The Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association last week approved a businesswoman’s request for a variance to operate legally at 7215-A Rising Sun Ave.
Vanessa Simpson owns The Event Spot, which has been open since last February.
The 800-square-foot space can accommodate up to 49 people for showers, meetings and parties. Renters must bring their own alcohol and food. There is no off-street parking. Trash is placed in an onsite Dumpster.
The space, once home to former state Rep. Brendan Boyle’s office, is open seven days a week.
Simpson will go in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment in March.
In other news from the Jan. 10 meeting:
• Shannon Farrell, president of the Harrowgate Civic Association, contacted the Burholme group, asking it to send a letter of opposition to proposed safe injection sites. In a vote, six members supported sending a letter, six were opposed and four people did not vote, so no letter of opposition will be sent.
• Nick Himebaugh, who generally runs the civic group with Aizaz Gill, announced he will be moving to Harrisburg to work as executive director of the state House State Government Committee. Democratic Rep. Kevin Boyle, minority-party chairman of the committee, made the hire. Himebaugh will leave his job as an aide to U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle.
• Himebaugh nominated five people to serve on the Burholme board. They are Gill, treasurer Pat Donnelly, Frank Huynh, Gary Grisafi and Ashley Kilroy. Nominations will also be accepted at the February meeting.
• Civic members sang Happy Birthday to Linda Gaynor, an aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill. Gaynor mentioned that the city will award 50 college scholarships for graduating high school seniors. Scholarship awards are $1,000 for each academic year for four consecutive years of full-time enrollment in participating accredited four-year bachelor degree programs. The deadline for applications is March 1. For an application or more information, call or visit Gaynor at O’Neill’s office at 432 Rhawn St. (215-685-6431).
• The 18th annual Young at Heart luncheon will take place on Monday, Jan. 21, from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Presentation BVM parish hall, 100 Old Soldiers Road, Cheltenham. The CYO is sponsoring the event, which is free and open to senior citizens. The afternoon will consist of pasta, meatballs, rolls, salad, dessert and entertainment. Contact Sue Galiczynski at 267-258-6403 or [email protected]
• Lt. Ron Janka and community relations officer Mark Mroz, of the 2nd Police District, provided local crime updates.
Police are looking for the person(s) responsible for stealing two parrots, Sunny and Sunkist, on Jan. 4 from an apartment on the 2500 block of Shelmire Ave. There have also been several speakeasies shut down. Outside one of the illegal bars, near Bustleton and Tyson avenues, someone fired gunshots on Christmas morning.
• State Reps. Jared Solomon and Tom Mehaffie, a Dauphin County Republican, will hold a Town Hall to Stop Hate on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. William parish hall, Argyle and Robbins streets.
• The Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will meet again on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. at Wesley Enhanced Living, 7040 Oxford Ave. ••
