Mark Mroz, the community relations officer in the 2nd Police District, spoke at the recent Lawncrest Community Association meeting.
Mroz is glad that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts provided $600,000 for improved air conditioning at Northeast High School. The officer noted that Northeast and other public schools often close early on hot days, forcing police officers to deploy there to ensure an orderly dismissal.
Mroz was also pleased that the 2nd district and donors were able to provide 23 new bicycles for participants in the National Night Out bike ride.
As for crime, Mroz spoke of an arrest after a 2013 Dodge Charger was stolen from the 200 block of Passmore St. The operator was caught while driving on Old York Road in the 35th district.
A Hyundai Sonata was stolen from the 400 block of E. Cheltenham Ave. by a 14-year-old, who crashed into a fence and shed on the 600 block of Sanger St.
In other news from the Sept. 17 meeting:
• State Rep. Anthony Bellmon said his office will make a short move in October from 7215 Rising Sun Ave. to 7256 Rising Sun, former home of Goodman Family Chiropractic, which moved to Rockledge.
Bellmon said the House is expected to tackle issues such as skill games regulations and mass transit funding while in session this fall.
The deadline is Oct. 19 to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27.
Bellmon announced that $1,263,295 in state funding through the Local Share Account program was awarded, including $500,000 for building improvements to Jardel Recreation Center and $763,295 for renovations to the Lawncrest Clubhouse pool house.
Bellmon said the School District of Philadelphia has a preliminary plan to move the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, at 11081 Knights Road, to the former Fels High School site at 1001 Devereaux Ave. The former Fels building was demolished in 2018. The school district would like to keep the current Rush site as a high school, with students likely coming from the overcrowded Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
• The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership’s Cesali Morales and Xose Agbadan addressed the group.
There will be a music and arts festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1-5 p.m. at the Tacony Creek Park field near Olney and Clarkson avenues. The afternoon will include love music, food, dancing, arts and crafts, bird watching, bike rides, games and giveaways. RSVP at tcpfestival2026.eventbrite.com.
• State Sen. Tina Tartaglione will hold four senior expos on upcoming Thursdays, all from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Caregivers are also invited. The schedule is Oct. 1 at Franklin Towne Charter High School, 5301 Tacony St.; Oct. 8 at Community Academy Charter School, 1100 E. Erie Ave.; Oct. 15 at the Philadelphia Protestant Home, 6401 Martins Mill Road; and Oct. 22 at Heitzman Recreation Center, 3631 Amber St. For more information, call 215-533-0440.
• Reps. Anthony Bellmon, Sean Dougherty and Jared Solomon will sponsor a shredding and e-cycling event on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at Roosevelt Mall, 2329 Cottman Ave.
• The Philadelphia Fire Department provides free smoke alarms to city residents. Call 311 to request installation.
• The LCA in June approved a proposal to build an age-restricted 49-unit apartment building at 7040-52 Oxford Ave. The location is in Burholme, but the city assigned the case to the 35th Democratic Ward. Bellmon supports the plan. A Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing set for Aug. 12 was continued, allowing the Burholme Civic Association to consider the case. The new ZBA hearing date is Nov. 17.
• Lawncrest Community Association will meet on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at St. William’s Monsignor James E. Mortimer Memorial Hall, Argyle and Robbins streets. ••
