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?

NEast Links: jam-packed with a river rescue, police shooting, pretzel war and more

By Michael Feeney

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

Retired police officer Christopher Kaullar – of Trout Road near Rising Sun Avenue, has been charged with the murder of his ex-con brother, Robert Kaullar. The two argued over motorcycles when Christopher fatally wounded Robert by shooting him in the left hand and side at about 3am Monday. Robert Kaullar’s sister-in-law was also shot, but only grazed, police said. He was pronounced dead at Aria Health-Torresdale.

Keep reading for the latest on a local Phillie draft pick, a hometown welcoming for Bonnie Raitt, a local Michael Jackson impersonator and more.

Nutter in Mayfair: 1,000 cops, 200 firefighters could be fired if no action

Mayor Nutter addressing a $700 million budget shortfall in Mayfair in front of the 2nd and 15th police district headquarters.

By Christopher Wink

Speaking in front of more than two dozen uniformed police officers and nearly as many firefighters and other officials from the city’s emergency services, Mayor Nutter yesterday heightened pressure on state legislators to “give Philadelphia the tools it needs to help itself.”

“If our General Assembly does not approve the two budget measures we’ve asked for — a temporary increase in the city sales tax and a variety of pension reforms — we will be faced with no choice but to implement a series of devastating cuts,” Nutter said outside the 2nd and 15th police district headquarters on Levick Street near Harbison Avenue in West Mayfair. “Cuts that will impact every neighborhood in Philadelphia, including right here in the Northeast.”

In May, City Council approved a balance budget that depended on those two provisions that need legislative approval: bumping up one percent the city’s sales tax for five years and re-amortizing the city’s pension system by pausing payments for two years and redistributing payments over 25 years instead of 20. Without those options, Nutter said they’ll have to revisit trying to close a $700 million budget shortfall.

At yesterday’s rally, Nutter focused on what that would do to Philadelphia generally and the Northeast specifically, a region of the city known for its communities of cops and firefighters.

Mayfair boxer remains undefeated after “Friday Night Fights” performance

Mayfair's Tony "Boom Boom" Ferrante defends his undefeated light-heavyweight reign. Photo by Bill Achuff for NEastPhilly.com

By Shannon McDonald

Anthony Ferrante is a Northeast Philly guy from Mayfair. He is also an undefeated light-heavyweight boxer who goes by the name Tony “Boom Boom” Ferrante.

And after a fight last week in South Philly’s Arena, which aired on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, Ferrante upped his number of wins to eight when he knocked out California’s Bill Bailey. The eight-round fight didn’t look promising for Ferrante, who took several shots to the face early in the match, while Baily went unfazed by the pummels he received.

Keep reading for more photos and action from the fight.

NEast Links: Priest struck by drunk driver, drownings in North Wildwood and more

By Shannon McDonald

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

A Mayfair priest was struck by a drunk driver outside his parish. Pastor Joseph Accardi was struck outside St. Bernard’s Parish at Cottage Street and Bleigh Avenue Tuesday night. He was taken to Aria’s Torresdale campus, where he remains in stable condition with broken ribs.

Two kids killed in separate Mayfair car accidents

By Shannon McDonald

Two children were struck and killed in separate Mayfair car accidents this week:

A 12-year-old boy died Monday after being fatally struck by a tractor trailer on Cottman Avenue.

Albert Tallez was riding his skateboard on Cottage Street in Mayfair when the truck, which was going eastbound on Cottman Avenue, hit him around 4 p.m.

The boy, who lived on Torresdale Avenue in Holmesburg, was later pronounced dead at Aria Health’s Torresdale facilities.

Just 24 hours later, a young girl was hit by a car early last night in Mayfair.

The 7-year-old girl was hit near the intersection of Brous and Unruh avenues around 6 p.m., police said.  She was rushed to St. Christopher’s Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Investigations into both accidents are ongoing, but authories said the drivers of both vehicles stopped at the scenes. As of Monday night, it appeared the tractor trailer driver was not speeding and did not run a red light. More details from yesterday’s events haven’t been released yet.

Real NEastate: Lead-based paint in Mayfair

Q: I had to sign a “Lead-Based Paint” disclosure admitting there is lead-based paint in my home when I signed the agreement of sale. I am selling my 55-year-old home in West Mayfair, but I never knew about the lead-based paint. Is this going to be a problem with the sale?

A: Any property built before 1978 was most likely finished with lead-based paint. Lead is very dangerous for children, especially before they are born and under the age of 6. If your home contains high levels of lead, or there is deterioration of lead-based paint, it can pose a hazard.

NEast Links: Half of Wissinoming prostitution ring in court, a Mayfair bank robbery and more

By Christopher Wink

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

The 22-year-old daughter in the alleged mother-daughter prostitution operation that advertised on the popular Craigslist Web site and was busted last fall has received a three-year probation sentence, the Daily News reported Wednesday.

The woman, Tami Smith, and her now 39-year-old mother were caught soliciting an undercover police officer in a home they rented in Wissinoming, as CBS3 reported in October.

In April, the mother, Traci Young, pleaded guilty, and she will be back in court June 30.

After jump read about your furry Northeast neighbors, an armed bandit in Mayfair and a handful of other stories from or about the Northeast, including our best read and most commented pieces of the week.

Right NEast/Wrong NEast: Frankford and Frankford Ave. not the same thing

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.

Courtesy of FOX29

By Shannon McDonald

The terrible thing about this story is, you can even tell from the picture FOX provides that they got mixed up. The photo is clear: the man police are looking robbed a bank in Mayfair – right in front of Mayfair mall, to be exact – not in Frankford, as FOX29 reported last week.

Someone should put out a memo to city’s media outlets and let them know that Frankford Avenue doesn’t necessarily mean Frankford the neighborhood.

Mayfair yardsale tomorrow

By Shannon McDonald

There will be a multi-block, multi-family yardsale in Mayfair tomorrow beginning at 9 .m. Three blocks are participating:

2800-block of Glenview Street
2800-block of Longshore Avenue
2800-block of Unruh Avenue

The fliers promise lots of kids’ stuff and more, and the sale ends at 1 p.m.