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.

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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

Q: I noticed that there are five homes for sale within a two-block radius of my home in Parkwood. I want to sell mine now, but I am worried there are too many homes on the market. Are any of them selling?

A: In the Northeast, there are for sale signs in front of more than 1,800 homes. However more than 400 of those are under contract and waiting for settlement. This year, well over 900 homes have been sold in the Northeast, accounting for almost 25 percent of overall Philadelphia home sales. It’s taking a longer time in this market, but there are homes selling. continue reading »

By Shannon McDonald

A Parkwood driver drove into two parked cars on the 12000-block of Medford Street after going into diabetic shock, police said. The accident occurred around 1:30 this morning, when the driver of the SUV passed out and hit two parked cars, flipping one of them over.

The driver, a 50-year-old man whose identity has not been released, remains in the hospital in stable condition.

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By Shannon McDonald

Tomorrow is Parkwood Community Day at Parkwood Fields. From noon to 3 p.m. enjoy food, games and a visit from the Phillie Phanatic. It’s also the perfect chance to dunk your team’s coach in the dunk tank.

In honor of Officer John Pawlowski, proceeds from the basket raffle, blue ribbons and light sales will go to the slain officer’s family.

The weather should be in the low 70s, but the rain date is Saturday, April 25.

Q: My fiance and I are getting married this summer so we’re looking to buy a home in the Northeast. We’re not sure exactly which neighborhood we want to live in yet, but it looks like our choices are limited to Mayfair and Homesburg right now. Is there any reason to hope that prices will go down in Morrell Park or Parkwood? We were thinking we should wait until that happens.

A: No one knows for certain what will happen to house values in the Northeast. Will they go up or down, or stay the same? They have already gone down a little, but not much compared to many other parts of the country. continue reading »