Cancer center sparks
fly at Burholme meeting

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

City Councilman Brian O’Neill, whose relationship with former Mayor John Street deteriorated in Street’s second term, is off to a much better start with Mayor Michael Nutter.
O’Neill (R-10th dist.) addressed last week’s meeting of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association, mentioning the city’s "going green" environmental initiative and his membership on the Zoning Reform Commission.
The councilman expects a city official to address the civic group at a future meeting about environmental issues. The group should be kept up to date on the zoning commission, since its president, Al Taubenberger, is a member.
O’Neill asked neighbors to send him recommendations on how to improve Jardel Recreation Center. They can call his office at 215-686-3422 or write to 562 City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Several people wondered why O’Neill was promoting the city’s "going green" program while also backing a move by Fox Chase Cancer Center to expand into Burholme Park.
The councilman, slightly agitated by the questions, noted that he "held up" the project for three years until traffic issues were settled and the cancer center agreed to pay $4 million for open space and improvements to parkland and facilities in the 10th Councilmanic District.
Opponents of expansion into the park were not satisfied.
"What a bunch of baloney," said Paul Canty.
A man wanted to know why no white politician labeled the March 26 murder of Sean Patrick Conroy as a hate crime. Conroy, who was white, died after an alleged attack by five black teenagers in a Center City subway concourse.
The man argued that, if a group of whites killed a black man, the Revs. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Jeremiah Wright and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama would all descend on the city.
O’Neill said he hadn’t heard that the murder was a hate crime and added that he would not inflame tensions.
"You don’t try to be the white Al Sharpton," he said.
In other news from the June 19 meeting:
• The newly formed Burholme Business Association held a cleanup of the 7200 block of Rising Sun Ave. on May 17.
The effort was organized by businesswoman Christine Houck and Matt Taubenberger, an aide to state Rep. George Kenney who is also the Republican candidate to replace the retiring lawmaker in the November election.
The association plans a tree planting and another cleanup in the fall.
Last month’s cleanup was aided by 25 young people, including 23 members of local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.
Kenney presented each of the youngsters with House of Representatives citations. Many of the youths attended last week’s meeting to receive their certificates.
The honorees were Erin Murphy, Melissa Murphy, Kim Farrer, Megan Guy, Gabrielle Sorendino, Sharmaine Villacorte, Maggie Grant, Joe Vecchione, Brendan Guy, Josh Carey, Brianna Brubaker, Christine Mallon, Evan Carey, Michael Mallon, Connor Musser, Ed Pimble, Cody Brubaker, Sara Nesbitt, Sarah Pimble, Melissa Conn, Heather Conn, Emily Walz, Holly Sdao, Matthew DeLisi and Dominic DeLisi.
Cub Pack 160, for boys in first through fifth grades, meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, at 1013 Cottman Ave. To register or for more information, call Cubmaster Dan Grassi at 215-745-0350 or visit www.troop160.org.
• The civic association won a case in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment when the board ordered a homeowner on the 7300 block of Shelbourne St. to tear down an extension of the front door of the twin house.
On another zoning matter, offices for a foster care agency are expected to replace Ruhling’s Seafood restaurant, which closed in December 2005. Neighbors had earlier rejected a proposal to open a Laundromat in the 6,000-square-foot property, located at 7210-20 Rising Sun Ave.
One man was unhappy that a Crown Fried Chicken store would open at the site of the former Purple Orchid II, a go-go bar at 7271 Rising Sun Ave. that closed in August 2002 after a police raid discovered cocaine, marijuana, steroids, prescription Xanax and $3,600 in cash.
The individual said there are already KFC and Popeye’s Chicken stores in the area, and he worried that customers would double park on Cottman Avenue.
• The organization will host its annual National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 5 in the parking lot of United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, at Cottman and Lawndale avenues.
• Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet on Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m., at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com