Letters: June 5

Posted 6/5/13

Block Party a success

The 7th Annual Block Party at Winston Park was another huge success despite the heat. We want to thank Bowman Properties, Elphant Wissahickon, Carmen Shoe Repair, …

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Letters: June 5

Posted

Block Party a success

The 7th Annual Block Party at Winston Park was another huge success despite the heat. We want to thank Bowman Properties, Elphant Wissahickon, Carmen Shoe Repair, McNally's, Weavers Way Coop for their contributions and the Fire Department for stopping by and giving the kids a thrill. And a big Thank You to Shawn Nolan and his band the Meg's for keeping a hot crowd cool.

Bod Previdi

Chestnut Hill

 

Brodey story lacked key information

I read the Jean Brodey story (“‘The Brodey Bunch’ loves acclaimed Flourtown prof, 84,” May 30) online.

Not to sound “pushy,” but every piece of information I provided to you, and provided by Lisette (Jean Brodey’s daughter), indicated where your readers could buy the book that was written by the woman you were profiling. You put in an email address which has nothing to do with anything and was not even provided to you as a link for this book.

It would have been the appropriate thing to put in the piece or at the end that readers can purchase Jean’s book at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. It would not have reeked of retail but as giving the facts as part of your story. The story was a feel-good piece, but readers are not going to send emails and wait for responses about buying a small poetry book.

I’m a detail person, and this ignored detail left a hole.

And you can give this to your editor if you want to see this as a “complaint” because I’m not a “Write to the Editor” kind of person. I think this is between the writer and editor; if the writer missed the detail, the editor should have picked it up and added it to complete the whole story.

Forgive me for not mentioning that I really liked the story. I would have enjoyed some more anecdotes from your interview with Jean. But I felt it was a nice look at her life, the book and her accomplishments.

Arlene W. Leib

Conshohocken

 

Support cigarette tax proposal

As a healthcare professional and cardiologist, I see so many adults that have health problems due to smoking – heart disease, lung disease and cancer to name a few. Many of these adults started smoking when they were teenagers, and most have tried to quit over the years with varying degrees of success. Fortunately, Mayor Nutter is proposing a $2 city tax on cigarettes, which will have a large impact on preventing teens and young kids from ever starting to smoke. The city health department estimates that the tax will reduce the number of kids who smoke by at least 1,000. This saves each of these kids from a lifetime of tobacco addiction, which hurts both their pocketbooks and their health. It also saves the rest of us (taxpayers, employers) millions in health care costs.

Not only will our Philadelphia kids benefit from a health standpoint, but they will also benefit from an educational standpoint. The city has had to cut education funding, and will need to cut more if the City Council doesn’t come up with a new way to raise revenue. This $2 city tax on cigarettes will raise millions of dollars for education.

This $2 tax on a pack of cigarettes will help to keep kids from smoking, and raise money to educate our kids properly. In addition a portion this money will be used for programs to keep kids from smoking and to help any smokers who wish to quit. This is something everyone can and should support. Please call city council and tell them to pass the $2 cigarette tax.

Danielle Duffy, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology

Jefferson Medical College

American Heart Association

Southeastern Pennsylvania Board of Directors

 

Dollars for schools

Last week, the School Reform Commission voted to approve a "doomsday" budget that will go into effect next year unless the district receives additional funding from the city and state. The cuts are shocking. No counselors, librarians, assistant principals, or secretaries. No athletics or extra-curricular activities.

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) allows us to bring much-needed tax dollars into our local public schools. With EITC, nearly anyone who pays business taxes to the state of Pennsylvania can re-direct those tax dollars to support local schools. Businesses receive a 90 percent credit for their contribution for a two-year commitment, or a 75 percent credit for a one-year commitment. Mt. Airy USA, in partnership with East and West Mt. Airy Neighbors, has been approved to raise EITC funds to support innovative educational programs at five local schools: Day, Emlen, Henry, Houston, and Lingelbach.

To participate, businesses must apply for the EITC tax credits by July 1, 2013.

We're asking for your help identifying businesses that would like to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to support Mt. Airy public schools.

Do you own a business? Email Abby at athaker@mtairyusa.org today to find out if you qualify and to learn how we can help with the application process. Or ask your employer if your company qualifies.

Do you know anyone who owns a business? Please forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested.

EITC won't solve the budget crisis, but it will provide substantial help at a time of great need. We also urge everyone to call your city and state representatives to urge them to find a way to provide additional funding for District schools.

Abby Thaker

Mt. Airy USA

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