The Somerton Civic Association met for its regular monthly meeting Tuesday to discuss a variety of issues within the community. The first issue addressed was the recent resignation of the association’s vice president, Michael Smith. The board encouraged members to step up and put themselves in the running for the position. Whoever is elected will serve until June 2012, when elections for the entire board will take place. “We would love to see some new blood,” Pat Cantwell remarked.

The board also thanked everyone who participated in the Community Day event last month. The only issue with the event was that the members wished they had more time to plan the festivities. It was noted that if there is a Community Day in 2012, it would be held in the beginning of October.

Officer Rich Simon spoke to the association about recent criminal activity in the area. In the last month there have been 11 burglaries, either physical or attempted.

“Keep your windows and doors locked. Be vigilant,” warned Simon. One patron expressed concern about the delayed response time of police officers to the area when called.

“It took 2 ½ hours for an officer to respond to my call,” said the upset community member, who would not go into specifics of the issue. Another issue brought to attention was the sighting of teenagers partying around the Red Lion Bridge on nights and weekends. Simon urged community members to document any incidents by calling 911. A complete video of Officer Simon’s report is available below. continue reading »

Rhianna Clark runs her photography business from her home on Red Lion Road in Morrell Park.

Taking a good photo is not something everyone can do. Some are good at it, some are not, but photographer Rhianna Clark said she always knew.

“I always loved taking photos and asked for the next best camera for my birthday,” Clark said. “But never once did I consider this as my career.”

Clark’s business, Rhianna Clark Photography, began by chance. After her husband was laid off in 2008 before the holiday season, she picked up a job at a mainstream portrait studio. She excelled quickly and many clients asked that she photograph events outside of the studio.

Read more on this story on our partner site, Philadelphia Neighborhoods.

Photo courtesy of theomnivorenow.blogspot.com.

Nicole DiZio, owner of Wit or Witout cheesesteaks, has been crowned a champion.

DiZio won the Guy Fieri Cheesesteak Battle in Atlantic City last week after she and cheesesteak chefs from PYT Philly, Sack O’ Subs, Bradley’s Steaks & Hoagies and Tony Boloney went head to head in a contest. continue reading »

This past Saturday I was honored to participate in the Acme Family Day at the Stockman and Dakota Coral as a celebrity griller. That is not a typo – I am now officially a celebrity. And if that doesn’t move you, I will go even further to say that I won the grilling showdown and my charity, The Food Trust, received a $5000 donation as a result. continue reading »

Police are investigating break-in attempts at five businesses in one night. Businesses along the Roosevelt Boulevard and Red Lion Road corridor were targeted between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. continue reading »

Friday – A water main break early Friday evening rerouted traffic from the busy Bustleton Avenue/Red Lion Road intersection. A 12-inch main burst around 7:30 p.m. The Philadelphia Water Department said only three customers lost service. Repairs began Saturday. continue reading »

Investigators have determined the cause of a fire that claimed a Bustleton man’s life last month. The Feb. 4 fire on the 1000-block of Red Lion Road was caused by a cigarette. The early morning blaze was extinguished in a half hour, but a secondary search uncovered the man’s body.

Friday – One man died in an early morning fire on the 1000-block of Red Lion Road. Firefighters responded around 5:30 a.m. and were able to extinguish the blaze in less than a half hour. A secondary search of the complex after the fire was out led to the discovery of the man in a second-floor back bedroom. The cause of the fire remains unclear. continue reading »

Courtesy of Mega Millions

The owners of a winning lottery ticket bought it locally. Bi Rite Deli at Red Lion and Academy roads sold the $250,000 Mega Millions ticket. continue reading »

The intersection where a man approached two young girls in Bustleton, courtesy of Google maps.

The Special Victims Unit of the Philadelphia Police Department has issued an alert for a possible abduction attempt in Bustleton yesterday.

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