Thanks to the joint efforts of several community organizations and over 300 volunteers, residents of the 3800 block of Aspen Street in Mantua are getting their homes improved and their block beautified.

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The volunteers and vendors, who are providing repairs to 20 homeowners on the block and working on greening and beautifying the block, will get together this Saturday, March 31, at the Green Block Party Open House. The open house will be held from 10:00 a.m.- noon and will include the house tours to see improvements in progress. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about healthy homes, meet the program partners, and hear local leaders and residents speak. Update: If it’s raining the open house will be held at the Mantua Community Improvement Committee building, 619 N. 35th Street – between Mt. Vernon and Haverford.

The project is carried out by the Green Block Build Collaborative, a coalition of community organizations including Philadelphia LISC, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, The Partnership CDC, and a wide variety of other community partners. It is also supported by Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Green Block Build strategy is to improve low-income households, block-by-block, house-by-house by building on the strengths of each partner organization. Each home on the block will receive multiple critical repairs or energy efficiency upgrades, energy assessments, education around home health issues, and financial education. Other home improvements include the installation of green and cool roofs, rain barrel installation, the removal of allergy and asthma triggers such as mold and dampness, weatherization improvements, and overall greening.

The projects are designed to specifically meet the needs of each homeowner. For example, one homeowner with physical handicaps will receive repairs to his home that make the bathroom, backyard, and other rooms more handicap-accessible.

Once the renovations are complete, Drexel University will conduct an analysis of the program’s impact.

“Lord have mercy, we’ll enjoy living in our neighborhood again!” said Barbara Hall, the block captain, when she learned about the Green Block Build Program, “This has given me so much hope.”

See more, including photos, on Plan Philly.

Have you recently taken a great photo of the neighborhood? Would you like to share it with your neighbors? Please email it to us at: editor@westphillylocal.com and we’ll publish it on our site and Flickr page. Please don’t forget to include your name and your photo’s title or caption.

This week’s featured cat is LiLi. She’s available for adoption through City Kitties.

LiLi showed up on a rescuer’s doorstep a week after a winter blizzard looking half-dead. She was very thin, her paws were burned from road salt, and she was missing clumps of fur all over her body. Once in foster care, her fur grew back, she gained several pounds, and her personality came shining through. She is now a beautiful tuxedo kitty with big, round eyes that make her look like a cartoon character!

Despite her rough start in life, LiLi is affectionate, loving, and playful. She really loves to cuddle and has a funny personality. She enjoys following her humans around, meowing at them occasionally for attention. LiLi is just thrilled to be inside with an endless supply of food, water, and love. LiLi has lived with another kitty in her foster home, but she would prefer to be an only cat. She would make a fantastic companion to someone looking for a single pet to share their days with.

While in foster care, LiLi developed urinary crystals, an issue common to young female cats. Thanks to her special food, she’s all better now and is a happy and healthy kitty! She uses the litterbox like a champ and never has accidents. She will need to be on prescription wet food for the rest of her life. City Kitties will provide 6 month supply of food. Please don’t let this minor medical issue prevent you from adopting this sweet girl! She deserves a forever home and would make an excellent companion for just about anybody.

LiLi is spayed, FIV/FeLV negative, vaccinated (FVRCP and rabies), uses her litterbox, and has been tested/treated for fleas and parasites as needed. To contact City Kitties, visit this page.

There are a few Easter egg hunts being held in the neighborhood this and next weekend. If you know of any others, please drop us a line at: editor [at] westphillylocal.com

Saturday, March 31, 3:30 p.m. – Parent Infant Center lawn (42nd & Locust)
This egg hunt is organized by the Woodland Presbyterian Church. Eggs filled with candies and a chance to win prizes for the little ones to hunt!

Saturday, April 7, 1 p.m. – Walnut Street West Library (40th & Walnut)
Children will receive books and stuffed animals. There will be an egg hunt for very young children in an area separate from the older children.

Saturday, April 7, 3 p.m. – Clark Park (43rd & Chester)
For kids ages 0-8. Rain or shine. The event is free, but the egg hunt spaces are limited. There will be crafts and refreshments for everyone and a raffle prize at the end. There will also be a couple of bunnies to see and pet.

Saturday, April 7, 4 p.m. – St. Mary’s Church (3916 Locust Walk)
On the Nursery School steps (West side). All children and their families are welcome. This is a BYO basket event.

 
University of the Sciences is organizing its 7th annual 5K Race for Humanity on Saturday, March 31. The race begins at 9 a.m. and both runners and walkers are welcome to participate. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Athletic Recreation Center at 43rd and Woodland Avenue.

Proceeds from the race will go to Livengrin Foundation for Addiction Recovery to support their patient programs and services.

Some of the race features:

Free T-shirts
Refreshments
Water stations along course
Medals for Winners
Timing by Athlete’s Closet
Ample parking and restrooms
Free raffle prizes

For more information and to download the registration form, visit this page.

The Parent Infant Center at 42nd and Locust is holding its annual Spring Plant Sale. They have a great selection of annuals, perennials, herbs, fruits & veggies, and hanging baskets.

They are currently taking orders for plants until April 15. This year you can place your order and pay online. To see the catalog and to order, click here. And don’t forget to buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a basket filled with $100 worth of gardening goodies! The plants will be ready for pickup at PIC on Friday, May 4 (4-6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 5 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.).

Every penny earned through PIC’s Spring Plant Sale supports their scholarship fund. Over the past decade, PIC families have raised nearly $150,000 to provide scholarships to families in the early learning and school-age programs.