State Rep. Mark Cohen will hold his first Northeast Community Giveback Festival on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lawncrest Recreation Center, 6000 Rising Sun Ave.
The event will include flu shots and a performance by the Northeast High School choir from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be free food, drink, clothes and toys.
Meanwhile, Cohen’s office, at 7012 Castor Ave., is collecting toys and nonperishable food for distribution during the holidays. Call Roxanna Gambino-Schroeder at 215–626–1723.
In other news from the Dec. 11 meeting of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association:
• Bill Goetz, a regional vice president at CSX, explained that the railroad company’s heavy construction project in the Burholme area will be completed by the spring.
Tracks are being shifted and lowered.
For concerns and complaints, call toll-free 1–877–835–5279.
• Dianne Murphy, community relations officer in the 2nd Police District, reported that there were three robberies in the district from 4 to 6 p.m. before the meeting. One of those robberies was of the McDonald’s, at 7613 Castor Ave. The two suspects are described as Hispanic or light-complected black males in their late teens or early 20s.
• Aides to City Councilman Brian O’Neill, Councilwoman Marian Tasco and state Rep. Kevin Boyle attended the meeting.
O’Neill has a new office at 432 Rhawn St. in Fox Chase. The telephone number is 215–685–6431. The office is next to the Fox Chase SEPTA station, directly behind American Heritage Federal Credit Union.
Tasco and District Attorney Seth Williams on Dec. 17 were scheduled to open the Lawncrest Community Action Center in the trailers at Lawncrest Recreation Center, Rising Sun Avenue and Comly Street. For more information, contact coordinator Quincy Lyons at 215–683–1964 or [email protected]
• A Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing will be held in February for a proposed large, first-floor bathroom addition to a home on the 7800 block of Whitaker Ave. The civic group voted in November to oppose the idea, based on the recommendation of the next-door neighbor.
In response, the owner seeking the addition has made changes to the plan.
• Members of the newly formed Burholme Business Association declared their first community day a success. The event took place on Oct. 26, on the 7300 block of Rising Sun Ave.
The day included live music, trick-or-treating and appearances by city elections commissioner Al Schmidt and state Reps. Mark Cohen and Kevin Boyle.
Al Taubenberger, president of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association, led a ceremony at the World War I monument at the five points intersection of Cottman, Oxford and Rising Sun avenues.
On Oct. 25, the business association organized a neighborhood cleanup.
Nick Himebaugh, a Burholme resident and aide to state Rep. Brendan Boyle, said at last week’s meeting that 40 businesses have signed up for the group.
Brian Vartarian, who helped Himebaugh and others organize the community day, spoke at last week’s meeting as part of the civic’s new “business spotlight.”
Vartarian’s Family Financial Services, 7331 Rising Sun Ave., is a certified Obamacare open enrollment resource center. It also provides tax preparation, and handles real estate and mortgage matters.
• Food donations are being accepted at the food pantry at Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase, 7902 Oxford Ave.
For more information, call Sarai Pierre at 267–251–6973.
• Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, Cottman and Lawndale avenues.
The group will honor member Romeo Battilana on the 70th anniversary of his participation in the Battle of the Bulge.
City Councilman Ed Neilson will address the group. ••
