If you have been thinking of joining YMCA but couldn’t afford their joining fees, here’s a great opportunity for you. The YMCA West Philadelphia branch (5120 Chestnut Street) is offering 50% off their joiner fee this month. This means that joining fees through January 31 are:

– For an individual ages 18 and older – $37.50 (regular fee is $75)
– For a family of two adults and children – $56 (regular fee is $112)
– For a family with a single parent – $47 (regular fee is $94).

For information on the programs at YMCA-West Philly visit their home page. To join, stop by the Y or call: 215-476-2700.

BiUnity is holding its annual chocolate-themed bake sale, Death Bi Chocolate, on Sunday (Jan. 8) from 3 to 6 p.m. at the A-Space Gallery (4722 Baltimore Ave). The event is open to the public. Large and small quantities of chocolate will be put up for sale or auctioned off to the highest bidder.

BiUnity is Philadelphia’s support and social network for bisexuals, their family and friends. This fundraiser allows BiUnity members to participate at the three annual pride events in Philadelphia: Outfest, Equality Forum’s Sunday Out, and Philly Pride.

Update: The Blue Ribbon Commission on Catholic Education announced today that West Philadelphia Catholic High School is on the Archdiocese closing list. According to the commission’s website, the school enrollment is currently less than half of enrollment fifteen years ago, with the rate of decline accelerating in the past three years, and only 28% of the school is being utilized. “With an enrollment now below 400, it is difficult for the school to offer a diverse academic program and maintain extracurricular programs,” the website reports.

The following schools are presented as nearby welcoming schools: Neumann Goretti High School (Co-ed), 1736 S. 10th St. (5 miles from West Catholic), John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School, 311 North 19th St. (2.8 miles from West Catholic), Bishop McDevitt High School (Co-ed), 125 Royal Ave, Wyncote, PA (12.1 miles from West Catholic), and Roman Catholic Boys’ High School, 301 North Broad St. (3.1 miles from West Catholic).

The decision on whether West Philadelphia Catholic High School is on the closing list, along with some other Catholic schools in the Philadelphia area, will be was announced today at 4 p.m. The announcement will be was streamed live on the Archdiocese website.

Catholic school administrators were summoned this morning to receive the news of recommended school closings. Schools with declining enrollments are in danger of closing. The enrollment at West Catholic has fallen down to 360 from 817 in 2001.

We got a word from a reader that one of Desi Village‘s family members, Rashed, is hosting a marrow donor drive this Sunday, Jan. 8, from 1 – 3 p.m. to try to find a match for his 4-year-old son Raqib. In May 2011 Raqib was diagnosed with life threatening HLH (hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), the only cure for which is a marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the national marrow registry doesn’t have a match for him so he needs your help. Please join the drive and be tested to find a match for Raqib. The test is just a swab.

The drive will take place in Upper Darby, at the American Legion Post #214, 6914 Chestnut St.

Here you can find more information on the National Marrow Registry.

The American Volkssport Association (AVA), a national walking club, has created a new self-guided walk in the University City area. The walk route includes the Drexel, Penn and USP campuses, Clark Park, and Woodland Cemetery.

The word Volkssport is German for “a sport for the people” and Germany is where the Volkssport walking clubs were started. The local chapter of the club is the Liberty Bell Wanderers and they sponsor walks in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. The walks are intended to encourage fitness while enjoying a walk created by locals to highlight interesting local sites.

The club holds two kinds of walks. The first type is the Year Round Event (YRE) like the one created for University City. The second type is a one time event walk where club members get together to walk a special route on a specific day. Most walks are 10 kilometers or 5 kilometers and designed to show scenic and historic locations and other interesting sites.

The walk is free but if you become a club member you are requested to pay $3 for the walk. Club members receive books that are stamped after each walk and prizes, usually a pin or patch, when a member reaches a walking milestone like 50 walks or 100 kilometers walked.

If you want to try the University City walk, here’s what you need to do. Visit the Cosi Restaurant at 30th Street Station and ask for the Walk Box. The box will provide you with walking directions. Please be sure to sign in so that the Liberty Bell Wanderers know how many people have participated. Some more information on the walk is available here.

For more information on the AVA or to become a member, please visit AVA.org.

We haven’t featured cats available for adoption for a couple of weeks, so this week we are presenting two of them.

Howard ended up in animal control when his owner surrendered him. He was 18 lbs at intake, but after two months in the stressful shelter environment, he lost 4 pounds, more than 20% of his body weight! Once he was in a comfortable foster environment, Howie’s appetite came back, and he looks great! He loves to be around people and wants to follow his foster mom everywhere. He is a little nervous around new kitties, but never aggressive – he just needs some time to adjust to them. Howard loves to curl up next to his people and purr, and purr and purr. If you sit down with him for a minute, Howie will rub against you, flop down, and roll over for pets. He is such a sweet guy! Howard would prefer a home without a dog, but he should do really well with kids, given his gentle nature. Please give this big boy the forever home he deserves!

Howard is about three-five years old, neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, FVRCP and rabies vaccinated, tested/treated for fleas/parasites as needed, and uses the litterbox.

Jenni was rescued form a junkyard along with her rambunctious kittens during an early snowstorm. She will start to purr just by talking to her. When you actually pet her, look out! She is a true lap cat. She loves to get on laps and be petted and just purr away. Jenni doesn’t really play with other cats, but she does like to play with toys, preferably ones with bells, whistles, rattles, etc. She isn’t a fan of loud noises or boisterous households, so she would do well in a quiet home by herself or with another laid back kitty.

Jenni is one-two years old, spayed/neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, FVRCP and rabies vaccinated, uses the litterbox, and was treated for fleas and parasites as needed.

Both cats are available for adoption through City Kitties. If you have questions about either one of them or want to meet them, please visit this page for more information.