The city spent an estimated $50 to $60 million on new voting machines for the upcoming election.
City elections commissioner Al Schmidt visited the Holmesburg Civic Association last week, telling members the city will soon be buying new voting machines.
The estimated cost is $50 million to $60 million.
Schmidt explained that the city has to buy the machines from a state-approved company. Right now, there is only one certified company, which hurts the city as it tries to save money in a bidding process.
The commissioner said the new machines could have the traditional look of all the candidate names on one screen, or could feature the names on multiple screens. He suggested that voters might not scroll through multiple screens, leading to a potential undervote in some contests.
In other news from the Oct. 9 meeting:
• The Bridge Way School, 7360 Jackson St., will hold an open house on Thursday, Oct. 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Friday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Appearing at last week’s meeting were head of school Rebecca Bonner and director of intervention services Dana Antisell. They explained that CORA Services encouraged Bridge Way to move from Roxborough to the former St. Bernard Elementary School.
The school is free for up to 20 students in recovery in ninth through 12th grades and ages 14–20. There are available seats at the school. Call 267–437–2194 or go to thebridgewayschool.org
• John Cambridge, of the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion, 8046 Frankford Ave., spoke of neighborhood events on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Cambridge’s museum will host the Philadelphia Oddities Expo, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event will feature museum tours, a flea market, tattoo parlor, game room, food trucks, live entertainment, giveaways, classes and presentations.
For more information, visit here or check out the expo’s pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Business owners are making plans for a First Saturday celebration on Nov. 3. Businesses along Frankford Avenue from Sheffield Avenue to Academy Road are being encouraged to have special offers that day.
• Friends of Holmesburg Library will sponsor a Halloween Family Fun Night on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. at the library, 7810 Frankford Ave. There will be Halloween crafts, a reptile party with real snakes and Halloween treats. Call 215–685–8756.
• Holmesburg Civic Association will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 7:15 p.m. at Holmesburg Recreation Center, Rhawn and Ditman streets. ••
