The demolition of the Windermere Court Apartments at 48th and Walnut, which had been on hold, proceeded today.

Crews have begun to remove the top floors on the southwest corner of the four-story building near where the Jan. 10 fire began. The demolition had been delayed as residents pressured the building’s owners and the city to allow them to retrieve more of their belongings and giving stranded pets some additional time to be rescued or leave the building.

The West Philly-based feline rescue group City Kitties ended their rescue efforts inside the building on Feb. 19 as warm weather melted ice inside the building leaving the building more unstable. City Kitties, the Walnut Hill Community Association, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell’s office helped residents make their stories known throughout the region. City Kitties has set up a website – windermerefirepets.org – to help keep alive the concerns that came up in the fire’s aftermath.

Residents have also filed a class-action lawsuit against building owners, David and Sam Ginsberg, and management company, Windermere Court Management Corp. The suit alleges that the building was not equipped with the proper fire suppression equipment – sprinklers and smoke alarms – and that the building had not been regularly inspected.

Here’s a chance to watch the creative process at work. The Curio Theatre Company will hold a staged reading Monday at 7 p.m. of the award-winning Irish play “Leopoldville.” The event is free, open to the public and feedback is encouraged.

Here’s a synopsis of the play from the Curio folks:

Jaki McCarrick’s LEOPOLDVILLE shines a bright light on the destructive power of directionless young men. Set in 1990 in an Irish border town, a gang of teenage boys with few prospects ends a long night of “adventure” by breaking into “The Congo”, a pub owned by a well-traveled widower. When the owner comes back and claims to have no valuables, no African diamonds, nothing more than the cash in the till, the gang starts to fall apart, and things spiral out of control.

The Walnut Hill Community Association is sponsoring a benefit for the Windermere fire victims on March 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Monumental Baptist Church at 50th and Locust. All proceeds will be donated to a fund that the community association has set up for the victims. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers are scheduled to be in attendance.

Here is a flier for the event (click to enlarge):

The Curio Theatre Company after-school workshop series starts tomorrow. Registration for the after-school program and the Saturday workshops for youths 7-17 continues through March 5.

The first Saturday workshop was yesterday, but those interested can still register even if they have missed the first class. The Saturday workshop runs from 10 a.m. to noon until May 7. The after-school program is from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. through May 9. All of the workshops are held at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (4740 Baltimore Ave.). Each program concludes with a performance on the last day on the Curio stage.

Click here for more information on registration. The cost for each workshop is $195.

So it seems that Andy, a young pit bull, went on a bit of neighborhood walkabout. His person, Maddy, wrote back on Feb. 18 that Andy slipped out and was last seen around 50th and Hazel. Maddy sent out the word to keep a look out. Well, last night Maddy was awoken at about 3 a.m. to Andy at the door – a little shaken, but OK.
Maddy wrote today:

Hi all you wonderful concerned people, Just wanted to let everyone know that I found a very wet, very hungry, and very dirty Andy at my backdoor at 3 am this morning. He’s got some cuts, but he looks like he’s in pretty good shape.
Thanks for all your help and good vibes!

Maddy

The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools has sent word that the School District of Philadelphia will hold a Kindergarten Open House day on Tuesday, March 1.

The Coalition’s Amara Rockar provided the information below on participating schools. Parents interested in visiting a school should call and verify the times.

A. D. Harrington School
5300-34 Baltimore Ave
19143
(215) 471 – 2914
www.philasd.org/schools/harrington
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9:09-9:54

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, 9 – Noon

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
Open House: CONFIRMED

Penn Alexander School
4209 Spruce St.
19104
(215) 823 – 5465
www.philasd.org/schools/pennalexander
Open House: CONFIRMED

Alain Locke School
4550 Haverford Ave.
19139
(215) 823 – 8202
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9-10:30

Martha Washington Academics
766 N. 44th St.
19104
(215) 823 – 8203
www.philasd.org/schools/marthawashington
Open House: Occurring on 4/2 instead OF 3/1, Time TBA.