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.

Friday, Feb. 26 is National CSA Day celebrating community-supported agriculture. This is the day when many farms start offering sign-ups for their summer CSA programs.

One of local CSA programs, Greensgrow Summer CSA, is also launching their online application this Friday and inviting West Philly residents to Dock Street for a happy hour from 4-6 p.m. There you can meet Katie Jacoby, a West Philly neighbor and CSA manager, who will answer your questions about what’s in store this season.

There will also be a guest appearance and sampling by Fikira Bakery, which will be joining CSA this year by providing a Greensgrow West bakery share.

Friday’s event is also an opportunity to sign up for a discounted share and a further discount for returning members. Monica McCollin, the manager for the SNAP box program and a West Philly resident, will be at Dock Street to answer any questions about the monthly affordable access share.

The Greensgrow Summer CSA runs from mid-May through early November, and shares can be picked up at their West Philly location at 4912 Baltimore Avenue.

If you can’t make it to Friday’s event and would like to sign up, you can do it online starting Feb. 26. A $15 discount will be applied if you sign up by March 11, 2016, just use the code WPLOCALS16 at online signup at http://greensgrow.csasignup.com/members.

We’ll let you know about other 2016 Summer CSA programs soon. In the meantime, check out our previous posts here.

A 28-year-old man was assaulted and robbed of his phone, cash and his engraved wedding ring while walking near 48th and Hazel at about 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police say three young males in dark hoodies approached the man to ask the time. One of the males then brandished a black handgun and struck the victim, knocking him to the ground. The suspects, described as black males between 17 and 20 years old, took the victim’s phone, a wallet with $4 and various cards, a gym bag with headphones and sneakers, and his platinum wedding ring with the inscription “like madness” on it. They fled on foot westbound on Hazel Avenue toward 49th Street, according to police.

The victim was treated for lacerations at Presbyterian Hospital and released.

We recently caught up with Jimmy McMillan and Nick Less, co-owners of Philly Homebrew Outlet, while they shopped for a new truck for their growing business, which includes a recently opened West Philly location at 47th and Woodland.

McMillan and Less used to shop for home-brew supplies in the late 1990s in South Philadelphia at Barry’s Homebrew Outlet. The owners decided to sell after 15 years in business, and McMillan and Less jumped at the chance to go from customers to owners. They moved the business to South Kensington and continued to develop a sizable fan base in West Philly after five years through internet sales and occasional visitors from the other end of the El.

So they decided to open a second location.

“That was the first place we saw. The price was great, the location was great and we liked being next to the West Philly Tool library because we have a D.I.Y. customer base,” said McMillan.

Being a neighbor to the University of the Sciences and its Brewing Science Certificate program can’t hurt business either.

At any given day, the new location sells more than 45 different varieties of hops, over 45 different varieties of yeast and some 40 different types of barley or grain. There’s also a brewing facility to host home-brew club members who need space to brew. In addition to brewing supplies, the shop also carries a variety of winemaking and cheesemaking supplies along with kombucha, kefir and yogurt kits.

“The session IPA kits are one of our best sellers,” McMillan said. “It’s a low alcohol IPA beer where you can drink three or four of them without worrying about falling down the stairs.” 

They also offer free classes and clinics on making everything from beer to wine to cheese every Tuesday at 6 p.m. and every Saturday at 3 p.m. that guide you through the process and give you recommendations.

A class schedule and business hours can be found on their website: www.phillyhomebrew.com

– Rana Fayez (Photos courtesy of Philly Homebrew Outlet)

We’re in the middle of the tax season, and this year income-eligible individuals and families can get free tax preparation services at more locations.

Just like in the previous years, United Way and Campaign for Working Families (CWF) are hosting free community tax sites around the city, including West Philadelphia. The sites are offering free tax preparation and e-filing services to families who earned less than $54,000 in 2015 and to individuals with an income under $20,000.

The following CWF sites will be open through April 18, 2016 and will serve qualified individuals on a first-come first-served basis:

ACHIEVEability
59 N 60th St.
Tues. & Thurs. – 9am-7pm
Sat. – 9am-1pm

Drexel University Dornsife Center
3509 Spring Garden St.
Mon., Weds. & Fri. – 9:30am-3:30pm
Sat. – 9:30am-1:30pm

WPEZ Tax Site (Parkwest Town Ctr – old Anna’s Linens)
1575 N 52nd St. #701
Tues. & Thurs. – 10am-7pm
Sat. – 9am-3pm

Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Church
428 N 41st St.
Mon. – 2pm-7:30pm
Fri. – 10am-2pm
Sat. – 9am-3pm  Continue Reading