While gun violence and other incidents involving youth remain a serious problem in Philadelphia, the nonprofit Philly Truce is bringing back its Peace Patrol to city neighborhoods, including West Philly. Beginning at 2 p.m. this Thursday, Philly Truce will deploy its first patrol of the season from Charles Durham Library at the corner 34th & Haverford Avenue in Mantua. The launch coincides with the 84th birthday of the late Herman Wrice, a community organizer who resided and worked for decades in the same section of West Philly.

Philly Truce and partner Life Outside the Streets have unveiled its community outreach and visible deterrence schedule for what they are calling Safe City Summer. It’s robust. Beginning on Thursday the group will tour 10 neighborhoods using Free Library branches as bases. Three days per week they will hold space for communities across the city to be trained and join a peace patrol on the spot.

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The Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting dozens of summer camp programs for children ages 6 to 12 across the city this summer. The office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) has compiled a list of camps located at West Philly rec centers and playgrounds. These day camps offer a variety of activities, including arts & crafts, sports, educational activities, games, field trips, and more.

Parents and guardians are invited to contact the camp sites in their area directly. Please note that fees vary by site and scholarships are available upon request.

See the flyer below with the list of West Philly Parks & Rec camp sites and their contact details. Also, check out our Summer Camps listings here if you’re still looking for a camp for your child.

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SEPTA Trolley Tunnel, which connects West Philadelphia with Center City, will be closed for the annual maintenance from July 7 through July 24 for the annual “Trolley Tunnel Blitz.”

The tunnel closure will impact trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36, all of which will temporarily divert to 40th and Market, where riders can transfer to/from the Market-Frankford Line to continue their travel.

A temporary shelter will be set up for riders switching to/from the Market-Frankford Line. The trolley diversion map is available here.

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The Drexel Business Inclusion Center (BIC), which develops strategies and assists businesses in building a diverse and inclusive workforce, is hosting an Aramark hiring event on Tuesday, June 27 for individuals on the autism spectrum and with other disabilities. The event will take place at Drexel’s Handschumacher Dining Center (3210 Chestnut St) between 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Candidates will be interviewed for a variety of positions and receive on-the-spot job offers for positions, many starting in August and September 2023.

Job seekers who arrive before 2 p.m. will be guaranteed an interview and have access to:

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Shamus, who directed Shakespeare in Clark Park’s 2023 production of Two Gentlemen Of Verona, is pictured as Malvolio in the 2018 production of Twelfth Night (Photo courtesy of SCP).

Shakespeare in Clark Park (SCP) is returning for the 2023 season with a Tony award-winning musical! The popular non-profit organization, which has been presenting professional theatre productions in Clark Park’s “Bowl” since 2006, will present a musical adaptation of Two Gentlemen of Verona for five nights – from July 26 to July 30. Continue Reading

The area that will be covered by the “Spruce Hill Historic District.”

UPDATE: The meeting was postponed from June 7 to June 27 due to the smoke pollution in Philadelphia caused by the Canadian wildfires. 

Community members are invited to learn more about the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) proposal to make a large part of its neighborhood, from roughly Ludlow Street in the north to Woodland Avenue in the south and 46th Street in the west to 40th in the east, a historic district recognized by the city. A panel discussion and Q and A will take place on Tuesday, June 27 starting at 7 p.m. at Resurrection Church (42nd and Pine).

The “Spruce Hill Historic District” would provide an added layer of protection of historic structures amid a building boom in the area. Designation could also regulate exterior changes to existing buildings like masonry and window replacement.

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