Blood drive on Saturday
The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Saturday, Dec. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 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. ••
Upcoming operas
Amici Opera Company will present a number of upcoming performances. The schedule is below.
Verdi’s Macbeth on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 4 p.m. at Community Presbyterian Church, 1501 W. Brigantine Ave., Brigantine. The cost is $30.
Verdi’s Un Giorno Di Regno (A King for a Day) on Sunday, Jan. 5, and Saturday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer.
Donizetti’s Il Castello Di Kenilworth on Saturdays, Jan. 18 and 25, at 3 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer.
Puccini’s La Boheme on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2:30 p.m. at Dock Woods, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale; and Saturday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer.
Also, La Boheme will be presented on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. at La Piovra, 7901 High School Road, Elkins Park. The cost is $54.95 per person (tips and tax not included) and includes dinner. For reservations, call 215-606-3800.
Call 215-224-0257 or visit the Amici Opera Company on Facebook. ••
Donate blood
The American Red Cross is encouraging people to donate blood.
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 donation options are on Dec. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at American Legion Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave.; and Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Jeanes Hospital Patient Care Center, main lobby, 7600 Central Ave.
Schedule an appointment to give blood by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED CROSS. ••
Watch local Christmas movie
Philly Born Films has released Finding Christmas, written and produced by Mike Walsh and directed by Bridget Smith. After suffering a head injury on Christmas Eve, a rebellious teen transports back in time, Wizard of Oz style, to the woods outside Bethlehem. Alone in a scary forest, he struggles to get to the stable where Jesus was born so he can get home. Watch the movie at these links: https://bit.ly/m/FINDING-CHRISTMAS-MOVIE ••
Solomon wants rapid transit on Blvd.
State Rep. Jared Solomon called for a rapid transit option such as a subway on Roosevelt Boulevard during a news conference at Front Street and the Boulevard.
“A rapid transit option will improve quality-of-life by cutting down on traffic congestion, connecting us to the rest of the city and our surrounding counties, and improve job opportunities,” he said. “We have a chance to be innovative in uplifting the Northeast. A direct connection to the rest of the city via subway would be a great investment for the small businesses, create new businesses and connect us to healthcare and educational opportunities.” ••
English classes at Bustleton Library
Bustleton Library, 10199 Bustleton Ave., hosts free intermediate English classes on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. To register, go to remind.com/join/dbhd4e or call 215-685-0472. ••
Christmas at St. James
St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5185 Castor Ave., will hold the following upcoming events: Wednesday, Dec. 25 (11 a.m. service); Sunday, Dec. 29 (10 a.m. service); Saturday, Jan. 4, 6 p.m. (Three Kings Service). ••
Half-price clothing sale
The Classroom Thrift Shop, 4301 Tyson Ave., sponsored by the women of Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, will hold a half-price clothing sale through December. Hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays and closed Saturdays. Call 216-624-9130. ••
Donate blood at Jeanes
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will hold a blood drive on Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the patient care center lobby, 7600 Central Ave. To register or for more information, visit redcrossblood.org and enter TUH Jeanes Campus as the location. ••
New website for NE Times
The Northeast Times has a new website: https://patimes.media/
The website includes news, sports, opinion, crime, features and a way to subscribe. The site includes an option to read the current issue in “flipbook” style. Readers are also encouraged to follow the newspaper on Facebook at Northeast Times and on X @NETimesOfficial. In addition to the Times being delivered to homes, the paper can be found at these spots: https://patimes.media/pickup-locations/. ••
Mummers marching order
The Mummers Parade on Wednesday, Jan. 1, will start at 17th and Market streets before turning at City Hall, then south along Broad Street to Washington Avenue.
The parade consists of the String Bands, Wenches, Comics, Fancies and Fancy Brigades.
Here is the marching order for the Mummers Parade, on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
String Bands: Durning, Jersey, Duffy, Hegeman, Polish American, Greater Kensington, Aqua, Ferko, Uptown, Fralinger, Quaker City, South Philadelphia (defending champion), Avalon and Woodland.
Fancy Brigades (judged at the Pennsylvania Convention Center): Clevemore, Spartans, Golden Crown, South Philly Vikings (defending champion), Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars, Jokers, Saturnalian, Downtowners, Avenuers and Satin Slipper.
Wenches: Riverfront, Saints, Cara Liom, Oregon, Americans (defending champion), MGK, O’Malley, Pirates, Bryson and Froggy Carr.
The parade will be broadcast on MeTV2 and 69-WFMZ-TV from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hosts Dawn Stensland and Larry Mendte. ••
Meeting about the Boulevard
PennDOT, the city and SEPTA invite the public to an open house to discuss the future of Roosevelt Boulevard on Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 6-8 p.m., at American Heritage Credit Union, 2068 Red Lion Road. Light snacks will be available. The public can take part in a survey on Boulevard proposals at https://bit.ly/3V4RB0H?r=qr ••
Bingo at St. Hubert
St. Hubert sewing students will present Fashion Bingo on Sunday, Feb. 16, in the school cafeteria, 7320 Torresdale Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. Games begin at 2. The cost is $35 and includes 11 rounds of bingo, baked goods, water, tea and coffee. There will be raffle baskets, and people are welcome to bring their own food and drinks. Checks can be made payable to St. Hubert High School, Attn: Jillian Smith. Visit huberts.org/fashionbingo or email jillian.smith@huberts.org. ••
Small biz disaster preparedness workshop
The 7th Police District Advisory Council will present a free small business disaster preparedness workshop on Thursday, Jan. 23, at American Heritage Credit Union, 2068 Red Lion Road.
Registration begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the workshop at 7. The workshop is co-sponsored by the city Office of Emergency Management.
To register, visit 7thpdac.com and click on Workshops. ••
Curfew, underage drinking
Curfew in Philadelphia is 9:30 p.m. for anyone 13 and under and 10 p.m. for those ages 14-17. If police pick up someone for a curfew violation in the Northeast, the young person will be taken home, to the Community Evening Resource Center at 4704 Leiper St. in Frankford or to the 2nd, 7th, 8th or 15th police districts. The penalty for a curfew violation can be up to $300.
Under state law, underage drinking is a summary offense with a $500 fine for the first violation. Anyone receiving a citation for underage drinking can be asked about it on applications for jobs, college applications and appointments to military service academies. ••
Meeting in Fox Chase
The Fox Chase Town Watch and Fox Chase Civic Association meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Loudenslager Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave. The group will meet on the following dates in 2025: Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, Sept. 10, Oct. 8 and Nov. 12. ••
Bereavement support group
Lambie Funeral Home, 8000 Rowland Ave. (at Rhawn Street) sponsors a Bereavement Support group for all who have lost loved ones on the first Wednesday of the month (except January), from 6:30 to 8 p.m., through June 4. There is no fee. Call 215-332-6110. ••
Programs at NE Regional
Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave., offers the following recurring programs:
• Crochet Club, Fridays at 11 a.m. in the second-floor Humanities Department. Bring your own materials.
• Mixed Level English Class, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. Call 215-685-0522.
• PA CareerLink® Job Search Assistance, Wednesdays, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Call 833-750-5627.
• Chess Club for Adults & Teens, Tuesdays, 4-6 p.m.
• One-on-One Basic Computer Help Appointments, Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 215-685-0525.
• Thursday Computer Help: Various Subjects, Thursdays, 1-2 p.m.
• Gadget Help, Mondays and Wednesdays upon request. Call 215-685-0525.
• Computer Skills for Beginners, Tuesdays, 2-4 p.m. Register at 215-474-1235.
• English Conversation Group – Intermediate-plus, Mondays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Register at 215-474-1235. ••
Join St. Anselm Seniors
St. Anselm has started a senior citizen club that meets most Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Hall, 12650 Dunksferry Road. The club is open to men and women 55 and older, and members don’t have to be St. Anselm parishioners. For more information, visit the St. Anselm Senior Citizens Club page on Facebook. ••
Bingo at Cannstatter’s
Bingo is played every Thursday at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Bingo starts at 6:30. Call 215-322-0121. ••
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 p.m. There are dollar hot dogs and free popcorn and refreshments. ••
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. Call Commander Israel Wolmark at 215-725-0630 if you would like to join the post. ••
Pacific Wine Country tour
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is going on a Pacific Wine Country cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess, May 10-17, 2025. Ports-of-call include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Astoria (Oregon) and Victoria and Vancouver (Canada). Rates range from $3,048 to $3,578 per person, double occupancy, which includes round-trip airfare from Philadelphia, port charges, government fees, taxes and transfers to and from the ship. Call 215-788-9408 for more information. ••
Cruise in July 2025
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is traveling on an Independence Day Celebration cruise, July 1-8, 2025. Ports-of-call include New York, Newport, Boston on July 4 and Halifax, Nova Scotia. A passport is required. Rates range from $1,920 to $2,680 per person, double occupancy. For a flyer, call 215-788-9408. ••
Rhawnhurst Civic to meet in January
Rhawnhurst Civic Association cancelled its December meeting. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., at Pelbano Playground, 8100 Bustleton Ave. The 2nd and 7th Police District community relations officers will provide neighborhood crime and safety updates, and there are pending zoning issues. For more information, go to RhawnhurstCivicAssociation.com and join the email list. ••
Learning support at Little Flower, St. Hubert
The Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has received a $70,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation to support Little Flower and St. Hubert high schools.
The funding will establish learning support programs at both schools. Korin Robinson leads the initiative and serves as the new shared Learning Support Specialist at Little Flower and St. Hubert. In her role, Robinson reviews data gathered through the admissions process to develop appropriate strategies to best serve the educational needs of the students.
Kathleen Radebaugh, principal of Little Flower, said, “Little Flower is committed to the advancement and preparation of all students. This new program will allow us to meet students in new ways that address their learning styles and abilities. Teachers will work collaboratively with their colleagues and our new Learning Support Specialist to improve student outcomes and experiences for each grade level. Most importantly, the Learning Support Specialist is a liaison for the student’s family as they become familiar with the academic setting. As an eighth-grader transitions into high school, as a sophomore shifts to upper-level classes, and as a senior plans for postgraduation, Little Flower will guide this student and her family in this process.”
“We look forward to interviewing the families about the needs their daughter has in their learning process,” said Gina MacKenzie, principal of St. Hubert. “We have already seen an increase in families applying for their daughters to be a part of this at St. Hubert and we could not be more grateful that we will have a supports coordinator and social worker as we launch the new Bambies Achieve program.”
It is projected that Little Flower and St. Hubert will enroll up to 25 students from each school in the first cohort of the initiative. ••
Exhibit of UArts student work
Creative Philadelphia and City Councilwoman Rue Landau announced an exhibition titled Transcending Uncertainty: Art Endures at Home in Philadelphia, through Jan. 25, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the City Hall Art Gallery. The exhibition is a collaboration between Creative Philadelphia and Landau to support students and faculty affected by the recent closure of the University of the Arts. The exhibit features the work of 42 former UArts students, faculty and staff displayed on the first-floor art gallery within Creative Philadelphia-Room 116, and on the fifth-floor corridor near City Council offices. The exhibition features more than 50 artworks and was selected by artist Lauren Rinaldi, who also serves as Landau’s arts and culture liaison.
“The closure of UArts is a significant loss for Philadelphia, but our local creative community is resilient,” Landau said. “I’m honored to provide a space for these talented artists to display their work and remind them that Philadelphia values and celebrates their contributions.” ••
World Nativities exhibition and more at Glencairn
Glencairn Museum, 1001 Cathedral Road in Bryn Athyn, continues with holiday events, including the annual World Nativities exhibition through Jan. 26 and a castle tour of past Christmas celebrations through Jan. 5.
Glencairn Museum’s annual World Nativities exhibition presents dozens of three-dimensional Nativity scenes collected from around the world.
One of the highlights of this year’s World Nativities exhibition is a crafted Nativity scene by husband-and-wife artist team Karen Loccisano and R. Michael Palan, in memory of their friend Linda Weller, who passed away last year.
Another standout piece in the World Nativities exhibition is a ceramic Nativity scene crafted this year by Armenian artist Gohar Petrosyan. It depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds, inspired by a 1262 Gospel illumination by Armenian artist T’oros Roslin. It was commissioned by Anna Akhobadze, a member of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Cheltenham. Akhobadze, a 15-year-old high school junior and church member who visited Glencairn’s World Nativities exhibition last year, was passionate about including an Armenian Nativity in this year’s exhibition.
Meanwhile, a guided holiday tour visits different floors throughout the building, taking you on a journey back through time to explore how the Pitcairn family celebrated Christmas in their 20th-century castle.
For more information, visit GlencairnMuseum.org or call 267-502-2600. ••
Project will stop soil erosion
Ecological restoration contractors with Riverfront North Partnership and the city Department of Parks and Recreation began work to stabilize the south side of the Pennypack Creek’s bank below the Baxter Trail Bridge. Located roughly half a mile downstream of the water intake providing nearly 60 percent of the city’s water, the project seeks to stop soil erosion threatening a trail and riparian forest.
“Over the last three years, our staff had noted the consistent undercutting of the bank. Trees were being lost and a very popular footpath used by anglers was threatened as well,” said Stephanie Phillips, executive director of Riverfront North.
“With Riverfront North’s work stewarding the trails, meadows and forests at Pennypack on the Delaware, we thought an ecological restoration of the creekbank aligned well with our mission to nurture environments along the greenway.”
On its way to the Delaware River, the Pennypack meanders through 12 Pennsylvania municipalities and captures water from nearly 56 square miles worth of urban, suburban and rural land, 33 percent of which is impenetrable. As upstream stormwater management efforts expand across these municipalities, Riverfront North believes global climate change will bring more frequent and severe rain events. Runoff from these intense bursts of precipitation will impact the form and ecological health of creeks like the Pennypack.
Poor soil adjacent to the creek further complicated restoration strategies. Much of the land at the confluence of the Pennypack and the Delaware is human made, meaning the soil there is composed of very loose, unstable municipal waste and other deposited materials. Any plans to restore the bank needed to account for the presence of this waste material, so normal techniques of regrading and armoring the bank were not possible. To avoid this material and account for the trail, designers from Riverfront North, Parks and Rec and Sovereign Consulting planned a series of three rock vanes projecting into the Pennypack Creek flow. Recognizing that this bend in the creek could see dynamic tidal surges from the Delaware, the vanes’ size and orientation are also designed to dissipate upstream tidal flows. These jetties will be connected to the bank by terraces of native herbaceous plantings.
“We wanted a strategy that minimally impacted the trail and avoided fill material very close to the top of the bank,” said Riverfront North’s Director of Projects, Christopher Dougherty. “We also wanted these engineered structures to live in this space unobtrusively, so these stones are carefully selected from regional quarries to support local biota.”
It was the project’s connection to Riverfront North’s ongoing ecological stewardship of adjacent land and water habitats that supported the award of a competitive grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Construction is scheduled to last roughly one month, and all trails, meadows and turf spaces restored if affected during construction. This work, along with on-the-ground land stewardship — plantings, invasive removal, tree care, public horticulture — reflects Riverfront North’s commitment to restoring Delaware River habitats for ecological uplift and public enjoyment.
“The Riverfront North Greenway has some of the most exceptional natural spaces in the city,” said Phillips, “and this project is about working with city, state and federal partners to ensure these spaces continue to be ecologically thriving and accessible.” ••
Comedy show at Painted Mug
The Black Power Rangers comedy tour will come to the Painted Mug Cafe, 1527 Jackson St. (at Mole Street), on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The show starts at 8 and features four black stand-up comedians: Wills Maxwell Jr., Brandi Roberts, Jarrod Fortune and Cordero Wilson. The show is for people 18 and older. Tickets cost $16.88. They are available at https://www.simpletix.com/e/black-power-rangers-comedy-tour-18-tickets-190171#smtx-click. ••
Watch Mummers on MeTV2
Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is the returning Title Sponsor of the 124th annual Mummers Parade, to be presented on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The 2025 Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade will feature participants from the Fancy, Wench, Comic and String Band divisions. In addition to these performances, the parade broadcast will include appearances from Mummers personalities and sponsors.
The return of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia as the title sponsor has once again made it possible for the Mummers Parade to be broadcast live on WDPN-TV (MeTV2), WFMZ.com and the WFMZ+ app available on Firestick, Roku, Apple TV, iOS and Android devices. The Mummers and WDPN-TV will continue working with each other to broadcast the parade through 2026. The 2025 parade will also be simulcasted on 69 WFMZ-TV.
Viewers can watch the broadcast from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. across all platforms. Returning on-air hosts of the parade will be Larry Mendte and Dawn Stensland, who will be joined by Megan McFarland, providing commentary for the Comics, Wenches and Fancy divisions, and David Grzybowski, for the String Band division. In addition, Mark Montanaro, Mummers Museum curator, and Sam Regalbuto, president of the String Band Association, will provide first-hand insight throughout the parade.
“We are thrilled to return as the title sponsor of the 2025 Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Mummers Parade,” said Jake Joyce, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. “We’re proud to invest in Philadelphia’s cultural heritage and support the talented artists, performers and community members who have made this parade a spectacle for 124 years and counting.”
“We are delighted to celebrate the incredible progress our parade has achieved over the past five years, welcoming new members into our cherished family alongside our television broadcast partners MeTV, WFMZ and Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia,” Regalbuto said. “The Mummers had an extraordinary 2024, with record-breaking viewership ratings, an Emmy nomination and an unforgettable performance on the grand stage at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. As we prepare for our 124th parade, we stand on the cusp of a historic milestone — our 125th anniversary — while looking forward to the 250th anniversary of our great nation. We aim to play a meaningful role in Philadelphia’s celebration of this momentous occasion, proudly showcasing our unique culture to fans across the globe.”
Fans are encouraged to make a financial contribution by visiting www.donatemummers.com. ••
Tickets available for Wings lacrosse game
The Knights of Columbus St. John Neumann Assembly #933 are selling tickets for the lacrosse game between the Philadelphia Wings and Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center. Tickets cost $25. The Knights Honor Guard will be presenting the colors on the field. For tickets, call Ed Kligge at 267-262-2023. ••
Senior luncheons at Fox Chase church
Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase, 7902 Oxford Ave., hosts a monthly Senior Luncheon at noon on the third Wednesday of each month. Upcoming dates are Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 19 and April 16. ••
A retreat for moms
Mother Boniface Spirituality Center (3501 Solly Ave.) will present Mothers Be Still and Know That I Am God on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The speaker will be Stephanie McCarthy, a Catholic wife, mother and spiritual director. The retreat is open to mothers of all ages for faith sharing and reflection with other mothers. Part 3 will be on March 1. Each retreat costs $55 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. To register or for more information, call 267-350-1830 or visit msbt.org. ••
