Police are investigating the details surrounding a shooting in Lawncrest early this morning.

A man in his 20s was found lying in the middle of the 400-block of Alcott Street around 2 a.m. He was transported to a hospital where he remains in serious condition with a bullet wound that injured an artery in his leg.

No motive or suspects have been identified.

Three NEast Philly stories were featured in Metro yesterday, as part of our ongoing partnership with the daily newspaper. Below, find the full text of the exclusive Lawncrest Fourth of July story, and links to our other featured articles. continue reading »

Lonnie Haile helps one of his pupil's footwork. Photo by Laura D'Alfonso.

In part two of a two-part series, NEast Philly examines what goes into making an athletic association successful, and what two neighborhoods are doing to keep kids active. Read part one

With one of the more unique community athletics offerings in the Northeast, Heavy Hitta’s Boxing in Lawncrest has rapidly grown since the days in which its members sparred on the open field behind Lawncrest Recreation Center.

The swift advance speaks to not only the dedication of the club’s coaches and members, but to the neighborhood’s desire for a strong community sports representation. The club’s boxers are training vigorously for Fists Full of Dynamite, an Independence Day weekend boxing tournament to be held within Rec Center.

Founded by club president Rick Terrell in late 2009, Heavy Hitta’s Boxing moved from the field to the clubhouse just this past May. Terrell admits that the club nearly happened accidentally. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

The Safety Ambassador Program has returned to the Frankford Business Corridor as of yesterday. The program — part of the Frankford Special Services District — was a part of Frankford in the late 1990s and will allow for of uniformed personnel to patrol Frankford Avenue in order to increase commerce on the corridor.

Keep reading for news on a police couple who saved the day, the first ever doctoral program at Holy Family, and more. continue reading »

Fourth of July Committee Treasurer Gary Weaver announces the inclusion of fireworks in this year's celebration.

The most exciting news for Lawncrest residents came at the middle of last night’s Lawncrest Community Association meeting: the Fourth of July Committee announced the inclusion of fireworks in the 95th Annual July 4th celebration.

Thanks to the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund and a bill passed by City Council — with the help of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady and Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez — Lawncrest will put on a fireworks display at dusk on July 3, bringing the day’s festivities to an end. continue reading »

In part 2 of a two-part series, we explore Tacony’s and Lawncrest’s fights against absentee landlords in their neighborhoods.

Camille Capobianco, 37, grew up in Tacony. She said her neighborhood was once good, clean and friendly. Now, she said, residents are fighting the evils of what has become a nightmare epidemic in most neighborhoods throughout Northeast Philadelphia.

Absentee landlords have stricken most of the communities and have left local residents to fear, avoid and fight their new tenants.

“Most [absentee landlords] are from out of state, but there are some local slumlords,” Capobianco, a mother of three daughters, said.

Absentee landlords purchase cheap properties and then rent out the homes for investment. They tend to live far away from their properties, as well. Capobianco said many people have complained that these landlords do not have proper licenses most of the time, do not have property managers and do not care whom they rent their properties to as long as their houses are filled and rent checks arrive every month. continue reading »

At last night’s meeting of the Lawncrest Community Association, Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco presented a citation to Joseph Swing in honor of his 18th birthday. In the video below, Tasco explains the significance of the citation before the nearly 100 Lawncrest residents at the meeting sing happy birthday to Swing. continue reading »

Richard Sumpter discusses Census 2010 with Lawncrest residents.

The nearly 100 people at last night’s Lawncrest Community Association came out to see Richard Sumpter, a representative for Census 2010. And Sumpter had some startling news for them.

“Over the last 20 years, only 56 percent to 57 percent of the Philadelphia popular has been counted,” Sumpter told residents as he tried to stress the importance of filling out the Census. As a result, he said, the city’s congressional representatives have gone from 31 to 19 in the last two decades.

Now with 435 billion federal dollars set to be divided among the nation’s 50 states, Philadelphia could have a lot to lose — or gain. continue reading »

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 »

Parents and kids came together to help raise money with a car wash for the Lawncrest Youth Athletic Association baseball team.

While the City of Philadelphia fights flash mobs, parents and adults in Lawncrest came out to support a group of children who hosted a car wash Saturday, April 3. These parents have reached into their own pockets to buy equipment for the members of their first three baseball teams.

More information about the teams and the car wash will be available at the next Lawncrest Community Association meeting on April 20 at St Williams School Hall.

-Phil Cunningham. Lawncrest