In the NeighborhoodAnnuAl RepoRt 2011

Growing and sustaining a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Central Philadelphia

1430 W. Susquehanna Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19121 215.236.1760 www.treehousebooks.org facebook.com/TreeHouseBooks

A special acknowledgement goes to Temple University’s New City Writing for financially supporting the printing of this Annual Report.

MIssIoN stateMeNtTree House Books is growing and sustaining a community of

readers, writers, and thinkers in North Central Philadelphia.

tAble of ContentsLetters from the Board President and Staff Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Our Bookstore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Program Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Timeline 2011: In the Neighborhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Statement of Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Board of Directors and Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Thank You to our Donors and Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Volunteer Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Picture Wall 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

letter from the board president

Dear Tree House Friends,

I am once again excited to be introducing this great look at the past year at Tree House Books. We

are truly part of the fabric of the neighborhood here in North Philadelphia and while we started as a

bookstore with afterschool programs, we are now much more than that. Tree House is a place where

curiosity and information come together. During our after-school tutoring we engage young people in

a creative dialogue with lifelong learning. Not content with merely mentoring teenagers, our dedicated

staff and volunteers create roadmaps that empower teens to become mentors. Instead of providing a

service to parents, we are engaged in an ongoing conversation with parents about how we can partner

with them to be better advocates for their children. None of this is possible without you. You are in the

neighborhood with us, and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you for reading, loving, and supporting. This

will be the last letter you receive from me in this capacity, as I am concluding my term as board

president in June. But I will remain active and involved. And knowing that we have such a broad and

deep network of friends and supporters, I know that Tree House’s future is bright.

Warmly,

Jonathan Weiss, President

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ouR booKstoReThe Tree House bookstore is stocked with new and lightly used books, and we

specialize in children’s books and African-American literature. In addition to the

books we sell, we give many away.

BooKs GIVeN aWaY oVeR tHe YeaRs

1305 books given away

2008 2009 2010 2011

2500 books given away

4817 books given away

6621 books given away

“Books open your mind, broaden your mind, and strengthen you as nothing else can” -William Feather

letter from the stAff

Dear Tree House Friends,

Our theme for 2011 was “In The Neighborhood” because we believe that if you want to transform a

community then you have to truly be a part of the community. Our mission is to grow and sustain a

community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Central Philadelphia, and our daily motto is

“life with books grows here.” Our goal is to ensure that every child who walks through our door

receives the information, motivation, and affirmation they need to live a life of purpose, options,

and abundance. How do we do this? By understanding that we are a family. Your concerns are our

concerns. Your sorrows are our sorrows. Your joys are our joys.

The Tree House family had many joys in 2011. Students from Temple University helped prepare

our new office space. Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church donated a portion of their Resurrection

Sunday offering to us. Parents helped chaperone summer field trips and attended our first ever

Back-to-School Orientation and Parent-Tutor Conferences. More than 100 neighborhood

children wrote songs, harvested plants, read tons of books, and taught their adult tutors, even

as they were being taught.

Tree House Books is blessed to be part of a great family—where everyone is a giver and receiver.

The challenges facing young people may seem steep, but we know that many communities working

together as a neighborhood of advocates can do powerful things.

Warmly,

Darcy Luetzow, Executive Director

Michael Reid, Program and Development Coordinator

Lauren Macaluso, Volunteer and Tutoring Time Coordinator

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pRoGRAM RepoRt

Tutoring Time is held Tuesdays through Fridays from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. An average of 25 children, ages

five to 11, gather with their volunteer tutors for after-school academic and mentoring support.

In 2011, we served 85 children in our Tutoring Time Program.

At Tutoring Time we read books, do our homework, eat snacks, and do activities. I like doing activities and reading because it’s fun and you can read all kinds of books, and on Fridays you get to go outside sometimes. -Gregory age 10

Our Magazine Project is on a mission to provide an avenue for members of the community to creatively ex-

press their stories. Magazine Project meets every Wednesday night, from 5:30pm — 7:00pm.

In 2011, we served 56 children at Magazine Project.

When I go to Magazine Project I do creative things. We get to paint a lot, draw and color, write, talk, write stories, and write poems. -Trinetta age 9

tutoring time Magazine Project

The Ave.

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TutoringTime!

pRoGRAM RepoRt cont.

The JSM Program is our leadership program for adolescents and serves as an avenue of support for the

youth of North Central Philadelphia as they grow into readers, writers, thinkers, and future leaders

of their neighborhood.

In 2011, we trained 12 JSM leaders.

Being a JSM means being a leader and always being able to help. What I like about being a Junior Staff Member is being able to see the growth of the kids you tutor. -Nyseem (JSM Captain) age 17

Tree Shade is a unique summer project designed for kids ages seven — 16 that lasts six weeks. This year’s

camp was titled “The Tree House Canvas and Plate Institute: Beyond Ordinary Art and Cooking.”

The goal of our camp was to balance out the food access and arts inequities in our neighborhood, and to

empower our campers as self-nourishers.

In 2011, 52 children participated in the Tree Shade Summer Project.

We were in the garden. We had fun and cooked. We were reading. We had goodie bags. We had new volunteers we didn’t know. Mr. Art was cooking for us, he was the chef. -Taliah age 9

tree shade summer ProjectJunior staff Member (JsM) Program

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STAFF

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W.Norris St.

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Neighborhood Map

JaNuaRY 17tH Tree House Books partners with Temple Unversity’s Office of Community Relations for Martin Luther King Day of Service.

FeBRuaRY 18tHFirst session of collaborative workshop with Neighborhood Bike Works: Writing and Wrenching.

aPRIl 24tH Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church donates a portion of their Resurrection Sunday offering to Tree House Books.

JuNe 11tH Tree House Books participates in the West Park Arts Fest. Gives away 282 books.

JulY 5tHTree Shade Summer Project begins.

JuNe 17tH 2nd Annual Tutoring Time Awards.

aPRIl 27 tH THB hosts a CD release party for The Uptown’s Greatest Hits. Tree House kids wrote, recorded, and performed these hits!

sePteMBeR 1st East River Bank begins a corporate sponsorship of Tree House Books.

sePteMBeR 9tH Friday night movie screenings begin and continue every other Friday.

sePteMBeR16tH 2nd Annual Tree House Golf tournament at Worcester Golf club.

sePteMBeR 20tHBack-to-School Orientation.

NoVeMBeR 11tH Tree House’s friend, Barbara Aronson presents every Tree House

student with their own dictionary.

DeceMBeR 10tH THB hosts a book signing for local author Pastor Carolyn Howard.

DeceMBeR 12tH The Do Gooders visit THB, and present the kids with books and holiday treats.

JulY 22tH Eagles Youth Partnership BookMobile visits Tree House Books.

aPRIl 9tHTHB students go to the Philadelphia Book Festival.

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board of directors and staffoFFIceRsJonathan Weiss, PresidentTempleTown Realty & Equinox Management and Construction President

Barbara Easley-Cox, Vice-President (served as Vice-President until April 2011)Tree House Books Volunteer & Community Advocate Community Resident

Edward Swenson, Secretary Edward F. Swenson & Associates, Inc. President

Bruce Schimmel, Treasurer Philadelphia City Paper Founder and Editor Emeritus University of the Arts Senior Lecturer, Ethics

DIRectoRs Star Bocason TempleTown Realty & Equinox Management and Construction Marketing Manager

Catherine Cavella, Esq. Cavella & Associates Managing Partner / Owner

Johnathan Davis Columbia North YMCA Executive Director

Eli Goldblatt, Ph.D. New City Writing Executive Director Temple University, English Department Associate Professor

Yvonne King, Ph.D. Division of Educational Support Services Community College of Philadelphia Coordinator, Developmental Programs

Cassandra Oryl Slice Communications Principal

Max Tuttleman Tuttleman Family Foundation Philadelphia Advocate

Melody Wright Oak Lane Cultural Arts Program Program Director

staFF Darcy Luetzow Executive Director

Michael Reid Program and Development Coordinator

Lauren Macaluso Volunteer and Tutoring Time Coordinator

Satia Koroma Junior Staff Member Coordinator

Colwin Bocasan Magazine Project Coordinator

INteRNs Kelly Cox Lili Dodderidge Lily Glickstein Florence Opara Ijshanya Williams

WoRK stuDY staFF Stephanie Alleman Whitney DiTaranto Sara Goldrath Max Williams

sPRING 2011 aRtIst-IN-ResIDeNce Serena Saunders

statement of Activitiesfiscal Year: January 1, 2011—December 31, 2011

ReVeNue:

Grants $83,500 45.1%

Individual Giving $36,626 19.8%

Organizational Giving $31,109 16.8%

Annual Fundraising Event $21,285 11.5%

Space Usage Fees $6,080 3.3%

Corporate Giving $5,369 2.9%

Earned Income (book sales, workshop fees, merchandise) $1,144 .6%

TOTAL REVENuE: $185,113

exPeNses:

Payroll Expenses $57,521 33.6%

Direct Program Costs $29,122 17%

Development Expenses $27,348 16%

Fixed Expenses (rent, utilities, insurance) $23,828 13.9%

Fundraising $13,876 8.1%

Professional Fees $11,148 6.5%

Office Expenses $4,823 2.8%

Staff, Volunteer, & Board Development $3,335 2%

TOTAL EXPENSES: $177,001

Net ordiNary iNcome: $14,112

year eNd balaNce: $30,723

*all percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth.

34+17+16+14+8+6+3+233.6%

46+20+17+11+2+3+145.1%

19.8%

16.8%

11.5%

3.3%

2.9%

.6%

17%16%

13.9%

8.1%

6.5%

2.8%2%

photo by Jay Hiatt/ Overjoyed Photography10 11

thank you to our donors and partners thank you so much!!

FOREST PARTNERS (gifts of $5,000 or more)The Claneil FoundationThe Connelly FoundationEnon Tabernacle Baptist ChurchHamilton Family FoundationThe Junior League of PhiladelphiaPatricia Kind Family FoundationSamuel S. Fels FundBruce SchimmelStockton Rush Bartol FoundationTemple University’s New City Writing: Institute for the Study of Literature, Literacy, & Culture, with special thanks to Sue & Bob Wieseneck for their support of NCW’s partnership with Tree House Books Tuttleman Family FoundationWater Works Restaurant & LoungeJonathan & Jacquelyn Weiss

ROOT PARTNERS (gifts of $1,000-$4,999)Alston-Beech FoundationAnonymousBarbara & Ted AronsonThe Barra FoundationJames BuzzardThe Coleman FoundationThe Do-GoodersThe Douty FoundationEast River BankLiberty Insurance BrokersRosenlund Family FoundationLinda SallThe Seybert FoundationSlice CommunicationsChip & Marcie StaddonTempleTown RealtyUnion Benevolent AssociationWells Fargo Community Partner ProgramLori YamashitaYoung Friends of Tree House Books: Temple Chapter

BRANCh PARTNERS (gifts of $100-$999)Alusiv, Inc. & Richard CressTibor & Edith BalazsWanda & John BeilensonBeneficial BankCharles BrentonJonathan Broder & Joy BernsteinLane BrownPeter & Miriam BurwasserDavid BushnellThe Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation in honor of Terrence Reid Elizabeth & Charles CarmaltCatherine Cavella

Bill & Jody CharlesCollege of Education Student Council: Temple UniversitySue & Steve ComptonMindy & Rodney CrawfordCreative Circle & Kevin YoshimotoLenore & Howard DenbinKevin DuffyOmari DysonBarbara Easley-CoxAmy EvansAlexander FeinbergSean FogartyKatrina GamezNancy GerykAaron Goldblatt & Laura FosterEli Goldblatt & Wendy OsterweilMarc & Maureen GoldrathGoodsearch Sue GrecoGuardian Civic LeagueElizabeth & Gerry GutierrezFrancis HagartyMarie HoguetRachel HoweInvisible Children: Temple ChapterOlivia & Sandra JohnsonHaile JohnstonGary JonasJohn & Mary Ann JudgeJay KaminSheldon KivellAmy KretzingAndrea LaeppleDavid & Hertha LangeHope LukenSalvatore & Carrie MacalusoBarry MeyersAlex MulcahyPatricia MullaneyPastor Lewis NashJoe & Nancy NathNetwork for GoodNutritional Development Services Eun Ok & Young Sik KimAbigail OrensteinRuth OstKevin OverholtBrad PalmerJudith PalmerRuth PerlmutterSamuel PerloffPhi Alpha Delta: Temple ChapterPhi Sigma Sigma: Temple ChapterChip & Sandy Pressman Vincenzo & Brittany ProssedaCarolee Risk

Kel RohrbaughDavid & Laura RosenbergSan Damiano Daily GivingJanice ShindlerHoward & Deb SitronSmile Frown Theatre GuildJames & Carol SmolenAndrew StarfieldMeghan StephensCraig & Patricia SwansonTemple University: Office of Community RelationsTemple University: Office of the PresidentRuth TuetingSharon TurnerEvan UrbaniaNorma VandykeLinda Watson-PattersonJill WilkersonWLM, Incorporated Delinda YoakumJames Yoakum & Katelyn Allen YoakumYoung Friends of Tree House Books: Professional ChapterYouth Service AmericaZarwin, Baum, DeVito, Kaplan, Shaer & Toddy

ACORN PARTNERS (gifts of $50-$99)Stephanie AllemanSam & Jonathan BeasleyAaron & Brenda Bleznak Kenneth BleznakColwin BocasanStar BocasanBrenda BrooksEric & Cheryl BrozellMarla BuckholderBusiness Honors Student Association: Temple UniversityRobert CheethamBrett CiarelliFai CoffinCoretta CooperTom & Virginia DaileyPete & Annie d’EntremontJohn DiNomeVincente DiPietroEric DolawayKim DuffyEllin EffingerDr. Semih ErhanJoan & Lawrence GeistMatt GoldfineSarah GoldrathJohn Gorman

Ally GrecoPamela GrovesDr. Sandy HarrillGreg HellerLissa HilseeMarilyn Hoffman Robert IsaacsBabette JosephsNitin KhannaYvonne KingNeil KleinmanGerald KolpanJ M LindsayChris MalcomsonLisa & Paul MarcusJames Marr, Jr.Judith MillerDavid & Beverly MoyerKristin MullaneyKia MurrellLisa NwankwoCassandra OrylCheryl OrylRachael ParrishEthel ParsonsPostgreen Homes, LLCJoe & Karin PurcellHayward Ratliff, Jr.Eugene & Brenda ReidEugene Reid IIMichael ReidTerrence & Dolores ReidMarjorie RosenblumRachel RubelEmily RugerSarah SallJohn & Shirley SalvucciKathy Santana-Wilkins Patricia SchrieberJulia Sheetz-WillardRichard & Gloria ShiaviBill SloyerAngela Sorrentino & Bob WirthshafterLiz Spikol & Vince BertoliniJeffrey SteinRobert SteinmanMary SturdivantMichelle VascavageLorraine WassermanChelsea WelckerWells Fargo Community Support CampaignMitchell & Eileen WolfsonBonnie Young

FRIENDS (gifts of $1-$49)Courtney AllenChelsea AllenAna Almeida-HalassaAnthropology Club: Temple UniversityMary ArmstrongKathleen & Daniel BaroneAriel Ben-AmosStaci BenderEileen BingHelen BooseKevin & Frances BoyleIrma BrownAlec BuggDonna BurkeKierra BusseyElissa BuxbaumAdam CaputoLillian ClarkeRachel ComptonKristin ConradiJanice ConwayOrletta Copeland Elliott CursonGabriel CutrufelloGrace d’EntremontKaren & Dr. Dan DiTarantoSusan DoerschElizabeth DowneyBruce DuffieldLucy EdwardsKarisha EwellChristine & John FantuzzoJosh FernandezDaniel FiggMax FurmanAlyssa GoldrathJeanette Gordy Laura GreenNanine GramignaJordan GrobKimberly HaasCeline HaberLindsey HagartyPeter HagartyAntoine & Voncia HaywoodLinda & Timothy HessIrene HodesRobert & Barbara HoeMaureen & Michael HoffmanGodfrey Holder & AssociatesCaryn HuntRobert IngersollJane Kauer & David FleecePeter Key

Thomas KoleskJohn Landreau & Sherri GrasmuckNancy & Robert LandyKinard Lang Suzanne LathamKaren LazarusStacie & Thomas LehmannSonja LengelAmanda LisleChristopher LockeJim & Heidi Lynch Rita Lynn Maahs Lauren MacalusoWilliam Macaluso Keri Maiello Kathleen Maloles & Christopher Joynt Lynne & Patrick MaloyMolly MarnellaJames Marr, Jr.Bonnie & Matt Marshall Roland Martin Susan MatuszakShayna McConville Maria & Stanley McLeroyJim MilitelloJane MinerlyCindy & Gregg MinsterSara MitchellPatricia MullaneyRichard Munoz & Gail HowardMark & Joan McConnonSusan McCraryGloria McHughClarissa McNairLauren McTiernanMelissa McTiernanAlison MierzykowskiJane MilitelloTeresa MontanoAmelia MoskauskiNational Panhellenic Council: Temple UniversityAlice NilesPat O’ConnorRobert OdellSteven OdellFlorence OparaOrganization of African Students: Temple UniversityRuth Ost Ethel ParsonsLouise & Rachel PerryNicholas Pizzola

Continued on Page 14

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In 2011, many people and organizations gave generously, in many creative ways.Tree House Books acknowledges the perfectly-placed contributions of these: COMMuNITY PARTNERS Anthropology Club of Temple UniversityBusiness Honors Student Association Fox School of Business, Temple UniversityCamden RiversharksCantina Dos SegundosJohn Charles & the Kimmel CenterDo-GoodersDrinker’s WestEagles Youth PartnershipEast River BankEnon Tabernacle Baptist ChurchEsperanza Health ClinicField House Sports Bar & Tim AdamsThe Franklin Institute & Dr. Frederic Bertley & Larry Dubinski, Esq. Fresh GrocerGrid MagazineInvisible Children, Temple University ChapterJunior League of PhiladelphiaKnitting Club of Temple University Roxanne Terry & Larry LipsitzLeslie MilesLiberty Insurance BrokersMarathon Farm & Adam HillNational Pan-Hellenic Council, Temple University ChapterOrganization of African Students, Temple University Chapter Phi Alpha Delta, Temple University ChapterPhi Sigma Sigma, Temple University ChapterRho ReedRita’s Water IceAndrew “Koji” ShirakiSlice CommunicationsSmile Frown Theatre Guild & Kevin StackhouseSweet Freedom BakeryTBarTemple University’s Computer Recycling Center & Jonathan LatkoTemple University’s Office of Community Relations & Beverly Coleman & Andrea Swan

And we are particularly grateful for these: EXTRAORDINARY FRIENDSBarbara & Ted AronsonDawn BundickEric DolawayPat GottshalkLissa HilseeWill MacalusoRebecca MitchellArt StaddonDavid StarrLinda Watson-PattersonMitch WolfsonDameon WrightLori Yamashita

We have enjoyed working with these: PROGRAM PARTNERS Architecture In Education & Kristin MullaneyChipping Hill Micro-Farms & Howard BrosiusColumbia North YMCAEmily CulverBart LyonsMighty Writers & Rachel LoeperNeighborhood Bike WorksNutritional Development ServicesAbby OrensteinCourtney Stanton Timi TanzaniaUniversity of Arkansas Department of English & David JolliffeUrban Blazers

Volunteer stAffOver 150 volunteers contributed more than 4200 hours of work to support the mission of Tree house Books in 2011. (According to the Economic Impact of Volunteers Calculator provided by the national non-profit Points of Light Institute, the monetary value of Tree House Books combined volunteer hours is approximately $82, 000.)

The following volunteer staff members contributed 75 or more hours of their time.

VoluNteeR staFFStephanie Alleman, Team Leader Leigh Buzzard, Team Leader Christine Castro, Team Leader Whitney DiTaranto, Team LeaderMaryKate Higgins Mira Kim, Team Leader Justin Lewis Lauren McTiernan Cory Popp Nina RosenbergJamie Smolen, Team Leader Sharon Turner Max Williams

JuNIoR staFF MeMBeRsBrittany Bland Kiana Bland Darren Denheart Sheron GardnerChristian Holmes Rynesha SavageNyseem Smith Nona Watson Ijshanya Williams Richard WilliamsDonte Wright Michael Wright

YOuNG FRIENDS OF TREE hOuSE—PROFESSIONAL ChAPTER

The Young Friends of Tree House —Professional Chapter was formed in February 2010 and empowers working professionals to raise “friends and funds” for Tree House Books.

2011 MeMBeRsCassandra Oryl, ChairStaci Bender, Vice Chair Rachel Rubel Andrew Starfield Katelyn Allen-Yoakum James Yoakum

YOuNG FRIENDS OF TREE hOuSE —TEMPLE uNIVERSITY ChAPTER

The Young Friends of Tree House—Temple Chapter was also formed in February 2010 with a mission to connect the Temple University community with the surrounding neighborhood as well as to generate conversations about education inequity.

2011 MeMBeRsMaryKate higgins, Co-President Lauren McTiernan, Co-President Grace D’Etremont, Vice President (January 2011 - June 2011) Brianna Rooney, Secretary (September 2011 - Present) Liz Schwartz, Secretary(January 2011 - June 2011) Jessica Wagner, Treasurer Nora Ahearn Stephanie Alleman Molly Brozell Leigh Buzzard Christine Castro Zachary Cetlin Kelsey Deighan Catie Duffield Ally Greco Lily KayMira Kim Ali Makos Mounika Muttineni Kati MyersNina Rosenberg Kristi Sadow Nicole Saylor Nicholle Tulina

FRIENDS CONTINuEDEvelyn SalcedoDarcella Sessomes Nancy ShawLily SitronJennifer Smith & Jonathan MyersSheryl & Jonathan SmithDavid Starr Robin Stricoff Chester & Dorothy SuttonRoxanne Terry & Larry LipsitzSullivan Strategic LLCRev. Donald & Marilyn StumpChip & Dorothy SuttonAndrea SwanMaryam TabriziTemple Knitting Club

Marsharelle TobertCatherine TriandafillouTheresa & Peter TriandafillouRob TribuianiJohn TurnerWillie Mae Turner BullockMax TuttlemanGrace ValarezoElaine VanderhorstEllen WallensteinRochelle WeissbarthMyron & Nancy WalkerTim WhitakerOwen Williams Maxwell WilliamsMekenzie WilliamsMitchell & Eileen Wolfson

TempleTown RealtyTyler School of Art, Ceramic & Glass DepartmentsWater Works Restaurant and Lounge & Sophia StogiannisWest Park Arts Fest & Patty BulackWhole FoodsWorcester Golf ClubYards Brewing CompanyYoung Friends of Tree House – Temple University Chapter

*To the best of our knowledge, the information above is correct. If we have misspelled, omitted or improperly listed your name or organization, please accept our apologies and call or email us so that we can correct your record. Thank you for your support!

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PIctuRe Wall 2011 In the Neighborhood!

tHaNK You!

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