“I’m Coco (A15060773), a 3-year-old female terrier pit bull mix. I had a home but for some reason I am now living in the shelter through no fault of my own. I’m a friendly, social dog who loves to play with toys. I’m a little exuberant when I meet people, especially after being stuck in my cage for a while but who could blame me? I just like to play! I am interested in other dogs, so if you have a dog looking for a sibling, let’s set up a meet! I’m spayed, microchipped and up to date on all of my shots too so I can go home with you immediately! In short: I am the total package!

Check out my video here and more photos of me here.”

This is just one of the many wonderful dogs in urgent need of adoption, foster care, or rescue at Philadelphia’s animal control shelter, ACCT. You can stop by and meet them at 111 W. Hunting Park Avenue in Philadelphia. Please check www.acctphilly.org for hours.

Come in and take home a forever friend today! To check the status of an animal, call 267-385-3800 or email acctpetfinder@gmail.com.

A three-day mini-collaborative arts festival, the Collage Festival, is taking place this week in West Philadelphia. The annual festival focuses on the idea of “collaboration, intermingling, exploration and diversity.” Philadelphia Magazine suggested the Collage Festival as one of “gay things to do in Philly this week.”

Collage 2014 is the “year of the gewgaw,” which means all the work submitted for the festival, regardless of media, must center around or include a gewgaw (see video below).

The 2014 Collage Festival will feature performances, installations, and pieces from over 40 artists of the Philadelphia area and beyond. Artists will be featuring interactive works and audience participation performances. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the art on several different levels. Between artist collaborations and audience participation, the experience will never be the same or predictable.

The Collage Festival will be held from Thursday, May 8 – Saturday May 10 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Community Education Center (3500 Lancaster Ave). Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Three-day passes are also available.

There are also volunteering needs at the festival. All volunteers will receive free passes to events. If you’re interested to volunteer, email: info@collagefestival.com.

COLLAGE 2014 : YEAR OF THE GEWGAW from George Alley on Vimeo.

A young man is fighting for his life after he was stabbed multiple times outside West Philadelphia High School at 49th and Chestnut Streets. The stabbing happened at 2:35 a.m. on Tuesday. Both the victim and the attacker are 23 years old, according to police.

The victim suffered stab wounds to his back, leg and left side, and was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) in critical condition. The suspect was arrested and the weapon was recovered at the scene, police said. It is not known yet what led to the stabbing, as the investigation continues. The police were interviewing the suspect this morning and charges were expected to be filed, CBS Philly reports.

Some of our readers wrote to tell us about a loud, window-shaking boom they heard in the Spruce Hill area near 46th and Locust on Friday morning, shortly before 7 a.m., and were wondering if it was some kind of an explosion. So here’s what we found out: Police say the noise came from a blown transformer near 46th and Locust Streets, which caused temporary power loss in some households in the area.

No injuries were reported, according to police.

The Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarships Fund is currently accepting applications from neighborhood students who need help paying for their college expenses. Each year, the fund awards several scholarships, ranging from $600 to $1,000, and students living within Cedar Park boundaries (see map below) are welcome to apply. Applications must be received or postmarked by June 1, 2014. To download the application, click here. For more information, email: scholarships@cedarparkneighbors.org

We’re sad to report that one of Spruce Hill’s fixtures, Marigold Kitchen, is closing soon, according to various reports. The owner and chef, Robert Halpern, is moving on and selling the restaurant, which he has owned since 2009.

Marigold Kitchen has received great reviews and drawn customers from all over the city and beyond with its delectable dishes. Just recently, the restaurant went menu-free.

The final night of operation will be June 28, according to Philly.com’s The Insider. Regular dinner will be served until May 19, followed by a series of “small, super-seasonal ‘best of’ dinners” on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from May 30 through June 28, 2014.