So it seems that Andy, a young pit bull, went on a bit of neighborhood walkabout. His person, Maddy, wrote back on Feb. 18 that Andy slipped out and was last seen around 50th and Hazel. Maddy sent out the word to keep a look out. Well, last night Maddy was awoken at about 3 a.m. to Andy at the door – a little shaken, but OK.
Maddy wrote today:

Hi all you wonderful concerned people, Just wanted to let everyone know that I found a very wet, very hungry, and very dirty Andy at my backdoor at 3 am this morning. He’s got some cuts, but he looks like he’s in pretty good shape.
Thanks for all your help and good vibes!

Maddy

The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools has sent word that the School District of Philadelphia will hold a Kindergarten Open House day on Tuesday, March 1.

The Coalition’s Amara Rockar provided the information below on participating schools. Parents interested in visiting a school should call and verify the times.

A. D. Harrington School
5300-34 Baltimore Ave
19143
(215) 471 – 2914
www.philasd.org/schools/harrington
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9:09-9:54

B. B. Comegys School
5100 Greenway Ave.
19143
(215) 727 – 2162
Open House: Not confirmed

Alexander Wilson School
1300 S. 46th St.
19143
(215) 823 – 8206
www.philasd.org/schools/alexanderwilson
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9 – Noon

Samuel B Huey School
5200 Pine St.
19143
(215) 471 – 2901
Open House: Not confirmed

Henry C. Lea School
4700 Locust St.
19139
(215) 471 – 2915
Open House: CONFIRMED

Penn Alexander School
4209 Spruce St.
19104
(215) 823 – 5465
www.philasd.org/schools/pennalexander
Open House: CONFIRMED

Alain Locke School
4550 Haverford Ave.
19139
(215) 823 – 8202
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9-10:30

Martha Washington Academics
766 N. 44th St.
19104
(215) 823 – 8203
www.philasd.org/schools/marthawashington
Open House: Occurring on 4/2 instead OF 3/1, Time TBA.

The Philadelphia Fire Marshall’s Office has confirmed that the Feb. 16 fire at 4500 Walnut St. above Saad’s Halal Restaurant was the work of an arson.

Deputy Chief Frank Bonner would not pinpoint the exact cause of the fire, which destroyed three floors of apartments above Saad’s, but did say it was intentionally set.

“It’s an open investigation,” Bonner said today, noting that anyone with information on the fire should notify the 18th police district.

He also confirmed that the man shown in a video first released on West Philly Local being led from the building and handcuffed during the fire is not a suspect in the case.

The case now goes to detectives in the 18th police district.

The fire began on the third floor of the four-story building, trapping residents on the top floor. All the residents were rescued from the fourth floor and two people were taken to hospital for minor injuries.

Click to enlarge.

School reform advocates from West Philly will no doubt be on hand for a rally today in front of the Philadelphia School District offices at 440 N. Broad St. to call on the district to open up the process of reform to students, parents, teachers and community members.

Teacher Action Group (TAG), an organization of reform-minded teachers, is organizing the rally, which is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Writer Tim Whitaker puts this week’s late-night theft of 58 laptops and other equipment from West Philadelphia High School – valued at about $80,000 – into context with the other struggles the school has had in recent months in a post on Philadelphia Magazine’s website today.

The ski-masked thieves were caught on surveillance video taking the equipment early Wednesday morning. Police are still investigating the thefts, which are the latest blow to West. Earlier this month, dozens of students walked out of the school in protest of ongoing changes there, including three new principals this school year.

In the article, entitled The Biggest Embarrassment in Philadelphia, Whitaker lauds former principal Saliyah Cruz, who was also praised by students and parents before she was moved out of the school. He writes:

Things have been deteriorating steadily and dramatically at West Philadelphia High, one of the city’s oldest and most iconic educational institutions, for decades.

But for a brief time, just a moment ago but all but forgotten already, there was hope. Hope came in the form of Saliyah Cruz, a passionate principal who mobilized and inspired a troop of young and devoted teachers to her mission for three years at West Philadelphia High School until she was shown the door at the end of the 2010 academic year.

We are happy to report that Saad’s Halal Restaurant at 4500 Walnut St. has reopened after a fire on Feb. 17 that heavily damaged the three floors of apartments above the restaurant.

The fire began on a third floor apartment, according to the Philadelphia Fire Commissioner’s Office, and the cause is still under investigation. The fire destroyed the top two floors of the building, forcing out about two dozen residents. The apartments will require extensive rebuilding and the roof of the building will likely need replaced.

Saad’s suffered some water damage and minor smoke damage, but is back in business.

The fire commissioner’s office also confirmed this morning speculation that smoking in bed caused the Feb. 16 fire at the single-story Transition to Independent Living Inc. building at 4536 Spruce St. The official explanation was “discarded cigarette in unit 4.”