Lt. Thomas Macartney of the 2nd District addresses Castor Garden residents at Monday's Take Back Your Neighborhood meeting. Photo/Erin Dungee

At Monday’s Take Back Your Neighborhood meeting in Castor Gardens, a group of 40 met to discuss local affairs at the Max Myers Recreation Center.

Lt. Thomas Macartney of the 2nd District addressed the group, as did  mediator Jonah Roll from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing Commission.

Jared Solomon, the group’s leader, had a member introduce the group’s mission and began the meeting discussing the bylaws, which are to be voted on July 16th. The meeting’s main topic was the rising tide of drug use in the community.

Macartney addressed the crowd about the 6600-block of Castor Avenue, where it meets with Magee, as being a hotspot for drug sales. continue reading »

Michele Belluomini tells a story to children at the Northeast Celebration. Photo by George Mai

Saturday, Aug. 27 was the first-ever Northeast Celebration. Organized by the Castor Gardens-based Take Back Your Neighborhood group, the day-long event featured Northeast history lessons, food, music, face-painting and more.

Check out the slideshow below with photos by George Mai. continue reading »

Members of Take Back Your Neighborhood plan for next weekend's Northeast Celebration.

Jared Solomon wants to make one thing clear: “this is not a water-ice-and-dash” event.

Solomon and the Castor Gardens-based Take Bake Your Neighborhood have been working for the last few months to put together a “Northeast Celebration” to expand their group’s membership and the Northeasts’ residents knowledge of their home. continue reading »