New website for Review
The South Philly Review has returned to the website patimes.media.
The website includes news, arts and entertainment, crime, sports, opinion and a way to sign up for a free newsletter that will bring stories to your inbox. The site also includes a way to read the paper in “flipbook” style and a link to subscribe to the print edition. Copies of the paper can be found at the locations in this link: https://patimes.media/pickup-locations/#spr
Readers are also encouraged to follow the newspaper on Bluesky, on Facebook and on X @SoPhReview. ••
Joe Frazier statue finds new home at the art museum.
Creative Philadelphia unveiled the Joe Frazier statue at its new permanent location at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the city’s most visited destinations.
Created by sculptor Stephen Layne in 2015 and originally installed in South Philadelphia, the statue now stands at the base of the museum steps where Frazier regularly trained. The relocation honors the former heavyweight champion of the world’s enduring impact on Philadelphia, the sport of boxing and generations of Philadelphians.
“Joe Frazier represents the very best of Philadelphia — discipline, resilience, humility and heart,” said Mayor Cherelle Parker. “Relocating his statue to the Philadelphia Museum of Art honors a true Philadelphian whose life embodied the values our city is known for and places his legacy in a space that resonates with people around the world.”
The statue depicts Frazier at the height of his career, capturing the moment of his historic victory over Muhammad Ali in the 1971 “Fight of the Century.”
Known as “Smokin’ Joe,” Frazier was an Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion. He famously trained on the art museum steps during his rise to the top of the boxing world, and his story later inspired the fictional character Rocky Balboa.
“This is about honoring world heavyweight champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier not just as a champion, but as a man who worked hard, stayed grounded and gave back to his city,” said Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde, daughter of Joe Frazier and professional boxing champion. “Our family is proud that his legacy will be shared in a place of cultural significance that reflects everything he stood for.”
The relocation is one of multiple changes to the display of major public artworks at the museum. In January, the Philadelphia Art Commission approved the relocation of Rocky (1980) by A. Thomas Schomberg to the top of the museum steps following its inclusion in “Rising Up,” a temporary exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on view through Aug, 2. In February, the Commission approved relocating Joe Frazier (2015) from Stateside Live! (formerly Xfinity Live!) in South Philadelphia to the former site of the Rocky statue at the base of the museum steps.
The proposal to relocate the statue was submitted to the Art Commission by Creative Philadelphia in partnership with members of Joe Frazier’s family, the Smokin’ Joe Frazier Championship Foundation, Joe Hand Promotions and statue artist Stephen Layne.
Creative Philadelphia plans to activate the site through educational materials, storytelling initiatives and public programming developed in partnership with the Smokin’ Joe Frazier Championship Foundation, cultural institutions and community organizations. ••
SEPTA board approves FY 2027 operating, capital budgets
SEPTA approved a $2.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 that maintains current fares and service levels while investing in new buses, station improvements and other upgrades, though transit officials warned the agency’s long-term financial outlook remains uncertain without additional state funding.
The SEPTA board approved a $1.84 billion operating budget and a $920.7 million capital budget, a 1.9 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The spending plan includes funding for new buses, additional full-length fare gates and continued work on major projects such as trolley modernization, new Market-Frankford Line cars and station accessibility improvements.
The budget relies on the second and final year of a $394 million transfer of state capital funds to support operations. SEPTA officials said no fare increases or service cuts are planned, but warned that a permanent state funding solution will be needed beyond next year.
“SEPTA continues to demonstrate meaningful progress in safety, reliability, cleanliness, ridership recovery and fiscal discipline,” Board Chair Kenneth Lawrence said in a statement.
The budget also preserves Philadelphia’s Zero Fare program for low-income riders and the SEPTA Key Advantage initiative, both funded through the city’s recently approved budget.
For South Philadelphia riders who depend on the Broad Street Line, officials cautioned that the agency still lacks sufficient funding to replace the line’s nearly 50-year-old railcars. SEPTA said its maintenance backlog has grown to $10.2 billion, highlighting the need for additional long-term investment in the transit system. ••
City expands storefront improvement grants as program surpasses 1,000 businesses
Philadelphia officials announced that more than 1,000 businesses have received assistance through the city’s Storefront Improvement Program, while increasing the maximum grant available to eligible commercial property owners and small businesses.
The Department of Commerce program now reimburses up to 50 percent of eligible façade improvement costs, with a maximum of $20,000 for a single commercial property and up to $30,000 for corner or multi-address properties located along designated commercial corridors. Applications must be approved before construction begins.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said the program helps businesses “invest in their properties, attract customers and strengthen neighborhood commercial corridors throughout Philadelphia.”
Since the program began, the city has distributed $8.57 million in grants, supporting more than $26 million in storefront improvement projects and leveraging over $17 million in private investment. Restaurants and food businesses account for 28 percent of recipients, followed by retail businesses at 26 percent.
The city also launched an online StoryMap highlighting completed storefront projects, eligible improvements and application information.
“The Storefront Improvement Program is one of the meaningful ways we strengthen the vibrancy of our neighborhood commercial corridors across the city,” Acting Commerce Director Karen Fegely said.
South Philadelphia businesses located on designated commercial corridors may be eligible to apply for the expanded funding through the Department of Commerce. ••
Phillies game fundraiser
Home Runs for Holly, a charity that benefits cancer patients, will be holding a fundraiser at the Phillies vs. Washington Nationals game at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, Aug. 3, at 6:40 p.m. Tickets cost $36, and the seats are in the 400 level behind home plate. There will also be a pregame tailgate party. For tickets, call Christine at 215-906-8179 or Nick at 215-964-1944. ••
Come on down to Price is Right casting call
Rivers Casino will host a casting call for The Price is Right on Wednesday, July 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Event Center. Doors open at 10 a.m. Producers are looking for energetic, outgoing people to appear on a television taping of the game show. Auditions are open to people ages 18 and older who are legal U.S. residents. Potential contestants will meet with producers and have about one minute to show off their personality, enthusiasm and excitement. Two people will win travel to and accommodations in Los Angeles. One will be guaranteed a chance to be a contestant. Register at https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/the-price-is-right-contestant-search-philadelphia-july-22-2026/ ••
North Catholic 100th anniversary events
A number of events are planned for the 100th anniversary of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the opening of Northeast Catholic High School.
Here is the schedule:
• July 25: Norphans at the Beach, Keenan’s, North Wildwood
• Sept. 8: Photos on steps of North Catholic building
• Sept. 22: Alumni Association Golf Outing, North Hills Country Club
• Oct. 3: Homecoming/all-year reunion at Cannstatter’s, 1-5 p.m.
• Nov. 1: Mass at North Catholic building, coffee and doughnuts afterward
• Nov. 8: Gathering of Alumni, family and friends, FOP Lodge 5
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day at St. Dominic
Call 215-543-1051 or necathalum@aol.com ••
Committee of Seventy holding democracy summit
The Committee of Seventy is gathering national and local civic leaders, scholars, policymakers, organizers and engaged citizens to reflect on 250 years of American democracy and discuss the path ahead. This two-day Promise of Democracy Summit on July 15-16 will serve as a celebration of how the nation has grown and a call to action for shaping the next 250 years.
The opening session on July 15 will feature writer and historian Jon Meacham at the National Constitution Center followed by a cocktail reception. On July 16, the invitation-only gathering at the University of Pennsylvania’s Hall of Flags will feature panel discussions on the information crisis, voter apathy, political polarization and more. The summit will culminate in a keynote featuring bestselling author and New York Times writer Roxane Gay alongside PBS NewsHour and The Atlantic contributor David Brooks, moderated by WHYY’s Cherri Gregg.
Featured panelists include:
• Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States
• Jeh Johnson, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and co-chair of the Board of Trustees at Columbia University
• John Lapinski, director of the NBC News Election Unit and Director of Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies at the University of Pennsylvania
• Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League
• Glenn Nye, president & CEO of the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress
• Ramesh Ponnuru, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
“Two-hundred and fifty years in, we’re not here to simply celebrate; we’re here to do the hard, honest work of asking what comes next,” said Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of Committee of Seventy. “The Promise of Democracy Summit brings together the people who know that the answer to democratic backsliding isn’t nostalgia, it’s building civic muscle. I can’t think of a better city, a better moment or a better organization to host that conversation. It will be the civic event of an unforgettable summer.” ••
Host foreign exchange student
ASSE International Student Exchange Program is seeking local families to host foreign exchange students. Students come from countries such as Italy, Denmark, Spain, France, 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 Holly at 800-677-2773, visit asse.com or send an email to asseusasouth@asse.com to request more information or start the application process. ••
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. ••
