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Articles by Robert Calandra
Nose stuffed? Eyes itchy? It’s that ragweed time of year again
If you’ve been sneezing, coughing, congested, or have had a runny nose or itchy eyes in the past few weeks, chances are it’s not a cold or COVID. It’s more likely you are among the 82 million Americans living with seasonal allergies. According to the National Center for Health Statistics and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 25.2% of adults 18 and older, and 20.6% of children, have seasonal allergies. And year-round allergies are becoming ever more common.
Here’s some tips for dealing with allergies
The fall is approaching and you’re a bit under the weather, sneezing, coughing and generally feeling lethargic. Is it a cold, COVID-19, the flu or fall allergies? The first question to ask yourself, says Dr. Manav Segal, a board-certified allergist and immunologist and owner of Chestnut Hill Allergy and Asthma Associates in Wyndmoor, is, do you remember feeling this way last fall? If so, you most likely have fall allergies.
They’re hoping it’s always sunny in Springfield Twp.
“Let the Sunshine In” was a popular song from the hit musical “Hair” way back in 1969. But don’t be surprised if you hear that catchy tune being reprised by Springfield Township’s Board of Commissioners after Wednesday’s scheduled ribbon cutting for the township’s two new solar energy systems. The ceremony was set to coincide with the Philadelphia Energy Authority’s Solar Week.
The verdict is in: Hill resident named attorney of the year
On a warm, late July afternoon, Charles “Chip” Becker is in his law office at Kline & Specter, doing what he does every day. “I’m working on cases,” he says matter-of-factly. As the partner responsible for the post-trial and appellate practice at Philadelphia’s fabled white-shoe law firm, Becker works with colleagues plotting strategies, analyzing tactics, crafting arguments, and writing cogent briefs. He’s sort of the attorney’s attorney.
Students pour into wine school — no snobs allowed
Posted 8/6/26 Don’t get Keith Wallace started about pretentious sommeliers who expound on the balance and complexity of a wine while ignoring the finish on the casual drinker’s wallet. “The wine trade doesn’t need snobs,” says Wallace, a West Mt. Airy resident and founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia, which is celebrating 25th anniversary. “It is just obnoxious when [sommeliers] do that. Everyone just hates it.
He searched for an innovative arts space, and found it here
Posted 7/2/26 On an industrial strip of Umbria Street, situated between the Elite Sports Factory and MAC Renovations + Design, and just beyond where Manayunk cedes to Roxborough, two signs hang side by side. One sign at 5100 Umbria is for Manayunk Timber, the city’s only operating sawmill. The other, a simple yellow sign with black lettering, reads Umbria Arts. “This is the first time that I have settled in my own space,” says Kwan Howard, the founder and curator of Umbria Arts.
A Pa. first: CH College’s program for neurodiverse adults
In a Fournier Hall classroom on the campus of Chestnut Hill College sit two neatly made twin-size beds, a small area carpet, a vacuum cleaner, and a refrigerator. The white board at the front of the room has the schedule of activities, highlighted on this day by a trip to Doylestown’s Mercer Museum. Fournier Hall is the epicenter of campus activity at the 102-year-old college that sits on the border between Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.
Her passion is nurse safety: ‘It’s saving healthcare workers’ lives’
Betty Long doesn’t understand politics. It’s not that she is new to what Ronald Reagan called the world’s second oldest profession. As a nationally recognized expert on patient advocacy, Long, a Wyndmoor resident, has testified before Congress. So she’s familiar with the arena.
Mall closures challenge seniors who use them to exercise, socialize
Shopping malls are going the way of landline telephones. The convenience of online shopping, supercharged by the pandemic, have convinced many shoppers to abandon the cathedrals of consumerism. The result has been a steady number of mall closings. Of the three malls closest to Northwest Philadelphia — the Court at King of Prussia, Willow Grove Park and Plymouth Meeting — only Plymouth Meeting has succumbed to the trend. The economic implications of a mall closing are significant.
Chestnut Hill Hospital ratings improve under new leadership - The Chestnut Hill Local
Temple Health — Chestnut Hill Hospital’s patient safety rating rose from a D in the Leapfrog Group’s spring 2025 Hospital Safety Grade, to a C in its latest survey. In an email, a spokesperson for Temple Health said the health care system was “pleased with the progress” the hospital has made. “We expect this trend to continue as the full impact of our quality efforts are reflected in reporting data,” the email continues.
Community health workers fit into key public-health niche - The Chestnut Hill Local
They are women and men, young adults and middle-aged, from neighborhoods across the area. Some have been homeless or known hunger. Others have witnessed or have been victims of physical violence. And still others have survived life-threatening illnesses. What links them together across gender and generations is the desire to give back to society -- to their neighbors -- as trained Community Health Workers (CHW).
Too busy to cook for the New Year? There are alternatives - The Chestnut Hill Local
Posted 12/25/25 As Christmas 2025 settles into a treasured memory, it’s time to start thinking about celebrating New Year’s Eve. It is, after all, just days away. The night often starts with dinner out. But if you prefer staying home, you can still share a delicious meal with friends without fussing in the kitchen. All you have to do is supply the friends. The Fresh Market will take care of the food.
It’s never too late to realize your dream: How I became a playwright - The Chestnut Hill Local
I don’t know how to bow, at least not gracefully. My lack of bowing prowess was on public display last month at the Venice Island Performing Arts Center in Manayunk. The premiere of “The Lost Tango,” a musical that I co-wrote with my friend and music collaborator, Howard Burke, had just concluded with a standing ovation from a sold-out house. We were called on stage with the cast to take a bow. With a flourish of arms, the cast bowed on cue with the elegance of ballet dancers.
A Northwest health care center that does it all - The Chestnut Hill Local
Across the street from SEPTA’s Germantown regional rail station, a few blocks from East Chelten Avenue’s bustling retail corridor, sits an unassuming, 1950s-era commercial building. The two-story glass and faded brown brick structure is home to Philadelphia’s Health Care Center 9. It may be architecturally dated, but in a classic embodiment of “you can’t judge a book (or building) by its cover,” inside of 131 E. Chelten Ave. is one of America’s best health-care delivery systems.
Temple Health–Chestnut Hill Hospital gets a D on safety - The Chestnut Hill Local
Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital’s patient safety rating dropped from a C last fall to a D in Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grade’s recent spring report. Chestnut Hill was one of only three hospitals among 54 in the tri-state region to receive an overall D grade by Leapfrog. The 122-year-old hospital was rated below average in 53% of the categories measured. Its lowest grades were in infections. “Leapfrog's ratings are based on data that can be up to two years old,” Jennifer M.
Woodmere scrambles amid cuts - The Chestnut Hill Local
Posted 4/23/25 Standing at his desk, Woodmere Art Museum Director and CEO William Valerio opened the email that arrived late at night. He learned of the electronic missive from the Institutes for Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS) during a meeting that morning. ILMS is the independent federal agency charged with overseeing funding for libraries and museums nationwide, including the $750,000 grant awarded to Woodmere in September 2024.
Henry middle schoolers play with purpose – and win it all - The Chestnut Hill Local
Spring education guide Posted 4/17/25 In a come-from-behind victory, the Charles W. Henry basketball team took home the Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) program’s Middle School Gold Division championship on March 22. It is the first basketball championship for the 117-year-old Mt. Airy public school in, well, nobody really knows. “The basketball team may have won a championship sometime in the past,” said Principal Kristy Len. “It would have been many years ago.
The secret life of Subtronics - The Chestnut Hill Local
Dubstep, an electronic dance music that originated in South London in the early 2000s, is a genre built around a rhythmic bassline that incorporates syncopation at 140 to 150 beats per minute. “There is a 16 to 32 bar intro with some sort of buildup into the bassline and kick snare pattern,” says Kardon, who weaves in other EDM styles to create his own unique sound.
How one Philly co-op went from a church basement to $50 million enterprise - The Chestnut Hill Local
Umbrellaed café tables and colorful sandwich-style signs announcing “We’re Open,” and “Weavers Way Co-op - Food for All” frame the sidewalk in front of the co-op’s new Germantown grocery store.
Shapiro and Whitmer take the stage for Harris - The Chestnut Hill Local
You have 2 free items remaining before a subscription is required. Subscribe now! | Log in Posted 7/31/24 Vice President Kamala Harris’ Democratic campaign came to the Wissahickon High School gymnasium on Monday. This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password Print subscribers If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribers Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Seeking spirit in the soil - The Chestnut Hill Local
Shovel after shovel, the spade cuts into the dark, moist, nutrient-rich earth. Reaching the right depth, the gardener kneels and gently places the plant into its new home, loosely hand-smoothing the displaced dirt around it. A taste of water, a housewarming gift to ease the plant's transition, completes the task and brings the gardener a quiet sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Outage disrupts a day of business - The Chestnut Hill Local
Posted 6/26/24 Anne McNally was on her way to work last Thursday when she saw police cars blocking access to Chestnut Hill Avenue because of a downed pole. This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password Print subscribers If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribers Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Porch piracy plague - The Chestnut Hill Local
Posted 6/26/24 The day Gary expects a package delivery to his Mt. Airy apartment, he tracks the truck’s arrival with the focus of an air traffic controller. This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password Print subscribers If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribers Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Wyndmoor mourning a murder - The Chestnut Hill Local
Posted 4/24/24 The handwritten note on plain white paper attached with binder clips to the door of Lucky Dogz Doggie Day Care reads “Closed Until Further Notice.” This item is available in full to subscribers. E-mail Password Print subscribers If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribers Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Articles By Robert Calandra
A new bill aims to tackle the safety risks of fallen furniture. The pause on the Johnson & Johnson Covid 19 vaccine should last days, not weeks, according to CDC and FDA officials. Thanks to Amerisleep, we know why Tom Hanks’ character was “Sleepless in Seattle” - he had exploding head syndrome. A... Read Full Story Frontiers of Psychiatry Seattle Sleepless Tom Hanks
Why Is There Such A Large Disparity In Who Meets Critera For Hepatitis B Treatment?
Like many diseases, chronic hepatitis B is rife with racial disparities. In the U.S., there are a disproportionate number of people of Asian and African descent among the 2.4 million people with chronic hepatitis B. Moreover, \white persons with chronic hepatitis B are less likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma, the main form of liver cancer, than Asian American or African American persons with the infection. There are other notable differences that follow racial lines.
Can the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Hepatitis B Patients?
Using survival after recurrence as the measure, most patients would benefit from reoperative hepatectomy or thermoablation, according to an algorithm developed by Italian researchers. The researchers stress that the algorithm would be used to guide decisions by physicians and patients, not replace them. Italian researchers have developed an algorithm that...
Bill to Prevent Tip-Over Deaths Reintroduced
In January 2021, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission* released a report on the number of accidents involving a piece of furniture or a television falling on someone. Of the 571 fatalities, 469 were children under 18 years. The report covered the years between 2000 through 2019. In January 2018,** the CPSC released a similar report, which covered the years 2000 through 2017. That period had 542 reported fatalities, of which 450 involved children younger than 14.
Bill to Prevent Tip-Over Deaths Reintroduced
In January 2021, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission* released a report on the number of accidents involving a piece of furniture or a television falling on someone. Of the 571 fatalities, 469 were children under 18 years. The report covered the years between 2000 through 2019. In January 2018,** the CPSC released a similar report, which covered the years 2000 through 2017. That period had 542 reported fatalities, of which 450 involved children younger than 14.
CDC: Finger on J&J Pause Button Will Be Lifted in Days
The pause on the Johnson & Johnson Covid 19 vaccine should last days, not weeks, according to CDC and FDA officials. In a 37-minute online briefing Tuesday, government health officials said pausing administering the J&J vaccine will give scientists time to investigate what appears to be an autoimmune response that leads to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, an extremely rare, severe stroke-like reaction.
Why We’re Sleepless in America
Thanks to Amerisleep, we know why Tom Hanks’ character was “Sleepless in Seattle” - he had exploding head syndrome. Saying huh? Read on. Using Google’s Keyword Planner, Amerisleep, a memory-foam mattress maker, analyzed four years of sleep-related queries in Google to learn what makes Americans toss and turn at night. For instance, Californians worry about sleep paralysis, while New Yorkers want to tune out snoring.
Smartphone Addiction Can Ruin Sleep
A new study published in the Frontiers of Psychiatry reinforces older studies that say smartphone addiction can ruin your sleep.
As Variant Infections Rise, So Do Concerns
After surpassing his original goal of having 100 million Americans vaccinated by his 100th day in office -- which doesn’t arrive until late April -- President Joe Biden upped the ante to 200 million by then. The president made this announcement during his first press conference, held today. The new target comes as some states have begun to ease or remove coronavirus restriction even as the more transmissible and deadlier British 1.1.7 variant is spreading in parts of the country.
Your Toothbrush Near the Toilet? Let’s Rethink Proximity, Please
Every morning and most evenings, we head to the bathroom, grab a toothbrush and clean our teeth. And then put that brush someplace. Unless you are careful, first about cleaning that brush and second about storing that brush, then it’s likely you’ve spread more than toothpaste on your teeth: A bacchanal of yucky micro-organisms are probably now in your mouth, and depending where you put that brush, you’ve set it up for even more microorganisms: By some counts, about 10 million microorganisms.
Child Dies in Peloton Treadmill Accident
The accidental death of a child involving a Peloton treadmill is a grim reminder for parents to keep their children away from all exercise equipment. In a statement sent to customers and released on its website, Peloton CEO John Foley said he was aware of the accidental death involving the company’s Trend+ treadmill and that it was “devastating to all of us at Peloton.” Foley said Peloton was “aware of only a small handful” of incidents involving the Tread + where children have been injured.
Switch Your Clocks; Stay Aware of Your Health
If people seem a bit more salty Sunday, it could be because springing ahead to Daylight Savings Time (DST) has cost them more than just an hour of sleep. But first, don’t blame the farmers for the . It was Congress. In 1966, it passed the Uniform Time Act making Daylight Savings Time the law of the land with an opt out that only Hawaii and most of Arizona took. Since then, governments across the globe have discussed scrapping the twice yearly time transition; to no avail.
Eat Those Vegetables Every Day - and two Servings of Fruit, Too
A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, and the American Heart Association has shown that eating five daily servings of two fruits and three vegetables can lead to a longer life. The study analyzed data from two studies, Nurses’ Health and the Health Professionals Follow-Up. The researchers followed more than 100,000 people for up to 30 years.
No Confidence In These Dietary Supplements
A federal judge entered a permanent injunction order against dietary supplement maker Confidence USA Inc., and two of its top executives. The permanent injunction, issued Thursday by Judge Edward R.
When a Doctor Breaks His Hippocratic Oath, by Suicide
In the past 20 years, the suicide rate in the US among those 16 to 64 years of age has risen 40%. Hidden inside that percentage are physician suicides -- the completed ones. In the past year alone, we, as a country, have lost about one physician a day.
The Canadians Are Putting the Kibosh on Trump’s Drug Import Plan
The Canadian Health minister signed an order last week that will curb the ability of Americans to import prescription drugs from our neighbors to the north. The order from Health Minister Patty Hajdu, limiting the bulk export of prescription drugs, came just days before the Department of Health and Human Services’ new rule allowing pharmacists or wholesalers to import certain prescription drugs in bulk went into effect on Monday.
Covid-19 immunity: studies paint a complicated picture
The same week that a yet-to-be peer-reviewed paper found that people infected with Covid-19 may have immunity that last years or longer, the CDC released another study that said that may not be the case. The CDC study, published in the Nov. 27 issue of the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), found that, of 156 frontline health care workers who tested positive for Covid-19 last spring, 146 (93.6%) showed a decline in coronavirus antibody levels when tested again 60 days later.
HHS Alters Plan for Vaccine Distribution
When the first batch of Covid-19 vaccine becomes available, it will go to states based on the total number of adults living in each state, officials from Operation Warp Speed said, according to National Public Radio. Once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives regulatory clearance, the federal government said that it will ship out 6.4 million doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine within 24 hours, according to the Washington Post.
Some Advice from the Online Dating-Tested
Ladies, some advice on online dating: the old real estate adage of location, location, location, applies. “If you’re a woman, you probably want to start on Match.com because it is a little bit like Target,” said Andrea McGinty, matchmaker and owner of 33,000Dates.com. “It has everything, from a high end, upscale group of professionals to everything imaginable.” With online dating, your profile becomes that all-important first impression to a sea of suitors.
In Online Dating Sea, Lots of Bait, Few Nibbles
Like so many single people these days, Jon H. entrusted his quest for love to online dating sites and apps. First there was Tinder, followed by inefficacious sojourns on Bumble, Plenty of Fish and OKCupid. So many years of swiping right. So many unrequited likes and winks. So many disappointments. Disappointment pretty much sums up Oliva M’s. experience with online dating. In a decade of reading profiles, she has had all of four or five dates.
As Vaccines Near the Possible-Approval Line, New Challenges Await
Eight months after it began developing its Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer formally filed for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration on Friday.
Are You More Impulsive? Using Your Phone Tooooo Much?
Is your smartphone already in hand as the alarm chimes in the morning? Is it the last thing you check before you go to bed? Your attachment to your phone – whether you’re following social media or gaming – may say something about your personality: You may be a person more inclined to make impulsive decisions and want instant gratification.
Is a Bit of Light Flickering at the Pandemic Tunnel’s End?
With promising results from both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s Covid-19 phase 3 trials, the FDA has pledged to move “as quickly as possible” to clear both vaccines for emergency use, according to reports from CNBC. On Monday, Alex Azar, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, told the cable business network that the FDA has dedicated teams working with each company to “remove any unnecessary bureaucratic barriers” to completing authorization applications.
Pandemic Naysayers Sneak into Hospital to See if ICU Is Full
A Provo, Utah hospital has increased its security precautions after conspiracy theorists tried to sneak into the intensive care unit to see if it was full. Kyle Hansen, administrator for Utah Valley Hospital, told the Provo City Council Thursday that five people, including a few with video cameras, have attempted to get inside the ICU because they wanted to see if reports that it was full were true.
A New Nail Biter: The ACA May, or May Not, Survive
The chances that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will survive its latest US Supreme Court challenge are looking up. At least that’s how it now appears. After several hours of arguments via teleconferencing on Tuesday, the ACA appears to have the support of two of the court’s conservative justices. According to the Washington Post , Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh seemed to have sided with upholding the law.
The Bad, the Hopeful, the Political: Covid News
Covid news from the past few days has not been totally depressing. While the coronavirus numbers continue to hit record numbers, Joe Biden, two days into his new title of President-Elect, announced his Covid advisory team. And new, but limited results from Pfizer’s Covid phase 3 trial prompted a mixture of delighted and cautionary comments. The nation’s Covid-19 numbers continue to go the wrong way. On October 1, 46,418 cases were reported; on November 9, 130,553.
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