Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Louis Giorla attended last night’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting to talk with residents about last month’s escape of Kevin Turner from Curran-Fromhold Correction Facility. Turner went on to rob and murder Lawncrest jeweler William Glatz nine days later. In the video below, Giorla explains how the escape took place and the precautions being taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again. continue reading »

The Mayfair Civic Association announced yesterday its plans to support the development of a sports complex in Upper Holmesburg. continue reading »

A portion of property proposed for a sports complex in Upper Holmesburg

In what would be the first of its kind in the nation, the Philadelphia Sports Zone, along with several local leaders and Italy’s AC Milan, are proposing a sports complex development in Upper Holmesburg.

The complex, designed for the east side of Tolbut Street and Torresdale Avenue, would boast fields and courts for basketball, baseball, softball, field hockey, lacrosse, flag football and primarily, soccer. (Photo of the rendering is below.) continue reading »

The Holmesburg Civic Association Board hosts the October meeting.

The winter months are coming, and with it will come rate increases from PECO.

As an answer to the increase, PECO is promoting its energy saving tips and assistance programs to help keep costs low. Jen Tepel of PECO’s Energy Education Team was at last night’s Holmesburg Civic Association meeting to discuss the increase and ways to combat high energy bills.

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Northeast residents listen as the Philadelphia City Planning Commission's Michael Thompson explains the proposed zoning code rewrite. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Neighborhoods.

At a 10th City Council District open house for the Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission, Northeast Philadelphia residents thought certain aspects of the code rewrite would negatively affect their neighborhoods, while other parts would be beneficial. Northeast residents were especially unhappy that the reform discussed legalizing the practice of converting single-family homes into duplexes or triplexes, often with rental units. This is known as accessory dwellings and is a common phenomenon in neighborhoods like Fox Chase, Bustleton and Somerton.

Pat Cantwell, the treasurer of the Somerton Civic Association, was especially irritated by the proliferation of accessory dwellings on her blocks. “The conversion of houses into apartments, and duplexes into triplexes affects parking, which is already bad in our neighborhood,” said Cantwell. The president of her civic association, Domenic Ragucci, elaborated by saying accessory dwellings in basements is a serious problem in Somerton.

You can read the rest of the story on Philadelphia Neighborhoods or PlanPhilly.

Police are investigating a kidnapping case that happened over the weekend involving a Burholme man.

According to a report by CBS3, Edwin Guzman, who owns a grocery story in Kensington, was abducted by two men around 7:30 Friday morning on the 6800-block of Dorcas Street. continue reading »

So NBC10 reporters were on the scene yesterday when a man got stuck in the creek at Pennypack Park in Holmesburg.

Or, as you can read on NBC’s website, a man was stuck in the Pennypack creek in Frankford.

Rescue crews saved a man struggling to stay afloat in Pennypack Creek in the Frankford section of the city Tuesday morning.” continue reading »

The area of Pennypack Park where two men's raft overturned in the creek.

One of two men who went rafting in Pennypack Creek yesterday is missing.

According to a report by the Daily News, the men’s raft overturned just before 7 p.m. in the water off of Winchester Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. A witness riding his bike in the area saw the men go under water and called police, but only one of the rafters made it out of the water. continue reading »

Image courtesy of NBC10

Rescue crews saved a man yesterday who was stuck in the creek at Pennypack Park.

The man became trapped in the water — which was deeper and faster than usual due to the rain — around 11 a.m. near Frankford Avenue and Ashburner Street in Holmesburg. It’s unclear how the man became stuck, as he was reportedly wearing a life jacket. No injuries were reported.

Thursday’s water main break in Upper Holmesburg sent a geyser-like rush of water more than 100-feet into the air. While authorities got the situation under control, drivers on I-95 got a good look at the plume. Here’s our slideshow, with photos courtesy of Somerton’s Mike Korostelev.