Last week brought a major milestone to the Frankford Gazette.

Until now, the neighborhood publication has been online-only, like NEast Philly. But last week, the Gazette hit the streets of Frankford in print form.

As part of the PhillyRising effort in Frankford to bring the police, city departments and neighborhood organizations together, the Gazette is printing to keep neighbors without computer access informed. continue reading »

Dozens of volunteers helped spruce up three Frankford parks over the weekend for Philly Spring Cleanup. The Friends of Overington Park and Frankford CDC led the efforts, with help from Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez and State Rep. Tony Payton.

The Frankford Gazette has recaps of both events, which included cleaning and planting in Overington and Wilmot parks and the small park at Hedge and Orthodox streets.

Image courtesy of the Frankford Gazette

We’ve received word that Terry Tobin, former executive director of the New Frankford Community Y, has passed away. The Frankford Gazette has an obituary for Tobin, who also served on the Frankford CDC and Business Association boards.

His viewing and funeral will be held Monday, Jan. 10 at McCafferty Funeral Home at Frankford and Unruh avenues from 9 a.m. to noon.

This is the obituary that ran in the Inquirer:

TERRY P. on Jan. 4, 2011, age 67. Beloved husband of the late Linda. Loving Father of Tammy Reed (Joe) and Daniel M., Sr. (the late Joanne), devoted grand-father of Kevin, Mark, Michael, Jamie, Kelly, Walter, Joseph, Daniel, Jr. and Teresa, brother of Carol Hitchen (Barry) and Randy Tobin (Sharon). Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Long time president of Vogt C.A., Director of New Frankford Community Y, member of Rhawnhurst American Legion, Frankford H.S. Alumni as well as many other organizations. Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing and Funeral on Monday Jan. 10, 2011 from 9 A.M.- 12 Noon at THE JAMES A. McCAFFERTY FUNERAL HOME, 6709-11 Frankford Ave. (at Unruh Ave.), 215-624-4200. Prayer Service 12 Noon in the Funeral Home. Interment Sunset Memorial Park.
Published in Philadelphia Inquirer & Philadelphia Daily News from January 6 to January 7, 2011

Theresa Hanas, main street manager of the Frankford CDC, will resign later this month. As the Frankford Gazette reports, the CDC will accept applications for her replacement in the role.

CORRECTION: We originally reported that Theresa Hanas is the managing director, when is fact, she is the main street manager. Our apologies for the confusion.

Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce, says several business corridors in the region have not experienced decline during the economic fallout.

For Samuel Nalbandian, owner of Rising Sun Pizza in Lawncrest, the business is a way of life and the recession is nothing to worry about.

“For me, it’s been the same,” he said of business during the past several months. “It’s always good, as long as I’m here managing. The customers are satisfied.”

Nalbandian, who opened the pizza parlor in 1982, said while he did see a slight drop in business last year that he attributed to the recession, he doesn’t worry about the shop.

“I do worry for other people not having jobs when the economy is bad,” he said. “But as long as I do the right thing, I don’t worry [about the business].”

Like some owners throughout the Northeast’s many neighborhoods and myriad business corridors, Nalbandian is a small business owner lucky enough to skirt the worst of the decline, avoiding being hit as hard as other businesses, especially larger ones. While there are not concrete statistics for our region of the city specifically, in terms of the economy’s effect on the businesses, a consensus exists among owners and civic leaders that while the Northeast’s businesses were hit, they largely weren’t hit too hard, and will pull through and stay profitable. continue reading »

Eric Doyle of Mark My Flesh tattoo shop on Frankford Avenue perfects a tattoo, which reads "Kendrell" with a heart, on Jasmine White's wrist.

Fernando Torres has more than an aesthetic reason for wanting to improve the look of his Frankford tattoo parlor.

“Cars hit the building a few times,” Torres, who also owns a women’s boutique next door to the parlor, said. “I want to get a steel structure in front to protect it.”

Torres opened Mark My Flesh, his tattoo shop, and Dream Girl’s Fashion, his boutique, about two years ago. On Jan. 21, he was one of six local business owners who participated in a Design Day program sponsored by the Frankford Community Development Corporation’s Main Street Initiative and the Community Design Collaborative. continue reading »

View Larger Map

By Shannon McDonald

The Frankford CDC will host a public meeting tomorrow night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Frankford High School’s Instructional Materials Center. Among the topics to be discussed is the Program of Work and ideas for community organization collaborations.

Guests may enter throught the main door on Oxford Avenue. Get more info from the Frankford Gazette.