Here’s something our little neighbors and their parents will enjoy doing again now that the section “A” of Clark Park has reopened. A traditional “Storytime at the Turtle” has returned and is taking place every Thursday at 7 p.m.

Stories and short books are read by volunteers from the Parent Infant Center (PIC). Snacks and refreshments are also available. So head down with your little ones tomorrow night to the turtle for this fun and educational activity.
 

An article in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer reflects the anguish that many in West Philly are feeling as their children approach school age: Go to the neighborhood school? Look at other schools in the city? Or, move to the suburbs? The anguish has been compounded in recent months as confusion about admission to West Philly’s Penn Alexander School has grown.

One Queen Village parent, whose children attend the well-regarded Meredith Elementary School, told Inquirer staffer Miriam Hill:

“If you hurt Meredith, you will rip the heart out of this neighborhood,” he said. “It’s the primary driver of economic and social development in this part of Philadelphia because education-minded, working, taxpaying, civic-minded parents move here or don’t leave here because of Meredith. It sounds very suburban, but here we are.”

The real estate premium that residents in the Penn Alexander catchment pay, of course, gets a mention in the story, as does the effort to help improve other neighborhood schools.

Read the full story here.

Today’s cat is Babs. He’s available for adoption through Project Meow.

Babs is a curious kitty. He’s also shy, but still open for love. He’s quite smart as he’s figured out how to climb up next to his foster mom’s bed and drink her water! Despite his shy side you can still pick him up and rub his beautiful hair. In fact, he likes it when his hair gets brushed.

Babs would love to be adopted with his brother, Boser, because they’ve always been there for each other. They are a great pair of gentlemen, love other cats, and are very appreciative of constant love.

Babs is a playful cute kitty, who will give you plenty of purr-filled lap snuggles – contact Project MEOW to see for yourself!

Babs is neutered, vaccinated, flea treated, housetrained, FIV/FeLV negative, and micro-chipped. Please contact projectmeowadoptions [at] gmail.com to meet him.

Application and $85 adoption fee applies.
 

Drexel University has purchased a long, thin 3.6 acre lot along JFK Boulevard west of 30th Street Station that will become the “gateway” for its main campus and could include a mix of uses, including retail.

Drexel paid $21.8 million for the land, which is currently a parking lot sandwiched between JFK Blvd. and train tracks to the north (see the map below).

“The prime location of this site will significantly enhance Drexel’s capacity to be a powerful engine for regional economic growth,” said Drexel President John Fry in a written statement. “It provides various options not only for the development of the space for classrooms, research and other academic facilities, but also for sources of revenue for Drexel through potential residential and retail opportunities.”

Fry, who oversaw community development projects while a vice president at the University of Pennsylvania, has said that extending Drexel’s reach into its surrounding West Philadelphia community is a priority.

 

View Drexel land purchase in a larger map

Great news for the Community Education Center (CEC) in West Philly! Thanks to very active voting by its supporters, including many West Philly residents, the center finished in the top five in Maxwell House’s Drops of Good online voting campaign and is eligible for the $50,000 grant.

The grant will go toward center renovation expenses. Renovations will be handled by the Philadelphia affiliate of Rebuilding Together®. This non-profit organization opened its location in West Philly in 1988 and has helped many low-income homeowners and other community projects.

If you would like to volunteer for this or other projects visit this page.
 

 
A memorable scene unfolded on Baltimore Avenue yesterday as Mayor Michael Nutter and folks from the Mariposa Food Co-op stood arm-in-tattooed arm to celebrate the start of renovations to the co-op’s new home.

Mariposa is scheduled to open at the new space (4824 Baltimore Ave.) in the fall. Floor space will increase five-fold in the new building, which will also include classrooms and rooftop bee hives.

Nutter said the expanded Mariposa, which will include a range of dry goods, bulk items, meat, poultry and dairy products, will serve as a model for initiatives citywide to help improve healthy food options.

“This is the kind of neighborhood that can support this effort and show others across the city how to do this,” said Nutter, who joined Mariposa organizers and other city and development officials in cutting a ceremonial cake (vegan, of course).

The new and improved Mariposa will work like a traditional grocery store in that anyone can shop there regardless of whether they are a member. But the lifeblood of the co-op will still be its members, who receive a discount on items and also help determine how it runs. The co-op currently has 840 members and organizers hope to get 1,250 by the time the new store opens. Look for a major membership drive to begin later this summer.

To join, stop by the current co-op location at 4726 Baltimore Ave. or go here.

Here’s a slideshow from the event.