The Blockley, a popular music venue located at 38th and Ludlow, will close its doors at the end of this month, its owners revealed on Facebook last night. The venue, which has had brushes with the law over serving underage patrons, lost its liquor license “without much notice,” the post read. The license has to be moved out of the building by the end of the year.

The last performances at the venue are currently scheduled for December 27 and 28 and all 2014 performances have been canceled, according to the Facebook post. The Blockley staff also told Philadelphia Magazine that they’re working on a big farewell concert.

The venue opened in 2009 and has hosted numerous music performances since. The place was particularly popular among college students and was shut down temporarily for allegedly serving minors.

The Blockley’s location, which includes an intimate stage and dance floor, has long been a staple of live music in Philadelphia. When it was the Chestnut Cabaret, the venue was a frequent stop for up-and-coming acts in the 80s and 90s, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Pogues, Phish, Sonic Youth, The Roches, Soul Asylum, The Meat Puppets; local acts such as Schoolly D and the Dead Milkmen; and established favorites like John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Parliament and Blue Oyster Cult.

It is still unclear what will happen to the property after The Blockley leaves.

(Photo via theblockley.com)

Due to the severe weather forecast, all School District of Philadelphia schools are closed for Tuesday, December 10. Early childhood and after school programs are also closed, the district announced. Administrative offices are open.

The general public and media are urged to monitor the District Web site at www.philasd.org for any updates. Updated information will also be posted on the District’s Information Hotline at 215-400-INFO (4636).

A 38-year-old man was shot and abducted Sunday night near 49th and Springfield, according to various reports. Police say the man, a South Philadelphia resident, was driving in the area last night (around 10 p.m., according to a neighbor report), when a group of men traveling in a white van marked “Soft Touch Cleaning Service” opened fire on him.

The man’s car crashed into a utility pole. The men allegedly jumped out of the van, bound the victim with duct tape and drove him to Northeast Philadelphia where he was shot again and robbed, ABC6 is reporting. The man was found around 11:30 p.m. lying in the street on the 7500 block of Summerdale Ave in Northeast Philly, according to GunCrisis.org. He was transported to the hospital and is listed in very critical condition with three gunshot wounds.

The man was robbed of $3,800 during the attack and initially told the police that he was attacked after leaving SugarHouse Casino. However, police now say that the man wasn’t at the casino before the attack. A police source said that the attack may be drug related. The investigation continues.

Some neighbors reported hearing two rounds of gunshots last night at 10 p.m. near 49th and Springfield and police presence. According to a neighbor report, Springfield Avenue was closed this morning between 50th and St. Bernard, with a black Cadillac driven into a telephone pole.

The Supreme Shop ‘n Bag at 43rd and Walnut streets will be closed until tomorrow morning because of technical problems.

A worker there said the grocery store is experiencing issues with its computer system and plans to reopen at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Here’s another opportunity to help people in need this holiday season. Kingsessing Library (51st & Chester) is holding a holiday food drive this month and all donations will go to neighborhood food pantries. See the flyer below for more information.

Editor’s Note: West Philly Local is proud to present the fifth in a series of vignettes of local block captains drawn from Them That Do, a multimedia documentary project and community blog by West Philly-based award-winning photographer Lori Waselchuk. Go to Them That Do for more information, updates and additional photos.

Angie Coghlan / Photo by Lori Waselchuk.

It’s the trees that keep Angie Coghlan busy these days.

Angie has planted hundreds of trees in West Philadelphia and she wants to plant more. A retired nurse, Angie has been the block captain of 4800 Springfield Avenue for 32 years. During that time, she was also active in Cedar Park Neighbors and in the revival of the Firehouse Market. Mostly, though, she’s had trees on her mind.

Angie co-founded Cross Baltimore Tree Tenders with her friend and neighbor, Johanna Fine, 20 years ago. “We were losing the tree-cover in our neighborhood and we tried to do something about it,” Angie remembers.

At first they acted informally, planting small trees in the lawns near the curb. “We called ourselves guerilla tree planters,” because they didn’t seek permission from the city, says Angie. For their first project, they planted two plum trees on a corner of Windsor Ave. and 48^th Street.

Over time, Angie and Johanna met the city’s requirements of having permits and formal permissions. “We developed a really good relationship with the arborist from our district and count him as a friend to this day.”

Angie and Johanna have partnered with UC Green since its inception. Angie has been a board member as well as an advisor to the organization. “Angie is one of UC Green’s pillars,” says Susan MacQueen, director of UC Green. “She is always thinking about what to do next.”

One of Angie’s long-term projects has focused on 47^th St. and 48^th St. corridors between Woodland and Baltimore Avenues. In 2005, she organized a one-day campaign to plant 47 trees on 47^th St. To pull it off she met with residents, coordinated volunteers and gathered donations of supplies, tools and trees. In 2008, she led a similar drive at 48th and Woodland Avenue Recreational Center, planting 50 trees.

This week, Angie and Johanna are going back to 48^th and Woodland to check on the trees they planted nearly six years ago. “We are finding that some of the trees are stressed. The roots are all tangled up,” says Angie. She worries that they will not survive. “We’ll see if we can save them.”

Much of Angie’s work is behind the scenes, identifying trees for removal. Just last week, the city responded to one of her reports and removed two giant sycamore trees near the corner of 45^th St. and Baltimore.

Johanna and Angie also assist homeowners who need to get rid of dead trees. “Larger trees pose a big problem for homeowners,” says Angie. Knowing that tree removal isn’t cheap, they collect donations to help residents pay for the removal.

– Lori Waselchuk