I think a lot about how drastic the difference seems to be between people from the Northeast and those from New Jersey in how they identify themselves.

Obviously, a lot of this has to do with the sheer difference in size between Philadelphia and most towns in New Jersey. People from the Northeast often distinguish themselves based on neighborhoods (or parishes, especially those who live in areas that are prominently Catholic; however, that is another column for another time), a point that can easily be proven by looking at the sidebar of this website. continue reading »

Rep. Brendan Boyle's Legislative Assistants Kathleen Peiffer and Deput Joseph Mack present Beth Glynn with her citation. Photo courtesy of the Office of State Rep. Brendan Boyle

Parkwood resident Beth Glynn was honored recently with the  citywide award for Paramedic of the Year. State Rep. Brendan Boyle’s office presented Glynn with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to honor her accomplishments.

At the Citation Presentation which took place at the medic unit where Glynn works regularly at Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street, she met with Mark Fabbi and Kathleen Peiffer, legislative assistants to Boyle and Deputy Chief Joseph Mack.

The final meeting of the season for the Parkwood Civic Association offered new beginnings to residents in the form of tax amnesty and recycling rewards.

With little new business on the agenda, the presentations got underway almost immediately, resulting in just a 60-minute meeting. continue reading »

Q: I am looking for a three- or four-bedroom home in Somerton with a large yard. My agent has shown me a couple houses that fit what I want, but they are way out of my price range. I am approved for $180,000, and do not want a fixer-upper. I personally know of a couple homes in Somerton that have sold for less. Should I hold out and keep looking in Somerton or just settle for Bustleton?

A: To be honest, I don’t think you’ll fare much better in Bustleton, either. These are both areas of the Northeast where the average price for a home is close to $250,000. If you have your sights set on these areas, it will be very difficult for you to find what you are looking for. continue reading »

Photo courtesy of SEPTA Watch.

There is a 10-year age difference between the Costa brothers. They live in two different neighborhoods of the Northeast — William in Mayfair, Joseph in Parkwood. And they were victims of two separate attacks on the Market-Frankford El last week.

William, 47, told SEPTA police (and the Daily News) he was pushed to the ground by two teenage girls last Thursday as he was about to board the train at Frankford Transportation Center just after 8 a.m.

He told authorities two additional girls video taped the incident, while a boy kicked him as he lay on the ground. The group hopped on the train and fled. continue reading »

Parkwood Civic Association members gathered in St. Anselm’s school hall last night, but they didn’t have a meeting. Instead, the board hosted a holiday party for the neighborhood, complete with an impromptu performance by a bell choir (with appearances from several legislative assistants, civic board members and NEast Philly’s very own editor), free hoodies and a full spread of sandwiches, salads, drinks and desserts.

Among festive table cloths, paper snowflakes and other holiday decorations, residents sat down to enjoy their food, talk about the neighborhood and wish each other a happy holiday.

And with that, Parkwood Civic Association closed out 2009, to reconvene in February.

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The Parkwood Civic Association held its monthly meeting last night to address current and ongoing issues in the neighborhood. In the meeting, which lasted just about 30 minutes, residents reviewed the following topics:

• sponsoring a membership drive for the civic
• raising money to help fund a Christmas party
• leaf collections around the city
• an Election Night fight at Academy and Torrey roads, involving racial issues

Election day is tomorrow, and being an off year (no mayoral or presidential candidates), voter turnout in Philadelphia is typically low. But voting is always important – especially for the offices in this election.

Tomorrow at the polls, you’ll have the chance to elect candidates for two citywide offices – District Attorney and City Controller – in addition to six judicial positions.

Some of these candidate have ties to the Northeast, while others have made the rounds at many civic association meetings.

continue reading »

Incumbent Democratic candidate for city controller addresses the Parkwod Civic Association.

Parkwood Civic Association President Mike Hatala got right down to business at last night’s meeting, leading with the Pledge of Allegiance, then calling up the group’s guest: incumbent Democratic city controller candidate Alan Butkovitz.

Butkovitz will face off against Republican candidate Al Schmidt in the Nov. 3 election. The Democrat first addressed what he said have been  the three focal points of his past year as city controller:

• spending time looking at failures in service
• emphasizing money and viability as an important role in the city’s collection of funds
• being an independent voice in analyzing Mayor Nutter’s budget and financial plans

Continue reading for a recap of the rest of meeting, more from Butkovitz and a numerical break down of the city’s finances. continue reading »

Courtesy of CBS

The Parkwood Youth Organization honored slain police office John Pawlowski yesterday with a mural. The painting, done by Jon Laidacker in collaboration with the Mural Arts Program, is of a smiling Pawlowski looking out from the wall of the youth organization where he played soccer and basketball as a child.

His wife Kim and newborn son were there for the memorial. Pawlowski was killed in February while confronting a robbery suspect in the 35th District where he worked