Burholme: Second curfew
center slated for the Northeast

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Ronald George told folks at last week’s monthly meeting of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association that the city wants to add a second curfew center in the Northeast.
At present, there are six curfew centers in the city, including one in Frankford that serves the 15th Police District.
George, who works for the Department of Human Services as project manager of the Violence Prevention Initiative, indicated that the city wants to find a space that would provide services to curfew violators in the 2nd, 7th and 8th police districts.
Ideally, George said, the site would be near Roosevelt Boulevard in the 2nd Police District, which has a much higher crime rate than the 7th and 8th districts. He hopes to find a spot by mid-October.
The goal of the centers — the first one opened in South Philadelphia in July 2006 — is to keep minors from committing crime and being victims of crime.
"We want the curfew center to be a nurturing, positive environment," he said.
Al Taubenberger, president of the Burholme group and the Republican candidate for mayor, had a chance to visit one of the centers.
"The concept is a good one," he said.
A police officer and DHS staffers are on site, along with community volunteers.
Curfew violators are brought to the center, where they wait for a parent or guardian to pick them up.
As the young people wait, they are interviewed to see what led to their violation of curfew. When the parents arrive, they too are interviewed.
Centers are open Thursdays and Sundays from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
About 2,000 youths have been brought to centers in the last 14 months. They are subject to fines and community service.
Curfew violators who are carrying weapons or drugs or who have a bench warrant will be arrested.
In other news from the Sept. 13 civic meeting:
• Attorney Steve Pollock explained that Pilgrim Gardens, a retirement community at 7023 Rising Sun Ave., wants to demolish one of its old stone buildings in the front of the property and build a 62-unit apartment building for independent living.
The new building will be more modern; for instance, it will have an elevator. There will also be new signs on the property.
The civic association will support Pilgrim Gardens at an upcoming hearing in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Tom Garvey, a vice president at Fox Chase Cancer Center, provided an update on the hospital’s expansion plans.
Garvey announced that construction should begin soon on a multi-level parking garage and care pavilion on hospital grounds.
The executive is also optimistic about the center’s proposal to build in Burholme Park, though City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) will have to give his nod.
The hospital is struggling to find green space to replace the parkland it will use for a long-term expansion of facilities. O’Neill rejected a proposal to purchase land in Cheltenham. One possibility is for the cancer center to put money into a fund to purchase ground when it becomes available.
Also, there are concerns about traffic in the area. Garvey is hoping that coordinated traffic signals will help the flow of traffic.
Garvey told the crowd that, once Fox Chase wins approval to proceed with its expansion, the center would provide maintenance and security for Burholme Park.
• An anti-violence rally will be held on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m., at the corner of Bingham Street and Cheltenham Avenue. The crowd will rally for peace near the site where a merchant was shot to death in August, allegedly by a neighborhood youth.
• The civic association has come to an agreement to support a bid by Collision Care to open on the 1200 block of Cottman Ave. The auto-body shop will make various improvements to the site.
•  United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, at 1128 Cottman Ave., is accepting applications to join Angel Food Ministries.
For a monthly price of $25, families can choose from menu items that include meat, vegetables, dessert and other items. Call 215-745-5963 for more information.
• Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet again on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, at Cottman and Lawndale avenues. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com