Solis-Cohen (A) and Pollock (B) schools are two of Philadelphia's top 12 feeder schools for Masterman High School. Image/Google Maps

Getting into the  Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Center City isn’t easy.

It’s the 45th-best public high school in the country, sends most of its graduates to four-year colleges and attracts students from all over the city. Including Northeast Philadelphia.

As part of an in-depth report on Masterman and its accessibility, the Public School Notebook found the top 12 School District of Philadelphia feeder schools that send students to Masterman’s at the fifth grade level – the easiest way to guarantee a spot in the high school. continue reading »

Toy guns are being sold from an ice cream truck in Holme Circle parked across the street from Pollock Elementary School.

The policy on toy guns at Robert Blair Pollock Elementary in Holme Circle is simple: they’re not allowed.

But a parent called Fox29 recently when his child showed up to school with a toy gun the parent says was sold to the student by the ice cream truck driver at Welsh Road and Tolbut Street. continue reading »

Photo courtesy of Elsie Stevens.

Scores of Holme Circle residents participated in two protests on Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. and Oct. 27 at 4:30 p.m. at the Engine 18 firehouse at Pennypack Circle to voice their concern of the Fire Department’s new “brown out” policy. continue reading »

Photo submitted by Elsie Stevens.

I’m seeing red these days as I learn more about the Fire Department’s brown outs.  Did you know that three firehouses in northeast Philadelphia are among those on the citywide list:  Engine 18 Pennypack Circle, Engine 71 Cottman and Loretto, and Engine 64 Rising Sun and Magee?

With past cuts in fire personnel and equipment and now rotating closures of neighborhood firehouses, how can the Mayor and Fire Department’s administrative personnel justify that they have our public safety in their best interest?  Is it not the core responsibility of our city government to provide adequate fire protection to its citizens?   continue reading »