Editor’s Note: We’re resuming our posts about cats and kittens rescued by Project MEOW, the West Philly-based volunteer-run organization. This post is about “Gloria” who was found starving and near death. The post also provides information on how to treat a starving cat if someone finds one.

Gloria was starving and near death when she was found (Photo courtesy of Project MEOW).

When she was found by a contractor at a construction site at 45th and Market in August, Gloria was so skinny she could turn sideways and vanish. Barely three and a half pounds, this young calico cat came into her foster home with eye infections, a wobbly gait, and no appetite at all. Her caring and dedicated foster dad, realizing the dangers of overfeeding a starving cat, patiently fed her kitten formula and Urgent Care food through a syringe until she had gained several ounces and could eat regular cat food again.

Now healthier and mobile, Gloria still walked with a funky step. X-Rays at Philadelphia Animal Hospital showed a long-ago broken leg and dislocated kneecap, partially healed, and fixable only through extremely expensive orthopedic surgery. She can still move around fine, luckily, so right now her foster dad is trying to determine how much pain her injury is causing her. That will decide whether amputation might be the right path for this kitty. Once Project MEOW decides how best to handle her injuries and she is spayed, Gloria will be available for adoption. After all of her pain and suffering, we are hoping to find Gloria a safe home where she can continue recuperating and get all of the love she deserves.  Continue Reading

Photo from The Green Line Cafe Facebook page.

Storefront windows of several West Philly businesses were smashed overnight and some businesses were burglarized, prompting a burglary report from the 18th Police District (see below).

The Green Line Cafe posted the following message on their Facebook page this morning:

“Not what we wanted to wake up to at Locust Street this morning… No one was hurt. We’ll be opening late today, though.”  Continue Reading

Want to see giant colorful puppets “marching” along West Philly streets? Come to the annual Peoplehood Parade this Saturday, Oct. 20, organized by West Philly’s Spiral Q puppet theater. The event will kick off outside the Paul Robeson House (4951 Walnut St) at 1 p.m. Nearly 500 people of all ages will be marching, dancing, and carrying puppets, flags, and drums to Clark Park (45th and Chester), where the parade will be followed by a small giant puppet pageant with participatory performances around 2:15 p.m.

Peoplehood is a parade that celebrates and energizes PEOPLE, particularly those living in and/or working at the forefront of anti-discrimination and anti-oppression work.  Continue Reading

With Halloween just around the corner, the Spruce Hill Community Association has announced details for the 22nd annual Halloween Parade and Party.

The parade, where families with little tots (6 and under) are invited to show off their costumes, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 31. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. at 45th and Larchwood (gathering will start at 4 p.m.). The parade will end on the 4200 block of Osage Ave., aka “Little Osage”, where neighbors throw their annual block party-style Halloween Party. Once the parade is over, the Tots and their families will be treated to cider and baked goods from neighbors and local businesses. There will also be plenty of trick-or-treating opportunities in the neighborhood. While walking around, make sure to stop by the Spruce Hill Center at 257 S. 45th St. for some goodie bags.  Continue Reading

Joe Clark volunteered for many years at the Walnut Street West Library Chess Club.

A well-known member of the community, Joe Clarke, 64, passed away on October 6th after a long courageous battle with cancer. Although he was struggling with cancer for years he was still out and about in the community until just a few weeks ago.

Joe was remarkable in his lifework of being a friend and mentor to many. He was on a spiritual journey that embodied religious and philosophical ideas always being spun through human relations and a great love of music and the arts. He was sometimes affectionately called “The Mayor of West Philadelphia.” This nickname came about because of how well known he was. A common complaint by his friends was that if you were sitting with him for a cup of coffee there would be constant interruptions as he seemed to know about every third person walking down the block.  Continue Reading

Chestnut Street between 30th Street and Schuylkill Avenue will be reduced to two travel lanes and a bicycle lane for approximately six months due to construction on the Schuylkill Avenue viaduct, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced.

Motorists have also been alerted about a new traffic pattern set up by PennDOT crews earlier this week. Under the traffic pattern, motorists turning left onto Schuylkill Avenue to access westbound Interstate 76, Interstate 676 or Market Street will use the left lane on Chestnut Street, potentially causing significant backups and delays on Chestnut Street.  Continue Reading