Click to enlarge

Forty-two crimes were reported in the University City area in September and nine arrests were made, according to this month’s UCD Crime Update. The number of robberies and armed robberies was down in comparison to the report published in April 2019, but the number of thefts from automobiles remained high since May.

Three gunpoint robberies were reported last month – at 49th and Hazel, 43rd and Chester and 32nd and Powelton (see map). An arrest was made in the Powelton robbery. Unarmed robberies took place at 41st and Walnut and 38th and Market, according to the report.

As for car break-ins and thefts from cars, 14 cases were reported in September in the area, and two arrests were made. There were also seven reports of stolen vehicles.  Continue Reading

                 Click to enlarge

Curio is kicking off its 2019-2020 season with a celebration. Founded in 2005, the Baltimore Avenue based theatre company is throwing a Prom to celebrate their 15th Anniversary. Curio wants to celebrate their friends and collaborators with one magical night of dancing, drinking, and memory making.

So, on Saturday, Oct. 19, head to Holy Apostles and the Mediator Church (260 S. 51st St.), where Curio’s Prom Night will be held from 7:30-11 p.m., to celebrate the anniversary and the new season with Curio. Please wear your best Prom look – it can be from any decade, anything from taffeta sleeves and lace, poodle skirts, to bare midriffs. There will be booze, snacks, music, and plenty of photo-ops. And maybe even a prom court.  Continue Reading

Residents in the Powelton/Mantua/Belmont neighborhoods had a chance last week to try the City’s new voting machines during a neighborhood advisory committee election (see photo). This and next week, residents in Cedar Park, Cobbs Creek, Spruce Hill and adjacent areas are invited to new voting machine demonstration events.

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, State Sen. Anthony H. Williams and the 60th Ward Executive Committee will hold a new voting system demo event at Global Leadership Academy at 52nd and Pine. This is a non-partisan event and is handicap accessible. The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the school auditorium.  Continue Reading

Indie-Life Media, the Baltimore Avenue based creative agency and co-working/event space, is inviting community members to their First Friday events in celebration of the Arts in West Philadelphia. This Friday (Oct. 4), 5-9 p.m., they will be showcasing the work of local artists Elizabeth Skoufalos, Nathan Grayson, Essence Hampton and Jonathan Metz (see flyer). The family-friendly event also includes arts & crafts for kids and sounds from DJ Rocdaspot. There will also be snacks and drinks for all to enjoy.

Indie-Life, founded in 2014 by local event planner/entrepreneur Rasheed Abdellah, will be convening visual artists to connect and create together at their creative studio at 4616 Baltimore Ave. Indie-Life’s goal for this series is to highlight West Philadelphia as an arts corridor, and to give more artists and makers the opportunity to showcase their work.  Continue Reading

The election of the new Neighborhood Advisory Sub-Committee for People’s Emergency Center (PEC) took place on Monday, Sept. 30. The NAS functions as a liaison between the community and the larger PECCDC (Community Development Corporation) board. NAS members are elected to the committee by their neighbors, colleagues and friends –  that live, work or worship within the service area (West Powelton, Powelton, Saunders Park, Belmont, Mantua and Mill Creek).

There were 16 candidates, 14 of whom were elected onto the NAS. Voters got a chance to use the City’s new touch screen voting machines (that will be used in the November election citywide) for the NAS election:  Continue Reading

                Photo by Hanbit Kwon

The future of the building housing an auto body shop and second-floor martial arts gym damaged by fire late last month is still unclear. The City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections deemed the building “unsafe” soon after the Sept. 24 fire.

Damage from the fire caused the closing of Ren’s Auto Repair and Collision and 8 Limbs Academy, a popular kickboxing school and fitness facility.

The building’s owners have indicated that they are interested in repairing the building.  Continue Reading