River Wards: Then and Now, Old and New: A Bridesburg student

Albert Waskiewicz, who lives on Salmon Street.

Albert Waskiewicz is committed to Bridesburg in perhaps the most prominent way a 17-year-old student can be — he’s president of the community service-focused Keystone Club of the Bridesburg Boys & Girls Club.

“Bridesburg is very sports-oriented, and this is where [kids] come to play basketball and baseball,” he said. “Here, everyone knows everyone.”

Now that the weather is getting nicer, Waskiewicz said a lot of kids are venturing to local parks to play soccer and other sports.

It’s a community bonding experience, he said, that is unique to Bridesburg.

“How small we are, I like it,” he said.

Without the Boys & Girls Club, Waskiewicz said, Bridesburg might not be what he called a safe, positive place.

“I think it would be tough [without it],” he said. “This is where everyone goes to stay off the streets.”

One thing he said is a problem is kids drinking alcohol openly in places around the neighborhood, but that problem isn’t Bridesburg-specific.

Neighbors do work, he said, to promote positive change, though, by organizing lots of community cleanups.

Waskiewicz said he’d like to see more involvement with sports in Bridesburg, like even more summer leagues and intramural teams.

As for Bridesburg’s motto, emblazoned on flags around the neighborhood: “Bridesburg: a Family First Community,” Waskiewicz said the slogan holds true.

“Bridesburg is very friendly and open,” he said. “I would definitely stay here.” ••