New Whole Foods Coming and More Ahead Thursday

Welcome to August, folks. Below is rundown of a few things, five if you're into precision, that we think you ought to know. 

• Government: The Lower Merion Board of Commissioners is meeting at 7 p.m. and will consider a handful of consequential items, but none more so than a formal vote to approve a new Whole Foods on East Wynnewood Road. The store, which replace the "old" Whole Foods that presently sits at 339 E. Lancaster Avenue in Wynnewood, will be 45,000 square feet—three times the size of its predecessor—and will include a pub that serves wine and beer. The township Building and Planning Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday night to approve the behemoth, and Thursday's vote looks to be something of a formality. To see the meeting's full agenda, click here, and be sure to check back with us tonight for the full story as soon as the approval (presumably) goes through.
• Fun: On Thursday night, join the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and the Lower Merion Conservancy for a nature walk that ends with a sunset toast overlooking the Schuylkill. Pre-registration is required and you can find more information at the group's Patch event listing.
• Traffic: Check out the PennDOT traffic cameras to get a beat on how traffic looks this morning. A prediction: not great. 
• Weather: The forecast calls for rain, and lots of it, with highs in the mid 70s. There's a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms during the day, per our intrepid forecasters, with overnight lows in the high 60s and, you guessed it, more thunderstorms. Bring an umbrella. 
• History: According to our friends at the History Channel (who never answer our calls) on this day in 1981, Six Flags amusement park opened its first location in Arlington, Texas. There are some dates that have such a rich history, such a powerful connection to the many things that make this country a great one, that you can't help but shake your head in prideful wonder. Today isn't one of those days.