Live nativity at St. James
St. James Lutheran Church, Castor Avenue and Pratt Street, invites the community to a live nativity on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. ••
Bingo for a good cause
The Leigh Leckerman Foundation will hold an all-ages bingo on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bristol Moose Lodge, 2229 Radcliffe St. in Bristol. There will be prizes, raffle baskets and 50-50s. The cost is $30. Tables of 10 are available. Proceeds will benefit the foundation, which assists those in need of financial support for substance use disorder treatment, aftercare and sober housing. For tickets, visit leighshelp.org. ••
Christmas at Redemption Lutheran
Redemption Lutheran Church, 8001 Bustleton Ave., invites the public to join members in singing Christmas carols on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at Bustleton Avenue and Rhawn Street. Coffee and cocoa will be served.
Meanwhile, Redemption Lutheran will hold two services on Sunday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. The first service will be at 10 a.m. It will be followed by a potluck brunch. Bring a dish. A family service will take place at 3 p.m.
Each service will end with the singing of Silent Night by candlelight. All are welcome.
Call 215-342-2085. ••
Attend free art show
Tarken Recreation Center, 6250 Frontenac St., will host a free art show by the Tarken Adult Art Club on Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be artwork for sale, light refreshments and live music by Roger Walsh. For more information, email [email protected]. ••
Live nativity on Sunday
United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd, 10901 Calera Road, will host a live Christmas nativity on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 6-8 p.m. All animals are kid friendly. The Christmas Story will be narrated by Susan Dziuk. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered. ••
Christmas movie viewing
St. Luke’s will host a Spiritual Cinema & Discussion on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in its parish hall, 1946 Welsh Road. The featured presentation is It Happened One Christmas, a 1977 made-for-TV remake of It’s A Wonderful Life, starring Marlo Thomas and Wayne Rogers. There is a parking lot in the rear of the property. Call 215-969-3645. ••
Civic group holiday party
Take Back Your Neighborhood invites the community to attend its annual holiday party on Monday, Dec. 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Max Myers Recreation Center, 1601 Hellerman St. Bring a snack to share. ••
Get your North Catholic gear
The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association is having a Christmas sale of North Catholic gear and merchandise on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the alumni office, 2700 Rhawn St. All are welcome. ••
Toys for Tots event
The community is invited to drop off a new, unwrapped item for Toys for Tots on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 1-6 p.m. at Gallo’s Seafood Burger Bar, 8101 Roosevelt Blvd. The Marines will be placing the toys in an Eagles bus. ••
Santa Ride in Fox Chase
Community business leaders who are also St. Cecilia parishioners will present the fourth annual Santa Ride on Saturday, Dec. 16, starting at 4 p.m. behind Fox Chase Cancer Center. There will be an escort by the Philadelphia Police Department, a vehicle for music driven by the Pinkls, Santa’s Sleigh provided by the Comly’s Sound and lighting by RGB, Liberty Roofing and the white Fox Chase Lock & Key Inc. service vehicle. The ride will cover the Fox Chase portions of the 2nd and 7th Police Districts, traveling on Rhawn Street, at 5 Points, near the CSX tracks and on side streets. You can like and track the Santa ride on Fox Chase Lock & Key, Inc. | Facebook. ••
Write to Santa, get a response
Anthony “Stitch” Picariello, a mail carrier from Bustleton Post Office, is inviting children to write letters to Santa Claus. The mailbox for kids to drop off their letters to Santa and get a response is in the lobby of Bustleton Post Office, 9925 Bustleton Ave. As long as the kids include a legible name and return address, Picariello will make sure they get a personalized letter from Santa back. No postage is necessary. The deadline to drop off a letter and hear back is Dec. 16. ••
Holiday show at Katharine Drexel Library
Katharine Drexel Library, 11099 Knights Road, will offer a Kwanzaa show for children to learn about its customs and origin through storytelling, puppets, music and magic presented by Mlanjeni Magical Theater and the Amazing Mr. Q. The show will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 5:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 215-685-9383. ••
Events at Ryerss
Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Ave. in Burholme Park, will hold a couple of upcoming events. Here is the schedule: Friday, Dec. 15, 1-3 p.m. (Book Club); and Friday, Dec. 22, 1-3 p.m. (Fibercraft Friends). Call 215-685-0599. ••
See Santa at St. Hubert
St. Hubert, 7320 Torresdale Ave., will host Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be gifts, an indoor snowball fight, a craft corner, a coloring station, letters to Santa, a selfie station, make your own reindeer food, a Christmas bean bag toss, dancing and face painting. The cost is $30, or $25 for kids 12 and under, or free for kids 2 and under. Pictures cost $5. There will also be raffles. Register at Huberts.org/BreakfastWithSanta. For more information, email [email protected]. ••
Remembering Fred Maurer
A memorial event for Fred Maurer will take place on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. at Pennepack Baptist Church, 8732 Krewstown Road. Maurer, 86, died in July 2022. He was active with the Northeast Philadelphia History Network and Frankford Historical Society. The program will start with an hour-long selection of arias from Maurer’s favorite operas, followed by reminiscences by friends and associates. Contributions in Maurer’s memory can be made to Pennepack Baptist. Guests are also welcome to bring snacks. Call 484-452-6881. ••
Half-price merchandise
The Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., will hold a half-price clothing sale on all merchandise, including Christmas items, from Dec. 15-24. Shop 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. ••
Happy Chanukkah
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host its annual Chanukkah celebration on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m. Latkes and doughnuts will be served, with entertainment by Ken Ulancey and the building of a 9-foot, Lego-like menorah. To RSVP, call 215-677-1600. ••
Upcoming opera performances
Amici Opera Company will present Verdi’s Don Carlos on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Dock Woods, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale. Puccini’s La Boheme will be performed on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 4 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave. Don Carlos will be performed on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer. Call 215-224-0257 or visit the Amici Opera Company page on Facebook. ••
Free help available during holidays
For the 13th year, International School of Coaching’s Master Coach Paula Michele Boyle and her team of trained Life Coach specialists are reaching out to support the community for those feeling frustrated or unsatisfied with their relationships, careers and wellness. Enjoy a free opportunity to figure out where you are and where you want to go. The session you will receive with a certified Life Coach is available through New Year’s Day. There is a 10% discount to those who want to become certified as a Life Coach to help others in need. To register or learn more, visit lifecoachphilly.com. ••
Attend free holiday concert
Settlement Music School Kardon-Northeast Branch, 3745 Clarendon Ave., will host a free holiday concert, featuring performers from the Kardon Center for Arts Therapy, on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. The choir, rock band and individuals will perform. Light refreshments will follow. The public is invited. ••
Buy a lottery calendar
St. Martha Parish is selling its 2024 lottery calendar for a $25 donation. Choose a three-digit number and you have 365 chances to win, based on the Pennsylvania daily number (straight) that is pulled at 7 p.m. The daily prize is $25. There is one bonus day each month worth $100. Calendars can be bought after Mass or by mailing a check made payable to St. Martha Parish, with “2024 Calendar” in the memo, 11301 Academy Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154. ••
Blood drive on Dec. 30
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Saturday, Dec. 30, 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. ••
Rhawnhurst Civic to meet in Jan.
The Rhawnhurst Civic Association will not hold a meeting in December. Its next meeting will be on Jan. 17, at 7 p.m., at Pelbano Playground, Bustleton and Solly avenues. To stay up to date on such issues as holiday fire safety, the city real estate tax credit program and the Roosevelt Boulevard transformation plan, see the “Issues & Information” at Rhawnhurstcivicassociation.com. ••
Donate blood
The American Red Cross is encouraging people to donate blood. Those who come to give blood in December will be automatically entered to win a holiday prize package. Those who come to give through Dec. 17 will get a $10 Amazon.com gift card.
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.
Other dates are Dec. 15, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Nazareth Hospital, 2601 Holme Ave.; Dec. 17, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Northeast Family YMCA, 11088 Knights Road; Dec. 20, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jefferson Torresdale Hospital Church, 10800 Knights Road; Dec. 22, noon to 5 p.m., St. Anselm Roman Catholic Church, 12670 Dunks Ferry Road; and Dec. 28, 2-7 p.m., St. Katherine of Siena Parish Center, 9700 Frankford Ave.
Schedule an appointment to give blood by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED CROSS. ••
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 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]. ••
Trip to Bethlehem
The Polish American Cultural Center Museum is sponsoring a trip to Bethlehem, “The Christmas City,” from Dec. 14-16. The tour includes two night accommodations at The Windcreek Hotel and Casino; two $20 vouchers; $70 slot play; a visit to Pines Dinner Theater to see Holly Jolly Christmas, with lunch (BYOB); a tour of “The Lights on the Parkway;” a free day to gamble and shop at the outlets; a visit to the Christkindlmarkt (Christmas shopping and artisans craft markets); and round-trip motorcoach. The cost is $525 per person double occupancy or $700 single. For information and reservations, call Theresa Romanowski at 215-922-1700. ••
Apply for artist residency
Glen Foerd is accepting applications for its 2023-2024 Artist-in-Residence program. The closing date for applications is Dec. 18. Glen Foerd will be accepting one regional visual artist (or artist collective) to complete a site-specific work during their residency. The selected artist will receive a stipend of $3,000 to create their works. Once selected, the Artist-in-Residence will have from Feb. 1, 2024 until Sept. 30, 2024 to complete their residency. The selected artist will create works that engage Glen Foerd’s audience and collections, which includes architecture, material culture, art and natural landscapes. The opportunity offers area artists access to Glen Foerd’s historic collections, grounds and the Delaware River. Outcomes must include a public engagement component. For application information, visit www.glenfoerd.org/artists-in-residence or email Alice Thompson at [email protected]. ••
Claims assistance for veterans
Veterans can receive claims assistance at state Rep. Jared Solomon’s office at 7104 Frankford Ave. (near Princeton Avenue), beginning on Thursday, Jan. 11. A VA representative will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist veterans and answer any questions. Call 215-543-6755 to schedule an appointment. ••
Bingo at Loudenslager
Corp. John Loudenslager American Legion Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave., is offering community bingo every second and fourth Friday evenings. Doors open at 6:30, games start at 7:20. Refreshments available. ••
Trip to Northern Europe
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is presenting a Northern Europe: Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium and London cruise, July 25 to Aug. 4, 2024, aboard the new “Norwegian Prima.” Rates per person are $6,261 and $6,495, which include roundtrip airfare from Philadelphia. Deposit of $350 per person double occupancy is required when booking. Final payment by Feb. 27. Call 215-788-9408. ••
Chinese dinner
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host a Chinese dinner on Monday, Dec. 25, at 5 p.m. The cost is $23 per person. Send your payment along with the number of people attending to the address above. Call 215-677-1600 for more details. ••
Food donations wanted
KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., is seeking food donations to fill breakfast bags for homebound seniors as part its annual Subaru Share The Love Program. Items requested are tea bags, instant coffee, hot cocoa and instant oatmeal packets and boxes of dry cereal. In addition, KleinLife is asking for donations of juice packs, boxes of raisins, cranberries and nuts, pudding and fruit cups, canned fish, granola bars and peanut butter crackers. The foods can be dropped off at KleinLife through Dec. 29. Call Fredric Byarm at 215-698-7300, Ext. 196. ••
Donate baby items
The annual Baby Shower Mitzvah Project hosted by Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 1 p.m. Members can purchase and donate baby and toddler items or gift cards for clients of Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Light refreshments will be served. Call 215-677-1600. ••
Program on critical thinking
Critical Thinking will be the main subject of a five-part series for active adults to be held at KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Other sessions will be held on Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30. All five programs will begin at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to join with members. All five programs will be led by Steve Pollack, entertainer, singer, lecturer, voice teacher, actor and director. Cost for all five sessions will be $50 per person, to be paid at the front desk at KleinLife prior to the start of class. Email [email protected] or call 215-698-7300, Ext. 193. ••
Book club on Zoom
The Book Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will be hosting a Zoom session on Monday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. The January book is The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict. For further information or to register for the book club program, call Lynn Ratmansky at the synagogue office at 215-677-1600. ••
New position for Fox Chase researcher
Edna “Eti” Cukierman, co-leader of the Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Research Program and co-director of The Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has been appointed to the newly created Marvin & Concetta Greenberg Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research.
“Dr. Cukierman’s newest honor will enable further scientific discovery and the ability to push the limits of clinical delivery through investment in her as a faculty member of the highest caliber,” said Dr. Jonathan Chernoff, Cancer Center director.
“More broadly, this kind of support strengthens the quality of our institution’s programs and services beyond the level that other funding sources alone could accomplish. This appointment rewards her professional contributions, recognizes the value of her research endeavors and safeguards the funding needed to continue innovative, groundbreaking work.”
In academia, an endowed chair represents the highest honor an institution can bestow upon a faculty member. It provides the opportunity for the chair holder to deepen the impact of their work while honoring in perpetuity the chair’s namesake.
Cukierman’s research focuses on pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest and most difficult cancers to treat. Specifically, she studies the fibrous scar-like tissue cells that modulate the function of the tumor microenvironment, which encompasses most of the pancreatic tumor mass and influences how tumors develop, grow and respond to treatments.
The endowed chair is funded with support from the estate of Concetta “Chet” Greenberg, a champion of both cancer research and women in STEM during her life. Her support of Fox Chase has included multiple gifts, including a multi-million-dollar gift representing the largest private donation by an individual in Fox Chase history. At age 96, she helped establish the Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute with this funding in September 2017.
“Dr. Cukierman approaches her research with the same fervor and urgency that Mrs. Greenberg conveyed in her support of us,” said Dr. Robert Uzzo, president and CEO of Fox Chase. “Her insights into advancing our understanding of pancreatic cancer and her collaborations with colleagues set the bar for how to conduct world-class cancer research and how to do so with a sense of compassion. With everything she does, it is our patients that she holds close in her mind and heart.”
Cukierman came to Fox Chase in the fall of 2002, after completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the Craniofacial Developmental Biology and Regeneration Branch of the NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. She has been funded by the National Cancer Institute continuously since 2004.
Her research is largely translational in nature, guided by insights made in the clinic. This approach has earned her recognition as a fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association, among her many honors.
Earlier this fall, she became the first Fox Chase faculty member to be awarded the inaugural American Cancer Society’s Wilmott Family Professorship in Pancreatic Cancer. ACS professorships recognize individuals who have made contributions that have changed cancer research and oncology care as well as those who have a track record of mentorship and leadership in the cancer research community. Such professorships are regarded as the most prestigious ACS research awards.
“With great anticipation, we look forward to learning more from Dr. Cukierman as she pursues exciting new avenues in pancreatic cancer research and how this work will inform what we do in the clinic,” Uzzo said. ••
Local author’s novel releasing soon
Mayfair author Becky Flade announced that Tirgearr Publishing will release her latest novel, Fade into the Night, on Jan. 23. It is the fifth 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, at a specially reduced price. 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. ••
St. Jerome Seniors to meet
This month’s meeting is Thursday, Dec. 28, in the school hall, 3031 Stamford St. Arrive by 10 a.m. Meeting begins promptly at 11. ••
Learn about China
KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., will present All About China, a five-part program for active adults offered by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Widener University. Participants will learn about China’s history, people, culture and place in the world today. Sessions will be at 12:30 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 8, 12, 22 and 29 and Feb. 5. The course is open to the public. Cost is $30 per person, with checks and money orders payable to Widener University and returned to KleinLife. For additional information, contact OLLI at [email protected] or 610-499-4279. ••
Should mammograms for survivors continue annually?
Annual mammograms are recommended for breast cancer survivors in the United States to monitor whether cancer has returned, but a study by England’s National Health Service showed less frequent screenings are just as effective.
Dr. Richard J. Bleicher, a professor in Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Department of Surgical Oncology, is not accepting the findings at face value.
Bleicher issued the following comments:
“This study was an interesting study from the UK that evaluated annual mammography after breast cancer treatment versus less frequent mammography, finding that the women did just as well who had less frequent mammograms. The study is thought-provoking but at this point still exploratory and should not change practice, especially as their follow up was short at 5.7 years. The two groups having different frequencies of mammography after treatment were not risk-adjusted, it seems, as the presenter noted that the authors have collected a lot of data, but did not have that data analyzed or available at this point. For example, the presenter noted, in response to questions, that they did not yet have the differences between the stage and extent of diagnoses between the original tumors in the two arms, nor the specifics of the recurrences that occurred in each arm. There also was no information yet on treatment differences between the two arms, or in presentation of the tumors between the two arms, nor compliance with treatments. Thus the differences between the two arms cannot be discerned. This is important because if the group that had less frequent mammography, for instance, had less aggressive tumors or more rigorous therapy, that might compensate for less frequent mammography in outcomes. The concept is interesting and the specifics of how to screen should be further evaluated, but annual post-treatment mammography should definitely not be abandoned at this time.” ••
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. ••
