Barbecue for veterans
State Rep. Joe Hohenstein, City Councilman Bobby Henon and the Mayfair Business Improvement District will hold a veterans appreciation barbecue on July 10, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Frankford and Cottman avenues.
The rain date will be July 17.
Veterans and their families are invited to attend the event, which will feature dozens of vendors; veteran-specific federal, state and city resources; music from Evryman Jack; vaccines from Temple University Health System; and free food from Czerw’s Kielbasa and Marinucci’s Deli.
Hohenstein’s staff will be on site to assist with SEPTA Senior Key Cards, Real ID information and veterans assistance program information.
For more information, email RepHohenstein@pahouse.com. ••
Carla Sands running for Senate
Carla Sands, former ambassador to Denmark, is seeking the Republican nomination for Senate.
“Every child should have access to an outstanding education. That’s why I will stand up to woke culture, censorship and critical race theory. Farmers and energy workers are the backbone of our commonwealth’s economy. I will put Pennsylvania jobs first. And from government spending to our elections, integrity matters. I will stand up to corruption everywhere,” she said.
A Cumberland County native, she earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, was an original cast member of The Bold and the Beautiful and later became CEO of Vintage Capital Group, when her husband died. She supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, and was appointed to the president’s Economic Advisory Council.
In 2017, Trump named her ambassador to Denmark. During her tenure, U.S. exports to Denmark rose more than 22 percent in one year. In January 2021, Sands received the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honor, the Medal for Distinguished Public Service, for her work to increase security in the Arctic region. ••
Tickets on sale for XPN festival
Tickets will go on sale on Friday for WXPN’s XPoNential Music Festival, scheduled for Sept. 17-19 at Wiggins Park and the adjacent BB&T Pavilion on the Camden waterfront.
Performers will include Tedeschi Trucks: Fireside Live, with special guest Pigeons Playing Ping Pong; Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers; Great Time; Anna Shoemaker; Arthur Thomas and the Funkitorium; Stella Ruze; and Hoochi Coochi.
For more information, go to xpnfest.org. ••
Event for job seekers
Shipmate Fulfillment, a Frankford-based logistics business, will hold a free event for job seekers on Thursday, July 8, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 4400 Griscom St.
More than 20 businesses looking to hire will be at the event.
There will be food, drink and networking.
To RSVP, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/265142518688489. ••
Temple takes over CTCA site
Temple University Hospital has acquired the land, buildings, equipment and supplies of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 1331 E. Wyoming Ave.
“This opens a significant and historic new chapter in our Health System’s history — one which speaks to our improving clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, positive financial performance and long-term strength of our organization,” said Michael A. Young, president and CEO of Temple University Health System and Temple University Hospital.
The campus will feature a mix of healthcare specialties and administrative space.
CTCA opened in 2005, taking over for Parkview Hospital, which had closed two years earlier. ••
Cranaleith to host 2 outdoor retreats
Cranaleith Spiritual Center, 13475 Proctor Road, invites the community for two mornings of peaceful reflection on Saturdays, July 10 and July 31.
There will be a labyrinth walk, pond and fountain, and Stations of the Cross. A facilitator will be present to offer prompts for reflection.
Scholarships are available. To register or for details, visit cranaleith.org. ••
March for Life in September
The first Pennsylvania March for Life will take place on Monday, Sept. 27, at the Capitol in Harrisburg.
The House of Representatives will return to session that day.
Pennsylvania Family Institute, in partnership with the March for Life Education & Defense Fund, plans to hold a rally at the front steps of the Capitol at 11 a.m. followed by a march around the Capitol building at noon.
For more information, visit PaMarchForLife.org. ••
Most city pools opening
The city Department of Parks and Recreation will be opening most, but not all, of its outdoor pools this summer.
Local pools that are open are Vogt, 4131 Unruh Ave.; Lackman, 1101 Bartlett St.; Simpson, 1010 Arrott St.; American Legion, 6201 Torresdale Ave.; Fox Chase, 7901 Ridgeway St.; and Max Myers, 1601 Hellerman St.
Local pools scheduled to open are Mitchell, 3700 Whitehall Lane, July 7; Houseman, 5091 Summerdale Ave., and Jacobs, 4500 Linden Ave., July 8; and Jardel, 1400 Cottman Ave., July 9. ••
Trip to Tropicana
Holy Innocents Parish is sponsoring a trip to the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City on Wednesday, July 21.
A bus will depart L Street and Hunting Park Avenue at 9 a.m. and leave the casino at 4:30 p.m.
The cost is $35, due by July 10. There will be $20 in slot cash.
COVID restrictions apply.
Call Cindy at 215-535-2740. ••
School registration at BVM
Registration for Maternity BVM Elementary School, 9322 Old Bustleton Ave., will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, July 7 and 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
BVM held in-person classes throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
Starting in September, there will be a return to extracurricular activities such as band, sports, student council and after-school clubs.
Go to www.maternitybvm.net for a virtual tour of the school (grades Pre-K 3 through 8) and press “Enrollment for 2021-2022″ for details to sign up.
For more information, contact advancement director Mike McDonough at 215-908-3329 or mmcdonough@maternitybvm.net. ••
White backs voting rights protection
Rep, Martina White voted for the Voting Rights Protection Act, which passed 110-91. Three Republicans opposed the bill, and one Democrat voted for it.
House Bill 1300 would allow for early in-person voting beginning in 2025; allow for correcting non-fatal defects on mail-in ballots, which must be completed by 8 p.m. of Election Day; give counties the option to use secure mail-in ballot drop boxes during specific times and at secure locations; allow mail-in ballots to be counted starting five days before the election; move the last day to register to vote back to 30 days prior to an election; expand Pennsylvania’s current voter identification law; require regular election audits; improve election uniformity among the 67 counties as required by the state Constitution; enhance certification processes for all machines used in elections; require signature verification for mail-in and absentee ballots; and direct counties to provide registered voters with a voter registration card.
“As elected officials, we must be diligent in safeguarding the election process to provide the people of Pennsylvania with a system that improves access, is transparent, has integrity and is accessible,” White said. “This bill has the improvements we need to restore voters’ trust in the system.”
The Senate passed House Bill 1300 in a party-line vote, but Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed it. ••
Toomey opposes ‘extremist’
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey issued the following statement in opposition to the nomination of Kristen Clarke to lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division:
“The Civil Rights Division is among the most powerful and important prosecutorial teams at the Department of Justice. I am disappointed that President Biden and Senate Democrats have entrusted this authority to an extremist like Kristen Clarke. Not only did Ms. Clarke refuse to condemn convicted and admitted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal during her confirmation process but she even lobbied the Department of Justice to drop voter intimidation cases involving the New Black Panthers in Philadelphia. I could not support Ms. Clarke’s confirmation, as such radical views should disqualify her from a position responsible for pursuing justice for the American people.”
Clarke was confirmed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated, noting the vote came on the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. voted for Clarke. ••
Hall of Famers named
The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame has finalized its 2021 inductee class.
The class consists of Bill Bradley (football), Bonnie Rosen (lacrosse), Dallas Green (baseball), Gary Smith (Legacy of Excellence), Jim Katcavage (football), “Kid” Keinath (football/basketball), Larry Foust (basketball), Lew Tendler (boxing), Mark Recchi (hockey), Mike Teti (rowing), Olga Dorfner (swimming), Richard Hamilton (basketball), Seth Joyner (football), Yolanda Laney (basketball), “Zack” Clayton (basketball and boxing) and the 1947 Basketball Association of America-champion Philadelphia Warriors.
The Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony and reception is Thursday, Nov. 4, at the The Event Center at Rivers Casino.
More information about the event is at philadelphiasportshalloffame.org. ••
New leadership for young Republicans
The Philadelphia Young Republicans conducted its biannual executive board elections. The new executive board includes the following members: Billy Lanzilotti (chairman), CJ Parker (vice chairman), Paul Sutton (treasurer), Matt Lamorgese (secretary), Brandon Brown (director of political outreach), Conor Kennedy (director of events) and Brittany Christiansen (executive director).
Lanzilotti said he hopes to build on the growth of the party over the last few years, pointing to Donald Trump performing better in Philadelphia in 2020 than in 2016 and GOP mayoral nominee Billy Ciancaglini winning nine wards in 2019.
Lanzilotti said many young Republicans are scared to voice their beliefs for fear of being retaliated against both professionally and politically.
“The Democrat party in Philadelphia is constantly racing to the far left on every issue, and as a result are alienating a part of their party, both young and old. There are plenty of young Democrats who support the police, do not want safe injection sites in their neighborhoods, and want accountability for city officials. The Democrat Party in Philadelphia does not stand for these values, and we are here to let fed-up Democrats know that we do,” he concluded. ••
Leave the party of Krasner
The Philadelphia Republican Party responded to Larry Krasner’s overwhelming victory in the Democratic primary, calling it a clear indication that voters endorse his “gutting” of Philadelphia’s law enforcement system.
The party pointed to a significant spike in homicides and a decrease in successful prosecutions since Krasner was elected in 2017.
“The May 18 primary election proved without a doubt that the Democratic Party that aligned with most Philadelphians is now dead, taken over by self-proclaimed ‘progressives’ and socialists whose policies involve endangering the very communities they claim to represent,” said Martina White, chairwoman of the Philadelphia Republican Party.
“Larry Krasner is now the face of the Democratic Party. Look at his endorsements – nearly unanimous support from Philadelphia Democratic leaders, our absentee mayor excepted. Krasner is now the standard bearer for an issues agenda that places the rights of criminals above the rights of victims, that excuses wanton destruction of life and property, and that places more importance on a person’s identity factors than the decisions they make and the values they hold.”
White called on “all those who have been abandoned by Philadelphia’s new Democratic Party” — those who value public safety, economic opportunity and an American Dream achievable through hard work and entrepreneurship — to switch to the Republican Party. ••
Affordable housing bill passes
House Bill 581 passed the House of Representatives, 183-18. This bill allows local taxing authorities to expand access to affordable housing.
“For every 100 people who need affordable housing in Pennsylvania, only 42 people will get it. … This is unacceptable. I’m thrilled to have sponsored and passed the affordable housing bill today. This is a step in the right direction to ensuring every resident of Pennsylvania can have the housing they need to raise their families and comfortably live and work in every one of our 67 counties,” said state Rep. Jared Solomon.
The affordable housing bill gives local authorities a menu of options to pass tax abatements or exemptions for the creation or improvements of affordable housing, be they for homeownership or rentals. Use of these abatements is entirely up to local policymakers, and in some cases, offers various exemption schedules to tailor the tax relief to the needs and budgetary constraints they face. ••
REUNIONS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
• St. Leo. All classes. Saturday, Oct. 16. 3 p.m. Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road. 3 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
• George C. Thomas. All classes. Oct. 2. 7-11 p.m. Galdo’s, 20th Street and Moyamensing Avenue. kmkthomas@outlook.com.
HIGH SCHOOLS
• Abraham Lincoln, class of 1960. Oct. 10. Brookside Manor at Somerton Springs. DJ, open bar, buffet, cake, pastry table. Betty Harrison, bharrison46@gmail.com.
• Father Judge and St. Hubert. All classes. Saturday, Aug. 7. Seaport Pier, North Wildwood. 3-7 p.m. $20 in advance. $25 at the door. Buffet and drink specials. huberts.org/party/
• Little Flower. All Alumnae Summerfest. Saturday, July 10. 3-7 p.m. Keenan’s Irish Pub, 113 Olde New Jersey Ave., North Wildwood. Must be 21 years old. $40. Discounted drinks.
• Roman Catholic and John W. Hallahan. Day at the Bay. All classes. Saturday, Aug. 14. Seaport Pier, North Wildwood. 2-7 p.m. Chuck Taylor: ctaylor@romancatholichs.com. Marge Kiefski: mmkiefski@aol.com. www.RomanCatholicHS.com/DayAtTheBay.
• St. Joseph’s Prep. All classes. Aug. 5. Icona Avalon, 7849 Dune Drive, Avalon, New Jersey. 6-8 p.m. $75. 215-978-1950.
• St. Joseph’s Prep, classes 1975-76. ‘80-81, ‘85-86, ‘90-91, ‘95-96, 2000-01, 2005-06, 2010-11 and 2015-16. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the school, 1733 W. Girard Ave. 215-978-1950.
OTHER REUNIONS
Navy Reunions
• Visit HullNumber.com for a listing of reunions. The site is a free service enabling Navy shipmates to renew old friendships. There are currently more than 8,700 Navy ship, submarine and air squadron personnel rosters listed. ••
