There’s a chance to support Ukraine in West Philly. A benefit concert, titled Philly Loves Ukraine, will be held next Friday, April 8 at The Rotunda (40th and Walnut). The concert is featuring well-known local brass band West Philadelphia Orchestra and Sing Slavic, a West Philly-based ensemble.

“Ukrainians are currently facing a brutal invasion simply because of existing as a sovereign state striving for a freer, more democratic, and less corrupt future,” reads a message from the event organizer, Philly Stands With Ukraine (Facebook page). “Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, thousands of people have been killed, and more than 3 million people have fled their homes. To show our support for Ukrainians whose peace, freedom, and lives are threatened, we are organizing a benefit concert in West Philly.” Continue Reading

Photo by Joseph O’Connor

With less than three months remaining until the opening of the 2022 pool season remaining, dozens of folks in West Philadelphia can secure a great summer job. Each summer, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation trains and hires 400+ lifeguards to safely staff the City’s free public pools. The City is now actively recruiting at pools across Philadelphia, and is looking to hire 57 lifeguards from West Philly to make sure pools like Kingsessing and Tustin are ready for a summer of fun.

Parks & Rec operates dozens of outdoor pools each summer, which open from mid-to-late June through mid-to-late August.

Lifeguards typically work 35 hours per week and the position pays a competitive wage of $15.25 to $17.24 an hour. Free training and swim lessons are available to anyone interested in building the skills to get certified to work as a lifeguard this summer. Red Cross certification classes are free for anyone ages 16-24 who commit to working at a City pool. The Red Cross lifeguard certification course fee is $110 for all other candidates. Continue Reading

The trolley stop at 47th and Woodland that had been previously discontinued, has been reinstated after requests from local residents and officials. SEPTA and the City’s Streets Department officials announced that trolley service at 47th Street and Woodland Avenue was expected to restart this past Sunday, March 27. The announcement was made during last week’s meeting of the 48th and Woodland Recreational Center Advisory Council held at the 48th and Woodland Recreation Center.

The announcement came after months of meetings between the Advisory Council and SEPTA authorities. The Advisory Council met with State Representative Rick Krajewski last year to ask for his assistance in reinstating the discontinued trolley stop, citing concerns about accessibility for area residents. Rep. Krajewski, along with Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, worked with the Advisory Council to convene meetings between SEPTA Officials and members of the Streets Department to address the issue.

The Enterprise Center has received $1 million in federal funding to help support Black-owned businesses along 52nd Street.

Presented by U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans on Friday, the money is part of a “revitalization” effort along 52nd Street, which Evans called the “anchor” of West Philadelphia Black community.

“This is just a downpayment,” Evans said.

The funding comes as The Enterprise Center nears construction of a new resource center at 277 South 52nd Street, which is part of its 52nd Street Initiative that hopes to draw new businesses and spur investment along West Philadelphia’s “Main Street.” Continue Reading

The building at 4533 Baltimore Ave. after fire.

Greenstreet Coffee shut down its West Philly location permanently after a fire last month, according to co-founder Chris Molieri. The fire broke out in the two-story building at 4533 Baltimore Ave., where the coffee shop was located, on February 16th. They had to vacate the space, which the business was renting, due to the extent of fire, smoke and water damage. No one was injured in the fire, according to Molieri.

Greenstreet Coffee, a local Philadelphia business, opened its location at 46th and Baltimore less than a year ago. The roastery is located in the Point Breeze neighborhood.

The Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River has recently reopened after being closed for reconstruction for more than two years. The 65-year-old bridge closed for repairs in August 2019 to all traffic, causing detours of SEPTA buses 21 and 42. The construction on the bridge had to be paused in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The $103.5 million construction project, carried out by PennDOT, included the repair of the bridge’s steel superstructure and replacement of the deck. The upgrades also include wider sidewalks and a protected bike lane.