Three men were shot this afternoon on the 5500 block of Cedar Avenue, near Boys’ Latin Charter School.

Police say the drive-by shooting happened at about 1 p.m.. Three men ages 28-34 were found along the street when police arrived, according to Philly.com. All three were transported to Penn Presbyterian Hospital and will survive, a police source said.

Police said the men were targeted. “Those shot are known to us,” the police source said.

Police believe there were two gunmen. They were last seen in a white SUV traveling west on Pemberton Street near 55th.

Boys’ Latin Charter School was placed on temporary lockdown following the shooting. No students were injured.

                      Photo Fringearts.com

FringeArts has big plans for our area this year. The organization, which hosts the Fringe Festival, a celebration of creativity and innovation in contemporary performance every September, wants to create a vibrant festival feel in multiple neighborhoods across the city and this year they’re focusing on West Philadelphia.

FringeArts hopes to be able to use he festival to leverage the power and skills that artists have in activating a neighborhood.

As Fringe Festival coordinator Jarrod Markman put it, “we would love to have an explosion of art in West Philly this year.” So FringeArts is seeking new artists and venues in the area.

“I know there are a ton of artists out in West Philly and we would love to have them use our platform to gain exposure and connect with the larger arts community,” Markman wrote in an email. “We are looking for artists of all sizes and mediums. Artists that perform for friends in their backyard to artists that put on larger events at venues. We are looking for painters, event curators, DJ’s, dancers, digital artists, etc!”

An open call for artists is launching today, March 1. Interested artists can find more information here.

FringeArts also would love to add more West Philly venues to their list – big and small. More information can be found here.

This Thursday, FringeArts representatives will hold a brainstorming session with leaders and artists from West Philadelphia at The Rotunda, from 11 a.m – 12 p.m. If you’re interested to participate, please contact Jarrod Markman at jarrod@fringearts.com

The 2016 Fringe Festival will be held September 9th – 24th. For more information about FringeArts, visit their website: fringearts.com.

Photo from Phillywatersheds.org

Neighborhood residents are invited to learn more about the Philadelphia Water Department’s Rain Check program at Garden Court Community Association‘s general meeting, which will take place this Wednesday (March 2) at Mosaic Community Church (51st and Sansom).

Rain Check is a program that helps residents manage stormwater at their homes. All participants will receive a free rain barrel and can also sign up to have a downspout planter, rain garden or porous paving installed at a reduced price. Rain Check supports Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters program which is working in neighborhoods across the city, adding green features to keep excess stormwater out of sewers.

Other perks of the meeting include dinner (provided by GCCA) and the opportunity to connect with neighbors.

Dinner with neighbors starts at 6:15 p.m., and program presentation is at 7 p.m.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are planning to attend the event please register at this link.

Photo from Unitedbyblue.com

Each year, United by Blue, a Philadelphia-based urban-outdoor apparel and home goods brand, organizes cleanups of and around various waterways. To date, they have cleaned over a quarter million pounds of trash across 23 states and 2 countries.

On Tuesday, March 1, the company, which recently opened a store at 3421 Walnut Street, is hosting its annual Schuylkill River cleanup at Bartram’s Garden, where volunteers from local universities, businesses, environmental groups and neighbors of Bartram’s Garden will get together to remove a winter’s worth of trash.

Volunteers will be supplied with water, gloves, bags, and compete for prizes. All participants are invited to City Tap House-University City immediately following the cleanup for free pizza and drink specials.

The cleanup will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and volunteers will meet near the parking lot at the top of Bartrams Garden (5400 Lindbergh Blvd.), to the left of the Welcome Center.

For more information and to sign up for Tuesday’s cleanup, go here.

Yesterday’s high winds battered many of the large trees around the area. Here’s what happened on the 4500 block of Regent Street across from Clark Park, according to reader Frank Innes:

“Around 7:15 last night a horse chestnut tree, on the south sidewalk in the middle of the 4500 block of Regent Street, came down and damaged several cars and snapped a wood light pole in half. The street, which is just west of the shed building in Clark Park, was completely blocked (see photo below).

Around 9:15 this morning a Philadelphia Parks and Recreation tree removal crew arrived with a heavy-duty chipper and a flat bed truck, among other vehicles, to remove the tree. This task was accomplished in about an hour by the expert crew.”

West Catholic Preparatory High School (45th and Chestnut) recently received a $5 million gift, according to reports.

The benefactor is Leonard Mazur, a 1963 alumnus of West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, which merged with West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School in 1989 to form West Philadelphia Catholic High School.

The money, which Mazur donated with his wife, Helen, will support the school’s strategic plan which focuses on academics and students.

A native of Southwest Philadelphia, Mazur is the CEO of Citius Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Maynard, Mass., according to a report by Philly.com. He’s also a member of the School’s board.

The 100-year-old school was in danger of closing in 2012 due to lack of funding, but was saved in 2013 with a $1 million donation. It also changed its name to West Catholic Preparatory High School. Since then, the school has been trying to remain financially self-sufficient, increase enrollment numbers and improve the quality of education. The school has also seen several changes in leadership over the past few years.

Last month, the school’s Board of Trustees in partnership with the Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, officially began the search for the new president. Current President, Brother Richard Kestler, has announced his resignation effective June 30, 2016.