Manyunk/Roxborough: A Photo Collection Of Then and Now
This photo series is a comparison of images of the neighborhood originally published in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin and images taken this year. The old photos were recovered from the urban archives located in Samuel L. Paley Library on Temple University Main Campus here in Philadelphia. The George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection in […]
Manayunk-Roxborough: Residents Confront Perennial Problems With Parking And Traffic
On any given morning in Manayunk, traffic snakes up Green Lane, sometimes reaching 10 or more blocks from Main Street up to Manayunk Avenue and beyond. Commuters may spend a half-hour or more waiting to get out of the neighborhood onto City Line Avenue or I-76 to head to work. “People often cite that the […]
Manayunk: North Light Community Center Staff Offers Support Programs For Local Families
North Light Community Center, located at 175 Green Lane, just off Main Street, has been a consistent presence in the neighborhood for more than 80 years, offering child care, raising money for scholarships for local kids and serving as a space for locals to convene. Irene Madrak (pictured below) is the executive director at North […]
Roxborough/Manayunk: Shifting Demographic Impacts Housing Market
Manayunk and Roxborough are changing as their populations continue to get younger. Both sections of the city have proved to be destinations for young people to live after they finish school, and more of them are choosing to buy homes in the area. As recently as 2016, the median age of residents in the Manayunk […]
Roxborough: Inspired Community Leader Continuing a Lifetime of Activism
Every morning, activist the Rev. Richard Fernandez picks up the phone to call politicians’ offices. Fernandez began his activism in the 1960s while he was attending Penn University. He became involved in the civil rights movement and worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “When I was in college I hitchhiked down to Montgomery (Alabama),” […]
Roxborough: Older Residents Stay Active with Protest Organization
The phrase “staying active” has taken on a new meaning for residents of the Cathedral Village Retirement Community in Roxborough and it’s political. The retirees formed the activists group Indivisible Village in January 2017 for residents there who wanted to engage in politics and fight for change. Indivisible Village is a local chapter of the national Indivisible […]
Manayunk: Q&A With A Local Legend Who Turned His Life Around
After a traumatic accident, doctors told Dave Scarpello he would never walk again. The Manayunk native who has lived in the area for 32 years, proved them wrong. He ran in the Broad Street Run this year, spent his days on disability participating in running clubs, started the Roxborough Manayunk News Facebook page and became a […]
Roxborough: Retired Firefighter’s Antique Store Gives New Life To Old Kitchen Appliances
About 20 years ago, Rich Boris’ life took a turn to the past. Boris started working as a security guard at a shop on Main Street in Roxborough after retiring from the Philadelphia Fire Department. The shop called Two by Four sold old-fashioned appliances. Boris noticed that many people purchased these items and began to […]
Roxborough: Local Resident Works Tirelessly To Preserve Roxborough
Retired social worker Donald Simon is an avid proponent for his community. Simon works tirelessly to ensure it remains the way he and his neighbors believe it should be. When he’s not spending his time playing piano and drums, or working as a trail ambassador to ensure the safety of the Wissahickon Valley Park grounds, he’s serving as […]
Chestnut Hill: Safety, Community Enhancement are Top Priorities for Business District Executive Director
Martha Sharkey is the executive director for the Chestnut Hill Business Association and is one of the primary people leading the way in bringing new businesses, programs and community safety projects to the local community. Sharkey, who has held her current position for three years, believes that helping bring new people to the neighborhood will ultimately […]