Proposed discounts for vets at state parks
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Thomas Murt (R-152nd dist.) to give veterans a discount on state park fees has passed the House.
“I think this is a great way to honor our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who give so much so that we can be safe,” Murt said.
House Bill 1311 amends the Conservation and Natural Resources Act to provide a 15% discount on state park activity fees for active duty, retired and disabled military personnel and their immediate family.
The legislation would apply to active duty and retired military members and veterans who have a 100% service-related disability, plus their immediate family. Military personnel and veterans who qualify would have to provide identification in order to receive a discount.
House Bill 1311 now goes to the Senate for consideration. ••
Franklin Square reopens
Franklin Square, 6th and Race streets, has reopened for the 2020 season.
The park features miniature golf, a carousel, a playground, a fountain show and SquareBurger.
For more information, including details on safety and health protocols, visit historicphiladelphia.org. ••
Apply to become a Philly cop
The Philadelphia Police Department is accepting applications to become a police officer through July 31.
Candidates must be 22 by the time the class starts at the Police Academy. They must apply and pass examinations and evaluations before being hired.
The starting salary is $56,227 a year.
To apply or for more information, visit joinphillypd.com.
To speak to someone from the recruiting unit, call 215-683-COPS. ••
Thrift shop clothing sale
The Classroom Thrift Shop, sponsored by the Sisterhood of Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, has a sale of five clothing items for $5.
The shop is at 4301 Tyson Ave. Customers must wear masks.
Hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The shop is closed on Saturdays.
Call 215-624-9130. ••
Nazareth has 5 new urology docs
The following five doctors have joined Nazareth Hospital’s urology practice: Dean Laganosky, Jeffrey David Reich, John M. Rodgers, Jeffrey N. Gordon and Anton Kapp Jr.
Each physician will care for patients facing a variety of urologic needs at Nazareth Urology, 2701 Holme Ave., Physicians Office Building, Suite 101.
To book an appointment with a physician at Nazareth Urology, call 215-674-0301. ••
White wants illegal gun crackdown
State Rep. Martina White (R-170th dist.) issued a statement after 31 shootings and seven homicides occurred from Friday to Sunday.
Homicides are up 22% from this same point a year ago.
“Mayor Jim Kenney said these incidents were a ‘crisis.’ They are: A crisis in leadership caused by a district attorney who will not fully prosecute gun offenders,” White said. “In the House, we’ve passed many laws to keep gun offenders behind bars for years. But these laws will not work if District Attorney Larry Krasner refuses to prosecute under these laws. We saw the result this weekend. Gun crime is up in Philadelphia, and the victims’ families are betrayed. By sending gun offenders to a court diversionary program called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, criminals are given a second chance to go back onto the streets and kill again.”
White has introduced a bill mandating 10-year minimum sentences for crimes where an illegal firearm was used. ••
3 local students taking part in technology internship
Recent Father Judge graduates Dylan Chambers and Christian Nair and upcoming senior Jaden Desarden are participating in an Archdiocese of Philadelphia technology internship program through WorkReady this summer. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the internships will be completed remotely.
Tommy Fonville, the IT director at Father Judge, will serve as a supervisor.
Chambers, who attended Holmesburg Christian Academy, will major in information technology at La Salle University.
Nair, who attended St. Matthew, will major in computer science at St. Joseph’s University.
Desarden, who attended Blessed Regional Trinity in Lower Mayfair, has been on the varsity cross country and track teams for three years. ••
Practices join Nazareth Hospital
Fox Chase Gastroenterology and Rhawn Street Endoscopy Center have become Nazareth Gastroenterology and Nazareth Health Endoscopy Center, respectively, formally joining Nazareth Hospital as part of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic.
Drs. William M. Battle, Mark S. Codella, Keith J. Buhl and David M. Zisa remain the providers for Nazareth Gastroenterology and Nazareth Health Endoscopy Center.
The offices are located at 1403 Rhawn St.
Call 215-332-8100 or visit trinityhealthma.org. ••
Tool-sharing resource available
Tacony Tool Library, 5200 Unruh Ave., is a tool-sharing resource for the greater Philadelphia community.
Launched on July 1 by Philadelphia Community Corps at Philly Reclaim, the 20,000-square-foot building material reuse center is a place where people, once members, can borrow tools for free.
Donations are accepted here: https://bit.ly/2BoW8FB.
Tacony Tool Library is a community resource for homeowners, small businesses and DIYers who need tools to complete projects, but can’t afford to, or don’t want to, spend the money a new tool. Not everyone needs to own tools year round, but lots of people find themselves needing the right tool for a specific job sometimes, and that’s when people can turn to Tacony Tool Library.
Anyone can join by creating a profile through Tacony Tool Library’s online portal at taconytoollibrary.org. Once joined, members can browse the inventory of tools online or in store. Members will also be able to schedule a time slot through the website to pick up their reserved tools, and they can borrow up to eight tools at a time. Tacony Tool Library has a variety of tools available.
“In my experience, there’s never a good time to take on a big new project, only bad times, and of all the bad times, the best time to start is as soon as possible,” said Greg Trainor, executive director of the Philadelphia Community Corps. “We had originally planned to launch Tacony Tool Library earlier this spring, but obviously coronavirus set us back. We don’t want to wait too long, though, or keep kicking this can down the road, so we’re going to keep this momentum going forward with a soft launch. In the coming months, there will be a grand opening with whatever kind of event we are allowed to have at that point, but for now I think the important thing is to get started. We already have a lot to offer Tacony Tool Library members.”
Email Trainor at greg@phillyreclaim.org. ••
Boulevard speeding tickets coming Aug. 1
The Philadelphia Park Authority will begin issuing speeding tickets along Roosevelt Boulevard on Aug. 1.
Speed cameras were installed on June 1 at the following eight intersections: Banks Way, F Street, Devereaux Avenue, Harbison Avenue, Strahle Street, Grant Avenue, Red Lion Road and Southampton Road.
Speeders will get warnings in the mail through July.
The speed limit is 40 mph northbound until Ryan Avenue, where it becomes 45 mph. The limit is 45 mph southbound until Faunce Street, where it becomes 40 mph.
The fines are $100 for going 11-19 mph over the limit, $125 for going 20-29 mph over the limit and $150 for going 30 or more mph over the limit.
Fines will be sent through the mail. No points will go on a driver’s license.
Proceeds from the program will go to equipment, administration and police review of tickets. Remaining funds will go to transportation safety grants. ••
