Members of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association earlier this month heard from 2nd Police District community relations officer Mark Mroz and state Rep.-elect Jared Solomon.
Solomon said he is hoping to move the 2nd Police District into a vacant building at 6600 Bustleton Ave. (at Magee Avenue). The property would also house a Police Athletic League center, since Gibbons PAL closed at Rising Sun and Longshore avenues earlier this year.
Solomon said such a move would reduce police response time and allow officers to work in a more modern building. The 2nd district is now located with the 15th district at Harbison Avenue and Levick Street.
Solomon has asked House Minority Leader Frank Dermody to be appointed to certain committees, but declined to say which committees.
Dermody retained his leadership position despite the fact that Election Day was another disaster for House Democrats, who lost three more seats and are in a 122–81 hole.
Solomon said he favors an increase in the minimum wage, but that there is not enough support to make it $15 an hour.
“That is not going to happen in Pennsylvania,” he said.
Solomon will soon open an office at a location to be determined. The office will have night and weekend hours.
In other news from the Nov. 10 meeting:
• Donations are needed for a turkey drive for needy families in Burholme.
Also, the Hellraisers Bucks County Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club will hold “Roxanna’s Run” and host a Christmas party at the Michael J. Crescenz Rising Sun VFW Post 2819, 6850 Martins Mill Road, on Dec. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Santa Claus will appear, and there will be a toy giveaway.
To donate a turkey or other food or for more information on the party, call Roxanna Gambino Schroeder at 215–626–1723.
• The Adams Avenue bridge over Tacony Creek in Lawncrest reopened on Nov. 11.
PennDOT began construction on the $2.8 million, state-funded project to rehabilitate the structurally deficient stone-arch structure in May. Built in 1901, the bridge carried about 16,000 vehicles a day at the time of its closure. The structure is 71 feet long and 26 feet wide.
PennDOT’s contractor repaired and strengthened the three-span bridge by resetting and repointing stones and reconstructing portions of the stone masonry walls.
The improvement plan also included removing the earthen fill inside the structure and replacing it with lightweight concrete; repairing bridge foundations; rebuilding existing wing walls that extend from the support abutments; widening the right turn lane onto Crescentville Road to improve traffic flow through the intersection; and installing scour protection around the support abutments and piers.
Additional work performed on the project to repair the bridge foundations and reconstruct sections of the bridge walls pushed the project completion time back two months. The bridge was originally scheduled to open in September.
• Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet again on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, Cottman and Lawndale avenues. ••
