Shamrock Shuttle 2010 outside McNoodle's. Photo/Mayfair resident and Civic Association board member Donny Smith

It’s that time of year again. The buses, the drinking, the public urination. The revenue for Frankford Avenue’s many bars and restaurants.

“The elephant in the room,” as Mayfair Civic Association President Joe DeFelice called it at last night’s meeting. It’s all coming back in March when the trio of annual bar-hopping events returns to Mayfair.

The Mayfair, Tacony and Holmesburg civic associations have already met to discuss finding a happier medium for the bars that participate in Shamrock Shuttle and the neighbors that deal with the aftermath. continue reading »

Holmesburg Prison, as seen from Torresdale Avenue. Photo/Christopher Wink

Like in any prison, the walls of Holmesburg Prison tell its story. Two Spanish artists are bringing those tales to life with their Doing Time | Depth of Surface  exhibit at The Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design.

María Jesús González and Patricia Gómez will display large-scale prints, photographs and related videos from their time working in the prison. They use a technique to preserve surfaces by detaching the paint with glues and fabric and transferring the paint to a new canvas. They detail that process in an interview with Philagrafika. continue reading »

With repairs to the Holme Avenue Bridge complete, the Holme Circle Civic Association has turned its attention to the rest of the avenue, specifically, the Circle.

Serving three major roads and connecting the pockets of Winchester Park and Ashton, the Circle has seen better days. By PennDOT’s estimate, 40,000 vehicles pass through it everyday, prompting the HCCA to want a better impression form the neighborhood.

Talks of a beautification project began late last year when the bridge reopened, but HCCA members Joe Razler, Elsie Stevens and Mike Gould are now weighing their options for first steps.

“We haven’t set a fixed dollar amount yet to raise,” Gould told members. continue reading »

Rep. John Taylor and St. Matthews seventh grader Megan Vogler attend the St. Hubert's fundraiser at SmokeEaters Pub. Photo/Michelle Alton

In one of many weekend events, St. Hubert’s alumnae were invited to SmokeEaters Pub Friday to help raise money — more than $30,000 — to keep the school open.

Fundraising efforts began earlier this month after the Blue Ribbon Commission put the school on a list of four archdiocesan high schools to close at the end of the year.

Below, see the event slideshow from photographer Michelle Alton. continue reading »

Upper Holmesburg residents study Holy Family University's early plans for the redevelopment of Liddonfield. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Of the 20 proposals awaiting consideration from the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the one from Holy Family University for the redevelopment of Liddonfield has the support of the Upper Holmesburg community.

If it wasn’t the speeches from Sr. Francesca Onley of HFU, 6th District Councilman Bobby Henon, developer John Parsons, Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywynski or UHCA board member Paul DeFinis, it was the applause and cheers from the 50-plus residents in attendance that proved the neighborhood is ready for a change.

Planning for Liddonfield’s future began early last year when the UHCA started working with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission to revitalize the neighborhood according to Philadelphia2035 goals.

“We were very practiced in our process, and that just may be our saving grace,” DeFinis said of his hopes that the effort Upper Holmesburg has made will be enough for the PHA.

With the help of politicians at the city, state and federal levels; a petition 4,000 signatures long; and support from the Holmesburg, Holme Circle, East Torresdale, Tacony and Morrell Park civic associations; the UHCA now waits to hear if the PHA will enter an agreement with Holy Family.

If that’s the case, John Parsons of BSI Construction (Island Green Country Club), outlined what he stressed are conceptual plans his development company has for the Liddonfield property at Torresdale Avenue and Megargee Street. continue reading »

Phil Grutmacher reviews Lawncrest's top zoning issues at the January Community Association meeting. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Last night’s Lawncrest Community Association meeting began with a word about burglaries from 2nd District Community Relations Officer Mark Mroz, ended with a $49 50/50 ticket and was interrupted by  a birthday cake for dedicated LCA member Peg Kramer.

But the meat of the meeting was zoning. With no guest speaker plan, President Bill Dolbow breezed right through the agenda and let Phil Grutzmacher take the mic to discuss zoning. Five proposals were reviewed, but the first is a site that’s been a thorn in the LCA’s side for months. continue reading »

Waste Management plans to add to its Holmesburg facility. Image/Google Maps

As part of its contract with the City of Philadelphia, Waste Management already runs a single-stream recycling facility on a portion of its 42-acre site in Holmesburg.

Pending approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Waste Management will add a facility to the property to do something with the 20,000 tons per month in waste the recycling center brings in [zoning plan PDF].

Tara Hemmer, director of area recycling operations for Waste Management, brought the proposal to last night’s Holmesburg Civic Association, where she explained how the Process Engineered Fuel facility would work. Waste Management plans to build a 59,000-square foot building on its property, which extends east toward the Delaware River from Bleigh Avenue and Milnor Street. continue reading »

Milt Martelack (megaphone), seen here with State Rep. Kevin Boyle (second from right) and staff members at a September rally against a Holmesburg methadone clinic, will help restart the Mayfair Town Watch. Photo by Stephen Schultz.

Mayfair residents will try again to form a town watch.

The group started fresh more than two years ago, shortly after the Mayfair Civic Association assumed new leadership and liquidated all assets the previous membership had accumulated.

But that town watch effort fizzled out after a series of weekly meetings, training sessions and talks of taking on other neighborhoods’ town watch efforts. Determined to try again, Mayfair residents have organized a meeting for Monday, Jan. 9 for the third incarnation in as many years. continue reading »

Northwood Civic Association new 2012 board of directors, from L to R: President Joe Krause, member Gina Panchella, Vice President Frank Bennett, member Renee Hudson and member Lou Kubik. Not pictured: Treasurer Bill Rodebaugh.

New Northwood Civic Association board leadership was introduced Tuesday night, but a familiar voice took hold.

After a debate raged at last month’s meeting around the necessary quorum and other group charter rules surrounding the choosing of new board members, not a single vote was cast at the December meeting.

Instead, new civic president Joe Krause, formerly board vice president, said the board had largely remained the same, except for his promotion and a single new nomination. The group’s charter allows for board nominations to fill vacant seats, Krause said, so no vote was necessary.

Krause is replacing the outspoken and fiery Barry Howell, who retired from the board yet still grabbed the spotlight Tuesday, as he is known to do, by calling for an audit of the finances of the Historical Society of Frankford, something close to a neighborhood sacred cow.

continue reading »

Lambie Funeral Home hosted its fourth annual live nativity Saturday. Photo by Ed Williams

The fourth annual Live Nativity, as in previous years, was held in the parking lot of Lambie Funeral Home, at Rowland Avenue and Rhawn Street this past Saturday.

Families young and old alike came from around the Northeast to pet a live camel, sheep and baby goats and see baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds and the three wise men. And of course, Santa was there. continue reading »