Two local schools, Penn Alexander School and Independence Charter School West, are holding drives this week to help those in need after the recent devastating hurricanes, “Harvey,” “Irma,” and “Maria.”

Independence Charter School West, located at 5600 Chester Ave., is collecting first-aid items for the areas affected by the hurricanes. The following donations are being accepted through Friday, Sept. 29: bandages, anti-bacterial ointment, flash lights, batteries, soap, antiseptic and alcohol wipes; or any other item you believe will be of use for those affected by the recent natural disasters.

Donations can also be dropped off at Independence Charter School in Center City (1600 Lombard St.).  Continue Reading

Science Leadership Academy (SLA), the highly successful magnet high school, is starting a middle school at its Beeber campus near 59th and Malvern.

The school is now recruiting students for its first fifth grade class, which will start in the 2018-2019 school year. The middle school – 5th through 8th grade – will be housed in the former Beeber Middle School, a building it will share with the SLA high school there. SLA also has a high school in Center City and another new middle school near Drexel in the Powelton Village neighborhood.

Like its other schools, admission to the new middle school will require an application and an interview. Once admitted, though, students can automatically move on to the SLA Beeber High School, one of the more selective high schools in the city.  Continue Reading

Due to rainy weather in August, some movie screenings in Clark Park were postponed, so this Friday (Sept. 22), the “Movies in Clark” series will return for one last time with a rescheduled screening of Hidden Figures. This Oscar-nominated film tells the story of three brilliant African American women working for NASA who served as the brains behind the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit during the 1960s.

The film screening will begin at 8 p.m., but all are invited to come early to a presentation of a “Life in Space” program by The Franklin Institute staff (starting at 6:15), plus enjoy food and desserts from some local food trucks, such as Humpty’s Dumplings, Pink’s Cold Treats, and more.  Continue Reading

Public response was generally favorable during a Cedar Park Neighbors zoning committee meeting on Tuesday toward a proposed three-unit building with ground floor commercial space on a vacant lot on the 5000 of Baltimore Avenue.

The building, which would occupy a vacant lot at 5047 Baltimore Ave., requires approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment because it will exceed the two apartments allowed under the zoning code. One of those apartments will include basement bedrooms, which allowed the developer to keep the building within the zoning code’s height requirements. The other two units would include two and three bedrooms each.  Continue Reading

The Cedar Park Neighbors zoning committee will consider a proposal on Tuesday for a three unit, multi-family building on the vacant lot located at 5047 Baltimore Avenue.

The building would include commercial space on the first floor and two additional floors. The maximum height of the building is 48 feet.

Community members are invited to meet with the owner, see the plans, ask questions and voice their opinion. More information can be found on the Facebook event page.

The hearing begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Calvary Center at 801 S. 48th Street (2nd floor).

We’re very sad to report that Vincent (Vince) Whittacre, former owner of the Gold Standard Cafe and Cedar Park community organizer, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the age of 57.

Vince Whittacre (right) with his spouse and business partner Roger Harman (Photo from BABA Facebook page).

Vince not only was a co-founder and co-owner of the popular Cedar Park restaurant (he and his spouse and business partner Roger Harman sold it in 2015 after almost 35 years of work in the restaurant business), he was also a founder and past president of the Baltimore Avenue Business Association (BABA). The following message was posted on BABA’s Facebook page:

“Vince was an involved and active member of our West Philly community. He made a difference, investing, immersing, and concerning himself in so many ways. As a former leader and former President of BABA, we appreciate his hard work, support, dedication and legacy. We will miss him.”

Vince was also active in many local organizations, such as Curio Theatre Company, Chester Avenue Dog Park, Action AIDS, and more. He was also an “avid reader, lover of mysteries, film enthusiast, and an excellent cook,” according to an obituary posted online. “He could often be found at the opera or ballet crying along to one of his many favorite performances, especially Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet… [He] possessed an acidic wit and infectious laugh.”  Continue Reading