Liberty Belle Diamond Jones fends off a tackle during an April 2011 game against the New York Sharks. The Belles play the sharks in New York this May. Photo/Bill Achuff

The Philadelphia Liberty Belles will return to the field April 14 for another season of women’s tackle football. It’s the team’s fourth season in the Women’s Football Alliance.

Eight games are scheduled for the season, with half at home, and the Belles will play their first home game of the season at Northeast High School’s Charlie Martin Memorial Stadium on April 21.

The Belles were 2-6 list year and failed to make the post season for the first time in franchise history. The team returns this year with a partly new coaching staff. continue reading »

Students were the winners at the 2012 Northeast High School Talent Show. Photo/Christopher Wink

Organized it wasn’t, but that mattered little to the crowd that packed the Northeast High School auditorium Thursday night to see students, teachers and Tony Danza perform in a talent show.

Danza spent the 2009-10 school year teaching an English class at the school for his A&E reality series “Teach.” It was then that he helped the students put on an “ExtravaDanza” talent show, which he came back this year to repeat.

Students and teachers took turns performing while Danza teamed up with senior Nakiya Robley to emcee and keep the crowd entertained as the crew worked backstage to get the next performers ready with their mics. continue reading »

Former Northeast High School teacher Tony Danza cheers on the NEHS Vikings against the Washington Eagles at an October 2009 football game. Photo/Bill Achuff

Actor Tony Danza is back in the Northeast. Long after wrapping up his teaching gig at Northeast High School, Danza will perform there tonight in the “ExtravaDanza” student/teacher talent show.

But first, he’ll join Pa. Sen. Mike Stack and education advocates to discuss budget cuts at public schools. continue reading »

City and school district officials have  reached an agreement to keep gyms and theaters in public schools open on afternoons and weekends. Cost-cutting plans announced amid the district’s $61 million shortfall included closing the facilities at the end of the school day.

Forty-eight schools will keep their extra-curricular doors open after hours through Saturday, March 17, according to Thursday’s announcement from the city. Twenty-five of those schools are in the Northeast: continue reading »

Meetings will be held this month at Northeast and Lincoln high schools to review the criteria for the new superintendent of the Philadelphia School District. Image/Google Maps

Two meetings have been scheduled in the Northeast this month to discuss the search for the new superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia.

Former superintendent Arlene Ackerman was bought out last year following months of internal conflict and accusations, and her second-in-command, Leroy Nunnery, was named interim superintendent. continue reading »

Northeast High School. Image/Google Maps

Public schools in Northeast Philadelphia use about 94 percent of their available space. That’s more than the 67 percent most School District of Philadelphia facilities use and more than the 80 percent the district confers.

The overcrowding issue was a big one for school officials and parents who attended a meeting earlier this month at Northeast High School. It’s one of 17 the district is holding following the release of its facilities master plan, and the second in the Northeast. continue reading »

900-block of Franklin Mills Circle Image/Google Maps

UPDATE: The third victim has been identified as 17-year-old Christopher Alcalde of  Summerdale and a Northeast High School tennis player. He and the driver were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Authorities have identified the driver of a Wednesday night crash that killed three people near Franklin Mills Mall.

According to reports, Anthony Christensen of Bensalem, Bucks County was speeding when the car hit a barrier and flipped over on the 900-block of Franklin Mills Circle. The female passenger has been identified as Lucrecia Santamaria. continue reading »

The School District of Philadelphia recommends grade reconfigurations for Stearne School in Frankford and Lawton School in Wissinoming.

The School District of Philadelphia announced at Wednesday School Reform Commission meeting the recommended closure of nine city schools and reconfigurations to 17 others.

None of those closures are meant for Northeast schools, but two are part of the grade reconfigurations outlined in the district’s facilities master plan. Though specific plans for the schools haven’t been made clear, Henry W. Lawton School in Wissinoming and Allen M. Stearne School in Frankford both need reconfigurations, according to the district. continue reading »

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released its annual list of Persistently Dangerous Schools.

While the School District of Philadelphia cut its number of dangerous schools by almost half in the last year, 10 high schools remain on the list. And four of them are in the Northeast.

Fels, Frankford, Lincoln and Northeast high schools all meet the state qualifications for the list, based on the variety and number of violent incidents among students during the school year. These four were on the 2011-2012 list, and all made the list in 2009-2010. Harding Middle School also made the 2009-10 list, but has since dropped off.

Credit: All About Jazz

George “Butch” Ballard accomplished many things in his 92 years, for which he was honored last fall in the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame.

Ballard died Saturday after a life spent in Frankford and devoted to music.

The jazz legend is survived by his wife of 67 years, the sounds of the Butch Ballard Trio and memories in Frankford — grew up in Plum Street, went to Harding and Northeast and was a Democratic ward leader. continue reading »