Bus trip to Atlantic City
Holy Innocents is running a casino trip to Resorts on Thursday, Feb. 24. A bus will depart L Street and Hunting Park Avenue at 9 a.m., and leave Resorts at 3:30 p.m. The cost is $35, due by Feb. 18. Riders will receive $20 in slot cash.
To reserve your seat or for more information, call Cindy at 215-535-2740. ••
History meeting tonight
The Northeast Philadelphia History Network will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. Historian Jack McCarthy will speak on Robert Purvis in Byberry. Purvis [1810-1898] was a black abolitionist and civil rights activist. During the 30-some years he lived in Byberry (1840s-1870s) Purvis made the community a well-known center of abolitionism and social activism, while continuing his clandestine Underground Railroad activities. In 1846-1847 he spearheaded the building of Byberry Hall (still standing), which hosted nationally known speakers to discuss anti-slavery and social issues of the time.
Join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85892399375?pwd=UjdCU2JwNEpURVExZnZkbTJMcWJBUT09. The meeting ID is 858 9239 9375. The passcode is 519658. ••
Flea market at St. Hubert
St. Hubert, 7320 Torresdale Ave., will host an indoor flea market on Saturday, Feb. 5, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Faculty Scholarship Fund. To reserve vendor space or for more information, email fleamarket@huberts.org or visit huberts.org/fleamarket/. ••
Quizzo at Ryan
The Archbishop Ryan lacrosse team will hold a Quizzo Night on Friday, April 1, in the South cafeteria of the school, 11201 Academy Road.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Quizzo begins at 7:30.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Tables of eight can be reserved.
It’s a BYOB/snacks event. There will be a 50/50, raffle baskets, an extra cash round, mulligans and a cash prize.
For tickets, email ArchRyanLax@gmail.com. ••
Sign up for senior softball
Philadelphia Senior Softball League is looking for experienced players for their 58 and over league. The season starts mid-April and runs through September. There are about 30 games along with playoffs. No games are played in July. Games are played Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. at Crispin Field, Holme and Convent avenues.
For more information, call Jim Wilson at 609-636-1702 or Marty King at 215-698-0009. ••
Zoning issue in Somerton
A new use has been proposed for the property at 626-630 Byberry Road that would require a zoning variance. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Somerton Civic Association is hosting an online substitute for an in-person meeting to provide Somerton residents the chance to ask questions and make comments, to receive answers and responses from the zoning applicant, and to vote on whether to support or oppose a variance. To participate, visit Somerton Civic Association’s website, https://sites.google.com/view/somertoncivic, and follow the instructions there. Questions and comments are due by Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, and votes are due by Feb. 17. ••
Programs in Rhawnhurst
Tabas KleinLife Rhawnhurst, 2101 Strahle St., offers the following programs:
• Tuesday: Yoga Dance, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.; Scrabble and Chess, 12:45 to 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: Exercise, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.; Periodic games, scrabble, chess, karaoke.
• Thursday: Exercise, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.; Women in the Bible, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; Erve Shabbot service, 1:30 to 2 p.m.
Parking is free. Pickup is available. Call 215-745-3127. ••
Thrift shop sale
The Classroom Thrift Shop, sponsored by the women of Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, 4301 Tyson Ave., has extended its bag sale (fill a bag with clothes, shoes, handbags for $6). The shop is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed Saturdays. Call 215-624-9130. ••
Bingo fundraiser
Simeti’s Gymnastics Academy, 6649 Keystone St., will be holding a Mystery Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 19. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the first game starts at 6:30. Prizes will go to winners. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Admission includes two bingo cards per round. There will be 10 rounds. Participants are asked to bring their own daubers. Extra bingo cards, daubers, 50/50 tickets, blind auction tickets, hot food, snacks, desserts and drinks will be available for sale. It’s a cash-only event. Proceeds will fund new gymnastics equipment.
To order tickets or schedule a free trial class, call 267-333-9930. ••
A tool for crime-fighting
Reps. Martina White and Craig Williams have introduced legislation to extend Act 58 of 2019, a bipartisan legislative effort that provides the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction over gun crime in Philadelphia. Act 58 passed as a pilot program in 2019 and expired earlier in 2021.
“Even though the murder rate in Philadelphia rose to record levels, Attorney General Josh Shapiro refused to use this new tool to help us fight crime in Philadelphia,” White said. “Nonetheless, we’re extending the law to give Shapiro a second chance to do what is right as gun crime continues to rise. It’s clear the state must step in to protect the people of Philadelphia from their irresponsible district attorney, Larry Krasner, and that person is the attorney general of Pennsylvania.”
The murder rate in 2022 is already on pace to eclipse last year’s record high. ••
Importance of patient navigation
Linda Fleisher, an associate research professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Fox Chase Cancer Center, was recently appointed co-chair of the American Cancer Society’s National Navigation Roundtable. Fleisher has served on the steering committee for the NNRT for the last five years. In that role, she has been responsible for leading much of the communication efforts for it. Fleisher said much of her work in the new position will focus on activities surrounding sustainability of patient navigation. This work will include efforts to create a designation for navigation as a profession and, ultimately, reimbursement for those individuals in the field. She will continue to support public awareness of the NNRT through membership and partnership. ••
Big award for Fox Chase doc
Dr. Laura Bukavina, a Urologic Oncology Fellow at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has been awarded the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Conquer Cancer Merit Award. She will present the winning abstract, which characterizes the gut microbiome of bladder cancer patients, at the ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, Feb. 17-19.
The broader research project is a collaboration between researchers at Fox Chase and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, where Bukavina completed her urology residency in 2021.
Bukavina and her mentor, Dr. Phillip Abbosh, an assistant professor in the Molecular Therapeutics research program at Fox Chase, compared the microbiomes of patients with bladder cancer and a cancer-free control group by collecting and analyzing stool samples from both groups. ••
Bingo on Feb. 12
St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Trenton Avenue and Cumberland Street, will be having a bingo on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 1-4 p.m. Doors will open at noon. Packages are $20 and include lunch. Masks are required, along with proof of vaccination and ID. Call 215-423-0792. ••
Indoor flea market open
A new indoor flea market will be open weekends through March at the Roosevelt Mall, 2329 Cottman Ave., next to Rainbow. Indoor spaces are $50. For more information, visit PhilaFleaMarkets.org. ••
Father Judge reunions
Three Father Judge graduating classes will be holding reunions this year.
The Class of 1987 will hold its 35-year reunion at FOP Lodge 5 on Saturday, April 2.
The Class of 1972 will hold its 50-year reunion at Father Judge on Saturday, April 30.
The Class of 1962 will hold its 60-year reunion at the Ashburner Inn on Sunday, Sept. 11.
For more information, email Kevin Huckel at khuckel@fatherjudge.com. ••
Tarken hosting adult art club
Tarken Recreation Center, 6250 Frontenac St., hosts an adult art club, which meets on Tuesdays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., through April 5. Practice and discuss painting and drawing: still life, portraits, figure drawing, abstract art and illustrations. The program will conclude with a spring art show on April 14 for members to show off their work. No experience necessary. Basic art supplies will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies if they have them. The program will be held in person or virtually, through Zoom, upon request.
To register, call 215-685-1226 or find the @Tarkenplayground page on Facebook. ••
Register for Red Tiger Cup
The Red Tiger TKD Cup will take place on Saturday, May 14, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bryn Athyn College’s Asplundh Fieldhouse, 2775 Buck Road, in Bryn Athyn. There will be competitions in sparring, patterns and special technique. Trophies and medals will be awarded to the top three competitors in each division. Call 215-969-9962 or email redtigertkd@gmail.com. ••
Synagogue gala in May
Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, 4301 Tyson Ave., the oldest synagogue in the Northeast, will be celebrating its 97th anniversary with a gala on Sunday, May 22, at the Bensalem Country Club. All present and past members and friends are invited. Call 215-969-5346. ••
Civic meeting on March 3
The West Torresdale/Morrell Park Civic Association is having a special meeting on Thursday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of Christ the King parish hall, 3252 Chesterfield Road.
Members will discuss a proposed sandwich shop in Academy Plaza in a space previously occupied by Lily’s Nails. They will also talk about the proposed removal of heritage trees and the building of a golf school building at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
All are welcome to attend the meeting, but only those who live within the civic’s boundaries will be able to vote on these issues. Masks are required.
Email wtca19114@gmail.com. ••
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, 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. ••
