For 25 years Curtis has been selling Christmas trees at 50th and Baltimore.

“I know I don’t look that old, but what can I say,” he said as he oversaw the loading of another tree – a 6-footer – atop a car roof.

Curtis has a selection of trees ranging from $15 for a 4-foot-or-so to $60 for trees up to about 10 feet. He said there is no way he will run out before Christmas, so look for his stand between the Dock Street Brewing Co. and Cedar Park. In fact, Curtis stressed, if you don’t have a tree by midnight on Christmas Eve, then stop by and he will give you whatever is left over.

Curtis is typically open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. When you see him make sure you mention how good he looks for his age. He likes that.

We are looking for more places to get a tree. If you have any favorite spots, let us know in the comments or write to us at editor [at] westphillylocal.com.

A New York-based religious leader penned an opinion piece in today’s Inquirer that outlines what many of us here already know – some creative problem-solving needs to be done to help public schools in West Philadelphia.

Howie Beigelman, deputy director of public policy at the Orthodox Union, and a handful of other religious leaders toured West Philadelphia High School, West Catholic High School and Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School – a public school, parochial school and charter school respectively – in early October. Students First organized the tour. Beigelman highlighted the differences between the three schools, notably that the atmosphere was “less hopeful” at West Philadelphia High, where he observed that teachers often locked their doors during class.

He continues:

Both of these found cats are off craigslist:

Found: Black cat at 48th and Baltimore
Very friendly, affectionate, and playful black cat followed me home on Thursday night. She is definitely used to being around people. I was afraid she was lost, and so I took her in. (She ate nearly a whole can of tuna, so she must have been hungry.) She has a collar.
If this is your cat, please email me with a specific description of her, and her collar.
comm-rzrrd-2095776334@craigslist.org

Found: Gray cat – 48th and Windsor
A gray cat followed me Friday night near 48th and Windsor. She was really hungry so I fed her and took her home for safekeeping. She has green eyes and no collar. Is she yours? Email and I’ll send a picture, I just don’t have one right at the moment.
comm-yx7wg-2095862466@craigslist.org

Word has it that the volunteers selling holiday greenery at Bartram’s Garden (54th and Lindbergh – 36 trolley to 54th Street) are getting a little lonely. Now is the time to get over there and get yourself a bough, wreath, freshly cut evergreen or centerpiece. The sale is over at 3 p.m. today. All proceeds benefit the Garden’s horticulture and community programs.

Mill Creek Farm (4901 Brown Street) will hold its annual fundraiser today from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (640 Water Works Drive) – behind the Art Museum. The farm is “an educational urban farm dedicated to improving local access to fresh produce, building a healthy community and environment, and promoting a just and sustainable food system,” according to its website. A non-profit, the farm is an important part of West Philadelphia and it relies on this annual fundraiser for a substantial chunk of its budget. In addition to growing food, the farm conducts community workshops and youth employment programs.

The fundraiser will include the debut of West Philly Grown, a documentary about the farm. A silent auction will also be held (holiday gifts perhaps? hmmm?). Live music will be provided by The Bro’s Perspective, a jazz fusion trio, as well as by violinist Carlos Santiago and harpist Mary O’Malley. As if that isn’t enough, there’s also going to be food and drink from Philadelphia Brewing Company, Dock Street Brewing Co., Art in the Age, Bar Ferdinand, Beau Monde and Honest Tom’s Taco Shop. That is a substantial line-up. Holy smokes, I’m salivating just writing this.

Now, it’s a fundraiser so it ain’t free. Tickets are $25 (cash/check) and are available at the door.

Poet Elyse Fenton

Elyse Fenton, a poet who is temporarily living in West Philadelphia, won the prestigous Dylan Thomas Prize earlier this week for Clamor, a collection of poems about her experience as the wife of a soldier serving in Iraq.

“The full spectacle of this is just starting to dawn on me,” she told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Peter Florence, the chair of the judges for the prize, called Fenton’s work an “astonishing, fully accomplished book of huge ambition and spectacular delivery.”

Fenton was presented the award during a ceremony Wednesday at the University of Swansea, located in the Welsh city where Thomas was born. The prize includes a 30,000 pound ($48,000) cash prize. Fenton’s work was the first time the 3-year-old prize has been awarded to a book of poems. Authors under the age of 30 who have published a work in English are eligible for the award.

The Inquirer reported that Fenton is staying in her brother’s West Philly row home while her husband, who served in Iraq in 2005, serves a legal clerkship in Trenton.