Live nativity on Sunday
Church of the Good Shepherd, 10901 Calera Road, will host a live nativity on Sunday, Dec. 19, from 6-8 p.m. The evening will feature a narrative of the Christmas story, cookies and hot cocoa. Call 215-632-1929. ••
Get your North Catholic items
The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association Christmas sale will take place on Saturday, Dec. 18, from noon to 4 p.m. at the alumni office at 2700 Rhawn St. Items include hats, shirts, mugs, beer glasses and shorts. ••
Bianca Ryan to appear at Curran’s
Bianca Ryan, former winner on America’s Got Talent, will be hosting a holiday CD release party on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 1-4 p.m. at Curran’s Irish Inn, 6900 State Road. Ryan will perform and greet guests. The event is free and for all ages. There will be food, drinks, giveaways and raffles. Autographed merchandise will be for sale. ••
Holiday vendor fair on Saturday
St. Martha Parish, 11321 Academy Road, will be holding a holiday vendor fair on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be 40-plus vendors and free pictures with Santa. ••
Online and phone operations
State Rep. Joe Hohenstein has moved his district office operations to online and by phone only until further notice after he and one of his staff members recently tested positive for COVID-19. Hohenstein’s office can be reached at 215-744-2600 or [email protected]. ••
Retirement savings option
State Reps. Mike Driscoll and Tracy Pennycuick and Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the upcoming introduction of a bill to create Keystone Saves, a retirement savings program for Pennsylvanians who do not have access to retirement savings through their employer.
“Retirement security is a big problem,” Driscoll said. “Right here in Pennsylvania, 44 percent of our workers do not have a defined benefit program or an IRA in the places where they work. And we have the ability to change that with Keystone Saves. Pennsylvania is facing what some call the ‘Silver Tsunami,’ so ignoring this issue is simply not an option. Failing to address this problem would have devastating effects for future retirees and the financial well-being of the state as a whole.” ••
City collecting leaves
Councilman Brian O’Neill announced that the city Department of Streets’s fall leaf collection and recycling program is underway. The program ends Saturday, Dec. 18, Bagged leaf drop-off will be offered citywide on Saturdays only at 13 locations from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. Bagged leaves to be recycled at the specified drop-off locations will be accepted only in biodegradable paper bags. Otherwise, bagged leaves set out at the curb will be collected as trash. To find the bagged leaf drop-off location closest to you or to find out if mechanical leaf collection will be offered on your street, call or visit O’Neill’s office at Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street, above the 7th Police District (215-685-0432). ••
Join the St. Martha lottery
St. Martha Parish is holding its lottery fundraiser. For a $25 donation, choose a 3-digit number and that number has a chance to win throughout 2022. Winning numbers are based on the Pennsylvania Daily Number Lottery (straight), picked at 7 p.m. Daily prize is $25. Each month, there is one $100 bonus day. Calendars are available after each Mass. Make your donation check payable to “St. Martha” and write “Lottery Calendar” on the memo line. Choose a number and two alternates, and drop in the collection basket or mail to St. Martha, 11301 Academy Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154. ••
Shop small businesses
December is National Small Business Month. For more information, visit NationalSmallBusinessMonth.com or AmericanWorkersRadio.com. ••
Christmas drive-through
Dasher’s Lightshow is a Christmas drive-through at Philadelphia Mills, synched to favorite holiday tunes, heard on the radio. The show runs through Jan. 2. One ticket is needed per vehicle, and it must be purchased online, not at the door. For tickets or more information, go to https://dasherslightshow.com/philadelphia/. ••
Barletta honors Danny Faulkner
Lou Barletta, a Republican candidate for governor, remembered the 40th anniversary of the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Faulkner made a routine traffic stop near 13th and Locust streets on Dec. 9, 1981 on a vehicle going the wrong way on a one-way street. Faulkner was handcuffing the driver of the vehicle, William Cook, when Cook’s brother, former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, ran from across the street and shot the officer in the back. Faulkner managed to return fire as he fell to the pavement, striking Abu-Jamal, who then stood over the fallen officer and shot him four more times, including in the face.
Barletta said, “What happened to Officer Daniel Faulkner could happen to any law enforcement officer at any moment, and tragically, it does occur too often. The men and women who are sworn to protect our communities put their own lives on the line every single day. We see from the record number of murders in Philadelphia this year that violent criminals are increasingly out of control, which makes the job of a cop even harder and more dangerous.
“Daniel Faulkner died a hero, doing his job to protect the people of Philadelphia. For far too long, his killer has been revered by leftist activists who promoted his bogus claims of innocence. When I am governor, we will honor our police officers, not their murderers, and give them the support they need to do their jobs. On the anniversary of Officer Daniel Faulkner’s death, I join countless Pennsylvanians in honoring his memory. May he finally rest in peace.” ••
Scrap metal facility gets funding
State Rep. Mike Driscoll announced a $3.5 million Commonwealth Financing Authority grant awarded to Morris Iron and Steel Co. for rehabilitation on its scrap metal facility, 7345 Milnor St. The company recycles scrap metal then ships it by truck, rail and barge. At its waterfront property, 85% of scrap metal is shipped by barge. The project will repair part of the wharf, so that the existing structure can continue to operate.
“This is the continuation of an important redevelopment project along the waterfront with a company that is central to the supply chain on the east coast,” Driscoll said. “At a time when we need the supply chain functioning and operational, it is important to be sure these kinds of projects are getting funded and completed without delay. COVID has reminded us just how important companies like Morris are to our everyday lives. Not just with supply chain but with jobs and the like.” ••
Indoor flea market opening
A new indoor flea market will be open weekends from January through March at the Roosevelt Mall, 2329 Cottman Ave., next to Rainbow. The grand opening will be on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 1 and 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Indoor spaces are $50. For more information, visit PhilaFleaMarkets.org. ••
SJ Prep offering tuition awards
St. Joseph’s Prep has established an Affinity Awards Program to attract prospective students. The awards are worth $3,000 annually and will be presented to students whose parents come from the following three categories:
• Active first responders: Firefighters, police officers, active-duty military, emergency medical technicians.
• Alumni and/or employees of historically black colleges and universities.
• Full-time educators or administrators at K-8 schools.
Students must be accepted to the Prep through the applications process. Call 215-978-1950. ••
New leader in pancreatic cancer field
Benjamin A. Young has been appointed program manager at the Marvin & Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, where he will work with researchers to coordinate the institute’s basic, clinical and population sciences research programs.
“I’m very excited to work on a team this dynamic and to be afforded an opportunity that will be critical to advancing science for pancreatic cancer at Fox Chase and beyond,” Young said.
Since the pancreatic cancer initiative at Fox Chase Cancer Center is growing, Young’s role will constitute a part of the Greenberg Institute. His primary responsibilities will include ensuring that clinical trials are conducted efficiently, acting as a liaison between basic and clinical researchers, as well as maintaining institute policies and ensuring that they are being adhered to and expanded upon if needed. Before taking on this new role, Young was regulatory affairs lead at Fox Chase’s Office of Clinical Research. Fox Chase is the only cancer center in the Philadelphia region to be designated as both a Clinical and Academic Center of Excellence for Pancreatic Cancer by the National Pancreas Foundation. ••
Learn about Jewish singers
The Men’s Club of the Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, is hosting a virtual program on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. The program is Jewish Singers of the 20th Century. Charlie D will provide behind-the-scenes information on all the top performers from Al Jolson to Barry Manilow. The cost for the program is $18 and is open to all. For details, call the CSS office at 215-677-1600 and ask for Paul or Barry. ••
Blood drive at Loudenslager
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Tuesday, Dec. 28, from 1-6, 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. ••
North alums awarding grants
The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association awards tuition grants to the sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters of its members. The checks are awarded to students who meet criteria, and the monies are sent to the Catholic school that they are choosing to attend. Aid is sent to Catholic elementary and high schools and universities in the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton dioceses. Grants are given to 32 students annually for their four years in high school or college and three years in elementary school. Students can apply for a grant if their father or grandfather attended Northeast Catholic and is a dues-paying member of the alumni association. Applications are accepted until Jan. 31, 2022. Call 215-543-1051 or email [email protected]. ••
Christmas Eve services
Redemption Lutheran Church, Bustleton Avenue and Rhawn Street, will offer Christmas Eve services at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. All are welcome to celebrate Christ’s birth. There will be special music 10 minutes before each service. For more information, visit www.redemptionphiladelphia.org or call 215-342-2085. Masks will be required to be worn throughout worship.
Upcoming bus trip
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is running a bus trip to New York City on Saturday, May 14, 2022 to see the Broadway production of The Music Man. The cost is $345, which includes orchestra seating and round-trip motor coach. Bus leaves from 604 Township Line Road, Cheltenham. Call Harriet at 215-969-8366 for tickets. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care. ••
Free meals for kids
The city Department of Parks and Recreation will serve free meals to anyone up to 18 years old on the following dates: Dec. 27-30 and Jan. 3. Participating centers are American Legion, Lower Mayfair, Mayfair, Ramp, Roosevelt, Russo, Torresdale, Vogt, Max Myers, Simpson, Houseman, Jardel, Tarken, Boyle, Fitzpatrick, Fox Chase, Gifford, Palmer, Mitchell and Pelbano. ••
A healthy new year
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will be hosting a virtual general meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. on Zoom. The theme is New Year’s Resolutions: Building a Health Plate for You, presented by Kara Stromberg, clinical manager of nutrition and food services at Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus & Fox Chase Cancer Center. There is no charge. Call the synagogue at 215-677-1600 to provide your email address so you can receive the meeting link. ••
Job fair on Jan. 12
The Bucks County New Year Job Fair will take place on Jan. 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Barnes & Noble Court at Neshaminy Mall. Hosted by RecruitmentQueen, a Bucks County-based digital job board, the career fair features a wide array of positions in various industries, including healthcare, customer service, banking and manufacturing.
In all, several hundred jobs will be available at the job fair. The following employers have signed up to exhibit so far: Pickering Manor, The First National Bank & Trust Co. of Newtown, Dow Jones, Brian’s House Inc., Traffic Plan, American Heritage Credit Union, Holy Redeemer Health System and Double H Plastics.
Founder Jennifer Schultz recommends that job seekers bring several copies of their resume for face-to-face interactions with hiring managers and recruiters. Professional attire is recommended. To learn more, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bucks-county-new-year-job-fair-tickets-212063496627. Employers interested in participating can contact Schultz at 267-981-5976 or [email protected]. ••
Rhawnhurst Civic to meet
Rhawnhurst Civic Association will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. at Pelbano Playground, 8101 Bustleton Ave. (at Solly Avenue). A representative from Northeast Victim Service will discuss crime
The group will also meet on Feb. 16. The guest speaker will discuss scams and identity theft. ••
