St. Hubert's High School students were honored Thursday in City Council. NewsWorks Photo/Micah Mahjoubian

There were two reasons why City Council honored Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls at a Thursday session attended by students, teachers, officials and supporters.

For one, the Torresdale Avenue mainstay is celebrating its 70th anniversary of educating students.  The other: How it fought to be able to celebrate a 71st.

Sixth District Councilman Bobby Henon, who sponsored the resolution, noted that the Archdiocese had slated the school for closing in early January.

It took a 51-day fundraising-and-rallying push to raise the $1.3 million and unquantifiable spirit needed to stave off padlocks.

Read the rest of this story from our partners at NewsWorks.

St. Hubert's High School students were honored Thursday in City Council. NewsWorks Photo/Micah Mahjoubian

There were two reasons why City Council honored Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls at a Thursday session attended by students, teachers, officials and supporters.

For one, the Torresdale Avenue mainstay is celebrating its 70th anniversary of educating students.  The other: How it fought to be able to celebrate a 71st.

Sixth District Councilman Bobby Henon, who sponsored the resolution, noted that the Archdiocese had slated the school for closing in early January.

It took a 51-day fundraising-and-rallying push to raise the $1.3 million and unquantifiable spirit needed to stave off padlocks.

Read the rest of this story from our partners at NewsWorks.

The doors of St. Hubert's and the other 16 Archdiocese of Philadelphia high schools will be open this week for prospective students. File photo/Shannon McDonald

High schools around the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are opening their doors this week and inviting prospective students to “see our schools.”

Part of the Faith in the Future Foundation’s marketing effort, the open houses will give future high school students and their families a chance to tour schools and speak with students and faculty.

Events began last night at Pope John Paul  II High School, and will continue through Sunday at all 17 high schools.

• St. Hubert’s High School: Thursday, March 22, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Archbishop Ryan High School: Saturday, March 24, 2 p.m to 4 p.m.
• Father Judge High School, Sunday, March 25, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lou McKee. Photo submitted by Eileen D'Angelo, taken by Robin Hiteshew

A great light has gone out of the Philadelphia literary community, and for many of us who loved Philadelphia teacher and poet Louis McKee.

There will be a celebration of his remarkable life on Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m. at the Mansion Parlor and Gallery of Media Borough Hall [map]. Please join us that day.

Remembrances, stories and memories will be shared by his friends, including Daniel Hoffman, W.D. Ehrhart, Joe Farley, Harry Humes, Paul Martin, Ray Greenblatt, Thomas Devaney, Elaine Terranova, Steve Delia, Peter Krok, Dan Maguire, Lynn Levin, Barb Crooker, Richard Bank, Mel Brake, myself and many others.

Everyone is invited to come and take to the podium, or rise from their seats, Quaker-style, as the spirit moves them, to share one of your favorite poems written by Lou, or tell a story, an anecdote or share a fond memory of our dear friend. Please come and help us celebrate his life. With your help, we can make it a very special day to remember him.

Lou McKee taught for many years at Father Judge High School. continue reading »

Upper Holmesburg residents study Holy Family University's early plans for the redevelopment of Liddonfield. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Of the 20 proposals awaiting consideration from the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the one from Holy Family University for the redevelopment of Liddonfield has the support of the Upper Holmesburg community.

If it wasn’t the speeches from Sr. Francesca Onley of HFU, 6th District Councilman Bobby Henon, developer John Parsons, Upper Holmesburg Civic Association President Stan Cywinski or UHCA board member Paul DeFinis, it was the applause and cheers from the 50-plus residents in attendance that proved the neighborhood is ready for a change.

Planning for Liddonfield’s future began early last year when the UHCA started working with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission to revitalize the neighborhood according to Philadelphia2035 goals.

“We were very practiced in our process, and that just may be our saving grace,” DeFinis said of his hopes that the effort Upper Holmesburg has made will be enough for the PHA.

With the help of politicians at the city, state and federal levels; a petition 4,000 signatures long; and support from the Holmesburg, Holme Circle, East Torresdale, Tacony and Morrell Park civic associations; the UHCA now waits to hear if the PHA will enter an agreement with Holy Family.

If that’s the case, John Parsons of BSI Construction (Island Green Country Club), outlined what he stressed are conceptual plans his development company has for the Liddonfield property at Torresdale Avenue and Megargee Street. continue reading »

Father Judge cheerleaders at the Jan. 7 basketball game against West Catholic High School. Photo/Bill Achuff

The above photo was shot during Friday’s Father Judge basketball game against West Catholic, with cheerleaders from St. Hubert’s High School.

Are you in the photo? Add your name to it in the comments section below.

Philadelphia Health Department officials believe they’ve found the source of the eye irritation at Father Judge High School that sent cheerleading competition attendees to the hospital earlier this month.

“Based on our current data, the Health Department believes that the defective metal halide bulb exposed persons at the cheerleading competition to UV (ultraviolet) light,” reads a letter the department sent Wednesday to competition attendees. continue reading »

Father Judge had a hazmat situation earlier this week. Which means mainstream media just discovered the school and tried to figure out what neighborhood it’s in.

That’d be Holmesburg. You know, where there are Holmesburg flags flying from telephone poles.

Kudos to our reader Mark Hanna, who spotted Fox29′s ridiculous error. The large media outlets jumped all over this story (were they there Thanksgiving week when Judge students helped break ground on a renovation project at Ramp playground?) Maybe spending some time in Holmesburg outside of the hazmat situation and methadone clinic might help. continue reading »

The Archdiocese has announced Father Judge High School will remain closed for an additional day after a skin and eye irritant was found in the building. High school administrators say the building has been deemed safe, but will remain closed Wednesday for additional environmental safety tests. continue reading »

Father Judge High School will remain closed Tuesday as health officials further explore the irritant in the school that affected the eyes and skin of cheerleaders and spectators at a Sunday event.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia sent the notice out early Monday evening:

“Father Judge High School will be closed on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 due to the situation that led some attendees at Sunday’s cheerleading competition at the school to seek medical attention for eye and skin irritations. continue reading »