The Philadelphia Mobile Food Association is teaming up with Philabundance in an effort to make holidays brighter for those who can’t afford food.  PMFA is organizing a canned food drive this month and will be accepting non-perishable food donations until December 23. You can drop off your donation at any PMFA food truck (see the list of participating West Philly trucks below). The project launched last Saturday during the PMFA Holiday Round Up. Next time you visit your favorite truck remember to bring some canned goods for your fellow man.

Doll by Jessie Schwarz.

University City Arts League is holding its annual Holiday Craft Show and Sale from December 7 to 21 and inviting everyone to the opening reception this Saturday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (members-only opening reception is on Friday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.). Over 50 artists will present their work at this year’s show, including ceramics, dolls, drawings, felted animals, hand woven bags, glass, illustrations, jewelry, note cards, paintings, prints, purses, scarves, table linens, wallets and more!

The show hours are:

Monday – Friday, 3:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, noon – 6:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ucartsleague.org.

Many kids in the Philadelphia area will be cold this winter because their families can’t afford heat or warm clothes. To help local children stay warm, neighbor Jeannette Bennicelli is organizing a winter coat drive for Cradles to Crayons, a local non-profit that provides children living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need. If you have new or used winter clothing or coats for children aged infant through 17 years old that you would like to donate, please email Jeannette at: jbennice2@gmail.com to arrange the donations.

UPDATE: Jeannette sends many thanks to all those who responded to this post and donated coats and says that she welcomes more donations (deadline is Monday, Dec. 17).

Jerome Brooks

A 45-year-old man from Elmira, New York was arrested on murder charges early this morning in the connection with the fatal hit-and-run accident near 48th and Chester on Monday night.

Jerome Brooks was arraigned early this morning on charges that include murder, vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, according to court documents. Brooks was allegedly driving the silver SUV that struck local resident 52-year-old Deanna Teal as she crossed Chester Avenue at 48th Street. Police say that the SUV was traveling at a high speed before striking Teal and did not slow down or stop after the crash.

Teal, who left behind a daughter and six grandchildren, died at the scene. Police found the vehicle several blocks away within a couple of hours of the crash.

A preliminary hearing for Brooks has been scheduled for December 26.

Penn Museum (3260 South St.) is celebrating the 125th anniversary of their founding on Thursday, Dec. 6 with a 12-hour free Community Open House. The Open House runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with opportunities for behind the scenes tours, talks, informal meetings with the museum curators and collections staff, and more.

Full details of tomorrow’s activities are available here. And here‘s a story about Penn Museum in today’s The New York Times.

A temporary “no parking” sign near 49th and Larchwood.

Here’s the good news: Crews will be filming part of an episode of a new NBC drama in West Philly tomorrow. Kind of cool. The bad news is that if you live within a few blocks of 49th and Larchwood, there’s a good chance that you will need to find a new place to park until Friday. And if you live a few more blocks away, your favorite spot might be gone by the time you read this.

The filming of Do No Harm, a modern-day “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” focusing on a neurosurgeon with a secret, starts filming on Thursday morning. But a ban on parking on streets near 49th and Larchwood begins this evening (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. and ends Friday morning at 1 a.m.

The streets reportedly run from 47th to 50th and Larchwood to as far south as Catharine. Neighbors on the impacted blocks (about seven blocks in all) should have received a flyer notifying them of the parking prohibitions (a reader named Renee tipped us off to this whole thing) and it looks like the streets have been posted. The production company has the proper permits from the City.

If you have any questions about the filming, call the production company’s local office at 215-977-2897 (see the flyer below).

In case you are wondering, Do No Harm premiers on Jan. 31, 2013 after the finale of 30 Rock.

The flyer sent to residents. Thanks to reader Renee.