Penalizing littering and short dumping
City Councilman Brian O’Neill has introduced legislation to increase the fines for littering and short dumping. O’Neill’s bill, developed in consultation with the Department of Streets, will raise the fine for littering from $100 to $500 and the fine for short dumping from $300 to $1,000.
“Keeping our Far Northeast neighborhoods clean has always been one of my top priorities,” O’Neill said. “Hopefully, these fines will cause people to think twice before littering or dumping and to pay dearly if caught.”
A virtual public hearing on this legislation in front of the Council Committee on Streets and Services is scheduled for June 16, at 9:30 a.m.
O’Neill’s office is also working with local police districts to crack down on this illegal activity.
To report littering or short dumping or to testify in favor of passing this bill, call O’Neill’s office at 215-686-3422 or email Brian.Oneill@philagov. ••
Basketball camp at St. Ephrem
The 14th annual Jaguar St. Ephrem Basketball Camp for boys and girls will be held July 26-30 at the air-conditioned gym at St. Ephrem, 5400 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem.
The cost is $125 and includes a basketball and T-shirt.
The camp is under the direction of former college coach Dan Williams. Email WilliamsD@LSCHS.org. ••
Half-price clothing sale
The Classroom Thrift Shop, sponsored by the women of Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, 4301 Tyson Ave., is holding its half-price clothing sale.
Shop hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Household donations are being accepted.
Call 215-624-9130. ••
Free outdoor concert Friday night
All Saints’ Church Torresdale, 9601 Frankford Ave., will host a live jazz concert on Friday, June 11, at 7 p.m., featuring Paula Johns and the Dave Hartl Trio.
The free concert will take place in the field behind the church (entrance off of Eden Street). The community is invited to picnic. Free will donations are accepted.
For more information, call 215-637-8787. ••
Virtual beef and beer
The Men’s Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will host a virtual beef and beer on Wednesday, June 16, at 6:30 p.m.
The cost is $18 per person.
The guest will be Inquirer sports columnist Mike Sielski.
Call 215-677-1600. ••
Donate medical supplies
The Frankford Northeast Philadelphia Rotary Club and Holy Family University will sponsor a drive-by collection of medical supplies that will be shipped by Project CURE (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment) to countries around the world where adequate medical supplies are not available for proper intervention, wound-care and other health recovery support.
The event will take place on Thursday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., outside of the Campus Center at Holy Family, 9801 Frankford Ave.
For a list of acceptable supplies, visit: https://tinyurl.com/s7npn4ps.
Donors will have the option of completing a form requesting tax deductible documentation. No used or contaminated supplies. ••
Food event at Arsenal
BLDG39, a new indoor/outdoor event venue, has opened at the Frankford Arsenal Business Center, 5401 Tacony St.
BLDG39 is hosting Food Love Collaboration dinners on the third Thursday of every month. The community is invited.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. The next event is Thursday, June 17, and will feature food and beverages from Mom-Mom’s Kitchen, Have A Ball, Pink’s Cold Treats and Stateside Vodka.
The cost is $60. Seatings are available at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For tickets, visit https://bldg39-at-the-arsenal.ticketleap.com/bldg39-dinner-series/. ••
St. Hubert food truck BYOB
Alumnae, students, future St. Hubert High School pupils, families and friends are invited to the first Bambies Summer Blastoff.
The event will take place on Saturday, June 19, from 6 to 10 p.m.
There will be a BYOB food truck event at Kubbie’s Corner in Bridesburg.
Twenty-five percent of all food truck sales will be donated to the school.
All ages are welcome, but you must be 21 to drink (no hard liquor).
Kubbie’s Corner is located at 2900 Orthodox St.
There will be T-shirt sales, a 50/50 and raffle baskets, with all proceeds to benefit the St. Hubert Faculty Scholarship Fund. ••
Food distribution on Saturday
Changed Lives Church, located at 6816 Jackson St. in Tacony, will hold a food distribution on Saturday, June 12, at 11:30 a.m. ••
Groups for Camp Lejeune service members and families
Advocates for people who have been impacted by the water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina welcome input from people who have been affected.
The contamination took place from 1953-87.
To learn more, visit the website of The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten: http://www.tftptf.com/. Or, email Jerry.Ensminger@tftptf.com.
There are also three Facebook pages: Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Survivors; Camp Lejeune Survivors of Water Contamination; and Camp Lejeune Water Contamination. ••
Recycling bucket giveaway
City Councilman Brian O’Neill will hold a recycling bucket giveaway on Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at the FOP, 11630 Caroline Road. ••
Cracking down on human trafficking
Rep. Martina White supported a package of bills to make it easier to prosecute human traffickers and protect their victims.
“Human trafficking is more prevalent in Southeast Pennsylvania than many people think,” White said. “Many interstate roadways in our area become pipelines to states north and south of us, which makes it easier for human traffickers to victimize women and children. It is the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world, one of the fastest growing, and it is happening right here.”
The bills passed by the House would, among other things, require perpetrators to register under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act and strengthen the penalty for “Dealing in Infant Children;”
The bills now move to the Senate for consideration. ••
Vaccines for the homebound
Councilman Brian O’Neill announced that the city Department of Health’s Homebound COVID 19 Vaccination Program offers vaccinations for disabled individuals or those unable to leave home unassisted.
Personal care attendants, family and any other caregivers or residents of the individual’s household are also eligible to be vaccinated under this program. The vaccine is free with no insurance required.
Sign up by calling 215-685-5488 or visiting https://bit.ly/homeboundvaccinephl.
To reach O’Neill’s office, call 215-686-3422 or email Brian.Oneill@phila.gov. ••
