Dreaming about a weekend at the Jersey Shore? Ready for a night on the town featuring a fancy dinner and tickets to the Opera? These are just a few of the exciting auction items featured at the 12th annual Saint Mary’s Nursery School (SMNS) annual fundraiser:

Spring For Our School Silent Auction & Cocktail Party

Saturday, April 23 6:00pm to 8:30pm

Harnwell College House Rooftop Lounge

3820 Locust Walk

Tickets $35 (adults only)

Special Attractions

Philly Homebrew beer tasting, breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop lounge, food catered by Chef’s Table, and music by SMNS parent DJ Duiji 13. Production will include special lighting and visual surprises from our sponsors RushOrderTees and SpreadSpirit. Kosher options will be available for guests observing Passover.  Continue Reading

Police are investigating the death of a young man, a West Philly resident, who was found with a puncture wound on Sunday morning on the 300 block of South Saint Bernard Street, near Barkan Park. Police believe the man was stabbed.

Medics responded to a call of an unresponsive male lying in the street behind a parked unattended vehicle shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday and found the man, later identified as 21-year-old Saadiq Abdull Latiyf (aka Saadiq Richardson) with a puncture wound to the upper chest. He was pronounced dead at 9:22 a.m.

18th District police officers responded to the scene and found a cell phone lying next to the victim. No weapon was found.

If you have any information about this crime, please contact Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184.

A new playgroup has been recently formed in West Philly for kids ages 2 and under and their caregivers. West Philly Babies meets every Tuesday from 1:30-3 p.m. at the University City Arts League (UCAL) and invites more caregivers and their little ones to join them.

This group is an opportunity to socialize for both parents and young babies. “It’s a great chance to meet other local parents and caregivers of very young children in an easygoing space,” writes the group co-founder Alisha Nash. “Being a parent to a very young baby can be isolating, so I started the group along with another parent to build community with other parents in West Philly.”  Continue Reading

Photos by Jen Roder

A building on the 5000 block of Warrington partially collapsed this morning, injuring a man inside a vehicle. The incident was reported shortly after 6 a.m.. The man was reportedly trapped in the car by the bricks that crushed it after the building collapse. The collapse sent bricks as far as the other side of the street. The man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, 6ABC reports.

It’s not known what caused the collapse of the building, and if there was anyone inside it. Fire officials were on scene checking the building, and inspectors from Licences and Inspection were expected to arrive, according to 6 ABC.

The video below was shot by a neighbor, Jen Roder.

And here’s what the building looked like before the collapse (Google Street View image, 2012).

Dangerous winds are blowing in the area this morning. A fairly large tree branch snapped and fell near 43rd and Osage, blocking the road, according to neighbor reports. There have been other reports of toppled trees around the city and in the region.

The high wind warning is in effect until noon. (Photos by Eva Jacobs and Abby Thaker).

Community members and all interested individuals are invited to learn more about a collaborative community community project, The Mantua Greenway. The effort to transform Mantua Avenue between 34th and 40th Streets was initiated by residents in 2012. The Mantua Greenway Design Month kicks off on Tuesday, April 5 with an open house, and there will also be opportunities to participate and discuss the project design and help out in its creation.

The following community events will be held this month as part of the Mantua Greenway Design Month:

• Design Month Kick-off & Open House, Tuesday, April 5, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Mantua Haverford Community Center (631 N 39th St): Community members can drop by to vote on design concepts for the Mantua Greenway and learn about the history and efforts of the Greenway Resident Advisory Committee.  Continue Reading