Here’s what will make news this week

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Health and job help for vets

City Council will hold its first Veterans' Resource Fair at 10 a.m. today at the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News building, on Broad Street at Callowhill.

Drexel University faculty and students will provide screenings for blood pressure, eye exams and more. Additionally, employment, education and housing information will be provided by a host of other agenices. Attendees will also have the chance to get a free haircut.

Event Speakers include Robert McKenrick, director of the Philadelphia VA Regional Office, Edward Speller, Veterans Advisory Commissioner, City Council president Darrell Clarke and Councilman David Oh.

Legal help for vets

Philadelphia military veterans in need of legal help have a new place to turn to with the expansion of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Military Assistance Program.

Bar Chancellor John E. Savoth and Marine Corps veterans, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and Justice Seamus P. McCaffery, are scheduled to attend a City Hall gathering at 1 p.m. Monday to announce the new services.

Under the MAP program, volunteer lawyers will provide free legal advice to vets in civil matters involving service-related compensation, discharge status and health issues. Previously, only active duty service members and their families received assistance from MAP.

For more information call, 215-238-6388 or click on: http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/MAP?appNum=1

COMMON PLEAS COURT

Brawling fan wants charges dropped

Dennis Veteri, the Glassboro, N.J., Flyers fan charged with knocking out a New York Rangers fan outside Geno's Steaks in South Philly Jan. 2, is scheduled to be back in court Monday.

This time, Veteri, 32, is hoping to knock out the criminal case against him. His attorney, Michael DeFino, has filed a motion to quash, meaning he'll ask the judge to throw out the charges. Veteri, who has 11 prior arrests in four states and four assault convictions, is charged with aggravated assault and related counts for attacking Neal Auricchio, an off-duty Woodbridge, N.J., police officer. The melee followed the Flyers-Rangers Winter Classic game.

FEDERAL COURT

Compentency hearing for bomb suspect

A Warrington man faces a competency hearing Wednesday on charges of possessing pipe bombs. John Grzyminski told police the suspected pipe bombs were fireworks, according to court documents.

Federal prosecutors said in court papers filed last week that Grzyminski has a history of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, which his defense attorney also confirmed. Federal magistrate Jacob Hart on May 16 ordered that Grzyminski, who is in federal custody, be given a psychological evaluation to determine if he is competent.

Facing jail on gun conviction

A 53-year-old convicted felon is scheduled to be sentenced on federal gun and ammunition charges on Thursday. Gregory Griswold of Philadelphia was convicted of the federal charge after a trial in November.

Authorities arrested him in September 2008 after a search of Griswold's apartment found a fully loaded semiautomatic handgun and an additional 50 rounds of ammunition behind a bedroom radiator.

Court papers said Griswold told authorities the gun belonged to his wife. At the time of his arrest, Griswold was on supervised release from a prior federal conviction for making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer and a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Therefore, he was prohibited from legally possessing any guns.

Federal prosecutors want the maximum 10-year sentence for Griswold, claiming he is unremorseful and is at high risk to commit further crimes. Defense attorney Carina Laguzzi said her client is not likely to commit additional crimes because of his age. She said he is a skillful mason who has the ability to be a productive citizen upon release from prison.

Mensah Dean, Jan Ransom and Michael Hinkelman contributed to this report.