Storm prompts rash of cancellations
The major snowstorm has led to all sorts of cancellations, postponements and other changes in schedules and plans.
The major snowstorm has led to all sorts of cancellations, postponements and other changes in schedules and plans.
Generally, most events are cancelled today. Be sure to call before heading out to any scheduled event.
And here's a sampling of the events that have been publically reported as cancelled or rescheduled, including a notice about SEPTA's new policy to give commuters more warning. (To suggest an item for inclusion, e-mail online@phillynews.com.)
Closings/Cancellations
SEPTA announced Saturday that it would suspend most service at 2 p.m. Only the the Market Frankford Line and Broad Street Line will continue to have trains operating, and those would be on the usual Saturday schedule.
At 2 p.m., all Regional Rail service was suspended until Sunday morning, as was all trolley line service, all BUS, LUCY and paratransit service. Paratransit also said it is not taking reservations for Sunday.
The Norristown High Speed Line had already been suspended.
The Pennsylvania Conservative Council has canceled Saturday's debate among GOP candidates running for Congress in the Sixth District.
The Acadamy of Natural Sciences will be closed Saturday, but open Sunday.
Philadelphia School District has canceled all weekend activities, as have many suburban districts. Check your school district's Web site for updates.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania cancelled the Winter Fun Weekend at Camp Laughing Waters. The Girl Scout Ice Skating Party at the Blue Cross River Rink, scheduled for Saturday, has been rescheduled to Feb. 13.
The KiXX game vs. Milwaukee Wave, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed. Tickets can be exchanged for any remaining game through the KiXX office or at the Liacouras Center Box Office.
World Wrestling Entertainment's RAW Live at the Wachovia Center scheduled for tonight has been postponed until 8 p.m. Feb. 11.
The Philadelphia Wings vs. Orlando Titans National Lacrosse League game scheduled for Saturday at the Wachovia Center has been canceled. It will be rescheduled some time in April.
Rutgers-Camden men's and women's basketball games scheduled for Saturday at Richard Stockton College have been postponed until Feb. 15.
Philadelphia University women's and men's away basketball games in Caldwell, N.J., set for Saturday have been postponed to noon and 2 p.m., respectively, on Sunday.
Saint Joseph's vs. St. Bonaventure men's basketball game scheduled for Saturday has been moved to Sunday, at 1 p.m. at Hagan Arena.
Independence Seaport Museum has postponed its 2010 Lunar New Year Festival, set for Saturday, until Feb. 13. The Garden State Discovery Museum also pushed its Lunar New Year event to Feb. 13.
Next weekend's Carribean Carnival, which was to be a two-day event at the Discovery Museum, will be held on Sunday, Feb. 14.
The Philadelphia Orchestra's "The Sound All Around in the Suburbs" concerts set for Saturday in Bryn Mawr have been postponed until Feb. 13.
The Knapp Gallery's reception for Adam Lee Farrell will be rescheduled.
In Atlantic City, Tropicana Casino and Resort has postponed Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing program, which was slated for Saturday. It will be rescheduled.
Montgomery County Community College is closed.
Rosemont College is closed.
Delaware County Community College is closed.
Widener University's 11th Annual Engineering Mini-Camp for High School Girls, set for Saturday, has been rescheduled for Feb. 20.
The Mount Pleasant Town Hall Meeting set for Saturday has been canceled.
A memorial service for longtime peace-activist George Willoughby, set for Saturday, has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Friends Center, 15th and Cherry Streets.
The Heart Healthy Expo at Neshaminy Mall scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until Feb. 27.
In Lower Merion all township libraries will be closed on Saturday and all weekend recreation programs have been cancelled. The Bala Gym, Ardmore Avenue Community Center (AACC) and Belmont Hills Community Center will be closed this weekend; however, AACC programs for tonight have not been cancelled.
The Israeli Film Festival at the Gershman Y has been postponed until Sunday.
IRS offices in Philadelphia, Horsham, Bethlehem and Harrisburg will be closed Saturday.
Media Youth Center in Media has cancelled all games Saturday morning and afternoon.
Delaware State Parks will remain closed till further notice.
The Red Cross Blood Drive for Sickle Cell scheduled for Saturday at Mother Bethel AME Church will be rescheduled.
Airline service: Before heading to the airport, be sure to check the status of the flight, by contacting the airline, visiting the airport's Web site at
, or calling 1-800-745-4283 (1-800-PHL-GATE). The airport itself expects to remain operational during the storm, according to spokeswoman Victoria Lupica, who said 400 employees and contractors have more than 200 pieces of snow-removal equipment at their disposal.
Amtrak has canceled service for most trains south of D.C. and many running between the Capitol and Boston. For more, go to www.amtrak.com.
Tom Brookshier services postponed till Monday. A memorial service for the ex-Eagles star and broadcaster was scheduled for Saturday. Instead, according to the Chadwick and McKinney Funeral Home, the family will receive guests after 12:30 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Ardmore, at Montgomery Avenue and Mill Creek Road, to be followed by a 2 p.m. memorial service.
SEPTA's new policy is to warn commuters. SEPTA used to keep running as long as it could, then tell people what service had stopped, leaving some folks stranded at bus stops, for example. Now, the agency will give an hour's notice, not only alerting the media, but making information available to commuters at www.septa.org and 215-580-7800.
So check, especially tomorrow, before you leave to catch public transportation, said spokeswoman Jerri Williams. Announcements could keep changing, affecting specific lines or types of transportation.
SEPTA will try to keep everything running, but that may not be possible with a major storm. "It's always better to use public transportation than to go out in your car, so we want to be that resource for people," she said.
PATCO: PATCO will run trains running every 15 minutes.
Normal late night "Owl" service will be in effect with trains every 45 minutes.
Tomorrow, trains will run every 15 minutes. Normal "Owl" service also will be in effect with trains every 45 minutes.
On Sunday, trains will run every 20 minutes.
NJ Transit: The agency will cross honor train and bus passes systemwide. The agency will make every effort to maintain service, but delays, cancellations and detours should be anticipated.
NJ Transit will provide service update on its Travel Alerts page at njtransit.com and at 973-275-5555.