2014 Cedar Park Neighbors scholarship recipients. (Photo courtesy CPN)

This year, the Cedar Park Neighbors community association is again offering several scholarships to neighborhood students. Scholarships in the past have ranged from $600 to $1,000, so this is a great chance for students to get some help paying for college.

Application deadline is June 15, 2015. To download the application, click here.

Only students living within Cedar Park are eligible to apply, so check out the map to make sure you qualify.

Those who received a scholarship in the past and are re-applying for the new year, are welcome to submit the 2015 CPN Scholarship Renewal Application.

For more information and questions, email scholarships@cedarparkneighbors.org.

Here’s a great chance to see the first and longest performing feminist chorus in the nation. This Saturday and Sunday, the Anna Crusis Women’s Choir will perform at International House Philadelphia (37th and Chestnut). The series of concerts, titled “Reclaiming the ‘F’ word,” is part of the choir’s 40th anniversary celebration. The choir, which includes both lesbian and straight women, was founded in 1975 in Philadelphia by Catherine Roma. It is the first women’s choir to become a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA).

The chorus consists of over 60 singers, plus a sign language interpreter for the deaf and hearing-impaired. The choir celebrates the diversity of women’s lives and culture, and strives to “build a bridge between the world we live in and the world we hope for.”

The songs performed by the choir are about and for women, from a variety of composers, including historical pieces from women composers.

The performances are on Saturday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, June 7, at 4 p.m. Tickets ($25) can be purchased online or through the International House box office. For more information about the chorus, visit annacrusis.com.

The mural “Ethiopian Garden” at 44th and Ludlow. (Photo West Philly Local)

New construction underway on the corner of 44th and Ludlow will cover up a striking mural honoring the Ethiopian community.

Artist Shira Walisky painted the mural, entitled Ethiopian Garden, along with a University of Pennsylvania class in consultation with the Ethiopian Community Association of Greater Philadelphia in 2006. It includes stunning and intricate patterns and images of doves. The mural faces a vacant lot at 17 S. 44th Street, which was purchased in October 20014 by a Norristown-based firm, according to city records. The city issued a construction permit for the lot, which is zoned mixed commercial and residential, on April 24 and work has begun on a residential building that will conceal the mural.

“It’s my favorite mural in the city,” said neighbor Veronica Slaght, who lives nearby on the 4400 block of Chestnut. “It would be a shame to lose it.”

Cathy Harris, the director of community murals at the city’s Mural Arts Program, said the city loses about three murals a year to construction. Usually when one is about to be destroyed or covered, they photograph it, notify the artist and, sometimes for iconic works, ask the developer for money to reproduce the mural if the community is interested.

“I’m sad to see this one go,” Harris said. “It’s really beautiful.”

The mural also includes mosaic tiles from artist Joe Brenman. Penn students helped out as part of the Urban Studies course class “Big Picture: Mural Art.”

– Mike Lyons

This Saturday, June 6, Women in Transition (WIT), an organization that provides empowerment counseling and advocacy to women in Philadelphia, is hosting a class on self-defense and safety strategies. The class is part of the WAVE anti-violence education program by WIT and is open to women, girls (ages 14+), transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.

WAVE classes teach safety strategies that students can use in situations ranging from verbal harassment to physical assault, including awareness, trusting your instincts, boundary setting, verbal assertiveness, and easy-to-learn physical techniques. Students of all skills, abilities, sizes and body types are strongly encouraged to join.

The workshop will be held at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave), beginning at 1:30 p.m., and is available on a sliding scale from $5 to $25, to allow for financial hardships. More info and registration is available at www.helpwomen.org.

A great annual tradition that helps bring the community together returns this week to Cedar Park. Live Jazz Fridays, a free and fun outdoor event for the whole family, kicks off at 6 p.m. on June 5 with a performance by Progressive Movement. The event, organized by Cedar Park Neighbors and supported by many local businesses and organizations, is held every Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m., through July 31 (see the performance schedule below). And don’t forget to bring your blanket or chair.

June 5 – Progressive Movement
June 12 – Rich Tucker and the Universal Experience
June 19 – Brent White Group
June 26 – Glenn Bryan and Friends
July 3 – Clef Club Youth Ensemble
July 10 – Gretchen Elise and Friends
July 17 – Dahi Divine and Friends
July 24 – Broke and Blue Band
July 31 – Side by Soul

The “bamboo lot” at 5123-29 Baltimore Avenue (Google Street View).

Greensgrow Farms recently signed a lease for a new garden center on Baltimore Avenue, and now they would like to present their plans to the community and get some feedback. A community meeting will take place on Thursday, June 4 at People’s Baptist Church (5039 Baltimore Ave), from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting is a great opportunity for neighbors to share ideas about what they want to see at this location.

The new garden center is planned for the overgrown vacant lot (aka “the bamboo lot”) at 5123-29 Baltimore Ave. Some likely features of the new location will be a small farm, nursery, an outdoor classroom space and possibly a farmers’ market. However, Greensgrow is willing to work with the community to figure out what the new space should include.

Greensgrow, which is based in Kensington, is also inviting neighbors to check out their temporary West Philly location at 4912 Baltimore Ave. to meet the staff and learn more about their mission and impact.