Image/Change By Us

Parkwood resident Marge Philippi collects bandit signs from poles. Since 2006, she said at last night’s civic association meeting, she’s collected 8,000 of the illegal signs that say things like, we buy houses.

Fox Chase Town Watch does the same.

But do the two neighborhoods — a world away and a Boulevard apart — know about each others’ efforts? Could they work together.

The city hopes its new social network, Change By Us, can help bring residents from all over Philadelphia together by uniting them through similar issues and common causes. continue reading »

One of the many bandit signs found regularly in Fox Chase.

There are a lot of bandit signs in Fox Chase, but there’s also Fox Chase Town Watch. A Fox Chase Town Watch member has taken it upon himself to help remove the neighborhood’s graffiti and bandit signs — the signs illegally posted on poles that advertise things like, “we buy houses.”

On Aug. 31, an accounting of signs collected since July 15 was taken to tally what their owners owe, since the City of Philadelphia charges $75 to $300 (based on how many offenses there have been) for the bandit signs.

Here’s the information the FCTW shared with us: continue reading »

Mike Bobby, John Duffy and Steve Phillips keep watch on Fox Chase

They are the eyes and ears of the Fox Chase community. Since 1995 The Fox Chase Town Watch has patrolled the streets of Fox Chase, alerting police to incidents and making note of ongoing problems that need police attention. Steve Phillips, current president of the Watch, has been a member since 1995. Membership is open to residents 18 years and older.

Members receive training, but rule No. 1 is to remember as a member you are not a law enforcement officer. Phillips became involved after the death of Eddie Polec, “Witnessing the death of Ed Polec has been my motivation for the last 17  years. I said to myself, this will not happen again, and that is why I do this.” continue reading »

L to R: Fox Chase Town Watch President Steve Phillips and Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams at the 2010 National Night Out Event. Photo by Hillary Shemin.

As part of the National Association of Town Watch, Fox Chase Town Watch will host the 28th annual National Night Out Tuesday, Aug. 2 at Fox Chase Elementary School.

The two-hour event is a local portion of a U.S. festivity that will draw an estimated 12,000 communities from across the nation. More than 37 million people are expected to join their communities in the night against crime. continue reading »

Fox Chase Town Watch reports police are investigating gun shots Sunday night at Ferndale Street and Borbeck Avenue.

“It appears the root cause may have been a fight between Rockledge teens and Fox Chase teens which occurred earlier at the St. Patrick’s day parade downtown.  Later that evening ( approximately 6pm) several Rockledge teens drove by the lower fields and fired several shots. While I know no one was hit I am not sure if there was an intended target.” continue reading »

(L to R) 7th District Community Relations Officer Rich Simon and 2nd District Community Relations Officer Mark Mroz talk about Block Watch with Fox Chase residents.

Mark Mroz told Fox Chase residents what he tells members of all the community association meetings he goes to: having an alarm on your home may not prevent a burglary, but it will keep the thief from staying in your house.

The 2nd District Community Relations Officer and Rich Simon, 7th District Community Relations Officer, talked with Fox Chase residents last night about crime reporting and prevention. It came as a response to a rash of burglaries on the 7300-block of Hasbrook Avenue. continue reading »

Despite the snow, the Fox Chase Homeowners Association and Town Watch will still hold a meeting tonight. The group, which meets every other month, has important homeowners issues on the agenda.

Fox Chase Homeowners Association President Matt Braden

The focus of last night’s Fox Chase Homeowners Association/Town Watch meeting was Go Ape!, and adventure course looking to take root in Pennypack Park.

The UK-based Go Ape! first introduced itself to the Northeast at last month’s Friends of Pennypack Park meeting, where members hotly contested the idea of using the park as an adventure destination. continue reading »

We received an e-mail this weekend from Fox Chase Town Watch detailing an incident last Saturday that may have been an abduction attempt.

Three girls were playing in St. Cecilia’s schoolyard last Saturday around 7 p.m. when they noticed a man watching. continue reading »

Captain Joseph Joseph F. Zaffino, Commanding Officer of the 7th District Police Department shakes hands with a representative of Target and accepts a check on behalf of the Captain of the 2nd District police department, Captain Michael McCarrick who was not able to attend tonight's festivities. In the background watching, is Community Relations Officer of the 7th District Officer Rich Simon.

Fox Chase Town Watch President Steve Phillips told NEast Philly Monday (you can catch the full story in Wednesday’s Metro newspaper) that the 2nd and 7th Districts were expecting about 2,000 people for Tuesday’s National Night Out event at Fox Chase Elementary. continue reading »