ABCOASTER competition winner Angela Radesky and RetroFitness staff member Michael Ritter at the gym's gran reopening Saturday, April 28. Photo/Michelle Alton

Greg Sweeney spent Saturday showing off what his newly renovated gym has to offer.

Sweeney has just finished an overhaul of the RetroFitness at 2524 Welsh Rd., and invited the public to grand re-opening ceremony to check out some new features and participate in the Ab Coaster Challenge for a chance to win a six-month membership. Challenger Angela Radesky took the prize.

See photos below in our slideshow by Michelle Alton.

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Ken Lufkin (L) is sworn in as GNPCC chairman by Judge Christopher Wogan. Photo/Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce

From the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce:

Kent C. Lufkin, president and chief executive officer of TF Financial Corp. and 3rd Fed Bank, was sworn in last week by Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher R. Wogan as the new chairman of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Lufkin succeeds Christina M. Fitz-Patrick, president and chief executive officer of Nazareth Hospital. She will serve the next year as consulting vice chairperson. Lufkin will serve a two-year term. He had previously served on the board as vice president of the Business Network Committee. continue reading »

Al Taubenberger at the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. File Photo/Morgan Zalot

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated with comments from incumbent Pa. Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-172nd).

State Rep. Kevin Boyle has already announced his re-election bid for the 172nd Legislative District.

And if Al Taubenberger accepts the endorsement the Republican City Committee has offered, the two will square off in the general election.

Taubenberger, of Burholme, told NEast Philly today he’s still considering the endorsement and weighing whether he’ll run. We spoke with him after the Public Record reported he’d already decided to enter the race. continue reading »

From left, Northeast GOP candidates for city council-at-large: Al Taubenberger, Denny O'Brien, Joe McColgan. Photo by Pamela Seaton.

With the fall election season underway seven City Council At-Large candidates came together recently at the WHYY studio for a political debate that, considering the stakes of the upcoming election, was a testament to measured, thoughtful politics. With seven participants in attendance – five Republicans and two Democrats – the debate covered everything from Occupy Philadelphia to the transparency of government to specific questionable activities of each candidate.

Three of the candidates – Dennis O’Brien, Al Taubenberger and Joe McColgan – have certain characteristics in common: they’re all Republicans and they all come from the Northeast. They all have a specific plan that stems from their experience in their home districts, whether it be education reforms or plans for rejuvenating local businesses. continue reading »

Essay contest winners and their parents celebrate with Mayor Michael Nutter and GNPCC President Al Taubenberger. Photo courtesy of Rising Sun Plaza.

Rising Sun Plaza honored 16 Northeast students last lost month in its annual My Mom’s/Dad’s the Greatest Essay Contest . Students ranging in age from 8 to 18 were chosen for their creativity and originality in essays acknowledging their parents’ dedication by supporting their belief that their mom or dad is the greatest.

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PGW President and CEO Craig White is the keynote speaker at Thursday's conference.

TD Bank and Community Integrated Services are cosponsoring the first-ever Northeast Small Business Conference this Thursday at the Community College of Philadelphia’s new Center for Small Business Education Growth and Training [map].

The day-long conference includes breakfast and lunch, as well as panel discussions and workshops to help small business owners during tough economic times. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. A full schedule and details are below. continue reading »

Greater Philadelphia Northeast Chamber of Commerce President Al Taubenberger tours a SEPTA hybrid bus. Photo courtesy of GNPCC.

The following is an advertisement for the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

The Greater Northeast PhiladelphiaChamber of Commerce Annual “Business is Blooming” Expo will be held Tuesday, May 3, 2011, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Holy Family University, Frankford and Grant avenues in the Campus Center gymnasium. The Expo is open to the public, and admission is free. This revives a GNPCC tradition that opens the Expo to the community, rather than just businesses.

The event is expected to bring together nearly 100 businesses and nonprofits who will display their goods and services from a wide variety of industries. Exhibitor tables are available at $350 for members, $599 for non-members. Mayor Michael A. Nutter will officially kick-off the Expo at 2 p.m.

“This is the best opportunity you will have to maximize your market share,” said GNPCC President Al Taubenberger. “We are working very hard to create the optimum event for all businesses to showcase their products and services. And with the public invited for the first time in many years, we think it’s going to be a very busy day for our exhibitors.” continue reading »

L to R: City Councilman Brian O’Neill, State Rep. Brendan Boyle, Sen. Stack, Cranaleith Director Sister Mary Trainer, RSM (in the driver’s seat), Sister Christine McCann, RSM (President of the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community), former state Rep. George Kenney, Cranaleith Board Member Tom Trainer, and Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce President Al Taubenberger

State Sen. Mike Stack joined former State Rep. George Kenney on April 15 to present a significant state grant that will help expand the Cranaleith Education and Conference Center.

The $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant will go toward the $3.3 million project to renovate the existing barn into a welcome center and construct a conference center, a lodge with overnight accommodations and a chapel. Stack and Kenney each secured $500,000 in RACP funds. continue reading »

The idea isn’t new: bring together all the Northeast civic, town watch and other community leaders to form a united front.

But Mayfair leaders Monday night breathed new life into an old idea when they gathered for a preliminary meeting to share ideas for a Northeast think tank of sorts.

In attendance were representatives from the Mayfair Civic Association, Mayfair Town Watch, 15th District Police and 3rd Federal Bank. Together, this group — and others who were unable to attend the meeting — is seeking to unite the region’s neighborhood organizations to build and strengthen community relations, safety and business corridors, among other things. continue reading »

From the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce:

The Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Expo will be held Wednesday, May 12 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Holy Family University in the Campus Center Building’s gymnasium.

Co-sponsored by the Northeast Times, the event will bring together more than 75 businesses and nonprofits who will display their goods and services from a wide variety of industries. continue reading »