New law will enhance street racing penalties
State Rep. Ed Neilson, majority chair of the House Transportation Committee, praised a new law to enhance penalties for illegal street racing.
“Younger people see street racing in movies and it’s viewed as a fun and exciting activity that isn’t harmful to people and communities,” Neilson said. “However, we’ve seen time and time again the detrimental effects of illegal street racing in Philadelphia – from quality-of-life issues such as noise, litter and streets completely blocked by the traffic to more serious safety issues such as traffic accidents and even violence stoked by these races.”
Neilson said that while illegal street racing is already a crime in Pennsylvania, it was time to update this law to reflect the state’s dedication to improve safety and order on Pennsylvania roads.
The fine will increase from $250 to up to $2,000 per violation. On a second or subsequent violation the driver’s vehicle will be impounded to keep them from attending illegal street races, according to Neilson.
The law also prohibits drifting and creates new penalties for people who organize illegal street races.
Free pre-K spots available for 2024-25 school year
The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families and the School District of Philadelphia are encouraging families to enroll children aged 3 or 4 years old in the city’s free preschool options with seats still available at 350 locations across Philadelphia.
“How do we ensure our youngest learners are prepared for kindergarten and elementary school? We enroll them in one of Philadelphia’s many free preschools and we do it today,” said Mayor Cherelle Parker. “There is nothing more important in this school season than for parents and guardians to jump online and enroll their child as soon as possible, helping them succeed and helping us achieve a unified vision of serving all Philadelphia’s children.”
To help families search for and apply to locations, the city and school district collaborated alongside federal, state and preschool partners to launch a new enrollment portal called FreePhillyPreK. The FreePhillyPreK website provides information on all 370 locations with over 17,000 publicly funded preschool seats and allows families to submit a single application for up to three of their top choices. The unified application is also mobile-friendly, available in 12 different languages, and automatically saves application data for future use.
Interested families are encouraged to visit the interactive FreePhillyPreK site to select the nearest pre-K program with spots available, or call 844-745-7735 to speak to a representative who can help parents start an application.
To apply, families will need proof child’s age, proof of family residency, proof of household income and Caregiver ID. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
SPHS Classes Jan./June ’64 & Jan. ’65 reunion
South Philadelphia High School will hold its 60th class reunion luncheon for classes January/June 1964 and January 1965 on Nov. 2 at noon at the Waterfall Room, 2015 S. Water St. Tickets are $70 and include buffet dinner and music. Cash bar. For tickets and more information contact Linda Lewandowski at 215-271-1674, Anna Marie Rosato at 856-371-7332 or Barbara MacCahery at 267-335-7072.
Task force faces challenges to reproductive healthcare
Over two dozen advocates, healthcare providers, legal experts and representatives from city agencies convened for the first meeting of Philadelphia’s newly established Reproductive Freedom Task Force. Authorized by Councilwoman Kendra Brooks, the task force brought together local stakeholders to identify emerging challenges and put forward proactive solutions to ensure that reproductive healthcare remains safe and accessible in Philadelphia.
“Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, working families deserve access to safe, affordable reproductive healthcare,” said Brooks, chairwoman of the task force. “This task force will assess how mounting attacks on reproductive freedom nationwide are impacting care here in Philadelphia, including increased security threats and a surge in patients from states where abortion is banned. Working together, we will ensure that our city remains a safe haven for patients and providers of reproductive care.”
Since 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, over 30 states have passed restrictions on abortion. Task force members described how that decision has impacted their work locally and shared widespread concern that reproductive healthcare could be further limited in Pennsylvania.
The task force includes representatives from a range of local organizations and agencies, including area hospitals and health clinics, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Women’s Law Project, Women Against Abuse, ACLU of PA, the Department of Public Health and the Law Department. Stakeholders emphasized the holistic nature of reproductive healthcare, extending beyond abortion to encompass menstrual health, sexuality education and birth control.
Rare sword donated to the Museum of the American Revolution
The sword of a soldier who served in the Continental Army’s Corps of Light Infantry, given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette and carried at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781 alongside Alexander Hamilton, has been donated to the Museum of the American Revolution. It will be on public display in the museum’s core exhibit starting Nov. 5.
Jeremiah Keeler, who was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, in 1760 and initially served in the Connecticut militia as a teenager, is said to have used the sword as a crutch on his long walk home at the end of the Revolutionary War. At the Siege of Yorktown, Keeler and his comrades in the Corps of Light Infantry famously assaulted a British redoubt, which led the Continental Army and its French allies to victory. Alexander Hamilton commanded that brave attack. Now, this witness object – donated by Keeler’s great-great-great-great-granddaughter in memory of her mother who cherished the family heirloom – will help to tell the stories of common soldiers whose service and sacrifice contributed to the founding of the American nation.
“The Museum of the American Revolution is honored that Sgt. Keeler’s descendants have entrusted us to preserve this incredibly rare sword for future generations,” said museum president and CEO Scott Stephenson. “We are excited to share the story of this young Connecticut veteran of America’s first greatest generation with visitors from across the country and around the world.”
The sword was donated by Suzanne Reynolds of Birmingham, Michigan, alongside her two sisters and her son, in memory of her mother, Helene Keeler Spangler. Reynolds said her mother cherished the sword her whole life as a symbol of pride in her heritage.
“My family and I are excited and proud for the sword to be displayed and appreciated for what it is – a historic artifact,” Reynolds said. “I think it’s important for people to know that these artifacts are out there, and that they can be shared with people in this country, and maybe even around the world. It’s hard to put into words how important this was to my mom, and I think that the most important thing for my family is to honor my mom with this donation.”
Council wants death penalty abolished
City Council voted 16-1 in favor of a resolution calling on the state Senate to pass House Bill 999, to abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania. All 14 Democrats and both members of the Working Families Party voted for the resolution. Republican Councilman Brian O’Neill voted against the resolution. The last Pennsylvanian executed was Gary Heidnik, in 1999. Gov. Josh Shapiro has called for the General Assembly to repeal the death penalty and has continued the death penalty moratorium policy initiated by Gov. Tom Wolf. ••
Learn about scholarship program
Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia, a K-8th grade scholarship program, will hold a school fair to connect families with CSFP’s network of partner schools, program ambassadors and staff on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Community College of Philadelphia, Bonnell Building, 1700 Spring Garden St.
Parents will learn how to apply for scholarships.
Free school supplies will be given away, and there will be a prize raffle.
RSVP at https://www.csfphiladelphia.org/school-fair/ ••
Entertainment at Parx
Parx Casino is offering the following upcoming entertainment:
Oct. 25: Michael Blaustein
Nov. 9: Air Supply
Nov. 21: Aaron Lewis
Nov. 23: Steve Trevino
Dec. 7: Kathleen Madigan ••
VFW looking for members
Bustleton-Somerton/CTR1 Michael J. Strange VFW Post 6617 meets on the third Wednesday of every month at American Legion Post 810, 9151 Old Newtown Road.
Meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
If you are a military veteran who served in a designated combat zone, you are eligible to join the VFW.
Call Commander Israel Wolmark at 215-725-0630 if you would like to join the post. ••
Apply for scholarship
Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia opened its 2025-26 application season. CSFP will award 2,000 new scholarships to eligible students this year, while continuing to support prior recipients.
These need-based, K-8th grade scholarships are available for Philadelphia families interested in sending their students to more than 150 tuition-based schools throughout the city. The updated tier award amounts will total $1,250, $2,500 and $3,350, reflecting incremental updates to the previous tiered amounts. All CSFP students receive scholarships through eighth grade. CSFP scholarships are awarded through a random lottery and are available for up to three children per family per year.
Apply by Nov. 15 to be entered into a December lottery.
CSFP previously released a report detailing evidence that the fund’s students outperform their public school peers in both math and reading on standardized tests.Families can apply at www.csfphiladelphia.org/apply. ••
