2024's greatest tales; Mt. Ethereal ice cream store to shut; Weekly gun violence replace

Philadelphia had an eventful yr, but once more. A brand new mayor took workplace for the primary time in eight years, the plan to construct a downtown basketball area ignited fierce opposition, and town performed its acquainted starring position in a extremely consequential presidential election.

Philadelphians additionally had enjoyable entertaining themselves, as we all the time do. Right here’s a recap of some of the large tales Billy Penn introduced you in 2024. Proceed studying …

Mayor Cherelle Parker’s first yr in workplace was noteworthy, as she tried to sort out open air drug markets in Kensington and push by means of a brand new sports activities area in Middle Metropolis regardless of sustained, vocal opposition. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Danielle Jowdy began making ice cream as a passion after being laid off in 2009, and saved going for greater than 14 years.

She saved making ice cream — promoting at farmer’s markets, native grocery shops and an ice cream truck — till opening a store in Mount Ethereal in 2018. Lately, she introduced that the store will shut in December 2025, surprising her many followers. It’s the results of enterprise realities that demanded she both go massive, or go house. Proceed studying …

Danielle Jowdy, proprietor of Zsa’s Ice Cream, on the store’s pickup window on a snowy day in December. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

RECAP: What else occurred?

$ = paywalled

• Pa. introduced a new program to license remote-only drug and alcohol therapy suppliers. Purposes are presently being accepted. [Capital-Star]

• After a federal investigation reported a poor response to antisemitic incidents, the Philadelphia College District agrees to modifications. [Chalkbeat]

• What number of hundreds of thousands will America’s 250th party price? Philly metropolis officers talk about early funds projections. [WHYY]

• Former UArts college students, college and alumni exhibit on the partitions of Philly Metropolis Corridor in what may be their final collective exhibition. [WHYY]

• Philly coworking information: From single desk leases to workplace area that’ll match small firms, Philadelphia affords quite a lot of choices. [Technical.ly]

• 2024 in photographs: A battleground yr for the Philly area. Right here’s a view from WHYY Information photographers of how the final 12 months unfolded in actual time. [WHYY]

Weekly transient on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

We publish this report every week in partnership with the Philadelphia Middle for Gun Violence Reporting.

A West Philly pastor empowers youth by means of cutting-edge expertise. [WHYY]
Writing Heals is a new program that pays members of the family to inform their family members’ tales. [Philadelphia Obituary Project]
Philly officers unveiled a brand new useful resource, Change in Homicides, that reveals year-over-year information. [Philly Stat 360]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

25: Taking pictures victims recorded final week, together with 3 fatalities, vs. 18, with 5 fatalities, the prior week. [Philly Police]
1,057: Taking pictures victims as of Dec. 20 had been down 36% vs. the earlier yr. [PCGVR]
259: Yr-to-date homicides, down 36% vs. final yr’s tempo; down 26% vs. 5 years in the past [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

The mayor has no public occasions scheduled for at this time.

ON THE CALENDAR

🧁 Saturday, Dec. 28: Kwanzaa Celebration on the Please Contact Museum
Dig into the colourful traditions and ideas of Kwanzaa with storytimes in regards to the precept of ujima, or collective work and duty, plus a Kwanzaa table-painting workshop and a cupcake-decorating session. Free with museum admission that begins at $22. (9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

🪘 Sunday, Dec. 29: Kwanzaa Celebration on the Penn Museum
Have a good time the magic of Kwanzaa with a drumming procession, vigorous dance, and cultural storytelling from native artwork teams. Study Kwanzaa ideas like unity, self-determination and creativity; Take part an interactive candle-lighting ceremony. Plus, handmade Zawadi presents for all! $13-18 tickets; Free for members and kids underneath 5. Decide a time slot. (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

✨ Sunday, Dec. 29: Celebrating Ujaama: Kwanzaa Quizzo and Night Bazaar
Impressed by the fourth precept of Kwanzaa, AAMP curated a family-friendly market expertise that includes Black-owned distributors from throughout the area with presents (or Zawadi, in Swahili). At Franklin Sq. Park! (5 to eight p.m.)

🕎 Menorah Lightings

Sunday, Dec. 29: Rittenhouse Sq. Menorah Lighting, from 5 to six:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 29: Chanukah on East Passyunk Avenue, on the Singing Fountain, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 30: Betsy Ross Home holds its seventh annual lighting at 4 p.m. with dwell music and vacation treats.
Monday, Dec. 30: Holidays on South, underneath the Shambles from 5 to six p.m.

💡By way of Monday, Dec. 30: Boathouse Row Lights
There can be an hourly rotation between Kwanzaa (purple, darkish purple [for black], and inexperienced) at 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m., 12 a.m., 2 a.m., 4 a.m., and 6 a.m. and Hanukkah (blue & white) at 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m., 1 a.m., 3 a.m., 5 a.m., and seven a.m.

🛍️ By way of December: Vacation Markets
Nonetheless on the lookout for a last-minute present for that difficult-to-buy-for individual in your vacation present listing? Try this itemizing of vacation markets, a lot of that are nonetheless up and working.