Good news came in about the Calvary Center’s boiler. A few weeks ago we wrote that it had broken down and had to be replaced, which might have cost as much as $50,000. After consulting four contractors who all advised that the boiler was beyond repair and gave its replacement cost estimates, a fifth contractor was brought in, who, fortunately, showed that the boiler could actually be repaired and did not need to be replaced. The cost of the repair, as you can guess, is much much lower, and the Center can easily sustain it as part of normal building maintenance.

Rich Kirk, the president of the Calvary Center for Culture and Community board, would like to thank everyone who had responded to this problem and offered their assistance:

“We at Calvary Center want to thank the community for its assistance in getting the word out and for the genuine concern about our well being. It is always good to know people care. We are thankful that this appeal also brought us a solution which we are easily able to handle ourselves. We do not need financial aid to repair our boiler, and that is good news! For those of you who already sent us a donation toward a boiler replacement that we don’t need to do, we will be contacting you soon.”

UPDATE: House minority leader Eric Cantor has canceled the speech on income inequality after his office learned that it would be open to the public, several news outlets are reporting. The Wharton School confirmed that the speech has been canceled. Cantor’s office has told reporters that they thought the speech would only be open to the media and members of the Penn community. A Cantor spokesperson told Philadelphia Daily News reporter Chris Brennan by email that “The Office of the Majority Leader was informed last night by Capitol Police that the University of Pennsylvania was unable to ensure that the attendance policy previously agreed to could be met.” Wharton reportedly planned to allow 300 members of the general public into the speech.

For the last couple of weeks many West Philadelphians have been going to Occupy Philly. Now Occupy Philly is coming to West Philadelphia.

According to the announcement on their Facebook page, the Occupy Philly movement is going to make it to West Philly Friday for a major protest outside the Wharton School (3730 Walnut St.) at the University of Pennsylvania, where Republican Eric Cantor, the House minority leader, will speak about income inequality from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The protest is part of a march dubbed “Occupy Eric Cantor,” that will begin at 3 p.m. at the movement’s base camp near City Hall.

West Philly is well-represented in Philadelphia Weekly‘s “Better than Best” issue, a sort of edgier version of the “Best of Philly” awards that businesses across the city covet so much. We must say that we are quite flattered to be named “Best Community News Blog” (that’s a testament to you all and your engagement with your community) and we’re proud to be named alongside many of our favorite West Philly spots.

Here’s the rundown:

• Best Coffeeshop to Find Your Next Collective Housemate – Satellite Coffee, 701 S. 50th St.

• Best Prototype Neighborhood – Garden Court

• Best Place to See Who (spent the night with) Whom in West Philly on Friday Night – Clark Park Farmer’s Market

• Best Bookstore – Penn Book Center (130 S. 34th St.)

• Venue With Most Squalor – Rathaus, 31st and Spring Garden

• Best Place to Ask Stupid Questions About Power Tools Without Being Judged – West Philly Tool Library (1314 S. 47th St.)

• Best Mechanic Who Will Treat You Like Family – Wayne’s Garage (4521 Springfield Ave.)

• Funniest Medical Research Team – Penn’s HIV/AIDS Research Prevention Division (3535 Market St.)

• Best Place to Eat Falafel in West Philly During Ramadan – Manakeesh Cafe and Bakery (4420 Chestnut St.)

• Best Southern Food in this Yankee Shithole – Roost (4529 Springfield Ave.)

• Best Place to Get a Hangover Destroying Gyro at 2 a.m. in West Philly – New York Gyro Place (4407 Chestnut St.)

• Best Place Place to Drink Good Whiskey and Not Go F**king Broke – Fiume (45th and Locust)

• Best Dance Party in a Cramped Room – Gojjo (4540 Baltimore Ave.)

• Best Community News Blog – West Philly Local

Blurbs about all of the above are available here.

Some bad news for the Philly Diner pancake fans – the restaurant closed Sunday after 10 years of operation. The reason? The owner decided not to renew the lease, the Penn student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian reports.

The restaurant has faced some tough times like a 2009 shooting that prompted switch from a 24-hour service to more limited hours.

It’s not clear who the diner’s owner is, but it seems that this person has other restaurants in the area. If you go to the diner’s homepage (www.phillydiner.com) it redirects to Ed’s Buffalo Wings & Pizza, a family-owned restaurant also located in University City (35th and Lancaster).

According to a sign on the diner, its restaurant and kitchen equipment will be auctioned off online at this website Thursday and Friday. The equipment is available for inspection on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 

US Vice President Joe Biden is going to make a stop this afternoon (around 2:30 p.m.) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Houston Hall (3417 Spruce Street). So don’t be surprised to see some chaotic traffic patterns and delays. Biden will be here for a roundtable discussion with Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey on budget cuts and how they affect public safety.
 

Do you have something super heavy in your house or garage that you want to pick up or move, but don’t know how? No worries – neighbor Douglas Pugliese has donated a heavy-duty lifting engine crane to the West Philly Tool Library. The engine hoist can lift up to a two-ton item on its hydraulic arm and can move it around on heavy-duty casters. Doug, who is a West Philly Tool Library member, used the equipment once or twice and doesn’t need it anymore.

We’re told that the crane can even lift something high enough to get into the bed of a pick-up truck.

Now many folks can use this tool through the library’s low-cost tool rental or for free if you are a member. Think about how many things you can do with it! Anyone have a cow they need to move?