There aren’t too many chances these days to have a say in where you buy your food in West Philly. Actually, there may be only one chance. Mariposa Food Co-op launched a new membership campaign today that will provide that chance.

Mariposa will move to a new building next fall that increases its size five-fold, making it the only community-owned grocery store in West Philly. We’re talking fresh produce, fresh fruit and staples we all need – all on Baltimore Avenue near 49th Street. West Philly needs to step up ownership – that means becoming a member. Just to be clear, folks who aren’t members can shop at the new store too. But membership, as they say, has its priveleges. Here they are:

• Members get a discount and members who chip in to help run the store get an even bigger discount.

• As a member you get a voice in how things are run.

• Finally, and maybe most importantly, becoming a member means that you are helping to create a business that we all have a stake in.

Peter Collopy, a Mariposa member explains: “Membership in Mariposa is about more than getting a discount,” said Collopy. “It’s an opportunity to share ownership of an important resource for our community.”

You can join online here.

Organizers of the Henry C. Lea Elementary School mural arts program are looking for volunteers to help with the installation of murals in the school from April 18-22, the week of spring break for the school district.

A planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the school (47th and Locust), where volunteers and community members can learn more about the project. A wide range of talents are needed to prepare the areas in the school for the murals.

The program recruited artist Jeremiah Johnson last month to design the murals that will be installed next week.

Interested volunteers should contact Yvette Almaguer at yarecess – at – gmail.com.

Don’t miss the opening of the exhibit by the current 40^th Street Artist-in-Residence Erik Ruin tonight at 6 p.m. at the 40^th Street A.I.R. Gallery (aka Airspace Gallery, 4007 Chestnut Street). Ruin will present a floor-to-ceiling installation of shadow projections and prints titled “For the Sake of Future Days.” The central theme of the exhibit is the exploration of hopes and anxieties for the future of the world in the midst of adversity and transformation.

The Artist-in-Residence Program was founded in 2003 to assist West Philly artists with their career development. It awards one year of free studio space at 40^th & Chestnut Streets.

The exhibit will run through April 29. Additional viewing hours are: April 15, 22, 29 at 3-7 p.m. For more information call 267-262-0208 or e-mail: erikruin(at)gmail.com.

This came from our neighbors at 49th & Hazel.

Hi. We are the new neighbors at 4905 Cedar…

My husband and I returned from a work trip yesterday to discover that our cat has gone missing. He is not an outdoor cat, but we fear he may have panicked and run outside when one of our contractors left a door open.

Our cat is a short-haired gray cat with green eyes. He would answer to the name Marcel but is quite skittish. I suspect he has found somewhere close by to hide.

If you have seen him please let us know. We are heart broken to have lost him.

Thanks,
Amy, Chris and Declan

If you’ve seen Marcel please contact Amy Hoover at: ahooverdesign(at)gmail.com

Good beer, good pizza and a good cause. That is precisely what you’ll get this Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the fourth annual Cedar Park Neighbors scholarship fundraiser at Dock Street Brewing Co. (50th and Baltimore).

Food and drink from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. are included in the ticket price ($35 in advance/$40 at the door). Cash bar is 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Live music is also on tap. Advance tickets are available at the Cedar Park Neighbors website or by calling Laura Tate McHugh at (267) 235-2046.

A bunch of items, from salsa lessons at Take the Lead to admission for 6 to National Constitution Center, are up for grabs during the silent auction (see the list to the left). A 50/50 drawing will also be held. Tickets for that are $1 apiece or $10 for an arm’s length. The silent auction bidding closes at 5:45 p.m.

The fundraiser provides financial assistance to college-bound students who live in Cedar Park. The scholarship fund has made more than $67,000 available to local students.

Don’t, don’t, don’t forget the Go West! Craft Fest this Saturday at Cedar Park.

Go West! will run from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature a massive variety of handmade items, from sweet jewelry made from records or real fruit to West Philly inspired prints and painting. Profiles of selected vendors are available here.

The festival will also feature a kids program beginning at 3:30 p.m. with Jay Sands of All Around this World fame. Firehouse Bikes will sell used bikes all day long. Stop by the VIX Emporium afterward from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.