Police have released some details on a few robberies that took place in the area last week.

Two teenagers were arrested for an attempted mid-day robbery on May 20 on the 4200 block of Pine Street. The incident happened at around 2 p.m. when the suspects, 16 and 18 years old, walked by a 25-year-old man, then stopped and attempted to rob him. The man resisted and the suspects ran off, according to police. They were caught a few blocks away. No injuries were reported.

A gunpoint robbery took place on May 22 at around 11 p.m. on the 4900 block of Spruce Street. Police say a young man ran from behind a 26-year-old woman, who was on her way home from work, and cut her off. He then pointed a small black gun with two barrels at her and demanded her bag. He also took the woman’s phone from her pants pocket. After robbing the woman the man and another male who was on a bike fled north on 49th Street, according to police. The woman wasn’t injured.

Also on May 22, a 19-year-old male was arrested at 52nd and Kingsessing after robbing a 22-year-old woman. The robbery took place shortly after 10 p.m. on the 4600 block of Chester Avenue when the suspect approached the woman and robbed her of her pocketbook which contained several items. The man fled the scene on a bike. Police recovered the victim’s phone.

There have also been several burglaries in the area in the last two weeks, and a police source says that burglaries “are definitely an issue right now.” We’re trying to get more information. See the map below (source: Crimereports.com) for the reports of robberies and burglaries from May 12 to May 26, 2015.

A good way to get down to what Memorial Day is really about is to take a quiet stroll through The Woodlands today. Over the weekend flags were placed at the dozens and dozens of soldiers’ gravestones, some of which date back to the Revolutionary War (Photo by West Philly Local).

Here are a couple of nice opportunities for local artists and artisans, businesses and non-profit organizations. Vendors are sought for the upcoming West Philly Flea Market (May 30) and West Park Arts Festival (June 13).

Here is more information from the organizers:

Philadelphia vendors are invited to sell at West Philly Flea Market, held outdoors in the parking lot of West Catholic Prep High School at 46th and Chestnut Streets on May 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spaces may be rented for $15 for a single space (16.5’ x 14’) or $25 for a double space (33’ X 14’). Vendors must supply their own tables and displays. To reserve a space, go to http://www.citychurchphilly.com/fleamarket. Vendor registration deadline is May 27. Walk-ins taken as space allows.

Vendors are invited for West Park Arts Festival to be held on Saturday, June 13, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Fairmount Park at 4021 Parkside Avenue (on the campus of the School of The Future). Arts & Craft vendor spaces are $40, direct sellers and non handmade items – $60.00, corporate vendors – $200 per space, food vendors – $100 per space (food spaces are limited). The festival organizers are looking for culturally diverse food (Chinese, Thai, Mexican, etc.), as well as vegetarian and sweets. For more information or to apply please visit www.westparkcultural.org/westparkartsfest. If you need further assistance, feel free to email info@westparkcultural.org

The School Reform Commission last night approved the revised proposal for a K-4 KIPP charter school in West Philadelphia.

KIPP’s original application, which called for a K-12 school serving more than 1,300 students was rejected in February along with more than 30 other applications for new charters. Only five were approved. KIPP revised the application to change school governance structure, teacher qualifications, opening date and its location. Originally proposed for the Kingsessing neighborhood, the new school will be located in Parkside.

The SRC approved the revised application 3-1. Chairwoman Marjorie Neff voted against the proposal and Commissioner Farrah Jimenez recused herself from the vote because of a possible conflict of interest.  Continue Reading

It was standing room only last night at the Community Education Center as residents and business owners discussed the future of the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue, one of the signature blocks in the Powelton Village neighborhood (photo by West Philly Local).

Residents and business owners met in the Powelton Village neighborhood last night and vowed to take a stand against the possible demolition of the 3600 block of Lancaster Ave., a historic commercial block that stands in the shadows of glassy high rises encroaching on the neighborhood.

Known as the Lancaster Mews and built in the 1870s, the block of ground floor commercial and upstairs apartments on the south side of Lancaster Ave. is the latest neighborhood symbol of angst over rapidly increasing development in the neighborhood. The Powelton Village Civic Association (PVCA) has tried to stave off the rumored demolition of the block by having it added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.

The PVCA filed the application after it became known that AP Construction, which owns the block, reportedly began interviewing demolition firms.

“The threat of demolition was imminent,” Powelton Village Civic Association zoning chair George Poulin told the standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 people gathered at the Community Education Center last night. “We feel really really threatened by what we are seeing in the neighborhood.”  Continue Reading

Neighborhood Bike Works is moving! (Photo from NBW Facebook page).

Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW), a great neighborhood institution that has been providing bike education programs for youth and bike repair classes for adults for nearly two decades, has just announced its plans to open a new, larger hub and community shop in West Philly this Fall. The new site is located at two side-by-side storefront properties – at 3939 and 3943 Lancaster Avenue. It is one mile from NBW’s current headquarters in the basement of St. Mary’s Church on Locust Walk.

“By moving out of a basement space to a highly visible, street-level site, we hope more families will find us and get involved in our programs,” NBW Executive Director Erin DeCou said in a statement.

A larger space on Lancaster Ave will offer more flexibility and an opportunity for NBW to operate more than one class or event at a time. Located at the intersection of the Mantua, Belmont, and Powelton neighborhoods, the new headquarters will also allow NBW to be closer to more of the communities they serve.  Continue Reading