Don’t miss this pretty amazing exhibit at Green Line Cafe on Locust (4426 Locust Street). The cafe has launched the Screens ‘N’ Spokes art show that benefits multiple sclerosis research and the cycling team that promotes the cause.

The exhibition features a very cool selection of screen prints by a variety of North American artists who created their work especially for this cause. The prints can also be viewed and purchased on Etsy. All of the proceeds from the sales will go to the National MS Society.

Here is some more information on the Screens ‘N’ Spokes project and the people behind it.

Another person with West Philly roots has been appointed to the School Reform Commission. Mayor Michael Nutter appointed novelist, arts advocate and professor Lorene Cary to the commission, which is charged with overseeing the city’s public school system.

Cary, 54, attended Henry C. Lea Elementary (4700 Locust St.), the University of Pennsylvania and is currently a creative writing instructor at Penn. Cary’s novel The Price of a Child, which tells the story of a slave who declares her freedom while traveling in Philadelphia in 1855 but whose child is still held in bondage in Virginia, was the first “One Book, One Philadelphia” selection in 2003.

“For me what is truly outstanding is that she has an incredible passion for the well-being of children,” Nutter said in a statement. “She cares very personally about parents and she’s very much focused on supporting teachers. She will be a tremendous asset to the School Reform Commission and the children of Philadelphia.”

Cary also started Art Sanctuary, an arts advocacy organization. She lives in East Falls with her husband Rev. Robert C. Smith, the rector of the Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, and two daughters.

In many ways Cary is an atypical choice for the Commission, which has been made up mostly of lawyers, business people and bureaucrats since it began in 2001. Last month Nutter appointed West Philly resident Wendell Pritchett to the Commission.

Update (10/12/11): Sashu has been adopted!

This week’s featured cat is Sashu, an 8-month-old calico kitten. Sashu is currently being fostered through the PSPCA by West Philly resident Chris who is trying to find a good home for her.

Sashu is an incredibly affectionate kitten and is very very people oriented. Although she is young, she uses her litter box like a pro. She loves attention and is constantly purring. She would adapt very well to any situation given her outgoing personality. She was just spayed and is up to date on her vaccines.

Please contact Chris at christopher.torre [at] gmail.com if you would like to meet her. He lives at 40th and Pine, and will be happy to meet you somewhere if that is more convenient for you.

Congratulations to the West Philly Hybrid X Team, a group of 15 West Philadelphia High School students who received the “Next Generation Award” yesterday at the Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards. The awards honor innovators in many fields, from medicine to automotive design to space exploration, “whose work will transform the world in years to come.” Other award recipients included James Cameron who was honored for one of 3D camera rigs he created to film Avatar.

The Huffington Post has a nice piece on West Philly Hybrid X and how they came up with the idea of building this “badass hybrid” car. Here is a Popular Mechanics article dedicated to the team.
 

On May 13, 1985, a Philadelphia Police Department helicopter dropped a bomb onto a row home at 6221 Osage Avenue, the headquarters of the group MOVE. Eleven people lost their lives, five of them children, and inexplicably, despite heavy fire department presence, 61 houses on the block burned to the ground.

Writer Andrea Walls grew up just blocks away from the bombing and witnessed its aftermath, and now, a quarter century later, she’s telling the story of that night into morning through her poetry. Walls’ chapbook, “Ultraviolet Catastrophe” examines the events from all sides, even at times transporting the reader into the mind of the helicopter pilot that dropped the bomb. With empathy, bravery and electric twists of phrase that speak to her project as both poet and witness, Walls brings light to this crucial moment in West Philadelphia history.

“Ultraviolet Catastrophe” was the first publication of Thread Makes Blanket press, a local small press operating out of the Cedar Park area, headed up by West Philly resident, writer, and creative writing professor Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela.  Most recently, the press also released “Letter from Tombs Prison, 1917,” a collection of writings surrounding correspondence between Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman that includes writing by Julie Herrada, Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela, Emily Abendroth, Anna Martine Whitehead, Shaun Slifer and Megan Gibes, as well as a reproduction of an original letter.

Now a Camden resident, Andrea Walls remains active in the Philadelphia literary arts scene and with the Leeway Foundation.  For more information about Andrea’s work, or Thread Makes Blanket Press or to buy “Ultraviolet Catastrophe,” click here or pick one up at the Queer Literary Festival on October 14-16.

– Emma

West Philly parents, here’s a great chance for you to get rid of unwanted kids’ clothes and toys, to pick up something you need and to help a good cause. Penn Women’s Center and the Greenfield Intercultural Center are organizing a super swap tomorrow, Oct. 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenfield Intercultural Center’s location at 3708 Chestnut Street.

Bring your baby, toddler, children’s maternity clothing, toys, books and gear (clean, gently used items, please). Boys, gender neutral and older kids’ clothing will be especially appreciated. Make a minimum $5.00 donation at the entrance to benefit the New Parents @ Penn Group and take what you want. It’s not required to bring items to swap in order to participate. All remaining items will be donated to a local women’s charity.

All items should be dropped off no later than 10 a.m. If you want to help set up, clean-up or if you have questions please contact: Sarvelia Peralta-Duran at: sarvelia.peralta [at] gmail.com