We forgot to mention a couple of posts ago that there will be two more fundraisers for the Windermere fire victims this week.

The first will be Wednesday, March 2 at Drexel’s Mandell Theater (33rd and Chestnut) at 7:30 p.m. The event features performances by the Blue Diamond Dragon Step Team, the Chinese Graduate Dance Club, the Treble Makers, Drexel Jhalak, the Drexel Comedy Football Team and more. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell is also scheduled to be in the house. All proceeds go to the Walnut Hill Community Association fire victims fund.

A second fundraiser is set for Friday, March 4 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.). The “Arts for the Cause” show features a bunch of talented performers, including jazz vocalist Rajdulari, Monica McIntyre and the Rosemary Fiki Band.

Here is a video of Monica McIntyre and friends performing “Ghetto Magic” at The Rotunda last January.

The Walnut Hill Community Association is sponsoring a benefit for the Windermere fire victims on March 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Monumental Baptist Church at 50th and Locust. All proceeds will be donated to a fund that the community association has set up for the victims. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers are scheduled to be in attendance.

Here is a flier for the event (click to enlarge):

The Philadelphia Weekly’s Tara Murtha has taken a thorough look at the aftermath of the Windermere fire for today’s paper. The piece, “Burning Questions in West Philly Apartment Complex Fire,” fleshes out all the parties in this tragic story – from the residents protesting for access, to the owners’ PR agent to a spokesman for the Mayor’s Office. The story also introduces us to a little known city agency that seems to share in some of the responsibility – Philadelphia’s County Animal Rescue Team (PHL-CART).

Many of us have been following this story for more than a month. Murtha’s piece is a must-read for a look behind the emotions and blame to see what a breakdown in communication between a city government, its residents and private enterprise looks like.

The West Philly-based feline rescue group City Kitties announced this morning that it will stop attempting to rescue cats that may still be inside the Windermere Court building because it is becoming more structurally unstable.

The group wrote on its Facebook page this morning:

Our trapping efforts inside the Windermere are over. The building is deteriorating, & we had to weigh the safety of the humans involved against the possibility of finding more cats. None of the 5 traps had any food eaten out of them or paw prints inside. We feel confident that no cats remain inside. Doors & some windows are open; cats DO have an opportunity to escape.

City Kitties has a page that lists the cats, including photos, that are still missing at the Windermere.

Rocco (Photo from City Kitties Facebook page)

If you have been following the saga of Rocco, a cat stranded in the Windermere Court Apartments, you will be happy to know that City Kitties is reporting that he has made it out. The orange tabby was rescued this morning.

Meanwhile, City Paper is reporting today that Windermere residents who have been waiting outside the building for access to some of their belongings are worried that the ice, which may have helped keep the floors and ceilings stable, is beginning to melt in the warm weather. The melting may affect the ability of demolition crews to salvage more belongings.

The demolition of the building has been put on hold indefinitely. The Department of Licenses and Inspection has said that the decision to demolish the building rests with the owners, who have not been available for comment.

Messages in support of Rocco on the City Kitties Facebook page.

The West Philly feline rescue group City Kitties is still hard at work trying to save at least one cat still inside the Windermere Court Apartments. A brown tabby named Rocco had been spotted in the basement. A demolition worker apparently captured Rocco, but the cat was able to break free and is back on his own. City Kitties is now reporting that crews had seen Humbert in the basement, not Rocco. Humbert was rescued this morning (see below). So the hunt for Rocco continues. If Humbert can make it out, there is no reason to believe that Rocco can’t.

Rocco has achieved rock star status on the City Kitties Facebook page, with fans cheering him on. City Kitties have set up humane traps in an attempt to rescue Rocco. City Kitties writes:

“Rocco is a front-declawed brown tabby with white paws, wearing a purple collar. No photo available at this time. If you see a cat matching this description, please contact City Kitties immediately. Rocco lived on the 1st floor, east end of the building.”

Humbert was rescued from the Windermere this morning.

Meanwhile, another Windermere cat has been reunited with his owner. Humbert was found this morning, some 37 days after the fire. His two sisters, M2 and Sadie, were rescued earlier.

City Kitties provides a complete guide on how to help the cats and voice your concern on their website here.

Here is an excerpt from the guide:

You can help by donating food (canned or dry), old towels or blankets, and bleach (for cleaning traps) to Project MEOW. Email projectmeow@gmail.com or visit their facebook page for details. Become a City Kitties foster home so that we can help as many of these cats as possible. Please do NOT place cat food in the area around the building, as this will discourage cats from entering the traps.