An East Falls Childhood Marred by Poverty and Abuse By Sabina Clarke I caught up with Joe Queenan, author of the startling memoir/autobiography Closing Time, the day after his return from Ireland where he attended the Dublin Literary Festival. Queenan’s… Continue Reading
By Sabina Clarke Siobhan Lyons, the new executive director of the Irish Immigration and Pastoral Center in Upper Darby, is young, enthusiastic, accomplished, and bursting with new ideas. The well-traveled daughter of a career diplomat for the Irish Government, Siobhan… Continue Reading
Breakfast with the Champ… By Sabina Clarke I’m sitting before Joe Frazier, the former heavyweight champion of the world while he finishes a bowl of cereal. He is casual, warm and welcoming and greets me like an old friend. We’ve… Continue Reading
Sister Mary Scullion, a member of the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community and a Philadelphia resident, was recently chosen as one of the top 100 influential people by Time magazine. Sister Mary was ranked 49th on the list with 613,599… Continue Reading
by Ronnie Norpel Hope springs eternally green, and here we are kicking off another Phillies season—having lifted a curse? In early March, I stopped by a snowy Citizens Bank Park to congratulate my new old friend, the Phillie Phanatic. New,… Continue Reading
By Sabina Clarke Several weeks ago, Denny Gaw, Pennsylvania president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, AOH, was alerted to the fact that Spencer Gifts was selling tee shirts that depicted the Irish in a negative and shocking manner, “I… Continue Reading
Caption: Medic Jim McCans at home with daughters (left to right) Brenn, Killeen and Kerry | Photo © Katharine Gilbert By Sabina Clarke Where to begin with this remarkable story. It’s heroic fantasy that movies are… Continue Reading
By Sabina Clarke Tommy Gibbons has vivid memories of riding with his Dad, Philadelphia’s First Police Commissioner and the City’s Top Cop in Car One, a big unmarked car with a blaring siren and flashing red spotlight. He remembers the… Continue Reading
By Frank Dougherty A former movie house that began screening Hollywood silent films 93 years ago for Port Richmond residents is now headquarters for… Continue Reading