The University of Pennsylvania’s new institute for the study of terrorism will go public this Fri., Oct. 18, with a two-and-a-half-hour symposium at the Annenberg Center.

Called the Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis and Response, the institute's mission is to research domestic and international strategic threats.

Harvey Rubin, a physician who treats infectious diseases and teaches at Penn, is an ISTAR director. There are 73 other Penn faculty members from various departments also involved.

Rubin said that the institute is being funded by private donors. The ISTAR team has also applied for federal, state and local grants.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge, now the director of Homeland Security in Washington, has been alerted to ISTAR.

"There are a lot of threats out there," said Rubin, who will talk about infectious diseases. "Not just anthrax and smallpox."

Other speakers will include a veterinarian and a geologist. "Changes in temperatures affect animals' health," said Rubin, "and the climate affects behavior."

World leaders can deny crude oil, water or any major element to nations as a way of promoting their power.

Researching bioterrorism and other threats is not new to Penn. Departmental findings are now a part of ISTAR.

The ISTAR symposium begins at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information e-mail Info@ISTAR.upenn.edu.

The Turn of the Century

When Dan Keating III was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, he had a hard time getting anyone interested in his latest project, the resurrection of The Phoenix. The Phoenix, which opened last Wednesday, is the latest development project in the city. Formally the Insurance Company of North America (INA) building at 1600 Arch St., The Phoenix is an $80-million venture that transformed the old office building into 267 luxury apartments and 56,000 square feet of retail and office space, including an upscale Irish pub called Tir Na Nog.

Keating, who has since recovered, found a partner for The Phoenix in Martin Maddaloni, the general president for the United Association for Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry.

Maddaloni, along with Keating, Mayor John Street, Commerce Director Jim Cuorato and Councilman Darrell Clarke, whose district is in Center City, held a press conference in the majestic Georgian revival lobby of The Phoenix.

Street said despite the perception that as mayor he's only focused on neighborhoods, he has never turned his back on Center City. The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation played a role in the financing of The Phoenix.

The INA building was once leased to several city offices, including the Commerce Department and the Office of the City Representative. Cuorato mentioned that he no longer recognized his old office, adding that he could not afford the apartment rents at The Phoenix.

Clarke concurred. "Since my daughter is starting medical school, it was out of the question."

The Phoenix is no doubt opulent, an addition to the few luxury rental buildings in the city. Apartment rents are anywhere from $1,500 to $17,000 per month. The architectural firm of Bower Lewis Thrower was engaged.

The apartments have numerous amenities, including a business center, 24-hour fitness center and upgraded kitchens.

After the press conference, guests were treated to champagne and assorted brews, along with lamb chops and salmon at Tir Na Nog.

Rolling in Clover

The Clover Club, the all-men’s club formed by politicians and journalists in the 1800s, convened for its annual fall luncheon Tuesday at the Union League, where witty banter and social intercourse are a tradition.

Women are permitted to attend the lunch, and some did. They are not invited to the club's spring black-tie affair, although there was discussion of members taking a vote in April to see if they want to allow women as members.

The lunch meeting was well attended, mostly by lawyers, judges and a few journalists. Club President A. Charles Peruto Sr. presided and the guest speaker was Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Chairman Manny Stamatakis.

Though Stamatakis is Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Fisher's finance chair, there was no discussion of the governor's race.

Instead, Stamatakis addressed the group on the latest developments that were happening with DRPA.

The biggest news is the formation of Philadelphia's version of the World Trade Center, a $6-million, five-acre facility that will include an office complex, hotels and an exhibition center. The location will be Delaware Avenue and Spring Garden Street, on the river.

Other DRPA projects discussed were the Ben Franklin Bridge and dredging the river.

The projected cost of the dredging project is $300 million and if approved, will be split among Washington, D.C., DRPA, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Stamatakis explained that dredging to reach 45 feet instead of 40 feet, the depth of the river now, is necessary to increase trade, allowing bigger ships into port.