded by Monument Road, Belmont Avenue, and St. Asaphs Road.
NEWS
March 7, 2013 | BY JOHN F. MORRISON, Daily News Staff Writer morrisj@phillynews.com, 215-854-5573
OLIVER "ALI" Robinson had an imposing family legacy to live up to. His mother, Frances "Mom" Williams, was a legendary community leader and civil-rights icon. His older brother, the late Hardy Williams, was a state senator whose run for Philadelphia mayor in 1971, although unsuccessful, paved the way for other African-Americans to seek public office. Ali made his own reputation as a civic leader, political activist, and founder and leader of organizations devoted to providing services to often-neglected young people.