Shakespeare in Clark Park is looking for young performers for this summer’s production of The Winter’s Tale. The production requires young singers, dancers, puppeteers and actors (ages 5 to 15). An information session will be held Wednesday, March 11 at the University City Arts League’s second floor meeting room (4226 Spruce St.) at 6:30 p.m. Attendance at the meeting is not required to audition.

Speaking of auditions … those will be held this Saturday, March 14, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Curio Theatre (48th and Baltimore). “Bring a song if you sing, or your instrument if you play,” the audition call reads. “Or just bring yourself and come tell us a joke! No experience necessary — just the willingness to play.”

For more information, check out the Shakespeare in Clark Park website.

Photo courtesy of Clark Park Youth Soccer League.

It’s hard to believe it, but youth soccer in Clark Park resumes in less than three weeks. The Clark Park Youth Soccer League‘s (CPYSL) spring season begins on Saturday, March 28, and registration is now open for children ages 5-11.

Since this is a low-cost program designed for local families of all socio-economic backgrounds, volunteer help is essential for its success. Just like in the previous seasons, CPYSL is seeking volunteer coaches for this spring. Here’s more information from the CPYSL’s online page:

“Clark Park Youth Soccer is a completely volunteer-run program. Parents and other adults are invited to join CPYSL as a coach or assistant, or to help with the administrative work of running the program. If you’re interested in coaching or volunteering in any fashion, email clarkparksoccer@yahoo.com.”

More information about the program and volunteer opportunities, can be found at: www.friendsofclarkpark.org/activities/youth-soccer

UPDATE (12:05 p.m.): The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Aubrey Whelan is reporting that two viewings will be held for Officer Wilson. The first will be held at the Francis Funeral Home at 5201 Whitby Avenue from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. Another viewing is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Palestra on Penn’s campus (235 S. 33rd St.) followed by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m.

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, and Neighbors of Cobbs Creek will host a candlelight vigil for slain Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Wilson III, who was raised and lived in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood of West Philadelphia. The vigil will take place on Thursday, March 12 at the basketball court on 61st Street and Baltimore Avenue, beginning at 7 p.m.

Wilson served in the 22nd Police District in North Philadelphia and was murdered last Thursday while making a security check at a Lehigh Avenue business.

The Philadelphia Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 have established a GoFundMe page for Wilson’s family. Click here if you would like to contribute.

Mary Pitts-Devine. From Linked In.

The 46-year-old woman who was shot eight times Sunday morning by a neighbor who then shot himself remains in “very critical condition” at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, according to police.

Police say that Mary Pitts-Devine had an ongoing dispute with her male neighbor, identified in media reports as 53-year-old Steven Outlaw. They lived in separate apartments at 4530 Spruce Street in a three-story converted twin. Outlaw reportedly lived above Pitts-Devine, an entrepreneur, writer and former social worker.

The dispute culminated in Sunday’s shooting. Police recovered a handgun in Outlaw’s apartment that was registered to him.

Pitts-Devine, a 1997 graduate of LaSalle University, is the CEO and Founder of Prophetic Presentations, an artistic production company that is “speaking to the hearts of mankind via the arts,” according to its website. On the site, she writes that she has “a desire to help those trapped in the social ills of life, such as drug addiction, homelessness, disparity of all kinds, and severe family dysfunction. This burden stemmed from my brokenness I experienced as a child growing up in Foster Care.” On social media platforms, she writes that she is a breast cancer survivor and a kidney transplant recipient.

Neighbors have said that the dispute between her and Outlaw had been ongoing for about two years and that he had accused her of tapping his telephone line.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of Ms. Pitts-Devine. We’ll update with new information when we get it.

– Mike Lyons

As was announced last month, Radio Shack is closing as many as 24,000 stores nationwide due to bankruptcy, and Sprint stores will replace most of them. Both West Philly ‘Shack stores, at 212 S. 40th St and 309 S. 48th St, are on the closing list, too. Both stores are currently trying to empty their shelves by holding huge sales. This is bad news for Radio Shack but potentially good news for you.

The 40th St ‘Shack has already been reportedly “picked clean.” We guess, due to its proximity to Penn’s campus.

The 48th St ‘Shack is currently holding a 50-70 percent off sale, according to an employee we talked to. The person we spoke to was not sure though about when the store is closing.

Maybe you could get yourself one of these:

The bankruptcy sale at Radio Shack is out of control, I just bought this for $50. pic.twitter.com/DEicjxFRFv

— Bobby Digital (@a_butler) March 8, 2015

The 48th St Radio Shack is open Mon – Fri 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sun 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

A tribute to Robert Wilson III painted by a fellow officer of the 18th Police District.

Most of you have probably heard the tragic news about the murder of Philadelphia police officer Robert Wilson III during an attempted robbery last week. Wilson, a 30-year-old father of two boys aged 9 and 1, who served in the 22nd Police District in North Philadelphia, was a long-time West Philadelphia resident, and his sister and grandmother also live here, according to various media reports.

Wilson lived in a rowhouse near 55th and Locust. A West Philadelphia High School graduate, he walked his dog in the neighborhood and neighbors often saw him tinkering with his motorcycle, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Neighbors also admired how he raised his boys, who stayed with him on weekends and holidays.

Wilson died in a shoot-out with two gunmen inside a GameStop in North Philly. Police arrested and charged two brothers, 30-year-old Carlton Hipps and 26-year-old Ramone Williams, in connection with the shooting and Wilson’s murder.

Here is a video of Wilson’s grandmother Constance Wilson and sister Shakira Wilson-Burroughs speaking to NBC10’s Monique Braxton inside their West Philly home about their grandson and brother’s life and legacy:

 
Our deepest condolences to Officer Wilson’s family, friends and colleagues.