Aerial view of PNE/Google Maps

The control towers at the Northeast Philadelphia and Wilmington-Castle airports may close as a result of the federal budget cuts known as the sequester. Both airports are on a list of more than 200 targeted for a potential shutdown by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Closing the control tower wouldn’t close the airports. continue reading »

Rita Varley and Jim Coffin at the site of Parkwood’s new community garden. Photo/Steven Mitchell

A community garden is in the process of becoming a reality for Parkwood residents.

With support from Councilman Brian O’Neill, R-10th, an 18,000-sq. ft. garden located next to the Community College of Philadelphia along Townsend Road can now happen. O’Neill has dropped an amendment to the zoning code that would have required Zoning Board approval for community gardens.

The real leg work, however, has been done by resident Rita Varley, who brought her idea to the Parkwood Civic Association. She and fellow green-thumbed resident Jim Coffin have hopes of making a permaculture garden. continue reading »

In a housing market where nobody has been able to predict for certain when a real estate recovery will take place locally, Northeast Philadelphia’s number of units sold actually increased in 2012.

Sure, we took a few hits in sale price over the past several years in many of our neighborhoods with short sales and foreclosures at an all time high, but does this increase in sales mean are the Northeast is finally poised for recovery? continue reading »

The Dangerous Drug Offenders Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office uncovered 20 lbs. of marijuana from inside a vehicle in the Franklin Mills Mall parking lot. Photo/Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office

Men from Luzerne County, Pa., and New York state have been arrested and charged for selling drugs to undercover officers at Franklin Mills Mall.

It happened Thursday around 10 p.m., according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office,  when 39-year-old Anthony DeRosa of Wilkes Barre, Pa., and 47-year-old Eric Boehm of Goshen, N.Y., tried to sell 20 pounds of high-grade marijuana in the parking lot. continue reading »

Q: I have been trying to sell my condo in the Far Northeast for quite a while now and I need to know what I can do to get it sold once and for all. Do you have any suggestions?

A: There are 91 condos for sale in the Far Northeast with the Median price of $129,900. Without my knowing the specifics of your condo, hopefully you are able to price your condo under that number to compete with your competition. Since most condos in Philadelphia are not FHA approved, you are limited in potential buyers to only conventional mortgage or cash. continue reading »

Fines are now in effect for violators caught on the three Far Northeast red-light cameras that were activated in October.

The cameras at Bustleton Avenue and Byberry Road, Academy Road and Grant Avenue, and Woodhaven and Knights roads went on at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 19, and the grace period ended at the start of Wednesday. continue reading »

Fitzpatrick Elementary School. NewsWorks photo/Emma Lee

The tragic shooting that left dozens dead at a Connecticut elementary school last Friday has led to a fresh look at school security across the country. Across this region, the spotlight highlighted big differences in the issues school districts are facing.

Merle Horowtiz, superintendent of the Marple-Newtown School District in Delaware County, sent out a letter to staff and parents at the six schools she oversees.  continue reading »

Instructors helped 9-year-old Molly Mceaffrey onto a horse at the Parkwood Therapeutic Riding Center. Photo/Lucia Volpe

Parkwood Therapeutic Riding Center, a federally-registered nonprofit organization at 3142 Mechanicsville Rd., opened its doors to the special needs community in September.

“You use the horse in any way shape or form to achieve a short or longterm goal,” said Parkwood TRC President and instructor Sarah Del Ricci. “ We teach them a riding skill that can transfer over into a life skill.” continue reading »

Photo/Philadelphia Police

Police have arrested a man in connection with five robberies around the Northeast.

Jason Martino is charged with robberies that took place between Oct. 27 and Oct. 30 at businesses in Somerton, Bustleton and at Franklin Mills, as well as at a home in an undisclosed neighborhood. continue reading »

First announced in June 2011 and installed this past July, three red-light cameras in the Far Northeast will be activated at the end of this week.

The cameras at Bustleton Avenue and Byberry Road, Academy Road and Grant Avenue, and Woodhaven and Knights roads will go on at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 19 – Thursday night into Friday. continue reading »