The Take Back Your Neighborhood civic association on Monday night welcomed the store directors of two local supermarkets that provide donations for community activities.
Addressing the crowd were Bob Hallinan, of the Acme at 6640 Oxford Ave., and Nick Spadea, of the Collins Family ShopRite at Oxford Avenue and Levick Street.
Among the events the two markets have supported are the civic group’s former Northeast Celebration and career day and Dr. Seuss Day at Crossan Elementary School.
Hallinan and Spadea said their stores are both looking to add beer and wine sales.
Spadea has been on the job for three months, having moved over from Acme. Even when he worked for Acme, he said, he shopped at ShopRite, claiming the store has lower prices.
In response to a question about the city beverage tax, Spadea pointed to his store’s current circular. Any three bottles of Coca-Cola, Sprite or Seagram’s are a total of $3, with an additional purchase of $25, at Philadelphia ShopRites only.
In other news from the meeting, 2nd Police District Lt. Marc Rutizer and community relations officer Mark Mroz handed out neighborhood public safety surveys for residents to complete.
Mroz also mentioned some recent crimes.
A man pretending to work for the Philadelphia Water Department entered the home of a 95-year-old woman and her 93-year-old husband on the 7600 block of Frontenac St. on April 9, saying he had to check pipes. The phony city worker was ordered out of the house when he was seen entering a bedroom.
A shooting victim, on April 14, said the incident happened on the 6900 block of Eastwood St. The victim, though, has become uncooperative, and police question whether the crime actually happened on Eastwood Street.
Two black males committed a shooting on the 5600 block of Frontenac St. and ran toward Scattergood Street.
Police have a suspect in a stabbing on the 800 block of Marcella St.
There were 10 thefts from autos in the last month. In eight of them, the doors were unlocked.
Janice Sulman, a lawyer and Democratic leader of the 53rd Ward, outlined a zoning issue involving the Shoe Factory, 7018 Castor Ave. The business wants to legalize a sign. Sulman, who is not directly involved in the case, explained that the Zoning Board of Adjustment has heard testimony, but will not vote until it receives community input.
Nobody representing the shoe store was at the civic meeting. Neighbors said the sign has been in place for decades, adding that a “liquidation sale” sign seems to always be in the window.
The group will not consider the proposal until it hears from a Shoe Factory representative. ••
