Police are still searching for a man who is wanted in a string of armed robberies around West Philly last week. He allegedly robbed a laundromat and nail salons along Chestnut Street, according to Det. Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives.

The man is described as a black male about 20-30 years old and about 5-feet, 7-inches tall with short hair and a short beard. He has exhibited violent behavior during the robberies, Murray said.

Police are looking for him in connection with the following crimes:

• During mid-afternoon on July 30, a worker at the Emerald Laundromat said a man had been sitting on a chair in the establishment for about 30 minutes before the man pulled out a small black handgun and stuck in the worker’s neck and demanded money. He fled with $350 from the register.

• On August 2 at about 11 a.m., a man entered the Myly Nail Salon at 6214 Landsdowne Ave. with a black handgun and demanded money. The man took an envelope from the counter with $100 along with a cell phone. Police say the man held the gun to the salon owner’s head and said: “Shut up, do you want to die?” He then fled the store. Continue Reading

The West Philly Tool Library is celebrating a new grant with a barbecue and you are invited.

The cook-out will be Saturday from 12-2 p.m. at the West Philly Tool Library at 1314 S. 47th St. (near 47th and Woodland). The cook-out is a way of thanking everyone who voted in the State Farm “Cause an Effect” grant program. West Philly Tool Library and Neighborhood Bike Works were both awarded $25,000.

The Penn Museum and West Philly Local would like to invite you to the fantastic Summer Nights Concert Series on Wednesday, August 15. Free of charge for our readers! Yep, that’s right, it’s “West Philly Local Night” at the Museum. No strings attached.

The August 15 edition of the Summer Night Series features La Pequeña Marimba Internacional, a family band that focuses on Guatemalan folk music, but also includes a smattering of international music like cumbria, merengue, bolero and more.

Drinks and light fare will be provided by the Museum’s Pepper Mill Café Garden Bar.

All you have to do is click on the link below and either print out the page or have it open on your mobile phone when you arrive at the Museum. That will get you general admission to the Museum and the garden concert.

Follow this link, print out the page or have it on your phone.

The new school year hasn’t even started yet and already there is confusion. While the School District of Philadelphia has set the official date for new student registration as Aug. 20, at least two schools in West Philly are registering new students starting Monday, Aug. 13.

Henry C. Lea Elementary and Penn Alexander will accept new student registration beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday morning.

“They gave out the date late,” said an official at Penn Alexander referring to the District’s Aug. 20 date. “We’re sticking with our original plan for the 13th.”

Likewise, an official at Lea said, “the secretary will be here Monday morning registering students.”

No one answered the phone at  A.D. Harrington, Samuel B. Huey, Alain Locke, Samuel Powel and Alexander Wilson. New students who plan to attend those schools should call to double-check on registration dates (see the phone numbers below).

Last year, the line for registration at Penn Alexander began at 7:30 a.m. the previous day. Continue Reading

About 1,500 cheering Barack Obama supporters packed the Bobby Morgan Arena at the University of the Sciences on Thursday for a rousing get-out-the-vote speech from First Lady Michelle Obama.

Obama was preaching to the proverbial choir in West Philly, a longtime Democratic stronghold. And her speech, aimed at rallying campaign supporters, even felt like a Sunday morning sermon. Obama punctuated a few of her most resonant points – on things like universal health care and education equity – with “Can I get an Amen?”

Obama’s day-long swing through eastern Pennsylvania will also take her to Montgomery County and Bethlehem to help keep Pennsylvania behind President Obama, who won the state in 2008.

“It’s all on the line,” she said. “Everything is at stake. That’s why we’re here.”

Several West Philly community organizations are joining forces to throw a block party and street film festival this Saturday at the Haddington Memorial Garden at 54th and Wyalusing.

The Neighborhood Foods Block Party will feature a flea market, vendors, live music, spoken word performances, food and film screenings. The event runs from 4-9 p.m.

Community leaders from Haddington, The Enterprise Center and the Urban Tree Connection started the youth-driven Neighborhood Foods project to bring attention to urban farming operations and food justice issues. The organization uses urban farming to address problematic issues in the neighborhood, including crime and poverty.

A few highlights of Saturday’s event include:

• Performances by Ursula Rucker and Tim Motzer.
• Scribe Video Center outdoor screenings of short films.
• Dyana Williams will emcee.

For more information, check out the event Facebook page here.