Upcoming Board Election on Wednesday, March 28

The LoMo General Meeting and Board of Directors Election will take place Wednesday, March 28th at Fumo Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Running for Vice President:

1. Al Girard, 2432 S. Camac St.

Al has lived in LoMo for 6 years. Having been a Board member in another civic, he joined LoMo immediately upon moving to the neighborhood. He is a prior LoMo Board member and co-treasurer. He is currently Vice Chair of the Zoning, Planning & Public Safety Committee; the LoMo rep on the 3rd District Police Advisory Council and is a 311 Neighborhood Liaison. He is a Tree Tender and a graduate of the Planning Commission Citizens Planning Institute and the Philadelphia Rising Citizens Engagement Academy.

Al is originally from Chicopee MA but lived in Seattle for many years. He is retired from the US Navy after 22 years of service and reaching the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, a rank reserved for the top performing 3 percent of the enlisted Navy. He is a former police officer, former volunteer firefighter/EMT and former 911 center supervisor. Now retired Al spends a large part of his time working “behind the scenes” on many LoMo issues. Al is a strong believer in volunteerism and enjoys staying involved in all aspects of making our community a better place of all of us. Al is available most mornings at Home Grown if you want to talk about neighborhood issue over a cup of coffee.

Running for At-large:

1. Chris DiBiase , 2529 S Watts St

Chris has lived in LoMo for the past eight years. Although he tried living in NYC twice and South Florida once, he always returned to his small but comfy row home in Lower Moyamensing, South Philly. Chris is a graphic designer by trade, but turned to selling real estate full time because of his love for South Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. He believes that LoMo is one of the most thriving and valuable neighborhoods in South Philly and plans to remain a resident and advocate for a long time.

2. Christian Matozzo, S. 11th St.

Christian is a lifelong South Philadelphian. He currently serves as Special Assistant in the Office of Councilwoman Cindy Bass. Christian also serves on the Pastoral Council of Epiphany of Our Lord Parish. Christian is passionate about quality-of-life issues, and seeks to blend civic engagement with a deeper personalism that highlights the dignity of every human person.”

3. Christopher Nevin, 2209 S. Clarion St.

Chris has been living in the city of Philadelphia for about twelve years, and had grown up in the suburbs of Delaware County. He and his wife, Bernadette, have lived in the LoMo area for the past four years – one year renting and now the past three as homeowners. This past year they welcomed a new roommate to their home on Clarion Street – their newborn daughter, Claire.

Chris graduated from West Chester University with degrees in Economics & Finance, and now works for Chubb Limited as an analyst.

Chris stays busy by traveling, going on backpacking trips, staying involved as a co-founder of a non-partisan voter engagement group – Grassroots Advocacy for South Philadelphia (GrASP) – and most of all enjoying anything related with Philly’s pro sports teams (Go Birds, Phils, Sixers, Flyers).

4. Barbara Shontz, 1106 Jackson St.

Barbara has lived in South Philly all her life. She raised her three children in South Philly. She worked for UPS for 20 years.

She moved to Lower Moyamensing in 1996 with her children and two grandchildren. She started volunteering with Lower Moyamensing Environmental Committee last year after and is enjoying the work.

5. Joshua Spindler, 2552 S Warnock St.

Josh is Philadelphia born and raised. He has lived around the city in different neighborhoods from the Northeast, West/University City, and South. He ultimately fell in love with South Philadelphia and made it his permanent residence when he and his wife purchased their home. He presently works at a privately owned manufacturing company in a quality laboratory where he reads, interprets and authors laboratory reports. Joshua has been attending Environmental Committee meetings regularly for the past year.