Philadelphia’s Runaway I-95 Horse Gets A Name
Great news! Philadelphia’s runaway I-95 horse has a name, but they need your help …
You probably saw the video of the horse running along 95-North through Philadelphia. It happened in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 20, 2024. You can watch it HERE. The nameless horse safely exited at Allegheny and was wrangled by Philadelphia police and returned, unharmed, to the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club (FSURC). The ordeal created quite a stir, even receiving national attention. It is a beautiful horse with a happy ending, but now it needs a name. So the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club did what they do. They turned to the kids.
Freeway or 95-North?
According to Nicole Bryan, a staffer at FSURC, everyone at the club had an opinion about what the name should be. Their options were 95-North and Freeway. The club held a horseshoe throwing contest and Freeway won, although many of the kids say they will call him 95-North anyway.
Who is the Fletcher Street Riding Club?
Perhaps this is the first you are hearing of the Fletcher Street Riding Club. If so, I am proud to introduce you to this organization. I caught up with Nicole who told me the club houses 15 horses as well as a few other animals. Feed alone costs about $2.500 a month, and they also have to pay for insurance, manure removal, bedding, and other stable and maintenance supplies. Nicole said:
Because we are self funded we always prioritized the horses needs and anything left over went to outings for the kids, whether it be a rodeo, or a camping trip, etc. we never charge the kids from our Community, as the purpose is to give them opportunities they otherwise couldn’t have access to.
Did you hear Jeff Kurkjian’s Ten Minute Tune about Freeway?
It is a labor of love.
While chatting with Nicole, I could feel the passion she has for this place and more remarkably, the people. Nicole shared stories and photos with me of staff and community volunteers who commit themselves to keeping Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club afloat. It is not easy work, but it is in their hearts, and that makes the difference. According to Nicole, some of the volunteers grew up riding at the club, so it is a generational impact they are committed to keeping alive!
There was talk about how the horse got loose and concerns it was a result of vandalism. FSURC is hoping to install security cameras on the property. The problem? The club operates solely on donations and all the money at Fletcher Street goes to the care of the horses. All of it. Even the staff volunteers their time. That is why the press coverage has been “a blessing in disguise.” Nicole said:
Our mission has always been to preserve the history of Black Urban horsemanship, and also provide a safe, stable place for our community.
You can help.
If you would like to make a donation to FSURC, you can do so through its website, or by scanning this QR code:
Donations will be used for:
Horse feed, hay, grooming/care supplies (So. Much. Hay!)
Medical costs for our horse family (Ellis has rescued horses his entire life.)
Transportation (horses in the back)
Building materials (repairs, wood for stalls/fences)
Gardening supplies (new projects)
The Weirdest Things That Happened In Philadelphia In 2023
I-95 Collapsing
When this news came out, the entire city, collectively, gasped. Our jaws dropped. What do you mean a truck caught on fire and made I-95 fall down? What do you MEAN??? Thanks to dedicated construction crews, they got the road up and functional in record-breaking time.
Kelly Oubre Jr. And Conspiracy Theories
Kelly Oubre Jr. is a new member of the 76ers starting roster this season. He came out of the gate in October with an impressive showing and proved to be a stellar new squad member. Then, in November, news broke that Oubre Jr. was struck by a car in Philadelphia, and he sustained a rib break that would render him benched for a few games. As more news broke, and details didn’t seem to add up, people began to question the validity of Oubre Jr.’s story. In December, Oubre Jr. returned to the court and has continued to show the explosiveness he began the season with.
Side note: Two pro athletes playing for Philadelphia teams were struck by vehicles this year. A.J. Brown was on Instagram Live in May, biking for charity, when a car knocked him off his bike. He was okay and sustained a bruised ego, but dang! Let’s protect our athletes, Philly. Drive carefully!
Nick Castellanos' Favorite Superhero
This was strange. Castellanos was chosen to represent the Philadelphia Phillies at the All-Star Game this year, playing for the National League team. The All-Star break features baseball’s best players and a circus of media and interviews. After all, it’s not often you have the best-of-the-best all in one place.
When asked during an interview with KTZV NewsChannel 21 about who his favorite superhero is, he said, “Scooby Doo.” Huh?
“First off, he’s a dog who can talk,” Castellanos said. “So, I think a dog that can talk and can help people by solving mysteries is a superhero.”
This prompted tons of Scooby Doo costumes at Phillies games, especially during their *cough* playoff run. I know, too soon.
Hall And Oates Legal Battles
Welp, this was a surprise. Philadelphia’s own Rock/R&B duo are embroiled in legal battles.
Yes, they don’t like each other anymore! What? In November 2023, Hall filed a lawsuit against Oates and his trust due to contractual and financial disputes. Hall additionally issued a restraining order against Oates in the wake of the charges. When THAT news broke, our jaws dropped.
We have to stay updated on this because they’re our Philadelphia SONS! We hope they work it all out.
Dollar Dog Night
The fan-favorite game day took a messy turn in April. Dollar Dog Night is a special Phillies game in which hot dogs at marked stands in the stadium only cost $1. It’s a dang bargain.
It seems, though, that their cheapness contributed to a group of young people not being worried about wasting a bit of food. Well, a lot of food. A food fight broke out in section 112 and turned Dollar Dog Night into chaos that went totally viral.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Dollar Dog Night took a year off in 2024…
The Escaped Prisoner
Danelo Cavalcante was serving a life sentence in Chester County Prison for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend when he escaped by scaling two close-together walls. His escape sparked a huge manhunt that went on for two weeks in September.
During his time out of custody, he burglarized two homes in Pennsbury and South Coventry townships, stealing a firearm, clothing, and a shaving razor. He also stole a Ford transit van from a location in Pocopson Township.
This ordeal caused Longwood Gardens to close after he was spotted on security cams there. Many towns in Pennsylvania went on lockdown, or sprung into action to help the search, as he got spotted on Ring Camera footage or by eyewitnesses in the area.
He was captured with the help of dogs after 14 days wearing a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt. The state was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
A Security Guard Being Ejected?
A scuffle between a 49ers linebacker and the Philadelphia Eagles’ chief security officer resulted in both being ejected. Yes, a dude on the sidelines, in no way involved in play, got ejected from an NFL game.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was ejected for putting his hand in the face of the Eagles’ chief security officer, Dom DiSandro.
“Big Dom”, as he is called, is a constant presence on the Eagles’ sideline and whenever players are out in public. He pulled Greenlaw off Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith after a reception and tough tackle in the third quarter. Greenlaw immediately popped up and reached over two officials to touch DiSandro’s face with a closed fist.
Greenlaw was ejected. DiSandro also was told to leave and walked to the locker room to a roaring ovation from Eagles fans.
Wildfire Smoke
Wildfires in Quebec, Canada in June generated large smoke plumes to the north. All of the smoke, for about a week in the summer, then another few days LATER in the summer, funneled right into the Northeast. Some really annoying weather patterns brought the smoke directly into our area, and there really wasn’t anything we could do about it.
The city was covered in a thick cover of smog and smelled like someone was having a campfire. It was a really unpleasant environment to be outside in. If you had any outdoorsy June plans, you may have had to hold off until it cleared.
Masks made a bit of a comeback as well, as people tried to avoid the smog going into their airways.
