Our Delaware Valley Podcast

Dr. Robert Cain, President and CEO, The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Chair, The Health Professions Association discussed the history and holistic philosophy behind osteopathic medicine and why it’s a growing field for MDs. He spoke about their latest study on the colleges and graduates; their placement within rural areas and with their graduates choosing to stay after graduation allows them to better serve communities lacking larger facilities.  

Learn more about the Association and Osteopathic medical training at aacom.org and Osteopathic.org

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Kathy Stokes, Senior Director of Fraud Prevention Programs at AARP Fraud Watch Network discussed the holiday scams and ongoing rip-offs that are circulating today, especially the digital cons. Nearly 9 in 10 adults have experienced at least one type of fraud in the past year including fake toll-payment requests and fraudulent charity requests. We touched on the usual crimes such as package theft and fake Social Security and IRS demands and also discussed the dangers of peer-to-peer payments apps and social media scams.  

Kathy recommends vigilance and using a credit card for payments, they can add insurance and halt-payment help if fraud is detected. She discussed how AARP and its agents and volunteers  

Work to prevent fraud in partnership with local, federal and even international crime prevention agencies.  

She asks us to be informed and to visit aarp.org/holidayscams2025 for more information. She also recommended fightelderfraud.org for more resources. There is also a number to call to report fraud and speak with a counselor between 8A and 8P Monday through Fridays, 877-908-3360

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Kelly Richards, President and Director of the Free Library discussed what he calls, ‘The People’s University,’ a valuable resource for all. 

He spoke of the vast collections, the latest books, video and audio, as well as musical instruments, that are available for loan, as well as the tens of thousands of events they host each year - almost all for free. He discussed the job services offered, including professional headshots, job training and help with interviewing skills, For people wanting to start a business, get a patent, run a nonprofit, or learn the Free Library has 1:1 counseling, online courses, in-person and online workshops, and job fairs. From English and other language learning to computer access and classes, the Free Library helps meet your curiosity and resources to fuel Philly's vision of economic opportunity for all.

The Free Library also offers free space with Wi-Fi for work or hanging out - one of the few "third spaces" where you don't have to buy a drink to spend time in a public place. 

The Free Library is helping provide a clean, green, safe place for people to explore new passions and develop their economic opportunities - and it’s free for all.

He notes that libraries serve as vital community hubs, places for connection, where people can find services, where people gather for crafts or book clubs, and how all of that creates social connection. Libraries weave together our neighborhoods. 

He proud to tell us that The Library and the City of Philadelphia are investing in expanding library hours and completing vital repairs at some branches. They are expanding the libraries with Saturday service and by January the vast majority of our locations, 45 total, will open on Saturday. 

While the city has stepped up its support, he reminds us the Free Library started as a public and privately funded institution and talked about the many volunteers and donors who support the libraries with additional funds.

Kelly invites anyone who works, studies, or lives in Philadelphia to get a library card to get free access to courses, books, music, and so much more from our library and its partners.  

Learn more at Freelibrary.org

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Erika Joy Erb, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation discussed their work in the development, programming, maintenance, and operation of six miles of Waterfront from South Philadelphia to Port Richmond, opening the waterfront for recreation, attractions and events year-round, through eight parks and 3.5 miles of multi-use trails. 

Today they welcome over 600K visitors per year – not only to its parks, but also thousands of events, concerts, and art installations – contributing to a 140% increase in the Waterfront’s market value, representing $1.1 billion in investment.

She described the many outdoor destinations including Independence Blue Cross RiverRink, host to Winterfest and Summerfest for ice and roller skating with boardwalk fun, Cherry Street Pier – a reimagined Municipal Pier 9 that is now an artists’ enclave with studios, pop-ups and events, seasonal retreat Spruce Street Harbor Park and the Delaware River Trail – a scenic, 3.3 mile multimodal trail that stretches along the Waterfront welcoming walkers, joggers, and cyclists.

Erika speaks of the free arts and cultural programming, and entertainment for the community that allow visitors to experience Philadelphia’s diverse cultures through food, local bands and musicians and public art pieces as well as July’s Independence Weekend and New Year’s Eve fireworks and the PECO Multicultural Series - a wide range of cultural festivals.

Winter offerings include Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest opening Friday, November 28, holiday offerings at Cherry Street Pier, including a Holiday Art Show, opening December 5, and a Holiday Gift Guide highlighting items from the Pier’s Artists in Residence, launching Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 29.

Winterfest is open through March 2026, seven days a week, including holidays, unless otherwise noted online. It’s free to enter and open to the public with all amenities pay-as-you-go.

Winterfest features outdoor fire pits, and warming cabins, a full NHL-size rink and the Rinkside Lounge. Food and beverages are available for purchase with hot chocolate, seasonal cocktails, and local brews and offerings from Chickie’s & Pete’s, Skelly’s Amusements, Skelly’s Pizza Port, and Philly Taco. Jacquin’s, Philadelphia’s historic spirits supplier, is taking over the outdoor Porch Bar with winter-themed cocktails from Pennsylvania Dutch, The Roaster’s Daughter, and Union Forge Vodka.

Skate admission is $5 with skate rental: $12. Independence Blue Cross members skate free (for themselves + 3 guests; rentals not included) and Military and first responders also enjoy free admission with valid ID. Cabin and fire-pits rentals are available.

Winterfest’s annual tree lighting powered by PECO is Friday, December 5 while Visit PA’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront presents shows at 6 pm and midnight.

Finally, a discussion of what’s coming, new urban parks, trails, and green spaces, the 2029 Penn’s Landing Park, and plans for 2026, kicking off with the largest fireworks display in the waterfront’s history.  

To learn more about Winterfest go to RiverRink.com.

For happenings and updates across the Waterfront, visit DelawareRiverWaterfront.com or follow @delawareriverwaterfront on social media

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Sue Daugherty, CEO of MANNA discussed this vital resource for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal. MANNA provides medically tailored meals to individuals and meals for their dependents. She discussed its 1990 beginnings in a church kitchen offering food and comfort during the early AIDs crisis, growing to support people dealing with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, renal failure and more.

She talked about the evidence, patients who receive the proper diet after a hospitalization are less likely to return to the hospital or use the emergency room and her advocacy to get medically prescribed food covered by insurance. On average, monthly healthcare costs were 31% less and hospitalizations were cut in half for MANNA enrolled patients compared to patients not receiving MANNA’s services. MANNA, accredited for also teaches patients about nutrition to stay healthy.  

MANNA is volunteer driven, 8,000 who form the kitchen staff and the drivers who deliver the meals, 1.2 million meals per year.

Thanksgiving is special to MANNA, special volunteer drivers deliver full, hot Thanksgiving dinners for four to each client. MANNA also offers Pie in the Sky, selling a variety of volunteer-baked pies for the holiday, this year you can purchase a pie in honor of its great supporter, the late Pierre Robert. The MANNA store   sells apparel such as aprons or beanies for additional funds. 

For the first time, MANNA has a wait list for services. To donate or to volunteer or to learn more about MANNA services go to MANNAPA.org.

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Aimee Prange, MSW, LCSW, the Clinical Consultant for the Jack Duffy Empowerment Foundation, discussed the non-profit founded by his parents to honor his life by promoting personal empowerment of physical and mental health for teens and young adults.

We discussed the warning signs of suicidal ideation, extreme behavior change, words indicating thoughts of self-harm, and the need to speak up and ask the questions, are you thinking of suicide? While older adults are more likely to die by suicide, the rates for young people are growing.

She discussed their activities, a 5K in in the spring, a chess tournament that pairs high schoolers with elementary and middle-school students, and their annual recognition of Survivors Day, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This day acknowledges loss and brings survivors together for support and understanding. This year’s event will be held November 22 at the Horsham Clinic.

For more information go to jackempowers.org. If you are struggling or know someone you know is, text 741741 or call 988 for immediate assistance. 

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Robin Shine Maddox, Founder and Visionary behind She Shines discussed the 6th annual conference, November 1st a New Covenant Church in Germantown; how it and her Celebrating Sisterhood campaign were inspired by her breast cancer journey and her desire to gather women to network, educate and inspire each other. The pillars of the free conference are Civic Engagement/Voting Rights, Health/Wellness/Safety and Spiritual Enrichment. Open to all women of all walks of life and women of color, there will be Black and brown vendors - most of them women - in a Marketplace, workshops with networking and information for women entrepreneurs, healthcare and mental health screenings, the Jefferson Health mobile screening unit for mammograms, and discussions by featured panelists and guests. For more information and wait-list registration go to sheshinesconference.com.

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Michael Norris, Executive Director of Carpenters’ Hall and The Carpenters Company of the City and County of Philadelphia discussed the well-known, but little understood, “Birthplace of Liberty”, Carpenters' Hall.  Designed by Robert Smith and built by the Carpenter gild as a showcase of their skill and an apprenticeship for young builders, the building hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was home to Franklin's Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States. 

He related the history of Benjamin Franklin’s secret meetings there with French spy, Julien-Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir, which laid the foundation for French support of the American Revolution. Carpenters’ Hall has declared 2025 the “YEAR OF THE SPY” in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of these clandestine evenings. Activities for the celebration include a spy book club with the Rosenbach, programming with the Museum of the American Revolution’s Revolutionary Philadelphia: 1775 events, a film screening, and a members-only event.

Carpenters' Hall is free to the public and welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually. Its library is available to members and architectural scholars, and they continue to support the building and design trades with lectures and professional events. They also offer the Robert Smith Memorial Scholarship to recognize promising student in the historic building trades. https://www.carpentershall.org/robertsmithscholarship 

He discussed the Young People’s Continental Congress, a National Partner Program of America250, an educational program that allows students and teachers to work in teams as they collaboratively study America’s founding era and its implications today. Last year 54 students and teachers from 27 states attended, enjoying dinner with elected officials at City Hall and a Fife & Drum-led parade to an opening ceremony, field learning opportunities at historic Philly sites like Carpenters’ Hall, Independence National Historical Park, the National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution, and an opportunity to co-create and sign a joint Declaration of Aspirations for American democracy. He hopes to expand it in 2026 to include more Philadelphia school participation. 

Michael invites us to attend one of their public programs, After-Hours Whisky Tours in the rarely-seen second floor 19th-century library and their Holiday Tea, ‘hosted’ by Dolley Todd Madison, former Philadelphia resident and neighbor of Carpenters’ Hall, wife of President James Madison, and one of the most prominent women in U.S. history. To book your reservation go to carpentershall.org/events. Teas will be held Sundays from November 30 to December 21.

For more information on Carpenters’ Hall and The Carpenters’ Company go to carpentershall.org

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Majors Martin and Leanne Cordner discuss their experiences relocating from their native UK – Leanne is from Northern Ireland and Martin, England – to a post in the US, the differences and the things that remain the same, everyone needs a bed and a way to put food on the table.

They spoke of their mission and the Salvation Army’s commitment to serving Delawareans where they live, with programming for those fighting addiction, families in need of shelter or food, opportunities for people with developmental disabilities, and fighting human trafficking. Major Martin points out that 125,370 people in Delaware are food insecure, that’s 1 in 8 residents, and homelessness increased 16% over the previous year.

We talked about their signature projects, their food pantries and children’s services and the funding they need; the Red Kettle campaign is just part of their fundraising, ‘Love Beyond’ invites us to help suffering neighbors throughout the year. This year’s holiday kick off will be the Delaware Blue Knights Holiday Toy Run on October 19th with the Red Kettles coming out at Thanksgiving. They now offer cashless options, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, QR code and ‘Swipe and Go.’

To learn more about the Salvation Army Delaware Command visit SalvationArmyDelaware.org

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Bill Perthes, Bernard C. Watson Director of Adult Education at the Barnes Foundation, and Wendy Lewis, CEO, The Parkinson Council discussed their pilot program, Create & Connect. This free workshop is designed to support individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners through meaningful experiences with art and creative expression to make connections—between participants, the works of art, and through shared moments of reflection and making. Trained staff members guide participants through slow-looking exercises and conversations about selected works in the Barnes galleries followed by a hands-on art-making experience led by a teaching artist. The next sessions will held October 11 and October 25. 

Bill noted the Barnes had already dipped into art and health, their Art, Well-Being, and Medicine workshops help medical students and healthcare professionals develop a more empathetic and humanistic approach to patient care. The Barnes was founded by Dr. Albert Barnes, a physician who financed his collection through his patented medicine discovery.  

Wendy discussed Parkinson’s and how important self-expression and social connection is to those living with it and their caregivers and she described their programming that allows them to stay active and engaged. She also invites us to join the Parkinson Council for its annual Stamp Out Parkinson’s Walk November 1 at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard. To register, donate or volunteer go to the their website, TheParkinsonCouncil.org

For more information about Create & Connect or other Barnes programming, or to register for October 11, go to BarnesFoundation.org

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