Softball tourney set for Saturday
The sixth annual Colleen P. Smith Memorial Softball Tournament will take place on Saturday, April 26, at Burholme Park, at Cottman and Central avenues.
Sign-ins begin at 8:30 a.m., and games start at 9. The cost is $20 per player in the round-robin bracket and $25 for the competitive bracket. Youths pay $12.
Colleen Smith was a 16-year-old Cardinal Dougherty High School student when she died in 2008. Anyone who wants to make a donation can send checks to 7407 Tabor Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111.
For information, call 267–879–5243. ••
Legion post hosts breakfast
The Loudenslager American Legion Post 366, at 7976 Oxford Ave. in Fox Chase, will hold a pancake breakfast on Sunday, April 27, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The menu will consist of all-you-can-eat pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice and freshly brewed coffee. Cost is $6. ••
Rush Community Gardens opening soon
The Benjamin Rush Community Gardens will be open soon. The dates for registering and getting plot assignments are: Saturday, April 26, from 4 to 6 p.m.; Sunday, April 27, from noon to 4 p.m.; and Wednesday, April 30 from 4 to 6 p.m. There are still plenty of plots available. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information call Lynda Mehler, co-ordinator: 215–696–0507
Free spring plants from City Harvest/PHS are also available. For plants, contact Beth Bowman at 267–255–9374 or [email protected].
The entrance to the Benjamin Rush Community Gardens has moved around the corner from Roosevelt Boulevard to a short distance down Southampton Road. The entrance to the park is shared with the Delaware Valley Veterans Home. A park cleanup is scheduled for April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ••
Cleanup slated for Lawncrest on Saturday
The Lawncrest Recreation Center will get a touchup and a cleanup on Saturday, April 26, according to Michelle Feldman, director of Keep Philadelphia Beautiful.
The city’s PhillyRising and Keep Philadelphia Beautiful will be painting and beautifying the center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with 50 gallons of paint donated by Dow Chemical through Keep American Beautiful as part of five service events nationwide by the Travis Manion Foundation.
Marine Lt. Travis Manion of Doylestown, died in Iraq on April 29, 2007. The event will be in honor of Manion and all fallen heroes. Feldman and PhillyRising’s Sanya Brown, a city assistant managing director, said Monday that two dogwood trees and flowers will be planted.
They expect between 25 and 50 volunteers to help out, but more are welcome. For more information or to volunteer, call Feldman at 215–854–4000. ••
Chefs event set for April 28
Tickets are still available for the sixth annual Hail To The Chefs, set for Monday, April 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Knowlton Mansion, at 8001 Verree Road (at Rhawn Street) in Fox Chase.
The public is invited to the culinary happening, which benefits the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Foundation.
There also will be a series of special beer tastings by Muller, Inc.
The benefit raises funds for the foundation, which provides money for scholarships for qualified individuals residing within the area of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
To date, the foundation has awarded some $70,000 in scholarships and hopes to provide 10 more of $1,200 each from monies raised from this year’s event. The annual scholarship awards dinner is scheduled for June 30 in Feasterville.
The lineup features participants from Bella Tori at the Mansion, Moonstruck, Hinge Café, Conroy Catering (Knowlton Mansion), INNtimate Events at Salem Creekside Inn, Village Catering, The Dining Car & Market, PhillyIT, RB’s Chocolate Revenge, Café Michelangelo Italian Restaurant, Krispy Kreme, Chow 284, McMenamin Family ShopRite, Muller Inc., Edgemont Caterers, Emma’s Café and Restaurant, Katie O’Donnell’s Restaurant, Fireside Inn, Chef Samantha Carrie Johnson, Real Foods Chef, McNally’s On Rhawn and more.
Tickets are $45 per person or $85 per couple. They are on sale at the Dining Car & Market, 8826 Frankford Ave. in Holmesburg, and on the foundation’s website at www.gnpccfoundation.org
For additional information, call 215–206–5664. ••
Farm-fresh produce registration extended
The deadline to sign up for weekly farm-fresh organic produce at Glen Foerd on the Delaware has been extended to May 5 for paper registrations and May 11 for online registrations.
Due to the unusually cold winter, Lancaster County farmers got a late start on their planting season, so the program has been postponed for two weeks.
That’s good news for folks who have yet to reserve their weekly allotments of organic fruits, vegetables, dairy products and flowers. To sign up, visit www.lancasterfarmfresh.com or contact Glen Foerd at 215–632–5330.
Each week throughout the growing season, the Lancaster Farm Fresh community supported agriculture (CSA) cooperative will harvest produce and deliver it to Glen Foerd within 24 to 48 hours. Program participants can pick up their shares each week at 5001 Grant Ave. in Torresdale. Glen Foerd is the only Northeast Philadelphia pick-up site. There will be 25 weekly deliveries.
Folks who cannot consume full shares may order partial-shares. Those who cannot afford the cost may be eligible for financial assistance. For complete information, visit the Lancaster Farm Fresh website. ••
Irish-American Festival set for May 3
The second annual Philadelphia Fleadh Irish-American Festival offers a day of live music, dancing and fun for everyone. American Paddy Productions will present the daylong festival on May 3 at the Ed Kelly Amphitheater in Pennypack Park.
The event will feature five performance stages, 14 musical acts, two ceili sessions with full audience participation, a traditional Irish dance competition, music workshops, vendors, food, spirits and a kids’ zone.
Musicians will offer an eclectic mix of Irish rock and traditional folk with performances by The Mahones, Jamison Celtic Rock, Seamus Kennedy, The Hooligans, The Paul Moore Band, The Ladeens, The Jameson Sisters, Birmingham Six, The Broken Shillelaghs and The Shantys. Tyrone native brothers Raymond and Mickey Coleman will reunite for a special set on the acoustic stage.
“Our goal is to host an event that unites all of the different facets of Irish-American culture: music, dance, theater, art, food and drink,” said co-producer C.J. Mills.
The Fleadh (pronounced “flah,” the Irish word for “festival”) will help raise money for The Claddagh Fund, a charity spearheaded by Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys.
“We wanted to make sure that we could give to a cause that supports other causes,” said co-producer Frank Daly.
The Claddagh Fund, although started in Boston, has contributed countless dollars to local groups helping endangered and handicapped children, struggling veterans and those turning their lives around after substance addiction.
The Ed Kelly Amphitheater is in Pennypack Park near the paved bicycle path entrance at Welsh Road and Cresco Avenue.
The dance competition (or “feis”) will start at 9 a.m., followed by the bands at 11 a.m. The day will conclude at 9 p.m.
Advance tickets cost $20 and are available via www.PhillyIrishFest.com. Tickets cost $30 at the gate. Children 12 and under will be admitted for free. ••
Scout troop conducting clothing drive
St. William Boy Scout Troop 563 is conducting a fundraiser clothing drive.
The troop is collecting used clothing, towels and linen to help offset the cost of weekend camping.
Bagged donations will be accepted on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at the Scout shed in the church parking lot on Argyle Street, near Robbins Street..
Or, donations can be brought to the Scout meetings every Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at St. William memorial hall.
For more information, call 215–745–1317. ••
Bingo fundraiser set for Saturday
A Coach/Vera Bradley Bag Bingo Fundraiser to improve a greenhouse and playground equipment at the Neshaminy elementary schools is set for Saturday, April 26, at the William Penn Fire Company, 123 Main St., in Hulmeville.
Doors open at 1 p.m., and Bingo starts at 2 p.m. There will also be raffle baskets and 50/50 tickets.
The cost is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Admission includes 12 games, entry for a door prize, dessert table, coffee and tea.
For tickets and/or information, call 215–880–4546. ••
Special catheter program at Einstein
The Einstein Institute for Heart and Vascular Health is the first in the Philadelphia region to offer the recent FDA-approved ThermoCool SmartTouch Catheter.
The device is used to perform catheter ablation to treat abnormal heart rhythms.
“This new technology enables doctors to control the amount of pressure applied to the beating heart wall and also to control the angle at which the force is being applied to the tissue,” said Dr. Allan Greenspan, director of electrophysiology at the Einstein Institute for Heart and Vascular Health. “It’s a significant advance that enhances patient safety and outcomes by ensuring proper catheter tissue contact.” ••
Northeast native writes self-help book
Northeast native Stacie Zinn Roberts has written a self-help book, How to Live Your Passion & Fulfill Your Dreams.
The book offers step-by-step instructions and exercises to help readers gain clarity and define their life’s purpose.
There are interviews with celebrities, artists, entrepreneurs and others who’ve achieved success and realized their dreams.
Roberts is a 1983 graduate of George Washington High School. She attended La Salle University. Today, she lives in Mount Vernon, Wash.
The book is available in print and Kindle versions through amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com ••
Council to hold budget hearings
For the third consecutive year, City Council will hold budget hearings in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.
None, however, will be in the Northeast.
That doesn’t mean Northeast residents can’t attend and chip in their two cents on how the city should spend their tax dollars.
The first neighborhood session will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, at the West Oak Lane Charter School, 7115 Stenton Ave.
№2 will be 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, 7301 Germantown Ave.
A public hearing on the proposed school district budget will be held Wednesday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to noon and fro 1 to 5 p.m. in City Hall Room 400.
Hearing dates and times might be subject to changed. Members of the public may prevent written testimony at any time and should be sent via email to [email protected]. For further information, call 215–686–3407. ••
Musical comedy at the Walnut
The musical comedy I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will play at the Walnut Street Theatre Independence Studio on 3, at 825 Walnut St., from April 29 through June 29.
The show is about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws.
Tickets cost $35 to $45.
Show times are 2:30 p.m. on weekends and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Call 215–574–3550 or visit walnutstreettheatre.org ••
James Darren in concert May 2
James Darren will be in concert on Friday, May 2, at the Radisson Hotel, at 2400 Old Lincoln Highway in Bensalem.
Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The show will begin at 8 p.m.
Tickets cost $50, which includes dinner and the show.
Darren, a singer/actor, will be accompanied by the Carmen Dee Orchestra. They’ll perform songs such as Gidget, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Come Fly With Me and Goodbye Cruel World.
For more information, call 267–525–4011. ••
