Sustainable & Local Tour returns to East Passyunk
The Sustainable & Local Tour in East Passyunk is returning for a second round.
The 2nd annual tour, which takes place on Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., aims to promote local, sustainable and values-driven businesses in corridors throughout the region.
“We’re thrilled to host our second annual SBN’s Sustainable & Local Tour in East Passyunk this year,” said Devi Ramkissoon, Sustainable Business Network executive director. “We understand that many businesses are still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our tour is an important lifeline for many businesses struggling to keep their doors open and presents an opportunity for consumers to shop local while learning about the sustainable practices these businesses offer.”
Throughout the family-friendly, activity-filled day, guests can participate in guided and self-guided walking tours as well as a scavenger hunt throughout East Passyunk’s business corridor. Businesses featured in this year’s tour include August Moon, Black & Brew, Cartesian Brewing, Civil Stock, Creations by Coppola, Good Buy Supply, Latchkey, Mighty Bread, River Twice, Society Hill Dance Academy and South Philly Food Co-op. Each participating business will offer discounts and specials throughout the day and guests will be able to hear from business owners about how their businesses incorporate sustainable practices. The event supports East Passyunk’s diverse, values-driven community by encouraging both locals and visitors alike to shop locally while learning about sustainability in a fun and accessible way.
Guided tours will be offered at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. and will last about 90 minutes. For each guided walking tour, attendees will meet at the Singing Fountain (E. Passyunk Ave. and 11th St.). Self-guided tours are also available for guests to go at their own pace. For the first time this year, guests can also participate in a scavenger hunt to discover clues and answer questions about various sustainable businesses along East Passyunk and a mystery prize bag featuring gift items from participating businesses. Discounts and special offers from participating businesses will be available to all guests throughout the day.
Tickets: $35 for guided walking tours and $25 for self-guided walking tours. Scavenger hunt prices are $35 per person, $30 per person for a group of three and $25 per person for a group of five. Register at https://www.sbnphiladelphia.org/.
School board launches survey
The School District of Philadelphia Board of Education is asking the public to share feedback on its communications by launching a community-wide survey that will be open through Oct. 6.
The Board of Education has partnered with Public Consulting Group to develop a Strategic Communications Plan. A key part of this work is to hear from a range of voices, including students, teachers, staff, families and administrators, to identify opportunities to improve the board’s overall communication to community members.
The board encourages all community members to complete the survey that will inform the board’s strategic communications plan. The survey can be found at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7480861/BOEcommunicationsurvey.
Philadelphians offered career training at Navy Yard
University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative and PIDC’s Navy Yard Skills Initiative launched a program to train Philadelphia residents for permanent, full-time, union careers starting at $25/hour with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division. The partnership is made possible by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Recruitment for the program goes through Oct. 4. Recruitment and application information can be found on The Navy Yard website at navyyard.org/skills.
The pilot program builds a pipeline to NSWCPD’s Industrial Trades Developmental Program, a two-year paid training consisting of trade theory instruction and on-the-job skills training before starting as either a machinery mechanic or electrician. The ITDP was developed to ensure the defense and maritime ecosystems have the people and trades needed to meet the current and future demands of the U.S. Navy. Serving as the Navy’s primary technical expertise for both naval machinery research and development and naval machinery lifecycle engineering, the NSWCPD facility at the Navy Yard employs about 2,800 people.
“I am excited to begin this partnership with the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative,” said Nigel Thijs, division technical director of NSWCPD and member of the Navy’s Senior Executive Service. “This program will create a trades cohort that offers secure employment opportunities to Philadelphia-area residents while strengthening the technical depth and breadth of our Navy skilled trades workforce. This initiative supports the Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Program established by the Department of Defense to close a critical gap of skilled trades employees throughout the defense industrial base.”
In 2020, PIDC and the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative launched the Navy Yard Skills Initiative to bring the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative’s high-performing cohort-based jobs-driven training model to Navy Yard employers. The collaboration has resulted in nearly 100 graduates connecting with Navy Yard employers.
Hispanic Heritage Month at FDR Park
During Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), Fairmount Park Conservancy celebrates Hispanic and Latin culture with Spanish-language events and celebrations in FDR Park in South Philadelphia.
Every 2nd and 4th Friday, Fairmount Park Conservancy, DJ Valentin Flores and Philly Outdoor Bachata & Salsa teach bachata and salsa for free at FDR Park’s boathouse. The program begins with a one-hour dance lesson from 7:30-8:30 p.m. followed by a social dance from 8:30-11:30 p.m. The lesson is from an experienced instructor, who will accommodate all levels. The events are hosted by Fairmount Park Conservancy with DJ Valentin Flores & Philly Outdoor Bachata & Salsa.
¡CineMÁS! Spanish-Language Film Nights with Mercado de Latinas Market: Fairmount Park Conservancy presents the first film series in FDR park presented entirely in Spanish (with English subtitles) with a food and craft market featuring local vendors from the Latino community. This inclusive movie night and market celebrate the language, traditions and vibrant cultures of the Spanish-speaking world and the immigrant communities of South Philadelphia. Grab a blanket or lawn chair for a fun outdoor night at the movies. There will be lawn games, live music, prizes, food trucks and more at ¡CineMÁS! The movie and performances are free; food trucks and market are pay-as-you-go.
Shows are: Oct. 8 (Vivo) 6:30 p.m. screening (Market open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.); Oct. 15, (Coco) screening 6:30 p.m. (Market open 11-7).
Huey Mikailhuitl – La Gran Fiesta De Los Muertos: Fairmount Park Conservancy and artist Cesar Viveros invite everyone to Huey Mikailhuitl – La Gran Fiesta De Los Muertos, free Day of the Dead art workshop and festivities on Oct. 21 from 6-9 p.m. Participants will learn about the traditions and artistic practices of Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, including a performance from an Aztec dance group, a special sugar skull-making workshop and an altar-building demonstration using architectural elements of the historic FDR Boathouse. This event will also break the mold of tradition with some exciting new elements never before seen in Philadelphia, including a parade of artistically illuminated bicycles.
All events are located at FDR Park Boathouse, 1500 Pattison Ave., and registration is required at https://myphillypark.org/events-calendar/.
Navy Week returns to Philadelphia in October
The U.S. Navy announced it is bringing Navy Week to Philadelphia, featuring 75 visiting sailors from across the nation, to volunteer throughout the community and discuss why the Navy matters to Philadelphia, from Oct. 9 through Oct. 15. This marks the first time Philadelphia has hosted Navy Week since 2011. Navy Week is the service’s signature outreach program, designed to allow the citizens of Philadelphia to learn about the Navy, its people and its importance to national security and prosperity. The Navy Office of Community Outreach coordinates Navy Weeks across the U.S. each year.
“As the birthplace of the U.S. Navy, it is always our honor for Philadelphia to welcome back home the U.S. Navy and the members of the military family – past, present and future,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “We can never fully thank our service members for all that they have done and continue to do to protect us and our country, but we look forward to their visit as an opportunity to renew our commitment to supporting and honoring our veteran and active military personnel. We encourage residents across the region to welcome the Navy here to Philadelphia and hope everyone has the opportunity to attend at least one of these events to celebrate the great work of the U.S. Navy.”
Philadelphia-Camden Navy-Marine Week will feature in-person demonstrations, performances and engagements throughout the week that will include:
Senior Navy Leaders, Namesake Sailors, U.S. Navy Band Northeast, Naval History and Heritage Command, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.
Sailors will also visit iconic locations across the Greater Philadelphia Region, including running the steps at the art museum on Oct. 9 at 9 a.m.; the Navy Band Northeast’s Brass Quartet will perform “The Liberty March” at the Liberty Bell on Oct. 10 at 8 a.m.; sailors making cheesesteaks at Pat’s King of Steaks in South Philadelphia Oct. 10 at noon.; a flag raising at City Hall and a Navy birthday proclamation on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m.
Sailors will be performing community service throughout the region, including Philabundance, the Cathedral Kitchen, Heroic Gardens, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Police Athletic League and Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education.
Southern Class of ‘68 reunion
South Philadelphia High School’s Class of 1968 will hold its 55th reunion on Oct. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Waterfall Room, 2015 S. Swanson St. Includes a buffet luncheon with open bar. Tickets are $65 and money is due by Oct. 1. Send payments to SPHS Class of 1968, c/o Maria Leati, 26 Old Republic Lane, Marlton, NJ 08053. For more information, visit www.sphsalumni.com/reunions/.
Fundraiser for cosmetology students
Tomika Lynn Miles, owner of Journey Hair Salon, 7041 Castor Ave., will hold a “Pieces of Me” gala fundraiser on Oct. 8, from 6-10 p.m. at the IATSE Ballroom and Anthony Caterers, 2401 S. Swanson St. Proceeds will benefit continuing education for graduating cosmetology students.
Tickets cost $125 and include dinner, open bar, live entertainment and a red carpet.
Call 215-722-8010. ••
See Fiddler
The Star Players, of the city Department of Parks and Recreation, will present Fiddler on the Roof on Oct. 6, 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock St. in Manayunk. Bill Arthur is the director and plays the lead role. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Payment can be made on Venmo @TheStarplayers or at Holmesburg Recreation Center, 4500 Rhawn St. For more information, call 215-685-8714, follow @starplayersPPR on Twitter, like the Facebook page or email Starplayers2013@gmail.com. ••
Trip to Ohio, Kentucky
St. Jerome’s Senior Citizens Club invites the public to join them for a five-day trip (Oct. 15-19) to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, with a guided tour of Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. For reservations, questions or a brochure, call Diane McDowell at 267-496-2431. ••
Local author releases novel
Mayfair author Becky Flade announced that Tirgearr Publishing has released her latest novel, Beautiful Dangerous, which is the fourth book in Flade’s award-winning series of romantic thrillers set in Philadelphia. It is available at all major digital retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks/iTunes. Flade, a Frankford High School graduate, has been writing since kindergarten, when her Brown Elementary School teacher, Miss Daniels, helped with her first book detailing her and her best friend’s first solo trip to the market for milk. For more information, follow Flade on Facebook. ••
Farm stand at Jeanes
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus, 7600 Central Ave., has a farm stand that is open Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October. The stand is located next to parking lot C of Jeanes Campus and the Fox Chase Cancer Center Campus. Call 215-728-4861 or email Rosemarie.Schlegel@tuhs.temple.edu. ••
Parkinson’s support group
Temple University Hospital – Jeanes Campus is offering a Parkinson’s disease support group for those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and their families. The group will meet on the second Wednesday of every other month from 6-7 p.m. at the Cheltenham Friends Meetinghouse, 7604 Central Ave. The schedule is Oct. 11, Dec. 13 (holiday party) and Feb. 14. The group is led by nurse practitioner June Ro, and will include guest speakers. To register, contact Ro at 215-707-2619 or Jungyoon.Ro@tuhs.temple.edu. ••
Support for small nonprofits
A Little Better Company, an agency focused on making the world a little better, announces the launch of its inaugural Unless Project, a grant-meets-accelerator program providing $150,000 in marketing and capacity-building services to small organizations with big ideas but limited resources.
Up to four U.S.-based nonprofits will be selected to participate in the Unless Project to turn their transformational ideas into impact.
Simon Rogers, founder of ALBC, said: “In our experience, organizations with truly new and novel ideas struggle to get the resources and buy-in they need to bring their ideas to life. Today, the ability to communicate in the right way can make or break their success, and that gap between idea and impact is where the Unless Project comes in.”
The Unless Project seeks applications from nonprofits that are working on new, novel, provable, scalable and sustainable solutions to challenges in one of ALBC’s four focus areas:
• Environmental Sustainability
• Human Health and Wellness
• Social Progress and Advocacy
• Artistic Activism
The short application process includes a five-question eligibility quiz (yes/no answers only), a short application (written or video submissions) and, for finalists, a 30- to 45-minute Zoom discussion with the selection committee.
The eligibility quiz is available now, and applications are open through Oct. 15. Awardees will be notified on Dec. 15, and then be guided through a six-month process to transform their brand, tapping into all of ALBC’s capabilities and expertise.
ALBC will cover all marketing-related expenditures along the way. Additionally, the grant will include a $2,500 stipend to cover unplanned out-of-pocket expenses.
Interested nonprofits can take the eligibility quiz at https://bit.ly/unless-quiz.
Or sign up for an information session: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A14a76RyQImqfP1CS62XhA#/registration.
To learn more, become part of the ALBC collective or to partner with the Unless Project, visit https://www.alittlebetter.co/. ••
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. Contact Commander Israel Wolmark at 215-725-0630 if you would like to join the post. ••
Broadway show
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is running a bus trip to New York on Saturday, Sept. 30, to see the Broadway production of Some Like It Hot. The cost is $230, which includes orchestra seating and round-trip motor coach. Bus leaves from 604 Township Line Road, Cheltenham, at 9:15 a.m. Call Harriet at 215-969-8366 for tickets. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Upcoming cruise
The Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation is sponsoring a fully escorted Holy Lands & Aegean Majesty cruise from Oct. 6-17, visiting Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Italy. Rates, including airfare, range from $4,298 to $8,098 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. ••
Register for bike ride
The closed-road, non-competitive Philly Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, Oct. 14, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Participants can choose from a 20-mile course or a shorter 7.6-mile version, with a finish line by the iconic setting of the art museum and the shadow of the famed Rocky steps. The event concludes with a post-ride festival, free and open to the public, that features live music, wellness activities and food trucks.
The cost starts at $35, with various add-ons available. There are two special ticket deals available.
The event supports the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. A portion of proceeds from the event will support the Bicycle Coalition Youth Cycling program.
Registration is open and more information is available at Phillybikeride.com. ••
Save at Boscov’s
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter, Fox Chase Cancer Center is partnering with Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at all Boscov’s locations, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The group is selling a shopping pass for $5, which can represent savings of up to 25% off purchases. Call Shirley at 215-530-6637 to purchase shopping passes. The profits of the event will be donated to Fox Chase Cancer Center to support cancer research and compassionate patient care. ••
Day dedicated to women
NBC 10 news anchor Tracy Davidson will present Lifting Your Voice, a day dedicated to women, on Sunday, Oct. 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Philadelphia Country Club 1601 Spring Mill Road, in Gladwyne. The guest speaker will be Jen Croneberger, an author and former recipient of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry’s Female Business Leader of the Year. She holds a master’s degree in Sports and Performance Psychology and a Sustainable Business Strategy Certification from the Harvard Business School.
For tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lifting-your-voice-fall-2023-tickets-522147375857?aff=erelexpmlt. ••
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]. ••
