HughE Dillon: Philly’s Local TV Celebs Are Everywhere!

Which meteorologist was the fastest woman in a charity race? Who got engaged?

On Saturday morning, Badges for Heroes took place in Fairmount Park near the Please Touch Museum. The event was started four years ago by John Bolaris, following the shooting death of police officer John Pawlowski at the age of 25. “After the tragedy that the city experienced when we lost Officer Pawlowski, and all slain police officers, firefighters and correctional officers, I knew I wanted to do something significant to celebrate our city’s heroes and their families,” said Bolaris. Leading the race was number 1555, Greg Watson. Following close behind is his wife, Cecily Tynan.
 

 
Below: Mayor Nutter (right) gives the first place winner Jimmy Daniels, 16, a junior with the Somerdale Fire Department in New Jersey who runs on his high school team. Daniels’s time was 17:15. John Bolaris (left) and Nutter’s chief of staff, Everett Gillison (center), look on.
 

 
Below: Gunner de Medici, former American Idol contestant Erika Schiff (who sang the National Anthem), WMMR’s Matt Cord, Cecily Tynan, who came in first for the women with a time of 18.59, Steve Morrison of Preston and Steve, Greg Watson, who came in second for the men with a time of 17:15 (Daniels had his foot over the line first), and Jacky Bam Bam of WMMR who acted as DJ during the race, playing rocking tunes to set the pace for the runners.
 

 
Below: On Saturday night, I went to a party at Sampan’s Graffiti Bar for the homecoming of my friends Erin Como and her boyfriend, Danny Schuyler. Como, formerly of NBC 10, left Philly two months ago for Nashville, to work at WZTV-Fox 17 as a traffic and special features reporter. Danny surprised her by popping the question! Sampan’s GM Michael Wirzberger promptly sent out a bottle of bubbly for everyone to enjoy, including many of Como’s former co-workers, including NBC 10 meteorologists Sheena Parveen (second from right) and Bill Henley (with wife Susan), reporters Jillian Mille, Rosemary Connors, Aditi Roy, former NBC 10 reporter Justin Pizzi, Brad Berner, NBC photographer, NBC 10 executive producer Alissa Ingram, Tony Frick, Lauren Richmond, Frederick Calalang, Arielle Johnson and Farina Chaparro.
 

 
Below: Last Thursday, Career Wardrobe, which provides suits and training to low-income women transitioning to work, hosted its 11th annual fundraiser at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. The group honored Nikki Johnson-Huston, assistant city solicitor for the City of Philadelphia, with the “Fashioning Futures for Women Award.” She was homeless as a child, and was touched by generosity of organizations whose mission were similar to the Career Wardrobe. She paid tribute to her grandmother saying it was OK to be poor, but not to have a poor character. One of the highlights of the Career Wardrobe event was the annual fashion show during which notable TV personalities wear one of their outfits on the catwalk; then, at the end of the night, the “model” donates the outfit to the Career Wardobe to be sold at their boutique at 1822 Spring Garden. Participating in the fashion show: Fox 29’s Karen Hepp, Sue Serio and Jennapher Frederick, 6 ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli, Amy Buckman and Mary Caraccioli, CBS 3’s Erika von Tiehl, NBC 10’s Monique Braxton, Marian Conicella, publisher of Philadelphia magazine, Skin Palette owners Julie Dorenbos and Susie Celek, mommy blogger Joey Fortman, Career Wardrobe clients Kim Cottman, Angela Allen, Ernestine Volcy, Felicia Roton, Chrystal Martin, and employees Willa Hightower and Andrea Blassinger.
 

 
Below: The very popular Viv Pickle pocketbook live auction included a bad signed by Cole Hamels that the “cross-dressing Phanatic” (or is there a female version … this Phanatic had breasts) showcased. Christine Jerek, Citizens Bank, was the top bidder for the bag at $500. A Flyers bag signed by Danny Briere, Chris Pronger and Claude Giroux sold for $600. Tickets to watch the Eagles game from the Mayor’s box went for $2,600, a bag that Colin Farrell signed sold for $400. BTW: The filming of Dead Man Down ends on June 20th when the production moves to NYC for the shooting of exteriors.