The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to Sunday. We’re tracking a potent coastal storm moving over the region. Check Inquirer.com for the latest developments.
How far back can you trace your family history? In our main read, meet the South Philly man with a passion for researching the ancestries of his fellow neighbors over the last 35 years.
Further on, learn how the sole rape crisis center in Philadelphia is working to provide services to survivors with less staff.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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James Trovarello, 74, is the South Philadelphia genealogist.
By meticulously examining ancestral documents, Trovarello “makes the jump back across the pond” for his clients to reveal centuries-old details of births, deaths, marriages, and land records.
Trovarello, the son and grandson of Italian immigrants, can read and speak Italian. Working out of his basement surrounded by history and geography books, he translates genealogical information over from Latin, Spanish, and French, connecting the dots to long-lost love stories and tales of sieges and fortunes.
For a tight-knit community like South Philly, Trovarello’s efforts make it possible for people to know whose grandfather was a mercenary or a butcher back in the day. It also means he picks up new assignments at weekly bocce games.
Culture and identity reporter Mike Newall has the story on how Trovarello’s family history shaped his journey into genealogy.
🎤 Allow me to pass the mic to politics reporter Fallon Roth.
Philadelphia’s only rape crisis center will continue offering some of its services — but with significantly reduced staff — as the state budget impasse has shaken up operations and spurred layoffs at the Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. The center is known by the initials of its former name, Women Organized Against Rape: WOAR.
Gabriella Fontan, WOAR’s new executive director, said in an email to The Inquirer Saturday that services like crisis counseling, court and forensic rape exam accompaniment, and advocacy services, including WOAR’s Survivor Advocacy Program, would continue “without interruption” beyond Friday, which was the final day of work for many employees who were notified earlier this week that they would be laid off.
Remaining staff members, interns, or volunteers will be available to work the center’s 24/7 hotline, though after midnight and on weekends calls may be answered by other agencies serving survivors, like NOVA Bucks and Delaware County Victim Assistance Center, Fontan said. Through Monday, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) will be working the hotline. — Fallon Roth
Read on for the potential “ripple effects” of service disruptions.
What you should know today
Two men were killed execution-style early Saturday near Pennypack Park in the city’s Holmesburg section. Police believe two suspects were involved.
A former vice president at Manor College in Jenkintown and two alleged conspirators have been charged with stealing more than $700,000 from the private Catholic institution.
The tight New Jersey governor race is set to surpass $200 million in spending for the first time as both parties see control over the state in play. Among Democratic insiders, there is concern over U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s ability to keep the state blue.
Dealing with messy traffic at the South Philly Sports Complex is a universally frustrating experience. One business group has a plan to improve it.
A team of Black women fighting to eliminate home appraisal bias in Philadelphia and beyond were awarded $50,000 to support their work.
A man detained by ICE in Philadelphia has been caring for his 5-year-old son with brain cancer. Immigration officials denied his request to stay in the U.S. to care for his son.
A woman living in Boston wanted to ditch the city’s crushing rents and move to Philadelphia. She used persistence and “the Titanic” of paperwork to achieve homeownership.
As artificial intelligence rapidly integrates into public life and government operations, two experts call on Philadelphia leaders to ensure new technologies serve the needs of Philly’s people.
❓Pop quiz
Which Calder sculpted Ghost (1964) found in the Great Stair Hall at the Philadelphia Art Museum?
A) Alexander “Sandy” Calder
B) Alexander Milne Calder
C) Alexander Stirling Calder
D) none of the above
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: MSNBC host and senior economic and business correspondent for NBC News
ELI LAVISH
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Peggy Bogart who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Edgar Allan Poe. A new documentary tells the story of the life and career of Philly-born wrestler Raven, who was inspired by the late poet.
The Philadelphia Film Society is a hub for community and cinema. Go behind the movie magic through staff photographer Jessica Griffin’s lens.
🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Two hearts, born to run / Who’ll be the lonely one?” I saw TOPS at Underground Arts on Oct. 3, and they closed out their set with an incredible cover of that Journey song. It’s been stuck in my mind since.
👋🏽 That’s it for now. Stay safe out there.