G-town Radio Presents: Sounds of Germantown

Yvonne Haskins joins Ed Feldman again this morning (10/31/2011) to talk about the latest maneuvering regarding the zoning for a Dollar Tree at Chelten Plaza. Several community groups are working relentlessly to fight back attempts by Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller to spot zone an illegal dollar store. She clearly lays out the complex issues at the heart of the story that are key to understanding how city politics operates.

Listen for continuing coverage of this story each morning from 9-10 AM on G-town Radio. Call in with your questions or send us an instant message (screen name: gtownradio). You can also write a message on the G-town Radio Facebook page. Listen to podcasts of other Morning Feed episodes on Podomatic.

What has 11 musicians, 6 masked singers, puppeteers and VJs at the Rotunda on Novemeber 11, 2011? The answer would be 'Pangaea: When the Continents Were One'. This modern electronic/rock/chamber opera happens for one night only in two Fridays (11/11/11) in West Philly. Project producer Mikronesia, Michael McDermott, will be the special guest in the second hour of Neu-Matic today (4-5 PM). Tune in to hear previews of songs from the show and discussion of how the show came about and the huge effort required to pull it off.

Neu-Matic happens every Sunday from 3-5 PM on G-town Radio. We play great new (and not so new) music you won't hear anywhere else. Contact the studio by instant message (screen name = gtownradio) or call the studio line, 215-609-4301. You can also leave messages on our Facebook page (http:facebook.com/gtownradio).

Morning Feed will be focusing on the 2011 Philadelphia primaries by interviewing candidates running in the 8th District. Ed spoke with candidate Brian Rudnick on Thursday, October 27. Mr. Rudnick is the lone challenger to Democratic nominee Cindy Bass in the general election for City Council's 8th District. Mr. Rudnick discussed his status with the Green Party, his platform and how he plans to pull off an upset victory. Click the link below to listen or download this interview.

Host Jim Bear speaks with Yvonne Haskins about Chelten Plaza. Ms. Haskins filed the zoning appeal on behalf of several community organizations seeking to have the permit for a proposed Dollar Tree at Chelten Plaza pulled. We spoke about the upcoming zoning hearing (9/21), the goals of the people aligned against the project and her hopes for the site.

Irv Ackelsberg, general counsel of the Germantown Community Connection, comes in the studio to talk to Jim Bear during a special edition of Neu-Matic. They discuss GCC's involvement in the Chelten Plaza development, what their position is on the matter and how they are proceeding. Details include the state of their communications, work on design changes, the zoning appeal and use of public money for the project.

The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is the regional center of contemporary circus arts. Students from far and wide come to this transformed Germantown warehouse to learn aerials (such as trapeze), juggling, unicycling, tightwire, tumbling and physical conditioning. This profile discusses the history of the school as well as what keeps attracting and keeping students of all ages.

In September of 2010, Jim Bear interviewed students Kate O’Neil and Shay-Lynn Myers and Managing Director Robin Marcotte.

Jim Bear is the founder and station manager of G-town Radio. He was previously active in West Philly internet station Radio Volta. Jim and wife Maura have lived in Germantown since 1997. He can be regularly found working in the yard, visiting the Maplewood Mall (home of G-town Radio) or running in Valley Green Park.

Originally built in 1855, Germantown’s Town Hall once acted as a central hub of municipal services for the community. Today, the building sits vacant at 5928 Germantown Ave. and has been slowly deteriorating for the past twelve years. John and Nancy Churchville, founders of the Greater Germantown Business Association, hope to revitalize the building and once again bring life to this historic landmark.

In April of 2010, Lasalle University journalism students, Claire Salmons and Tom Rossi, spoke to the Churchvilles about their vision.

The Greene Street Artists Cooperative is an artist-owned and operated residence/studio building located in the historic Germantown area of Philadelphia. Once a vacant factory in disrepair, the building is now a beautiful space used to stabilize and support the Philadelphia artist community. Since 1992 GSAC has been home to roughly 50 artists (plus numerous children and pets) and a whole lot of art! For more information visit their website at http://www.greenestreetartists.org/.

In September, 2010 Reade McCardell spoke to members Deborah Curtiss, Mindy Flexer, Ife Nii Owoo & John Hollis

Reade McCardell (http://www.gtownradio.com/content/blogsection/21/89/) hosts/produces the piebald music program Fewsh on G-Town Radio. He is also assistant producer of a weekly children's show called KidsLive (http://kidslive.newchurchlive.tv/) and a songwriter/performer.

Located at the corner of Hansberry and Wayne Avenues the Hansberry Garden and Nature Center began in 2001 to develop a vision of a community garden and nature center that would serve the Germantown community. Founding and new members speak about the history of the garden, its role in the community and how they are growing more than produce to take home each summer.
Jim Bear interviewed members Kathy Miller, Vicki Mehl, David Schogel, Pamela Darville and sons Leonard Jones and George Bryant.
Jim Bear is the founder and station manager of G-town Radio. He was previously active in West Philly internet station Radio Volta. Jim and wife Maura have lived in Germantown since 1997. He can be regularly found working in the yard, visiting the Maplewood Mall (home of G-town Radio) or running in Valley Green Park.

In the debut edition of Sounds of Germantown we present this profile of the Sun Ra Arkestra. In addition to downloading this episode you can hear installments all December at 1 PM each weekday on G-town Radio (http://gtownradio.com).

The Sun Ra Arkestra was founded in mid-1950s Chicago by the jazz composer, musician, bandleader, philosopher, Afro-Futurist, mystic (and also graphic designer, poet, activist, and self-proclaimed Saturnian) Sun Ra (1914–1993). In 1968 Sun Ra brought the Arkestra to Philadelphia, its home for the next four decades. The group still performs here today under the leadership of composer and multi-instrumentalist Marshall Allen, an Arkestra member since 1958.
In August 2010, Matthew Feldman and John Pettit to spoke to Allen and Arkestra musicians Danny Thompson, Michael Ray, Dave Davis, and Wayne Smith, Jr. about the group’s past, present, and future.
This piece was commissioned by the Philadelphia Music Project. (http://www.pcah.us/music).
Matthew Feldman (aka "Feldie") produces the Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone concert series, hosts the Lucky Old Souls radio program on G-town Radio, and publishes Feldie's Philly Jazz Calendar (http://feldiesphillyjazzcalendar.com). For more on Lucky Old Souls, visit www.luckyoldsouls.com.
John Pettit works as a media archivist at Temple University Libraries, Urban Archives. Additionally, he is a media maker and musician who works with Termite TV, G-Town Radio, and Scribe Video Center.

We're getting ready and so should you. G-town Radio's 'Sounds of Germantown' is right around the corner. You'll hear the stories of interesting people and places in Germantown in their own words.

We'll debut all new episodes on G-town Radio and you can always listen on-demand from our podcast page (here) and our show page (http://www.gtownradio.com/content/blogsection/52/127/).

We'd love to hear your suggestions for new subjects. Send your ideas to jim@gtownradio.com.