Category: PHILLY & PA. NEWS

Trump uses Hershey rally to tout ‘single best year’ for Pennsylvania’s economy

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

President Donald Trump visited central Pennsylvania Tuesday night for a campaign rally, and while he’s held similar events in other states recently for other candidates, the focus of the evening was on his administration and his re-election campaign.

Trump spoke for about 75 minutes at the Giant Center in Hershey, a 10,500-seat arena about 30 minutes east of Harrisburg. He was joined on stage by Vice President Mike Pence, and while the president brought up national subjects, such as the impeachment hearings the House is holding, he made sure to tell the crowd why they should vote for him again next November.

He reeled off figures demonstrating how well the state’s economy has performed, such as the Pennsylvania unemployment rate hitting a record low earlier in the year, although that figure has gone up slightly since. He also noted a visit he made to a Shell Chemical plant that’s under construction in Beaver County. At $6 billion, it ranks as one of the biggest investment projects in state history.

After Democrats said manufacturing was a dying industry in the country, Trump said his administration found the “magic wand” to bring those jobs back home.

“Here in Pennsylvania you had the single best year that you’ve ever had in the history of our country,” Trump said.

Pennsylvania, with its 20 Electoral College votes, is all but certain to be a battleground state again in the 2020 presidential election. The Keystone State was a crucial victory for Trump over Hillary Clinton three years ago when he won by just 44,292 votes out of nearly 5.9 million ballots cast. It marked the first Republican presidential victory in the state since George H.W. Bush won in 1988.

Winning the state again will be critical for Trump’s re-election hopes. However, while he drew raucous cheers from the crowd Tuesday night, Trump’s prospects in the state are unclear.

According to recent polling, he likely will be the underdog in Pennsylvania next year regardless of who the Democratic Party nominates to run against him. A Muhlenberg College/Allentown Morning Call survey released last month showed that former Vice President Joe Biden held a nine-point lead over Trump, and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders – two other top Democratic candidates – held five-point leads.

While the survey indicated that 57 percent of Pennsylvania’s registered voters do not believe Trump should win a second term, it also indicated that Biden, Warren and Sanders have higher unfavorable ratings than favorable as well.

The state’s Democratic Party used the visit as a chance to note his policies on health insurance, which they say could raise costs on individuals with pre-existing conditions. Nancy Patton Mills, chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, called the president “an ineffective leader” in a statement released shortly after he concluded his rally.

“The President knows that he has to play defense in Pennsylvania because of his broken promises to working families in our commonwealth,” she said. “Pennsylvania Democrats are fired up and ready to work around the clock to ensure victory in 2020. The future of our nation depends on it.”

published here with permission of

The Center Square

Pennsylvania Forms Task Force to Reform Commonwealth\’s Juvenile Justice System

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, legislative leaders and judges from across the state announced on Monday the creation of a task force that will recommend reforms for the commonwealth’s juvenile justice system.

Monday’s news conference in the state Capitol came about six weeks after Wolf’s Council on Reform identified juvenile justice as a system in need of overhaul. Studies indicate that as many as 9-in-10 kids in the juvenile justice system were exposed to a traumatic event in their young lives, the governor said, with about a third meeting criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Improving our juvenile justice system can have an enormous positive impact on our commonwealth by preventing young Pennsylvanians from ever entering our state prison system, and that\’s a very good thing,” Wolf said.

Each of the three branches of state government will appoint members to the task force within the next 30 days. That panel will deliver its recommendations by Nov. 30, 2020.

The task force will receive help from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Crime and Justice Institute. In

a study last year

, Pew noted that Pennsylvania held 999 youth for status offenses, which include underage drinking and truancy, or committing technical violations of their sentence, like missing a probation meeting or not completing a treatment program.

Only California and Texas detained more youth, and Pennsylvania’s percentage of children confined for those matters, 36 percent, ranked fifth nationally.

State lawmakers are already working on reforms to the criminal justice system. The Justice Reinvestment Initiative, which has already cleared the Senate, passed the House Judiciary Committee last week.

“Common sense tells us that as we look at our criminal justice system, we must also look upstream to our juvenile justice system,” said House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler. “By assessing evidence about what works to prevent re-offending, we can direct young people who may otherwise end up off in our adult jails and prisons at a great taxpayer expense. By intervening early, we can save money and improve lives.”

Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, who currently serves as the president judge for the family division of the state’s Fifth Judicial District and as chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, said that judges, juvenile probation officer and other stakeholders have worked hard to produce good outcomes for kids engaged in the system. However, more needs to be done, she said, and that it will require input from both parties.

“I think no matter what side of the aisle you\’re on, so to speak, we all agree that we want our communities to be safe and we want our children to thrive,” Clark said “And this task force will seek to do that.”

published here with permission of

|

The Center Square

Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package: Key To Fun In Philly This Holiday Season

Winter-Only Package Includes Free Hotel Parking & A Free Philadelphia Sightseeing Pass™ For Two

Want visiting friends and relatives to enjoy a comfortable, relaxing, enjoyable holiday season in Philadelphia? Encourage them to book the

Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package,

a perks-packed deal that enables visitors to choose their own city adventure thanks to the inclusion of two free Philadelphia Sightseeing Passes — a first-time package perk. The hotel offer is available December 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020.

“The Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package wraps the city up into one big gift and gives visiting friends and relatives a relaxing place to stay, as well as tickets for the Philadelphia activities that most appeal to them,” said Jeff Guaracino, president and CEO, VISIT PHILADELPHIA. “We wanted to give guests the freedom to choose, so we added the Philadelphia Sightseeing Pass into the package. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership for the tour company, which operates in 15 cities globally, and we’re glad to give package buyers the ability to select tickets for two attractions from a list of more than 30 options.”

The package includes:

Free hotel parking

, up to a $100 value for a two-night stay at a Center City hotel

Two free

Philadelphia Sightseeing Passes

, each valid for general admission tickets for two attractions (a $90 value)

Two free tickets for admission to and ice skate rental at

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

(a $28 value)

$25 restaurant card for

Garces Group Philadelphia restaurants

(Amada, Distrito, JG Domestic, The Olde Bar, Tinto, Village Whiskey, Volvér)

$10

Lyft credit

for new and existing customers

Well known for its overnight hotel parking, the package (valued at up to $253) is available at 44 hotels for one- or two-night stays. Visitors can book the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package or see redemption details anytime at

visitphilly.com/overnight

. At hotel check-in, guests will also receive redemption details for all perks.

Philadelphia Sightseeing Passes

:

Upon check-in, guests receive two Philadelphia Sightseeing flex passes. Each pass is good for use at two select Philadelphia attractions or tours (see list below). Each pass automatically activates at the first attraction visited. Passes must be redeemed at the ticket booth of the selected attraction. Passes expire March 2, 2020. More info at

sightseeingpass.com/en/philadelphia/attractions

76 Carriage Company – Franklin Footsteps Walking Tour,

phillytour.com

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University,

ansp.org

Adventure Aquarium (Camden, NJ),

adventureaquarium.com

African American Museum in Philadelphia,

aampmuseum.org

Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial,

battleshipnewjerseyorg

Betsy Ross House,

historicphiladelphia.org

Campo’s Combo: cheesesteak, beverage, chips and bite-sized dessert,

camposdeli.com

City Hall Tower Tour,

phlvisitorcenter.com/CityHallTowerTour

The Constitutional

®

Walking Tour,

theconstitutional.com

Eastern State Penitentiary,

easternstate.org

Franklin’s Grave and Christ Church Burial Ground,

christchurchphila.org

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia Candlelight Walking Tour,

ghosttour.com

Grim Philly Twilight Tours – Vampires, Sex & Ghost Tour,

grimphilly.com

Grim Philly Twilight Tours – Witches and Ghosts,

grimphilly.com

Independence Seaport Museum,

phillyseaport.org

Independence Tour – Walking Tour,

bowtietours.com

Museum of the American Revolution,

amrevmuseum.org

National Constitution Center,

constitutioncenter.org

National Liberty Museum,

libertymuseum.org

National Museum of American Jewish History,

nmajh.org

One Liberty Observation Deck,

phillyfromthetop.com

Penn Museum,

penn.museum

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA),

pafa.org

Philadelphia Museum of Art,

philamuseum.org

Philadelphia Sightseeing Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour,

philadelphiasightseeingtours.com

Philly Tour Hub – Center City Holiday Tour,

phillytourhub.com

Philly Tour Hub – History in HD Walking Tour,

phillytourhub.com

Philly Tour Hub – Italian Market Immersion Walking Tour,

phillytourhub.com

Scavenger Hunts – Philadelphia,

sightseeingpass.com/en/philadelphia/attractions

Spirits of ’76 Ghost Tour,

spiritsof76.com

The Franklin Institute,

fi.edu

The Mütter Museum,

muttermuseum.org

Wharton Esherick Museum (Malvern, PA),

whartonesherickmuseum.org

VISIT PHILADELPHIA

®

is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog,

visitphilly.com

and

uwishunu.com

, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.

Philadelphia CBP Seizes $130,000 in Counterfeit Designer Handbags from Hong Kong

December, 2019

PHILADELPHIA

– Looks like there will be a few less ladies designer brand handbags under the Christmas tree this year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized a shipment of 37 counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags Thursday that arrived in Philadelphia from Hong Kong. If authentic, the handbags would have had a manufacturer suggested retail price of $130,610. They were destined to an address in Logan Township, N.J.

Counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags

The shipment of three boxes initially arrived November 25 manifested as “Lady Bag Sample.” CBP officers suspected the shipment to be counterfeit and detained it.

CBP officers worked with CBP’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising

Centers for Excellence and Expertise

, the agency’s trade experts and verified through the trademark holder that the products were counterfeit.

“Customs and Border Protection officers encounter a wide variety of counterfeit consumer goods, like these trademark-infringing handbags, and we continue to work with our trade and consumer safety partners to identify and seize counterfeit products when we encounter them,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “CBP urges consumers to protect themselves and their families by purchasing authentic consumer goods from reputable vendors.”

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program

. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, damage the U.S. economy, and threaten the health and safety of the American people.

On a typical day in 2018, CBP officers seized $3.7 million worth of products with IPR violations. Learn more about what CBP did during \”

A Typical Day

\” in 2018.

In fiscal year (FY) 2018, the number of IPR seizures decreased by 333 seizures to 33,810 from 34,143 in FY 2017. The total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the seized goods, had they been genuine, increased to nearly $1.4 billion from over $1.2 billion in FY 2017. Read more

2018 IPR Enforcement Statistics

.

As a result of CBP enforcement efforts, ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested 381 individuals, obtained 296 indictments, and received 260 convictions related to intellectual property crimes in 2018.

CBP\’s

border security mission

is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations.  Please visit

CBP Ports of Entry

to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.

Learn more about CBP at

CBP.gov

.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation\’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

What is a Smart City?

PHILADELPHIA PA–In 2017, the City launched the SmartCityPHL initiative to help improve service delivery for its broad community of residents, businesses, and visitors. While developing a roadmap to guide this initiative, we engaged community members and organizations in workshops designed to build a shared foundation for how technology can make Philadelphia a better place to live.

At its most basic level, the

SmartCityPHL Roadmap

defines a smart city as one that uses data and technology to improve the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit our diverse city.

To further shape the development of smart city projects and technology, we identified four guiding principles unique to Philadelphia’s approach:

Locally-inspired:

We will pursue projects that accurately reflect the needs of Philadelphia’s communities and use the unique assets, culture, and existing resources present in the city.

Innovative:

We will grow our capacity for research, discovery, piloting and evaluation to develop creative solutions to municipal challenges.

Equitable:

We will strive to engage and invest in our diverse communities so that all Philadelphians can benefit from and contribute ideas to smart city activities.

Collaborative:

We will collaborate on project development and implementation with stakeholders and partners from government, private sector, startup, civic technology, academia, and local neighborhoods.

These goals represent primary considerations when forming and evaluating SmartCityPHL projects.

Pitch & Pilot

, a new program designed to identify and test innovative approaches to municipal challenges, is a prime example of putting these principles into practice. The SmartCityPHL guidelines drive Pitch & Pilot’s process of choosing challenges, soliciting and evaluating proposals, and assessing the success of a pilot project. Our goals for this exciting initiative are to engage Philadelphia’s diverse community and work together to discover solutions to the city’s challenges.

Learn more about how Pitch &Pilot supports the overall goals of SmartCityPHL.

Archbishop’s Benefit for Children Christmas Party

PHILADELPHIA PA–Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) will host the 64th annual

Archbishop’s Benefit for Children

Christmas Party

benefitting nearly 500

children and youth in grades Pre-K through five. This year’s theme is “Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!”

The

Archbishop’s Benefit for Children Christmas Party

will kick off with a live Nativity scene on the front steps of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center (APC) featuring students from Saint Raymond of Peñafort School (Philadelphia). Highlights include live animals, a performance by the Divina Uncion Choir, and a Las Posadas presentation commemorating the journey that Joseph and Mary made in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the Savior.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Archdiocesan Pastoral Center

222 North 17th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Following the live Nativity scene, the celebration will officially kick off at the Philadelphia 201 hotel located directly across from the APC.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

will greet the children and join in on the festivities. Reverend Christopher M. Walsh, Pastor of Saint Raymond of Peñafort Parish (Philadelphia), will serve as the emcee for the event.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Philadelphia 201 Hotel

17th Street between Race and Vine Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Children and youth will enjoy an afternoon filled with performances, sing-a-longs, snacks, and more. In addition, children will be treated to a surprise visit from Santa who will distribute gifts to all in attendance. Student volunteers from Archdiocesan High Schools throughout the five-county region will serve as Santa’s elves.

The event will be streamed live from

Archbishop Chaput’s Facebook page

as well as the

Catholic Social Services Facebook page

.

The Archbishop’s Benefit for Children (ABC)

is a year-round fundraising effort that provides necessary support to help ensure the vitality of CSS’ youth programs for children and families of all faiths throughout the five-county metropolitan area comprising the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. These programs provide help and create hope for thousands of children each year, including children with disabilities, at-risk children, and dependent or court-adjudicated youth. All children in need are served regardless of background and faith.

###

Editor’s Note:

For more information or to make a donation in support of the Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children, please visit

Archbishop’s Benefit for Children

.

JEROME BY DAVE WOLFE

Related:

ARTIST Dave Wolfe

Vol. 6 No. 26 (Dec. 15, 2019)

Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. Dave has been drawing since he was 5 years old, he knew he wanted to be a cartoonist at the age of 8. He’s been distributing his comics in school since 3rd grade. (click image to enlarge)

Tips to Make the Most of Your Small House

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 14, 2019)–Not everyone is lucky to have a huge and spacious house. Considering the cost of real estate these days, you\’re already lucky even to own a house. Despite having a small place, you can still make it look great. After decorating your

place, you will be proud to call it home.

Invest in multi-purpose furniture

You can find furniture that you can use for a variety of purposes. For instance, furniture that\’s useful as a sofa in the morning, but a bed at night. You can also have a mirror which converts to a flat-screen television when reversed. The good thing is that you can have everything you need despite having limited space.

Opt for a minimalistic approach

You can change the way you view home decoration. Instead of buying as many items as you can, you could reduce them. A minimalist approach allows your space to look more spacious and creates an illusion of comfort.

Use blinds instead of curtains

When using blinds, you can create a seamless connection between your house and the outdoor space. It feels like the world is your home. Curtains are restricting and will make your room look even smaller. Apart from using blinds, you also have to invest in a large mirror. It tricks you into thinking that there\’s more depth in your home when it\’s only the reflection of one side.

Always keep it

organized

You can\’t afford to have a messy home when it\’s already small, to begin with. The place will look even more cramped. Each time you take something out, you need to return it properly. For instance, if you read a book, you have to return it to the shelf once you finish.

Invest in built-in furniture

Sometimes, it’s difficult to find furniture that fits your needs. The available choices don’t always fit. You might end up choosing the best option, but it’s not perfect. The best alternative is built-in furniture like a

fitted wardrobe UK

specialists design and install. If you have one, you will find it easy to customize the design to match your space, preference and budget. You can also determine the specific area where the furniture will be suitable. You might have to spend a bit more for fitted furniture, but it looks amazing. It’s also practical.

Keep it simple

You might feel inspired to follow the design ideas you see in magazines. The problem is that you don\’t have the luxury of such space. You have to settle for the small area you have. Despite that, you can still make your home amazing. You just need to be smart in determining the perfect design. Keep it simple but stunning.

Start by listing everything you want to see in your house and what you need to have. From there, you can decide what else you need to purchase. If you can afford to move to a bigger house in the future or opt for remodelling, it would also be an excellent idea.

Image:

https://unsplash.com/photos/EMWgB-BTyh0

*PATCO Connects Public to Events & Attractions on Both Sides of the Delaware

Wintergarden at Dilworth Park

November 8 – February 23

Franklin Square Holiday Festival

November 14 – December 31

Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market

November 23 – January 1

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade

November 28

Comcast Holiday Spectacular & Market

November 28 – January 1

Christmas Village

November 28 – December 24

Macy\’s Light Show

November 29 – December 31

Christmas Underwater at the Aquarium

November 29 – December 30

Holiday Happenings in Collingswood

November 29 – December 22

Haddonfield Candlelight Shopping

November 29 – December 22

The Nutcracker

December 6 – December 31

PATCO Silver Sleigh

December 7

Camden Children\’s Garden Santa

December 7

Milk & Cookies with Santa at the Aquarium

December 8, 14, & 21

Holiday PJ Party with Santa at Dilworth Park

December 8 & 15

Art in the Sky: Holiday Craft Bazaar

December 15

For additional events near PATCO stations, search #RidePATCO on social media.

MRC Volunteers Strengthen Communities during the Holiday Season and Beyond

The holiday season is a time for giving. We spend hours (sometimes weeks, months…) searching for and picking out the perfect gifts for friends and family. Many of us donate to non-profits and charitable organizations. We even give to ourselves – often taking important time off to unwind and connect with our loved ones.

The holidays also offer an opportunity to give our time and skills to volunteer organizations and think of new ways to connect with our communities. This holiday season, consider donating your time to improve the health of your community by volunteering with the

Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

.

The MRC is a national network of more than 175,000 volunteers located throughout the United States and its territories. MRC units organize, train, and utilize local volunteers to prepare for and respond to emergencies. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds.

Although volunteering is important all year, winter typically brings a predictable but dangerous series of threats to community health across the country: colder temperatures, winter storms, and power outages.

In January and February 2019, MRC volunteers from across the country – from the Pacific Northwest to New England to the Gulf Coast – devoted more than 700 hours in response to these winter emergencies.

To help their communities weather the storms, MRC volunteers staffed warming centers and overnight shelters; provided call center support at emergency operations centers; assisted with charging stations during extended power outages for residents to charge electricity-dependent equipment and devices; and performed door-to-door wellness checks on residents who may be home bound and without power.

In addition to weather-related events, many MRC units are busy during the winter months keeping their communities healthy by combating the flu virus. MRC volunteers administer vaccines and provide logistical support at hundreds of flu clinics in their local communities, including those held at community events, health departments, and schools. These events provide MRC units with opportunities to test their capabilities to respond to a pandemic or other incident requiring mass dispensing.

All of these activities build communities that are healthier, better prepared, and more resilient. If you are interested in serving your community – whether this holiday season, this winter, or any other time throughout the year – I invite you to

find an MRC unit near you

, talk to your local coordinator, and ask what their needs are and how you may be able to serve.