The repaving of a portion Walnut Street in West Philadelphia is set to begin on September 12th. The milling work is expected to take place during the overnight hours from Tuesday, Sept. 12 to Friday, Sept. 15. During this work, the street will be reduced to one lane between 33rd Street and 63rd Street and motorists should expect delays.

The repaving schedule is as follows, according to PennDOT:

• Through Friday, Sept. 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., there will be a lane closed on Walnut Street between 63rd Street (Cobbs Creek Parkway) and 33rd Street to prepare for milling.
• Milling work will take place during overnight hours.
• Paving is set to begin on or around Tuesday, Sept. 26.
• Travel lanes will be open during the majority of construction. There will be periodic nighttime closures. Follow signs, detours, and parking notices.

The project is part of the City’s Complete Streets project.

The Walnut Street repaving project includes the following street improvement goals:

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Photo courtesy of UCD.

The popular community and business event, Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, is set to return for the second and final time this year. It will be held Thursday, Sept. 7, from 5-8 p.m., when visitors are invited to stroll up and down Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Streets for $1, $3, and $5 deals on food, drinks, merchandise, and more from local businesses and neighborhood vendors.

Due to this week’s heatwave, University City District (UCD), the longtime event organizer, urges all attendees to wear cool clothes and make sure to bring water so they can hydrate before and during the event.

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The 2023-2024 school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 5. In anticipation of extreme heat conditions next week, with temperatures reaching mid-90’s, the School District of Philadelphia has issued an Extreme Heat Protocol for the public schools without air conditioning or inadequate cooling (see the list below).

These schools will follow the schedule below for Tuesday, Sept. 5 through Thursday, Sept. 7.

• Tuesday, Sept. 5 – Wednesday, Sept. 6: Students will attend schools in the morning and then be released on an early dismissal schedule.

• Thursday, Sept. 7: The District will continue to monitor heat conditions. Any decisions about Thursday or Friday will be announces by 12 p.m. on the day before.

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Bartram’s Garden.

September is almost here, and while the weather is still very warm, it’s nice to spend time under the tree canopy at two beautiful historic green spaces in West Philadelphia – The Woodlands and Bartram’s Garden. Both places are hosting some great, free events for all ages next month, including nature nights and walks, craft and food fests, meditations workshops, biking classes, and more! Here are more details:

Events at The Woodlands (40th and Woodland):

Nature Nights: Bat Night
Fri., Sept. 8, 6 – 8 p.m.

Explore The Woodlands after dark (during a full moon!), look for bats, and learn how to become a Citizen Scientist. You can also learn about birding and maybe even spot an owl! This family-friendly event includes a storytime from the Walnut Street West Library, a bat walk, and an opportunity to visit the Philadelphia Orchard Project Learning Orchard at The Woodlands. Pre-registration is recommended (click here).

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Instagram photo (@myphillypark).

If you like to stay active, meet new people, and have fun outdoors, this great program by the Fairmount Park Conservancy may be something you need. We Walk PHL is a free walking group that meets several times per week at various public parks. Currently, all are invited to join the group during the upcoming Fall season.

Walks begin on September 1st. Locations in West and Southwest Philly include: Carroll Park, Clark Park, Cobbs Creek Park, Malcolm X Park, Tustin Playground, Bartram’s Garden, and more. Please check the image below for additional locations and walk schedules.

We Walk PHL, which launched as a pilot program in 2017, seeks to “promote positive health outcomes, increase use of Philadelphia’s park system, and create opportunities for people to pursue fitness goals while meeting their neighbors.” It is a partnership between Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (Get Healthy Philly), and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

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The Calvary Center for Culture and Community (CCCC) and Calvary United Methodist Church, the two organizations located in the historic church building at 48th and Baltimore, have announced plans to install a much-needed HVAC system, which will provide heating and air-conditioning in the building. The building utilized an old boiler system for years and now has no heat, according to Gay Carducci-Kuhn, CCCC Board member and Curio Theatre Company managing director.

To help raise funds for the new system, the HVAC @ Calvary Matching Gift Campaign has been created. The goal of this fundraising campaign is to match the $100,000 grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places. Over $65,000 has been already raised, so the goal is not that far away.

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