World

Concrete pollution; New Chinatown market; Health system merger

ADMIN 05/17/2024

A cement plant in Philadelphia’s Crescentville neighborhood was caught operating without an environmental permit.

Now, the facility will pay to help fund a litter and dumping prevention project nearby. Sophia Schmidt from WHYY’s Plan Philly has details on how a lawsuit settlement should help clean up the area. Continue reading…

Metro Ready Mix & Supply, a cement company, near the Frankford Creek in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Walk through the Pokemon collectibles and claw machines and down the stairs to find a cavernous basement supermarket and cafeteria space in the heart of Chinatown.

The blend of nostalgia for classic Asian American snacks and the hottest brands, snacks and beauty items today arrives set to a bright K-pop soundtrack and with wide aisles. BP’s Heather Chin explores the market and where it fits in Chinatown. Continue reading…

EnJoy Market opened in the basement of 143 N. 11th Street, the former home of Asia Supermarket. New owner Hung Vuong Food Markets’s expansion into Philadelphia’s Chinatown includes the the market and a toy store on the ground floor. (Heather Chin/Billy Penn)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• At $1.73, Pennsylvania has the second-highest average maximum fee on interstate toll roads, according to LendingTree. [CBS3]

• Jefferson Health and Lehigh Valley Health Network signed an agreement to merge, creating one of the largest health systems in the U.S. and the Philly region’s largest employer. [WHYY]

• One River Marina, a $40 million marina and entertainment complex, would bring restaurants, a pool and yacht club to Northeast Philadelphia. [BizJournal$]

• The landlord of an office building at 13th and Arch reached a $6 million settlement with a woman who was sexually assaulted in a law firm after the attacker bypassed lapsed security protocols in July 2022. [PhillyVoice]

• Pennsylvania is among the states where grocery chain Aldi is recalling cream cheese spreads sold that may have salmonella contamination. [CBS3]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker has not announced any public events for Thursday.

ON THE CALENDAR

🚶🏽‍♀️Saturday, May 18: Revolution Remix
Snag one of the few tickets left for this unique Philly walking tour with accompanying soundtrack that explores local history through the eyes of South Asian immigrants through the centuries. $35-50 tickets. (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

☀️ Saturday, May 18: Roxborough Spring Fest
The annual street festival is on Ridge Avenue between Lyceum and Leverington avenues, bringing three stages of live music, a Kid’s Zone, 50+ local artisans, student art showcase, food trucks, and brews from New Ridge Brewing Company and Chaddsford Winery. Free. [12 to 6 p.m.)

🎤 Sunday, May 19: 100.3 WRNB Presents RnB Fest 2024
starring Ashanti
Ashanti, Lloyd, Mýa, and Maeta perform at the Met along with several DJs at this RnB Fest that also features a beer garden. Tickets from $37.75 to $259. (7 p.m. doors open; 8 p.m. show)