Settlement's 103rd Anniversary Gala Featured in Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia has a busy social calendar this time of year, and the School's 103rd Anniversary Gala happens right in the thick of it. The Gala, along with the first-ever Luxury Raffle, was a great success, and our guests danced long into the night.

If you pick up today's Philadelphia Inquirer, you can see a few of the Gala attendees on the Social Circuit page. And if you're impatient, you can see them online, right now, by clicking here.

Of course, if you 'like' Settlement on Facebook, you've already seen a wide array of photos from the event. You do like Settlement on Facebook, don't you? Don't miss out! Visit our page and hit the Like button today!

While you're there, take a look at photos from a recent collaboration between our Gleeksman-Kohn Children's Choir and the Chicago Children's Choir.

How You Can Support Settlement and Local Music

Around these parts, we like to talk about how many people have been influenced by their time at Settlement Music School. When you've been around for more than 100 years, you're bound to have some kind of effect on your community. We hope that our Settlement 100 project a few years ago showed just how influential the School has been in Philadelphia.

But part of the reason we've been able to have such an impact is because of where we are. Philadelphia is a musical town. And not just classical and jazz, either, although the city is no slouch in that department. From American Bandstand to The Sound of Philadelphia, Will Smith to The Roots, Chubby Checker to Hall & Oates, Frankie Avalon to The Hooters, tons of great music has come out of this city.

David Uosikkinen, drummer from The Hooters, is celebrating that musical history with a project he's called In the Pocket: Essential Songs of Philadelphia. He's put together a revolving lineup of local musical talent, and is revisiting songs recorded in Philadelphia or written and performed by Philadelphians.

And the best part is that proceeds from the sale of these recordings come back here to Settlement Music School, supporting the kinds of programs that make Philadelphia's music scene the vibrant thing that it is today.

Dave was recently featured on CBS 3's Talk Philly, talking about the project and Settlement. Click here to see the video.

For more info on In the Pocket, and to purchase check out: http://songsinthepocket.org/

102nd Anniversary Gala Menu Tasting

On Thursday, February 4, Settlement Music School's Gala Menu Co-chairs Susan and Greg Moore and Susan and the Honorable Vincent Poppiti joined Gala Chairs Don and Lynn Haskin and Konnie Stark to sample some of the delicious menu selections offered by Hyatt at the Bellevue along with some fine vintage wines courtesy of Moore Brothers Wine Company.

The Poppitis (left) and Moores with Chef Richard at the Hyatt at the Bellevue have the tough job of selecting Settlement Music School's menu for the 102nd Annual Gala to be held at the Hyatt on April 10, 2010.

Gala Co-Chairs Lynn & Don Haskin and Konnie Stark (Co-chair and husband Paul Stark had an out-of-town business meeting that day -- too bad!)

This is one of the tougher jobs in Gala Planning! All the food was delicious. The chairs sampled the three main courses you see below, as well as a few desserts. Which of these choices do you think will be the winner? The selected meal will be published soon.

Potential Main Courses
Duet Featuring Cabernet Marinated Filet of Beef Tenderloin
Roasted Corn and Leek Potato Cake
Paired with Basil and Macadamia Nut Crusted Salmon on Garlic Infused Spinach
Balsamic Demi Glace

~

Duet Featuring Pan Seared Filet of Beef Tenderloin
St. Andre Cheese and Tart Apples, Black Truffle Potato Cake with a Shallot Demi Glace
Paired with Chilean Sea Bass Brushed with XO Remy Asian Sauce, Leek and Mushroom

~

Frenched Breast of Chicken, Applewood Bacon, Napa Cabbage, Fingerling Potato Hash
and Tart Cherry Thyme Sauce

Potential Desserts
Chocolate Indulgence
Milk Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Glacage, Chocolate Whipped Cream

~

Trio Plate
Pastry Chef Selection of (3) Desserts
Lemon Curd Barquette, Macadamia Nut Cheesecake, and Chocolate Torte

Willow Grove Construction Over the Holidays

As you can see from the photos on this post, real work on the Willow Grove project started in earnest in December.

Once the construction vehicles arrived, the first goal on site involved clearing some trees from the sides and back of the lot.

Following that, workers began clearing and grading the land in preparation for drainage installation.



Despite the surprise that was the pre-Christmas nor'easter, the drainage pipes were delivered. Further photos to come as work progresses. Be sure to visit the blog regularly for updates.

Settlement's Willow Grove Project Begins!

Welcome back to Settlement's blog! One of our resolutions for 2010? More updates, more regularly.

We'll start with the progress on the Settlement's Willow Grove project. A reminder: the new branch replaces and doubles the capacity of the Jenkintown Branch, which currently is housed in a leased facility.

To give you a clear idea of where we started, the photo on the right shows what the lot looked like less than two months ago.

If you haven't been to the lot recently, then you missed the excellent sign that our builder, TN Ward, built for the site just before construction started. As with any image on the blog, just click for a larger version. Shortly after the sign went up, a trailer and portable restroom were installed on the property, a sure sign the construction was about to begin.

In the second of today's posts, we'll share what happened at the construction site over the recent holidays.

Settlement Is Proud to be Part of GivePhilly.org

I am happy to announce the launch of Give Philly, a new partnership of Philadelphia’s leading youth development and family service organizations.

We have joined together to share resources, ideas and best practices and to encourage support of keystone organizations that provide needed services and programs to more than 370,000 children, adults and families right here in our city and our neighborhoods.

Partners in the newly formed Give Philly initiative include:
• Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia
• Cradle of Liberty Council Boy Scouts of America
• The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia
• Settlement Music School
• Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia
• United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, and
• YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity.

Thanks to a special partnership with The Philadelphia Foundation, 100% of Give Philly donations directly benefit the member organizations.

Please visit us at www.givephilly.org to learn more about the partnership and how you can help.

Very best wishes,
Robert Capanna
Executive Director