Philadelphia Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo today begins a year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of its birth with exhibits featuring "face to face" meetings between zoogoers and lions - separated by a thick pane of glass - and a new, modern aviary opening in May that will feature more than 100 spectacular birds from around the world, many of them endangered. The birdhouse, the McNeil Avian Center, will replace a zoo birdhouse built in 1916.

Philadelphia Zoo as a leader in wildlife conservation and environmental education. In a written statement, zoo officials said its mission is to “spark young imaginations and inspire the next generation to take the lead and protect animals and environments throughout the world.” A weeklong-long celebration includes a birthday party with entertainment for all ages. Sesquicentennial Weekend also kicks off festivities that are scheduled to run into 2010, as well as new events that include a “hatching” at the McNeil Avian Center that is set to open in this spring.

The Philadelphia Zoological Society was chartered in 1859, the year Charles Darwin published "The Origin of Species." But the Civil War intervened and the zoo didn't actually open its doors until July 1, 1874. The zoo also has seen its share of tragedies, including the deaths of several elephants and the terrible Christmas Eve fire in 1995, sparked by faulty wiring, that killed 23 gorillas and other primates. Although generations of children fondly remember the zoo, and its since torn-down monorail, it is not without its detractors.

Williams Grove Speedway

Williams Grove Speedway opened its 70th season Friday with the rev of engines and lots of eager racing fans. “We’ve been coming since the 1960s,” said Ken Stine as he waited in line to purchase his ticket. “We come every week,” said Sam Stine. Lance DeWease is their favorite driver. The Newville brothers weren’t deterred by the 30-degree temperatures. It’s all about the racing experience. “The noise, the speed, the atmosphere,” Ken Stine said with a grin.

The Stines said the $13 general admission is a good deal. “For what you see here, I think it’s a good price,” Ken Stine said. “This is cheap entertainment for two or three hours,” Sam Stine said. Michael Walters and his 5-year-old son, Kasey, couldn’t wait for the race to begin. Kasey entered the track proudly wearing a red autographed racing ball cap and carrying red ear protection. “We love sprint car racing,” Walters said. The pair drove from Doylesburg for the race.

“He likes Stevie Smith,” Walters explained. “That’s the great thing about this track. You get to know the drivers and they talk to him. (Kasey) will always remember that.” The half-mile dirt track opened in 1939. Until sprint car racing began in 1967, stock car racing was the norm. Since then, national champions like Ted Horn, A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti have raced at “the Grove.”The speedway’s semi-banked clay oval surface is graded and watered before every race in a attempt to maintain a smooth and moist surface.

St. Joseph

St. Joseph, the husband of our Lady, foster-father of our Lord, guardian of the Holy Family, is honored liturgically on March 19 as patron of the universal Church. The memorial of St. Joseph the Worker is on May 1. This quiet, just, humble man, protector of families and patron of fathers, is also invoked for a happy death.

Most of our reliable information on St. Joseph is contained in the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Here we discover that Joseph was of royal descent from David, that the family was from Bethlehem in Judea and that Joseph, who was a builder, had moved from Bethlehem to Nazareth in Galilee. What a strong man of faith Joseph was! How he must have suffered, not knowing the secret of Mary's incarnation. Of course, she could not tell him - he would not have understood.

Joseph was engaged to Mary and upon learning that she was pregnant; he had plans to divorce her. Described in Matthew as a righteous man, he intended to dismiss her quietly. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream to tell him, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (MT 1:20-21). "When Joseph woke from sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him." (MT 1: 24).