This Monday (Nov. 14), the Neighborhood Advisory Committee at the People’s Emergency Center is organizing a community discussion on whether Lancaster Avenue would benefit from a Food Co-op. This will be a focused group discussion facilitated by NAC, and residents who are interested in participating in it, are asked to register by emailing NAC Program Manager Kevin Brown at: Kbrown@pec-cares.org

The discussion will take place from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the Families First Building at 3939 Warren St.

Here’s the flyer with more information:

Runners and walkers who regularly visit the historic Woodlands cemetery and mansion grounds will be happy to know that a new water fountain near the running path will be installed in the next few weeks. This became possible thanks to the success of last year’s Gobble Wobble 5K Run. This year’s Gobble Wobble, which has become an annual fundraising event for The Woodlands, will be held this Saturday (Nov. 12), and all proceeds will continue to go toward improving amenities on the grounds.

                            Click to enlarge

Registration for this event is still open (go here to register, $40 per person or team), and participants will receive a custom Gobble Wobble pint glass, a year long membership to The Woodlands, and the chance to win a Thanksgiving turkey or “tofurkey” from Mariposa Food Co-op. Clarkville is also sponsoring the race with beer at the finish line for all the runners.

The race starts at 10 a.m., and on-site registration opens at 9:00 a.m. If you’re not planning to run, you can also consider donating. For more information, go here.

And here’s some more exciting news from The Woodlands: Regular visitors may have noticed some construction work happening on the grounds and also near the Hamilton Mansion.  Continue Reading

This year’s LOVE Your Park Fall Service Day, an event organized by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12.

Hundreds of volunteers will step out to clean up their neighborhood parks and help prepare them for winter. We’re happy to let you know that West Philly’s Malcolm X Park, located at 52nd and Pine, will be this year’s signature “LOVE Your Park” site.

Mayor Kenney and other dignitaries will be present at the park on Saturday to show support to the volunteers, including Gregorio Cojulun Jr., the President of the Malcolm X Park Friends group.

Gregorio has been a member of the Malcolm X Park Friends since 1996, and has been its president since 1997. He is credited with helping to rid the park of crime and bring it back to life through his ability to motivate neighbors to get involved in the programming and stewardship of the park.  Continue Reading

The 2016 Presidential Election is over, and now it’s time to look more closely at how Philadelphia and, in particular, West Philadelphia residents voted.

According to unofficial citywide results, Hillary Clinton received 560,542 votes (82.18 percent of total votes) after 98.75 percent (1665 out of 1686) precincts reported their results. Donald Trump received 105,418 votes (15.46 percent).

And here are the election results in West Philadelphia (by ward). For more 2016 Election results, including results by division, visit: www.phillyelectionresults.com.

Ward 6 (Mill Creek):

Hillary Clinton – 5,865 votes (96.29 percent)

Donald Trump – 121 votes (1.99 percent)  Continue Reading

The Great Migration: A City Transformed (1916-1930), a series of audio and video works that celebrate the historic journeys of African Americans to the North, are taking place this fall at libraries, rec centers and schools throughout the the city, including in West Philadelphia. The works range from profiles of local figures and institutions to experimental short films. Each screening offers a mix of local history and great film.

The films, produced by multi-media artists Julie Dash, Kevin Jerome Everson, and Tina Morton, look at the stories of Black migrants and the institutions that shaped their journey and settlement.

The screenings are presented by West Philly-based Scribe Video Center and community partners and will also feature works from Scribe’s Precious Places Community History Project, a citywide initiative to document the public spaces and landmarks that define our communities. These include short documentaries about the Belmont Plateau, the John Coltrane House, St. Paul’s Baptist Church, the Christian Street YMCA, and more.  Continue Reading

Did you know that suffrage leader Mary Grew (1813-1896) is buried at the Woodlands cemetery (40th and Woodland)? According to the Woodlands staff, there have already been some visitors to the grave this morning. If you would like to visit the grave and pay respects but don’t know where it is, look for balloons to the east of the Hamilton Mansion (Photo courtesy of The Woodlands).