Register for mayoral forum
The Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a mayoral forum on Tuesday, April 18, in the gym at Holy Family University, located in the Campus Center, close to the entrance at Frankford Avenue and Stevenson Lane. PHL17 will broadcast the forum from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The forum will be available on the PHL website, beginning at 11 p.m. The moderators will be Dan McElhatton, a lawyer, former city councilman and chair of the GNPCC’s government affairs committee; Northeast Times editor Tom Waring; and Jennifer Lewis-Hall, of PHL17. To register to attend, visit https://gnpcc.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/5106157. ••
Rendell backs Santamoor
Democratic City Council at-large candidate Eryn Santamoor has been endorsed by former Gov. and Mayor Ed Rendell.
“Philadelphians deserve to have her kind of passion, knowledge and character in City Council. Eryn is a proven leader who will work to strengthen our schools, protect our people and communities, and improve the direction of our great city,” Rendell said.
“I believe in Philadelphia’s strong future and I know I can help lead with a thoughtful approach to reforming business as usual in city government,” Santamoor said. “Gov. Rendell has always been someone I go to for advice, someone who I immensely respect and I am incredibly grateful to earn his endorsement because I know it truly means he believes in my ability to help this city.”
Santamoor served as a deputy managing director in the Nutter administration, a national consultant to cities and states and chief of staff for Councilman Allan Domb. ••
Health workers back Gym
Democratic mayoral candidate Helen Gym was endorsed by Health Professionals and Allied Employees, AFT, AFL-CIO, a union that represents registered nurses and health care professionals in the region.
“For years, I have proudly stood alongside nurses, social workers and hospital staff on the picket line to win safe working conditions for our city’s healthcare professionals. And I am honored that they are standing with me now as I run for mayor to make Philadelphia a safer, more vibrant and healthier place to live, work and raise a family,” Gym said. “Over the past three years, healthcare workers have gone above and beyond to keep our communities safe, even when faced with dangerous working conditions, dire staffing shortages and insufficient benefits. Healthcare professionals play a vital role in saving lives, stabilizing families and improving the public health, and when I am mayor I will treat them as partners to address the ongoing staffing crisis and ensure they receive the dignified working conditions they deserve.”
HPAE members work in hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, blood banks and university research facilities throughout New Jersey and the Philadelphia area, including Local 5106 at Temple Episcopal Hospital and the Philadelphia locations of the American Red Cross.
The announcement follows other endorsements earned by Gym, including Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers, UNITE HERE Philadelphia, AFSCME DC 47, Working Families Party, AFT Pennsylvania, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, Teamsters Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division, Reclaim Philadelphia, One Pennsylvania, Make the Road Action, 18th Ward Democrats, First Ward Democrats, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, Second Ward Democrats, Ward 39A Democrats, Amistad Movement Power, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Free the Ballot and Straight Ahead. ••
Rhynhart releases education plan
Democratic mayoral candidate Rebecca Rhynhart announced her plans for improving public education in Philadelphia.
“As a mom to a seventh-grader in the Philadelphia school district, this issue is one that is personal to me. Every child in our city deserves a good school to go to, whether that is a traditional public or charter school,” Rhynhart said. “As mayor, I will provide the leadership needed to improve the quality of our schools, appointing a school board aligned with my vision for improvement, establishing a strong Mayor’s Office of Education reporting to me, and providing city services aligned with neighborhood schools.”
Key components of the Rhynhart plan for education rely on increased funding from the state. She believes every school should have a nurse and social worker. When a school does not have this, the Rhynhart administration will provide one by partnering with the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Service. Additionally, the Free Library and parks and recreation centers will have extended afternoon and evening hours and offer programs to help advance students’ education achievement goals while providing them with safe haven outside of their homes.
You can read the plan in its entirety at rebeccaforphiladelphia.com/education. ••
Adult and teen library programs
Richmond Library, 2987 Almond St., is hosting Crochet Circle, for adults, on Wednesdays, April 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 4 p.m.
A chess club will meet on Mondays, April 10, 17 and 24, from 4-6 p.m. Beginners are welcome.
The library will present Philadelphia Legal Assistance: Child Custody and Protection from Abuse Resource Table on Tuesday, April 25, from 3-5 p.m.
Call 215-685-9992. ••
Children’s programs at Richmond Library
Richmond Library, 2987 Almond St., is hosting children’s programs.
Preschool Storytime and Play Group is set for Wednesdays, April 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 10:30 a.m. Join Ms. Meghan for stories, songs and fun for ages 4 and under with caregivers. Stay after Storytime to play. Siblings welcome.
Read, Baby, Read Storytime and Play Group will meet on Thursdays, April 13, 20 and 27, at 10:30 a.m. Join Ms. Meghan for lap time with stories, songs, rhymes and bounces for babies with caregivers. Stay after Storytime to play. Siblings welcome. The program is made possible by a grant from the William Penn Foundation.
Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program meets Mondays through Thursdays, from 3-6 p.m., and Fridays, from 3-5 p.m. LEAP is a free, drop-in afterschool program that offers homework help and activities for students in grades K-12 every day after school.
Philly Goat Project Storytime will take place on Wednesday, April 12, from 4-6 p.m. There will be a free goat walk, audience participation production of the Philly Goats Gruff and story reading with friendly, furry friends. All ages welcome.
Call 215-685-9992. ••
Celebrating 100 years of SMT
St. Martin of Tours Parish invites all school alumni, current and past parishioners and friends to a 100th anniversary Mass in the upper church, 5450 Roosevelt Blvd., on Sunday, April 30, at noon. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Edward Adams. Afterward, there will be a “Past & Present — Building Our Future” celebration at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road, from 2-6 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and include food, soft drinks, music and door prizes. The event is for ages 21-plus. Tickets must be purchased in advance in the rectory, after all Masses, through Venmo (@smotphilly) or with check to St. Martin of Tours Church, 5450 Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19124, Attn: Centennial Celebration. Proceeds will benefit church improvements. ••
Sports Hall of Fame ceremony set
The City All Star Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame will hold its 29th awards banquet on Tuesday, April 18, at 5:30 p.m. at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road.
The class of 2023 consists of former North Catholic soccer coach Jerry Brindisi; former Northeast High football coach Harvey “Brew” Schumer; Frank “Roscoe” Natale, who has coached baseball and been athletic director at Southern and Bok and been football coach at Bok, Bartram and Southern; and former La Salle University and Archbishop Ryan baseball coach Mike Lake.
In addition, the class of 2020 will be recognized. The banquet honoring them was postponed due to COVID.
Those inductees are former La Salle University basketball player Craig Conlin; coach and youth league organizer Lou DeCree; retired longtime women’s college basketball official Dennis DeMayo; Division I football official Joe Griesser; Joe Hand, a leading TV distributor of closed-circuit and pay-per-view boxing; Mike Hawkins, the PIAA District 12 chairman and former football coach and athletic director at Germantown High School; Steve Kane, the longtime former boys basketball coach at University City who led the Jaguars to the 1995 Public League title; Mike Koplove, who pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians; Kathy Lonergan, a Division I women’s basketball referee; Dave Mastropietro, a baseball star at La Salle University; and Dr. Anthony Salem, a former minor league baseball player.
Tickets cost $75 in advance and $80 at the door. Tables of 10 cost $750.
Checks can be made payable to Philadelphia City All Star Chapter, and mailed to PAHOF, P.O. Box 672, Levittown, PA 19055-9998 (include email address and inductee name on check). No paper tickets will be issued. Instead, guests will go to a welcome table at the FOP to get their seat assignments.
Organizers are also looking for sponsors for an ad book.
For tickets or ads, contact Steve DiSangro at [email protected] or 215-421-7556. ••
North communion breakfast
The Northeast Catholic Alumni Communion Breakfast will take place on April 16 at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road. Mass will be at 8:30 a.m., followed by breakfast. Register at www.northcatholicalumni.org. ••
North Catholic reunion
Northeast Catholic Class of 1969 will meet on May 13 at 2 p.m. at Port Richmond Pub, 2601 E. Venango St. (at Almond Street). There will be a cash bar and food. To RSVP, contact Jack Devine ([email protected] or 215-379-3303); Tom Jordon ([email protected]); or Leo Filewicz (215-292-7193). ••
Community and health fair
Lutheran Settlement House, 1340 Frankford Ave., will host a community and health fair on Tuesday, April 25, from noon to 3 p.m.
The event is free and open to all. Available services include hearing aid screenings, blood pressures, height and weight checks, senior services such as SEPTA card new or renewals and photos, mental health screenings and healthy cooking demo. Contact 215-426-8610 or [email protected] for more information. ••
Sign up for senior softball
The Philadelphia Senior Softball League is looking for experienced players for their 59-and-over and 68-and-over leagues. The seasons start mid-April and will go until the end of September. There will be about 30 games, plus playoffs. No games are played in July. The 59-and-over games are Tuesdays and Thursdays. The 68-and-over games are Mondays and Fridays. All games are played at Crispin Field, Holme and Convent avenues. Games start at 10 a.m. For more information on the 59-and-over league, call John Troy at 215-292-1437. For more information on the 68-and-over league, call Marty King at 215-409-5021. ••
Nutter endorses Santamoor
Former Mayor Michael Nutter endorsed City Council at-large candidate Eryn Santamoor in the May 16 Democratic primary.
“Eryn is more qualified to be on Council than I was when I ran the first time or the second time,” Nutter said. “I could not be more proud of her or excited about her candidacy. Eryn has always been someone I could count on to do what’s right and get the job done; she is relentless in her efforts and represents everything Philadelphia deserves right now.”
Santamoor worked on Nutter’s mayoral campaign and as a deputy managing director during his administration.
Former Mayor and Gov. Ed Rendell has also endorsed Santamoor, who has served as a national consultant to cities and states and chief of staff to former Councilman Allan Domb.
Santamoor has also received endorsements from state Reps. Donna Bullock and Jared Solomon, CWA Local 13000, TWU Local 234, IATSE Local 8, IUOE Local 542, Philadelphia Metal Trades Council, 5th Square, Philadelphia 3.0 and the 5th, 8th and 9th wards. ••
CCP staff supports Gym
Democratic mayoral candidate Helen Gym has been endorsed by Faculty and Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia (FSFCCP), Local AFT2026.
“An affordable and vibrant community college system is central to my vision of stabilizing, empowering and growing our city — so it means a great deal to me to have the support of the Faculty and Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia,” Gym said. “As the Philadelphia region’s most accessible institution of higher education, it is vital that the incoming mayor recognizes CCP for the incredible asset that it is, and uplifts its students and workers accordingly. CCP is and must be a college for the people of our city, where anyone, regardless of their background, can go to receive a world-class education that leads them to a high-quality job. I will be the loudest and proudest champion for the hardworking staff, faculty and students of CCP, and together we will transform higher education into a true public good.”
Junior Brainard, FSFCCP co-president, cited Gym’s record of fighting for public education, workers, students and families.
Gym said, “The faculty and staff of CCP are already delivering high-quality education and job training to thousands of Phialdelphians every year, and my mission as mayor will be to expand, increase and strengthen CCP’s capacity to deliver higher education to the masses. As a former teacher, organizer and Philly mom, I have spent my life fighting for fully-funded education for our kids and young adults. I know that in order for Philadelphia to flourish, we must provide residents with quality, affordable public schooling from early childhood through adulthood. As mayor, I won’t take for granted the invaluable work that CCP faculty and staff do every day to educate our neighbors – I will be their biggest advocate.”
Gym has also been endorsed by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers, UNITE HERE Philadelphia, AFSCME DC 47, Working Families Party, AFT Pennsylvania, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, Teamsters Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division, Reclaim Philadelphia, One Pennsylvania, Make the Road Action, 18th Ward Democrats, First Ward Democrats, Health Professionals and Allied Employees AFT AFL-CIO, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, Second Ward Democrats, Ward 39A Democrats, Amistad Movement Power, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Free the Ballot and Straight Ahead. ••
Bridge repairs on 95
PennDOT announced that regional bridge repairs will continue this week on Interstate 95 in Bridesburg under a $44.6 million bridge improvement project to perform high-priority repairs on several structures on I-95, Interstate 476 and Interstate 295 in Philadelphia, Delaware and Bucks counties.
Motorists are advised of the following travel restriction:
• Through Friday, April 7, from 7:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., the following morning, lane closures will be in place on the ramp from Aramingo Avenue to southbound I-95 between the Bridge Street/Harbison Avenue (Exit 27) and Betsy Ross Bridge (Exit 26) interchanges for expansion joint repair on southbound I-95.
All scheduled activities are weather dependent.
Repairs to the structures under this project include replacing rocker bearings, frozen sliding plate bearings and deck expansion joints; cleaning and painting steel beams; repairing substructure concrete; and reconstructing bearing pedestals.
The project also includes the replacement of high mast light poles along the I-95 corridor in Philadelphia and Delaware counties.
Driscoll Construction Company Inc. is the general contractor on the project, which is financed with 100% federal funds. ••
Concert at The Fillmore
R&B singer Bryson Tiller will bring his Back and I’m Better Tour to The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St., on Sunday, May 21.
Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com. ••
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. ••
Wildwood days in June
The Lutheran Settlement House Senior Center is sponsoring a trip to Wildwood from June 5-9.
The cost is $650 and includes round-trip transportation; four nights at Oceanfront Hotel; four full breakfasts and dinners; a visit to historic Smithville and Cape May; and a dolphin watch cruise.
The trip is for people 55 and older. Contact Geneva Scafe at [email protected] or 215-426-8610, Ext. 1206. ••
Bingo 3 times a week
The Ukrainian Cathedral, at Brown and Franklin streets, hosts bingo every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Games start at 6:30. Call 215-829-8103. ••
Lane closure on Frankford Avenue
PennDOT announced that the Philadelphia Water Department has begun utility construction on Frankford Avenue.
Through Wednesday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a weekday lane closure is scheduled on Frankford Avenue between Lehigh Avenue and Somerset Street.
All scheduled activities are weather dependent. ••
Go see Mamma Mia!
The Star Players, of the city Department of Parks and Recreation, will present Mamma Mia! from June 2-4 at 7 p.m. at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock St. in Manayunk. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Group rates are available. Tickets are available at Holmesburg Recreation Center, 4500 Rhawn St., or on Venmo @TheStarplayers. For more information, contact director Bill Arthur at 215-685-8714 or [email protected]. ••
Upcoming cruise
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a fully escorted Holy Lands & Aegean Majesty cruise that will sail Oct. 6-17, featuring 10 ports-of-call. Rates, including airfare, range from $4,198 to $7,998 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]. ••
