The International Action Center is holding its annual “Giant Rummage Sale” on Saturday, August 11 at Calvary Church (48th and Baltimore) and is seeking support to make it successful. You can donate books, records, gently-used clothing, toys, games, housewares, small furniture or other items for this sale. Pick-ups or a convenient drop-off time can be arranged. You can also volunteer to poster fliers for the sale and/or to help with set-up on the evening of Friday, August 10.

The IAC has been actively involved in the struggle for jobs, justice and equality in the area, and participated regularly in the Occupy Philadelphia movement. It also helped launch the People’s Power Speak Outs in West Philly and has been organizing Clark Park Summer Film Series for 10 years. The annual rummage sale helps cover the rent and related expenses for the IAC Solidarity Center office.

If you have items to donate or if you want to volunteer at the sale, please call 610-352-3053 (Betsey) or email phillyiac@peoplesmail.net.

Are you ready for your first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll this summer? This is one of the coolest summer events in West Philly. You can get $1 food, drink and other items from local businesses. The first of three Dollar Strolls schedule will be Thursday, July 19, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., as always along Baltimore Avenue between 42nd and 51st Streets.

Over 20 businesses are participating in this stroll, both the usual suspects – Milk & Honey, Green Line Cafe, Dock Street Brewery, Baltimore Pet Shoppe, VIX Emporium, Elena’s Soul, Mariposa Food Co-op, etc. – and new businesses and vendors. Look for $1 items and deals from such new participants as Thrive Fitness, The Sunflower Truck Stop, Studio 34, Maru Global Takoyaki, Independent Rock, and a few others. And yes, Subway is participating too.

In addition to shopping for $1 items, don’t miss live music by The Makes (between 46th and 47th Streets), the Independent Rock School (50th Street), the Give & Take Jugglers and entertainment by various street performers and fire artists.

Check out the event’s flyer below for the full list of participants and what they are offering.

(click to enlarge)

A reader alerted us to some car vandalism incidents that recently took place in the area around Malcolm X. Park. Chris T. writes that two nights ago his car along with at least two other cars between 50th and 51st were “marked with black spray paint, keyed, and/or had corrosive substances poured through the rubber of the side windows.”

Chris says that he has lived on that block for a year and this is the first time he personally encountered vandalism to this extent. It looks like the cars were chosen randomly – they were not parked in a row nor were they on the same side of the street.

“I know it’s no tire-slashing and thankfully mine was not broken into, but crimes of opportunity like these are really troubling,” Chris wrote. His neighbor’s car had a window smashed out and was presumably broken into a few days ago between the 50th and 51st block of Osage Ave.

Someone left this small gift to the neighborhood in a bush near The Restaurant School on Walnut Street.

Do you live or own a business in Cedar Park? If so, your feedback is needed to help shape the future of this quickly changing neighborhood. The Cedar Park Neighbors community association has developed “The Future of Cedar Park” survey which will help them gather useful information as the Philadelphia City Planning Commission had asked community organizations to provide input on its new plan for Southwest Philadelphia and University City.

Although, it’s an exciting time for the neighborhood, with many new residents moving to Cedar Park and new businesses opening, there are also issues generated by this change, including affordability, land use, education, parking and others. This survey will help CPN figure out how to “best represent the interests of all neighbors.”

The survey can be found here. In addition to the online survey, a print version is being distributed through block captains, so feel free to pass this information along to your neighbors who do not have internet access.

As a reminder, here are the Cedar Park boundaries: Larchwood Avenue to Kingsessing Avenue and 46th Street to 52nd Street (see map below). For more information, visit www.cedarparkneighbors.org.

Reader Ashutosh found this cat near 41st and Spruce Streets. Here’s what he writes:

“We have recently found a black and white female cat on 41st and Spruce Street. She has come to our apartment and stayed there last night. Today the whole day she stayed out in the backyards of villas between 42nd and Spruce and 42nd and Locust, but this evening we again let her inside our apartment. She is a very friendly cat, and appears to know this area.”

Ashutosh would like to locate the cat’s owner or find a home for her. If you have any information about her owner or want to help, please call 215 222 0599.