Due to dangerous weather conditions in the region forecasted for today with the temperatures in the mid-90’s and high humidity, Philadelphia Health Commissioner James Buehler has issued an excessive heat warning for Philadelphia beginning at noon. The ‘Heatline’ (215-765-9040) will be in operation from noon through midnight.

Just like on July 19, when the summer’s first heat warning was issued, the City will activate summer heat programs, including enhanced daytime outreach for the homeless. The authorities also encourage the public to check on older friends, relatives, and neighbors.

In a heat wave, the majority of the victims are older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions, so health officials urge the public to visit older friends, relatives and neighbors to ensure that air conditioners or fans are working, and homes are adequately ventilated. Other groups at risk in the extreme heat include people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, small children, those who work in a high heat environment and persons engaged in strenuous physical activity.  Continue Reading

This leaking barrel of oil has been dumped at 51st and Warrington Streets, according to neighbor reports. There are two community gardens within a block.

Twitter photos by Kate Garchinsky.

Another barrel (not leaking), along with construction waste, has been reported half a block east.

Philly311 has been notified and issued a request to the servicing department:

@katesnowbird @WestPhillyLocal Good Morning! A request has been forwarded to the servicing department under reference # 09304770.

— Philly311 (@philly311) July 28, 2015

We’ll keep you posted on further developments. “Drive by” trash dumping often occurs in some areas of the city, and the Streets Department is responsible for the cleanup of illegal dumping found on city streets. If you want to report illegal dumping on your block, here is an online form. You can also call 311 (215-686-8686 for cell phones). If you’re a Twitter user you can tweet to Philly311 (@philly311). Please include the address where illegal dumping was found. Information on proper disposal of bulk items and construction debris can be found here.

The windows along 40th Street that will house “Windowwishes.” Photo from the ThemThatDo website.

Local photographer and artist Lori Waselchuk is looking for some block captains to help her create a window installation for vacant storefront windows along 40th Street.

Entitled “Windowishes,” the street exhibit will include everything from video and archival photographs to neighborhood objects and crafts and will coincide with the Center for Emerging and Visual Artists’ Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) on Oct. 17 and 18. The installation will be in those seven storefront windows on the west side of 40th Street between Chestnut and Ludlow.

Waselchuk, who has shared block captain’s stories in the multimedia project ThemThatDo, said that the planning for the exhibition will begin in August. So if you are a block captain or know one who is interested in showing the community the vitality, history and distinctiveness of your block, go to the project website here and sign up.

Mixed People band will perform this Saturday at 40th and Walnut.

The 40th Street Summer Festival which includes dazzling acts ranging from jugglers and fire dancers to puppets and percussions, kicks off at 5 p.m. this Saturday (July 25) in the green space behind the Walnut West Library near 40th and Walnut.

The festival will also feature live music from Mixed People, Red Cedar Strings (Facebook page) and Au Jus, and entertainment and activities for the whole family.

Later on Saturday the University Lutheran Church (3637 Chestnut St.) will host the Joe Hill Roadshow, a tour commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of International Workers of the World activist and songwriter Joe Hill. Hill, who was executed in 1915, had a long-lasting influence on radical organizing in the country. The tribute concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and includes music from Magpie, Charlie King, George Mann and special guest John Braxton. Tickets for this show are also available at Bindlestiff Books at 4530 Baltimore Ave.

For more upcoming events, please visit our Events Calendar.

Here’s a great opportunity for local block captains to meet other captains, share their experience and better their community organizing and other skills. The annual West and Southwest Philadelphia Block Captains Forum will take place at Philadelphia Boys’ Latin Charter School (55th and Cedar) on Saturday, Aug. 15, and registration for the forum is open through July 27. Several free workshops will be held at the one-day event, including Crime and Safety, Community Organizing 101, Vacant Land Management, and more.

Block captains who are registered with the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) are encouraged to attend this event and can register for the forum by contacting The Partnership CDC/NAC Office at 215-662-1612 or at 4020 Market St. See the flier below for more information.

The West Philly-based student leadership and public education advocacy group, Philadelphia Student Union (PSU), a highly visible and effective youth organization in the city, is launching a fundraising campaign to help cover rent for a new space.

PSU, which has been around for some 20 years, has been operating without an office for a couple of months. For many years they worked out of a small space at 42nd and Chestnut until they had to move this past spring due to rising rental costs. Previously headquartered at 50th St and Baltimore Avenue, PSU plans to stay in West Philadelphia, with the goal of settling somewhere on the 52nd Street corridor.

PSU members at the #reclaimMLK march on January 19, 2015 (Facebook photo).

PSU is looking to raise $11,000, which will help them cover everything from rent increases to moving costs.

PSU’s mission is to give young people the tools and skills to organize and fight for better public education in the city of Philadelphia. In their new space, PSU intends to continue holding political workshops covering topics from structural racism, school funding and the school-to-prison pipeline. These workshops are open to all high school aged youth. PSU also holds youth-led media literacy programs, which are meant to educate youth on different ways to communicate their message. One of these programs is a radio production program called On Blast, which gives youth an opportunity to portray how they want to be represented in the media.

“Through organizing, media production, and leadership development, PSU gives young people the tools and skills they need to learn how to change the world around them,” said youth media organizer Beth Patel.

The fundraising campaign can be found on IndieGoGo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-philadelphia-student-union-needs-a-home

– Rana Fayez