Francisville: Kayuh Bicycles’ Hybrid Shop Serves As Community Space
On the corner of 19th and Girard streets, there is a mural of an individual riding a bright orange bike zooming passed cars. The mural reads “Kayuh: You’ll get there faster.” Kayuh means “pedal” in Malaysian. Izzat Rahman, who is from Malaysia, opened Kayuh Bicycles & Cafe in June 2012. The shop offers a range […]
Francisville: Fur Store Sees Neighborhood Change
It was 1921 when Elayne Rutberg’s father-in-law first opened Rutberg Furs. After Rutberg’s father-in-law died, her husband took over. Then when her husband died, he passed the torch to Rutberg. She officially took ownership of Rutberg Furs, which sells a variety of authentic fur products and offers services like fur cleaning and restoration. “I fell […]
Francisville: Mural Program Brings Artists and Young Students Together
One of artist Charlyn Griffith’s biggest accomplishments was being nicknamed “Ms. Strawberry Face.” “I think that at the point where a young person feels like you belong to them, you’ve succeeded in making a connection,” Griffith said. “I think that at the point where they started calling me their own nickname, that made it real. […]
Francisville: Urbanstead Farm Teaches Neighbors About Food, Responsibility
When Urbanstead founder Lisa Gaidanowicz was given a plot of land in Francisville to create a farm a few years ago, she didn’t realize it might be the first time neighborhood residents saw food coming from soil. “To you and me, an urban farm is a really big garden,” she said. “You don’t really find […]
Francisville: More Than Just Another Furniture Store, Uhuru Seeks to Educate
When nonprofit Uhuru Furniture moved from Center City to Francisville, sales manager Ruby Gittelsohn remembers one community member’s surprise. “I remember one guy said, ‘I was watching while they were renovating this building, but I didn’t think it was going to be something for me,’” Gittelsohn said. “Meaning, it was going to be more gentrification. […]
North Philadelphia: Neighborhoods’ History Has Not Been Forgotten
The neighborhoods of North Philadelphia are home to a number of historical landmarks. Reminders of the area’s 17th- and 18th-century history are scattered across the changing neighborhoods of Francisville, Sharswood, Spring Garden and North Central. Though some landmarks have been forgotten over the years, many still stand as proud reminders of the past. Founder’s Hall, […]
Brewerytown: Rep. Donna Bullock Gives Residents a New Voice in Harrisburg
State Rep. Donna Bullock was sworn in as the legislator for the 195th District in August after her predecessor, Rep. Michelle Brownlee, pleaded guilty to a conflict of interest charge and tendered her resignation. The 195th District stretches from Strawberry Mansion to Powelton Village, encompassing communities of varying backgrounds and incomes. “It’s a tale of two cities,” said […]
Francisville: Nick Dobkowski Says Rec Center Offers More Than Fun and Games
For the past year, Nick Dobkowski has been using his master’s degree in urban studies from Eastern University – and previous experience at recreation centers like Clemente and Vare – to, as he said, “not improve but supplement the lives of the kids” in Francisville as supervisor of the neighborhood recreation center at 1737 Francis […]
Veterans’ Affairs: Leadership Boot Camp
The question “if not me, then who?” is central to a new program developed by the Travis Manion Foundation. In the Al Anbar Province of Iraq, 1st Lieutenant Travis Manion was killed when his group was attacked while searching a suspected insurgent’s home. Inspired by his service his family created the Travis Manion Foundation in his honor. […]
Francisville: Morris To Be Honored at Madison Square Garden
Big 5 Hall of Famer and current Saint Joseph’s Prep boy’s basketball coach William “Speedy” Morris will receive the Eastern College Athletic Conference Lifetime Achievement Award on December 7th at Madison Square Garden “Anytime you get an award of this nature, it’s an honor,” Morris said. “I’ve been around a long time, sometimes you get […]