Goretti Class of ‘67 reunion
The 56th anniversary celebration of the St. Maria Goretti class of 1967 will be held on Nov. 5 from noon to 4 p.m. at the IATSE ballroom. Tickets are $67 per person. Call Millay Club at 215-389-0525 to purchase by Oct. 20.
Johnson introduces resolution condemning Hamas attacks
Councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd dist.) and Mike Driscoll (D- 6th dist.) introduced a resolution on Oct. 12 condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and called for a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“The images that the whole world has been seeing since Oct. 7 have been sickening to watch,” Johnson said. “Thousands of people have been killed and wounded on both sides of this conflict and the scars of the trauma they have suffered will last a lifetime. Hamas has committed an act of terrorism and Israel has every right to defend itself and respond to this attack. Violence and terrorism can never be justified as means to achieve political goals. Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable paths towards lasting peace and stability.”
Johnson thanked the Philadelphia Police Department for stepping up security around local synagogues and mosques in order to prevent any threats to Philadelphians that could arise in connection with the attacks.
The resolution has unanimous support in City Council. A final vote on the resolution is scheduled to take place during the Oct. 19 Council session.
“I support Councilman Johnson in strongly condemning the surprise attacks by Hamas and the killing of innocent civilians in Israel, in Palestine, and in the occupied territories and encourage all parties to work cooperatively toward a long-term peaceful settlement,” Driscoll said.
Vision Zero Report released
Mayor Jim Kenney announced figures from the Vision Zero Annual Report 2023 and the website “Complete Streets Projects Transform Traffic Safety.” Projects advanced by the Office of Complete Streets and Vision Zero partners are reducing fatal and serious injury crashes by 34 percent, and injury crashes of any severity by 20 percent, compared to High Injury Network trends.
Vision Zero is the city’s strategy to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries. The city has focused on installing projects on the High Injury Network, the 12 percent of city streets with 80 percent of all traffic deaths and serious injuries.
The Vision Zero Annual Report 2023 highlights three key types of traffic safety projects: road diets, separated bike lanes and Neighborhood Slow Zones:
Road diets reduce travel lanes and reallocate roadway space. Road diets resulted in 18% fewer total injury crashes compared to High Injury Network trends.
Where separated bike lanes were installed, there were 17% fewer total injury crashes and twice as many bike riders. The city’s goal is to add separated bike lanes to 40 total miles of streets by 2025.
Neighborhood Slow Zones install traffic calming measures and set a 20 mph speed limit. Newly installed neighborhood Slow Zones have seen no fatal or serious injury crashes, and 75% fewer crashes.
“Vision Zero has been a cornerstone of my administration. The city and our partners have made important progress in complete streets reducing traffic deaths and crashes,” Kenney said. “All Philadelphians deserve to travel safely. Let’s build on our proven successes to fight the systemic issue of traffic violence. We have the resources and know-how to get traffic fatalities to zero.”
The city has recently won $220 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and local traffic safety grants. Grants include:
The $78 million MEGA grant for the Roosevelt Boulevard’s Route for Change.
The $30 million Safe Streets for All grant to advance the Vision Zero Capital Plan (2020-2025).
Three separate $25 million RAISE Grants for Blossom at Bartram, Great Streets PHL and North Philadelphia School Zones.
$2 million for the Chinatown Stitch planning.
$35 million in additional federal, state and local traffic safety grants since October 2022.
Philadelphia faces major traffic safety challenges. There were 124 traffic deaths on city streets in 2022, compared to 123 in 2021, according to data from the state Department of Transportation.
Vulnerable road users continue to be at risk in Philadelphia. Every week, five children 17 years old and younger are hit by a vehicle while walking. Vision Zero is also an “equity” issue. “Communities of color,” lower-income neighborhoods, older adults and people walking and biking face higher rates of traffic violence.
“As the Kenney administration comes to a close and we prepare for new city leadership, we strongly encourage a citywide recommitment to Vision Zero,” said Mike Carroll, deputy managing director for the city’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability. “The commonwealth can assist by renewing and expanding speed cameras, and by allowing parking-separated bike lanes on state roads.”
Apply to become a cop
The Philadelphia Police Department is accepting applications through Nov. 12. Applicants must be at least 20 years old and have a high school diploma. The starting salary is $61,888. Call 215-683-COPS or apply at joinphillypd.com. ••
Honor Vietnam War casualties
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 266 will be holding its annual candlelight name reading at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Front and Spruce streets, on Oct. 21 at noon. The public is invited to honor and remember the 648 military service members from Philadelphia who died in the Vietnam War. New members are welcome. Email linedog716@yahoo.com or call 215-722-3518. ••
Sign up for golf outing
The Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce will hold its 101st annual Directors Cup Golf Challenge on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at North Hills Country Club, 99 Station Ave. in Glenside. Registration will be at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon, a shotgun start at 1 p.m., cocktail hour at 5 and dinner at 6. The cost is $400 for individual golfers, or $200 for dinner only. Sponsorships are available. Checks can be made payable to Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and mailed to 2068 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia, PA 19115. ••
Run, walk on Veterans Day
The national nonprofit PACT for Animals will hold a 10K, 5K or 1-Mile Patriotic Pup Walk on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, either virtually or at Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, in Oaks.
Check-in starts at 9 a.m., followed by the run and walk at 10. There will be prizes, giveaways and appearances by John DeBella and Eagles No. 1 fan Shaun Young.
Register at https://pactforanimals.org/veterans-day-run-and-dog-walk/. ••
Apply for artist residency
Glen Foerd is accepting applications for its 2023-2024 Artist-in-Residence program. The closing date for applications is Oct. 23. Glen Foerd will be accepting one regional visual artist (or artist collective) to complete a site-specific work during their residency. The selected artist will receive a stipend of $3,000 to create their works. Once selected, the Artist-in-Residence will have from Feb. 1, 2024 until Sept. 30, 2024 to complete their residency. The selected artist will create works that engage Glen Foerd’s audience and collections, which includes architecture, material culture, art and natural landscapes. The opportunity offers area artists access to Glen Foerd’s historic collections, grounds and the Delaware River. Outcomes must include a public engagement component. For application information, visit www.glenfoerd.org/artists-in-residence or email Alice Thompson at athompson@glenfoerd.org. ••
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 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. ••
Trip to Bethlehem
The Polish American Cultural Center Museum is sponsoring a trip to Bethlehem, “The Christmas City,” from Dec. 14-16. The tour includes two night accommodations at The Windcreek Hotel and Casino; two $20 vouchers; $70 slot play; a visit to Pines Dinner Theater to see Holly Jolly Christmas, with lunch (BYOB); a tour of “The Lights on the Parkway;” a free day to gamble and shop at the outlets; a visit to the Christkindlmarkt (Christmas shopping and artisans craft markets); and round-trip motorcoach. The cost is $525 per person double occupancy or $700 single. For information and reservations, call Theresa Romanowski at 215-922-1700. ••
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. ••
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. ••
Anti-looting legislation
In the wake of recent rampant and violent looting in Philadelphia that caused significant property damage and loss, House Republicans unveiled a package of anti-looting legislation that will increase penalties on looters, put additional teeth in juvenile curfews, crack down on social media coordination of looting and enhance penalties for those looting state property, including liquor stores.
Noting the increase of looting over the last several years, particularly under the cover of otherwise peaceful and lawful civil protests, Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) will introduce legislation to create a specific criminal penalty for looting.
“It has become clear with events over the last several years that looting itself is a premeditated and often coordinated crime committed with purpose and intent. It is time our criminal laws reflect this type of behavior and the state specifically criminalize looting to deter future planning and incidents of looting,” White said. “Criminalizing looting specifically will give law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to get looters off the streets and proactively deter looting incidents.” ••
Foster pets
The nonprofit PACT for Animals is looking for people to foster pets for military members and hospital patients.
Call 610-581-4141, fill out a foster application at PACTforAnimals.org or visit the group’s Facebook page. ••
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]. ••
