More delivery robots coming; Firstival community; Youth vaping health campaign

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY

Throwback Thursday to the Patriotic Pet Parade at the Betsy Ross House
(Photo by @josephiyoob)

Philly keeps fighting its delivery robots. More are coming anyway

After months of getting kicked, blocked and criticized, Philadelphia’s autonomous food couriers are expanding their reach.

Avride, the company behind the autonomous Uber Eats robots roaming Center City sidewalks, announced Wednesday that it will expand its Philadelphia operations to include deliveries through the Grubhub app and Wonder food halls. Continue reading…

Avride delivery robots. (Photo by @_mtkrupka)

Philly’s new dedicated community of ‘Firsties’

The locals, who have attended all or many of this year’s “Firstival” events, are just one example of the broad impact the ‘52 Weeks of Firsts’ events have had on the city this year.

They have celebrated everything from America’s first Mother’s Day to the first public Girl Scout cookie sale, the first ice cream soda and the first “selfie.” Continue reading…

“Firsties” daughter, Ana Ronda Feliciano, and mother, Tulia Ronda, stand next to the 52 Weeks of Firsts podium. (Violet Comber-Wilen/Billy Penn)

BP Quizzo Question of the Day

The Nebinger school is named after three Civil War era brothers who worked together in what profession?

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• How data center battles in the Philadelphia suburbs could impact party control of the Pa. legislature. [WHYY]

• Legislation to ban the use of cell phones from bell-to-bell at public and private schools in Pennsylvania statewide will become law after the Senate passed the bill on Wednesday. [NBC10]

• Philly has one of the worst youth vaping rates in the country. The city is taking new steps to help teens quit via a new public health campaign. [PhillyVoice]

• As City Council weighs an expansion of the student SEPTA program, issues around trust of teens have emerged. [WHYY]

• The Philadelphia school district’s enrollment fell by 2,500 students. Where did the kids go? [Chalkbeat]

• Philadelphia’s cat rescue hero and beloved art professor Al Gury will be memorialized at PAFA. [WHYY]

When you donate to Billy Penn, you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a pair of 76ers tickets to the Monday, Nov. 23 home game against the Portland Trail Blazers!

No donation is necessary, though. For details on how to enter and the eligibility requirements, see the official rules online here.

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker joins a celebration marking 10 years of service by the First Judicial District Elder Justice & Civil Resource Center. (1 p.m.)

Parker then celebrates the expansion of Philly’s PHLpreK early childhood education partnership. (2 p.m.)

Parker later attends an Impact That Inspires Gala that recognizes individuals making an impact through small business development, job creation, and inclusive economic growth. (6 p.m.)

Highlights from Billy Penn’s City Guide

How to join a food co-op in Philly
Food co-ops offer an affordable, community-driven way to shop for fresh, local groceries.
The Wissahickon’s 100 Steps connect a natural oasis to the city
Over 100 years old, the community has repeatedly worked to protect the staircase and its glimmering schist wall.

ON THE CALENDAR

WHYY Be My Neighbor Day (Saturday),
CultureFest: Día de los Muertos at Penn Museum (Saturday),
Fall for Tacony Festival (Saturday)
AND MORE!

See the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar at BillyPenn.com!