Burholme groups collecting food donations
Food donations will be accepted at the next two meetings of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association.
The meetings are set for 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11, at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave.
The church will also be accepting food dropoffs every Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. through Dec. 19.
All donations will be delivered to the food pantry at Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase.
For information, call Sarai Pierre at 267–251–6973. ••
Sports hall of fame induction set for Nov. 13
The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame’s Class XI induction ceremony and reception will be on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Society Hill Sheraton.
The class consists of Brian Propp, Chet Walker, Curt Schilling. Ellie Daniel, Eric Allen, Geoff Petrie, Marvin Harrison, Meldrick Taylor, Mike Richter, Bobby Walston, By Saam, Frank Dolson, Herb Pennock, Jean Shiley, Paul Costello and The Mighty Macs — Immaculata’s 1972–74 women’s basketball championship teams. Pat Williams will serve as host.
The induction will be preceded by a two-hour dinner reception featuring hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and entrée stations.
The gala will feature video exhibits, book signings, a fundraising silent auction and a museum exhibit of items from inductees and the Hall of Fame’s collection of Philadelphia sports artifacts.
The Hall of Fame is based at Spike’s, a trophy shop on Grant Avenue. Tickets for the induction ceremony and reception are available by calling 215–254–5049, Ext. 1 or going to www.phillyhall.org/class11/banquet.asp ••
Opera will play the Northeast this month
Amici Opera Company will present two upcoming performances of Orazi E Curiazi at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave. (at Lawndale Avenue) in Burholme. The shows are set for Sunday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m.
Ralph Tudisco will portray Orazi, which will mark his 200th role.
Tickets cost $20. Free off-street parking is available. Call 215–224–0257. ••
Father Judge gets dramatic Nov. 20–22
The Father Judge Theater Arts Club will present A Night of One-Act Plays from Nov. 20–22 in the auditorium of the school, 3301 Solly Ave. Show times are 7 p.m.
Tickets are $7 in advance and $8 at the door ($7 with a student ID).
For ticket information, call Anne Marie at 215–338–9494, Ext. 1128. ••
Park renovations discussed in Wissinoming
Renovations to Wissinoming Park will be discussed at a community meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, at the park’s recreation building (entrance on Cheltenham Avenue between Charles Street and Frankford Avenue). This is a followup to a June 2013 meeting. ••
Councilman sponsors shredding event
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) will sponsor a free shredding event on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of his neighborhood office at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 headquarters at 11630 Caroline Road.
People are encouraged to protect their identity by bringing sensitive documents to be destroyed. They will receive a “certificate of destruction” after the documents have been shredded.
For more information, call O’Neill’s office at the FOP at 215–437–9167. ••
Volunteers who love their parks needed
Volunteers are needed for the Fall Love Your Park Week Day of Service on Saturday, Nov. 15. People who need to perform community service can earn a few hours and contribute to keeping Frankford clean.
Volunteers will gather at 10 a.m. at 1800 Meadow St. and clean up Wilmot Park at Meadow and Mulberry and the community garden at Wilmot and Tackawanna. ••
Registration for Tai Chi ends Nov. 14
The registration deadline for the next Tai Chi Along the Delaware series at Glen Foerd is Nov. 14. Sessions will begin on Monday, Nov. 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and continue for the next nine Mondays. The cost is $130 for members or $150 for nonmembers. Glen Foerd is at 5001 Grant Ave.
Back by popular demand, tai chi reduces stress, improves muscle tone and controls blood pressure. People can enjoy tai chi regardless of age or fitness level. Instructor Frank Shiery brings 23 years of experience.
Participants should wear comfortable, loose clothing and sneakers. To register, visit www.glenfoerd.org or call 215–632–5330. ••
Get ready for some cheering
Calvary Athletic Association on Deer Path Lane in Millbrook will be hosting a “cheerleading spirit night” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26. AA teams will perform the routines.
The association will kick off its Toys for Tots drive along with members of the U.S. Marine Corps.
There is no cost to attend. Just donate a new, unwrapped toy.
For more information, visit www.calvaryaa.org or on Facebook at Calvary Athletic Association. Contact by email at [email protected]. ••
Boyle Playground fundraiser set for Nov. 29
The 18th annual Officer Daniel Boyle Playground athletic program fundraiser will be on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road.
The public is invited to support youth sports programs at the recreation center by attending this beef ’n’ beer. The $40 ticket includes buffet food, beer and wine in the Michael G. Lutz Room.
For tickets, contact Lou DeCree at [email protected], Lou Sannutti at 267–265–8388 or Dave Wolf at 215–906–7441. ••
New 8th District captain to visit Parkwood
Adam Friedman, the new captain of the 8th Police District, will address members of the Parkwood Civic Association at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the 8th Police District headquarters, 3100 Red Lion Road.
Rob Armstrong of the Department of Parks and Recreation will talk about the new trail built behind Junod Playground, according to the civic association’s president, Marge Philippi. ••
O’Neill now has three neighborhood offices
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) opened his third full-time neighborhood office.
O’Neill’s newest office is at 432 Rhawn St. in Fox Chase. The telephone number is 215–685–6431. The office is next to the Fox Chase SEPTA station, directly behind American Heritage Federal Credit Union.
“This new office makes it more convenient for not only Fox Chase residents, but also those living close to Fox Chase in Rhawnhurst, Burholme and Bustleton to get assistance on a variety of personal, neighborhood and city-related problems,” O’Neill said.
The other neighborhood offices are at 1701 Bowler St. (at Bustleton Avenue) and at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 headquarters, 11630 Caroline Road. O’Neill also has an office at 562 City Hall. ••
Cancer center’s work honored
The local American Cancer Society honored Fox Chase Cancer Center for its work fighting cancer during an awards dinner at a King of Prussia hotel.
Among those honored was Dr. J. Robert Beck, senior vice president at Fox Chase, who received the 2014 Cancer Control Award for his individual achievements in the field of cancer control.
Beck oversees all activities that support the academic and research operations of Fox Chase. As deputy director, he also serves as an adviser to Dr. Richard I. Fisher, president and CEO of Fox Chase.
In addition, Fox Chase Cancer Center was honored as an organization with the Partners in Health Initiatives Award for its high level of commitment to the mission of the American Cancer Society.
For more information, call 1–888-FOX CHASE or (1–888–369–2427). ••
City looking for the perfect tree
It’s time to get into the holiday spirit and the City of Philadelphia is hosting a Tree Hunt to find the perfect tree to serve as the star of its 2014 Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration in December.
The city is looking for someone to donate a live 30- to 40-foot evergreen tree that will be harvested, relocated to Center City and decorated.
Interested tree owners should notify the city by email at [email protected] to enter for a chance to provide the official tree. ••
Fallen firefighter honored
Capt. Michael R. Goodwin Sr. was one of 107 fallen firefighters honored at the 2014 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service last month at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md..
Goodwin, who lived in Parkwood, was killed in April 2013 while fighting a fire at a fabric store in South Philadelphia.
The annual tribute was sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s U.S. Fire Administration. ••
Blessed Trinity gets new science lab
Blessed Trinity Catholic School in Mayfair has a new, fully equipped LabLearner science lab thanks to an anonymous $80,000 donation procured by the Office of Catholic Education.
Blessed Trinity’s students are using much of the same equipment used in university labs.
LabLearner is a hands-on system of science education that coordinates experiments performed in a laboratory setting with lessons taught in the classroom. The program is based on research about how children learn science, and has produced proven increases in science comprehension scores in schools using the program.
The teachers at Blessed Trinity have undergone professional development and have unlimited access to a LabLearner Ph.D. scientist for consultation. The program offers teachers online resources that include videos, slide presentations and transparencies that are viewed in the classrooms using Smartboards. The LabLearner website also offers a parent tab to allow parents to view summaries of lessons, as well as additional resources to help their children.
Students in pre-kindergarten will do 350 hands-on experiments by the time they graduate.
Blessed Trinity will be holding a blessing of its new lab and a dedication to St. Albert the Great, the patron saint of scientists. This ceremony will be officiated by Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald on Nov. 21. ••
Boscov’s turns 100
Boscov’s Department Store is celebrating its 100th anniversary through the end of the year.
“The 100-year anniversary of the founding of Boscov’s in Reading, Pennsylvania is a tribute to my father, Solomon Boscov,” said Albert Boscov. “It is a celebration we want to share with our customers and to all the communities we serve.”
The celebration will feature sales throughout the stores.
“Many stores that call themselves department stores really have become specialty stores,” Boscov said. “But we still believe in the traditional department store, here in one shopping trip, you can find everything you want.”
Boscov’s is the largest family-owned department store chain in the nation. It has 43 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Maryland and Ohio.
Consumers can also shop online at www.boscovs.com ••
Seniors can freeze taxes
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) announced that the city Department of Revenue is accepting senior citizen real estate tax freeze applications.
Individuals with less than $23,500 and couples with less than $31,500 in annual income for 2013 are eligible for an exemption from any future increase in real estate taxes. The due date for the application is Jan. 1, 2015.
For questions about the program or assistance in filling out the application, contact one of O’Neill’s three offices: the FOP “Heroes Hall” headquarters building at 11630 Caroline Road (215–437–9167); Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street, above the 7th Police District (215–685–0432); and City Hall (215–686–3422). ••
Watch out for deer
This is the time of year in which deer are interested in breeding and not heeding the traffic around them. The Pennsylvania Game Commission yearly reminds motorists to be on the alert for deer entering the highways, especially between dawn and dusk.
Drivers who are able to avoid one deer on the road should be aware the animals travel in family groups and walk single file.
To report a dead deer on the road, call 1–800-FIX-ROAD. ••
Northeast law firm lauded
The law firm Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano, which has an office at 2981 Grant Ave., was selected as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The award recognizes companies that have outstanding workplace culture determined by feedback provided by employees.
The law firm focuses on Social Security disability and workers’ compensation. The firm has grown from six attorneys and 22 staff members to more than 180 employees. ••
