🌱 Boy Attacked By Crocodile + Man Killed After Attacking Cop

Happy Thursday, people of Philadelphia! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locally today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 64 Low: 52.

Here are the top stories today in Philadelphia:

1. A 12-year-old boy from Philadelphia who was bitten by a crocodile at a Mexican resort spoke to "Good Morning America" on Wednesday in his first television interview. It took a group of people to get Charlie Buhl free from the massive 13-foot crocodile at Club Med in Cancun back in June. His family had to extend their trip for four weeks after he underwent several procedures. He is now back in home in Philly as his recovery continues. (WPVI-TV)
2. Philadelphia Police shot and killed a man who struck an officer with a hammer Tuesday afternoon in the Overbrook section of the city, authorities said. The incident unfolded at about 3:04 p.m. Tuesday on the 5700 block of Overbrook Avenue. Police were called to the area for a report of a disturbance and found a man, later identified as Koffi Dzima, armed with a pickaxe and a hammer in a home on the block. (Philadelphia Patch)
3. Philadelphia’s Project HOME is celebrating a grand opening Wednesday. The new Maguire Residence on East Orleans Street in Kensington is the organization’s newest affordable housing location. Project HOME says the housing is recovery-focused, helping adults break the cycle of homelessness while addressing mental health and substance abuse.
   (CBS Philly)
4. Philadelphia's top health official says there are no plans as of now to lift the mask mandate the city has been under since August. The city's latest mask mandate went into effect on August 12 due to the rise of the delta variant. Under the mandate, masks must be worn in businesses that do not require everyone who enters to be vaccinated. (WPVI-TV)
5. Two people, including at least one firefighter, were taken to the hospital following a crash in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighborhood. The crash happened at the intersection of Stenton Avenue and Washington Lane early Wednesday morning. A fire truck was on its way to a call when several cars collided. (CBS Philly)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• LBGTQ Celebration - Parkway Center City (All Day)
• PA Wine Month Event @ a.kitchen (9:00 AM)
• Members Halloween Cocktail Party at The Woodlands (5:30 PM)
• Fire Marks: The Visible Proof of Insurance (5:30 PM)
• VOICES from Broad Street Ministry Premiere and Film Festival (6:00 PM)
• Inside Ben Franklin's World - A Conversation with Liz Covart (6:30 PM)
• Historic Architecture Review Board - Lansdowne Borough (7:00 PM)
• Theatre Exile presents Extreme Home Makeover by Makasha Copeland (7:00 PM)
• Help @ EPCC Halloween - East Passyunk Crossing Community Garden (7:30 PM)

Philadelphia Patch Notebook

• US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly: "We are expecting a few rounds of minor tidal flooding in our region through Friday. The first should be with the midday high tide on WED, mainly in far southern NJ and southern DE." (Facebook)
• City of Philadelphia Government: "On this day 339 years ago, William Penn founded this city in the English Crown Province of Pennsylvania between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Today we celebrate Philly's birthday!🥳" (Facebook)
• City of Philadelphia Government: "Learn more about how the city is working to reduce gun violence and improve the quality of life in communities most affected by violence ➡️ https://bit.ly/3aOKG4c" (Facebook)
• Philadelphia VA Medical Center: "The VA celebrates and honors ALL Veterans who have served this nation. In October, it honors those LGBTQ Veterans who made military history." (Facebook)
• Philadelphia Parks & Recreation: "ICYMI: With help from Bennett Compost and others, we launched a composting program in September to minimize food waste from 25 of our centers, and there is more to come!" (Facebook)
• Free Library of Philadelphia: "Give back this Thanksgiving! Your donation helps the Free Library support Philadelphia job seekers through virtual workshops, resume assistance, and our Career Training Database. Visit our website to make a gift this holiday season." (Facebook)

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That's it for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update. If you're loving these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors along for the ride. 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.