iPraxis, a non-profit organization located in the University City Science Center, is looking for volunteers to help students prepare for science fairs. Lea Elementary (47th & Locust) is one of the schools where help is needed. See the flyer below.

Update (Sept. 14): Elvis came back home! (see Brendan’s comment below the story).

We got this email from our reader Brendan:

“Our cat Elvis went missing last night from our house at 5012 Kingsessing Avenue. He is a very fluffy orange tabby mix, with white front paws, a white chest, and an enormous orange tail. He is about 2 years old, very docile, and has no outdoor experience. Elvis is very friendly, but shy with strangers. He answers to his name, and meows like a kitten.”

If you’ve seen Elvis please call Brendan at: 267-597-9679.

Neighbor Elisha is searching for her kitten named George:

“My 5-month old kitten, George, got out sometime yesterday and is now missing from 502 S 49th St.

George is about half grown and is SUPER friendly. He’s an orange tiger. The most distinguishing feature is that the markings on his side are spots instead of the usual stripes – he almost looks like leopard print.

George loves people, so even though he’s probably scared he should be approachable.”

If anyone sees him, please call Elisha at 585-610-9024 or email: eicolter [at] gmail.com

This touching story was forwarded to us by Debby Boyd of Project MEOW, a local cat rescue organization. This is what happened yesterday to Jadee, who adopted a cat from Project MEOW a few years ago:

“I was driving home on Lancaster Ave. in the rain when I saw this tiny furball limping his way across the busy street. He made it to the edge and got washed into a flooded gutter when I stopped (without pulling over) and jumped out (without closing my car door) and scooped him up. I laid him on my lap and drove to Baltimore Pet Shoppe to get some advice from Katie. She said that I should take the kitty to a vet right away cause it looked like a car might have hit him. I called Girard Vet to see if they’d take in an emergency appointment and thank goodness they did. They took X-Rays and said that his right thigh bone was split in two and he would need a cast.

I walked around North West Philly for hours waiting for him to finish up and decided to name him Grasshopper. I got back and found him in this huge, green cast. The poor little guy!”

Jadee needs help paying off Grasshopper’s $200 vet bill. You can donate money here. She is also looking for a good home for Grasshopper. To contact Jadee email: jadee.klinger [at] gmail.com

As we all know green is in. And I don’t mean the color of Kermit the Frog. Green as in clean, organic, natural. Sarah Holmes brings that idea of natural to a pretty fantastic line of health and beauty products, which she will show off on Saturday at VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave.) as part of the annual Go West! Craft Fest, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. at Cedar Park and nearby businesses.

Holmes, who owns Gritty City Beauty Co., is putting on a makeup workshop at VIX called Rock that Chartreuse Eyeshadow: Create Your Own Custom Color. Participants will learn how to blend natural mineral eyeshadows into the color you have always wanted. Stop by the workshop at VIX anytime between noon and 5 p.m. and Sarah will hook you up with everything you need. She’ll also show you how to make it happen. The cost for the workshop is $10. Folks can also check out all her products, from natural face wash to organic men’s aftershave.

Go West! will also include an all-day vintage and used bike sale at the friendly neighborhood bike shop Firehouse Bicycles (above Dock Street Brewing). A whole bunch of vendors will be set up in Cedar Park selling all manner of West Philly delights.  Singer/songwriter Loren Gilder will play at 1 p.m. A special children’s program begins at 2 p.m. with Pamela Draper playing kids classics. And, oh yes, there will be face painting and other fun kid stuff. The West Philly band Sour Mash (Facebook page) will play at 3 p.m.

Hurricane Irene canceled a lot of events two weeks ago, one of which was Family Day Festival in Mantua on Aug. 27. The event was rescheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 10, and will take place from noon to 7 p.m. at 34th St. and Mantua Ave.

The festival organizers, The Mantua Community Improvement Committee (M.C.I.C.), promise free food, refreshments, a star-studded concert and other fun activities, but also say that this is an educational and fundraising event. And it’s all about positivity despite flash mob and violence problems. Members of the community will be encouraged to sign M.C.I.C.’s “Positivity Pledge,” a commitment to focusing on youth support in homes, communities and schools.

The event will be also raising money to support a youth entrepreneurship program starting this fall.

The free concert lineup includes musicians Kwamè, Grammy award-winning group Naughty By Nature and hip-hop legend Rapper Slick Rick.