Get ready to strut with the Mummers
It’s almost Christmas. And, in Philly, that means it’s almost time for the Mummers Parade.
The annual strut will kick off New Year’s Day at 10 a.m. at Broad Street and Washington Avenue. There will be five special performance zones as more than 10,000 Mummers strut and dance up Broad Street toward City Hall. For the ultimate view of each division’s final performance, the Grand Stand entertainment zone on JFK Boulevard between 15th and 16th Streets will feature more than 1,200 ticketed bleacher seats.
For thrilling indoor entertainment, families can head to the Fancy Brigade shows at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. During the Fancy Brigade Family Show at noon and Fancy Bridge Finale at 5 p.m., more than 2,500 Mummers dressed head-to-toe in sequined costumes, masks, and makeup stun the crowd during dynamic, choreographed performances in front of handmade backdrops soaring 24-feet high.
Another family friendly activity for fans is MummersFest at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, a four-day festival from Saturday, Dec. 28 through Tuesday, Dec. 31, providing a sneak peek into the making of the Mummers Fancy Brigade Finale.
Tickets for the Mummers Parade Grand Stand bleacher seats ($19.50), Fancy Brigade Family Show ($28), Fancy Brigade Finale ($23), and MummersFest ($5) are available by calling 1–800–537–7676 or can be purchased in person at the Independence Visitor Center on 6th and Market Streets or at the Welcome Center on 16th Street and JFK Boulevard. ••
Natural gas rates not going up
Philadelphia Gas Works natural gas rates will not increase for residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers this quarter, the city utility announced.
The natural gas rate reflects what PGW pays for the gas. The new rate began Dec. 1, 2013, and will stay in effect through Feb. 28, 2014. ••
Christmas Tabletop Creations Workshop
The Christmas Tabletop Creations Workshop at Glen Foerd on the Delaware is no longer going to be on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Now, the event will be on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m.
The cost to attend for members is $25 and $35 for nonmembers. Payment is required in advance. For more information, call 215–632–5330 or visit www.glenfoerd.org. ••
Holiday celebrations at Adventure Aquarium
This season at the Adventure Aquarium, Scuba Santa returns, along with holiday characters like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster.
Now through Jan. 1, the aquarium in Camden will feature decorations, lights, trees, falling snow and 8,500 animals in more than 2 million gallons of water.
Scuba Santa will appear on weekends at 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. and weekdays at 2:30 p.m. He will be diving in the Aquarium’s Ocean Realm and swimming along with sharks, sea turtles and stingrays.
The story of Rudolph will be told, with Bumble placing the star on top of the Christmas tree. Kids will have a chance to write letters to Scuba Santa.
For more information and tickets, visit www.adventureaquarium.com. ••
Bank’s foundation donates more than $100K
The Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation provided over $100,000 to local nonprofits in 2013 with $28,500 being granted in the fourth quarter.
The foundation will provide $16,000 to the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia to support their spring production of Incorruptible.
And, $2,500 will be provided to Pathways PA to support PathWays’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Financial Path$ programs in Delaware County.
The foundation will donate $10,000 to YMCA of Bucks County to implement the Financial Literacy For Adults program at four YMCA Family Centers in low income areas of Bucks County. ••
‘Driving Miss Daisy’ at Walnut Street Theatre
Walnut Street Theatre’s Independence Studio on 3 continues its season with Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic Driving Miss Daisy. The play begins in Philadelphia with previews on Jan. 14, opens Jan. 16 and runs through Feb. 2.
Tickets are $30 to $40 and are now available. For tickets and information, call 215–574–3550, 215–336–1234, or visit walnutstreettheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com ••
Polonaise Ball a success
On Saturday, Nov. 16, the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia held its annual Polonaise Ball and Awards Presentation at the Torresdale-Frankford Country Club in Northeast Philadelphia.
Marie Hejnosz, president of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia greeted over 100 guests as they all arrived.
Brother Michael McGinniss, President of LaSalle University offered the invocation. After dinner was served, Edward Turzanski, Vice President and Professor at LaSalle was presented the Achievement Award.
This year, Mateusz Stasiek, a representative from the Consulate in New York, bestowed to Mr. and Mrs. Bonifacy Obst, “The Medal for Long Marital Life,” and to the Honorable Joseph Zazyczny, “The Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.”
PKM Dancers entertained guests and music was providede by the Dennis Ostopowicz Band.
The evening concluded with their Chinese Auction, which was supplied by many gifts donated by members and supporters.
All proceeds from the Polonaise Ball benefit the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia Scholarship Fund. ••
Tuition-assistance nominations accepted
Northeast Catholic Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc. will be accepting nominations for tuition assistance grants until Jan. 31, 2014. The nominees must be the children or grandchildren of dues-paying members of Northeast Catholic Alumni Association Inc.
The fund awards $261,000 in grants each year. Four grants of $25,000 each are awarded to seniors in high school to attend thirteen specific Catholic universities/colleges in the greater Philadelphia area. Five grants of $15,000 each and five grants of $10,000 are awarded to students in the 8th grade to attend archdiocesan high schools in the Philadelphia archdiocese, and diocesan high schools in the Camden and Trenton dioceses.
All of these grants are payable in equal semiannual installments over four years. Four grants of $6,000 each and four grants of $3,000 each are awarded to 5th grade students to attend parochial schools in the archdiocese of Philadelphia and in the dioceses of Camden and Trenton. These grants are payable in equal semi-annual installments over sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. All grants are awarded on the basis of academic ability and financial need with equal weight applied to both criteria.
The nomination forms can be obtained from www.necathalumni.org/news or by calling 215–543–1051. The forms must be returned at P.O Box 7005, Philadelphia, PA 19149–0005 prior to Jan. 31, 2014. ••
Co-sponsors sought for transplants bill
State. Rep. John Sabatina is collecting co-sponsors for House Bill 1474, known as Paul’s Law, aimed at prohibiting the discrimination of any potential organ transplant recipient on the basis of physical or mental disability. The legislation is based on the situation of Paul Corby, a 24-year-old autistic patient who was denied a life-preserving heart transplant by the University of Pennsylvania in 2011.
“While there is a set of national standards for transplant candidacy, some institutions consider highly subjective criteria, such as mental, developmental and physical disabilities,” said Sabatina, who had a step-aunt with an intellectual disability. “Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities have not always received equal treatment when in need of a lifesaving organ transplant. My legislation would end this discriminatory practice.”
Corby was denied the heart transplant due to the decision by the transplant panel that Corby could not be recommended due to his “psychiatric issues, autism and the unknown and unpredictable effect of steroids on behavior.” Currently, Corby is still awaiting a transplant. Corby’s mother, Karen Corby, started a petition on the website Change.org which has received more than 289,000 signatures.
“Our hope is that no family will ever have to fight for their child’s life because of a mental disability again,” said Corby. ••
City Council approves land bank bill
City Council last week approved a measure that would create a land bank of abandoned properties that the city could quickly take over and sell.
The bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez (D-7th dist.), passed unanimously.
Philadelphia’s land bank would have the authority to acquire vacant, tax-delinquent properties through sheriff’s sale and begin the process of consolidating title of and making available for sale the 9,082 vacant properties currently owned by the City of Philadelphia, according to City Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th dist.).
Philadelphia’s land bank would be the largest municipal land bank in the nation. ••
Winner takes home $6,500
As part of its Annual Grand Illumination festivities on Nov. 30, American Heritage Federal Credit Union awarded one lucky member $6,500 to culminate its yearlong 65th Anniversary celebration.
Winner William Lyle was among 65 finalists whose names were chosen at random throughout the year as the credit union commemorated its founding in 1948 as the Budd Workers Federal Credit Union.
American Heritage Federal Credit Union is now a $1.33 billion member-owned financial cooperative serving more than 700 sponsor companies.
It is the country’s 137th largest Credit Union with over 125,000 members and 30 branches in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties. ••
Open house scheduled for Christmas Day
The Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia is hosting its first holiday open house on Christmas day.
Warm beverages and snacks will be served. Participants will be given the chance to make dog and cats toys, kitty blankets, and homemade treats.
The event will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
ACCT Philly is located at 111 W. Hunting Park Ave. ••
Amici Opera Company presents ‘Il Pirata’
The Amici Opera Company will present Bellini’s Il Pirata on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m.
The play will be staged at Redeemer U.M.C. located at 1128 Cottman Ave.
Tickets are $25 at the door, $22 for seniors and advance purchases, $15 for students, and $10 for children 12 and under.
For information and tickets, call 215–224–0257. ••
