PhilaNet.com

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Union League of Philadelphia, founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln, will host its annual Open House on Saturday February 4, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to stay after the open house for a special presentation by Bob O’Connor, author and historian, “Ward Hill Lamon: Abraham Lincoln’s personal bodyguard.”

The Open House and the Ward Lamon program are free and open to the public.

O’Connor, who lives in Charles Town, West Virginia, has ortrayed Lamon in programs at schools, historical venues, and civic organizations in six states. He has authored the only account of Lamon’s life, a historical fiction book called “The Virginian Who Might Have Saved Lincoln.” He also has edited the only book Lamon ever wrote, “The Life of Abraham Lincoln As President,” written in the 1880s but never published. Mr. O’Connor found the manuscript in the Huntington Library in California and purchased the rights to publish it. He added over 1700 footnotes. The book was published for the first time in December 2010.

Ward Hill Lamon is largely a forgotten figure in history, according to O’Connor. “He was born just a few miles from where I live, and moved to Danville, Illinois at age 18. There he became a new attorney assigned to the 8th Circuit Court where Abraham Lincoln was a long established lawyer. Lamon and Lincoln were law partners from 1852-1856, defending 114 cases in Vermilion County, Illinois. Lincoln took Lamon with him to Washington and became the unofficial presidential bodyguard. Lamon was with Mr. Lincoln every single day of his presidency until Tuesday,
April 11, 1865, when the president sent Lamon on a special assignment.

Lamon did not want to leave Mr. Lincoln unguarded, as he felt there was still danger. The Lincolns went to Ford’s Theater on April 14 in spite of Lamon’s urging that he not leave the White House, and the rest is history.”

O’Connor thinks Lamon is overlooked by historians. “He was probably Abraham Lincoln’s most trusted friend. He had more access to President Lincoln during the Civil War than anyone else. To say he is an insignificant character is quite outlandish.”

O’Connor, speaking as Ward Lamon, will tell of his friendship with
Abraham Lincoln, personal experiences they had, and the tragic loss of his life-long friend. At the end of the program, Mr. Lamon will take questions and will answer them in character.

The Philadelphia Orchestra returns once again for a performance in the magnificent Academy of Music for the 155th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin will make his Academy of Music debut conducting The Philadelphia Orchestra, with special guests multiple Grammy Award-winners singer/pianist Diana Krall and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Tipping its hat once again to the first Academy Anniversary Concert, the program will be a mix of orchestral repertoire and popular music.

The Anniversary Concert is produced by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who have produced the Academy Anniversary concerts since 2007.

Concert-only tickets are available at $200 and are located in the Amphitheatre level. Concert-only tickets can be purchased by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1999

On Saturday, January 21, 2012, Cub Scouts from all over Northeast Philadelphia will gather at Wissinoming Park, (5801 Frankford Avenue) for the Annual Roosevelt District, Cub Scout Klondike Derby. This year’s theme is;
A Hillbilly Hoedown in Dogpatch. The day’s program will run from 9 a.m. until completion.

At the Boy Scout level a Klondike Derby is a winter skills competition which pits troops and patrols against each other and the elements as they test their knowledge of camping, cooking, first aid and outdoor survival. A Cub Scout, Klondike Derby is a modification of this competition which will present an opportunity for our youngest Scouts, (ages 6 to 10), to showcase what they have learned as part of the advancement program. Unlike the Boy Scout version, the Cub Scout Klondike will be less competition and more fun as the Cubs will participate in games and events focusing on discovering abilities and learning new skills. All this while tooling around Wissinoming Park in custom built albeit modified dog sleds.

This event is sponsored by the Roosevelt District of the Cradle of Liberty Council, BSA. Delaware District represents units in Northeast Philadelphia, as well as the Bridesburg, Kensington, Port Richmond and Fishtown neighborhoods, and its youth members range in age from 6 to 21. The Boy Scouts of America is the premier youth organization in the United States, instilling in young men and women, citizenship, good character, a sense of service to others and a firm foundation of knowledge and skills on which to grow into successful adults.

Thursday December 29, 2011
5:00PM Until Food Runs Out
15th Street, between Market St. and JFK Blvd.

For as long as Occupy Philly can afford to offer free meals, every Thursday starting at 5PM food will be provided.

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force today announced the arrest of as many as 34 suspects accused of illegal gun trafficking, straw purchasing and other firearm offenses.

Attorney General Tom Corbett, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said the arrests are part of an ongoing effort to tackle the problem of gun violence and homicides in Philadelphia.

In December 2006 Corbett partnered with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the Philadelphia Police Department to form the Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force. The Task Force, funded by the State Legislature, employs attorney general agents to work hand-in-hand with the Philadelphia police on gun related crimes. The defendants are prosecuted by the district attorney’s office.

Corbett said that the Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force has opened 1,311 investigations, made 424 arrests and seized 779 firearms.

“The positive impact this Task Force has had on Philadelphia is undeniable,” Corbett said. “Not only have these agents made arrests and seized illegal firearms, but have assisted in solving shootings, burglaries, robberies, and homicides.”

“There is no doubt that the hard work of the Gun Violence Task Force has helped Philadelphia make a dent in the most dangerous crimes here, the crimes that are associated with guns,” says District Attorney Seth Williams. “The continued diligence of this Task Force is not only essential for Philadelphia, but for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Corbett noted that to date the Task Force has convicted 183 individuals of straw purchasing and other gun trafficking offenses.

Corbett explained that a straw purchase occurs when someone purchases a gun for an individual, who is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

“When you purchase a gun for a criminal and that gun is used to kill someone, it is as if you pulled the trigger yourself,” Corbett said. “The majority o f the suspects arrested today are accused of being straw purchasers and allegedly purchased firearms for boyfriends or friends, who otherwise would never have been allowed to possess a gun.”

According to agents, at least 15 of the suspects being announced today were involved in some type of straw purchase transaction.

Corbett said that the majority of weapons the task force seized were purchased legally and given to a criminal, stolen in burglaries and thefts, or traded by drug users instead of cash.

“Drugs, guns and violence are problems that can never be separated from one another,” Corbett said.

“This is not exclusively a Philadelphia problem,” Corbett said. “Other cities and town across Pennsylvania have seen firsthand the effects gun violence can have on our communities.”

Corbett noted that his office offers an educational program called Think Again: Gun Violence and Straw Purchasing. The program includes a DVD, which shows the harsh realities and consequences of gun violence through candid interview’s with a victim’s mother, trauma surgeon and law enforcement.

Presentations are available, free of charge, by contacting the Attorney General’s Education and Outreach Unit at 1-800-525-7642 or by emailing education@attorneygeneral.gov.

Philadelphia, PA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Philadelphia Zoo are sponsoring an Earth Day poster contest for students in grades kindergarten through 12 in EPA’s mid-Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Students are invited to submit hand-created drawings on plain letter-sized paper using markers, colored pencils, crayons, pens or paint. Computer-generated images will not be accepted. Students can choose one of the three themes:

1) Protect Habitats, Endangered Species
2) Help Protect the Earth from Climate Change
3) The Meaning of Earth Day

Entries will be divided into four categories: K-2nd grade; grades 3-5; grades 6-8; and grades 9-12. The top three winners in each category will receive a combined prize package from the EPA and Philadelphia Zoo. Winning entries and others will be displayed at the Philadelphia Zoo on April 22-24 as part of EPA’s 40th anniversary Earth Day celebration. The posters will later be displayed at the EPA’s Public Information Center in Philadelphia. Entries must be postmarked no later than March 1 and should be mailed to:

Earth Day Poster Contest (3PA00)
U.S. EPA Region 3
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

The back of the poster should include the competition theme, name, age, school name, grade, parent/guardian’s name, address, telephone number and email.

For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region03/earthday/2010_poster_contest.PDF or call (215) 814-5100 or email
R3 40yearsofEarthDay@epa.gov.

For Immediate Release

Philadelphia, PA – Mary Genovese Colvin and Margaux Genovese Pelegrin of

Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS announce OPEN HOUSES in Center City Philadelphia for January 24th, 2010.

Visit MaryOnTheSquare.com to see more Center City Philadelphia Condos, Townhomes, Luxury Condos and Real Estate For Sale.

Bookmark our site to check back each week for the open House Schedule.

Contact us to schedule an appointment to visit properties for sale in Center City Philadelphia, PA

Mary Genovese Colvin and Margaux Genovese Pelegrin of

Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS announce OPEN HOUSES in Center City Philadelphia for January 10th, 2010.

Visit MaryOnTheSquare.com to see more Center City Philadelphia Condos, Townhomes, Luxury Condos and Real Estate For Sale.

Bookmark our site to check back each week for the open House Schedule.

Contact us to schedule an appointment to visit properties for sale in Center City Philadelphia, PA