As the number of COVID-19 cases has skyrocketed in Philadelphia in the past few weeks,  the demand for testing remains very high. To help ease this demand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is opening a new mass COVID-19 testing site in Southwest Philadelphia. The site, located at the Cibotti Rec Center at 7700 Elmwood Ave., has a soft opening today and will officially open this Friday, Jan. 7. The hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The site has the capacity to administer about 500 tests per day, according to an announcement by Philadelphia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole.

To find other COVID-19 testing sites in the city, please go to this page. If you want to keep up with COVID-19 testing and case numbers in the city, visit this page.

The Streets Department is experiencing trash and recycling collections delays because of the recent COVID-19 surge, according to a recent announcement by Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. These challenges are expected to continue in the following weeks as the Department is working through COVID-19 infections and quarantining in their workforce. Currently, there are only slight delays in trash collection and recycling is a day or more behind in some areas.

Residents are advised to continue to set trash and recycling materials out on their regular day. Residents can track the progress of collections on their block by clicking on the PickupPHL tab at streetsmartphl.phila.gov. Updates can also be found at phila.gov/streets and on social media. Continue Reading

Rehearsing Philadelphia, a citywide art-based public project created by composer and artist Ari Benjamin Meyers and produced by Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and the Curtis Institute of Music, is calling on folks who have fond memories of Baltimore Avenue.

You can share your stories, anywhere from The Woodlands to 50th street, by leaving a voice recording at (267) 202-5157 or share your thoughts here. With the public’s help, Rehearsing Philadelphia will pick locations for 15 public rehearsals as part of the project’s Duet module. Your recording may also appear on “Rehearsing Radio.”

Rehearsing Philadelphia explores how we can come together as a city through musical rehearsal. It focuses on rehearsing as a way to attain perfection, which is then repeated in performance. The rehearsals will take place from March 25 to April 10. For more information, visit: www.rehearsingphiladelphia.com.

The School District of Philadelphia has temporarily shifted dozens of schools to virtual learning due to staffing shortages stemming from the omicron-related spike in COVID-19 cases. The 81 school buildings have closed for students starting today until at least through Friday, Jan. 7. The full list of these schools can be found here.

Principals were expected to communicate directly with students and families with information regarding virtual instruction. Staff at these 81 schools are still expected to report to work in person unless they are self-isolating or quarantining due to COVID testing or exposure, have COVID-like symptoms and are awaiting test results, or have an approved leave.

All other District schools were expected to reopen after winter recess for in-person learning starting this morning.

UC Green, the West Philly community greening organization, is again hosting holiday tree recycling events in two West Philly parks – Clark Park and Malcolm X Park. Both events will be held Saturday, Jan. 8 (check out the flier below for more details). Suggested donation is $5-$20 per tree. Recycled trees will be mulched and used in local parks.

If you can’t bring your tree to any of these events, check out the Christmas Tree Recycling program run by the city this month. Continue Reading

Delaila Aryee (left) and Lindsay Brown with former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter (Facebook photo).

We are sad to report that Vital Step Physical Therapy & Fitness, the West Philly minority-run business, has closed down after more than five years in operation. Co-owned by two young female entrepreneurs, Delaila Aryee and Lyndsay Brown, Vital Step closed its physical location at 5008 Baltimore Ave. in January of this year, but continued to operate virtually for a few months.

“This option was no longer financially viable for us to remain open. So we will be officially dissolving the business on [December 31],” Lyndsay wrote in an e-mail. “We definitely enjoyed our time on Baltimore avenue for the past 5 years and being able to treat the local community!” Continue Reading