Programs at Richmond Library
Richmond Library, 2987 Almond St., offers a Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program that meets Mondays and Tuesdays from 2-6 p.m. and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2-5 p.m. LEAP is a free, drop-in afterschool program that provides homework help and activities for students in grades K-12 every day after school.
Preschool Storytime and Play Group meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Join Ms. Meghan for stories and songs for ages 4 and under with caregivers. Stay after Storytime to play. Siblings welcome.
A Children’s Crochet Club, recommended for ages 7 and up, meets every Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Hip Hop Jazz Musicology will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 4 p.m. It’s an interactive experience of the evolution of black American music led by Ali Richardson. For school-age children and adults.
An adult Horror Book Club will meet on Monday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. and every third Monday of the month.
The Chess Club meets Mondays from 4-6 p.m., except Feb. 19. All ages and skill levels welcome.
Read, Baby, Read Storytime and Play Group will meet on Thursday, starting Feb. 8, 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.
Call 215-685-9992. ••
Flea market vendors wanted
St. Hubert High School, 7320 Torresdale Ave., will host an indoor flea market on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Tables are $20 each. Email [email protected] or visit Huberts.org/FleaMarket. ••
Bus trip to Tropicana
Holy Innocents Parish will hold a Mardi Gras casino trip on Feb. 13 to the Tropicana in Atlantic City. A bus will depart L Street and Hunting Park Avenue at 9:30 a.m., and will depart the Tropicana at 5 p.m. The cost is $40, due by Feb. 6. There will be $20 in slot cash. To reserve your seat, call Cindy at 215-535-2740. ••
Tell your love story
Port Richmond Neighborhood Action encourages couples to submit their love story for a chance to win a dinner for two at La Roma restaurant, 2620 E. Allegheny Ave., on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. To enter, email a story of under 400 words and a high-resolution photo by Feb. 9 to [email protected]. ••
Valentine’s Day dinner and show
The Buck Hotel will present Valentine’s Day with the Romantic Sounds of Sinatra & Friends, starring Joey C, on Friday, Feb. 9. Doors open at 6 p.m. The show starts at 6:30. The cost is $68, which includes dinner, dancing, the show and taxes and gratuities. The Buck is at 1200 Buck Road in Feasterville. Tickets are available at thebuckhotel.com/eventscalendar. For more information, call 215-317-7675. ••
Benefit at AOH 87
Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 87, 3524 E. Thompson St., will hold a bucket drop on Friday, Feb. 9, from 3-9 p.m., to benefit the family of Ashley Marie Martin, 33, who passed away recently after a brief, unexpected illness.
Bartenders will also donate their tips, and there will be food, gift baskets and a 50/50.
Proceeds will go to funeral and burial expenses. ••
Seeking solutions to gun violence
City Councilwoman Rue Landau, chairwoman of the Committee on Technology and Information Services, introduced the 57+ Blocks Resolution, aiming to hold hearings that explore the most efficient implementation of local, place-based interventions, using data tools and community-centered approaches.
In 2021, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that since 2015, there were 57 blocks in the city where 10 or more people had been shot. Since then, the number of blocks has continued to rise. In response, community partners combined efforts with the District Attorney’s Office to form the 57+ Blocks Coalition. The group works to reduce violence through the reinvestment of resources and services into neighborhoods.
“I look forward to these hearings that will bring in subject matter experts, community members and urban policy thought leaders to discuss data-driven solutions to our gun violence epidemic,” Landau said. “The 57+ Blocks Coalition has given a voice to communities that have witnessed the effects of violence firsthand right outside their doors. Now, it’s time to connect their voices to the data, the technology and the strategies that will make the streets of Philadelphia safer and our communities more vibrant.”
The resolution authorizes the committee to hold hearings examining data to most effectively implement local strategies and appropriate technologies to reduce violence through the targeted investment of resources, services and environmental improvements. The hearings seek to investigate the available data and necessary analytics that will allow the city to assess conditions affecting these 57+ blocks and the potential for solutions, as well as invite subject matter experts, including those with lived experiences of violence and disinvestment.
“We are excited about this next step in the evolution of this city understanding the importance of non-law enforcement ways of creating public safety,” said the Rev. Gregory Holston, co-facilitator of the 57+ Blocks Coalition. “We thank Councilperson Landau for this resolution and all those, including our Council president, who have co-sponsored it. We look forward to a vigorous hearing and real solutions to continue to reduce gun violence in our city.”
The resolution was approved by a unanimous vote of Council. ••
Sign up for senior softball
The Philadelphia Senior Softball League is looking for experienced players for its 68-and-over and 58-and-over leagues. The 58-plus teams play Tuesdays and Thursdays. The 68-plus teams play Mondays and Fridays. All games start at 10 a.m. and are played at Crispin Fields, at Holme and Convent avenues. Games start mid-April and run till the end of September. No games in July. For the 58-plus league, call Mike Bojanowski at 215-801-4869. For the 68-plus league, call Marty King at 215-409-5021. ••
A year of events at Jewish history museum
The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, on Independence Mall, has a full schedule of events in 2024.
The exhibition, The Future Will Follow the Past: An Exhibition by Jonathan Horowitz, is on view.
Throughout the year, there will be special events, concerts, family-friendly programming, films, antisemitism lectures and book releases.
The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers free admission.
For more information, go to theweitzman.org. ••
Meeting in Port Richmond
Port Richmond Neighborhood Action will meet on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Block Church, 2537 E. Monmouth St. The guest speaker will be from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, discussing the Superfund site at Castor and Delaware avenues. Elected officials and the 24th Police District have also been invited. ••
Folk group coming to Fillmore
The 502s, an indie folk group, will bring its Great American Road Trip tour to the Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St., on Saturday, April 20.
The guest will be Daniel Nunnelee.
For tickets, go to The502s.com/Tour/. ••
Concert at Brooklyn Bowl
Australian alternative/indie recording artist Kim Dracula announced its America’s Gradual Decline In Morale Tour, in support of their debut album, A Gradual Decline In Morale.
The 14-date tour kicks off at Brooklyn Bowl, 1009 Canal St., on Saturday, March 9.
Tickets are available at kimdracula.com. ••
Benson Boone coming to Fillmore
Pop singer Benson Boone will bring his Fireworks and Rollerblades tour to The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St., on April 14.
Tickets are available at bensonboone.com. ••
Free tax preparation
People who need help preparing their federal income tax return can take advantage of the free assistance program offered by KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave. The program will run from Feb. 1 to April 12 and is available to everyone with incomes of up to $73,000 whether filling single or joint returns. Call 215-698-7300, Ext. 194 to make an appointment. Have all of your tax information, including last year’s federal tax return, W-2, 1099 and real estate tax bill. ••
Parkinson’s support group
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus is offering a Parkinson’s disease support group on Feb. 14 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 group is led by nurse practitioner June Ro, and will include guest speakers.
To register, contact Ro at 215-707-2619 or [email protected]. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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. ••
