This Monday, Jan. 20, we are celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Day. To honor his legacy, special events and volunteer opportunities have been scheduled in West Philadelphia by local groups and organizations.

A street renaming and awards ceremony in honor of Dr. King will take place on Monday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 40th and Lancaster, the exact place where he delivered a historic speech on August 3, 1965. More than 10,000 people came to listen to Dr. King speak on that day. To commemorate this event, a historical marker and a mural were unveiled at the intersection of 40th Street and Lancaster and Haverford Avenues in 2010, but this Monday, community members are invited to celebrate the renaming of the triangle to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Triangle. The ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. and feature the following speakers:

• Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District)
• Jim Brown, community leader who led the effort to rename the street
• Joe Walker, community leader who has been leading the effort to memorialize this site since 2009
• Community leaders, faith leaders, neighbors

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Walnut Street bike lane near 44th St. (November, 2024). (Photo: West Philly Local)

There are some dangerously dirty bike lanes in West Philly. Philly Bike Action, a local organization that advocates for safe, protected bike lanes in the city, is hosting a Walnut Street bike lane clean up this Saturday, Jan. 18. Volunteer help is needed with trash pick-up and clearing weeds and debris. Materials will be provided, but you can bring your own if you wish. See the flyer below for more details.

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The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is planning green stormwater projects in the Cobbs Creek area of West Philadelphia and inviting community members to learn more about this plan and provide input at a public meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 14 (see more info below).

The proposed projects in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood, called “West Philly Heat Relief,” are part of Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters plan, which is reducing combined sewer overflow pollution in local waterways through the installation of neighborhood-based green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). Many of the GSI projects planned for Cobbs Creek will also increase the neighborhood’s tree cover, which will help residents stay cool in the summer months.

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West Philly pet owners have a chance to have their pets vaccinated at a free pet vaccination and wellness clinic, which will be held on Monday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, located at 3900 Spruce St. The clinic is part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at the university.

Veterinarians will provide vaccinations and will also offer a low-cost, permanent microchip for pets. Vaccines for approximately 200 dogs and cats will be administered.

This year, Penn Medicine and CHOP will also provide free health screenings and influenza vaccines for pet owners during their pets’ appointments.

To schedule an appointment, call 215-898-4680 between 8 and 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments will be accepted until full, and there is a limit of 2 pets per household.

UPDATE: UC Green will host their annual TreeCycle event on Saturday, Jan. 11 at Clark Park and Malcolm X Park:

Clark Park (4300 Baltimore Ave): 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Malcolm X Park (5100 Pine St): 1-3 p.m.

Suggested donation per tree is $5-$20. Trees will be mulched to help support local park trees.

The City’s Department of Sanitation will kick off its annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program on Monday, Jan. 6. The program offers residents various opportunities to dispose of their tree in an environmentally-friendly way. Recycled trees are sent to a vendor that chips them up as a bulking agent for composting.

While the program is running, residents may bring their Christmas tree at no charge to one of several designated locations or to a nearby sanitation convenience center.

In West Philadelphia, the designated drop-off locations include:

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A holiday pop-up, Chanukah Wonderland, opened on Wednesday at the corner of 47th and Pine Streets, in the ground-floor commercial space of Garden Court Towers. The pop-up, hosted by Chabad House at Penn, is open daily (except Saturday) through Tuesday, Dec. 31., from 12-6 p.m. It is offering fun activities for the whole family, including games, crafts, giant menorah lighting daily at 5 p.m., a story time daily at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., traditional Jewish food and treats, and more (see picture).

Admission is $5 per person, $10/family.

Here’s information on holiday hours and closings at some popular local stores and supermarkets. But first, check out SEPTA’s holiday service schedule in case you’re planning some trips around the city.

SEPTA’s Holiday Service Schedule

On Christmas Eve, Metro (Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines and trolleys), buses and Regional Rail will operate on a weekday schedule. On Christmas Day, Metro and buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. Bus routes 204, 310, 311 and LUCY will not run on Christmas Day. All Regional Rail lines will run on special Christmas schedules (see more info here).

On New Year’s Eve, all metro lines and bus routes will operate on a weekday schedule. Additional trains on the Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line will operate before and after the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Penn’s Landing, with late night trains available. The New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront features two shows, one at 6 p.m. and the second at midnight, over the Delaware River.

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UPDATE: Imani Ayala has been found safe! (We have removed the flyer)

The family of 14-year-old Imani Ayala, who went missing last week in West Philadelphia, is asking for the community’s help to find her. Imani was last seen on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at 9 p.m. at her residence in the Mill Creek/Mantua area. She left home and was captured on RTCC Cameras at the 52nd and Market Street SEPTA Eastbound Platform. Since then, Imani has not been seen or heard from.

Imani is 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 165 pounds. She was last seen wearing a dark grey hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and sneakers.

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Organizers of the annual West Holiday Craft Fest, scheduled for this weekend at The Rotunda on Penn’s campus, have moved the event after they say the university demanded that vendors omit some pro-Palestinian art and sign a written agreement.

Penn owns The Rotunda, the 115-year-old distinctive round building on the south side of Walnut Street near 40th. The venue hosts hundreds of events a year mostly focused on the arts.

Some 30 vendors from the Fest will move instead to the Black Hound Clay Studio at 50th and Baltimore on Dec. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to an Instagram post Friday evening detailing the changes (see below).

The conflict began when an individual contacted Penn, West Holiday Craft Fest and management from The Rotunda objecting to politically-themed art and naming pro-Palestinian vendors in particular, according to organizers.

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The Friends of Walnut Street West Library is hosting a Huge Holiday (INFLATION FREE) Book Sale at Walnut West Library on Monday, Dec. 16, noon to 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is an annual fundraising event and its priced-to-sell policy remains: most books are still $1 and $2.

As usual, the Friends of Walnut West will use the proceeds to support programs, equipment and supplies at this library branch located at 40th and Walnut. For example, their 2022 sale funds went toward purchasing new desk chairs for the library staff, a new beanbag chair in the Teen Corner, and supplies for several children’s programs.

You can find more details about the library, including events, on the Free Library of Philadelphia website, and the Friends’ Facebook page.

If you’d like to join or volunteer with the WWL Friends, leave your name at the checkout table.

UPDATE (12/16/2024): The Streets Department are waiting for the property owners to make the necessary repairs, according to Ciani Beatty, Constituent Services Manager of the Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. “Once the repairs are complete Streets will be able to repave the area. The condition of the ditch is safe with backfill and asphalt.”

UPDATE (12/12/2024): There is finally some progress. The pit has recently been filled in with asphalt. However, it hasn’t been smoothed so it’s still dangerous to use for bicyclists. See a new photo below. Thank you to Hanna and Julia (see more info below) for sending us updates on this issue.

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Winter holidays are approaching fast, and residents have a chance to make them brighter for local kids by donating toys. The Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) is again hosting a toy drive for West Philadelphia children. There are two ways to participate in the drive – toys can be purchased directly through one of the registries or dropped off at the District Office located at 606 S. 52nd Street.

“Every child deserves to feel the warmth of the holidays,” Councilmember Gauthier said in a statement. “By participating in the 3rd District Toy Drive, you’re not just giving gifts— you’re sharing hope, joy, and the magic of the season.”

Please note that only new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the District Office. The hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Here are the links to the registries:

Target Toy Registry

Amazon Toy Registry

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Mayor Cherelle Parker has signed into law the “Get Out The Bike Lane” bill recently approved by Philadelphia City Council. The bill, which prohibits motorists from stopping, standing, or parking in a bike lane, was introduced by City Council President Kenyatta Johnson two months after the death of 30-year-old Dr. Barbara Ann Friedes, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash while legally riding in a bike lane bear 18th and Spruce Streets back on July 17.

Going forward, folks will now be fined $125 in Center City and University City, and $75 in other neighborhoods, for stopping or standing in any bike lane in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority will be the lead agency enforcing the law. The new law isn’t going to be fully enforced until the city updates all the necessary traffic signs which should be completed by next spring.

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For many years, local community organization, Cedar Park Neighbors, in collaboration with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, has been preparing and distributing food baskets for neighbors in need during the holiday season. This holiday season is no exception. As always, to make this great initiative a success, CPN is holding their annual Holiday Basket Drive. Suggested donation this year is $45, which will help feed two families.

Donations are accepted online at: https://donorbox.org/holiday-basket. Payments can also be sent to: Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Baskets, Calvary Community Center, 4740 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

CPN members and volunteers will be packing and distributing the baskets on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at Renewal Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of 47th and Cedar Avenue. Please feel free to contact the event organizer, Michelle Lewis, at mlewis1071@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer or are interested in donating bulk items. Also, feel free to ask any questions by email.