The Soapbox has been operating in this row house since 2011 (photo from phillysoapbox.org)

There are some exciting developments at The Soapbox, West Philly’s own community print shop and zine library. The studio, which has been operating in a row house on the 700 block of S. 51st Street (pictured right) since 2011, will be moving soon to a new, 4,500-square-foot space in the newly renovated Frank Furness-designed church at 4700 Kingsessing.

As you may know, the old church building was saved from demolition last year and was being converted into commercial space, which will also house schools (more information about this is coming soon).

A lease was signed for the basement of the Parish House, a high-ceilinged space with four-foot windows at ceiling level, according to The Soapbox president and co-founder Mary Tasillo. The new studio will be fully equipped with historic and contemporary printing equipment, the city’s largest independent zine library, and expanded community programming.

“The Soapbox team is incredibly excited by the potential presented in this move… Our vision for The Soapbox can fully come to fruition in the new, larger space: The Soapbox Community Print Shop and Zine Library will be a space where many people can feel a sense of ownership and investment,” Tasillo says. “Above all, we are excited about this move because this enables The Soapbox to continue our mission-driven work by offering a more accessible and more usable space to our community.”  Continue Reading

38th and Aspen (Google Street View image).

Police are searching for a man who they say shot and killed a 22-year-old man inside a convenience store in West Philadelphia’s Mantua neighborhood. The shooting happened on Tuesday shortly before 8:30 a.m. at J and R Perez Grocery at 38th and Aspen.

The suspect fired four shots at the victim, according to police, then got into a car and fled. The victim was taken to the hospital where he died 20 minutes later. Police say the victim was specifically targeted. There were several people inside the store when the shooting occurred, including a small child, according to police.

6ABC Action News spoke to the victim’s family and friends who identified him as Maurice McDonald. The investigation continues.

The City of Philadelphia 2015 Leaf Collection and Recycling Program begins on Monday, Nov. 9, according to an announcement by the Streets Department. For the duration of the program, bagged leaf drop-off will be offered citywide on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents can drop off bagged leaves starting Nov. 14 and through Dec. 19 (with the exception of the Saturdays following Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving holidays) at the following locations in West Philadelphia:

• 66th and Haverford Avenue
• 54th and Woodbine Avenue
• 43rd and Powelton Avenue
• 72nd and Buist Avenue

Please note that only leaves in biodegradable (brown paper) bags will be accepted at the above locations. Brown paper bags can be purchased at home improvement stores, including Monarch Hardware on Walnut near 45th. Bags placed at the curb will be collected as trash, not recycling.  Continue Reading

Philadelphia red-light cameras map (Source: Photoenforced.com)

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) activated their latest addition to the Red-Light Camera Program at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5. The new cameras at the intersection of Belmont and Parkside Avenues in West Philadelphia mark the 29th location for the program, which now has 126 cameras installed total.

The activation began a 45-day warning period at the intersection. Drivers found in violation during this grace period will receive warnings in the mail, which ends at midnight on December 20. After the period ends, violators will face a $100 fine for each offense.

“This is a heavily traveled intersection that is used by local residents and visitors to several of our city’s cultural institutions,” said Vince Fenerty, PPA’s Executive Director. “These new cameras will make it safer for everyone because drivers will think twice before going through a red light.”  Continue Reading

An artist’s rendering of what the Provident building will look like after its conversion into the Public Safety Services Campus. Two small buildings near the southwest corner of the complex will be demolished.

We are starting to get an idea of what the hulking, long-vacant Provident Mutual Life Insurance Building at North 46th and Market Streets will look like a few years from now. The building is being converted into a public services complex that will house the headquarters for the Philadelphia Police Department and the Department of Public Health, including the city’s coroner’s office and morgue.

Designers unveiled some drawings this week of a spiffed up Provident Building, complete with lots of greenery and a couple of out buildings removed. PlanPhilly reports that on November 17 artists who responded to a competitive call for a public installation that will be the centerpiece of a public plaza at 46th and Market are scheduled to present their ideas to designers. The city will draw $675,000 from its Percent for Art program to pay for the installation.

Two buildings on the west side of the site, a powerhouse (with a large smokestack near the El tracks and an auditorium) will be demolished. Ballinger Architects is designing the complex.

The complex is scheduled to be completed by 2018.

Here are some detailed site plans and photographs.

Vinny Vegan aka Gangster Vegan.

In the early spring, a neighborhood café, Café Renata caught fire and was forced to relocate from the corner of 43rd and Locust. The space remained vacant for some months, but Vincent DePaul (Vinny Vegan aka Gangster Vegan, or Vinny Blanco to his childhood friends) of Gangster Vegan Organics has plans on changing that.

“I didn’t choose the location, it chose me. God sent me over there,” he said.

He named the business Gangster Vegan Organics because those were all terms that defined him. “Growing up, I was obsessed with that lifestyle. I wanted to redefine gangster, helping people reverse diseases like diabetes. That’s gangster. For me, gangster used to be going out to the club every night, spending money. But that’s not gangster.”

Photo from Gangster Vegan Organics Facebook page.

Currently DePaul has one Gangster Vegan Organics location in Norristown, which offers gluten-free, vegan and organic grab ‘n go food options. After considering plans to expand and scouting some potential locations for another store in Phoenixville and West Chester, he decided to go back to a familiar block in West Philadelphia. “I burst into tears when I first came around the building, you know exactly when it’s meant to be… I lived in West Philly when I was 19; I worked at Koch’s Deli for a year.”

He recounted his life events that led up to opening his first location in Norristown, right before he moved back from Los Angeles after becoming 12 years removed from his hometown. When the economy hit, his nine year old t-shirt business went bankrupt and he became homeless. He recalled a moment when he was hungry and had “hit rock bottom” and was given a cup of fresh pressed organic juice, which inspired him to go vegan and lead a healthier lifestyle.

According to DePaul, the new Gangster Vegan Organics will be opening in March. DePaul is interested in hiring a full staff (10-25 employees) for the location, preferably local to the neighborhood and with an interest or knowledge about the organic vegan lifestyle. The West Philly location will be a full-service restaurant with cooked and raw organic gluten-free offerings, seating up to 100 people.

– Rana Fayez

Check out this video of Vinny making watermelon juice: