The Fox Chase Civic Association and Town Watch welcomed 2nd Police District Sgt. Matt Lowe and community relations officers Mark Mroz and Al Fiorentino, of the 2nd and 7th districts, respectively, to its November meeting.
On Oct. 23, Lowe and 2nd district officers David Kosempel and Joseph Kesslick responded to a call of two graffiti vandals spraypainting the side of a duplex on the 1300 block of Cottman Ave. Lowe and the officers found the vandals hiding in the back of the property and arrested the pair, both from Bucks County.
For their efforts, Town Watch president Steve Phillips – who was celebrating his 63rd birthday – presented gift cards to Lowe, Kosempel and Kesslick, along with Mroz.
The Town Watch and civic association also presented Fiorentino with donations for the upcoming annual Fox Chase Champions Christmas party, scheduled for Dec. 10 at Knowlton Mansion. The party is for young people with special needs and their families. To make a donation to the party, contact Fiorentino at 215-686-3070 or alfred.fiorentino@phila.gov.
Police are encouraging people to report nuisance vehicles or illegally parked trucks and tractor trailers to the Philadelphia Parking Authority Enforcement Unit at 215-683-9620.
Mroz and Fiorentino said car break-ins, stolen autos and thefts from autos continue to be a problem. In some cases, the keys have been left in the ignition, vehicles have been left unlocked and valuables left in the vehicles.
Mroz said police are hopeful that a nuisance store on the 7900 block of Verree Road will be closed for good.
Phillips noted that Nov. 11 marked the 30th anniversary of the murder of Fox Chase teenager Eddie Polec.
In other news from the Nov. 13 meeting:
• Matt Shelak, executive director of Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus, addressed the group.
Shelak talked about the growth at Jeanes, including a new triage unit and nine additional bays in the Emergency Department. Last year, the hospital saw some 42,000 visits to the Emergency Department.
There is also a new CT scanner and cardiac catheter lab, with plans for a new pharmacy.
The Anna T. Jeanes Foundation recently presented $52,000 to 24 not-for-profits, including Fox Chase Town Watch.
Shelak was accompanied by Joel Helmke, chief operating office at Fox Chase Cancer Center, who spoke at the October meeting.
In response to complaints of speeding, Shelak brought signs that read, “Please Drive Slowly Through Our Neighborhood.”
• Aizaz Gill, the Republican candidate in the 172nd Legislative District, thanked people for the love and support he received during the campaign.
“I’ll never forget that,” he said.
Gill noted the high turnout in the 63rd Ward, centered in Fox Chase.
Democrat Sean Dougherty won the race by 504 votes.
• Craig Turner received a citation from City Councilman Brian O’Neill for 32 years of community service. Turner was a founder of the Fox Chase Homeowners Association in 1992. He was a longtime board member, serving as president, vice president and zoning director. The citation mentioned his knowledge of the city Zoning Code and land use issues.
• Fox Chase Lock & Key will sponsor the annual ride through the neighborhood featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus on a truck supplied by Liberty Roofing on Saturday, Dec. 21. The ride will begin in the late afternoon and be led by a police escort, traveling on streets from Cottman Avenue to Susquehanna Road. Christmas music will play during the ride.
• It was announced that Otto Schmidt recently passed away. Schmidt was the longtime owner of Otto Schmidt’s Florist and Greenhouses, in Fox Chase.
• Fox Chase Civic Association and Town Watch will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Loudenslager Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave. ••
