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WMMR’s Kathy Romano leads these do-gooders by a hair

A roundup of locals doing good and making us proud

Kathy Romano (right) with volunteers Kara Antenucci (left) and Addison Antenucci.
Kathy Romano (right) with volunteers Kara Antenucci (left) and Addison Antenucci.Read moreWMMR

Hair she goes again

On May 3, WMMR on-air personality Kathy Romano hosted her twelfth annual “Kathy’s Cuts” at TruBeauty Concepts Beauty Center in Southampton, where long-haired adults, teens, and kids donated their tresses to Wigs For Kids — a nonprofit that creates wigs for children experiencing hair loss. Over the last twelve years, 1,100 ponytails have been donated via “Kathy’s Cuts.”

Big bro makes her proud

A belated salute to Fox Chase native Nelson Rosen, a grad of Philly’s High School of Engineering and Science who was promoted on April 6 to brigadier general in the U.S. Army Medical Reserves. His sister, Lauren Ragland, reached out to The UpSide to brag on her big brother after reading our recent story about Lynn Ray, a Girls High grad who was just promoted to colonel in the U.S. Army. Rosen, who has been deployed three times, is a colorectal pediatric surgeon at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. And, adds his sister, he’s also an Eagles Scout.

The prom was a ball

Every other year, The Merakey Foundation — a nonprofit that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — hosts a prom so nice they hold it twice. This year, more than 600 of Merakey’s clients attended the 2019 IDD Prom — themed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow" — which was held on April 23 at Presidential Caterers in East Norriton and on May 8 at the Philadelphia Ballroom. Guests were welcomed by Merakey staffers, dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz, and walked a yellow brick road — instead of a red carpet — into the festivities. Staff and clients worked together to organize the prom, which celebrates those who’ve never had the opportunity to attend a prom or gala.

Merci, merci

On April 29, the Vincentian Priests and Brothers and the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal held a Mass and prayer service in solidarity with first responders and Catholics in Paris in the aftermath of the fire that devastated Notre Dame. During the service at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Germantown it was announced that the French flag shown here will be displayed at Mary’s Altar at the church until Notre Dame is fully rebuilt.