Capt. Frank Bachmayer, former commander of the 15th Police District, addresses the Mayfair Civic Association for the final time. (Photo provided by Harry Leech)
The Mayfair Civic Association last week bid a fond farewell to Capt. Frank Bachmayer, former commander of the 15th Police District.
The civic group and Mayfair Town Watch presented Bachmayer with a community service award. The Northeast Quality of Life Coalition gave him a framed certificate.
Bachmayer, who had been in the 15th since 2006, was transferred to the narcotics strike force, which is located, for now, at the Frankford Arsenal Business Center. He received a standing ovation at last week’s meeting and thanked the community for its support.
“This has been a highlight of my career, to be assigned to the 15th district,” he said.
Capt. John McCloskey, the new commander in the 15th, also attended the meeting. He’s been with the department for 35 years, including 25 in the 35th district, which comprises Olney, Logan and West Oak Lane. He was an officer in the 15th in the mid-1980s. He vowed to focus on street-level drug sales.
“I’ve got big shoes to fill. Frank did a marvelous job,” he said.
Sharon Krause, community relations officer in the 15th, will remain in her post.
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The civic association will write a letter in support of Holmesburg Civic Association’s effort to keep a methadone clinic out of a property at 7520 State Road. The Zoning Board of Adjustment will hear the case on Jan. 23.
The Mayfair group is gearing up to travel to City Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 5, for a Common Pleas Court hearing on a planned methadone clinic for Frankford Avenue and Decatur Street.
Rep. Kevin Boyle noted the Frankford Avenue site’s proximity to a day care center, church and dance studio.
“I can’t think of a worse location than the one at Frankford and Decatur,” he said.
Boyle doesn’t want Mayfair to follow Frankford and Kensington as what he calls an “epicenter of treatment centers.”
Pete Specos, president of the Frankford Civic Association, said treatment centers discourage businesses from opening and residents from shopping.
“Once they get in your neighborhood,” he said, “you can’t get rid of them.”
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Rep. Boyle’s district offices are collecting non-perishable food items through Christmas for donation to the needy in the Northeast. The offices are located at 7518 Frankford Ave. (215–331–2600) and 7801-A Hasbrook Ave. (215–695–1016).
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The civic group approved signage for Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6300 Harbison Ave., and a day care center proposed for a former Wachovia Bank at 7157 Frankford Ave. The church and day care must get official approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
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The civic association lauded everyone involved in planning the Mayfair Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade, singling out Pete McDermott, Donny Smith, Kevin Leonard, Mia Hylan and Lisa Greco for special praise.
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The Mayfair Business Association will hold a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony this Sunday at Frankford and Cottman avenues. There will be a Christmas craft fair from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by the tree lighting.
Civic association presidents Joe DeFelice (Mayfair), Mary Benussi (Tacony) and Rich Frizell (Holmesburg), who served as grand marshals at the Thanksgiving parade, will light the tree.
The business group thanked Frusco’s Steaks for housing the tree the last couple of years, but it noted that the public wanted the tree at a more visible, central location.
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Mayfair Town Watch has 42 members after a year in existence. The group includes patrolling members and block watchers.
There will be a certification class on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 10:30 a.m., at Mayfair Community Center, at 2990 St. Vincent St. The boundaries go from Sheffield Avenue south to Harbison Avenue, and Frankford Avenue west to Roosevelt Boulevard.
More information is available by calling 215–983–9600 or visiting www.mayfairtownwatch.org.
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Lisa Deeley, an aide to City Councilman Bobby Henon, invited constituents to visit his district office, located at 6730 Torresdale Ave. in Tacony. The hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ••
Mayfair Civic Association’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m., at Mayfair Community Center.
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215–354–3034 or [email protected]
