From the City of Philadelphia:

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) recently announced its proposal to seek rate changes, beginning Oct. 1, 2012, to maintain the City’s top-quality water, alleviate flooding, meet regulatory requirements and improve the quality of local rivers and streams. Even with the proposed additional rates, PWD’s water and sewer charges will continue to be among the lowest in the region.

An additional public hearing has been scheduled with Councilwoman Marian Tasco’s, D-9th, office at the Philadelphia Protestant Home in Lawncrest, 6500 Tabor Ave. at 6 p.m. for customers to continue to comment and ask questions. continue reading »

(L to R) Anthony Manzo, CEO and President of PPh; residents Karl Soltan and Mike Fesnak; Alex Kane; Rep. Brendan Boyle; William Conaway, Director of Community Relations at PPh; and Vic Czapor. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Protestant Home.

More than 80 of The Philadelphia Protestant Home’s staff and resident military veterans were honored at a luncheon, held on Veteran’s Day, November 11.  Pennsylvania State Rep. Brendan Boyle offered remarks and Alex Kane spoke about his experiences during the World War II Battle of the Bulge.

(L to R): Bill Conaway, PPh Director of Community Relations; Sherry Wharton; John Evans, Salvation Army Thrift Store; and Sandi King, Philadelphia Commerce Department Business Services Manager, take a break from cleaning Rising Sun Avenue from Hellerman to Levick streets. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Protestant Home.

This submission was provided by the Philadelphia Protestant Home, one of many business and organizations that took part in the Rising Sun Avenue cleanup. NEast Philly will have additional coverage of the event in the coming days.

More than 75 people took to the street on Saturday morning, and with brooms, rakes and shovels in work-gloved hands, cleaned up Rising Sun Avenue from Adams to Cottman avenues. continue reading »

Stephen Fediuk received a $1,000 college scholarship from the Philadelphia Protestant Home, presented by Eileen Bratton, the daughter of Mavis Morrissey, for whom the scholarship is named.

Stephen Fediuk a 2010 graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School, is the winner of The Philadelphia Protestant Home Mavis Morrissey Memorial Scholarship.  continue reading »

From the Philadelphia Protestant Home:

Boris (A.K.A. Mary Ellen Keller) with help from Kitty Iwanycky (left) and Thomasine Mapp (center) of the Crypt Kicker Five did “The Monster Mash” at The Philadelphia Protestant Home’s Volunteer Awards luncheon and musical review on April 15.

PPh said thanks to its 300 volunteers at a luncheon and comedy show performed by staff from the president to those in dining services.  Last year, dedicated volunteers gave more than 38,500 hours of services to PPh – saving the Home approximately $650,000.
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The Lawncrest community came together Wednesday at “The Grove” next to Lawncrest Rec Center to celebrate Veterans Day.

The event, which achieved a crowd of more than 100 people, was planned by the Lawncrest Community Association, with help from the office of Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco, the Rising Sun Lions Club and the Phil-Mont Kiwanis Club.

People who arrived passed by headstone memorials near Rising Sun Avenue, which honored World War I and World War II veterans. In the back of The Grove stood a memorial honoring both Vietnam and Korean War Vets.

Kathy Wersinger, administrative assistant to Tasco, headed the celebration. “I think it is important to thank out veterans,” she said. “The only services I know of are downtown, and so this was a good way to bring people in the community together.” continue reading »

Bill Dolbow leads Tuesday night's Lawncrest Civic Association meeting

The agenda for last night’s Lawncrest Civic Association read like a who’s who of local figureheads – much to the attendees’ delight.

Aside from the usual address from board members Bill Dolbow and Phil Grutzmacher, guests included representatives from the offices of City Council members Marian Tasco, Brian O’Neill, Jack Kelly and Bill Greenlee; Senator Shirley Kitchen; and representatives Dwight Evans, Mark Cohen and Brendan Boyle. Officer Mark Mroz of the 2nd District spoke, in addition to Bill Conaway from the Philadelphia Protestant Home and Debra Mikus with the Lawncrest Library.

The highlighted speakers were Al Schmidt, Republican candidate for City Controller, and Michael Untermeyer, Republican candidate for District Attorney. Needless to say, the meeting’s agenda was packed – and Lawncrest residents came ready with questions.

Below, you can read highlights from each part of last night’s meeting, which are broken down according to topic. continue reading »