Lawncrest’s 2011 Fourth of July event. Photo/Bill Achuff

Ever wanted to sink a librarian into a dunk tank? What about a cop or a pastor? All three and more have volunteered to risk a dip in the tank at Lawncrest’s annual July 4th celebration in the name of community spirit.

The festivities are ready for the 98th year, capped off with the neighborhood’s signature fireworks display. The only things missing are more donations and more volunteers.

“We can only get to 100 [years] if everyone works together,” said Kathy Wersinger. Wersinger, who attends the monthly Lawncrest Community Association meetings and will appear in the dunk tank again this year, works for the office of Councilwoman Marian Tasco, D-9th. “It was so hot last year, people wanted to get in.” continue reading »

Columnist Stacey McCarthy is off this week and will return next week. The installment below was originally published in June 2012.

Q: My hours have been cut on my job and I can’t really afford such a high mortgage anymore. I think I need to sell my house in Bells Corner, but I bought it in 2008 and I still owe more than it’s worth now. I prefer not to wreck my credit, so I am planning on doing a short sale, but I’m not sure if the bank will cooperate since I didn’t really lose my job. Under what conditions does a bank allow a short sale?

A: All mortgage lenders will have their own lender-specific conditions. For many mortgage lenders, reasons necessitating a short sale would not only include job loss, but also a decrease in hours or a decrease in wages. Some other reasons lenders might accept a short sale could be: divorce, military deployment, serious illness, death and incarceration. continue reading »

The idea of retirement often sounds appealing to folks, but many spend more time planning their vacations, or a car purchase, than planning for their retirement.  As a way to help get a sense for what retirement may be like, why not practice a bit before you actually jump in with both feet?

So, how would you go about trying to do this? continue reading »

A parent was ticketed for parking in a school zone while he carried his injured daughter into the building at Carnell School. Image/Google Maps

Philly residents’ contentious relationship with the Parking Authority is no secret.

And it’s frequently the subject of Ronnie Polaneczky’s Daily News column, as it was yesterday when she documented the experience Kevin Mills had while dropping his daughter off at Carnell School in Oxford Circle. continue reading »

The Rhawnhurst NORC recently worked with the Hunger Coalition to distribute assistance information to those who need it. Photo/Shanice Richardson

Northeast Philadelphia has many different programs that help members of the community in different ways. T

wo programs that are relatively new to the area are Heart to Heart, run through the Klein JCC in Somerton, and the Rhawnhurst Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. Both programs are designed to help families that may be in the “fringes of society” in one way or another. continue reading »

St. Joachim Pastor Fr. Steven Wetzel was honored for his service after Sunday’s mass. Photo/Haniyyah Sharpe

The 15th Police District Advisory Council and the Frankford Civic Association honored St. Joachim Pastor Father Steven Wetzel Sunday for his commitment to the community. But the celebration was bittersweet, as the congregation prepared to bid farewell to the church and a pillar in the community.

The oldest Catholic parish in Northeast Philadelphia, St. Joachim is one of 27 churches scheduled to close July 1 as a result of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s initiative to merge parishes.  St. Joachim and Mater Dolorosa in Frankford will merge with Holy Innocents in Juniata and St. Joan of Arc in Harrowgate. St. Leo and Our Lady of Consolation in Tacony will merge, as well. continue reading »

Martin Connors, left, with his son Timothy, who died in 2011. Photo courtesy of Martin Connors

The following is a letter to the editor. Its content is independent of NEast Philly’s editorial team.

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and I must say, I am not looking forward to it.  It’s because I am a grieving dad.

Just writing those horrific words causes me to pause and think about how difficult this journey has been and will continue to be for some time.  I lost my son, Timothy, in 2011 and have spent the past two trying to survive this loss.  As much as a try, I cannot make sense of my son’s death. continue reading »

Image/Mayor’s Office of Transportation & Utilities

At 56.99 million annual trips, the Market-Frankford El tops SEPTA’s list of the 10 highest-used lines by annual ridership.

The information is visible in one of five graphics designed by the Mayor’s Office of Transportation & Utilities to show SEPTA usage based on the Fiscal Year 2012 ridership report. continue reading »

A Philadelphia judge Wednesday sentenced a former St. Jerome priest and a teacher to prison for the sexual assault of a young boy that took place nearly 15 years ago.

Before a packed courtroom, Common Pleas Court Judge Ellen Ceisler handed Rev. Charles Engelhardt six to 12 years in jail. Bernard Shero, a former teacher at the Holme Circle parish, received eight to 16 years behind bars.

continue reading »

Officer Daniel Boyle Memorial Playground in Somerton. The list of Philadelphia rec centers with new surveillance equipment will not be released. File Photo/Michelle Alton

The multi-million dollar initiative to install surveillance cameras at more than 100 Philadelphia rec centers and playgrounds follows last summer’s spate of violent incidents at these community hubs.

The spree included several shootings and a rape. continue reading »