Philly 311, the pretty awesome city service that will help you get information and help from City Hall, is hosting a Twitter chat on Thursday as part of its Neighborhood Liaison program.

Here’s how it works: Deputy Mayor/Managing Director Rich Negrin (@RichNegrin) and Deputy Managing Director Rosetta Carrington Lue (@Rosettalue) will be on Twitter to field questions, concerns and share ideas about how the city government can help empower neighborhoods. The hashtag for the chat is #Philly311NLP.

Specifically, the chat will address six questions:

• How do you define a “community hero”?
• How can city government empower community heroes?
• What can neighborhoods do to keep their communities safe and clean?
• The Philly311 Mobile App now translates to 16 different languages. How could this help unify neighborhoods?
• How can the city’s youth be inspired to keep their communities safe and clean?
• How should the city government communicate its services to Philadelphians without access to technology?

The Neighborhood Liaison Program is designed to connect Philly311 and City Hall to neighborhood organizations by creating a network of volunteer liaisons who can relay community concerns about everything from a pothole to a blighted property.

Two turkeys strolling through Bartram’s Garden last summer. (Photo by West Philly Local)

Some people have written us with concerns about the turkey that has been spotted strolling around the neighborhood in recent days. As suspected, the turkey appears to be from Bartram’s Garden.

The turkey apparently got into a territorial dispute with his brother and took off. Spokeswoman Kim Massare said the Bartram’s Garden staff is interested in getting updates on the turkey, but other than that there is not much that can be done.

“They are federally protected birds and they generally have a wide territory,” said Massare. “If it’s in good health and seems happy there’s no reason to be concerned.”

If the bird does appear to be injured, she suggested contacting the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge or the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, which operates a wildlife rehabilitation clinic.

Otherwise, you can help document the bird’s whereabouts by snapping a photo, leaving a comment here or visiting the Bartram’s Garden Facebook page here.

A turkey, possibly one of those in the photo above, rambling down 50th Street near Springfield. (Photo courtesy of @kayasinfo on Twitter)

Here are a couple of shots from the neighborhood featuring volunteers cleaning up Cedar Park and wonderful spring blossoms.

Unfortunately, another shooting has been reported in West Philadelphia. A 44-year-old man was fatally shot Friday night at approximately 5:30 p.m. near 52nd and Chester. The victim, who was found in a car, had been shot multiple times, police said. Police believe he was the target.

UPDATE: Guncrisis.org is reporting that two men approached the man as he sat in a red Dodge Charger and fired 15 shots at close range. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fatal shootings were down considerably during the first few months of 2013 compared to last year, but they are rising again quickly. Guncrisis.org reports that there have been 33 shooting incidents in the city over the past 48 hours, including at least seven fatalities.

– Mike Lyons

A turkey has been trotting around the neighborhood south of Baltimore from 45th to 49th streets the last few mornings. Several folks have spotted the bird. A neighbor, Claire, snapped the photos below this morning at about 7:30 a.m.

Be careful out there, little buddy!

Photos by Claire King.

This photo of a turkey strolling down 50th street near Springfield is courtesy of @Kayasinfo on Twitter.

This Saturday (Apr. 13) between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., many residents will be joining forces to clean and beautify their neighborhoods as part of the citywide initiative. Residents and community groups were asked to register their cleanup projects on the Streets Department website and over 500 projects have been posted throughout the city, with dozens in West Philadelphia.

If you would like to volunteer in one of the organized efforts please click on the map below to go to the projects page. Or you can just step outside and clean around your home, office, school, in a nearby park, or an empty lot.