Blood drive on Thursday
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Thursday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 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 and entering ALPOST366. ••
Somerton Civic to meet Tuesday
Somerton Civic Association will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, at the Walker Lodge of the I.O.O.F. at 1290 Southampton Road. There will be a guest speaker from the NE Philly AdvoCATS as well as discussion and a vote on a zoning appeal at 109 Rennard Terrace. ••
Medic unit to remain in Somerton, for now
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel has postponed a plan to move Medic Unit 54B, 812 Hendrix St. in Somerton, to a station in Logan. City Councilman Brian O’Neill and state Rep. Martina White had written a letter to Thiel that said, “Moving Medic Unit 54B out of the Far Northeast will have dire consequences for the residents we represent in the event of a medical emergency.” O’Neill wrote a follow-up note to Thiel, suggesting he should have asked for more money in the budget before deciding to move the medic unit. ••
Ryan at the shore
Archbishop Ryan High School will hold an alumni summer social on July 29, from 2-7 p.m., at the Seaport Inn in North Wildwood. For more information, visit arhs.me/summersocial.
Anniversary gala
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host a 60th anniversary gala dinner with entertainment by Cracklin Diamond Band on Sunday, June 25, at 3 p.m. in the Karff Auditorium. The cost is $50. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Events at Holmesburg Library
Holmesburg Library, 7810 Frankford Ave., will host two upcoming events. Meet the Animals will take place on Monday, June 26, at 6 p.m. The Insectopia is traveling to the library to show off amazing creatures, like tarantulas and scorpions. There will be a community of care discussion on Wednesday, June 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The focus will be on youth and family wellness. Philadelphia System of Care will lead the discussion, which will include refreshments. ••
History meeting tonight
The Northeast Philadelphia History Network will meet on Wednesday, June 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum & Library, 8110 Frankford Ave. The event is free and open to the public. ••
Cornhole at St. Martha
St. Martha Parish, 11301 Academy Road, will host a Cornhole Tournament on June 17, at 11 a.m. The cost is $50 a team (all ages) and includes two tournament T-shirts and a chance to win a cash prize. There will be basket raffles, a 50-50, craft beer pull, food, kids crafts and T-shirt sales. Proceeds will benefit the parish Raising the Roof campaign. To register, to become a sponsor or for more information, go to the St. Martha Facebook page or call Kathy Cantz at 215-632-4742 or Mary Beth Ricks at 215-459-3430. ••
Parkinson’s support group
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus is offering a Parkinson’s disease support group for those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their families. The group will meet on the second Wednesday of every other month from 6-7 p.m. at the Cheltenham Friends Meetinghouse, 7604 Central Ave. The schedule is June 14, Aug. 9, Oct. 11, Dec. 13 (holiday party) and Feb. 14. The group is led by nurse practitioner June Ro, and will include guest speakers. To register, contact Ro at 215-707-2619 or [email protected]. ••
Poetry at NE Regional
The 2nd Wednesdays Poetry Series at Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave., continues on June 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Curated By North of Oxford Literary Journal, the series will feature poets Cydney Brown and Evan Anders and an open mic. ••
Help clean up the Northeast
State Rep. Jared Solomon is partnering with the We Love U Foundation to clean up his district on Sunday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hundreds of volunteers will be meeting at the Northeast High School parking lot on Algon Avenue near the baseball fields for team assignments. Call Solomon’s office at 215-342-6340 if you want to assist the effort. ••
Events at Ryerss
Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Ave., in Burholme Park, will host the following upcoming events: Fridays, June 9 and 23 – Fibercraft Friends, 1-3 p.m.; Saturday, June 10 – Storytime: Hooray for Friends, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Friday, June 16 – Book Club; Saturday, June 24 – A Very Special Storytime: It’s a Tea Party, 10:30 a.m. to noon (RSVP at [email protected] or www.eventbrite.com/e/635881357257); Friday, June 30 – Nature Kids park walk, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
For more information, call 215-685-0599. ••
Recycling buckets
City Councilman Brian O’Neill will hold a recycling bucket giveaway on Saturday, June 10, from 9-11 a.m., at FOP Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road. ••
Senior resource event
On June 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church at 14100 Worthington Road is hosting a senior resource event with a free lunch. Representatives from the state attorney general’s office will provide information on fraud and scams. There will also be information on fire prevention and benefits for senior citizens. To register, call 215-464-1540. ••
English classes for Ukrainians
Holy Family University’s English as a Second Language initiative for newly arrived Ukrainian adults is accepting new applicants. The classes are free and open to members of the community who are at least 18 years old. Classes start in June at 9801 Frankford Avenue and online. Class days and times are online (through Aug. 24, Tuesday and Thursday, 6-7 p.m.) and in person (June 21 to July 31, Mondays and Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m.). Since last fall, more than 100 newly arrived Ukrainians have attended classes at no cost to help them improve their English proficiency and become familiar with the Philadelphia community. Interested applicants can register at holyfamily.edu/ukraine-esl. ••
Cook for the needy
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host its Moe and Dot Davis Cook For A Friend Program on Sunday, June 11, at 10:30 a.m. Volunteers will cook and package meals for people who are dealing with “food insecurity.” To take part, call 215-677-1600. ••
Driver refresher course
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host an AARP Drivers 1 Day Refresher Course on Monday, June 12. Sign up for this refresher course if you have taken the Two Day Driver Safety Course in the last three years. There are no tests to pass and most insurance companies provide a discount for completing the course. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-AARP members. Payment to AARP is needed to hold your spot. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Sisterhood installation
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will be installing their officers and board members on Tuesday, June 13, at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. There is no cost. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Third Thursday in Tacony
Tacony Community Development Corporation will hold its next Third Thursday event on June 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Jack Costello Boxing Club parking lot, 6846 Torresdale Ave. (at Longshore Avenue). The free event will feature a food truck, live music, produce and bread for sale, quality vendors, activities for the entire family and information tables from elected officials and local organizations. Future Third Thursdays are on July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21 and Oct. 19. ••
Mayfair Night Markets continue
The Mayfair Night Market will continue on Thursday, June 15, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Frankford and Cottman avenues. There will be food trucks, vendors, drinks and live music by Philly Heart & Soul. The remaining schedule is July 20 (Great Scott Band), Aug. 17 (The Launch) and Sept. 21 (Jumper). Vendors can apply at MayfairVendors.EventBrite.com. ••
Third Thursday at Glen Foerd
Glen Foerd, Philadelphia’s public park and nonprofit cultural site along the Delaware River, presents the return of its free Third Thursday Summer Series of live music, food, family-fun activities and art. The Thursday dates will be June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to bring a blanket or chairs, enjoy lawn games, roam Glen Foerd’s grounds and explore its Gilded Age mansion, which will be open for free self-guided tours. Donations are appreciated but not required, and attendees are asked to register in advance by visiting Glen Foerd’s events page at www.glenfoerd.org/events. For more information on the Third Thursday Summer Series, visit www.glenfoerd.org or call 215-632-5330. ••
Farm stand at Jeanes
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus has a farm stand that is open Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October. The stand is located next to parking lot C of Jeanes Campus and the Fox Chase Cancer Center Campus. Call 215-728-4861 or email [email protected]. ••
An afternoon of poetry
The public is invited for a reading of Poems of the Pennypack by poets g emil reutter and Diane Sahms on Saturday, June 17, at 1 p.m., at Pennypack Environmental Center, 8600A Verree Road. The poets will have books available for purchase. Bring your poems or antidotes to read about Pennypack or the Fairmount Park System in the open segment of the event. Proceeds from the sale of Poems of the Pennypack by g emil reutter will be donated to the environmental center. Call 215-685-0470 or email [email protected]. ••
Graveyard tour
The History Committee of All Saints’ Church, Torresdale, 9601 Frankford Ave., is hosting a graveyard tour on Saturday, June 17, at 2 p.m. (rain date Saturday, June 24). Come and hear the stories in celebration of 250 years of All Saints’ contribution to the history of the area from the early Swedes to modern day. Tour begins inside the church. Wear comfortable shoes. Light refreshments will be served after the tour. Donations appreciated. Parking lot entrance is on Eden Street. Call 215637-8787. ••
2-day driver refresher course
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host an AARP Drivers 2 Day Refresher Course on Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21. There are no tests to pass and most insurance companies provide a discount for completing the course. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-AARP members. Payment to AARP is needed to hold your spot. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Federal employee meeting at PATH
Chapter 1301, of the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees, will hold a meeting on June 21 at 12:30 p.m. at the PATH building, 1919 Cottman Ave. The meeting is open to members and other active and retired federal employees who want to get to know chapter members. ••
Anniversary Mass and celebration
St. Martin of Tours Church, 5450 Roosevelt Blvd., will host a 100th anniversary Mass on Friday, June 23, at 4 p.m. A reception will follow in the gym and schoolyard, with water ice, pretzels, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, soft drinks and music. ••
Strawberry festival in Somerton
St. Andrew’s In-The-Field, 500 Somerton Ave., will host a Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be strawberries, shortcake, an outdoor flea market, raffle baskets and hot dogs. Flea market spaces are available for $25. Call 215-673-5938. ••
Book club meeting in July
The Book Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will be holding a Zoom session on Monday, July 10, at 7 p.m. The book is The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan. To register, call Lynn Ratmansky at 215-677-1600. ••
Book club meeting in August
The Book Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will be holding a Zoom session on Monday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. The book is Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. To register, call Lynn Ratmansky at 215-677-1600. ••
Pro-life baby shower
The Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia will hold a baby shower on June 24 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. There will be a Mass at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, followed by a march down Race Street and a rally at Independence Mall, where there will be music and speakers such as Mark Houck, the pro-life activist found not guilty by a federal jury of shoving a Planned Parenthood volunteer he said was harassing his son outside a Center City abortion clinic. Baby donations will be accepted. ••
Trip to Franklin Institute
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a bus trip to the Disney100 Exhibition at the Franklin Institute, followed by dinner at Spasso’s Italian Grill, on Wednesday, June 21. The all-inclusive cost is $148. Call 215-788-2106. ••
Trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan
The Polish American Cultural Center Museum volunteers are sponsoring a 7-day, 6-night trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan from July 9-15. The trip consists of a ferry ride to Mackinac Island, two nights at the Grand Hotel, a horse-drawn carriage ride and visits to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the Henry Ford Museum and the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods. The price includes bus transportation, hotels, six breakfasts, six dinners, a buffet luncheon at the Grand Hotel, admission to all attractions, baggage handling, taxes and gratuities. Call Theresa Romanowski at 215-813-2780 or 215-922-1700. ••
Hoops camp for boys and girls
The 17th annual Jaguar St. Ephrem Basketball Camp for Boys and Girls will take place from Monday, July 24, to Friday, July 28. The cost is $150 and includes a basketball and T-shirt. The camp is held in the air-conditioned Marian Center at St. Ephrem Parish, 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]. ••
Lunch and a show
St. Katherine of Siena Primrose Senior Club is running a bus trip on Thursday, Sept. 28, to Beach Haven, New Jersey to see the comedy Popcorn Falls. There will be a sitdown luncheon at Waterfront Restaurant. The cost is $110. For reservations and more information, call Catherine Murphy at 215-919-4399. ••
Trip to Ohio, Kentucky
St. Jerome’s Senior Citizens Club invites the public to join them for a five-day trip (Oct. 15-19) to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, with a guided tour of Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. For reservations, questions or a brochure, call Diane McDowell at 267-496-2431. ••
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. ••
Fox Chase doc a leader in cancer-fighting group
Dr. Elizabeth Plimack, deputy director and professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has been appointed treasurer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
“ASCO is an exemplary organization, bound closely by its mission, with a track record of successful, innovative programs. Strategic investment in these important initiatives requires sound financial stewardship, and I am honored to have been nominated by the board to the position of treasurer and look forward to supporting the efforts of Linda Jensen, vice president and chief financial officer of ASCO, over the coming year,” Plimack said.
In 2019, Plimack was elected to a four-year term on ASCO’s Board of Directors. A professional medical society of nearly 45,000 members, ASCO works to conquer cancer through research, education and promotion of the highest quality patient care.
Plimack joined Fox Chase in 2008 after completing her medical oncology fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Her research has formed the basis of a biomarker-directed bladder preservation platform led by Fox Chase investigators. She leads a multicenter clinical trial in metastatic bladder cancer funded by Stand Up To Cancer. She has also been active in drug development on steering committees and data safety boards of trials that have led to the approval of multiple new agents used to treat patients with genitourinary malignancies.
Plimack earned her medical degree with honors in Pathology from the New York University School of Medicine and a Master of Science in Patient-Based Biologic Research from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She completed both her internship and internal medicine residency at New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital. ••
Upcoming cruise
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a fully escorted Holy Lands & Aegean Majesty cruise from Oct. 6-17, visiting Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Italy. Rates, including airfare, range from $4,298 to $8,098 per person, double occupancy. Call 215-788-9408 for information and reservations. ••
Cruise the Mediterranean
Norwegian Cruise Line will host a Mediterranean cruise from Rome to Venice on Oct. 10-19. The trip is all inclusive with round-trip airfare, a beverage package, all meals, three specialty dinners, taxes, transfers and all gratuities. The cost for a balcony sea view cabin is $3,511 per person. For more information, contact Fillmore Travel’s Kevin Fries at 215-498-8294 or [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, 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]. ••
