Briefs: October 12th, 2021

South Philly native Sonny Conto will enter the ring at Live! on Nov. 18.

Conto fighting at Live!

South Philadelphia heavyweight fighter Sonny Conto (7-0, 6 KOs) will put his undefeated streak on the line when he enters the boxing ring at the new Live! Casino & Hotel, 900 Packer Ave., on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. It will be the first live boxing event at the newly opened 1,000-plus-seat Live! Event Center. Conto will face Ed Fountain (12-8, 5 K0s) of St. Louis in a six-round fight.

The main event and full card will be announced. The card will consist of a minimum of seven fights, with the first one beginning at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. The card is promoted by Joe Hand Promotions.

Tickets at $50, $75 and $125 are on sale now and are available at https://philadelphia.livecasinohotel.com/, https://www.axs.com/ or by calling 215-364-9000. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.

SPCA hosts drive-in movie night at IKEA

Pennsylvania SPCA will host a showing of Hocus Pocus at a fundraiser drive-in movie night in the IKEA Parking lot at 2206 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. on Oct. 30.

Families, couples and animal advocates are invited to a special showing of the movie at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 5:30.

Priority seating is available for those who wish to sit upfront, with first- and second-row spots available for a donation of $200 and $150, respectively. General admission tickets, which parking will be given to on a first-come, first-serve basis, are available for a donation of $45 per car. To purchase tickets, or for additional information, visit: https://www.pspca.org/drivein2021.

Concert on Oct. 23

John Primerano will perform The Soundtrack of Your Life on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Kelly Center, 4 E. Eagle Road, in Havertown.

Primerano will perform popular songs from the 1940s through the ‘80s.

For tickets, go to https://kellycenter.ticketleap.com/john-primeranothe-soundtrack-of-your-life/

Sheriffs backing GOP judicial candidates

The Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association Action political action committee has given its endorsement to all four Republican statewide judicial candidates.

Those candidates are Kevin Brobson for Supreme Court, Megan Sullivan for Superior Court, and Drew Crompton and Stacy Wallace for Commonwealth Court.

“[The GOP judicial candidates’] leadership on the Commonwealth Court, commitment to prosecuting and bringing offenders to justice, commitment to the law, and support of law enforcement issues was key to the decision by the committee,” said the PAC. “We look forward to working with [them] in the future.”

State GOP chairman Lawrence Tabas said, “The PA Sheriffs’ Association Action PAC understands the immense responsibility of being entrusted with the safety and security of our families, and they know how important it is to have judges that will uphold the rule of law. It is a great honor to have the support of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association Action PAC, and together, we will fight to keep Pennsylvania a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.” 

Donate food at AHCU

American Heritage Credit Union invites the community to take part in its Spirit of Giving Food Drive. All nonperishable food donations will be given out to various food pantries and food banks throughout the community to help families in need this holiday season.

The donations will be collected through Nov. 27 at all American Heritage branch locations. Nonperishable goods such as soups, canned meat and vegetables, rice and pasta are at a higher demand this time of year. 

School board seeks input on new superintendent

Philadelphia School Board of Education will begin hosting a series of 17 listening sessions – in-person and virtual — where the public is invited to weigh in on what they want to see in the next superintendent. The first week of #PHLSuperSearch listening sessions include three virtual and three in-person meetings. Each session will include an ASL Translator and non-ESL speakers; and all marketing materials will be translated in up to eight languages.

All residents are encouraged to attend these listening sessions and provide input on the skills, talent and foresight the next superintendent needs to bring to the District. Feedback will be used to inform the job description for the next superintendent. For a full list of listening sessions and to register, visit https://www.philasd.org/schoolboard/search/.

Tempesta di Mare to perform ‘Women of Antiquity’

Tempesta di Mare, Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra, located at 1034 Carpenter St., will celebrate its 20th anniversary season with Women of Antiquity: heroines and villainesses from history and legend, in orchestral and operatic works by composers from Purcell to Telemann and Reutter.

The program’s central piece, Georg Philipp Telemann’s suite “Women of Antiquity,” will be performed in a new orchestration by Tempesta di Mare co-founder and co-director Richard Stone. Other works of note include three scores by Georg Reutter the Younger, a composer Tempesta introduced to U.S. audiences earlier this year.

Three in-person performances of Women of Antiquity will take place on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave.; on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church, 129 W. 4th St., Lewes, Delaware; and on Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. at FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Blvd.

The filmed version of the project, recorded live and produced in HD audio and video for the online experience, will be available for on-demand, from Nov. 20 through Dec. 19.

Honor Vietnam War casualties

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 266 will be doing its 25th annual name reading at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Front and Spruce streets, on Oct. 23, at noon, rain or shine. Members of the public are invited to show their respect for the 648 men and women from Philadelphia who died in the Vietnam War. Chapter 266 is also looking for new members. Call Chuck Bauer at 215-722-3518. 

Relive Super Bowl season

Wavelength Productions will be presenting the first public screening of Maybe This Year, the documentary film on the Philadelphia Eagles football team and their incredible 2017 Super Bowl-winning season – as seen from the perspective of some of their most die-hard fans – at the PFS Drive-In at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the screening, guests will have the opportunity to receive branded giveaways, while supplies last.

To purchase tickets for the screening, visit https://filmadelphia.org/events/maybe-this-year/

March in Thanksgiving parade

Groups of any kind are invited to participate in the 44th Mayfair-Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade, which will take place on Sunday, Nov. 21, at noon on Frankford Avenue.

Groups are welcome to create their own family-friendly floats.

Anyone interested in marching in the parade can call Lisa Greco at 215-624-6667 or Donny Smith at 267-538-4668, or email info@thanksgivingparade.org

Designer Bag Bingo on Oct. 22

Holy Name of Jesus Church will host Designer Bag Bingo on Oct. 22, at its hall, 701 E. Gaul St.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Bingo starts at 7.

Tickets cost $35. They are available in the back of the church after Mass or in the rectory office, which is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pizza, hot dogs, water, beer and soda will be for sale. Guests can bring their own snacks.

Proceeds benefit Holy Name.

New exhibit at revolution museum

The Museum of the American Revolution, 3rd and Chestnut streets, will host an upcoming exhibition, Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War, that will feature more than 45 original paintings by artist Don Troiani. The exhibition will run from Oct. 16 to Sept. 5, 2022.

The exhibition will also include artifacts that inspired or appear in his paintings and illuminate the story of each scene. The 40 objects on display will include weapons, military equipment, textiles and manuscripts.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks are required for all visitors ages 5 and up, regardless of vaccination status. The 5,000-square-foot exhibition will be located in the museum’s first-floor Patriots Gallery.

The exhibition is included with regular museum admission. Tickets can be purchased at www.amrevmuseum.org, by calling 215-253-6731 or at the front desk. Museum tickets are $21 for adults ($19 online); $18 for seniors, students and active or retired military; and $13 for children ages 6 and up. Children ages 5 and under are free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days. Group tickets for parties of 15 or more are available for a reduced price by calling 267-579-3623. Memberships are also available online or by calling 215-454-2030.

Activities at Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is hosting several current and upcoming exhibits.

Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs goes through  Jan. 17, 2022.

Paleo Playdate dates are Wednesdays, Oct. 13, Oct. 20, Oct. 27, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10, from 10:15 to 11 a.m. The event is geared to preschool children, who will listen to science story time and take part in activities and crafts. For more information and to register, go to https://bit.ly/38yjJAr.

Junior Scientist Workshop: When Did Dinos Rule the World? is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3hg646b.

Paleopalooza is set for Oct. 16-24, online or in person. There will be workshops, digital drawing classes and fossil exploration stations.

Junior Scientist Workshop: How Do Trees Get Ready for Winter? will take place on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3DB9IRz.

Invisible World of Water runs from Nov. 13 to April 17, 2022.

Visit ansp.org.

Business group backs Brobson

The National Federation of Independent Business political action committee endorsed Commonwealth Court Judge Kevin Brobson for election to the state Supreme Court.

“On behalf of all NFIB members and small business owners across Pennsylvania, we look forward to supporting Judge Brobson throughout his candidacy,” said NFIB state director Greg Moreland. “As a current member of the Commonwealth Court, Judge Brobson has shown his ability to fairly interpret the law as intended by its writers. Judge Brobson is a thoughtful, intelligent and experienced jurist who will serve the commonwealth exceptionally.”

Brobson, a Republican, faces Democrat Maria McLaughlin, a Superior Court judge.

Library exhibition explores the New Deal

The Free Library of Philadelphia welcomes all to explore how people came together in the wake of the Great Depression in a new exhibition, For the Greatest Number: The New Deal Revisited. The exhibition opened in the third-floor gallery of the Parkway Central Library at 1901 Vine St. and offers a look at the art and objects funded by the New Deal.

Objects on view in the gallery include artwork, books, maps, models, musical instruments, photographs and interactive features, from across the Parkway Central Library’s vast research departments and special collections. Find more information on programs and objects at freelibrary.org/greatestnumber.

It will be available to visit in person through Feb. 4, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Hall of Fame ceremony at Rivers

The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame will hold an induction ceremony and dinner reception on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m. at Rivers Casino’s Event Center, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.

The class consists of Bill Bradley (football), Bonnie Rosen (lacrosse), Charles “Kid” Keinath (football/basketball), Dallas Green (baseball), Gary Smith (Legacy of Excellence), Jim Katcavage (football), Larry Foust (basketball), Lew Tendler (boxing), Mark Recchi (hockey), Mike Teti (rowing), Olga Dorfner (swimming), Richard Hamilton (basketball), Seth Joyner (football), Yolanda Laney (basketball), “Zack” Clayton (basketball and boxing) and the 1947 Basketball Association of America-champion Philadelphia Warriors.

The emcee will be Joe DeCamara, of WIP.

The evening will also include a fundraising auction and an exhibit featuring Philadelphia sports memorabilia.

For tickets or more information, call 215-254-5049, Ext. 3 or visit https://www.philadelphiasportshalloffame.org/registration/.

Bus Revolution seeks public input

Throughout September and October, SEPTA will host a series of in-person pop-up events and virtual meetings on Bus Revolution, the Authority’s comprehensive redesign of the bus network. Bus Revolution is a key initiative of SEPTA Forward, SEPTA’s Strategic Plan, and the Authority’s efforts to revamp its service and better connect people across the region.​ 

SEPTA’s stop in South Philly will be on Nov. 7 at Marconi Plaza at Broad Street and Oregon Avenue from 2-5 p.m.

The outreach series will be an opportunity to share some preliminary project findings, engage in educational conversations, inform participants of the October launch of a public survey, and to introduce a series of transit trade-offs. SEPTA will use the results of all this engagement and analysis to inform changes to the bus network. This is the first of multiple public participation phases of the Bus Revolution project, which started in 2021 and will result in implementation of a new bus network in 2023. Each Bus Revolution in-person pop-up event will be held outside and staffed by SEPTA and project team members who will engage in conversations with riders. COVID-19 precautions will be taken throughout the pop-ups.

For more information, visit https://SEPTAbusRevolution.com.

Celebrate St. Gabe’s 125th

St. Gabriel will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Grays Ferry parish on Sunday, Oct. 24.

The day starts with a Mass at noon at the church, 2917 Dickinson St. That will be followed by a reception and dinner at 3 p.m. at the Crystal Tea Room, 100 E. Penn Square.

Tickets are $100 each and include beer, wine, dinner and dancing. For more information, call the rectory at 215-463-4060 or email rectory@stgabes.org.

Golf outing to benefit autism school

The 25th annual AJ Foundation Golf 4 Autism will take place on Monday, Oct. 18, at Makefield Highlands Golf Club, 1418 Woodside Road, Yardley.

Proceeds benefit the Comprehensive Learning Center, a private school for individuals with autism opened by the AJ Foundation.

The cost is $200 for one or two rounds of golf, and includes continental breakfast, lunch, cocktail reception and dinner. Refreshments will be served on the course.

There will be awards, contests and a silent auction.

Non-golfers can attend the cocktail reception and dinner for $75. Sponsorships are available. 

Visit www.ajfgolf4autism.org.

Candidates favor term limits

U.S. Term Limits praises 2022 U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Baumlin for signing the pledge for an amendment to term limit Congress. Previously, candidates John DeBellis, Jeff Bartos and Larry E. Johnson signed the pledge.

The U.S. Term Limits amendment pledge is provided to every announced candidate for federal office. It reads, “I pledge that as a member of Congress, I will cosponsor and vote for the U.S. Term Limits amendment of three (3) House terms and two (2) Senate terms and no longer limit.” The U.S. Term Limits constitutional amendment has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz and the U.S. House by Rep. Ralph Norman.

The term limits amendment resolutions would require a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate, and ratification by 38 states, in order to become part of the U.S. Constitution.

Visit Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is offering a photographic exploration of the impact of flooding on communities around the world due to climate events through Oct. 17.

Gideon Mendel: Drowning World is a portrayal of the human condition within the context of climate change. The exhibition features 37 color photographs, a found-object display and a video that is the culmination of 10 years of work by award-winning photographer Gideon Mendel.

The images depict some of the poorest and some of the wealthiest communities in the world, including in the U.S., all exposed to the floodwater that envelops them. Mendel works in stills and video.

For more information, visit ansp.org

Water exhibit to open in November

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, will present Invisible World of Water, opening Saturday, Nov. 13.

Invisible World of Water will be on view through April 17, 2022 and is free with general admission.

The exhibit coincides with “Water Year,” a 2022 initiative of the Academy of Natural Sciences and Drexel University aimed to increase public attention of the resource.

For more information, visit ansp.org

Kimmel reopening this month

The Kimmel Cultural Campus is announcing the return of live Broadway programming to Philadelphia in the fall.

Here is the schedule through next summer: Hamilton (Oct. 20 to Nov. 28, Academy of Music); Rain – A Tribute to The Beatles (Oct. 29-31, Merriam Theater); Anastasia (Nov. 23-28, Merriam Theater); Stomp (Dec. 28 to Jan. 2, Merriam Theater); Pretty Woman: The Musical (Jan. 4-16, Academy of Music); Hadestown (Feb. 9-20, Academy of Music); Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Feb. 22-27, Academy of Music); Rent: 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour (March 4-6, Merriam Theater); Oklahoma! (March 8-20, Forrest Theatre); Waitress (March 29 to April 3, Academy of Music); Hairspray (May 16-22, Merriam Theater); To Kill A Mockingbird (July 12-24, Academy of Music); and Dear Evan Hansen (Aug. 16-28, Forrest Theatre).

For more information, call 215-893-1955 or visit kimmelcenter.org

Upcoming bus trip, cruise

The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a bus trip to the Mt. Hope Estate’s holiday dinner theater in Manheim, Lancaster County, on Nov. 29. Cost is $115.

The group is sponsoring a cruise to Charleston and Bermuda, June 2-12, 2022, on the Celebrity Summit, sailing from Cape Liberty, in North Jersey. Rates range from $1,577 to $2,387 per person, double occupancy.

Call 215-788-9408 for information and reservations.