We’ve moved! Come join us

By Shannon McDonald

NEastPhilly.com has moved! This site, neastmag.wordpress.com, will no longer be updated, but everything you’re looking for is now on NEastPhilly, a self-hosted site.

Aside from your old favorites, we’ve got updates and new additions, like advertising space.

If you subscribe in a feed, please make the switch to NEastPhilly.com, and tell everyone you know. The shiny, new site means we’re basically starting from scratch.

See you over at NEastPhilly.com!

Under construction

By Shannon McDonald

NEastPhilly is undergoing some construction so we can make the site better for our readers. No worries, we’ll be up and running by Monday — look for a new Right NEast/Wrong NEast!

Northeast (OK, Mayfair) makes Philly mag’s ‘Best of Philly’ list

By Shannon McDonald

The August issue of Philadelphia magazine is out, complete with the 2009 Best of Philly Awards. And believe it or not, a few Northeast spots made the list. Though we often rag on Philly mag (and others) for ignoring the NEast, there’s no denying the editors over there paid us some well-deserved attention in this issue. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that Michael Callahan, who hails from the Northeast, edited the list. Either way, we’re honored.

One thing we have to make note of though: all these places are in Mayfair. And they’re all on or right off Frankford Avenue. Though two of the winners straddle the Mayfair/Wissinoming border, they usually get pegged as Mayfair for their proximity to the avenue. We love Mayfair, but the rest of our region has plenty to offer. Just ask Donna Ward, resident restraunt reviewer, or Pat McNally, who has probably explored every inch of our region with his kids. This year’s winners are among the best, but they don’t represent all of the Northeast.

The list of winners is below. How do you think they stack up?

Right NEast/Wrong NEast: Action News typo makes all the difference

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 mag 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.

By Shannon McDonald

Sure, reporters in a rush to get stories out often make small mistakes. This mistake involves only four letters, but makes a huge difference geographically and culturally.

A story from Action News this morning, which followed up on the death of a PHA carpenter who was shot on the job last month, reported that the shooting took place in Northeast Philadelphia. The story’s lede reads:

NORTH PHILADELPHIA – July 28, 2009 (WPVI) — A worker for the Philadelphia Housing Authority has died after a shooting last month in Northeast Philadelphia.

Given that the dateline says North Philadelphia – the true location of the shooting – it seems the reference to the Northeast is the result of a reporter’s haste – which says more about the station’s editing abilities than its geography skills. But still, we at NEastPhilly vow to point out even the tiniest of mistakes in an effort to do the Northeast proud. Sorry, Action News, it had to be done.

Jeanes Hospital and Katie Elise Lambert Foundation team up for safety event

By Shannon McDonald

On Saturday, Jeanes Hospital and the Katie Elise Lambert Foundation will host a Butterfly Release to honor deceased loved ones, especially those who died in household accidents. In addition to safety information, products and tip, children’s entertainment will include Chippy the Clown and facepainting.

There will only be 100 butterflies on hand for the event, so those who’d like to participate should call in advance, though the event is open to the public.

Katie Elise Lambert was an area toddler who died when a large dresser fell on her in 2005. Her family set up the foundation to educate people about household dangers. For more information about the event and the Katie Elise Lamber Foundation, visit the Web site to download the flyer.

Tonight at the Pennypack Park Concert Series…

By Shannon McDonald

The Liberation and Kick it Out, Chicago and Heart tribute bands, respectively,  will play Pennypack Park’s Summer Music Festival tonight at 7 p.m. Don’t forget your chairs, blankets, snacks and bugspray.

Next up is Guitar Legends Night on Aug. 19, featuring  tributes to Eric Clapton, Cream, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix. You can see the full list of events here, or check back with us for updates. Need directions? We’ve got ‘em.

*There’s a good chance of thunderstorms tonight, so check back later for a rain update.

Red light cameras stolen from Red Lion Road

By Shannon McDonald

Frenzied drivers got a brief reprieve recently when two red light cameras were stolen at Red Lion Road and Roosevelt Boulevard.

The Parking Authority sent an employee out to check the cameras, which had broken signals, only to discover the expensive equipment missing. Though new cameras were installed shortly thereafter, the missing cameras turned up in an unlikely place.

Running around $4,500 each, the cameras turned up in New York City when the NYPD arrested 45-year-old Anthony Cintorrino and a friend who stole the cameras (and 22 others in NYC) using a bucket truck.

As high-tech as the cameras are, they can’t detect any damage being done to them. Councilman Frank Rizzo hopes to fix that by installing tamper detectors on the cameras. Rizzo was behind the initial push to have the cameras installed at various high-traffic intersections around the city.

For now, weekly on-site checks will be made of the cameras to prevent further theft and damage.

Officer injured near Betsy Ross Bridge

Courtesy of CBS3

By Shannon McDonald

A police officer was injured in a car accident yesterday afternoon near the Betsy Ross Bridge.

The officer was in an unmarked police cruiser, which was rear-ended near the I-95 off ramp around 2:30 this afternoon.

The officer was taken to the hospital with back and neck injuries, and the accident is still being investigated.

Seven NE post offices face closure

By Shannon McDonald

Your post office could be closing soon, thanks to the United States Postal Service’s $7 billion deficit and a severe decline in mail volume.

By early next year, as many as 15 Philadelphia branches could be closed – 7 in the Northeast alone. The closings are the result of an expected decline for the 2009 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Efficiency and management studies are being conducted to determine which – if any – branches should close, and a spokesperson for the USPS said employees of the closed branches would likely be transferred, not laid off.

For now, all branches will remain open, with nothing closing before Oct. 2. Below are the seven Northeast branches on the chopping block.

Northeast High teacher assualted by student

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By Shannon McDonald

A Northeast High teacher was assaulted by a student Friday morning, making it the second assault during the school’s summer session.

The student, who may not attend Northeast High, walked into a classroom at 10 a.m. and got into a verbal confrontation with a teacher. It is unclear how the argument began, but the student punched the teacher in the face before running out of the building.

If the student attends Northeast – or any other district school – he faces suspension and possible expulsion. The teacher was treated by the school nurse, then taken to the hosptial. He sustained some facial injuries, and his glasses were broken.