Battle for control of a century-old Philadelphia church
A bitter, long-running legal battle between the pastor of a Fitler Square church and a group of parishioners has brought the 118-year-old congregation near collapse, and endangered the historic church’s survival. Meir Rinde has the story of the struggle for control of New Central Baptist, which members say is falling apart as their case pends in Pa. Superior Court.
Phillies-Mets in London should feature colonial garb
The Phillies took 2 of 3 against the Mets this weekend, but a bigger showdown is coming next June, when the NL East rivals meet 3,500 miles away for the league’s annual London Series. With all the history between these three cities, writes Justin Klugh, this edition of the MLB’s British showcase is a chance to revolutionize baseball fashion by outfitting the players in colonial garb.
🎇 Everything you need for July 4 in Philadelphia
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RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• If Pa. legalizes recreational marijuana, would it be sold via existing medical dispensaries? Not in certain areas of Philadelphia, if a new City Council zoning bill is successful. [WHYY]
• Now enjoying its best credit ratings in four decades, the City of Philadelphia just made its final payment on bonds from 1992 that funded PICA, the independent authority overseeing city finances. [Phila Gov/WHYY 2022]
• Nearly a year after implementing a hybrid schedule with three in-office days, Comcast is planning this fall to expand that requirement to four, bringing 8,000 employees back to Center City for an extra day. [Inquirer$]
• Penn is moving forward with a new $75 million performing arts center on Woodland Walk, with two theaters and five rehearsal studios. Construction starts next year. [PhillyVoice/Penn Today]
• New turf, lighting, bleachers, basketball courts, fencing, sidewalks, doors, and repaired plumbing are among the upgrades underway at South Philly’s Murphy Rec Center, named in 1964 after dedicated former employee Lawrence E. Murphy. [South Philly Review]
• In 1933, Albert Forsythe and Charles Anderson of Philadelphia flew to Los Angeles and back, becoming the first Black men to complete a cross-country airplane flight. Anderson would go on to be chief trainer of WWII’s famed Tuskegee Airmen. [Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney joins PPD Commissioner Outlaw at the Police Forensic Science Center at 8th and Poplar to announce results of what’s being called a “large-scale narcotics operation” in Kensington (2 p.m.). The mayor then swings over to 30th Street Station to help announce an $80 million FTA grant to support SEPTA’s zero-emission bus fleet (2:30 p.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
🪴 Build your own terrarium at the PHS Pop Up Garden South Street. The class includes everything you need to make your own, tix are $50. (6 p.m. Tuesday, June 27)
🎲 Backgammon fan? Old City’s Museum for Art in Wood hosts a free tea and game night for all who love to play that or its Turkish equivalent, shesh besh. (5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 29)
🥃 Lovers of rye whiskey can splurge for a Dad’s Hat cocktail class at Square 1682 in Rittenhouse, where your $90 ticket includes the lessons, three drinks, and bites to go with, tax and gratuity included. (6 p.m. Wednesday, June 18)
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