Journalists Anjali Kamat and Petra Bartosiewicz tell the stories of Muslim communities in New York and New Jersey grappling with increased law enforcement scrutiny chalked up to the “War on Terror.” Specifically, they detail three cases, including the “Newburgh Four,” four men accused of bombing a community center in Newburgh, New York. The cases question the FBI’s use of paid informants in conducting the investigations of “homegrown terror.”
Brandon Ford (right) with West Philly Hybrid X Team teammates Shamere Palmer (center) and Stefon Gonzales. (Photo from Hybrid X Team Flickr feed, www.flickr.com/photos/evxteam)
When First Lady Michelle Obama’s guests settle in tonight for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, a young West Philadelphian will be among them.
West Philadelphia High School junior Brandon Ford, a leader on the school’s famed West Philly Hybrid X Team, is on a very short list of guests of the first lady announced last night. Ford forgot his school ID last September when members of the team traveled to the White House to stand with President Obama for the announcement of a new science program. He was not allowed in. But, as the Inquirer points out today, the White House didn’t forget him.
The West Philly Hybrid X Team has garnered national attention for its fuel efficient car designs that have fared very well at competitions that have included teams from automotive companies and Ivy League universities.
Ford, who also plays football at West, left with his mother, Linda Jackson, on the 8:15 a.m. train for Washington this morning.
We’re not sure whether to laugh or cry after this ABC6 story about parents braving frigid temps to get their kids into Penn Alexander’s kindergarten, which is capped at 50 students. We’re happy that such a school exists (full disclosure: we have a child there) and that parents care so much about their child’s education, but we’re sad that they are so scared of the alternatives that they feel they have to sleep outside on the coldest night of the year to get in.
This kind of stand-in-line, first-come-first-serve enrollment system obviously isn’t sustainable. Penn Alexander, which prides itself on small classes, is filling up quick in the lower grades as parents move to the neighborhood (some before they even have children) looking for the Holy Grail of a nice urban neighborhood and a good public school.
The silver Cadillac stolen from 50th and Arch Streets. (Photo by westphillylocal.com)
The district attorney’s office announced today that no criminal charges would be brought against four Penn police officers involved in the November shooting death of an 18-year-old man following a car chase that ended at 40th and Locust Walk.
The announcement followed an investigation into the shooting death of 18-year-old Karl Sappleton, who along with 18-year-old Leslie Mosby crashed the silver Cadillac they had stolen into a metal post at 40th and Locust in the early hours of Nov. 21. The crash followed a car chase through West Philadelphia. The two men fled on foot. Mosby was taken into custody, but police said Sappleton, who was from Juniata Park, shot at them. The four officers – Benjamin Mauro, Fred Nichols, Greg Everage and David Adler – returned fire near the university library killing Sappleton. The DA’s office ruled that the four officers acted in self defense.
West Philadelphia High School garden. (Photo by Allison Ostertag)
The West Philadelphia High School Garden at 47th and Locust Streets needs a volunteer group or individual to design and/or build a rain water harvesting and garden watering system. A stand for a rain barrel needs to be built and the barrel needs to be adapted to collect rain free-standing, not from a downspout.
Right now the only access to water is inside the school, which is very inconvenient and unavailable during school breaks.
Volunteers should have some building skills, tools (they can be rented from the Tool Library) and possibly a vehicle to transport the lumber. The garden has drills, hammer nails and will supply building materials.
To apply and for more information contact Allison Ostertag at 504-710-5406 or by e-mail: freeduh2 – at – hotmail.com.
This was sent to us by Lina Lee and originally appeared on Craigslist:
Lost, 2 Family Pet Dogs
I’m looking for my 2 male dogs that got out from the back yard at 51st and Chancellor. Butter is the oldest. He’s a Lab/Pit mix with light brown hair, medium weight. Dallas is a younger Pomeranian mix, light blond hair, Small/medium weight. I miss my dogs. Please, if anyone has them or has seen them please let me know ASAP. A reward will be offered. Call BJ at 215-239-0230 and leave a message. View Map
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