UPDATE (3/2/2016): A report about Wednesday’s rally can be found here.

West Philadelphia activists, parents and students will hold a rally on Wednesday morning to call for improvements to safety in and around the property of Andrew Hamilton Elementary School.

According to a report by ACTION United’s West Philadelphia chapter, neighbors in the vicinity of the school, located at 57th and Spruce Streets, have complained about litter, trespassers and drug activity in the schoolyard during nights and weekends. They are calling for more street lights and a lot light to be installed around the property, for a more consistent security presence and for better fencing to be constructed along the Frazier Street side of the property.

“Hamilton and the other public schools are important, valued institutions in our community,” says Chinara Bilaal, an ACTION United member. “School district and city officials need to ensure they are safe places for children to learn and play.”  Continue Reading

                      Photo Fringearts.com

FringeArts has big plans for our area this year. The organization, which hosts the Fringe Festival, a celebration of creativity and innovation in contemporary performance every September, wants to create a vibrant festival feel in multiple neighborhoods across the city and this year they’re focusing on West Philadelphia.

FringeArts hopes to be able to use he festival to leverage the power and skills that artists have in activating a neighborhood.

As Fringe Festival coordinator Jarrod Markman put it, “we would love to have an explosion of art in West Philly this year.” So FringeArts is seeking new artists and venues in the area.

“I know there are a ton of artists out in West Philly and we would love to have them use our platform to gain exposure and connect with the larger arts community,” Markman wrote in an email. “We are looking for artists of all sizes and mediums. Artists that perform for friends in their backyard to artists that put on larger events at venues. We are looking for painters, event curators, DJ’s, dancers, digital artists, etc!”

An open call for artists is launching today, March 1. Interested artists can find more information here.

FringeArts also would love to add more West Philly venues to their list – big and small. More information can be found here.

This Thursday, FringeArts representatives will hold a brainstorming session with leaders and artists from West Philadelphia at The Rotunda, from 11 a.m – 12 p.m. If you’re interested to participate, please contact Jarrod Markman at jarrod@fringearts.com

The 2016 Fringe Festival will be held September 9th – 24th. For more information about FringeArts, visit their website: fringearts.com.

Photo from Phillywatersheds.org

Neighborhood residents are invited to learn more about the Philadelphia Water Department’s Rain Check program at Garden Court Community Association‘s general meeting, which will take place this Wednesday (March 2) at Mosaic Community Church (51st and Sansom).

Rain Check is a program that helps residents manage stormwater at their homes. All participants will receive a free rain barrel and can also sign up to have a downspout planter, rain garden or porous paving installed at a reduced price. Rain Check supports Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters program which is working in neighborhoods across the city, adding green features to keep excess stormwater out of sewers.

Other perks of the meeting include dinner (provided by GCCA) and the opportunity to connect with neighbors.

Dinner with neighbors starts at 6:15 p.m., and program presentation is at 7 p.m.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are planning to attend the event please register at this link.

Locust Moon Comics, a local publishing business that until recently also had a shop near 40th and Chestnut, has revealed plans to move into the former church complex at 47th and Kingsessing. The plans will be discussed during a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m.

The complex, which is undergoing extensive renovation, began welcoming its first tenants this winter. One of the first commercial tenants to move onto the grounds, Children’s Community School, is holding an open house at the new space on Friday, Feb. 26, from 9 – 10 a.m., with more open houses scheduled for March 10, April 1 and April 28.

Along with two childcare centers, Children’s Community School and Little Learners, The Soapbox Community Print Shop & Zine Library was also announced as a likely tenant for the complex. The organization was raising funds late last year to help cover space renovation and moving expenses.

Locust Moon Press and The Soapbox will present their plans during Tuesday’s zoning meeting of the Southwest District Services at Kingsessing Recreation Center (50th and Kingsessing). Here’s more information from Locust Moon’s Facebook page:

“There’s a community meeting to assess our viability for the neighborhood. The Soapbox Publishing Center and Zine Library will also be presenting their exciting plans for the basement of the church. This meeting is a crucial step in getting into this wonderful new space. Please come out and show your support for independent comic publishing in West Philly!”

The firm of renowned architect Frank Furness designed the 115-year-old church building, which was saved from demolition last year and converted into commercial space.

After a string of violent incidents on S. 60th Street, including deadly shootings and last month’s attack on a police officer, community members are asked to come together this Saturday “to reclaim their community” at an anti-violence rally. The assembly for the rally will begin at noon at Masjid Mujahideen Islamic center at 413 S. 60th Street.

The latest fatal shooting in the area was reported on January 31 when a 21-year-old man was shot multiple times while sitting in a parked car near 60th and Pine Streets.

Following the rally, residents and guests are invited to a health fair where they can get free important health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and oral hygiene. The health fair will be held until 2 p.m. at the Masjid.

A cool storytelling event will be held this Wednesday (6 p.m. on Feb. 17) at Kelly Writers House (3805 Locust Walk). The event, presented by the Sensible Nonsense Project, emphasizes the impact of kids’ books on adults and celebrates the universal importance of children’s books.

At this live reading, six presenters from the Philadelphia community will speak about their own favorite children’s books, and will explain how the books helped shape them into the adults they are today.

Here they are:

Lorene Cary, writer, professor, and founder of Safe Kids Stories
Katherine Fritz, blogger and costume designer
Christine Neulieb, writer and editorial director at Lanternfish Press
David Norse, minister, Broad Street Ministry
Maura Reilly-Ulmanek, University of Pennsylvania undergraduate
Amleset Girmay, University of Pennsylvania undergraduate

The event is free and open to the public. It will be co-hosted by project founder Arielle Brousse, and Andrew Panebianco. Guests will not only be able to enjoy the personal essays written by the scheduled readers, but will also be able to indulge in a post-event reception inspired by after-school snacks. Those unable attend in person will be able to stream the event live via KWH-TV.

The Sensible Nonsense Project is a collective storytelling project designed to remind ourselves and each other about the legitimate artistry and universal importance of our best-loved childhood books. The project is designed to be participatory. Live events like this one take place a few times a year, but the project is ongoing at the website, where essay submissions—of whatever length, tone, or style—are always welcomed and encouraged.