PHILADELPHIA
Marking millionth meal
Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host its annual Millionth Meal celebration at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, 2251 N. Broad St.
Children will be provided with a back-to-school gift donated by Wal-Mart. One child will be chosen to symbolize the one millionth meal given out during 35 years and will be provided with a backpack full of school supplies and a $25 Wal-Mart gift card.
Glory for geeks
Techies in tuxes? Believe it.
A black-tie, red-carpet event Friday at the Academy of Natural Sciences is set to honor Philly's greatest and geekiest.
The first Philadelphia Geek Awards will be presented to those demonstrating exceptional achievements in the city's tech-savvy community. Trophies will be awarded in 19 categories, including best new podcast, tweet of the year, outstanding contribution to the local indie-game scene and - perhaps the geekiest award of the evening - best locally developed iPhone app.
"Yes, there's going to be a red carpet; people are getting really dressed up," said Eric Smith, co-founder of the Geekadelphia blog and architect of the event. "It's kind of a tongue-in-cheek thing, but there's a lot of excitement about it."
SUBURBS
Ponzi-scheme plea
Robert Stinson Jr. of Berwyn, Chester County, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal district court to running a Ponzi scheme that bilked more than 260 investors of more than $17 million. Stinson, 56, pleaded guilty to wire, mail and bank fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns, obstruction of justice and related offenses.
Authorities said Stinson ran a company called Life's Good Inc. that solicited investments in one of four real-estate hedge funds, promising annual returns of 10 to 16 percent. But instead of investing the money as promised, Stinson operated an elaborate Ponzi scheme in which some investors were paid with money from other investors, authorities said.
Collecting meds
Bensalem police, in conjunction with the Bensalem Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board and Building a Better Bensalem, have set up a collection box in the lobby of the township building in which residents may drop unwanted prescription medications.
The box will remain in the building until next month, when it will be moved elsewhere.
- Staff and wire reports
