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 »

Q: We had our house in Burholme on the market for several months and we have had only four showings and no offers. Our real estate agent is blaming the market, but other people in the neighborhood have sold their homes. My husband wants to renew our contract with this agent because he knows him, but I want to find another agent. What can I do?

A: Did this agent even try to market your home? Can you find it on the Internet? Has he shared feedback with you from the four showings? It makes me wonder if he put any effort into it if he is blaming it on market conditions. Whatever his excuse, there’s no reason a house should not sell in any market. Every home just needs to be priced correctly in the market of the moment to sell. continue reading »

A Burholme man was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center Monday night following what police are calling an “altercation.”

The 24-year-old man was transported to the hospital around 8 p.m. from a home on the 800-block of Princeton Street. He had on his what appeared to be cuts from a pistol whipping, but few other details have been release. Two other men fled the scene.

If you’re still holding on to that old brick-like cell phone for nostalgia’s sake, or letting your toddler play with your forgotten Motorola RAZR because the Fisher Price cell phones just don’t look real enough . . . stop.

Instead, donate your old cell phones to a good cause. continue reading »

Photo courtesy of CBS3.

UPDATE -  The fire was caused by a candle, according to a report from the Inquirer.

A five-alarm fire broke out early yesterday morning in a Burholme apartment complex, leaving several people injured, and forcing many more out of their homes.

The fire began shortly after 4:30 Sunday morning, and although the fire department was on the scene in just minutes, the Austin Manor apartments at 7024 Rising Sun Ave. were already engulfed in flames. Residents of the building’s 41 units were evacuated, and those with injuries transported to area hospitals. Those unable to exit safely chose to jump from windows. continue reading »

A nicely decorated home in Burholme

Earlier this week, we asked you to send us your Halloween photos – old, new, scary, silly – and we got way more photos than expected.

We have more than three dozen photos from all over the Northeast, featuring your funniest costumes, most creative jack-o-lanterns and over-the-top decorations. continue reading »

Residents from all over the Northeast attended the Burholme community meeting to learn about the Northeast's history. Photo by Christopher Wink.

The promise of Northeast Philadelphia historian Dr. Harry Silcox drew even larger crowd than usual to last night’s meeting of the Burholme Civic Association and Burholme Town Watch.

About 100 people showed up – more than the group of 65 for a similar presentation in Tacony, and more than a past Burholme meeting the mayor attended. President Al Taubenberger called the meeting to order as folks set up more chairs and pressed themselves against walls to hear Silcox discuss the history of Burholme and other parts of the Northeast.

Keep reading for Northeast trivia and a video. continue reading »

Q: I am a first-time buyer and I am torn between two houses I would like to buy – one in Burholme and one in Holmesburg. They are the same price and I love them both so I don’t know how to decide. My agent says I only have about a week or two to decide which house I want if I want to make settlement in time to get the $8,000 First-time Buyer Federal Tax Credit. I am so torn, what should I do?

A: Don’t let a decision be made for you if someone else buys one, or both of these houses, before you choose. With the tax credit expiring Nov. 30, and while it may be urgent that you accelerate your decision making, you can still make your decision wisely. continue reading »

Police Inspector Tom Lippo addresses the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association groups about the police radio system. Photo by Christopher Wink.

Last night’s meeting of the Burholme Town Watch and Burholme Civic Association touched on many neighborhood issues, but the dominant one, by far, was the discussion of the police radio process.

Police Inspector Tom Lippo, commander of the 911 system, led the discussion with help from Paul Andris, president of the Police Radio System Advisory Board and vice president of Burholme Town Watch. continue reading »

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By Shannon McDonald

The Fox Chase Cancer Center received a $217,906 cancer research grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act yesterday.

Researchers at the facility will use the funding to examine cancer patients’ common symptoms and determine the best medical approach to them. The goal of the study is to educate caregivers about symptom recognition, treatment and the benefits of intervention when multiple symptoms present themselves.