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

As previously reported on NEast Philly, William Gill, 33, robbed a TD Bank at 3930 Woodhaven Rd. on Jan. 19. Since then, the FBI has figured out more details about Gill, including that he was involved in other crimes such as other bank robberies, stealing a van and stabbing two people. After fleeing the scene of the stabbing, Gill was heard saying that he “Would not be taken alive by cops,” according to authorities.

Despite this claim, reports have said that Gill has been arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fl., for drug possession under the name of Michael Gill. Gill’s last known residence was at the 5000-block of Homestead Street.

Continue reading for an update on a 2006 robbery, news on a former Fox Chase Rec Center leader and more.

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

Steven Smink, 47, owner of Pike Lanes Family Fun Center in Deerfield Township, N.J., was arrested at his home on the 9100-block of Veree Road for burning down competing bowling alley Loyle Lanes Bowling Center. Smink, along with Felix Antonio Manzano Jr., 21, and a 17-year-old, both of the 8000-block of Frankford Avenue, was charged with arson for hire, aggravated arson and conspiracy to commit arson. If convicted, they face up 20 years in state prison, according to officials.

Continue reading for a discovered fugitive, possible FiOS in Frankford and more. continue reading »

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

Aquan Spearman will soon go to trial after being charged with the sexual assault of three eighth-grade girls from Cooke Middle School one year ago. The assaults took place in December 2007 and January 2008, though Spearman is still awaiting trail for committing statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl in June 2006 in the Northeast.

Keep reading for news on a Washington High football player, police news and more. continue reading »

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

Escaped convict Oscar Alvarado has been captured as of Monday.

Kamilah Alvarado, 22, Dean Ortiz, 33, and Crysta Otto, 27, of Barnett Street near Erdrick, in Mayfair, face charges for holding up the apprehension of the escaped convict by hiding him inside a Motor Inn in Trevose. Alvarado is accused of murdering a woman in October 2008.

Keep reading for break-ins at Franklin Mills Mall, a sentence for an ex Northeast charter school board president, and more. continue reading »

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

Philadelphia police officer Adrian Makuch, 49, has been charged with prostitution, solicitation, corruption of a minor and for allegedly propositioning a 15-year old boy for sexual contact. Makuch approached an unidentified teen in Northeast Philly in summer 2008 and asked to take naked pictures of the boy in exchange for cash. The boy did not report Makuch until December of that year.

Keep reading for a chance to make money by recycling, the ruling of a 1982 murder, an update on the Officer Chuck Cassidy case and more.

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

Northeast resident Alice Simmons, of Welsh Road, donated one of two Christmas trees for the city’s tree-lighting ceremonies. Mayor Michael Nutter and his wife lit the tree in the center of the Love Park fountain.

Keep reading for information on a break-in in Frankford, an HIV/AIDS scholarship and more. continue reading »

Kevin McCloskey

Mayfair resident Kevin McCloskey was honored Wednesday at an annual luncheon hosted by the V.F.W. and held at Rosewood Caterers, where he received the Distinguished Military Service Award. I was invited to the event following an announcement from Commander Clifford A Jeffries at Lawncrest’s Veterans Day Service earlier that morning.

Kevin and I are both 2001 graduates of St. Bernard School. I had not seen him in six years, but heard about his injuries in Afghanistan, so I went with the sole intention of seeing him. On the way, I got the inspiration to write a story about it.

Jeffries’ V.F.W. Post “Was formed in 1949, and it is an umbrella group of veteran organizations in the city,” he said. “The Vietnam Vets, the American Legion, the V.F.W, The [Disabled American Veterans] and more — they all belong to the council, and today is our big day, our Veterans Day luncheon when we honor various people who have done things for the Veterans Community,” the commander said. continue reading »

The Lawncrest community came together Wednesday at “The Grove” next to Lawncrest Rec Center to celebrate Veterans Day.

The event, which achieved a crowd of more than 100 people, was planned by the Lawncrest Community Association, with help from the office of Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco, the Rising Sun Lions Club and the Phil-Mont Kiwanis Club.

People who arrived passed by headstone memorials near Rising Sun Avenue, which honored World War I and World War II veterans. In the back of The Grove stood a memorial honoring both Vietnam and Korean War Vets.

Kathy Wersinger, administrative assistant to Tasco, headed the celebration. “I think it is important to thank out veterans,” she said. “The only services I know of are downtown, and so this was a good way to bring people in the community together.” continue reading »

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

The Rising Sun Avenue Bank Robber has struck again, this time at Citizens Bank Branch at 7248 Rising Sun Ave. at about 2:50 p.m. Monday afternoon. Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 215-418-4000 or the Philadelphia Police Department.

Continue for a University of Delaware Hall of Fame inductee, a girl left behind and more.

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Mayfair Town Watch has moved one step closer to its goal of street patrols by finishing up its member training session, with plans to hit the streets this weekend.

“I think we need to get out there on the streets ASAP, and that’s what this is all about,” President John Vearling said. continue reading »