Opinion Eyes on the Street

November 5: Thanksgiving Proclamation | Bridgeport Viaduct reopening | Food stamp cuts hit 1 in 3 | Philly tax bills stuck in Harrisburg | Penn engineers work with Saul, Girard students | Winning pumpkins

Eyes on the Street

November 5, 2013

A row of mixed-use buildings along Ridge Ave. (phillytrax, EOTS Flickr Group)

Good morning, Streeters and happy Election Day. Make sure you make time to vote.

Today you can see the first Thanksgiving Proclamation, signed by George Washington, on display at the National Constitution Center before it will be put up for auction. The Inquirer explains the significance of this first Thanksgiving and traces the history of American Thanksgivings. The proclamation will be on view from 9:30am-4pm.

Commuters on the Norristown High Speed Rail Line rejoice: Critical repairs to the Bridgeport Viaduct are complete, philly.com reports. The bad news: A $30 million rehab for the bridge is still due to ensure that the Viaduct can remain in service, but remains on hold until funding materializes.

One in three Philadelphians had their food stamps cut as of November 1, when a temporary increase in program benefits expired. NewsWorks’ Holly Otterbein talked with Philadelphians waiting for food at the Community Food Center in North Philadelphia about how the cuts will affect their lives.

Several Philly-related tax bills are stuck in Harrisburg, making AVI relief and school aid wait. The Inquirer runs through the legislation in waiting – from the cigarette tax increase to help city schools to a bill enabling the city to put tax liens on properties statewide – and where each one stands.

Penn students volunteering through Engineers Without Borders team up with Saul High School and Girard College students on sustainable design projects and hands-on engineering experiments every Wednesday, the Daily Pennsylvania reports.

And just for fun: West Philly Local’s pumpkin carving contest winners were announced, including a scary school closings pumpkin and a Lou Reed portrait in pumpkin.

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