Three men were shot this afternoon on the 5500 block of Cedar Avenue, near Boys’ Latin Charter School.

Police say the drive-by shooting happened at about 1 p.m.. Three men ages 28-34 were found along the street when police arrived, according to Philly.com. All three were transported to Penn Presbyterian Hospital and will survive, a police source said.

Police said the men were targeted. “Those shot are known to us,” the police source said.

Police believe there were two gunmen. They were last seen in a white SUV traveling west on Pemberton Street near 55th.

Boys’ Latin Charter School was placed on temporary lockdown following the shooting. No students were injured.

A 28-year-old man was assaulted and robbed of his phone, cash and his engraved wedding ring while walking near 48th and Hazel at about 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police say three young males in dark hoodies approached the man to ask the time. One of the males then brandished a black handgun and struck the victim, knocking him to the ground. The suspects, described as black males between 17 and 20 years old, took the victim’s phone, a wallet with $4 and various cards, a gym bag with headphones and sneakers, and his platinum wedding ring with the inscription “like madness” on it. They fled on foot westbound on Hazel Avenue toward 49th Street, according to police.

The victim was treated for lacerations at Presbyterian Hospital and released.

There are a few job openings and job training opportunities in West Philadelphia this month.

Two seasonal, part-time positions are currently open at Greensgrow West (4912 Baltimore Avenue):

Customer Service Specialist will work as a member of the sales team at the Greensgrow West Garden Center 2-3 days a week and should be available from Friday through Tuesday when the site is open for business. There will also be several events outside the regularly open hours. This person will primarily serve as a weekend cashier, and duties will include, but will not be limited to: ringing up customers, answering the phone, interacting with customers, representing Greensgrow to the local community, and helping keep the store, merchandise and storefront tidy and presentable. This position is March through June, working approximately 24 hours a week. For more information about the job, job requirements and how to apply, please visit: http://www.greensgrow.org/get-involved/jobs/

Customer Service and Horticultural Specialist will work as a member of the sales team at the Garden Center 4-5 days a week, and should be available from Friday through Tuesday when the site is open for business. There will also be several events outside of the regularly open hours. This person will be responsible for maintaining high quality plant material, interact with the customers as a salesperson and resource, making sure the site is kept clean and attractive for customers and guests, helping with the CSA, and completing daily job tasks as assigned by the site manager. This position starts in March, working approximately 30 hours a week. For more information about the job, job requirements and how to apply, please visit: http://www.greensgrow.org/get-involved/jobs/

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is recruiting West Philadelphia residents interested in training and job opportunities as Landscape Technicians with Green City Works, University City District’s landscaping venture. Successful candidates will have landscaping or related experience, have a high school diploma or GED, be unemployed, and live in West Philadelphia (defined by zip codes 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, 19151). The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Apply online here, or print and mail/fax the program application to WPSI. More information is available on this page.

After a string of violent incidents on S. 60th Street, including deadly shootings and last month’s attack on a police officer, community members are asked to come together this Saturday “to reclaim their community” at an anti-violence rally. The assembly for the rally will begin at noon at Masjid Mujahideen Islamic center at 413 S. 60th Street.

The latest fatal shooting in the area was reported on January 31 when a 21-year-old man was shot multiple times while sitting in a parked car near 60th and Pine Streets.

Following the rally, residents and guests are invited to a health fair where they can get free important health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and oral hygiene. The health fair will be held until 2 p.m. at the Masjid.

Memorial services will be held Saturday for Edward Fell, a beloved long-time member of the Calvary United Methodist Church who died unexpectedly earlier this month.

“Ed was in many ways both the heart and face of Calvary – a long-time and active member and lay leader, as well as church administrator, building manager and community liasion,” read a message from the church. “As Pastor John (Pritchard) wrote in a letter to the congregation earlier today, ‘Ed’s deep faith, his devotion to Calvary, his service as ambassador of the Calvary community, his gentle spirit and cheery voice were gifts he gave to us all and gifts that we will deeply miss.'”

The public is welcome to the service on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Here is the schedule:

9-10 a.m.: Viewing (chapel)
10-11:45 a.m.: Funeral/Homegoing Service (chapel)
12 noon: Repast (lower level)

A new Science Leadership Academy middle school will open this fall to fifth graders in a temporary location on Drexel’s campus, the School District of Philadelphia announced today.

Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships (photo from drexel.edu)

The district expects about 90 fifth graders to enroll in the fall in the temporary space at Drexel’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships (3509 Spring Garden). Building plans for the school’s permanent home are under way on the site of the old University City High School and Drew Elementary School near 38th and Filbert.

Most of the fifth grade students will come from nearby Samuel Powel Elementary, a highly rated K-4 school.

Drexel’s School of Education will also support the middle school with help in planning and executing the curriculum, similar to the arrangement Penn has with the Penn Alexander School. Drexel President John Fry helped create the Penn Alexander school and other neighborhood initiatives as an executive vice president at Penn under former president Judith Rodin.

Costs to cover the start-up and planning of the new school will be covered by a $1.8 million grant from the Philadelphia School Partnership. The new school will be called the Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLA-MS).

Students will remain at the Dornsife Center site for “at least two years,” according to the district. The new school will accommodate some 360 students when it is completed.

District Superintendent William Hite announced a plan last fall that included the Drexel-based middle school, the closure of other schools and the conversion of the Samuel B. Huey School to a charter.