Follow the money
Did you pay a fine after running a red light on Roosevelt Boulevard?
If so, you are helping fund the redesign of the intersection at Broad Street, Germantown Avenue and Erie Avenue.
Philadelphia will receive $4 million in funding from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement program for traffic safety projects.
The funding is part of more than $8 million being awarded to 10 municipalities for 16 projects across the state and comes from fines for violations at designated red-light intersections in Philadelphia.
“The Red Light Enforcement program funds are made available to help improve traffic safety and are part of the conversation we are having to make transportation funding a priority for Philadelphia,” said state Rep. Jason Dawkins (D-179th dist.). “This money is in addition to PennDOT’s current projects that are so important in the city.”
Philadelphia will also use the money to, among other things, resurface Erie Avenue between Broad Street and Old York Road; upgrade signals at Broad and Butler streets as well as Broad and Venango streets; expand and connect the Philadelphia bikeway network to encourage its use for transportation and recreation; reduce motor vehicle speeds to 25 mph or less, which is the current speed posted in Philadelphia neighborhoods; improve pavement markings and create signal improvements such as pedestrian countdowns; and add LED streetlights. ••
Comcast offering free access to hotspots
Comcast will extend its commitments to help people connect to the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic as millions continue to stay home while many workplaces and schools operate virtually.
Comcast will continue to provide free internet service for the first 60 days for new Internet Essentials customers, and free access to more than 1.5 million public Xfinity WiFi hotspots, the largest network of its kind in the country, through June 30, 2021.
For more information and updates from Comcast related to coronavirus, visit
http://www.comcastcorporation.com/COVID-19/. ••
Online funeral Mass for Jerry Boyle
A private funeral Mass for entertainer Jerry Boyle will be streamed on Facebook on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 10:15 a.m.
Boyle died Nov. 26. He was 68 and had been battling prostate cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Regina “Jeannie;” children Allison Darcy (husband Kyle), Evan Boyle and Rita Marley; and grandchildren Brayden, Shane and Marley Grace.
The Mass will be streamed at www.facebook.com/911motown.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jerry’s memory to Cape May County Survivors of Cancer, P.O. Box 266, Wildwood, NJ 08260.
Boyle performed with his Motown, oldies and The Sound of Philadelphia group, The Violations. He also entertained at weddings, Atlantic City casinos and the former Babe’s Steakhouse in Port Richmond and sang the national anthem for professional sports teams. ••
Food giveaway
Northeast Philadelphia Against Racism will hold a holiday food giveaway on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. at Roosevelt Mall, 2327 Cottman Ave., in the parking lot near the closed-down Modell’s.
Some 500 boxes of food will be distributed. ••
New care program at Roosevelt Rehab
Roosevelt Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, 7800 Bustleton Ave., has launched a Cardio Pulmonary Care Program. Pulmonologist Dr. Michael Korman and cardiologist Dr. Scott Pfeffer are overseeing the initiative.
The program aims to promote independence and quality of life through reducing symptoms and decreasing disability in heart and lung patients, while increasing their participation in physical and social activities. Services are tailored for individuals with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, post heart and lung transplants, emphysema, acute myocardial infarctions, bypass surgeries and respiratory failure.
Roosevelt developed the program with Marquis Health Services, which provides nursing home consulting services for the facility. ••
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 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. ••
Nazareth holding bariatric sessions
Nazareth Hospital hosts free, online bariatric information sessions for the community to educate patients about weight-loss surgery options and support services at Nazareth Bariatrics.
Participants will have the opportunity to speak with Nazareth Hospital’s bariatric surgeons. The next information sessions will take place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Registration is required. Upon registration, attendees will be sent a link to access the session virtually.
For more information and to register, call 215-335-2090. ••
Win a tower of cheer
St. Martha Parish is holding a Tower of Cheer raffle.
Tickets cost $10, or three for $25. They can be purchased after Mass. Or, pay through Venmo @STMARTHASCHOOL-NEPHILLY, including your name, contact information and “Tower of Cheer.”
The drawing will be Dec. 27.
Contact Helen Komstance at 215-292-3842 or rhkonstance@aol.com. ••
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. ••
AHCU lights 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 through 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. ••
Sale at thrift shop
The Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., sponsored by the women of Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, will hold a half-price sale from Sunday, Jan. 3, through Friday, Jan. 8.
Shop hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The shop is closed Saturday.
Call 215-624-9130. ••
Virtual concert on Jan. 21
The Men’s Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, is hosting a virtual musical evening on Thursday, Jan. 21, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Andrea Carlson will entertain with songs by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers from her new CD, Out Of My Dreams. The cost is $18.
Call 215-677-1600. ••
