Donate toys to the needy
Doc Bresler’s Cavity Busters is a sponsor of CBS 3’s Joy of Caring Toy Fest. Toy Fest continues through Friday, Dec. 20. New, unwrapped toys for kids ages 1-12 can be dropped off at the dental offices at 8566 Bustleton Ave. and 240 Geiger Road. The Salvation Army distributes the toys to needy kids. ••
Benefit for Andy Chan
The Andy Chan Holiday Pub Tour, featuring Bad Santa, will take place on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 5 to 10 p.m. at six bars in the Old City District.
Participating locations are the Plough and the Stars, Sassafras, Nick’s Bar & Grill, Bootleggers, Brownie’s Irish Pub and Rotten Ralph’s.
The suggested donation is $20, and there will be drink specials, raffle prizes and live music.
All proceeds go to the Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation and the family of Highway Patrol Officer Andy Chan, seriously injured in January when a driver accidentally hit his motorcycle. ••
Dept. of Streets leaf collection is Saturday
The city Department of Streets’ leaf collection and recycling program will take place on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Bagged leaves to be recycled at the specified drop-off locations will be accepted only in biodegradable paper bags. Otherwise, bagged leaves set out at the curb will be collected as trash. Bagged leaf drop-off will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jardel Recreation Center, 1400 Cottman Ave. (at Pennway Street), and Fox Chase Recreation Center, 7901 Ridgeway St.
For information, call 215-686-3422. ••
Holiday party at Oak Street Health
Oak Street Health, in the Roosevelt Mall, will host a holiday party for the community on Friday, Dec. 20, at noon. Warren Oree and his jazz band will perform.
There will be complimentary hot cocoa, tea and coffee. A table of limited winter items will be available for those in need.
Call 844-808-8262 or visit oakstreethealth.com. ••
Christmas Eve at Pennepack Baptist
Pennepack Baptist Church, 8732 Krewstown Road, will hold a service on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m. The Rev. Tony Tilford will conduct the service, which will feature traditional carols, readings and a candle lighting. Handicapped parking is available. Call 215-399-8129. ••
Service will offer hope during the holidays
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 14100 Worthington Road, will host a “Hope for the Holidays” service on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 2:30 p.m.
The worship experience is meant to give encouragement and hope for people, especially those coping with the loss of a loved one, who find the Christmas season difficult. There will be prayers, scripture and music, followed by light refreshments and fellowship.
Call 215-464-1540 or visit ImmanuelPhilly.org. ••
Free Christmas meals available
Martha’s Kitchen & Restaurant, 6615 Martins Mill Road, will provide free Christmas lunch and dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 25. Serving times are noon to 2 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed, and donations are appreciated. RSVP to 267-731-6332. ••
Redemption Lutheran Christmas Eve services
Redemption Lutheran Church, 8001 Bustleton Ave., will celebrate the birth of Christ on Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. The services will include the singing of Silent Night by candlelight.
The 4 p.m. service will be geared toward families and offer a puppet show sermon. The 8 p.m. service will include a string quartet. The organist and guest musicians will play festive carols before each service. All are welcome. Visit redemptionphiladelphia.org. ••
Santa Claus is at Philadelphia Mills
Santa Claus is available for photos at Philadelphia Mills through Christmas Eve. He is in the Grand Court.
To reserve a time or for more information, visit simon.com/mall/philadelphia-mills/stores/santa-photo-experience. ••
Job search help at NE Regional Library
Get help with your resume, job search, online applications and more provided by CareerLink on Friday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave. The sessions are free. ••
Free help for the holidays
Life Coach Philly’s team of trained specialists is reaching out to those who are struggling during the holidays.
The free service is for those who need help dealing with issues such as relationships, careers or wellness. The service is available anytime through Jan. 2.
The coach will work with people to create a customized plan. To register or for details, visit lifecoachphilly.com. ••
Shop at Christmas Village
Philadelphia’s Christmas Village is open at Love Park, 15th Street and JFK Boulevard, through Christmas Eve.
Admission is free, with food, drink and shopping pay as you go.
Hours are Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For information, visit philachristmas.com. ••
Big sale at thrift shop
Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai’s Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., will hold its half-price sale on clothing and jewelry beginning on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 10 a.m.
Shop hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 215-624-9130. ••
Murt focuses on mental health
The state House Human Services Committee approved legislation authored by Rep. Thomas Murt (R-152nd dist.) to examine mental health services and any potential needed investments in the resources, amenities and facilities.
House Resolution 515 would authorize and direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to undergo a study focused on access to community mental health services for families in Pennsylvania. Each year, tens of thousands of families in the state struggle to gain timely access to services and support for family members with serious mental illness. Not everyone who needs services is able to access them due to long waiting lists that end up causing a delay in treatment.
The resolution is now being considered by the entire House. ••
Local groups receive funding
State Sen. Christine Tartaglione announced that five community organizations in the 2nd Senate District have been awarded grants totaling $882,477 through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account program.
The recipients include Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association ($200,388), Frankford Community Development Corporation ($54,610) and Mayfair Community Development Corporation ($50,000).
Oxford Circle CCDA will use its funding to support the Green Playscape and Community Design project at Laura H. Carnell Elementary School.
Frankford CDC plans to use its grant funding to renovate a blighted home at 4633 Paul St., which remains blighted as a result of a fire there several years ago.
Mayfair CDC will apply its grant funding to the purchase and clearing of a vacant, overgrown and debris-strewn lot at 7315-33 Crispin St. (rear). ••
Bill would help employers
State Rep. Mike Driscoll has introduced legislation that would help protect employers and their workers from payroll processing fraud.
House Bill 1976 would require a payroll processing company operating in the commonwealth to be fiscally bonded to cover any financial mistakes or fraudulent activity.
Under the legislation, the processing company would have to report annually to the Department of Revenue to ensure proper bond coverage is maintained. If found to not have proper coverage, a payroll processor would be fined $1,000 for the first offense and $5,000 for each subsequent offense. ••
Money coming to Carnell
Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association is receiving a $200,388 grant to continue its Green Playscape and Community Design project at Carnell Elementary School.
“Last year, we secured funds to get the project off the ground. This grant is critical in keeping the construction moving forward,” said state Rep. Jared Solomon.
The state funds will go toward making safety improvements to the school’s playground, which includes adding walkway bollards, fencing, a quiet recreation area with benches and removing Dumpsters from the play area.
The plan also includes converting a grassy area in front of the school to a play space with a retaining wall, decorative fence and playground equipment.
The grant was awarded through the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Local Share Account, which distributes a portion of slot machine license operation fees paid by casinos. ••
Nazareth excels in cardiology
The American College of Cardiology has awarded Nazareth Hospital with Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI based on onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.
Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year.
“Nazareth Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing excellent heart care to its community,” said Dr. Phillip D. Levy, chairman of the ACC Accreditation Management Board.
For more information about Nazareth cardiology, call 1-866-NAZARETH or visit trinityhealthma.org/heart. ••
Technique can resolve pain
Nazareth Hospital’s Center for Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation and Balance offers Graston Technique therapy, performed by a trained, certified physical therapist who uses specially designed instruments to target and treat affected soft tissue areas, often resolving issues once thought to be permanent.
Some of the conditions treated with Graston Technique therapy are common problem areas, including pain in the neck, back, heel, knee and elbow.
To learn more or book an appointment, call the Center for Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation and Balance at 215-335-3954. ••
Apply for cheap internet
Comcast is expanding eligibility for Internet Essentials to include all qualified low-income households in its service area.
The company estimates that more than 3 million additional low-income households, including households with people with disabilities, are now eligible to apply.
To be eligible to apply to the program, low-income applicants need to show they are participating in one of more than a dozen different government assistance programs.
A list of these programs can be found at internetessentials.com.
The program includes the option to purchase an internet-ready computer for less than $150, and low-cost, high-speed internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax.
For more information, or to apply for the program in seven different languages, call 855-846-8376. ••
