A town hall will be held Monday, May 15 to discuss the 2015 shooting of Philippe Holland and the recent redeployment of the officers involved.

Philippe Holland

Cedar Park Neighbors, Cobbs Creek Neighbors, Garden Court Community Association, and Walnut Hill Community Association are the organizations behind the important community event. The groups have urged local law enforcement to fire Mitchell Farrell and Kevin Hanvey, but the officers have only been transferred to different city districts.

The town hall will be held at the Chapel at Calvary Community Center (48th Street and Baltimore Avenue) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

“This meeting will reiterate our concern about these officers still patrolling the streets currently in neighborhoods of South and Northeast Philadelphia, understanding the process for investigating/potentially prosecuting these incidents, and the mechanisms the Police District has to improve communication to the community,” reads a statement from Cedar Park Neighbors.  Continue Reading

UPDATE: University City Garden Club will hold their annual plant sale on Sunday, May 14, 12-4 p.m. at the gates of the Woodlands Cemetery (40th & Woodland Ave.). Many herb, vegetable and flower choices will be available for sale.

We’re sad to report that the 59th annual Spruce Hill May Fair scheduled for Saturday, May 13 has been canceled due to bad weather in the forecast (a lot of rain and wind).

“This was an extremely difficult decision for us, as May Fair is our flagship annual event and our only fundraiser,” Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) president Eric Santoro wrote in an email. “The entire SHCA Board regrets that we are unable to host this wonderful annual tradition in 2017!”

But here’s some good news: some activities will still take place indoors. The annual $1 book sale will continue. Residents are invited to an Open House at the Spruce Hill Community Association Center at 257 S. 45th Street this Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. Hundreds of new and used books of all genres will be available for $1 or less; food and beverages will be served; raffle tickets will be sold; and there may even be some live music. Everyone is welcome to come by!  Continue Reading

The 2017 “Love Your Park” week kicks off on Saturday, May 13 with a Spring Service Day, and many residents have already registered to help clean up and beautify parks across the city. A lot more volunteers are needed. Here are some volunteer opportunities available in West Philadelphia:

Cedar Park
When: 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: S. 49th & Catharine Sts
What: Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Help is needed planting annuals and perennials as well as pruning garden bushes. (On May 19 from 6-8 p.m., join Cedar Park Neighbors for a Bring Your Own Picnic in the park)
Register to volunteer.  Continue Reading

Project MEOW, a West Philly-based non-profit, has been helping lost or abandoned cats and kittens to find new homes for 10 years since its inception in 2007. Project MEOW volunteers have also been helping to control local feral cat population through their Trap-Neuter-Return program. On Saturday, May 20, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., the organization that is mostly funded by donations is holding its first fundraiser at Greensgrow West (5123 Baltimore Ave.).

The event will feature wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and hors d’oeuvres from local businesses as well as live music. A variety of exciting items will be up for auction, including Phillies tickets, Barnes Foundation guest passes, and gift certificates from area restaurants. Raffle tickets for the auction will be available for purchase at the event and door prizes will be awarded. A playpen full of kittens will be there as well for your amusement!  Continue Reading

Penn students will be moving out of their dorms on Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 10, so Spruce Street between 34th and 40th Streets will be closed on these days to all traffic, with a few exceptions, from 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Here are some important reminders in relation to the street closure:

• Emergency vehicles and hospital patient transport vehicles will be permitted access.
• Access will be provided to the Ryan Vet Hospital.
• Bikes will need to be walked on Spruce Street while the streets are closed to traffic.
• SEPTA buses will be re-routed (check septa.org for more information).

Police are asking for the public’s assistance to identify two male suspects sought for a series of commercial burglaries on Chester Avenue near 49th Street.

The burglaries took place on April 18 at approximately 4 a.m. when the suspects broke into The Church of God in the World at 4817 Chester Ave. through the rear door and then broke into Unwired Solutions cell phone store at 4821 Chester Avenue through a connecting wall, according to police. After taking several phones from the cell phone store, the suspects broke through another wall to gain access to Jennifer’s Groceries located at 4823 Chester Avenue, according to a police report. Once inside the grocery store the suspects took an unknown amount of cash and lottery tickets and then fled in an unknown direction.  Continue Reading