Despite her Philly sounding surname, award winning author Deesha Philyaw is not a Philadelphian — yet.
Philyaw, whose first book The Secret Life of Church Ladies(West Virginia University Press) won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction and was a finalist in 2020 for the National Book Award for Fiction, is planning to move to the City of Brotherly Love next spring.
Over the years she’s spent a fair share of weekends in the city visiting restaurants, shopping haunts, and art museums. Philly friends keep her up on the latest happenings. She already has plans to connect with the women and nonbinary literary group The Claw when she moves to town. And she’s on the BlackStar Film Festival’s host committee for its forthcoming gala.
And Philadelphia, she noted, is extra special to her because it is home to the preeminent Black church, Mother Bethel AME.
There is a lot of history here.
The highly anticipated debut novel ‘The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman” by Deesha Philyaw was released Sept. 29. Philyaw appear at a book signing on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Center City Barnes & Nobles.HarperCollins/Mariner Books
Philyaw grew up in the Black church and respects its storied past. Still, she says she doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the dogma, patriarchy, and misogynoir.
That was as apparent in The Secret Life of Church Ladies as it is in her latest novel The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman(HarperCollins, Mariner Books). True Confessions centers on the extravagant life of Atlanta first ladyScharisse Freeman as she tries to fit in with other first ladies in the mega church world. Just as she’s starting to fit in with the catty group, a sex scandal erupts. Scharrise is treated like a pariah and readers are left wondering how such cruelty can be perpetuated in His name.
“The stories in Church Ladies and True Confessions are not a middle finger to the church or its true believers,” Philyaw said. “They do, however, point out where the institutions have failed and hurt Black people, particularly Black women and queer folks. I don’t feel like I need to protect the church. That has been the problem. In doing so, we look the other way, remain silent, and down play these things.”
Philyaw, a mom of two who is queer, lived in Pittsburgh for 25 years before moving to Oxford, Miss. where she served as the 2022-2023 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi before settling in Miami. She’ll be in town on Monday for a talk at Barnes & Nobles and in between book signing and book pedaling, she’ll be taking in the scene of her next homebase.
This is her idea of a perfect Philly Day.
One of Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast’s six overnight suites, The Blue Note, named after The Sound of Philadelphia’s most iconic group’s Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes.Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast
6:30 a.m.
I’m a woman of a certain age so I’m both an early bird and a night owl. On a wonderful morning, I’d wake up at Akwaaba, the West Philly bed-and-breakfast owned by Monique Greenwood. It’s so beautiful. I’d enjoy a lazy morning that would include having a breakfast of oatmeal without fruit. (Something about fruit and oatmeal irks me.) I’d also have some herbal tea and honey. I’m not a coffee girl.
Inside of the Barnes Foundation’s galleries. The Barnes Foundation
10 a.m.
I would check out one of the private collection tours at the Barnes. I really enjoy the art. They always have such great curated exhibitions like [Maori Karmael Holmes and James Claiborne’s] “Freedom Dreams.” On a perfect Philly day, that exhibit would still be open.
The oxtail cheesesteak from the Taste Cheesesteak Bar in Center City on Friday, June 14, 2024.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Noon
I’d have lunch at Logan Square’s Taste CheesesteakBar for the oxtail cheesesteak. Then maybe I’d visit the BlackStar film offices in the Bok Building, and definitely catch a movie if the festival was going on.
Interior of Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books.ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer
I still mask indoors so Sally in Rittenhouse Square is one of the few places where I can eat outdoors year round. My friend Tre Johnson took me there a few years ago when I was in town for the AWP Conference (the Association of Writers and Writing Programs). It was in March and they had heated seats. I’d start with the Japanese eggplant, move on to the fennel sausage pizza and I’d have to get that sangarita
The Philadelphia Parkway Central Library on Logan Square.
7:30 p.m.
I’d end the night at a talk and book signing at the Free Library of Philadelphia. These are great events for writers and readers. There is so much to pick from.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Deesha Philyaw will appear Monday, Oct. 5 for a reading, book signing and live recording of Barnes & Nobles Poured Over podcast hosted by Miwa Messer. The event starts at 6 p.m. Barnes & Nobles Philadelphia, 1708 Chestnut Street, at 6 p.m. Tickets include the cost of the book are $34.56. Ticket information here.
Hey there! Are you new to Love at First Bite? If so, click the arrow at the top of the page to check out episode one.
If you’re coming back for more, settle in because things are heating up in the pods.
This episode focuses on the connections building between Amy’s Pastelillos, Gilda, Out West, Doro Bet and Scampi. With some fun cameos by Rice & Sambal, Càphê Roasters, Ocho Supper Club, Pine Street Grill, and Emei. Plus, a tease for episode three featuring a hilarious convo between Paffuto and Gilda that has us a little concerned for Gilda’s future collab partner.
Check out the episode and then weigh in on this week’s poll.
Who should Amy’s Pastelillos collab with?
Thanks for voting
In this episode the chefs discuss which foods they enjoy working with most. Amy’s Pastellilos said plantains, Scampi said shrimp, prawns and lobster and Out West said lamb (with a few shout outs for their famous lamb scrapple).
Which chef’s answer are you vibing with most?
We’ll be back with episode three on October 5.
Want to taste what these chefs are cooking up?
Limited tickets are available for The Inquirer’s second ever Food Fest. Join us on Nov. 14, 2026, 11 a.m. for one day to taste it all.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Have you ever courted someone who already knows you? It can be fun to watch their surprise at the tone change in the relationship. It’s exciting when relationships defy prediction.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Have you ever purposely made someone miss you? Life sometimes puts time and distance between people, but it’s different when you make this happen consciously. You’ll better understand the bond. You’ll find out what the relationship is made of.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Have you ever recreated a familiar dynamic with the roles reversed? A glimpse into the other person’s pressures, thrills, fears and wins will have you navigating your side of things with more insight.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Have you ever revisited an old pleasure to see whether it still delivers? Return to what you once loved together — maybe a restaurant, song or game. By going to the past, you’ll learn about the current state of the relationship.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Have you ever asked what your jealousy thinks it is protecting? Beneath its wild conclusions may be a wish for reassurance that the relationship with you is special. Jealousy can reveal what you want before you’re fully aware of it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Have you ever spent time apart just for the pleasure of reuniting? A little separation gives each person fresh material so when you come back together you have something new to exchange.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Have you ever traded secrets with someone you love? Each person chooses one revelation and offers it without demanding an equal degree of scandal. The thrill lies in being trusted with private information and learning there’s still much to know.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Have you ever studied the younger version of someone you love? Look through old photographs, play their former favorite songs and ask what once consumed them. Meeting the person they used to be can explain much about the person beside you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Have you ever stopped performing one of the qualities that helped attract someone? Retire the wit. Withhold a bit of competence. Dial back the glamour. Release the job of fascinating them and let another part of you take over.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Have you ever asked, “What do you miss about me when we’re not together?” It’s a question best aimed at those with a deep appreciation for the details. You might be surprised what they notice.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Have you ever tried to feel another person through objects? A sweater, key or borrowed book can hold the energy. Giving it back may end the waiting, change its meaning or clear space for another story.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Have you ever counted those subtle affectionate gestures, such as when someone fills your water glass or remembers what you like? Some of the strongest evidence of love is in gestures as small as making a plate for you at the party.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 3). You’re in your Year of Reverse Engineering when you simplify your path to the goal by beginning with the end in mind. Your brilliance really shines as you pinpoint the exact moves that will produce the desired result. More highlights: You let yourself be served and honored, as foreign as this may feel, and you’ll find that you can help people from this new position. There’s a calm assuredness around money and love. Aquarius and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 49, 2, 21, 6 and 17.
DEAR ABBY: All members of my family are white. When my children were smaller, an incident occurred at a family holiday. One relative has a history of making racist comments, so this time we told everyone that if it happened again, we would leave. He did, and we left. My husband raised his voice at that person and made polite excuses to everyone else about leaving early. Then we all stood up from the table, packed our things and drove two hours home instead of spending the night as originally planned.
I will not repeat to you the comments that were made, but they were not microaggressions or subtle remarks. They were disgusting and violent, and I refuse to tolerate it. However, everyone else who was there disagreed with us. They said my husband ruined a perfectly nice family dinner and should apologize to keep the peace. I have told them repeatedly that they should apologize to us for making us stand up alone. They keep calling intervention-style family meetings to confront us about our behavior and say we need to repair the rift my husband caused. Were we out of line?
— FAMILY FRICTION
DEAR FAMILY FRICTION: That dinner was far from “perfectly nice.” Your husband was not out of line, and I applaud you for taking a stand. It’s too easy to downplay this kind of behavior for the sake of family harmony. By acting as a willing audience, your extended family became complicit in the hate speech. Unless they promise it will never happen again, I see no reason for you to attend any future gatherings with this questionable crowd.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: My siblings and I have a niece and nephew, our late sister’s children, both in their 40s. The niece is grounded, level-headed, and emotionally and intellectually strong. The nephew used to be like that but now can be a lot more sensitive and overly emotional and has a somewhat controlling wife.
Our problem is that months and months, sometimes years, go by without hearing anything from them. Our nephew doesn’t return phone calls in general, but if we reach out when there’s a death or a hospitalization in the family, the niece processes things normally. Our nephew turns into a bowl of emotional jelly. He cries and is emotionally draining when we all need to pull together for someone else. When we explain that we can make time for him but that he needs to answer our calls or return them, he promises to do so but never follows through. His mental health is not good (and perhaps his wife isolates him), but we are at our wits’ end. How do we deal with this behavior?
— EXASPERATED UNCLE IN OHIO
DEAR UNCLE: This is the pattern your troubled nephew has established, and it isn’t likely to change. Deal with his emotionally draining behavior by making sure your niece is the one who gives him the news he needs to have. If he calls you for one of those draining conversations, limit the length and do not allow him to sap you.
EVANSTON, Ill. — That’s one way to open an $875 million stadium.
Northwestern’s first game in its new Ryan Field couldn’t have gone much better, as it beat Penn State, 34-13, thanks to incredible performances from running backs Joseph Himon II and Caleb Komolafe.
The Nittany Lions’ run game recorded just 48 yards, and quarterback Rocco Becht struggled against another Big Ten opponent. The Wildcats have now beaten Penn State in back-to-back seasons.
“I want to give Northwestern a ton of credit because they played the game, the style of game, that obviously we would like to play,” coach Matt Campbell said. “They really beat us where it was really hard to find the rhythm on both sides of the football. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”
Running amok
After Penn State (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) found some momentum and got on the board — on an 8-yard touchdown run by Carson Hansen with 10 minutes, 39 seconds left in the second quarter to cut Penn State’s deficit to 10-7 — Northwestern’s first play on its next drive was a 36-yard rush. Two plays later, the Wildcats (3-1, 1-1) scored on a 38-yard rushing touchdown by Himon.
At one point, Himon was averaging 30.7 yards per carry, and, by the end, Northwestern averaged 7.5 yards per attempt.
Part of that rushing success was because of ineffective tackling by the Nittany Lions — notably linebacker Kooper Ebel, who had multiple missed tackles that allowed the Wildcats to get past the first-down marker.
“There were a lot of missed tackles [Friday night], and however that happened and why that happened, we’re going to have to evaluate and have a better answer as we come back next week,” Campbell said. “I think that the thing from my end of it is that part is frustrating because we tackled really well in the first four games of the season.”
Additionally, Northwestern had nine runs of 15-plus yards and finished with 413 rushing yards after recording just 32 against Indiana last weekend.
On top of all the yardage, all four of Northwestern’s touchdowns came on the ground. Quarterback Aidan Chiles had one, a 2-yard run in the first quarter, while Himon and Komolafe scored the other three in the second and third.
Komolafe had 188 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, while Himon finished with 10 carries for 162 yards and two scores.
Northwestern running back Joseph Himon II (6) recorded 162 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns.Melissa Tamez
Becht’s struggles continue
Becht had his best start to a season during Penn State’s first three games. But like the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, the Iowa State transfer looked like a shell of himself against Northwestern.
The senior had multiple throws behind the sticks on third downs and some questionable keepers en route to 224 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
In two Big Ten games this year, Becht has one passing touchdown after having nine in during the nonconference slate. He has had multiple passes get deflected or tipped in both those games, two of which have led to interceptions.
“He’s played Iowa for three years straight, so the Big Ten is not a problem,” wide receiver Chase Sowell said. “I know what he’s capable of, and I know how much he cares about us, and I know how much he cares about this place.”
With his team down, 31-7 in the fourth quarter, Becht connected with Sowell on a 16-yard touchdown, but he also missed multiple big opportunities. That includes when he overthrew a likely touchdown to Zay Robinson and didn’t see a wide-open Sowell in the second quarter and later threw it over tight end Andrew Rappleyea’s head on a third down. Sowell was the Nittany Lions’ leading receiver with five catches for 68 yards.
Up next
Penn State returns home for its annual White Out game seeking its first conference win of the season. The Nittany Lions will face Southern Cal on Oct. 10 (7:30 p.m., NBC10).
Nearly two centuries after Jane Eyre first defied the conventions of Victorian England, China is requiring a new generation of teenagers to read her story.
The British classic has long been popular in China and was already recommended reading for schoolchildren. But this fall, ninth-grade students across the country are being required to read the novel in full, according to Chinese state media. One report in an official newspaper held it up as an antimaterialistic love story that young people could learn from.
The book, in which the young orphan Jane Eyre works as a governess in the household of the wealthy but elusive Mr. Rochester, is widely celebrated in China for its themes of independence and equality between women and men.
A Chinese translation appeared as early as 1925, and there have since been numerous translations and adaptations for stage and screen. A British film adaptation was shown in Chinese theaters in 1979, just a few years after the end of the Cultural Revolution, as China was reopening to foreign culture.
Ping Zhu, a literature professor at the University of California, San Diego, who researches Chinese feminism and literature, said the novel is compatible with the Chinese government’s vision of women’s equality — one that can coexist with traditional gender roles and the heterosexual nuclear family. Its inclusion in the ninth grade textbook comes as China struggles with population decline and the government encourages young people to marry and have children, she said.
“Jane Eyre is about an independent woman, but she’s not too outrageous in her challenge of patriarchal power,” Zhu said. By the end of the novel, Jane has married Mr. Rochester and had a child. “All these things are what the Chinese government wants the younger generation to do,” Zhu said.
Published by Charlotte Brontë in Britain in 1847, Jane Eyre was striking for its depiction of a poor young woman insisting on her independence, dignity, and equality in a society in which women — particularly married women — had severely limited legal and economic autonomy.
The novel has long been celebrated in China for its feminist themes, with state media often quoting Jane’s declaration to Mr. Rochester: “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart!”
Jane Eyre was progressive in its 19th century context, but some contemporary feminists would view its idea of liberation as limited, Zhu said.
The kind of feminism depicted in the novel has long been supported by the Chinese Communist Party, Zhu said. It is at odds with how the party sees more modern kinds of feminism, like the #MeToo movement, she added, “or the kind of feminism that teaches women to not marry and not have children — that is a feminism they cannot accept at all.”
In recent years, the Chinese government has restricted some other portrayals of romance and relationships.
Authorities have detained dozens of writers of Boys’ Love, a genre of gay romance novels written largely by and for straight women, that state media said could shape young readers’ ideas about sexuality.
Regulators have also sought to rein in a popular genre of micro-dramas about wealthy executives falling in love with less privileged people, urging creators to avoid glorifying marriages to powerful and wealthy people.
State media has suggested that novels like Jane Eyre offer young readers an alternative to what they call superficial love stories. An article in Beijing Daily, an official Chinese Communist Party publication, argued that teaching literary classics like Jane Eyre could help children “establish a more balanced value system.”
Chinese readers have long found their own meanings in Jane’s story.
Vicky Li, 46, read Jane Eyre when she was young and saw something of herself in its hero. Years later, she said, she shared the novel with her daughters, now 13 and 15, because she wanted them to become independent and courageous.
Li said she was happy to see the novel included in the textbook, even if some might think Jane did not embody the modern idea of a strong woman. “Given the historical context in which she lived, the choices she made were truly groundbreaking — a profound act of defiance,” she said.
The novel itself complicates the idea that Jane ultimately submits to convention. She leaves Mr. Rochester rather than become his mistress and returns only after inheriting a fortune. Mr. Rochester has lost his estate and his sight, dramatically altering the balance of power.
Wang Sirui, 30, pointed to Jane’s refusal to become a mistress — even if it meant starving to death — as a key moment that showed the character’s commitment to independence.
“The core of the work lies in the message that a woman must make choices based on her own will and values, rather than succumbing to various temptations,” said Wang, who first read the book when she was 13.
Zhu said Chinese authorities may ultimately have limited control over what messages young people take from Jane Eyre.
“Literary works, especially these great literary works, they’re always very rich, and they’re open to millions of ways of interpretation,” she said.
TEMPE, Ariz. — It’s understandable that the U.S. men’s soccer team had other things to think about for a while as it built toward the privilege of a World Cup on home soil.
Now that the summer has passed, the program can turn its attention back to things it traditionally has focused on.
The Americans will return to the Concacaf Nations League in next month’s quarterfinals and hope to reach March’s final four. Next summer brings the biennial Gold Cup, the official crowning of the continent’s top team.
Along with renewing old acquaintances, the U.S. is returning to tournaments it failed to win last year. The Nations League was an especially bad failure: losses to Panama in the semifinals and Canada in the third-place game led to manager Mauricio Pochettino tearing down a complacent squad.
Mauricio Pochettino (right) during Friday’s U.S. practice in Phoenix.Jonathan Tannenwald
But before those competitions, there will be what Pochettino likes to call “nonofficial” matchups with the U.S.’s two biggest rivals: Mexico on Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. (10 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62), and Canada on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn. (8 p.m., TNT, Universo).
The first matchup is the bigger of the two, with all due respect to the Canucks and fiery Wisconsin-born manager Jesse Marsch. Even he knows that U.S.-Mexico is the continent’s most famous clash.
El Tri is also the most common opponent the U.S. has faced, with 92 previous meetings dating back to 1934. But it’s been 15 months since the last meeting, matching the longest gap in a decade and a half.
The absence hasn’t really made hearts grow fonder. It has been evident, though, since a new generation of American players is set for an initiation.
Cavan Sullivan (center) could be in line for his first game against Mexico with the senior U.S. national team.Jonathan Tannenwald
“Every young player that’s coming to camp has watched these games growing up, I’m sure of it,” said veteran midfielder Tyler Adams, who this week regained the U.S. team’s captaincy. “They understand what these games are like and what they need to do to be able to have an impact on it. But at the same time, it’s an opportunity for them to get thrown into the deep end as well and really get their feet wet.”
That will include facing a pro-Mexico crowd, as typically is the case when the teams meet in friendlies. Over 60,000 tickets have been sold at the 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
“It’s about [helping] to build our character, if we have some adversity — for that group, it’s going to be good,” Pochettino said. “I celebrate this, to have this type of game to play in a difficult atmosphere, and I think that for sure is going to help for the future.”
Right-flank playmaker Sergiño Dest was introduced to the rivalry in a 2019 friendly in which the U.S. was blown out in the Meadowlands. Two years later, he helped the Americans win an epic Nations League final, the first of three straight titles in the tournament.
“These games, I feel like it’s the real culture and the real passion of football,” he said. “Playing with America against Mexico is one of the best games here, and it’s going to be a tough game.”
Mexico snapped the U.S.’s streak last year, though the Americans did it to themselves just as much. Four months later, El Tri won the Gold Cup final against an American squad that lacked many top players but was full of controversy: Christian Pulisic’s withdrawal, the Club World Cup running consecutively, and Pochettino’s benchings.
Since then, Mexico has stood alone atop the podium, owning all five Concacaf men’s titles: the Nations League, the Gold Cup, and the under-20, under-17, and under-15 championships.
Adams admitted that the team hasn’t talked about the big picture much, as there’s enough on the collective plate during this busy window of friendlies. But he said it is worth discussing.
Tyler Adams (third from right) with his teammates at Friday’s practice.Jonathan Tannenwald
“Football swings back and forth and [has] different momentum, and you go through phases and rebuilding periods and all these different periods — but that doesn’t take away from the rivalry of what this game is and how important it is for us to win,” Adams said. “We obviously want it to swing back in our favor, but that starts without performance. We know that if we perform at a high level, and we do the things that we’re supposed to in the right way, that we obviously can, but it’s a difficult game, and we need to make sure that we go out there and compete.”
So while Saturday’s game is just a friendly, it’s a chance to make an opening statement in the 2030 World Cup cycle.
And if there’s a little brimstone along the way, it will be nothing new.
“There was a glimpse of the fire that teams like that can bring at the end of the Chile game,” left back Antonee Robinson said, referring to a benches-clearing brawl on Thursday that sparked when La Roja’s Leandro Hernández prodded U.S. goalkeeper Brian Schwake after he had claimed the ball. “So we’ve just been saying to the young boys that you’re going to expect that and a lot more when we play against Mexico.”
Democrat Bob Harvie thumbed through hundreds of pages bound together in a booklabeled “The Partially Redacted Epstein Files” and said he was disgusted with what he read —or at least what he was able to read.
Entire blocks of text regarding the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019, were marked black.
But survivors of Epstein’s predatory behavior, including Sharlene Rochard, who appeared with Harvie Friday in Bristol, are heroes for illuminating what has been blocked from the public, the congressional candidate said.
Harvie pledged to push “very, very hard” to release the full, unredacted files related to Epstein’s crimes if elected.
The Bucks County commissioner is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to represent the 1st Congressional District, one of two swing districts in the state that Rochard visited Friday to campaign for Democrats. She’ll be hitting another the following day.
“These are files, but I’m in these files, and that is my life in these files,” Rochard told Harvie. “And I need justice. We need accountability, and we need some transparency, and we need people likeyou.”
Rows of files were contained inside a traveling bookmobile parked in front of the Bristol waterfront. Plastered on the outside of the truck was a decades-old image of President Donald Trump with his arm around Epstein.
Reminding voters of Trump’s history with Epstein has been a campaign tactic used by Democrats in competitive contests across the country, but Harvie said the issue of justice for survivors should go beyond partisan politics.
“I don’t care what party they’re from,” Harvie said. “I don’t care what office they hold or held. I don’t care how much money they have. I don’t care. We need to do everything we can to protect the victims and honor them and shine a light on this part of our society.”
Sharlene Rochard, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual trafficking and abuse, and Bob Harvie during a news conference at the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile in Bristol.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Earlier in the day, Rochard visited Harrisburg, where she was welcomed by Democrat Janelle Stelson, a former news anchor who promised to “take on the culture of corruption across the government” if elected over incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in the 10th District.
Rochard was slated to appear Saturday in Bethlehem with Democrat Bob Brooks, who is running against U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the 7th District, one of the most competitive contests in the nation.
The truck arrived in Pennsylvania one month before Election Day as Trump continues to plummet in popularity among likely voters in the state. It’s an officially nonpartisan project of Institute for Primary Facts, a nonprofit that builds public art installations, and DEFIANCE.org, a group dedicated to ending sexual exploitation of children and adults.
Rochard, who was born in Canada, began traveling to the U.S. as a teen to model when she met Epstein and was with him in New York, Florida, and on his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she said. Though she’s unable to go into details about her trafficking experience because she is involved in ongoing legal action, she now works alongside fellow survivors to advocate for the files to be exposed.
Every Pennsylvania lawmaker voted to release the Epstein files last year, including Fitzpatrick and the other vulnerable Republican incumbents whose districts Rochard was touring this week.
In a statement last year, Fitzpatrick said he is “unequivocally behind the victims and their family members who suffered immensely” from Epstein’s crimes.
“He 100% stands with the victims, and will support disclosure and transparency every single time,” Heather Roberts, a spokesperson for Fitzpatrick’s campaign, said Friday.
A couple dozen people trickled through the bookmobile during its Bristol stop, though multiple people interviewed entered with familiarity about the files and were already convinced of a strong connection between Trump and Epstein.
“I’m dumbfounded that there are people who don’t believe the victims,” said Deb Crasnick, 69, of Langhorne.
Sharlene Rochard, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual trafficking and abuse, and Bob Harvie at the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile in Bristol on Friday. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Crasnick found out about the event from her friend Diane Grant, 71, of Bensalem, who has been following the tour on social media. But Grant, who called the revelations disturbing, worried the tour’s effectiveness may have limits.
“People have their mindset. Nothing said or shown in there will change it,” she said.
“The economy keeps me up at night,” said Tracey Marshall, 57, who lives in Falls Township. “We need a change.”
Rochard said the purpose of the tour goes beyond Election Day.
Trump has called the Epstein case “a hoax” and said that the files that have been publicly shared are “enough,” a notion the survivor is hoping to dispel with the tour.
“This is something that has happened to me,” Rochard said. “I’m not a Democratic hoax. I am a real person, and we need some justice.”
Officials from Drexel University and the Academy of Natural Sciences were scheduled to meet Friday to continue discussing a path forward — with a potential split of the two organizations hovering over talks as one possibility.
“That’s certainly a [potential] outcome,” said one source familiar with the situation who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak on the matter.
But there likely also will be “reconciliation attempts,” the source said. “We either abide by the terms that we have been talking about or don’t.” If both sides abide by the terms, they said, “then everything continues peacefully.”
The Academy and Drexel announced an affiliation in 2011, merging aspects of their operations but keeping separate boards. The Inquirer reported in April that Drexel told the Academy to either fully merge with the university or it would move to disaffiliate, and the two have been negotiating a new affiliation agreement.
Neither the Academy nor Drexel returned calls early Friday evening seeking comment on whether the meeting had ended and its outcome.
Science educator Jake Cook lets visitors feel the skin of a pangolin — a scaly anteater — at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University on Sunday.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Drexel and the Academy disclosed plans in September to close the Academy museum, move the 19 million specimens in the collection, and eventually sell the building at 19th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
A group of protesters earlier this week gathered at the same time as a Drexel board meeting and called on the university to disaffiliate and give the Academy a chance to negotiate what’s best for it.
Drexel spokesperson Niki Gianakaris said earlier this week that the university had offered the Academy a path to disaffiliation.
“We have been, and remain, open to that possibility,” she said. “We continue to engage in good-faith discussions with the Academy about its future.”
Her comments came days after the William Penn Foundation made public its offer to underwrite operating costs for at least a year and keep the museum’s doors open while a permanent solution can be worked on.
William Penn said the goal was to “provide time to test the interest of other funders and supporters who have not been engaged so far,” and the Academy leadership said it was open to the reprieve.
The Academy, founded in 1812, has operated a museum since 1828, and its announced closure has generated street protests, more than 100,000 petition signatures, editorials, and the scheduling of City Council hearings for next week.
The museum was shuttered to the public at the end of the day last Sunday, following large numbers of visitors in recent weeks but prior years of declining attendance. In the 2025 fiscal year, it brought in 126,000 visitors — down from 2014 when it welcomed 208,000 science fans to its “dioramas, dinosaurs, butterflies, live animals, and the renovated Children’s Nature Discovery Center, Outside In,” according to the Academy’s tax return from that year.
The “Save the Academy” coalition gather outside of the National Constitution Center on Tuesday in an effort to keep the Academy of Natural Sciences museum open.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Since the beginning of the Drexel-Academy affiliation a decade and a half ago, “our goal has always been to improve the financial position of that museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences as a whole, the research and the collections,” said a Drexel source familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly about it. “That was written into the original affiliation, and as we moved forward in time we hit snags and different things we never quite achieved that financial resilience then. And then COVID hit and that became even more challenging for the museum.”
Drexel said that it had not received a formal proposal from William Penn but that it would be open to talking with the foundation about the matter.
Gianakaris did not comment Friday on whether talks had been held or scheduled.
“What William Penn has put forward is not enough,” said the first source, who had noted that a split was a possible outcome. “That wouldn’t do it.”
Gianakaris said Drexel’s focus is on “safeguarding the Academy’s collections and research enterprise” while developing a “long-term model” that allows the public to engage with its collections.
Drexel’s board of trustees earlier this week discussed the matter during a two-day meeting that was scheduled months ago. The meeting, the second held since Antonio Merlo became Drexel’s president July 1, 2025, was for the board to “focus on the university’s long-term future, strategic priorities and governance effectiveness,” Gianakaris said.
After practice on Friday, Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata had some wishes to grant.
After having a catch with the kids in attendance via the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he arranged them into a circle to play a quick game called claps, which he typically plays with other members of the offensive line. Mailata explained the rules: toss the ball to anyone in the circle, but you have to clap before you catch it.
Eventually, each player was eliminated until Mailata was the last one standing — that is until Jordan Davis entered the game, dethroning Mailata in front of everyone.
“He beat me at my own game,” Mailata said.
This was just one part of an already busy day for Dylan Hynum, 11; Sam Sweeten, 18; Evan Weiner, 16; Abdul-Sami Amedu, 19; Jemma Kearney, 15; and Dylan Parsons, 16.
Their schedule featured a $200 shopping spree at Mitchell & Ness, a tour of Lincoln Financial Field, and a meet-and-greet with Eagles players. They also got to sign a one-day contract with the team with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman in attendance.
Dylan Hynum approached the podium where Roseman stood. There was a football card with Hynum’s photo and a one-day contract to join the team on the desk.
Hynum signed the contract and took his first few photos as an official player.
“See you out there on Sunday,” Roseman said. “Whatever you need for good luck, bring it.”
Dylan Parsons (left) signed a one-day contract with the Howie Roseman’s Eagles on Friday.Philadelphia Eagles
Hynum then returned to the conference room with the rest of his new teammates, marveling at the Dunkin’ goodie bags that greeted them when they first entered the room. The bags included bucket hats, glasses, socks, tumblers, koozies, and Boston cream doughnuts with their faces stamped across the top.
But the fun didn’t stop there. After signing their contracts, the kids made their way toward the front entrance of the Jefferson Health Training Complex, where they signed their very first autographs.
Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean signs autographs for Abdul-Sami Amedu and Dylan Parsons on Friday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Tour of Lincoln Financial Field
The festivities continued at Lincoln Financial Field, where the families were led through a tour around the stadium as the crew prepared for a home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1 p.m., Fox29).
They were taken to several areas, including the news conference room where Amedu recreated Jalen Hurts’ famous line, “So that’s what y’all wanted to see, huh?”
Then they were brought into the locker room, where they were greeted by Swoop and they found custom Eagles jerseys with their names on the back hanging from their lockers.
The Eagles and Fanatics help Make-A-Wish dreams come true, signing six kids to one-day contracts pic.twitter.com/aZwmlfSvAk
The kids were taken onto the field in style with their new gear as they practiced their very own tunnel walk. Lights flashed, music played, and they made their way onto the field just as the Eagles would on game day.
Meeting the players
“You’re my favorite player of all time, I swear to you,” Weiner said. “I’m not even joking.”
After posing for a photo with Jalen Hurts, Weiner kept his composure and used the time to praise the quarterback. But as soon as Hurts left, Weiner let out a big breath and put his hands on his knees.
“Oh my God, that [didn’t] even feel real,” Weiner said.
Once practice wrapped, the team made its way over to the kids, and players posed for photos, signed autographs, and engaged in fun conversations — including video game talk. Davis encouraged the kids to start playing Elden Ring, and Fred Johnson asked whether they knew what an Easy-Bake Oven was.
Parsons, a New Jersey native, only needed a few words to describe the day: “It was amazing.”
Parsons, who was most excited to see Barkley, wore a smile on his face for most of the day. He immediately put on his Dunkin’ sunglasses and tossed on his custom No. 26 jersey on top of his Barkley threads in the locker room.
“This is amazing,” Dylan’s mom, Kari Parsons, said. “It’s really awesome to see everything that everyone has put into them.”
Dylan’s dad, Joshua Parsons, added: “We never expected this at all, and then, out of the blue, we got contacted. And it’s just amazing to see the amount of effort they put into it and everything they do for the kids to make it special for them.”
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts receives a portrait drawing from a Make-A-Wish recipient during a meet-and-greet on Friday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Attending Sunday’s game
The families also will attend Sunday’s game against the Rams. But first, Fanatics and Make-A-Wish surprised them with a $200 shopping spree at Mitchell & Ness to get them fitted up ahead of game day. Mitchell & Ness is owned by Fanatics, which has partnered with Make-A-Wish since October 2023.
Each kid will receive pregame field passes on Sunday and will have a special experience built around their wish.
Parsons will be a water boy. Weiner will shadow the team photographer. Amedu will get another tour of the stadium. Hynum will participate in the field flag experience. Sweeten, who is interested in being a sports broadcaster, will visit the Merrill Reese and Mike Quick radio booth, the broadcast booth with Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, and the stadium control booth. Kearney will be on the field for pregame activities.
![The Eagles and Fanatics help Make-A-Wish dreams come true: ‘That [didn’t] even feel real’](https://api.zurich.inquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/EFJ7JWWE2BC5LMTR5R2RC7SR2Q.jpg)
