Q: I really want to buy a home in the Northeast but the absolute most I can afford is $100,000. I really don’t want a fixer-upper or anything that “needs TLC.” What can I get for that price and where should I be looking?

A:  In the Multiple Listing Service Trend, there are 268 homes listed for sale today in Northeast Philadelphia for $100,000 and under. Out of those homes, there are 116 active listings that are noted as “Average +” continue reading »

Farm to City’s Ben Bergman led the effort to bring a weekly farmers market to Parkwood. Photo/Steven Mitchell

With the finishing touches being put together, the Parkwood Farmers Market is scheduled to open Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at Third Reformed Presbyterian Church parking lot located at 3024 Byberry Rd.

Farm to City, which will manage the market, conducted a server to help determine the location of the next one. The effort was led by Farm to City worker and Parkwood resident Ben Bergman, who wrote the grant proposal, attended neighborhood meetings and created a blog and Facebook page to get residents on board. continue reading »

Q: I am looking for a home in the Far Northeast. I have noticed that there are several homes for sale on the same street. I would like to see one of them because the pictures look great online, but I am worried there is a problem with that street or something. Should I just avoid it?

A: Just because there are several homes for sale on the same street, does not necessarily mean there is something “wrong” with the street. It could simply be a matter of bad timing on the block and neighbors find themselves in the same situation of selling their home at the same time. You should also take into account that there can be up to 30 homes on the same block at times when you are considering row homes. continue reading »

Captain Marty LeBree, whose Engine 53 later carried Captain Michael Goodwin’s casket to his funeral service and burial. Photo/Michelle Alton

Friends of fallen Philadelphia Firefighter Michael Goodwin gathered on motorcycles Tuesday to honor the man who died fighting a building fire in South Philadelphia. Goodwin, a Parkwood resident, was laid to rest Thursday.

He died when the roof of a building along Fabric Row collapsed.

See the complete slideshow below for more photos by Michelle Alton from the ride and outside the funeral home. continue reading »

Castor Gardens residents cleaned up Max Myers Rec Center during the 2012 Philly Spring Cleanup. Photo/Michelle Alton

Is there a spot in your neighborhood that needs cleaning?

For those looking to volunteer, the Philly Spring Cleanup website has the full list of sites for the annual citywide clean-up event.

All cleanups scheduled for Northeast Philadelphia will be posted here, below. The clean-up day is April 13. continue reading »

A Parkwood woman has been charged for allegedly trying to buy a gun for someone else.

Margaret Litton, 27, of the 3000-block of Morning Glory Road,  was caught during a state criminal background check after multiple attempts to make a straw purchase in Bucks County, according to a report. continue reading »

Rita Varley and Jim Coffin at the site of Parkwood’s new community garden. Photo/Steven Mitchell

A community garden is in the process of becoming a reality for Parkwood residents.

With support from Councilman Brian O’Neill, R-10th, an 18,000-sq. ft. garden located next to the Community College of Philadelphia along Townsend Road can now happen. O’Neill has dropped an amendment to the zoning code that would have required Zoning Board approval for community gardens.

The real leg work, however, has been done by resident Rita Varley, who brought her idea to the Parkwood Civic Association. She and fellow green-thumbed resident Jim Coffin have hopes of making a permaculture garden. continue reading »

Instructors helped 9-year-old Molly Mceaffrey onto a horse at the Parkwood Therapeutic Riding Center. Photo/Lucia Volpe

Parkwood Therapeutic Riding Center, a federally-registered nonprofit organization at 3142 Mechanicsville Rd., opened its doors to the special needs community in September.

“You use the horse in any way shape or form to achieve a short or longterm goal,” said Parkwood TRC President and instructor Sarah Del Ricci. “ We teach them a riding skill that can transfer over into a life skill.” continue reading »

Some of the woods separating Parkwood from an industrial park will become a parking lot. Photo/Lucia Volpe

Parkwood residents have enjoyed the woods behind their homes as a place to walk their dogs or play with their kids. When the neighbors began seeing orange ribbon tagged to the trees over the summer, they wondered what was happening. It wasn’t until bulldozers cleared the land in early August that they realized they were losing their woods.

Joe Brennan, Lisa George and Ray Kampf, who have lived in Parkwood for more than 40 years, quickly united to save what was left of their woods.

Brennan made a video of the construction and documented the beauty of the woods behind his home located on Chilton Road. He captured deer, rabbits and the babbling creek nearby, as well as list the concerns of the community. After Brennan uploaded the video to YouTube, it received more than a thousand views.

“I didn’t have enough information to say much other than this is what’s going on, this is the beauty of this place and here is what it looks like now,” Brennan said. He has since removed the video. “I can’t say my video was 100 percent accurate, so it wouldn’t be fair to keep it up.” continue reading »

A Parkwood resident is fighting to preserve the woods behind a bus company that plans to expand. Image/Google Maps

A reader brought to our attention last week a video produced by Parkwood Manor resident Joe Brennan highlighting his love for the wooded neighborhood and fears about possible development.

A meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the Parkwood Manor Woods and residents’ concerns that the David Tours bus company at 14005 McNulty Rd. is eyeing the woods as part of its expansion plan.  continue reading »