NEast Links: Pool openings, budget cuts and more

Here’s a summary of the week’s Northeast news we didn’t cover. See others here.

Friends Hospital updated on its recovery-oriented inpatient psychiatric care unit last night. The unit at the Northwood facility opened in January. Its goal is for each patient to leave with a new, self-written life plan. The life plan will be different than normal in that it will incorporate continued therapy with each individual’s interests, support systems, hobbies, strengths, community connections, and aspirations. It focuses on positive psychology based on hopes and dreams, not just symptoms, medication, and counseling appointments.

Keep reading for news on program cuts from Mayor Nutter, an advanced math class and more.

Community

Thanks to a nearly half-million dollar donation from First Niagara Bank, all the city’s public pools will be open  this summer. Through various donations from the public and private sectors to the Splash & Summer FUNd, the city will open 70 of its pools this summer (two will become spray grounds). Only 46 pools opened last year.

The Community Life Improvement Program, which addresses quality of life issues in the Northeast is taking a nearly $950,000 hit in Mayor Nutter’s plans to help Philadelphia’s latest financial struggles. CLIP has had crews trim more than 4,000 trees, clear 3,500 properties and remove graffiti from 15,000 sites. Other cuts, which have yet to be implemented, include canceling two police recruit classes, reducing library schedules from five days to four and the eliminating two fire companies. The grand total will be $20 million in cuts.

Our best-read story this week: Lincoln High students’ attitudes match new buildings

Every Friday morning, we make sure you didn’t miss any Northeast Philadelphia news with NEast Links.