Whether you’re looking to get involved in the Day of Service by lending a hand to a great West Philly school or organization, celebrate with others looking to think and explore King’s legacy, or donate to folks in need, check out the listings below to see how West Philadelphians will be paying tribute to the spirit of Dr. King this MLK day, Monday, Jan. 16.

SERVICE PROJECTS
 
Who: Bartram’s Garden

Where: 400 Lindbergh Boulevard

When: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

What: 4th annual Martin Luther King Day of Service Project! This year’s project is going to be working around a newly planted orchard as part of a larger farm and community resource center that we have been developing with The Urban Nutrition Initiative, Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, Philadelphia Orchard Project, and other community partners. On MLK Day we will be specifically focusing on clearing and preparing an area adjacent transitional border between the open orchard space and a wooded area. Our goal is to plant berry bushes, smaller understory fruiting trees such as pawpaw and persimmon, and maximize as much of the area for food producing and edible plants as part of the larger farm project. Volunteers will meet at Bartram’s Garden in our coach house (signs will be posted to direct folks when they arrive). Gloves, Tools, Water, and Lunch will be provided (lunch will be at noon). Please wear outdoor work attire such as warm clothes, sturdy foot wear, etc…as it is an outdoor project in mid January. This is a rain or shine event and moderate to heavy duty work. All are welcome to sign up but please keep in mind the nature of the project.

Lunch provided? Yes

Contact/RSVP: volunteer@bartramsgarden.org or call 215-729-5281 x 105

Who: The Church of the Holy Apostles & The Mediator

Where: 51st & Spruce Streets

When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

What: Throwing out old and broken toys and equipment, repairing basketball nets. Painting and decorating the youth room and hall. Must be able to paint and use a ladder.

Lunch provided? Yes

Contact/RSVP: janispmoore@hotmail.com, 267-322-8795

Who: GEORGE T. CORNISH POST 292 (AMERICAN LEGION)

Where: 4812 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE

When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

What: During the month of December there will be a donation box located in the Post. We would like donations of new or gently used men’s clothing, new packages of socks and toiletries. On MLK Day the volunteers will assist in sorting of the clothing. The doors of the Post will then be open to those in need to come and select their items.

Lunch provided? no

Contact/RSVP: Bryant Horsely, 267-640-3516, BLHMLH@VERIZON.NET

Who: Philadelphia Veterans Comfort House

Where: 4108 Baltimore Avenue

When: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

What: The Philadelphia Veterans Comfort House (PVCH) provides services for our veterans while they undergo treatment for serious health issues at the local VA hospital and also a shelter for homeless veterans in their time of need. Through meals, comfortable beds and a helping hand, the PVCH gives a little back to the men and women who have given so much for our country. On MLK day, volunteers will be painting the floor and re-arranging the basement to make it more comfortable and pleasant for veterans who live there.

Lunch provided? yes

Contact/RSVP: David Kamioner at dkam@vetscomforthouse.org or 267-292-2052.

Who: Sherwood Christian Outreach Center

Where: 5543 Willows Ave.

When: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

What: Painting project of the gym area.

Lunch provided? yes

Contact/RSVP: Ann Marie Gore, 215-747-2685, marie8652@verizon.net

Who: University of Pennsylvania Community Beautification Projects

Where: Comegys and Huey Elementary Schools, Sayre Recreation Center, and the Community Education Center in West Philadelphia.

When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

What: Projects vary at the different sites.  Meet at Houston Hall, Hall of Flags, 3417 Spruce Street.  Come dressed for cleaning and painting. Complimentary parking for volunteers will be provided at the following locations: Lot #1 (between 32nd and 33rd and Walnut Sts) and Lot #19 (Northeast corner of 34th and Chestnut Sts). Transportation will be provided to and from Houston Hall (3417 Spruce Street) to the sites.

Lunch provided? Light refreshments only

Contact/RSVP: (please Cut and Paste into your browser): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dFJpRC1uVk44ZlV2d2VkeVFnbC14N1E6MQ#gid=0

Who: University of Pennsylvania Helping Hands & Philadelphia Reads @ Houston Hall

Where: For Philadelphia Reads, meet in the Benjamin Franklin Room of Houston Hall. For Helping Hands, meet in the Reading Room and Bodek Lounge. Houston Hall is located at 3417 Spruce Street.

When: 9:30 – 12:30 p.m.

What: For Philadelphia Reads, volunteers will create books on tape to promote literacy for Philadelphia youth. Participants are asked to bring and donate a children’s book(s) that discusses multi-cultural issues relating to children. For Helping Hands, volunteers will create personal gifts that will be donated to West Philadelphia area shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, and other charities. Complimentary parking for volunteers will be provided at the following locations: Lot #1 (between 32nd and 33rd and Walnut Streets) and Lot #19 (Northeast corner of 34th and Chestnut Streets).

Lunch provided? no

Contact/RSVP: (please Cut and Paste into your browser): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dFJpRC1uVk44ZlV2d2VkeVFnbC14N1E6MQ#gid=0

MARCHES/CELEBRATIONS

MLK Day with Reverend Paul “Earthquake” Moore
“Nobody wants peace on Philadelphia’s streets more than I do, and no Philadelphian has fought harder to reach that goal,” says Reverend Paul “Earthquake” Moore, a fighter turned Reverend that has worked tirelessly to serve the community of Southwest Philadelphia and improve quality of life through anti-violence work, youth advocacy and community beautification initiatives. The afternoon program kicks off with a re-enactment march at 65th and Woodland in which participants are encouraged to bring signs recalling the “we shall overcome” spirit of the MLK era. The march will end at the New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church where Reverend Moore will deliver the famous “I Have A Dream” speech, followed by gospel singers and praise dancers from the church community.  4 p.m., New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 7001 Woodland Ave. 215-385-2696. 

Stand Up for MLK’s Legacy with Occupy Philly
Martin Luther King died fighting for economic justice and dignity for all. The march will start at the east side of 30^th street station and go to the Post Office and then to American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) facility at 30th and Walnut Sts. for an indoor program. Labor struggles will be highlighted by Pete Matthews, AFSCME DC33, John Johnson Jr., Transport Workers Union 234, Henry Nicholas, Hospital Workers1199-C, Gwen Ivey of the American Postal Workers Union, UNITE HERE worker from Citizen’s Bank Park, Eileen Duffy, a Philadelphia Federation of Teachers school nurse.  Educator and activist Tony Monteiro and Poet/educator Ewuare Osayande will reflect on the legacy of Dr. King. Also, Josh Glenn from Youth Arts Self Empowerment Project will talk about the school to prison pipe line, and Whitney Larkins from the Occupy Labor Group will reenact a speech of Coretta Scott King. Video of Dr. King and the “Occupy Union Busters” Nursing Home Action will be shown. Music, poetry and more. 5 pm. Assemble at 30th St. Station (East Side). For more information email: occupyphillylabor@googlegroups.com

DONATION OPPORTUNITIES

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia seeks new toys, games, and other supplies to help their child patients to cope and adjust to illness and hospitalization.  Year-round. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  34th Street and Civic Center Blvd. Contact the Toy Donation Line at 267-426-8174, ChildLife@email.chop.edu. http://www.chop.edu/service/child-life-education-and-creative-arts-therapy/donations/toy-donations.html

Operation Warm Hearts seeks blankets to help Philadelphia homeless through the cold winter months. Through 3/1. Contact Fareeda Mabry, 267-707-8979.

Drop off locations:
Rondney Harris Splitten Wigz Barbershop, 48 North 52nd Street, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Bluford Elementary, 5801 Media Street 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Philadelphia Reads seeks new and gently used children’s books, Pre-K through Young Adult, for distribution to classroom teachers at the citywide Children’s Book Bank. Through 1/16. Contact  (215) 590-2819, info@philareads.org.

Drop off locations:
Beulah Baptist Church, 50th & Spruce Streets, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
American Legion Post 292, 4812 Fairmount Avenue, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The Partnership CDC, 4020 Market Street, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Philadelphia Veterans Comfort House seeks men’s clothing, perishable or non-perishable food, household cleaners and personal hygiene items. Through 1/16.  4108 Baltimore Avenue. Call 267-292-2052 for drop-off hours. 

– Emma Eisenberg

Beth Nixon, a West Philly-based puppeteer and the founder of Ramshackle Enterprises, is presenting a new show at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street) beginning Sunday, Jan. 15. The show, Below and Beyond, is inspired by the long‐submerged Mill Creek of West Philadelphia, by current debate about fracking in Pennsylvania, and overall by what lies beneath our feet.

Beth and her colleagues will be using puppets, pulleys, movement, maps, and their imagination. Dozens of local artists contributed their talent to the creation of the puppets and props.

Below and Beyond is a collaborative performance experiment by Beth Nixon and Sarah Lowry of The Missoula Oblongata experimental theater company. Nixon and Lowry were inspired by interviews with Mill Creek residents, the “landscape literacy” research of Anne Whiston Spirn and Protecting Our Waters ‐ a local grassroots organization fighting against unconventional gas drilling in the region.

There are only four Below and Beyond shows scheduled: Sunday – 7:30 p.m., Monday – 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday – 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5‐$10 at the door, but no one will be turned away for the lack of funds. Tickets can also be purchased online here.

Several pickpocketing incidents have been recently reported at Milk & Honey Market (4435 Baltimore Ave), prompting attention from the University City District patrols and police. At least four wallets appear to have been taken from briefly unattended coats and bags at Milk and Honey since late December.

In response to the incidents, Milk and Honey owner Annie Baum Stein wrote today:

“Please be aware that there is a pick pocket frequenting Milk & Honey. As far as we know four wallets have been stolen since the holidays. It seems in more then one instance the wallets were in coat pockets and the coats where on the back of chairs. We have contacted the police and the UCD.

We have security cameras and will be providing the police with the footage. We will do everything we can to return our store to being as safe as possible. In the mean time please look out for your personal belongings and please look out for each other.

Officers from the 18th district will now add a stop at Milk & Honey during their daily rotations and sign a log book held at our cash register. We have posted security camera signs and will post security signs provided by the UCD soon.

Please do pass it on to your friends and neighbors and any other neighborhood listserves.

Thank you to those who have already brought this to our attention and if anyone else thinks they were robbed at Milk & Honey please let us know right away.”

Southwest Philly’s tweeting detective, Joe Murray, whose updates on Twitter have helped people in the neighborhood keep up with crime trends and have helped make him a local celebrity, has suspended his account until he gets the go ahead from the department’s top brass.

Murray said by e-mail that some inadvisable uses of social media within the Philadelphia Police Department recently prompted him to send a memo to police Commissioner Charles Ramsey seeking formal permission to continue his @thefuzz9143 Twitter account.

The Philadelphia Police Department has increased its use of social media in recent months and it has helped in solving crimes.

Murray said on Twitter that he will let followers know when he gets the go ahead to start tweeting again.

Reader Vanessa has just emailed us with this information:

“Some time within the last 24 hours, a bike was stolen from 4413 Baltimore Ave. I’m writing in because the thief actually cut through a wrought-iron fence (!!) to take it. Pretty brazen, and kind of scary. It was in the back garden of the building, which is also brazen because the bike wasn’t at all visible from the street (or even from the front of the building).

It’s a brand new Specialized Vita with a black frame and adorable hot-pink handlebars. It was a really special Christmas present, so there’s some sentimental value… It has a Keswick Cycles sticker on the frame.

It was properly locked with two locks. If anyone sees this bike, or if anyone asks you for advice on cutting a Kryptonite New York chain lock, please let me know! I’m offering a $200 reward (and undying gratitude) for its return, no questions asked.

I’d also like to know if other people have had their bikes/parts stolen recently. The details of this theft make me think that whoever took it was a “professional.””

If you have any information about Vanessa’s bike (pictured below), please email her at: vhamer[at]gmail.com

Artists from the 40th Street Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program have invited 11 West Philadelphia-based artists to show their work at the program’s annual exhibition Friends and Neighbors. The show opening reception is tomorrow, Jan. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the 4007 Chestnut Street gallery (1st floor). Apart from seeing the exhibition’s dynamic and diverse artwork there will be an opportunity to meet the participating artists and talk with the 2011-2012 40st AIR residents. The talk is scheduled for 7 p.m. See the flyer below for more information on featured artists. Here‘s the event’s Facebook Page.