It won't bring back nun, but might prevent another tragedy (from Philadelphia Daily News)

The memory of Sister Paul Mercedes Perreca's violent hit-and-run death still haunts her Mayfair neighborhood, two months after she was killed crossing Cottman Avenue on her way to morning mass.
With an eye towards preventing similar tragedies in the future, the Mayfair Civic Association formally unveiled a speed radar yesterday that will monitor motorists on a daily basis.
The radar, which resembles a 6-foot-high trailer, was parked in front of St. Matthew's School, on Cottman Avenue near Hawthorne Street, during the open and close of school. Perreca was hit by a red pickup truck as she tried to cross that intersection on Jan. 9.
The radar flashes the suggested speed limit - 15 mph when kids are coming and going to school - and displays drivers' actual speeds, said Scott Cummings, the head of the civic association.
Police officers from the 15th District were on hand to write tickets to drivers who sped past the radar, as they will for at least the next two weeks, said Joe DeFelice, the association's legal counsel.
The radar was funded by a $6,190 grant from House Speaker John Perzel. Perzel previously posted a $5,000 reward for information leading to the driver of the truck that killed Perreca. Her case remains unsolved.
"We don't ever want to knock on somebody's door and tell them their child was run over," Cummings said. "We needed to reach out and be proactive."
If the radar proves to be a helpful tool to police, Cummings said, it will be moved to other locations. The radar was lent last night to a vigil on Harbison Avenue for Demiglio Bell, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Wissinoming over the weekend.

Filings for the House

Tidbits:
169th Beloved State Rep. Denny O'Brien will run unopposed. Denny must be doing something right in this District where Democrats fear to tread.
170th State Rep. George Kenney will face Brendan Boyle yet again. George works tirelessly for the people of Somerton, Bustleton, Fox Chase, Burholme and other surrounding communities.
172nd PA Speaker John Perzel will face Tim Kearney in November. Still unsure whether or not perennial candidate John McDermott will enter the race. Perzel has increased his profile in recent years and continued to regularly provide great service to the people of Mayfair, Fox Chase , Holmesburg and the rest of the District.
173rd Mike McGeehan finally has a formidable foe in Reynolds Baldwin. Baldwin has been canvassing the District and plans to mount a good challenge. Early speculation that McGeehan would have a primary contest have obviously subsided.
174th This open seat vacated by Alan Butkovitz will be filled via a Special Election this month. John Sabatina, Jr. (son of Ward Leader John Sabatina) is the front runner. He will face a refreshing newcomer, Jamie Wong is the November General Election.
175th This is the Open seat that will be vacated by longtime State Rep Marie Lederer. Many are vying for the opportunity to replace her. They are Mike O'Brien, a former aid to Lederer; Terry Graboyes, business owner; Anne Dicker, from Philly for Change; Attorney Pete Fiorentino and Republican Patricia Dempsey.
177th Everybody's Favorite State Rep John Taylor will face a minimal challenge from Harry Engasser an aide to Mike Stack and Democratic Ward Leader.
179th Embattled and really old State Rep Bill Reiger will not run for reelection. This is a good thing because he has been accused of absenteeism, not having a real District Office and living outside the District. The front runner appears to be Emilio Agustin Vazquez who has been endorsed by the Ward Leaders and the local AFL-CIO. Other vying for that spot in that Democratic primary are Tony Payton, Walter Gnoza and Rodnell Griffin. The republican Candidate is likable community activist Troy Bouie.
180th Angel Cruz will face Carlos Matos sponsored William Cartagena in this tough Hispanic District. Republicans will field Charles Reynolds for November.
181st Curtis Thomas will face Lawrence Clark in the May Primary.
182nd Babette Josephs will run for reelection again. However, this time she will not face Andrew Hohns in the Primary. Rather she will see Larry Farnese and Frank Sileo. Republicans have fielded Doering Lindsay.
184th State Rep and former Longshoreman Billy Keller is up for Reelection. He will face Robert Mannino in November.
185th Rob Donatucci will not face former rough and tumble Darby Mayor Paula Brown as it does not appear she has filed nominating petitions. He will however see Malina Williams in the Primary. the winner of that contest will see South Philly native Greg Gentile in November.
186th Harold James will run unopposed.
188th Jim Roebuck will face young Devon Cade in the May Primary. Cade can be found chiming in on phillyblog.com, where he regularly criticizes Roebuck. Dan Klein was expected to run, it does not appear that he filed petitions.
190th Rematch from 2004 between Mike Horsey and Tommy Blackwell. Blackwel won the seat from Horsey in 2004. The Republican Candidate, Westley Ames, is well known in West Philly and should put forth a challenge.
191st Ron Waters will face opposition from Bennie Swans, Jr. in November. Swans is the son of activist Bennie Swans. Maybe he can ride the coattails of Lynn Swann.
192nd Louise Bishop runs unopposed.
194th Kathy Manderino will see Chris Rowland in November.
195th It appears that Frank Oliver will receive a free pass. It has been rumored that Milton Street would try and do what his nephew Sharif Street was unable to in 2002 and unseat Oliver. Milton faces to problems: he has not filed nominating petitions and he lives in New Jersey. Even is he were able to get in the race, Oliver promised him a good "whooping."
197th Jewel Williams will run unopposed. There was some speculation that Mr. Lewis Harris would run again. Harris is known for his Republican presence in the overwhelmingly Democratic District.
198th Rosita Youngblood will face Supreme Dow in the Democratic Primary.
200th Newly Elected State Rep Cherelle Parker will not face opposition. Cherelle was accused by the Committee of Seventy, in her first run, iof improper electioneering. Seventy has since retracted those accusations.
201st Myers will face Gerald Marshall in the Primary and will most likely face Joseph Messa in the General.
202nd A very interesting election here. Mark Cohen, Blogger and State Rep will see a primary challenge for the first time in 22 years when he faces long time City Council Aide, Attorney and Iraq War vet Pat Dugan. This should be interesting. Cohen seems to think that Dugan has no shot.
203rd Potential mayoral Candidate and State Rep Dwight Evans will see Lamont Thomas in the May Primary.

All told, this should be a very interesting election year. We have Santorum v. Casey, Swann/Matthews v. Rendell/Baker-Knoll or Rendell/Hoeffel or Rendell/Roberts or ...
We also have several contested Congressional ad State Senate races.

Great Things Happening in Mayfair

Recently the Mayfair Civic Association, through a grant via PA Speaker John Perzel, has installed a radar machine at area grade schools including St Matts, St Tims and Mayfair. This was in response to the growing concern of traffic accidents and speeding violations in the Mayfair Area.
Scott Cummings has personally been installing the radar machine in various locations. He has also been the surrogate crossing Guard at Hawthorne Street for the last couple of weeks. If you would like to join the Civic and aide Scott in his efforts, email mayfaircivicassociation@yahoo.com.