Public school students in West Philly need our help now more than ever. Budget cuts have led to closed school libraries and hits to literacy programs. Luckily, the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) is doing its best to keep elementary school kids reading – but they need volunteers.

WePAC, which opens and staffs closed elementary school libraries, is seeking volunteers for the upcoming school year to help students develop literacy skills. Volunteers will read stories to children and help them select and check out books. Most elementary schools in West Philadelphia no longer have open libraries, according to WePAC. The program keeps the libraries open at no cost to the school.

This fall, WePAC will be serving Anderson, Blankenburg, Cassidy, Cook-Wissahickon, Gompers, Heston, Lea, Leidy, Longstreth, McMichael, Powel and Rhoads elementary schools.

WePAC volunteers serve as literacy assistants in K-2 classrooms and help run after-school newspaper clubs in several schools. As these programs grow, many new volunteers are needed. The minimum time commitment is 2-3 hours each week.

Orientation sessions begin this week and continue through August. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit WePAC’s website at www.wepac.org or call (215) 990-6084.

The legendary bicycle store at 4311 Lancaster Avenue is reopening under new ownership and inviting folks to their Grand Reopening Extravaganza, titled Dances with Wolves, this Saturday, July 28, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.Wolff Cycles store was recently purchased by West Philly’s Firehouse Bicycles (50th & Baltimore) and renamed to Wolf Cycles (with 50% less F). The shop has been in operation since the 1930’s.

The grand reopening celebration is free and open to the public. It will feature workshops, a bike ride, catered food and beer and an outdoor movie screening. Also there will be music by live DJ’s and raffle all day. Costumes are encouraged. Here are more details:

11 a.m. – Doors open

2 p.m. – Riding Basics Class hosted by the Bicycle Coalition, for riders 16+
For those who feel nervous navigating Philly’s aggressive drivers and trolley tracks.

3:30 p.m. – West Fairmount Park Public Art Ride
Check out public art and enjoy your wheels. For all ages, but under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. The ride is approximately 5 miles. Helmets required.

5:30 p.m. – Legal Rights Workshop hosted by the National Lawyers Guild
Learn your rights and responsibilities as a bicyclist involved in a crash.

7 p.m. – Catered Food and Keg of Beer
Food will be provided, but if you want beer, you’ll have to buy a pint glass (only $5).

8:30 p.m. – Outdoor Screening of the movie “RAD”
If weather allows. RAD tells a fantastic fable of an unflappable BMX biker fighting the factory rider to win on the Helltrack.

For more information go to: www.firehousebicycles.com, email firehousebicycles@gmail.com or call 215 222 2171.

A ring of car thieves is apparently operating in Sector 3 of the 18th Police District, between Market and S. 49th Streets and the Schuylkill River, according to information provided by Brian M. Villa, 27th Ward Democratic Committeeman (the 27th ward for the Democratic Executive Committee encompasses Penn’s campus). The police asked for help to address this problem, Villa said.

Toyota Camry models from the 1990s to the 2000s are being specifically targeted, apparently for their metal body parts. The thefts are mostly taking place between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. About a dozen cars were stolen in this area in the past month (see map).

If you see suspicious activity please call 911 and note to the dispatcher that this is a targeted issue of the 18th District police.

Map of car thefts in the 18th Police District, Sector 3, from June 23 to July 23, 2012. “V” stands for vehicle theft. (Source: Crime Reports)

Shakespeare is coming to Clark Park this week, and all I have to say is: to picnic or not to picnic, that is the question.

From this Wednesday, July 25, to Sunday the 29, Shakespeare’s comedic classic, The Merry Wives of Windsor will be performed in Clark Park at 7:00 p.m. The play chronicles Falstaff, a poor sod in Elizabethan England, who decides to solve his debt problems by wooing the wives of wealthy merchants. But of course, the wives have a plan of their own. The play is directed by Rebecca Wright and stars Jess Conda as Mistress Ford, Mary Tuomanen as Mistress Page, and Robert DaPonte as Falstaff.

All shows are free (although donations are accepted) and are performed outdoors in the park by the Shakespeare in Clark Park company. It is recommended that you bring chairs and blankets, as the performance is just under two hours, and there is no intermission. The play is family-appropriate and a great treat for those who’ve never seen it before.

Shakespeare in Clark Park was started in the fall of 2005 and has grown immensely since then. The free outdoor performances have become a much-anticipated event of the West Philly summer. As Mistress Quickly says, in the play, “Here will be an old abusing of God’s patience and the King’s English.” In the most fun way possible, of course.

Look for our review of this performance later this week.

– Kelly Lawler

The sign in the windows at Saad’s (45th and Walnut).

Ramadan began on Friday and some businesses will be closed or have limited hours until late August. Saad’s Halal Restaurant (45th & Walnut) will be closed until August 27. Manakeesh Café Bakery (45th & Walnut) is open ever night, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight (taking meal orders from 8:15 p.m., serving food from 8:30). For more information go to: http://www.manakeeshcafe.com. Kabobeesh Restaurant (42nd & Chestnut) is open regular hours (Mon-Sun noon-11:00 pm) and serving free Iftar (evening meal) for neighbors who fast during this holiday. For more information and menu, visit Kabobeesh website or Facebook page.

A neighbor, Kamilla, is missing her cat:

“Hi everybody. My cat is missing.

Brief description: GREY in color, with WHITE CHEST, and white “socks” on all 4 paws. Male. Approximately 1,5 years old. Pretty big in size. Has no collar nor tag on him (he shook them off 2 days ago and I wasn’t able to find them in the apartment to put them back on him and was planning to go to PetSmart after that if i didn’t find them this Sunday when i would be cleaning the whole apartment).

Last seen: 43rd and Osage (or South 44th Street), University City, Phila, 19104, last night before I went to bed. When I woke up this morning he was gone and i saw a cut area in the mosquito net this morning when i started looking for him everywhere in the apartment. He must have jumped out of the window while I was sleeping. Might be injured (we live on the 4th floor!).

Name: Batist

He’s NOT a brave cat. Mostly afraid of strangers so probably just hiding somewhere. I’ve been looking for him and calling out his name in the area since 4 am but no luck so far. The jump must have freaked him out real bad.

If you find or see Batist, please call/text/e-mail me (whichever is more convenient for you). My cell phone #: 757 273 4399.

A reward is offered as well. Thank you in advance for ANY help in finding my pet.”