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bookmark_borderJoe Frazier Statue

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When Jesse Jackson visited Occupy Philadelphia after Joe Frazier’s funeral, he called for a statue of a real hero (as opposed to Rocky Balboa) be erected. The City Of Philadelphia has announced:

Lawrence J. Nowlan will be the artist to create a statue in honor of Joe Frazier. Mr. Nowlan previously created the Harry Kalas Memorial Statue at Citizens Bank Park. The statue is scheduled to be erected at XFINITY Live! by Spring 2014.

“I have no doubt that Lawrence Nowlan will capture Joe Frazier’s tenacity, energy and spirit in his work,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Mr. Nowlan’s previous work has proven to be exceptional, and I look forward to the finished product. Smokin’ Joe is one of Philadelphia’s great sports icons and deserves to be memorialized this way.

Eight artists were solicited for presentations. Then a statue review panel, which included several representatives from the Frazier family, selected Mr. Nowlan from among the presenting artists.

“To kids like me, growing up in Philadelphia in the 1970s, Joe Frazier was a hero. I became aware of Joe Frazier, the athlete and Smokin’ Joe, the personality during an era when the sweet science of boxing was at the forefront of the sporting world,” said Lawrence Nowlan. “To be selected by the Frazier family to create the monument that will forever represent one Philadelphia’s most enduring icons and greatest boxers is a heavyweight honor to me. Words cannot properly describe the gravity and meaning that sculpting this monument will have on this artist.”

The $160,000 raised will cover the cost of the statue and a perpetual maintenance fund administered by the City Board of Trusts. The major contributors to the project are as follows:

Cordish Family: $70,000;
Hand family: $27,000;
Bernard Hopkins and Golden Boy Productions: $25,000;
Jerry Perenchio: $25,000.

Reed Cordish of the Cordish Company said, “Along with Comcast Spectacor, owning and operating XFINITY Live! has been a great privilege and honor for our family. We welcome this new statue of one of the greatest boxers of all time to the iconic statues of Philadelphia sports heroes at XFINITY Live!. Being able to give back to the City by honoring one of its great sons is incredibly meaningful and gratifying for us.”

Joe Hand, Sr. of Joe Hand Promotions added, “Back in March 2012, I pledged that a statue would get built so I’m very happy to hear about the progress it has made with the help of Mayor Nutter and the city. Joe never complained or spoke out about not having a statue, but it bothered me. It’s about time we honored him. Joe deserves it. Philadelphia should be very proud of him.”

bookmark_borderSpy: The Secret World of Espionage

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Franklin Institute
Opens May 5

In SPY: The Secret World of Espionage, learn the importance of intelligence gathering and discover how real men and women can change the world every day—one secret at a time. Featuring over 200 historical artifacts and the stories they have to tell—including a collapsible motorbike, a two-man submersible, and a CIA robotic catfish—combined with firsthand spy experiences like personal disguises, voice alteration and navigating through a field of laser beams—find out what it’s truly like to be a spy!

There has never been a shortage of intrigue in the world of spies, and the artifacts and interactive displays in the exhibit vividly tell their stories, past and present, through actual tools, technologies, and testimonials. Discover the real-life evolution of spy technology and experience life as a spy by navigating through an actual laser field, using voice altering technologies to conceal your voice, and creating your very own spy disguise.

bookmark_borderMontco Radio New Studio Grand Opening

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Montco Radio, the student-run Internet radio station at Montgomery County Community College officially opened its new studio in the Advanced Technology Center, Blue Bell, during a ribbon cutting celebration on March 13.

Streaming live 24/7 via the Internet, Montco Radio provides Digital Audio Production majors — as well as students from all areas of study — with hands-on radio experience both on the air and behind the scenes.

Speaking at the ribbon cutting, College President Dr. Karen A. Stout called Montco Radio “a model for the integration of curricular and co-curricular student involvement on campus.”

“Montco Radio is unique in that it brings together students from all backgrounds and majors to share their passions with a worldwide audience over the Internet,” she said.

Student Manager Chelsea Epstein notes that Montco Radio offers something for everyone.

“We have programs that range from rock, metal, punk pop, a local music show that broadcasts a live band every week, to barbershop quartet. We even have a DJ from Italy who does her show in Italian and now even broadcasts from Italy when she visits there,“ she said.

Epstein, who completed internships with Clear Channel Philadelphia, believes the work she’s doing at MCCC will prepare her for a career in the field.

“Being a station manager is a great feeling because I really want to work in radio when I’m done school,” she said. “It’s really great to put everything I learned into the brand new [Montco Radio] station.”

Morgan Betz, Montco Radio co-advisor and assistant professor of communications, works very closely with the students and experienced their reactions to the new studio first hand.

“The students love the new space. It is truly a state- of-the-art professional environment where students can get hands-on experience that will help them in their future careers,” he said.

Betz notes that students are involved many aspects of Montco Radio, whether it be hosting their own shows, being a DJ, engineer, creating PSAs, organizing events, helping with Music Mondays and Wednesdays, or providing live sound for other College events.

“Students can go to professional radio stations already trained on the equipment they use there every day,” he shared.

Radio at MCCC dates back to the late 1960s, when it began as a student club to DJ music on campus. In the early 1970s, the station gained audience when it began broadcasting in the College Hall cafeteria at the Central Campus in Blue Bell. The station began broadcasting on the Internet in 2003, and in 2008, the College began offering Campus Radio Workshops I and II, resulting in more professional content.

Today, Montco Radio can be heard internationally on the Internet by visiting www.montcoradio.com or by clicking the green microphone icon on the lower left corner of the College’s website, www.mc3.edu.

Montco Radio Co-Advisor and Communications Lecturer Jeff Asch, who is also a news and sports anchor for KYW NewsRadio, hopes the new studio, located in the heart of MCCC’s Advanced Technology Center, will promote student interest in the station.

“We wanted a bigger studio to accommodate multiple show hosts and guests,” he explained. “The new facility allows the Montgomery County Community College community to see us in action, as well as being able to see out onto campus and the lobby of the Advanced Technology Center.”

“I think it gives our students the opportunity to learn and hone their skills in radio on state of the art equipment and in a professional environment.”

by Christine Muszynski