Mark Your Calendar

Time Marches On. Herein February we have just

passed Groundhog Day, whichcelebrates the halfway pointbetween the Winter Solsticeand the Spring Equinox. Wealso are marking six monthssince the HVAC project began.In the past half-year, we have:

• Installed new pumps andcontrols in all the mechanicalrooms of all the towers.

• Installed new hydronic separators to balance our systems and magnetic filtersin all but the south tower(coming this spring).

• Installed new valves thatallow us to shut off waterone riser at a time ratherthan shutting down the entirebuilding as before.

• Replaced all 11 sets of risers,fan coil units (FCUs) and horizontal pipes and enclosuresin the upper floors of thenorth tower.

To be sure, we have encounteredproblems that we had not fore-seen, as this is a very complexproject. Among them havebeen clogs and resulting shutdowns, difficulty in installing new electric receptacles to replace brokenones, and a myriad of fit andfinish problems. AlthoughSageWater, our installer, is wellexperienced in this work, everybuilding is different and witheach unit completed we arelearning more about this one.

We have now named Assistantto the General Manager BrettScioli “Project Manager in theField” and he will be taking ahands-on approach to avoidingand following up on problems.We have also implemented new“punch list” procedureswhich provide for an in depth

inspection by SageWater andBrett of every completed unitand a meeting (when possible)with the unit owner. If we finditems that haven’t been com-pleted properly, we schedulethem for repair, immediatelywhenever possible. Still, somedifficulties have been eitherhard to sort out or have re-curred. We will keep goingback and fixing them as oftenas necessary in order to giveyou a job that is as perfect aspossible. We have now begunwork on the lower floors of thenorth tower and believe thatthis piece of the project will gomore smoothly based on whatwe have learned and proce-dures that we have modified.Incidentally, it is possible thatwe will complete the northtower and move to the westtower as early as this April!

As you may know, Punx-sutawney Phil did not see hisshadow this year, which meansan early arrival of spring andmaybe a swift and uneventfulcompletion of our project.

On a related subject, we needto have a little chat about thetopic of mold (ugh). The goodnews is that we haven’t foundany in the systems that havebeen replaced so far. The badnews is that we have foundmany examples where customconvector covers are causingmold on the tops of the con-vectors and/or undersides ofthe custom convector covers.We strongly advise you notto use such covers, especiallyonce your system has been r eplaced. There are several reasons for this. First is the obvious one…none of us wantsmold growing in our homes.Once your convector has beenreplaced, the Towers staff willno longer remove or clean up

mold resulting from the useof custom covers. Second,we have been advised by themanufacturer of the FCUsthat the use of custom coversrestricts airflow and may voidthe warranty on units wherethey are used. Shortly we willcirculate a waiver for thoseof you who still wish to usecustom convector covers. Itwill acknowledge the aboveand make you solely responsiblefor resulting mold removal orproblems where use of thecover has voided the warranty,including the cost of mold remediation and/or repairs to,or replacement of, damagedFCUs. We are sure you agreethat neighbors should notbe financially responsible forthe results of a resident goingagainst our advice and causingdamage. Sorry, but it is a distasteful topic all around.As I write this in mid-February,the situation regarding OneDock Tower is rather fluid.We were not successful withour appeal at the Zoning Boardof Adjustment (ZBA). Thatbody takes a very narrow lookat the project and is not a courtof law that can rule on the legalarguments that both sides advanced. We will evaluate dif-ferent ways of proceeding, allthe while bearing in mind thecost of this endeavor both interms of money and distraction.On the brighter side of things,as you look through this bul-letin, you will find more greatTowers-wide events than we’vehad before and opportunitiesfor you to take in programsthat can enrich your life at Society Hill Towers. And, bestof all, it’s only about 110 moredays until the pool opens!Bruce Holberg President SHTOA n

1| 1

by Bruce Holberg, President, Society Hill Towers Owners Association

President’s Message

SOCIETYHILL TOWERSnewsFebruary, 2019Issue 334

Wednesday, February 20Let’s Talk!

Tuesday, February 26Wine Tasting

Thursday, March 28Movie Group Meeting

Thursday, May 9Blood Drive

The movie group had a greatyear. Four of the films it

discussed were nominees in atleast one category for AcademyAwards: If Beale Street CouldTalk, Roma, Can You Ever For-give Me? and First Reformed.

The meetings, attended by 20-30 residents typically, producedspirited discussions, not just

about the directing and acting,but about the music, cinema -tography and how many elements can be combinedto produce great films.

The group won’t meet in February , but plans to resumemeeting on Thursday, March28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room. n

Lights, Camera, Action!

Movie Group to Meet March 28th

22 | Society Hill Towers News

SOCIETYHILL TOWERSnews Published by

Society Hill Towers Owners’ Association285 St. James PlacePhiladelphia, PA 19106

215-923-4105

Council OfficersBruce HolbergPresident

Jerrold “Jim” MossVice President

Jeremy Siegel Treasurer

J Otis SmithActing Secretary

Council MembersBen AvicolliWendy HandlerMaggie Schultz

ManagementBeverly Shien ShermanGeneral Manager

DesignJudy LamirandEditor / Designer, Parallel Design

Crafters Marketplace in May

On Wednesday, February20, at 7:30pm in the

Community Room there willbe a speakers’ series event —Let’s Talk! — Society HillTowers Speaker Series.Please join Betty Reynolds,a Towers neighbor, as shetalks about how her life asa Philadelphia advertisingart director was upendedwhen her husband’s careertook them first to Singaporefor three years, then on toTokyo where they lived forseven more years.

Betty’s bafflement with allthings Japanese led to hersketching on the streets ofTokyo, filling sketchbookafter sketchbook with allof the mysteries around her.Those drawings became theinspiration for five subsequentbooks on Japanese culture. Clueless in Tokyo and its sequel, Still Clueless in Tokyocontain paintings of all theweird and wonderful thingsBetty confronted as a typicaltourist in Japan. They havebecome cult classics.

Squeamish about Sushi is auseful and entertaining primerfor anyone interested inJapanese cuisine. Her firstchildren's book, Tokyo Friendswas inspired by watchingchildren play in a local park,near the International School.In Japanese CelebrationsBetty wanted to show childrenthe many ways Japanese celebrate the four seasons.Please note:No preregistrationis needed for this free event.Light refreshments will beserved. n

Let’s Talk! on February 20th

The Story of an Accidental Author

Feeling Crafty?

Calling all Residents!Do you like to make

beautiful, unique and usefulitems that your neighborswill enjoy shopping forat the craft fair?

We are making plans forholding a Crafters Market-place in May. Call or emailDonna in the Management Office at 215-923-4105 ifyou’d like to participate. n

Continuing Activities

On Monday mornings,an exercise group lead

by Donna Cotzen meetsin the Community Room between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.The session includes

stretching and toning.Light weights are used witha plan to include exercisebands. Bring a mat and light weights. Drop inand try it! n

Exercise with Donna

February, 2019 | 3

Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Sue’s Produce Market is a family business founded 1976.

Reviewed on Yelp ”The fruits and vegetables are always fresh and of excellent quality and

they carry a fair amount of grains, jellys, jams, and salad dressings.”

“always a good selection of fresh herbs, and the quality is always top rate.”

275 St James Place, Phila, PA 19106Located in the Society Hill Towers

Plaza Marketplace

215-982-1678@sues_market

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice • La Colombe Coffee

Bringing Fresh Produce to you Buying is a hands-on business for us.

With multiple sources, we shoparound and find the best produceand fresh herbs. Pre-cut fruit and

vegetables available every day.

Deli CounterBoar’s Head SandwichesDifferent Hale & Hearty

Hot Soups every day

Society Hill

Delivery Available

Monday — Friday 11am — 7pm

$15 minimum order $2 delivery fee

44 | Society Hill Towers News

Hot, New, and Around the Block

Dining Club at Buc Chon

With the Christmas seasonbeginning at Thanksgiving

(at retail around Halloween),many of us in the Society HillTowers Dining Club needed arespite from the egg nog andsweets, so December 11th wasa perfect time to take a breakand visit the brand new BukChon at 132 Chestnut. It isa really interesting Koreanrestaurant. Not a BBQ, but a bitmore contemporary and wideranging. Goodness knows, wewere served almost everythingon the menu and it uniformlywas delicious.

We started with a couple of coldappetizers and a collection ofsmall plates of Korean saladsand marinated vegetables calledBanchan, the highlight of whichwas fermented cabbage calledkimchi, an ingredient that findsits way into other dishes such asthe scallion pancake that we alsoenjoyed. That led the parade

of no fewer than three hot appetizers including a fabulouspork bun. Main dishes were or-dered individually, so we againhad lots to sample. Notable werethe bulgogi, marinated grilledbeef (the name means “FireMeat”), galbi (short ribs) andseveral types of bibimbop. Thelatter is rice, vegetables, pepperpaste, protein and an egg in avery hot stone bowl. We hada variety of desserts too. Con-genial chef/owner Chris Chungtook a break from the kitchenand spent some time with us.

The food was excellent, and sowas the company. The DiningClub has shared the table atsixteen dinners now, and abouttwo-thirds of the guests are“regulars.” That means, though,that a third aren’t. There alwaysare new folks who join the fold,and we welcome them. Keepan eye open for Dinner #17coming soon! n

Congenial chef / owner Chris Chung.

Diners sampled nearly everything on the Buk Chon menu.

Photos courtesy of J Otis Smith

George Trimbur, Chief Engineer

Dennis McVeigh, Operations Manager

Bill Sieke, Engineer

Thank You, Staff, for Everything You Do!

Ed Ethridge, Maintenance

Seydou Kouyate,Garage

Dave Burke, Housekeeping

Many Staff members wererecognized for their

contributions to maintaining

our high standards of living atthe Towers during the 2018Staff Holiday party. Please

join in with a few words ofthanks when you seem themhard at work on the job. n

5February, 2019 | 5

Affordable Accommodations Are Expanding

Are friends and family planning to visit our fair

City of Philadelphia? Why notbook the Guest Suite on thesixth floor of the West Tower?The room sleeps four, withfour-star furnishings and

a fully functioning kitchen,for only $90 to $100 per night(prices vary according to theday of the week and the datethroughout the year). Yourguests can rest and relax incomplete comfort.

Best of all, they’ll only be minutes away, so you canget the most out of any shortvisit. For details or to make reservations call Donnain the Management Officeat 215-923-4105. n

Book the Guest Suite

Let’s Talk

Speaker Series Relaunched

The “Let’s Talk” speaker series, which features

Towers residents sharing theirexperiences and expertise, wasre-launched with great successon November 15, 2018, whenPeter Conn, Executive Directorof the Athen aeum of Philadel-phia, gave a fascinating presen-tation about the history androle of libraries. Then, on December 6, Jo Holz, formerhead of research for SesameStreet, spoke to an enthusiasticgroup about her recent bookon the history of children’s television, Kids’ TV Grows Up.

The next “Let’s Talk” presentation is scheduled

for Wednesday, February 20,at 7:30 p.m., when Towers resident Betty Reynolds willtalk about how her life as anadvertising art director was upended when her husband’scareer took them to Singaporeand then on to Tokyo, wherethey lived for seven years.See page 2 for more informa-tion about this upcoming lecture.

Jo Holz is part of a small committee organizing the programs for “Let’s Talk.” If you’d like to help or if youhave suggestions for possiblespeakers, contact Jo at joholz123@gmail.com. n Jo Holz, formerly with Sesame Street

Peter Conn, Executive Director of the Athen aeum

Coming Soon...This spring we will havea second space for guests,a two-bedroom, one-bathapartment. For more detailscall Donna at 215-923-4105.

66 | Society Hill Towers News

February, 2019 | 7

Two Great Causes in One Day

Red Cross Blood Drive an Impressive Success

On Tuesday, January 29th,the Society Hill Towers

residents and our neighborsdisplayed their giving commu-nity spirit by kicking off 2019with a Towers “first” — ourdebut Red Cross Blood Drive.Over 55 donors signed up forappointments, which resultedin 43 pints of whole blood collected. And of those 43,27 of them were first-timedonors! Most impressive!

From the initial proposalon September 25th, so well- received and roundly supportedby the Activities Committee,to the weeks of preparationand day of execution, it was anexciting and gratifying journey.This could not have been accomplished without the contributions and hard work ofmany enthusiastic champions.

Harriette Mishkin and TerryConn reinforced our strong relationships with key neigh-borhood organizations —Penn’s Village and the SocietyHill Civic Association — thatbecame our co-sponsors forthe event. Terry and Harriettecoordinated the release of thedrive information with thesegroups and ensured timely reminders to their members,

resulting in robust neighborhoodbacking and participation.

While the online donation sitewas logging appointments, ourown army of amazing residentsraised their hands and volun-teered their time to welcomeneighbors and new friendsto our Community Room ondrive day. Harriette Mishkin,Joyce Darrow, Lynne Rubin-stein, Pat Malunis, ChristineMcBrien and Jo Holz broughttheir own brand of sunshine,greeting each donor with warmsmiles and getting them checkedin to start the process. Afterdonating, each guest wastreated to refreshments beforethey continued their day —adorned with a “Be nice to me,I gave blood today!” sticker.

Teamwork was widely evidentthroughout the Towers. Manythanks to Beverly Sherman andBrett Scioli who provided someterrific guidance and lots ofhelp in kicking off the initialinterest survey. Additionalthanks to Lou Crescenzo andhis ace Garage Staff, as wellas Elijah Weinberg and hisdedicated Housekeeping Team.Major kudos as well to theTowers Security Force whowere key in shepherding the

Red Cross Team in and outof the Community Roomthroughout the day. A specialthanks to the gracious and invaluable help provided byour own Administrative Teamof Annemarie Carrasquillo,Donnamarie D’Alicandro andMary Donohue who displayedbottomless patience with dailyinterruptions of endless requests.

Using the Blood Drive asa convenient drop off site,a last-minute appeal for non-perishables for the Federal Employees at the Coast GuardStation on Columbus Boulevardwent out and resulted in anoverwhelming response!Your generosity resulted in twooverflowing shopping carts ofdonations that were deliveredthe next day to grateful, smilingyoung men and women! Twogreat causes all in one day!

In summary, this squad ofamazing people has muchto be proud of! Please takea bow for what you have accomplished. As a result ofthis impressive outcome, theTowers is scheduled for ournext drive, set for May 9th —the Thursday before Mother’sDay! Save the date! n

Save the DateNext Blood DriveThursday, May 9th

88 | Society Hill Towers News

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Reminders for Residents

•Schedule large deliveries and pickupswith the Management Office, includingdrop-off and pickup of supplies belonging to caterers and contractors.

•Schedule the moving in and out of largehousehold items with the Management Office. If you can’t fit it into a shoppingcart, call to reserve a freight elevator.

•Schedule all moves well in advancewith the Management Office.

•Contractors must complete paperwork(along with the unit owner) and submitinsurance documents. Once approved,contracting jobs must be scheduledwith the Management Office priorto starting work.

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Purifying Enzyme Facial $85Back Treatment $75

1010 | Society Hill Towers News

Washington Square Pharmacy241 S. 6th Street215-925-1466

Independently Owned

Proudly Serving Society Hill TowersFree Delivery to Towers Open 7 Days a Week

Full Line of Cosmetics & Hair Care Products

Michael Edward Cohen, REALTOR®I Live in Society Hill Towers, I Sell and Lease in Society Hill,Washington Square and the Philadelphia Region

Residential & Commercial Sales, Leasing: Condos, Single Family Homes, Apartment Buildings, Retail

RECENT TRANSACTIONS: SOLD: 2F SOUTHLEASED: 9F WEST

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11February, 2019 | 11

South-Facing One Bedroom with Treetop ViewsSouth-facing one bedroom

with treetop views and greatnatural light through floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms.The home has wood floors,an updated kitchen, tiledbathroom and excellent

closet space.683 sf | Offered for $259,900

Available for Saleat Society Hill Towers

Recently Renovated Corner One BedroomRecently renovated corner onebedroom boasting panoramic

Benjamin Franklin Bridge,Delaware River, and southern

city views. This home has been completely customized with

designer finishes and appoint-ments, open chef’s kitchen,

modern bathroom, hardwoodfloors, and walls of

floor-to-ceiling windows.803 sf | Offered for $369,900

Allan Domb Real EstatePHILADELPHIA’S LARGEST SELLING CONDOMINIUM REALTOR® WE COOPERATE WITH ALL REALTORS®1845 Walnut Street, Suite 2200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: 215.545.1500 allandomb.com domb@allandomb.com

Sun-soaked Corner Two Bedroom on a High Floor

Two bedroom, two bathroom offering unobstructed sunrise river views to the east and views of the city to the south.The home has wood floors, a large great room, generously sized bedrooms, an updated master bath and washer/dryer.

1,253 sf | Offered for $525,000

SOLD!We can sell yours, too!

SOLD!We can sell yours, too!

3B North11BCD North

24G North14C South28E North23B South26C West26B West10E West

19BCD South8F South

PH6 South21G West27B West

22AH West5B North

19A North4G North31C West24B West2B South26C WestPH5 South12G South29E South

10AH North4E South

24G North2E West

1212 | Society Hill Towers News

SOCIETYHILL TOWERS

news

Society Hill Towers Owners’ Association285 St. James Place, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Some of our recent sales at Society Hill Towers

Thinking of buyingor selling a condo at Society Hill Towers?Call us. We are happy tohelp you.

Allan Domb Real EstatePHILADELPHIA’S LARGEST SELLING CONDOMINIUM REALTOR® WE COOPERATE WITH ALL REALTORS®1845 Walnut Street, Suite 2200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: 215.545.1500 allandomb.com domb@allandomb.com

Selling at Society Hill Towers for 38 Years