Philadelphia Streets Department is seeking young adults, who are not enrolled in higher education and are unemployed, for its paid job-skill training and real-world work program called Philly Future Track. Applications are currently being accepted for the program’s third session, tentatively scheduled to begin on Monday, Sept. 15.

Throughout the six-month program, participants will work in teams to clean and beautify Philadelphia’s streets, while completing an educational program to improve their skills for future job prospects. Although it is a temporary employment opportunity, the program is designed to provide career readiness to its participants. The young people enrolled in the program receive enough resources and education to transition into full time employment, attend a two or four year higher education institution, enter into a vocational training program or school or be prepared to take the military aptitude test.

To qualify, applicants must be a Philadelphia resident and eligible to work in the U.S. To benefit the most from the program, applicants should be between 18-24 years old.

Completed applications must be submitted in the Philly Future Track drop box located in the first floor lobby of the Municipal Services Building (1401 JFK Boulevard, across from City Hall). Applications are accepted by 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12.

To download your Philly Future Track application and for more information, visit: www.philadelphiastreets.com/philly-future-track
 

Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity house. (Photo West Philly Local)

Police are searching for two armed men who forced their way into and robbed a fraternity house at 42nd and Pine near 42nd and Baltimore Wednesday morning at around 2 a.m.

The fraternity members in the house, the University of Sciences students, were hosting a birthday party at the time, NBC10 reports. Students at Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity house answered a knock on the door. The gunmen ordered the students to the ground, took cash – much of the fraternity’s newly collected dues from a safe in the house – and fled, according to police. One of the students was also attacked during the invasion as he told NBC10.

Penn and the University of Sciences planned to issue safety alerts to their students today.

SEPTA has announced changes and adjustments to bus, subway, and trolley schedules that come into effect on Sunday, Aug. 31 – Tuesday, Sept. 2. The changes address routing changes and timetable improvements. Major adjustments include the Route 11 and 13 trolleys. Both routes will resume regular service on Sunday, Aug. 31. Shuttle service had been in effect over the summer to accommodate a rail replacement project in Southwest Philadelphia and Darby Township.

Most of the other route schedule changes address minor timetable improvements aimed at improving customer service and account for seasonal changes in ridership, according to SEPTA’s press release. All passengers are advised to pick up new schedules now available at SEPTA service locations. You can also view and print the new schedules on SEPTA’s website.

As the city prepares for the big Labor Day weekend, SEPTA has released information on available services and rerouting during the Made in America Festival, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 30-31). Due to planned street closures around the Parkway, SEPTA Bus Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43, and 48 will be detoured before, during, and immediately following the event. Subway weekend service will operate Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings with additional trains on both lines. Trolleys will also operate in the tunnel on Sunday evening. For more information, go to this page.
 

Walnut Hill Community Playground. (Photos by Selah Lynch / West Philly Local)

At the corner of Sansom and 47th sits Walnut Hill Community Playground, a park with a long and varied history. It was built in the 1970s and used for decades, but in early 2009 an inspector declared it unsafe and recommended it be closed. In response, residents organized a complete rebuild. This culminated on August 6th 2009 when 373 volunteers came together for one day to finish the park. Today the park is home to playground equipment, including a spiral slide, monkey bars and swings. It is surrounded by benches and picnic tables and shaded by mature Japanese Pagoda trees. One patron, Jacki, whose three kids were playing in the park said, “I’m so grateful for this place. I live in the projects but I like to take my kids down here where it is safe.”

While many residents are thrilled about the park, some residents have been confused about the hours. According to the Walnut Hill Community Association (WHCA), which maintains the playground, they adhere to the following hours: M-F 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat-Sun 9 a.m.-8 p.m. But local mom, Maggie Gummere said, “I’ve walked by a few times on a Saturday or a Sunday and the park has been closed.” This disappoints her because, as she adds, “It looks like so much fun.” Another mother blogs, the hours are “marked ‘9 a.m.-8 p.m. seven days,’ but it’s been closed several Sunday mornings.”

The WHCA says that they lock the playground outside of daylight hours to maintain a safe and healthy atmosphere. Currently, responsibility for the park falls on the shoulders of very few. Walnut Hill residents Lydia Connolly and Teresa Leedie lock, unlock and monitor the park. Resident Horace Patterson, WHCA President, takes responsibility for cleaning and emptying the trash.

Lorna Peterson, a Walnut Hill resident for 24 years and WHCA vice president, says that one thing parents can do for the park is simply to use it and help maintain a positive adult presence. She also adds, “anyone who is interested in using, maintaining or chaperoning the park, we encourage them to join the community association.” The next meeting is at 6 p.m. on September 25th at the Enterprise Center at 4548 Market Street. Alternatively, people can contact the association at 215-472-1381 or walnuthillevents [at] gmail.com.

– Selah Lynch

Police arrested a 36-year-old man after he allegedly robbed at gunpoint a 24-year-old man near 50th and Walton.The robbery took place on Monday night, around midnight, after the victim, a Penn student, exited the 34 Trolley at 50th, according to information provided by his friend.

The suspect followed the young man onto Walton Avenue, then approached him, pointed a black handgun at him and demanded his wallet, according to police. The suspect took the young man’s backpack that contained his tablet, phone, wallet and other small items. After the robbery the suspect fled on foot.

Police surveyed the area and apprehended the suspect near 60th and Christian Streets. Police recovered the phone and $80 from the suspect. The backpack was found on the street. Police also found and confiscated a black long barreled revolver.

Police say that the same suspect was involved in a robbery that took place on August 21, at around 11:40 p.m., when a woman was robbed near 48th and Hazel. Police also confiscated a Canon camera from the suspect that was taken from the woman during the robbery.

Global Citizen, in partnership with Interstate General Media (publishers of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com), Uber & 900AM-WURD yesterday launched a citywide school supplies drive to benefit some of the most underserved Philadelphia public schools. The only drop-off location for donations in West Philly is HipCityVeg at 214 S. 40th Street.

The following items are accepted through Sept. 7: No. 2 pencils, ballpoint pens, copy paper, calculators, dry erasers, crayons, rulers, hand sanitizers, and more (check out the flier below for the full list of accepted donations). You can drop off your donation at HipCityVeg every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.