The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election in Pennsylvania is Monday, Oct. 19. If you’re eligible to vote, but haven’t registered yet, check out these four options. City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s team is also offering delivery of voter registration forms and mail-in ballot applications to 3rd District residents (West and Southwest Philadelphia).

To request an application, residents can call her office at 215-686-0460 or fill out this form.  Continue Reading

A 5-year-old boy was found unresponsive in a bathtub in an apartment on the 4800 block of Pine Street on Monday night, according to multiple reports. The boy was found by his father around 10 p.m. face down in the tub. He also had a cut on his neck, according to reports. He was rushed to the hospital and was pronounced dead about an hour later.

The boy’s 40-year-old mother was also found inside the apartment with cuts on her wrists, according to reports. She was taken to the hospital and was listed in stable condition. She was being evaluated by mental health experts on Tuesday. No charges have been filed yet.

Suicide Prevention Help: If you’re in crisis or know someone who is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available 24 hours, at 800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).

Finally here’s good news for those who have been waiting for a new supermarket to open at 40th and Walnut, in the space once occupied by The Fresh Grocer until early March. Acme Markets will open what it’s calling a “first class” urban grocery store on Friday, Oct. 23. Acme staff is currently on-site working on remodeling the space.

The store is also hiring new staff, according to signs posted in its windows.

The University of Pennsylvania signed a lease with Acme Markets for the supermarket space at 4001 Walnut St. in 2017, however a legal battle ensued after that between the University and Fresh Grocer which refused to vacate the space until earlier this year.  Continue Reading

The City’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program is currently in its second phase and the deadline for applications has been extended to Nov. 4. The program is designed to help renters who have lost more than 30 percent of their income due to reduced work hours/wages because of the pandemic, or have become unemployed after March 1 because of COVID-19.

Phase 2 rental assistance has recently been increased from $750 to up to $1,500 per renter per month. Payments will be made directly to landlords.

Other Phase 2 Program criteria include:  Continue Reading

The annual Spruce Hill Halloween Parade has been cancelled. (Photo West Philly Local)

As was expected the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) has cancelled its annual Halloween Tot Parade, a tradition that goes back 23 years. The post-parade block party at the “Little Osage” where neighbors offer sweets and treats to children, has also been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

However, folks will still be able to celebrate in a socially distanced manner, according to SHCA Board President Evan Johnstone. Some alternative plans are currently in the works to help keep the Halloween spirit alive, including  house decorating, a kid-friendly, Halloween themed activity, and trick-or-treating options while maintaining a safe distance. We’ll let you know when plans are finalized and more details are available.  Continue Reading

The Ethiopian food scene is expanding in West Philly! A new coffee shop and small grocery store, Alif Brew & Mini Mart, has opened at the corner of 45th and Baltimore in the space formerly occupied by The Nesting House.

For breakfast and brunch, the cafe serves Ethiopian staple dishes, like Firfir, Chechebsa and Foul, and also invites guests for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, starting at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (see picture and video below). Alif also offers Injera wraps (chicken, beef and vegetarian) as well as other appetizers. But you can also just stop by for a cup of coffee and a homemade pastry or grab-and-go salad!  Continue Reading