🚍 SEPTA possibly faces new lawsuit

🍸 From the Farm to Your Cocktail

Fruits and veggies aren’t just joining your meal on the plate; they’re going in your glass, too. Philly’s mixologists are playing with fruity, savory, and fermented flavors as they opt for locally sourced syrups, tinctures, and edible flowers. Here’s where to go and what to order for your next happy hour. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

📣 Temple Nurses Push Strike Back

Union members at Temple University Hospital have pushed their walk-out date to Oct. 13 as contract negotiations continue with Temple Health leadership. Staffing, wages, and security are among the issues being discussed. [Metro Philly]

🚌 SEPTA To Be Sued Over Fare Hikes

After a lawsuit forced SEPTA to reverse its service cuts, attorney George Bochetto is hoping to win in court again. Bochetto wants a judge to reverse SEPTA’s fare hike, which raised the base fare to $2.90, and force the agency to refund customers. He plans to file the suit within a week [KYW]

• Relate: Even though SEPTA tapped into its capital budget to keep service moving, there is still no dedicated operational funding from the state. And SEPTA’s issues with Harrisburg have been spiraling for some time. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

🌳 Putting the ‘Park’ Back in Parkway

The Parkway Council has plans to transform the area between the Art Museum, Schuylkill River, and Logan Square. It’s considered a possible legacy project for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, even if it won’t be completed until years after 2026. The redesign is part of larger efforts testing how to make Philly more pedestrian friendly and connected. [🔒 Philly Mag, Philadelphia Citizen]

👵 Oldest Philadelphians Share Wisdom

Bernice Sebastian, the oldest living Philadelphian, turned 112 and marked the historic occasion with well wishes from family and political leaders. She’s in good company, as several other Philadelphians recently celebrated their century of life, crediting kindness as one of the reasons for their longevity. [Germantown Info Hub, Billy Penn]

Philly’s home to all sorts of animal life. Whether they’re native or nonnative, domesticated or wild, there are plenty of furry creatures roaming around. But not all may be friendly or healthy. If you spot an animal where it shouldn’t be, or if you or the animal is in danger, here’s what to do.

What do I do if I see a loose animal?

The city is home to animals such as coyotes, foxes, and deer who sometimes may wander far from their usual homes in forested areas. And Philly’s has had its fair share of domesticated animals on the run over the years, from horses to pigs to cows.

So if you find a farm or wild animal on the loose, or some other form of an animal emergency, call Philadelphia Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT Philly) at 267-385-3800. Do not contact 911 unless an animal is acting aggressively toward people or a person is injured.

If you find someone’s lost pet, you can file a report at Petco Lost Love and post on local social media before dropping it off at a shelter.

What if I find an injured animal?

Always assess the situation first before intervening to determine if an animal is truly injured, and whether it may require transport.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education runs a wildlife clinic that nurses animals back to health before returning them to their natural habitats. The clinic cares for the following animals:

• Songbirds
• Waterfowl (ducks)
• Raptors (owls, hawks)
• Small mammals (chipmunks, squirrels)
• Reptiles (non-venomous snakes, turtles)
• Amphibians (frogs)

You can report an injured animal to its 24/7 hotline at 215-482-7300 or text 215-853-6271. Do not move or treat an animal without guidance from a professional.

The Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center serves Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware counties. You can contact the field hospital at 267-416-9453 before bringing in an animal, and its website has a detailed FAQ with individual guidance when interacting with creatures such as raccoons, opossums, and rabbits.

If you find injured, dangerous, or diseased animals like deer or raccoons that may be demonstrating aggression, foaming at the mouth, or suffering from visible tumors, contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 610-926-3136.