PhillyRising session at Frankford library
Assistant Managing Director Sanya L. Brown will review what occurred in Frankford in 2013 and what could have been improved at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, in the community room of the Frankford branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 4634 Frankford Ave.
Brown also will discuss what’s on PhillyRising’s agenda for 2014, events residents would like to see and changes they would like to see in Frankford.
For infomration, email sanya.brown@phila.gov ••
Firefighters knock down Lawndale blaze
As the snow was still falling at 4:19 a.m. Friday, Philadelphia firefighters were battling a fire in a two-story home on the 400 block of Kerper St. in Lawndale.
The fire had been reported just five minutes earlier, said Capt. Clifford Gilliam. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy flames in the house, he said.
The fire was under control by 5:03 a.m., he said, and three persons were taken to hospitals for evaluation.
Gilliam said two adult women and two children lived in the home.
The cause of the blaze and where it began are under investigation, the captain said.
The Red Cross was on the Kerper Street scene and is providing shelter to the family at the Red Cross House at 40th and Powelton as well as financial assistance, said spokesman Dave Schrader.
No firefighters were injured. ••
Volunteers helping with tax returns
Volunteers from RSVP Philadelphia are offering to help people in the area to prepare simple tax returns and other documents free of charge at the Klein JCC, 10100 Jamison Ave., beginning on Feb. 1.
Those interested in receiving help are required to have incomes of $60,000 or below, have all their documentation including their W-2’s and other investment income and tax forms and must make a reservation in advance before they come to the Klein JCC for help.
Reservations can be made by calling 267–345–7787. ••
New recreational trail to be built
State Sen. Mike Stack has announced that a new recreational trail will be constructed in Northeast Philadelphia with new state investment.
The final leg of the Baxter Trail portion of the North Delaware Riverfront Greenway will be completed with the recent approval of a $250,000 state grant. Delaware River City Corp. will use the money to finish the two-mile segment of the trail, which is in Holmesburg and borders Torresdale.
“We are making Philadelphia green again with the work we have done and continue to do to improve and connect the trails that wind through the city,” Stack said. “This will be a great quality-of-life improvement to the region, as have all of trail improvement projects that are either underway or have recently been completed.”
The Commonwealth Financing Agency approved the $250,000 grant on Nov. 21.
Delaware River City plans to build a 1,200-foot-long by 20-foot-high wall along the trail to protect the people who use Baxter Trail near the Philadelphia Police Academy Shooting Range. Once completed, the Baxter Trail will increase access to the Delaware River and will eventually be a trunk line of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway, which will stretch from Maine to Florida. ••
Might be hard to find a favorite here
Vote for your favorite baby bug this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Insectarium, at 8046 Frankford Ave. This special event is free with general admission to the museum. ••
Mary Anne Benner honored by GNPCC with fellowship award
Mary Anne Benner, who recently joined 3rd Fed Bank as a business development officer, was awarded the 2013 Fellowship Award from the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce for her leadership, vision and support within the community and commitment to the chamber.
Benner has been previously recognized as a leader in the community having received the Northeast Philadelphia Community College Leadership Award and Philadelphia YMCA Leadership Award, to name a few.
Benner is also a member of the GNPCC Foundation board of directors, a community ambassador for Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, and participates on the Advisory Boards of the Northeast Family YMCA, Immaculate Mary Retirement Home and Archbishop Ryan High School as co-chair.
She has more than 40 years of experience in retail banking and business development. Serving as 3rd Fed Bank’s business development officer in the Burlington County market, Benner is an expert in developing and building business relationships.
Her office is located in the 3rd Fed Bank Delran branch at 3104 Bridgeboro Road in Delran, N.J. ••
Amici Opera Company’s upcoming January performances
The Amici Opera Company has several plays and dinner concerts coming up this January.
Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) will be performed on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 2:30 p.m., at Dock Woods Community, 275 Dock Drive in Lansdale. It will also be performed on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 6:15 p.m., at Franco’s High Note, at 1549 S. 13th St. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. the play will be staged at Broad Street Ministry, at 315 S. Broad St.
Tickets for these two dinner concerts are $39.95. Tip and tax are not included.
Puccini’s Manon Lescaut is set for Sunday, Jan. 19, at 3 p.m., at Stage 1, at 101 Plushmill Road in Wallingford. Next, it will be performed on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. at Broad Street Ministry, 315 S. Broad St. $25 per ticket.
For information call 215–224–0257. ••
Robert M. Gates will give talk at National Constitution Center
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and 2011 Liberty Medal recipient Robert M. Gates returns to the National Constitution Center to give a presentation and unveil his new book, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.
The book gives his account of serving as secretary of defense under both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.
Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War releases just three days prior to Gates’ Constitution Center engagement.
Admission starts at $30 and is free for 1787 Society members. A copy of Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War is included in the cost of admission.
For information or reservations, call 215–409–6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
Groups of 20 or more are eligible for discounted admission. For group reservations, contact 215–409–6800 or groupsales@constitutioncenter.org ••
Broadway’s Other Desert Cities making Philadelphia premiere
Walnut Street Theatre continues its 205th season with a new drama, Other Desert Cities.
Written by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Kate Galvin, the play runs from Jan. 14 through March 2.
Other Desert Cities is the story of a once promising novelist, who returns home after a six year absence to celebrate Christmas with her parents, former leading Republicans, and her eccentric liberal aunt. When the novelist announces she is about to publish a memoir on the family’s history, the reunion is thrown into turmoil.
For tickets and information, call 215–574–3550 or 800–982–2787. Tickets are also available online by visiting www.walnutstreettheatre.org or Ticketmaster. ••
