Frankford Community Blog | Local News, Events, Community Resources
I attended the Christmas performance at 2nd Baptist last year not knowing what to expect. What we found was really a great experience. The staging was imaginative and the music was really excellent. On December 7th and 8th they are presenting a show titled “Take Me to the King”. If you can make time, put this on your schedule for the Christmas season. It will be well worth it.
DA Seth Williams explains Community Based Prosecution as ADA Gilson holds the map
District Attorney Seth Williams returned to the Northwood Civic Association meeting (last visited in June of 2010) on November 20th to update residents on the crime situation in the Northeast. He described how Community Based Prosecution has changed how crime is prosecuted in the city. Accompanied by Assistant DA Mark Gilson who is the head of the Northeast bureau, they explained the benefits of this change.
Violent crime continues to plague the city. Williams looks to legislative changes at the state level that would make carrying an unlicensed concealed weapon a felony (presently a misdemeanor) with a mandatory prison sentence. This is one logical step that would reduce the number of illegal guns on the street. He points to the success of New York City in reducing their murder rate as being related to a similar law implemented up there.
Results of elections for the board of directors from last month are finalized. President is Joe Krause. Vice President is Tom McAvoy. Board members are: Rodney Allen, Mary Robus, Ed Martin, Frank Bennett and Lou Kubik.
As we reported earlier, residents are concerned about the problems at the park in the 900 block of Harrison Street. The Civic is working on identifying the owners of the property. It appears that it is not connected to Northwood Park and may be privately owned. The row of damaged garages is also privately owned and the Civic intends to contact the owner of that property. Jason Dawkins, on behalf of Councilwoman Sanchez said that their office works with community groups (like the Friends of Overington Park) and will look to community involvement with this park.
The Civic is continuing to monitor the auto sales that are conducted out of a private residence on the 900 block of Foulkrod Street. The individual has been contacted and notified that this is a violation of the deed restriction but the activity continues. The Civic is considering the option of legal action in the face of this blatant violation of the deed restriction.
Frank Bennett gave a brief update on the status of the New Frankford Community Y. The roof has been repaired. The next step needed is to have the electricity turned on. Fund raising is under way and if you are planning your charitable giving, donations to the Y are tax deductable. Follow this link for further information.
The next Northwood Civic Association meeting will be held on December 18th at St. James Lutheran Church at 7PM.
Christmas bazaar at 2nd Baptist on December 1st. Stop by and support one of our local churches. Bring the kids, I hear Santa should arrive by noon.
Residents on the 900 block of Harrison Street say they are fed up with what they consider a lack of maintenance of Northwood Park by the city. Their chief complaints center around the large branches that have been cut down but not removed from the park, large underbrush that is building up along the sides of the old railroad viaduct cutting through the park and the burned down garage that is facing Rutland Street seemingly abandoned. On Veterans Day, I met Larry Norton, a 9 year resident of Northwood who lives across the street from the park, as he talked about Northwood Park’s role in the neighborhood and how’s it’s neglect threatens the area’s stability.
residents standing in front of overgrowth
Larry considers the park being across the street from him a huge asset. “It’s like being out in the country, you don’t get this everywhere else in Philadelphia” he says. He fears that further neglect will begin damaging his neighborhood.
The sidewalk across the street from the park presents a much prettier picture, with residents diligently keeping up on their properties. And that’s one of Larry’s complaints. There are people here using the park and wanting it in the best condition possible. Larry says he has complained repeatedly to the city about the underbrush that is building up along the sides of the old railroad viaduct that runs through park. His frustration has grown as he’s called 311 numerous times and has been given confirmation numbers to track the issue but has never received any followups. Larry beleives that the underbrush not being cleared out is hurting the residents enjoyment of the park. He says it’s become a haven for those seeking to do drugs and drink out of view, and that, in turn, keeps residents from using the area.
He notes that he’s seen the city send three workmen to empty the trash can in the tennis court but no one has showed up to remove any overgrowth that has accumulated over the years. He doesn’t think it’s a hard job, “maybe twice a year” they could come out.
Larry points to the tennis courts that sit on the southeast corner of the park and wonders why they can’t have the tennis nets all the time like the courts on City Line and up on Cottman Ave. He says that the tennis camps bring their own and take them down when they’re done. He recalls that at one time they left the nets up but the skate boarders took them down and put them in the corner. Then they one day they just disappeared entirely. Larry believes that leaving them up would encourage more tennis players to use the park and help spiral productive uses in general.
Tom McHugh, a 28 year resident across the street, says the park is in the worst condition he’s ever seen. He says sees kids playing in the burned out remains of the garages at the edge of the park on Northwood Street weekly. It’s only a matter of time before it gets set on fire again.
Joe Krause, the Northwood Civic president, notes that the abandoned building is another problem entirely. “With that you can’t just go demolish it. It’s still private property, we know who owns it and where they’re at, but getting them to do anything about it is another story.”
Joe also notes that the city rarely takes any action it’s own. You really need a community group to start handling the project from which the area’s politicians can jump in and support, as is the case with the wildly successful Friends of Overington Park.
The residents are hoping that spotlighting the condition will highlight the issue and hopefully create lasting change. The notice for the upcoming Northwood Civic meeting shows the park on the agenda for this Tuesday. Interested parties are encouraged to attend.
State Representative elect James “Scoot” Clay Jr. (D HR 179) along with 23rdDemocratic Ward Leader Danny Savage took time out this past Tuesday on election day to guide an international group of elected Parliamentarian election observers to a number of polling places in his district.
The group of observers from the independent organization that is recognized by the UN is called the Office for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The observers included Lord Dubs from the House of Lords in the UK Parliament, Trond Helleland from the Norwegian Parliament, Dutch Senator Pauline Meurs and Swiss Parliamentarian Hugues Hiltpold.
Clay was elected Tuesday as State Representative in the 179th District. Clay said, “It was a pleasure to meet with these international elected leaders and show them first hand how the citizens of the 179th district take part in the election process for our President. Our well-informed and committed citizens impressed our visiting guests from the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It was great meeting with them and sharing our experiences.”
