The International Walk and Bike to School Day, which stresses the importance of safer routes for walking and biking and physical activity among children, is set for October 8. Fourteen Philadelphia schools will be joining schools around the country and the world to celebrate it, among them three West Philly schools: Henry C. Lea (4700 Locust St), Samuel Powel (301 N 36th St), and John Barry (5900 Race St).

Walk and Bike to School events also emphasize pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community. Safe Routes Philly, a program of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, is helping plan, promote, and coordinate events at schools across Philadelphia. SRP has also provided “I Walked To School Today” stickers and/or Clif bars for participating children at all registered schools.

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell will visit Lea Elementary on Wednesday morning to participate in the Walk and Bike to School Day celebration.

Police are investigating a shooting outside of Cousin Danny’s Exotic Haven & Lounge at 52nd and Delancey, which left one person dead and two wounded. The shooting happened shortly after midnight on Sunday. One of the victims, a 25-year-old man, was shot multiple times and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He died of his wounds several hours later. The second victim, a 47-year-old man, was shot in both legs and was listed in stable condition on Sunday. The man told police that he was walking on the 5200 block of Delancey when he heard the gunshots and was struck twice. He was able to walk after being shot and flagged down police nearby.

The third victim, a 24-year-old man, was found at Mercy Hospital where he walked after being shot once in his right leg.

Currently, the details of what led to the shooting are not available as the investigation continues.

Here are some more details on Saturday’s incident in Cedar Park when a pedestrian was hit by a car. Police say a 25-year-old woman was hit at about 6:20 p.m. at the intersection of 48th and Cedar and taken to the hospital (no word on her condition yet). A 74-year-old female driver who struck the young woman remained on the scene, according to police.

Two more incidents happened over the weekend, both on Friday morning. A pedestrian was struck by a box truck near 45th and Baltimore and taken to the hospital (no word on this person’s condition) and a bicyclist was hit by a car on the South Street Bridge and had minor injuries, according to witnesses.

Some West Philly Local readers took to social media to discuss intersections where two of the incidents took place.

“The intersections of Cedar and both 47th and 48th are dangerous. Cars fly down Cedar to beat the trolley on Balt[imore] and 48th is treated like a highway. Anyone have any ideas on making this safer?” posted one of them on West Philly Local‘s Facebook page.

“The 45th & Baltimore intersection is also dangerous because vehicles exiting the A-Plus onto Baltimore feel they can either (1) go with the green light along with the cars going north on 45th AND/OR (2) make a short right turn onto Baltimore, light color of no significance. I’ve witnessed at least 4 incidents out my window,” wrote another reader.

We continue publishing breakfast and lunch menus served at schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Here’s the menu for Monday, Oct 6 through Friday, Oct 10. If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here. Come back every Sunday evening for the coming week’s menu.

BREAKFAST (K-12)

A variety of three cereals is offered daily and served with a yogurt parfait or a mini loaf.

Monday

Mini Pancakes
Bake Crafter Cereal Bar & Yogurt
Choose 1: Pineapple Juice or Fresh Pear
Variety of Milk

Tuesday

Steak, Egg & Cheese on a Bagel
Benefit Bar
Choose 1: Mixed Fruit Cup or Fresh Apple
Variety of Milk  Continue Reading

A neighbor, Lauren, needs help locating her dog, a Pomeranian named Jason, who got out very late Thursday night/early Friday morning. He was last seen near 50th and Market. “Jason means the world to me,” writes Lauren.

Lauren created this sweet poster to spread the word about Jason.

Photo courtesy UC Green.

West Philly is home to a number of great non-profit organizations that do many important things in the area. One of them is UC Green, a group of dedicated members and volunteers who make this area greener by planting and taking care of trees. On Thursday, Oct. 9, UC Green is celebrating its 16th anniversary and hosting its second Harvest Moon Social. This is a fundraising event supporting UC Green’s community tree planting and greening initiatives throughout West Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Community members are invited to join UC Green staff and volunteers at the event and enjoy a buffet and cocktail party. There will also be a raffle with some great local items, including gift baskets and certificates from the Four Worlds Bakery, Milk and Honey and Local 44.

Each year, the organization manages close to 2,000 volunteers who plant and tend hundreds of street trees and enhance public green spaces contributing thousands of hours in service to the neighborhoods. Harvest Moon Social is one of the events that helps UC Green to continue doing their work.

“I rely on the folks at UC Green as the go- to people when it comes to all things having to do with trees. They have given not only material support but moral support in helping us address many challenges we face as community gardeners working in vulnerable areas where efforts are sometimes undermined by many factors of the urban environment. Thanks to their hard work over many years, a greener, calmer and healthier landscape is unfolding in our neighborhood,” says Maureen Tate, a Cedar Park resident and block captain.

Harvest Moon Social will take place from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the recently opened Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships (3509 Spring Garden St). Tickets are $85/person, two for $150. Please call: 215-573-4684 or email: suemacqueen@ucgreen.org for more information and to reserve your ticket.