Summer

Looking ahead to next summer's toil? Here are some sources of information to help you start planning so that you're not left out in the cold. The state Bureau of Employment Security recommends going to one of the 14 Job Service offices in the city, because they list part-time as well as full- time jobs. The bureau also says you should look through newspaper help- wanted ads, call union headquarters, and check with private employment services and temporary-help agencies. And, of course, ask friends and relatives.

It has been a warm, not hot, time in Philadelphia this summer. The highest temperature has been 98, twice, and the tourists have come in decent numbers. City pools, which closed yesterday, stayed largely free of debris and violence. Through July, 944,355 people had visited the Liberty Bell, 14 percent more than last year. The Phildelphia Zoo, still minus the primate exhibit destroyed by a Christmas Eve 1995 fire, recorded 299,348 visitors in June and July, about 8,000 less than the same period last year.

To Mayor Rendell: The next time the National Rifle Association folks plan to hold a convention in Philadelphia, please tell them beforehand that, even in light of all the money and supporters they have, the only message our kids need is the message of love. Last time I checked, Philadelphia was the City of Brotherly Love. (We might say the same thing to the Democrats or Republicans, if they bring their political conventions here in 2000.) You might add that if they want to arm our children with anything next time, bring some school books, double-Dutch jump ropes, baseballs, tennis racquets and hopscotch chalk.

It is one of those quaint, unexpected touches that delights, the Valley Green Inn, three centuries old, legend has it, and virtually dripping with history along the shady banks of the Wissahickon. It is a living Currier & Ives print, handsome in the snow, refreshing in the summer, catering to Philadelphians who over the generations have paused there after a jog up Forbidden Drive or dawdled over brunch on its rustic porch. A week ago, a terrible accident occurred. A Flourtown man dining at the inn received an electrical shock from an air conditioner and died shortly afterward.

It's time for the 5th annual Readers' Summer Vacation Photo Contest. This is your opportunity to show where you went and what you did on vacation this summer season, May 26 through Labor Day, Sept. 3. We'll pay $25 each for 4 of the 5 best photos. The photographer of the winning photo, as selected by readers on philly.com/travel, will receive $100. We want to see sunrises and sunsets, water-skiers and zip-liners, mountain hikes and campsites, and of course maxing and relaxing.

Summer used to be a time for kids: long golden days of play and fun, a cherished break from school drudgery. But for a lot of youngsters in Philadelphia, summers aren't much fun anymore. They are becoming increasingly deadly. This summer continued the trend of children in growing jeopardy - from the casual murders of teen-agers in a street society ruled by the gun, to abuse of young children, to arrests and confinement in overcrowded juvenile institutions. During July and August, the number of young people 16 and under who died in some criminal manner more than doubled from the same period last year.

Demand for summer workers is higher in Philadelphia than in most other major cities, thanks to a booming local economy. But employers who pay the federal minimum wage of $3.35 an hour may have trouble finding and holding on to their workers because some businesses apparently may be willing to pay more to stabilize their work force. A number of major employers are at least thinking about increasing hourly wages because of costly high employee turnover rates and a decline in the number of 16- to 21-year-olds, who make up the bulk of temporary summer employees.

Some Warrington Township kids will have a chance to see the White House, take a tour through the FBI and visit the Air and Space Museum. Warrington Township is sponsoring a trip to Washington for children, ages 10 and older, on July 13 to see the sights. The cost is $38, including transportation and admission to each tour site. For more information, call 822-1318. Montgomery County 4-H has several summer programs for boys and girls ages 11 to 16. Youngsters can build self-confidence with the Junior Leadership Course, learn to become a better babysitter and handle emergencies through the Babysitting Course or engage in self-improvement with a program on telephone etiquette, hair care, posture, plus a fashion show.

With about 10 games remaining in the season, Cryhten Langhorne's name began to appear more and more frequently in Willingboro boys' basketball box scores. It seems that the junior had begun to impress Paul Collins with more than his superior leaping ability. Langhorne had tacked on a mid-range jump shot, which meant additional opportunities to score. If summer league play is any indication, Langhorne just might be primed to emerge as a bona fide scorer. The 6-foot-2 senior leads the Chimeras in the Cherry Hill Recreation league with a 25 points-per-game average.