Residents discuss city shoveling, Northeast Regional Library and more in this week’s letters to the editor.
Librarians miss you
Dear children, as you know, Northeast Regional Library has been closed since Jan. 3 because of building problems. Mrs. Whalen (Ms. Megan) and I are working at other libraries temporarily, but we will be back at Northeast Regional when the building reopens.
I want you to know that I understand how difficult this is for all of you, especially those who come to the library for LEAP and homework help, for our Story Breaks, for our wonderful programs, for chatting with your friends, for talking to us and asking for help with whatever you need.
The closure is difficult for all who want to use our fabulous book collection and other library materials that we have in our great Children’s Department. Mrs. Whalen and I miss you very much, and we can’t wait to return to Northeast Regional Library to see you again.
Please make sure you try to visit other neighborhood libraries while Northeast Regional Library is closed. Good choices would be the Bushrod Library at Castor and Stirling; Holmesburg Library at Frankford and Hartel; and Tacony Library at Torresdale and Knorr. All of these libraries have after-school homework help.
While you are waiting for Northeast Regional Library and the Children’s Department to reopen, think about all the great new books that will be waiting for you to borrow. There will be a huge selection for you. Again, I want you to know that we miss you very much. Keep reading.
Marianne Bucci
Head, Children’s Department, Northeast Regional Library
Thanks for your help
Thank you very much to everyone who generously donated cold weather gear for our homeless veterans.
I recently delivered these supplies to the Veterans Multi-Service Center, 213–217 N. 4th St. The cold weather this year has been especially bitter for our homeless veterans. They are grateful for the donations.
Rep. Thomas P. Murt
152nd Legislative District
Shoveling problem fixed
In response to the Letter to the Editor, “City doesn’t shovel property,” published on Jan. 17:
I want to personally thank Eileen Teti for bringing this issue to my attention in her Letter to the Editor.
Having my Rhawnhurst neighborhood office located in the city’s Northeast Services Center, I was particularly frustrated by the lack of shoveling or salting in front of the city-owned property at 7522 Castor Ave.
After learning of this problem, I immediately contacted the city’s commissioner of the Department of Public Property. As it turns out, that location is serviced by a third-party contractor who had no good excuse as to why the property was not cleared after the snow event.
As a result, the contractor was charged with liquidated damages for breaching their contract with the city. I have also been reassured that this problem will not repeat itself and would ask any constituents and Northeast Times readers to notify me if this ever happens again.
Thank you.
Councilman Brian O’Neill
10th District
Great day for a great cause
Thank you so much to all who sponsored the cat shelter building event at Holmesburg Boys Club on Jan. 20. It was so well organized, and everyone we met was helpful and friendly. Many found out about the workshop on Facebook, but we depend on Northeast Times for advertising community events.
So thank you, again, to all those at Philadoptables who support protecting the lives of cats and other creatures great and small. We hope our feral cat, Midnight, enjoys its new shelter this winter.
Greg and Helene Labacz
Far Northeast
