‘Philly Pops’ announces new name, upcoming free concert
The Philadelphia musicians previously known as the No Name Pops are officially taking on the name Philly Pops as of July 1, thanks to the generosity of the family of Music Director Emeritus Peter Nero, prior owners of the rights to the Philly Pops name. In addition, the band has partnered with Wawa Welcome America, Philadelphia’s free 16-day July 4 celebration, to recreate Pops on Independence, a free performance on Independence National Historical Park with Independence Hall as the backdrop on the evening of July 3, which will feature the newly appointed music director, Chris Dragon.
An Australian native with over 10 years experience conducting in the United States, Dragon will conduct the orchestra against the backdrop of Independence Hall.
“We’re thrilled to reclaim our partnership with Wawa Welcome America and bring Pops on Independence back to life,” said Matt Koveal, South Philly resident and executive director of The No Name Pops. “This concert is a celebration of our nation’s birth, our return as the Philly Pops and the exciting debut of our new music director, Chris Dragon. There’s no better way to mark a fresh chapter than with music in the heart of historic Philadelphia.”
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. ••
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. ••
Overdose awareness
Socks for the Streets will be welcoming Angels Across America for an upcoming overdose awareness event. Anyone who would like their loved one’s picture displayed on a banner can email it by April 18 to SocksfortheStreets@gmail.com. There is no need to resubmit a banner if it’s already displayed. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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. ••
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 April 25-27
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. ••
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. ••
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. ••
Register for 2026 PGA Championship tickets
The PGA of America announced ticket registration for the 2026 PGA Championship, one of golf’s four majors, marking its return to the Philadelphia region for the first time since 1962. The PGA Championship, taking place from May 11–17, 2026, at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, will feature 156 of the world’s top professional golfers.
Coinciding with Philadelphia’s 250th anniversary celebrations, the 2026 PGA Championship will be a marquee event during a historic year, bringing increased visibility and tourism to the region. The Championship is expected to generate more than $125 million in economic impact, supporting local and regional businesses, while its global television broadcast will reach nearly 500 million households in 180-plus countries.
The tournament is expected to draw more than 200,000 attendees. Due to historically high demand, spectators are encouraged to register early at pgachampionship.com/register. Ticket registration is open through May 27.
“The 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club will offer a truly special experience for both players and spectators,” said Ryan Ogle, Championship Director. “This historic venue, located in a city with a rich sports culture, provides the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable PGA Championship. By registering early for tickets, individuals will have the best chance to witness golf’s best players compete for the Wanamaker Trophy. We expect the event to sell out, and through our ticket registration program, we aim to provide a seamless ticket-buying experience for those interested in attending the 108th PGA Championship.”
To ensure widespread access to the most in-demand ticket types, 2026 PGA Championship tickets are sold exclusively through a free, no-obligation, online ticket registration (pgachampionship.com/register) process. By participating in this process, individuals are registering for a place in line – first come, first served – for the opportunity to purchase tickets when they go on sale in May. The earlier an individual registers the better, as historically many of the most popular ticket types have sold out in advance of past PGA Championships.
Registrants will be assigned a group and purchase window. As their designated purchase window approaches, they will receive instructions on how to complete their order. To register, spectators must provide their name, email address and mailing address. Each individual is allowed only one registration per unique email address. Once all registration purchase windows have been completed, any remaining inventory will go on sale to the general public.
Additional ticket policies include:
• Juniors: Each ticketed adult may bring up to two juniors (age 15 and under) for free each day. No advance registration is required.
• Military: U.S. active duty, military retirees (with 20 years of qualifying service), Reserve and National Guard members are eligible to receive complimentary daily grounds tickets for themselves and one guest per day, subject to availability. These tickets will be available in the fall.
Details on ticket pricing and package options will be announced in May, ahead of ticket sales. The 2026 PGA Championship will exclusively offer Championship+ tickets to spectators, providing an elevated experience with inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the event.
To stay updated on the latest PGA Championship news, visit PGAChampionship.com, follow @PGAChampionship on X and Instagram or go to facebook.com/pgachampionship.
For questions or assistance with ticket registration, email the 2026 PGA Championship office at 2026pga@pgahq.com. ••
8th Ward endorses Dugan
The 8th Ward Democratic Committee, the largest ward in Philadelphia, endorsed former Judge Pat Dugan in the Democratic primary election against District Attorney Larry Krasner. The 8th Ward has endorsed Krasner in the past.
Dugan said, “When I launched this campaign, I was told that there was no way Democratic committee members would go against an established Democratic incumbent – I am proud to say that the 8th Ward Democratic Committee has proven the naysayers wrong and endorsed me for district attorney.
“Committee members chose something different. They chose to vote their conscience. They chose to say that what’s happening in our city isn’t working — and that it’s time to try a different way forward.
“That takes political courage. And in a moment when speaking up can come at a cost, I respect it all the more. The 8th Ward chose to stand up and say that our city deserves better than Larry Krasner’s failed leadership.
“My vision for the District Attorney’s Office is rooted in the belief that safety and fairness go hand in hand. That means holding violent offenders accountable, expanding proven diversion programs and treating both victims and defendants with dignity and respect. I am grateful to Ward Leader Elaine Petrossian, her executive board and each and every committee person in the 8th Ward who share that vision. Thank you. I won’t let you down.” ••
