Holmesburg Junction Station in December 2011. Photo/Shannon McDonald

For many who take the train every day, Holmesburg Junction is their first (and sometimes only) glimpse at the neighborhood.

The aging train station has been a focus of a joint effort by the Upper Holmesburg Civic Association and Philadelphia City Planning Commission as the pair work on neighborhood improvements under the Phila2035 plan.

But while those efforts concentrate on greening, waterway access and an overall more desirable-looking neighborhood anchor, legislators Wednesday will focus on the station’s need for funding to better serve the community. continue reading »

Laura Rubenstein and her fourth-grade classmates at Anne Frank School use Skype to chat with Astronaut Tim and learn about space. Lindsay Lazarski/NewsWorks

At first, Astronaut Tim is little more than a floating head appearing on a computer monitor.

“So, I’m here, in the International Space Station,” he says.

A class of fourth-graders at Anne Frank Elementary School in Bustleton were talking with Astronaut Tim via Skype. When he backs away from his webcam, he appears to be floating in midair, kicking his legs beneath him.

Every time, it’s a “wow” moment.

Astronaut Tim, aka Tim Belknap, is not really an astronaut, and he’s not really in space. He’s in the Tyler School of Art gallery at Temple University. The artist, who specializes in kinetic sculpture, built a mock space pod without a fourth wall. A steel armature suspends his 240-pound frame, held aloft by cables hooked into a customized harness he wears under a jumpsuit. continue reading »

For four years of our lives – definitely some of the most formative years of our lives – high schools become our second homes. In addition to classes, we might spend additional time there for extracurricular activities. Then when we go home, we do additional work for school that essentially permeates into the rest of our lives. With so much time dedicated to school, we doubtless have an endless amount of stories and other memories, many of which are hopefully positive.

If we are ever forced to part ways with our childhood homes – whether due to moving, foreclosure or something more negative – we would feel like a part of us has been destroyed. We feel as if our identities are being stripped away, identities that soon exist as nothing more than memories.

I believe the case is the same in terms of how we view our school years. Now I am lucky enough to have gone to a high school, Archbishop Ryan, that will hopefully be immune to closure for a long time due to it being co-ed and its accessible location with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia – right on the edge of Northeast Philadelphia and almost right down the street from the suburbs.

Not everybody is so lucky. Take my parents, for instance. My father graduated from Northeast Catholic, which closed in June 2010. And the Archdiocese suggested at the beginning of the month that my mom’s alma mater, St. Hubert’s, be one of nearly 50 schools to close at the end of the school year. The future will be certain once the Archdiocese announces its official decision in mid-February. continue reading »

Animal remains were discovered Friday (A) and a body was found Sunday (B) in two Northeast Philadelphia parks. Image/Google Maps

Police in the 8th District has a busy weekend tracking gruesome discoveries in two different parks.

Sunday, a body was found floating in the creek of Poquessing Valley Park in Parkwood. The body of the young Latino male was found around 1 p.m. off the 3500-block of Vinton Road. Authorities don’t believe the death is suspicious.  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 »

Calvary Christian Academy in Somerton. Image/Google Maps

Graceann Rumer has only been driving for two weeks, but compared with everyone else she rode the bus with Tuesday, she’s an old pro.

Rumer, who attends Calvary Christian Academy in Somerton, took the school bus Tuesday instead of practicing her new skills behind the wheel. But she got to drive anyway when the driver had an emergency.

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Klein JCC's Lisa Sandler accepts a citation from Seth Kaplan, chief of staff for Rep. Kevin Boyle. Photo/Klein JCC

Brothers Brendan, D-170th, and Kevin Boyle, D-172nd, have had a busy week in the Pennsylvania House. Amid the daily goings-on, they separately recognized a deceased Navy SEAL and a local meal delivery program.

Monday, Brendan Boyle authored a resolution that was passed by the House to honor fallen Navy SEAL Michael Strange. Strange, a Northeast resident, died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in August.

“[Strange] was a dedicated and valiant soldier who remains one of the City of Philadelphia’s hometown heroes,” Boyle said.  continue reading »

Tacony resident and former City Council candidate Sandy Stewart. NEast Philly file photo/Saleem Ahmed

Philadelphia City Council is considering keeping bars open one hour longer to help raise money for the struggling School District of Philadelphia.

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown has proposed letting bars stay open until 3 a.m. The ordinance would raise an estimated $5 million annually through the per-drink tax that’s allocated to the district.

But Tacony resident Sandy Stewart, who ran as a Republican in the 2011 6th District Council race, has asked that Council consider restricting the extra hours to entertainment districts. continue reading »

UPDATE, Feb. 1 — Grady has been adopted.

Meet Grady (A15094459)! This lovely 1- to 2-year-old gray boy has the neatest subtle tabby shading and the most alluring amber eyes!

Poor Grady ended up here at the shelter because his paw was injured and his owners were unable to take him to a private vet. Grady’s wounds were cleaned up and he’s sporting quite the bandage. Unfortunately, Grady’s passed over because of his injured leg. continue reading »

UPDATED Feb. 8, 2012 – Flora has been adopted!

Hello ladies and gents! My name is Flora (A14945644) and I’m a sweet sassy girl biding my time at ACCT, just waitin’ around for my fur-ever home!

I am 1 to 2 years old, and I while I was found as a stray, I have obviously been a beloved pet at some point or another. I am a terrier/pit mix. As you can see, I have very striking black and white markings, and I would make a beautiful addition to any family.

When I was brought to the shelter, my toenails were painted red! Now, I would like to say that I’m smart and coordinated enough to paint my own toenails, and while I am very smart, I don’t have opposable thumbs, so it’s unlikely I painted them myself. Somebody used to love me and I need to find someone else to love me again!

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