Recycle your leaves
The city Department of Streets’ leaf recycling program runs through Dec. 19.
Bagged leaves will be collected curbside on regular trash days only in biodegradable paper bags, no more than 40 pounds. Do not mix trash or other recyclable materials with bagged leaves.
Bagged leaf drop-off will be offered citywide on Saturdays (except for Nov. 28) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local sites are Jardel Recreation Center, 1400 Cottman Ave., and Fox Chase Recreation Center, 7901 Ridgeway St.
Bagged leaves may also be taken to the sanitation convenience center at State Road and Ashburner Street.
For more information, residents can visit http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/leaves or call 311. ••
Edmunds gets safety grant
State Rep. Joe Hohenstein announced that a $24,686 Safe Schools grant has been awarded to the Philadelphia Charter School for Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds to purchase safety and security-related equipment.
“Whether they’re learning in the classroom or at home, our priority is still to ensure all students learn in a safe environment,” Hohenstein said. “This funding will go a long way in strengthening safety measures at this school and allow them to continue offering young people a quality education.” ••
Virtual yoga and meditation
A new Yoga & Meditation program is being offered in a virtual format to area seniors by KleinLife. It is open to the center’s members as well as the public.
Any area seniors interested in joining the program can call 215-698-7300 or visit www.kleinlife.org. ••
Free life coaching available
Life Coach Philly is offering its annual free help for the holidays.
The International School of Coaching’s master coach and her team of trained specialists are reaching out to encourage, guide and support the community during the holidays.
The free service is to help those in need get through the day-to-day challenges as the world is rapidly changing.
The service is available now through Jan. 2.
To register or for more information, visit lifecoachphilly.com. ••
Donate food to needy pets
Philadoptables is helping stock a pet food pantry for people in Philadelphia who cannot feed their pets, helping more than 300 animals monthly. Collected pet food is also distributed to rescue groups and foster parents who save dogs and cats from Philadelphia’s Animal Care and Control.
For the last 10 years, Philadoptables has held this pet food drive in conjunction with radio station 93.3 WMMR’s The Preston & Steve Show’s Camp Out for Hunger event. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lack of in-person opportunities, Philadoptables is using its website to list locations by county where donations can be dropped off.
Other ways to contribute to the collection include purchasing items from Philadoptables’ Amazon wish list or donating funds through PayPal or check. The collection drive will run through Nov. 20.
Visit https://philadoptables.org/news/annual-pet-food-drive-2020/ for additional information on dropoff locations, Amazon wish list and other ways to donate. ••
AHCU collecting for the needy
American Heritage Credit Union invites the community to help reach its goal of collecting 20,020 pounds of food in this year’s Spirit of Giving Food Drive. All nonperishable food donations will be given out to various food pantries and food banks throughout the community to help families in need this holiday season.
The donations will be collected through Nov. 20 at all American Heritage branch locations. Nonperishable goods such as soups, canned meat and vegetables, rice and pasta are at a higher demand this time of year due to holidays like Thanksgiving.
Each American Heritage branch will collect goods for a food bank or organization that directly supports families in the area the branch is located. ••
Turkey giveaway Saturday morning
Ascension Mar Thoma Church, 10197 Northeast Ave., will be giving away Thanksgiving turkeys on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The limit is one turkey per household. There will be contactless pickup.
The giveaway is sponsored by the church’s Young Family Fellowship.
For more information, call 215-485-8512. ••
Free health checks
Trinity Church Oxford, 601 Longshore Ave., will provide free flu shots, diabetes screening and blood pressure check on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bring your insurance card.
The uninsured can email [email protected]. ••
Come get your turkey
Rolls Auto Sales, 6550 Frankford Ave., will be giving away turkeys on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Rolls is partnering with the Mayfair Business Improvement District and City Councilman Bobby Henon.
The afternoon will also include raffles. ••
Feast of Justice holding virtual 5K
Feast of Justice, a food distribution program at 3101 Tyson Ave., will be holding a virtual 5K race from Nov. 22-29.
Run, walk, bike or hike in your neighborhood or on a local trail, and your time and photos will be posted on the Feast of Justice website.
The cost is $25 per person to register, and participants get a T-shirt.
Sign up at feastofjustice.org. ••
Mechanical leaf collection to begin
Mechanical leaf collection will begin next week in portions of the Northeast.
All leaves should be raked in the street to the curb’s edge by 7 a.m. Move your vehicle to an off-street parking location.
The schedule is:
• Monday, Nov. 23: Worthington Road to County Line Road, from Byberry Road to County Line
• Tuesday, Nov. 24: Verree Road to Bustleton Avenue, from Grant Avenue to Morefield Road
• Wednesday, Nov. 25: Morefield Road to Welsh Road, from Verree Road to Pine Road
• Friday, Nov. 27: Welsh Road to Bloomfield Avenue, from Verree Road to Pine Road
• Monday, Nov. 30: Verree Road to Krewstown Road, from Rising Sun Avenue to Grant Avenue; Verree Road to Rising Sun Avenue, from Susquehanna Road to Rhawn Street
• Tuesday, Dec. 1: Oxford Avenue to Pennway Street, from Cottman Avenue to Magee Avenue; Oxford Avenue to city limits, from Cottman Avenue to Rhawn Street
• Wednesday, Dec. 2: Rhawn Street to Welsh Road, from Holme Avenue to Rowland Avenue
• Thursday, Dec. 3: Bustleton Avenue to Roosevelt Boulevard, from Grant Avenue to Lott Street; Orchard Lane to Clarendon Avenue, from Knights Road to Crestmont Avenue
• Friday, Dec. 4: Frankford Avenue to State Road, from Grant Avenue to Linden Avenue
For more information, visit http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/leaves or call 311. ••
Donate coats and books
The Frankford Northeast Philadelphia Rotary Club and Holy Family University will sponsor a Drive-By Coat and Book Donation Collection to help those in need in the local communities.
The event is set for Monday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., outside of the Campus Center at Holy Family University, 9801 Frankford Ave. (at Grant Avenue).
Donations will be accepted in person throughout the day. All donations must be placed in plastic bags. Donated coats (new and slightly used for children and adults) will benefit Feast of Justice, serving families and veterans from 10 ZIP codes in the city.
Donated books will benefit Feast of Justice, Thomas Holme Elementary School and Project HOME, with Sister Mary Scullion.
The drive is seeking donations of English and bilingual (Creole or Mandarin) books to meet the needs of the community.
Volunteers are needed to assist with item donations. Individuals may sign up to work shifts throughout the day and into the evening. Those who are interested should contact Margaret Kelly, vice president for mission, at [email protected] or 267-341-3651. ••
Play virtual bingo
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim is hosting a virtual bingo on Mondays, Dec. 7 and 14, at 7 p.m.
The cost is $36 per person and includes two cards, for eight games of bingo each night.
Send your payment to the CSS office, 9768 Verree Road, Philadelphia, PA 19115, Attention: Bingo. Payment must be received no later than Nov. 23. Include your email address.
For further information, call 215-677-1600 and ask for Gerry or Nancy. ••
AHCU will light its campus
American Heritage Credit Union and the Kids-N-Hope Foundation invite the community to drive through their main campus at 2060 Red Lion Road any evening from Nov. 23 to Jan. 3 to enjoy more than 400,000 lights from the comfort and safety of the car.
Each year, the American Heritage campus buildings and trees are illuminated. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, American Heritage and the Kids-N-Hope Foundation are not able to host their annual in-person holiday event.
Parking is available for socially distant photos. ••
Blood drive at Loudenslager
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 2 to 7 p.m., at Cpl. John Loudenslager American Legion Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave.
Sign up by calling 800-RED CROSS or going to www.redcrossblood.org. The sponsor code is ALPOST366.
Face masks are required. ••
Lottery calendars for sale
St. Martha Parish is selling 2021 lottery calendars, available after all Masses.
For a $25 donation, you choose a three-digit number that has a chance to win all year long.
The winning number is based on the Pennsylvania Lottery daily number, drawn each night at 7. Each month, there is a $100 bonus day.
Checks can be made payable to St. Martha, with “Lottery Calendar” on the memo line, and mailed to St. Martha Catholic Church, Attn: Kathy Cantz, 11301 Academy Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154. ••
O’Neill opposes MOVE apology
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) was the only member who voted last week against a resolution apologizing for the MOVE bombing on May 13, 1985.
Mayor Wilson Goode approved the dropping of a bomb on the roof of the radical group’s Osage Avenue home, resulting in a fire and 11 deaths, including five kids.
The resolution establishes an annual day of observation, reflection and recommitment on May 13. It reads, in part, “There are echoes of the MOVE bombing that persist in Philadelphia’s police community relations. Historical discrimination against people of color and unnecessary use of force has shaped a culture of distrust between police and residents.”
A copy of the resolution will be presented to the Africa family “to further evidence the sincerity of this legislative body,” the resolution said. ••
Defense department awards Agusta
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., 3050 Red Lion Road, a $171 million modification to the previously awarded contract for the Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System.
This modification exercises options for the production and delivery of an additional 36 TH-73A aircraft, with work expected to be completed in December 2022.
In January, Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., was awarded a contract valued at $176 million for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A helicopters, initial spares, support and dedicated equipment, and specific pilot and maintenance training services.
The TH-73A will be used to train the next generation of student aviators from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. ••
Donate food
Caliber Collision is holding its ninth annual Restoring You Food Drive virtually this year.
Donations will go to Feast of Justice.
To donate or for more information, go to ryfooddrive.com. ••
White elected caucus secretary
Members of the state House Republican Caucus elected Rep. Martina White (R-170th dist.) to serve in the position of secretary.
White has been in office since 2015.
“I am honored to have been chosen to serve in this position and to represent the people of southeast Pennsylvania during leadership discussions,” White said. “I look forward to the additional responsibilities I will be assuming, while continuing to diligently work for the people of the 170th Legislative District.”
The position of secretary is responsible for recording all official legislative activities that take place in the House of Representatives. ••
O’Neill accepting texts
City Councilman Brian O’Neill announced the launch of a text messaging service to receive and respond to constituent requests.
Messages can be sent any time, including nights and weekends.
The phone number to text is 215-964-8232. ••
Preparing for Thanksgiving
Natalie Menza-Crowe, director of health and wellness at ShopRite, offers the following Thanksgiving tips:
• It’s all about balance: Balancing your plate is a way to stay on a healthy track without getting bogged down in having to focus on consuming certain nutrients or worrying about counting calories or carbs. Choose the items you want the most, but don’t forget to fill your plate with lots of veggies and lean protein-filled dishes. Of course, it’s also OK to take bite-sized portions of more indulgent courses and desserts – (mostly) everything is OK in moderation. Balance is truly the perfect way to have your cake (or pie) and eat it, too.
• Smart substitutions: Try some healthy twists on your favorite classics to make your meal a little bit lighter. Swapping ingredients such as Greek yogurt and applesauce in baked goods cuts back on fat without sacrificing taste or texture. Choosing a whole wheat pasta provides added nutrient benefits, as whole wheat flour yields more fiber and naturally occurring nutrients. Consider trying a cauliflower mash for added fiber content.
• Pile on protein: Lucky for us, turkey is a lean meat. Lean proteins that are full of flavor give meals a more satisfying flavor profile. If you’re craving more turkey, small amounts of turkey bacon can be a great way to add extra flavor to your favorite dishes. Try adding crumbled turkey bacon to a side dish of green beans or Brussels sprouts. Chicken sausage is another great option. Low in saturated fat, but full of flavor, you don’t need to add many ingredients to prepare a quick, healthy and tasty side.
• Beware of overindulging: When indulging in a treat, like that classic pumpkin pie, it’s important to practice portion control to prevent overindulging. If you are still hungry after one serving, rather than reaching for another slice, try snacking on a more nutritious piece of fruit. ••
