CCOP Mayoral Forum

Last night's mayoral forum went well. Even though a big storm blew through the area right before the event, at least 200 people showed up to hear the four mayoral candidates answer questions from the CCOP community.

Above is a photo of Rev. Anderson, the evenings moderator; below are the time keepers who ensured that candidate answers were not too long.

Camden candidates outline mayoral goals -- Courier Post article

Camden mayor candidates urge freedom from state rule -- Philadelphia Inquirer article

Lots of Free Time

My Project H.O.M.E. internship ended at the beginning of this month. I'm so delighted that I had the opportunity to work at such a great organization and on such an interesting project. This has been such a great summer of exploring the subject of homelessness in Philadelphia. My supervisor was, by far, one of the most dynamic, intelligent and positive supervisors I have ever encountered.

Because the internship was sponsored by the Samuel S. Fels Foundation and those internships only last 10 weeks, I am now a stay-at-home expectant mother. It's great to have this time to get things together for the coming baby. Although, I'm feeling so energized days and was just started to get on a roll with regard to working full-time, it is a shame to not be putting my new degree to use in a non-profit environment.

To celebrate the upcoming babe and get some much-needed time together, my mom and I went to a B&B in Ventnor, New Jersey, a nice little beach town, for a few days last week. It was nice to be by the ocean, eat lots of good food and have lots of long talks. My mom is great and I really treasure my time with her. We also ventured up to Staten Island to see my grandmother and my cousin Michael's new baby, which was fun.

Last weekend, once we returned from the beach, I got to spend a morning with my three roommates from college -- Donna, Heather and Amanda -- and Amanda's new baby. They are such supportive and wonderful women. It is always so great to see them.


In two weeks, Joshua and I have another prenatal appointment and ultrasound scheduled. I will give a full pregnancy update then. (For those who cannot wait, the report thus-far would be as follows: All is well!)

The Queen's Team

The Lachman Family (my cousin Christine's family), Joshua, and I will be walking in the 18th Annual Lupus Loop on Sunday, October 25th as a part of the Queen's Team and we are looking for sponsors. The Lupus Loop is a 5K Run/Walk held in Fairmont Park and the monies raised benefit the Lupus Foundation of America, SE PA Chapter. The Lupus Loop is a part of a nation-wide series of events that raise awareness and funds to fight lupus. Major gaps exist in our understanding of the causes and consequences of Lupus. To address these gaps, we continue to raise funds so we can greatly expand our efforts so that the 1.5 million Americans with lupus may have hope that the disease will be brought under control and a cure will be found.

This is the Queen Team's eighth year participating in the walk and the first year that Joshua and I are joining the walk/run. Our team goal is to raise $1,500.00. For every $250.00, a sign will be put along the route in memory of Christine’s mother and my aunt, Kathleen Dowd, who passed away 10 years ago from Lupus. The Dowd and Lachman families already donated enough money to have her name on the Lupus Loop t-shirt that is given to all participants that preregister for the Walk- Run.

If you would like to support the cause, please visit the website to make a secure donation. Thanks!

Corzine hears pleas to boost aid for Camden

September 16, 2009    Philadelphia Inquirer    by Matt Katz

Gov. Corzine sat with his hands clasped last night as a Camden minister asked hundreds of city residents to stand if their homes or churches were next to abandoned buildings.

Most of the crowd at St. Joseph's Pro Cathedral on Federal Street rose to their feet.

Then the Rev. Willie Anderson asked whether anyone had heard gunshots at night, and nearly everyone else stood up.

By the time Anderson had finished listing his concerns - broken infrastructure, dirty streets, inattentive officials, and poor education - all the residents were standing, clapping, or raising their hands to the ceiling.

The city's largest civic organization, Camden Churches Organized for People (CCOP), last night made its third major public plea in a decade to try to exact more state assistance for Camden from a governor seven weeks from a tough reelection battle.

(For the full article, check out the Philadelphia Inquirer)

Update: Pearl the Dove

Our neighbor Erin is great at keeping friends and family updated on the progress of Pearl the Dove (unfortunately, Jeff did not win the naming competition). Based on all the follow-up questions I'm getting from folks who read this blog, I thought I should keep all of you gentle readers updated. Erin also writes about Bud, their pet iguana. Enjoy....



Pearl is a pink ringneck dove, very healthy other than the feathers growing back in, and is very sweet and funny. I took her to the vet, who said that she was certainly someone's pet. We think maybe she was released at a wedding in the park. Doves have no homing instinct- I've learned that the birds usually released at weddings are actually white pigeons, which have excellent homing instincts. Pearl is very tame, and seems to have been attacked by other birds who pulled out her face and tail feathers. :(

We take Bud and Pearl out in the yard when we can; they both need sunlight. Bud gets to walk around, but Pearl has to stay in the cage. She really loves being outside, and coos back and forth with Randy! Bud takes little interest in Pearl, although he turns bright orange in the sun, eats treats that we give him, and then trundles back inside when he's had enough.

Community Garden Update

In May of this year, we wrote on this blog about the community garden which was being planted in the Camden lot across from St. Anthony of Padua Church and School that used to be an abandoned police substation. Well, we thought we should update you on that project with some photos.

The lot went from this:
To this:
To this beautiful garden that is feeding the community: