Padraic Glackin and his Yankees-loving girlfriend

A Bustleton native is coming back home to watch from his hometown the Phillies play in their second straight World Series, but he’s not bringing his long-time girlfriend. Because, well, she’s a Yankees fan.

Padraic Glackin lives New York City now, attending graduate school at Fordham University in the Bronx borough, and has a serious five-year relationship with Manhattan native Bridget Sweeney.

“This is the first time where it’s been an issue,” Glackin, 24, says of their competing passions in baseball’s best-of-seven championship series, which kicks off tonight in New York. “We were out walking before game six [that sent the Yankees to the World Series] was even played, and a Yankees fan said something, and I told him to make it to the World Series first, and [Bridget] gave me a dirty look.”

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On the North Catholic side of the field, Sunday, the stands were full of red and white -- the school's colors. Shane Killion, a student at North, seen here with his girlfriend, Sophia Santiago, both of Lawncrest, was wearing his colors, which just also just happen to be the colors of the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

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Mike Ferris (left foreground) catches up with Ted Silary (right foreground) at a North game. Photo by Bill Achuff.

When most people think of North Catholic, they don’t think of Mike Ferris. But among the many memories North students make, you’ll find sports teams – and that’s where Ferris comes in.

A 1982 North graduate and former center for the Falcons football team, 45-year-old Ferris earns his living in the computer field, where he puts his degrees from Peirce and Drexel to work. But in his spare time, Ferris is devoted to running several Web sites dedicated to North Catholic sports.

Ferris grew up on Marlowe Street in Frankford, went to St. Bart’s and still lives in his old neighborhood. He got to relive some of his highschool experiences while his son (class of ’07) attended North, but thanks to his sites, like The Falcon Nest and North Catholic Soccer, Ferris has a permanent connection to North – something that won’t change, even when the school closes its doors for good in May.

NEast Philly’s exclusive interview with Mike and a photo of his North Catholic tattoo are below. continue reading »

Bill Eder’s best friends remember him as a guy who loved life, and who always wore a smile.

“I can’t remember a time when he didn’t have a smile on his face,” said Rob Venango, a longtime friend of Eder’s.

Eder was one of four men who died in a car crash on I-95 over the weekend when their Mitsubishi Lancer slammed into and ended up partially under a tractor trailer near the Girard Avenue ramp.

Now friends of the 23-year-old Wissinoming resident are mourning his loss and remembering his greatness.

“Bill was by far the best person you could ever meet,” Venango said. He recalled a time when Eder picked him up at 3:30 in the morning, and said his friend would “do anything” for his buddies. continue reading »

Courtesy of votemcelhatton.com

By Shannon McDonald

Dan McElhatton’s public office resume is almost as extensive as his ties to the Northeast. The 59-year-old candidate for District Attorney is a City Council alum, graduate of North Catholic, former Assistant District Attorney and Northwood little league coach.He spent two years working at Solly Playground, then represented that district 20 years later as a council member.

In an exclusive interview with NEastPhilly.com, Dan McElhatton talks about his connections with the Northeast and his plans for the next District Attorney.

There aren’t many candidates from the Northeast running for public office. Where abouts are you from?
I was raised in Juniata and moved to Northwood. I went to Holy Innocents as a kid, then onto North Catholic, as did my three brothers, my father and my son. Then I went to Villanova and Temple Law.

How did you spend your time growing up?
My brothers and I were active in the Juniata Park Boys Club. I played varsity baseball and jv basketball at North, then played American Legion baseball in college. I also worked at Solly Playground in Rhawnhurst for two years during the early ’70s.

When did you make the move from Juniata to Northwood?
I got married in 1971, lived in Juniata for three or four years, then moved to Northwood in 1975. My kids went to St. Martin of Tours, where my wife taught. My wife is from Holmesburg; she went to St. Dom’s and St. Hubert’s. My wife’s family still lives in same house on Rowland Avenue.

Continue reading for more on McElhatton’s ties to the Northeast and his objectives as District Attorney. continue reading »