birdschool60-blog

[birdschool60-blog]

Day one of jury deliberations ended without verdict in the feds' case against Bob Brady's political aide

In the first, Brady's 2012 primary opponent dropped out of the race after the congressman promised to give him $90,000 to help pay down his campaign debts. Prosecutors have described that as an illegal campaign contribution and accused Smukler of helping to funnel the money.

Source: http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/ken-smukler-no-verdict-rep-bob-brady-aide-campaign-finance-case-20181130.html

[birdschool60-blog]

Just Listed: Hortulus Farm in Wrightstown

For Sale/Rent

The couple who have painstakingly put together this Best of Philly-winning garden are ready to pass the torch to another garden lover who can care for their unique vision. Might that be you?

Hortulus Farm main residence, 60 Thompson Mill Rd., Wrightstown, Pa. 18940 | Bright MLS images via Addison Wolfe Real Estate

Perhaps you’re one of the many people who have visited Hortulus Farm in Wrightstown, toured its 100-plus acres of rare and beautiful plants and oh-so-photogenic gardens, and said to yourself, “I wish I could live in a place as magical as this.”

Guess what?

Noted garden and event designer Renny Reynolds and garden author Jack Staub have put their one-of-a-kind horticultural creation and home up for sale, right on the heels of winning 2019 Best of Philly honors as “Best Place for Rare Plants.”

(You can check out all the other winners here.)

Exterior front, main residence

The nucleus of Hortulus Farm is the Isaiah Warner house, a classic stone Pennsylvania farmhouse built in stages between 1793 and 1830. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, the house has been the seat of the Warner and Thompson families, and for most of its history, the house and two barns that were added to it in the 19th century served as a working dairy farm. Other outbuildings have been added to it over the years, and all of them now contribute to the life and workings of this garden, nursery, event space, garden store and museum.

For the past 40 years, it’s been the home of partners in business and life Reynolds and Staub.

Hortulus Farm museum and office

“Hortulus Farm began as a passion project to highlight the beauty of a variety of different plant species that thrive in Bucks County and that anyone in the area could grow at home,” says Reynolds. “My training as a landscape architect helped Jack and I turn 15 acres of land and 24 gardens 40 years ago into more than 100 acres of stunning, natural landscaping.”

Raised-bed gardens

Their unique vision has wowed visitors from all over. It also impressed The Garden Conservancy, which made Hortulus only the second Affiliate Garden in the organization’s history in 2015.

The photos you see here only barely scratch the surface of the gardens at Hortulus, but they should be enough to demonstrate that this is a truly unique creation. Reynolds and Staub have applied similar creativity and vision to the care and shaping of the residential spaces.

Barn residence

The most spectacular and original of their interior creations is the great room of the converted barn residence on the property. A wall of glass on one side fills the room with natural light and showcases such features as a staircase with railings fashioned from garden implements.

Great room, barn residence

The converted barn has two bedrooms and two and a half baths. It could serve as a spectacular guest residence.

Den, main house

Main house dining room with original kitchen hearth fireplace

TV room, main house

Kitchen, main house

The pair have maintained the 18th-century charm and warmth of the main house with similar skill. Yet as its TV room and kitchen demonstrate, they have also kept it up to date in order to meet the demands of modern life.

Living room, main house

Master bedroom, main house

Master bathroom, main house

Third-floor bedroom, main house

Judging from these photos, I’d say Reynolds and Staub have interior design skills equal to their landscaping and gardening skills.

The house is surrounded by its own private garden that’s as attractive as the gardens that the public can tour.

Pond and floating gazebo in public gardens

In addition to these two dwellings, the property contains a two-bedroom, one-bath ranch house that serves as a caretaker’s residence, a larger barn that serves as Hortulus’ offices and garden museum, and a third barn that houses the farm’s animals and equipment.

Fountain in public garden

“Renny and I have a true love of Bucks County, the community and the wonderful native wildlife that make it an incredibly unique place,” says Staub. “Our hope was to be an example to the public of what natural beauty people could bring to their own homes and to show visitors some of the best of what Bucks County has to offer.

Woodland path

“Being honored in Philadelphia magazine’s Best of Philly, among other recognition Hortulus Farm has received, has been an unexpected joy.”

Open-air conservatory

Put bluntly, you’re not just buying a house and garden here. You’re buying a legacy designed for the enjoyment and education of all. Reynolds and Staub have done the heavy lifting for you. All you need to do is look after it and shepherd it into a new future.

“We’re proud Hortulus Farm has become a fixture in Bucks County and look forward to seeing it continue to blossom for years to come,” says Reynolds.

The pictures you see here give you a good idea of what you will be getting with your acquisition, but there are many more on the listing — 99 in all. (I’m sure the agent appreciates Bright MLS’ listing engine, which removed predecessor TREND’s 25-photo limit.) I encourage you to go to the listing to look at all 99.

THE FINE PRINT

(figures for main house only)

BEDS: 4

BATHS: 3 full, 1 half

SQUARE FEET: 693 (We’re sure this is a typo.)

SALE PRICE: $5,650,000

OTHER STUFF: While Hortulus Farm is protected by a conservation easement through The Garden Conservancy, it does have room for change: there’s room for a second residence with a separate driveway on the property.

60 Thompson Mill Rd., Wrightstown, Pa. 18940 [Art Mazzei | Addison Wolfe Real Estate]

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/property/2019/07/30/house-for-sale-wrightstown-hortulus-farm/

[birdschool60-blog]

The North Philly search warrant and PPD's history of raids gone wrong

Updated 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday’s tense shootout that left six police officers injured in North Philadelphia began with an apparently routine search warrant. It was one of hundreds of searches, mostly drug related, that city police execute each month.

Experts say these are risky procedures for both law enforcement and the communities they protect. Philly’s history of warrant-related conflicts stretches back decades — and unlike this week’s standoff, includes both police and civilian fatalities.

For now, it remains unclear whether the North 15th Street warrant was done by the books. Law enforcement experts question whether it could have been prevented with better planning.

District Attorney Larry Krasner, whose office approved the warrant, said the search was connected to an unspecified state drug investigation. His office said it would be “premature” to share more details about the search efforts that ended up with PPD Narcotics Strike Force officers trapped in the house with 36-year-old gunman Maurice Hill, a known drug dealer with a long criminal history.

But Hill was not the intended target of law enforcement on Wednesday.

The Inquirer reports he wasn’t even located in the alleged “stash house” police were legally cleared for search. He was holed up in an adjacent property where officers reportedly saw what they believed to be drugs being transported. After entering the second property to perform a “safety sweep,” they immediately took fire from Hill.

“This is currently under investigation,” said police spokesperson Capt. Sekou Kinebrew.

While the shootout garnered national attention, it was far from the first to devolve into chaos for Philly cops, criminal suspects and the surrounding communities.

Since 2000, at least one Philadelphia law enforcement official was killed during a routine warrant service. In recent years, innocent civilians have also been killed and injured during these typically unpredictable searches.

Experts say unpredictability is always a factor when executing such warrants.

“You don’t know what you’re getting involved with,” said Joe Giacalone, a retired sergeant with the NYPD and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “No matter how small or how minor the incident is, people do desperate things when they’re cornered.”

After a group of officers entered the multi-unit rowhome on North 15th Street near Erie Avenue around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, at least two ended up barricaded in upstairs bedrooms as the gunman opened fire from a lower floor.

Hill then began spraying gunfire out a window into the street as dozens of officers arrived for backup, including a SWAT team and members of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, better known as ATF.

Law enforcement experts note that warrant units typically assess risk factors before entering any property, and determine whether or not they need assistance from SWAT teams for the raid. In ideal situations, Giacalone said planning ideally involves looking at floor layouts and assigning each officer a space of the house to clear.

Especially considering the nature of the investigation, Giacalone questions whether enough planning happened before officers entered that house Wednesday afternoon.

“When you’re dealing with narcotics, it’s an automatic that there’s lots of guns at the scene,” he said. “I question why they were going in there at 4 in the afternoon.”

Philadelphia police divisions have been undertrained and understaffed when it comes to warrant executions, said two police sources who are not authorized to speak on the record. The city’s elite narcotics team that performed this sweep, however, is regularly trained for these forced entries, they said.

At least one Philadelphia law enforcement official has been killed during a warrant issue in recent years. In 2004, Sergeant Joseph LeClaire, a court officer for the First Judicial District’s now-defunct warrant unit that was separate from the PPD, was shot and killed while serving a warrant to a man for failure to appear in court.

Non-fatal gunfights, while still rare, are far more common than homicides.

A 2010 arrest warrant for a 20-year-old man in Summerdale ended with two officers and the victim shot. The officers’ injuries were non-life threatening, thanks to Kevlar vests. The suspect, wanted on gun charges, was critically injured after a three-hour standoff with police.

But experts also say arrest warrants can put innocent bystanders and relatives of suspects at risk — or even fatally.

In August 2018, one case raised eyebrows around the PPD’s search warrant practices.

Officers were serving a warrant in Germantown that abruptly ended in a shootout with the suspect’s grandfather. Police shot and killed the 59-year-old homeowner in Germantown after he opened fire on them and striking one officer in the jaw.

The man reportedly mistook the SWAT team for home intruders. Police commissioner Ross said the warrant unit knocked three times before trying to enter, calling the grandfather’s death “an all-out tragedy.” No criminal charges were filed in the case.

Source: https://billypenn.com/2019/08/16/the-north-philly-search-warrant-and-ppds-history-of-raids-gone-wrong/

[birdschool60-blog]

What Starbucks holiday cups have looked like for the past 22 years

For coffee lovers around the country, the holiday season kicks off not on Thanksgiving, Black Friday or the first week of December but when Starbucks unveils its iconic set of holiday-themed cups.

Starbucks, founded in 1971, didn't introduce its limited-edition holiday cups until the company was more than two decades old. The first set of seasonal cups was introduced in 1997 and, unlike many of those that followed, wasn't entirely red. The inaugural series featured four different jewel tone cups decorated with hand-drawn holly and festive swirls.

Sandy Nelson recalled designing the first Starbucks holiday cup -- one of her earliest assignments in the company's design studio -- in a 2017 interview with Starbucks.

"We were working on holiday creative for the season to come. We had what felt like a hundred cup designs pinned up on the wall. Then Howard (Schultz) came by, looked at all of them, and picked my design. I couldn't believe mine was chosen," Nelson said.

PHOTOS: Starbucks holiday cups through the years

Nelson went on to design for the coffee giant for 14 years, and she saved the day in 2017 when the holiday cups' 20th anniversary rolled around. The design files for the first several years of holiday cups were lost in a 2001 earthquake, but Nelson unearthed her own set of cups she had stashed away during her time working for the company.

After Nelson's first design hit stores in 1997, Starbucks once again featured a jewel-tone burgundy cup for holiday 1998, but the red that eventually stuck around was introduced in 1999. Coffee drinkers welcomed the new millennium sipping from a red cup decorated with hand-drawn symbols of the season.

For nearly 20 years, the candy apple red cups largely prevailed. Various designs over the years featured snowmen, ornaments, stars, snowflakes and bows. Come holiday 2017, Starbucks introduced its first white holiday cup as part of a set that also featured the classic red. For 2018, Starbucks unveiled a green and a white option alongside two red cups.

As beloved as they might be by Starbucks fans, the holiday cups have attracted their share of controversy. When the company introduced minimalist red cups without any illustrations or designs in 2015, some called foul and accused the company of joining the so-called war on Christmas.

Starbucks denied those claims, saying the 2015 cups were intended to create "a culture of belonging, inclusion and diversity" and "to embrace and welcome customers from all backgrounds and religions in our stores around the world."

Though the outrage seemed to have reached a boiling point in 2015, more muted criticisms have bubbled in recent years. Some accused the 2017 cup featuring two disembodied arms holding hands of pushing a homosexual agenda, while a limited-edition 2016 unity cup that wasn't actually the official holiday cup was accused of whitewashing Christmas.

Source: https://6abc.com/society/what-starbucks-holiday-cups-have-looked-like-for-the-past-22-years/4748037/

[birdschool60-blog]

An $80M office tower may be coming to South Philly’s sports complex

South Philly’s sports complex could see a glossy new addition soon, in the form of a 200,000-square-foot office tower.

The tower, dubbed Pattison Place, will have a largely glass facade, and will sit on Pattison Avenue between the NRG subway station and the Xfinity Live! entertainment building. It’s being developed by Comcast Spectator, owner of the Wells Fargo sports complex and their partner, Cordish Cos. of Baltimore, according to Philly.com. A representative for the former company told the paper that they would start construction once the building is leased.

The $80 million building calls itself a “Class-A” office building, with 20,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor; a 4,000-square-foot lobby with 35-foot ceilings; and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the building, according to a statement on the building’s website. It’s unclear exactly how high the tower will be but renderings show it topping off at around 10 stories.

“The tower will feature unparalleled, first class amenities including exterior signage, a shared roof decks, private outdoor terraces, fitness facilities, and on-site parking,” the statement said.

Beyer Blinder Belle, known locally for their work on the Longwood Gardens, and Philadelphia-based BLT Architects are handling the design of the space. A representative with Cordish was not immediately available to discuss the building Friday morning.

Source: https://philly.curbed.com/2019/2/8/18216775/office-tower-comcast-spectator-sports-xfinity-pattison-south

[birdschool60-blog]

The Philadelphia Museum Of Art Explores Impressionist Works And Japanese Prints In Two New Exhibits

This spring and summer, two exciting exhibitions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art showcase the compelling perspectives of some of history’s most influential artists.

The first, entitled The Impressionist’s Eye, focuses on engrossing works by famous impressionists and post-impressionists like Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

FAST FACTS

The Impressionist’s Eye and Yoshitoshi: Spirit and Spectacle are on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, April 16 – August 18.

The Impressionist’s Eye features 80-plus works from Monet, van Gogh and more.

Yoshitoshi presents 100-plus pieces by influential Japanese artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

Highlights include a restored Renoir masterpiece and Yoshitoshi’s most celebrated print series.

The second, Yoshitoshi: Spirit and Spectacle, highlights the museum’s impressive collection of Japanese prints by a master of the form, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

Both exhibits are on view from April 16 – August 18.

The Impressionist’s Eye includes more than 80 impressionist and post-impressionist works from the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s exceptional holdings — including some that haven’t been on view in the galleries for a decade or longer.

The impressionist movement kicked off in France in the 1870s, when artists like Monet and Renoir began experimenting with color, line and form.

The exhibit highlights popular paintings by some of the most renowned artists of the time, including van Gogh (Sunflowers, pictured above) and Monet (Japanese Footbridge and Water Lily Pool, Giverny).

But the exhibition also places them in conversation with a variety of other media — including 28 works on paper and a number of sculptures — by these artists and their contemporaries.

Highlights

The Impressionist’s Eye is the most integrated and comprehensive survey of impressionism and post-impressionism drawn almost entirely from the museum’s own collection.

The works in the exhibit are organized by theme: “Nature,” “The Modern City,” “Everyday Objects,” “People” and “Bathers.”

In “Nature,” visitors view how impressionists interpreted the landscape that surrounded them, using bold colors, vigorous brushstrokes and pulsing dots. One of the highlights in this section: an exceptionally detailed pen-and-ink drawing by van Gogh titled Haystacks.

“The Modern City” shines a light on the urban experience in Paris as seen by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (At the Moulin-Rouge), Mary Cassatt (A Woman and a Girl Driving) and Edgar Degas (The Ballet Class).

“Everyday Objects” focuses on engaging still-life works depicting gorgeous flowers in vases, a basket of fruit and a spread of delicious looking pastries. “Portraits” reveals how the impressionists and post-impressionists sharply observed people, and includes Degas’ famous bronze sculpture, Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen.

("The Great Bathers," 1884-1887, Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Oil on canvas, 46 3/8 × 67 1/4 inches. The Mr. and Mrs. Carroll S. Tyson, Jr., Collection, 1963. Image courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2019.)

In The Impressionist’s Eye, Renoir’s The Great Bathers (shown) — which was recently restored — is exhibited in conversation with similar works by Degas and Cézanne.

The final section, “Bathers,” features The Great Bathers, a seminal painting by Renoir of nudes bathing, which just underwent a year-long restoration.

The exhibition marks the first time the work is shown since its meticulous conservation and cleaning. That process revealed how the celebrated artist started this particular work over and over again until he was satisfied.

Yoshitoshi: Spirit and Spectacle examines the life and career of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, a 19th-century master of the traditional Japanese woodcut and contemporary of many of the artists on view in The Impressionist’s Eye.

Of the 5,000 Japanese prints in the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s robust collection, 1,000 are by Yoshitoshi, making the museum’s holdings the largest collection of the artist’s prints outside of Japan.

Highlights

The exhibit starts with some of Yoshitoshi’s early prints that show his masterful technique.

In particular, these works highlight his fascination with ukiyo-e printmaking, or “pictures of the floating world,” an art form that inspired many impressionists as it became less popular in Japan.

(Photo courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Spirit and Spectacle showcases more than 1,000 works from Japanese master printmaker Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

Yoshitoshi’s subjects included kabuki actors, nature landscapes, scenes from legends and ancient folklore. He gained much notoriety for his prints that depicted violence, many of which are on view throughout the exhibit.

Another section of the exhibit highlights Yoshitoshi’s work as a print designer for newspapers, which allowed him to flex different creative muscles and seek out ways to innovate woodblock printmaking.

The last section of the exhibit focuses on the last decade of Yoshitoshi’s life, during which he created his most beloved series, One Hundred Aspects of the Moon.

The prints — which show warriors, demons, poets and common people from Japanese and Chinese history, literature and folklore — all reference the moon. The subjects are pictured with different phases of the moon in the background on each print.

The museum holds the complete series — and 24 selections can be seen in the exhibit’s final gallery.

General admission tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art grant access to both The Impressionist’s Eye and Yoshitoshi: Spirit and Spectacle, which are both located in the Dorrance Special Exhibition Galleries.

Throughout the length of the exhibits, the museum hosts related special events and programs for visitors to enjoy. That includes a family festival in honor of Japanese Children’s Day on May 5. Check the calendar on the museum’s website for the full list of events.

Make plans now to see this stunning collection of impressionist and post-impressionist artworks and Japanese prints, on view at the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art though August 18.

When:April 16 - August 18, 2019

Where:Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Cost:Included with general admission: $20, adults; $18, seniors (65 & over); $14, students (with ID) and youth (13-18); free, children (12 & under) and members

www.philamuseum.org

Source: https://www.uwishunu.com/2019/04/philadelphia-museum-of-art-impressionists-eye-yoshitoshi-guide-2019/

[birdschool60-blog]

Recent trends highlight battle between Eagles’ offense and Bears’ defense

Volume stats are fun, but they don’t get down like efficiency metrics. For instance, you can look at the Chicago Bears’ defense and decide that their 7th ranked pass defense and 11th ranked run defense doesn’t match the hype. That’s if you’re going by yards, which are mostly empty calories.

What makes the Bears’ defense elite, along with their undeniable talent, are their efficiency metrics. For starters, they’re allowing the least points per game in the league (17.7). They’re the top ranked DVOA defense according to Football Outsiders, with the 1st ranked pass defense and 2nd ranked rush defense.

This isn’t to say there’s no hope for the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. They’ve met a top 10 DVOA defense six times this year and put up decent enough numbers. In those games they average 23.3 points with five games featuring Carson Wentz as the starter and one game with Nick Foles. In Week 16 against the Houston Texans’ 7th ranked defense the Foles’ led offense put up 32 points.

The Bears have played a top 10 DVOA offense four times. In those games they’ve allowed an average of 21.3 points, with a low of 6 points and a high of 38. That’s not exactly lights out for either team, but both teams have been trending well overall.

Looking at the last four weeks, the Eagles’ 27.3 points per game are the rubber to the Bears’ 10.5 allowed road. What happens when said rubber meets said road? It will largely depend on drive efficiency, which takes matters to an even more granular level. Looking at it that way presents a gruesome picture.

Outside of time of possession, the Eagles rank in the middle of the pack for all these categories, but they’ve been trending up.

Adding on to these impressive totals is the Bears’ ability to limit quick-strike drives and explosive plays. No team has allowed less 20+ yard plays than the Bears, They’re 6th in allowing drives of five plays or less, where the Eagles have struggled offensively (26th). But again, teams aren’t always what they were in Week 1, or Week 8, or even Week 12.

Highlighting that point, the Eagles’ offense has shown the ability to hit quicker scoring drives in the past four weeks. They’ve executed 7 drives of five plays or less in the past four weeks. No team has more in that span.

On the flip side, the Bears defense haven’t changed their stripes, in fact they’ve only improved in this area. They’ve only allowed one such drive in the past four weeks (t-1st).

By now you’re noticing an obvious trend. The Eagles’ offense is finding their groove, while the Bears defense continues to annihilate enemy charges with increasingly brutal efficiency. Offensive performance tends to be sticker from week-to-week, but the Bears have shown the ability to buck that trend.

Last year the Eagles’ faced a similar challenge in the NFC Championship Game. You might remember that they put up 38 points on a historic Minnesota Vikings’ defense. Can they do it again?

Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/1/1/18164212/recent-trends-highlight-battle-between-eagles-offense-bears-defense-playoffs-2019-wild-card-game-nfl

[birdschool60-blog]

A Point Breeze night market inspires neighborhood pride

If you feed them, they will come.

On Thursday night, hundreds of hungry people braved the rain for a first-of-its-kind Night Market on Point Breeze Avenue. As lines for banh mi, barbeque and other food truck-made delicacies snaked down the packed street, PlanPhilly took out a microphone and talked to area residents about life in one of the city's fastest- gentrifying neighborhoods.

Though concerns about displacement and racial tension tend to dominate conversations about what happens when higher-income people begin moving into a working-class area like Point Breeze,  residents who visited the pop-up food market organized by The Food Trust spoke of strong community bonds and optimism for what was once one of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods.

Renee Allen, 46, has lived in the Point Breeze for 12 years. She spoke of faster response times from police, and an improvement in quality-of-life issues. “I’ve seen a lot of changes for the better," Allen said. "We had a nuisance bar across the street from my house they’re no longer there."

Source: http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2018/10/05/a-point-breeze-night-market-inspires-neighborhood-pride

[birdschool60-blog]

Roman Lumber makes way for “Roman Square” at 11th & McKean

By Sandy Smith for the Passyunk Post

What was a series of low-slung commercial buildings in the 2000 block of South 11th Street is now an empty lot. Soon, that lot will be filled with eight brand-new four-story townhouses called “Roman Square.”

View looking southwest from 11th & McKean Streets, April 25, 2018. Photo by Darren Fava.

Same view after demolition, July 2018. Photo by Darren Fava.

“Within the next week, weather permitting, we hope to begin excavation” on the development at the southwest corner of 11th and McKean streets, said Bob Shaw, director of development for P & A Associates.

Each of the eight units in this project from Canno Design will have four stories plus a roof deck. All will have three bedrooms and three bathrooms; all will also have a powder room on the street level, except for the unit with two garages on the street level. Access to the garages will be via a central driveway that uses an existing curb cut on South 11th Street.

Roman Square rendering. Canno Design.

Six of the houses will have garages on their street floors that can accommodate two cars. The two units on 11th Street closest to Emily Street will each have a one-car garage located on the street level of the northerly unit.  The southerly unit will have a den and a flex room on the street level.

When the project went before the East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association for approval in March of 2018, neighbors had two principal objections. One was the loss of a parking space on 11th Street. The developer pointed out that a curb cut existed to access the warehouse torn down to make way for this project, so no legal spaces would be lost.

The other objection related to the buildings’ height, which was three feet over the height limit for its zoning district. The EPX Civic Zoning Committee recommended approval of the zoning variance for this project with the stipulation that it remain at the height limit, but the Zoning Board of Adjustment approved the variance for the project as designed.

Shaw explained that the extra height represented a compromise in order to meet both neighbors’ and buyers’ desires. New construction homes typically have ceiling heights of at least nine feet, he said, but “we made the first floor eight feet, which is pretty low for new construction standards. We felt we could do this because the first floors were largely taken up by the garages.

“The fourth-floor ceilings are also a little under nine feet,” he continued. “We did the best we could in order to fit the parking in, which was something the neighbors also wanted, and this is where we ended up.”

The houses are not yet listed for sale, but Shaw expects they will be shortly. He estimates that the homes will be pre-construction priced around $699,000.

Promotions for the homes posted on the Realtor.com, Redfin, and Trulia websites describe the homes as having a living area of 2,765 square feet.

The images and descriptions below are included in the promotional postings. Let us know what you think of the designs in the comments below.

An open concept second floor features 10 ft ceilings and oversized Pella Windows allowing maximum flow of natural light throughout the living room, dining room and kitchen. Whether cooking or entertaining, you will be at home in the Gourmet Kitchen equipped with every modern amenity including French door refrigerator, 5 burner gas range, dishwasher, canopy hood and slide out microwave, all clad in stainless steel.

Retire after a long day into the entire 3rd floor owner’s suite which boasts a huge walk-in closet and a beautiful bathroom with double sink vanity and a large stall shower with a frameless glass shower door. Keep everything cozy with dual zone gas heat and gas, tankless hot water heater. Energy efficiency and quality is evident throughout.

The 4th floor is equally as impressive with 2 junior suites each with a well-appointed bathroom. Space for a washer and dryer tucked in a laundry closet conveniently located just steps away. An expansive roof deck with amazing views tops off this quality filled home.

Additional features include hardwood flooring and recessed LED lighting throughout all living areas and bedrooms, quartz countertops and more. Inprint your signature on your new home by selecting finishes. 10-year tax abatement and one year builder warranty included for added piece of mind.

Source: http://www.passyunkpost.com/2018/12/03/roman-lumber-makes-way-for-roman-square-at-11th-mckean/

[birdschool60-blog]

‘They Have To Be More Transparent’: Philadelphia Police Address Community’s Concerns Over Investigation Into Officers’ Alleged Racist Facebook Posts

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — It’s a grim statistic. More than 600 people have been shot on Philadelphia’s streets so far this year. Recently, Southwest Philly has seen a noticeable surge in violence, including a graduation party shooting that killed a man and injured five others.

The increase is happening as dozens of officers are off the streets for alleged racist and violence social media posts. Police and residents in Southwest Philadelphia held a meeting Wednesday night where homeowners shared their concerns.

Just under 100 people came out for the town hall meeting. The big concern as how many officers are now on desk duty in Southwest Philly.

“These officers were called out because they violated that type of trust. I just want to know what’s going on with that,” one concerned resident said.

Lawmakers Call On Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf To Save Hahnemann University Hospital From Closing In September

While 72 Philadelphia Police officers remain on desk duty, the department still has a job to do, and part of that is engaging with the community.

“An outside firm [is looking] at the posts. Although the posts may be disturbing and we’re not happy with them, officers also have a First Amendment right,” Deputy Police Commissioner Robin Wimberly said.

Police held the town hall meeting to address concerns in the Southwest community. And those who came out seem to be happy with both the city and the department’s response.

“Our police commissioner and our mayor jumped right on it. Those 72 were called out. You can’t fire them, they have to go through a process,” Southwest Philly resident Flora Vann said.

Mother Killed 17-Month-Old Son Because She Felt He Was Getting In Way Of Her Affair, Prosecutors Say

While most were satisfied with the response, there are still some who believe more needs to be done.

“We don’t want to be premature about it, but I think that they should be more transparent with their investigation — with the community. If they want the community to stick with them they have to be more transparent,” Kayzar Abdul Khadir, with Muslims For Humanity, said.

Only three police officers who are on desk duty worked in Southwest Philadelphia.

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/06/26/police-address-southwest-philadelphia-residents-concerns-over-investigation-into-officers-alleged-racist-facebook-posts/

[birdschool60-blog]

Philly refinery fire under investigation; pollution impact unclear

A Philadelphia Fire Department spokesperson said the refinery’s own fire brigade acted in coordination with the city's companies, who left the area after 8:30 p.m.

“We were asked to stand by and cool off [hose down] certain areas while PES firefighters handled the fire, which involved shutting off several valves,” Kathy Matheson said in an email.

Drexel University’s air quality expert Peter DeCarlo, who regularly monitors air near PES as part of his research, said the smoke was of a high enough concentration and traveled far enough to impact residents living next to the refinery.

"It’s absurd to say there are no offsite impacts when a plume of smoke is clearly visible extending well beyond the area of the refinery, and that’s only the stuff we can see,” DeCarlo said in an email.  

PES said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but did not respond to a request asking what was burning at the refinery. PES refines crude oil.

“Without knowing what was burning, it’s hard to know what chemicals may be present in the plume,” DeCarlo said. “What is clear is that there was a significant concentration of particulate matter emitted that impacted residents of Philadelphia downwind of the refinery."

Matt Walker, Clean Air Council’s advocacy director, told PlanPhilly that the public, especially the refinery’s neighbors, deserve to know what kind of air pollution they were exposed to and how much of it.

“PES is the Philly area's largest industrial source of harmful air pollution and this fire adds to its track record of air permit violations and incidents that negatively impact public health,” Walker said.

Grassroots environmental organization Philly Thrive claims PES’s pollution contributes to the high rates of asthma and cancer in South Philadelphia. Although it’s not possible to directly link specific cases to one source, the refinery is Philadelphia’s single largest generator of particulate emission air pollution, according to city data.

Typically, the refinery’s plume is white and mostly steam. Anything going through a stack is usually put through pollution control systems. With an open fire, pollutants and particulate matter escape.

In response to the fire, Philly Thrive organized a rally in front of PES on Tuesday evening. Organizer Alexa Ross said neighbors smelled the fire, had headaches and nausea. The group had previously demonstrated against the refinery on June 1.

The refinery did not respond to a request to disclose its emergency response systems. Philadelphia’s firefighters regularly tour the facility to become familiar with it, said fire department’s Matheson, and belong to their Community Advisory Panel.

“We apologize for any concern this has caused the community,” PES said in its statement.

The Health Department said in a statement it’s working with PES to identify any negative effect of the fire to the community.

Source: http://planphilly.com/articles/2019/06/12/philly-refinery-fire-under-investigation-pollution-impact-unclear

[birdschool60-blog]

Teen Faces Weapons Charge After Shots Ring Out On Asbury Park Boardwalk

ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) – A shooting on a crowded boardwalk in a New Jersey shore community has left two women wounded and a teenage boy facing a weapons charge. The shooting in Asbury Park occurred around 10 p.m. Thursday, shortly after the city staged its annual beach fireworks display which had drawn large crowds. Authorities say multiple shots were fired during the incident, causing some to quickly flee the boardwalk.

A 55-year-old woman was treated at a hospital for a wound that wasn’t considered life-threatening, while a 25-year-old woman refused treatment for what authorities said was a minor wound.

A 16-year-old Asbury Park boy was arrested shortly after the shooting by a Manalapan Township police officer who was working a security detail for the fireworks show. The teen is charged with unlawful possession of a handgun.

A motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press.

Source: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/07/05/teen-faces-weapons-charge-after-shots-ring-out-on-asbury-park-boardwalk/

[birdschool60-blog]

Center City’s New Pink, Plant-Filled Wine Bar and Restaurant Is Ready for Your Instagram

News

Get a peek at the menus and interior before Blume opens with natural wines and draft cocktails, street food-inspired small plates, and vegetable-forward takes on classic dishes later this week.

Photo by Society Hill Films

Last month, we told you that Blume, a natural wine and cocktail-focused bar and restaurant, would replace cider-heavy sports bar Cinder (1500 Locust Street). Now, Blume will open, in all its pink-and-purple, flower-emblazoned, Instagram-ready glory, at 4 p.m. this Thursday, April 25th.

Blume’s 2,400 square-foot space features a 35-foot bar, with seating for just under 100 inside and 12 sidewalk seats during warm weather. Owner Teddy Sourias of Craft Concepts Group had the Blume concept ready when he temporarily closed Cinder for renovations earlier this year; once the crew started making changes, they decided Blume would be the best fit for the space.

Every surface at Blume not decked out in Millennial-friendly blues, purples, and pinks is covered with flowers, whether they’re printed on the ceiling, painted on the plates, or — like more than 2300 velvety, pastel pink faux roses — clustered on the walls amid jewel-toned mirror panels. Tongue-in-cheek wallpaper printed with flower bouquets that include security cameras set against yet more pale pink covers one section of Blume’s east wall. A giant butterfly decal graces the front window.

Photo by Society Hill Films

Photo by Society Hill Films

Cinder’s host stand has been replaced with a small lounge area enclosed by a low wall, with a huge U-shaped banquette in the center of the space. Purple lights illuminate around 200 potted plants hanging from the light fixtures, walls, and ceiling, where they’re interspersed with two installations of the restaurant’s name spelled out in lights. Victorian-themed prints in gold frames line the walls, and even the bathroom stall doors are covered in alternating lilac and turquoise paneling.

This Instagram-ready look comes from Anne White, who also designed Tinsel and did the forthcoming redesign of Craft Concepts’ Uptown Beer Garden. While Blume rejoices in colors and flowers rather than an over-the-top holiday kitsch, it’s hard not to think of the restaurant as Tinsel, but for some combination of Easter and Earth Day.

The space still includes an open kitchen, where head chef Aila DeVowe, a veteran Philly chef whose resume includes work for David Ansill, Stephen Starr, and Peter McAndrews, has built out an eclectic menu of street food-inspired small plates, flatbreads, and hearty classics balanced with veggies and whole grains.

Ricotta gnocchi at Blume | Photo by Kory Aversa

Salmon at Blume | Photo by Kory Aversa

The menu’s not quite finalized yet, but entrees include ricotta gnocchi with cauliflower, chilis, and pine nuts over saffron celery root puree, a creamed strip steak with braised greens, and salmon with quinoa, beets, and a horseradish vinaigrette.

At the bar, they’ll pour exclusively natural wines, with four varieties on draft and an extensive selection by the bottle or glass, plus eight draft cocktails. Twenty beers and a handful of ciders round out the list.

Blume opens at 4 p.m. on Thursday, with hours from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and noon until 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday. They’ll roll out a daily lunch program, weekend brunch, and happy hour in the coming weeks. Check out the dinner and drinks menus below.

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2019/04/23/blume-bar-restaurant-wine-cocktails-rittenhouse-menu/

[birdschool60-blog]

Trío de Ases de los Sixers Para el All-Star

Por Miguel Ángel Martín, Columnista de Sixers.com

El All-Star de la NBA cada vez está más cerca y las votaciones de los fans ya comenzaron. Esta misma semana hemos conocido los primeros resultados de esas votaciones y nos hemos llevado la grata sorpresa de ver a tres jugadores entre los mejores de la Conferencia Este. Tanto Joel Embiid, como Ben Simmons y Jimmy Butler tienen serias opciones de lograr entrar en el Juego de las Estrellas de este año y Joel Embiid hacerlo por la puerta grande, al igual que lo hizo la pasada temporada.

Joel Embiid fue titular en el pasado All-Star y según las primeras votaciones volvería a serlo. Tiene hasta ahora 648,002 votos, siendo el noveno jugador de la NBA que más votos tiene, el cuarto jugador con más votos de la Conferencia Este y el tercer mejor situado en su categoría (Frontcourt).

Con su magnífica actuación en lo que llevamos de temporada y los números que está brindando al equipo, seguro que logrará estar de nuevo en el quinteto titular de este partido y será una de las grandes atracciones en Charlotte.

Por su parte, Ben Simmons afronta el reto de estar por primera vez en el partido de la Estrellas. De momento acumula 259,993 votos, siendo el séptimo jugador del Este que más votos tiene y el cuarto entre los bases (guards).

Su calidad y su visión de juego, así como su facilidad para estar siempre rondando el triple-doble, le hacen ser un gran atractivo para la liga, por lo que tiene grandes opciones para estar en la gran cita de Carolina del Norte, bien como titular o como suplente, con la designación de los entrenadores de los equipos.

También Jimmy Butler se cuela entre los mejores del Este y puede completar el trío de ases de los Sixers, que podrían estar en el Juego de las Estrellas. De momento tiene 222,206 votos y es el octavo mejor situado del Este y el cuarto en su categoría (Frontcourt), justo por detrás de Joel Embiid, por lo que roza la titularidad. De seguro que con la temporada que está realizando en Philadelphia, sus opciones de regresar al Juego de las Estrellas están en alza.

De momento los primeros resultados muestras los siguientes jugadores, como titulares del partido de las Estrellas:

Por parte de la Conferencia Oeste: Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose, LeBron James (capitán), Luka Doncic y Kevin Durant.

Por parte de la Conferencia Este: Kyrie Irving, Dwynae Wade, Giannis Antetokounmpo (capitán), Kawhi Leonard y Joel Embiid.

Hay que seguir votando para ayudar a Embiid, Simmons y Butler a lograr el objetivo de estar en Charlotte en Febrero.

La novedad para esta edición llega de la mano del acuerdo alcanzado por la NBA con Google y que permitirá a los aficionados enviar sus votos a través del buscador.  Se podrá votar a través de la página de votación de NBA.com (NBA.com/vote), también a través de la aplicación móvil de la NBA y a través del buscador Google.

Otra novedad interesante, los Días 2 por 1. Aquellos que voten el 3, 4, 10, 11 y 21 de enero su voto recibirá el doble de valor, por lo que serán días interesantes para lograr enviar a Charlotte a jugadores de los Sixers.

Además, el jueves es el día elegido para ir conociendo las actualizaciones de las votaciones de los aficionados. La NBA revelará cómo están los votos el 3 de enero, 10 de enero y 17 de enero.

Por tercer año consecutivo, no sólo podrán votar los aficionados, sino que también podrán hacerlo los propios jugadores (quienes pueden seleccionar a alguno de sus compañeros o a sí mismos) y un grupo de periodistas especializados. Cada uno podrá enviar una encuesta completa con sus

¿Cómo se distribuyen estos votos? A partes proporcionales: los votos de los aficionados contabilizan el 50% del total, el 25% se reparte entre los resultados de los jugadores y el 25% restante entre los periodistas.

Tanto los fans, periodistas como jugadores votan cinco jugadores de cada Conferencia. Estos se reparten entre dos jugadores de backcourt (bases y escoltas) y tres de frontcourt (aleros, al-pívots y pívots). De ahí saldrán los 10 titulares del All Star Game que serán anunciados el jueves 24 de enero de 2019 en un programa televisado por la TNT.

Los suplentes (14, 7 procedentes de cada Conferencia) se darán a conocer una semana después, el jueves 31 de enero de 2019, también a través de la TNT. ¿Cómo se eligen a los suplentes? Son los entrenadores quienes votan a siete jugadores de su propia Conferencia con la salvedad de los de su propio equipo. Cada técnico ha de nombrar a dos jugadores de backcourt (bases y escoltas) y tres de frontcourt (aleros, al-pívots y pívots) y a otros dos jugadores sin una posición determinada (wild cards).

Hasta pronto desde España.

@Sixers_Espanol

Source: https://www.nba.com/sixers/trio-de-ases-de-los-sixers-para-el-all-star

[birdschool60-blog]

On the Market: Big Barn-ish House in Landenberg

For Sale/Rent

Its great room will make you think you're living in one of those converted historic barns. But actually, it's a spacious 1960s rancher on steroids.

182 Good Hope Rd., Landenberg, Pa. 19350 | Images via Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate

There’s a good reason the agent marketing this roomy retreat out past Chester County mushroom country chose to make the rear elevation the leadoff exterior shot for the listing’s photo gallery:

Exterior front

The front elevation, which looks like a garden apartment building got a 1960s ranch house plopped on top of it.

But frankly, if you’re looking for a hideaway nestled amidst six wooded acres next to a nature preserve in a not-yet-suburbanized section of Chester County, you’re probably not too concerned with curb appeal.

What’s inside the house probably matters more to you. And while the inside displays the same stylistic schizoprhrenia the outside does — so is this a 1960s rancher on steroids or a 1980s contemporary house for sale? (Answer: both) — it contains a collection of knockout spaces.

Great room

First and foremost among them is the great room, which extends the entire two-plus-story height of the home and takes up the entire volume of the newer addition to the house. Here you will get the impression that you’re living in one of those converted barns everyone loves for their rustic yet sophisticated charm.

Great room

This room, which definitely deserves the moniker “great,” is plenty rustic, with its exposed-wood-frame cathedral ceiling, post-and-beam framing, pellet stove and balcony.

Master suite bedroom

Master suite balcony

Beyond the French doors on that balcony lies the master suite. It consists of a newly carpeted bedroom, a bath with whirlpool tub and glass shower, a dressing room with a cedar closet and a large sitting room with a private covered balcony attached.

Living room

Back downstairs, below all this, is the original 1960s rancher, nicely updated. The main floor has a nice open layout: to the right of the main entrance and up a half-flight of stairs you will find the living room, whose large picture window gives you a good view of the woods that surround you.

Dining room

Sun porch

Behind one side of the living room is a formal dining room. Sliding glass doors lead from it to a handsome sun porch.

Kitchen

An updated kitchen opens onto the dining room and can be accessed from the living room. The style upgrade it got includes glass-front china cabinets, under-cabinet lighting, a subway tile backsplash and a granite-topped island.

This house’s other three bedrooms and a hall bath lie to the left of the main entrance.

Between the one-car garage next to the basement family room and the detached two-car garage with carport, you can store four vehicles on this property.

Studio cabin

You can also let your creative side express itself in the studio cabin, a great open workspace. Or you can adapt this large open room to suit your needs.

This house is close to suburban Wilmington but far from the madding crowd. It makes a perfect retreat for an artist or craftsperson. Or maybe even you.

THE FINE PRINT

BEDS: 4

BATHS: 2 full, 1 half

SQUARE FEET:  Not available

SALE PRICE: $384,000

OTHER STUFF: The seller offers a one-year home warranty with this house for sale. Its sale price was reduced by $14,500 on Jan. 10th.

182 Good Hope Rd., Landenberg, Pa. 19350 [Jim Venema | Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate]

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/property/2019/01/24/house-for-sale-landenberg-contemporary-farmhouse/

[birdschool60-blog]

Injuries, panic, trades and Eagles coaches film breakdowns

The Super Bowl Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 8 facing a closing playoff window and they’ve just received more bad injury news. We’ve asked a few times now, is it time to hit the panic button? We discuss this on The Kist & Solak Show while also digging into what got us here, including a myriad of injuries, blown leads, and scattershot execution.

One factor adding to the anxiety surrounding the Eagles is the recent Derek Barnett injury news. He’ll miss the rest of the 2018 campaign and need shoulder surgery, which takes a bite out of the Eagles front four rotation. Barnett’s biggest impact this season came against the run where Pro Football Focus ranked him 7th among defensive ends in their Run Stop % metric.

One question we posed to you and will answer with our thoughts is this trade scenario from Daniel Jeremiah:

Neither of us particularly liked this trade either, but we did come up with some different options for the Eagles that would make it more palatable. Either way, decisions are going to have to be made at the outside cornerback position this off-season, so the question is will the Eagles make an aggressive move now to head that off at the pass?

We also talked about the Dallas Cowboys trading a first round pick for wide receiver Amari Cooper and dug into the film of the Eagles 21-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

All that and more on The Kist & Solak Show #31, stream it on the media player below or click here if the player doesn’t load. FLY EAGLES FLY!

Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/10/24/18018162/injuries-panic-trades-eagles-coaches-film-breakdowns-philadelphia-bgn-radio-podcast-kist-solak-nfl

[birdschool60-blog]

NFL Draft Prospect Preview: Saturday Bowl Games

Birmingham Bowl: Memphis v. Wake Forest, 12 PM ET, ESPN

Patrick Taylor Junior, Running Back, Memphis: With Darrell Henderson sitting out of the bowl, Patrick Taylor Junior has a tremendous chance to shine on a big stage. The 6’3”, 225 pound is a behemoth running back and he has had a great season in spell of Henderson. Taylor eclipsed one thousand rushing yards on less than 180 carries and has scored an impressive 15 touchdowns. Taylor is a powerful, athletic player and today could be his day to show off his NFL readiness.

Willie Yarbary, Defensive Tackle, Wake Forest: In order to stop Memphis’ big play running game, Wake Forest will need a big game from their senior defensive tackle. Willie Yarbary is a first-step specialist with a knack for big plays in the run game. His stats do not reflect how important to the defense he is, but today will be a good day to remind NFL teams that he is a real player.

Armed Forces Bowl: Army v. Houston, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN

Mike Reynolds, Cornerback, Army: Though a smaller cornerback at 5’10”, Mike Reynolds has come up big for the Black Knights during his senior year. He is a quick twitch, physical cornerback with an ability to find the ball. Team’s will be concerned with his size, but he’ll be able to show off his playmaking skills against a potent Houston offense.

Austin Robinson, Linebacker, Houston: With Ed Oliver not playing, Austin Robinson will be under the microscope on Houston’s defense. The 6’3”, 240 pound defender is a fantastic run defender with some pass rushing flare. Robinson’s last game against a triple option team (Navy) resulted in 21 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 2 sacks. Robinson will finally be the star of the Houston defense for a day and it will be fun to see what he does as the centerpiece.

Dollar General Bowl: Buffalo v. Troy, 7 PM ET, ESPN

Anthony Johnson, Wide Receiver, Buffalo: One of the best kept secrets in college football, Anthony Johnson has been as productive as anyone in the last two years. After 14 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards last year, Johnson has 11 touchdowns through the air this year and is inching toward another thousand yard season. The 6’2”, 210 pound receiver is a fantastic route runner with dependable hands and he should put on a good show against a stingy Troy defense.

Cedarius Rookard, Safety, Troy: Tasked with limiting Buffalo’s big play receiver will be Cedarius Rookard. The 6’1” senior safety is a ball hawk with nine interceptions in the last three years. Rookard is athletic, cerebral and Troy will need big plays from him against a Buffalo offense that can run with anyone.

Hawai’i Bowl: Hawai’i v. Louisiana Tech, 10:30 PM ET, ESPN

John Ursua, Wide Receiver, Hawai’i: John Ursua was on his way to a productive 2017 before injury cut his season short. This season he came hot from hell, ranging for revenge with 89 catches, 1,343 yards and 16 touchdowns. Ursua might not look like much at 5’10”, 175 pounds, but he is a crafty and sure handed receiver. If you can stay up late for the Hawai’i Bowl , Ursua will be sure to impress.

Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech: Jaylon Ferguson might be the best defender you haven’t heard of it. With 42.5 career sacks in his four years, few players have been as productive as Ferguson during his time at LATech. The 6’5”, 262 pound prospect has great burst and a lot of power. It may be bold to say in such a crowded class, but Ferguson would be hyped as a first round pick in any other year. Hawai’i’s offense is extremely potent and Ferguson will be instrumental in stopping it.

Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/12/22/18153047/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-saturday-bowl-games-2018-memphis-wake-forest-troy-buffalo-hawaii-2019