Lawncrest dog owner Kris Cheung (right) takes her dog to the unofficial dog park in Lawncrest. Photo/Maryline Dossou

This is the second in a two-part series about how youth organizations interact with city and private agencies. Read Part One here.

On Apr. 25, the residents of Lawncrest assembled at a community meeting to discuss an ongoing issue affecting both the youth athletics and local dog owners. For the past three years, neighborhood athletic association’s little league team and the dog owners have been using the same baseball field at the Lawncrest Recreation Center for very different reasons.

The problem began when participation in youth sports within the athletic association started dwindling, leading to the eventual disintegration of the AA approximately 10 years ago. Since then, dog owners took to entering the gated field and letting their dogs run around. Over time, the space became an unofficial dog park.

Once the AA started back up again three years ago, dog owners were faced with having to find a new place to walk their dogs, but they continued using the field. In late 2011, the children started using the field again, causing concern among parents. Lawncrest parents Brad and Crystal El have been outspoken in their advocacy for the dog park for the safety of the children. continue reading »

The Somerton Youth Organization hopes a fence will enhance the safety of its fields that rest against train tracks. Photo/Matthew Flowers

This is the first of a two-part series about how neighborhood youth organizations interact with city departments and private firms.

When a tree-cutting company came by the Somerton Youth Organization facility to do some landscaping, members of the community thought little of it

Until the trees and bushes along one of the baseball fields were cut so short the train tracks behind them became exposed, creating a potential hazard for the organization’s young players.

The trees had to be cut down to reduce interference with electrical wires. But SYO Athletic Director Fran Young said he’s concerned about the exposed slope that was left behind in the process.

“Once they removed everything and removed all the shrubbery and trees, it left a pretty dangerous situation for the kids,” Young said. “There is a pretty steep drop, behind the bench of our players.” continue reading »

6th District Councilman Bobby Henon has released his CityHall mobile application. Photo/Matthew Flowers

Committed to making city government more accessible, 6th District Councilman Bobby Henon introduced the long-awaited CityHall application for smartphone users.

The app is designed to provide residents, business owners and visitors of Philadelphia access to many of the services offered at City Hall right from the phone in their pocket.

Henon announced the new City Hall app is now available for the first time through iTunes to download to iPhones everywhere. The first version of the app will allow users to report problems they see in their neighborhoods, like graffiti, pot holes or more newsworthy problems the city is facing, such as absentee landlords.

“The app will be available to download for Android soon, but for now issues can be directed [through] the Web version,” Henon said. continue reading »

With lyme disease rates on the rise in this part of the country, Northeast Philadelphia residents share their tips for spending time in their neighborhood parks. Photo/Matthew Flowers

The growing amount of cases for Lyme disease has raised concern from people living near parks in Northeast Philadelphia.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States.  Lyme Disease,which is bacterial, can cause serious physical problems, and if left untreated, can cause long-term health issues.

Holmesburg resident Bob Beaderman frequently walks his dog in Pennypack Park, and caught Lyme Disease a few years ago. Luckily, Beaderman received testing from his doctor before becoming ill.

“I’ve read up many times of ticks and Lyme Disease for years because I like to go to the park and I found a tick on me one day, went to the doctor, and sure enough, was tested positive for Lyme Disease. I was put on antibiotics before the red bull’s eye mark appeared on my skin,” Beaderman said. continue reading »

Bandit signs at Oxford and Rockwell avenues in Fox Chase before Town Watch member Mike Bobby removes them. Photo/Maryline Dossou

On January 26, Councilman Curtis Jones, D-4th, formally introduced a bill that would legalize the bandit signs that residents say litter the streets and create blight in their neighborhoods. The bill was co-sponsored by Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, D-3rd.

“I can’t figure it out,” Councilman Brian O’Neill, R-10th, said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to get these signs down rather than trying to legalize them. They are blight, they lower the quality of light and they lower neighborhood values.”

The term “bandit signs” refers to signs posted on telephone and utility poles offering to buy house and cars, and provide various services. According to Philadelphia City Code 10-200, these signs are illegal and owners face fines from $75 up to $300 for each sign posted.

It has become increasingly difficult for the city to keep track of who is posting the signs, making it a challenge to enforce the fines.

After years of seeing the signs around, residents have taken it upon themselves to fight the issue. continue reading »

A Lower Northeast District map marked with residents' opinions of neighborhoods assets and obstacles. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Seven tables, 14 city planners and seven maps marked up in blue, red, black and orange filled a Friends Hospital conference room last night.

They were signs of the first of three community planning meetings for the Lower Northeast District – the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s distinction for Frankford, Northwood, Summerdale, Lawncrest, Oxford Circle and part of Castor Gardens. The district is one of 18 identified by the commission and is next on tap to develop ideas for future planning and zoning opportunities under the comprehensive Philadelphia2035 plan. continue reading »

James Goins, or "Cory Kastle" in his last match before the seizure that lead him to brain surgery. Picture courtesy of James Goins.

James Goins, otherwise known as “Cory Kastle” to wrestling fans across the United States, was getting ready for one of his biggest shows ever when his life took a sudden turn for the worse.

On the same day Goins was to take part in a Pro Wrestling card at the Reading Phillies game last August, the Lawncrest native had a seizure in the shower, fell and hit his head on the bathroom sink.

“Usually what I do is, turn the music up really loud and lock the door. I’m home alone normally,” Goins said.

Luckily, he did not have his music on, and the door was unlocked during the time of the seizure.  Goins said his mother happened to be home from work and found James wrapped up in the shower curtain on the floor, suffocating.  She immediately called 911. continue reading »

St. Cecilia's School Gym. Photo/Matthew Flowers

Family and friends of Mark Keeley, a 19-year-old who was tragically killed in an explosion last January, are currently planning fundraising events to renovate the gymnasium at St. Cecilia’s School in Fox Chase.

“St. Cecilia’s Gym is being renovated due to the extreme generosity of the Mark Keeley Foundation in memory of Mark, who was very involved with our basketball Catholic Youth Organization,” CYO Preist Moderator Skipp Miller said. “We are dedicating a plaque that the lights and floor have been donated in his memory.”

According to the Facebook page dedicated to these efforts, Keeley grew up attending St. Cecilia where he both played and coached basketball. His two biggest passions were basketball and giving back. He was also a member of St. Cecilia’s CYO, an organization that encourages the youth to engage in positive activities that “help them to grow as young Catholic members of our parish while providing service to those in need.” continue reading »

A house on Ditman Street in Tacony that's been sealed by L&I. Photo/Matthew Flowers

It’s been an ongoing issue for the past several years, but Northeast residents and politicians alike are ready to continue fighting the absentee landlords and property owners that have been blighting various neighborhoods with their poorly maintained homes.

Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-172nd, called a hearing with the House Democratic Policy Committee Feb. 21 to develop new ways of dealing with the problem.

“I think for far too many years the city of Philadelphia has not tended to this issue,” Boyle said. “I felt the responsibility was on me to make sure that they know that this is as big of an issue affecting the Northeast as it is.”

The problem began in the last decade when properties in the Northeast were being advertised in New York, prompting New York residents to buy several of the houses to rent out. The owners then return to New York, leaving the property unmaintained. These houses can subsequently become stomping grounds for anything from vermin to kids to drug addicts.

“Crime has gone up significantly,” said Barbara Dooley-Rup, chairperson of the Northeast Quality of Life Coalition. “In the last 10 years, we’ve had an increase of drug use. We’ve had an increase of prostitution. If you live on a block that has an abandoned house, it becomes a crime house.”

Dooley-Rup, a resident of Tacony, was also present at the hearing. “There were some really good ideas put forth,” she said. “One of the things that was discussed was having an actual certified manager, so it’s not your first floor tenant or your second floor tenant.”

Philadelphia’s current law says that all properties must have managers, but the manager can be a tenant of the building. With new legislation, the city could require that owners who live a certain distance from their properties have certified managers or run the fines or loss of their driver’s licenses. continue reading »

The Stokes House at 2876-80 Welsh Rd. in Holme Circle. Photo/Shannon McDonald

There are major developments happening in Holme Circle. Or at least there will be.

The Stokes property at 2876-80 Welsh Rd. has a new owner, though he insists whatever is to come for the property isn’t happening any time soon.

John Parsons of BSI Constructors was at the Holme Circle Civic Association meeting Wednesday night to deliver the news of no news. BSI has purchased the home from Samuel “Buzz” Stokes to, as Parsons put it, “help a family friend.”

Stokes was unable to care for the rambling property and instead decided to attend to his legal fees accrued in the corruption trial for former Pa. Rep. John Perzel, in which Stokes pleaded guilty to helping divert state money to Perzel’s political funding. BSI has hired Perzel, Stokes’ brother-in-law, as a consultant. You might recognize Parsons for his work at Island Green Golf course, numerous charter schools and the Holy Family University proposal for Liddonfield.

“Termites have taken over that property completely,” Parsons said. The spacious lot once compromised many of the surrounding neighborhood before the Stokes family sold off portions of it for development in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Now it’s limited to a single home facing Pollock School and Winchester Swim Club with property that backs up to the 2800-block of Walnut Hill Street. And it’s decaying. continue reading »