What Happened Next?

The conclusion of our annual story-update package

Edited by Brian Hickey

"It Takes a Neighborhood," Aug. 23

Michael T. Regan STRAWBERRY FIELDING: Despite violence around the neighborhood, the game goes on. (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

The Story: When it comes to addressing the plague of violence in Philadelphia's toughest neighborhoods, a lot of people talk a good game. But in Strawberry Mansion, a group of men decided it'd be best to play a good game. As in, establishing a baseball league to help steer the neighborhood youth —both boys and girls, from 8 to 16 — away from the temptations of the streets. While sirens echoed through the streets surrounding their oasis at 33rd and Diamond streets all summer long, the dozens of children who stuck it out remained safe while learning discipline and teamwork.

What Happened Next: Not even a week had passed since the end of the season when the 33rd and Diamond backstop has adorned by a makeshift memorial of flowers, stuffed animals and scribbled messages of condolence. But, a quick call to All-Stars Commissioner Rick Ford quickly dismissed the heinous possibility that one of the young players had been killed. That's not to say the Mander Playground wasn't the scene of a tragedy, though: On Labor Day weekend, police found the body of 18-year-old Gregory Paige slumped on a bench next to the field where hope had been abundant. He'd been shot in the torso and head, serving as a reminder of the league's importance. Meanwhile, the organizers didn't let their efforts stop with summer's end. By mid-September, Strawberry Mansion youths were again flocking to Mander to participate in a flag-football league, which, as of this writing, was approaching its Super Bowl. "We have 147 kids playing," Ford says. "And since the end of summer, none of our kids [in the baseball league] have been getting in trouble." Keeping them safe will prove to be a never-ending task, but thus far, it's a job well done. —Brian Hickey

"Six, the Hard Way," Sept. 13

The Story: Senate Bill 674 would allow beer distributors, currently dealing in 24-bottle cases, to sell six-packs. Many consumers and local craft brewers supported the bill, saying it would allow drinkers to sample beers without having to purchase a full case. But some distributors criticized various provisions, including one that would let bars and delis sell up to 18 beers per purchase (they can currently sell only 12). Elsewhere, some saw the inclusion of language allowing for the sale of 15- and 18-packs as a nod to megacompanies like Budweiser and Coors, since most local breweries do not have the machinery to produce odd-size packaging.

What Happened Next: Mark Meyer, chief of staff for bill sponsor state Sen. John C. Rafferty, says it was going to be tacked on to an existing amendment of House Bill 606 in early December, but "technical" issues that necessitated redrafting held up the amendment. A vote on SB 674 is tentatively planned for January; Meyer adds the bill has "quite a bit of support" in the Senate. —Drew Lazor

"Board Approval," Sept. 20

The Story: A pair of novice surfers — high-end furniture designer Ric Allison and industrial designer Charles Barrett — had a dream: to launch a company that'd produce exquisite-yet-usable surfboards that could double as pieces of art from Allison's studio in an East Falls arts incubator. By fall, they'd completed a prototype and were seeking customers willing to shell out upward of $5,000 to $10,000 for one of their Rayskin Longboards.

What Happened Next: The Rayskin guys took the lessons learned from longtime East Coast surfers, made some tweaks and are now in the process of constructing a pair of new Haeckel Octopus boards with an underskin made from Spanish cedar with stringed-in fiddle-back maple and exotic veneers of toasted bird's-eye maple, Bubinga, Makore, Blackwood and Lacewood, with the eight-legger's eyes cut from mother of pearl. They're also working on an "Old School fish" shortboard design that will feature "a clear viewing panel on the bottom so you can see the beautifully engineered structure of the hollow interior," says Barrett. They've made their first sale, and potential customers have been making their way to the studio after the story to take a look-see. After garnering some coverage in the Ocean County (Calif.) Metro — it was named one of 20 cool holiday gifts — they're Cali-bound in March to meet with three prospective customers. There's also preliminary talk about pitching a "making-of" cable show that would take the East Falls product across the globe in search of the best breaks. —H

"We're Taking Poe Back," Oct. 4

The Story: Edgar Allan Poe should be buried in Philadelphia. The city's gothic, chaotic environment in the early 19th century had an indelible impact on the style and content of his greatest stories. The six years he spent living here were the most productive and successful of his writing career. Poe is a Philadelphian.

What Happened Next: I thought my Philly Poe piece might stir up a little controversy, but I had no idea it would bring about a Poe War with Baltimore. Not satisfied with Laura Lippman's rebuttal, published along with my story, the Baltimore Sun replied with a caustic column in which one Baltimorean Poe fanatic threatened to "punch me in the eye." When the Inquirer picked up on the simmering brouhaha and fired a shot over Baltimore, battle was joined. I spent the next couple of weeks explaining how Philadelphia should be considered the rightful holder of Poe's literary legacy on both local and national radio and TV, culminating in a Halloween piece on NPR. Philadelphia is the home to the Liberty Bell and Ben Franklin and Edgar Allan Poe. I'm currently organizing a Poe Summit in which I'll debate reps from other Poe cities (Baltimore, Richmond, New York) and I'll be in Baltimore for the Poe birthday festivities on Jan. 19. Perhaps I can persuade the mysterious Poe Toaster to leave the three roses and cognac at Seventh and Spring Garden streets this year. Or I'll just bring a shovel and settle it once and for all. —Edward Pettit

"Banned Art," Oct. 18

The Story: City License and Inspection officers cracked down on First Friday street vendors near Second and Market streets in October, telling them to collect their wares or have them confiscated. One couple, Keith and Amanda Morton, even doled out $500 for the appropriate paperwork — but were still told to move. Many agreed, begrudgingly, and wondered what the reason was behind the seemingly arbitrary enforcements. It turns out the law does designate all of Center City a no-vend zone, but some of the artists were selling freely for as long as a decade.

What Happened Next: In November, the vendors moved to a different street. It didn't last long. Police officers and L&I officials caught up with some of the artists on Third Street, and again said they need a permit to sell there, according to Eric Remer, who has been selling what he calls "twisted Dr. Seuss-like cartoons" on the sidewalk for the past two years.

"They're still saying we need some kind of paperwork to set up," he says, "and we all know that's not the case. Some of us" — like the Mortons — "have paperwork and get kicked out anyway." In December, most of the vendors braved the slush and sleet to set up again on Second Street, and again police told them to move on. "The funny thing is, some officers buy Christmas presents from us each year," Remer says. The impasse continues: Several artists said they would be out there again in January, and they're hoping for some definitive answer soon. —Tom Namako

"Chess Mates," Oct. 25

The Story: Traveling stateside to promote his new book How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves, from the Board to the Boardroom, legendary grandmaster Garry Kasparov visited the Free Library's Central Branch to meet young fans and reporters, who were interested in hearing more about his nascent presidential campaign in his native Russia. Having launched the opposition group Drugaya Rossiya, or "The Other Russia," Kasparov warned that Vladimir Putin was a dangerous man who treated his political foes like the tsars of old. "It's not just a one-man regime; it's a police state," he said. "Every day of our existence is a small victory. We just want to create some problems for the regime."

What Happened Next: It didn't take very long for the regime to create some problems for Kasparov, who was arrested and jailed for five November days after participating in an anti-Putin rally in Moscow. Then, in mid-December, the chess legend announced that he had to abandon a campaign that was more based in principle than steeped in reality, as he never thought he had a chance to win the March 2 race to succeed Putin, who claimed the foe was propped up by meddling foreign countries. Kasparov blamed the Putin regime for preventing The Other Russia, which was mustering unheard-of-for-Russia grassroots support, from holding its nominating convention. That move left him without a platform to run upon, so he announced he'd no longer be running. Less than a week later, ironically, Putin was controversially named Time magazine's Person of the Year for returning his homeland to the world stage. —H

"The Unbearable Plight of Wireless-less-ness," Nov. 8

The Story: Three years in the making, Philadelphia's wireless network is still unfinished and complaints about service — both technical and customer — abound. Adding to concern was news that the city's wireless provider, EarthLink Inc., had put a moratorium on new WiFi projects in cities nationwide. EarthLink said it remained committed to finishing Philadelphia's network, however, and the company and city officials said that kinks with service were being worked out.

What Happened Next: Shortly after the story ran, EarthLink announced that it would consider alternatives to its wireless business and would not be making any "significant further investments." Wireless Philadelphia, the nonprofit set up to run the network, said the announcement's long-term effect was unclear, but EarthLink was committed to completing construction on Philadelphia's network, which is now about 75 percent complete.

Meanwhile, Councilman Frank Rizzo, a longtime opponent of the project, had been urging the Council's Committee on Technology and Information Services since August to hold a hearing on EarthLink's progress; the hearing was finally held Dec. 11. Officials from the city and WP gave testimony before the committee, but EarthLink was a no-show. The company instead issued only an unsigned statement, breeding further concern over the status of the network. At the hearing, city and WP officials explained why they were not worried about EarthLink's commitment to Philadelphia. If EarthLink chooses to renege on its 10-year contract with the city, two options remain: EarthLink will sell the network and the new company will take over the terms of the contract (with the city's approval), or the city itself will take over the network. Rizzo said he hopes to have frequent hearings on the network's status in the future. —Katherine Silkaitis

"The Prodigy," Nov. 15

The Story: Sheng Kai Dong was a budding math wiz, until his father, Yong Zhong, got into a car accident. Because Yong Zhong was an illegal immigrant with an outstanding deportation order, he was taken into detention and placed in deportation proceedings; Sheng Kai struggled in school as he tried to become the man of the house by working in the family's takeout restaurant.

What Happened Next: Yong Zhong's immigration case has been reopened, "which is very good," says his attorney, Wendy Tso. He's currently still in detention in California, but is supposed to be moved back east, to New York, soon. Once he gets there, Tso will attempt to have him released on bail, so he can rejoin Sheng Kai, his wife, and his daughter, who are staying with relatives in Flushing, Queens. The family restaurant is sold and gone for good, but Sheng Kai is still in school there. —Doron Taussig

(hickey@citypaper.net)