Things happened during the summer, the Normandy Civic Association’s president, John Wisniewski, told members Sept. 20 during their first meeting in several months. There were stories of vandals, burglars, skunks and a naked lady.
A neighborhood reunion also was announced.
Graffiti was sprayed along the Woodhaven Road sound-barrier that marks the small neighborhood’s northern boundary, Wisniewski said during the civic group’s session at the Norcom Community Center.
The wall scrawls, which started at the Roosevelt Boulevard and went all the way down toward the reserve center property, were removed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, he said. A few Normandy houses have been marked up, too, he added.
Also, the city has sealed up a house on the 2800 block of Normandy Drive. The property had been a problem, residents said. It had been vandalized and youths had broken into it.
Residents discussed the sorry or vacant states of a few other properties — on Normandy Drive, Norcom Road and Nightingale Road — frequently stating they hoped the buildings would be occupied and looked after.
Members said Mother Nature betrayed the good intentions of a resident on the 2800 block of Norcom Road who was putting out food for neighborhood cats. Skunks were attracted to the buffet, too, they said.
Another incident recalled at the meeting was that of a resident of the 2900 block of Normandy who one August day walked down the block stark naked while ignoring her caregiver’s pleas for her to cover up and go back inside.
Wisniewski said there had been several burglaries over the summer, notably shed break-ins in which lawn mowers and snow blowers were swiped.
Wisniewski added the correct dates for the civic group’s next two meetings are Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Thursday, Nov. 17. He said the dates were incorrectly noted in a flier the association distributes throughout the neighborhood.
Treasurer Theresa Olsen told members that she believes she has sorted out the association’s finances and will give a full report at the October session.
Meanwhile, she said, the civic group is looking for suggestions of how to spend city grant money on neighborhood improvements.
Members should bring their ideas to the association’s next meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Norcom Community Center, 10980 Norcom Road.
Wisniewski said the civic group is looking for a few block captains, too. And Teresa Rushton, the organization’s secretary, said she will soon leave the post and someone is needed to step up to fill the vacancy.
Anyone interested should call Wisniewski at 215–828–3678.
A few days before the next session, on Saturday, Oct. 15, there will be a Normandy reunion at Katie O’Donnell’s Irish pub on Woodhaven Road in Franklin Mills. The event lasts from 8 p.m. to midnight and the $30 ticket, which will be available at the door, entitles each attendee to the musical entertainment, a buffet and open bar.
Anyone interested can look at either of two Facebook sites — Normandy and friends and Normandy the neighborhood, or call O’Donnell’s at 215–637–5151. ••
Reporter John Loftus can be reached at 215–354–3110 or [email protected]
