The Upper Holmesburg Civic Association recently awarded its annual community scholarships to high school seniors Natalie Bechtel and Hank Charlton.
Natalie attends Archbishop Ryan. Hank is enrolled at MaST Community Charter School II. Both live in East Torresdale.
The scholarships are part of a 10-year, $1 million community benefits agreement among the civic association, Holy Family and NewCourtland, for redevelopment of the former Liddonfield Homes housing project.
The last Liddonfield residents moved out in 2010, and the project was demolished later that year. Since then, the 32-acre site has remained largely vacant, except for an InnovAge Living Independently For Elders (LIFE) center that opened in 2020 and an acre granted to Heroic Gardens. Holy Family no longer has anything to do with the property, but selected high school seniors each year earn full, four-year scholarships to the university.
Natalie will study nursing at Holy Family, as her mom, Jessica, is a nurse. Hank will major in professional sales and marketing.
State Sen. Joe Picozzi presented Natalie and Hank with citations.
Natalie has been a three-year captain and four-year member of Ryan’s cheerleading team. She is a coach for the medal-winning Crispin Gardens Athletic Club cheerleading program. She’s volunteered at St. Katherine of Siena. At Ryan, she is a member of the Healthcare Academy, Ambassadors club and Morgan’s Light club.
Hank volunteers with St. Katherine of Siena Thanksgiving and Christmas drives for the needy; the First Tee youth golf development organization; Riverfront North Partnership park cleanups; 8th Police District National Night Out; and East Torresdale Civic Association. He received the Good Citizenship Award from the Police Athletic League. He plays baseball at MaST and works at John F. Byrne Golf Club and caddies at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale.
As a bonus, Hank won the 50-50, as he did at January’s ETCA meeting.
In other news from the Feb. 19 meeting:
• Sen. Joe Picozzi answered questions, saying he supports school choice while also backing more funding for public education, including higher teacher pay and nurses in each school. In the Communications and Technology Committee, he voted in favor of local control when it comes to computer system data centers, and supports regulation of artificial intelligence. Picozzi, who was joined by his district director, Sean Roche, invited constituents to visit his office in the shopping center at Academy and Byberry roads.
• State Rep. Pat Gallagher told members they can visit his office at 8760 Frankford Ave. for any state needs.
• Tom Forkin, chief of staff for City Councilman Mike Driscoll, said his office at 7552 Frankford Ave. is available to handle constituent issues.
• Jill Henon, an aide to City Controller Christy Brady, said residents can visit her each Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hayes Playground, 9945 President St.
Henon mentioned that the controller’s office on Feb. 12 released a report finding that almost all the speed cushions installed near city schools do not comply with contract blueprints or engineering safety standards. Among 140 speed cushions inspected at 44 schools, engineers in the Controller’s Office found that only two of them met the height and ramp length dimensions specified in the contract blueprints. Testing revealed that 95% of the speed cushions exceeded the maximum grade.
• Cinnamon Hill, community relations officer in the 8th Police District, said she hopes the Philadelphia Parking Authority will ticket illegally parked cars and the city provides outreach for homeless encampments. Hill said the district is using drones in parks to locate homeless encampments.
The 8th district, 3100 Red Lion Road, will hold Captain Townhall meetings at 6 p.m. on the following dates: Thursdays, March 26, April 30, May 28, June 25, July 30, Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Nov. 24.
The Philadelphia Police Department is hiring. Applicants must have a high school diploma and be at least 20 at the date of hire. The starting annual salary is $67,934. Call 215-683-COPS or visit JoinPhillyPD.com.
• St. Dominic School will hold a bingo on Saturday, March 21, from 6-10 p.m. at Marian Hall, 8532 Frankford Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $35. There will be 10 games for cash prizes, buffet, beer, wine, soda, basket raffles, a 50-50 and another game for purchase with a $1,000 prize. Tickets are available at the school and rectory or by contacting Kate Minor at [email protected] or Mike Serverson at 215-901-7672.
• State Rep. Ed Neilson and City Councilman Jim Harrity will hold a free shred event on Saturday, March 28, from 9-11 in the parking lot of Our Lady of Calvary Church, 11024 Knights Road.
• The Upper Holmesburg Civic Association has re-ordered a half-dozen Hometown Heroes banners that have been damaged. The banners will be replaced when the weather gets nicer. ••
