This is the first in a two-part look at zoning in the Northeast. Read the second part here.

There are 10 day cares on the three city blocks of Rising Sun Avenue between Robbins and Fanshawe streets. My Little Doves by Hellerman Street is the newest addition.

Lawncrest residents are concerned about the number of daycares on Rising Sun Avenue. Photo by Ian Romano.

Many residents said they are angry about their zoning board’s approval over the site.

“Someone needs to decide when enough’s enough. We’re going overboard now,”  said Lawncrest resident Cherylann Wharton.

Residents said they were left out of the decision. Their concerns about the day care were made clear at the April 19 Lawncrest Community Association meeting: they don’t want any more traffic. continue reading »

Vacant houses like the one across the street from 6th District Council candidate Sandy Stewart in Tacony prompt concerns about absentee landlords.

This is the third in a three-part series covering the 6th District Council race. You can read part 2 here. You can read Part 1 here.

As Philadelphia’s City Council braces for the biggest turnover in 20 years, residents of the 6th District will not have to worry about an unknown face elected into office.

The three candidates running for the seat in City Council all have strong connections with their communities and the district as a whole. continue reading »

This is the second in a three-part series covering the 6th District Council race. You can read Part 1 here.

UPDATE: On April 18, Mayor Michael Nutter and outgoing 6th District Councilwoman Joan Krajewski endorsed Bednarek.

As the City Council primary elections creep closer and closer, candidates for the Northeast’s 6th District are in full campaign mode.

For the first time in more than 30 years, Joan Krajewski will not be continuing her reign as the voice of the 6th District of Philadelphia, leaving her seat open to a new leader of the district.

Krajewski, who is known as the “Queen of Constituent Service,” flirted with retirement a few years ago. In 2007, she retired for 24 hours after she was re-elected, in order to collect her $297,466 DROP retirement payment. She returned the next day to begin her eighth term.

This time; however, she is serious about retiring.

As Krajewski finishes up her final months in office, three new candidates have been busy walking through neighborhoods, speaking to residents and expressing their ideas of change for the community. The three candidates for the 6th District position are Bobby Henon, Sandy Stewart and Marty Bednarek continue reading »

Turnout was high for the Mayfair Civic Association's "meet the candidates" night for the 6th Council District.

This piece is the first of three covering the 6th District Council race.

With the City Council primary elections right around the corner, candidates for Philadelphia’s 6th District seat waited their turn to speak to residents of Mayfair at Tuesday night’s civic association meeting in the John Perzel Community Center.

“What a fun experience for me! Finally got to put some faces with the names of people who are following me on Facebook,” said Sandy Stewart, the Republican candidate for the 6th District seat in City Council.

Philadelphia’s 6th District seat is up for grabs, as long-time Democratic Councilwoman Joan Krajewski decided to retire after this term. Krajewski has held her position since 1979 and the race to succeed her is heating up, as the primary elections will be held Tuesday, May 17. continue reading »

Lou DeCree helps keep Daniel Boyle Rec in Somerton running. Photo by Ian Romano.

“Hey guys, let’s go. Third base needs to be raked, first based needs to be raked. There’s a lot of work left to do,” Lou DeCree said as he yelled over to the group of seventh graders playing on the nearby tennis courts.

This group of boys worked for the past two hours by picking up leaves in an effort to get the baseball field at the Officer Daniel Boyle Memorial Playground in Somerton ready for the spring season.

It’s spring clean up time and DeCree, the President of Daniel Boyle Athletic Program, is leading the group of coaches and baseball players who have volunteered their time to get the field ready for the upcoming season.

Despite the promised near-60 degree weather and sunshine, 9 a.m on March 12 was a cold day.  The wind whipped volunteers as they worked, which made the temperature feel closer to the low 40s. The boys went right back to work to rake the leaves that gathered along the third base line.

“The next group of boys will be coming soon,” DeCree said. “We try to get a different group in every hour and a half. That’s really as long as we can hold their attention anyway.”

DeCree has lead the spring clean up for the last 15 years, ever since he, along with two other men — Joe DeMayo and Lou Sannutti –  started the athletic program at the Boyle Rec Center.

“We do this the second Saturday in March,” DeCree said. “This is a Philadelphia park.  The city does not have a lot of funds to take care of it so we take it upon ourselves to get this ready.  We try to keep it clean for the neighbors across the street.”

DeCree has been volunteering all his life. continue reading »