Mazel Tov! National Museum of American Jewish History Opens Its Doors

This past weekend, I dusted off the ol' dinner jacket and bow tie to cover the grand opening gala of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.

The museum is down on Independence Mall, right near Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the Constitution Center.

The musuem is wonderful, and the exhibits and message ring true for anybody with an immigrant story in their family background...

...and that's just about all of us.

The gala featured entertainment by Jerry Seinfeld and Bette Midler and Barbara Streisand made an appearance.

The rack of lamb they fed guests looked fantastic. Me, I was fed corned beef sandwiches along with the other reporters.

To read my story in the Weekly Press, click here.

(Photos by A. N. O'Connor)

American Heart Association Gives Out Over $16 Million in Grants to Local Organizations for Cardiac and Stroke Research

The American Heart Association is a great organization. They recently recognized some of the local organizations that they gave funded to in order to fight heart disease and stroke.

A nice thing about the reception was that folks who have benefited from the funding--as in those who would not be alive today without it--were there. I met a guy names Jason Holmes who had a heart attack when he was 31.

I'm 33.

His story hit home to me.

To read about the American Heart Association and Jason, click here and go to page 5.