Chit Chat Philly

Happy New year Chit Chaters!! You may have heard by now or if you haven’t take a seat, I fell on New Year’s Eve while walking along Delaware Avenue. Let me say not walking I was running and I was not attentive and I fell over a lovely landscaped section somehow I left the sidewalk and ended up in a garden. A rock garden. BY THE Grace of God Mike Toub, my friends and Philly’s finest, I was able to get to the hospital. I have to say in all my life it’s not the first time I spent New Year’s Eve at the ER.

Three weeks ago I had shoulder surgery. Today I have my follow up doctor’s appointment, and I can’t wait because I eager to start physical therapy and return to chronicling Philly, in person. Thankfully January and February are very slow in this social party scene, so it doesn’t affect my business too much except for my corporate photography. Thank you to my friends and readers, for sending me flowers food gift cards and 100s of notes and hearts!! I will always remember your kind gesture.

I finally have some time to do some blogging which I’ve woefully have neglected. I’m excited to start this first entry of 2025 with Philly Chitchat tidbits and fun gossip.

Former NBC10 Weekend anchor and reporter Rosemary Connors left the airways with Sunday September 22nd as her last appearance, the following weekend Frances Wang appeared on the weekend anchor desk. Miguel Martinez-Valle taking over her anchor spot on the morning weekend desk. On December 31st Rosemary posted photo of her and her family and wished every one a beautiful new year and explained that she decided to leave her job after 15 years to pursue something else, and then there are a whole bunch of photos of her adorable kids and husband Ben. She signed off with her usual flair “Thank you for being with me and have a good one!!”

Congratulations to CBS Philadelphia Meteorologists Kate Bilo and Andrew Kozak. Now you’ll see them not only locally in Philly but nationwide with Kate delivering weather coverage at CBS mornings and Andrew on CBS Weekend News!! That is so cool!! I don’t know if you’ve seen the new CBS Philly weather map which is like 3D they stand on top of it it’s very cool.

Monday I ventured out and photographed the first event for 2025 after my injury, MLK Day at Girard College is an event I’ve been photographing for about a decade. It’s a great event where 1000 volunteers come and create care packages for underserved communities, as well as offer services and programs to help people in Philadelphia. See additional photos at my CBS Philly column. Thanks to Mike Toub he assisted me on this shoot, Although I did shoot this photo myself. Great to be out and see clients.

Congratulations Kareem Rosser on his second book ‘When You’re Ready’ !! An enduring love story.

Kareem Rosser hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a BA in economics from Colorado State University (CSU). During his time at CSU, he captained his college polo team to a national championship and was named the intercollegiate polo player of the year. Afterward, he returned to Work to Ride, the program where he first discovered polo, and now holds the position of Executive Vice President. Every fall he participates in the Philadelphia Polo which benefits Work to Ride. (9/20/25)

On February 7th at Philadelphia’s Barnes & Noble at 6pm he’ll discuss and sign his new book When You’re Ready!

Thanks Kevin Lessard for sending me this photo. Readers and friends have been so generous in sending me photos of Philadelphia that I’ve been using on my social media. If you have anything interesting drop me a line hughe@phillychitchat.com

Most of the pixs used in this post photos were screenshot from Instagram posts by the people I was speaking about. Thank you to Mike for hooking up the audio mic for texting. I might be making a lot of errors more than normal I apologize. I am also learning to type with my left hand, which is my non dominant hand.

This was fun to do, I will be doing it more often and posting parties I photographed last year. Some of the photos may have already appeared in one of my 3 outlets and I will just expound on the description of the event. And some were not picked up which sometimes is the case.. But I never know until after the magazine publishes.

Socially yours, HughE