Top 11 stories of the week in Northwest Philly

 East Falls residents protest outside of a blighted property on Conrad Street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

East Falls residents protest outside of a blighted property on Conrad Street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

Here’s a look at the stories you may have missed in Northwest Philadelphia this week …

1. Veterans honored at Roxborough’s Gorgas Park

To honor the veterans, both living and deceased, who have fought for American freedom, the 21st Ward Veterans Association hosted a Veterans Day Service at Roxborough’s Gorgas Park War Memorial on Tuesday.

2. As editor leaves, community groups aim to keep The Fallser in print

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Neighborhood stakeholders, including the East Falls Community Council and East Falls Development Corp., say they are “very interested” in keeping The Fallser newspaper alive when editor Julie Camburn retires next month.

3. How an award-winning Roxborough High senior turned straight Fs into straight As

Justina McMinn, a Roxborough High School senior, was honored as the Philadelphia Education Fund’s “Rising Star,” during a Thursday night ceremony. Her story is one of overcoming long odds and finding success.

4. Man fatally shot in Germantown identified as father of LA Lakers player

The 57-year-old man fatally shot in Germantown on Sunday has been identified as Wayne Ellington Sr., whose namesake son plays professional basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.

5. Abandoned-property owner tells East Falls protesters he’ll demolish eyesore

Years of stewing over an “abandoned, dangerous falling-down house at 3342 Conrad St.” had built to the moment when a police sergeant told East Falls residents that the absentee property owner they went to Plymouth Meeting to protest was on his way home.

6. A Northwest take on the recently-released Pa. school performance index

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released a spreadsheet that lists the academic progress of every public school in the state. In the Northwest, marks among charter and traditional public schools were more of a mixed bag. The average score was just north of 60.

7. Illegal parking at dangerous Mt. Airy intersection concerns residents

The Mt. Airy-Nippon-Bryan-Cresheim Town Watch discussed the dangers of illegal parking at Germantown and W. Mt. Airy aves. during a recent meeting.

8. Nonprofit and Mt. Airy salvage company unite to sustainably reduce Germantown blight

A passion project more than three years in the making is finally underway in Germantown. The Philadelphia Community Corps, a nonprofit that revitalizes blighted neighborhoods by deconstructing houses and salvaging the materials for reuse, broke ground on its first project in October.

9. Carlesha’s alleged abductor appears in Philadelphia federal court

Abduction suspect Delvin Barnes’ eyes scanned a courtroom packed with attorneys and media members before he sat down for a five-minute hearing in which he successfully applied for court-appointed counsel.

10. Germantown Academy claims PC/GA Day bragging rights over Penn Charter

For the second straight year, the PC/GA Day Competition Cup hung in the balance when the Germantown Academy Patriots and Penn Charter Quakers squared off on the football field. GA’s 40-29 victory sealed the Cup in the rivalry’s 128th renewal.

11. Tips for bicycling with children in cold winter months

There are great resources available for winterizing your bike and yourself for the cold weather, but what to do when you add kids to the mix? This story offers a slew of suggestions from someone who knows.

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