A community garden of one's own; Rocky Season events; Weekly gun violence brief

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY

Reflections on the Cynwyd Heritage Trail
(Photo by @chuckseye)

In West Philly, Karen refugees put down roots in a community garden of their own

The niche Southeast Asian community broke ground at the Lee Cultural Center on Saturday. While most locals would stroll along past the land and not think twice, for a Philly immigrant community from Myanmar (formerly Burma) — the unused soil is a haven, teeming with possibilities.

One grandmother in the community brought soil from her home in Myanmar to the new location.

“She has soil that she has been carrying with her this whole time that she can finally put in the ground here as a permanent place,” said Rebecca Winkler, an anthropology doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. “Because wherever you plant, that is where your home is.” Continue reading…

Gay Lay, a Karen refugee, at an urban garden in Philadelphia. (Courtesy of Clara Varadi-True)

Everything that’s happening for ‘Rocky Season’ in Philly

The Philadelphia Visitor Center is celebrating 50 years of Rocky Balboa from Sept. 29 to Dec. 3. From public art to bus tours, here is the lineup of Rocky Season events, with more to be announced in the coming months. Continue reading…

The Rocky statue outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art during Rocky Fest. (Philadelphia Visitor Center for RockyFest)

BP Quizzo Question of the Day

In what year did “Rocky” win the Academy Award for Best Picture?

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• Nearly 2 million pounds of sugar are being recalled across eight states, including Pennsylvania, because they could be contaminated with wheat kernels, according to the FDA. [WKBN]

• Pennsylvania will legalize adult-use marijuana if Democrats flip three state Senate seats in November, legislators say. [WHYY]

• A data center developer is offering $10,000 payments to win the support of Poconos residents. [PhillyVoice]

• A Philly DEI panel endorses Parker’s contracting overhaul as Black business owners warn of consequences. [Inq$$]

• A WHYY reporter interviewed an alleged Philly killer 12 years ago. Here’s what he learned about a self-proclaimed “sociopath.” [WHYY]

• How a steady flow of data helps Pennsylvania primary care doctors manage their patients’ diabetes. [WHYY]

Celebrate Philly’s finest at the Billies!

Join us for Billy Penn’s 12th annual Billies Awards from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at WHYY Studios!

We’ll honor the people and groups making Philly better — with food, refreshments and plenty of hometown spirit.

Admission is free with an RSVP. Optional donations support WHYY’s community programs. The Billies are supported in part by Every Voice, Every Vote.

Sign up to attend the Billies →

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker speaks at the launch of Women Against Abuse’s 19th annual iPledge® Campaign, a citywide public awareness and action campaign focused on ending domestic violence. (Noon)

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.

Philadelphia expands program that flags students who witness violence outside school for more support. [Chalkbeat]
Fewer Philly students are getting shot, but risks are higher for those at cyber charters and alternative schools. [Chalkbeat]
97Percent, a nonpartisan gun safety group, is hosting a roundtable discussion on Oct. 15 about understanding and engaging with gun owners. Register online.

By the numbers in Philadelphia

15: Shooting victims recorded from Sept. 21 to 27 with 3 fatalities, according to city data. During the previous week, 10 shooting victims were recorded, including 0 fatalities. [Source: nickhand.dev]
130: Year-to-date homicides, down 21% vs. last year’s pace; down 68% vs. five years ago. [Philly Police]

Highlights from Billy Penn’s City Guide

13 small business retail corridors in Philly
Shopping locally isn’t just for one day a year. It’s great throughout the holiday season — and beyond. Here’s where to find good retail shopping clusters in Philly.
Alcohol-free spaces to spend your nights out
For some Philadelphians, zero proof is a year-round practice. Here’s our guide to fun and inventive N/A-friendly places around the city.

ON THE CALENDAR

The Late(ish) Poetry Show (Friday),
the Laurel Hill RIP5K (Saturday),
a Parallel Parking Championship (Saturday),
AND MORE!

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