The School Reform Commission voted last night to move three public schools, including the Samuel B. Huey School (52nd and Pine) one step closer to becoming charter schools.

Parents from Huey and two other schools, John Wister and Jay Cooke, protested the vote, which passed 4-1. SRC Chair Marjorie Neff voted against the measure.

Under the plan, Global Leadership Academy Charter School would take over Huey. A final vote is scheduled for the March SRC meeting.

As you probably know, the first big snow storm of the year is heading our way. We will keep you posted as events unfold. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare:

• Helping the homeless

Call the Project Home Outreach Hotline (215-232-1984) if you observe a homeless person in need of assistance. Be prepared to provide the location and description of the person in need.

• No Savesies

Seems like at least once during the winter someone gets shot over a parking spot following a snow storm. Tensions run high when you shovel out a nice spot, you try to save it with a lawn chair or two and someone slides in while you’re at work. As aggravating as that can be, police are reminding everyone that there are “no savsies” on shoveled-out spots. They have even put a parody of Drake to drive the message home. “Hotline Savesies” encourages people to report those pesky lawn chairs, trashcans or orange cones.  Continue Reading

A reader says she was sitting in her car near 48th and Windsor last night talking on her phone when a group of young males, between the ages of 14-17, came up and tried to open the doors. The incident happened at around 7:45 p.m. Here’s what she writes:

“Tonight, I had a group of 5-6 young males try to break into my car while I WAS IN IT at 48th and Windsor. I was on my iPhone in my car as it was parked for about 20 minutes. They came out of nowhere and three tried to open my doors. I hit my horn and someone else came running and then they ran down to the 48th and Warrington block.”

The woman says she filed a report with the police.

Police couldn’t confirm if it’s the same group of teens suspected in other recent crimes in the area, as the investigation still continues.

As was reported last week, a 53-year-old man was beaten and robbed near Clark Park by a large group of teenagers on January 11. Earlier this month, a woman was robbed by three teens while walking on the 4900 block of Osage Avenue.  Continue Reading

Authorities are expected to increase the amount of the reward offered for information that leads to the arrest of the person who brutally murdered a 34-year-old West Philly resident and a Philadelphia Parking Authority employee, Mark Marshall. Police released the suspect’s sketch (pictured right), a photo of the vehicle he fled the scene in, and offered a $20,000 reward for information about him last week.

Marshall was walking his two Chihuahuas on the 4600 block of Kingsessing Avenue on the evening of December 16, 2015, when an unknown man, described as a black male, 20-30 years old, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and orange hat, jumped out of an older model Dodge/Chrysler minivan, possibly silver in color, approached Marshall and shot him multiple times. He then got into the passenger seat of the minivan, which fled the scene. Police said that the two men were seen arguing before the shooting.  Continue Reading

Protestors took to the streets in the days following the devastating 2011 fire at Windermere Court Apartments. Photos by West Philly Local).

Five years after a catastrophic fire destroyed the Windermere Court Apartments at 48th and Walnut, building tenants who participated in a class-action lawsuit have received their share of a $4.75 million settlement.

The fire that broke out on Jan. 10, 2011 destroyed the 90-unit building and left its residents scrambling for housing. Many spent days protesting the building owner’s decision not to let them return to retrieve their belongings and pets that may have survived the blaze.

The cause of the fire is disputed. An expert determined on behalf of the tenants during a 2013 civil trial that the fire resulted from faulty smoke alarms and sprinklers. The building owners – David, Sam and Aron Ginsberg – settled the suit a few days into the 2014 trial for $4.75 million and the settlement was certified last January.

The tenants’ class-action attorney, Tom Marrone, said that the payouts were completed this week. Each tenant who signed onto the suit received an average of $25,000 after legal and other fees.

Neighbors have reported gunshots on the 5100 block of Webster St. at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Police responded to the report of gunshots and found nine shell casings and one projectile in the street in the middle of the block. No shooting victims were located at the scene or at area hospitals. Neighbors stated that they had heard gunshots but did not see anything. Police also checked the block for cameras, but none were found.