In response to community member requests following last week’s fire that left a neighbor seriously injured, the Philadelphia Fire Department is offering a free fire safety and prevention workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 6. The workshop will be held in the chapel of Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and will be led by Deputy Fire Chief Derrick Sawyer.

The following issues will be covered at the workshop:

– reviewing the fire-prevention checklist for your residence;
– how to plan for the worst;
– what is a good escape route if front and back doors are not available;
– how to escape with a young child or the elderly resident from the 2nd or 3rd floor;
– what kind of equipment might a family reasonably have on hand (and where) in case of a fire emergency.

Chief Sawyer will also answer your questions.
 

CommunityCam maps public and private security cameras in the city.

Using surveillance videos in solving a crime has become a common practice for law enforcement officials since many businesses, organizations and individuals now install security cameras as a safety measure. But what about simple folks who need this information but don’t have access to it? In an effort to help residents prevent and solve crime, VideoSurveillance.com has recently rolled out the CommunityCam program that maps public and private security cameras throughout Philadelphia. The program is first launching in our city, with a goal to eventually expand nationwide.

Anyone can use the map either for locating cameras that may have captured a criminal activity or for choosing a safer walking route. The map is crowdsourced so any resident, business owner, neighborhood group, or government organization can add locations of surveillance cameras to help their neighbors.

“Unfortunately, information about security cameras has not been made available to the public so someone who has been hurt, wronged, or worse does not have access to all the resources that could help make things right. With this effort, we hope that neighbors will start working together to help each other and to make all cities and towns safe,” said Josh Daniels, President of VideoSurveillance.com.

A neighbor, Stephanie, said that the program is interesting, too, because it’s crowdsourced – so neighbors and residents can help each other out. “As a young(ish) single woman, new to Philadelphia, this makes me feel more secure,” said Stephanie.

Here’s how you can use CommunityCam:

– Visit http://www.videosurveillance.com/communitycam

– Navigate the map using the directional arrows

– Click the blue balloons to see addresses for and types of cameras

– If you have an outdoor surveillance camera, you’re encouraged to add it to the map.
 

Philadelphia has more homicides per capita than any big city in the country. Guns are used in most of those murders. More than 100 people were shot in December in the city. A “conversation and exploration” will be held beginning at 1 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 3, at The Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) aimed at figuring out ways to curb gun violence.

Speakers at “Addressing Gun Violence in Philadelphia: A Conversation & Exploration” include Erica Atwood, a community engagement specialist with the Mayor’s office, and Daniel O’Brien, the assistant managing director of Philly Rising.

Free childcare will be available at The Calvary Center from 1-2:30 p.m. Write wpmf  -at- wpmf.org to sign up for child care.

Kol Tzedek Synagogue, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship and Calvary United Methodist Church are sponsoring the event.

Many neighbors have been asking how they can help businesses and employees affected by the Christmas Eve fire near 49th and Baltimore and its aftermath. The fire destroyed Elena’s Soul Lounge and its demolition in the following days damaged two adjacent, popular business storefronts – Gary’s Nails and Cedar Park Cafe. On Friday, January 25, Cedar Park Neighbors and the Baltimore Avenue Business Association (Facebook page) are inviting everyone who wants to support these businesses to a community event held from 7-10 p.m. at The Cedar Works, the new community-oriented work and meeting space located at 4919 Pentridge Avenue. Donations for the affected businesses will be accepted at the door.

The event will include music and food & drink from local businesses. It’s also a great chance to meet and socialize with your neighbors and friends.

Here’s a Facebook page for the event where you can confirm if you’re coming: https://www.facebook.com/events/310834425703338/.

Also, if you are available to volunteer that night setting up or staffing the door, please email Michael Froehlich at: michaelrfroehlich@gmail.com.

UPDATE: Those who would like to donate to the businesses and employees affected by the Baltimore Avenue fire you can do so until Wednesday, Jan. 30 by going to the “Donate” section of the Cedar Park Neighbors website: http://www.cedarparkneighbors.org/join-cpn-donate/general-donation/ (indicate in the comments section that this is for the “Baltimore Avenue fire fund”).

The annual Christmas tree recycling initiative by UC Green received a great response from the community this year. Residents brought more than 400 Christmas trees to Clark Park on January 5, the University City District reports. Residents also donated money to UC Green, which turned the collected trees into wood chips that will be used in the neighborhood’s community gardens. On the same day, eForce Compliance collected nearly 11,000 pounds of used electronics from local residents, which will also be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally-safe manner.

One of other ways to help UC Green, a local non-profit that works on community greening projects, is to buy their firewood, all local and all split by volunteers, currently available at Mariposa Food Co-op (49th & Baltimore).

Photo courtesy UCD.

After publication of our post “Dear City, Turn on the lights in Cedar Park” a number of readers commented about their experience with submitting maintenance requests via 311 phone, online or Twitter service. But if you own a smartphone, one reader, Andy L., recommended downloading the new Philly 311 mobile app. The app came out just a few months ago and works great.

“It lets you upload photos and gives you status updates until it’s done. I just started using it, and it’s working for me. For best response, try to pick the right category, like graffiti, or dumping, or problem with a vacant property, abandoned car, etc.,” Andy L. recommends.