Joann Corte Grossi

Pennsylvania has more people with pre-existing conditions signed up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

That’s good news for Pennsylvania, but how does it affect you?

Joanne Corte Grossi explained it Monday night at the monthly Take Back Your Neighborhood meeting in Castor Gardens. In her alotted 10 minutes, she ran down eight impact items she wants Pennsylvanians to be aware of about how the federal health care reform will affect the Commonwealth. continue reading »

Members of Take Back Your Neighborhood plan for next weekend's Northeast Celebration.

Jared Solomon wants to make one thing clear: “this is not a water-ice-and-dash” event.

Solomon and the Castor Gardens-based Take Bake Your Neighborhood have been working for the last few months to put together a “Northeast Celebration” to expand their group’s membership and the Northeasts’ residents knowledge of their home. continue reading »

Residents on three blocks in two neighborhoods had to file reports with 2nd District Police when the tires of more than a dozen vehicles were slashed.

Police believe the slashings took place sometime between midnight and 7:30 a.m. Thursday, when the blocks in Castor Gardens and Lawndale were mostly quiet. continue reading »

Thursday – Two teenagers were shot late Thursday night in a Castor Gardens incident at Unruh Avenue and Kindred Street. The shooting left 18-year-old Tyree Branch of the 6500-block of Horrocks Street dead from a wound to his back. The other teenager, 17, was treated at Jeanes Hospital for a wound in the arm. continue reading »

Q: I own a beautiful single home in Castor Gardens that’s for sale in the low $200,000′s. I’ve been listed for several months and have had two price reductions. I got one offer that was downright insulting so I turned it down, of course. My home is perfect and worth more but am I priced too high for the neighborhood?

A: Location, location, location. Yes, we’ve all heard the first three rules of value in real estate and we need to take that into consideration every time we price every home. There are fewer single homes, compared to the sea of twins and row homes, but it is typically a little harder to sell a single home in Northeast Philadelphia, depending on the location. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Tacony is getting a new park. Work will start in the summer or fall on Lardner’s Point Park adjacent to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. As PlanPhilly reports, the fishing pier will be updated and tables, benches, restrooms, solar lighting and more will be added to the 4.5-acre space. continue reading »

Photo by Anna Berezowska

Reader Anna Berezowska sent us this photo last night 6 p.m. The Philadelphia Water Department was hard at work on the 6600-block of Lynford Street in Castor Gardens.

Q: I am buying a home in Castor Gardens that has a flat roof. My home inspection took place this weekend and my home inspector said because of the snow he could not give me any input on the roof. I have two days left to decide if I even want the house or want the seller to make repairs. And they are calling for more snow! What should I do?

A: Undoubtedly, Philadelphia row homes with flat roofs can collect as many inches of snow on their roof as the ground does during snow storms. Sellers and home inspectors can’t be expected to shovel the roof before an inspection elected by a homebuyer. But I don’t recommend a homebuyer up there shoveling either.

continue reading »

When a van and a school bus were involved in an accident yesterday afternoon, the driver of the van fled.

Police say the driver took off after the two vehicles collided just before 1 p.m. at Castor and Longshore avenues. continue reading »

Josh's daily carry, a Glock 26 in 9mm

In following online forums and comments, we noticed crime stories around the Northeast often lead to discussions about gun ownership. In this four-part series, we’ll hear from four Northeast residents on why they own guns, and their beliefs surrounding gun laws. Read part one. Read Part two.

This is Josh D. The 34-year-old lives in Northern Liberties with his girlfriend, a Castor Gardens native, and owns two guns

NEast Philly: How long have you been a gun owner?

Josh D: Four years

NEP: Why do you own a guns? Was there a specific event that motivated you to get one? continue reading »