After a temporary switch to Saturday schedules and limited (“Lifeline”) service due to the COVID-19 crisis, SEPTA will return to regular service on Sunday, May 17. Regular service will resume on all trolley, Market Frankford, Broad Street and Norristown High Speed Line routes. Market Frankford and Broad Street Owl service will also resume.

Bus routes will also return to regular service, with the following exceptions:

Routes 204, 310, 311, and LUCY Gold and Green routes will continue to operate on a reduced schedule. Route 91 remains suspended.  Continue Reading

We have shared information on what’s happening at local restaurants and eateries and how you can order food (takeout or delivery). Some restaurants have also posted information on how you can help their workers during the pandemic. University City District’s UC Dining Days website provides information on dozens West Philly restaurants. Check it out here.

But what about other businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus? An online resource, Support PHL, has been created to support businesses that were closed following Governor Wolf’s directive to help spread COVID-19 in the state. There you can find information on many West Philly businesses – barber shops, gift and flower shops, fitness studios, cafes and bars, art studios, and more. There is also information on various COVID-19 relief funds and resources for small businesses.

For more information and to donate to small businesses, go here. For relief funds, check out this page.

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The A Book A Day program, in partnership with Bindlestiff Books, is inviting young West Philly writers and illustrators (K-5) to take part in a competition titled “My Indoor Adventures.” Young writers are encouraged to express their thoughts and tell their community what they have been doing at home during the pandemic.

Submissions of illustrated texts, comics, and silent (wordless) books are welcome. Stories written in different languages (with accompanying translation) are also accepted.

The deadline for final submissions is May 27, 2020. For more information on how to submit your story, go here.

A Book a Day is a collaboration program between Penn Libraries and two public schools: the Penn Alexander and Henry C. Lea. The program donates newly published children’s books to their libraries. Since the beginning of the program’s work, it has been partnering with the neighborhood independent bookstore Bindlestiff Books. For this initiative, the finalists will be awarded books and gift cards to Bindlestiff Books, up to $125!

A new coronavirus (COVID-19) testing site has opened in West Philadelphia. Residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, muscle aches or difficulty breathing) or have been exposed to a person who tested positive, can now get tested at a drive-through and walk-through site located at Sayre Health Center (5800 Walnut St., Rear). Testing is by appointment only (please call 215-474-4444).

Hours of operation:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Thursday: 12-3 p.m.

For more information, visit: www.sayrehealth.org.

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Here’s a great new initiative from a group of local organizers to show public support for the city’s essential workers during theses challenging times. Italy had songs on balconies, New York City banged on pots and pans, and Philly folks are invited to dance at their doorway. A daily, Philadelphia Doorway Dance Party for Essential Workers kicks off Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. and here’s how it works:

The group asks all Philadelphians to gather in their doorway or door area at 6:30 p.m. to dance to the sound of the “Rocky” theme and then “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” the upbeat tune from the Sound of Philadelphia’s “McFadden & Whitehead” (see video below). The group has reached out to local radio stations to play these tunes. So far, two stations, Radio One & iHeart Radio, have agreed to participate in the initiative.  Continue Reading

Construction work on the Chestnut Street Bridge and Schuylkill Expressway/I-76 viaducts will resume on Monday, May 4, according to an announcement by PennDOT. Motorists should watch out for reduced lanes and closed shoulders and ramps in the work area. Expect significant backups and delays near the work area.

PennDOT is resuming the project in accordance with Governor Tom Wolf’s plan for a phased-in reopening of public and private construction. The project was paused on March 17 in response to mitigation efforts. Work on the project will be in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which includes protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, and other safety measures.  Continue Reading