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Dan Gross: Men United miss Beanie
Men United is a group of activists focused on reducing violence in the city through attracting young men away from the type of lifestyles associated with crime.
Sigel's infraction, reported here, was a trip early last month to Atlantic City, which is where federal authorities learned about the violation of a probation for a past gun violation.
Aziz, 54, knows about cleaning up acts. He was released from prison in 1995 after serving 10 years on a variety of drug charges. He formed Men United in 2002. Aziz says Bill Cosby, who also works with the group, recently told Sigel that to be involved with the group he had to really devote himself. "If he wants to break away from the criminal side he can," Aziz says, "but he can't go back just to sell records."
'Loony' joke gets woman fired
An employee of PR Newswire, a service that provides news releases to media outlets nationwide, was fired yesterday after she used the title "loony bin rally" for a regional press release about a mental illness march today in South Philly.
The release touted a rally at noon at Broad and Snyder where demonstrators will ask the state to invest political and financial capital to fund permanent supportive housing, which promotes recovery from mental illnesses.
Susan Rogers, director of special projects for the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, was furious and offended by the "loony bin" title and was also devastated to learn that the "ignorant" employee responsible was fired.
"This was an error in the very poor judgment of one employee and she has been terminated," PRNewswire spokeswoman Rachel Meranus told us yesterday. A PRNewswire official later told Rogers that the company would re-issue the release this morning with an apology for the insensitive remark.
Today's speakers include Sister Mary Scullion, executive director of Project H.O.M.E, a housing advocacy and services organization; Frederick DeJosie, a formerly homeless veteran in recovery from mental illness; and several officers from the MHASP.
Rickles summons Geator to AC
Jerry Blavat was just finishing up a gig at Stella Maris (10th & Bigler), spinning a benefit to bring a new heating system to the parish, when he got a call from legendary comic Don Rickles, who was playing the Tropicana in Atlantic City. The Geator high-tailed it to A.C. and dined at the Tropicana early Saturday with Rickles, his Wynnefield-native wife, Barbara Sklar, and a few Rickles associates. Rickles is on "Late Show with David Letterman" tonight and the Geator's gearing up for a Jan. 26 show at the Kimmel Center featuring Peaches & Herb, the Trampps, Eddie Holman and more.
Stern stories
Best wishes to North Wales gas station attendant Tom Cipriano, better known as Capt. Janks to listeners of the Howard Stern Show, who's recuperating after having emergency surgery on a burst appendix. Janks called into Stern's Sirius Satellite Radio show yesterday to say he had an infection, but was feeling better.
* South Jersey's Rev. Bob Levy, a regular on Stern's show and that of 94 WYSP's Kidd Chris, has opened Levy's Comedy Club (6201 Bristol Pike), in the Ramada Inn in Levittown. Levy plays there Saturday along with Beetlejuice, wrestler Iron Sheik and several more comics. Stern sidekick Artie Lange, who also starred in the underrated "Dirty Work" with Norm Macdonald, will play two shows at the 200-seat club April 18-19. For tix, visit revboblevy.com.
Mag threatens local rock band
Spin magazine has issued a legal letter to local rockers SPiN, insisting the group, recently sponsored by the Jagermeister liquor brand, cease and desist using its name or the magazine will pursue "civil remedies to the fullest extent of the federal and state law." The band says it won't do so.
Keyboardist/singer Jim Vacca said in a statement that the band "worked too hard to build its name and reputation over the last few years to give into this ludicrous demand." Drummer Lou Chudnofsky hopes that "maybe they'll back off once they realize that as of right now, there's exactly $7.28 in our bank account." *
Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest stories. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.
