Mayfair: Q&A with a Business Leader Fighting a Changing Neighborhood
Angela Vanni is a Philadelphia native and an owner of Giggles Gifts, a retail gift shop which specializes in candies, cards, seasonal decorations and other possible presents. Located at 7400 Frankford Ave., it was founded by the Veneziale family in 1983 and opened during an era when these types of businesses were a common sight in Mayfair. Now, the times have changed, […]
Mayfair: Civic Association Leader Renews Interest in Splitting 15th Police District
For nearly 30 years, Mayfair residents have been urging the Philadelphia Police Department and the City of Philadelphia to split the 15th Police District. Largely owing to a collaboration between Donny Smith (above), president of the Mayfair Civic Association, Councilman Bobby Henon, who represents Philadelphia’s 6th Council District in Northeast Philadelphia and Joe DeFelice, chairman […]
Oxford Circle: PAL Helps Neighborhood Youth Succeed
The Oxford Circle Police Athletic League is part of a nonprofit organization that seeks to build relationships between police officers and children within the neighborhood. Its goal is to keep kids off the street and to give them a safe place to come and have fun while learning valuable life lessons. Three years ago, Officer Bruno Estevez […]
South Philadelphia: Commanding Officer Praises Sense of Community in the 3rd District
Frank Milillo grew up playing on the streets of South Philadelphia. Now, as the commanding officer of the 3rd Police District, he watches over them. Milillo’s district stretches south of Lombard Street and east of Broad Street. As the grandson of Italian immigrants and a lifelong resident, he’s well-acquainted with the area. He’s been in the […]
Manayunk: Local Cop And Motorcycle Instructor Leads By Example
Local Manayunk cop Chuck Taylor grew up riding motorcycles. When he decided to become a police officer, working with motorcycles just made sense. Now that he is one of the head instructors for highway patrol, he knows this is where he belongs and would not change it for anything. When and why did you decide […]
Passyunk: Nightowls on the Avenue Help Keep Crime Down
Witnesses are bad for crime, so streets packed with potential witnesses are not good settings to commit one, even if it is at night. This is one of the many factors that combine to help keep South Philadelphia’s crime rate as low as it is, specifically in the area around East Passyunk Avenue which is […]
Olney/West Oak Lane: Town Watch Promotes ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’
Town Watch programs are used in cities in many different states. The main tenet of all Town Watch programs is, “Observe, Document and Report.” This is the simplest form of guidelines for people who are involved in this program. Eric Brice is the communications coordinator for the 35th District Town Watch. The 35th District is […]
Center City: Protesters Stage Die-In and March Through City Hall
More than 100 people silently dropped to the ground in 30th Street Station’s main concourse at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday and then marched out in solidarity to protest a recent string of decisions many are seeing as injustices. Philadelphia-based In Defense of Black Bodies organized the protest. The organization began holding protests and marches last week after the decision was […]
Bridesburg: Richmond Street Safer Than Numbers Show
This past year the residents of the Bridesburg community saw their neighborhood going downhill and the neighborhood watch leaders called a town hall style meeting. After the presence of a private police force came and went with mixed emotions in the neighborhood, residents still have varying viewpoints when it comes to discussing the crimes taking […]
Fairhill: Police Athletic League Returns
When the PAL Center shut down four years ago due to construction, Chantel Jones said the Fairhill neighborhood took a turn for the worse. “Everybody, since they didn’t have a place to go, they started getting into drugs, they started selling drugs, they started smoking,” said Jones, a PAL volunteer and former member. “I’m the […]