On Saturday, Jan. 12, the Cedar Park Neighbors community association is holding a morning workshop where you can learn about basics of block organizing, block beautification and vacant lot management. It’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and to learn how to be more proactive on your blocks.
The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th & Baltimore).
If you are interested in attending this event please contact Meg Ferrigno at: 267.241.7606; skyflowers0@gmail.com.
Some neighbors in the Cedar Park neighborhood have been struggling to get some of the lights back on in the park. Several street lamps in the park have been dark for a few months. A request to 311 to repair the lights was submitted by neighbor Ryan Briggs on December 17, 2012 but was closed on January 1 when the Streets Department reported that “the light was found burning.” However, the request had been submitted to repair at least three lights and residents are reporting that now all but one of the park lamps are out, which presents a significant safety hazard.
Ryan wrote us and said that 311 now says it’s a Parks and Rec problem.
Another Cedar Park resident, Amara Rockar, also tried to submit an online maintenance request, including photos of the dysfunctional lights. She says that 311 is now telling her via Twitter to submit a new request under a different coding, which, she says, “seems pretty useless if citizens don’t know the exact correct coding for a particular situation.” Calling 311 is also not very effective since you don’t have a paper trail.
So while the struggle between the city and the residents is going on the problem remains unsolved and residents near the park are getting frustrated.
UPDATE 2 (Friday, Jan. 11): We are happy to report that all but one lights in the park were back on last night (see photo below tweeted by Amara Rockar).
As we reported earlier, the University Avenue/34th Street Bridge over the Schuylkill river has been closed for repairs since Jan. 2 for approximately three weeks. As it was expected the area near the bridge is congested and motorists are advised to take detours over Grays Ferry Avenue, Woodland Avenue and 38th Street.
Penn and city police are deploying additional overtime officers to assist motorists in congested areas and to assist with traffic control at some vital intersections. One of the problems that the police are dealing with during the bridge closure is illegal U-Turns from the Westbound I-76 South Street ramp to the Eastbound South I-76 South Street ramp. “U-turns on the South street bridge is both illegal and hazardous, and negatively impact the congestion,” reads a Traffic Advisory by Penn Public Safety.
UPDATE (Friday, Jan. 11): Mars has been found and returned to his owner.
Mars, a 2-year-old Beagle/Terrier Mix, escaped from his home near Clark Park this afternoon. He was last seen in the area of 49th and Woodland. He is about 25 pounds. He is microchipped and wearing a collar with tags. He’s a very friendly dog but shy around new people.
If you have any information regarding Mars, please contact Stacy at 267-902-2020.
The new look for Lea Elementary schoolyards? Designers, community and school groups hope so.
That big slab of asphalt surrounding the Henry Lea School (47th and Locust) is an urban space designer’s dream. Tomorrow you can see what a team of designers came up with to turn the schoolyards of Lea into “vibrant, active, fun, ecological, educational, green schoolyard and community space.”
Collaborative Designers will present the “Greening Lea” plan tomorrow (Wednesday) from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the school’s auditorium (enter through the small playground off Locust Street.)
The result of the school’s participation in the Community Design Collaborative’s “Transforming Urban Schoolyard Design” workshop last year, the plan combines the efforts of school and community groups (including the West Philly Coalition of Neighborhood Schools), professional designers and public agencies.
Police are continuing to search for two suspects, a man and a woman, who on Monday morning, between 5:30 and 6:40 a.m., slashed tires on some 59 vehicles parked on the 4700-5000 block of Hazel Avenue and the 5300 block of Chancellor Avenue.
Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey announced yesterday a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of those involved in this act of vandalism. The Fraternal Order of Police President John Mcnesby is offering another $5,000 just for an arrest of the suspects, bringing the total reward amount up to $10,000.
The first suspect is described as a Black female, 30 years-of-age, 5’3”, stocky build, long hair, red or pink short jacket carrying a light colored bag. The second suspect is a Black male, 5’11”, wearing dark clothing. The police released surveillance video where both suspects can be seen (see below).
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Southwest Detectives Division (Det. DiLauro #670) at 215-686-3183/3184. To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.
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