Rich Frizell, new president of the Holmesburg Civic Association, leads the first meeting of the 2012-13 season. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Cars lined two full blocks of Ditman Street on either side Tuesday night. Children and their parents made use of the playground out the rec center as the Holmesburg Boys Club’s pee-wee football team practiced beneath the setting sun. Inside the rec center, Holmesburg Civic Association board members grabbed additional red folding chairs as the meeting room filled up.

And so began the group’s first meeting of the 2012-13 season. Members will meet once a month through June, and President Rich Frizell reviewed on Tuesday some of what members can expect in the coming months. continue reading »

A rendering of the New Foundations Charter High School

If things go according to plan, New Foundations High School will be open to students next fall. The new space will across the street from the existing K through 9 building at Rhawn Street and Torresdale Avenue at 4850 Rhawn St. Ninth and 10th graders are currently housed in a temporary spot at Franklin Towne Charter.

Holmesburg residents had one immediate concern at Tuesday night’s civic association meeting: parking. CEO Paul Stadelberger was at the ready, knowing already the congestion around Torresdale and Rhawn near Holmesburg Station would prove a sticking point with neighbors. continue reading »

Franklin Towne Charter students with a check from the Rohm and Haas Foundation in 2008. The school was one of two Northeast charter schools cited by the city controller's office this month.

Two Northeast charter schools have been cited for profiteering by the City Controller’s office in a recent investigation.

Controller Alan Butkovitz‘s investigation of 13 city charter schools “found repeated examples of complex real estate arrangements in which charters leased or rented facilities from related nonprofit organizations,” according to the Inquirer.

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Holmesburg Civic Association's December meeting. Photo by Christopher Wink for NEast Philly.

The main topic of last night’s Holmesburg Civic Association was Police Service Areas — and why a commander from the 8th District  wasn’t there to explain them.

As the 8th District gets ready to launch Police Service Areas — breaking the district into three patrol zones — residents of Holmesburg, which sits in half the 8th and 15th districts, have questions. continue reading »