Mass set for departing nuns
St. William Parish invites current and former parishioners, school alumni and former teachers to a Mass of Thanksgiving and Gratitude for the IHM nuns who will be leaving the convent.
The Mass will take place on Saturday, May 22, at 5 p.m. in the lower church, 6200 Rising Sun Ave. It will be celebrated by Bishop Michael Fitzgerald.
The nuns will be moving to other residences when the convent closes in mid-June. They have served St. William for 97 years. ••
Win a Tower of Cheer
St. Martha Parish is selling chances for a Summer Sippin’ Tower of Cheer.
Tickets are $10 apiece or three for $25.
The drawing is May 30. Chances will be sold through May 21.
Tickets are available after Mass in the lobby, on Venmo @SMS19154 (include name and contact info) or by calling Helen Konstance at 215-292-3842. ••
Somerton Civic to meet
Somerton Civic Association will hold an in-person, outdoor meeting on May 27 at 7 p.m. at the Quartett Club, 1075 Southampton Road.
Everyone who attends will need to wear a mask.
The group will discuss one or two zoning matters. ••
O’Neill holding events
City Councilman Brian O’Neill will be holding events at his offices on three upcoming Saturdays, all from 9 a.m. to noon.
E-cycling will take place on May 22 at 7522 Castor Ave.
Shredding will take place June 5 at 432 Rhawn St.
A recycling bucket giveaway is set for June 19 at the FOP at 11630 Caroline Road. ••
Free football camp
Rhawnhurst Athletic Association’s annual Kenny Kline Football Camp will take place on Sunday, May 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the fields at Bustleton and Solly avenues.
All kids 5-13 are welcome to attend the free camp. Registration begins at 10 a.m.
Father Judge coach Frank McArdle and his staff and players will provide instruction.
For anyone who signs up on Sunday for the season, the cost is $75. ••
St. Hubert honoring hall of famers
St. Hubert will hold its Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony on May 26, from 6 to 10 p.m., outside at Knowlton Mansion, 8001 Verree Road.
The ceremony was postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus.
The inductees will be U.S. Air Force Col. Meg Lockhead Carey (class of 1981) in the Science/Medicine category; Sister Lisa Breslin – Catholic Witness; Marie Haughton Flocco ‘91 – Education; and Mick McGroarty – Athletics.
Alumnae, family and friends are invited. Tickets cost $85. Sponsorships are available.
Contact Trish Decker at 215-624-6840, Ext. 1530 or [email protected]. ••
Donate blood
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on May 24 from 1 to 6 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. ••
Register at Maternity BVM
Maternity BVM Catholic School, 9322 Old Bustleton Ave., will accept registrations through Thursday, May 20, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., for Pre-K 3 through eighth grade.
Extracurricular activities such as band, sports, student council and after-school clubs will return in September.
Financial aid is available.
Visit www.maternitybvm.net for a virtual tour of the school.
For more information, contact advancement director Mike McDonough at 215-908-3329 or [email protected]. ••
Nominate Jewish hometown hero
The National Museum of American Jewish History, on Independence Mall, is seeking nominations of Jewish American Hometown Heroes.
The public may nominate everyday citizens who strive to make their communities a better place, inspired by their heritage, traditions and values. One nominee will be selected for induction into the Ed Snider Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame.
The deadline to nominate is May 20. Finalists will be announced in early June and then the public will be able to vote on the Hometown Hero.
Visit https://www.nmajh.org/home-town-hero-contest/ to learn more. ••
New garbage trucks coming to Bucks
The state Department of Environmental Protection awarded more than $3.4 million in 2020 Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants to 20 cleaner fuel transportation projects statewide that will help improve air quality and public health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.
Waste Management of Pennsylvania received $200,000 to purchase eight CNG garbage trucks that serve Bucks, Lackawanna and Montgomery counties.
“These grants help cities, counties, school districts, colleges, as well as delivery, trash hauling and other companies across Pennsylvania that want to be proactive in reducing air pollution from transportation,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Their projects will help Pennsylvanians breathe cleaner air at school, in their communities and at their workplaces.”
The AFIG Program funds projects that replace older gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles with cleaner fuel vehicles to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide, a principal greenhouse gas.
The program supports electric, ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, propane gas and other cleaner fuel vehicles. It also supports installation of fueling stations for these vehicles.
Transportation generates 47 percent of nitrogen oxides emissions in Pennsylvania, contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone. This affects the health of children; older people; people with lung diseases, such as asthma and emphysema; and those who work or are active outdoors. The state Department of Health has found that asthma-related emergency room visits increase when air quality is poor.
Vehicles release 21 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the state, contributing to climate change.
The 2020 AFIG-funded projects will put 209 cleaner fuel school buses, garbage trucks, package delivery trucks and other vehicles in use. Collectively, the projects are anticipated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 900 metric tons per year.
Public invited to comment on PennDOT’s draft transportation funding study
As part of the ongoing comment period for the state Department of Transportation Planning and Environmental Linkages study exploring sustainable transportation funding options, a telephone town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 25, at 6 p.m.
The telephone town hall will provide an opportunity to comment on the statewide PEL study, in addition to an active virtual public meeting, accessible online through June 1 at penndot.gov/funding. The public may pre-register for the telephone town hall, but it’s not required.
There are three ways to join:
- Pre-register at dashboard.teletownhall.us/registration/XZ3RGB2WJC7V to receive a phone call to join at the start of the meeting
- Visit penndot.gov/funding and click on the registration button to receive a phone call to join at the start of the meeting
- Dial in directly to the meeting at 855-756-7520, Entry Code Ext. 73539#
Those who cannot join the telephone opportunity can review and participate in the on-demand virtual public meeting that began on April 29. Public comments can be submitted directly from the meeting website or via other comment submission methods, including:
- Online: Visit penndot.gov/funding, click on “virtual public meeting” and scroll to the bottom of the page to access the comment section
- Email: [email protected]
- Hotline: 717-325-6129
The PEL study is being conducted to identify near- and long-term alternative funding solutions and establish a methodology for their evaluation. The Transportation Revenue Options Commission, established by Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order on March 12, received the draft PEL study and will receive the final version when completed.
