Joan Przyblowicz of the city's Office of Emergency Management discusses how to best prepare for an emergency as part of a presentation to members of the Holme Circle Civic Association.

Last night’s meeting of the Holme Circle Civic Association — the first since October — saw an uptick in attendance with nearly 20 people coming out to hear Joan Przyblowicz from the city’s Office of Emergency Management discuss how to best prepare for an emergency.

Along with her presentation, Przyblowicz brought handouts for residents, including a map of the Northeast’s emergency routes and a brochures detailing specific types of plans. Her purpose, she said, was to give an overall explanation of the Office of Emergency Management and her role as deputy director of external affairs. continue reading »

Pictured is Lt. Joseph Mullin of PSA 1, which is bordered by Rhawn Street, Willits/Welsh roads, Roosevelt Boulevard and the Delaware River. Photo courtesy of Elsie Stevens.

The 8th District Police successfully held its first Police Service Area meetings for all three zones Wednesday.

Approximately 25 members who live in PSA zone 1 met with Lt. Mullin at Cottage Green. The goal of the PSAs is to create a localized forum for residents to discuss issues in their immediate neighborhood, and to create a coordinated response to crime as a result of this partnership between the police and the community. continue reading »

Back in October, we featured a Right NEast/Wrong NEast calling out Action News for misreporting a neighborhood. The break, which happened on the 2800-block of Willits Road near Holme Circle, reportedly happened in Torresdale.

Though Right NEast/Wrong NEast is a popular feature on NEast Philly, we don’t pretend the big news outlets read every word we write. As if we needed confirmation of that, Action News has made the error once again. continue reading »

The early morning scene of a watermain break off Holme Avenue at Willits Road. Photo Courtesy of CBS3.

Maintenance crews were called yesterday after a watermain broke on Willits Road just above Holme Avenue near the Academy Gardens/Holme Circle border.

The break happened around 6 a.m., and while crews were able to repair the break, the water flow turned the intersection into a sheet of ice. NEast Philly staffers reported the street was still closed at 11 a.m.

This is the third break break in the area in the last six months; the first happened in July, just one block away, and a second occurred in October just a few blocks away at Willits and Ashton roads.

You’ve probably driven by it countless times in your commute along Holme Avenue. Or perhaps you’ve parked in front of it while attending a game at Crispin field. Or even idled near it while stuck behind a SEPTA bus. But you probably never actually noticed it – Greenbelt Knoll, that is.

A small, one-street development off Holme Avenue, tucked into Pennypack Park between Holme Circle and Convent Avenue/Pennypack Street, Greenbelt Knoll has been eluding residents’ attention since 1956. continue reading »

John "Jordan" Lewis

John “Jordan” Lewis, the 23-year-old North Philadelphia man accused of killing 54-year-old Police Officer Chuck Cassidy in 2007, has entered a guilty plea, much to the surprise of the lawyers representing the Cassidy family.

The trial was set to start this week, after jurors were selected based on their willingness to consider applying the death penalty to Lewis’ sentencing. Now, it will be up to the jury to determine whether Cassidy’s murder was premeditated, or whether Lewis panicked at the sight of a police officer while he was holding up a Dunkin’ Donuts early Halloween morning in 2007. continue reading »

Friday’s rape attempt in Holme Circle has a lot of people on edge – probably more people than necessary. The incident took place on the 2700-block of Holme Avenue around 7:30 a.m.

Not, as Fox, KYW, ABC, CBS and the Inquirer reported, on the 2800-block. A quick glance at the street sign on the corner of Holme of Winchester avenues could have tipped the reporters off. The 2700-block is almost entirely wooded, save for the Northeast Community Center, while the 2800-block is nothing but homes and a shopping center. [map]

Adding insult to injury, many publications misreported the neighborhood. continue reading »

Photo courtesy of KYW.

Police are on the hunt for a man wanted in connection with an assault in Holme Circle.

A woman was walking on the 2700-block of Holme Avenue near Pennypack Park shortly before 7:30 this morning when a man grabbed her from behind. The woman, 28, struggled with her assailant, who ran from the scene. The victim did not sustain any injuries.

Officers combed the area, but have not found the suspect yet. He is described as 6′2″ and heavy was wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants and white sneakers. His race is unknown. For tips, call Special Victims at 215-685-3251.

Eric Foster, a nurse epidemiologist with the Deptartment of Health explains the difference between swine and seasonal flues.

Myths, misconceptions and general concerns about swine flu brought Holme Circle residents together last night to get the facts from the Philadelphia Department of Health.

Eric Foster, a nurse epidemiologist for the agency talked with the roughly 10 Holme Circle Civic Association meeting attendees about how to prevent, recognize and treat season flu and swine flu, also referred to as H1N1.

Foster presented a slideshow to an interested audience, which included statistics and other factual information about both flues. continue reading »

City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski (l) examines the wall of inductees to the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame. Photo by Christopher Wink.

The Northeast welcomed the first inductees into its hall of fame yesterday, celebrating more than 300 years of accomplishments in our region.

More than 100 guests, honorees and elected officials gathered in Holy Family University’s John M. Perzel building to formally honor the first eight Northeast Philadelphians to be included in the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame — something its creators plan to make an annual event.

“A [Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame] is long overdue,” State Rep. Dennis O’Brien said in his address to the events attendees.
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