Week in Review: Bike Race Court, Neighborhood Issues and Huffington Post-AOL Marriage

For the first week in a while, snow avoided getting major headlines in Roxborough and Manayunk. True, an icy incarnation caused and to occur Wednesday. However, other news held a firmer grasp on the headlines.

In a bold move to combat rowdiness at the annual bike race in Manayunk, Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. (D-4th) for the June event. Working off ideas gleaned from resident suggestions in a series of ongoing meetings about the Philadelphia International Cycling Champion, Jones solicited aid from the Philadelphia Municipal Court.

Over the course of the 19 years the race has wound through Center City to Northwest Philadelphia, race spectators have made the day, in part, an occasion to revel. Neighbors have decried excessive and illegal alcohol consumption, and its after effects. The move by Jones is an attempt to combat that by sending a message.

Other neighbors similarly took a proactive approach to area problems. Residents on and around Green Lane have formed a volunteer coalition to keep the area clean. Last week, officials from city Streets and Sanitation Departments ways to educate and enforce clean compliance among all occupants.

Involving zoning, residents in Central Roxborough and Manayunk . Along Manayunk Avenue, one would-be owner approached neighbors about converting an abandoned church into several single-family homes and apartments. With 14 off-street parking spaces provided, many gave their blessing. Projects along Roxborough and Baker streets met with less acceptance.

Also in the area, students at Roxborough High School competed against one another in video contest in which they created public service announcements. I helped judge the event, and movies. Parents, friends and teachers came to Ridge Avenue Tuesday for the showcasing, which also featured the evolving student-created Web sites.

Not specifically in neighborhood, but Patch had big news Sunday. Our parent company, AOL announced the purchase of the Huffington Post for $315 million. The deal will place Arianna Huffington as president and editor-in-chief of the new Huffington Post Media Group, which will include the Huffington Post, TechCrunch, and Patch—among others. Nothing official on how this affects Roxborough-Manayunk Patch's day-to-day workings, but it's exciting nonetheless.

Also in the news:

• is about to debut. The weekend festival will run Feb. 11 to 13.
• Resident John Anthony DelVechio fell short in his bid for Wing Bowl supremacy.
• Held at Mad River over the weekend, benefited a Narberth woman fighting ovarian cancer.