Hello friends!
We are finally getting started on our basement renovation on Monday and everything in the basement must go. Here are some of the key items, but if you see something else that you want in our basement and you can carry it, you can have it. (Mostly. We do need to keep our washer and dryer, etc.)
Here are some photos and Craigslist posts:
Buy this light fixture for $10!
Buy this *new* blender for $10!
Reposted from EqualityPA:
This Tuesday, November 3rd is a very important election. As voters, we will have the chance to ensure that our courts will be fair to the LGBT community, which is important because courts play a critical role in the lives of LGBT people in Pennsylvania.
The history of the state courts in Pennsylvania has not been favorable on legislation regarding LGBT rights. In 2002 the state legislature passed a law to include LGBT people in hate crimes protections. That law was overturned in 2007 on a technical issue in the state courts. As a result, LGBT people still do not have hate crimes protections in Pennsylvania.
That’s why we all need to vote on Tues., Nov. 3rd.
Do you know your schedule that day? When is good time for you to go vote? These are important things to think about now to make sure you can get out to vote.
Find your polling place here. Then make your plan to vote.
Here are the Equality PA Endorsed candidates.
– Christine Donohue – Supreme Court
– Kevin Dougherty – Supreme Court
– David Wecht – Supreme Court
– Dan Clifford – Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas
– Alice Beck Dubow – Superior Court
– Abbe Fletman – Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
– Chris Mallios – Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
– Hugh McGough – Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
– Mia Roberts Perez – Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
– Michael Wojcik – Commonwealth Court
– Heather Arnet – PA State Senate, District 37, Allegheny & Washington County
– Bruce Hanes – Register of Wills, Montgomery County
Download the Equality PA voting guide here.
Also, don’t forget that candidate for Supreme Court, Michael George, used the “gay panic” defense as a defense attorney in a clear hate crime murder case. He tried to use the sexual orientation of the two lesbian victims to persuade the jury to give his guilty client a lighter sentence. One of the victims, Claudia Brenner, who survived after being shot multiple times has been speaking out about her experience.
DO NOT vote for Michael George because we believe that his history shows that he will not be fair and impartial to the LGBT community.
Make your plan to vote and share this email with friends and family to make sure they vote too.
Here’s an article from 2014 that talks about the project: http://www.southphillyreview.com/news/features/Green_City_Clean_Waters_looking_at_Newbold_site-282567831.html
Now, over a year later the Parks and Rec Dept wants to change the plan from what the community originally supported citing concerns over lack of parking and raising that there may be contamination at the site though there has never been any testing.
We need Councilman Johnson’s support to move this project forward. Can you call him and send this email to your networks? A majority of neighbors support more green space in South Philadelphia and we need your help to make this happen.
Here’s what you need to know:
Councilman Johnson’s office is still undecided on whether to support the green space project. Call Councilman Johnson’s office today to tell him that you support the green space 215-686-3412.
Thank you in advance, and please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Also, you are welcome to come to our next civic meeting to discuss at Guerin Recreation Center on Monday, Oct. 26 at 7PM.
New Street Festival in South Philadelphia Will Support Street Cleaning Program, Sponsored by AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care
South Philadelphia – This September 12th the Newbold Community Development Corporation (CDC) will launch the inaugural South Philly SausageFest, a local food and craft beer festival. The event, sponsored by AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care, will be a fundraiser for the Newbold CDC’s Street Cleaning Program.
The Newbold CDC’s Street Cleaning Program is a partnership with Horizon House, Inc. who provides a wide range of services for adults with developmental disabilities, drug and alcohol addictions, and/or homelessness. Newbold CDC employs its cleaning crew through Horizon House’s workforce program and puts these individuals to work in cleaning up the commercial corridors along West Passyunk and Snyder Avenues from South Broad to 19th Streets.
The Cleaning Program has been underway since early 2014 and is supported by local business sponsors including Ultimo Coffee, AJ Appliance, and DJCRE Real Estate as well as the City’s Commerce Department. Newbold CDC will use the proceeds from the South Philly SausageFest to support the Cleaning Program into the future.
South Philly SausageFest will include “sausage-themed” food from local restaurants including Cafe y Chocolate, Chaat and Chai, Grubhouse, Miss Rachel’s Pantry, Philly Pretzel Factory and Tap Room on 19th. The festival will also feature Philadelphia regional breweries: Conshohocken Brewing Company, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Point Breeze Brewing Company, Saint Benjamin BrewingCompany, Sly Fox Brewing Company, and Weyerbacher Brewing Company. The festival will also feature arts and crafts as well as children’s activities sponsored by Philadelphia Family Pride.
For more information about the festival go to: www.southphillysausagefest.com.
This is the story of how WashCycleLaundry lost my wedding dress and then sent me a ridiculous pittance of a check to try to appease me.
Here’s how it happened:
On May 27, I scheduled a pick up with WashCycle Laundry. I was a first time customer. The original time I requested was immediately changed because though their web site said it was available, it was not. So, I scheduled for a time later that day and cyclist was late.
I got a confirmation email that my laundry would be dropped off back at my home on May 29, but I got a call that day that they were running late and needed to bring it to me the following week. The following week, I got another call that they were really backed up and needed another day.
On June 3, they finally informed me that my laundry was lost and they asked me for an inventory of what was in the bag. At first it took me a minute to remember what I had in that bag, but soon enough I came to the horrible realization that my wedding dress was in that bag.
Then I spent the next week following up with them every day and begging them to let me come to facility and look for it myself. They refused and on June 8, over the phone they offered to pay me $350 for my items. I refused and asked to speak to a supervisor.
A few minutes later, this strange email showed up in my inbox:
Dear Levana.layendecker,
Leigh Goldenberg –
I think Mike or Gabe needs to get involved. It’s not a marketing/customer service issue so much as a refund/replacement one that is more on the business side. You did all you could.Leigh Goldenberg
Director of MarketingWash Cycle LaundryOur HQ has moved! Please note our new mailing address:Wash Cycle Laundry Inc.c/o Industrious
230 S. Broad Street, 17th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102On Mon, Jun 8, 2015 at 3:12 PM, Sandradean Barber <support@washcycle.freshdesk.com> wrote:
Leigh,It seems like no matter what we do she will not be satisfied which is totally understandable but now she don’t want to speak to me anymore and is asking for my Supervisor. My concern of course is social media.P.S. Want to tell the world about us? Check out Wash Cycle Laundry on Yelp!Sandradean S. BarberCustomer Support ManagerWash Cycle Laundry1-888-611-WASH (9274)
Needless to say, I was not intended to receive that email. And it seemed pretty clear that their main concern was that I would go to social media. And it was also clear that they were done looking for my dress. So, I felt I had no choice but to post a review on Yelp, Facebook, and Twitter.
That got their attention and that night the CEO of the company emailed me. I asked him to call me and he assured me that he would take control of the situation. They did keep me updated for two weeks on their progress, but still would not let me search or inspect the facilities myself. I don’t know they actually did any of the things that they reported to me, but it did seem like they made an effort.
Then on June 17, I got a long letter from the CEO, Gabriel Mandjano, which professed to be an apology, but really was a long justification of how they really are a good company and just made this one mistake. Their Yelp reviews would beg to differ.
The real kicker of the letter was this last paragraph:
Our terms of service, which we created by surveying the practices of over a dozen Center City dry cleaners, provide for reimbursement of up to 10x the price we charge to clean each item. We’ve calculated the total amount based on the inventory you’ve supplied us and enclosed a check with this letter.
I got that check a week later, and it was for $300. That is $50 less than what they offered me a few weeks ago.
First of all, I want to say that no amount of money could make up for what I lost. My dress was not particularly expensive, but it was special to me. When I discovered that it was lost, all I really wanted was for them to find it. Not only did they not find it, but sending me a check without even talking to me first is just insulting.
The truth is that I just want my dress back. I know that someone has it. If the wedding photos get circulated more widely, maybe someone will recognize it and return it. If you have any leads, feel free to contact me and I will come get it–no questions asked.
Finally, I just want to add that I am very supportive of sustainable businesses, but there is no excuse for bad management on this level. I can’t support a company with my business that is this poorly run.
My husband and I were featured in Grid Magazine’s sustainable weddings issue for supporting local businesses. My biggest regret is that I didn’t bring my dress to my trusted local cleaner, Linn Cleaners, on the corner of 15th and Jackson. They are an excellent business where they know my name, treat me with respect, and take care of my clothes. I am ashamed that I was wooed by WashCycleLaundry‘s marketing. I will never stray again.
Repost from EqualityPA:
LGBT Advocates Press to End Discrimination in the Workplace, Housing, and Public Accommodations
Philadelphia – Today, Equality Pennsylvania, alongside 30 state-wide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups from Georgia Equality to Basic Rights Oregon and beyond, launched #DiscriminationExists, a week-long education campaign to highlight the fact that despite recent victories for the freedom to marry many states still need to update their laws to protect LGBT people from discrimination. Follow the discussion at discriminationexists.org. Continue reading
Join us for the Holiday Party with Newbold Civic Association! Dec. 15th at 7PM at Guerin Rec Center at 16th and Jackson. It’s a potluck so bring your best dish!
.
Levana Layendecker 
You must be logged in to post a comment.