Private pools are doing swimmingly | Morning Newsletter
And after a rough week, let's look for some turtles.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
It’s the day before Memorial Day and the weather couldn’t be much nicer, so here’s hoping that you’re reading this on your way to the beach or the park or anywhere that isn’t your couch.
In today’s newsletter:
🗳 Counting: The Pennsylvania Republican Senate primary recount is underway, with the Philly vote expected to be re-tabulated this afternoon.
🐢 Searching: Can you find all 25 turtles in our Jersey Shore-themed interactive scavenger hunt?
⚾️ Speculating: Would firing Joe Girardi actually change anything for the Phillies?
If you see this 🔒 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.
— Matt Mullin (@Matt_Mullin, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
🎤 And now I’m passing the mic to Erin McCarthy, who wrote about how private swim clubs are doing heading into the third summer of the pandemic...
For decades, private swim clubs have been a quintessential part of lazy, hazy summers in the Philadelphia region. In recent years, many have remained a kind of throwback to simpler times, a space for kids to traipse around barefoot from the pool to the snack bar to the shuffleboard courts without the distraction of cell phones or computer screens.
Now, as the third pandemic summer begins, pool owners and managers say the allure has never been stronger. They’re raring to go for summer 2022, reporting pre-COVID membership numbers or better, expanding or improving their amenities, bringing back a full complement of social events, and doing well enough to offset the rising cost of chlorine and other products.
“Our last three years have been the best seasons here in 20 years,” said one owner. “People want to stay close to home and be outside with friends.” Keep reading for more.
In addition to Erin’s story on thriving private swim clubs, columnist Helen Ubiñas has a wonderful story on the changing of the (life)guards at Philly pools, as some senior citizens are stepping up to fill the city’s massive shortage and help keep pools open. You can read more here.
What you should know today
The Pottstown family that lost five members including four children when their house exploded Thursday had moved from Northeast Philadelphia to seek a quieter place to live outside the city.
The delay in confronting the shooter in the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre could result in criminal charges against the police.
It’s been a week full of some depressing news, so feel free to take a few minutes to give your brain a break while you search for turtles at the Jersey Shore.
Despite the Pennsylvania Republican senate primary being too close to call, Mehmet Oz has been acting like he’s already won the race.
The Phillies are in the midst of a three-game series with the Mets — and there are questions surrounding manager Joe Girardi’s job security. 🔒
Local Coronavirus Numbers: Here’s your daily look at the latest COVID-19 data.
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
❓Pop Quiz❓
A massive pest is returning to the area. Who — or what — are we talking about?
A) Shore traffic
B) Spotted lantern flies
C) Mets fans
D) Center City Sips
Find out the answer here.
🧩 Unscramble the Anagram 🧩
Two Philadelphians made Time Magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people. This is one of them.
BURNT NON QUASI
We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if you’d like. Email us if you know the answer. Today we tip our caps to Judy Pidgeon, of West Deptford, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: The Botanist.
Photo of the Day
🎶 For today’s Sunday track, we’re listening to this cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” by Gabrielle Aplin and Bastille. 🎶
👋🏼 I hope everyone has a safe and fun remainder of the Memorial Day weekend!