We haven’t featured cats available for adoption for a couple of weeks, so this week we are presenting two of them.

Howard ended up in animal control when his owner surrendered him. He was 18 lbs at intake, but after two months in the stressful shelter environment, he lost 4 pounds, more than 20% of his body weight! Once he was in a comfortable foster environment, Howie’s appetite came back, and he looks great! He loves to be around people and wants to follow his foster mom everywhere. He is a little nervous around new kitties, but never aggressive – he just needs some time to adjust to them. Howard loves to curl up next to his people and purr, and purr and purr. If you sit down with him for a minute, Howie will rub against you, flop down, and roll over for pets. He is such a sweet guy! Howard would prefer a home without a dog, but he should do really well with kids, given his gentle nature. Please give this big boy the forever home he deserves!

Howard is about three-five years old, neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, FVRCP and rabies vaccinated, tested/treated for fleas/parasites as needed, and uses the litterbox.

Jenni was rescued form a junkyard along with her rambunctious kittens during an early snowstorm. She will start to purr just by talking to her. When you actually pet her, look out! She is a true lap cat. She loves to get on laps and be petted and just purr away. Jenni doesn’t really play with other cats, but she does like to play with toys, preferably ones with bells, whistles, rattles, etc. She isn’t a fan of loud noises or boisterous households, so she would do well in a quiet home by herself or with another laid back kitty.

Jenni is one-two years old, spayed/neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, FVRCP and rabies vaccinated, uses the litterbox, and was treated for fleas and parasites as needed.

Both cats are available for adoption through City Kitties. If you have questions about either one of them or want to meet them, please visit this page for more information.

Bird food, plant and monetary donations are needed for the Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary. For more information see the flyer below. Please call the Spruce Hill office (215-349-7825) to arrange a drop off time for bird food donations.

The bird sanctuary is located in the backyards formed by the houses facing Spruce & Locust, 45th & Melville Streets. It is open to the public (the entrance is next to 233 S. Melville). Click here to see photos.

Here are some more details on how you can recycle your Christmas tree.

Option 1:  From Tuesday, Jan. 3 through Saturday, Jan. 14 West Philly residents can drop off their tree at the Sanitation Convenience Center located at 3033 S. 63rd Street. The center is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Christmas trees brought to the site should be free of all decorations and ornaments, untied and free of plastic bags or wrappings. For more information call (215) 685-4290, 01.

Option 2:  You can bring your tree to Bartram’s Garden (54th St. and Lindbergh Blvd.) on Saturday, Jan. 7 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. during Christmas Tree-Cycling & Coat Drive. Your tree will be recycled into wood chips. $5 donation requested. All decorations must be removed. No early drop-offs, please. Also, gently used coats will be collected for donation to Feel The Warmth.

Option 3:  Also on Saturday (Jan 7) UC Green will set up a Christmas tree collection station at Clark Park (43rd & Chester). Bring your tree along with a $5 donation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The collected trees will be recycled into wood chips for Farm 51 and the Holly Street garden. Also at the same time and place, UC District is collecting used electronics for recycling, so if you have anything with a plug you want to dispose of, please bring it in.

One of our readers emailed us earlier today with this information:

“This guy is hanging out on my back steps at 4301 Larchwood. Purple collar but no tag. It’s in an enclosed back hard, but the back gate is open. He/she may not be lost, but I’ve never seen it before, and it’s not motivated to go anywhere.”

If this is your cat please email to: claireiltis[at]gmail.com

A few West Philly public schools are featured on DonorsChoose.org, an online portal that helps raise money for classrooms in need. Teachers at Henry C. Lea Elementary, West Philadelphia High School, Samuel B. Huey Elementary, Anna H. Shaw Middle School and a few other schools in West Philly have posted their projects, mostly in science and literature. An added incentive is that if you contribute today you can deduct from this year’s tax return.

To view the projects and to donate please click on the links below.

Avery D. Harrington Elementary – several projects
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2&school=90708

Anna H. Shaw Middle School – “Science Journals!”
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2&school=90723

William L. Sayre High School – “MicroSwitches: Assistive Interfaces For Quadriplegic Teens”
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2&school=90722

If you want to help other schools, here’s a link to the Philadelphia School District page:
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?state=PA&community=12358:2

Here’s a sampling of New Year’s Eve parties, concerts and special events taking place in the neighborhood. If you know of other events please drop them in the comments.

• New Year’s Eve with Philly Bloco • World Cafe Live • 3025 Walnut Street • 10:30 p.m. (doors 9:30 p.m.) • Tickets: $30

Philly Bloco’s 20+ members bring their raucous mash-up of Samba, Funk and Reggae for a very special New Year’s Eve dance party.

• New Year’s Eve Yoga and Mochi • Studio 34 • 4522 Baltimore Ave. • 8 – 10 p.m. • Suggested donation $5 – $15

Wring out your body before you ring in the New Year with this special 2-hour all-levels hatha yoga practice. Class includes brief meditation, pranayama (breathing), seated and standing poses, plus special sequences for reflecting on the past year while looking forward to the future. After practice, enjoy hot tea and mochi (sweet Japanese rice cakes) in the warmth of Studio 34′s community lounge.

• Beth Hart – New Year’s Eve concert • The Blockley • 38th & Chestnut • 7 p.m. (doors 5 p.m.) • Tickets: $135

The concert includes: Admission to Show; Dinner Buffet – 7 – 9 p.m.; Top Shelf Open Bar – 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.; Beth’s new CD with Joe Bonamassa, “Don’t Explain”; Beth Hart event shirt; Midnight Champagne Toast.

• Gojjo (www.gojjos.com) • 4540 Baltimore Ave • 11 p.m.-2 a.m. • No cover

Champagne is on the house.

• New Deck Tavern (www.newdecktavern.com) • 3408 Sansom Street • 10 p.m. • No cover

Specials: $2 Coors Light Pints, $3 Coors Light bottles and $5 Flavored Martini’s. DJ starts at 10 p.m.

• Slainte Pub (www.slaintephilly.com) • 3000 Market Street • 10 p.m. • No cover

DJ @ 10 p.m. Free Flare & Noisemakers. $2 Miller Lite Pints & Firework Shots 10 p.m.-close.