UPDATE (3/11/2020): The 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled for this Sunday, March 15, has been canceled.

(3/10/2020): Mayor Jim Kenney and city health officials have announced the first confirmed new coronavirus (COVID-19) case in Philadelphia and advised city residents to avoid large events.

City officials didn’t disclose any personal details about the infected person, but said it’s an adult who had been exposed to a previously confirmed case of the virus. This person has been quarantined at home, according to the announcement. Several coronavirus cases were reported in city suburbs, including Montgomery County, over the weekend, and multiple cases in Pennsylvania.

Despite the coronavirus spreading, city officials said that they’re not canceling large events in Philadelphia, including this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but urged residents to avoid large public gatherings with more than 5,000 people.  Continue Reading

The Penn Alexander School (PAS), the public K-8 school located in the Spruce Hill neighborhood, is searching for a new principal after its previous principal, Michael Farrell, accepted a post with the School District of Philadelphia at the end of last academic year.

A Consultative Committee has been formed to aid in the national search for the new principal. A public meeting with the Consultative Committee will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 6-8 p.m. in the PAS cafeteria (entrance on 43rd St. between Locust and Spruce). This is an opportunity for the community to learn about the search process and to voice perspectives and ideas.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can provide input using a Community Feedback Form or you can email your input directly to Criterion Search Group at administrator@criterionsg.com.

UPDATE: Tiberius has been found and returned to his owner.

“Tiberius”, a 9-year-old, 60-pound male chocolate lab mix has been missing since Saturday, March 7. He slipped out of his collar while at his pet sitter – in an unfamiliar neighborhood – on Saturday around 11:30 p.m., at the intersection of Baltimore Ave. and Melville St. He was last seen after midnight on Sunday, March 8, at 46th and Market Street by the El.

The dog was not wearing a collar when he ran away. He is microchipped.

Please call Tina Cairns at [phone number removed] if you see him.

Photo by West Philly Local

The Fresh Grocer supermarket at 40th and Walnut, which has operated in that location since 2001, has closed its doors. It was reported last month that the store management had agreed to free the space this month after a four-year legal battle with the landlord – the University of Pennsylvania, which ended the Fresh Grocer’s lease in 2016.

Penn has signed a lease for 40th and Walnut with Acme Markets. The new supermarket is not expected to open until Fall 2020, according to a report by The Daily Pennsylvanian. The space will undergo renovations in preparation for Acme’s opening.

Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels by Morris Park/Papa Playground, the Tarheels’ home field, which has recently been torn up for replacement work on a sewer under the field. (Photo by Sam Newhouse)

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is currently working on infrastructure improvement projects across the city. But some work has put out a West Philly youth football organization, and their coach is concerned the work will leave his home field even worse off than it already was.

The West Philly Tarheels on the field. (Photo courtesy of the Tarheels)

Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels said preseason drills for his Pop Warner football organization are due to start in Morris Park at 66th and Lansdowne – also known as Papa Playground – in March. But ongoing work to repair a sewer running under the field will prevent them from playing there until April at the earliest, if the project finishes on schedule. Jones is also concerned the field, already uneven and prone to divots and instability that have caused more than a few twisted ankles, might be even more unstable after the work.  Continue Reading

Photo from Sofar Sounds’ Facebook page.

Sofar Sounds has made it to West Philly! This is immersive experience that offers secret gigs and live, intimate concerts around the world, including neighborhoods all over Philadelphia. And now it is going to hold West Philly gigs a few times a month.

Sofar events feature three acts (most shows are music but some are poetry/comedy) and guests do not know who is performing until they arrive at the show.

Guests purchase tickets to the event based on which neighborhood they choose, and they find out the exact location of the show by email the day before. Ticket prices range from $15-$20.

This month, there will be some shows celebrating women and Women’s History Month. Here’s what’s happening in West Philly and University City:

Thursday, March 5
Sofar Philadelphia show in University City
Theme: Women Take The Stage 
Ticket link: https://www.sofarsounds.com/cities/philadelphia/events/33233

Friday, March 6
Sofar Philadelphia show in Spruce Hill
Ticket link: https://www.sofarsounds.com/cities/philadelphia/events/32882

Friday, March 20 
Sofar Philadelphia show in University City
Theme: Comedy show 
Ticket link: https://www.sofarsounds.com/cities/philadelphia/events/33557