Santa Claus coming to Summerdale
Santa Claus is inviting children to breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Houseman Recreation Center, 5091 Summerdale Ave.
Houseman is seeking donations of small gifts for children leading up to the breakfast.
Call 215-685-1240 or email kirk.foster@phila.gov ••
Services at Redemption Lutheran
Redemption Lutheran Church, at Bustleton Avenue and Rhawn Street, will hold a service on Sunday, Dec. 23, at 9:45 a.m.
The congregation welcomes the community for a Christmas Eve candlelight family service at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 24. Christmas music will begin at 3:30 p.m. Redemption will hold its Christmas Day service at 10 a.m.
For more information about Redemption, go to Facebook or visit redemptionphiladelphia.org ••
Donate toys at Councilman O’Neill’s offices
City Councilman Brian O’Neill and the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program are teaming up again to provide toys to less fortunate children in the community this holiday season. Residents can drop off new and unwrapped toys at any of O’Neill’s five offices.
To donate a new and unwrapped toy, call or visit one of O’Neill’s offices: 7522 Castor Ave. (215-685-0438); 432 Rhawn St. (215-685-6431); FOP Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road (215-437-9167); Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street, above the 7th Police District (215-685-0432); City Hall (215-686-3422). ••
New college loan program available
State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione is encouraging prospective college students who may be applying for financial aid in 2019 to consider the new PA Forward Student Loan Program as part of their financial planning. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency recently announced the creation of the loan program, which is designed to complement other forms of student aid.
“As higher education costs continue to rise in Pennsylvania and around the nation, many students face a seemingly insurmountable financial burden that scholarships, grants and other loan programs fail to meet,” Tartaglione said. “This new program will help bridge the funding gap for students with high aspirations, but limited resources.”
Visit PHEAA’s MySmartBorrowing.org website for information about how different career, school and financial decisions during the college planning process can influence the total cost of education and a student’s ability to repay student loans. Visit PHEAA.org/PA-Forward for information about the PA Forward program and to access the application when it becomes available in 2019. ••
Mahjong class starting at KleinLife
KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., will hold a Mahjong class on Wednesdays, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., through Jan. 10. Diane Marshall will lead the sessions on the ancient game. The cost is $45 and includes a Mahjong card. Payment can be made at the front desk. Call 215-698-7300, Ext. 129 or email sgeltzer@kleinlife.org ••
Trolley ride will tour NE Christmas lights
The public is invited to ride in a 1950s-era Philadelphia Transportation Company trolley to see 100 of the best Christmas-decorated homes in Mayfair.
Christmas music will be playing during the ride on the antique trolley. The cost is $10. For children shorter than the antique fare box (42 inches), the cost is $5. The tour lasts about an hour.
The trolley departs from Frankford and Cottman avenues at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the following days: Dec. 21-23, 25, 28-31 and Jan. 1.
To reserve a seat, call 267-575-5003. ••
