PWD People Of The Year: Jennaphr Frederick, George Mallet, Dorothy Krysiuk, Kerri-Lee Halkett, Harry The Security Guy, Caitlin The Intern And All The Other Dancers And Mascots On Mascot Monday

It began with this. And somehow it exploded into all of this:

God bless you, Good Day Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Archives: Mascot Monday

Coyote Attack News Continues

NBC 10 has found more victims of the coyote that was loose in the NBC 10 viewing area.

The coyote, who roamed Lehigh County the day after Christmas, attacked three people and two dogs, making it a Big Important Story™. The animal tested positive for rabies after it was killed, so newly-revealed victim Marie Torquati — shown above demonstrating how she hit the coyote with a trash bag — has had eight rabies shots.

Will the coyote continue to haunt us from beyond the grave? Since this is a slow news week, I can most certainly say: Yes.

Coyote Tests Positive For Rabies In Attacks [NBC 10]
Wednesday: Wiley Coyote Killed With Anvil Dropped On Head

If Only We Could Make The City One Big Church

It’s been a tough year, violence-wise, for Philadelphia. 400-odd murders and such will do that.

But it hasn’t been all bad, according to State Rep. Curt Thomas. While proposing new legislation to restrict guns and make offenders work in prison, etc., he also points out there is one place where there hasn’t been any murders. He tells KYW 1060’s Steve Tawa:

While there have been more than 400 homicides this year in Philadelphia, State Representative Curt Thomas says there has not been one act of violence inside a house of worship: ”Our places of worship have remained sacred ground.”

And the Spectrum. Nobody’s been killed at the Spectrum.

Legislator Wants Faith-Based Help to Make ‘07 Year of Peace [KYW 1060]

Reason #30 To Love Philadelphia: Drexel Hoops

In the pantheon of college basketball in this town, the teams that get the most attention are usually St. Joe’s, Villanova and Temple. They’re the only three who semi-routinely advance into the NCAA Tournament, and so when they go on runs in March, people pay attention.

But the team usually viewed on a lesser plane than even Penn and La Salle, Drexel, has now won seven straight and is ranked seventh in the country in RPI. The Dragons are 8-2 have beaten St. Joe’s, Villanova and Temple and actually sold out their gym last night. (Drexel did somehow lose to Penn by 19.)

Last night, Drexel beat last year’s Final Four participant George Mason, and the Dragons also have a win over a ranked Syracuse team.

The Dragons are coached by Bruiser Flint, a St. Joe’s grad and the snappiest dresser in the NCAA. Drexel has a bunch of decent players who appear to have been with the program for about six years each.

So, you know, huzzah for usually-overlooked Philly college hoops! How’s Holy Family doing this year?

Fired up Dragons win 7th straight [Inquirer]

Leftovers: Paramedic Can’t Save Self

• A trainee paramedic says she was hazed because she couldn’t put in an IV correctly. The woman alleges she was stuck with a 14-gauge needle and beaten! Ho ho, those wacky paramedics! [Daily News]

• The Flyers have lost 10 straight. That’s the joke. The Flyers. See, we can move on now. [Inquirer]

• Les Bowen writes about how Donovan McNabb is feeling about the Eagles’ run this season. His teammates say he’s supportive. His mom says it’s weird. His mom? Sigh. [Daily News]

• Bucks County Playhouse could be sued by New Hope borough. You may remember Buxco Playhouse from its owner Ralph Miller and its foulmouthed plays. [Bucks County Courier Times]

Keystone Cops: Stein To Roam Rittenhouse Square Again

Keystone Cops is a look at police, crime, drug and public safety news.

• Michael Klein buries the lead here, taking until the final sentence to note: Neil Stein is being released from prison in two weeks! That’s big news! Rouge will be buzzing over it, I’m sure. [Inquirer]

• A grocery store clerk was shot in the head at Montesino’s Grocery. He’s still alive, so our murder total remains … uh, in the low 400s. [NBC 10]

• An appeals court rejected rabbi and convicted killer Fred Neulander’s appeal for a new trial. He remains in prison for life with no chance at parole, etc., etc. [AP/Philly.com]

Giant 30-Story Parking Garage Nearing Completion

Behold: Symphony House, the jewel of Broad Street.

Photo by Bradley Maule

Just What A.C. Needs: More Gambling

Casino impresario Steve Wynn is so needed in Atlantic City that a state senator has suggested turning Boardwalk Hall into a casino for Wynn, writes the Inquirer’s Suzette Parmley.

There’s no real legislation he’s planning, but he did float the idea to see how “anyone who has an interest” would respond. His model for the $3 billion renovation he’s proposing is Union Station in Washington D.C., only he wants to do it with slot machines.

The kicker? A full-scale renovation would pave the way for ex-bitter rivals Wynn and Donald Trump to kiss and make up and operate an expansion of Trump Plaza. The rumor is Trump would sell Trump Plaza to Wynn in exchange for good land in Las Vegas, where Trump doesn’t have a casino, oddly enough.

So, basically, what does this mean? More places to gamble in Atlantic City. Yeeha! Oh, and supposedly the developers are supposed to build a new arena to replace Boardwalk Hall if they want to turn it into a gambling mecca.

Boardwalk Hall’s extreme makeover [Inquirer]

PWD People Of The Year: The Toe-Thumb Boy And A Newspaper Headline Writer

When Marlton’s Zachary Buono’s thumb and two other fingers were blown off by an M-80 in 2005, he didn’t say goodbye to his thumb forever. No, he had an operation to move his big toe to replace his thumb.

He was even pumped about it! “It doesn’t look like a toe on a hand — it looks like a finger on a hand.” (You can be your own judge.) Some did think it still looked like a toe, but a little experiment revealed thumbs can indeed look like big toes.

As for the owner of New Jersey’s most famous thumb, well, he just wants to remember the dead:

[Doctor] Fuller described Buono as an “inspiration” to other patients who have watched his consistently positive attitude. During Monday’s appointment, Fuller said the boy even took time to express sadness over Sept. 11 victims.

As I wrote at the time: “Excuse me, doc, but now’s the time in the appointment I’d like to set aside for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Please join me in a moment of silence and then we can get back to my thumb.” Although maybe that should have been “toe.”

Another one of the People of the Year is whoever wrote the story’s headline: He lost a toe, but gained a thumb.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Sept. 12: Losing 3 Fingers Does Not Make One Forget 9/11

It’s The Party Night Of The Year!

Oh, yes. First I have to rent a tuxedo, then I need to buy flowers! So much to do before Ford’s funeral! Oooh, girl, what are you gonna wear?

Nation prepares for Ford’s funeral [AP/Camden Courier-Post]