#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Reflections at the Barnes Foundation
(Photo by @avsphilly)
Philly tool library is looking for a new home for 5,000 tools, 50 classes
The West Philly Tool Library has become an institution in its neighborhood over 18 years. That was the goal, say organizers, who are now looking for a new home after its lease wasn’t renewed.
The library provides tools for rental – items such as lawn mowers, pressure washers, and wheelbarrows – plus classes to learn how to use the tools. What’s next? Continue reading…
DA candidate Dugan decries voter apathy, touts endorsements
With three weeks to go until Election Day and nearly 30,000 mail ballots already cast, District Attorney candidate Pat Dugan pleaded with voters Tuesday to “Get off your butts and vote” as he attempts to achieve an upset win over incumbent DA Larry Krasner.
Dugan is a registered Democrat, but is running as the Republican nominee after losing the primary to Krasner in May, and just received endorsements from former mayoral candidate David Oh and the PA Forward Party. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Temple Health and staff unions agree to a 3-year contract with pay raises, improved security, avoiding a five-day strike. [PhillyVoice]
• Philadelphia will be home to one of the first dedicated LGBTQ+ visitor centers in the U.S. Dubbed the Philly Pride Visitor Center, it is set to open in January 2026. [PGN]
• For some wheelchair users, navigating Grays Ferry is a scene out of “Mad Max,” with illegally parked cars and crumbling sidewalks making for dangerous conditions. [WHYY]
• World Cafe Live workers unionized in July, but leadership won’t bargain. Now, some staffers aren’t getting paid. [KYW]
• The Philadelphia region faces hurricanes, floods and house fires. Here’s how to pack a go-bag. [WHYY]
• The West Philly Fright Registry is a new community resource, created by a local Halloween enthusiast, that will help folks submit and find events from approximately 45th to 60th Streets and Market to Baltimore. [West Philly Local]
MAYOR WATCH
City officials will join School District of Philadelphia schools, students, staff and caregivers to celebrate the 29th National Walk & Roll to School Day, at Edward Gideon School, 2817 W. Glenwood Ave. (8:20 a.m.)
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
- Philadelphia ranks third among U.S. cities in a new 2024 Violence Prevention Index on “readiness to address gun violence through a public health model.” [Community Justice via Google Drive)
- Swatting incidents increasingly target schools and pose a challenge to investigators. [NBC10]
- Eleven people were killed in Philly in September, but we know they are not just names. [Philadelphia Obituary Project]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 14: Shooting victims recorded from Oct. 5 to 11, including 4 fatalities, according to city data. During the previous week, 5 shooting victims were recorded, including 2 fatalities. [Source: nickhand.dev]
- 177: Year-to-date homicides, down 13.6% vs. last year’s pace; down 53% vs. five years ago. [Philly Police]
ON THE CALENDAR
🍂 Autumn festival lineup
🎃 Halloween events across Philly, now through October
👻 Dia de los Muertos events
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
Wednesday, Oct. 15: MANNA’s Pie in the Sky Happy Hour
Sample fall with a taste test of the season’s pie menu, plus cozy fall drinks with MANNA, while learning how pie equals meals for neighbors in need. At 420 N. 20th St. Free with RSVP. (4 to 6 p.m.)
Friday, Oct. 18: Halloween Bash and Costume Contest
Halloween is calling and Evil Genius Beer Company is ready to party, inviting everyone to show off your best costumes for a chance to win prizes. (8 to 10 p.m.)
Friday to Sunday, Oct. 17-19: Characters Welcome 9: An International Sticker Art Show
THE event for sticker artists to meet, exchange ideas and leave behind tokens of their amazing art on Tattooed Mom’s walls, ceilings, and floors! A full weekend of artist workshops, an all-ages sticker scavenger hunt, a free intro to sticker art class, and more, with all show proceeds donated to local youth arts programming. Friday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.;Saturday 12:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday 12:30 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 18: Treasure PHILLY! Frankford Walking Tour
Meet at the Historical Society of Frankford for this walking tour of some of the neighborhood’s historic churches. It’s a mile loop. Free admission, but registration requested by emailing events@thsof.org. (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 18: Streets Dept. Excursion: Northeast Kingsessing Murals
The Kingsessing area of West Philly is a super-walkable neighborhood with notable greenspaces and a growing collection of murals. On this tour, Conrad Benner will lead you on a zig-zag through the northeast section of this neighborhood to see new and old mural artworks and learn more about each of them, their artists, their stories, and how they got made. $20 tickets. (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 18: Children’s Halloween Spectacular
The Philadelphia Orchestra hosts a magical musical adventure, with songs ranging from the playful mischief of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice to the wonder of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, plus beloved favorites like Bach’s thunderous Toccata and Fugue, and music from A Night on Bald Mountain, The Firebird, Peer Gynt, and more. (11:30 a.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 18: Manayunk Fall Fest
A brand-new outdoor event in the heart of Manayunk, during a beautiful fall day on Main Street. Local vendors, artisans, treats, food trucks, games, a separate, ticketed $21.05 Mac n’ Cheese Crawl, and more. (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 18: East Falls Fest
At Ridge and Midvale. Kayaking, high-flying circus shows, Philly history pop-ups, pumpkin decorating, tacos, cookies, artisan market, beer from Wissahickon Brewery and more. (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Through Saturday, Oct. 18: Dine Latino Restaurant Week
Food trucks join the list of Philly restaurants offering dinner deals and more offers to celebrate the culinary offerings across the Latin American diaspora.
Sunday, Oct. 19: Hocus Pocus Bingo
Grab your broomsticks and black flame candles — it’s time to put a spell on your bingo card! Join the Sanderson Sisters for a wickedly hilarious night of games, giggles and magical mayhem, plus spooky prizes. Costumes welcome! $23.50 tickets. (4 p.m.)
Tuesday, Oct. 21: WHYY’s The Pulse Presents: Reimagining Menopause
WHYY’s Maiken Scott and a panel of the region’s leading menopause experts discuss the newest science on symptom management and treatment options. Free registration. (5:30 p.m.)
The post Tool library in jeopardy; Dugan endorsements; Weekly gun violence brief | Morning Roundup appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
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