Members of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association last week heard about a day-care that needs to move, a swimming pool and deck that need to be legalized and an upcoming exercise that will gauge the response in case of a terrorist attack.
Lt. Frank Schneider and community relations officer Mark Mroz, of the 2nd Police District, offered various safety tips.
The police officials warned against keeping items of value in their automobiles. They said it’s a crime waiting to happen to keep laptop computers, iPods, GPS devices and power cords, wallets and change in plain sight. It’d be better to keep them in the trunk.
Anyone who uses a GPS device should remove the holder from inside the windshield and wipe off marks that are left by the suction cups.
Also, Schneider and Mroz announced that the Naval Support Activity base, at Oxford and Robbins avenues, is planning an event for the week of March 19.
All of the employees will be evacuated as part of a mock terrorist attack on the base. SEPTA and the police and fire departments will be part of the two-day event.
“Six-thousand people leaving that area will be a big task,” Mroz said.
The details have not been released, including the exact dates and times.
In other news from the Feb. 9 meeting:
• Storybook Children’s Center, at 7722 Dungan Road, will look for a new location in August, when its lease is not renewed after nine years, as an existing tenant seeks to expand in the shopping center.
The children’s center plans to move to space at the Pentecostal Church of Philadelphia, at 7101 Pennway St. The civic association wants to visit the proposed new location before deciding whether to support it.
There are about 150 children enrolled at the center, which offers child care, preschool and before- and after-school care.
• The civic group voted unanimously in favor of homeowner Matthew Bock, of the 1100 block of Tabor Lane, who needs a variance for a swimming pool and deck in his back yard.
Zoning consultant Tom Citro explained that the area is zoned G-2 industrial. Bock is replacing an existing above-ground pool and deck. The new pool will be larger. A neighbor ratted him out to the Department of Licenses and Inspections, so he needs a variance.
The civic group will write a letter of support to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet on Thursday, March 8, at 7 p.m., at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, at Cottman and Lawndale avenues. The guest speaker will be attorney Garrett Gummer, who specializes in elder law. ••
