University of Pennsylvania students will be moving into their dorms throughout next week, which means portions of Spruce Street will be closed during the day to accommodate them. Street closures will begin on Monday, Aug. 22 and continue through Sunday, Aug. 28 with no closures on Thursday, Aug. 25. Here are more details:

• Spruce Street between 34th and 38th Streets will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22; Tuesday, Aug. 23; and Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Spruce Street between 38th and 40th Streets will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26; Saturday, Aug. 27; and Sunday, Aug. 28.

All vehicular traffic, including bicycles, will not be permitted on the closed sections of Spruce Street. Buses will be on detour (please check septa.org for more details).

UPDATE 2 (8/19/2022): The intersection of 42nd and Spruce Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from Saturday, Aug. 20 until Saturday, Aug. 27 for SEPTA trolley track replacement. Detours will be posted.

UPDATE (8/3/2022): The intersection of 40th and Walnut Streets will be shut down to vehicular traffic from Friday, Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. until Sunday, Aug. 7 at 9 p.m. as part of this project.

7/29/2022: After a month-long break, SEPTA crews will resume the Trolley Track Renewal Project along 40th Street on Monday, Aug. 1. The street will be closed between Chestnut St and Spruce St until approximately August 19th. Motorists should expect delays in the area.

The project began in June and also includes the renovation of the track curve at 42nd and Spruce streets. This work is expected to take place in late August until approximately August 27th.

Normal construction hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but occasional weekend work may be required. More details on this project are available here.

Community College of Philadelphia’s brand new Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC) has officially opened at 48th and Market. A ribbon cutting ceremony with the participation of city, state and College officials took place this morning.

The new state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility will offer short-term certificate programs in the Advanced Manufacturing, Health Care, and Transportation Technology fields. It will also host associate degree programs that will help students meet the ever-changing needs of these industries. One program in particular is the Toyota Technician Training & Education Network (T-TEN) program which will provide state‑of‑the‑art, hands‑on automotive diagnosis and repair training. Continue Reading

Theatre in the X is back at Malcolm X. Park (5100 Pine St.) with the opening of celebrated musical Dreamgirls on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

Based on the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio “The Dreams,” who become music superstars.

The city’s Black theater company will stage four performances this year, including another 7 p.m. show on Aug. 19 and Saturday and Sunday performances (Aug. 20-21) beginning at 5 p.m. Admission, as always, is free. Just bring a chair or a blanket or whatever you want to sit on.

Dreamgirls is based on the Broadway hit by playwright Tom Eyden and composer Henry Krieger first staged in 1981. The play was adapted as 2006 film that starred Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, and also features Jennifer Hudson and Danny Glover.

West Philly native Ozzie Jones is directing the production and Sanchel Brown is choreographer. Will Brock will provide music direction and original compositions. Continue Reading

The City of Philadelphia has recently received $25 million in federal funding for the “Great Streets PHL” project, which aims to make safety improvements to high-crash corridors in historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty.

The funding comes from a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grant, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The funding will make improvements along seven high-crash corridors in the city, including the following streets in West Philadelphia: Continue Reading

The School District of Philadelphia in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) has released updated COVID-19 health and safety protocols for the 2022-23 school year.

For the first 10 days of the new school year – from August 29 through September 9 – all students and staff will be required to wear masks while in school, regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level (see CDC COVID-19 Community Level Indicators).

Beyond the first 10 days of the new school year, masking is optional but encouraged for students and staff except under certain circumstances: Continue Reading