Upper Holmesburg Civic Association Zoning Officer Paul DeFinis leads the zoning discussion at the March meeting.

Auto-related businesses were the focus of last night’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting, with zoning issues being the highlight of the 90-minute gathering.

Zoning Officer Paul DeFinis began the zoning portion of the evening with 8301 Torresdale Ave., whose occupants are seeking to legalize the many auto-related businesses in the industrialized area. continue reading »

2nd District Officer Mark Mroz and Lt. Tomlin host a PSA meeting before the Lawncrest Community Association meeting begins.

The Lawncrest Community Association tried something different last night, but hosting for the first time the 2nd District Zone 2 Police Service Area meeting. From now on, the first 30 minutes of every LCA meeting will be dedicated to the PSA. Below are updates from the 2nd District, and additional news from around the neighborhood. continue reading »

Burholme residents take a peek at SEPTA's plans for Ryers Train Station.

If all goes according to plan, Ryers Train Station will have a whole new look come Spring 2012. Representatives from SEPTA attended last night’s meeting of the Burholme Civic Association and Town Watch seeking a zoning variance for signs that will accompany the renovated station.

Described as a project “worked on by SEPTA and the community,” the proposed plans include new platforms, and expanded parking lot and smaller amenities like a canopy, benches and heated wind screens. Problems with the bridge over Cottman Avenue will also be addressed, as many residents at last night’s meeting pointed out the concrete has started to fall apart. continue reading »

15th District Capt. Frank Bachmayer talks to an unusually small crowd at the March Holmesburg Civic Association meeting.

Captain Frank Bachmayer has 28 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, including his eight as captain.

And his message to residents who attended last night’s Holmesburg Civic Association is something he made sure to hammer home: the 15th District is “not the old district of 10 years ago.”

Meaning, he explained, that the busy district has its share of crime — more than just the quality of life issues some residents focus on.

Bachmayer told the 15 meeting attendees (an unusually small crowd for the HCA) that the 15th is the busiest and most populated district in Philadelphia, leading the city in robberies.  “And it’s not just in Frankford,” he emphasized. continue reading »

District Attorney Seth Williams addresses the Frankford Civic Association meeting Thursday, March 4, 2010 inside Frankford Hospital. Image from Frankford Gazette

District Attorney Seth Williams will assign his assistant district attorneys to specific geographic areas to increase accountability and familiarity, according to his presentation at Thursday night’s Frankford Civic Association meeting, as reported by the Frankford Gazette.

The meeting also featured a series of updates from City Councilwoman Maria Sanchez’s office, including her hesitance to support Mayor Nutter’s proposed “soda tax.”

See video of Williams and other updates from Jimmy Smiley at the Gazette.

There was a ringer in our midst.

More than 40 people packed the second floor bar of the Grey Lodge on Frankford Avenue between Wissinoming and Mayfair Wednesday night for Northeast Philadelphia-themed Quizzo.

As we told you and then popular entertainment blog uwishunu reminded you, it was our first meetup, a chance to meet and interact with our readers and a partnership with the famed Northeast pub. It went swimmingly.

continue reading »

Tonight’s the night!

We’re sponsoring a Northeast-themed quizzo event at the Grey Lodge Pub, and you should come. Why? Well aside from free quizzo, there will be drink specials, the Grey Lodge’s usual awesome menu and prizes.

If that doesn’t sell you, there’s also the fact that you’ll be able to meet the NEast Philly staff. And if you’re really not convinced, then maybe you should just come check out the kick-ass bathrooms.

So come join us from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and shame your friends with your Northeast Philly knowledge (or let them shame you).

Councilwoman Krajewski (l) reviews the wall of her fellow inductees for the inaugural Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame. Photo by Christopher Wink for NEast Philly.

The Northeast gets called a lot of things: suburban, Republican, behind-the-times — and those are just the subtle insults.

But what people in other parts of the city — and even people from the Northeast — don’t realize, is that our region is as important, historic and evolved as the rest of Philadelphia. And if you need proof, look no further than the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame.

In the video below, City Councilwoman Joan Krawjewski, one of last year’s inductees, talks about the Northeast.

continue reading »

Bill Ruben of Philadelphia's Board of Pensions and Retirement explains the costs of DROP to Bustleton residents.

In what quickly devolved into arguments and accusations, the Greater Bustleton Civic League tackled several issues at last night’s meeting, including recent crime spikes, DROP and zoning.

Though more neighborhood-centric topics dominated the three-hour meeting, Bill Ruben, vice chairman of the city’s pension fund, was slated as the highlighted speaker, with the intent of talking with Bustleton residents about DROP.

“Nobody had any idea who I was three years ago,” Ruben commented about the recent public scrutiny of the Deferred Retirement Option Program. continue reading »

Some of the students, staff and professionals attending the 2010 Black Family Technology Week luncheon held at Northeast High School.

This story also appears on technology news site Technically Philly and is reprinted here with permission as part of a content partnership. See it there by clicking here.

More than 200 students, staff, technology professionals and partners listened to the musical stylings of a high school choir last week. But everyone was there to promote technology literacy.

Held at Northeast High School, the sixth-annual luncheon was again the signature event of the city’s 11th-annual Black Family Technology Awareness Week, which aims to promote digital literacy in nonwhite households to combat the digital divide.

continue reading »