Philadelphia Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the man who robbed the Wine and Spirits store near 49th and Baltimore last week. The robbery happened on Thursday, Sept. 19, around 8:30 p.m. when the suspect, an unknown male, entered the store at 4908 Baltimore Avenue, pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money. After the employee opened the cash register, the suspect went behind the counter and took an unspecified amount of money from the drawer, according to Philly Police Blog. Later he fled on foot in an unknown direction.

If you have any information about the suspect please submit a tip via telephone (dial 215.686.TIPS (8477)) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.

Here’s the suspect’s description: Black male, 24-25 years old, 5’5″-5’6″, thin build, full beard, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black Capri pants and white sneakers with red stripes.

And here’s surveillance video released by police:

Photo from Philly Thriller Facebook page.

Many of our readers have probably seen this group perform in the streets of West Philly and near the Haunted House at 46th and Springfield on Halloween nights. Now, in its 5th year, Philly Thriller is planning to return for Halloween 2013 and they need some dancers. If you want to join in on the fun for a night of performing a short Thriller-inspired dance routine, read on.

Rehearsals begin on Friday, Oct. 18 at the University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St.). Performances are on Halloween (Thursday, Oct. 31) all over West Philly.

The show is choreographed and co-directed by Sammy Reyes of Sambruca Productions. Here are some of the Q & A’s compiled by Philly Thriller for those interested in joining the group:

Q: When are rehearsals?

A: There will be four in all. Rehearsals will be on:

Friday, October 18, 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 20, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Friday, October 25, 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 27, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Q: How can I participate?

A: To participate, you must reserve a spot by registering. You must also be 18 or over.

Q: How much does it cost to participate?

A: Participation is FREE HOWEVER…If you come and have a blast (which we are sure you will) we just ask that you make a donation at each rehearsal to help us defray costs of the production. We’ll accept more if you have it and less if you don’t, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. This project is a labor of love. There is no profit made. It’s put on with a shoestring budget and with a little help from participants, friends, and neighbors. No contribution is too big or too small. One dollar? One million dollars? We’ll take it!!

Q: When are performances?

A: Halloween, Thursday, October 31, 2013 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. depending on weather and other factors. Dancers, we will meet at 2:45 p.m. at 4014 Walnut, The Rotunda, to get our make-up done. Please enter at the side of the building. We will return to The Rotunda by 8 p.m.

Q: Where are we performing the dance?

A: In the streets of West Philly, on Penn’s campus, possibly The Haunted Garden at 46th and Springfield (if they put it on again this year), hopefully also at some block parties maybe, parades, some other places to be determined, etc.

For more information, visit Philly Thriller’s Facebook page. For more Q & A’s click here.

The Philadelphia Mobile Food Association (PMFA) is holding its next member meeting on Monday, Sept. 23 in Silverman Hall at Penn Law
located at 3501 Sansom Street. Prior to the 6:30 p.m. meeting, members and non-members are invited to “Making Money in the Mobile Restaurant Business” workshop, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. PMFA Board Members Harris Eckstut, Joshua Kim, and Rocco Gallelli will lead and moderate a discussion of essential business practices for mobile restaurateurs, ranging from budgeting and controlling food and labor costs to tips for local sourcing.

This workshop is the first in a series of informative classes open to the public about the mobile food business.

To attend, use the entrance to Silverman Hall on 34th St. between Chestnut and Sansom streets.

As West Philly Local reported, Mighty Writers  recently opened its West Philly location, Mighty Writers West, in the People’s Emergency Center at 3861 Lancaster Avenue. Mighty Writers West welcomed their first students on Monday:

Day 1 at MW West! pic.twitter.com/h5ovxudj1i

— Mighty Writers (@MightyWriters) September 16, 2013

One of the programs offered by Mighty Writers is a daily after-school Academy where students get help with their homework and learn how to produce informative, persuasive, narrative and poetry writing.

This free program runs from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the school year and spaces are still available for students in grades 3-8. To download an application, click here. For more information, visit: http://www.mightywriters.org/west-philly-academy/

The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) and The Walnut Hill Community Association are inviting neighbors to participate in the celebration of Park(ing) Day and Grand Opening of the new community park near 46th and Market this Friday (Sept. 20). The new park at the Walnut Hill community farm will extend into the street along the 4600 block of Market, with food, music, pumpkin carving, and tours of the farm and garden. Community members are welcome to stop by between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to have fun and show their support. The ribbon cutting is at 10 a.m.

The park, named “Max Paul Park” (local businessman Brad Paul partnered with TEC-CDC to complete this project and dedicated it to his father, Max Paul), is meant to “capture the importance of creating safe, beautiful and dynamic spaces for community residents to enjoy. ”

Park(ing) Day has become an annual tradition where parking spaces across the city and country are taken over for a day for use as public park space. The event celebrates parks and other public spaces in cities, and raises awareness of the need for more pedestrian-friendly spaces in our urban areas. The number of parks throughout Philadelphia increases dramatically each year on the second Friday in September, when activists, artists, architects, and other citizens transform metered parking spaces into temporary public parks. You can read more about this event and check out other locations for such parks on the Park(ing) Day website (some other West Philly locations include: near People’s Emergency Center at 40th and Lancaster, CityLights Network at 58th and Woodland, and 34th and Walnut).

These trees will soon be ready to leave the nursery and go to your yard. Photo via treephilly.org.

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has announced the return of its hugely popular TreePhilly Yard Tree Program. Registration for the fall program is open through October 31 and property owners can apply to receive a free yard tree to plant on their private property by visiting www.treephilly.org.

For the first time, residents who pre-register for the Yard Tree Program will be eligible to receive a fruit tree. There will be 8 to 10 species of trees to choose from at each giveaway event, all available on a first come, first-served basis. Philadelphia residential property owners can request up to two trees per address and community groups who will be planting on private property with a community use, such as faith-based institutions and senior centers, can register for up to 10 trees. During pre-registration, residents will be able to choose from four giveaway events across the city in November. At each giveaway event there will be free mulch and tote bags, and tree planting and care demonstrations, provided by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Unfortunately, none of the four pick-up locations are in West Philadelphia, with the closest being in South Philly (the other three are in North Philly). You can pick up your tree on Sunday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Columbus Square Playground (1200 Wharton St.). If there are any changes, we’ll let you know.

Residents with limited mobility can apply for free tree delivery and planting by a representative from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Space for this service is limited and residents are encouraged to apply early by contacting Erica Smith Fichman at 215-683-0217 or by visiting www.treephilly.org.

There are several ways citizens can get involved with TreePhilly, including planting and caring for trees on their property, volunteering for a tree planting event in their local park, or sponsoring community service days to plant and maintain trees. For more information, citizens can visit www.treephilly.org or call 215-683-0217.