Northeast Times to host PizzaPalooza
The Northeast Times will host its first PizzaPalooza on Wednesday, June 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road.
Among the restaurants taking part are Joe Santucci’s, Chickie’s & Pete’s, Cafe Michelangelo, Johnny G’s Famous Pizza, Ernie’s Pizza, Original’s Restaurant & Bar, Tony’s Famous Tomato Pie and Valley Pizza.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
For tickets, visit nmg.ticketleap.com/netpizza
Pizzerias interested in taking part can email Angela at asmith@newspapermediagroup.com
Guests must be 21 or older to attend. A cash bar will be available. PizzaPalooza is being presented by Joe Santucci’s Original Square Pizza, and sponsored by PJP Marketplace. ••
City now accepting lifeguard applications
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell announced that the department has begun its competitive lifeguard recruitment process.
Interested applicants are required to pass a lifeguard training course. The lifeguard position pays a wage of $12.33 to $14.60 an hour.
The department hires 400 lifeguards annually to patrol its 70 outdoor pools and four indoor pools.
The training course costs $110. Lifeguards must be at least 16 years old.
For more information, visit phila.gov/lifeguards or visit the Abraham Lincoln High School pool, 7437 Rowland Ave., anytime Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ••
Synagogue merger is official with ‘wedding’
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road in Bustleton, recently celebrated the completion of its merger with the Congregations of Ner Zedek with a “wedding ceremony.”
The ceremony began with congregants and friends gathering at the corner of Welsh and Verree roads. They marched the Torahs into the synagogue.
The two congregations were “married” in the sanctuary under the chuppah, a canopy used in traditional Jewish weddings. The ceremony included the traditional breaking of glass.
Rabbi Jay Kornsgold and cantor Larry Brandspiegel, both of Beth El Synagogue in East Windsor, New Jersey, were guests celebrating with their parents, who are longtime members of Congregations of Ner Zedek.
Brandspiegel led the procession, singing and dancing on Verree Road, while Kornsgold spoke during the ceremony in the sanctuary. A breakfast reception followed, and featured Israeli dancing.
The celebration was the culmination of several months of work integrating the Congregations of Ner Zedek’s memorial plaques, Holocaust memorial and artwork.
Congregations of Ner Zedek, 7520 Bustleton Ave. in Rhawnhurst, closed last December after 67 years of operation. Its building was sold to an Indian church. ••
Art Club to meet at Tacony Library on Sunday
The Tacony Library and Arts Building (LAB) invites kids of all ages to join the Art Club that will meet on Sunday, June 18, at 6918 Torresdale Ave.
Tacony LAB is a partnership of the Free Library, Mural Arts Philadelphia and City Councilman Bobby Henon. The Art Club holds free art activities in the LAB studio from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Kids can drop in anytime to draw, paint and create. Call 215–685–9339 or email to tacony@muralarts.org for information. ••
John Birch Society meeting on Tuesday
The John Birch Society will meet on Tuesday, June 20, at 7 p.m. at Holmesburg Recreation Center, at Rhawn and Ditman streets.
The presentation will be on Neoconservatives: Changing American Politics. The motto of the John Birch Society is “Less Government, More Responsibility and — With God’s Help — A Better World.” ••
Deadline nears for weight-loss program
The nonprofit Trevose Behavior Modification Program is accepting applications for a new group that will meet Thursday mornings at 9:30 in Bustleton.
For an application and information, call 215–885–1007 or 215–677–2014. Completed applications must be received by June 14 to be reviewed and accepted for the class, which is free. ••
Graveyard history tour at Torresdale church
All Saints’ Church, Torresdale, 9601 Frankford Ave., will be giving a graveyard tour on Friday, June 16, at 7 p.m.
The tour, The Duffield Family: Spanning 200 Years of History, begins with Edward and Catherine Duffield in the mid-1700s, and takes visitors through the American Revolution and the Civil War, up to the death of their great-great-granddaughter in 1949.
Minimal walking is required. Lawn chairs are recommended. The tour takes about one hour. Light refreshments will be served afterward.
For information, call 215–637–8787 or visit allsaintstorresdale.org or the church Facebook page. ••
Free shredding event at O’Neill’s office
City Councilman Brian O’Neill will host a free shredding event in the parking lot of his office at 432 Rhawn St., behind American Heritage Federal Credit Union, on Saturday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The event is being sponsored by the credit union.
Constituents will receive a certificate of destruction after their items have been shredded.
For information, call 215–685–6431. ••
Half-price sale at local thrift shop
Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, 4301 Tyson Ave., will open its classroom thrift shop for a half-price spring sale. The shop will be open through June 23.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. The shop is closed on Saturday.
Call 215–624–9600. ••
Movie night at Grace Community Bible Church
Grace Community Bible Church, at Oxford Avenue and Knorr Street, will host a free movie night on June 16 at 7:30.
The church will screen The Secret Life of Pets. The movie will be held outside, and people are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Snacks and drinks will be provided. The movie will be shown inside if it rains.
Call 267–285–7775. ••
Discussion on free food at NE Regional
The Coalition Against Hunger will provide information on free or inexpensive food on Saturday, June 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the lobby at Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave.
Call 215–685–0522. ••
Wildlife photography at Art Museum
From June 27 through Sept. 4, kids and their grownups can discover the wildlife photography of the acclaimed photographer Michael Nichols at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Wild: Michael Nichols is the first exhibition in the popular annual summer Art Splash program. The family-oriented series includes gallery explorations, studio activities and weekend festivals with musical performances.
For information, visit philamuseum.org or call 215–763–8100. ••
Flea market and car show at local church
United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd 10901 Calera Road, will hold a flea market and car show on Saturday, June 24, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The day will also include a disc jockey and baked goods. The kitchen will be open for lunch. ••
Community day at Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 8101 Erdrick St. in Holmesburg, will host a community day on Saturday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in its parking lot.
The day will include vendors, screenings, music, giveaways, games and food.
Call 215–624–8869. ••
Holy Innocents heading to casino
Holy Innocents Catholic Church is sponsoring a trip to Atlantic City’s Tropicana Casino on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
A bus will depart L Street and Hunting Park Avenue at 9:30 a.m. There will be a Mass at noon at Boardwalk Hall, followed by a procession for a blessing of the sea. A carnival-style reception will follow at St. Michael’s Church.
Guests will receive a $25 slot package.
The bus will depart the casino at 5 p.m.
The trip costs $30, which is due by Aug. 6. Call 215–535–2740. ••
St. Jerome seniors taking a trip
The St. Jerome senior citizens club will be taking a trip to Pine Creek Gorge, sometimes referred to as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.
The trip is scheduled for Oct. 9–11.
The cost is $478 per person, double occupancy, and includes lodging, bus transportation, two breakfasts, two dinners, meal gratuities, a Susquehanna River cruise, covered wagon tour, Canyon overlook, a tour of historic Lewisburg and stops at Millionaires Row, Buggy Museum and Annunciation Church. Call 215–332–0866. ••
More time to apply for rebate
The deadline to apply for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has been extended to Dec. 31.
“The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is providing much-deserved relief to seniors, so I encourage individuals to see if they qualify,” said state Sen. John Sabatina Jr. (D-5th dist.). “My staff is ready to assist individuals who are interested in learning more and signing up.”
The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.
The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. For assistance filling out a Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim form (PA-1000), contact or visit Sabatina’s offices at 12361 Academy Road (215–281–2539) or 8016 Bustleton Ave. (215–695–1020). ••
