Tag: Philadelphia

Northeast Philadelphia residents frustrated by ongoing rat problem: “You can’t live like this”

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Tree-lined residential street with row houses and parked cars

Residents in several lower Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods say a growing rat problem is disrupting daily life, damaging property and raising health concerns. Now, City Council is calling for a more aggressive response. Residents in Oxford Circle, Castor Gardens and Summerdale said rats have become difficult to control in recent months, despite efforts to keep the rodents away. “They’re pretty big. They’re not small rats,” Eugene Rivers, an Oxford Circle resident, said.

“They’re pretty big.” Rivers said rats tear open trash bags, scatter garbage and startle residents walking outside at night. “They’re everywhere,” he said. Although the rats have been a longstanding problem, residents said the infestation has worsened in recent months. Their attempts to control it have brought little relief. “I’m ready to relocate,” Gail Burris, another Oxford Circle resident, said. Burris said neighbors have tried poison, peppermint spray, mothballs and even freezing their trash until collection day. She said rats continue to damage cars and burrow in yards. “You can’t live like this,” Burris said.

“My grandkids get in my car, and they’re like, ‘Why do we smell mothballs, Mom-Mom?’ It’s just a lot. It’s a lot.” Philadelphia City Council member Dr. Anthony Phillips, who represents the 9th District, said the city needs to take stronger action to address the infestation. “I feel like the city has not responded in a way that is arduous,” Phillips said. Phillips recently proposed a resolution urging the city’s sanitation, public health and licenses and inspections departments to coordinate their efforts to combat the problem. The resolution calls for a targeted response that addresses vacant properties, improperly stored trash and repeat offenders, including the use of hefty fines.

City Council unanimously approved the resolution, recognizing the rat infestation as a public health emergency. Phillips said residents who properly maintain their properties are also suffering because of the actions of others. “There’s a lot of good neighbors in this community that are suffering because there are individuals that are not necessarily cleaning up after themselves,” he said. City officials are urging residents to store trash in hard-sided containers and limit the amount of time garbage sits on the curb before collection. Residents can report rat activity by calling 215-685-9000.

Source: Northeast Philadelphia residents frustrated by ongoing rat problem: “You can’t live like this” – CBS Philadelphia

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:3

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Wanda the therapy donkey brings joy to Pennsylvania seniors: “She’s like Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid'”

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Gray donkey grazing in a mountain valley beside a winding road and cottage

She spent her first 12 years in the wild, wandering through Arizona, but after being adopted by Kelsey Parisi last year, Wanda the donkey acclimated to life on the farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, quite quickly. “Begging for cookies and yelling to come into the barn every day,” Parisi said. “She’s like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, I want to be where the people are. So anytime she sees someone she walks up to the gate, and she wants to be involved.” Parisi said after only a few weeks, Wanda’s true personality came through.

She started taking her to summer camps and local stores on pet days, and she’s become a regular visitor at nearby senior homes. Wanda gets dressed up and allows residents to pet and feed her treats. Parisi said many times Wanda gravitates to the memory care patients and even puts her head in their lap. “Sometimes you’ll get people that would normally ask the animal’s name five or six times in a visit, but they might remember her within that hour and that’s pretty special,” Parisi said. On Friday, Wanda stopped by New Seasons at New Britain in Chalfont, where she makes routine visits and brings joy and smiles to everyone’s face.

“You can tell instantly the residents love when the animals are here. There’s just such a deep connection between the seniors and the love for the animals,” Carly Zimmerman, the activities coordinator at New Seasons, said. “It’s special. It brings them back to times when they were happiest.” Parisi is now sharing Wanda’s story. She entered her into a national Top Pets competition, where she cruised to the semifinals. Win or lose, Parisi said Wanda is one of a kind.

Source: Wanda the therapy donkey brings joy to Pennsylvania seniors: “She’s like Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid'” – CBS Philadelphia

A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16

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8-year-old reels in piranha at Ridley Park Lake in Delaware County, Pennsylvania: “It was pretty crazy”

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Piranha resting on a muddy rainforest riverbank

It was a piranha out of water and way out of place. Saturday was no ordinary fishing trip for Seamus Coffey and his dad, Michael. They were at Ridley Park Lake when the young angler reeled in a catch he won’t soon forget. “I caught two catfish,” Seamus said. The 8-year-old Seamus says he normally baits his line with string and a hot dog. He was fishing Saturday at Ridley Park Lake with his dad when he felt a tug. “He thought it was a bass at first because we usually catch little catfish,” Michael Coffey said. “So he’s reeling it, reeling it, reeling it and then when I saw it, what did I say? I said, ‘Slow down, dude, you might lose it.’ This looks like something we haven’t caught before, like a big bluegill or something.” “I’m reeling it in and I’m thinking it’s a bass,” Seamus said. “He got it on the ground and I was like, ‘It’s a bluegill, I don’t know what this is,’ and he said it’s a piranha,'” Michael Coffey said.

The Coffeys have fished here for years. Young Seamus seemed to know exactly what he was looking at. “Because I watch YouTube,” he said. “Remember, I Google imaged it, and I was like, ‘Dude, it’s a red-bellied piranha,'” Michael Coffey said. “It was pretty crazy.” Officials with Pennsylvania’s Fish and Boat Commission said this was likely someone’s pet until things got out of control at home. It was also explained that the person likely believed they were doing the right thing by placing a piranha in the lake. “Some of our folks have determined that this is certainly a species of piranha,” Mike Parker with the Fish and Boat Commission said. “And that person no longer wanted their pet and then unlawfully introduced it into the waterway.” Coffey said at first he put the native South American fish back in the lake but then thought twice. “Basically have to get rid of it for the ecosystem,” Coffey said, “so we ended up getting rid of it, humanely, and put it back for the snapping turtle that hangs out over near the rocks over there.”

They estimated the piranha to be about 9 1/2 inches in length, weighing about 2 pounds with all those teeth. State officials believe this to be an isolated incident.

Source: 8-year-old reels in piranha at Ridley Park Lake in Delaware County, Pennsylvania: “It was pretty crazy” – CBS Philadelphia

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”
Malachi 3:10

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Chester, Pennsylvania, police officer hospitalized after violent attack while responding to burglary

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a paramedic holding a radio

A Chester police officer is expected to recover after authorities say he was violently attacked Tuesday morning while responding to a reported domestic burglary. According to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, Officer Michael Tierney approached a man connected to a reported burglary near Meadow Lane and West 9th Street in Chester when the suspect suddenly attacked the officer. “It was a really scary incident, and it could’ve been a whole lot worse,” Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said. Investigators said Tierney attempted to calmly speak with the suspect on the sidewalk before the encounter turned violent. “There was no real provocation.

Officer Tierney was acting in nothing but a professional manner,” Rouse said. Authorities identified the suspect as Lawrence Crews. Prosecutors said Crews repeatedly punched Tierney, wrestled him to the ground and struggled for control of the officer’s Taser. “He was in effect pistol-whipped with his own Taser as a struggle ensued,” Rouse said. “Eventually, he was able to get the suspect, Mr. Crews, off of him.” Additional officers later took Crews into custody. Tierney was rushed to ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Officials said Tierney suffered cuts to his face and head and may have sustained a concussion, but he is expected to make a full recovery. “He was banged up, he was shaken up, it was wild, and it was unprovoked,” Rouse said. Prosecutors said Crews may have been suffering a health crisis at the time of the incident, though officials stressed there was no justification for assaulting a police officer.

Source: Chester, Pennsylvania, police officer hospitalized after violent attack while responding to burglary – CBS Philadelphia

For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6

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Stolen truck runs red light, crashes into playground outside Southwest Philadelphia school, police say

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bright and colorful playground slide in park

A driver in a stolen utility truck sped through a red light and crashed into a playground outside S. Weir Mitchell Elementary in Southwest Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon, police said.  Police on Wednesday announced 18-year-old Robert Littlepage Jr., of Douglasville, Georgia, was arrested and will be charged with attempted carjacking, aggravated assault and related offenses. According to prosecutors, around 2 p.m. Tuesday, Littlepage attempted a carjacking before jumping into a utility vehicle that was left running at the intersection of 62nd and Reedland streets.  He then crashed outside the school at 55th Street and Kingsessing Avenue around 2:30 p.m. 

Source: Stolen truck runs red light, crashes into playground outside Southwest Philadelphia school, police say – CBS Philadelphia

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

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