🌱 Flower Show Opens + Violent Weekend: 6 Dead + PPA Ghost Car Towing

Hey, neighbors. It's Monday in Philadelphia and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in the community today. Today's issue includes updates on:

• For the first time since the pandemic, the Philadelphia Flower Show is back at the PA Convention Center.
• Six people are dead over a gun violence avalanche of a weekend in Philly.
• The Philadelphia Parking Authority was busy towing all these "ghost cars."

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But first, today's weather:

Clouds and sun. High: 55 Low: 37.

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Here are the top three stories in Philadelphia today:

1. The calendar says otherwise, but in Philadelphia, spring is here with the opening of the Philadelphia Flower Show. This year's theme, "The Garden Electric" hopes to bring 250,000 visitors into the city and back into the Pennsylvania Convention Center after a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation's largest and longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by the world's premier floral and landscape designers. The show runs March 4-12. (PA Patch)
2. When does the gun violence in Philadelphia end? Another horrific crimewave in the city this weekend left six people dead, including a 14 year-old boy shot to death. Police homicide units crisscrossed the city from Juniata to Overbrook, next to West Philadelphia and then Tioga and ending in North Philadelphia where six people total were killed due to gun shots. Authorities say no arrests have been made in any of the shootings and no weapons were recovered. (fox29.com)
3. What's a ghost car and why was the love to hate Philadelphia Parking Authority towing them over the past week? A ghost car is when a driver purposely removes a license plate and hides the VIN number or has a fake paper license plate in order to park illegally and avoid tickets. Well since February, the PPA has towed over 20 of these plate-less cars and plans to keep pulling them off the streets. (Inquirer)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• Again and Again Exhibition Reception (6:00 PM)
• Cheerleading Booster Meeting - Keystone Academy Charter School (7:00 PM)
• Rink at Night (7:00 PM)
• Question to a Psychic My Psychic Talk Radio Show - Call in your Free Question to me (7:00 PM)
• Free Comedy Show (7:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• See, this is why you don't swim in the lakes of FDR Park. At the end of South Broad Street is a little piece of greenspace utopia complete with lakes, fields, trails and alligators. Well, that's what a 9-1-1 caller thought they saw in the water of FDR Park. Instead, it was a 3 foot caiman which looks like a midget alligator and would still scare the heck out of you. These creatures are not native to the United States so unfortunately that means it was imported here illegally as a pet and then dumped in FDR lakes. Hey! This might be a good plot from M. Night's next horror flick! (WPVI-TV)
• Gettin GRID-DY wit it. We know it seems like everybody and their mother is running for mayor this year but hats off to Grid Magazine's March edition that has a great and chock-full showcase that highlights all the people wanting to be Philly's boss! If you're lost in this political sea of candidates, read this and hopefully it helps you learn more about who wants to lead our city for the next four years. (gridphilly.com)
• Philly Parks and Rec is really trying to turn the rec centers into community hubs. The "Making Space" program is a big step toward that goal! "By the end of this year, you could walk into a Philly rec center and find a barber school, a comic book store, a community seafood program or one of seven other small businesses from a Philadelphia entrepreneur." (billypenn.com)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Patty-Pat Kozlowski

About me: Patty-Pat Kozlowski has been writing community news and Philly-cenric Op/Eds for over 20 years. A Jill of all trades she's been a stand-up comedian, chef, DJ, newspaper editor, food trucker and Parks Director for Philadelphia Parks & Rec as well as a community relations/legislative aide for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Philadelphia City Council.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Philadelphia Patch newsletter? Contact me at philadelphia@patch.com