OK. Here’s a way to help neighborhood kids without getting out of your chair. Neighborhood Foods is a food growing and distribution run by kids and overseen by Urban Tree Connection. You might have seen these kids selling their produce near the 46th Street El stop or elsewhere in West Philly.

The folks from this great program have a chance to speak on a very large stage. They are among the five finalists in the TEDxManhattan Challenge. The winner gets to speak about their organization at TEDxManhattan, which this year will focus on “Changing the Way We Eat.”

Here is more about Neighborhood Foods from their entry:

“This dynamic model empowers disadvantaged youth from low-income neighborhoods to run an array of food-focused programs, from urban farming production, to value-added food product development, to distribution and retail through farm stands, farmers markets and a low-income CSA program. The result is a complete local food system that drives revitalization of high-need neighborhoods by 1) increasing access to fresh and healthy foods in designated food deserts and 2) developing a local food economy that accelerates small food businesses and retains food dollars in the immediate region.”

To vote for them, go here. To see other entrants, go here.

As the number of package deliveries increases before and during holidays, so does package theft. A neighbor sent this information and a warning to fellow West Philly residents to be extra careful receiving packages, especially during the holiday season.

“Today I got a call from a friendly stranger who happened to be waiting in a car across the street from my apartment to give a friend a ride. He saw four teens walking down the 4600 block of Spruce, doing what looked like checking porches for packages. When they got to my porch, they saw a package, opened it, and the friendly neighbor got out of his car to stop them, at which point they ran away with half of the contents of the box. Since my buzzer doesn’t work, my phone number is on my front door, which is how he managed to contact me. I came home and filed a police report.”

Crews today were wrapping up the demolition of a cluster of two-story buildings that housed apartments and a couple of small businesses next to the 46th Street El stop.

The demolition has been licensed by the city, but so far there is no word on what, if anything, will be built on the site. New York Fried Chicken and a Donuts Plus were located in the building. The demolition leaves the west side of S. Farragut between Market and Ludlow streets vacant.

By the way, if you are wondering about construction or demolition work near your home, the City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections has a fairly robust property search feature on its website. Just enter the address of the property in question into the “Property History” search window and it will (usually) show you any licenses, permits or violations associated with the property.

The view from Farragut Street toward the EL stop at 46th Street as a crew wraps up the demolition.

The view (via Google Street View) of the intersection before the demolition.

More than 100 Henry C. Lea Elementary students have been invited to spend a day at the University of Pennsylvania this Saturday (Dec. 1) when they become honorary college students during College Day 2012. The goal of this event (held three times each year) is to “excite students about the college experience, so they will be motivated to work hard in middle and high school and strive for a college education.”

Lea students are expected to come in the morning and stay until about 4 p.m. Penn students will be mentors throughout the day, sharing their college experiences with the kids and showing them around the campus. College Day participants will also take a mock Wharton management course and complete a class project – working in groups, they’ll design products that college students would want to purchase. At the end of their visit, Lea students will see a performance of Penn dance and singing groups.

Update: Service was restored to all the affected residents just before midnight last night.

11/28, 5:48 p.m.: About 930 residents lost their power on Tuesday night, shortly after 11:00 p.m., in the Spruce Hill and Garden Court areas due to an issue with an underground cable at 49th and Spruce Streets, according to PECO spokesperson Liz Williamson. Service was restored to about 865 of those residents by about 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

There are currently 65 residents in the vicinity of 49th and Spruce Streets without service. “PECO has already contacted those customers to let them know that we are working to replace the underground cable in their area and that their service may not be restored for several hours while we make repairs,” Williamson said at about 5 p.m.

Enid.

Enid and Alvie are two of the cuddliest, sweetest, cleverest cats you may ever meet. They were found as baby kittens a year ago in West Philadelphia by a City Kitties volunteer. They were adopted, but unfortunately their family fell on hard times, and now they are back in foster care in West Philly.

When these two are not curled up with each other for a nap on the bed, they are chasing each other around the house or wrestling on the floor. Enid loves to chase her feather toys and jingly balls around the house, then curl up on your lap while you read a book. Alvie runs to the door when you get home and when you kneel down to pet him, he puts his paws on your shoulders and licks your chin until you pick him up for a pet.

Alvie.

They are very affectionate, playful, and absolutely gorgeous. These two one-year-old cats have never been apart and adore each other – and will adore you!

If you have been considering one cat – think about two! With Enid and Alvie you will have two times the love, two times the fun.

For more information, go to their adoption profiles on the City Kitties website (Alvie and Enid) or fill out an adoption application here.