Longtime resident Fran Byers (center) during the re-opening of Clark Park last year.

A piece of advice for would-be purse snatchers: Don’t mess with the lady who organizes the meet-and-greets with the police.

Plain-clothes officers nabbed two teenage purse snatchers on bikes after they grabbed a shoulder bag from longtime resident Fran Byers near 48th and Baltimore at about 2 p.m. on Monday. That’s the same Fran Byers who organizes the monthly community meeting with officers from the University City Division of the 18th Police District. In fact, she was passing out flyers for the meeting when it happened. The teenagers rammed Fran from behind then grabbed her bag, pulling it so violently that her shoulder was dislocated, according to friends.

Fran won’t be at tonight’s meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at the usual spot in the basement of the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (801 S. 48th St.) The meetings provide an opportunity for residents to share information and concerns with police about crime and neighborhood issues.

Obama on the right, Romney on the left on 45th Street. Don’t forget to register to vote. Also, don’t forget that you will need ID, so get on that. Election day is November 6.

Don’t miss the final 2012 Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll this Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. As always, there will be tons of $1 deals from local businesses and live entertainment. Check out the map below for details.

Click to enlarge.

Related Posts:

• Photos of the Dollar Stroll
• Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll returns this Thursday
• Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll dates released

Artist’s sketch of centerpiece concept (Redcap’s Corner owners Benn and Adam slaying a unicorn).

Our favorite local neighborhood game shop needs help with a great project involving a local artist. Redcap’s Corner (3617 Lancaster Ave.) has started a Kickstarter campaign to fund a mural in one of their roleplaying game rooms. If they can raise enough money local artist Alyssa Deville will paint the mural. Particularly generous supporters will be rewarded by being included in the mural. You could get your name on the mural for $25 or your likeness for $75.

Please follow this link to learn more about the project and to donate.

Update: The project has made its minimum fundraising goal, but there’s still four days left for people to make themselves part of it. “Any money we raise over and above our minimum goes toward paying Alyssa better for her work,” says Benn Roe, one of the shop owners.

Check out the project video below.

Mayor Michael Nutter is frequently spotted here in West Philly. Last week he cut the ribbon on the Dorrance Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises at 48th and Spruce and tomorrow he’s coming to inaugurate the Woodland Avenue Pedestrian Plaza at 42nd and Woodland. The Woodland Avenue plaza is a formerly neglected traffic triangle that has been transformed into a green area with bistro tables and umbrellas thanks to a partnership between University City District, the Mayor’s Office of Transportation, and the Philadelphia Streets Department.

All are welcome to join the Mayor and other stakeholders at the dedication of the plaza, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Complimentary treats will be served by Little Baby’s Ice Cream and Four Worlds Bakery.

An armed suspect was arrested after police chased him for several blocks on Saturday night. The man was pulled over at approximately 7:30 p.m. for an illegal lane change and fled on foot, police said. Here are some details submitted by a neighbor who lives nearby (confirmed by police).

Dozens of police officers surrounded the block of Farragut St (between 46th & 47th Streets). …They chased, tackled, and arrested an armed suspect who was on foot and attempted to get away through the back alley of several of the buildings closer to Locust St. One couple said that they saw the suspect at their back window before he was tackled. …The police were still searching for the weapon after the arrest and about 20 minutes later, a fire truck assisted the Philadelphia Police Department to search on the roof of several buildings close to where the arrest was made.

During the foot pursuit the suspect was holding a black semi-automatic handgun, according to police. The gun has not yet been recovered.