Memorial Day ceremony at Lincoln
Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 20 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony on Saturday, May 27, at 9 a.m. at Abraham Lincoln High School, Rowland and Ryan avenues.
The public is invited to attend. The ceremony will take place at the war monument, located on the Ryan Avenue side of the school. The monument honors all those who died in wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Members of VFW Post 20 will lay wreaths as part of the ceremony. ••
Special service at local church
Star of Hope Baptist Church, 7137 Hegerman St. in Tacony, will host its annual men’s day service on Sunday, May 28, at 10 a.m.
The guest speaker will be the Rev. William B. Moore. The men’s choir will lead the crowd in song. The theme will be God First — Trust in the Lord.
Call 215–332–8320. ••
Animal fundraiser in Bensalem
World of Animals will present a Sunday Funday on Sunday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Polanka Park, 3258 Knights Road in Bensalem.
Admission is free. There will be music, food, demonstrations, vendors, crafts and adoptable pets.
Proceeds will benefit the Red Paw Emergency Relief Team.
For more information, call 215–947–5110, email support@wofainc.com or visit the Sunday Funday to benefit Red Paw page on Facebook. ••
Polish Singers Alliance to host convention
The Polish Singers Alliance of America will host its 51st triennial convention on Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, in Philadelphia. Competition will be held on Saturday, May 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sheraton Society Hill, One Dock St.
A banquet for attendees and the local Polish community will be held at the Sheraton at 6 p.m. A Mass and gala concert will be held on Sunday, May 28, at St. John Cantius Church, 4424 E. Thompson St. The combined choirs of more than 200 singers will celebrate Mass at 11:30 a.m. A concert will be held at 2 p.m.
The public is invited to attend the events on Sunday. Admission is free. For details, contact Debbie Majka at 215–627–1391 or dziecko2@comcast.net ••
Monument dedicated tonight at St. Anselm
St. Anselm Church, 12670 Dunks Ferry Road in Parkwood, invites the community to the dedication of a stone monument on behalf of unborn children.
The dedication will take place tonight, May 24, following the 5 p.m. vigil Mass for the feast of the Ascension of Our Lord.
The monument was secured through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus Council 4921, Regina Coeli.
The stone will complete the original plan of the prayer garden by the Rev. Keith Chylinski, a former parochial vicar at St. Anselm. Chylinski will celebrate the Mass and lead a procession in honor of Our Blessed Mother to the prayer garden.
Guests will recite the rosary before Chylinski blesses and dedicates the monument. ••
Local Memorial Day events planned
American Legion Post 810 will sponsor a Memorial Day event at Delaware Valley Veterans Nursing Home, Southampton Road and Roosevelt Boulevard, on Saturday, May 27, at 10 a.m.
The day will include military music and a barbecue.
On Monday, May 29, there will be a military ceremony and picnic at noon at the Legion post, 9151 Old Newtown Road. Post 810 members encourage the public to fly the American flag. Call 215–969–9437. ••
E-cycling on June 3 in Rhawnhurst
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) will sponsor an e-cycling event on Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to noon outside his office at 7522 Castor Ave. in Rhawnhurst.
Individuals will be able to safely and securely dispose of any old or unused electronic devices such as computers, cell phones and televisions.
For more information, call 215–685–0438. ••
Job fair at NE Regional Library
Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave. (near Bustleton Avenue), will host a job fair on Friday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Employers will be recruiting for positions in education, healthcare, sales, information technology, law enforcement, manufacturing, armed forces, customer service, warehouse and more.
Applicants should bring resumes and dress professionally. The event is free, and no registration is required. Call 215–685–0522. ••
Event planned to empower high school women
The Bold & Beautiful Girls Conference is an event designed to empower, build and sustain a positive self-image for inner-city African-American and Latina high school students.
It will be held Saturday, June 3, at Kensington High School, 2051 E. Cumberland St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors open at 9 a.m.
The event will include guest speakers, workshop presentations, giveaways and a Zumba class. Admission and all activities are free of charge.
Interested participants can sign up at bold-beautiful.eventbrite.com
For additional information, call 215–910–6790. ••
Krewstown Road Festival is June 4
For the first time ever, the century-old Krewstown Road bridge over Pennypack Creek will be closed to vehicle traffic for the inaugural Krewstown Road Festival on June 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pedestrians will have access to more than a half-mile of open street — from Algon to Bloomfield avenues — with many demonstrations and exhibits, many of which will be set up in the parking area across from the historic Pennepack Baptist Church at 8732 Krewstown Road. The festival will coincide with the church’s 329th anniversary.
Features of the festival will include tours of the church and its historic cemetery, as well as the “baptismal rock” in Pennypack Creek; blacksmithing and woodworking demonstrations; nature and history walks; mountain bike rides; and a Boy Scouts parade. All activities are free.
The Pennepack Baptist Historical Foundation, Friends of Pennypack Park, Councilman Brian O’Neill, Greater Bustleton Civic League and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will present the festival. Visit the Krewstown Festival event page on Facebook for information. ••
Book published on Irish contributions
The major contributions made by Irish immigrants to Pennsylvania and the United States are documented in a new book by David Forsythe.
What have the Irish ever done for us? tells the tale of Irish immigration and its positive influence over the centuries through the stories of dozens of individuals who have made an impact around the world.
Among those featured in the book is Thomas Mellon, the Irishman who founded one of the world’s biggest banks in Pittsburgh, and computer programming pioneer Kay McNulty Mauchly, who grew up in Chestnut Hill and graduated from John W. Hallahan Catholic High School.
The book also tells how an intrepid Irish adventurer ended up planning the street layout for San Francisco, tells why a mountain in the Sierra Nevada is named after an Irish scientist and how an Irish architect built the world’s first “green” building in Oakland.
The book takes a look at the feats of the “Canalers,” who dug the canals across the country that spurred the industrial revolution; the “Sandhogs” and engineers who built the New York subway; and the first street cars in the world developed by an Irishman.
The book consists of 51 short chapters covering a range of topics, including how an Irishman became the Copper King of Montana, why an Irish woman was awarded Israel’s highest honor and how the Irish helped create the modern-day horror boom.
What have the Irish ever done for us? is available to order from Amazon. For more information, visit the book’s Facebook page or @WHTIEDFU17 on Twitter. ••
Irish festival at Cannstatter’s
Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road, will host a Memorial Day Irish festival on Monday, May 29, starting at 10:30 a.m.
Featured entertainers will be Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfetones, Celtic Connection and the Fitzpatrick Irish Dancers.
There will also be food, Irish vendors and activities for kids.
Tickets are $10. Kids under 16, with an adult, will be admitted free.
In case of rain, the festival will move inside. Call 215–332–0121. ••
Dance, sing at older adult center
The Northeast Older Adult Center, 8101 Bustleton Ave. in Rhawnhurst, offers dancing on Tuesdays from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. Prices are $3 or under.
Also, there is karaoke on Friday, May 26, at 6 p.m.
The cost is $5.
Call 215–685–0576. ••
Banner design class in Tacony
The Tacony Library and Arts Building, 6918 Torresdale Ave., will host Color, Collage and Creating Civic Art on Wednesday, May 31, from 7 to 9 p.m.
LAB resident artist Mat Tomezsko will work with community members to design new light pole banners for Torresdale Avenue.
Participants will work with acrylic paint to learn about color, form and collage as they collaborate with Tomezsko to develop the banners.
Imagery exploring neighborhood identity will be incorporated to create a new look for Torresdale Avenue.
This class is free, and intended for adults and mature teens.
Registration is required.
Email tacony@muralarts.org ••
Neilson wants action on dyslexia
State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-174th dist.) is urging his colleagues in the General Assembly to consider legislation to help students born with dyslexia.
“Often, children like my son, who was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia, are afraid to speak up and tell their teachers or even their parents that they are having trouble reading,” Neilson said. “It is our job as legislators to raise awareness not only of the learning condition, but also the importance of early detection and interventions we know to be effective.”
Neilson previously introduced legislation that led to creation of the Dyslexia and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program. ••
Trips will benefit Fox Chase Cancer Center
The Marlyn Fein Chapter, affiliated with Fox Chase Cancer Center, is running a trip to Resorts Casino in Atlantic City on June 25. The cost is $35, which includes round-trip coach bus, show featuring Vincent Talarico and $10 back in slot dollars. Call 215–886–2413 or 215–913–9237 for reservations.
Marlyn Fein will also be running a trip to Vermont from Oct. 9–13. The cost is $815, double occupancy, or $999, single occupancy. The price includes round-trip deluxe motorcoach transportation, four nights’ accommodations, four breakfasts, three dinners and a lunch cruise. Visits include Ben & Jerry’s, von Trapp historic tour and Woodstock. Call 215–860–3710 or 215–728–4797 for reservations.
All proceeds benefit research and care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Nazareth gets top grade for angioplasty
Corazon Inc. has granted re-accreditation to the angioplasty program at Nazareth Hospital.
Nazareth met or exceeded state health department requirements such as providing 24-hour coverage for emergencies. ••
Macy’s opens outlet at Roosevelt Mall
Macy’s Backstage, an outlet store, recently made its debut inside the Macy’s store, at 2399 Cottman Ave., in Roosevelt Mall.
The outlet is on the first level of the department store.
“We created Macy’s Backstage for the seasoned outlet shopper who enjoys the excitement of the treasure hunt but whose time and money is a commodity,” said Vanessa LeFebvre, senior vice president/general merchandise manager of Macy’s Backstage stores. “Our latest Backstage store is a convenient twist to the traditional outlet store format that we feel Macy’s and mall shoppers will enjoy and embrace, and we are thrilled to bring this new concept to Philadelphia.”
At about 18,800 square feet, Macy’s Backstage features fashion, home, cosmetics, gifts, active wear and jewelry.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. Call 215–331–5500. ••
More than 140 bands to perform at Firefly
More than 140 bands will perform at Firefly Music Festival, the an-nu-al mu-sic and camp-ing show that will take place at The Wood-lands of Dover, Delaware from June 15–18.
Here is a breakdown of the top acts per day:
• Thursday, June 15: Class Animals, Kaleo, Oar, Gryffin, Eden, K Flay and Maggie Rogers.
• Friday, June 16: Twenty One Pilots, Flume, Weezer, Miike Snow and Franz Ferdinand.
• Saturday, June 17: The Weeknd, Chance the Rapper, Bob Dylan, Kesha and Galantis.
• Sunday, June 18: Muse, The Shins, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Dillon Francis and Phantogram.
General admission, VIP and Super VIP passes are on sale. Passes are available for one day or all four days.
Vari-ous ini-ti-at-ives will be-ne-fit St. Jude Chil-dren’s Re-search Hos-pit-al’s Mu-sic Gives to St. Jude Kids pro-gram. The hospital is the official charity of the festival.
The festival is for all ages, and will take place rain or shine. For tickets, camping options, a breakdown of the daily lineup and more information, visit Fire-fly-Fest-iv-al.com ••
XPoNential Music Festival is July 28–30
WXPN will host its annual XPoNential Music Festival July 28–30 at the BB&T Pavilion and the adjacent Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden.
The opening-night performers will be Wilco, Conor Oberst and Hop Along.
Amos Lee and Friends featuring Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Spoon, along with special guests The Suffers and Chicano Batman, will perform on July 29.
Other performers will include Offa Rex (The Decemberists & Olivia Chaney), Foxygen, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Pinegrove, performing at the two stages in Wiggins Park.
Philadelphia-area artists who will perform at the festival include The Dove & The Wolf, No Good Sister, Swift Technique, Hurry and Hardwork Movement.
Other entertainers will include Drive-By Truckers, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Angel Olsen, Strand of Oaks, David Bromberg Quintet, Joseph, Dave Hause & The Mermaid, Arkells, Davy Knowles, Brownout, Adia Victoria, and Xenia Rubinos.
For tickets, go to Ticketmaster.com, the BB&T Pavilion box office or Ticketmaster, or call 800–745–3000.
More information is available at xpnfest.org or the festival’s Facebook page. ••
Theatre Company to close season
Philadelphia Theatre Company will close its season now through June 4 with a production of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard streets.
The show is written and performed by James Lecesne and directed by Tony Speciale with original music by Duncan Sheik.
The title character is a 14-year-old boy who dared to be different, then disappeared from a small New Jersey shore town, which will never be the same without him. In this one-man performance, Lecesne plays a myriad of characters from a hardened police detective to a withdrawn teenage girl and more than a half-dozen other distinctive personalities.
Performances run Tuesdays through Sundays. Tickets start at $15.
Call 215–985–0420 or visit PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org ••
