Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywinski proclaimed the group’s Oct. 4 Oktoberfest an unequivocal success as both a celebration of the civic group’s 10th anniversary and a much-needed fundraiser.
Speaking during the UHCA’s monthly meeting last Thursday, Cywinski reported that the group raised more than $3,000. More than 100 people attended the buffet dinner at St. Dominic’s Marian Hall, which featured about 50 gift basket raffles.
“We had a good crowd and we got a lot of compliments on the food, which was nice because I cooked it,” the civic president said. “And we made some money for a change.”
State Sen. Mike Stack and City Councilman Bobby Henon each delivered legislative citations to the civic group, recognizing its 10 years of service to the community.
In other UHCA business:
• Members re-elected all officers and board members for the upcoming year. There were no contested offices, so all were chosen by acclamation. The office holders include Cywinski (president), Tom Geisler (vice president), Bobbie Gunning (treasurer), Nancy Quinn (secretary), Paul DeFinis (zoning chair), Bernadette Giles (public relations chair), Crystal Eiswert (at-large board) and Lynn Gregory (at-large board).
• Mike Tomlinson, the Republican nominee for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 173rd district, asked residents to vote for him on Nov. 4. Tomlinson said he wants to eliminate wasteful spending in state government and in the city’s public schools. He also wants to reduce business taxes in the city. His opponent is Democrat Mike Driscoll.
• Sandi King, the Northeast business service manager for the Department of Commerce, invited business owners and commercial property owners to take advantage of the city’s SafeCam program. Eligible businesses can earn up to $3,000 in reimbursement on the installation of exterior surveillance cameras. For information and applications, call 215–683–2172.
• DeFinis reported that the civic association is trying to solve problems at two local properties. At the corner of Torresdale Avenue and Emerson Street, a rental home appears to have been gutted and the debris left in the yard. DeFinis said he contacted the owner, who promised to clean up the mess. If the problem persists, the civic would be able to contact the city’s Community Life Improvement Program to remove the debris at the owner’s expense.
DeFinis also reported that neighbors in the area of Torresdale Avenue and Tolbut Street have complained about airborne dirt from a commercial landscape supply yard at the intersection. The business has large piles of various soils and gravels with no shelter or covering. The swirling dust is leaving a layer of grime on their homes.
Previously, a construction materials recycling company operated in the yard, which was shielded from neighboring properties by a screened fence and a row of trees. After the landscape supply business moved in, the operator removed the fence screen and the trees. Neighbors claim that there is a zoning variance on the property that requires the screened fence and trees to be maintained. DeFinis said that the civic association will have to research the zoning file. ••
