Settlement’s Kardon-Northeast gets 3 new directors
Settlement Music School added three members to the board of directors at its Kardon-Northeast Branch, 3745 Clarendon Ave.
The new directors are Mary Beth Kramer, president of Kramer Consulting; Gloria Pugliese, senior development officer for Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech; and Betsy Shrader, vice president of lending at TD Bank.
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2 nuns write book on prayer
Sisters Bridget Connor and Diane Bardol, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, have written Personality and Prayer: A Reflective Journal.
The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart is a congregation of sisters headquartered at 14500 Bustleton Ave. in Somerton.
The sisters’ book, available on Amazon, invites readers to discover how honoring one’s personality type can provide a deeper prayer life as an individual travels his or her spiritual journey.
An explanation of personality types is introduced briefly in the sisters’ book, through the lens of psychoanalyst Carl Jung and other personality type and cognitive style experts. The explanations are general, basically distilling into an exploration of whether an individual’s preference is for introversion or extraversion.
An introverted personality may want to pray alone, in silence, while extraverts may have a need to pray with others.
The journal, arranged in a six-week format, highlights three styles of prayer and presents interviews with individuals who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to prayer. Each speaks of his or her own style of prayer and how that enriches them spiritually.
The Journal uses scripture, reflections, suggestions and reflective questions to engage the reader. There are blank pages for the reader to journal thoughts, questions and insights. Helpful suggestions for setting time aside for prayer, creating an environment for prayer and being open to the spiritual experience are included.
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Amerikick students raise money for charity
Amerikick Martial Arts, 8025 Roosevelt Blvd., recently raised $13,000 for Shriners Hospital for Children during its annual kick-a-thon.
The donation surpassed the goal of $10,000.
The students also performed 1,000 kicks in support of Shriners patients.
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Preschool at Picariello
Picariello Playground, 10811 Calera Road, offers preschool and tot recreation programs for kids ages 3 and 4.
For more information, call 215–685–9391.
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Local lawyer presents at bar association meeting
Ned Hark, a partner in the Rhawnhurst-based Goldsmith, Hark & Hornak law firm, was a presenter at the winter meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section.
Hark spoke on the topic of Enforcement of Support Orders.
Goldsmith, Hark & Hornak is located at 7716 Castor Ave.
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Comcast lab at SPIN
Special People In Northeast Inc.’s Norcom Community Center, 10980 Norcom Road, was the recent recipient of a Comcast NBCUniversal Digital Literacy Lab.
The lab prepares high school students and adults with disabilities for meaningful employment and more independent lives through the use of digital technology. SPIN received a $20,000 grant from Comcast to make this initiative possible.
The new lab offers 20 computers and five tablets, with a variety of assistive software and hardware. For individuals with limited physical and communication ability, the lab provides eye-controlled devices that allow them to operate tablets and generate messages with the natural movement of their eyes.
“People with intellectual disability are often unemployed or under-employed in the community, despite their ability and willingness to engage in meaningful work,” said SPIN CEO Kathy Brown McHale. “We address this disparity by educating employers and providing youth and adults the skills they need to lead more independent, fulfilling lives.”
The grant will also support SPIN’s Disability Digital Literacy Expo, scheduled for the spring.
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Local lawyer joins firm
Chamberlain Hrdlicka announced that it has added former Philadelphia Deputy City Solicitor Adam M. Koelsch to its Philadelphia office.
Koelsch, a Northeast resident, comes to Chamberlain Hrdlicka from the City of Philadelphia Law Department, where he represented the city in in tax cases at administrative hearings in front of the Philadelphia Tax Review Board. He also was involved in agency appeals and collection actions at the Court of Common Pleas and in appeals at the Commonwealth Court.
Prior to joining the City of Philadelphia Law Department, Koelsch worked at the district attorney’s office in Brooklyn, New York. He first was an assistant district attorney in the trial division. In 2010, he moved to the Appeals Bureau, where he became a Senior Appellate Attorney in 2012. During that time, he wrote appellate briefs for the state and federal courts in a variety of cases, including homicide and fraud.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Koelsch went on to earn his law degree from Brooklyn Law School.
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Help available for young people looking for work
To assist out-of-school young adults, ages 16 to 24, in the Northeast and Bucks County enter the workforce, the Bucks County Center for Young Professionals at the PA CareerLink Bucks County is offering free training, workshops and GED preparation.
Morning and afternoon hours are available.
Call 215–781–1073, Ext. 2227 to schedule an appointment or attend an orientation session.
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DRCC gets grant
Delaware River City Corporation has received a $5,000 grant from the Fund for Children of The Philadelphia Foundation to support its Youth Environmental and Ecological Stewardship Program.
Thomas J. Branigan, executive director of DRCC, said the funds would be used for sustaining a high number of partners and participating youth.
“We want to engage young people in service projects that are challenging, rewarding and educational,” he said. “The goal is to promote a sense of social responsibility through shared activities while also fostering a greater understanding and appreciation for community diversity.”
The Youth Environmental and Ecological Stewardship Program began in 2013 by DRCC to create a positive impact on the North Delaware Riverfront Greenway. The effort of the groups participating in various projects will assure that Lardner’s Point Park, a focal point for the environmental education workshops, will continue as a passive open space for all people who visit the park.
DRCC partners with schools and other nonprofit organizations such as Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory, Youth Volunteer Corps, Franklin Towne Charter High School and Lincoln Tech.
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Local man takes account executive job
Northeast resident Steven Davis Jr. has been hired as an account executive by Wilson Legal Solutions, a provider of consulting services and analytics software for global law firms and professional services organizations.
Davis focuses on sales and relationship management in the Northeastern United States. He works out of the company’s headquarters in Newtown Square.
Davis, who is married with two sons, has nearly 15 years of business and legal industry experience. He is a former sales representative for the Times. He holds a master’s degree in professional and business communication from La Salle University and a bachelor’s in video communications from Arcadia University.
“Steve has a solid business background that we believe will serve our clients very well. He has served in a consultative role throughout his career and will continue to do so at Wilson by acting as a true adviser to our clients in helping them make technology decisions to run their firms better,” said Jessica Quesada, director of sales and marketing for Wilson Legal Solutions. “Plus, by working out of our headquarters in the Philadelphia region, he’ll have close proximity to meet with our clients in the Northeast to better assess and support their needs. We are very excited to have him join our team.” ••