Mayor Michael Nutter is frequently spotted here in West Philly. Last week he cut the ribbon on the Dorrance Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises at 48th and Spruce and tomorrow he’s coming to inaugurate the Woodland Avenue Pedestrian Plaza at 42nd and Woodland. The Woodland Avenue plaza is a formerly neglected traffic triangle that has been transformed into a green area with bistro tables and umbrellas thanks to a partnership between University City District, the Mayor’s Office of Transportation, and the Philadelphia Streets Department.

All are welcome to join the Mayor and other stakeholders at the dedication of the plaza, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Complimentary treats will be served by Little Baby’s Ice Cream and Four Worlds Bakery.

An armed suspect was arrested after police chased him for several blocks on Saturday night. The man was pulled over at approximately 7:30 p.m. for an illegal lane change and fled on foot, police said. Here are some details submitted by a neighbor who lives nearby (confirmed by police).

Dozens of police officers surrounded the block of Farragut St (between 46th & 47th Streets). …They chased, tackled, and arrested an armed suspect who was on foot and attempted to get away through the back alley of several of the buildings closer to Locust St. One couple said that they saw the suspect at their back window before he was tackled. …The police were still searching for the weapon after the arrest and about 20 minutes later, a fire truck assisted the Philadelphia Police Department to search on the roof of several buildings close to where the arrest was made.

During the foot pursuit the suspect was holding a black semi-automatic handgun, according to police. The gun has not yet been recovered.

A grey kitten with white nose, neck, and paw markings showed up at a neighbor’s house at 5oth and Baltimore on Friday night. It is at least 8 weeks old, can eat solid food, and is a bit skinny. Please contact themeul[at]gmail.com if you have any information regarding its owner or mother.

For neighbors celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – here’s information from Kol Tzedek, a Reconstructionist synagogue located at 48th and Baltimore, about its upcoming holiday services:

September 16, 6:30 PM – Erev Rosh Hashanah

September 17, 9 AM – Rosh Hashanah

September 18, 9:30 AM – Rosh Hashanah

September 25, 6:15 – Erev Yom Kippur

September 26, 9:30 – Yom Kippur

Please send your questions to: religiouslife@kol-tzedek.org
 

The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools has announced that due to increased enrollment and demand, Lea Elementary (47th and Locust) will be adding Kindergarten and 1st grade classes for the 2012-2013 school year.

Registration and enrollment will begin on Wednesday, September 19 at 8:30 a.m. and those students who will arrive early enough in the day to register will be able to begin attending classes the same day. For information on what documentation to bring, please visit the School District of Philadelphia’s website. You can read more about Lea Elementary on the WPCNS website.

Police and local clergy members started going door to door talking to residents in an effort to tackle crime in the area. Last night they were particularly targeting the 19th Police District, ABC6 reports. The goal of this new initiative is to let residents in high crime areas know about what’s happening in their neighborhood, to hear from them about trouble spots and to see what police can do to help. “We want to know from residents if they’re having any problems; poor lighting, abandoned vehicles, vacant property,” Inspector Dennis Wilson told ABC.

Police are also talking to neighbors-property owners about what they should do to protect their property more effectively and encouraging businesses to install surveillance cameras and to register them with the city.

Next week the police are supposed to knock on doors of the 18th District‘s residents.