Bustleton holds meeting
from the H.E.A.R.T.

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

The Greater Bustleton Civic League focused on volunteerism and heart health at its May meeting.
The group got a visit from Nazareth Hospital’s H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Everyone Address Risks Today) program, which aims to help individuals identify and reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke.
The grant-funded program is part of a three-year pilot study at Nazareth. The hospital hopes to screen 1,500 individuals by the end of June.
"Our program helps to raise awareness so that you can make the proper adjustments to your lifestyle," said Suzanne Herger, a nurse educator at the hospital.
The free screenings include a lifestyle risk assessment, physical fitness evaluation, blood pressure check, leg circulation measurement and cholesterol and blood sugar testing.
Screenings last about 20 minutes, and the results are confidential. Participants should not eat or drink eight hours beforehand.
The group’s next screening dates are on the mornings of June 11, 15 and 18, July 23 and Aug. 6. All but the June 15 screening, which takes place inside Nazareth Hospital, will be hosted at the Nazareth Hospital Medical and Wellness Center at 1407 Rhawn St.
Nurses from Nazareth’s Community Outreach Department will share the results with participants and send them to their primary care physicians upon the patient’s request.
Individuals can schedule appointments by calling 1-866-629-2738.
The civic league also heard from Philly Pups for Independence, the local club for the Seeing Eye, a 4-H-sponsored program based in Morristown, N.J., that raises dogs for the blind.
The Seeing Eye breeds its own German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and Lab/golden cross breeds. Puppies stay with a foster family until they reach between 14 and 18 months of age. Both adults and children can be raisers.
"It shows the children great responsibility," said club leader Lorraine Busch, who brought along a 10-month-old part Labrador, part golden retriever named Flare that she is helping to raise.
The local club formed in the summer of 2002 and meets once a month at the Northeast Community Center on Holme Avenue. For more information on how to become a puppy raiser, call the Seeing Eye at 973-539-4425.
In other news from the May 23 meeting:
• The group gave updates on two zoning matters.
One involved an auto body shop at 103 Geiger Road whose owners want to start selling used cars. The civic league supported the plan last month on the condition that the owners and their attorney craft a deed restriction for the number of cars that can be placed on the lot.
Bob Barrilli, legislative aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.), said that the agreement the attorney later sent was unsatisfactory. The business continued its hearing before the Zoning Board of Adjustment to work on drafting another agreement.
The other zoning issue concerned a car wash at 9400 Bustleton Ave. The civic group last month approved owner Vince Fletcher’s plan to install laser technology at several of the wash bays.
However, neighbors said that the owner has not properly addressed ongoing issues of noise and vandalism at the site. They asked why the civic group did not further discuss the plan with residents living around the property before they approved it.
Barrilli said that the business also continued its ZBA hearing to have a separate meeting with concerned residents. The new hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 13.
• Residents also complained that a furniture store on the 1800 block of Grant Ave. is selling its wares outside again.
Ann Marie Boyle, O’Neill’s chief of staff, asked Richard Simon, community relations officer for the 7th Police District, to have police monitor the site.
• Resident Marv Bordetsky spoke about Compassionate Friends, a support group for families that have lost children.
The group meets on the third Monday of the month at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union. It is non-sectarian and does not require dues. Siblings and relatives are also welcome. The civic league approved a donation of $150 to the group. ••
The Greater Bustleton Civic League next meets on Wednesday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m., at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road.
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com