A school bus carrying senior citizens collided with six other cars Wednesday morning along a busy South Jersey roadway. Eight people were taken to area hospitals.

The bus and cars crashed in the southbound lanes of N. Black Horse Pike (Route 168) just before the five-way intersection with Front Street and Chews Landing Road in Glendora, Camden County, N.J. around 9:30 a.m. The seniors were on their way to a day care center, according to investigators.

As SkyForce10 hovered overhead, at least three adults were put on stretchers at the scene and people were escorted off the back of the "Archway Program" bus. The yellow bus, No. 100, was carrying five seniors between the ages of 65 to 90 years old to the Lakeland Complex in Blackwood, N.J., according to Gloucester Township Police Deputy Chief David Harkins.

All the passengers on board and the driver were hospitalized. Betty St. John, 84, and Philomena Grimley, 93, were taken to Cooper Hospital and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Caroline Keels, 66, and Mildred Ordille, 88, were taken to Underwood Hospital in Woodbury for evaluation. Rose Capper was taken to John F. Kennedy Hospital in Stratford for evaluation.

The bus driver, identified as 49-year-old Gail McCoghrean, was taken to Cooper University Hospital for evaluation.

A 2000 Kia was heavily damaged from the impact. The driver, identified as 69-year-old Margaret Ghessing, had to be extricated from the car by fire crews. She was taken to Cooper Hospital in Camden and suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung. She is currently in stable condition, according to investigators.

A preliminary investigation determined that a Ford pickup truck, a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant and Kia were travelling south on the Black Horse Pike and stopped in traffic. The school bus was also travelling south when it approached the stopped vehicles and slammed into the rear of the Kia. The Kia then struck the Mitsubishi which struck the pickup truck. The collision also forced the Mitsubishi into the northbound lane where it struck a 2004 Ford Taurus driven by Antoinett Capps and a 2003 Toyota Camry driven by Michelle Low. Ladders that were detached from the pickup truck also hit a a 2011 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Brian Malone.

N Black Horse Pike was shut down in both directions for about three hours but has been reopened. Police also blocked other connecting roads during the investigation.

Archway has programs for senior citizens as well as people with special needs. The organization has two schools in South Jersey -- a lower school on Jackson Road in Atco and the upper school in Evesham.

Archway's Chief Financial Officer Robert Posnick tells NBC10 that his school transports more than 200 students and seniors to and from nearly 60 different school districts around the area and that most of those students ride in district buses. Archway serves individuals with physical, emotional and neurological disabilities, according to the program's website.

Archway partners with Camden County to transport seniors, said Posnick.

Every school bus in New Jersey is inspected at least twice a year. Click here to see the report for buses around the state.
 

As city and state officials and the teacher's union continue to battle over funding for Philadelphia's schools, Mayor Michael Nutter is challenging citizens to put up extra cash for school supplies.

Called the Philadelphia Education Supplies Fund, Mayor Nutter implored citizens, nonprofits and corporations to donate money to the program that will buy school supplies for all K-12 schools in the city -- even charter and parochial.

"We all have a role to play in supporting the next generation of Philadelphia's leaders," Mayor Nutter said standing with the city's educational leaders.

The city hopes to raise $500,000 by October 15. To kickstart the late funding push, the city dropped $200,000 into the initiative, according to Mayor Nutter.

Philanthropist James Maguire also committed $100,000 through his nonprofit, The Maguire Foundation, bringing the total start up funding to $300,000.

The total goal, the mayor says, is to raise $2.5 million over the next five years. City government will inject $1 million over that span.

The fund will be administered by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and money collected through their website.

Money collected through the program would be used to buy supplemental supplies like pens, paper and other classroom items.

"I've heard from so many people who are interested in helping and getting involved in education for children," the mayor said. "Everyone can do something. Today's announcement is an immediate opportunity for our citizens, our nonprofits, businesses and corporations and the philanthropic community to come together in support of education in our city."

Philadelphia public school teachers took a similar approach just a few weeks ago, on their own, asking strangers to give money through a crowdfunding website.

The cash-strapped public school system allots only $100 per teacher for supplies for the entire year. The money donated through the fund would be in addition to that allotment.

The Education Supplies Fund is modeled after a similar initiative the city launched several summers ago to keep many of the city's public pools open, even as the parks department's operations budget was slashed.

Before unveiling the fund, Mayor Nutter implored city and state politicians to pass laws to raise additional money for the city's public schools.

Mayor Nutter asked Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett to release $45 million in funding promised to the district. Gov. Corbett has held up that money saying he won't send it down until the teacher's union makes contract concessions.

The mayor also asked the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass the city's cigarette tax. That $2-a-pack tax would earn $85 million a year, he said.

He also asked Philadelphia City Council to pass an extension of the city's 1-percent sales tax hike.

The School District of Philadelphia continues to search for more than $100 million in funding to close a budget deficit that has left schools without thousands of staff members -- including nurses, administrators and support staff.

The eighth-largest public school district in the nation, the School District of Philadelphia teaches more than 134,000 students in public-run schools. Another 63,000 students are enrolled in city charter schools.

The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan said he support's the mayor's initiative, but said charity, while always accepted, is not the answer.

"We know the public will do all it can to help our schoolchildren, and this fundraising effort will provide a convenient way for citizens to make much-needed contributions," he said in a statement. "But the school district and its teachers should not be in the position of depending solely on charity to buy pencils and paper for schoolchildren."

Mayor Nutter's announcement comes an hour before Philadelphia City Council is set to outline a plan to sell more than two dozen defunct school district buildings worth more than $100 million dollars.

District officials announced two weeks ago they would be completely changing the sale process of the shuttered buildings. Where before teams of community members and leaders would review buyer proposals and determine which would fit best for a neighborhood, now the district is leaning on the city for help.

City officials will assess the properties and fast track the sale of buildings determined to be “highly marketable.”

The funding gap continues as the district and teacher’s union continue to negotiate over a new collective bargaining agreement, more than a week after the prior contract expired.

Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.

Emergency crews have rescued a man who had a seizure while working 100 feet in the air.

The man was working on some equipment at Lockheed Martin's "Cornfield Cruiser" located at Centerton Road in Moorestown, Burlington County.

Skyforce10 was over the scene as the man was lifted off that equipment and lowered by a crane to the roof below. He was then lifted off the roof and slowly lowered to the ground.

The facility, located near I-295, is well-known by people who live in the area because the facility looks like a warship.

It's official name is the Vice Admiral James H. Doyle Combat Systems Engineering Development Site.

According to the Lockheed Martin website, when the building was constructed in the 1950s, it was owned by the Air Force. The Navy purchased the building in 1977.

It now houses both Navy and Lockheed Martin personnel who work to research and develop a combat system that guards against missile threats.

Michaela Havlish was three years-old when her father Donald Havlish perished in the Sept. 11, 2011 Attacks on the World Trade Center.

He was on the 101st floor of the North Tower.

"Being a 9/11 child has been an interesting experience," said the 15-year-old. "Having my dad die at a young age, I didn't understand. Now, I understand it a lot more. It's become a lot more real."

Michaela says she now understands the enormity of it and that "people are not coming back."

About a year after the attacks, Michaela and her mother Fiona drove around the country on a trip of gratitude. It was the first time Fiona had been west of Columbus, Ohio.

The westward journey left an impression on the the Havlishs prompting the pair to move from Bucks County, Pa. to Boulder, Colo. in 2005 for healing.

"It gave us a chance to get on our feet again," said Fiona Havlish. "There was incredible outpouring of love. It shifted the way I looked at life. Now, I don't want to leave here."

The pair moved back to West Chester in 2008 to help care for Fiona's ailing father, but returned to Boulder in 2010 -- where they've remained.

Michaela sees a future on the East Coast. Her dream is to attend New York University's Tisch School for Musical Theatre. She sings and has added dancing and acting to her pursuits. 

"They [9/11 kids] learned you follow your passion and the rest will fall into place," said Fiona. 

A typical teenager, Michaela's learning to drive and is a sophomore in high school. She does feel a little different from her classmates, however. 

"It separates me from all the other students at school. It affects friendships and stuff," said Michaela. "A lot of my friends are not liking their parents. For me, I'm very close with my mom. Probably because I lost my dad. She's my mom and my dad."

The kids in Colorado, Michaela believes, don't really understand the enormity of Sept. 11.

She feels the East Coast is more conscious of what happened that day, and that's what's pulling her to want to come back. 

Michaela feels her dad around her all the time and sees signs of him -- a feeling she says brings her comfort. She may look up at a clock and see the time is 9:11 or she may glance at a license plate with numbers that brings him to mind.

Following the attacks, Fiona kept a journal of her thoughts, writing every entry with her daughter in mind.

She's taken excerpts from the journal writing and wrote a book with a working title -- "An Unexpected Journey," reflecting on her first year after Sept. 11. She started the book in 2010 and expects to self-publish this winter.

"I never really had a good cry," said Fiona. "There was never time. I kept pushing back the grief. Writing the book was a healing experience."

Fiona hopes to impart the positive lessons she's learned along her journey and to inspire others as a life and health coach, her new career.

This 12th anniversary, the Havlishs plan to spend a quiet day together to reflect. They will go to a creek in Boulder and throw roses into it and have lunch afterward with relatives. 

"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him," said Fiona. "I'm so glad I had him as a husband. I still miss him. I have been given amazing gifts that day amongst the rubble in life. I'm fine," Fiona said.

Michaela wants the world to know, "I'm doing good."

Contact Sarah Glover at 610-668-5580, sarah.glover@nbcuni.com or follow @skyphoto on Twitter.

An old African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child. And for Joe Neary it has taken a community of volunteers to help with his son’s recovery.

Nearly two years ago, a gunman’s bullet shattered Kevin Neary’s spine and left him a quadriplegic after a botched robbery in Northern Liberties.

“It’s been an amazing year and three quarters. The generosity of people has been amazing. It’s all these little things. People think, 'Oh I am not doing anything.' I say, 'Yeah you are.' It really helps you as a person to think, 'Wow people are really thinking about Kevin.' It helps you get through things and I mean it’s a lot to get through,” said Joe Neary.

Kevin, now 30, has undergone several operations, endured a lengthy stay a rehabilitation center and has had to adjust to a life he never foresaw.

“I’ve had some ups and downs with trying to progress, with trying new technology and trying to work. Everybody has been so generous with their time and resources. And so I am very grateful and extremely proud of those affiliations,” said Kevin.

This Saturday Joe and Kevin will open the doors of their Upper Chichester Township home on Kelly Drive to thank the many supporters who pitched in to help.

Several groups, including alumni from the University of Pennsylvania, raised more than $50,000 through fundraisers to help with Kevin’s ongoing medical care that was not covered by state insurance or social security. Others have donated time, equipment and manpower to help make Kevin’s home more functional.

Kevin was shot in the neck in November 2011 while walking home from a friend’s house along the 700 block of Bodine Street in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia. The shooting was captured on a security camera. Police later arrested 20-year-old Christopher Easter, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30-60 years in prison last November.

Neary is a graduate of Salesianum High School in Wilmington and graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania. He had just started a business filling senior nursing positions for local hospitals and was also waiting tables to make ends meet. He was just one block away from his apartment when he was shot.

“As a parent, the worst thing is for something to happen to your children. You get this call from police and they say your son has been critically injured. The blessing is that he is still here…had police not responded as quickly as they did, Kevin would not be here,” said Neary.

The response from the community was also immediate and overwhelming, according to Joe Neary. Within days of the shooting, Kevin’s friends, well-wishers, former classmates, and people living in their Upper Chichester Township community joined forces to help him adjust to his sudden, new life.

“When we first came home last February 2011, the five guys who are friends of mine built an external ramp. Shortly afterwards we knew that we needed to do something in terms of an addition to make the house accessible for him so that he could stay home,” said Joe.

And that’s where Rick Disabatino came in. He is part owner of EDiS Construction Company in Wilmington and sits on the board of directors of Kevin’s former high school. Talking about the shooting still brings him to tears.

“I heard about Kevin getting shot in Philadelphia. I have two sons close to his age. I said, 'What can we do, we’ve got to do something.' I started calling contractors and said, 'Can you help with a donation?' Then it just snowballed from there,” said Disabatino.

He spearheaded a team of contractors who worked together to design and build an addition onto the home, complete with a large living area, bedroom, brand new closets and a shower. All of it, free of charge. It’s a project, McNeary says, that would have cost him $128,000.

“They dug the hole, they poured the concrete, they put the flooring in, they built the wall, they built the ceiling and they built the addition, it’s just unbelievable. I want them to see how all their hard labor paid off,” said Joe.

Kevin had been living in just one room. He says the new addition has made life much better.

“I have a lot more open area and now I have privacy. I feel like I can be a little bit more mobile and a little bit freer now. Everybody has been so generous with their time and resources. I am extremely proud,” said Kevin.`

Kevin's family and friends will host another fundraiser on September 16 at the Wyncote Golf Club.  The event has already sold out, according to Joe Neary.

Contact Danielle Johnson at 610.668.5705, Danielle.Johnson@nbcuni.com

As the Phillies speed towards a playoff-less October and their first losing season since 2002, it can be easy to lose sight of some of the more enjoyable times had by the team this season. While they were  few and far between, they were nonetheless there. And just like there are a handful of young pitchers that the Phillies have on the up-and-up, the same can be said for those on the opposite sides of the ball.

Until prospect Mikael Franco conquers AA (he has 15 homers and a .339/.363/.563 line in 69 games with the Reading Fightins this season), Cody Asche is going to be holding down the hot corner. After a breakout 2012 season, Asche impressed the brass enough this season to warrant a call to The Show in late July.

In 33 games entering Wednesday, the 23-year-old has a .268/.322/.473 line with five homers and 20 RBIs. It's not Rookie of the Year-level offense, but he's proven that he can hold his own in his first tour with the team. To boot, he's had very little trouble handling left-handed pitchers, as he has an .887 OPS and one homer in 21 at-bats (versus a .775 OPS in 91 at-bats).

We are still in very small sample size territory for Asche, so anything he does this year has to be taken with a grain of salt, but he's been one of the brighter spots for the Phillies so far this season.

Speaking of small sample sizes, let's talk about Darin Ruf. The 27-year-old first-baseman-turned-outfielder is in his second season with the Phillies after a mid-season call up, and like in 2012, he has  no issues displaying his power. In 56 games, he's got 13 homers to go along with an .845 OPS. Like last season, he's displaying an ability to work a count and to get on base (his .350 on-base percentage would lead the team if he had enough at-bats to qualify), which is an under-appreciated skill for a hitter.

But while his .495 slugging is nice to look at, the fact remains that Ruf still has less than a season's worth of experience, as he has appeared in all of 68 games with the Phillies. While there is no doubt that Ruf has power, the fact is that pitchers are starting to exploit his weaknesses (like his inability to hit breaking balls), and he has to prove that he can adjust and overcome.

But the most curious thing about Ruf's season are his bizarre platoon splits. In 2012, Ruf had 21 homers and an impressive .388/.469/.848 line in 165 at-bats against left-handed hitters in the minors. He had similar success against LHP after he was called up (1.326 OPS in 16 ABs), but that success has not carried over to this season. Not only did he struggle against LHP in the minors (.715 OPS), but also in the Majors (.641 OPS). It's a strange reversal of fortune for Ruf, who currently boasts a .923 OPS in 139 ABs against right-handed pitchers. It could be just lousy luck against lefties, but more than anything, it's a matter of southpaws simply adjusting how they attack him in the batter's box.

All of that to say that, as far as Ruf goes, the jury is still out. You can't discount his success, but you also cannot bank on it. He's too much of a wild card at this point, and the only thing that the Phillies can do is give him at-bats to see if he is the real deal or not. But with Ryan Howard locked in for three more seasons, that is going to be much easier said than done.

Then you have Cesar Hernandez, who has been impressive in very little time so far this season with the Phillies. While he does own a career .295 average in the minors (and a .280 average in 16 games with the Phillies this year), the really impressive thing about the 23-year-old switch-hitter is that his conversion to center field (in light of Ben Revere's injury) has been a (so far) successful one, considering that he has spent much of his career playing second base. He's not been perfect, but the fact that he has managed to not embarrass himself out there (in all of five games) is something. If Hernandez can successfully transition to the outfield, he may very likely find himself providing some much-needed depth on the big league roster next season.

Of course, I'd be remiss if – in the course of talking about young hitters – I didn't mention Domonic Brown. The 26-year-old, in his first full season with the Phillies, broke out in a big way, starting with a dominating performance (12 home runs) in the month of May. In 123 games with the Phillies this season, the outfielder has 27 homers, with 81 RBIs and a .274/.320/.513 line.

Although injuries have limited Brown's time on the field, the former top prospect has finally earned his stripes as a legitimate big-league power threat. With the rest of the core fading, Brown is poised to be the face of the team for the foreseeable future.

So while the Phillies flounder and head (likely) towards an under .500 season, there have been some mildly bright spots on offense throughout the season. With any luck, they'll grow brighter in 2014.

A family of four is displaced from their home after a fire in Upper Darby, Delaware County tonight.

NBC10 was on the scene as firefighters worked to put out the two-alarm fire on the 300 block of Kingston Road. Everyone made it out of the home safely.

The Red Cross is assisting that family of four with food and clothing.

The family does have someplace to stay, according to the Red Cross.

The cause of the fire hasn't been determined.

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A 14-year-old girl tells police she was attacked at a South Philadelphia recreation center this afternoon.

The girl says it happened in the bathroom of the Vare Recreation Center on the 2600 block of Morris Street.

Detectives spent hours looking for clues and pulling surveillance video from inside the building.

Sources tell NBC10's Nefertiti Jaquez that video shows the teen girl and her alleged attacker in a hallway moments before the alleged assault.

The girl tells authorities she recognized the boy who attacked her because they go to the same school.

Vare Recreation Center has at least 16 surveillance cameras installed to boost security at the facility that offers dozens of after school programs.

Stay with NBC10.com for updates in this developing story.

A New Jersey teen is getting a lot of attention both at school and online after a video of him doing a flip and scoring a soccer goal went viral.

A video of Randy Gordon scoring the goal for the Hackensack High School Comets by tossing the ball into the playing field using a front handspring has been viewed more than 100,000 times.

The video shows the ball going sky-high before being tipped into the net by an opposing Ramapo High goalie.

"When it went in, I went crazy," Gordon said. "It's like a once-in-a-lifetime thing."

Gordon, a junior, scored the goal in his first-ever game on the school's varsity soccer game. Normally, players can't score a goal off a throw-in but because the Ramapo goalie tipped the ball, the toss put Hackensack in the lead briefly.

Gordon, 16, said he spent all summer practicing the stunt.

Now, coach David Wells said, the team relies on him for throw-in plays.

"He can pretty much pinpoint where he wants to put the ball so this helps us out a ton," Wells said.

Gordon's mother, Anne Gordon, said she was proud of all the attention her son was getting.

"It's a little crazy," she said. "It was just a fun soccer game."

--Jen Maxfield contributed to this report

The School District of Philadelphia has a positive statistic to talk about this week. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has announced that only two schools are part of the state's persistently dangerous list.

Lincoln High School in Northeast Philadelphia remains on the list. Sayre High School in West Philadelphia was added this school year.

The total means the district can say it has reduced the number of schools on the list by 40 percent or more for each of the last three years.

"Our principals and school-based staff have worked extremely hard to improve school culture, safety and climate," said district Superintendent William Hite in a statement.

"We know that much work remains, which is why we are increasing the use of restorative practices and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support. Safety remains a high priority, and we will continue working to ensure positive and safe environments for learning."

Five schools that appeared on the 2011-12 school year's list were removed from the 2012-13 school year's list:

• Beeber Middle School in West Philadelphia
• Frankford High School
• Kensington Business High School
• Strawberry Mansion High School
• Douglas High School (closed in June)

Vigilance, trust and respect

"We were elated," Beeber Principal Joseph Starinieri said of the news. "We've done a lot of things last year to get us off this list."

Among them, Starinieri highlights the staffers and a network of volunteers who were strategically posted in the hallways.

He said students got the message that there were adults keeping an eye on things.

"When they see people, they're going to know that, 'Hey, look, I'm not going to start anything, because I'm going to be caught.' I mean it's just that simple," said Starinieri.

For Kensington Business Principal Eileen Weissman, building trust between students and staff was key.

"It's about being respectful of each other and of us. And it's about us being respectful of our students. Kids need to know that you care about them," she said.

Sophomore Nadia Watson said, before starting at Kensington Business last year, she heard rumors about the school having disciplinary problems. But when she arrived, she said, there was little truth to back them up.

"It wasn't what I suspected," said Waston. "It wasn't bad at all. We barely had any problems at all."

Fears of reversing progress

District-wide, the number of reported violent incidents declined by 32 percent last school year, from 4,059 to 2,756, according to the district.

Violent incidents include assaults, abductions, robberies and offenses involving drugs and alcohol, among other things.

Maintaining the dip in dangerous schools may be more challenging this school year as many schools are doing without key support staffers.

It's a real concern for public education advocates in the city.

"I'm very worried that we're creating a situation in which we're going to lose significant progress that's been made, that's been incredibly important to the health and well-being of our students," said Susan Gobreski, executive director of Education Voters of Pennsylvania.

This story was reported through a news coverage partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org

A Pennsylvania doctor is free on bail after being indicted Wednesday for the attempted murder of his estranged son-in-law in Cleveland last month.

Police say that a masked Dr. Georges J. Bensimhon hid outside the back door of his daughter's estranged husband's Cleveland Heights home on September 4, waiting to attack, according to WKYC.com.

Bensimhon, a 66-year-old anesthesiologist from Allentown, allegedly beat Dr. Seth Hoffer with a pry bar -- hitting him repeatedly in the head, reports WKYC.

The 39-year-old victim was able to fight off his attacker and get help.

Dr. Bensimhon was arrested when police arrived at the scene after they found sedatives and syringes in his possession, according to WKYC.

On Wednesday, the elder doctor was formally charged with attempted murder, attempted aggravated murder, kidnapping and assault.

Bensimhon is free on $500,000 bond.

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The deadline for property tax relief, also known as the Homestead Exemption, is tomorrow.

Philadelphia homeowners have until Sept. 13 to submit their exemption application. 

As of August 30, 207,000 people enrolled into the Homestead Rebate program, according to Kate Dreher of the Office of Property Assessment (OPA).

Based on city data, the OPA believes there are approximately 320,000 to 340,000 homeowners eligible for the program. That’s about 60 percent of likely homeowners who’ve applied for the program thus far.

"That's pretty good for a new government program," said Dreher. "But, there are more eligible homeowners. If you don't take advantage, you leave money on the table."

The Homestead Exemption reduces the taxable portion of a Philadelphia property assessment by $30,000, resulting in a savings up to $402 on real estate taxes for the 2014 tax year.

If you own your home and live in it as your primary residence you're eligible for the exemption. There are no other requirements.

Households received notice of the Homestead Exemption in February, at the same time they received their new property tax assessments.

The OPA has worked to simplify its message. The goal is to let residents know the process of applying is easy. Homeowners can call the Homestead Hotline at 215-686-9200 and even apply over the phone or online. The city plans to continue its outreach to inform homeowners of the savings via radio ads, SEPTA ads, fliers and at community meetings.

A City of Philadelphia Telephone Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6:45 p.m. with representatives from the departments of finance, revenue and OPA. Participants may ask questions live and pre-register here. 

"We'd like to have more people enrolled in the program, but many may be waiting until the last minute," said Dreher.

A Powerball ticket worth $2 million was sold in Bucks County, Pa.

The winning ticket matched the five white balls in last night's drawing, but not the red ball, which is the Powerball.

The winning numbers were: 11-19-33-42-52. The Powerball was 33.

That $2 million ticket was sold at a Sunoco A Plus at 620 Bristol Road in Trevose.

So far, no one has come forward to claim their winnings.

Saturday's Powerball jackpot right now is worth $317 million.

The next drawing is on Saturday, September 14.

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Loudly chanting "Fund Our Schools" protesters brought Philadelphia City Council's first session of the fall to a halt Thursday afternoon.

Nearly two dozen protesters interrupted the meeting  taking place in Philadelphia City Hall for more than five minutes before being asked to leave council's chambers.

"We'd like you to stop up at the Governor's Mansion on your way [out]," Councilman Curtis Jones told the crowd as they were led out of the meeting.

Philadelphia City Council opened its new session Thursday with a full plate – including introducing a $50 million funding transfer to the city’s underfunded public schools.

Council President Darrell Clarke joined other members of council Wednesday to announce they would be moving forward with a plan to take over the sale of the School District of Philadelphia’s two dozen defunct buildings. In return, the city will front the district $50 million in emergency funding it requested at the beginning of the year.

Council members said they already have several viable proposals for eight of the properties including William Penn High School and University City High School.

The city hopes to expedite the sale of as many buildings as possible and is confident those sales will earn $50 million or more – all of which, officials say, will go to the district.

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell introduced the legislation necessary to transfer the money to schools at the start of council's meeting Thursday.

City Council has 17 other items on its first day agenda including a bill that would cap the city’s current 10 year property tax abatement on properties worth $500,000 or less.

Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.

After months of speculation, city officials confirmed Wednesday night that developers are seeking to locate a Wendy's fast food restaurant at the site of a demolished historic house.
In recent days, a website — www.roxboroughwendys.com — has appeared. It touts the advantages of locating the fast food merchant in the Ridge Avenue business corridor. Operated by an entity known as "5901 Ridge, LLC," contact information on the page leads only to a general email inbox or a P.O. Box address in Roxborough.

Confirmation received

On Wednesday night, Joshua Cohen of Fourth District Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.'s staff confirmed at a meeting of the Wissahickon Interested Citizen's Association that the website belongs to Anthony Giovannone who, along with his brother Frank, owns the former Bunting House property at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Roxborough Avenue.

The website claims that the proposed 3,200 square foot restaurant would create more than 50 jobs, pay thousands of dollars in taxes to the city and bring "new food choices to the Roxborough retail corridor." The restaurant would feature outdoor seating among other amenities.

The Giovannones were not immediately available for comment late Wednesday evening, but the website offered a message: "This project is being designed with its neighbors in mind — respect for the community and the environment is a priority."

The timeline

That a Wendy's could be located at the former Bunting House site is hardly a new notion.
In March, the Giovannones faced the Central Roxborough Civic Organization, hoping both to quell conjecture and field questions about possibilities for the site.

At the time, the brothers said that despite neighborhood rumors that transformed into an online petition campaign against a Wendy's, they had no agreement in place with that restaurant or any other chain.

However, at the time they said that a preliminary plan was filed with the city Planning Commission indicating a generic fast-food use on the property, which includes 5901 through 5909 Ridge Ave.

The Giovannones said several ideas for fast-food or quick-service restaurants such as Wendy's, Panera Bread and Chipotle were discussed in a series of meetings with civic representatives and the Roxborough Development Corporation.

Frank Giovannone said in March that he was also approached by "cash for gold" and pawn-shop operators, but were not interested in these types of business.

Support and opposition

While the crowd who came out to the March meeting was unanimous in opposition to a fast-food drive through on the site, many expressed support for it on internet forums. As of Thursday morning, more than 250 people had "liked" the Roxborough Wendy's Facebook page. (The Roxborough Residents Against Wendy's page on Facebook has more than 350 likes.)

In addition, representatives of the proposed restaurant were said to be circulating Roxborough to cull support from residents for the establishment and its developers.

Asked for comment after the meeting, Cohen said that the councilman's office will wait to get further neighborhood response before weighing in.

Via their website, the Giovannones related that they have filed plans with the city to begin the application process for the restaurant.

The developers expressed an interest in meeting with local residents, businesspeople and civic groups in the next several weeks "to talk about the plan and collect feedback."

Matt Wysong, an official with the City Planning Commission present at the meeting, said that in order for developers to secure zoning approval for a drive-through window, they will have to obtain what's known as a "special exception" from the city.

Under this process, there is a need for community-based review, but Wysong described approval as being much easier to obtain than in the more-typical zoning variance process.

Wysong said that the community must establish that the drive-thru would have an adverse effect on the neighborhood for it not to be approved. Because of its location on a central business corridor, he predicted that neighbors would face a challenge in establishing that.

On Wednesday, WICA leader Chip Roller pledged to collaborate with other civic associations in order to prevent the fast-food chain from entering Roxborough.

"There's a very good chance that we can stop this and get somebody in there who has some vision," said Roller. "A Wendy's on Ridge Avenue would be horrendous."

This story was reported through a news coverage partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org

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