Reminder: The 2nd Porch Hop hosted by community groups 48th Street Neighbors and Mel-Lo Town Watch is this Saturday (Aug 4), from 5 to 8 p.m. See the list of participating porches below.

FYI, one of the Porch Hop organizers, Patty Bulack,  invites neighbors to stop by her porch after 6 p.m. for a jam session.  A classical singer will perform (Patty will be playing piano to accompany her), and sax and guitar players will be on hand.  Patty’s son will be on the drums. They are planning to play recordings from a newly released CD of a neighbor around the corner.

For more information, please visit the event’s Facebook page.

Reader Kameliya reports that this cat has been roaming around her neighborhood – Florence and S. Saint Bernard Streets. It does not have a collar and its left ear has been gnawed at. Kameliya cannot take it home, but she’ll keep an eye out for it.

If you have any information about this cat, you can reach Kameliya at 7033036497.

This male Staffordshire Terrier/American Bulldog mix, all white with light markings all over, was last seen in the Powelton Village neighborhood, around 37th & Pearl Streets yesterday (7/29). His name is Zeus and he is a very recent rescue dog. He’s super sweet with people, but has issues going after other dogs which may be why he escaped the yard. He just recently started working with a trainer to correct his behavior. It’s not certain he wants to attack other dogs or just wants to play aggressively. He might be wearing a choke collar with a toggle on one end. He is microchipped and local shelters have been contacted.

If you see him, catch him, or have any info please contact either of these two numbers: 215-316-0213 or 610-216-6108.

Congratulations to the West Philly-based gourmet popsicle vendor Lil’ Pop Shop (Facebook page), which won the “Desserts” prize on Saturday at the annual Vendy Awards. The Vendys celebrate the bustling mobile food culture in Philadelphia.

In addition to their shop on 44th Street between Spruce and Locust, Lil’ Pop Shop runs a small cart, which qualified them to compete. They continued a West Philly tradition in the Vendys. Last year Gigi and Big R’, a staple in Penn’s food truck scene, won the top prize – The Vendy Cup.

This year, The Smoke Truck, which serves Southern barbecue, won the Cup.

Click to enlarge.

The West Philadelphia Block Captains Forum is coming up on Saturday, August 4, and registration is open now. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for skill-building, leadership development and networking for block captains from West Philadelphia. Participating block captains can attend free workshops, including Computer and Internet Training, Zoning and City Planning, Crime and Safety, and Community Organizing. District Attorney Seth Williams will be a keynote speaker at the forum, as well as a guest panelist in the workshop on Crime and Safety.

The Block Captains Forum will take place at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia at 5501 Cedar Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is organized by The Partnership CDC/NAC, SCI-West and LISC. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

If you are a registered block captain from 19139, 19104 or 19143, you are encouraged to register for the forum. You can do it online here, by calling Leon Robinson at The Partnership CDC at (215) 662-1612, by emailing him at lrobinson@thepartnershipcdc.org, or by stopping by the office at 4020 Market Street. For more information, visit this page.

Update (7/30): Chica was found this morning in the middle of an industrial park on 51st Street (a restricted access facility!). It’s not clear how she got in or how long she had been there, but Nancy (Chica’s owner) is very grateful to the person who found her and called.

Reader Nancy is was looking for her dog Chica that ran away Sunday morning:

“Early this morning (3:30 am, 7/29) my dog Chica ran away. I had had yard work done yesterday and forgotten to secure the gate. Chica is a rescue dog from the PSPCA. She is ten years old and I have had her for five of those years. She is part greyhound and part shepherd plus other unknown entities. She escaped from: 932 S. 49th Street, Apt. 1. She has a collar with her name, my address and cell phone number. She is also microchipped and registered with www.homagainid.com. I have entered her as a lost pet on that web-site. I am attaching a picture. Many say she looks like a little wolf. She weighs about 60 pounds. She is shy, but friendly and up to date on all shots.”

If you’ve seen Chica, please email Nancy at nselinger@gmail.com or call 267-970-5018.