Giant outdoor sculpture at Jewish museum
The newly named and reopened Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, at 5th and Market streets on Independence Mall, is displaying the OY/YO sculpture on its grounds.
The outdoor installation is by Brooklyn-based artist Deborah Kass and will be on display until at least May 2023.
The bright yellow aluminum statue is creative word play using just two letters, with several meanings. One side says “YO,” referencing the phrase used throughout Philadelphia, while the other side reads “OY,” a popular Yiddish phrase used in Jewish and American culture.
At 8 feet tall, 16 feet wide and 5-feet deep, the statue is intended to become part of Old City’s cultural fabric and a destination for tourists and locals.
The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. ••
Somerton Civic to meet
Somerton Civic Association is meeting on Tuesday, June 14, at the Walker Lodge at 1290 Southampton Road. The group will discuss some zoning matters and will likely hear from a guest speaker. Masks are required. ••
New group for young Catholics
Catholic Young Adults of the Northeast is a new group for people ages 21-40. CYAN will launch on Wednesday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at Resurrection of Our Lord’s lower church and new Life Center, 2000 Shelmire Ave. The meeting will feature prayer and benediction followed by a social activity. The group will meet the second Wednesday of every month for some worship time (such as eucharistic adoration or praying the rosary) and then a social with snacks. Sometimes there will be a speaker or a game night. For more information, go to the CYANPhilly page on Instagram. ••
Blood drive on Thursday
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Thursday, June 9, from 1-6 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. ••
Attend summer basketball camp
The 16th Annual Jaguar St. Ephrem Basketball Camp for boys and girls will take place from Monday, July 25, through Friday, July 29. The cost is $150 for the week and includes a basketball and T-shirt. The camp is held in an air-conditioned gym at St. Ephrem, 5400 Hulmeville Road in Bensalem. The camp is under the direction of former college coach Dan Williams. For more information, email Williams at [email protected]. ••
Free concerts in Somerton
The Danube Swabian Association (1277 Southampton Road) will hold free Friday night summer concert entertainment to the community. All the concerts start at 7 p.m. The schedule is June 10 Soundwave (big band sound), June 17 No Irish Need Apply (Celtic rock) and June 24 Cardinal Dougherty Alumni Band. ••
Ryan class of ‘72 reunion
The Archbishop Ryan Class of 1972 will hold its 50-year reunion on Friday, June 10, at the Philadelphia Ballroom, 2014 Hornig Road. For tickets and/or to make a contribution to the Class of 1972 Scholarship Fund, go to arclassof72.com. ••
Thrift shop restocked
The Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., sponsored by the women of Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, will have a half-price sale from June 12-24. Hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop is closed Saturdays. Call 215-624-9130. ••
St. Jerome seniors are back
The St. Jerome Senior Group will be meeting in person on Thursday, June 9. Members should arrive at the school hall by 10 a.m. Meetings begin at 11. ••
Food trucks, artisans, entertainers
Federation Early Learning Services, an early care and education nonprofit organization, will be hosting its inaugural FELStival on June 12 from noon to 6 p.m. at Paley Early Learning Center, 2199 Strahle St. The public is invited. There will be more than 50 food trucks, artisans and entertainers. For more information, visit www.felskids.org/FELStival-2022/. ••
St. Hubert class of ‘72 reunion
St. Hubert Class of 1972 will be celebrating its 50th high school reunion on June 9 with a Golden Girls’ walk alongside the graduating Class of 2022. The reunion will immediately follow at Knowlton Mansion. For information, email Linda at [email protected] or visit https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Hubert-Class-of-72. ••
Movies and a 5K in Lawncrest
The Lawncrest Recreation Center Advisory Council will offer free movie nights on the second Thursday of the month at dusk at the Lawncrest Recreation Center outdoor stage, 6000 Rising Sun Ave. The dates are June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13. Bring a blanket or chair.
Meanwhile, the advisory council will hold a 5K race on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $30, which includes a T-shirt and medals for winners. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Philadelphia/Lawncrest5K. ••
Stroll through Hulmeville
Hulmeville Borough 150th Committee and Hulmeville Garden Club are hosting the Hulmeville Garden Stroll on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $10. Kids 5 and under are free. The starting point is William Penn Fire Department Station 7, 123 Main St., Hulmeville. There will be garden tours, live music, artists and vendors. For tickets or more information, visit http://www.hulmeville150.org/# or https://hulmeville-150th.ticketleap.com/gardens-of-hulmeville-walk/. ••
Sign up for ballet
Metropolitan Ballet Company, 700 N. Cedar Road in Jenkintown, will hold auditions for its Boys’ Scholarship Dance Program on Saturday, June 11, at 9 a.m. Boys ages 7-11 and 12-17 are eligible to receive free, weekly dance classes plus performance opportunities from September 2022 through June 2023. No prior dance experience is required. For more information and to register, call 215-663-1665, email [email protected] or visit http://www.metropolitanballetcompany.org. ••
Rhawnhurst Civic to meet
Rhawnhurst Civic Association will meet on Wednesday, June 15, at 7 p.m. at Pelbano Recreation Center, 8101 Bustleton Ave. ••
Sisterhood installation ceremony
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will be installing its officers and board members on Tuesday, June 14, at 7:15 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Rabbi Sandra Berliner will greet guests with a D’var Torah, and cantor Don Samuels will conduct the installation. Admission is free. Proof of vaccination and masking required. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Legends on stage
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, invites the public to attend Legends: An Evening With Johnny Cash, Dean Martin and Barbra Streisand on Sunday, June 12, at 2 p.m. Seating prices are: General – $40, Reserved and Aisle – $54 and Patron – $100. Shaare Shamayim policy requires that those who enter the building provide proof of vaccination or medical documentation if vaccination is not medically permitted, and masking, except while eating. Call 215-677-1600. ••
White wants answers
State Rep. Martina White has sent a letter to School Superintendent William R. Hite and incoming Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., asking if any school district funds were used for teachers who attended the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference.
“The conference, presented by the Mazzoni Center, covered highly sexually explicit material that is inappropriate for our classrooms,” White wrote.
The conference took place virtually in July 2021. The school district’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sent invitations to attend the conference to district teachers and staff. In videos from the conference, presenters describe their various sexual activities. One presenter graphically described how to use sexual paraphernalia.
“The school district and board of education should have been proactive about disclosing this type of training and given parents a strong voice,” White wrote. “The parents of Philadelphia are not sending their children to school for sexual indoctrination. They want academics taught, and we expect accountability from the School District of Philadelphia.” ••
Bingo on Saturday
St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Trenton Avenue and Cumberland Street, will be having a bingo on Saturday, June 11, from 1-4 p.m. Doors will open at noon. Packages are $20 and include lunch. Space is limited. Masks are required. Call 215-423-0792. ••
PizzaPalooza is back
The Northeast Times and Lower Bucks Times will host their fourth PizzaPalooza on Thursday, June 23, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road, in the Far Northeast. The evening will also include music and prizes. Tickets cost $15, or $7.50 for ages 2-12. Children under 2 are admitted free. To ask about sponsorship opportunities, email Michelle at [email protected]. To buy tickets or for more information, visit nmg.ticketleap.com/pizza2022/. ••
Music fest lineup set
The Pennypack Music Festival will take place this year at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road. Admission is free. There are picnic tables, but you can bring your own chairs. No pets or outside food, drink or coolers. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Shows are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Gate opens at 5 p.m.
June 8: Lecompt; June 15: HotLanta [tribute to the Allman Brothers]; June 22: Black Dog [tribute to Led Zeppelin]; June 29: The Launch [tribute to Queen]; July 6: Steal Your Face [tribute to Grateful Dead]; July 13: Jamison, Bogside Rogues [Irish Night, Ed Kelly’s birthday celebration]; July 20: Idol Kings [tribute to Journey]; July 27: Definitely Leppard [tribute to Def Leppard]; Aug. 3: Let’s Ride [country rock]; Aug. 10: Kick it Out [tribute to Heart]; Aug. 17: Philadelphia Freedom [tribute to Elton John]; Aug. 24: Starman [tribute to David Bowie]. ••
Senior fair, shredding
State Rep. Kevin Boyle will hold a senior fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, June 24, at Fox Chase Recreation Center, 7901 Ridgeway St. A variety of constituent services will be available, including help with local and state government programs, and a free lunch will be provided.
A shredding event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, at Boyle’s district office, 7801 Hasbrook Ave.
Call 215-695-1016. ••
St. Hubert day trip
St. Hubert will hold its seventh annual summer fun day trip on Tuesday, June 21. There will be a one-hour ride on a cruise ship, followed by a four-hour stay at Resorts casino, with $10 back in slot cash. The day will end at the Tomasello winery for a sitdown dinner and complimentary wine tasting. A bus will depart St. Hubert at 8:45 a.m. and arrive back at about 9 p.m. The cost is $90. Contact Mary Clifford at 267-231-7367 or [email protected]. ••
Outdoor concert schedule
All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Torresdale, 9601 Frankford Ave., will host three outdoor “grill-n-groove” concerts. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the concerts at 7. The schedule is June 17 (Barry’s Basement Band), July 20 (Philly Cuzz Band) and Aug. 17 (Paula Johns Jazz). ••
Job fair June 22
Hundreds of jobs will be available at the Bucks County Mid-Year Job Fair, which will be held June 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Neshaminy Mall’s Barnes & Noble Court. Hosted by RecruitmentQueen, the career fair will feature a wide array of positions in various industries, including healthcare, customer service, banking and technology. The following employers have signed up to exhibit so far: Dow Jones, Chandler Hall, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, Paradigm Technology Consulting, Service Team of Professionals, Brian’s House, WD Wright Contracting for Wright of PA, Pine Run Retirement Community, Certified Steel, All American Home Care LLC, Pennswood Village, S. Ambani Group, Mauser Packaging, UPS and Vertical Screen Inc. Employers interested in participating can contact Jennifer Schultz at 267-981-5976 or [email protected]. To learn more, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bucks-county-mid-year-job-fair-tickets-329804924407. ••
Farm stand at Jeanes
The Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus Auxiliary will hold a farm stand on Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., through October, next to parking lot C of the Jeanes and Fox Chase Cancer Center campuses. Call 215-728-2131 or email [email protected]. ••
Flea market at Roosevelt Mall
The Roosevelt Mall Flea Market will run outdoors in the parking lot at 2445 Cottman Ave., every Sunday through November. The market runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 150 vendors will be on hand featuring new and used items, household goods, electronics and all types of general merchandise. One parking space is $30. Bring your own tables. There is plenty of free parking. For reservations, call 215-625-FLEA (3532). ••
Ukrainian festival in the summer
The Ukrainian Folk Festival will be held on Sunday, Aug. 28, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Ukrainian American Sport Center — Tryzub, County Line and Lower State roads, Horsham. There will be art, crafts, live music, dance, food, drinks, vendors and live reenactments. Admission is $15 ($5 donated to the relief of war victims in Ukraine). Kids under 15 are free. Parking is free. For tickets or more information, call 267-664-3857 or visit tryzub.org. ••
Trips scheduled
Three excursions to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York state are on tap for this summer and fall as part of the Starr Tours At KleinLife program.
The travel excursions kick off on July 13 with a trip to Atlantic City to enjoy a matinee performance of the Jersey Boys at the Soundwaves Theatre at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. In addition to a show ticket, the trip includes lunch at the hotel and casino as well as motorcoach travel. Buses leave from KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave. Cost is $219 per person. Deadline for reservations is June 14.
An Aug. 10 trip to Columbia, Lancaster County, to visit the National Watch and Clock Museum is scheduled for summer. It also features admission to the Turkey Hill Experience, lunch at Bully’s Restaurant and roundtrip motorcoach accommodations. Cost is $155 per person for adults and $105 per child. Deadline for reservations is July 12.
The Castles of New York multi-day vacation runs from Sept. 11-14 and features an upstate New York experience showcasing the countryside, the St. Lawrence River and three castles. It includes overnight accommodations at the Edgewood Resort, three breakfasts and one dinner. Deadline for reservations is Aug. 13.
For additional information and reservations, call 800-782-7703 or go to starrtours.com/kleinlife. ••
Father Judge reunion
The Father Judge graduating class of 1962 will be holding its 60-year reunion at the Ashburner Inn on Sunday, Sept. 11. For more information, email Kevin Huckel at [email protected]. ••
South Phila. HS class of ‘68 reunion
The South Philadelphia High School Class of 1968 will hold its 55th reunion on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Waterfall Room, 2015 S. Water St. Tickets cost $60 and include buffet dinner and open bar. For tickets and more information, call Arleen Liberi [609-922-2419], Maria Leati [856-287-3734] or Stephen Michielli [267-252-2740]. ••
VFW looking for members
Bustleton-Somerton/CTR1 Michael J. Strange VFW Post 6617 meets on the third Wednesday of every month at American Legion Post 810, 9151 Old Newtown Road. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. If you are a military veteran who served in a designated combat zone, you are eligible to join the VFW. Contact Commander Israel Wolmark at 215-725-0630 if you would like to join the post. ••
Danza band to perform at Live!
Former Northeast High School English teacher Tony Danza and his four-piece band are making their Philadelphia debut at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia with their show, Standards & Stories, on Saturday, June 11.
Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets start at $59 and are available for purchase at Philadelphia.LiveCasinoHotel.com or AXS.com.
Danza will perform a selection of his favorite standards from the Great American Songbook while interweaving stories about his life and personal connection to the music.
The actor starred in Taxi and Who’s The Boss.
Danza taught a semester of 10th-grade English, later writing the book I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High. His teaching was part of an A&E reality show, Teach. ••
Take part in golf outing
The Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce will hold its 100th annual Directors Cup Golf Challenge on Monday, June 27, at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale, 3801 Grant Ave. Registration is at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 11 and a shotgun start at noon. There will be a cocktail reception, dinner and awards at 5 p.m.
To play, become a sponsor, attend the dinner or for more information, call 215-332-3400 or visit nephilachamber.org. ••
Participate in business conference
The Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce will hold its fifth annual Women in Business Conference and Luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Holy Family University, 9801 Frankford Ave. The day will include breakfast, lunch, panel discussions and general sessions.
To attend, be a sponsor or for more information, visit nephilachamber.com. ••
Support veterans
The American Legion Women’s Auxiliary is recruiting new members to help with supporting and raising funds for the military and veterans. Become a member by filling out an application at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 366 Corp. John Loudenslager, 7976 Oxford Ave. ••
