Visit model railroad club
Chelten Hills Model Railroad Club, 8010 Old York Road in Elkins Park, will be hosting open houses from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4-5. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.cheltenhillsmrr.org or Facebook. ••
Rhynhart details drug plan
Democratic mayoral candidate Rebecca Rhynhart held a news conference at McPherson Park in Kensington to discuss actions she would take to solve the crisis in Kensington fueled by the open-air drug market and the opioid epidemic.
“On my walk here from the Somerset station, I saw what residents and families of Kensington see every day: People injecting themselves with drugs in broad daylight, people leaned over and passed out, and trash piled up,” Rhynhart said. “This is not acceptable. Philadelphians are raising their families here. I am a mother and what I am seeing must end.”
Rhynhart’s strategies include:
• Deploying more police officers to Kensington and increasing foot patrols to provide safety for residents;
• Evaluating and improving the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion for low-level offenders, a program that has been successful in other cities;
• Breaking up the open-air drug market through a Drug Market Intervention program focused on dealers, offering them a choice between a way out of the lifestyle assisted by city services or incarceration;
• Appointing a drug czar who will report directly to the mayor to coordinate the city’s response;
• Implementing community responder teams with representatives from appropriate city departments and community-based harm-reduction organizations to offer services to those suffering from addiction; and
• Streamlining intake at city-contracted facilities to ensure that those seeking treatment receive immediate medical assistance that can serve as a bridge until they can receive long-term care.
During her remarks, Rhynhart emphasized the need to have a compassionate response for those who are suffering with substance use disorder, while holding those responsible accountable with real consequences.
“To the residents of Kensington who have continually said enough is enough, I hear you. To those suffering with addiction on the street, I see you. We cannot let this continue. I will lead with the courage necessary to fix this. As mayor, I will act immediately to restore the quality of life here in Kensington, and at the same time, help those suffering from addiction,” Rhynhart said. ••
Enroll in early childhood education and care program
Registration is open for the second session of the Exceptional Bilingual Leadership Program, which starts Jan. 23.
The pilot program was completed in mid-December. The fellowship, created by Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez, Obioma Martin and Aliya Johnson-Roberts, is accepting applications for its second cohort.
The 12-week program is designed for the personal growth of individuals involved in early childhood education and care. It provides new tools, strategizing techniques, opportunities for sharing and building bonds with like-minded individuals who have chosen to invest in their personal and professional development.
Maria Negron, a family advocate for Today’s Child Learning Center, was a participant in the pilot program. She said, “When I first began this training, I thought it was a regular class, but I got so much more out of it … the sisterhood, the strong women. It blows me away to know I can count on any one of these women — Damaris, Obioma, Aliya. Throughout this whole training, I told my boss every class is amazing. I left with so much more than when I started.”
Johnson-Roberts is executive director and owner of Bustleton Learning Center and Pratt Street Learning Center, and a business consultant pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. She, Martin and Johnson-Roberts are graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Entrepreneurship Program.
Johnson-Roberts said, “Among the three of us, we have seen most of the childcare education programs that are offered and there is nothing like this out there — one that inspires other women, working together in a cohort, to share a vision for leadership.”
The next Exceptional Bilingual Leadership Program will begin Jan. 23. To learn more and enroll in the next session, visit https://latinoseducandojuntos.org/eblf/ or email omaxinstitute@gmail.com. ••
Celebrating 100 years of SMT
St. Martin of Tours Parish invites all school alumni, current and past parishioners and friends to a 100th anniversary Mass in the upper church, 5450 Roosevelt Blvd., on Sunday, April 30, at noon. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Edward Adams. Afterward, there will be a “Past & Present — Building Our Future” celebration at Cannstatter’s, 9130 Academy Road, from 2-6 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and include food, soft drinks, music and door prizes. The event is for ages 21-plus. Tickets must be purchased in advance in the rectory, after all Masses, through Venmo (@smotphilly) or with check to St. Martin of Tours Church, 5450 Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19124, Attn: Centennial Celebration. Proceeds will benefit church improvements. ••
Bingo Night for Stray Cat Relief
Stray Cat Relief will be holding a Bingo Night on Feb. 11 at the EOM at 144 Moore St. from 7-11 p.m.
Ten games of bingo. Tickets are $40 ($50 at the door) and a table of eight is $280. Light food, soda, water and snacks will be served. Raffle prizes, door prizes and BYO bottles and snacks. Email purr@straycatrelieffund.org or Venmo @straycatrelief to purchase tickets.
Insect exhibition at Academy of Natural Sciences
An exhibition at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 19th and the Parkway, presents a new perspective on insects and reveals their beauty.
Microsculpture: The Insect Portraits of Levon Biss is a series of portraits that capture the microscopic form of insects in high-resolution detail. It will be on view until April 23.
Each photograph makes visible the many intricate adaptations to the form of insects.
Award-winning British photographer Levon Biss created the exhibition, which showcases the insect collection of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Oxford, England. Pinned specimens from the Academy’s own entomology collection are added to provide visitors an up-close look at the actual size of insects compared to similar-looking insects in the photographs.
South Phila. HS class of ‘68 reunion
The South Philadelphia High School Class of 1968 will hold its 55th reunion on Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Waterfall Room, 2015 S. Water St. Tickets cost $60 and include buffet dinner and open bar. For tickets and more information, call Arleen Liberi [609-922-2419], Maria Leati [856-287-3734] or Stephen Michielli [267-252-2740]. ••
Feb. book club meeting
The Book Club of Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will be holding its February Zoom session on Monday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. The book is The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. For further information, or to register for the book club program, call Lynn Ratmansky at 215-677-1600. ••
Upcoming cruise
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a fully escorted Holy Lands & Aegean Majesty cruise that will sail Oct. 6-17, featuring 10 ports-of-call. Rates, including airfare, range from $4,198 to $7,998 per person, double occupancy. Call 215-788-9408 for information and reservations. ••
Cruise the Mediterranean
Norwegian Cruise Line will host a Mediterranean cruise from Rome to Venice on Oct. 10-19. The trip is all inclusive with round-trip airfare, a beverage package, all meals, three specialty dinners, taxes, transfers and all gratuities. The cost for a balcony sea view cabin is $3,511 per person. For more information, contact Fillmore Travel’s Kevin Fries at 215-498-8294 or fkevin910@comcast.net.
