Blue Stoop, a nonprofit organization and home to Philly literary community started by two West Philly writers, is holding its virtual winter fundraiser “Words of Revolution; Words of Solace” on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 7-9 p.m. Join Blue Stoop to hear readings from 10 of the most exciting voices writing in and around Philadelphia today: Brittney Cooper, Myriam Gurba, Anne Ishii, Airea Matthews, Trapeta Mayson, Kiley Reid, Nikil Saval, Eric Smith, Amber Sparks, and Elissa Washuta.

This is not another typical Zoom event – in fact, this will be an innovative video program produced by award winning Philadelphia cinematographer Aly Spengler.  Continue Reading

Here are Thanksgiving Day hours for local grocery stores and supermarkets in case you need to do some last minute shopping for your holiday table:

• Mariposa Food Co-op (49th and Baltimore): Thanksgiving Day: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 27: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• ACME Markets (40th and Walnut): Thanksgiving Day: 5 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Supremo “Shop n Bag” (43rd and Walnut): Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• ALDI (46th and Market): Thanksgiving Day: Closed
• The Fresh Grocer (56th and Chestnut): Thanksgiving Day: 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Shoprite at ParkWest Town Center (1575 N. 52nd St.): Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

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The holidays are approaching fast and a lot of charitable organizations are stepping up their efforts to help those in need. This year has been especially hard for many families and children already at risk because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of the holiday drives going on in West Philly this year.

Photo courtesy of ACHIEVEability

ACHIEVEability’s Children’s Holiday Gift Drive

“This year has been tough for all of us, especially West Philadelphian children. Virtual learning and quarantine have impacted these kids in so many ways… This holiday season help bring joy to a child in need by donating a special gift.”

Sign up to provide holiday gifts for those in need by December 6 by emailing Matt at mlafronz@achieve-ability.org. Indicate how many children you would like to sponsor. After that you will receive a link to an Amazon wish list for each child you are sponsoring. Purchase a gift(s) totaling up to $50 for each child you sponsor, and wrap and label the gift(s). Make arrangements to deliver all items to ACHIEVEability at 21 S. 61st St., Philadelphia, PA 19139 by December 13. If you ship the items directly to ACHIEVEability from Amazon, please include a gift note with your package, including your name and contact information.  Continue Reading

Pennsylvania’s Community-Accessible Testing & Education initiative’s mobile testing unit, CATE, will be making stops in Philadelphia for the next three days. Adults and children needing COVID-19 tests can receive one at no-cost thanks to a partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Philadelphia Fight.

CATE’s tour schedule includes the following stops in West Philly:

• Saturday, Nov. 21, 9am-12pm, Vine Memorial Baptist Church, 5600 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19131

• Saturday, Nov. 21, 2pm-6pm, Woodland Rec Center, 1414 S 47th Street, Philadelphia PA 19143

• Monday, Nov. 23, 9am-12pm, Mill Creek Playground, 4700 Brown St., Philadelphia, PA 19139  Continue Reading

The area around 46th and Market Streets has been designated an “Opportunity Zone,” a federal tax incentive created as part of the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and community groups are asking for residents’ input on the types of development that should be pursued.

A host of local community organizations, including Walnut Hill Community Association, West Park Tenants Association, Mill Creek Advisory Council, and more, will be reaching out to community members over the next few months in order to gather feedback, and build a community tool in the form of “a Letter to Investors” for the 46th and Market Street area. They want to make sure that neighborhood residents’ interests are represented.  Continue Reading

The University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia city and School District officials announced today that Penn will make a $100 million contribution to the School District of Philadelphia. The contribution – $10 million annually for 10 years – will be used to eliminate environmental hazards, including asbestos and lead, in the School District’s facilities.

“We are proud to be able to partner with our City and School District to significantly improve the learning environment for Philadelphia’s schoolchildren in a way that will have a long-lasting impact on the health, safety, and wellbeing of our entire City,” said University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann.  Continue Reading