West Philadelphia residents are invited to free health and wellness screenings that will take place in local CVS Pharmacy branches this December. The health assessment screenings include blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), glucose and total cholesterol screenings, which can help detect risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

The screenings are part of Project Health, CVS’s annual series of free wellness screenings in the Greater Philadelphia area. Chronic conditions, which can often be life-threatening, can be treated very effectively when identified early. Participants can have their blood pressure, body mass index, glucose, and total cholesterol screened by a medical technician, and talk with a healthcare provider who will analyze results and refer patients to additional care as necessary. No appointment is necessary.  Continue Reading

The Philadelphia Marathon returns this weekend, with two main events, the Dietz & Watson Half Marathon and 25th annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Marathon being held on Saturday and Sunday respectively. The city has announced road closures and other restrictions ahead of the event that brings thousands of people to the streets.

Streets will be closed in many parts of the city this weekend. Delays can be expected. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes, avoid areas along the race course, and allow for extra driving time. Due to increased security in the Parkway area, parking and traffic regulations will be strictly enforced. Street closures are implemented on a rolling basis and will occur as runners go by.  Continue Reading

Kung Fu Hoagies cart (archived image).

After more than six years of operation in Clark Park, Kung Fu Hoagies, the vegetarian and vegan friendly food cart, will close next month, according to an announcement on their Facebook page.

The cart, a partnership between Paul Davis and Steve Renzi, was launched in 2010 and first rolled out in Clark Park in March 2012. It had been inspired by Davis’ love of Kung Fu (he’s a martial arts practitioner).

The reason for closing is “some life and business changes.”

“It’s a tough decision that we have to make, but can say that we have had an amazing 8 years serving the Philadelphia vegan and vegetarian community,” the Facebook message reads. “It’s been a really great experience sharing our food and passion for Kung Fu, and having such positive reception from amazing customers.”  Continue Reading

Photos by Kyle Cassidy.

3675 Market Street is officially open. On Friday, Nov. 9th, building management threw an open-house party at the 14-story office tower, intended to be the new hub of the Science Center’s “uCity Square” planned community. Alongside the Science Center, several other building tenants including Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), Biolabs, Backstage Capital, and Wexford Science + Technology opened their doors to the public. All six floors of the event were packed solid for most of the evening as building tenants, sponsors and community partners welcomed guests for tours, drinks, live music, performance art and even the occasional impromptu dance circle.  Continue Reading

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m., in the Penn Alexander School gymnasium (enter through cafeteria/blacktop entrance on 43rd street between Locust and Spruce). At its annual meeting, the community group elects new officers and board members and invites guest experts to talk about important community issues. The event is free and all community members are invited to attend, learn more about the organization, and get involved.

This year’s meeting will feature a presentation on a community-influenced, space-based initiative. Julie Bush, Landscape Architect, Principal at Ground Reconsidered, will be the featured speaker on “Penn Alexander School: Re-imagining the Schoolyard.”  Continue Reading

Editor’s Note: This post was submitted by Project MEOW, the West Philly-based volunteer-run cat rescue organization.

This year’s sudden onset of cold weather means it’s time to start bundling up! As you brace for winter, don’t forget the outdoor cats in your community! On cold nights and during inclement weather, shelters for colonies of outdoor cats can make a world of difference to them. Building a shelter for the outdoor cats in your neighborhood has many advantages. Aside from keeping your community cats warm and safe from predators and the cold, it will keep them from burrowing into places they shouldn’t be in order to survive.

Shelters can be built with inexpensive materials such as scrap wood, used dog houses, or plastic totes. The key elements to an effective shelter are insulation and accessibility.  Continue Reading