A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle Sunday night while walking near Oxford Circle and Roosevelt Boulevard.

The 32-year-old man was struck around 9:30 p.m. at the Boulevard and Oxford Avenue, and was taken to Einstein Medical Center in critical condition. continue reading »

Do you live west of Roosevelt Boulevard and south of Rhawn Street?

Then you live in Oxford Circle, according to CBS3. As little knowledge as the mainstream media have about the Northeast, they seem to be in particular need of a geography lesson on the west side of Roosevelt Boulevard. Because as many have done, and as CBS3 proves with this story, they tend to just label everything as Oxford Circle. continue reading »

Players assume defense positions for the Fok-Rok offense. Photo by Laura D'Alfonso.

In part one of a two-part series, NEast Philly examines what goes into making an athletic association successful, and what two neighborhoods are doing to keep kids active.

As youngsters, we rarely considered the time and effort that went into running the machine-pitch baseball teams we played for, much less the work it took getting us runts to play a remotely coherent seven innings. Looking at expansive youth athletics organizations like Fox-Rok Athletics Association, one wonders what has made this community staple tick for nearly 60 years.

Fox-Rok AA corresponding secretary Ken Warner said there is more to building a successful organization than might even come to mind for most.

“Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have an organization,” Warner admits. “You need to have community support.”

Warner remembers when he joined Fox-Rok’s board of directors as both the secretary and later webmaster. He reminds anyone new to the organization that everything they need is on the Fox-Rok website.

“They weren’t computer savvy and I happened to be at the time,” Warner recalled. “They had a lack of communication that maybe they didn’t realize. Written and oral communications is key today.”

Warner said there is even more at stake when getting a community athletics organization to operate effectively.

“You have to have a financial backing. It’s outrageous what this all costs us,” he said.

Warner says that Fox-Rok receives a good amount of its funding from local business sponsors. Some of which place their advertisements on team uniforms. While Fox-Rok girls softball coach Jon Doherty said agrees the financial aspect is important, he also thinks that there is even more that contributes to a successful community sports club. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

The Safety Ambassador Program has returned to the Frankford Business Corridor as of yesterday. The program — part of the Frankford Special Services District — was a part of Frankford in the late 1990s and will allow for of uniformed personnel to patrol Frankford Avenue in order to increase commerce on the corridor.

Keep reading for news on a police couple who saved the day, the first ever doctoral program at Holy Family, and more. continue reading »

Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce, says several business corridors in the region have not experienced decline during the economic fallout.

For Samuel Nalbandian, owner of Rising Sun Pizza in Lawncrest, the business is a way of life and the recession is nothing to worry about.

“For me, it’s been the same,” he said of business during the past several months. “It’s always good, as long as I’m here managing. The customers are satisfied.”

Nalbandian, who opened the pizza parlor in 1982, said while he did see a slight drop in business last year that he attributed to the recession, he doesn’t worry about the shop.

“I do worry for other people not having jobs when the economy is bad,” he said. “But as long as I do the right thing, I don’t worry [about the business].”

Like some owners throughout the Northeast’s many neighborhoods and myriad business corridors, Nalbandian is a small business owner lucky enough to skirt the worst of the decline, avoiding being hit as hard as other businesses, especially larger ones. While there are not concrete statistics for our region of the city specifically, in terms of the economy’s effect on the businesses, a consensus exists among owners and civic leaders that while the Northeast’s businesses were hit, they largely weren’t hit too hard, and will pull through and stay profitable. continue reading »

An Oxford Circle man died following a fight in North Philadelphia Friday night.

Korbel Odd, 29, whose address has not been revealed, was a barber at Crazy Hands Barber Shop on the 2400-block of Lehigh Avenue. During an argument with another barber, Odd was shot in the chest and arm. He was taken to Temple University Hospital and pronounced dead just after 11:30 p.m.

Police are investigating a murder-suicide, which they discovered in a van parked in Oxford Circle this morning.

Authorities believe Segundo Duque, 61, shot his 16-year-old autistic son while the two were driving on the 4500-block of H Street in Juniata. continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

George Washington High School alums John Dunlop and Chris Reid coached against each other Thursday during the  PIAA Class AAA boys’ soccer city championship game, with Reid managing his alma mater, the Public League champion, and Dunlop coaching the Catholic League champion, Father Judge, against his former Eagles. NEast Philly will have photos of the matchup.

More links below, including a prison sentencing, political victory and more. continue reading »

Police are investigating a double shooting that took place in Oxford Circle over the weekend.

Two men were shot around 2:30 a.m. Saturday on the 6000-block of Castor Avenue. A man in his 20s was shot in the back, and the second man was shot multiple times, according to Action News. Both men were taken to Einstein Medical Center, listed in serious and critical condition, respectively.

The cause of the shooting has not been determined.

Officers of the 2nd District were reportedly forced to open fire on a robbery suspect in Oxford Circle early this morning.

After robbing a 7-Eleven, the suspect fled in a truck, which police followed. He then crashed the vehicle on the 6000-block of Oxford Avenue and continued fleeing on foot. Investigators are still examining what led an officer to open fire on the 1000-block of Benner Street.

The suspect was taken to Einstein Medical Center with unknown injuries, and his weapon was recovered from this truck.