Neighbors are welcome to share their concerns about crime and other neighborhood issues at a community meeting with Lt. Brian McBride and Sgt. Ron Washington of the University City section of the 18th Police District. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. tomorrow, August 18, at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore Ave.).

Meetings with McBride are held on the third Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the large classroom on the lower level.

City Kitties, a West Philly based volunteer-run feline rescue organization, is going through a foster care crisis due to an influx of homeless cats and slow adoption rate during summer months. In addition to that, several foster parents are moving away and City Kitties are in need of volunteers to open their homes to formerly stray cats and kittens.

Five cats need immediate transfer from their current homes. See below their profiles and photos.

Floyd: This poor stray guy has been through so much in his life. Floyd (formerly “Popcorn, Sr.”) was cared for by a kind family in North Philly who fed him daily for five years, but could not afford to take him to a vet. His caretaker said that his eye injury likely came from abuse suffered at the hands of a man who used Floyd as “bait” for his fighting dog.

City Kitties provided Floyd with eye surgery, vaccinations, and much-needed flea treatment, and he recovered at the Cat Doctor for several weeks. He is in immediate need of a foster home. He is great with kids and also seems to get along with other cats. Floyd’s left eye was removed, but he gets around just fine and needs no special care.

Steve: Poor Steve has been on adoption listings for more than a year, and now his foster mom can no longer care for him. He needs a place to go ASAP! This ~2-4 year old tabby was found wandering the streets of West Philly and was taken in by his foster mom. He was in rough shape then, but look at him now! Friendly and incredibly handsome, Steve loves nothing more than snuggling between his foster parents on the couch, or saddling up to a human relaxing around the house. He is laid-back and enjoys food (maybe a little too much at times!) and attention. Steve can be picky about being handled if he’s not in the mood, but he will grow to trust and love a new family as he has his foster parents. They report that Steve is an ideal feline companion, perfect for someone in need of a reading or napping buddy.

Cherry & Johnny: This adorable pair of bonded kittens have been in foster care for several months — far too long for such beautiful kittens. Despite their winning personalities and matching fur coats, Cherry and Johnny were overlooked during their stint in the window at Baltimore Pet Shoppe, and again when they moved into foster care. What’s not to like about this dynamic duo?! Cherry and Johnny have spent time around children, dogs, and other cats. They get along well with everyone and are gentle with kids. Unfortunately their foster mom is moving out of the area, and they need a foster or adoptive home immediately.

Jalapeno: This beautiful tabby kitten wandered up to a City Kitties volunteer while she was watering a hot pepper plant (thus the name) and screamed for food! Skinny and friendly, there was no way the volunteer could leave her outside. Jalapeno scarfed down several bowls of kibble, then made herself right at home, flopping on the floor for a much-needed nap. Unfortunately, her rescuer has no room in her home, and Jalapeno has been staying in a boarding cage at the vet temporarily — she needs a real home right away.

Jalapeno is about 8-10 months old and fully vetted. She has beautiful markings, a great personality, and an adorable, slightly bossy “meow” that will convince you to do her bidding! Please give Jalapeno the comfortable home she deserves.

To read more about fostering with City Kitties and to apply click here.

We are well into August (isn’t the summer flying by?) and more and more arts and entertainment places are putting the finishing touches on their fall/winter programs.

Crossroads Music (801 S. 48th Street) has just announced some of their fall/winter shows. The new season begins September 10 with a performance by West Philly bands Electric Simcha and Stinking Lizaveta.

The new program also features music performances in a variety of genres, including classical, folk, klezmer, and world music by a group of international artists.

Ticket prices for performances at Crossroads Music usually range from $10-30. For more information on the shows go here. Crossroads Music is still working on adding more dates to the new schedule.

Update (Aug 18): Reeskie came back home yesterday morning.

A long-haired black cat named Reeskie is missing from the 4400 block of Larchwood.

He is about 4 years old, neutered, and up to date on all shots. He’s been missing for about two weeks now and his family is not right without him.

Please call 215-510-1798 if you have any information or have seen him.

Today’s dog is Tyson. He’s a sweet one-two year old terrier mix who was surrendered to the shelter because his owners could no longer afford to keep him.

Tyson appears to be in fantastic shape although he needs to put a little bit of weight on. He has a gorgeous caramel colored coat, sweet, soulful eyes, and jowls that are irresistibly squeezable!

He is very sad in his kennel (it seems as though he’s waiting and hoping that his owners are coming back for him), but he really comes out of his shell nicely when he gets to go outside and hang out with the volunteers.

Tyson’s a medium energy dog who loves to play but isn’t jumpy or mouthy. He walks very nicely on the leash, and will just trot happily by your side. He did great on his food test and his dog meets- he was tested with two females, and he was friendly and playful with both of them; he also seems to have no interest in cats, and could probably live with them.

Tyson loves people of all ages and sizes and is very gentle in his approach. Children of all ages seem to be drawn to this handsome boy with his big, “pet-able” head. Tyson loves the attention he gets from the little ones and rewards them with plenty of kisses.

Being that he is relatively skinny, Tyson loves treats and food of all sorts. In turn, this makes it extremely easy to train him. He knows “sit” and “down” already and is going to work on “no/leave it” and crate training next.

If you are interested in Tyson and have dogs of your own, please bring at least one of them to make sure there is no major personality clash. Please also bring proof that you are allowed to have dogs/cats at your home if you rent or be prepared that the adoption staff will call your landlord before approving your application. If you have children 10 and younger, they will be required to meet Tyson before adoption/foster care can be finalized. Don’t let this awesome dog go down for the count – bring Tyson home today!

For more information on how to adopt or foster Tyson please call 267-385-3800, email: ACCT [at] pspca.org or stop by the shelter (111 W. Hunting Park Ave) if you want to meet him.

PhillyCarShare is ending its experiment as a nonprofit and has been sold to Enterprise Holdings, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Many neighbors are probably wondering what will happen to the PhillyCarShare membership and its fleet (26 locations in West Philly) once the sale is finalized. According to Enterprise officials, they are going to retain the PhillyCarShare name, its 25 employees and even expand the fleet, which has been shrinking since 2009.

There was no mention of whether this transaction will affect membership fees and other rates. Currently, a PhillyCarShare residential member pays $15/month ($125/year), $0.25/mile, and hourly rates begin at $4.45.

The Inky quotes PhillyCarShare executive director Gerald Furgione:

“Enterprise definitely saved us. The only thing we regret is that we will no longer be a nonprofit.”

A bill for $2.7 million in back taxes and penalties has apparently led to the sale.

The debate over whether car sharing firms should be treated the same as regular car rental firms, which pay an excise tax in most states for each car rented, has been heating up in recent years and may be behind the sale as well.