RecycleBank's Carla Castillo encourages Holme Circle residents to sign up for the citywide program and earn rewards for reducing waste.

The hour-long meeting last night of the Holme Circle Civic Association drew about 20 people. And while most came out for an update on the Stokes property, many took interest in the city’s Recycling Rewards Program. continue reading »

Mock-ups for the proposed duplexes at 2976-80 Welsh Rd.

“I will carry that message back,” is the answer most Holme Circle residents heard Wednesday night as they voiced concerns over the future of the Stokes house.

The house — a notable farmhouse among a sea of twins at 2976-80 Welsh Rd. — faces a questionable future as the owners, the Stokes family, prepare to move on.

Though the house dates back to the 19th Century, the Stokes family has owned the house for the last 70 years. But with the family spreading out and the cost of upkeep increasing, Samuel “Buzz” Stokes has plans to sell. And Holme Circle residents have plans to protect their neighborhood. continue reading »

If you’re looking for something to do any time, any place in Philadelphia, you can find it on uwishunu.

But since the site is sponsored by the city’s tourism board, and tourists don’t typically visit the Northeast, don’t rely on uwishunu for neighborhood information from our region. continue reading »

Last night’s Holme Circle Civic Association meeting began with an announcement that came as no surprise to most of those in attendance.

President Sean McAleer announced his resignation from the group, which coincides with his out-of-town move. McAleer’s faced a long commute to work everyday, and will be moving closer to the workplace with his family — a decision he said happened in just a few short weeks.

It’s unclear who will take the lead now that McAleer has stepped down,  though such a position usually falls to an existing board member should no one else express interest. continue reading »

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 »