About East Falls
EFCC Officers:
President: Bill Epstein
First Vice President: Todd Baylson
Second Vice President: Krystal Smith Cunillera
Treasurer: Joe Leube
Recording Secretary: Heather Plastaras
Corresponding Secretary: Larry Benjamin
Members at Large:
Emily Nichols
John Gillespie
Alex Keating
Drew Myers
Contact us:
East Falls Community Council
P.O. Box 12672
Philadelphia, PA 19129
www.eastfallscommunity.org
How EFCC Serves Its Community
BY TOM SAUERMAN
(1) The Zoning and Land Use Committee meets monthly to review requests for variances from the City Zoning Code. It provides a forum for potentially affected neighbors to discuss with the applicant the how, what, and why of the proposed change. It then advises the City of the residents’ support or opposition to requests by those who want to alter the general rules, and explains the community position.
(2) The Fall Festival offers and coordinates programs during October for the community: Multi-Cultural Festival, Fallsers Perform, Art Show & Sale, Cemetery Tour, House Tour, Old Academy Players production, Halloween Carnival, Poetry Readings, Glassblowing, and a Historical Tour.
(3) We have an annual Flea Market with about 250 vendors where neighbors buy and sell.
(4) The annual Chili Cook-off is a large fund raising party for families on Friday, April 8, 2011. Neighbors compete for cooking bragging rights.
(5) The East Falls Village group enables older members of the community to remain in their homes longer.
(6) The annual Holiday Sing in December, draws hundreds of people to McMichael Park.
(7) The Traffic Committee has sought street improvements and initiated a Pace Car program in order make our streets--too often speedways--safer for us; some residents have been hurt or killed by speeding traffic.
(8) We are involved with the City Planning Commission regarding future use of a 400-acre area in the Henry Avenue/Hunting Park area that includes East Falls and, with future planning for the entire community.
(9) Our Grants Committee gives out small grants to community groups and/or individuals who want to improve our community.
(10) The 20/20 Vision Committee meets with residents to ascertain their wishes for the community in year 2020, from which committee members will draw an action plan.
(11) The Arboretum Initiative holds a workday in the Spring to clean up and restore a historical arboretum in the center of the community that has been neglected for many years.
(12) The Playground Initiative is working to build a playground at Inn Yard Park.
(13) Curtailing disruptive behavior by some students who live among us has been an effort we’ve initiated jointly with East Falls Town Watch, affected neighbors, and Philadelphia University.
(14) We’re working with Queen Lane neighbors in their effort to curtail the City Water Department’s plan to add high fences, increase lighting, and reduce open space used by East Falls residents to walk their dogs.
(15) Our weekly email blast lets you know what is happening in and around East Falls. If you are not yet on the email list, ask to be added at info@eastfallscommunity.org.
(16) And, we hold monthly meetings to bring topics of interest and concern to the attention of the neighbors.
How do we do it? Neighbors like you step up and volunteer to work to make things even better in East Falls. Interested, have an idea for a project, please contact info@eastfallscommunity.org
East Falls is one of the few Philadelphia communities with a direct connection to the Schuylkill River and Fairmount Park. There is much to enjoy in our community. Lovely pocket parks complement the recreation available on the loop edging the river drives. Our community boasts great restaurants with music and entertainment for adults; includes story time for children and diverse programs for adults at our local library; two parks, two recreation centers, play areas, art programs, festivals, and even a fabulous community theater pull us all together throughout the year. If you are an old time 'Fallser', we are always happy to gather with old friends. If you are new to our community - Welcome! We enjoy making new friends. We've put together some information of local (and near local) activities, events and contact information that we know you’ll find helpful.
Invitation to East Falls Community Residents and Groups
Community council meetings can provide you with the opportunity to make special announcements or inform the community of new programs and actions to be taken by your group.
There are two ways to present topics at meetings:
(1) Special Presentations
This format is for organizations with out-of-the-ordinary announcements for which 5-10 minutes will be set aside for the single presentation. These presentations will be listed on the EFCC agenda in the Fallser. To be listed, the organization must identify the topic and state what action, if any, is sought from EFCC. To be listed, please contact info@eastfallscommunity.org by the 18th of the month prior to the meeting. Listing on the agenda will be subject to time constraints and appropriateness of the topic.
(2) General Announcements
Each meeting has Announcements listed at the end of the agenda where people are invited to make brief announcements of general interest which will not require any consideration or action by EFCC. These require no advance notification.
Regular meetings of the East Falls Community Council are held at the Falls Presbyterian Church on the second Monday of the month. All presentations are permitted at the discretion of the EFCC Executive Committee.
All residents of East Falls are invited to attend the East Falls Community Council (EFCC) General meetings. The EFCC is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of East Falls.
Location: East Falls Presbyterian Church, corner of Midvale Ave. and Vaux Street
The East Falls Community Council represents and advocates for residents of the community; it is dedicated to improving their quality of life. Residents are encouraged to attend both the EFCC General and Zoning Committee meetings.
To become a voting member of East Falls Community Council you must be a resident of East Falls and provide proof of residency. Send your check for $10.00 together with your name, address, and email address (to receive notices; we will not share your email address) to EFCC, P. O. Box 12672, Philadelphia, PA 19129.
To present topics at meetings. (1) Special Presentations: This format is for organizations with out-of-the-ordinary announcements for which 5-10 minutes will be set aside for the single presentation. These presentations will be listed on the EFCC agenda in the Fallser. To be listed, the organization must identify the topic and contact info@eastfallscommunity.org by the 19th of the month prior to the meeting. (2) General Announcements: Each meeting has Announcements listed at the end of the agenda where people are invited to make brief announcements of general interest; they require no advance notification.