Former Pa. State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo arriving with girlfriend Carolyn Zinni at his sentencing on corruption charges in July. The two are now engaged. (Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer)
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Clout: Fumo plans a pre-penitenitary engagement party
PHILLY CLOUT firmly believes that everyone is entitled to drink a little champagne before heading to the big house.
And so we were happy to learn that before former state senator Vince Fumo heads off to prison at the end of the month, he'll celebrate his en-
gagement with a party in
South Philly.
Fumo proposed last month to longtime girlfriend Carolyn Zinni, who runs a dress shop called Zinni's in Springfield, Delaware County. It's not clear when the two will wed, since Fumo has to report to prison on Aug. 31 to serve a 55-month sentence for his federal corruption conviction.
Sources tell PhillyClout that the combined engagement and going-away party will be on Aug. 19 at Popi's Restaurant on 20th Street near Penrose Avenue.
We're still waiting on our engraved invitation.
Out of Harrisburg?
The never-ending budget impasse has thrown a wrench into Gov. Rendell's vacation plans. Ed was set to leave for an African safari at the end of next week, but his staff says he won't go if the budget isn't resolved by then, which looks increasingly unlikely.
Instead, his wife, Judge Midge Rendell, will take the trip with a family member or friend.
No Twitter for Nutter
A Twitter account that appeared to belong to Mayor Nutter has been disabled.
The account didn't actually belong to the mayor. But it was a passable hoax, because the tweets were always tediously on message, encouraging readers to visit Fairmount Park or reminding them of city programs.
The mayor's press office said the city requested that the page be taken down. There are no immediate plans for the mayor to launch his own Twitter page.
That's probably a good thing, since his tweets would all say depressing things like: "Waiting in hallway in Harrisburg for budget vote," or "Don't hate me because of Plan C."
Back to candidate school
Hey, ladies! Ever thought about running for office, but didn't know how to get started? Area women interested in running for elected office can get a leg up next month at the Winning Edge Campaign School, run by the Pennsylvania Women's Campaign Fund in Philadelphia over the Sept. 11-13 weekend.
The political boot camp - coming to Philly for the first time - will feature training in fundraising and campaign strategy, led by Diane Cromer, a former news reporter-turned-political consultant. Graduates of the program include state Rep. Cherelle Parker.
"It's about creating a local grass-roots network so women will have a good-old-girls network that will sustain them when they run for office," said Jen Reiner, president-elect of the Pennsylvania Women's Campaign Fund.
Given Pennsylvania's pathetic female-participation numbers in politics - the state is ranked 46th for the percentage of women in the Legislature and has never had a woman governor or a woman U.S. senator - PhillyClout thinks anything that can even the playing field is a good idea.
Say a little prayer
A secular watchdog group in Madison, Wisc., this week called on Philadelphia Council President Anna Verna to stop opening Council sessions with a religious invocation.
Rebecca Katz, staff attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, wrote in a letter to Verna and Nutter that the prayers "unconstitutionally reference Christianity and invoke Jesus Christ."
Council spokesman Tony Radwanski said the invocations have been given by religious figures of many faiths.
"I believe at all levels of government, legislative sessions are preceded by a prayer," he said.
Can we get an amen? Well, probably not . . .
Quotable
"I proposed to her two days after I met her, and she said yes - eight years later. I can work very hard for one single 'yes' vote, and that's what I intend to do."
- U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, announcing his run for Senate, on how wooing his wife prepared him for the job.
Staff writer John M. Baer contributed to this report.
Have tips or suggestions? Call Chris Brennan at 215-854-5973 or Catherine Lucey at 215-854-4712. Or e-mail
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Have a news tip? Gossip? Suggestion? Call Chris Brennan at 215-854-5973 or Catherine Lucey at 215-854-4712. Or e-mail phillyclout@phillynews.com.
