“This is perhaps the best rainbow I’ve ever seen from my South 46th Street porch – a welcome counteroffensive to the darkest days most of us have ever experienced.”

Photo and caption by Marshall Ledger.

All Philadelphia public school buildings will remain closed through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, according to an announcement on Thursday by the School District of Philadelphia. This decision was made in compliance with a new directive by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Instruction and learning will soon begin remotely. A “review and enrichment learning phase” for all students will take place for two weeks beginning April 20. Instruction will continue beginning May 4 with new lessons in all content areas, aligned to grade-level standards made available to teachers on a weekly basis.  Continue Reading

Starting Thursday, April 9, SEPTA will switch to a “Lifeline Service Schedule,” when service will be modified to make stops only at select stations or will be suspended on entire routes. As part of these new measures focusing on essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Route 34 Trolley will be suspended until further notice beginning Thursday. All other routes – 10, 11, 13, 15, 36 – will continue to operate on a Saturday schedule, seven days a week.

In addition, the following trolley line stations will be closed: 13th St, 19th St, 33rd St, and 36th St.  Continue Reading

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University City District (UCD) is offering up to $5,000 grants to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A $250,000 emergency grant program, launched by UCD on Wednesday thanks to a donation from the University of Pennsylvania, will help independent retailers and restaurants that operate in its coverage area.

The fund makes available grants ranging between $1,000 and $5,000 per qualifying business.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our neighborhood and are essential to its vivacity,” said UCD President Matt Bergheiser. “Our business owners and their employees have always been here to support this community, and we are honored to be present for them in a time of distress.”  Continue Reading

Curio’s spring show, Everybody, was postponed indefinitely (Photo by Rebecca Gudelunas)

Curio Theatre has postponed their spring production, EVERYBODY, indefinitely. The show had been scheduled to open on April 25th and was supposed to conclude Curio’s 15th season.

“We take the safety of our community very seriously, and based on current health guidelines, we felt we had no other choice but to postpone,” reads an e-mail announcement from Curio’s Managing Director Gay Carducci and Artistic Director Paul Kuhn. “… Keeping our artists and staff safe is something we do not take lightly, but this was a difficult decision to make on behalf of an entire community — a decision that impacts actors, designers, and backstage theater makers.”  Continue Reading

Penn Medicine’s COVID-19 testing team in West Philadelphia (Photo from Pennmedicine.org)

Penn Medicine has opened its COVID-19 drive-through testing site in West Philadelphia to all people experiencing symptoms of the disease. The site is located in the parking lot at 4122 Market Street and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The site also has a walk-up lane.

The site is open to anyone who is experiencing coronavirus-like symptoms (check here). You do not need to be a Penn Medicine patient and you do not need a referral from a provider to be tested. Those without a referral are encouraged to call Penn Medicine’s toll-free coronavirus hotline at 833-983-1350.  Continue Reading