Police released information on a gunpoint robbery that took place on Sunday night on the 4400 block of Osage Ave. A 29-year-old man was talking on his cell phone outside of his residence at approximately 7:45 p.m. when an unknown male approached him from behind and pointed a black pistol at his face, according to a police report. He then told the victim to turn around, lie down and empty his pockets. The robber fled with the victim’s cash (approximately $15), according to police.

The suspect is described as a black male, around 30 years old, 5’9″ to 6″, thin to medium build. He was dressed in a dark hoodie (with the hood up) and dark pants.  Continue Reading

Halloween is less than a month away and the Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion (40th and Woodland) is once again presenting a series of fun and spooky events for kids and adults alike. More information is below. Also, Bindlestiff Books (4530 Baltimore Ave.) is accepting donations of children’s books for All Hallow’s Read: a spooky book swap that will be held at the Woodlands on Sunday, Oct. 25, from Noon to 4.

HollyWoodlands Movie Night featuring Ghostbusters
Saturday, Oct. 17
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., film starts at 7 p.m.
Requested donation: $10 for adults, $2 for children under 12yrs
Household Level Members and up: Free entry

The Woodlands will provide the firepits, you bring the s’mores, blankets and chairs. PB & Jams and Happy Hippy will be onsite to provide all your snacking needs.  Continue Reading

Image provided by Resource Generation Philly chapter.

The local chapter of Resource Generation, a group of 18- to 35-year-olds who have pledged to leverage their wealth or class privilege for social justice, is holding an open house on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Over the past year the group has committed to providing more than $27,000 in funding to promote racial justice, splitting the money between the Organization for Black Struggle in Ferguson and the Bread and Roses Racial and Economic Justice Fund in Philadelphia. Its members have also hosted meetings on radical investing and regenerative finance, transferring capital and resources to communities impacted by economic inequality.  Continue Reading

This is a follow up to some of the crime reports we published in the last two weeks and a report of a recent arrest in connection with multiple robberies in Powelton.

Shootings on 5200 block of Irving

So far no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting incidents on the 5200 block of Irving St. that left two men seriously wounded. Police said that they have persons of interest but can’t arrest them because there are no witnesses, and the victims are not cooperating.

Gunpoint robberies on S. 50th Street

Police arrested two young men, both West Philly residents, in South Philadelphia on Thursday for a robbery similar to the robberies on S. 50th Street on Sept. 23. Another arrest was made earlier, and all the detained suspects are being looked at in relation to the robberies. In addition, the 18 Police District has assigned plainclothes and uniform cops to the area, which should “help slow things down” and already has, according to police.  Continue Reading

This dog was found near 43rd and Spruce early this morning. He had no collar or tags on him, and no microchip was found when he was scanned. Please email us at editor@westphillylocal.com if you have any information about the dog’s owner, and we’ll connect you with the person who found the dog.

More changes are in store for several Philadelphia public schools, including the conversion of the Samuel B. Huey School (5200 Pine St.) to a charter and the opening of a middle school in cooperation with Drexel University aimed in part at Samuel Powel Elementary (301 N. 36th St.) and students from the nearby Mantua neighborhood.

Superintendent William Hite announced the plan yesterday. It will impact about 5,000 students and cost the district $15 million to $20 million, he said.

Huey, a K-8 school which has struggled academically, would be converted to a charter school as part of the district’s Renaissance Schools Initiative in the 2016-2017 school year. Jay Cooke in Logan in North Philadelphia and John Wister in East Mount Airy would also be converted to charter schools. The plan includes a charter operator selection process that includes school parent representatives on search committees. The School Reform Commission will vote on the charters on Jan. 21, according to reports.  Continue Reading