State Rep. Tony Payton at the February Frankford Civic meeting.

It has become something of a tradition at Frankford Civic Association meetings in the past year.

The first 15 or 20 minutes of the meetings, held in a conference room on the second floor of the old Frankford Hospital, are devoted to typical zoning issues, event announcements and new community concerns. Then something changes.

The meeting becomes more of a conversation and the topic is always the same: recovery homes.

True to form, it happened again Thursday night. Only three or four residents were in attendance, outnumbered by media and legislative aides and almost doubled by the association’s executive board, but the conversation was no less lively.

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The futures of two large neighborhood institutions were discussed at Thursday’s Frankford Civic Association meeting.

First, the now vacant Salvation Army building, on Frankford Avenue near Unity Street, is up for sale, recycling residents’ fear over recovery homes that have beleaguered Frankford for years. Second, the latest chapter in the harried sale of the Frankford Y was announced, including a sale date that passed without action.

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

Escaped convict Oscar Alvarado has been captured as of Monday.

Kamilah Alvarado, 22, Dean Ortiz, 33, and Crysta Otto, 27, of Barnett Street near Erdrick, in Mayfair, face charges for holding up the apprehension of the escaped convict by hiding him inside a Motor Inn in Trevose. Alvarado is accused of murdering a woman in October 2008.

Keep reading for break-ins at Franklin Mills Mall, a sentence for an ex Northeast charter school board president, and more. continue reading »

District Attorney Lynne Abraham says a temporary farewell to Burholme's community groups.

There is nothing more important than a community “involved in its own life,” District Attorney Lynne Abraham said to attendants at last night’s monthly meeting of the Burholme Civic Association and Town Watch groups.

Abraham, a frequent guest of the Burholme groups, came to say farewell, as she is stepping down as District Attorney after 19 years on the job. She will be replaced by Democratic District Attorney-elect Seth Williams. continue reading »

Inside the brightly colored, Spanish-classroom of the Sankofa Freedom Academy in Frankford, a handful of residents were imbued with the global impact and practical cost-saving of properly weatherizing a home Wednesday night.

A representative of the Energy Coordinating Agency, which trains, consults and teaches on energy conversation, particularly to people of low income, was hosted by state Rep. Tony Payton’s office.

During the 90-minute session, Ron Edwards, a representative of the agency, started by describing the generally accepted concept of global warming and talking about projections of the country and the world’s peak oil production. He then pointed out common energy-losing parts of Philadelphia homes and simple, low-cost ways of reducing heat loss.

“That draft under your door means a lot more than a cold living room,” Edwards said last night.

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The Historical Society of Frankford puts local, historical Christmas items on display for an event held Dec. 8, 2009.

Christmas decorations and holiday keepsakes from Frankford families of the past were on display Tuesday night inside the century-old Historical Society of Frankford building.

On the well-waxed wood of the 30-foot wide stage in the society’s main auditorium, more than a dozen holiday items, from red and gold trinkets to a yellowed painting of a wintry scene on Orthodox Street, were on display. Board members and friends were encouraged to bring an item of their own to display or discuss about their family or cultural traditions.

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Matthew Morley Rusk as the title character in the Devon Theater's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, running Nov. 12 to Dec. 13, 2009. Photo credit Kim Reilly, Devon Theater.

Updated 11/16/09 @ 7:04 p.m.: ‘Joseph’ will run as scheduled, but, as NEast Philly reported, the Devon has canceled the rest of its inaugural season.

Liz Filios didn’t miss a note when she took a step too quickly and had to shift her balance to keep from tripping in the second act.

That momentary misplaced footing may have been the only thing that went wrong for cast and crew of the Devon Theater’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Thursday evening during their opening night. Joseph is the second of a five-show inaugural season for the Devon.

The 14-member stage force, wh0 filled more than 40 roles in the bright and big musical that crisscrosses genres, won quick engagement from the crowd of some 350. That quick and light production comes despite losing Artistic Director Michael Pickering, who resigned unexpectedly last month just as rehearsals for ‘Joseph’ were beginning.

Before the performance, Pickering’s replacement, an ambitious 24-year-old star named Kim Reilly, who was already on staff in a marketing role that she is dually fulfilling now, addressed the crowd. Then she let her Philadelphia directorial debut fly.

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Noted American Revolution historian Dr. Robert Selig highlighted an event last night at the Historical Society of Frankford celebrating this year's designation of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route a National Historic Trail.

Ralph D. Nelson almost forgot his tri-cornered hat.

But just before he took the podium, the long, tall, graying Delaware-based historian placed the 18th-century-style cap on his head.

For years, Nelson has been among dozens of Revolutionary War buffs calling for greater acclaim for a 685-mile route along the East Coast that many say helped lead the colonies from fledgling collective to global superpower. See a map here.

Back in March, Nelson got his wish when President Obama signed into law a public management act that made the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route — nicknamed W3R — a National Historic Trail.

Tuesday night was just gravy.

More than 60 attended an event held last night at the Historical Society of Frankford on Orthodox Street, just blocks from where the W3R trail winds through Northeast Philadelphia, by way of Frankford Avenue. The night was highlighted by a short lecture from noted American Revolution historian Dr. Robert Selig.

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The SEPTA strike that was called early this morning at 3 a.m. was “most disappointing,” Mayor Michael Nutter told Fox 29.

About 5,100 train and trolley operators, bus drivers and mechanics walked off the job, the Inquirer reports, after their bargaining team rejected the last offers from the transit agency.

Regional rail lines in the Northeast and throughout the region are currently still operating, though crowding and delays have been reported due to increased volume. Fears remained around the effect the strike would have on commuters and Election Day, particularly after such short notice of the strike.

Below see video of Nutter’s appearance and more on the strike.

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Thousands of Phillies fans crowded the intersection of Cottman and Frankford avenues after the team clinched a spot in the 2009 World Series.

The crowd began brewing moments after the game ended before midnight Wednesday night and grew to a mass covering the entire intersection and spilling into the rest of Mayfair not long after. Below see exclusive NEast Philly video of the melee.

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