Construction workers began taking the scaffolding off St. Francis de Sales domes on Monday. The dome renovation project, which began in August 2010 and cost $2.5 million is almost over. The scaffolding should be completely removed by Friday. The dome renovation is only the first phase of a multimillion St. Francis de Sales renovation project.

Here’s one of the holiday volunteer opportunities. Project MEOW is looking for foster parents for their cats this holiday season.

Project MEOW adoptables (like Dewey, pictured) are nurtured in individual foster homes, allowing for personal assessments of their character, to make the best matches possible with their future forever homes. Project MEOW covers medical and health care, promotes the cat’s adoptable status, and reviews the adoption applications – you provide food, litter, toys, and most rewarding of all, the love and attention the kitty needs. Please contact projectmeowadoptions[at]gmail.com to meet your holiday cuddler, and give the gift of fostering.

Project MEOW is an all-volunteer, animal welfare group that humanely reduces the stray cat population in West Philadelphia through rescue, trap-neuter-return and building strong relationships with the residents who feed and care for stray cats.

Don’t miss the Big Holiday Book Sale at the Walnut West Library (201 S 40th St.) this Saturday, Dec. 3. All books are in excellent, gift-giving condition. There will be a great selection of cookbooks, children’s books, quality non-fiction and coffee-table books. The sale will be held in the library’s community room from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

December is almost here and we will be paying a lot of attention to holiday events in the neighborhood. Please share any information on upcoming holiday events and volunteer opportunities in our area. Email us at: editor[at]westphillylocal.com.

Today is a Small Business Saturday and everyone is encouraged to support small businesses by shopping locally.

We have a lot of great businesses in our neighborhood, so please consider supporting them today. Do your grocery shopping at the Farmer’s Market, Mariposa or Milk & Honey. Have a pet? You can buy your pet supplies at Baltimore Pet Shoppe. Want a new book? Stop by Bindlestiff Books (Facebook link). While shopping, don’t forget to refuel at one of many awesome local cafes and restaurants.

Finally, consider buying your holiday gifts at local shops. VIX Emporium has a very nice selection of handcrafted holiday gifts and today you can get a free “West Philly” tee or tote with a $100 purchase. Also, American Express card holders will get a special credit on their account when they use the card at any of thousands of participating small businesses, including VIX. VIX Saturday hours have been extended until 7 p.m. and the store is now also open on Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. until Christmas.

Here’s a list of Thanksgiving schedules at some local stores and cafes. If you know of others drop them in the comments.

CVS Pharmacy (43 & Locust)
Thursday – Store: open 24 hours, Pharmacy: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Earth Cup (45th and Pine)
Thursday and Friday – 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Four Worlds Bakery (4634 Woodland)
Wednesday – 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday – 8 a.m.-noon.

Fu-Wah (47th and Baltimore)
Thursday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Green Line Cafe
Wednesday – Baltimore Ave closes at 1 p.m.; Locust Street and Powelton Village close at 2 p.m.; Green Line at PennVet open normal hours
Thursday & Friday – All shops are closed

Mariposa Food Co-op (47th & Baltimore)
Thursday – closed

Milk & Honey Market (45th & Baltimore)
Wednesday – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thursday – closed; Friday – 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

ROOST (45th & Springfield)
Wednesday & Thursday – closed

Supreme (43rd & Walnut)
Thursday – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The Fresh Grocer (40th & Walnut)
Thursday – open 24 hours

The little orange tabby cat that a West Philly resident found lying half-dead in a gutter earlier this week is a fighter. That’s why the folks at The Cat Doctor, who have performed a blood transfusion, rid him of a nasty flea infestation and detected a piece of metal lodged in his colon, have named the cat “Clark Kent.”

The staff at The Cat Doctor are reporting that Clark Kent is recovering, though he still has a long road to get back to full strength. His temperature has risen from a low of 90 degrees when he was found (102 degrees is normal for cats) and he received a blood transfusion from another cat, Diamond, who is one of the house cats at The Cat Doctor.

“If he would not have had that he probably would have died,” said The Cat Doctor’s Lori Horwedel.

Horwedel said Clark Kent is still sleeping on a warming blanket to keep his body temperature up. But he is eating and interested in his surroundings.

“He’s bright and alert this morning,” she said. “When I opened the door (to his cage) he tried to jump out.”

Clark Kent was found in a gutter near Clark Park. He had obviously not been eating well (doctors suspect the piece of metal they found was part of something he tried to eat). He had no collar but he did have a microchip that included information on the people who adopted him. When someone from The Cat Doctor contacted the owner, who adopted him about six months ago, the woman’s mother said they put him outside because they thought he was sick. Enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) are investigating.

Clark Kent has gained scores of fans worldwide in the two days since he was found. The West Philly-based feline rescue group City Kitties has received donations from Germany, Australia, Ireland and 30 U.S. states that will more than cover Clark Kent’s sizable medical bills.  Now City Kitties is asking those interested in helping to donate at the PSPCA website and choose “humane law enforcement” when asked where they want their donation directed.