Aerial view of PNE/Google Maps

The control towers at the Northeast Philadelphia and Wilmington-Castle airports may close as a result of the federal budget cuts known as the sequester. Both airports are on a list of more than 200 targeted for a potential shutdown by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Closing the control tower wouldn’t close the airports. continue reading »

Photo courtesy of Elsie Stevens.

Scores of Holme Circle residents participated in two protests on Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. and Oct. 27 at 4:30 p.m. at the Engine 18 firehouse at Pennypack Circle to voice their concern of the Fire Department’s new “brown out” policy. continue reading »

Whenever I talk to anybody who is, at best, slightly familiar with the area, or Philadelphia in general, there are two specific places I like to reference to give them an understanding of where I grew up.

And, without a doubt, people usually are familiar with both and tend to have a story – sometimes negative – about at least one of them. continue reading »

Photo submitted by Elsie Stevens.

I’m seeing red these days as I learn more about the Fire Department’s brown outs.  Did you know that three firehouses in northeast Philadelphia are among those on the citywide list:  Engine 18 Pennypack Circle, Engine 71 Cottman and Loretto, and Engine 64 Rising Sun and Magee?

With past cuts in fire personnel and equipment and now rotating closures of neighborhood firehouses, how can the Mayor and Fire Department’s administrative personnel justify that they have our public safety in their best interest?  Is it not the core responsibility of our city government to provide adequate fire protection to its citizens?   continue reading »

Photo courtesy of CBS3

A plane made an emergency landing last night at Northeast Philadelphia Airport resulting from landing gear trouble.

The single-engine plane coasted down the runway around 9 p.m., landing on its main wheels after the nose gear failed to extend. No injuries were reported, but an investigation to determine the cause of the incident has not been completed.

Photo courtesy of KYW/CBS3.

A KYW Newsradio plane made an emergency landing yesterday morning — on the New Jersey Turnpike.

The two passengers aboard the single-engine plane escaped unhurt after they landed in the northbound lanes of the highway in Cherry Hill, N.J., after the aircraft’s gauges showed low oil pressure.

The plane, based out of Northeast Philadelphia Airport, landed safely around 7:30 a.m., with no injuries reported from the plane, or on the turnpike.

Democratic District Attorney candidate Seth Williams was one of three candidate to address GBCL members last night.

“It’s going to be a brief meeting for tonight’s important game,” Greater Bustleton Civic League President Bernice Hill told antsy residents at last night’s monthly meeting. Though the room was full, the sense of urgency to wrap up the meeting in time for game one of the World Series was palpable.

Not wasting time, GBCL  board members got right down to business following some announcements, and introduced their three guests for the evening: incumbent Democratic candidate for City Controller Alan Butkovitz, Republican candidate for City Controller Al Schmidt and Democratic candidate for District Attorney Seth Williams.

Next Tuesday, Nov. 3 is election day. See where you vote here. continue reading »

Courtesy of the NGAP

The National Greyhound Adoption Program has a new home in the Northeast. The 100,000 square foot facility is on Dutton Road off Comly near Normandy and the airport.

Calming music is played in rooms of spacious cages and cushioned beds, according to a report by KYW, and there are four large dog runs for the animals.

continue reading »

Residents from all over the Northeast attended the Burholme community meeting to learn about the Northeast's history. Photo by Christopher Wink.

The promise of Northeast Philadelphia historian Dr. Harry Silcox drew even larger crowd than usual to last night’s meeting of the Burholme Civic Association and Burholme Town Watch.

About 100 people showed up – more than the group of 65 for a similar presentation in Tacony, and more than a past Burholme meeting the mayor attended. President Al Taubenberger called the meeting to order as folks set up more chairs and pressed themselves against walls to hear Silcox discuss the history of Burholme and other parts of the Northeast.

Keep reading for Northeast trivia and a video. continue reading »

A Northeast couple will stand trial for the January death of their toddler. Herbert and Catherine Schaible,, 41 and 40, are accused of using prayer rather than medication to treat their 2-year-old son, who suffered from bacterial pneumonia. The couple, who belong to the First Century Gospel Church in Juniata, face charges of involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy and child endangerment.

Keep reading for information about art classes in Frankford, talented Washington students and more. continue reading »