HEED THIS WARNING!: Letters to the editor must be accompanied by your daytime and evening phone numbers for verification purposes. Letters without phone numbers cannot be considered for publication.
Vandals do a number
on Far Northeast
senior center
Whatever happened to the word respect? We at the Far Northeast Senior Citizens Center have been vandalized by villains who have no respect for themselves, so why should we expect it for us?
Our center, located at Southampton and Townsend roads, has been vandalized numerous times during the last 18 months.
The latest attack occurred during the weekend of June 21-22.
Our storage shed was ransacked and the drain spout was twisted and removed. A wheelchair was tossed up on the roof. Numerous items reserved for our flea market were taken. Two heavy-duty master locks were removed to gain access. The bench outside the building was chained and locked. That was gone.
Why can’t these individuals who are committing this vandalism put their efforts into something that is more constructive? We are a non-profit organization and our income is not that great. We keep the property in good condition so as not to be a sore spot in the community.
If you are a parent in this vicinity, please instruct your children to stop these malicious acts.
If they are not involved, please help us to get the word to those who are. If anyone is caught, we will prosecute. We would like to be left alone so that in our older years we can enjoy our life and our facility.
Thank you for your kind attention, and to all those who have committed an act against us, find other ways to enjoy your life without hindering senior citizens.
Ken Chalmers
President,
Far Northeast Senior Citizens
Is it too late for Parkview?
Perhaps if we were discussing saving a sports stadium there may have been some outcry from the community or more support given or shown by those who use Parkview Hospital.
A fine hospital will have to close its doors now. Many excellent staff nurses, doctors and staff people will lose their jobs.
Isn’t it amazing how the folks in the City of Brotherly Love find money to build these multimillion-dollar stadiums here in Philadelphia — but not a cent to save our fine hospitals!
Our values appear to be so misplaced as a society. We can let our school children share school books and let our doctors leave the city to practice elsewhere. Isn’t a life or a mind of more value?
What has been done by our elected officials to save Parkview Hospital?
We now will not only see more unemployment, but even more important, human life at risk and at jeopardy with the hospital closing.
Frankford Hospital’s Frankford division has enough now of an overcrowd, just how will they ever be able to handle more patients? Parkview Hospital’s patient load — just where will they all go now?
Thank you for the opportunity to be heard and to voice my concern.
I’ve written to the hospital’s governing board with a letter of support.
I hope some of the elected officials in my ward read this and write in.
Marie Hearn
Oxford Circle
Keep scooters outside
There have been a number of news stories about the dangers that small, motorized scooters pose to drivers.
One danger that has not been mentioned is the fire hazard they pose. Their fuel, gasoline, is an extremely flammable and dangerous liquid. Many of these scooters are being kept inside houses. This is insane! No amount of gasoline should ever be stored in or even brought through a house. Also, I am willing to bet that some scooter owners are filling the gas tanks inside, which is equally insane. Keep those scooters outside!
In addition to the fire danger to the people living in the house, parking the scooters inside just adds to the dangers that firefighters face in a dwelling fire.
We don’t need this extra danger! It does not matter that the gasoline tank is small. That small amount of gasoline is enough to burn a house down in the blink of an eye, and if that tank fails and spills that gasoline while firefighters are going through that house during a fire, they will be engulfed in fire just as fast. Keep the scooters outside!
John E. Redfern,
Captain, Engine 7, Castor and Kensington avenues
A question for parents
To the parents who allow their children to operate ATVs (all terrain vehicles) or motorized scooters on city streets:
Remember this: if they injure someone or damage property, you are responsible financially. You are the one who will be sued and risk the loss of your home to cover damages.
There will be no insurance to cover your losses. Is it worth it?
Charles Kent
Parkwood
Thank you very much
I want to thank you and your excellent staff for the recent cover story in the Northeast Times on Thursday, June 12. Attention given to the preparation of the story gives testimony as to why the Northeast Times is such a valuable asset to the people in Philadelphia and some suburbs.
In particular, I want to thank staff writer William Kenny for his especially courteous and professional manner in preparing and writing the cover story, The Search Goes On.
His interviewing skills and attention to details are to be commended. His writing style conveys a message and story suitable for all readers of the Northeast Times. We, the people in Northeast Philadelphia, are fortunate to have news coverage that is so thoroughly researched and written as evident by Mr. Kenny’s cover story. I feel his writing is a credit to your news publication. We are very fortunate here in the Northeast to have such a newsworthy publication.
Also, staff photographer Jen DePeppe continues to bring out the human element with her photographs that accompany so many stories made available to us through your weekly, much-anticipated news publication.
Thanks for having your staff and resources available for me and my family.
Robert A. Dott
Northwood
Woodhaven Expressway:
Good, or evil?
It was just one sign too many that finally got to me!
“We don’t want Woodhaven Expressway in our quiet neighborhood.” Of all the unmitigated gall. They’re lucky someone hasn’t ripped the sign off the lawn and thrown it through the window.
Has it ever occurred even once to these anti-expressway people that the main reason their neighborhood is quiet is because a good deal of the cars in their community have gone off to work in the early morning via Byberry Road and the Woodhaven Expressway? And at day’s end, the same cars return via Byberry Road and the Woodhaven Expressway to their quiet neighborhood!
Sounds like the old story, “Anywhere, but not in my neighborhood.”
Are they aware that Byberry Road from the expressway’s end to Bustleton Avenue contains many private homes, three senior citizen homes, one public school with small children directly on Byberry Road, and a large Catholic church and school a half-block down from Byberry Road, not to mention two shopping areas on both corners of Bustleton Avenue and Byberry Road?
Talk about invasion of a quiet neighborhood; these harassed, taxpaying citizens are living in a war zone. And it’s been going on for a number of years.
Have they ever stopped their cars long enough to allow a struggling senior citizen to cross Byberry Road to get to church?
Have they ever slowed their cars at the blinking school lights to allow school children and their parents to traverse to and from Byberry Road?
Do they ever slow down long enough to allow automobiles to access or leave driveways of the three senior citizen homes?
You bet your life they don’t. The cars traveling from the quiet neighborhoods of the anti-expressway people drive as though it’s a racetrack between lights to get to the Woodhaven Expressway.
It’s time to get the traffic off this section of Byberry Road and put it where it belongs — on the Woodhaven Expressway. It’s more than time, it’s 40 years too late.
Civilization depends on how well society takes care of its young and its old. If this is all that our society, our elected officials and the anti-expressway proponents can offer the young and the old of Byberry Road, we really are in trouble. For God’s sake, where is your humanity?
This is not a case of politics. This is a case of survival for these long-suffering Byberry Road residents who long ago lost their quiet neighborhood to what is laughingly called progress. Not everyone has escaped to the suburbs.
Chris Hayes
Modena Park
• • •
I have read with interest your article pertaining to Woodhaven Road. As the former Republican state senator in that district, as well as a resident, I felt it was time for me to try to set the record straight.
In the 1970s under the Highway Capital Budget, funding was secured that would have taken Woodhaven Road to Bustleton Avenue. In fact, properties were condemned along the roadbed of the proposed Woodhaven Expressway. Unfortunately, on the west side of Bustleton Avenue, people bought homes in the new development where the roadbed was located. While the original owners did not know of the proposed expressway, once they moved there they did not want anything next to them.
Initial meetings were held as early as 1975/76 in the church on Somerton Avenue. Subsequent meetings to review various plans were also held over the years.
Every plan brought to the table was met with a roadblock. It became apparent early on that associates of the Somerton Civic Association were using this issue to create a political football. In taking this stance, the project was virtually shut down. Because of this mentality, the sad fact is residents on Byberry Road, as well as school children, have become hostage to traffic.
On Byberry Road we have private homes, two senior citizen homes, a public school, a Catholic school, and a charter school. The U.S. Post Office Bulk Mail facility also brings quite a bit of traffic into this area.
Anger of the people, as well as parents of school children and residents, should not be directed at PennDOT, but directed toward those who have obstructed development under the guise of being a community spokesperson.
By playing politics, a project has remained stagnant for over 30 years and new problems have developed, causing class warfare, with suburbs fighting the city, residents of Bustleton on the west side fighting Bustleton on the east side. Meanwhile, the cost to taxpayers continues to rise.
At this point, a partial solution would be to take Woodhaven Expressway and extend it to Bustleton Avenue, then decide from that point.
It just makes common sense that cars coming south from Bucks County, now turning left onto Byberry Road, would proceed another 500 yards past Byberry Road and get on the Woodhaven Expressway. People coming east from Montgomery County would turn right onto Bustleton Avenue and then onto Woodhaven Expressway.
This is not the solve-all solution, but by doing this you would at least give relief to the seniors, the children, and the people who live there — groups who, over the years, without their knowledge have been used as pawns.
It’s way past time for a solution. Antics used over the years of road closures, protesting and grandstanding should be put aside.
For the benefit of the community and safety of all concerned, it’s time for the SCA and like organizations to step aside!
Hank Salvatore
Former State Senator, 5th District
Hit-and-run victim
gets a raw deal
I would like to find out what laws exist about traffic violations in Philadelphia and what can be done if the police do not do anything.
I was involved recently in an automobile accident southbound on Roosevelt Boulevard between Bleigh and Cottman avenues. The person that hit my car left the scene of the accident. I was not injured but my car had damage.
Fortunately, a good Samaritan followed the car and got the license plate number. The accident was reported to the police. The license plate was traced to a car rental company.
Earlier this evening I called the 2nd Police District to see what kind of action was going to be taken against the person that left the scene of the accident. I was told that if I was not killed or injured that nothing will be done.
I find this hard to believe. This is showing me, a young driver, that if you are in an accident and no one was killed then you can leave the scene of the accident. The person who hit the car is not even getting a ticket! The person can easily be traced through the car rental company.
Brooke Master
Bustleton
Make money off of
those stupid drivers
I think cameras at red lights are a great thing. Far too many people are so full of themselves that they don’t think that the light that just turned red was meant for them.
The city should put them at every major intersection and secondary intersection for that matter.
We would really have a major influx of funds from all the fines.
As for the fear of an increase in rear-end crashes, there are two major factors that cause these collisions:
Speeding and tailgating, both of which are moving violations.
Anyone who gets in a rear-end crash from stopping at a red light should automatically be fined for both, hence more funds in the coffers.
Let those stupid drivers make this city rich.
Ed O’Neill
Castor Gardens
Um, thanks, councilman
If I were a cynic, last week’s letter to the editor from Councilman O’Neill would indicate the beginning of an election year.
But no, truly he is concerned with the well-being of the voting class known to control the largest portion of the nation’s wealth and also those that, as a class, vote more than all others groups.
He is genuinely interested in the well being of The Senior. According to Mr. O’Neill, most seniors require a discount for their gas, either that or a cold winter.
I don’t know the basis for the term “most,” nor, I suspect, does Mr. O’Neill. Thankfully, rising costs, medical and prescriptions and those “poorly performing investments” affect only seniors.
Give us a break Mr. O’Neill. You, as a Republican, are using a once-Democratic theme. Pander to a voting bloc that not only votes regularly but whines more than any other.
If you think seniors worked hard to build our city, wait until the current and coming wage earners and taxpayers are required to pay the cost of discounts earned by reaching an age. And not even a particularly old age, ask a senior. Discounts to any class are a cost to the others.
At least this gift and others are being means tested. Kind of. I can see the seminars coming to your local senior club.
How To Hide Income And Qualify For Discounted ......Water, Gas, Drugs, Transportation, Movies, Store Discount Days, Whatever.
Yes, Mr. O’Neill, “no senior should be cold this winter.” Actually, no one making an effort to provide for themselves and/or others should be cold, without food, a roof, clothing, or any basic element of life. But you know that.
On behalf of those who have reached 65 or soon will, the retired and those to be recognized for their past efforts, whatever that may be, and of course seniors of limited circumstances, I thank you for your concern.
Ray Dolan
Morrell Park
Make the call on alcohol
We hear a lot of talk about responsibility, about actions people should or shouldn’t take. Oftentimes, the person doing the talking is baffled about why someone else would act in an irresponsible way.
When it comes to doing something about a hazardous situation, people are funny. If they don’t see anyone else around, most people will jump in and try to help. However, if the same people think lots of other people know about the situation, they assume that someone else will call for help.
This is the case with places where children get alcohol. Someone always knows about the house where kids are drinking or about the tavern where children only need to be tall enough to put their money on the bar.
Strangely, most people who know of the danger either think that no one cares enough to do anything about the situation or that someone else is already working on the problem. Let me assure you, someone cares. The Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking established a toll-free hotline back in 1998 that everyone can call to report underage drinking.
The number is 1-888-UNDER-21. Next time you hear about a party where minors plan to drink or a bar or restaurant that is serving alcohol to kids, be the first one to act.
Felicity DeBacco-Erni
Executive Director, Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking
You dirty rat, kids are great
I want to thank the children of Bandon Drive for helping me when my 9-pound Yorkie and a very large rat tangled in my yard. The older boys went in my yard and put the dead rat in a plastic bag for me. They also made sure I was OK, as I was very upset. They are a great bunch of children and you could see the emotion in all of them. Thanks again, kids, you’re great!!!!
Vivian Plantarich
Parkwood
Community pride
Whoever is planting flowers and created a rock garden in the center section grass plot on Tyson Avenue between Oxford and Algon avenues is to be congratulated for a job well done. Someone is proud of their community and trying to make it even better. Thank you.
G.C. North
Castor Gardens