Tag: Northeast Times

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Historical Society of Frankford invites public to suggest candidates for 2010 Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame

The Historical Society of Frankford, in partnership with Holy Family University, the Northeast Times, and State Representative Dennis M. O’Brien, announces that the public is invited to suggest individuals for consideration for the 2010 Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame. Candidates should be Northeast Philadelphia residents past or present whose lives or careers have been marked by high achievement or individuals who have had a lasting, significant, and positive impact on the Northeast Philadelphia community. Inductees will be chosen by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, a twelve-member panel of experts in various aspects of Northeast Philadelphia life. The committee is chaired by Holy Family University President Sister Francesca Onley.

There are several ways for the public to suggest candidates. Throughout the month of March, a clip-out/mail-in ballot form will be printed in the Northeast Times and be available for download on the Historical Society’s website (www.frankfordhistory.org) and on the NeastPhilly.com website. The ballot form will also be distributed to public locations throughout Northeast Philadelphia. Suggestions can also be submitted by email to halloffame@frankfordhistory.org. The deadline for submissions is April 1st. Inductees will be announced in the spring and inducted in the fall at a ceremony at Holy Family University, date to be announced.

The goal of the Hall of Fame is to foster civic values and a sense of community in Northeast Philadelphia, along with a greater awareness and appreciation of the area’s rich history, by honoring the lives and accomplishments of its most distinguished citizens. In 2009, the inaugural year for the Hall of Fame, four historical figures, three living individuals, and one organization were inducted at a ceremony attended by a wide range of people from throughout the Northeast Philadelphia region.

Plans for a Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame were initiated in 2008, leading to its sponsorship by the Historical Society of Frankford, in partnership with Holy Family University, the Northeast Times, and State Representative Dennis M. O’Brien.

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Burholme Park and Fox Chase Cancer Center

12BurholmeParkOverviewThe Fox Chase Cancer Center lost another round in their effort to expand the hospital using what is now Burholme Park land.  The city had proposed to lease the park land to the Cancer Center.  Neighborhood groups rallied to oppose that intrusion into the park.  The courts have ruled for the neighbors.

The land was left to the city with the proviso that it be used for a park.  It is that simple.  Kind of if I left you some money to care for my cat and after I was gone you decided the cat did not suit your lifestyle and dumped the cat and kept the money.  It’s not quite right.

Joe Menkevich has done some research on this issue and wrote the editor of the Northeast Times yesterday.  I have his permission to reprint his letter.

December 17, 2009

A Lesson to John Scanlon, editor of the Northeast Times:

History the way I see it:

There is always a certain level of arrogance that come with money, power and elected Public Servants. They forget the reason why they were elected. It would seem that they think too much of their own thoughts, while the money whispers in their ear.

The reason why this decision was so important –

It upholds the Donated and Dedicated Property Act of 1913 as well as the Public Trust Doctrine.

It protects the Holmesburg Library and other property that was donated by the Public from being confiscated by government and given to private developers. (It should even protect our natural resources, which are public property from being given away to the energy development companies by Gov. Ed Rendell but a petition has not yet been filed.)

Much of the research in this case was done by Leonard Williams (deceased) and a certain unnamed co-conspitator. The information was then passed to Fred Maurer who took tremendous (and unfair) criticism in the press by the Northeast Times Editor, who did not care about our rights and was more interested in promoting Fox Chase Cancer Center’s expansion.

By not taking a position of neutrality, the N.E.Times editor John Scanlon, abused his obligation to report the news and the facts. Instead in the press he sided with FCCC, by chastising Fred Maurer and characterizing him and anyone opposed (as being “evil”).

This was a well coordinated attack, as Fred was simultaneously being hit with a SLAPP suit from Fox Chase. It was all done for maximum impact and maximum pain.

It was a case Goliath accusing Samson of being too small to count, so Fred was sued for his smallness.

Mr. Maurer did not lose his cool. In the end, he won on all counts. We all won – except for neutrality and Freedom of the Press.

The lesson to be learned here is just because projects are backed by the Wall Street Pharmaceutical Companies endless supply of money, it does not mean they are good or right.

Cancer Treatment is always well packaged and well promoted as if it was the elixir of life itself. Unfortunately even with cancer treatment people still die. They always have, they always will. Such is the nature of life.

Unfortunate too is that Cancer Treatment a business which is billed like it’s a charity; but it not a charity.

The lesson:

Take nothing for granted. WE must fight for our rights or lose them.

Nothing is free – least of which are the PUBLIC’S RIGHTS to accountability.

There are still other fights on the horizon. There always will be.

Stay vigilant.

J.M.

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Crime Map Update

crime graphicWe updated the crime map page to include the data from 9/14 through 9/27/2009.  We are continuing to run about 24% below the same period last year for major crimes.  Those sirens you hear are the police doing their job.  Say thank you.  This is the link to the statistics.

The Northeast Times has a story talking about the new Police Service Areas, or PSAs.  I noticed this a few weeks ago while I was doing the computations for our crime page.  Where one week the 15th district had patrol sectors from A through P (I think it was P), suddenly it went from A to C.  I had to adapt my system to account for the change.  I’m not sure exactly how it will help but so far they are on the right track so let’s hope this keeps it going that way.