Waxman’s Holocaust restitution tax exemption bill approved
The Pennsylvania House Finance Committee unanimously approved H.B. 416, introduced by state Rep. Ben Waxman. The bill would exempt restitution payments and court judgments for stolen property for victims of the Holocaust from the state’s Personal Income Tax.
“While no amount of restitution can make up for the damage done to members of persecuted populations during the Holocaust, these payments help victims and their families recover financial losses, offer supplemental support to survivors who may be living on limited incomes, and can provide a sense of justice,” Waxman said. “Allowing victims of the Holocaust to retain 100 percent of their restitution payments and awards is one small step that we as legislators can take in recognizing the lasting impact of this tragedy on the world and in honoring survivors and their families.”
The bill heads to the full House for consideration.
Jazz festival fundraiser
The Germantown Jazz Jamm, with a performance by Austin Wagner, will take place on Wednesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at Attic Brewing Company, 137 Berkley St. There will be raffles and food. Entry is free. Donations are accepted. Proceeds will benefit the Germantown Jazz Festival. ••
Make tax season less taxing
The nonprofit Campaign for Working Families is a free tax-assistance service that seeks to maximize refunds for people in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties.
The group can help people reduce errors in their returns and gain access to the Earned Income Tax Credit.
“It lowers poverty in almost every city across the nation by at least 2 percent every year,” Campaign for Working Families president and CEO Nikia Owens said of the EITC.
In addition to providing free tax preparation, the Campaign for Working Families offers financial services and workforce development programs to low- and moderate-income individuals and families.
Find out more information about site locations, hours of operation and eligibility criteria by visiting www.cwfphilly.org, emailing getinfo@cwfphilly.org or calling 215-454-6483. ••
Music, dinner and art
The City Arts Salon, 5838 Germantown Ave. (entrance on Rittenhouse Street), will present “An Intimate Affair” on March 30, from 4-8 p.m. The event will feature the Karen Smith Experience, a catered dinner paired with wine and the “Organic Improvisation” art exhibit by Cory Neale and Allan Levine. The donation is $100. Proceeds benefit the Germantown Jazz Festival. ••
Fundraiser for cancer research, care
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Board of Associates, Fox Chase Cancer Center is holding a High Tea/Mini Bingo (five games) on Friday, March 28. It will be held at Maggio’s Banquet Hall, 400 2nd Street Pike, Southampton, starting at noon. Participants will be playing to win baskets. The cost is $55. Call Lorraine Braverman at 610-277-3631. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Folk music concert
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation, 321 Cedar St. in Bristol, will welcome folksinger Mary Roth to perform “Enchanting Appalachia,” an interactive program of music and history with a focus on the rich culture of Appalachia and its people, on Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m. Light refreshment will be served. A donation of $5 per attendee is suggested. The public is invited. Call 215-788-9408 or go to www.bristolhistory.org. ••
Variety show at Buck Hotel
Joey C’s Variety Dinner Show will take place on Friday, April 4, at the Top of the Buck Ballroom, 1200 Buck Road, Feasterville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner is served at 6:30. The show starts at 8. There will be tributes to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Tickets are $85, which includes tax and gratuity. There will be a cash bar. Tickets are available at Thebuckhotel.com/eventscalendar. For more information, call 215-317-7675. ••
Deeley wants federal tax exemption for poll workers
The National Association of Counties Board of Directors, at its annual legislative conference, approved by voice vote an interim policy resolution sponsored by city elections commissioner Lisa Deeley that calls on Congress to enact legislation exempting compensation paid to election day workers from federal income, Social Security and Medicare taxes. Its passage enables the board to advocate for the tax exemption on Capitol Hill.
Deeley’s resolution was co-sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of 27 county officials from six states. At the conference, Deeley worked with the Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs Policy Steering Committee to slightly amend the language, changing “precinct poll workers” to “temporary election workers” to be more inclusive of states that have all-mail elections, like Oregon. This change allowed the resolution to pass the committee unanimously.
In January, Deeley sent a letter to the Pennsylvania congressional delegations advocating that the poll worker pay tax exemption be included in the forthcoming Tax Cuts and Jobs Act extension bills being discussed in Washington.
“The Pew Center on the States said that poll workers constitute the ‘largest one-day workforce in the country,’ ” Deeley said. “In a time when our country is so divided, we are still united by our democracy. Whether you are from King County, Washington or King County, Texas or somewhere in between we all have elections, and for those elections to happen you need poll workers. Exempting their pay from federal taxes is something that members of all parties should be able to get behind.” ••
Real estate tax refund deadline extended
Councilwomen Jamie Gauthier and Rue Landau co-introduced an ordinance extending the deadline for low-income taxpayers to apply for a refund or forgiveness of real estate taxes. The ordinance will allow for the 2025 application deadline to be extended to Sept. 30. The extension will also permit the retroactive qualification for future applicants as well as institute an auto-enrollment process for the Department of Revenue to proactively register qualified applicants.
Homeowners can apply online via the Philadelphia Tax Center, by mail or in person at one of the city’s services centers. Based on state guidelines, participants cannot exceed a total yearly gross income of $33,500 for a single person. A married couple cannot exceed a yearly gross of $41,500.
Homeowners who enroll in the low-income tax freeze before the deadline will have their property tax bill frozen at its 2024 amount, even if their assessed property value or tax rate increased. This program helps seniors and other low-income homeowners stay in their residences as housing costs and property tax bills increase.
“With expenses surging, it’s more crucial than ever to do all we can to help Philadelphians save money and stay in their homes,” Landau said. “This is one more tool in our toolbox here in City Council to help seniors and low-income Philadelphians with their housing costs.” ••
Celebrating St. Katharine Drexel
The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament invite supporters and friends to gather for the 2025 Annual Gala, a special afternoon honoring the enduring legacy of their foundress, St. Katharine Drexel, on Sunday, April 27, at 3 p.m. at The Buck Hotel, 1200 Buck Road, Feasterville.
This year’s gala commemorates the 25th anniversary of St. Katharine Drexel’s canonization. The event will feature a keynote address by Robert Gutherman, whose miraculous healing led to the first recognized miracle attributed to St. Katharine Drexel.
Sponsorships and advertisements for the gala can be purchased until April 11. All ads must be submitted by April 19.
For more information or to attend the gala, visit https://www.katharinedrexel.org/news-events/gala-2025/, contact the SBS Gala Committee at sbscm.cfgp@gmail.com or call 267-592-6711. ••
Kids can learn from Stevie the Inventor
Local innovator and STEM educator Stevie the Inventor is bringing a hands-on Nanobot Building Class to the Free Library of Philadelphia. The workshops is intended to provide children and families with an interactive experience in robotics, engineering and invention.
Stevie the Inventor’s DIY Nanobot Kits come equipped with tiny car bots and all the necessary components for assembly, giving participants the opportunity to build, test and customize their own moving nanobots. His mission is to empower young learners by teaching them the basics of engineering while fostering problem-solving skills and innovation.
An upcoming class is at Olney Library, 5501 N. 5th St., on Saturday, April 12, at 1 p.m.
“I believe that giving kids the chance to invent and create at an early age is my way of giving back to my community,” Stevie said. “If we can spark their curiosity now, they’ll have the confidence to build the future.”For more information about Stevie the Inventor’s Nanobot Building Classes or to schedule a session at your library or school, email stevethelegacy@gmail.com or call 267-244-2101. ••
Senior softball needs players
The Philadelphia Senior Softball League is looking for experienced softball players for its 58 & over and 68 & over leagues. The 58 & over league plays Tuesday and Thursday, while 68 & over plays Monday and Friday. All games are played at Crispin Field, at Holme and Convent avenues in the Northeast. Games start at 10 a.m. The season starts in mid-April and runs through September. For more information, call or text Mike Bojanowski at 215-801-4869 or Marty King at 215-409-5021. ••
Host foreign exchange student
World Heritage International Student Exchange Program is seeking local families to host foreign exchange students. World Heritage students come from countries such as Italy, Denmark, Spain, France, Germany, Ukraine, Japan and Australia. They are ages 15-18. Host families may be single parents, couples and single persons.
The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance.
If interested in hosting an exchange student, call Debra at 800-888-9040, visit www.world-heritage.org or send an email to info@world-heritage.org to request more information or start the application process. ••
Sign up for free Review newsletter
The South Philly Review has a new website: https://patimes.media/
The website includes news, arts and entertainment, crime, sports, opinion and ways to subscribe and sign up for a free newsletter that will bring stories to your inbox.
The site includes an option to read the current issue in “flipbook” style.
Readers are also encouraged to follow the newspaper on Bluesky, on Facebook at South Philly Review and on X @SoPhReview.
In addition to the Review being delivered to homes, the paper can be found at these spots: https://patimes.media/pickup-locations/#spr. ••
Germantown Jazz Festival in April
The Germantown Jazz Festival will take place from April 25-27. Venues are Germantown Friends School, Vernon Park, First Presbyterian Church and The Nile Cafe. There will be performances, workshops, food vendors, children’s activities and cultural experiences. For more information, visit GermantownJazzFestival.com or call Sherri Pennington at 267-882-7385. ••
Taekwondo competition
The Red Tiger Cup will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4, at Bucks County Community College, 275 Swamp Road, in Newtown. The fee is $80. Call 215-969-9962, email redtigertkd@gmail.com or visit red-tiger.com. ••
Theater performance of Honk!
The Star Players, of the city Department of Parks and Recreation, will present Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical on May 30-31 and June 1, at 7 p.m., at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock St., in Manayunk. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Group rates are available. Tickets can be purchased on Venmo @TheStarplayers or at Holmesburg Recreation Center, 4500 Rhawn St. For more information, follow @starplayersPPR on X, like the group’s page on Facebook or contact director Bill Arthur at 215-685-8714 or Starplayers2013@gmail.com. ••
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. 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
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is traveling on an Independence Day Celebration cruise, July 1-8. 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. ••
Trip to Hindu temple, lunch, chocolate
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a bus trip to Robbinsville, New Jersey, on Thursday, April 10, featuring a tour of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple outside of India, a three-course luncheon at The Cranberry Inn and a visit to David Bradley Chocolatier. All-inclusive cost is $130. Call 215-788-2106 or visit bristolhistory.org for a flyer/reservation form. ••
