We have received a few reports of a shooting near 51st and Willows. Three helicopters were circling the area until about 10:30 p.m.

Police opened fire and shot a suspect around 9:50 p.m., according to CBS Philly. A reader said he heard a shot or two and then more shots a couple of minutes later.

NBC is reporting that police responded to reports of shots fired near 51st and Willows and confronted a suspect. A police officer shot the suspect, an unidentified male, who was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

#breaking Phila Police have large scene taped off near 51st and Baltimore in W Phila. Officer-involved shooting pic.twitter.com/EusU25OpHX

— Kenneth Moton (@KennethMoton) April 23, 2014

The Cedar Park Neighbors community organization will hold its annual meeting tonight, from 7 – 9 p.m. at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore). All neighbors are welcome. The annual meeting is a great introduction to the organization, its work and accomplishments over the last year and plans for the coming year. You can also meet candidates for the CPN Board of Directors (more information about the candidates is available here). Voting for CPN Board Members will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will also include a conversation with the two local candidates for the state representative – James Roebuck (the incumbent) and Algernong Allen. The talk will be moderated by Cedar Park resident Bill Hangley Jr., a journalist with The Philadelphia Public School Notebook.

An informal meet and greet will follow the meeting.

Note: The meeting will take place at Calvary Center Sanctuary (please enter through the doors on the second floor).

The Easter weekend is approaching fast so many parents are looking for egg hunt opportunities in the neighborhood. Here are a few possibilities. If you know of more egg hunts please let us know at: editor@westphillylocal.com

Saturday, April 19

Clark Park (43rd & Chester), 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Kids ages 1 – 8 are invited for an Easter Egg Hunt and some Easter fun at Clark Park from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The event will take place rain or shine! Along with the hunt, there will be some crafts and raffle prizes at the end (see the flyer for more information).

Walnut Street West Library (40th & Walnut), 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Children ages 5 years and under are invited for an egg hunt from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.. An egg hunt for kids ages 6-12 will be 1:00-3:00 p.m..

Woodland Presbyterian Church, 42nd and Pine Sts (42nd Street lawn), 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

There will be two egg hunts: for kids under 5 years – 1:00 p.m.; for 5 and up – 1:15 p.m.
The event will include face painting, balloon animals, and crafts. For more information, visit: www.woodlandpres.net

NEW: Malcolm X Park (52nd & Pine), 2 – 5 p.m.

Friends to Elect Algernong Allen is hosting an Egg Hunt for kids and a Voter Registration Rally for adults at Malcolm X Park on Saturday, from 2 – 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 20

St. Mary’s Church at Penn (Locust Walk near 40th)

St. Mary’s Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt will start at 12:45 p.m. All families and children are welcome. The event is sponsored by the St. Mary’s Church School. BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket!)

Map courtesy of UCD (click to enlarge).

Unfortunately, the number of burglaries in the University City area continues to grow, according to the latest monthly crime update distributed by University City District. Over 30 burglaries were committed in March, which is twice as many as in February and, by far, the largest number of burglaries in the past year. UCD is asking residents to be vigilant and use extra caution (for tips on how to prevent a burglary at your residence, click here).

A number of these burglary incidents seem to have been related to a recent arrest, according to UCD. We’re trying to get more information about that.

Overall, 64 serious crimes were committed within the University City District boundaries last month (see map).

As burglaries remain a concern in the area, the 18th District Police Department is inviting residents to a crime prevention event this Friday (April 18), where the discussion will focus specifically on burglaries. The event will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Rite Aid parking lot located at 57th and Chestnut Streets.

The event will also spread awareness and encourage participation in the following programs designed to combat property-related crimes: Operation I.D., B.O.N.D. (Business Owner Notification Decal), S.A.V.E. (Stolen Auto Verification Effort), and VIN Etching (Vehicle Identification Number Engraving). If you are unable to attend tomorrow’s event, please contact cleanandsafe@universitycity.org for additional information on these programs. Some more details are also available here.

There’s also a monthly community meeting with police tonight, at 6 pm at Calvary Center (48th & Baltimore). As usual, Lt. Brian McBride and Sgt. Ron Washington of the University City Division of the 18th Police District will hear your concerns and discuss current crime and neighborhood issues. Such meetings happen every third Thursday of the month and all community members are welcome.

Although we’re seeing a little setback with the weather, here’s some great news: University City District began re-installing “parklets” (outdoor seating platforms), throughout the neighborhood. Yesterday, the UCD installed two of them – one by the Green Line Cafe on Baltimore Ave and another one by Little Baby’s Ice Cream in Cedar Park:

Today UCD crews installed 43rd St. (@GreenLineCafe) & 49th St.(@LittleBabysIC) Parklets! Enjoy them #UCDPARKLETS pic.twitter.com/QhGG7K4Hhd

— University City (@ucdphl) April 14, 2014

Overall, five parklets will be installed in the neighborhood, all near trendy local shops, cafes and restaurants (though, like parks, they are public spaces so you don’t have to buy anything to sit in them):

Parklet by Fu-Wah Market on S. 47th St. (archived photo).

• 4040 Locust St (hosted by Ramen Bar)
• 261 S. 44th St (hosted by Honest Tom’s Tacos and Lil’ Pop Shop)
• 4239 Baltimore Ave (hosted by Green Line Cafe)
• 810 S. 47th St (hosted by Fu-Wah Market)
• 4903 Catharine St (hosted by Little Baby’s Ice Cream and Hibiscus Cafe)

The city’s first parklet was installed on 43rd Street near Green Line Cafe in the summer of 2011. Parklets, which are a wood and metal platform with tables, chairs and planter boxes, usually pop up in April and remain through October or until the cold weather sets in. Although enjoyed by many, parklets have also received some criticism, since they take up parking spots, which are hard to find in our area.

Do you love Clark Park and want to help tidy it up for the summer? Here’s a fun opportunity for volunteering on Saturday, April 19, from 12 – 3 p.m.. The Fairmount Park Conservancy will be conducting a spring clean-up at the park in honor of Earth Day and volunteer help will be greatly appreciated. Help is needed with such activities as leaf raking, branch collecting, flower and tree planting, mulching, trash and debris removal, weeding, and sweeping.

But here’s the fun part: The first 30 volunteers at the clean-up event will receive gifts such as a daypack, aluminum water bottle, locally-sourced bandana and – for those aged 21 or over – three wooden nickel tokens, each good for a pint at the after-party. The party will be held at Local 44, a neighborhood pub specializing in craft beer, and will include free samples of Local 44’s comfort food. The after-party is sponsored by Great Lakes Brewing Company.

If all this sounds pretty good to you, go here to sign up.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 worldwide.

UPDATE (4/16/2014): There has been a great response to this volunteer opportunity and there are no more “free beer” spots available, according to the Great Lakes Brewing Co. Earth Day website. But all volunteer help is appreciated.