Powelton residents will soon get more access to fresh, locally grown food. The West Philadelphia Fresh Food Hub, a mobile grocery store, is launching in April to serve Lancaster Avenue and the surrounding communities. The truck will sell groceries like rice, flour, milk, peanut butter and eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables supplied by Preston’s Paradise and Greensgrow Farms.

Ryan Kuck, West Philadelphia Fresh Food Hub project manager, says that they’ve been running a push cart market for about five years and were “looking for a way to scale up and be a more consistent access point to fresh food in our neighborhood.” The idea is “to be a grocery store more than a farmers’ market.”

So, look for the Fresh Food Hub starting next month along Lancaster Avenue, between 37^th and 40^th streets. The truck will also travel to senior housing communities, block parties and community events. The schedule for Lancaster Avenue (near 37th) is Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when it’s not at a community event. They’ll have additional hours at the Mantua library on Wednesday evenings and the West Philly Senior Center on Friday afternoons (they are still working on the details).

For more information about the West Philadelphia Fresh Food Hub and people behind it, read this Plan Philly article or visit their Facebook page.

Yoga instructor and Mariposa Food Co-op member Michal Waldfogel will be teaching a donation Vinyasa yoga class at Wake Up Yoga (4916 Baltimore Ave) to raise funds for the Mariposa Co-op expansion. The class will be held on Saturday, March 31, 1-2:30 p.m. Bring a monetary donation, or sign up on this afternoon to become a member of Mariposa. No pre-registration is required.

This is an open level vinyasa class, appropriate for all levels of practitioners. For more information on the class, visit this page. To read more about the Mariposa Expansion Project, click here.

William, an absolutely adorable 9-10 week old kitten, walked right in Ben’s front door this past weekend. Ben lives at 51st and Walnut. William is the cutest and friendliest little guy – he enjoys playing, nuzzling, and lap-sitting in equal measure. Ben is at maximum cat capacity at the moment and can’t keep the kitten, so he would like to find a good home for him. William gets along great with Ben’s other cats, guests, and inanimate objects.

Anyone wanting to meet him, please contact Ben at 610-761-0315 or by email: herman.ben [at] gmail.com.

Some lucky person will never forget their recent visit to the 40 Stop Mini Market at the corner of 40th and Market streets. That is where Monday’s winning Cash 5 ticket worth $325,000 was bought. The winner has not been named.

The jackpot comes as result of picking all five numbers – 13, 20, 22, 29 and 33 – correctly in the daily drawing, which now starts over at $125,000. The store will also get a cash prize for selling the winning ticket.

Here is a list of kindergarten open houses coming up in March in the area. The list has been compiled by the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools.

A. D. Harrington School
5300-34 Baltimore Ave
19143
(215) 471 – 2914
www.philasd.org/schools/harrington
Open House: CONFIRMED, 3/6, 9:09-9:45 a.m., in Annex Building
Kindergarten teacher: Ms. Davis, Room A1

B. B. Comegys School
5100 Greenway Ave.
19143
(215) 727 – 2162
Open House: NOT CONFIRMED

Alexander Wilson School
1300 S. 46th St.
19143
(215) 823 – 8206
www.philasd.org/schools/alexanderwilson
Open House: CONFIRMED, 3/6, Begins 9:00 a.m.

Samuel B. Huey School
5200 Pine St.
19143
(215) 471 – 2901
Open House: NOT CONFIRMED

Henry C. Lea School
4700 Locust St.
19139
(215) 471 – 2915
webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/l/lea
Open House: CONFIRMED, 3/6, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Kindergarten teachers: Ms. Mykytiuch and Ms. McCloskey

Penn Alexander School
4209 Spruce St.
19104
(215) 823 – 5465
www.philasd.org/schools/pennalexander
Open House: CONFIRMED, 3/6, Begins 9:30 a.m.

Alain Locke School
4550 Haverford Ave.
19139
(215) 823 – 8202
Open House: CONFIRMED, 3/6, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Martha Washington Academics
766 N. 44th St.
19104
(215) 823 – 8203
www.philasd.org/schools/marthawashington
Open House: TO BE SCHEDULED LATER IN MARCH

Samuel Powel School
301 N. 36th St.
19104
(215) 823 – 8201
www.philasd.org/schools/powel
Open House: CONFIRMED, 3/6, Begins 8:30 a.m.

Charles Drew School
3724 Warren St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 823 – 8204
www.philasd.org/schools/drew
Open House: NOT CONFIRMED

We are happy to report that West Philly-based independent film project “MAYA” has reached and even slightly exceeded its funding goal on Kickstarter and will begin shooting in the first week of April. Thanks to everyone who supported it!

The film’s director, Dan Papa, is very excited that they hit the goal and says that they can’t wait to start shooting. They are still casting for the male lead role and should have a decision on that within the next couple of weeks.

A couple of crew members are still needed for this project, so anyone interested please email Dan at danieljamespapa [at] gmail.com. Here‘s the film’s Facebook page.