As of January 11th, 50,532 people in Philadelphia have received the first dose of the COVID vaccine and over 9,000 people have received the second, final dose. While the city is still prioritizing health care workers and residents and staff at nursing homes, who were outlined in the Phase 1A for vaccine distribution, the Department of Public Health has announced the next group who will begin receiving vaccinations soon.

Phase 1B includes people ages 75 and older and those with certain high-risk medical conditions; first responders; correctional officers and other workers in congregate care settings not included in Phase 1A; food and critical goods handlers and manufacturers; grocery store workers; childcare and education providers; public transit workers.  Continue Reading

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There has been an uptick in robberies at gunpoint and car jackings in the Cedar Park, Garden Court and Spruce Hill neighborhoods, according to police. Police have scheduled an emergency info meeting, which will be held via Zoom on Friday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. Robbery prevention tips will also be provided at the meeting.

To join the meeting, please go to: https://zoom.us/join and enter the meeting ID and passcode provided in the attached flyer.

The following incidents have been reported in the last seven days (Sources: Cedar Park Neighbors Forum, Spot Crime):

• 4800 block of Osage (robbery/carjacking) – January 10th

• 48th and Larchwood (robbery/carjacking) – January 9th

• 4700 block of Osage (robbery) – January 9th, 6:50 p.m.  Continue Reading

A 30-year-old-man was shot multiple times and killed this afternoon on the 5200 block of Cedar Avenue, according to reports. The shooting took place shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to police. The man was shot at least three times – in the head, in the neck and in his left arm.

He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:59 p.m., according to police.

Police recovered a weapon on the scene. No arrests have been made as of this afternoon.

Vagrant Coffee owners Josh Dew (left) and Jared Cate (Photo from Vagrant’s Instagram page).

A new cafe, Vagrant Coffee, has recently opened on 45th and Baltimore, at the former Milk & Honey location. The owners, Joshua Dew and Jared Cate, are entrepreneurs from Baltimore who already have three Vagrant locations there. It’s a relatively young business, started in 2017, and Vagrant Coffee in West Philly is their first venture outside of Baltimore.

Vagrant Coffee is also known for bringing their mobile equipment (mobile coffee and espresso bars) to parties, events and even offices. One of the reasons why they chose the name “Vagrant” was to emphasize their mobility.

Apart from their specialty coffee and in-house made pastries, the new coffee shop offers breakfast, sandwiches and salads, all available for pick-up only at this time due to COVID restrictions. There is some outdoor seating, too.

You can check out their menu and order online here.

Vagrant Coffee is open Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat & Sun 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Philadelphia officials have lifted some COVID-19 restrictions re-imposed on local businesses and activities in November due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the city. The following types of businesses and activities can now resume operations (with COVID safety protocols), according to Mayor Jim Kenney’s announcement on Tuesday:

• Museums
• Gyms
• Casinos
• Outdoor sports
• Outdoor catered events
• In-person learning for high schools  Continue Reading

The University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is again partnering with Drexel University to offer a new no-cost Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) training program for Philadelphia residents.

Aspiring EMTs will be trained for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. This 13-week training program will be a blend of virtual courses and in-person sessions following CDC COVID-19 regulations at Drexel University. Participants will receive $150 weekly stipends while enrolled in this free program. Masks will be provided for in-person sessions if needed. The program will conclude with an in-person administration of the NREMT exam.  Continue Reading