Inquirer.com – Zurich DR

Category: Newsletters

  • 🏀 Happy days | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🏀 Happy days | Sports Daily Newsletter

    In the spirit of not harping on last night’s World Cup round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium, we’re going to lead with all the good things Jaylen Brown said about being in Philadelphia, now that his trade to the Sixers became official yesterday …

    … and then we’ll get into the U.S. game.

    However, Brown is excited to be part of a “hungry, competitive” Sixers group that he says is “committed to winning.” He says he’s ready to go “chasing something special together” with this team, making this one of the more highly anticipated starts to a Sixers season in quite some time. Inquirer writer Gina Mizell takes a look at Brown and what he’s bringing to the table now that he’s official.

    You’re looking at a high chance of rain today, with temperatures approaching the 80s.

    — Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓Are you still going to watch the World Cup with the U.S. out? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Belgian beat down

    U.S. goalkeeper and Wayne native Matt Freese (24) reacts after Belgium scores a third goal during Monday’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Seattle.Ted S. Warren

    The United States had one of the better runs to the knockout rounds in recent memory, but mistakes and a Belgian side that played like a world top 10 ended with the Americans on the disappointing end of a 4-1 final.

    Background noise aside, the U.S. came out intending to make it a match, leveling the match with another Malik Tillman free kick, but that was the only highlight in an otherwise systematic dismantling of the U.S., as Inquirer writer Jonathan reports from a rough night in Seattle.

    And were you wondering what emotions were like at not one, but two fan festivals during the match last night? We captured it.

    What we’re …

    👏 Applauding: Whitemarsh Boat Club’s rowing program for breast cancer survivors will participate in the Henley Masters Regatta this weekend.

    💪🏽 Sharing: AEW is returning to the 2300 Arena in Pennsport.

    💡 Learning: La Salle named Jarett Gerald as its new athletic director after Ash Puri departed for the same job at St. Joseph’s.

    📖 Reading: Telford native David de Garavilla is making his third straight appearance the USGA Adaptive Open, which teed off on Monday.

    🤔 Wondering: Is Eli Stowers ready to take on the role as a top choice for the Eagles at tight end?

    Star gazing

    The stars will be on display a week from today when Citizens Bank Park hosts the 96th All-Star Game. From five Phillies to Millville’s Mike Trout to Kevin McGonigle, a Delco kid who has quickly emerged as a star with the Tigers, there are plenty of local storylines in the Midsummer Classic.

    Here’s what you need to know about every player selected to play on the All-Star stage in South Philly.

    After being selected as an All-Star on Saturday, Cristopher Sánchez had two more starts to close his case to start the Midsummer Classic. The first one didn’t go so well.

    Kyle Schwarber is an All-Star for the fourth time, but he’s not sure if he’s going to compete in the Home Run Derby.

    Next: The Phillies open a three-game series tonight in Cincinnati (7:10 p.m., NBCSP). Zack Wheeler (8-1, 2.36 ERA) is scheduled to face Reds lefty Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.88).

    ‘Forever devastated’

    Photo of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. The 18-year-old died in 2024 after collapsing on the first day of freshman football practice for Bucknell University.Octavio Jones/ For the Inquirer

    A former strength coach at Bucknell University was charged Monday with criminal hazing in the 2024 death of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., an 18-year-old freshman football player with a known medical condition who collapsed after being required to perform drills until he passed out, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said.

    Mark Kulbis, 34, who worked for Bucknell at the time, surrendered to authorities late Monday morning and was arraigned on the charges, Sunday said. Bail for Kulbis was set at $10,000 unsecured.

    But the sticking point in this inquiry is that it’s alleged Kulbis “subjected Dickey to the hazing, even after being made aware of Dickey’s medical condition and receiving training from the university on sickle cell trait and state law and NCAA standards regarding hazing,” Sunday’s office said. Inquirer writer Robert Moran takes a look at the case and its implications.

    On this date

    July 7, 1912: Pennsylvania native Jim Thorpe wins the gold medal in the Pentathlon at the Summer Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

    David Murphy’s take

    What could LeBron James accomplish in Denver, Golden State, or Boston? All have won championships within the last decade led by stars who’ve spent their entire careers with the organizations. Each has a significant edge over Philly if James’ goal is basketball nirvana. Playing alongside Steph Curry, Nikola Jokić, or Jayson Tatum would be a lot of fun, and any of the three could offer James a better chance at winning a title. But none of them offer him a chance to prove something one last time. — Murphy has a few good reasons the Sixers would favor James.

    🧠 Trivia time

    With all of this talk of whether Bryce Harper will play in the MLB Home Run Derby, this raises the question of who was the last Phillies player to win one?

    A) Mike Schmidt

    B) Kyle Schwarber

    C) Ryan Howard

    D) Bobby Abreu

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Robert Moran, Jeff Neiburg, Gina Mizell, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Scott Lauber, Conor Smith, Isabella DiAmore, Ariel Simpson, Lauren Jones, John Roberts, and David Murphy.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Thanks for reading along! Bella will be back with more Philly sports stories tomorrow. — Kerith

  • ⛳The area’s quirky mini golf courses | Inquirer South Jersey

    ⛳The area’s quirky mini golf courses | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey. Welcome back from the holiday weekend. Be mindful of the regional flood watch in effect until this evening, which includes Camden and Gloucester Counties as well as Northwestern Burlington County.

    To ease into the workweek, let’s start with something fun: eight local places that let you indulge in nostalgia and play a round of mini golf.

    And a record number of New Jersey students earned an associate’s degree while finishing high school.

    Plus, a former employee of Connolly Dermatology filed a lawsuit against the practice over unpaid wages, and more news of the day.

    — Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ⛳Tee up

    Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Bring on some wholesome summer fun and break out the colorful golfballs on a putt-putt course.

    ⛳If you’re into zany obstacles — like a fiberglass Liberty Bell or an oversized sombrero — then Pleasant Valley Miniature Golf in Voorhees could be for you.

    ⛳How about a more classic experience with a waterfall? The Big Swing Golf Center in Sewell might be the right fit.

    ⛳Want to avoid the heat? There are indoor options, including Monster Mini Golf in Cherry Hill and Turnersville.

    See the full guide of the region’s mini golf courses here.

    Meet the recent high school grads with associate’s degrees

    This year, there were 376 high school students enrolled in New Jersey’s 21-county vocational-technical schools who graduated with associate’s degrees, a new record.

    Vo-tech schools have become more competitive in recent years as they attract students who want an alternative path to careers or college. If students want the latter, these schools provide an affordable option to earn credit for college-level work, saving time and money.

    🎓 The Camden County Technical Schools, which have campuses in Gloucester Township and Pennsauken, have 31 graduates.

    🎓 The Gloucester County Institute in Deptford has 17 graduates.

    🎓 Meanwhile, Burlington County Institute of Technology has students who have earned credits, but none that have earned their full associate’s degrees yet.

    The Inquirer’s Melanie Burney introduces three of the accomplished grads.

    What to know today

    • A man from Browns Mills was caught in a child trafficking sting and has been charged in Bucks County, Pa., with criminal attempt to engage or perform a commercial sex act with a minor and other related crimes, prosecutors said Thursday.
    • More than 200 patients were evacuated from Echelon Care and Rehabilitation Care in Voorhees on Saturday morning because of an air-conditioning failure during a heat wave. They were temporarily moved to Eastern Regional High School where they continued to receive care, according to 6abc.
    • Bill Wine, the Emmy-award winning film and TV critic and longtime La Salle University professor, died at 81 last week. He grew up in West Oak Lane and Cherry Hill. Wine graduated from the old Cherry Hill High School.
    • A former Marine from Sewell pled guilty to sending fake military orders and United States District Court orders to various banks in order to get financial benefits under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The scheme included forging court documents and impersonating a federal protective services inspector, announced U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer on Thursday.
    • PSE&G is expected to begin the installation of a new gas main today on Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield. The crews will be expected to work through the end of August.
    • Connolly Dermatology, the skin-care practice that had 30 locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania at its peak, is facing a lawsuit filed by a former employee over unpaid wages. Back in May, the New Jersey Department of Labor said it was investigating complaints about three weeks of missed payrolls.
    • DiBartolo’s Cakery will open inside the new Del Buono’s Pastry shop, which is under development in Westmont. The move will bring the notable cake artist Al DiBartolo back to town, according to 42 Freeway.
    • Adele Altadonna, a Camden native, shared her 100th birthday with America’s Semiquincentennial on Saturday, CBS News Philadelphia reports.

    🧠 Trivia time

    How much did Jason and Kylie Kelce’s events this year in South Jersey fundraise for the Eagles Autism Foundation?

    A) $500,000

    B) $615,726

    C) $1.26 million

    D) $1.75 million

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🛶 Taking: A canoe tour with Mick’s Canoe & Kayak in Chatsworth.

    👀 Watching: For some rescheduled dates for the various South Jersey July Fourth plans that were postponed because of last week’s heat wave.

    🍴Craving: The corned beef and pastrami at the Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill.

    📬 Your South Jersey view

    A view of the Ben Franklin Bridge from the Camden waterfront.Taylor Allen

    The below “South Jersey view” came from reader David Epler, who shared fond memories of the Ben Franklin Bridge on its 100th birthday:

    I have been over the bridge many times over the years. I lived in downtown Camden during my first year in law school in 1975 and walked it out of boredom. My criminal law professor would run it and then have office hours with his knees wrapped in ice!

    Many years later, my bride and I started a Fourth of July tradition. We would park at Rutgers, walk over the bridge, hang out on the mall, have a beer and lunch at the Independence Beer Garden, and then hop on the speed line back to Camden. Mobility issues and age put the kibosh on that.

    The views and perspective were always great and you never knew who you might meet!

    What does your community look like? What South Jersey memory would you like to share? Submit a photo and/or a brief description for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

    🗞️ What other South Jersey residents are reading

    And that should get you started for the day. I’ll catch you tomorrow. 👋🏽

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 🧑‍🏫 Teachers stuck in limbo | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning, Philly! Welcome to the start of a new week.

    While Philadelphia and school district officials have celebrated a deal to save 340 classroom jobs, teachers and staff members face continued uncertainties in an already tumultuous hiring season.

    In other news, the newly elected sheriff of Delaware County, Siddiq Kamara said he was motivated to run after his cousin, Fanta Bility, was killed by Sharon Hill police while leaving a football game in August 2021. “The people in Delaware County, I’m here to work with them,” he said.

    Plus, some Philly residents are questioning the late July Fourth fireworks, and more news of the day.

    — Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ‘I’m on this roller coaster’

    When a deal was struck to save 340 classroom-based jobs in the Philadelphia School District, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. declared it “Christmas in June.”

    It’s July now, but staffers still don’t have clarity on exactly who’s allowed to come back to positions that were almost cut, and how that affects vacancies systemwide.

    Monique Braxton, the school district spokesperson, said the system is “moving forward with restoring the approximately 340 school-based positions approved in the revised budget,” but that staffing the positions is separate from restoring them.

    The complex process is causing additional uncertainty for teachers and staff members, and prolonging an already tumultuous hiring season as the district deals with fallout from 17 forthcoming school closings and the back-and-forth over millions in cuts stemming from a $300 million district budget deficit.

    The Inquirer’s Kristen A. Graham has the full story.

    There’s a new sheriff in town

    Siddiq Kamara remembers standing side by side with his aunt outside of the Delaware County courthouse and calling for changes in how police are trained, after a stray bullet fired by Sharon Hill police officers killed his cousin, Fanta Bility. Three years later, Kamara’s office is inside that same courthouse.

    Kamara, 30, became the youngest sheriff in Delaware County history when he cruised to victory in November with 63% of the vote. He’s a born-and-raised Delco native who turned his family’s tragedy into a platform for improving the way community policing is carried out in his home county.

    Notable quote: “This is the greatest country in the world. Being 30, being Muslim, being a first generation immigrant, and being the sheriff of one of the biggest counties in Pennsylvania, it’s unheard of. And I don’t take that lightly.”

    In his first six months in office, Kamara has equipped all of his deputies with body cameras and beefed up recruiting efforts, including opening fitness tests throughout the county to help fill the 35 vacancies he inherited. He’s mandated de-escalation and regular firearms training for his deputies, in memory of his cousin.

    Vinny Vella has more on Kamara’s inspiring story.

    What you should know today

    • Linemen, call center workers, and other Peco employees went on strike over the weekend. The roughly 1,500 unionized workers, part of IBEW Local 614, officially walked off the job, becoming the first employees to strike in Peco’s history.
    • U.S. men’s soccer team star striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 game after all.
    • University of Pennsylvania physician Anuja Dokras spent the last 14 years working to rename a common medical condition that can impact fertility in women, called polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.
    • City officials have estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to the monthlong World Cup watch party, which started in mid-June and is set to run through mid-July. But last week, some Brewerytown business owners said they had yet to reap the benefits.
    • The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday as he faced new questions about the troubled project and the taxpayer money involved.

    Quote of the day

    City officials originally planned for Fourth of July fireworks to go off around midnight, but because of weather delays, the show didn’t start until roughly 2:30 a.m. Some residents are questioning that choice, but the city said safety was a big factor.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Which celebrity duo was just married at Madison Square Garden with actor Adam Sandler officiating?

    A) Taylor Swift + Travis Kelce

    B) Zendaya + Tom Holland

    C) Rihanna + A$AP Rocky

    D) Kylie Jenner + TimothĂŠe Chalamet

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🤔 Wondering: Was it rude to turn down a Fourth of July barbecue because it’s 1,000 degrees outside? You asked, we answered.

    🌎 Learning: Where tourists are traveling from to visit Philadelphia for the World Cup. As it turns out, Ecuador was one country where travel surged.

    🏡 Impressed by: A man cut his rent by $2,000 a month. Within months, he had saved enough to buy his own house in Southwest Philly.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: One of the Founding Fathers of the United States

    INN LANK BENJI FARM

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Brian Lowy, who solved the last anagram: Danny’s Guitar Shop. The destination for Main Line musicians closed its doors after 17 years.

    Photo of the day

    Will Smith performs at the One Philly: Unity Concert for America on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    📸 One more thing: Check out what else our photographers saw over the weekend.

    📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

    Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

    This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Gerard Letterie, who describes pretzels and politics:

    Pretzel vendors and the occasional “pretzel boy” roving through neighborhoods in the summer were proudly part of the Philly scene in the 1960s and ’70s. My image of the average pretzel vendor changed with Frank Lomento, whose presence at his pretzel stand at the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Parkway Central Library was a familiar sight.

    My Sunday afternoons were spent at the Central Library hammering out college writing assignments. The pretzels were a midafternoon incentive. As I learned while grabbing a pretzel, Lomento was a man of opinion. In 1971, he decided to run for mayor. He had no political background. No deep pocket sponsors. No super PAC. Just a pretzel vendor cart, a Squeeze Please yellow mustard dispenser, and an iconic presence at the curbside. He had a willingness to talk politics in addition to selling you a pretzel.

    When he announced his candidacy, he propped up a cardboard sign with a handwritten message: “Frank Lomento for Mayor.” In Lomento’s opinion, what couldn’t be fixed with a pretzel (slathering of mustard optional) needed a political solution. So, he stepped up and in to the mayoral fray.

    In an unusually crowded candidate field for the ’71 Democratic mayoral primary, Frank Lomento stood out as an independent and, by some counts, a “protest candidate” alongside William J. Green III, Ira Einhorn, James E. Poole, Albert Sprague, Frank Rizzo, and Hardy Williams. Rizzo ultimately won as the machine-backed candidate, known as “the toughest cop in America.”

    Undaunted and after a time away from politics, Lomento entered the mayoral race again in 1983. He lost, but he also gathered 19,000 votes. He was a common, blue-collar guy with a presence and a message that resonated on several levels with Philly’s working-class crowd.

    Where else other than Philadelphia would you find a pretzel vendor who leveraged (both figuratively and literally) a man-on-the-street presence into a mayoral candidacy? Not once, but twice in a major American city? A regular guy with the courage to run for office. Totally and uniquely Philly. And an abiding memory of Philadelphia for me, among so many others.

    👋 Talk to you later, Philly!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 🔔 Revisiting Philly’s 1976 party | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning and happy Friday, Philly.

    Today’s high temps could break records, and nightfall may not bring much relief. Experts tell us why warmer nights can be more dangerous than daytime heat.

    On the eve of America’s 250th, we’re flashing back five decades for a look at how Philadelphia celebrated the Bicentennial.

    And to the surprise of some Fairmount residents, this year’s fireworks display will start around midnight. They aren’t happy about it.

    Plus, a federal judge ruled that Philly can’t force ICE agents to unmask, and more news to know to kick off your holiday weekend.

    — Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Falling short

    The hype was real for the Bicentennial in Philly.

    With 20 million visitors projected to travel to the city, there were big dreams for projects to mark the major occasion, like a massive suspended platform at 30th Street Station and a flower-focused theme park in Fairmount Park.

    Instead, the birthplace of American democracy hosted an under-attended party, and was then caught in the grips of a disease outbreak.

    It’s an understatement to say reality did not live up expectations of a Bicentennial boom, but it wasn’t a complete bust. In some ways, the nation’s 200th birthday gave us some of the Philadelphia we know today.

    For more on the lasting legacy, dive into the Inquirer archives with Nick Vadala.

    Parkway after dark

    Those who live near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are used to the sparks and blasts for July Fourth, but some aren’t particularly thrilled about their late start this year.

    🎆 Fireworks will begin closer to midnight. The star-studded lineup for the One City: Unity Concert for America is bigger this year, so the show will also start earlier and end later.

    🎆 The noise is not the problem. Some residents told The Inquirer the nuisance is the events’ timing competing with youngsters’ bedtimes, referring to the move as “not a family-friendly decision.”

    🎆 Traffic will be a headache, too. With 300,000 people expected, there are concerns about how the city is handling traffic leaving the Parkway.

    Henry Savage has the full story.

    Plus: Brush up on road closures and transportation info before heading to the Parkway.

    What you should know today

    Plus: How does SEPTA’s bus numbering system work?

    Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

    This week, we have an explainer from Michelle Myers on the logic behind SEPTA’s bus route numbers.

    The transit system operates more than 120 routes, but its numbers don’t necessarily indicate where they go or what streets they operate on. It turns out the digits are a relic from the streetcar era. Here’s the full story.

    Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

    🧠 Trivia time

    A local ceramicist, whose dishware can be seen at restaurants ranging from Provenance to Zahav, is rebuilding following bankruptcy and a kiln disaster. What are they called?

    A) Le Creuset

    B) Fiesta

    C) Felt and Fat

    D) East Fork

    Think you know? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

    What we’re …

    🥵 Avoiding: Exhaustion and dehydration in the heat, and at Philly’s last World Cup game.

    🚂 Excited to see: Big Boy, the world’s largest steam locomotive, as it passes through Philly.

    🏛️ Shocked by: Lawmakers almost demolished Independence Hall in the 1800s.

    📺 Looking out for: Task will start filming its second season next week in Manayunk.

    🌱 Learning: Soil from Revolutionary battlefields was mixed at Independence Hall on this week in Philly history.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: A destination for Main Line musicians

    ANY DASHING SPROUT

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Tanya O’Neill, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Christina Aguilera. This singer has been recruiting Philly-area “soldiers” for her concert on the Fourth of July.

    Photo of the day

    Participants gather to create the Living Liberty Bell, gathering 250 people to form the shape of the famous bell on Independence Mall on Thursday.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    🔔 One more Semiquincentennial thing: Members of Congress gathered in Philadelphia Thursday to commemorate the vote for independence 250 years ago. Their speeches reflected on historical struggles and present-day tensions.

    👋🏽 This newsletter is taking a break in observance of the Fourth of July. We’ll be back on Monday. Until then, you can find all the latest news and our holiday weekend coverage at Inquirer.com. Take care!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 🎸 Rock and rolled | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🎸 Rock and rolled | Sports Daily Newsletter

    We’ve made it to Friday, Philly.

    Hopefully, you’re in the midst of winding down for the week and getting ready for a relaxing weekend celebrating 250 years of American independence.

    Before you check out, we have to tell you about this wild story that happened a little less than 50 years ago, when a group of rock stars tried to kickstart a professional soccer team in this town, which became the “poster child for what not to do,” according to those who were there and lived through its brief but memorable heyday.

    Nestled in between the Atoms of the 1960s and the Union of today was the Philadelphia Fury, a pro soccer team owned by Peter Frampton that might be known more for the stories that transpired off the field and then on it. Stories that Inquirer writer Matt Breen collected for your reading pleasure.

    It’s the perfect read as the final game of this World Cup in Philadelphia takes place on Saturday when France returns to face Paraguay in a round-of-16 knockout match (5 p.m., Fox29).

    What’s the weather going to be like for that one? Not as steamy as today, which is expected to again reach over 100 degrees, but yeah, hot.

    Let’s get into it.

    — Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ‘That obviously hurts’

    Phillies pitcher Kyle Backhus reacts after allowing a solo home run to the Pirates’ Nick Gonzales in the ninth inning on Thursday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    On a scorching afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, where the temperature at first pitch was 98 degrees and climbed to triple digits from there, the Phillies dropped the series finale to the Pirates, 6-1.

    However, it was a loss that could’ve ended up worse, as Pittsburgh had plenty of opportunities to run up the score. So what was it? The heat played a role, sure, but the Phillies managed just four hits, while the Pirates rattled off 14.

    Inquirer writer Lochlahn March has more and what’s next as the Phillies prepare to embark on a three-city road trip before the MLB All-Star break.

    All about Jaylen

    The Sixers won’t have to worry about former Celtics star Jaylen Brown taking flight on them anymore, as he was acquired in a free agency trade earlier this week. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    From the fact that the Sixers could have had him over Ben Simmons in the 2016 NBA draft to the notion that he’s had beef with Joel Embiid for calling the big man a flopper, Philly is well acquainted with Jaylen Brown.

    Brown is the latest marquee player in Philly named Jaylen (spelled differently than the Eagles’ QB variety), with a big spotlight as many hope he’s the game-changing presence the Sixers need to get over the hump.

    It’ll be a wait before Sixers fans see him on the court. As we wait for his deal to be made official, get up to speed on Brown and what he brings not just on the court, but off of it.

    If you’re more of a visual person, Inquirer writer Gina Mizell breaks down the Sixers’ trade for Brown.

    New faces in the nest

    Michael Jordan has 78 games of NFL experience, starting games with the Bengals, Panthers, Patriots and Bucs.Ella Hall

    With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.

    From their previous experience to their honest path to a roster spot, we analyze the newcomers trying to make the 53-man roster later this summer, starting right now. Inquirer reporter Ryan Novozinsky takes a look at an offensive lineman and long snapper vying for a roster spot.

    ⚽ Get your soccer fix!

    Join Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald and host Lisa Carlin for Soccer Extra on Gameday Central.Patrick Binkley / Staff

    With the final World Cup game set for Philly, our pop-up streaming show Soccer Extra wraps up this week, looking at the knockout rounds and Philly’s place in all of it on July 4. Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald and host Lisa Carlin take you through it all and what to expect. Watch here.

    Also, just for kicks …

    On this date

    July 3, 2020: Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of its MLB All-Star weekend, including the game at Dodger Stadium, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    ROTEN SOFTERSY

    This player just signed a massive eight-year deal with the Flyers that will begin during the 2027-28 season. Think you know? Take a guess and click here to see if you’re correct.

    What you’re saying about the Sixers

    We asked: Do you think Jaylen Brown will be a good fit with the Sixers? Why or why not?

    David Murphy summed up the Brown deal much better than I can, but yes. The Embiid-George team was not going to win any NBA titles, but with the addition of Brown and Embiid being at least 75% present, I think they can do it. — Everett S.

    Good fit? He’s a great fit and a big improvement over Paul George. — Richard V.

    It’s hard to separate the on-court questions from my elation of seeing the final proof of how thoroughly Joel Embiid and the funky bunch ripped the heart out of the C’s this year. I’ve always seen Brown as the better and, just as importantly, more versatile and flexible of the “Jays,” and indeed, I think he should slide in neatly. I’ll also note that I believe his sour reputation (not to social outspokenness) was a significant factor both in why Boston (more the fanbase) never loved him and why his trade market wasn’t huge (more from an organization standpoint) — which means he’s got the makings of a classic Philly figure. — D.W. Stone

    Jaylen Brown? Wow. How did [Sixers president Mike] Gansey pull this off? Now offload Embiid. — Bill M.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gina Mizell, Lochlahn March, Jackie Spiegel, Ryan Novozinsky, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Anthony R. Wood, Kerith Gabriel, and Owen Hewitt.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Stay cool, Philly. We’re taking a brief break for the holiday weekend, but we will be back in your inboxes next week. — Kerith

  • 🎆 Celebrate the nation’s birthday | Things to do

    🎆 Celebrate the nation’s birthday | Things to do

    You’ve been hearing about America’s semiquincentennial all year, and now the celebration is finally here.

    Flags will fly, marching bands will play, and fireworks will light up the sky this Independence Day weekend.

    Whether you’re looking for patriotic pageantry, concerts, or family fun, it’s shaping up to be a Fourth of July weekend unlike any other.

    Also in this week’s edition:

    — Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Your Independence Day playbook

    Fireworks rise, shortly after midnight, from behind the Art Museum during the New Year’s Eve concert and fireworks display, at the Oval on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. The event, featuring LL COOL J, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone, hard rockers Dorothy, and Technician The DJ was a first for the City of Philadelphia and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Philadelphia and the surrounding region are packed with celebrations, concerts, and fireworks displays.

    Arts intern Morgan Ritter rounded up the best places to watch fireworks across Philadelphia, the suburbs, South Jersey, and the Shore, while I have everything you need to know before heading to the city’s free July 4 concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

    This year’s One Philly: Unity Concert for America features Christina Aguilera, Jill Scott, Will Smith, Meek Mill, The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Seal, and more before the city’s official fireworks spectacular.

    Read our complete guides to Fourth of July fireworks and the Parkway concert.

    The best things to do this week

    The interior of the First Bank of the United States is pictured on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Philadelphia. The bank reopens this week following a $27 million restoration project.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer

    🍿 Grab your popcorn: Free movie days at Philadelphia Film Society continues through Saturday. The lineup includes showings of Mean Girls and Independence Day — oh, so fitting.

    💸 Cha-ching!: Before the New York Stock Exchange was established, Philadelphia was the financial capital of the nation. This week, you can explore that history with the reopening of the First Bank of the United States. It’s open to the public for the first time in 50 years.

    🖼️ A revolutionary time: Stop by the Museum of the American Revolution for guided gallery tours, reenactment performances, printmaking demos, and other fun activities through Sunday.

    🎸 The sounds of freedom: Imagine Benjamin Franklin fronting a rock revolution. That’s the premise of The Sound of America, an electrifying musical that features 23 original songs, a walking tour, and a special remote cameo by Sir Roger Daltrey.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Philly LOVES Stories at Fashion District, Open Streets: Midtown Village, BLACKTRONIKA: Now and Then at Silk City.

    Check out our full list of calendar picks here.

    The biggest America 250 events from now through Independence Day

    Members of the The Mattatuck Drum Band participate in the Salute to America Independence Day Parade, at Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, 2019. JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff PhotographerJESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer

    The city has already been buzzing with activity this summer, and it’s about to get even busier for America’s 250th birthday.

    From soccer to ballet, art to history, features reporter Dugan Arnett rounded up the can’t-miss events happening across Philadelphia and the region through Independence Day. His guide includes the Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square, the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Fan Festival, the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade, Pops on Independence, and dozens more celebrations.

    Read his full America 250 guide here.

    Summer fun this week and beyond

    Mr. Edison, the new restaurant at the Bellevue from Jeffrey Chodorow, in Philadelphia, June 23, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    📽️ Latino film on display: A celebration of Latino filmmakers and creatives continues through Sunday, as part of the annual Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival. The event, now in its 15th year, includes a lineup of feature films, documentaries, shorts, online series, and more visual projects.

    🎭 Dear, theater lovers: Sunday is your last chance to catch the six-time Tony Award winner, Dear Evan Hansen, at Arden Theater. Grab tickets while they last, or miss out on this emotional story about an anxious high schooler forced to confront a harrowing lie.

    🍸 New restaurant opening at the Bellevue: Thomas Edison designed the original lighting inside the Bellevue, so it’s only fitting that the hotel’s newest culinary offering honors the inventor. The newly opened supper club-inspired restaurant, Mr. Edison, is worth exploring.

    🥊 Philly’s true heavyweight champion: While fictional boxer Rocky Balboa has three statues in his honor, Philadelphia’s true undisputed heavyweight champion is finally getting his just due. A 12-foot bronze statue of boxing legend Joe Frazier was unveiled at the foot of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

    Staffer picks

    Here’s a list of the best concerts happening this week.

    Christina Aguilera performs “Cuando Me De la Gana” at the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards at the Mandalay Bay Michelob Ultra Arena on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello / Chris Pizzello/

    🎸 Thursday: Just before the July 4 weekend festivities kick into full gear, Old City will host the Red, White & Blue Music Series that includes 28 local bands and groups spread across 11 museums.

    🎷 Friday: Saxophonist Ikechi Onyenaka will lead the Friday Night Jazz Series at Spruce Street Harbor Park.

    🎤 Saturday: The One Philly: United Concert for America will be a star-studded affair, featuring performances from Christina Aguilera, Jill Scott, Will Smith, Meek Mill and other notable stars.

    🎸 Sunday: Paul Simon is bringing his “A Quiet Celebration” tour to the TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann to close out the celebratory weekend.

    ❓Pop quiz

    What year did the first Independence Day celebration take place in Philadelphia?

    a) July 4, 1776?

    b) July 4, 1777?

    c) July 4, 1780?

    d) July 4, 1781?

    Here’s the answer to last week’s question: When did the Lit Brothers building first open? Answer: 1871

    Ask Earl anything

    I’m starting something new for the newsletter, and I want your participation.

    Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.

    I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.

    Alright, folks! That’s all for this week’s edition of Things to Do. And if you couldn’t tell, it’s a celebratory moment — not only for the city, but for the nation. Enjoy this historical moment to the fullest.

    — Earl Hopkins

    Courtesy of Giphy.comCourtesy of Giphy.com
  • 🌮 Let’s talk ‘Walking Tacos’ | Down the Shore

    🌮 Let’s talk ‘Walking Tacos’ | Down the Shore

    Walk with me.

    You open the door to the rental and let in the roaring summer sun, and you’re fully prepared for a relaxing day on beach: Toy Story-themed towel, Cherry Float Coke Zeros, and a thin layer of suntan spray coating everything in the canvas tote bag.

    But you could really use a snack.

    There’s a lot going on this holiday weekend, and it’s a mess. So the last thing you need is another one.

    What you’re looking for is a classic Jersey Shore treat, but ice cream isn’t built for travel and a slice of pizza has too many variables.

    You need a “Walking Taco.”

    Walking tacos are offered at the Wells Fargo Center.Michael Klein / Staff

    I’m Tommy Rowan, and I’m once again subbing in for Amy S. Rosenberg. I’m a lifelong Jersey Shore-goer who was raised on visits to the Ocean City boardwalk and Wonderland Pier. I spent my teenage years on the Wildwood boardwalk, my 20s in Sea Isle City, and nowadays I have family in North Wildwood. And maybe it’s because I’m within spitting distance of 40, or because places I once loved are being torn down, I find myself wanting to cram in more of everything.

    Which brings us back to the food that moves.

    The “Walking Taco” is for people who want to walk and talk, and who want to fit in more and keep moving.

    It’s a snack-sized bag of Fritos that’s crushed into pieces, garnished with seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, and homemade pico de gallo, and eaten with a plastic spoon.

    It encourages you to get your steps in, but it’s not quite fast food. That’s why they don’t call it a “Running Taco.”

    It’s best eaten on the walk to the beach, but if you’re a “save for later” kind of person, it still works: The bag is self-contained, and yet it’s protected from splashes of sand and saltwater. And it’s an easy disposal: Just crush the bag into a ball and toss it in a trash can.

    It’s salty and crunchy and cheesy, but it’s not a true overindulgence.

    A cheeky hot dog stand in Sea Isle City has unfound claims to “the original,” but the product can be found up and down the Philly-favored beach towns between Atlantic City and Cape May — and many swap out Fritos for Doritos.

    And, honestly, what better way to ring in the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence than with a uniquely American product: a nonrecyclable bag of ultraprocessed salty particles, topped with chemically altered cheese strings, covered in oily animal fat, and topped with what can only be described as a “modern interpretation” of pico de gallo.

    It’s America in a fun-size.

    📮 What’s your favorite beach snack? And how do you feel about the “Walking Taco?” What are you eating this holiday weekend? Let me know what you think by replying to this email, and your most interesting responses may end up in a future newsletter. Have ideas or news tips about the Shore or this newsletter? Send them here.

    😡 We’re in for a dangerously hot holiday weekend. Remember to hydrate.

    — Tommy Rowan (🐦 Tweet me at @tommyrowan. 📧 Email me here.)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Shore talk

    🏖️ Pumped up. Sand-pumping operations are expected to begin next week in Ocean City, while replenishment of the Seven Mile Island Beaches will reportedly begin toward the end of the summer. Avalon’s beaches are up first, with work scheduled to start in mid-August, followed by Stone Harbor in October.

    🛵 Take a number. A reminder that New Jersey is now taking appointments for e-riders to register their e-bikes, per a new state law (which doesn’t seem to affect visitors from Pennsylvania). We have a full look at the confusing law here.

    🎃 Halloween in July? Spirit Halloween is getting a head start on the spooky season and listing seasonal job openings on its website, including for pop-up stores at the Shore in May’s Landing, Rio Grande, and Egg Harbor Township.

    🗳️ The mayor is in. For a fifth time, Jay Gillian was sworn in as mayor of Ocean City. He won reelection in May.

    🏫 Stretching out. Dominique Dawes, a former Olympian who founded a chain of gymnastics schools, is planning to open a new location in South Jersey this fall. The new school is part of the former gold medalist’s expansion into the greater Philly region.

    What to eat/What to do

    🎆 Happy Fourth of July weekend! Check out this handy guide to the fireworks shows and festive celebrations happening across the region.

    🇺🇸 The Declaration. Two days before the country’s 250th anniversary, on July 2, Avalon is hosting a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. And then a few days after, on July 8, Cape May is planning its own public reading and reenactment. Both are worth checking out.

    👻🦀 Ghost crabs! Every Thursday between 8 and 9 p.m., the Nature Center hosts a ghost crab hunt on the beaches of Cape May. So grab a flashlight and watch the translucent crustaceans scurry in the spotlight. Preregistration is required.

    🌭 Hot Dog Tommy’s in Cape May. No. 1, fantastic name. No notes. And No. 2, helluva chili cheese dog.

    🎥 Beach movies. Catching a flick outdoors at the Shore is underrated. Ocean air, salty breezes, and overpriced ice cream cones coalesce to create the most perfect conditions to take in a picture. Cape May and Margate show movies on the beach, Sea Isle utilizes the Band Shell in Excursion Park, and Wildwood hosts at Byrne Plaza.

    🧢 Card show. If you’re looking for an escape from the heat this weekend, the Sports Card, Toy, Comic & Collectibles Show will be trading in childhood treasures and autographed memorabilia at the Wildwoods Convention Center on the boardwalk.

    🎸 Free tunes in Atlantic City. On Wednesday, Bayou Blues guitarist-vocalist Tab Benoit is playing Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk, a New Orleans-themed concert series at Kennedy Plaza. The free show starts at 7 p.m.

    🥡 Delicious takeout. Craig LaBan is a big fan of the General Tso’s at China Sea of Absecon. He went inland for his latest list of places to eat at the Shore.

    Shore snapshot

    Jason Kelce takes a selfie with fans at his annual fundraiser in Sea Isle City.Courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles

    After starting last year’s fundraiser with tear-away shorts and a Speedo, Jason Kelce was comparatively reserved this year for his entrance at his and wife Kylie Kelce‘s sixth annual “Shore Birds” event at the Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City. The event benefits the Eagles Autism Foundation.

    Vocab lesson

    Semiquincentennial (noun)

    [semi-QUINN-cen-ten-knee-all]

    The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

    I hope the next milestone after the Semiquincentennial is easier to pronounce and simpler to spell.

    🧠 Trivia time

    On June 27, 1958, this civil rights leader addressed a convention of Quakers in Cape May in a little remembered episode in this cultural icon’s extraordinary life.

    A. Nelson Mandela

    B. Thurgood Marshall

    C. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

    D. Gloria Steinem

    If you think you know the answer, click on this story to find out.

    Your Shore memory

    I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Wonderland Pier and the unmistakable value boardwalk rides bring to the Jersey Shore, which is what made Joseph Farley’s recent submission jump out.

    The station wagon seemed to bulge like in a Willie the Worm cartoon; where endless hordes of Mickey Mouse types invade a building. Our family of ten filled the seats with the baby on mom’s lap. It was 1955, the tires were near bald and Dad kept a gallon of water handy to feed the radiator should it geyser in heavy traffic. We left Cheltenham, PA for Wildwood already singing, “On the Way to Cape May.” My pockets bulged with the contents of my piggy bank, my life’s savings. It was a six-hour trip, four of them spent in Dorothy, a town on the Tuckahoe Road, enjoying lunch while Dad made repairs to the car.

    That night I choose to ride the “Salt & Pepper Shaker” on Morey’s Pier; a scary ride that took you into the stars. At the top, it flipped upside-down. All the coins in my pockets fell out, clanking off the girders to oblivion. This broke ten-year old, turned moocher, still had a glorious vacation. I returned home brown as a berry with a tale that became family lure, a “feel sorry for dad story” that still brings sympathetic sighs every time I tell it.

    Send us your Shore memory in 200 words! Tell us how the Shore taps into something deep for you, and we will publish them in this space during the summer.

    ✌️ That should do it. Amy’s back from vacation next week, so I’ll see ya at the rest stops.

    — Tommy

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • South Jersey’s budget winners and losers | Inquirer South Jersey

    South Jersey’s budget winners and losers | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey.

    Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday signed the highest budget in state history at $60.7 billion. Some South Jersey entities will benefit, while others — including high-income seniors — are losing out.

    And three new spots are entering the local restaurant scene this month.

    Plus, 31 people accused of running a drug ring in Camden County were arrested, and more news of the day.

    — Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    💰 You win some, you lose some

    The city of Camden and the county will benefit from a $9 million influx for a county-run program to demolish dangerous or unstable properties in the city.

    Rowan University ended up with $135 million — less than last year but more than the $125 million Gov. Sherrill originally proposed. In the end, it received enough money to reverse possible cuts.

    And high-income seniors will lose their claim to the Stay NJ property tax program. Those who earn between $200,000 and $500,000 will no longer qualify.

    The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider details more winners and losers of the state budget.

    New month, new food options

    Three new restaurants are coming to South Jersey this month:

    🍽️ Banjara Indian Bistro is expected to open soon in Sicklerville after it passes final inspections. Vaneet Chopra, whose family owns Cross Culture in Haddonfield, is behind the eatery.

    🍽️ Home Team Tavern in Mount Ephraim aims to be a neighborhood sports pub with a menu of pizzas, burgers, and other game-day essentials.

    🍽️ Thirsty Turtle Tavern in Barrington opened this week at the former Chuck Lager, as noted in Monday’s newsletter. The new spot has an updated dining room, an open kitchen, a sushi station, and more.

    For more openings in the greater Philly area, reporter Michael Klein has the rundown.

    What to know today

    🗓️ The best things to do this week

    Mount Laurel’s Fourth of July Fireworks: Mount Laurel’s Independence Day is also its First Responders Night. Free features include bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, glitter tattoos, and sand art. There also will be a variety of food trucks. ⏰ Thursday, July 2 💵 Pay-as-you-go 📍 Laurel Acres Park, 1045 S. Church St., Mount Laurel

    Medford’s Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display: Enjoy various food and merchandise vendors, children’s games, live music, and a professional fireworks show. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, gates open at 6 p.m. 💵 Pay-as-you-go 📍 Freedom Park, 86 Union St., Medford

    Downtown Haddonfield’s Borough Block Party & Drone Show: Peruse food trucks, inflatables, games, and community exhibits while listening to live entertainment. Get your face painted before finishing the evening with a drone show. ⏰ Friday, July 3, 5-9 p.m. 💵 Pay-as-you-go 📍 Kings Highway from Haddon Avenue to the PATCO bridge

    Check out The Inquirer’s full list of the Philly area’s Fourth of July fireworks.

    See more general event listings in South Jersey here.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Battleship New Jersey is 877 feet long and weighs how many tons?

    A) 36,000

    B) 38,600

    C) 45,000

    D) 4

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🏁 Watching: NASCAR as South Jersey native Lavar Scott breaks barriers.

    🥯 Craving: A bagel with cream cheese from Westmont Bagels.

    ❌ Avoiding: The heat (as much as possible) this week.

    Enjoy your holiday weekend. There won’t be a newsletter tomorrow in observance of the Fourth of July, but I’ll be back in your inbox Monday. See you then! ☀️

    Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter noted the incorrect date for when the construction of the Ben Franklin Bridge began. The correct date is Jan. 6, 1922.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Affordable homes for historic property | Real Estate Newsletter

    Affordable homes for historic property | Real Estate Newsletter

    A unique — and formerly crumbling — historic property in North Philly is poised for new life.

    The twin mansion on the 2200 block of West Tioga Street is almost 130 years old. The Conkling-Armstrong Terra Cotta Co. had the building constructed near its factory to show off its products to potential customers: late-19th-century developers and architects. Elaborate details and decorations make it one of a kind.

    But the building has been vacant for a while and fell into disrepair. Now, a local developer has big plans to reimagine it.

    Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s edition:

    — Michaelle Bond

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    One-of-a-kind opportunity

    The Conkling-Armstrong Houses weren’t safe to walk through when Brian Wise, an affordable housing developer, got a hold of them. He’s since spent $1 million to lay the groundwork for redevelopment.

    His plan is to build 12 apartments in each of the roughly 5,000-square-foot houses that make up the twin mansion. And he wants to build two additions in the back to fit more apartments.

    Wise plans for most of the homes to go to low-income tenants who use Philadelphia Housing Authority vouchers to help pay their rent.

    Philly’s zoning board gave Wise the green light last month, but he still needs approvals from the Philadelphia Historical Commission.

    Keep reading to learn more about the developer’s plans for the site and the historical legacy of the company behind the Conkling-Armstrong house.

    Taking in the views

    Beautiful views come at a premium at the Shore. And Shore homeowners want to make sure they’re getting the most out of their investment.

    As Laura Glantz, partner at a Jenkintown-based architecture firm, told my colleague, “When a view is one of a property’s greatest assets, every design decision should work to celebrate and preserve it.”

    When Katie and Randy Zakreski rebuilt their home in Strathmere, they wanted to optimize views of the ocean on one side and the bay on the other.

    That meant installing as many windows and glass doors as possible on every floor. They don’t mind not having much wall space for pictures, since the views act as dynamic wall furnishings.

    Views dictated the layout of their home inside and out. They have five exterior decks from which to look around.

    Read on to find out how owners of Shore homes are maximizing their views inside and outside.

    📮Did you buy a home for the views? Email me to show us what you see.

    The latest news to pay attention to

    Home tour: Wild in Schwenksville

    Coming up the driveway of this Schwenksville home, you can’t really see the house. All that’s visible is solar panels on the roof, peeking out from behind trees and a meadow.

    Homeowners Marla Hexter and Larry Cohen take caring for the environment seriously. They’ve got two electric vehicles, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and those solar panels.

    They also have two wildflower meadows in their front yard. The meadows replaced their typical lawn and extend from their frog pond to the curb. They’re beacons for admiring neighbors, some of whom ask for tips for creating their own meadows.

    The wildflowers attract pollinating insects and 17 bird species.

    Hexter and Cohen grow vegetables and added a house specifically to welcome bats.

    Peek inside this wild piece of Schwenksville.

    📷 Photo quiz

    Do you know the location this photo shows?

    📮 If you think you do, email me back.

    Last week’s quiz featured a photo taken near the Independence Seaport Museum at the Penn’s Landing Marina.

    Shoutout to Bruce R. and Merrily T. for knowing that.

    ―

    Does your town let you keep chickens in your backyard? Collingswood is one of the local places that ban the animals.

    Some residents there have been fighting for years to have chickens and the fresh eggs they lay. But they’ve got reason to hope that this year will be different.

    Try to stay cool and enjoy the rest of your week.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 🇺🇸 Touring incomplete history | Morning Newsletter

    Happy John Adams Day, Philly. And buckle up: It’s going to be hotter than Satan’s left sock.

    This holiday weekend, tourists are coming from far and wide to visit the city and to tour Independence National Historical Park. But at the embattled President’s House Site tourists will not be seeing the complete version of history. So we asked them what they thought.

    And heading into this historically hot weekend, we looked at mid-summer temperature changes throughout the years and learned that July in Philly has become 4.4 degrees hotter since 1940 on average.

    Plus, we missed a link to the top story in yesterday’s newsletter about how different this year’s July Fourth celebration will look — and how much more it will cost taxpayers. You can read that story here.

    — Tommy Rowan (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    An incomplete version of history

    An influx of tourists visiting Philadelphia in the lead-up to the city’s Semiquincentennial festivities find themselves confronted with large gaps of brick wall at the President’s House site, where exhibits about slavery were removed by order of President Donald Trump.

    The gaps are evidence of the partisan battle playing out over how to tell the complicated story of America’s founding.

    Ahead of the 250th, both Philadelphians who have been engaged in the fight to protect historical exhibits, and tourists who have wandered through the President’s House for the first time, have lamented the Trump administration’s changes to the exhibit, which was largely dismantled by the administration earlier this year.

    Tourists told The Inquirer that the missing panels, such as those that discuss the brutality of slavery, do a significant disservice to understanding the full picture — even the ugly parts — of U.S. history.

    Read the full story from reporters Fallon Roth and Andrea Padilla.

    July in Philly is much warmer

    Over the past 85 years, the average July temperature in Philadelphia has risen 4.4 degrees, according to an analysis of historical weather data.

    Philadelphians sweated through Julys in the 1940s, brooding over World War II as temperatures averaged in the mid-to-upper 70s, including nighttime lows.

    But today, we swelter under average July temperatures of around 80 degrees — and those nighttimes have become warmer.

    Reporter Frank Kummer has the full story.

    What you should know today

    • Last summer, police scoured the basement of the crumbling Olney house at the center of a sprawling investigation into the disappearance of at least two women. But last year, drugs — not missing women — were their focus, despite pleas from concerned relatives.
    • Mayor Cherelle L. Parker defended the city’s decision to go ahead with its upcoming seven-hour outdoor July Fourth concert amid concerns over the nearly 100-degree forecast and revelations that the event will cost taxpayers millions more than in years past.
    • Peco and its workers union, IBEW Local 614, resumed bargaining for a new contract Wednesday morning, with three days to go before a strike deadline.
    • Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro will attend 250th celebrations across Philly in the coming days, and he said he plans to share his optimism for America’s future amid deep concerns that President Donald Trump has led the nation astray from its founders’ design.
    • Bucks County approved its first paid parental leave policy. Full-time employees with at least one year of service will now be able to take up to eight weeks of consecutive leave.
    • A developer has plans to turn a church at South 42nd and Pine Streets into 35 apartments, some with affordable rents.
    • The 76ers have entered the summer of blockbuster trades, agreeing to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks.

    Quote of the day

    In 1978, a professional soccer team launched in Philly with rock star owners.

    Peter Frampton, Paul Simon, and Rick Wakeman of Yes — and rock executives like Rolling Stones manager Peter Rudge and music agent Frank Barsalona — had stakes in the Philadelphia Fury of the North American Soccer League.

    But the Fury couldn’t make soccer happen in Philly until the Union arrived in 2010. Reporter Matt Breen has the full story.

    🧠 Trivia time

    This Founding Father believed in Philadelphia’s prosperity and insisted that the Federal Bank be headquartered in the city.

    A) Benjamin Franklin

    B) James Madison

    C) John Jay

    D) Alexander Hamilton

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🍽️ Noting. We knew that a list of 76 iconic Philadelphia foods would leave something out. After hearing from readers — and revisiting a few of our own debates — we had to mention six items that deserve a place in the city’s culinary canon.

    🍸 Drinking. The water ice martini, garnished with a pretzel stick, has the energy of a South Philly summer distilled into a cocktail.

    🎡 Considering. Columnist Jenice Armstrong traveled to Washington, D.C., to check out President Trump’s “America’s Great State Fair.” She left underwhelmed.

    🏀 Waving goodbye to. Kelly Oubre is leaving the 76ers. He reportedly agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Indiana Pacers.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: This singer has been recruiting Philly area “soldiers” for her concert on the Fourth of July.

    ACTS AIRING HAULIER

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Rich and Lucie Lipko, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Barrington. A Tennessee-based packaging company is closing its plant in the Camden County borough.

    Photo of the day

    Attendees relax and enjoy their free hoagies at Independence Mall.Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    Philly’s city-recognized hoagie holiday — yes, Philly really has one — returned to Independence Mall on Wednesday, bringing 30,000 six-inch Wawa turkey Shortis to hungry — and overheated — residents.

    👋 Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Paola Pérez has you covered tomorrow.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.