Free admission for kids at American Revolution Museum
On Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, at the Museum of the American Revolution, there will be free admission for kids 12 and under. Events during the weekend include a special exhibition Witness to Revolution, a theatrical performance of “Meet Joseph Plumb Martin,” an interactive discovery center and a craft station in the museum’s rotunda. Plus, learn about Revolutionary artisans, makers and laborers through replica objects and more at a hands-on discovery cart. Visit amrevmuseum.org.
Tempesta di Mare season passes on sale
Tempesta di Mare Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra’s 2024-25 season features eight projects, full of baroque blockbuster works by composers such as Bach, Vivaldi and Handel.
Season passes start at $102. Shows take place in Center City, Chestnut Hill and Wilmington, Delaware. Email info@tempestadimare.org or call 215-755-8776.
Rittenhouse Fine Arts Show returns in September
The Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show will return to Rittenhouse Square Park on Sept. 20-22, to mark its 97th year of making fine art come alive for the city and the community.
The Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show began in 1928 with a handful of local art students exhibiting art on clotheslines in the park. The show continues its 97-year history with a platform for student artists to learn from professional artists and gain exposure to patrons.
One hundred forty-five professional artists from around the country will exhibit their originals-only fine artwork in Rittenhouse Square. Visit www.rittenhousesquarefineart.com.
New SEPTA safety plan for school year
SEPTA is implementing an enhanced safety plan for the 2024-25 school year.
“Tens of thousands of students depend on SEPTA for their daily commute to and from school, and we are fully committed to ensuring their safety,” said Leslie Richards, SEPTA CEO and general manager. “Safety is our top priority, and we are leveraging every available resource to provide a safe experience for all riders.”
The safety plan includes increased officer presence, targeted patrols in areas where multiple schools converge, virtual patrol units to monitor activity in real-time and quickly dispatch officers to any potential issues, and utilizing SEPTA, Philadelphia Police and School Police to staff corridors from schools to SEPTA Stations
“SEPTA Police are collaborating closely with the Philadelphia Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to increase the visibility of uniformed officers across our system,” said Charles Lawson, SEPTA Transit Police Chief. “Our strategy also includes the use of over 30,000 surveillance cameras across the system. These cameras are monitored by our virtual patrol unit, allowing us to extend our reach and respond quickly to areas without a physical police presence.”
SEPTA claims it has already seen a 37-percent decrease in serious crimes on the system during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, including a 47-percent reduction in violent crimes.
Improvements made to city’s 9-1-1 call center
City Council made changes in the city’s 9-1-1 call center that it hopes will improve efficiency for residents during emergencies.
Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier and Curtis Jones made several budgetary suggestions to improve the 9-1-1 Call Center, which Mayor Cherelle Parker included in the FY25 budget proposal approved by Council. It includes a 10 percent pay increase for dispatchers, aligning their starting salary with the regional average.
“Our 9-1-1 dispatchers are our city’s first, first responders and valued members of the Philadelphia Police Department,” said Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. “They deserve to be paid a salary that reflects the critical, and oftentimes traumatizing, role they play in keeping our communities safe. I am confident this salary increase will help us recruit and retain first-class talent to our first-class city.”
PPD established a new Civilian Police Radio Dispatcher Supervisor position in partnership with Council, allowing the PPD to reallocate sworn supervisors to Patrol Operations. This initiative also provides career advancement for civilians within Police Radio. Previously, 9-1-1 dispatchers interested in a promotion had to seek employment elsewhere, which made retaining veteran dispatchers difficult.
PPD also revised how dispatchers answer calls. The previous 9-1-1 greeting — “Police Radio Dispatcher #, how can I help you?” — has been changed to “Police Radio Dispatcher #, what is the location of your emergency? Does this address have a directional indicator?” When a street supervisor contacts the operations desk for an emergency callback, operations desk personnel relays the caller’s CCI location to the street supervisor. These policies have empowered law enforcement personnel to identify and correct incorrect addresses.
At last year’s 9-1-1 hearing, dispatchers reported feeling “overworked, exhausted and unappreciated.” Constituents informed Council about long wait and response times when they called 9-1-1.
“City Council proudly allocated additional funding to 9-1-1 dispatch,” said Council President Kenyatta Johnson. “As the city’s appropriating entity, Council ensures agencies have the financial resources they need to keep residents safe. As we continue to grapple with gun violence, nothing could be more important than an effective 9-1-1 Call Center.”
Street improvements coming to Washington Square West
State Rep. Ben Waxman announced that a state grant worth more than $1.4 million is coming to Center City for the rehabilitation of five streets in the Washington Square West Historic District, which is just north of the Italian Market.
“The rehab of these streets will help make it easier for all of our neighbors and visitors to get around Washington Square West while preserving the historic infrastructure that characterizes the neighborhood and connects us to Philadelphia’s past,” Waxman said. “This funding from the state is a much-needed investment for the Washington Square West neighborhood and Center City as a whole.”
The streets that will be the recipients of this rehab include sections of Quince, Irving, Manning, Hutchinson and Bonaparte. The rehab of these streets will consist of granite block repointing/resetting, select areas of new granite block, resetting granite header and installing ADA ramps. It will be focused in two location clusters of the neighborhood.
This funding comes from a more than $51 million total investment across Pennsylvania from the Multimodal Transportation Fund, which provides financial assistance to municipalities, councils of governments, businesses, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies and ports and rail freight entities.
Polish American festival
The 58th annual Polish American Festival at Our Lady of Czestochowa, 654 Ferry Road in Doylestown, will take place from Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 and Sept. 7-8, noon to 8 p.m. The festival features carnival rides, live music and stage shows and ongoing entertainment on the main stage and in the Polish Village, highlighting Polish traditions and customs, Polish folk dance groups and Polish and American food and refreshments. The $15 admission includes all events and carnival rides. Visit PolishAmericanFestival.org. ••
Buddy Holly tribute concert
Zachary Stevenson brings his Buddy Holly Tribute to the Philadelphia region for the first time on Sept. 14, at 2 p.m., at Sellersville Theater 1894.
Tickets are available at https://www.st94.com/events/oh-boys-buddy-holly-tribute/
The Buddy Holly Tribute one-act show will feature hits such as That’ll Be the Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy and Rave On.
Stevenson will be backed by Philadelphia psychedelic-rock trio Echo Kid as the Crickets. Echo Kid features Brendan McHale on bass, Christian Turzo on guitar and Kieran McCabe on drums. ••
Hero Thrill Show is Sept. 21
The 69th annual Hero Thrill Show will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, from noon to 5 p.m., at the Wells Fargo Center parking lot.
Featured will be the Sound of Philadelphia music by DJ legend Bob Pantano, performances and displays of K-9 and bicycle units, the elite Philadelphia Police Motorcycle Highway Patrol Drill Team, mounted police horse, fire engines, crime-fighting equipment by the Police Aviation Unit, Bomb Squad, Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Marine Unit, firearms instructors, Police Academy and SWAT Unit.
Tickets are $15 for individuals and $35 for a family (up to five).
Proceeds pay for the college tuition of children of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
For more information, go to herothrillshow.org. ••
Entertainment at Parx
Parx Casino is offering the following upcoming entertainment:
Sept. 7: Australian Pink Floyd
Sept. 21: Dustin Lynch
Oct. 4: Heather McDonald
Oct. 18: Straight No Chaser
Oct. 19: Giggly Squad Live
Oct. 25: Michael Blaustein
Nov. 9: Air Supply
Nov. 21: Aaron Lewis
Nov. 23: Steve Trevino
Dec. 7: Kathleen Madigan ••
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. ••
Sign up for Philly Bike Ride
The third annual Philly Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Riders will pass Independence Hall, City Hall, Love Park, Chinatown, Old City, Penn’s Landing and Boathouse Row on Kelly Drive. They can choose between a 20-mile course or a 7.6-mile version, both ending at the art museum.
The free post-ride festival features live music, wellness activities, a beer garden and food trucks.
The cost is $69, with various add-ons available.
A portion of proceeds will support the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and its Youth Cycling Program.For more information, visit www.phillybikeride.com ••
A space for UArts student work
Councilwoman Rue Landau, in collaboration with Creative Philadelphia, is launching an initiative to support students and faculty affected by the recent closure of the University of the Arts.
The project aims to transform City Hall into a welcoming hub for these displaced artists’ work, providing them with a space to showcase their work in City Hall and in the office of Landau (Room 592) and the corridors.
Students and faculty of UArts are invited to submit their artwork for consideration through an online submission form, with a deadline of Oct. 4.
“The closure of UArts is a significant loss for our city, but it also presents an opportunity for us to uplift and support these talented artists,” Landau said. “I’m honored to provide a space for their work alongside the Creative Philadelphia so that they know the city values their contributions to our arts scene.”
The submission form for UArts students and faculty to have their work featured can be found here. ••
After-school program for sophs
Applications have been extended until Friday, Sept. 20, for local students seeking educational experiences in science and healthcare fields to apply to The College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s Wohlreich Junior Fellows Program.
There is no cost to apply for any of the college’s science-focused youth programs.
Founded in 2009, the George and Judy Wohlreich Junior Fellows program is a summer and after-school program for Philadelphia high school students from “historically excluded” communities who have an interest in health. The program seeks to foster interest in careers in healthcare and medicine through hands-on learning and interaction with professionals. The program also provides academic counseling and support to better prepare these students for college and their future careers.
The program is open to students entering 10th grade who are Philadelphia residents, enrolled in a Philadelphia high school, have an interest in science and healthcare professions, will be the first in their immediate family to graduate from a college or university, qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, and have no disciplinary problems on their school record. There are no costs to participate in the program.
The program goes for three years.
Apply here: Wohlreich Junior Fellows Program | The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Learn more at https://collegeofphysicians.org/programs. ••
Party for West Catholic girls class of ‘69
West Catholic Girls Class of 1969 will have its 55th anniversary party on Sunday, Sept. 29, at Anthony’s Ristorante, 865 W. Springfield Road, Springfield. The cost for the luncheon is $65. Call Hannah at 610-764-3249. ••
