MAYOR NUTTER, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS DISCUSS WITNESS INTIMIDATION

Highlight new funding and upcoming summit to tackle problem

Philadelphia, June 28, 2010 – Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter, State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams, District Attorney R. Seth Williams, State Representative Brendan Boyle and Councilman Curtis Jones announced an enhanced response to prevent witness intimidation. Both at the federal and state levels, legislation is being pursued to increase penalties for intimidation and to prosecute offenders.

“It is unacceptable that Philadelphians could fear for their safety while stepping up on behalf of the community. In order to reinforce the great gains in public safety made by the Philadelphia Police Department over the past two years, we must have robust and successful prosecution of violent offenders, which includes protecting those who are brave enough to testify,” said Mayor Nutter. “My Administration will cooperate with local, state and federal agencies to protect witnesses from intimidation.”

Mayor Nutter highlighted the dedication of $200,000 in new funding for a witness protection program to be managed by the District Attorney’s Office. This is the first time the City of Philadelphia has allocated funds wholly for witness protection and to tackle witness intimidation. Mayor Nutter also announced that he will convene a summit of political, community, faith, and public safety leaders to solicit input and cooperation on innovative ways to combat and tackle the problem of witness intimidation. More details will follow in the coming weeks.

“The tail is waging the dog. It is unfortunate that things have deteriorated to the point where we have to assure citizens that we will protect them when they decide to testify. That is unacceptable. We must make it clear to the criminal element that we will go to every extent of the law to prosecute them,” added Senator Anthony Hardy Williams.

“Witness intimidation is an issue in too many of the violent crime and homicide cases that go through the Criminal Justice Center. It is an epidemic, and we need to stop it. This money will go a long way to help support the brave witnesses who step forward to make sure that justice is done in Philadelphia,” said District Attorney Williams.

“Today marks the beginning of a unique, combined effort from city and state elected officials and policy experts to tackle the pervasive problem of witness intimidation. Last week, I introduced legislation to increase funding at the state level for witness protection programming, which is necessary to fight this problem in the months and years to come,” said State Representative Brendan Boyle. “I also would like to create an office in the District Attorney’s Office specifically dedicated to attacking the problem of witness intimidation. Criminals cannot believe that they can pressure witnesses and get away with it.”

“These bills for Witness Protection will give our courts and District Attorney Seth Williams the proper ammunition to effectively prosecute ‘White Tee’ culture in Philadelphia. With the cooperation of the Nutter Administration, the City Council bill for protection against ‘Witness Intimidation,’ will provide security for those courageous enough to testify and defend their community, and it will enable to justice system to effectively prosecute and convict. Furthering these efforts is collaboration at all levels of government. Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Chaka Fattah proposed legislation to make any act of harassment and intimidation a federal crime. Likewise, Representative Brendan Boyle proposed a state wide witness protection program, and Representative Kenyatta Johnson called for an amendment of the criminal codes to increase penalties on the state level,” said Councilman Curtis Jones. “These are the actions our citizens deserve to safely to come forward, and it is my obligation as a council member to assist our courts. Either with right hand fellowship enabled legislation such as community courts expansion or the left hand punishment of the law, we will make Philadelphia safer. A court case without witnesses is similar to an automobile without gasoline, only together can we go the distance.”

MAYOR NUTTER, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS WITNESS INTIMIDATION AND HIGHLIGHT NEW FUNDING TO TACKLE PROBLEM

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
District Attorney Seth Williams
Senator Anthony Hardy Williams
Councilman Curtis Jones
Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross, Philadelphia Police Department
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison

WHAT: Mayor Nutter, District Attorney Williams, Senator Williams and Councilman Jones are working together to tackle the issue of witness intimidation which in too many cases prevents justice being served in Philadelphia. They will discuss the problem and highlight the ways in which the City, District Attorney and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are working together on this issue and outline new funding available to tackle the problem.

WHERE: Mayor’s Reception Room, City Hall

WHEN: Monday, June 28, 2010 9:30am

MAYOR NUTTER CELEBRATES PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MERGER AT GREEN RIBBON EVENT

Dozens of City and community-based organizations joined Mayor Nutter to celebrate the merger of the Department of Parks and Recreation

Philadelphia, June 24 2010—Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis, celebrated the merger of the Parks and Recreation Department at the Green Ribbon Event. The event highlighted innovative and collaborative projects occurring in the Fishtown community. These projects increase access and connectivity to green space, expand recreational opportunities and enhance the quality of life for community residents.

The celebration took place at the Shissler Recreation Center in Fishtown, a facility that demonstrates the heightened impact and value of the newly merged Parks and Recreation Department. The current revitalization project is a collaborative effort between City agencies, non-profits and community based organizations to benefit kids and the community while building toward a greener future. The new Department will continue to seek and create collaborative partnerships that benefit the City of Philadelphia while furthering the Department’s goal of becoming the nation’s premier park and recreation system.

The enhancements at Shissler Recreation Center include a new athletic field, construction of a pervious surfaced parking lot, creation of rain gardens and tree trenches for storm water management, enhanced recreational programming and significant site improvements that were made possible through the Philadelphia Water Department, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, New Kensington Community Development Corporation and the Mural Arts Program.

“These are the kind of transformative changes we can make in neighborhoods across the city when we coordinate our activities, work together and leverage our resources,” said Mayor Nutter. “It’s always a good idea to work collaboratively-great innovation and inspiration is the result of collaboration-however in these challenging financial times, it’s clear that only the Cities, non-profits and community groups that work together will be able to continue enriching the lives of the people they serve.”

Ribbons are a sign of unity and awareness and a green ribbon is an appropriate symbol and theme for the Department’s launch. Green ribbons adorned the lapels of speakers and event attendees symbolizing both the City’s and the Department’s green future. Green ribbons were also tied on trees, lamp posts, doors and signs along the newly established “Green Ribbon” from Shissler Recreation Center to the Delaware River. Fishtown’s “Green Ribbon” is the walkable green corridor from Shissler Recreation Center through Palmer Park along Columbia Avenue to Girard Avenue and culminating at Penn Treaty Park on the Delaware River.

“When we invest in our communities, we are investing in our children,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael Diberardinis. “It’s not a coincidence that many of these collaborative projects align with our department’s goal of keeping the City’s youth safe, active, healthy, ready to learn, and connected to their communities, parks, recreation centers and the natural world. I look forward to collaborating with other organizations that understand our mission, share our vision and want to help us achieve our goals.”

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MURAL ARTS PROGRAM
The Mural Arts Program is the nation’s largest mural program. Since 1984, Mural Arts has created over 3,000 murals and works of public art, earning Philadelphia international recognition as the “City of Murals.” Mural Arts engages over 100 communities each year in the transformation of neighborhoods through the mural making process, while award-winning, free art education programs serve nearly 2,000 youth at sites throughout the city and at-risk teens through education outreach programs. Mural Arts also serves adult offenders in local prisons and rehabilitation centers, using the restorative power of art to break the cycle of crime and violence in our communities. Each year, nearly 10,000 residents and visitors tour Mural Arts’ outdoor art gallery, which has become part of Philadelphia’s civic landscape and a source of pride and inspiration.
For further information, call 215-685-0750 or visit www.muralarts.org.

PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Founded in 1827, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society transforms communities and lives through horticulture. Its acclaimed urban revitalization program, Philadelphia Green, restores neighborhood parks, creates community gardens, conducts large-scale tree plantings, revitalizes vacant land, and maintains treasured public landscapes. For more information, visit PHSOnline.org.

GREEN RIBBON EVENT: MAYOR NUTTER AND DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION CELEBRATE MERGER

Dozens of City & Community-Based Organizations Join Residents at
Shissler Recreation Center in Fishtown

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mike DiBerardinis
Commissioner of Recreation Susan Slawson
Mark Focht, Executive Director of Fairmount Park
Jane Golden, Executive Director of the Mural Arts Program
Drew Becher, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Howard Neukrug, Director of the Office of Watersheds for the Philadelphia Water Department
Sandy Salzman, Executive Director of New Kensington Community Development Corporation

WHAT: Mayor Nutter and the Department of Parks and Recreation will celebrate the merger of Fairmount Park and the Department of Recreation with the Green Ribbon Event and Tour. Dozens of residents and City and community-based organizations will convene to commemorate the union in Fishtown. The Philadelphia High School of the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Drumline will kick-off the press conference with a unique performance. The stage will be flanked by kinetic sculptures from the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby.

After the press conference, event attendees are invited to take the Green Ribbon Tour, an excursion from Shissler Recreation Center to Penn Treaty Park. The group will be led by Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis and stop at Palmer Park, Hetzell Baseball Field, the corner of Girard and E. Columbia Avenues and Penn Treaty Park. Green ribbons will adorn fences, jungle gyms, trees and lamp posts on the recreation center’s property and along the tour route.

WHEN: 10:00 AM

WHERE: GREEN RIBBON EVENT
Shissler Recreation Center
1800 Blair Street
Philadelphia, PA 19125-2436

GREEN RIBBON TOUR
Start: Shissler Recreation Center
First Stop: Palmer Park @ E. Palmer St and Frankford Ave
Second Stop: Hetzell Baseball Field @ Livingston St and E. Columbia Ave
Third Stop: the corner to Girard and E. Columbia Ave
Final Stop: Penn Treaty Park

PHILADELPHIA RECYCLING REWARDS KICKS OFF TODAY WITH MORE REWARDS FOR PHILLY RECYCLERS

Northeast Philly Residents Begin Earning Valuable Rewards for their Recycling

Philadelphia, June 23 2010 – Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter officially marked the launch of Philadelphia Recycling Rewards in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Philadelphia Recycling Rewards – a partnership between the City of Philadelphia, the Streets Department and RecycleBank – allows residents with City-provided recycling collection to earn points for the amount they recycle.

“Today is our fifth rollout of the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards program and a great way for every city resident to understand that they can save hundreds of dollars a year in rewards to the local businesses right in their own neighborhoods,” said Mayor Nutter. “With over 230 local businesses supporting this initiative, a number that grows every week, my hope is that every resident signs up for this program puts their sticker on their bin and lets the savings begin.”

Residents in Philadelphia can potentially earn hundreds of dollars of rewards each year. Points are redeemable through RecycleBank for groceries, gift cards, merchandise and entertainment at hundreds of participating local and national merchants. Local participating businesses include Modell’s, Rita’s, Santini’s South Philly Grille, the Dining Car Diner, ACME, select Shop Rite locations, Rite Aid, CVS/pharmacy, Las Cazuelas, Reading Terminal Market, Le Virtu, Black & Brew, JuJu Salon and Organics, SWEAT Fitness, Please Touch Museum, the London, Franklin Institute, Villa the movement, Academy of Natural History…the list is long and covers 20 categories. Residents can also redeem points at hundreds of major retailers and national brands such as Nature Made, Verizon, Seventh Generation, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ruby Tuesday, Coca-Cola, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

It is anticipated that Philadelphia Recycling Rewards powered by RecycleBank, will bring the City’s recycling diversion rate – the amount of recyclable materials that are diverted away from landfills—to record levels. Every ton of waste diverted from landfills currently saves the city about $70. And as the city saves money with diversion, the local businesses make money. Residents use their rewards locally to put food on their tables, clothes on their backs, shoes on their feet, and even some entertainment and dinner out. All while recycling.

“We are proud to both help Philadelphia reach their environmental goals and put some savings in the pockets of Philly residents,” said Bob Milligan, RecycleBank General Manager of the tri-state area. “Especially in this tough economy, the toughest one since the great depression, a little something extra for recycling will go a long way to help most make ends meet.”

RecycleBank and Verizon have teamed up to make recycling in the Philadelphia tri-state area even more rewarding. As part of their sponsorship of the RecycleBank program, Verizon offered the first 10,000 people to sign up for RecycleBank 50 bonus points—and they signed up quickly! Additionally, the first 500 RecycleBank members to activate a new two-year line of Verizon service will receive double curbside RecycleBank Points for 24 months. That’s 2 years worth of double points meaning even more savings for those 500 families.

“We’re excited to be the only wireless company supporting this effort and equally thrilled that the additional incentives we’re providing are encouraging thousands more residents to sign up and become active participants in helping protect our environment,” said Mario Turco, president of Verizon Wireless’ Philadelphia Tri-State Region. “I applaud the Mayor and RecycleBank for their leadership in bringing this innovative program to even more Philadelphians with this latest roll-out and look forward to seeing the program gain even stronger momentum in the coming weeks.”

“Rita’s is excited to continue our partnership with RecycleBank and are proud to be part of the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards program,” said Roger Falloon, Vice President of Operations, Rita’s Franchise Company. “We are committed to help promote recycling and awareness in our community and are thrilled that our guests have embraced this important initiative.”

The kick-off also featured a rally to support UnLitter Us, a sustained initiative and movement by the City of Philadelphia Streets Department to rid Philadelphia of litter and create clean, beautiful and safe blocks.

The mayor has set ambitious goals with Greenworks Philadelphia, which has recycling goals including a 20 percent diversion rate by 2011 and 25 percent by 2015. Philadelphia Recycling Rewards powered by RecycleBank will help the City achieve and hopefully exceed those goals.

The Philadelphia Recycling Rewards roll-out schedule is as follows:
February 2010: North Philadelphia
March 2010: Lower Northeast, Frankford and Logan Sections
April 2010: West and Southwest Philadelphia
May 2010: Center City and South Philadelphia
June 2010: Northeast Philadelphia
July 2010: Northwest Philadelphia

For more information about Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Program, and to sign-up for a rewards account, please visit www.PhillyRecyclingPAYS.com or call the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Customer Affairs Unit at 1-888-769-7960.

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About RecycleBank
RecycleBank® motivates people to recycle and rewards consumers for taking greener actions with points that can be redeemed from participating local and national business partners. Through collaboration and innovation, RecycleBank is helping to create a culture that encourages people to take simple steps towards greener lifestyles. With new products and services like residential recycling, product reuse, expanded e-waste recycling, responsible disposal or simply focusing on using what already exists in the world today, we believe that making greener choices shouldn’t feel at all like a trade off. It should be a trade up, and so RecycleBank rewards you every step of the way. RecycleBank currently provides service to over one million people across the U.S. and the U.K. and has been recognized with a number of business and environmental awards, including being named as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and as a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environmental Programme. RecycleBank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.RecycleBank.com.

About UnLitter Us Litter Rallies
UnLitter Us, led by the Philadelphia Streets Department, is a sustained effort that will include extensive community outreach- block by block- to educate and create awareness of the City’s litter problem and to generate momentum to facilitate change. The Philadelphia Streets Department will work closely with community leaders to bring UnLitter Us to the ground level, showing Philadelphia residents specific ways to do away with litter- and keep it away. Various planned programs include anti-litter seminars, Litter Free Zones, Litter Free School Zones, anti-litter rallies, business ambassador programs and an expansion of the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee’s (PMBC) Clean Block program.

Throughout the spring and summer, The Philadelphia Streets Department along with the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) are holding UnLitter Us rallies throughout the city, bringing neighbors out in force to join the UnLitter Us movement and take action to keep their neighborhoods clean. The Litter Rallies feature live music, free giveaways, educational information, games and crafts for kids and more.

Residents, community groups and businesses that want to get involved in and support the UnLitter Us movement should visit www.philadelphiastreets.com or www.facebook.com/unlitterus.

MAYOR NUTTER KICKS OFF PHILADELPHIA’S 2010 SUMMER POOL SEASON AND THANKS SUPPORTERS OF CITY’S “SPLASH AND SUMMER FUNd”

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mike DiBerardinis
Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson
First Niagra Financial Group, Inc. and other supporters of City’s “Splash and Summer FUNd”

WHAT: Mayor Nutter, City officials and supporters of Philadelphia’s “Splash and Summer FUNd” will officially kick off the 2010 pool season. All 70 of the City’s public swimming pools will open this summer.

WHERE: Kelly Pool, 4231 Avenue of the Republic

WHEN: Friday, June 18, 2010 3:00 pm

MAYOR NUTTER TO CELEBRATE WITH WINNERS OF PHILLY “COOLEST BLOCK” CONTEST

Winning block receives cool roofs, energy audits, air sealing and insulation

PHILADELPHIA, June 18, 2010 – Tomorrow afternoon Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the residents of the “Coolest Block in Philadelphia” will celebrate winning cool roofs and insulation for the entire block of 1200 Wolf Street with a block party in South Philadelphia. The winner of the RetroFIT Philly “Coolest Block” Contest was announced by Mayor Nutter on May 13th in conjunction with the bill signing for Philadelphia’s new “Cool Roof” law, which was sponsored by Councilman Jim Kenney.

The block party will be held on Saturday 19 June, 2010 from 2:30pm on the 1200 block of Wolf Street, Philadelphia (Mayor Nutter will arrive at 3:30pm). The party will feature a demonstration of cool roofing and insulation products by installers from the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA). Live music and local food, along with a balloon artist and face painting, round out the celebrations on Wolf Street. The block party is being supported by the Dow Chemical Company Foundation.

“This block and this neighborhood are a great example of what’s possible when neighbors work together to make their community the best it can be,” said Mayor Nutter. “With the support of citizens, our corporate partners such as Dow, and our leading non-profit organizations such as the Energy Coordinating Agency, Philadelphia will soon be known as the number one green city in the United States of America.”

Over seventy blocks from across the Philadelphia entered the contest, coordinated this spring by the City of Philadelphia, the ECA and Dow Chemical Company. The Dow Chemical Company contributed products and technologies to the contest, while the Dow Chemical Company Foundation provided financial support for the competition. The ECA conducted audits and will perform energy upgrades and apply cool roof coatings on the entire block. Partnerships with local utility companies PECO and PGW will allow ECA to accurately monitor and report energy savings realized after all work has been performed on the block.

“We were thrilled to be selected as the RetroFIT Philly winners and excited to host everyone here on Wolf Street and show them why we truly are the coolest block in Philly” said Theresa Jack, who coordinated the entry for 1200 Wolf Street.

Cool roofs are a cost-effective way of keeping the temperature down on hot days and extending the life of a roof. On a hot summer day, a cool roof coating is up to 100 degrees cooler than a conventional black roof – and that adds up to a 30% savings on air conditioning costs. By reflecting the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays back into the atmosphere, a well maintained cool roof will last about 10 years longer than a conventional roof, which saves money and keeps material out of landfills.

Philadelphia’s cool roof law, sponsored by Councilman Kenney, requires all new commercial and residential construction to include cool roofs, a feature that will reduce cooling costs and energy usage in the city. The new law and the cool roof competition both advance goals described in Greenworks Philadelphia, the city’s comprehensive sustainability plan. Greenworks includes ambitious energy efficiency, economic development and greenhouse gas reduction goals, all of which advance Mayor Nutter’s goal of making Philadelphia America’s greenest city.

For more information on the RetroFIT Philly contest visit www.retrofitphilly.com. For more information on Greenworks Philadelphia visit www.greenworksphila.org.

About Energy Coordinating Agency of Philadelphia
The Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) is a non-profit corporation, founded in 1984, whose mission is to help people conserve energy and to promote a sustainable and socially equitable energy future for all in the Philadelphia region. Our services to low income people are at the heart of our mission and are provided in collaboration with our citywide network of 14 Neighborhood Energy Centers. In the past year, ECA provided over 40,000 low income families 86,218 energy services, valued at more than $27 million, leveraging our budget of $8.4 million more than 3 times on their behalf. These services include: budget and energy counseling; bill payment assistance; energy conservation treatments, and energy education. Our conservation services saved these families an average of 20% of their energy costs, enabling them to meet their expenses and stay in their homes.

About Greenworks Philadelphia
Mayor Michael Nutter created the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability (MOS) to help the city leverage its existing assets and mitigate its exposure to the effects of global warming. This means changing the way that government does business. It also means giving citizens the tools they need to lower their own carbon emissions and reduce their vulnerability to increasing energy costs. Sustainability is a core mission for the Nutter Administration and the work of MOS, primarily through the implementation of Greenworks Philadelphia, will help decrease the city’s vulnerability to energy prices and climate change, increase our capacity to compete in global markets for new jobs and new businesses, and ensure that all residents share in the city’s prosperous future.

About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Dow Building & Construction
A business group within Dow’s Advanced Material Division, Building & Construction is comprised of two business units – Dow Building Solutions and Dow Construction Chemicals – each of which offer strengths in channel management, branding, technology development / support and demand creation. The two business units collectively employ about 1,700 people worldwide, and generate almost $2 billion of revenue while operating more than 30 plants worldwide. Through its strong sales support, customer service and building science expertise, Dow’s Building & Construction business units provide meaningful solutions for customers today, while also addressing the industry’s emerging needs and demands with advanced industry knowledge.

MAYOR NUTTER OPENS THE ART GALLERY AT CITY HALL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS, CULTURE AND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY

Renovation made possible by grant from PNC Arts Alive initiative

Philadelphia, June 16, 2010 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Gary P. Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer and Director of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, announced the creation of newly renovated, environmentally friendly administrative offices including an 800 square foot gallery, The Art Gallery at City Hall, created to further enliven historic City Hall and connect the public with the arts. The Office will be located on the first floor of City Hall, Room 116 and will host an opening exhibition and reception on June 16 from 5pm to 7pm and an open house celebration for the public on June 17 from 10am to 4pm.

“Philadelphia is one of the foremost creative cities in the world,” said Mayor Nutter. “This new public gallery and central office for the creative economy demonstrate the importance of arts and culture to our city, to our residents and to this Administration.”

The new offices of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy establish the Office as an independent City department for the first time in the city’s history, with a street-level presence, reconnecting the Office with the public and strengthening its ties with the cultural and creative communities.

“The Art Gallery at City Hall is a tangible representation of the value this City places on its arts, culture and heritage community,” said Chief Cultural Officer Gary Steuer. “It will bring the power of the arts to the many City workers and visitors who pass through City Hall every day.”

On the Rise, the inaugural exhibition for The Art Gallery at City Hall, is a collaboration with Center for Emerging Visual Artists, InLiquid and Philadelphia Sculptors, and the exhibit features twelve Philadelphia artists. It will run from June 17 to August 6, 2010.

Future exhibitions will highlight the work of emerging artists as well the City’s extraordinary array of cultural organizations and festivals. On occasion, it may also serve as an extension of the Art in City Hall program, in addition to featuring the work of students and other nonprofessional artists. Many of the exhibitions will involve partnerships with existing cultural organizations, providing them with an opportunity for enhanced public outreach and access to new audiences.

The construction of The Art Gallery at City Hall and the Offices for the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy was made possible through a generous contribution from the PNC Arts Alive initiative. PNC Arts Alive is a five-year, $5 million initiative from the PNC Foundation to help increase access to the arts, and help arts organizations expand and engage audiences throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

“The arts are a major economic driver for the region, and the work of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is key to this sector’s growth,” said Bill Mills, regional president of PNC for Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. “We felt it was important to support the work of Gary Steuer and his staff, through PNC Arts Alive, by investing in a permanent home that will raise the profile of their work.”

Chuck Block and the Block Family Foundation were also instrumental in the completion of the office renovation. The environmentally friendly renovation includes all sustainable materials including carpet made from recycled material donated by InterfaceFLOR.

The mission of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is to improve access to the arts for both residents and visitors; expand arts education for young people; oversee all the City’s arts programs; support the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture, and creative economy sector by promoting public and private investment in the creative economy sector; coordinate with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s arts efforts; and serve as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions.

The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy operates the following programs: the City’s Public Art Program, which includes the Percent for Art, Conservation and Collections Management and Temporary Public Art Programs; Art in City Hall; The Art Gallery at City Hall; Creative Economy and Cultural Development initiatives; and also provides office space for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. The Office works closely with other City arts agencies such as the Mural Arts Program, the Atwater Kent Museum, as well as arts organizations within City-owned facilities such as the Mann Center for Performing Arts, the Philadelphia Zoo, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Please Touch Museum.

The Art Gallery at City Hall is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 4pm. For more information on artists and the current exhibition, On the Rise, visit: http://www.inliquid.com/features/OACCE/.

MAYOR NUTTER CELEBRATES WEST PHILLY HYBRID X TEAM AT PEP RALLY SEND-OFF

Philadelphia, June 16, 2010 – Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter celebrated the West Philly Hybrid X Team at a pep-rally held at City Hall’s Dilworth Plaza as they prepare to travel to Michigan for the Knockout Qualifying Stage of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition. A student from the Hybrid X Team drove Mayor Nutter to the podium in the Team’s hybrid EVX GT, which can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds.

The Hybrid X Team is a team of high school students and educators from West Philadelphia High School’s Academy of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. The program has been successfully building competitive alternative fuel vehicles for over 10 years.

This year, the Hybrid X Team is entered in the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition. The competition will award $10 million in prizes in September 2010 to teams that win a rigorous competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPG energy equivalent (MPGe). The mission of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change.

111 teams, including multi-national corporations, well-funded start-ups and major universities, entered the competition. Of the original entrants, only 22 remain. The West Philly Hybrid X Team, the only high school to enter, still has two cars in the competition, an affordable compact family sedan and a high-performance sports car.

“The West Philly Hybrid X Team is another great example of what Philadelphia’s young people can achieve when they set their sights high and work together,” said Mayor Nutter. “The program teaches valuable green job skills to high school students, engages the community in energy use and air quality issues, and could potentially bring a new, clean-tech enterprise to the Navy Yard. I’m proud of the Hybrid X Team students for representing the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Philadelphia’s sustainability work on the national stage and I wish them the best of luck in the competition.”

For more information on the West Philly Hybrid X Team, visit http://www.evxteam.org, and for more information on the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, visit http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org. The Hybrid X Team will be at the Michigan International Speedway for the Knockout round of the competition starting June 20, 2010.

MAYOR NUTTER TO CELEBRATE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WEST PHILLY HYBRID X TEAM AT PEP RALLY SEND-OFF

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability
West Philadelphia High School Hybrid X Team
Eagles Cheerleaders

WHAT: Mayor Nutter will celebrate with the West Philadelphia High School’s Hybrid X Team as they prepare to travel to Michigan for the Knockout Qualifying Stage of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition. The Hybrid X Team will be displaying both of their high-efficiency cars, an EVX Focus family sedan and an EVX GT high-performance sports car.

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is a competition to build cars that achieve over 100 miles per gallon energy equivalent. Of the 111 original entries, only 22 remain. The West Philly Hybrid X Team is the only high school, and they’re going head-to-head with multi-national corporations, well-funded start-ups, and major universities. The competition will award $5 million for the best four-door economy car; $2.5 million each will go to two winners in a two-seater category. West Philly submitted applications in both classes.

Eagles Cheerleaders will be on hand to give the team a good send-off to the competition. Mayor Nutter will be driven across the North side of City Hall to the podium in one of the competition cars by one of the team members.

WHERE: North West Corner of City Hall, Philadelphia

WHEN: Wednesday June 16, 2010 12:00 pm TODAY