Burholme Town Watch President and Police Radio Advisory Board member Paul Andris explains 911 operations

Note: Due to technical difficulties, two videos cannot be uploaded.

There’s a difference between 311 and 911, and the police want to make sure everyone is aware of it. Aside from the notoriously slow response time of 311, it’s not for emergencies. For that, there’s 911. Police Advisory Board member and Burholme Town Watch President Paul Andris explained at last night’s Burholme Civic Association meeting how 911 works so efficiently.

“In  Philadelphia, there are 3.3 million calls per year to 911,” Andris said. “There are 330,000 crank calls.”

Andris showed an educational video –the same he shows to students at schools he presents to — about how to best use 911, and how the operators are able to trace your call so easily. continue reading »

Tonight’s meeting of the Burholme Civic Association/Business Association/Town Watch has been canceled due to the weather. They’ll meet next on Feb. 10.

At the October meeting of the Burholme Civic Association/Town Watch, Nicole Wenger of Northeast Victim Service explains how the agency assists victims of crimes in the Northeast.

Northeast Victim Service “helps you not become a victim for a second time,” explained Burholme Civic Association President Al Taubenberger at last night’s meeting of the civic and Burholme Town Watch.

Nicole Wenger, a court advocate for NEVS was on hand at the meeting to explain to Burholme residents how the agency helps crime victims. continue reading »

We’re in week five of our partnership with Metro, bringing Northeast news to the city’s most widely read daily newspaper.

In yesterday’s issue, you’ll find four pages of Northeast content, including: continue reading »

Marc Collazzo is “a civic by nature.”

That’s what the Republican candidate for State Representative in the 17oth District told Burholme residents last night.

Collazzo — a Bustleton native — told the more than 20 residents who attended the monthly Burholme Civic Association and Town Watch meeting “we live in rare times.”

What’s rare about it, he said, is the recent behavior by state and city governments to  support tax increases and “out of control spending.”

Collazzo, who attended Baldi Middle School and George Washington High School, told Burholme residents: “The most important thing you can ever do is help your neighborhood.” continue reading »

We’re excited to announce that, as part of our ongoing effort to reach out to individual neighborhoods, NEast Philly will hold a Town Hall meeting at this week’s monthly gathering of the Burholme Civic Association and Burholme Town Watch groups.

We’ll join Burholme residents during their regular monthly meeting, and take the floor to ask residents what they like and don’t like about where they live and what they want to see more of on NEast Philly. continue reading »

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 »

District Attorney Lynne Abraham says a temporary farewell to Burholme's community groups.

There is nothing more important than a community “involved in its own life,” District Attorney Lynne Abraham said to attendants at last night’s monthly meeting of the Burholme Civic Association and Town Watch groups.

Abraham, a frequent guest of the Burholme groups, came to say farewell, as she is stepping down as District Attorney after 19 years on the job. She will be replaced by Democratic District Attorney-elect Seth Williams. 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 »

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 »