Photo by Rebecca Gudelunas

West Philly’s Curio Theatre Company is closing out the season with another production that looks back in time to shed light on our current sociopolitical moment. Curio staged Marie Antoinette, a work that highlights political and personal excess, earlier this year. This week Catch-22, an adaptation of Joseph Heller’s classic novel, opens on the Curio’s stage in the Calvary Center for Culture and Community at 4740 Baltimore Ave.

Set during World War II but aimed as a critique of the Cold War and McCarthyism, Catch-22 follows the travails of American bombardier John Yossarian and other soldiers who are walking the fine line between carrying out their duty while trying to remain sane amid the absurdity and hypocrisy of a stultifying bureaucracy.  Continue Reading

UPDATE: A Dorset/Admiral Court Mass Eviction Rally, hosted by Philadelphia Tenants Union, will take place Monday, April 30, 4-5:30 p.m. at 4710 Locust St. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.

Residents of two apartment buildings, Admiral Court and Dorsett Court, located at 48th and Locust, were told earlier this month to move out by April 30, according to media and neighbor reports. The reason? The owner is reportedly selling the buildings, which include affordable, Section 8 housing.

According to the eviction letter, received by the tenants on April 9, the doors will be locked and utilities will be shut off April 30, so many residents are currently scrambling to find new places to live. About 70 tenants are working with Community Legal Services to determine their rights in this “unlawful” situation, according to a report by Philly.com.

The two four-story buildings include 105 apartments, about 30 percent of which are vacant, according to the report. The prospective buyer hasn’t yet been identified, but demand for market-rate apartments has ballooned in recent years. The buildings are across the street from the newly developed West Lofts (former West Philadelphia High School).  Continue Reading

Evidence of the pressure on the historic building is just across the street from the Christ Memorial Church, where an apartment building aimed at students is under construction.

After years of speculation about its future, it appears that the end is near for the 131-year-old Christ Memorial Reformed Episcopal Church at 43rd and Chestnut.

Earlier this month the city issued a permit for the demolition of the church. The permit was issued to building owners Kalidave Limited Partners, which is run by local developer Guy Laren. Laren saved a Frank Furness church at 47th and Kingsessing from the wrecking ball three years ago, prompting some to hope he might salvage some of Isaac Pursell-designed English Gothic Revival building. He has not responded to calls or e-mails.  Continue Reading

People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and Brightside Academy announced a new partnership to fast track individuals looking to break into the early childhood education field. The goal of the innovative employment strategy is to provide employment opportunities and create highly-skilled employees that are encouraged to continue an employment and educational journey in early childhood education.

PEC’s Center for Employment and Training (CET) will recruit individuals interested in this career path and prepare them for the program with five weeks of Professional Development Training, which provides an overview of critical employment skills applicable to every field, such as time management, effective communications, working on teams, presentations, and more. CET will also assist with resume building, interview skills, attire, transportation, child care, connections to resources, and assistance applying for the CDA voucher from the state of Pennsylvania.  Continue Reading

University City and West Philly residents can now safely dispose of unused prescription drugs by bringing them to the Penn Police headquarters, where a prescription drug take-back box has been installed. The box installation is a part of the Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Take-Back Program, which is focused on alleviating the health and safety concerns from the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs.

Improper disposal of prescription drugs can also create environmental hazards impacting groundwater, rivers, and harming wildlife.

Residents are encouraged to dispose of unwanted drugs safely by dropping them in the prescription drug take-back boxes installed around the city, including the new one at 4040 Chestnut Street and  another at 61st and Thompson Streets (19th Police District headquarters). For more drug take-back box locations in Philadelphia, check out this map.  Continue Reading

SEPTA Key Cards are now available for purchase at a number of retail locations, in addition to transit station and Bus Loop Fare Kiosks and SEPTA Sales Offices.

The initial launch of the “SEPTA Key External Retail Network” earlier this week included more than 100 locations where customers can purchase a Key Card and load/reload fares such as Weekly and Monthly TransPasses, Convenience Passes, and Travel Wallet value. The retail network will eventually grow to approximately 1,500 locations, including grocery stores, pharmacies and local convenience stores, among others, according to SEPTA.  Continue Reading