Families in Fairhill

The streets surrounding Fairhill School on West Somerset Street are full of families with children. On the Friday after Philadelphia received its fourth major snowstorm of the season, many of the neighborhood children were out throwing snowballs at each other. One neighborhood boy, Israel Lozada, even shoveled snow from the sidewalk outside of his house. His mother, Tamara Jackson, said he offered to do it.

Unfortunately however, as the boys threw snowballs and Israel shoveled his walkway, drug dealers on the nearby corner were doing business.

“They sell drugs on the corner, beer, everything in the school zone,” said Tamara Jackson, whose kids go to Fairhill School.

Jackson said the area has gotten a little better since Senator Tartaglione fenced the schoolyard and put up safety lights. Jackson explained that the fence and lights help prevent unwanted people and cars from entering the schoolyard.

“I don’t let them come out at night,” said Jackson of her two kids.

Israel, Jackson’s eldest, didn’t seem to mind though.

“I wouldn’t like to come out at night ‘cause of the bad stuff,” said Israel. He continued to say that he mostly likes to play video games indoors anyway. “I’m a geek with electronics,” he said.

Israel proved this later on when he proceeded to play computer games on his aunt’s laptop.

By Andrea Marr and Leah Mafrica, Group 10, Fairhill