Philadelphia, PA

Does he seriously think our economy is growing?

Please, get him out of that house.

It’s the case of the nonexistent ninja.

Public schools in Barnegat, NJ were locked down briefly after someone reported seeing a ninja running through the woods behind an elementary school.

Turns out the ninja was actually a camp counselor dressed in black karate garb and carrying a plastic sword.

Police tell the Asbury Park Press the man was late to a costume-themed day at a nearby middle school.

The lockdown began shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday and lasted until 9:30.

Oh, kids.

Authorities made an arrest in the alleged assault that happened last Thursday night during a soccer game in Newark. Del., when the ref carded a player for unsportsmanlike behavior.
It was a lack of sportsmanship two soccer players said they never imagined they would see.

“You just don’t bite somebody like that,” said Dave Dease, a witness to the incident.

“I’ve seen somebody, you know, push a ref before, but I’ve never seen somebody actually bite somebody,” said Rob Traynor, another witness.

The victim told police he was officiating a soccer game between two teams named Fulhundred and Pizza by Elizabeth when the incident occurred.

Dease and Traynor, who play in the New Castle County league every year, said they have faced off against Thursday night’s opponents before.

“They didn’t like the call, so they were arguing with the ref the whole time,” Dease said.

A player wearing jersey No. 5 disagreed with the official’s decision to eject him from the game, so he “immediately approached him with his fists clenched,” according to a police release.

New Castle County police said Rannord A. Jones, of Freedom Trail in New Castle, fiercely argued with the referee and then allegedly attacked him, biting through his chin.

“The player was so enraged that he just savagely attacked the official, biting him almost in an animal manner about the chin,” Cpl. Trinidad Navarro said.

Traynor described what he saw: “The ref went down. He grabbed his chin and went down on one knee like he was hurt, and I thought he was almost like faking it. And then I looked, and there was blood pouring out.”

“It’s very bizarre,” Dease said. “I’ve seen a lot of things in my day, but I’ve never seen someone get bit in the face.”

Jones said nothing as he turned himself in to police Friday morning. He is charged with felony assault and threatening to kill the referee.

Jones’ mother, Patsy Walter, said she would defend her son.

“If he’s wrong, I’m going to tell him straight up he’s wrong,” she said.

For Dease and Traynor, who play on their college team, they said they are disgusted when a game turns violent.

“It just shows really, you know, bad sportsmanship,” Traynor said.

(more…)

I’ve been trying hard to ignore the new Sex and the City movie, but I can’t any longer. Somehow, someway, ever news station has done an intricate report on the Sex and the City movie; last night, CBS 3 premiered its mens guide to SatC. The report included this description of Samantha: “She reminds me of my best friend Cindy.” Oh! I get it now!

To view the “survival guide” click here.

Survelliance cameras on the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship show a Camden County woman was alone on her balcony when she fell overboard Sunday, the cruise line stated last night.

The Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement that hallway cameras and cameras on the sides of the ship “confirmed that Mindy Jordan was in her stateroom alone at the time of the incident.”

The family of Ms. Jordan, 46 years old, of Pine Hill, said Tuesday that it suspected foul play. The family could not be reached last night after the cruise ship’s statement was released.

The company did not characterize the incident, and noted that investigations are continuing.

The cruise line said it was arranging for Ms. Jordan’s family to join the ship in Bermuda today to view the footage.

If FBI agents from New York City office and local authorities in Bermuda conducted interviews on the ship yesterday.

If FBI agents determine that Ms. Jordan’s fall was accidental, that information will be relayed to family members but not made public, Special Agent Jim Margolin stated.

The cruise line released a timeline of events, beginning with Ms. Jordan; her boyfriend, Mr. Jorge Caputo; and a couple they were traveling with eating dinner in the ship’s Garden Cafe.

The couples returned to their adjacent staterooms about 7:28 p.m., the cruise line stated.

Eight minutes later, Mr. Caputo left his room and joined his friends next door. “From that moment on, Mindy was alone in her stateroom,” the cruise line said.

At 7:53 p.m., the cameras had shown Ms. Jordan falling from her balcony, “straight into the water.”

The cruise line previously said Ms. Jordan, who was staying on deck nine, had been trying to climb to an adjoining balcony when she fell.

Shortly after Ms. Jordan’s fall, an emergency call was made from the friends’ stateroom, and Mr. Caputo is seen leaving that room “to seek help,” the cruise line said.

Four minutes later, a man-overboard announcement was made, and the ship’s crew launched two rescue boats.

Ms. Jordan went overboard about 45 miles off Atlantic City, about four hours after the ship had left New York en route to Bermuda.

The Coast Guard joined the search, which was called off on Monday. Ms. Jordan’s body has not been found.

The cruise ship arrived in Bermuda yesterday. The ship is due back in New York on Sunday morning.

Ms. Jordan’s family members said that week that they doubted the cruise line’s initial account, and they described Ms. Jordan’s relationship with Mr. Caputo as volatile.

The two lived together for more than two years, said Ms. Jordan’s brother, Steve Lynn. He said Ms. Jordan had moved out several months ago, but that the two had apparently reconciled.

Barbara Matthews, the couple’s neighbor, described Ms. Jordan and Mr. Caputo in complimentary terms and said she had been seen no evidence of trouble in their relationship. She said Mr. Caputo, who works for a car dealership, had moved next door to her about three years ago with his daughter, Megan, who was 20 years old. Ms. Jordan moved in about a year later.

“What I know about him, it’s impossible for me to think there was anything sinister going on,” she said.

Ms. Matthews said she last saw the couple Sunday morning before they left for the cruise.

They were meeting their traveling companions in the parking lot, and Mr. Caputo joked with Ms. Matthews about watching the house to make sure his daughter didn’t have any parties while he was gone.

She said Mr. Caputo recently had recovered from back surgery and “was really looking forward” to the trip.

Ms. Jordan, a licensed practical nurse, had a 15-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son.

Her mother, Lousise Horton of Bordentown City, said she had spoken to Ms. Jordan twice on Mother’s Day before the ship left port. Mr. Caputo called the next morning to say Ms. Jordan had died.

“The pieces just don’t add together,” Ms. Horton said on Tuesday.

If you have any Philadelphia News, Events, etc. please email them to phillytips@kyledylanconner.com.

Do you remember Jocelyn Kirsch? Yes, of course you do. You probably don’t remember Edward Anderton, the other dude in the Bonnie and Clyde of Identity Fraud case from last year.

One might think things are a little quiet on the Kirsch and Anderton front nowadays, but that didn’t stop British paper The Observer from doing a giant piece on ol’ B&C. By giant, I mean 4100 words! On Bonnie & Clyde!

Steeped in narcissism and privilege, fuelled by entitlement, theirs is truly an outlaw romance for the 21st century. The Philadelphia Daily News immediately dubbed the photogenic couple ‘Bonnie and Clyde’. It’s a name some people take exception to. ‘Bonnie and Clyde, that’s only because they’re young and good-looking,’ scoffs Detective Terry Sweeney of the Philadelphia police. ‘These two were complete idiots. If this was two fat fucks from South Philly, it would have been Turner and Hooch.’

Yeah, too bad the phrase was originally coined by a police source. Uh oh.

The article is full of unintentionally hilarious sentences. The first one here is the best:

- 22-year-old Jocelyn was a final-year student at nearby Drexel University, a big step down from Penn.
- Each year, Jocelyn also reinvented herself, swapping old friends for new ones, transforming from goth girl to Abercrombie prep to frisky cheerleader wannabe.
- While Jocelyn was fast becoming Drexel’s answer to Paris Hilton, a few blocks away at the University of Pennsylvania, Edward Kyle Anderton was winding down his college career in obscurity.
- He hadn’t always been so anonymous. He grew up in Everett, Washington, where he was a straight-A striver and a standout swimmer whom the Seattle Times once named ‘Star of the Month’.
- But at Penn, Ed was just one bright undergraduate among 10,000. Intimidated, he tried to assume the confident air of his Ivy League peers, but if he made any sort of impression, it was for the way he feigned good humour to mask something else. ‘His niceness didn’t seem that genuine,’ says a former classmate. ‘When you talked to him, there was a disconnect. He was a bit fake.’
- At a gathering of family and friends, Jocelyn refused to play their board games, choosing to sit at Ed’s elbow, sipping wine while everyone else drank soda, her blouse undone a few buttons too many, her face arranged in a careful, lipsticked smile.
- ‘Hi, my name is Jocelyn Kirsch,’ she introduced herself, as the crowd and Britain’s heir to the throne looked on. ‘I’m originally from Vilnius, Lithuania.’ She went on to speak eloquently about the way globalisation is stratifying societies around the world.

Okay, that’s enough. The whole thing is just a differently-detailed version of the Rolling Stone article about the pair. Gah, it’s 5:12 a.m., and I haven’t slept yet.

Mayor Michael A. Nutter reported the results of the April 5th, 2008 Philly Spring Cleanup at a press conference at City Hall on April 8th, 2008. Goals that were set prior to the cleanup were met and exceeded, and Keep America Beautiful - the organization responsible for clean-ups across the country - has confirmed that the Philly Spring Cleanup was the largest single day, citywide clean-up on record in the United States of America.

“Even I was taken aback by the scale of what was achieved on Saturday”, said Mayor Nutter. “I am so proud of the thousands of volunteers, the dedicated public servants, the community organizations and corporate sponsors who all worked so hard to make this even such a huge success.”

“With over 17,000 events taking place each spring, Keep America Beautiful’ Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program,” said Matthew McKenna, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “Across all categories, the Philly Spring Cleanup was the largest single-day citywide cleanup event to happen in event’s 24-year history. We’re proud that our local affiliate, Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, was able to help Mayor Nutter in this incredible effort.”

Mayor Nutter emphasized that this would not just be a one-day effort to clean up Philadelphia. He spoke of the ongoing Love Where You Live effort which focuses on prevention and education and changing the attitude of those people who think that it is acceptable to drop trash on the street.

Philly Spring Cleanup Results:

Trash Tonnage:
- 2.56 million pounds of trash (1,280.02 tons)
- 48,010 pounds of recycling

Volunteers:
- Total volunteer involvement estimated around 15,000

Commercial Corridors:
- Estimated 71 Commercial Corridors cleaned

Blocks Cleaned:
- Estimated 5,000 neighborhood blocks cleaned

Recreated Centers:
- 28 Recreation Centers cleaned

Park Sites:
- 27 Fairmount Park sites cleaned

Supplies Used:
- 65,600 biodegradable paper trash bags
- 14,050 biodegradable paper recycling bags
- 17,269 pairs of gloves
- 9,804 brooms

Streets Department Support:
- 522 sanitation workers
- 163 sanitation trucks
- 10 bulk trucks
- 3 flushers
- 11 mechanical brooms

Sponsorship:
- Over $300,000 in cash and in-kind contributions

Other Related Outcomes:
- PPD Removed 186 abandoned automobiles
- 2,302 Tires removed
- More than 177 registered Cleanup sites in neighborhoods across the City
- Over 200 community organizations involved
- 14 churches of faith-based institutions invovled

For more information and to get involved visit phillycleanup.com.

Have trouble hailing a taxi in the city? It’s about to get even harder. Next Wednesday, 1,600 members of the Taxi Workers’ Alliance are planning a citywide strike starting 6 am. They plan to be out of service for at least 24 hours, maybe even 48.
The motive behind the strike involves the complaints about the new GPS and credit card devices installed in cabs several months ago. The New devices were added to increase customer satisfaction, but at the expense of taxi drivers. The credit machines cite a 5 percent surcharge that trickles down to the drivers, and if the equipment is damaged the drivers are responsible for repair.
The Union is hoping for high percentage of participation so you might want to start making alternative plans to get around the city. Hey, there’s always dear old SEPTA(which by the way, has some schedule updates).

taxi strike, Philly taxi, Taxi Workers’ Alliance

Philadelphia is no stranger to filmmakers (as I’ve already mentioned), however, there aren’t any Hollywood style studios in the area…..yet. I recently came across this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about plans for not one, but two movies studios for this area. I was somewhat surprised to find out that one of the proposed sites is a short distance from where I live, in an old vacant department store that we used to shop at when i was a kid.

The Philadelphia area currently has nothing like a Hollywood-type film studio.

So, can it support two?

A New Jersey real estate developer said yesterday he planned to turn a tired, half-empty Norristown shopping center into what would be one of the largest studios on the East Coast.

This is a different project from the studio that other developers and film people said last week was in the works for a yet-to-be-announced site somewhere in the region.

Full story by Tom Infield- Phillywood? 2nd area film studio planned

Philadelphia film studio, movie studios in Philadelphia

There’s a lot going on in the news so here’s a quick overview….

They faced elimination, but laughed in its face. At least for now, both SEPTA paper transfers and Rick’s Steaks aren’t going anywhere. It’s hard to say just yet whether the pending lawsuits in both cases will keep them around to stay or if they are just delaying the inevitable.

Also delayed for the moment is the building new exhibit at the sight of George Washington’s home in Philadelphia. The original plans called for filling in the ruins of the house and building an abstract display and exhibit. But the discovery of the slave passage and quarters during the archaeological dig prompted city and park officials to change course. The new site will incorporate the archaeological findings into the exhibits.

But why build another attraction when you can see it all on your computer, right? hmm. A new program has been designed that will let you visit Philadelphia in 3D via your computer. The program will let users tour the city, book hotels and even drive through the streets of Philadelphia. I’m sure this is great for the agoraphobics of the world, but I’d prefer to see the city first hand and get some, oh i don’t know, exercise?? Center city isn’t all that big and it certainly wouldn’t kill you to walk around downtown….unless you wonder into the street. I can’t promise the cars will stop, Philly drivers are nuts. But anyway, I’m starting to ramble and I really should be off to bed. I’ll leave you with some links to the rest of the stories.

More on the SEPTA story
More on the George Washington Dig
More on virtual Philly

After attempts of negotiation, the Reading Terminal Market Board gave its final word that Rick Olivieri is to leave the market at the end of the month, making way for Tony Luke’s. Rick is down to just his steak shop at Citizen’s Bank Park, which just so happens to be located near a Tony Luke’s. Despite Tony having a stronger pull with fans at the park, Rick still has a few loyal patrons in his corner.

“It’s really a shame,” Pat Wasmer said of Olivieri, just after buying a steak from Rick’s. “He’s part of a legend, he’s been there for so long. I never had a steak from Tony Luke’s, and now I probably never will.”

The board may have made their decision but Rick’s not packing up yet. He still believes he has a case against the board and is preparing to sue. The suit accuses General Manager Paul Steinke and Ricardo Dunston, chairman of the market corporation, of conspiring to deny Olivieri a new lease after orally agreeing to one. The board has yet to comment on the lawsuit.

Here’s the tv spot for Rick’s on CBS News

(Poll)Tell About-Philly what you think:
Should Rick keep fighting the board against the eviction or focus his efforts on keeping up with his other restaurant at Citizens Bank park?

Which do you prefer, Rick’s Steaks or Tony Luke’s?

Related articles
Philly Metro:
Tony Luke’s, Rick’s already squaring off at Citzens Bank Park
Cheesesteak shop owner sues over ouster from historic market
CBS3:
Rick’s Steaks Owner Seeks Court Order
About-Philly:
Rick’s at Risk

And don’t forget to vote here for your favorite Cheesesteak shop! Then keep your eye out for the results.

Rick’s Steaks, Reading Terminal Market, Cheesesteaks, Tony Luke’s

I received a request from Robyn to talk about the fire that happened around a month ago in West Kensington. so here we go…Robyn, I hope I’ve done you proud!

On June 20th 2007, Kensington witnessed its worst fire in history. The fire, ruled arson, started in an abandoned warehouse, near Potter and H street, at about 4 am, before arching across the street and destroying seven homes. The inferno drew 175 firefighters and 50 pieces of fire equipment, caused power and gas outages, and forced scores of people in the area to temporarily evacuate. Residents, Nancy Malave and daughter Kimberly, had only enough time to escape with their lives. The fire left their home of seven years a charred, empty void. Windows were shattered and plastic siding of nearby homes were melted from the seven-alarm blaze. Amazingly, no one was killed or hurt severely; only a few people sustained minor injuries.

Survival is paramount, of course, but starting over after a total loss involves endless small details. The Malaves had to wait in line at a motor vehicle office yesterday to replace their driver’s licenses. Kimberly, a rising Edison High School senior, with a job at a Dunkin’ Donuts near Broad Street and Allegheny Avenue, still has to buy a new uniform, as well as closed-toe shoes to supplement her flip-flops, before returning to work Monday. Her mother used to pick Kimberly up at the end of her shift. Now she will have to depend on public transportation. Michael Matza, Philadelphia Inquirer June 23

Neighbors have donated clothes, along with the Red Cross and Salvation Army. The Simple Way, a Christian-affiliated community-services group, has set up a fund to raise money for the families affected by the fire. You can mail in donations or donate online through their site.

I’d like to end this post with a moment of silence for all the lives lost to Philadelphia fires.

Kensington, Kensington Fire, Potter street, H street, the Simple Way, Philadelphia Fire Department, fire safety

Rick Olivieri serving up a Philly Cheesesteak at his shop in Reading Terminal Market (photo taken from philly.com)

In an earlier post I had mentioned that Rick’s Steaks, in the Reading Terminal Market, was in danger of losing it’s lease after 25 years. The rally that was supposed to be held in support of Rick’s was cancelled when owner, Rick Olivieri, made an appointment with the board to possibily discuss terms of a new lease. A decision was reached, however, it has yet to be made public.

Why is the Terminal Market Board so eager to give Rick the boot? Rick claims that the board is retaliating against him for advocating for other terminal merchants, though board members deny those allegations. Another theory is the board couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring in Tony’s Luke’s, with it’s great reputation in Zagat’s guide. But can Zagat’s compete with family history? The name Olivieri sounds familiar, doesn’t it? That’s because Rick Olivieri is grandson to Pat Olivieri, founder of Pat’s King of Steaks and the philly steak sandwich. Herbert Oliveri opened Rick’s in 1981 inside Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, with son Rick Oliveri taking over in 1995. Despite being blood, family ties are strained between the Oliveri’s. In October 2006, Pat’s operator Frank Oliveri Jr. sued Rick’s Steaks in dispute over Rick’s references to Pat’s in its signage and literature (Rick’s advertises and promotes its connections to the Oliveri family). The lawsuit stems from Rick’s gain in notoriety after it opened a second location at Citizens Bank Park in 2006, a spot Geno’s Steaks abandoned after two seasons. With the law suit still pending, it could be another factor motivating the board to evict Rick.

Whatever the reason may be, one thing is for certain, Rick Olivieri is not going down without a fight.

If you’re in support of Rick’s or want to share your opinion with him, there’s a page here on his website where you can send in your comments.

Other articles about the Rick’s battle against the Terminal Market Board
Reading Terminal Market: Rick’s Steaks widout? By Joseph A. Slobodzian
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Posted on Thu, Jul. 05, 2007

Rick’s owner, market board to discuss lease by mike benner / metro philadelphia JUL 23, 2007

and don’t forget to vote for your favorite cheesesteak stop!

Rick’s Steaks, Rick Olivieri, Reading Terminal Market, Cheesesteaks, Pat Olivieri, Pat’s King of Steaks

I’ve been kind of busy this week so i apologize for not staying on top of my posts. Right now i’m gonna give you a quick one of little news snipits that i caught today in the newspaper.

A long, slow burn
Lawmakers were unable to agree on the debate to ban smoking in public locations through out Pennsylvania. They managed to come up with two spearate bills; the house version and the Senate version.

Both versions would ban smoking in places such as arenas, stores, restaurants and convention halls. But the Senate allowed full or partial exceptions for more establishments, including a quarter of casino gambling floors, bars where food is one-fifth or less of gross sales, addiction treatment centers, nursing homes and other adult-care centers.

The Senate’s version does not allow local governments to enact more restrictive bans and would pre-empt the one in Philadelphia that would ban smoking in casinos. The House version did not pre-empt tougher local bans.
click here for the full article

Foxwoods plans on hold
Despute over location has the plans for the Foxwoods Casino at a stand still.

Two of the main issues surrounding Foxwoods’ plan concern traffic around its riverfront location and riparian zones, areas of land that jut up against the Delaware River, which the state owns. The commission requested more information on the issues before making any decisions.
Click here for more

City gets Fresh

Country meets city this week in The Bite. We’re checking out the produce farmed locally and making its way into city limits. We’ll also clue you in on which Walnut Street establishment is threatening mutiny (hint: it’s not Le Bec Fin).

Now through Sunday, its Buy Fresh Buy Local week. Competitions, films, tours, and food & drink specials.
Its Munity at the Rum Bar. $3 drink specials every sunday night from 9 to close.
Click here for more.