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Five sisters share stories of clergy abuse; Chester County shooter found dead | Morning Newsletter

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(Left to Right) Patty Fortney-Julius, Teresa Miller, Carolyn Fortney, and Lara McKeever, shown here in Hummelstown, PA, Tuesday September 12, 2018. The Fortney sisters, five siblings from the same family, four of the sisters shown here in this photo, were abused by the same catholic priest.
(Left to Right) Patty Fortney-Julius, Teresa Miller, Carolyn Fortney, and Lara McKeever, shown here in Hummelstown, PA, Tuesday September 12, 2018. The Fortney sisters, five siblings from the same family, four of the sisters shown here in this photo, were abused by the same catholic priest.Read moreJESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer

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The stories revealed by this summer's grand jury report on clergy abuse in Pennsylvania have been disturbing, to say the very least. Now one family is stepping forward to tell theirs, one that stands apart in its effect on five sisters over four decades. Their incredible bravery is on full display in reporter Tricia Nadolny's retelling of the history they're still living. In other news, this morning we have details on the shooting that rocked a Chester County retirement community last night; the shooter has been found dead.

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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

When the sweeping Pennsylvania grand jury report uncovered abuse by 301 predator priests across six of the state’s dioceses, one story stood apart.

It was that of Father Augustine Giella whose crimes thoroughly devastated a single family. He sexually abused five sisters nearly four decades ago but only recently has the family been able to tell their truth — to the public and to each other.

Now the Fortney sisters are stepping forward to tell reporter Tricia L. Nadolny their harrowing tale.

If you’ve ever been to the Academy of Natural Sciences along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, you know you can’t help but notice its vivid historic dioramas.

The 38 dioramas were installed in the 1930s and most were not touched for decades. But this year, two were cracked open and rejuvenated — everything from the animals to the leaves and snail trails.

Go behind the scenes of the process with photographer Tom Gralish's stunning photo essay and dig into the details thanks to reporter Stephan Salisbury's story.

Lifestyle columnist Elizabeth Wellington is tired of the myth that there is no good shopping in Philadelphia.

Don't believe her? To prove it to you, she visited dozens of women's boutiques and specialty stores in the region and created a master list of fashionable finds.

Sorry in advance — your shopping list is about to get much longer.

What you need to know today

  1. The alleged shooter who killed his parents at a retirement community in Chester County Wednesday night has been found dead following a manhunt early this morning. The man allegedly took shots at his former wife in a nearby community hours earlier.

  2. Christine Blasey Ford has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party, prompting both uncertainty about his nomination and debate over how alcohol impacts memory — especially in the developing teenage brain.

  3. Libraries serve so many critical functions for their constituents, but an examination of Philadelphia public library operating hours show the branches in neighborhoods with high poverty rates often close earlier and more often than others.

  4. The latest in Pa. politics: Bucks County Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is using a misleading ad tying his Democratic opponent to a convicted cop killer and Montgomery County state Rep. Madeleine Dean has to amend her financial filings as she runs for Congress.

  5. President Trump said he was so impressed by the walls at the memorial to 9/11 victims in Shanksville, Pa. that they've inspired the long-stalled plan to build a wall along the southern U.S. border.

  6. Cody Wilson, the maker of the 3D-printed gun blueprints that sparked a national debate, was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting a child. A warrant is out for his arrest, but he was in Taiwan Wednesday.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

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Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

That’s Interesting

  1. Carson Wentz is ready to take over the Eagles offense as quarterback, but don't worry, he said Wednesday the injury that kept him off the field won't change his aggressive style of play.

  2. It's a whole new world at the Walnut Street Theatre this weekend as they put on a production of Aladdin, but the stars are the real story: they're Philadelphia high school students.

  3. It's nearly that time once again: Center City Restaurant Week begins Sunday. Food columnist (and Let's Eat newsletter author) Mike Klein says it's the perfect time to try Philly's best unsung restaurants.

  4. Low fat or low carb? That is the question for many adults trying to find a heart-healthy diet in an era of conflicting medical messages. Now experts say it is the carbs you should be tracking.

  5. In other health research news, a new study shows that early exposure to household cleaners, of all things, could lead to overweight kids.

  6. If you've got an ax to grind you may want to check Old City in a few months. A Brooklyn-based ax-throwing brand is coming to Market Street.

Opinions

"Theirs is the quintessential immigrant story: strivers who take a chance for a better life in a new country, contribute to the U.S. workforce, and pay taxes that outstrip any benefits they may have received."
— Columnist Trudy Rubin on the immigrant couple whose wedding she attended this weekend.
  1. Did you know Philadelphia City Council once adopted a resolution to consider giving people free crack? Decades later, Temple professor Jillian Bauer-Reese and geographer and ACT-UP member Sterling Keith Johnson write, it's time to bring it back.

  2. As many rush to believe the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, Michelle Malkin of CRTV.com writes that "believe women" is perilous baloney.

What we’re reading

  1. One woman's retelling of what happened to a teen in her hometown when she reported she was raped — and few believed her — for the Washington Post is an incredibly difficult but necessary read.

  2. The Philadelphia Tribune's latest contribution to the Broke in Philly project explains how crime and poverty are often linked in the city, using Nicetown as a prime example. 

  3. In the Carolinas, social and racial divides are even starker as cleanup begins following Hurricane Florence. The Guardian's latest dispatch is a powerful addition to the natural disaster narrative.

  4. In Strawberry Mansion, some residents don't feel Fairmount Park is for them, but an artist residency in a nearby historic house is trying to change that, reports PlanPhilly. It sounds like an inventive solution.

  5. The Philadelphia Citizen has taken a dive into city's Citizens Planning Institute, making the case for arming everyday Philadelphians with the power to create change along the way.

Your Daily Dose of | Happiness

Want to be happy in old age? Our readers suggest turning off the TV and getting out of the house, for starters.