Northwood hopes the
third time is a charm

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Northwood Civic Association is about to have its third president in the last couple of months.
At last week’s meeting, members overwhelmingly elected Barry Howell.
Howell replaces Gina Panchella, who took over when Joe Menkevich resigned in September. He defeated Tom McAvoy, 29-3.
Only people who had paid their dues were permitted to vote, with just one ballot per household. State Rep. Tony Payton (D-179th dist.) was in Harrisburg but submitted an absentee ballot, which was rejected because he lives just outside the civic boundaries.
In the race for vice president, Kathleen Fitzpatrick clobbered incumbent Michael Bane, 28-3. Howell and Fitzpatrick are close friends who both live on the 1200 block of Wakeling St.
The president-elect, who will assume office in January, had been a member of the board of directors. The married father of two has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years.
A few years ago, he was involved in the organized opposition to development of a parcel of ground at Adams Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. And he was part of the unsuccessful bid to block COMHAR from moving 16 mentally ill individuals into a home on the 5100 block of Oxford Ave.
The former longshoremen’s union boss said he’ll rely on his close ties to state Reps. John Taylor (R-177th dist.) and Payton and City Councilmen Dan Savage (D-7th dist.) and Darrell Clarke (D-5th dist.) to advance the association’s agenda.
Howell helped engineer the departure of Menkevich and board member Len Williams. The rest of the board believed Menkevich ran disorganized meetings and was controlled by Williams.
The incoming president complained that Menkevich spent too much time talking about the Historical Society of Frankford and Benjamin Rush’s connection to Greenwood Cemetery. He claims the former president did not focus on neighborhood crime and ignored the needs of residents who do not live in areas covered by the Burk deed restriction, which allows only single family homes.
During his one-year term, Howell will try to build membership. He vowed to attract 200 people to meetings, and told the membership that they should choose a replacement if he can’t accomplish that in a year.
"I am optimistic that Northwood can be the best community in the city of Philadelphia," he said. "I think we can be better than Society Hill, Chestnut Hill and Northern Liberties."
In his pre-vote pitch, McAvoy mentioned that he has lived in the neighborhood since 1971. He and his wife, who live on the 1100 block of Wakeling St., raised five children. His top priority is to preserve the deed restriction.
Fitzpatrick, who ran a bruising Democratic primary challenge in 2003 to then-City Councilman Rick Mariano, moves from board member to vice president. She’ll remain secretary.
The soon-to-be vice president wants the group to hold a yearly social event for residents to get to know one another. She also wants to add a day-care service at the meetings so parents can attend.
Bane, a lifelong Northwood resident, served a short term as vice president. He had replaced Panchella when she assumed the presidency after Menkevich’s resignation.
The group also elected four board members. Incumbents Lou Kubik and Renee Hudson and newcomers Panchella and Joanne Ryles ran without opposition.
The board will elect a fifth member. Treasurer Bill Rodebaugh, who took over for Williams, did not seek a full term on the board. Bane has indicated he would like to sit on the board.
In other news from the Nov. 20 meeting:
o The curfew center at Frankford Group Ministry, at 4620 Griscom St., is in need of volunteers. The center is open Thursdays through Sundays from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Police officers pick up minors in the 15th District who have violated curfew. The teenagers are taken to the center until their parents arrive. To volunteer, call 215-744-2990.
o Some members of the civic association plan to attend the Great Expectations Citizens Convention, scheduled for Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, at 12th and Arch streets. Mayor-elect Michael Nutter will be the keynote speaker.
o The 2nd and 15th Police District Advisory Councils will hold their annual holiday party for officers in both districts on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Harbison Avenue and Levick Street.
o St. John’s Lutheran Church, at 3101 Tyson Ave. (at Sackett Street), will hold a forum on the absence of maternity services in the Northeast on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Zack Stalberg, head of the government-watchdog group Committee of Seventy, will serve as moderator.
o A Wakeling Street resident warned neighbors about two recent muggings on Pratt Street. The man said seven boys and girls stole his 16-year-old daughter’s iPod as she walked home from the Frankford Transportation Center at about 3 p.m. on Nov. 14.
Two days later, at about the same time, a teenage boy was knocked to the ground and beaten.
Civic leaders say they will relay the information to Capt. Frank Bachmayer, commander of the 15th Police District. ••