Shredding on May 3
State Sen. Tina Tartaglione, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle and state Rep. Joe Hohenstein will sponsor a paper shredding and e-cycling event on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Wissinoming Park, 5773-5945 Frankford Ave. (Cheltenham Avenue entrance). ••
Fatima Holy Hour for World Peace
The World Apostolate of Fatima is sponsoring a Fatima Holy Hour for World Peace on Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Consolation Church, 7056 Tulip St. All are welcome to participate in the devotions to Our Lady of Fatima. Devotions include procession with Fatima statue, rosary and benediction. ••
O’Neill wants higher Homestead Exemption
Councilman Brian O’Neill introduced legislation to increase the Homestead Exemption from $100,000 to $110,000. If you own your primary residence, you are eligible to receive the Homestead Exemption, which reduces the taxable portion of your property’s assessed value. There are no income limits. Under the new $110,000 exemption, more than 30,000 enrolled owner-occupants in O’Neill’s district would save more than $1,500 annually (an increase of $140). If you are enrolled in the Homestead Exemption, you do not need to reapply. To enroll in the Homestead Exemption or if you have any questions about the program, call 215-686-3422. ••
O’Neill events
City Councilman Brian O’Neill will hold three events on upcoming Saturdays at his offices, all from 9-11 a.m. There will be an e-cycling event on May 3 at Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street. A recycling bucket giveaway will take place on May 17 at 432 Rhawn St. A free shredding event, sponsored by Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, is set for June 7 at 11630 Caroline Road. ••
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. ••
Medical Mission Sisters open house
Medical Mission Sisters, 8400 Pine Road, will host events to celebrate 100 years on Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4. On May 3, there will be an open house from 1-4 p.m., followed by a wine and cheese reception from 4-6 p.m. On May 4, there will be a Mass at 9:50 a.m., followed by coffee, doughnuts and a gallery viewing, with prints available for purchase. All are welcome. ••
St. Jerome Seniors to meet
Upcoming St. Jerome Seniors meetings are on Thursdays, May 8 and May 22, in the school hall, 3031 Stamford St. Arrive by 10 a.m. The meeting begins promptly at 11. ••
Preschool storytime
Katharine Drexel Library, 11099 Knights Road, will host Preschool Storytime & Play on Thursdays, May 8 and June 12, at 10:30 a.m. There will be fun stories and songs followed by creative play. The program is for kids ages 3-5 accompanied by an adult. Call 215-685-9383. ••
Meet goats at local park
The Philly Goat Project at the Pennypack Pier will take place on Tuesday, May 6, from 4-6 p.m. There will be a live, interactive performance, starring goats, outside on the Pier at Pennypack on the Delaware, followed by a goat parade and storywalk. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet the goats and learn fascinating goat facts. The event is sponsored by the Torresdale and Welsh Road libraries. All ages are welcome. The rain date is Tuesday, May 13. Pennypack on the Delaware is located at 7801 State Road. ••
St. Hubert sponsoring day trip
St. Hubert’s ninth annual fun day trip will take place on Monday, June 16. A bus will depart the school at 8:45 a.m. and return at about 8 p.m. There will be a one-hour boat ride on an Atlantic City cruise ship, followed by a four-and-a-half-hour stay at Tropicana Casino, with $20 back in slot cash and a $15 food voucher. The day will end at Tomasello Winery for a sit-down dinner. The cost is $130, to be paid by May 1. Contact Mary Clifford at 267-231-7367 or mclifford@huberts.org. ••
Northeast High Alumni day, flea market
Northeast High School Alumni Association will hold its annual Alumni Day on Friday, May 2, at 9 a.m. in the auditorium. All alumni are invited. A brunch will follow at Tiffany Diner. The alumni association will also hold a flea market on Saturday, May 3, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., along Cottman, Algon and Glendale avenues. Rain date is May 4. The cost is $25 per spot for vendors, who must supply their own tables. Proceeds will benefit the alumni association and the school magnet program. Contact NEHSAlum@gmail.com or 215-400-3200, Option 4. ••
Activities at Rosemary Montagno Senior Center
The Rosemary Montagno Senior Center, 12601 Townsend Road, has the following schedule: Monday – free time activities, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday – bingo, 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Wednesday – pinochle and mahjong, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., ceramics, 10 a.m. to noon; Thursday – line dancing, 10:30 a.m. to noon; Friday – Pinochle 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ••
Dougherty holding senior expo
Rep. Sean Dougherty will hold a senior expo on May 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at CORA Services, 8540 Verree Road. There will be community resources and dozens of vendors. Call 215-331-2600. ••
Upcoming opera show
Amici Opera Company will present Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor on Saturday, May 3, at 3 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, 1128 Cottman Ave. Call 215-224-0257 or visit the Amici Opera Company page on Facebook. ••
Events at Welsh Road Library
Welsh Road Library, 9233 Roosevelt Blvd., will offer the following upcoming events:
Tuesday, May 6, 4:30 p.m. – Intro to Collage, with materials provided for Mother’s Day gift ideas.
Monday, May 19, 4:30 p.m. – Taffy the Entertainer with interactive music, balloon twisting, magic and games. ••
Clothing drive at Christ the King
The Christ the King Parish Men’s Association will hold a clothing drive on Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4, from 8 a.m. to noon. Accepted items include men’s, women’s and children’s clothing; accessories such as belts, hats, scarves, handbags and gloves; small toys; footwear; and soft household items such as towels, blankets, bed sheets, pillows, quilts, comforters and curtains. Everything must be placed in plastic bags, separated by item type. Drive to the hall, 3252 Chesterfield Road, and volunteers will remove the bags from your vehicles. ••
Program at Bushrod
Bushrod Library, 6304 Castor Ave., will host Train Your Brain to Choose a Healthy Lifestyle on Wednesday, May 21, at noon. The workshop is interactive. Adult participants will learn techniques they can use to break bad habits and adopt healthy alternatives. Call 215-685-1471 to register. ••
Gallagher rep at Holmesburg Library
Holmesburg Library, 7810 Frankford Ave., will host mobile office hours with state Rep. Pat Gallagher on Tuesdays, May 13 and May 27, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. A representative from Gallagher’s office will be at the library to help answer constituent questions about birth certificates, PennDOT issues, Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, DHS matters and more. ••
Shredding/e-recycling
State Rep. Pat Gallagher will hold a shredding and e-recycling event on Saturday, May 31, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Linden Avenue boat launch, at Linden Avenue and the Delaware River. ••
Art in the Park on May 31
Art in the Park, sponsored by the Rockledge Fox Chase Business Association, will take place on May 31 from 2-5 p.m. at Northeast Lions Park, 7964 Oxford Ave. All artists and vendors are invited to have a table. Call Theresa Guldin at Tompkins Community Bank at 215-722-4566. ••
Trip to Niagara Falls
Polish American Cultural Center is sponsoring a Niagara Falls, New York & Made in America Store trip from Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13. There will be a canal Cruise and lunch, boat ride, underground railroad tour, wine testing, a visit to the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine and casino trip, with $25 slot play. The trip will be by motor coach, and there will be a three-night hotel stay with buffet breakfasts and dinners. The cost is $1,100 per person double occupancy, including taxes and gratuities. For more information and reservations, call Theresa Romanowski at 215-813-2780 or 215-922-1700. ••
St. Jerome trip to Mackinac Island
St. Jerome Seniors are planning a trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan from Aug. 19-25. Cost for double occupancy is $1,685 per person. For reservations and trip details, call Diane McDowell at 267-496-2431. ••
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The website northeasttimes.com is not affiliated with the Northeast Times. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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. ••
KleinLife summer camp
Registration is open for the 2025 summer day camp at KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave. Camp will run June 16 to Aug. 22. Camp will be offered in four age-related segments: grades K-3; Maccabi boys sports program, grades 4-7; senior girls, grades 4-7; and the CIT program for grades 8-9. Camp hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. There will be plenty of activities and three healthy homemade meals every day. For cost and additional information, contact Cierra Adams at 215-698-7300, Ext. 112 or cadams@kleinlife.org. ••
Bingo at Loudenslager
Corp. John Loudenslager American Legion Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave., is offering community bingo every second and fourth Friday at 7 p.m. There are dollar hot dogs and free popcorn. ••
Retreat in July
Mother Boniface Spirituality Center (3501 Solly Ave.) will host Come and Rest Awhile silent directed retreat from July 20-27. Take some time to pause in prayer, reflection and silence, attuning your ear and heart to the Holy Spirit. The retreat costs $650, which includes private accommodations and meals. Visit https://msbt.org/mbsc/ to register. Any questions, or to register by phone, call 267-350-1830. ••
Graveyard tour at Trinity Church
Daughters of the American Revolution Flag House Chapter will sponsor a graveyard tour at Trinity Church Oxford, 601 Longshore Ave., on Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m. Free will donations will be accepted but not required. There will be light refreshments afterward. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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. ••
Chair yoga at Bustleton Library
Bustleton Library, 10199 Bustleton Ave., hosts chair yoga on Wednesdays at 10:10 a.m. The class is presented by Yoga4Philly and sponsored by Friends of Bustleton Library. ••
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. ••
GWHS class of ‘65 reunion
George Washington High School’s class of 1965 will hold its 60th class reunion on May 17 at Maggio’s Restaurant, 400 Second Street Pike, in Southampton. The 900-plus members of the class of ‘65 entered Washington as sophomores when it opened in September 1962. For more information, email Marie McCann at marie.mccann4@gmail.com. ••
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, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., through June 4. There is no fee. Call 215-332-6110. ••
A fundraiser for Tara
A fundraiser for Tara Stipanovic will take place on Saturday, June 7, at 6 p.m. at Order Sons of Italy in America Lodge 447, 4741 Friendship St. Tickets cost $50 and include food, beer, wine and vendors. There will be raffle baskets and a 50-50. Proceeds will go to Tara’s health needs. For tickets or more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/share/158D1oCeyx/ ••
Meeting in Fox Chase on May 14
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: May 14, June 11, July 9, Sept. 10, Oct. 8 and Nov. 12. ••
Travel with Maternity BVM Seniors
Maternity BVM Seniors have announced their 2025 group trip schedule. People are invited to join them on the following trips: Sight and Sound – Noah, Thursday, Sept. 25, $180; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Sea Watch Resort, Oct. 6-10; Tropicana – Blockbuster Broadway, Monday, Nov. 17, $80. For information, call Betty Ann at 215-964-7125 or Connie at 215-338-9141. ••
Parkinson’s support group at Jeanes
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus, 7604 Central Ave., will host meetings of a Parkinson’s disease support group in its Cheltenham Friends Meetinghouse. The meetings, from 5-6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every other month, are open to people diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their families, and are led by nurse practitioner June Ro. The schedule, with guest speakers, is June 11 (speech therapist Marissa Rock), Aug. 13 (Dr. Molly Cincotta, neurologist), Oct. 8 (social worker Luisa Enriquez) and Dec. 10 (Dr. Teodora Schellato, urologist, and physical therapist Sonia Williams-Joseph).
To register, contact Ro at 215-707-2619 or Jungyoon.Ro@tuhs.temple.edu. ••
Lifelong learning at KleinLife
A new Lifelong Learning Series for active and maturing senior adults will begin at KleinLife, 10100 Jamison Ave., on Monday, May 12. The programs are being offered in one, two, four and eight sessions. The program starts on May 12, with “Accidental Presidents” at 12:30 p.m. and continues Tuesdays with “Drawing & Painting” at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday offers “The Heroes and History of the Medal of Honor” at 10:30 a.m. followed by “Who Done It” on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Costs range from free to $80 per person. A free lunch will be offered between classes. For additional information and to receive a free Lifelong Learning brochure, contact Andrea Kimelheim at 215-698-7300, Ext. 176 or akimelheim@kleinlife.org. ••
Take Back Your Neighborhood to meet May 19
Take Back Your Neighborhood will meet on Monday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Max Myers Recreation Center, 1601 Hellerman St. ••
Craft fair and flea market
Memorial Presbyterian Church of Fox Chase, 7902 Oxford Ave., is hosting a spring craft fair and flea market on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ••
Mother’s Day at Glen Foerd
Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Ave., will celebrate mothers with Blooms & Bubbles: A Mother’s Day Workshop on Sunday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests will craft their own floral crowns during the hands-on workshop led by floral artist Jackie Small. Participants will also build their own cakes with guidance from Mallory Valvano of Party Girl Bake Club, choosing from a variety of cake bases and toppings to make a personalized treat. Attendees can enjoy beverages from the on-site mimosa bar while taking in the historic Gilded Age estate and public park on the Delaware. General admission is $60. Visit www.glenfoerd.org/events. ••
Outing to Philadelphia
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a bus trip to Philadelphia on Thursday, June 26, featuring lunch on the Moshulu, the oldest and largest square-rigged vessel still afloat, which now sits stationary at Penn’s Landing. Also on the itinerary is a tour of the Masonic Temple, a national historic landmark on Broad Street, constructed in 1873. The cost is $145. Reservation deadline is May 21. Call 215-788-9408 for a flyer/reservation form or visit https://www.bristolhistory.org. ••
Senior fair on May 30
State Rep. Anthony Bellmon will hold a senior fair on Friday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, 1009 Unruh Ave. There will be information about resources and services available, along with a free lunch. Call 215-560-1315. ••
Free concert by CD alumni band
Cardinal Dougherty Alumni Band will hold a free concert on Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. in the social hall of the Philadelphia Protestant Home, 6401 Martins Mill Road. All are welcome. ••
Dugan releases 2nd TV ad
On Monday, the campaign to elect Democrat Pat Dugan for district attorney released its second ad of the primary. The ad, “Oath”, will air on broadcast, cable and digital. Dugan has raised more than $750,000, more than DA Larry Krasner’s campaign.
The primary is May 20.
In the ad, Dugan says, “As a paratrooper and a judge, I took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
“Now Philly faces real threats: crime, injustice and a president bent on destruction.
“I’ve seen, up close, our district attorney fail to bring real reform or make us safe. Now he wants us to believe he can take on Trump? Get real.
“Philly, I took an oath. And as your DA, I’ll keep my word.” ••
Patients being accepted for colorectal cancer trial
Physicians at Fox Chase Cancer Center have begun accepting patients for a new clinical trial looking at the effectiveness of a hepatic artery infusion pump along with standard chemotherapy. Fox Chase is the only local hospital offering the trial, which is designed for patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and cannot be treated with surgery.
HAI is a specially designed chemotherapy pump that uses a catheter to carry a tumor-killing drug called floxuridine directly into the liver. Few trials have been conducted on HAI pumps since the early 2000s, but results from those studies have indicated that patients who are treated with them may be able to eventually undergo surgery that wasn’t possible before.
“For many patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, surgery is not an option. For these patients, standard care is to treat them with chemotherapy indefinitely. In this trial, we look at the effectiveness of chemo alone but also compare it to this hepatic artery infusion pump used in conjunction with chemotherapy,” said Vanessa Wookey, MD, the Fox Chase principal investigator for the trial and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology.
Although approved by the Food and Drug Administration for metastatic colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, HAI use in the United States is only now starting to increase. As its use becomes more common, trials like the one offered at Fox Chase provide more opportunities to gather data on its effectiveness and potentially improve patient care.
“The trial gives patients three to six months of standard chemotherapy and then introduces the pump. Our hope is that we will see similar results in our randomized trial that we’ve seen in other individual studies. This way we can improve patients’ survival by getting them to the point where surgery may once again be an option,” Wookey said.
The trial, “A Randomized Phase III Study of Systemic Therapy With or Without Hepatic Arterial Infusion for Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases: The PUMP Trial,” is open at Fox Chase and accepting patients. It was designed by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and is being conducted with funding from the National Cancer Institute through its National Clinical Trials Network.More details about the trial and eligibility requirements can be found at this link or by calling 215-214-1515. ••
5-year price guarantee for Comcast internet
For the first time, Comcast is introducing the option to choose a five-year price guarantee when customers sign up for a new Xfinity Internet package.
The nationwide offer includes Xfinity’s best-in-class WiFi gateway and unlimited data – for one price starting as low as $55 per month. The rate is locked in for five years with no annual contract required. Customers can cancel at any time without penalty.
“We’re addressing two significant consumer pain points – rising costs and transparency – with incredible value and easy-to-understand pricing that is locked in for five years,” said Steve Croney, chief operating officer, Connectivity and Platforms, Comcast. “Our new price guarantee removes complexity, and when our customers also take mobile, they get the nation’s largest converged network, which automatically delivers gig speeds wherever they go.”
Customers who sign up for Xfinity Internet and opt for the new five-year price guarantee will receive:
• An Xfinity Gateway that delivers bandwidth capable of connecting upwards of 100 devices across the home. Customers also have access to Comcast’s WiFi network to extend their connectivity experience on the go for no additional cost.
• Unlimited data is included for every customer who chooses a plan with a price guarantee. The five-year guarantee includes an unlimited Xfinity Mobile line at no cost for a year.
• Mobile customers have access to WiFi PowerBoost, which delivers speeds up to 1 Gbps when connected to WiFi in and out of the home.
• Customers who take the Xfinity Gateway receive Xfinity Advanced Security, which protects all connected devices and the customers who use them at the gateway level from malware and other threats.
• The Xfinity Gateway also features network controls, available through the Xfinity app, that gives customers total control of their home network. Customers can set parental controls, test the connection to new devices as they join the network, pause WiFi and set WiFi schedules for family members.Consumers can sign up for Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Mobile at www.xfinity.com or at their local Xfinity store. ••
Tartaglione wants higher minimum wage
State Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D–2nd dist.) introduced Senate Bill 19, legislation aimed at raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 and tying future increases to the cost of living.
“It’s been 19 years since Pennsylvania last raised its minimum wage,” Tartaglione said. “In that time, the cost of rent, food, childcare, transportation and healthcare has steadily increased, while wages at the bottom have remained stagnant. Senate Bill 19 is an effort to correct nearly two decades of inaction and to provide workers with a living wage that reflects today’s economic realities.”
At $7.25 an hour, Pennsylvania’s minimum wage remains at the federal floor, unchanged since 2006. Every neighboring state, including those with a lower cost of living, has increased its minimum wage in recent years. In fact, 30 states across the country have taken action to raise wages.
Senate Bill 19 would raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour beginning in 2026 with cost-of-living adjustments triggering each year thereafter, ensuring that wages keep pace with inflation in the years to come. The legislation also sets the tipped wage at 70 percent of the minimum wage, reaffirms that gratuities are the property of the employee and provides municipalities the authority to set higher local minimums.
“We cannot ignore the impact of rising prices, particularly in light of new federal tariffs that are expected to increase the cost of everyday goods like groceries, medicine, clothing and household essentials,” Tartaglione said. “The burden of these increases will fall heaviest on the people earning the least, and we have a responsibility to act.”
The legislation has been assigned bill No. 19 to mark the 19 years Pennsylvania has gone without increasing its minimum wage.
“We have the opportunity and the obligation to get this right,” she concluded. “This is not about politics — this is about people. The time for excuses has passed. The time to raise the wage is now.” ••
GirlzDay at the convention center
GirlzDay: Our World, Our Way, hosted by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, will take place on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 11th and Arch streets.
The event is geared to girls in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Tickets cost $35.
There will be keynote speakers, a dance party, interactive breakout sessions, live science experiments, gaming stations, an indoor roller rink, lunch, giveaways and a goody bag. For tickets, sponsorships and more information, visit www.gsep.org/girlzday ••
Ukrainian festival in August
The Ukrainian Folk Festival will take place on Sunday, Aug. 24, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Ukrainian American Sport Center — Tryzub, County Line and Lower State roads, Horsham.
The event will feature folk art, live music, dance, food, refreshments, vendors, arts and crafts displays and live historical reenactments.
Admission is $20, with a portion donated to the relief of war victims in Ukraine.
Kids under 15 are admitted free.
Parking is free.
For more information, call 267-664-3857 or visit www.tryzub.org. ••
Holy Family recognized for opportunity and outcomes
Holy Family University announced it has been recognized in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications as a national leader in student opportunity and outcomes, earning the designation of an “Opportunity College and University – Higher Access, Higher Earnings.”
The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification from the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. The new framework evaluates how well institutions support student success by measuring whether they enroll students whose backgrounds and circumstances reflect those of the surrounding community – and whether those students go on to earn more than their peers in the region.
In 2025, 479 institutions – about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities in the Student Access and Earnings Classification – earned the Opportunity designation.
To receive the “Higher Access, Higher Earnings” designation, institutions must demonstrate a dual impact:
• An access ratio of 1 or higher (indicating that the student body is as diverse or more diverse than the community it serves).
• An earnings ratio of 1.5 or higher (meaning graduates earn significantly more than their local high school-only counterparts).
“Being named an Opportunity University is a powerful reminder of what we’ve always believed at Holy Family — education changes lives,” said Dr. Anne Prisco, president of Holy Family. “We’re proud to open doors for our students and their families, and even prouder to see them walk through and thrive.”
The new classification is part of a broader effort to reimagine how excellence in higher education is defined — shifting the national conversation toward social mobility and regional economic impact. By linking affordable access with outcomes, the new Carnegie framework recognizes institutions that deliver meaningful, life-changing opportunities — not just degrees. ••
Rhawnhurst Civic to meet May 21
The next regular monthly meeting of the Rhawnhurst Civic Association will be held on Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at Pelbano Playground, Bustleton and Solly avenues. Guest speakers will be the 2nd and 7th police district community relations officers and a representative of the Register of Wills office. For more information, visit Rhawnhurstcivicassociation.com. ••
Landau wants to strengthen Fair Chance Hiring Law
City Councilwoman Rue Landau introduced a set of updates to Philadelphia’s Fair Chance Hiring Law, which aims to ensure that individuals with criminal records, who Landau said are disproportionately black, brown, working class, LGBTQ+ and disabled, are granted an opportunity to rebuild their lives through employment.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Council President Kenyatta Johnson.
“We cannot have a serious conversation about economic recovery or equity without putting our people with records at the center of it,” Landau said. “Every Philadelphian — regardless of their past — deserves a fair shot, whether that be at a stable job, a livable wage or an economic opportunity. This is not just about second chances, it’s about making Philly a place where everyone, regardless of their past, has a path forward.”
More than 300,000 Philadelphians are living with a criminal record.
Here are the proposed updates to the Fair Chance Hiring Law:
• Clarify that the law applies to all uses of criminal history, whether that information is found by the employer themselves using public records, by a third-party service or on a PennDOT driver record, which are not required to comply with state law regarding expunged or sealed criminal records.
• Clarify what is required of employers who make individualized assessments of criminal records. The bill would close loopholes and ensure that employers are only rejecting applicants based on their criminal records if they can show that their specific record poses a specific risk given the duties and responsibilities of the specific job. Employers will also be required to provide individuals with a detailed written explanation of their assessment. The bill also clarifies employers’ duty to perform an individualized assessment of someone’s criminal history by providing a non-exhaustive list of evidence of rehabilitation that they must consider, if provided, when determining whether hiring or promoting someone would pose an unacceptable risk.
• Change how employers can consider different types of convictions to align with research on recidivism risk and with state law. The bill would reduce how long employers can consider old misdemeanor convictions from 7 years to 3 years after arrest or release from incarceration, whichever is later. Research indicates that this change will increase opportunities for people with misdemeanor convictions without increasing risk to business or public safety. The bill would also clarify that the law does not allow for the consideration of summary offense convictions in employment.
• Improve notice requirements for job applicants that an employer is considering rejecting because of their criminal history to ensure that they can effectively assert their rights by extending the time that they have to respond and requiring that employers inform them of their fair chance hiring rights, affirm that they will consider evidence of rehabilitation, and provide directions on how to submit evidence or explanation directly to the employer.
• Provide more options for people to assert their rights by allowing people injured by violations of the Fair Chance Hiring Law to go directly to court, instead of waiting for their case to first be considered by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, where cases can take years to resolve. The bill also allows PCHR to provide liquidated damages directly to the injured party to make them whole.
• Protect people who exercise their fair chance hiring rights from retaliation and provide a rebuttable presumption of retaliation for any adverse action taken against an employee within 90 days of exercising their rights. ••
Rummage sale May 16-17
Presentation BVM will host a rummage sale in its church hall, at Woodland Avenue and Old Soldiers Road, in Cheltenham. The sale will run on Friday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 215-379-1364. ••
Dougherty wants boost in affordable housing funds
The state House of Representatives passed legislation (H.B. 643) introduced by Rep. Sean Dougherty that would increase aid for affordable housing in Pennsylvania.
The bill would allow a future increase in funding for the PA Housing and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund, enabling more people to have safe, affordable housing. PHARE revenue from the state’s realty transfer tax will reach a statutory cap of $100 million in the 2027-28 fiscal year. Starting in 2028 and going forward, the bill would raise this cap to $110 million to help PHARE keep up with high demand for this source of housing aid.
“Affordable housing is a necessity that all Pennsylvanians deserve easy access to,” Dougherty said. “This bill takes a very necessary step to making more affordable housing options a real opportunity for many Pennsylvanians who are in need of it.”
The bill heads to the Senate for future consideration. ••
Cruise to Italy, Greece, Turkey
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring an “Antiquity to Anatolia” cruise, Oct. 29 to Nov. 9, aboard Oceania Cruises’ “Oceania Vista,” sailing from Rome and visiting Cinque Terre, Naples/Pompeii and Taormina (Sicily), Italy; Cephalonia, Katakolon, Athens and Santorini, Greece; and Ephesus and Istanbul, Turkey. Rates per person, including round-trip air from Philadelphia, range from $6,150 to $6,450. For flyers, call 215-788-9408 or go to https://www.bristolhistory.org. ••
