Standing (l to r): Estela Cajina, Kim Neubauer, Linda Lvea, Ashley Holzman-O’Brien, Arionna Hart, Tiffany Kapusta, Cassie Carrasco, Ashley Lanetti, Chelsie Gault. Kneeling (l to r): Brooke Schmanek, Veronica Zgura, Shani Chen, Katie Hagan, Laura Danila, Amanda Norton. Sitting: Maggie Sees

It has been one first after another for the students of the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush.  The school, described as a “small, special admittance, comprehensive high school that focuses on the arts,” opened in September 2008.

This year, the school — under leadership from Principal Jessica Brown and Athletic Director Kevin Katz — was granted its first sports by the School District’s Office of Athletics: JV basketball (teams for boys and girls), co-ed JV track and Varsity Soccer.   The Varsity team was granted because Public League girls soccer does not have a JV program; the players could have been forced to play “an exhibition year” with all of the games counting only as scrimmages.  However, Director Jack Creighton allowed the team to play in the lowest division as a full-fledged Varsity team

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The Philly Flash girls 12 & under team brought home the championship title from the Midway Pony Qualifier Tournament.

The Philly Flash is a girls fastpitch softball organization located at the intersection of Thornton and Comly roads.

The girls 12 & under team traveled to Wilmington, Del. for the 2010 Midway Pony Qualifier Tournament this past weekend. After winning one game and losing two on Saturday and getting the 8th seed, The team went undefeated on Sunday’s single elimination games by wining four games against the 9th, 1st, 4th and 3rd seeds, and took home the championship. continue reading »

Mayfair CDC Executive Director Brian Patrick King mentions some of the politicians who've helped the organization.

UPDATE [March 9] — Flash portion added.

For Kim Wilson and her 5-year-old daughter Marian, the STARS Program housed in Mayfair’s John M. Perzel Community Center provides a support system for facing the struggles of a disability.

“When you get a diagnosis for your child, there’s a whole process you go through in coming to terms with the diagnosis,” Wilson, whose daughter has been diagnosed with mild autism, a severe articulation disorder and a sensory integration dysfunction, said. “But then you also find out that there is this larger community of families going through that same process. Part of what STARS did for us was learning that we weren’t alone in what we were going through.”

Now, STARS, a sports program for disabled children, and more than 50 other groups that call the state-of-the-art John M. Perzel Community Center home, are facing possible program cuts, increases in fees or even facility shut downs due to recent and projected state funding cuts. continue reading »

Father Judge's soccer team, 2009 state champions. Photo submitted by Coach John Dunlop.

Father Judge’s varsity soccer team earned the title of co-state champs back in November, sharing the honor with Central Dauphin High School. Coach John Dunlop submitted a recap and photo.

The Father Judge Soccer Team made history on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2009, as it became the first school from the city of Philadelphia to win a state soccer championship. continue reading »

Photo by Jennifer Reardon

The Heavy Hitta’s Boxing Club, located at 6000 Rising Sun Ave. in Lawncrest, had a boxing exhibition and gospel performance Tuesday night.

The newly formed boxing club was hoping to showcase its boxers and advertise its new club to the Lawncrest locals — all while supporting a good cause.

Chief Executive Officer Rick Terrell, 35, and his right-hand man, Chief Operating Officer Lonnie Haile, 42, met and started the club back in July 2009.   continue reading »

Joey Dawejko doubles over his opponent Ricardo Johnson with solid body shots.

Joey Dawejko remains undefeated as a pro, with two wins, including his most recent win Friday, Feb. 5, at The Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia. (More photos below.) continue reading »

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Aquan Spearman will soon go to trial after being charged with the sexual assault of three eighth-grade girls from Cooke Middle School one year ago. The assaults took place in December 2007 and January 2008, though Spearman is still awaiting trail for committing statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl in June 2006 in the Northeast.

Keep reading for news on a Washington High football player, police news and more. continue reading »

Photo courtesy of USA Today.

Sharrif Floyd is a senior at Washington High School. He’s 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, and can bench 400. And now, thanks to help from his teachers and a generous stranger, the offensive and defensive lineman for the Eagles’ football team, Floyd “has his choice of colleges” [source]. continue reading »

The Washington Eagles faced off against the Father Judge Crusaders Thursday night to fight for the title of city champs. Washington beat Bartram in the Public League, and Judge beat Ryan in the Catholic League, before the two came together last week for the city title. In the end, the Crusaders proved victorious. continue reading »

During the tense six-game World Series, many residents of Northeast Philadelphia want to show their Phillies pride, but still have enough money to pay the bills.  Bargain shoppers found that the several Forman Mills stores in the area have Phillies championship merchandise at lower prices.  They have some very similar items found in other stores, like the Modell’s in Roosevelt Mall.

See video of some of the Northeast’s most popular sports retailers and their customers below. continue reading »