Action News, allow us to explain (again) the very simple rule for determining whether you’re in Wissinoming or Tacony.

Robbins Street is the dividing line. North of that is Tacony. South is Wissinoming. Ta-da!

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Phil Grutmacher reviews Lawncrest's top zoning issues at the January Community Association meeting. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Last night’s Lawncrest Community Association meeting began with a word about burglaries from 2nd District Community Relations Officer Mark Mroz, ended with a $49 50/50 ticket and was interrupted by  a birthday cake for dedicated LCA member Peg Kramer.

But the meat of the meeting was zoning. With no guest speaker plan, President Bill Dolbow breezed right through the agenda and let Phil Grutzmacher take the mic to discuss zoning. Five proposals were reviewed, but the first is a site that’s been a thorn in the LCA’s side for months. continue reading »

Phil Pappas, left, and Mike Mawson, of West Frankford Town Watch, outside the Thriftway at Frankford Avenue and Pratt Street around 2 a.m. Sat. July 10.

Mike Mawson smells something.

It’s past midnight on Comly Street near Bustleton in Mayfair. The sun went down hours ago, but forgot to take this sticky July heat with it. Mawson is riding shotgun in the sensible four-door sedan that his partner Phil Pappas drives. The West Frankford Town Watch patrol was circling around to head back south of Cheltenham Avenue to drive the streets of its namesake neighborhood when Mawson caught a whiff of something off in the still nighttime air.

“It smells like something is burning,” confirms soft-featured Pappas, 53, sitting upright with two hands on the steering wheel and dressed with purpose in matching earthtones. “I’ll pull over.”

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Wiss BC has announced its Football Speed Camp for kids and teens.

The camp is open to kids ages 6 to 15, and will run from July 12 through July 15 at Wissinoming Park at Frankford Avenue and Comly Street. Registration ends July 1. For more information about the camp, contact Wiss BC at 215-535-9199, or WissBCfootball[at]yahoo.com.

The full flier is below: continue reading »

The 6000-block of Erdrick Street in 1950s Wissinoming. Photo courtesy of Fred R. Towers for PhillyHistory.org.

Every Friday, NEastPhilly.com will bring you NEast History, a historical photograph, story or account from the storied past of Northeast Philadelphia. See others here.

This is a view of 6015 Erdrick St. near Harbison Avenue in Wissinoming around 1950. A not much has changed – except the sidewalk.

An old gas station on the 4200-block of Comly Street in Wissinoming. Photo courtesy of Fred R. Twers for PhillyHistory.org.

Ever wonder what 4229 Comly Street used to look like? There’s a WaWa there now, but back in the ’50s it was a gas station.