Community Events
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Schuylkill River Links
Elected Officials
A team of artists has been selelcted for the project to install new Public Art in East Fals. The Sports Murals under the Twin Bridges will be removed and replaced. The EFDC has partnered with the Mural Arts Project (MAP) to bring a different look to the area. The East Falls Community Council decided to proceed with this project and a volunteer committee of volunteers has been working together. The committee has selected the winning team from four finalists who submitted designs and models. The winning team proposed mosaics depicting waterfalls. The final project will then be installed this summer.
Love Lessons from Abu Ghraib
Annual Bike Race Event Continues to Grow - Sunday, June 8
The East Falls Bike Race Block Party on Sunday, June 8, had more to offer than ever before.
The organizers have lined up a bigger and better event, with a Kid’s Corner, great lunch vendors, a Beer Garden and an expanded Health Fair.
National Penn Bank was once again the platinum bell sponsor, contributing the traditional bells that provide a distinctive welcome to the cyclists as they pass through East Falls 20 times during this prestigious and grueling 156 mile race.
An exciting addition this year was Kid’s Corner, with activities for children ages 3 to 12, including a hair braiding station, crafts and much more
Food vendors included Conrad Catering, Brothers Deli, and Slices Pizza. Another exciting addition is that year, Franco’s Trattoria had a Bike Race Beer Garden on their patio overlooking Kelly Drive.
The Block Party was in the East Falls Riverfront Business District, at Ridge and Midvale.
Sign up to be an arts vendor for this terrifc event!
A New Philadelphia Landmark is on! (updated 1/13/07)
On January 12 the Falls Bridge’s new Lighting was officiallyturned on by Governor Edward G. Rendell, Mayor Michael A. Nutter, State Senator Vincent Hughes, State Representatives Kathy Manderino and Jewell Williams, and City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. They were joined by about 1000 people who came to the party to celebrate the new look in East Falls.
Cookies, hot cocoa and coffee were waiting for the guests at Kelly Drive and Midvale Avenue. The ceremony began with opening remarks from East Falls Development Corporation’s President Carolyn Sutton. She and EFDC Director Gina Snyder were presented with an official citation celebrating the lighting from Councilman Jones. Rep. Manderino then introduced Mayor Nutter, who was then welcomed East Falls resident Gov. Rendell. They were later joined by Senator Arlen Specter, another East Falls neighbor.
The nighttime look is a new landmark for Philadelphia. The bridge highlights Philadelphia’s identity as a “New River City” and announces the community with a strong visual marker.
Grenald Waldron and Associates (GWA) did the beautiful lighting design. The electrical contractor, Carr and Duff, did the work with Urban Engineers as the inspectors. .As an added benefit, there is now a permanent signed and marked pedestrian crossing on the Martin Luther King Drive side of the Bridge.
This project was many years in the planning. The idea was instigated during East Falls’ 100 year anniversary celebration of the bridge in 1995. The current project was led by the East Falls Development Corporation a Because of financial limitations, only the downriver side of the bridge is lit.
GWA’s designer Sandra Stashik, was guided by the Falls Bridge Lighting Committee, that included East Falls residents, Sandra Radich, an architect with Cope Linder; Julie Camburn, President of the East Falls Business Association; Carolyn Sutton, President of the EFDC; and, Ellen Sheehan, President of the East Falls Historical Society. The committee also included Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director of the Fairmount Park Commission, and Lane Fike and Joe Doyle from the Streets Department’s Bridge and Lighting Divisions, respectively. This committee worked with Grenald Waldron to present the design to the East Falls Community Council where it was enthusiastically endorsed.
Coordinating the project also took extra efforts from Joseph Certaine in the Governor’s Office, Southeast Region, Jim Donaghy from the Managing Director’s Office, and Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson.
Lighting the Falls Bridge was funded through a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Dept. of Community and Economic Development. The project and January 12th lighting event would not have been possible without the encouraging support of Governor Rendell and significant contributions from Mark Sherman of Sherman Properties, FX Duffy & Co. Accountants, Urban Engineers, East River Bank and Independence Blue Cross. Funding was also provided by Cope Linder Architects, Robert Brasler, Sunoco Inc., PECO, and the East Falls Community Council and Riverfront District Partners. Contributors included Dorothy Storm of Prudential Fox & Roach, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Gypsy Lane Franco’s Trattoria, Gilbert Rowe, Connie Gillespie of Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, and the East Falls Business Association. Tom and Arlen Leschak of Conrad Catering and Alma Catering kindly donated the cookies and hot cocoa.
Dotting the “i”s and crossing all the “t”s was a team of party-planning volunteers from the EFDC.. They included Greg O’Loughlin, Heidi Grunwald, Steve Ohm, Gilbert Rowe, Sandra Radich, Ed Delisle, and Lorina Marshall-Blake. East River Bank was especially supportive, through President Chris McGill, Branch Manager Nancy Karahuta, and Vice President Rose Siegel: The Redevelopment Authority, Executive Director Michael Koonce, and Robert LaBrum are especially appreciated for allowing the use of the Rivage lot for event parking.
Photos by Michael Malloy.
Get your Light the Bridge T-Shirt - front and back shown below Only. $10. Doggie Bandanas are
available too. Only $5.
Contact the EFDC - Send an email
Local Architect Ian Smith has studied the Falls Bridge and created images of the structure. The EFDC has Ian's book and a number of his images, framed, unframed, and matted.
Contact the EFDC - Send an email
East Falls Farmers Market - Closed for the season. Will reopen June 2008 
3712 Midvale Avenue (just up the street from Ridge Avenue) This is a Lancaster farm family who comes to us through Farm to City for the past four years.
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Crafts
- Amish Baked goods
- Preserves
For more information about events throughout the city, check out Philadelphia Magazine and PhillyFunGuide.com
East Falls Business Association - A listing of businesses dedicated to and actively involved in the East Falls neighborhood
East Falls Community Council - nonprofit organization established for the primary purpose of improving living conditions in East Falls through the cooperative action of area residents. Contact: 267-514-4147
P.O. Box 12672
Philadelphia, PA 19129
East Falls Town Watch – resolve neighborhood complaints, neighborhood security patrols, promoting quality of life, and graffiti clean-up.
Contact: 215-848-2033
3540 Indian Queen Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19129
The Fallser – news & events for the East Falls Community.
Contact: 215-848-1322
3502 Scotts Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19129
The Old Academy Players - non-profit community theater located in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. The Old Academy building was constructed in 1819 and has been our home since 1932. Both Grace Kelly and Robert Prosky started their acting careers on our stage.
Contact:215-843-1109
3540-3644 Indian Queen Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19129
East Falls Tree Tenders – Environmental organization
Contact: 215-849-2474
3114 W. Coulter Street
Philadelphia, PA 19129
East Falls Historical Society - maintain the historic past and enrich the present community of East Falls by establishing an historic presence in East Falls. The society shall seek to create an awareness and appreciation of our historic heritage and to promote the discovery, preservation, and continuation of the history of East Falls.
Contact: 215-848-8396
Office: 3654 Midvale Avenue, (offices of the East Falls Development Corp.)
Mailing address: 3304 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
Falls of Schuykill Library - serves the community of East Falls with a variety of programs for all ages.
Contact: 215-685-2093
3501 Midvale Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129
Gustine Lake Recreation Center
4863 Ridge Avenue,
Phone: 215-685-2593
Link to the City's Recreation Dept. Web Page for Gustine Lake
Schuylkill Banks, See what's happening
Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area
www.schuylkillriver.org
Local Offices of Elected Officials:
Mayor
The Honorable Michael A. Nutter
Room 215 City Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 686-2181
City Council, District 4
The Honorable Curtis Jones, Jr.
City Hall, Room 404
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290
(215) 686-3416, (215) 686-3417
FAX: (215) 686-1934
Web Page Link
United States Senators:
The Honorable Arlen Specter
600 Arch Street, Suite 9400
Philadelphia, PA 19106-1617
215) 597-7200
The Honorable Robert Casey, Jr.
Philadelphia Office
2000 Market Street, Suite 1870
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 405-9660
Fax: (215) 405-9669
United States Congressman:
The Honorable Chakah Fattah
4104 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 387-6404
State Senate:
The Honorable Vincent J. Hughes
7th Senatorial District
4601 Market Street
First Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19139-4616
The Honorable Vincent J. Fumo
1208 Tasker Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
senator_fumo@fumo.com
State House:
The Honorable Jewell Williams
2224 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215) 763-2559
The Honorable Kathy Manderino
6511 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(215) 482-8726
