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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Philadelphia. Written by local reporters.

Axios Philadelphia Thought Bubble

Axios Philadelphia

It's First Friday, so keep on the lookout for special programming and events at art galleries, shops, museums and bars throughout the city. Here are other ways to spend your weekend in Philly: 

Get into the fall spirit at Harvest Weekend, which takes over Dilworth Park in front of City Hall Friday through Sunday. Hay bales and cornstalks will set the scene for live music, free pumpkin carving, cider making, circus performers and more. 

Enjoy some tunes at the Fishtown Arts & Music Festival Saturday from 11am-8pm on Front Street. The block party will feature local bands Snacktime and Out of Beardspace, along with DJ Wassup Gina. Plus: food and entertainment for kids. Tickets: $20

Halloween is the theme at the Darksome Arts & Craft Market at Mount Moriah Cemetery from 11am-5pm on Saturday. More than 100 vendors will sell spooky and off-beat arts and crafts. Costumes encouraged! 

Roxtoberfest is back from noon to 6pm Saturday. The fall-themed family festival on Ridge Avenue boasts craft beer, food trucks, music and more than 70 vendors. 

Browse and buy antiques, vintage clothes, artwork and one-of-a-kind finds at the Philly Flea Market from 8am-5pm on Saturday inside the Cherry Street Pier and outdoors at the Race Street Pier. 

Old City Fest takes over parts of N. 3rd and Arch Streets from 11am-6pm on Sunday. More than 100 vendors will be on hand selling food, drinks, arts and crafts, along with dueling pianos and a Family Fun Zone filled with activities for children. 

Taste some of the top cocktails in Philly at Bartenders Night Out, where Spanish and Latino bartenders will pour their trade at The Franklin Bar starting at 8:30pm on Monday. Free to attend, pay as you go. 

Indigenous Peoples Day will be celebrated from 11am-5pm on Monday at Penn Treaty Park, also known as Shackamaxon. This family-friendly event will feature dancers, music, vendors and activities.

Philly Music Fest kicks off on Monday and runs through Oct. 15, spanning music venues in and out of the city, including Ardmore Music Hall and World Cafe Live. Performances include Mt. Joy, Screaming Females and Low Cut Connie. Tickets: Free-$39 

Your Philly weekend plans: Fall festivals, flea markets and music

Browse antiques, vintage clothes, artwork and one-of-a-kind finds at the Phila Flea Market Saturday.

Illustration of a switch with a briefcase icon, shifting from on to off.

Weekend

It&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="First Friday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oldcitydistrict.org/first-friday" data-vars-content-id="3fa56ead-1a67-4695-85eb-5faad117d45d" data-vars-headline="Your Philly weekend plans: Fall festivals, flea markets and music" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oldcitydistrict.org/first-friday" target="_blank">First Friday</a>, so keep on the lookout for special programming and events at art galleries, shops, museums and bars throughout the city. Here are other ways to spend your weekend in Philly: <ul><li>Get into the fall spirit at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Harvest Weekend" data-vars-click-url="https://centercityphila.org/parks/events/harvest-weekend" data-vars-content-id="3fa56ead-1a67-4695-85eb-5faad117d45d" data-vars-headline="Your Philly weekend plans: Fall festivals, flea markets and music" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://centercityphila.org/parks/events/harvest-weekend" target="_blank">Harvest Weekend</a>, which takes over Dilworth Park in front of City Hall Friday through Sunday. Hay bales and cornstalks will set the scene for live music, free pumpkin carving, cider making, circus performers and more. </li></ul>

Things to Do

Not wanting to be a "blockhead" like Linus in the Charlie Brown Halloween classic, we searched around and rounded up a list of the most sincere pumpkin patches and seasonal events near Philly. Here's what we found: 

Indian Acres Tree Farm: Surprisingly, you can get more than trees at this New Jersey farm only a half-hour ride from the city, per Philly Magazine. Pick out pumpkins every day of the week, or check out other perks, including a barrel hayride, live music and snacks. 

Franklin Square: For you city slickers, there's going to be a free event Oct. 22 where kids can pick out and decorate pumpkins in Center City. But you gotta register ahead of time, starting Oct. 15.

Hellerick's Family Farm: It's a bit of a trek, but Hellerick's Family Farm in Doylestown is 18 acres of pure family fun, featuring sunflowers, slides and goats. In addition to pumpkin picking, you can score tasty treats like pumpkin bread and apple pie. It runs through Nov. 6, per Guide to Philly. 

Peddler's Village: If you're tired of being a pumpkinhead, check out the Bucks County shopping district's scarecrow pop-up. You can vote for the best scarecrow among more than 100 entries through Oct. 31. And for the adults, throw back a couple cold ones Oct. 15 and 16 in the beer garden. 

Maple Acres Farm: This small farm in nearby Plymouth Meeting offers plenty to keep you busy — pumpkin picking, tractor rides, flower picking, and farm animals. Plus, don't forget to shop at the farmers market, where you can stock up on local apples, fresh corn, winter squashes and more. 

💭 Mike's thought bubble: Maple Acres Farm is a favorite of mine. It's the perfect place to stage a family photo and let your kids roam. Just don't forget to grab a few apple cider doughnuts and apple cider before you leave!

5 pumpkin patches and events to visit near Philadelphia

A small farm in nearby Plymouth Meeting offers plenty to keep you busy — pumpkin picking, tractor rides, flower picking, and farm animals.

Rows of stacked pumpkins at Maple Acres Farm. Photo courtesy of Elliot D'Onofrio

Outdoor activities

Not wanting to be a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;blockhead&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ushQ_mMSqw" data-vars-content-id="6bedb380-d6b9-45bf-bd06-0e976ccf2287" data-vars-headline="5 pumpkin patches and events to visit near Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ushQ_mMSqw" target="_blank">&quot;blockhead&quot;</a> like Linus in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Charlie Brown Halloween classic" data-vars-click-url="https://decider.com/2022/10/04/charlie-brown-great-pumpkin-how-to-watch-2022-apple-tv-pbs-charlie-brown-halloween-streaming/" data-vars-content-id="6bedb380-d6b9-45bf-bd06-0e976ccf2287" data-vars-headline="5 pumpkin patches and events to visit near Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://decider.com/2022/10/04/charlie-brown-great-pumpkin-how-to-watch-2022-apple-tv-pbs-charlie-brown-halloween-streaming/" target="_blank">Charlie Brown Halloween classic</a>, we searched around and rounded up a list of the most sincere pumpkin patches and seasonal events near Philly. Here&#x27;s what we found: Indian Acres Tree Farm: Surprisingly, you can get more than trees at this New Jersey farm only a half-hour ride from the city, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Philly Magazine" data-vars-click-url="https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/pumpkin-patch-philadelphia/" data-vars-content-id="6bedb380-d6b9-45bf-bd06-0e976ccf2287" data-vars-headline="5 pumpkin patches and events to visit near Philadelphia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/pumpkin-patch-philadelphia/" target="_blank">Philly Magazine</a>. Pick out pumpkins every day of the week, or check out other perks, including a barrel hayride, live music and snacks.

Food and Drink

Philly's mail delivery woes aren't getting any better, Pennsylvania's congressional leaders say. So they've sent a list of demands to the U.S. Postal Service. 

Driving the news: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Reps. Dwight Evans and Matt Cartwright called out postmaster general Louis DeJoy in a letter this week for failing to address the "abysmal standards of service" at the Germantown Post Office in Northwest Philly, where allegations of mail theft and delays have persisted for years. 

They also said they were deeply concerned about the persistent service issues across the state and demanded that USPS take immediate action. 

Flashback: Postal operations in Philly are so bad that a congressional hearing was held last month at Temple University over delayed mail delivery and thefts.  

Over the past two years, the city has seen a dramatic rise in complaints over lost or stolen mail, undelivered packages and post office closures. 

Half of all mailed checks stolen in the state through July had been taken from Philadelphians, the Chestnut Hill Local reports. 

The latest: Just this week, three men, including one from Philly, were indicted on federal charges related to a mail-fraud scheme in Delaware County, the Inquirer reports.

Prosecutors allege the men siphoned more than $171,000 worth of checks and money orders from mailboxes in Drexel Hill. 

Meanwhile: The USPS is consolidating operations at more than 200 postal facilities in roughly 16 states, including the Keystone State. 

Details: The congressmen's list of demands to DeJoy include: 

Addressing issues at the Germantown Post Office

Providing details around consolidation plans for Pennsylvania postal facilities.

Developing a new plan to improve the broader service issues throughout the state. 

What they're saying: As long as the issues at the Germantown Post Office go unaddressed, they will continue to disrupt the lives of residents and deny them a critical service, the lawmakers said in their letter. 

Germantown resident Tim Styer, who organized protests at the post office over the summer, told Axios that problems at the facility are pervasive due to long-term underinvestment. 

He added that the Postal Service's attempts to address issues at the facility over the last several months have fallen flat. 

"Their efforts amount to nothing more than a Band-Aid," Styer said. 

The other side: Paul Smith, a USPS spokesperson, told Axios the Postal Service has received the letter and will respond to those who sent it. 

Regarding the Postal Service's consolidation plans, Smith said the effort would create large sorting and delivery centers over the next decade to enhance and modernize the agency's delivery network while not changing the locations of any retail units. 

Congress members demand relief to Philly's mail delivery headaches

Three Congress members from Pennsylvania have sent a list of demands to the U.S. Postal Service.

Illustration of a mailbox with fire coming out of it. 

United States Postal Service (USPS)

Philly&#x27;s mail delivery woes aren&#x27;t getting any better, Pennsylvania&#x27;s congressional leaders say. So they&#x27;ve sent a list of demands to the U.S. Postal Service. Driving the news: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Reps. Dwight Evans and Matt Cartwright called out postmaster general Louis DeJoy <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in a letter this week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.casey.senate.gov/download/letter-to-postmaster-dejoy-re-post-office-service-quality-october-2022" data-vars-content-id="78805534-12fd-492d-b7f5-9645e792fadd" data-vars-headline="Congress members demand relief to Philly&#x27;s mail delivery headaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.casey.senate.gov/download/letter-to-postmaster-dejoy-re-post-office-service-quality-october-2022" target="_blank">in a letter this week</a> for failing to address the &quot;abysmal standards of service&quot; at the Germantown Post Office in Northwest Philly, where allegations of mail theft and delays have persisted for years.

News

Superintendent Tony Watlington Jr. is shaking up the Philadelphia school district's top leadership and realigning priorities months into his new role. 

Why it matters: Watlington, a native of North Carolina, took over the district this summer as it grapples with low academic achievement, gun violence, aging facilities and falling enrollment.

His first act was to set off on a tour to listen and learn about schools' needs from students, staff, business leaders and community members.

Driving the news: Watlington, who marked his 110th day in office during a news conference on Tuesday, released the findings from his tour and set up a new leadership team. 

They'll focus on improving academic achievement, facilities, communications and partnerships, which Watlington said were the top issues that arose during his listening tour. 

The big picture: The superintendent's moves come a week after a shooting outside Roxborough High School killed a football player and left four other teenagers injured after a scrimmage. 

Watlington said gun violence and pandemic losses are having a devastating impact on the city.

"Many of our children have spoken very clearly that they are not doing well," he said. "Some are afraid to go out in the neighborhood to play; some are afraid on their way to and from school."

Zoom in: Staffing, school climate and public safety will be the district’s highest priorities, Watlington said. 

Other top issues that emerged during Watlington's listening tour included a lack of consistency and transparency around district communications and poor customer service. 

Details: Watlington's new leadership structure is made up of five new members, all of whom have ties to the city.  

Two of the positions are newly created deputy superintendent posts, which will be filled by Shavon Savage and Uri Monson, overseeing academic services and operations respectively. 

Savage formerly served as a Philly principal and deputy chief of the district’s office of specialized services, while Monson was previously the district's chief financial officer. 

What they're saying: With too many students not graduating with the skills they need to succeed, Watlington said the district must adjust its strategies.

"We've got significant improvement to make if we're going to prepare students for life-changing opportunities and if we're going to facilitate life-changing outcomes," he said.  

What's next: The superintendent's transition team will issue a report on district-wide recommendations on Oct. 20.

Superintendent Watlington's lessons learned from 100 days of listening

The School District of Philadelphia offices.  

The School District of Philadelphia offices. Photo: Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Schools

Superintendent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tony Watlington Jr." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/06/16/philadelphia-schools-superintendent-tony-watlington" data-vars-content-id="c10ed4ed-75c6-450e-8b2b-bdbb9065f2cd" data-vars-headline="Superintendent Watlington&#x27;s lessons learned from 100 days of listening" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/06/16/philadelphia-schools-superintendent-tony-watlington" target="_self">Tony Watlington Jr.</a> is shaking up the Philadelphia school district&#x27;s top leadership and realigning priorities months into his new role. Why it matters: Watlington, a native of North Carolina, took over the district this summer as it grapples with low academic achievement, gun violence, aging facilities and falling enrollment.

Data: PennDOT; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios 

Commuting in Philly may be down, but our roads aren't much safer.

Driving the news: Traffic fatalities in Philly dipped by about 20% last year from an all-time high in 2020, according to the city's annual Vision Zero report released Thursday. 

Yes, but: 2021 was still the second deadliest year for traffic fatalities in the city since 1999. Meanwhile, serious injury crashes are up more than 9% over last year, per the report. 

"After a tragic spike in traffic deaths in 2020, we had hoped for a dramatic decrease in 2021. This was not the case," Mike Carroll, the city's deputy managing director for transportation, said in a statement. 

The big picture: Philly has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities among large U.S. cities, second only to Los Angeles. 

Between the lines: While Philly's total traffic crashes have been on a downward trend since 2016 and dropped significantly in 2020 and 2021, traffic deaths remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic years. 

Speed remains the top cause for traffic deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes. 

Walking pedestrians accounted for the largest share of traffic deaths in Philadelphia between 2017-2021 (38%), even though they were involved in only 15% of crashes. 

Zoom in: Fatal crashes disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic Philadelphians, and those who live in predominantly low-income ZIP codes, according to new data included in the report this year. 

Traffic deaths involving African Americans have spiked in recent years —  averaging 72 fatalities annually from 2020 to 2021, up from around 43 between 2012-19. 

The latest: So far, 2022 traffic deaths, through August, remain on par with 2021 levels, according to the report. 

"This perpetuates the increase over pre-pandemic rates of traffic deaths and shows more must be done in order to understand and reverse this trend," the city states in the report. 

What to watch: Philly is aiming to reduce speed limits on all city streets to 25 mph next year. 

Philadelphia traffic deaths dropped last year but remain high

Philly is aiming to reduce speed limits on all city streets to 25 mph next year.

Traffic

Commuting in Philly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="may be down" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/09/19/work-from-home-philadelphia-census" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2022/09/19/work-from-home-philadelphia-census" target="_self">may be down</a>, but our roads aren&#x27;t much safer.Driving the news: Traffic fatalities in Philly dipped by about 20% last year from an all-time high in 2020, according to the city&#x27;s annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Vision Zero report" data-vars-click-url="http://visionzerophl.com/uploads/attachments/cl8uyclok7794ued6r6ush0pw-vision-zero-annual-report-2022-web.pdf?mc_cid=ba673cff09&amp;mc_eid=e4082939cf" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://visionzerophl.com/uploads/attachments/cl8uyclok7794ued6r6ush0pw-vision-zero-annual-report-2022-web.pdf?mc_cid=ba673cff09&amp;mc_eid=e4082939cf" target="_blank">Vision Zero report</a> released Thursday.

Mike D'Onofrio

Featured stories

Philadelphia traffic deaths dropped last year but remain high

Your Philly weekend plans: Fall festivals, flea markets and music

Congress members demand relief to Philly's mail delivery headaches

5 pumpkin patches and events to visit near Philadelphia

Superintendent Watlington's lessons learned from 100 days of listening