Community residents will have a chance to learn more about two development proposals during a Spruce Hill Community Association Zoning Committee meeting on Monday, Dec. 17, including the proposed sale of an affordable housing building.

The two main agenda items are:

7 p.m.: A development proposal to replace Millcreek Tavern at 42nd and Chester with residential housing will be discussed. This is not an official zoning meeting, just a presentation of intent with an opportunity for neighbors to offer comments and ask questions.  Continue Reading

Editor’s Note: This is a follow-up post to last month’s post “Building winter shelters for community cats“, submitted by Project MEOW, the West Philly-based volunteer-run cat rescue organization.

Last month I wrote about the importance of winter shelters for outdoor cats. Now, with winter upon us full force, let’s take an in-depth look at making your own shelter out of Rubbermaid containers. Rubbermaid is the best brand of tote to use, as the plastic does not crack in freezing temperatures. Raising the shelter a few inches off the ground by placing it on bricks or a pallet will prevent rainwater or snow from getting into the shelter, as well as keeping the cold ground from soaking up all the heat building up inside.  Continue Reading

Some of SEPTA’s trolleys have again been decorated with twinkling lights, festive wreaths, and shiny ornaments for the holiday season, putting commuters in that holly, jolly spirit. Two “jolly” trolleys are hitting the rails this month, thanks to operators Gary Mason and Dave Musgrave, who used hundreds of lights, yards of garland and tons of ornaments, all to make the season brighter for their passengers.

The festive trolleys can be found on the following routes:

• Trolley #9001, operating on Route 15, Tuesday-Friday from 12:24-10:49 a.m.
• Trolley #9055, operating on Route 36, Monday-Friday from 10:56 a.m.-8:40 p.m.  Continue Reading

Carol Jenkins (left) gardening at Clark Park with Lisa McDonald Hanes and Susie Pierce, gardener volunteers. (Photos courtesy of Friends of Clark Park)

Editor’s Note: This post has been submitted by Anna Selfridge, Vice President of Friends of Clark Park.

If you’ve strolled through Clark Park this past summer, you might have noticed the rejuvenation of the gardens along the park’s sidewalks and borders. This welcome change was the result of the new Gardening Program at Friends of Clark Park. The program is headed by Carol Jenkins, who has lived on the border of the park for 30 years.

“Since I spend so much time in Clark Park, I felt I needed to do something when I saw wild trees growing up through flowering shrubs, and weeds taking over flower gardens,” she said.

Carol joined the Friends following her retirement from teaching at Temple University specifically to put her green thumb to work.  Continue Reading

West Philadelphia residents are invited  to discuss the proposed development of the former Provident Mutual Life Insurance campus at 46th and Market this Tuesday, Dec. 10, at West Philadelphia High School (49th and Chestnut). The meeting has been organized by Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who has expressed her concern over the way the City, which owns the 15-acre property at 4601 Market, is handling the campus’s sale and proposed development.

Iron Stone was named as a future developer of the building a few months ago after a selection process that took approximately a year. The Philadelphia-based real estate company is planning to transform the building and the surrounding land into a public health campus.  Continue Reading

Poster art by Yona Yurwit.

If you’re looking for unique, handmade holiday gifts, don’t miss this annual event at The Rotunda on 40th and Walnut. The holiday edition of West Craft Fest (formerly known as Go West! Craft Fest) will be back Sunday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 60 local makers will present artisan jewelry, functional ceramics, home wares, clothing, cards, candles, soaps, scents, sweets, toys, tinctures, treasures, ornaments, and works of art at the event.  Continue Reading