The concept design for the Philadelphia Sports Zone planned for Upper Holmesburg. Image courtesy of Philadelphia Sports Zone.

Months of talks culminated Friday with an event to debut plans for the Philadelphia Sports Zone.

With entertainment from the Masquerade Band, architects of the proposed facility, Craig Schmitt and Scott Nixon, of Ewing Cole, unveiled the plans.

The proposed sports complex for youth teams was brought about by Father Judge High School soccer coaches Jose Ibarra , John Dunlop and Tony Parson, as well as Maggie Fulmer, a Northeast native and graduate of St. Hubert’s.

Fulmer said the idea has been a few years in the making. “Jose and I sat down and figured out what we wanted to do for the Northeast,” she said. “We talked about different facilities we could bring in and what we needed. We did a lot of research – a few years of research. We brought people together, and here we are.” continue reading »

Volunteers help clean the Grove at Lawncrest Rec Center to prepare for the annual Veterans Day celebration

Members of the Lawncrest community came together on Saturday to clean up “The Grove” next to the Lawncrest Rec Center in preparation for Thursday’s second annual Veteran’s Day celebration.

The cleanup activities were spearheaded by Kathy Wersinger, administrative assistant to Councilwoman Marian Tasco. “We’re here today to honor our veterans for next Thursday – Veteran’s Day,” she said. “We’re cleaning up this area of the Lawncrest Rec Center called the Grove. There are three memorials honoring our veterans from Korean, Vietnam, World War I and World War II. We’re going to make it a nice place to honor them on Thursday.” continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Actor Tony Danza’s stint as a teacher at Northeast High school for the 09-10 school year is the subject of the new A&E show, Teach: Tony Danza, which premieres tomorrow. You can read an early review of the series here.

Keep reading for news on a doctor under fire for illegal sales of prescription drugs, an update on Friends Hospital, and more.

continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

The Bustleton Podiatry Association was Mayor Nutter’s location to visit in his efforts to collect overdue taxes. Nutter stood outside the building and demanded that the owner pay an estimated $114,000 in back taxes and penalties. A tax-amnesty program that ended in June allowed for the city collected $40 million and an additional $20 million that went to the Philadelphia School District. Nutter now plans to go after all remaining businesses that still owe taxes. According to the Mayor’s office, the Bustleton Podiatry Association has not paid taxes since 1996. Nutter plans to use overdue taxes to support various city services, such as hiring new firefighter or police recruits, or paying the salaries of sanitation workers or library assistants.

Keep reading for news on an ex-Flyers goalie at the Torresdale-Frankford Country Club, a removal of IRS workers from the Northeast, and more. continue reading »

Residents of Wissinoming and Tacony flocked to the American Legion Playground at Torresdale Avenue and Devereaux Street Saturday for the second annual True Vine Church Community Carnival.

The event had a central theme: community.

“It’s important because it helps build community,” said Luis Sanchez, the Pastoral Intern at True Vine. “Neighbors that don’t necessarily talk to each other come out and talk to each other. They see each other. Individual relationships can begin to form. Corporate relationships with the church can also begin to form. That’s a beautiful thing.” continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

The Safety Ambassador Program has returned to the Frankford Business Corridor as of yesterday. The program — part of the Frankford Special Services District — was a part of Frankford in the late 1990s and will allow for of uniformed personnel to patrol Frankford Avenue in order to increase commerce on the corridor.

Keep reading for news on a police couple who saved the day, the first ever doctoral program at Holy Family, and more. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Northeast Catholic High School held its final graduation ceremony yesterday. Including the class of 2010, there are 39,746 alumni with 30,728 of them still living. The school opened its doors in 1926.

Keep reading for news on the end of the Army Experience Center, a visit to a local hospital by May Nutter, and more. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Friends Hospital updated on its recovery-oriented inpatient psychiatric care unit last night. The unit at the Northwood facility opened in January. Its goal is for each patient to leave with a new, self-written life plan. The life plan will be different than normal in that it will incorporate continued therapy with each individual’s interests, support systems, hobbies, strengths, community connections, and aspirations. It focuses on positive psychology based on hopes and dreams, not just symptoms, medication, and counseling appointments.

Keep reading for news on program cuts from Mayor Nutter, an advanced math class and more. continue reading »

The Mayfair Business Association‘s third annual Mayfair May Fair and the second annual Fallen Heroes 5K Run were held on Saturday.

The event kicked off with the 5K run at 8:30 a.m. at Sackett Street and Ryan Avenue. Runners traveled around Pennypack Park and Abraham Lincoln High School, and finished at the Mayfair Memorial Playground at Rowland Avenue and Vista Street.

Mayfair Civic Association President Joe DeFelice said roughly just under 300 people ran the race. They raised a little more than $10,000. continue reading »

Northeast Philadelphia held its second annual Northeast Philadelphia History Faire yesterday.  The event featured about a dozen historical organizations. These included Friends of Lower Dublin Academy, the Historical Society of Tacony, the Historical Society of Frankford, Byberry Friends Meeting House, a table for the Poquessing Creek Watershed, the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table and tables for Kensington and Torresdale, plus more.

The event, which featured a live folk band and a table for food, was once again held at Holy Family University’s Campus Center. continue reading »