A series of classes on basic home repair is starting this week, scheduled for every Thursday at Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore). All four classes are free and open to the public. The classes are presented by the West Philly Tool Library and The Other Carpenter (Facebook page), a company based in the Mantua neighborhood, both of which will familiarize you with the tools you might need for a job and show you how to tell if you can do a home repair project by yourself or if you need an expert’s help. The classes will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Calvary Center basement. To RSVP, please email Stacey at stacey@westphillytools.org or call the Tool Library at 215-833-3190.

Here’s the class schedule:

Thursday, Jan 24: Power Tools – Learn how to use power tools safely in a hands-on demonstration.

Thursday, Jan 31: Basic Carpentry – Learn about what’s in your walls while using hand and power tools to build a half-scale wall section including studs, drywall and trim. You’ll gain an understanding of wall anatomy and construction.

Thursday, Feb 7: Basic Plumbing – Learn how the plumbing in your house works and how to replace a bathroom faucet.

Thursday, Feb 14: Basic Electricity – Learn how the electrical in your house works and how to rewire a lamp while keeping yourself safe.

Here’s how you can get involved in the Day of Service and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King on Monday, Jan. 21.

SERVICE PROJECTS

Who: Bartram’s Garden

Where: 400 Lindbergh Boulevard

When: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

What: Volunteers are needed to assist with projects in Bartram’s Garden, including clearing around the split rail fence border of the central historic garden; removal of small trees, vines, and other invasive plant materials along the rail fence line; and light fence repairs and garden clean up. To register for this volunteer event, please email Head Gardener, Todd Greenberg, at tgreenberg@bartramsgarden.org.

Who: UC Green, USciences and Woodlands Cemetery

Where: The Woodlands Cemetery, 40th and Woodland

When: 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.

What:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service will start at the Woodlands Cemetery. Volunteers are needed to work in the cemetery, at the SEPTA garden portal and the triangle at Baltimore and 41st Street to beautify the area. Lunch will be provided by Woodlands. For more information or to sign up call 215-573-4684 or email: wharris@ucgreen.org.

MARCHES/CELEBRATIONS

MLK Day with Reverend Paul “Earthquake” Moore

Paul “Earthquake” Moore hosts the 18th Annual celebration of Dr. King. In an effort to promote peace and to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Moore has organized a community clean up from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and a historical reenactment march starting at 4:00 p.m. at 65th and Woodland Avenue. The march will end at 7001 Woodland (New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church). A celebration of Dr. King with gospel singers and praise dancers begins at 5:00 p.m. For more information, call Paul “Earthquake” Moore at 215-386-2696 or email: earth_quake1@hotmail.com. Donations: PO BOX 5323 Philadelphia PA 19142.

MLK Day Speak-Out for Jobs, Education & Justice

A special MLK Day Speak-Out for Jobs, Education and Justice will be held at 52nd and Market Sts., beginning at 1:00 p.m.

More table locations have been added for this year’s West Philly Girl Scout cookie sale, which begins this Thursday, Jan. 17 (see the list below). And if you can’t make it by a table, you can get a home or work delivery!

Here’s how you can help local Girl Scout troops by purchasing cookies (a message from Amy Kwasnicki, who is the cookie hub for three troops of girls, Kindergarten through 5th grade):

“Cookie sales make all of the Girl Scouts programs affordable, but also provide immediate funds for the troops to use. Our past community service projects, which have been funded by cookie sales, include clearing a vacant lot in Powelton, buying and planting trees for the lot, clearing invasive plants from a community garden in West Philly, planting a butterfly garden, and an earthworm and ladybug release in Clark Park. Cookie sales have also enabled the troops to spend the night at the Franklin Institute, purchase compasses for all of the Scouts, and, of course, go camping!”

Girl Scout Cookie Table Locations and Dates:

Fri. 01/18 Eastern Mountain Sports, 34th and Chestnut, 3:30pm-6:30pm
(check out the promo here)

Sat. 01/19 Clark Park “B” Park, 43rd and Chester, 10:00am-1:30pm

Tues. 01/22 SEPTA Suburban Station, table is located near stairs/elevator in Penn Square plaza, facing 16th Street, 6:00am!! – 6:00pm

Wed. 01/23 Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s, 39th and Locust, 3:30pm-5:30pm

Sat. 01/26 Clark Park “B” Park, 43rd and Chester, 10:00am-1:30pm

Wed. 01/30 Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s, 39th and Locust, 3:30pm-5:30pm

Fri. 02/01 Eastern Mountain Sports, 34th and Chestnut, 3:30pm-6:30pm

Sat. 02/02 Clark Park “B” Park, 43rd and Chester, 10:00am-1:30pm

Tues. 02/05 SEPTA Suburban Station, table is located near stairs/elevator in Penn Square plaza, facing 16th Street, 6:00am!! – 6:00pm

Wed. 02/06 Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s, 39th and Locust, 3:30pm-5:30pm (though we may get an earlier start since schools are closed that day)

If you have questions or want a home/work delivery, email Amy at: kwaszilla@gmail.com

On Saturday, Jan. 12, the Cedar Park Neighbors community association is holding a morning workshop where you can learn about basics of block organizing, block beautification and vacant lot management. It’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and to learn how to be more proactive on your blocks.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th & Baltimore).

If you are interested in attending this event please contact Meg Ferrigno at: 267.241.7606; skyflowers0@gmail.com.

West Philly is home to many activists and activist groups and even hosts the Philadelphia chapter of the International Action Center which is celebrating 20th anniversary. All these years the IAC has been at the center of the fight for people’s rights and against injustice and now invites friends and neighbors to mark “20 years of solidarity and struggle” with them and to plan for the future.

The celebration will be held on Sunday, Jan. 6 at Calvary Church (48th and Baltimore) from 5 – 8 p.m. and will include food, music, raffle, cultural performances, and lively discussion featuring the following guests and performers: Spoken Word Artist Julia Lopez; Author and Poet Susie Abulhawa; Singer Kevin Price; Poet Tracy Gibson; Special remarks from Sara Flounders, National Coordinator of the IAC and Teresa Gutierrez from the May 1 Immigrant Rights Coalition.

Admission fee is $10 – $25. To reserve tickets call 215-724-1618 or email: phillyiac@gmail.com.
 

International House Philadelphia kicks off the nationally touring film series, ‘L.A. Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema’ this Saturday. The series comprises 12 programs of feature and short films that will be shown at IHP’s Ibrahim Theater (3701 Chestnut St) from Jan. 5-26.

The term “L.A. Rebellion” refers to a group of African and African-American student artists at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television who from the late 1960s to the late 1980s  created a unique cinematic landscape, as part of an ‘Ethno-Communications’ initiative. Over the course of two decades students arrived, mentored one another, and passed the torch to the next group.

It is a carefully curated film exhibition that “offers a true window on the legacies of Black communities.”

The film showing at IHP is co-sponsored by Scribe Video Center. For information on film listings and screening schedules, visit: www.ihousephilly.org/events.