Q: I really want to buy a home in the Northeast but the absolute most I can afford is $100,000. I really don’t want a fixer-upper or anything that “needs TLC.” What can I get for that price and where should I be looking?

A:  In the Multiple Listing Service Trend, there are 268 homes listed for sale today in Northeast Philadelphia for $100,000 and under. Out of those homes, there are 116 active listings that are noted as “Average +” continue reading »

Champ at his dog school graduation in June 2011. He’s missing in Somerton.

Champ has gone missing in Somerton. He was last seen by his owners around Loesche School/Gifford Playground on Tomlinson Road near Bustleton Avenue, but has not returned home since running away. If you’ve seen champ, please leave a comment below or email info [AT] neastphilly [DOT] com with the subject line: Champ.

Major League Bocce, already in other parts of Philadelphia, will base its Northeast teams in Somerton. Photo/Ryan McDonald

Can an organization based on making friends and providing a means for people to have fun after a hard day at work be philanthropic? For Sarah DeLucas, president of Major League Bocce, the answer is yes. DeLucas said giving back to the community was something she wanted to do when her and her friends developed the league back in 2004.

The league began in Washington, D.C. and spread to Maryland before making its way to Philadelphia. After a couple years in other parts of the city, Major League Bocce is coming to the Northeast in May, and will be based in Somerton continue reading »

Pa. Rep. Brendan Boyle, Councilman Brian O’Neill, and Pat and Nancy Boyle assist some very happy children at the playground ribbon-cutting at the Officer Daniel Boyle Memorial Rec Center. Photo/Michelle Alton

Somerton was full of excitement and emotion Thursday as the neighborhood celebrated the ribbon cutting of a new playground at the Officer Daniel Boyle Memorial Rec Center [map].

Councilman Brian O’Neill, R-10th, and Pa. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-170th, were there to help city officials, rec center leaders and Boyle’s parents dedicate the new playground, which replaces outdated equipment and spray grounds.

See more of Bill Achuff and Michelle Alton’s photos from the event in the slideshow below. continue reading »

Philadelphia Academy Charter School CEO Larry Sperling. Photo/Steven Mitchell

Updated April 26, 2013 The School District of Philadelphia has announced it will “not recommend any expansions of charter schools to the School Reform Commission (SRC) for the 2013-14 school year in light of a $304 budget shortfall, and the necessity for shared sacrifice among all participants in public education.”   

Some charter schools in Philadelphia are up for renewal this year and Philadelphia Academy Charter School in Somerton is one of them. Since charter schools operate independently, they must go through a long process every five years to stay open.

Charter schools like Philadelphia Academy are publicly funded. They are just like public schools, but get to pick their own board members and administrative staff. The monthly board meetings are open to the public for anyone to attend. Brick and mortar charter schools in Philadelphia are watched over the Philadelphia School District while cyber chart schools are monitored by the state Department of Education.

While the school district wasn’t able to comment on the charter renewal process, Philadelphia Academy CEO Larry Sperling explained the “massive” documentation needed to get renewed. A charter school must submit the documents by hardcopy, as well as electronically.

“Gigantic,” Sperling said. “We’re in the middle of renewal right now. We did all of our work over the summer and into the fall and submitted our renewal application. Now we’re waiting to hear the decision of the school district.”

Sperling said that decision should come sometime this month. continue reading »

A Somerton couple (A) is charged with faking residency in Montgomery County (B) to send their child to a Lower Moreland school. Image/Google Maps

A Somerton couple is giving up the fight that began last summer when they were charged with faking their residency to send their daughter to school in Montgomery County.

Hamlet and Olesia Garcia now have an attorney from Miami who says the couple’s arrest was racially motivated. continue reading »

Parent Chrissy Poper hoped to find a seat for her 8-year-old daughter Abigail at the popular MaST Community Charter School in Somerton. NewsWorks photo/Benjamin Herold

Chrissy Poper has been trying to get her eight-year old daughter into popular MaST Community Charter School in Somerton for the past three years.

But with parent demand far outpacing the number of available seats at the school, Poper has been left to play some very long odds.

“I put applications in for her in kindergarten, first, and second grade,” Poper said.

“She just hasn’t hit the lottery yet.” continue reading »

NewsWorks Image/Todd Vachon and Michelle Schmitt

In the Far Northeast, within city lines but long its own sprawling world, the traditional neighborhood public elementary school remains a popular option for families with young children.

Take William H. Loesche Elementary at Tomlinson Road and Bustleton Avenue.

The school serves nine of every 10 public school students living within in its attendance zone. continue reading »

Realtor Stacey McCarthy will return next week with a new column. This column was originally published in March 2012.

Q: A few months ago I found a house in Somerton that I wanted to buy, but it was overpriced by about $20,000 and over my budget. I made an offer on the house for the price I thought I could afford and we sent comps with the offer. But I was turned down flat. I am still looking for a home, but I noticed the house I made the offer on is still for sale but at a lower price than I offered. I don’t want it now, but why didn’t they just take my offer? They would have made more than they’ll make now. It doesn’t make sense.

A: Unable to accept the fact that their home was overpriced, the sellers apparently needed the extra time on the market to see if it would sell at the price they wanted first before reducing to a more realistic price. They are probably kicking themselves now for turning down your offer. continue reading »

Capt. Joseph Zaffino of the 7th District has issued an alert to those who use public storage units to take caution, as units in the district have been burglarized.

Centers in Bustleton and Somerton were targeted over the weekend. continue reading »