Update: Per Glenn Bryan’s Facebook post this afternoon, the Malcolm X Park concert this evening featuring GB and Reference Point is canceled. Glenn has reported on his Facebook page that bassist Aaron Hayes was shot on his way to work this morning. Please keep Aaron and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Here is the Philly.com story about the shooting.

The West Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Series was supposed to kick off tonight at 7 p.m. in Malcolm X Park (52nd and Pine) with Reference Point, featuring Glenn Bryan, Craig Winn, Aaron Hayes and Tony “Stickman” Wyatt. These guys have a bunch of different influences, from classical to Latin to R&B.

This summer’s series includes eight more dates in June, July, August and September. We’ll fill you in on the acts as we get them. The series is hosted by Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and the Friends of Malcolm X. Park.

 
This Friday, June 1, photographer and neighbor JJ Tiziou will team up with Studio 34 to present a special evening of photographs, dance, and music.

Tiziou will show a slideshow of images from his recent trip volunteering with Mercy Ships in Togo, West Africa, followed by a dance performance by Fatima Adamu and Melissa Diane (Jacelyn Biondo and Kristen Shahverdian). Then the stage will belong to The David Wax Museum, one of last year’s Philly Folk Festival headliners. Their particular blend of guitar and percussion made on a donkey’s jaw bone is not to be missed, especially in such an intimate setting.

Sliding scale contributions will help support JJ Tiziou Photography’s community projects.

Friday, June 1, 8 p.m., Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave, upstairs.

– Emma Eisenberg

Community members are invited to support local public schools and participate in these upcoming events at Henry C. Lea, Penn Alexander and Samuel Powel schools.

• Lea Elementary recently received a $3,800 grant from Lowe’s to redesign the school’s interior, brighten up the hallways and make Lea a more welcoming place for students. As a part of this effort the school is teaming up with the Renewal Church to hold a paint day this Saturday, June 2. This is the second paint day (the first one was on May 19) and adult volunteers are still wanted to fill in the afternoon shift from noon to 2 p.m. To sign up, please add your name to one of the teams on the Google Doc here. If you have questions, email David Fox at defox@philasd.org. This is part of ongoing renovations at Lea.

• This Sunday, June 3, Penn Alexander School is holding the 2nd Annual Run for Arts and Sciences. There is a 5k run and a 1 mile fun walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. The course will loop through the University of Pennsylvania campus starting and finishing at Penn Alexander. The 5k run will be chip timed. All proceeds will support the Art and Science program at Penn Alexander. For more information, go here. Note: The online registration with a discounted price is closed, but you can download paper a Registration Form and bring it to the event. Also you can support this event by making a donation at the provided link.

• Alumni & Friends of Samuel Powel Elementary and Powel Home and School Association are hosting a silent auction and fundraising event on Saturday, June 9, from 6 – 10 p.m. This adults-only event will take place at Art on the Avenue, 3808 Lancaster Ave.

This is a very important fundraiser for Powel, as they are trying to raise a substantial sum to buy new Science Kits and other instructional materials for their students and to support additional music classes. This event is for current and future Powel families, friends, alumni and anyone who wants to come out to support Powel school and bid on some great items from local businesses. Go here to order tickets, become an event sponsor or benefactor and see all the great items you can bid on.

Health Center 3 at 43rd and Chester (across from Clark Park) is inviting friends and neighbors to participate in a Walk-A-Thon this Saturday, June 2, from 9 to 11 a.m. This fundraiser will benefit preventive health programs at HC3. The event also raises awareness about healthy eating and a more active lifestyle through walking. Adults and children of all fitness levels can participate, and even family dogs are welcome.

You can choose one of the two routes – a full lap or a short lap around Clark Park. The full lap around Clark Park B and C is approximately 1/3 mile. The short lap around the “Dog Bowl” in Clark Park B is approximately 1/5 mile.

Registration fee is $5-$20 on a sliding scale at a discretion of each participant and participants experiencing financial hardship can register for free. Non-participants can make a donation. To register or donate, please follow this link. For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page.

It’s this time of the year again. As May 31st approaches and leases end, local graduate students are moving out and leaving a lot of stuff behind this week. Local residents fondly call it “Penn Christmas” since the move-out detritus often yields a tasty score or two, from Ikea furniture to designer clothes.

Hot spots for sidewalk finds are often near the large Dumpsters placed around the neighborhood (41st and Spruce, 45th and Pine, 43rd and Pine are a few). What doesn’t wind up in the Dumpster will often find its way to the PennMoves sale, which is this Saturday, June 2.

Clothes, furniture, kitchen items, electronics and many other items have been collected and sorted for the sale, which will be held at Penn’s South Bank at 3401 Grays Ferry Ave. Getting there early is the key. A $5 entry fee gets you in for the sneak preview from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. From 10 a.m.–3 p.m. you can get in for free but a lot of the good stuff might be gone. All items are sold “as is” with no returns accepted.

Free parking is available, and Penn Transit will provide free shuttle service to and from campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shuttles will pick up riders at the Schattner Center at 240 S. 40th St. (at Locust) approximately every 20 minutes. They’ll bring you and some small items back, but the shuttle won’t haul big items like furniture and appliances.

PennMOVES is organizing the sale for the fifth year, in an effort to find a home for items Penn students leave behind at the end of the academic year. Proceeds will go to Goodwill Industries.

Cedar Park Jazz Series, a long-standing fixture on summer Friday nights in the area, returns this week. Filled with melody and positive vibes, this event is a summer highlight for many members of the Cedar Park community.

Unfortunately, for the past two years, funds have been insufficient to allow the Series to cover the entire summer, leaving many neighbors disappointed. Cedar Park Neighbors is raising funds to support the Series this year. Please consider making a contribution here.

The Series kicks off this Friday, May 25, with a concert by Dr. Ketchup. See the flyer below for more information on Cedar Park Jazz Fridays.