Many local organizations and groups are hosting MLK Day events and volunteer projects throughout the city on Monday, Jan. 16. Here’s a list of events and volunteer opportunities in West and Southwest Philadelphia (please feel free to add your event in the comments below). More events can be found on the Global Citizen website.

MLK Job Fair

Parks and Recreation District 8 and the 16th Police District are hosting an MLK Job Fair on Monday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Lucien E. Blackwell Center, 761 N. 47th St.

Click to enlarge

Lancaster Avenue MLK DAY 2023 “Freedom Now Edition”

9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 4000 Lancaster Ave.

Mural Arts Philadelphia and Full Court Development are partnering to place the existing mural onto the facade of the new building, which would make it one of only a handful of lighted murals in Philadelphia. The mural was commissioned in 2010 to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Freedom Now Speech” which drew over 10K to 12k people to the site. In addition, there will be other events throughout the day at 40th and Lancaster, sponsored by local organizations. See the flyer for more details.

Day of Service at Hand 2 Hand Farm

11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 5317 Westminster Ave.

Hand 2 Hand Farm will be clearing debris, reconstructing stalls and fences, and tending livestock.

Day of Service at the Mantua Civic Association

8 a.m.-4 p.m. at 3543 Fairmount Ave.

The Mantua Civic Association will be cleaning, painting, greening, and plating in the morning. In the afternoon, they will host a fair with art, panels, resources, food, and giveaways. Continue Reading

The following is a guest submission from Alice Wells, a member of Friends of Clark Park, about the master plan for Clark Park.

The park we know today is the result of a series of master plans executed by the Friends of Clark Park over the past 45 years. When I first moved across from the park, in 1979, plans focused on tree and grass planting, trash pickup, lighting, a never-agreed-upon enclosed dog park, and working with the City to spread permits for large and loud events to alternating sides of the park, to preserve grass and the good will of neighbors.

Then 25 years ago, beginning with numerous community meetings, and with organizing and fundraising support from University City District and surrounding schools, a Master Plan for ambitious physical changes to the park was developed. There would be brand new play areas in B Park and resurfacing of the basketball court. Park A’s then cracked and mud-covered, sinking walkways would be rerouted, also diseased trees would be removed and a gravel circle with tables and chairs created in Park A (along Baltimore Ave), which was closed for the year it took to complete the renovations. As a neighbor, I was skeptical: who needs a gravel circle? The huge increase in park usage was testament to its success! Continue Reading

The Streets Department’s 2023 Christmas Tree Recycling Program, which helps residents dispose of their trees in an environmentally friendly way, kicks off Tuesday, Jan. 3 and will run through Jan. 14.

UPDATE: As part of this program, UC Green, in collaboration with TreeKen, is hosting its annual Tree-Cycle event at two West Philly parks on Saturday, Jan. 7:

• Clark Park (43rd and Chester): 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Malcolm X Park (51st and Pine): 1-3 p.m.

$5-$20 donation per tree is requested. Hot drinks and donuts will be offered at the event. Recycled trees will be mulched and then used to aid established park trees. Continue Reading

Check out information on holiday hours and closings at some popular local stores and supermarkets + SEPTA’s holiday service schedule.

SEPTA’s Holiday Service Schedule

Saturday, Dec. 24: Bus routes will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Sunday, Dec. 25: Bus routes will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. Bus Routes 204, 310, 311 and LUCY will not operate.

Dec. 26–30: Bus routes will operate on a weekday alternate schedule.

Saturday, Dec. 31: Bus routes will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Mummers’ Parade, Sunday, Jan. 1: Special holiday service on the Market-Frankford and Broadstreet Lines with Bus Owl service beginning at 12:00 a.m.. Surface Transportation will operate on a Sunday schedule. Bus Routes 204, 310, 311 and LUCY will not operate. Continue Reading

Bob Christian/Facebook photo

Robert (Bob) Christian, a longtime publisher and editor of the community newspaper University City Review, passed away on Saturday after a prolonged illness, according to reports. Originally from New York City, Bob and his wife Claudia started the weekly newspaper in 1988. The couple also published the Philadelphia Free Press, which covered the news east of the Schuylkill River.

In the past two years, Bob was recovering from COVID-19 complications. A fundraiser to support him and his family was launched in January 2022.

A service for Bob Christian will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 1325 Montgomery Ave., Wynnewood, PA. The burial will follow at 2 p.m. at The Woodlands Cemetery, 40th St. and Woodland Ave, Philadelphia. At Bob’s request, a New Orleans Jazz Band will perform at his funeral.

To read more about Bob and Claudia and their long-term service to the community, read this post from the UCD Blog.

In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in school, reduce absenteeism and prioritize in-person learning after the winter break, the School District of Philadelphia will reinstate mandatory masking for students and employees for 10 days following the winter break – from January 3 through January 13, 2023.

This implementation is part of the District’s general COVID-19 protocol for the 2022-2023 school year that was shared in August.

District employees, students and families can pick up free at-home COVID-19 test kits at five school-based testing locations while supplies last. SDP testing locations will be closed on December 26 and January 2 in observance of the federal holidays.

Testing locations, the most updated COVID-19 data and more information can be found on the District’s COVID-19 Information Hub.