Christmas Eve at Redemption Lutheran
Redemption Lutheran Church, 8001 Bustleton Ave., 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. ••
Activities at animal center
Women’s Animal Center, 3839 Richlieu Road in Bensalem, is hosting a Happy Pawlidays Party on Thursday, Dec. 28, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Children of all ages accompanied by a parent or guardian are invited to decorate treats to be given to the shelter dogs waiting for their forever homes and read to the center’s adoptable shelter cats and small pets. The cost is $5 per treat to decorate and $5 per reading session. Donations of items will be accepted. ••
More money for school choice programs
Rep. Martina White announced that the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit will receive increased funding in legislation signed into law by the governor. House Bill 301 increases funding for the EITC program by $130 million to a total of $470 million, while the OSTC program increases by $20 million to a total of $85 million.
“These programs empower families with the ability to navigate and select educational options that align with their values and goals for their children’s academic success,” White said. “By giving students scholarships to attend a private school of their choosing, we promote healthy competition among schools and encourage them to improve the quality of education to attract students.” ••
Activities at Bustleton Library
Bustleton Library, 10199 Bustleton Ave., has daily programs during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
Here is the schedule: Tuesday, Dec. 26: Family Storytime at 11 a.m., Read-A-Thon at 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 27: Let’s Play with Slime! for ages 3-10 at 10:30 a.m., Freestyle Building for ages 5-10 at noon; Thursday, Dec. 28: Show and Tell Live Infotainment for ages 5-10 at 11 a.m.; and Friday, Dec. 29: Crazy Coverings from the Center for Aquatic Sciences for ages 2-10 at 11 a.m.
Call 215-685-0472. ••
GBCL meeting Thursday
The Greater Bustleton Civic League will hold its holiday monthly membership meeting on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. in the community room of American Heritage Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. Meetings are open to the public and attendees are encouraged to join. Email gbustletoncl@gmail.com or call 215-676-6890. ••
Events at Ryerss
Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Ave. in Burholme Park, will host a meeting of Fibercraft Friends on Friday, Dec. 22, from 1-3 p.m. Call 215-685-0599. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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.
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. 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. ••
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. ••
Upcoming opera performances
Amici Opera Company will present Puccini’s La Boheme on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 4 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave. Verdi’s 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. ••
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. ••
Program on short stories
American short stories will be the subject of an eight-part program for active adults to be held at KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., beginning on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to join with members. For the program, students should have a copy of 100 Years Of The Best American Short Stories, edited by Lorrie Moore and Heidi Pitlor and published in 2015. Participants should read the stories before attending the program. Cost of the program is $48 per person for all eight sessions. Money is due at the KleinLife front desk prior to beginning the program. Call 215-698-7300, Ext. 193. ••
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. ••
Restored Glen Foerd pipe organ to debut Jan. 6
After a year-long restoration project, Glen Foerd’s 121-year-old pipe organ will sing once again on Saturday, Jan. 6, when Mark Loria, principal organist for the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, commemorates the occasion with a free live concert performance. The concert is set for 1 p.m. at Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Ave.
The celebration will commence with a toast, opening remarks about the history of residential pipe organs and a retelling of the dramatic circumstances of the family that brought the organ into existence in 1902.
The restoration project was funded through a grant of $425,000 from the Wyncote Foundation, in its mission to support efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community and the natural environment. Ohio-based Charles Kegg, president and artistic director of Kegg Pipe Organ Builders, led the restoration.
The pipe organ is nestled in the grand stair hall of Glen Foerd and ornamented by carvings of winged cherubs and floral garlands. Powered by a motor in the basement, the organ resonates in the adjoining art gallery and speaks to all parts of the home. It was built in 1902 by Philadelphia’s one-time C.S. Haskell company and installed in the main house by industrialist Robert Foerderer, who had the custom organ built for his wife Caroline, an accomplished organist.
Heidi Weinstein Malloy, of Glen Foerd’s Lily P.A.D.s program, will be hosting a drop-in craft activity for young children in the dining room throughout the event. Attendees are invited to explore the many floors and rooms of the house while they enjoy the pipe organ music. Seating will be available in the art gallery and first floor.
For more information about the organ recital with Mark Loria, and to register, call 215-632-5330 or visit https://www.glenfoerd.org/events. ••
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 Feb. 14 and the second Wednesday of every other month from 6-7 p.m. at the Cheltenham Friends Meetinghouse, 7604 Central Ave. The group is led by nurse practitioner June Ro, and will include guest speakers. To register, contact Ro at 215-707-2619 or Jungyoon.Ro@tuhs.temple.edu. ••
Feb. Zoom book club meeting
The Book Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will be holding a Zoom session on Monday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. The February book is the historical mystery The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen. For further information or to register, call Lynn Ratmansky 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. ••
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.” ••
Researchers unionize at Fox Chase
Last week, 84 clinical research RNs, clinical research coordinators and clinical research data specialists, financial analysts and other professionals within the Office of Cancer Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center voted to unionize with PASNAP, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals.
The OCR professionals, who practice under the Temple Health umbrella, voted by 83% to unionize with PASNAP.
Fox Chase Cancer Center became part of the Temple Health system in 2012. Employees in favor of unionization said the institution gradually became more corporate, and the changes frustrated staff.
“What happens here is that we train a lot of great people, people who are new to research. And then they usually leave us because other places can offer them better things,” said OCR data specialist Erin Holland. “It would be really encouraging to have them want to stay here, and I think our union, with our newly earned seat at the table, can accomplish that.” ••
Work being done at State and Rhawn
Carlton Williams, commissioner of the city Department of Streets, announced that work has begun on the Pennypack Connector Trail Project at State Road and Rhawn Street.
Work involves constructing an asphalt multi-use trail and a concrete refuge island in the center lane of State Road. The project also includes modifications to traffic signals, line striping, ADA ramps, sidewalks along a curb extension of the cartway and Water Department green stormwater infrastructure.
Construction will be staged such that all corners will not be under construction at the same time, thus maintaining pedestrian crossings throughout construction. Vehicular traffic will be maintained during construction. The contractor may require temporary lane and parking restrictions while completing work.
The work is being completed by Seravalli Inc. Construction costs are valued at $1.2 million and are being financed with federal and city funding. The project will be complete by the end of summer 2024. ••
State grant for Glen Foerd
State Rep. Pat Gallagher announced a state grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Arts and Culture Recovery Grants Program worth $28,343 has been awarded to Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation.
“I’m always glad to help bring state dollars back to the district and to see deserving organizations being awarded them,” Gallagher said. “Glen Foerd is an organization that does great work here in Northeast Philadelphia, and this funding will help them to continue doing so for our community.” ••
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. ••
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. ••
Half-price merchandise
The Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., will hold a half-price clothing sale on all merchandise, including Christmas items, through Dec. 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. The shop will be closed Dec. 25 through Jan. 6, reopening fully restocked on Jan. 7. Call 215-624-9130. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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 info@kleinlife.or 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. ••
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. ••
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 olli@widener.edu or 610-499-4279. ••
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. ••
