🌱 70 YO Attacked In Fashion District + McLeod’s Toy Drive

Good morning, Philadelphia! It's Wednesday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in Philadelphia.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy with a few flurries. High: 42 Low: 30.

Here are the top stories today in Philadelphia:

1. Police are searching for three teens who attacked a 70-year-old man during an attempted robbery inside Philadelphia’s Fashion District. The victim entered a ground-level bathroom inside the Fashion District building on Market Street last Thursday afternoon. when he was approached by three teen boys, one of whom displayed a handgun. When the man told the teens he didn’t have any money, the teens punched him in the head and face before fleeing the scene. They were last seen exiting on Filbert and headed towards 9th Street. (NBC Philadelphia)
2. Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod is making sure kids in need have holiday gifts. McLeod’s Change Our Future Foundation hosted a sneaker ball toy drive Monday night. The ball featured a one-of-a-kind pop-up sneaker museum, which showcased some of the most exclusive shoes donated by local boutiques. (CBS Philly)
3. The importance of early childhood education has never been lost on Philadelphia, from its push for pre-kindergarten five years ago to its ongoing efforts to expand access in vulnerable communities. But the pandemic has shone an even brighter spotlight on the need to prioritize high-quality instruction for the city’s youngest learners. After schools shuttered due to the coronavirus, the School District of Philadelphia saw its kindergarten enrollment drop sharply — about 30% compared to the previous year, and three times the national average. (Chalkbeat)
4. Thirteen police officers have been taken off the street and placed on desk duty amid an internal investigation, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. An audit, which began in March initiated by Police Internal Affairs looking into the quality of gun arrests, revealed several discrepancies that required further investigation. The district attorney's office's data dashboard shows gun arrests were up 26% over last year and on pace for the highest in any recent year. (ABC 6)
5. Philadelphia is a city known for its cheesesteaks and hoagie subs, but sometimes the best local food can come from unexpected places. Chef Mike Solomonov is a local expert who guides viewers on a food tour in the latest edition of “Walk With T+L” to discover some hidden gems across the city. His stops included Down North Pizza, Siddiq’s Real Fruit Water Ice, Wing Phat Plaza, Pho75, a.kitchen + bar, and Royal Sushi & Izakaya. (Yahoo! Life)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day - Abraham Lincoln (All Day)
• Member Meeting - The Alliance of Community Service Providers (9:30 AM)
• JFCS - Crafting Your Golden Years - NORC Members Only (1:00 PM)
• Rock to the Future Kensington Winter Showcase (5:00 PM)
• Stag & Doe Nights (6:00 PM)
• Pennsylvania Online Concealed Carry Class (6:00 PM)
• Preparing For Petrochemicals - Penn Environment (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly: "Good news, #TeamNoSnow! Bad news, #TeamSnow. A warming trend sets up for the next couple of weeks with above normal temps. No real chances for significant snow during this time. A warm air mass overspreads the region on Saturday." (Facebook)
• School District of Philadelphia: "Congratulations to our November Student of the Month Cherilynn Chow! Read more about her journey at: https://www.philasd.org/blog/2021/12/06/student-of-the-month-cherilynn-chow/" (Facebook)
• Philadelphia Parks & Recreation: "No child should go hungry because schools are closed,” Parks & Rec Comissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell. Rec centers in every part of the city will offer meals to Philadelphia students who need them. Learn more at WHYY News 👇🏿" (Facebook)
• Philadelphia Jazz Project: "FROSTY MEMORIES: Our Frosty: Cool Holiday Jazz Celebrations were a major highlight, featuring some of Philly's finest artists. Presented in December of 2013, 2014 and 2015 at the Irvine Auditorium, on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, these events garnered our most diverse audiences. The events averaged between 800 and 900 souls in the seats, with lots of families and children in the house." (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Byrant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.