Northeast Times

03/02/2025

Student Council officers, all seniors (from left), Hope Bucci, Kaitlyn McGovern, Faith Landis and Allie McNesby.

Senior Dana DiNezza; her brother, Michael DiNezza, a former Our Lady of Confidence student now at Archbishop Wood; and Dave Schafer.

Sophomores Tatum Lentine and Kassidy Todd were in charge of the snack table before beginning to dance.

Musical chairs

St. Hubert High School students recently participated in their annual Dance-A-Rama. The evening’s festivities raised $20,604.33 for Our Lady of Confidence, an Archdiocese of Philadelphia school of special education in Willow Grove.

The girls danced for six hours in the cafeteria after class on Feb. 21.

Planning is done by student council president Allie McNesby and other student council officers and members, along with moderator Dave Schafer.

Student Council officers, all seniors (from left), Hope Bucci, Kaitlyn McGovern, Faith Landis and Allie McNesby.Senior Dana DiNezza; her brother, Michael Di

03/01/2025

From left: Matt Kelly, Far Northeast Small Business Association; Tom Neveil; Jen Quinn, Far Northeast SBA; and Charlie Kueny.

Northeast Victim Service, 16 Old Ashton Road, Suite 5, last week held an open house to celebrate its 33rd anniversary.

The nonprofit, which has had various locations over the years, helps victims and witnesses of crimes in the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 15th police districts.

Tom Neveil is the new executive director. Deb Sparks, Donna Taraborelli and Doris Neilson are victim advocates. There is a 15-member board.

The Feb. 25 open house featured cake, cookies, pretzels, snacks, hoagies, coffee and cold drinks.

Among those who attended were officers from the 8th and 15th police districts, Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce president Charlie Kueny, representatives from the Far Northeast Small Business Association, City Councilman Mike Driscoll, Register of Wills John Sabatina and state Reps. Ed Neilson and Sean Dougherty.

From left: Matt Kelly, Far Northeast Small Business Association; Tom Neveil; Jen Quinn, Far Northeast SBA; and Charlie Kueny.Northea

02/27/2025

An injustice

I met a woman friend of my wife two months ago who is hearing impaired. I was so impressed with her. She is a naturalized citizen who has worked hard to get a college degree along with a master’s degree. When I met her, she was excited about starting a new job with the U.S. government. The job was under the authority of the American with Disabilities Act. She was fully qualified for the job and the interview was successful. She received the job offer, had been fingerprinted and everything was progressing nicely. When she left our home that night, she was looking forward to this next stage in her life. I loved how hopeful she was, and I was happy for her as she worked so hard and was deserving of this opportunity.

A week later she received an email stating that the job offer had been rescinded because of one of Trump’s executive orders. It is one thing to read about these executive orders, but it is another thing to put a human face on it.

An injusticeI met a woman friend of my wife two months ago who is hearing impaired. I was so impressed with her. She is a naturalized citizen who has worked

02/26/2025

Rob Delany with Everett Barnes (holding the plaque) and the rest of the champion Crusaders.

School president Brian King, senior forward Kevin Beck, sophomore guard Nazir Tyler.

Judge beat Roman Catholic, 41-34, in the Catholic League basketball final.

Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools on Monday presented Father Judge High School with $10,000 in scholarship money and doughnuts for the whole school in celebration of the Crusaders winning the Catholic League basketball championship the day before.

Rob Delany, CEO of BLOCS, made the presentation in front of the whole student body in the Bill Fox Jr. Gymnasium.

“We’re here to celebrate you, the Philadelphia Catholic League champions,” Delany said.

The scoreboards were turned on to show the score of the championship game: Father Judge 41, Roman Catholic 34. Roman led 10-0 before Judge began its comeback. BLOCS sponsored the championship game, played at the Palestra.

“Twenty-seven years.

Rob Delany with Everett Barnes (holding the plaque) and the rest of the champion Crusaders.School president Brian King, senior forward Kevin Beck, sophomore

02/24/2025

The Crusaders have a reason to smile. They are the PCL champs.

Everett Barnes, who'll play at Loyola (Maryland), dominated defensively in the final. Tonight, they’re partying like 1998. That was the last time the Fa

02/16/2025

Tom Campion

Ribbon cutting at 6th district center

Ribbon cutting at Hayes Playground

The Parker administration recently opened two Neighborhood Community Action Centers in the Northeast.

One is located in the 10th Councilmanic District at Officer Robert Hayes Memorial Playground, 9945 President St. The other is at Russo Park Playground, in the former Mayfair Athletic Club building near Edmund Street and Bleigh Avenue.

The offices are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mayor Cherelle Parker attended both ribbon-cutting ceremonies and was joined by members of her administration, various city and state elected officials and neighborhood leaders.

City Councilman Brian O’Neill, who has a City Hall office and four neighborhood offices to handle constituent services, did not attend the opening of the Hayes Playground site.

Tom CampionRibbon cutting at 6th district centerRibbon cutting at Hayes PlaygroundThe Parker administration recently opened two Neighborhood Com

02/14/2025

The Crusaders are headed back to the Palestra.

Father Judge's Derrick Morton-Rivera goes up for a shot in a game against Neumann-Goretti on Jan. 8. Photo/Mark Zimmaro Derrick Morton-Rivera has always had

02/14/2025

Can't be at Holy Family tonight? Watch the Archbishop Ryan High School basketball team right here play Roman Catholic. Ryan's Teddy Westervelt is on the call!

02/14/2025

Great day for the Ryan Ragdolls!

Archbishop Ryan won a national cheerleading title in Orlando. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Eagles weren’t the only Philly team to prove they were the best in the

02/11/2025

These Father Judge students put filled bags in boxes and taped them for delivery to Martha's Choice.

These Ryan students put filled bags in boxes and taped them for delivery to Martha's Choice.

St. Dominic eighth-grade students

St. Anselm students with principal Seamus Mee

Archbishop Perez with Little Flower students

Maternity BVM and Christ the King students with BVM principal Sally Unger

Students from St. Albert the Great and St. Martha

St. Hubert president Lizanne Pando and students with Archbishop Perez

St. Matthew students with Archbishop Perez

St. Jerome students with Archbishop Perez

From left: St. Albert the Great eighth-graders Ryan Tait, Julia Drysdale and Emily Hawkinson and seventh-graders Cassidy Geer and Dylan Auty.

Archbishop Nelson Pérez was recently at Father Judge for a service initiative that served as the keystone event for the celebration of Catholic Schools Week in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

These Father Judge students put filled bags in boxes and taped them for delivery to Martha's Choice.These Ryan students put filled bags in boxes and taped t

02/10/2025

Eagles fans watched their team rout the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX, then converged on places like Five Points and Frankford and Cottman avenues to celebrate.

Drivers honked horns, with passengers handing out the windows. Others set off fireworks, while some smoked victory ci**rs.

Everyone now awaits the next celebration -- the parade, with the day and details to be announced soon. ••

Eagles fans watched their team rout the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX, then converged on places like Five Points and Frankford and Cottman avenue

02/10/2025

I Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10

II Green Bay 33, Oakland 14

III New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7

IV Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7

V Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas 13

VI Dallas 24, Miami 3

VII Miami 14, Washington 7

VIII Miami 24, Minnesota 7

IX Pittsburgh 16, Minnesota 6

X Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17

XI Oakland 32, Minnesota 14

XII Dallas 27, Denver 10

XIII Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31

XIV Pittsburgh 31, Los Angeles Rams 19

XV Oakland 27, Eagles 10

XVI San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21

XVII Washington 27, Miami 17

XVIII Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington 9

XIX San Francisco 38, Miami 16

XX Chicago 46, New England 10

XXI New York Giants 39, Denver 20

XXII Washington 42, Denver 10

XXIII San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16

XXIV San Francisco 55, Denver 10

XXV New York Giants 20, Buffalo 19

XXVI Washington 37, Buffalo 24

XXVII Dallas 52, Buffalo 17

XXVIII Dallas 30, Buffalo 13

XXIX San Francisco 49, San Diego Chargers 26

### Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17

###I Green Bay 35, New

I Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10II Green Bay 33, Oakland 14III New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7IV Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7V Baltimore Colts

02/09/2025

Bandstand Bunny is now WeatherTech Granny.

Kathleen “Bunny” Gibson, who gained national fame while dancing on American Bandstand, will star in a commercial airing during Super Bowl LIX.

The Eagles will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the game, to be played in New Orleans. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. on Fox. The WeatherTech commercial will air during the second quarter.

Gibson, a 1963 graduate of Northeast High School, appears in the commercial as the driver of a convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway, with three other women in the car. The four ladies get arrested for their antics on the road.

Here is a link to a 60-second version of the commercial, courtesy of Pinnacle Advertising & Marketing Group: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6d2QRiLw6c

The ad that will air during the game will be 30 seconds.

Illinois-based WeatherTech is a manufacturer of automobile accessories such as rubber floor mats, trunk liners, windshield sun shades, mudflaps and cupholders.

Bandstand Bunny is now WeatherTech Granny.Kathleen “Bunny” Gibson, who gained national fame while dancing on American Bandstand, will star in a commerci

02/07/2025

BellaLisa owner Lisa Greco holds cupcakes as she and her staff sing Happy Birthday to Jane Mooney, whose daughter, Terry McPhillips (right), joined in the singing.

Jane Mooney with daughter Terry McPhillips (left) and BellaLisa Hair Studio staff.

Mayfair’s Jane Mooney is celebrating her 103rd birthday today.

Jane’s family will come to her house on Saturday for a party.

The ladies at BellaLisa Hair Studio, 3530 Cottman Ave., celebrated Jane’s birthday on Thursday when she came in for an appointment with stylist Terry Ackerman. They sang Happy Birthday and presented her with cupcakes.

Jane Hackett was born Feb. 7, 1922. She grew up in Drexel Hill, and graduated in 1940 from the old Holy Child Academy, a girls elementary and high school in Sharon Hill.

Jane later moved to Mayfair and has been in the neighborhood ever since. She met a neighborhood man, Lew Mooney, and they married in 1947. Lew passed away in 2002.

BellaLisa owner Lisa Greco holds cupcakes as she and her staff sing Happy Birthday to Jane Mooney, whose daughter, Terry McPhillips (right), joined in the singi

02/07/2025

Jason and Trisha Duff lead the crowd at a previous Mission: Possible event in singing I Won't Back Down, by Tom Petty.

Weston and Wyland Duff

Jason Duff and son Wyland

Jason Duff was interviewed by Jill Horner for Comcast Newsmakers.

Jason Duff, a licensed clinical psychologist in the U.S. Navy, was diagnosed with lymphoma in May 2017 after feeling a lump in his neck and throat area, but he was lucky.

The cancer had not metastasized, and he had a skilled surgeon and support from his wife.

After chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he received a clean bill of health later that year, and has been cancer free ever since.

He worked and exercised during the illness, and today remains an advocate for early detection.

“I had a young family and beautiful wife, and we had plans,” he recalled. “I was focused, energized and motivated to take this on. I didn’t want to die. I had really good care.”

Duff, a graduate of St.

Jason and Trisha Duff lead the crowd at a previous Mission: Possible event in singing I Won't Back Down, by Tom Petty.Weston and Wyland DuffJason Duff a

02/05/2025

The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame owns the world’s largest museum collection dedicated to Philadelphia sports. The collection spans the history of Philadelphia sports dating to the late 1800s. Parts of the collection are available to the public in permanent and rotating exhibits at the hall’s museum preview gallery at Spike’s Trophies (2701 Grant Ave.).

A cornerstone display is dedicated to the Philadelphia Eagles’ four NFL championships: 1948, 1949, 1960 and the 2017 Super Bowl team. These champions are also honored on murals on sides of Spike’s building. The 1948, 1949 and 1960 are featured on the City of Champions Mural. On the building’s east façade, it was dedicated in 2016 in conjunction with Mural Arts Philadelphia. Following the Eagles winning Super Bowl LII the Hall of Fame and Spike’s again worked with Mural Arts. A new mural was commissioned and created on the west-facing wall, dedicated to those Super Bowl champions .

The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame owns the world’s largest museum collection dedicated to Philadelphia sports. The collection spans the history of Philadel

02/04/2025

It never hurts to ask.

When Northeast Philadelphia native Chris Maher was looking to add a boost to his hockey-related podcast, he started asking around. Would it actually be possible to get a former Flyer to co-host a chat? Maher went to his keyboard and took his shot.

“I was doing a show with call-ins,” Maher recalled. “I was doing it straight from my bedroom. I was hosting and producing it. It was all hockey talk. But I was like, ‘Let me think if I can get a former Flyer to come on for a segment and talk about the team for 15-20 minutes.’ ”

Maher went to Flyers.NHL.com writer Bill Meltzer for some help. Meltzer is heavily involved with the Flyers Alumni Association and had a few leads for Maher.

“I sent an email to Mike Knuble and he was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ He came on as a guest the first few times,” Maher said.

It never hurts to ask. When Northeast Philadelphia native Chris Maher was looking to add a boost to his hockey-related podcast, he started asking around. Wou

02/03/2025

Sean Duffy

Mayor Cherelle Parker on Monday afternoon provided an update on Friday night’s airplane crash on Cottman Avenue, near Roosevelt Mall.

The news conference took place at the mall, and Parker was joined by, among others, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy; Gov. Josh Shapiro; Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel; city Managing Director Adam Thiel; City Councilmen Mike Driscoll and Jim Harrity; state Reps. Jared Solomon and Sean Dougherty; and city elections commissioner Lisa Deeley.

Parker said the death toll remains at seven – six people on board and one person in a car – while 24 were injured, including four who remain hospitalized, two of whom are in critical condition and two of whom are stable.

Parker and Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson have visited victims in the hospital.

“They know we’re praying for them,” Parker said.

Parker announced that Roosevelt Boulevard has fully reopened and that a town hall will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m.

Sean DuffyMayor Cherelle Parker on Monday afternoon provided an update on Friday night’s airplane crash on Cottman Avenue, near Roosevelt Mall.The new