Residents from all over the Northeast attended the Burholme community meeting to learn about the Northeast's history. Photo by Christopher Wink.

The promise of Northeast Philadelphia historian Dr. Harry Silcox drew even larger crowd than usual to last night’s meeting of the Burholme Civic Association and Burholme Town Watch.

About 100 people showed up – more than the group of 65 for a similar presentation in Tacony, and more than a past Burholme meeting the mayor attended. President Al Taubenberger called the meeting to order as folks set up more chairs and pressed themselves against walls to hear Silcox discuss the history of Burholme and other parts of the Northeast.

Keep reading for Northeast trivia and a video. continue reading »

As NEast Philly reported in a breaking news story Saturday, two people were found stabbed in their Pine Valley home on the 100-block of Greycourt Road.

However, Action News reported the crime took place in Bustleton. Granted, Pine Valley isn’t one of the high-profile neighborhoods in the Northeast, as it is almost entirely residential, but Bustleton? Greycourt sits in the small pocket between Bloomfield, Pine, Welsh and Verree. They’d have been closer if they’d said Huntington Valley.

The story appeared in the Inquirer Sunday, and also lists the neighborhood as Bustleton. CBS played it safe by not mentioning a neighborhood at all. FOX and NBC did the same.

Outside media don’t care about the Northeast. We have all seen them misuse, misspell and mistake our neighborhoods and our streets, so we at NEast Philly wanted to do something about it. When they get it wrong, we set it right in a segment we like to call Right NEast/Wrong NEast.

UPDATE: The deaths of Robert and Sophia DiAndrea have been ruled a murder-suicide. Sophia died of multiple stab wounds to the chest, while her husband died of self-inflicted wounds to his arms and forearms. Police said is appeared the couple died following a knife fight.

UPDATE – Authorities are trying to determine if this is a murder-suicide or double homicide. There were no signs of a break-in at the home, but police could not reveal whether they had received domestic violence complaints from the home. The Daily News reported the couple had been seeking a divorce.

BREAKING: A husband and wife were found stabbed to death in their Pine Valley home just a few hours ago.

The bodies of Robert and Sophia DiAndrea were found shortly before 6 p.m. in their home on the 100-block of Greycourt Road. Each were in separate bedrooms, and three bloody knives were found at the scene.

Robert, 40, worked for the water department, and 39-year-old Sophia was a teacher. The sons, whoa re in fifth and eight grades at St. Albert the Great School on Welsh Road, were not at home at the time.

Do you know of an event or meeting going on in the Northeast? If it’s not on our calendar, then contact us. If you attended an event, send us a note or photo telling us about it, and you just might see your name on NEastPhilly.com.

Pine Valley residents and nearby neighbors are invited to participate in a community swap Saturday. Clean out those basements and attics, and get rid of all your excess by trading with a neighbor!

The swap is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in St. Mark’s parking lot at 525 Welsh Rd. (at Darlington). The flea market-style event is a great way to unload old stuff and home-made crafts, while getting something you need in exchange. There will be food, too!

For more information about the swap and how to reserve your free space, and for contact information, see our Events listing.

*You do not have to live in Pine Valley to participate in this event.

Q: In December 2007, I refinanced my single home in Pine Valley, and it appraised for more than $400,000. I plan on selling this spring. Can I use that appraisal to set the price or do I need to get a new one?

A:  Appraisals are usually based on market value, and recent changes in market conditions may alter the appraised value. In Pine Valley, house values have decreased since 2007. If you were to get an appraisal today, I am confident it would not be the same number from two years ago. continue reading »