Events at Ryerss
Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Ave., will have a number of events in September.
The schedule is Friday, Sept. 22 (1-3 p.m., Fibercraft Friends), Saturday, Sept. 23 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Busy Builders activities on the front porch, children must be accompanied by an adult) and Sunday, Sept. 24 (2 p.m., poetry reading by Mary Rohrer-Dann from her book Accidents of Being: Poems from a Philadelphia Neighborhood).
Call 215-685-0599. ••
Candidates forum on Tuesday
The public is invited to attend a candidates forum sponsored by the Millbrook Civic Association on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at Calvary Athletic Association, 4330 Deerpath Lane. The forum will be moderated by Northeast Times editor Tom Waring. All candidates for mayor, City Council at large and the 10th Councilmanic District have been invited. Scheduled to attend are David Oh, Jim Hasher, Drew Murray, Gary Masino and Brian O’Neill. ••
Drawing and painting course
A new six-session drawing and painting multi-media art course for active and maturing adults will be offered at KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The public is invited to join with members. The classes will be conducted by Russ Williams, an award-winning artist, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekly through Nov. 21. Williams explains that participants will learn how to create line, form, volume, shadow and light as well as the use of traditional painting techniques employing various mediums. Composition, paint mixing and glazing also will be part of the course. People of all skill levels are welcome. Cost for the six sessions is $75 per person, which must be paid in advance at the KleinLife front desk. For additional information, contact Shelley Geltzer at 215-698-7300, Ext. 129 or [email protected]. ••
Fall craft fair
Villages of Pine Valley, 900 Pine Valley Blvd., will host a fall craft fair on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the clubhouse. The fair will feature homemade candy, jewelry, wreaths, candles, artwork and more. Access is off of 8540 Verree Road. Call Kathy at 215-722-1501. ••
Harvest Fair in Parkwood
3rd Reformed Church, 3024 Byberry Road in Parkwood, will host a free Harvest Fair on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be games, crafts, entertainment and refreshments. The rain date is Oct. 21. ••
Sign up for run/walk
The St. Hubert Alumnae Association will hold a 5K Run/1 Mile Family Fun Walk/Virtual Run on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Pennypack Park, off Rhawn Street. Proceeds will support student wellness. The event will include refreshments, a goody bag and a DJ. Shirts will go to the first 150 entrants. Run/walk registration, information and sponsorship opportunities are available at Facebook.com/StHubertAlumnaeAssociation. Registration is $30, or $10 for kids under 12. On-site registration for the event begins at 7:30 a.m. The race begins at 8:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 9. Medals will be presented to overall male and female champions and to top three male and female finishers in various age brackets. Virtual participants can run anytime through Sept. 23. ••
Grant for local artist
Recycled Art in Residency, 7333 Milnor St., earned a $120,500 grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. In a yearlong residency project, interdisciplinary artist Guadalupe Maravilla will develop new site-specific works to activate RAIR’s Superfund site, a once-contaminated parcel of land. Maravilla’s practice considers issues of migration, identity, trauma and healing through the use of found and discarded objects. The artist’s plans for the site include a series of sound baths, a temporary earth work in the site’s 6 acres of grass and sculptural shrines. ••
Flea market at Delaire
Delaire Landing, 9355 State Road, will host a flea market on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon. The rain date is Oct. 15. The market will be open in the parking lot by the tennis courts. If interested in a spot, email Joyce at [email protected]. ••
Thrift shop closed Monday
The Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., will be closed Monday, Sept. 25, due to the religious holiday. The shop will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m. ••
Banning safe injection sites
A bipartisan bill co-introduced by Councilman Brian O’Neill and five other members, including Councilman Mike Driscoll, to prohibit so-called “safe-injection sites” in their districts and three other districts passed City Council by a vote of 13-1.
Mayor Jim Kenney is expected to veto the bill, but O’Neill believes there will be sufficient votes to override a veto.
For more information, call O’Neill’s office at 215-686-3422. ••
Fetterman endorses O’Rourke, Brooks
Sen. John Fetterman endorsed Nicolas O’Rourke and Councilwoman Kendra Brooks for the two minority party-designated seats in Council.
“This was an easy decision — Philadelphia has the opportunity to elect two champions for working families, instead of a Republican Party that’s fighting progress everywhere you look,” Fetterman said.
Others endorsing O’Rourke and Brooks include Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier, the Black Clergy, Reclaim Philadelphia, the Philly Democratic Socialists of America and left-wing unions such as the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, SEIU and the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals. ••
Car show/flea market
An outside car show and flea market will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd, 10901 Calera Road. Vendor spaces are $25. Call Rosemarie at 215-868-5304 to reserve a space. Car show registration is $20, and trophies will be given out. Call Bob at 267-968-2736 for car show details. ••
Casino trip to AC
Holy Innocents is sponsoring a trip to Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City on Thursday, Nov. 2. A bus will depart L Street and Hunting Park Avenue at 9:30 a.m. and will leave Tropicana at 4:45 p.m. The cost is $35, due by Oct. 23. There will be $20 in slot cash. To reserve your seat, call Cindy at 215-535-2740. ••
Celebrating Yom Kippur
KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., is offering Yom Kippur services free to the community on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 24-25. The services will be officiated by Rabbi Alexander Koifman from Israel and Alexander Shrayman.
The schedule is as follows: Sunday, Sept. 24, Kol Nidre, 6:37 p.m.
On Monday, Sept. 25, Yom Kippur service will begin at 9 a.m., followed by Yizkor Service 1 at 11:30 a.m., Yizkor Service 2 at noon, Yizkor Service 3 at 12:30 p.m., Yom Kippur evening service at 5 p.m. and the Havalah service at 7:30 p.m., which includes the sounding of the Shofar.
Call 215-698-7300. ••
Local opera schedule
Amici Opera Company will present Massenet’s Eve on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 4 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave.
Amici will present Verdi’s I Masnadieri on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer.
Amici will present Puccini’s Toscae on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer. The show will continue on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at La Piovra Trattoria, 7901 High School Road, in Elkins Park. There will be a 3-course dinner. The cost is $54.95. Arrive by 6 p.m. Make a reservation by calling 215-606-3800.
For more information, call 215-224-0257 or visit the Amici Opera Company page on Facebook. ••
Learn to speak English
Holmesburg Library, 7810 Frankford Ave., has started an English Conversation Group that meets each Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. Adults can build their confidence in speaking English in a casual learning environment. Call 215-685-8756. ••
Remembering loved ones
To remember loved ones who have passed away, KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., will be conducting a Yom Kippur Yizkor prayer service on Friday, Sept. 22, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited free of charge. KleinLife is producing a Yizkor booklet to be available at the service. For an $18 donation, people can inscribe up to 10 names ($2 for each additional name). Checks should be made payable to KleinLife and mailed to KleinLife, Attention Yizkor Booklet, 10100 Jamison Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19116. Names and payments may also be submitted at the KleinLife front desk. ••
Mayfair Night Markets continue
The Mayfair Night Market will continue on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Frankford and Cottman avenues. There will be food trucks, vendors, drinks and live music by Jumper. Vendors can apply at MayfairVendors.EventBrite.com. ••
Third Thursday in Tacony
Tacony Community Development Corporation will hold its next Third Thursday event on Sept. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the parking lot at 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. The final Third Thursday is on Oct. 19. ••
Golfers, sponsors needed
The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association will hold its 33rd annual scholarship golf outing supporting a fund for Catholic education on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at North Hills Country Club in Glenside. Golfers and sponsors are needed. Participants will have a chance to win a car or truck courtesy of Dunphy Ford. Call the alumni office at 215-543-1051 or visit northcatholicalumni.org. ••
Spiritual cinema and discussion
St. Luke will host a showing of My Dinner with Andre on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall, 1946 Welsh Road. The movie is about two friends who meet for dinner and consider the merits of enjoying the simple things of life vs. a more mystical approach. Light refreshments. Free will donations benefit St. Luke’s. ••
Greater Bustleton Civic to meet
The Greater Bustleton Civic League will hold its monthly, open meeting Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. in the community room of American Heritage Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. The meeting will include a discussion on a variance application for 1170 Surrey Road. Email [email protected] or call 215-676-6890. ••
Poetry reading at Ryerss
Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Ave. in Burholme Park, will be hosting a poetry reading by Mary Rohrer-Dann from her new book, Accidents of Being: Poems from a Philadelphia Neighborhood, which centers around the park, museum and surrounding neighborhoods. The reading will be on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. ••
Handbag bingo fundraiser
The Bridge Clinic, a nonprofit veterinary clinic with a location at 2275 Bridge St. in the Frankford Arsenal, will hold its annual designer handbag bingo and basket raffle fundraiser on Sept. 23, at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 325 S. Oxford Valley Road in Fairless Hills. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the first game of bingo at 7. Tickets are $35 in advance via PayPal or Venmo (@TheBridgeClinic), $40 at the door. All tickets include 13 games of bingo, alcohol for 21+ and dessert. Basket raffles and 50/50 will also be available. Large groups welcome, tables can be reserved upon request. Email [email protected] for alternate payment options, to reserve a table, sponsorship or donations and additional information. ••
Donate blood
The American Red Cross is encouraging people to donate blood. Those who give throughout September will receive a coupon for a free haircut, thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts, and will be entered for a chance to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience.
The Northeast Philadelphia Blood Donation Center, 1401 Rhawn St., is open Monday-Wednesday, 11:45 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, 10:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday-Sunday, 7:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Local dates are Sept. 20, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., FOP, 11630 Caroline Road; Sept. 22, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nazareth Hospital, 2601 Holme Ave.; Sept. 26. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fox Chase Cancer Center, Medical Center Building, 333 Cottman Ave.; Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Northeast Family YMCA, 11088 Knights Road; and Sept. 27, 2-7 p.m., Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, 3252 Chesterfield Road.
Schedule an appointment to give blood by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED CROSS. ••
Meeting on youth and family wellness
Holmesburg Library, 7810 Frankford Ave., will host a neighborhood meeting about youth and family wellness. The session, sponsored by Philadelphia System of Care, is set for Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Call 215-685-8756. ••
Post-Yom Kippur event
The public is invited to Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, for its annual Break the Fast immediately following the conclusion of Yom Kippur services on Monday, Sept. 25. The cost is $32 per person. Call the synagogue office at 215-677-1600 for more details. ••
Run to Remember Saturday
The annual Alisha C. Levin Run to Remember will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. at Northeast High School, 1601 Cottman Ave. Levin, who grew up on the 1300 block of Wells St. in Castor Gardens, was killed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. She was 33. She was a 1986 graduate of Northeast. She later graduated from Hofstra University. She worked for three years for Fuji Bank in the World Trade Center’s South Tower. On the day of the attacks, terrorists first crashed an airplane into the North Tower. Seventeen minutes later, a plane struck the South Tower. Fuji Bank, which occupied the 79th through 82nd floors, lost 23 employees. Levin was the company’s vice president of human resources. Proceeds will benefit scholarships and programs at Northeast and Hofstra. For more information, visit alishalevinmemorial.org. ••
Halloween costumes for CHOP patients
Anthony “Stitch” Picariello, a letter carrier at Bustleton Post Office, is collecting new Halloween costumes to donate to the oncology floor at CHOP. The effort is in memory of Sophia Pasquarella, who died at age 8 on Halloween of leukemia. Her dad, Pete, began collecting costumes the following year to donate to the kids at CHOP so they could enjoy trick or treating like every other kid. There are drop boxes in the lobbies at the Bustleton and Somerton post offices and at the Somerton Youth Organization fields and clubhouse. The deadline to drop off is Oct. 10. For more information, call 215-588-7838 or email [email protected]. ••
Sign up for 5K
The 20th annual Father Judge Crusader Classic 5K will take place on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. All proceeds will benefit the Fire Lt. Robert Neary Scholarship Fund at Father Judge. Neary, class of 1970, died in 2012 when the roof of a Kensington furniture store collapsed while he was on the scene of a fire at an abandoned warehouse.
The entry fee is $30. The cost is $15 for 18 and under. Race-day registration will take place in the Judge schoolyard beginning at 7:30 a.m. Event T-shirts will be provided to all who pre-register (and to race-day registrants while supplies last). The race will begin at the bandshell in Pennypack Park and continue along the banks of Pennypack Creek and finish with a lap around the Father Judge track (behind the school). Medals will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in each age group.
Call 215-338-9494, Ext. 1027 or email [email protected]. ••
St. Martha beef and beer
St. Martha Parish will hold a beef and beer on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 7-11 p.m. at Philadelphia Ballroom, 2014 Hornig Road. The cost is $35 in advance and $40 at the door. The event is for people 21 and older. There will be entertainment by DJ Tommy T, the Tenderhooks and the Mummers. The evening will include door prizes, basket raffles, a 50/50 and cash bar. Tables can be reserved with the purchase of eight or more tickets. Tickets are available in the rectory, after Mass or at stmarthaparishbeefandbeer.eventbrite.com. Call Helen Konstance at 215-292-3842 or Debbie Quinn at 267-566-0323. ••
Motivational speaker at KleinLife
Tikvah will present motivational speaker Melissa Hopely Rice on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. at KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave. Rice will discuss her personal experience with mental illness as well as those who have inspired her along the way. The event is free and open to the public. Advance reservations are required. Call 215-832-0671 or email [email protected]. ••
Wedding Crashers’ Ball
Glen Foerd’s Wedding Crashers’ Ball, an interactive wedding performance and fundraising event, will be held on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. Sponsorships are available, and individual tickets are on sale. The evening will include dinner, an open bar, dancing, live music and a silent auction. Guests are encouraged to wear black tie, old wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, business attire or, in the spirit of Halloween, festive/creative costumes. Valet parking is included. There will be an optional afterparty, from 11 p.m. to midnight, in Glen Foerd’s rathskeller. Proceeds from the event will go to support Glen Foerd’s efforts to preserve its 18-acre Delaware River estate, 5001 Grant Ave., that includes seven historic structures dating from the 1850s. Tickets are $175 per person or $200, including the afterparty ($250, including the afterparty, if bought after Sept. 22). Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased through Oct. 7 at www.glenfoerd.org/weddingcrashersball. For more information, call 215-632-5330. ••
Local author releasing novel
Mayfair author Becky Flade announced that Tirgearr Publishing will release her next novel, Beautiful Dangerous, worldwide on Sept. 26. Beautiful Dangerous is the fourth book in Flade’s award-winning series of romantic thrillers set in Philadelphia. It is available for pre-order at all major digital retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks/iTunes. Flade, a Frankford High School graduate, has been writing since kindergarten, when her Brown Elementary School teacher, Miss Daniels, helped with her first book detailing her and her best friend’s first solo trip to the market for milk. For more information, follow Flade on Facebook. ••
Enroll in preschool
Preschool classes for 3- and 4-year-olds will start on Monday, Oct. 2, at St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5185 Castor Ave. (at Pratt Street). The school, celebrating its 50th anniversary year, welcomes Eva Parisi as its lead teacher. Information can be found at www.stjamesphilly.org. ••
Join the parade
The 46th annual Mayfair-Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade will be on Sunday, Nov. 19, from noon to 3 p.m. Homemade floats are being accepted. Anyone in seventh grade or above who volunteers to carry a banner will receive six community service hours. To participate in the parade, call 215-624-6660, email [email protected] or visit thanksgivingparade.org. ••
Attend writers event
Holy Family University’s Distinguished Writers Series will welcome former Philadelphia Poet Laureate Yolanda Wisher on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Education and Technology Center Auditorium (9801 Frankford Ave.). The event is free and open to the public. Wisher is the author of Monk Eats an Afro and co-editor of the anthology Peace is a Haiku Song and teaches poetry workshops. ••
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 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]. ••
Support for small nonprofits
A Little Better Company, an agency focused on making the world a little better, announces the launch of its inaugural Unless Project, a grant-meets-accelerator program providing $150,000 in marketing and capacity-building services to small organizations with big ideas but limited resources.
Up to four U.S.-based nonprofits will be selected to participate in the Unless Project to turn their transformational ideas into impact.
Simon Rogers, founder of ALBC, said: “In our experience, organizations with truly new and novel ideas struggle to get the resources and buy-in they need to bring their ideas to life. Today, the ability to communicate in the right way can make or break their success, and that gap between idea and impact is where the Unless Project comes in.”
The Unless Project seeks applications from nonprofits that are working on new, novel, provable, scalable and sustainable solutions to challenges in one of ALBC’s four focus areas:
• Environmental Sustainability
• Human Health and Wellness
• Social Progress and Advocacy
• Artistic Activism
The short application process includes a five-question eligibility quiz (yes/no answers only), a short application (written or video submissions) and, for finalists, a 30- to 45-minute Zoom discussion with the selection committee.
The eligibility quiz is available now, and applications are open through Oct. 15. Awardees will be notified on Dec. 15, and then be guided through a six-month process to transform their brand, tapping into all of ALBC’s capabilities and expertise.
ALBC will cover all marketing-related expenditures along the way. Additionally, the grant will include a $2,500 stipend to cover unplanned out-of-pocket expenses.
Interested nonprofits can take the eligibility quiz at https://bit.ly/unless-quiz.
Or sign up for an information session: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A14a76RyQImqfP1CS62XhA#/registration.
To learn more, become part of the ALBC collective or to partner with the Unless Project, visit https://www.alittlebetter.co/. ••
Save at Boscov’s
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is partnering with Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at all Boscov’s locations, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The group is selling a shopping pass for $5, which can represent savings of up to 25% off purchases. Call Shirley at 215-530-6637 to purchase shopping passes. The profits of the event will be donated to Fox Chase Cancer Center to support cancer research and compassionate patient care. ••
Boscov’s savings
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim is partnering with Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at all Boscov’s locations, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Sisterhood is selling a shopping pass for $5, which can represent savings of up to 25% off purchases. Call 215-677-1600 to purchase shopping passes. ••
Day dedicated to women
NBC 10 news anchor Tracy Davidson will present Lifting Your Voice, a day dedicated to women, on Sunday, Oct. 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Philadelphia Country Club 1601 Spring Mill Road, in Gladwyne. The guest speaker will be Jen Croneberger, an author and former recipient of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry’s Female Business Leader of the Year. She holds a master’s degree in Sports and Performance Psychology and a Sustainable Business Strategy Certification from the Harvard Business School.
For tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lifting-your-voice-fall-2023-tickets-522147375857?aff=erelexpmlt. ••
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]. ••
Broadway show
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is running a bus trip to New York on Saturday, Sept. 30, to see the Broadway production of Some Like It Hot. The cost is $230, which includes orchestra seating and round-trip motor coach. Bus leaves from 604 Township Line Road, Cheltenham, at 9:15 a.m. Call Harriet at 215-969-8366 for tickets. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Fundraising luncheon
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is hosting a luncheon at Bella Tori at the Mansion, 321 S. Bellevue Ave., Langhorne, on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $58 per person and includes various foods including a salad table, hot table of entrees and vegetables and a dessert table plus entertainment. Cash bar available. For tickets, call 215-990-6067 or 215-742-2703. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Clothing drive for charity
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is running a clothing drive on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 604 Township Line Road, Cheltenham, from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring your gently used clothing, accessories, books and small trinkets in bags or boxed for pick-up. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care. ••
Dining event will aid charity
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Board of Associates of Fox Chase Cancer Center, is hosting a dining-in event at Ben & Irv’s Deli, 1962 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mention the Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter and a percentage of all proceeds will be donated to Fox Chase Cancer Center for patient care and medical research. ••
Veterans event
State Rep. Jared Solomon will sponsor a veterans town hall and resource fair on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4-7 p.m. at the Southampton Readiness Center, 2700 Southampton Road. There will be representatives from state, local and federal government agencies along with hospitals, insurance companies, businesses and public and private vendors. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP at 215-342-6340. ••
Back-to-school event
Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, 3117 Longshore Ave. in Mayfair, is having a community outreach back-to-school event on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ••
Craft fair and flea market
Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase, 7902 Oxford Ave., will host a fall craft fair and flea market on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 20 local and small business vendors will be on site. ••
Trunk or Treat
Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase, 7902 Oxford Ave., will host a Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 3-5 p.m. ••
Harvest festival
Cranaleith Spiritual Center, 13475 Proctor Road, will host a harvest festival on Sunday, Oct. 8, from noon to 4 p.m. The cost is $1 per adult and comes with a raffle ticket. There will be food, vendors, children’s games, a scarecrow contest, a gift shop, raffle baskets, a farmer’s market, house tours, a mini horse, bee demonstrations and a DJ. ••
Workshops at Holy Family
Holy Family University’s Family Center invites the community to its free fall workshops, which promote the “Value of Family,” during the months of October and November on the campus at Frankford and Grant avenues.
The four sessions of the “Living Fully” series will explore contemporary issues such as finding meaning and striving from life’s difficulties; exploring your creativity as a call from God; saving money with coupons – the latest updates; and reviewing common steps to protect yourself and loved ones. Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Education Technology Center, Room 411.
The “Pathways to Prayer” series will examine how to understand and work through the peaks and valleys of one’s journey with the Lord. Using the book, Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies, by the Rev. Timothy Gallagher, the series strives to give participants’ spiritual life a boost, help them avoid discouragement and sharpen their awareness of God’s presence, action and communication in their lives and experiences. Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon in the Campus Center Chapel, Room 104.
Participants will have the opportunity to interact with University faculty, staff and credentialed guest speakers. Register at holyfamily.edu. ••
Historic Bristol Day
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation Inc. will be hosting the 47th Historic Bristol Day on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The event includes house tours and a Tea, entertainment, crafters and vendors, car show, antique boat display, walking tour, archaeological dig, children’s corner, mural arts tour, public buildings and worship sites, food court, baked goods table and free shuttle service. This year, the Schooner North Wind, a 75-foot vessel owned by Gloucester City Sail, will offer one-hour Delaware River Cruises from the Bristol Wharf. Fee is $25 or $10 for children 12 and under. Advance reservations are recommended at https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/northwindsail/items/407978/calendar/2023/10/.
For more information, visit www.bristolhistory.org. ••
New researcher at Fox Chase
Fox Chase Cancer Center announced the hiring of Dr. Sara Small as an assistant professor in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies.
Most recently, Small was a fellow in hematology/oncology in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where she also completed a residency in internal medicine, receiving the Residency Excellence in Teaching Award.
She received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University. She earned a doctorate in cellular and molecular biology and a medical degree in 2017, both from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program.
Small’s research seeks to understand how modulation of inflammatory signaling pathways can be leveraged to develop novel treatments that overcome chemotherapy resistance in leukemia. As a predoctoral fellow in Penn’s Cancer Biology Department, Small studied proteins secreted by cells in response to stress and how this contributes to cell senescence, cancer and aging. Her work was recognized with an NIH Individual NRSA MD/PhD Fellowship granted by the National Institute on Aging.
Small has published numerous studies in peer-reviewed journals, including Science Signaling, Leukemia and Leukemia & Lymphoma, where she is also a peer reviewer. She has presented her research at both national and international conferences.
She is also the recipient of the American Society of Hematology Research Training Award for Fellows grant and recently received the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Teaching Award from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. ••
New prof will focus on head, neck cancer
Fox Chase Cancer Center announced the hiring of Dr. Parth A. Desai as an assistant professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology. His clinical practice will be based at the department’s rapidly expanding section at Temple University Hospital, where his clinical practice will focus on head and neck cancer, thoracic malignancies and translational clinical trials.
Prior to joining Fox Chase, Desai was a Clinical Hematology and Oncology Fellow at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute within the National Institutes of Health.
Desai earned his combined Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Veer Narmad South Gujarat University in Surat, India. He subsequently completed an anatomical and clinical pathology residency at Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi before coming to the United States.
He then trained briefly in the Department of Hematopathology and the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation/Cellular Therapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center before completing an internal medicine residency at UT Health San Antonio.
In his two decades of scientific training, Desai has undertaken a variety of research projects and has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals on a wide range of topics in hematology and oncology and developmental therapeutics.
His expertise includes designing and running early phase clinical trials as well as leading translational research using cutting-edge techniques like single cell and spatial transcriptomics, through which he tries to identify novel treatment- and phenotype-related biomarkers and tumor and tumor microenvironment heterogeneity.
He received the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award and the 2021 National Cancer Institute Director’s Award for his research. ••
GOP leader pans Shapiro order
House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler said Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new automatic voter registration system should be created through legislation, not executive guidance.
“This unilateral action on the eve of what is likely to be a hotly contested and close election will cause many Pennsylvania voters to continue to question the security and results of our system,” Cutler said.
Cutler pointed out questions remain about how automatic voter registration will work practically in terms of determining voter eligibility and the additional burdens it will place on an already stressed bureaucracy.
“Just because someone is eligible for a state-issued identification card does not mean they are eligible to vote. With legislative proposals that would provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and the ability to vote taken away from those who commit serious crimes, there has been no information provided to us about how automatic voter registration will remain nimble in the face of change and workable in the determination of eligibility,” Cutler said. ••
Boyle favors bill targeting ‘union busting’ employers
U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle, Donald Norcross and Judy Chu introduced the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to end the ability of corporations to deduct “union busting” expenses from their taxes.
Co-sponsored by more than 100 members of Congress, the legislation will ensure that American taxpayers no longer subsidize what supporters say are anti-union company activities that violate workers’ legally protected right to organize.
“By allowing corporations to deduct union-busting expenses from their taxes, the playing field becomes much more unfair to the lone union worker,” Boyle said. “All too often we find corporations shrouding anti-union dollars under the phony guise of ‘business expenses’ when filing taxes. This legislation will place corporate campaign spending in its proper taxation category and will work toward leveling the playing field when it comes to the relationship between employees and corporations.”
Under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, it is the official policy of the United States government to encourage collective bargaining and protect workers’ freedom of association.
Despite the intent of Congress that workers have the right to organize, supporters of the legislation say corporations regularly interfere in unionization efforts – including using tactics that violate the NLRA. Expenses that employers use in “union-busting campaigns” are tax deductible.
The No Tax Break for Union Busting Act would end taxpayer subsidies for corporations by classifying corporate interference in worker organization campaigns like political speech rather than an “ordinary and necessary” business expense. Additionally, the bill would grant the Department of Treasury greater enforcement authority to hold employers accountable for using company money to interfere in protected worker activities.
Common “anti-worker” interventions that are tax deductible include employer-mandated meetings during work hours; the hiring of firms to lead “union-busting” campaigns; threats to withhold benefits from pro-union workers; the firing of pro-union workers; and closure of workplaces that appear to be pro-union or that have recently voted to form a union. ••
Fox Chase phone triage nurses unionize
Twenty-two Fox Chase Cancer Center phone triage nurses voted to unionize, joining the 470 Fox Chase nurses and allied professionals (including radiology technologists, surgical technologists, radiation therapists and LPNs) who unionized in June.
They join 360-plus nurses at Jeanes Hospital, 35 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who practice at Fox Chase and Jeanes and 2,250 Temple Main nurses and allied professionals represented by PASNAP.
“A lot of the nurses in our department are very seasoned and one of our main goals is to push for better working conditions and safer staffing for those nurses who come after us or are just now starting their careers,” said Rossana Caputo, a Fox Chase phone triage nurse. “We aren’t far off from someday being patients ourselves and we can see the state of things now. It can be frightening. That’s why we wanted change, not only for our patients, but for ourselves and for the future of nursing.”
“Nurses in phone triage are one of the first lines of support for our Fox Chase patients and we communicate directly with providers, clinic staff and really every department in the hospital to find solutions and resources for our patients,” says Barbara Hall, a nurse in phone triage. “Administration wanted to exclude us by saying we didn’t have the same community of interest as the rest of the nurses. But our unit could not be more integral in making sure our Fox Chase patients get the care they need every step of the way. We knew that this was really a tactic to delay our election, so our department decided to take a step back and allow the other nurses to move forward, knowing we would be able to file for a second election and win.”
“The hospital tried to stop us from being included with our colleagues back in June, but we didn’t give up,” Caputo said. “We stuck together and now we are so thrilled to officially join PASNAP with the rest of the nurses and techs at Fox Chase. Now we can bargain together for a contract that addresses what our patients and staff need most.” ••
ArtsFest on Sunday
Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Ave., will present its first ArtsFest on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 1-4 p.m.
The free (donations greatly appreciated), family-friendly event includes the unveiling of three new outdoor sculptures by visual Artist in Residence Sarah Peoples.
In addition, video highlights from the August “Gnome Core” performance by Artist in Residence Alex Tatarsky will be shown on a continuous loop inside the historic house. In honor of this piece, kids will have the opportunity to create gnome hats with Heidi Weinstein Malloy, Glen Foerd educator for the Lily PADS (Play and Discovery Space) program.
Attendees are invited to bring a blanket or chairs and enjoy live music by folk-rock band Stella Ruze. Food will be available for purchase. Glen Foerd’s historic house will be open for free self-guided tours.
Visit www.glenfoerd.org/events/2023/9/24/artsfest or call 215-632-5330. ••
Meetings for mature adults
Prince of Peace Church, 6001 Colgate St., will resume its Mature Adults meetings on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. Meetings will take place on the first and third Thursdays of the month. New members are welcome. Coffee will be served. ••
Sukkah dinner
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will be hosting Steak and Salmon in the Sukkah on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. Cost per person is $38. Mail your payment, marked Sukkah Dinner. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Luncheon at synagogue
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host a Sukkot luncheon following Sukkot services on Sunday, Oct. 1. The cost is $15 per person. Call the synagogue office at 215-677-1600 for more details and to make a reservation. ••
St. Jerome Seniors to meet
The St. Jerome Seniors group will meet on Thursday, Sept. 28, in the school hall, 3031 Stamford St. Arrive by 10 a.m. Meetings begin promptly at 11 a.m. ••
Senior social group
Senior citizens are invited to join a social living group that meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5185 Castor Ave. (at Pratt Street). There will be fellowship, games and snacks. Call 215-743-1828. ••
Vaccine shots
Representatives from Giant Pharmacy will offer flu and other vaccine shots at KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., on Thursdays, Sept. 21 and Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited. The flu and pneumonia shots are covered by Medicare Part B, while the shingles shots, Tdap and RSV vaccinations are covered by the Medicare Part D prescription plan. To reserve an appointment, call 215-698-7300, Ext. 193. ••
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. ••
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. ••
Book club in Oct.
The Book Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will be holding a Zoom session on Monday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. The October book is The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. For further information or to register for the book club program, call Lynn Ratmansky at 215-677-1600. ••
Visit to winery
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is running a bus trip to Tomasello Winery and historic Smithville on Tuesday, Oct. 10. The cost is $80 per person and includes coach bus, a three-glass wine tasting and a three-course lunch followed by a trip to Smithville. Bus leaves from 604 Township Line Road, Cheltenham, at 9:45 a.m. with estimated return of 5:30 p.m. Deadline for reservations is Oct. 1. Call Selma at 215-860-3710 for reservations. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Book club meeting
The Book Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host a Zoom session on Monday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. The November book is The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker. For further information or to register for the book club, call Lynn Ratmansky at 215-677-1600. ••
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. ••
Senior fair
State Rep. Jared Solomon will host a Senior Fair on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Northeast Services Hub, 6434 Castor Ave. There will be information on state and local government-related programs and services such as Property Tax/Rent Rebate, SEPTA Senior ID and Unclaimed Property, along with private vendors, light refreshments and representatives from hospitals, insurance companies, local businesses and senior homes. Free parking will be available in the lot behind the building. To RSVP or for more information, call 215-342-6340. ••
Luncheon, entertainment
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will be hosting its opening luncheon meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. There will be a salmon meal and assorted desserts. Marcus Chaney, a song and dance performer, will entertain. The cost is $36. Send your checks to CSS payable to Sisterhood. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Trip to Ryerss
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will be hosting a cultural trip to the Ryerss Mansion/Museum, 7370 Central Ave., on Friday, Nov. 3, at 11 a.m. The guided tour includes first-floor family parlors, the dining room and galleries of art and artifacts. Visitors will learn about the history of the Ryerss family and be able to visit the second-floor gallery and library, accessible only by stairs. The cost for the outing is $10. There is parking behind the building. Send your checks to CSS payable to Sisterhood. Include your phone number. For further information, call the synagogue office at 215-677-1600. ••
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]. ••
