We don’t see too many of these, but when they come up, our editors can practically feel Northeast residents collectively slapping their foreheads in frustration.

In a story about a car accident that resulted in the death of a teenager Sunday, FOX29 made the simplest — and biggest — of our Right NEast/Wrong NEast mistakes: the reporter confused a neighborhood with a street. In other words, the writer assumed that because the car accident took place on Torresdale Avenue, that it also happened in the Torresdale neighborhood.

Except the accident occurred in Frankford. Not only is that an entirely different neighborhood, but it’s on pretty much the opposite side of the region as Torresdale. Frankford is the southern-most neighborhood in the Northeast, while Torresdale runs straight into the Bucks County border.

Thanks for taking the time to cover this, FOX, even if the most basic aspect of the story is inaccurate.

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.

Back in October, we featured a Right NEast/Wrong NEast calling out Action News for misreporting a neighborhood. The break, which happened on the 2800-block of Willits Road near Holme Circle, reportedly happened in Torresdale.

Though Right NEast/Wrong NEast is a popular feature on NEast Philly, we don’t pretend the big news outlets read every word we write. As if we needed confirmation of that, Action News has made the error once again. continue reading »

At least 20 historical organizations and as many as 200 people mixed and mingled during the length of Sunday’s Northeast Philadelphia History Faire — the first yearly event of its kind.

The event was held at Holy Family University’s Campus Center from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m in Torresdale, just a short walk from the inaugural Northeast Hall of Fame induction ceremony, also held at the university.

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City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski (l) examines the wall of inductees to the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame. Photo by Christopher Wink.

The Northeast welcomed the first inductees into its hall of fame yesterday, celebrating more than 300 years of accomplishments in our region.

More than 100 guests, honorees and elected officials gathered in Holy Family University’s John M. Perzel building to formally honor the first eight Northeast Philadelphians to be included in the Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame — something its creators plan to make an annual event.

“A [Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame] is long overdue,” State Rep. Dennis O’Brien said in his address to the events attendees.
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Heated arguments broke out at last night’s East Torresdale Civic Association meeting, where residents and board members collided over a zoning issue, causing many of them to walk out vowing never to return.

A variance to allow twin homes to be built using outdated zoning policies set off a slew of sidebar conversations and angry tangents, despite a signed petition’s from the property owner’s neighbors. continue reading »

Action News must have been in a rush last week to get a story together about an eight inch watermain break on Willits Road near Holme Circle, because the report that appeared on the Web site had two major location errors.

The writer reported the break happened in Torresdale, then went on to say it occurred on the 2800-block of Willits Street. Willits Street doesn’t exist, but if did, wouldn’t be in Torresdale, since the block intersects with Ashton Road, a good distance from the rough Academy Gardens/Torresdale borders.

Once again, speed takes precedence over accuracy, and the Northeast takes a hit.

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.

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 »

In an effort to deter thieves, coaches and other employees with Philly Soccer Club are painting goalposts white – something that devalues aluminum.

To date, eight goalposts have been stolen, in addition to nets, which are worth approximately $150 apiece.

Rob Calasanto, who works at Philly Soccer Club, told CBS3 he believes the thieves are cutting up the posts and selling them as scrap metal.

It’s been reported that the white paint has slowed the thefts so far, but other fields, like those at Eden Hall in Torresale, have been target as well.

Courtesy of Al Schmidt, Republican candidate for City Controller.

Meet Al Schmidt. He’s running for a low-profile office during increasingly tough times. Schmidt is the Republican candidate for City Controller, running against incumbent Democrat Alan Butkovitz.

The City Controller is responsible for overseeing government spending and auditing the appropriate agencies, something Schmidt says Butkovitz hasn’t done, and something he vows to do himself, if elected.

Note: NEast Philly also conducted interviews with incumbent Alan Butkovitz and one of his opponents in the Democratic primary, Brett Mandel.

Name: Al Schmidt
Raised: North Hills, Pittsburgh
Lives: East Falls
Position: candidate for City Controller, former senior analyst for the Government Accountability Office
Education: Vincentian Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA.  Allegheny College undergraduate.  Ph.D. from Brandeis University in Boston, MA.
Family: Wife Erin and 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Maggie

Continue reading for an interview with Schmidt about his goals as potential City Controller, and his relationship with the Northeast. continue reading »

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

An unnamed 17-year-old female was shot inTacony at about 10:15 Wednesday evening. The shooting took place at the 4200 block of Stirling Street.

Keep reading for an update on a lifeguard rescue, red dye in the Tacony-Frankford Creek, a potential art foundation and more. continue reading »