UPDATE: Online registration for the annual St. Mary’s Nursery School Fundraiser “Spring For Our School” closes on Tuesday, April 9 at midnight. Discounted tickets ($45) include drinks and food, music and dancing.

Do you want to support children in your community and have a great night out? Please consider attending the Spring For Our School Silent Auction & Party on Saturday, April 13, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the University of Pennsylvania Houston Hall – Bodek Lounge (3417 Spruce St.)

Who is Saint Mary’s Nursery School? SMNS is a diverse, non-profit, non-church affiliated school celebrating 55 years in West Philadelphia, home to 140 children and many active family members who participate in our co-op program. We offer toddler, preschool, Pre-K, After School and Summer Camp programs.

Honoring Representative James R. Roebuck: Rep. James R. Roebuck will be awarded the Jennifer Nix Award for Service in Early Childhood Education for his support of Early Childhood Education (ECE) over the course of his career. Rep. Roebuck is currently Minority Chair of the House Education Committee, and has served on this committee since the early 1990’s, championing education issues from Early Childhood through Pre-K and Higher Education. Rep. Roebuck shares, “It’s only in the past 10-15 years [that] the conversation has evolved and we have talked about programs in the state which would allocate substantial resources into ECE – and I’m proud I’ve been part of that effort.”  Continue Reading

The 2019 primary election is approaching fast, and this week, West Philly residents have a chance to hear from many candidates for City Council at a community forum. The City Council Candidate Forum will take place Thursday, April 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Enterprise Center (4548 Market St.) and will feature 3rd District and at-large candidates.

So far the following candidates have confirmed their participation in the event:

• 3rd District candidates: Jamie Gauthier

• At-large candidates: Adrian Rivera-Reyes, Deja Lynn Alvarez, Helen Gym, Ogbanna Paul Haggins, Fernando Trevino, Eryn Santamoor, Beth Finn, Erika Almiron, Vinny Black, Mark Ross, Councilman Derek Green.  Continue Reading

A community meeting focused on inequitable school funding system in Pennsylvania will go underway Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community. The system negatively impacts neighborhood public schools in West Philadelphia, many of which face crumbling buildings, overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of staff and resources, and other issues. The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools is inviting parents and caregivers to hear a presentation from Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg of the Public Interest Law Center, which is campaigning to fix the system.

Shanée Garner, the policy and legislation director and for City Council member Helen Gym will also speak about local advocacy initiatives. The event will conclude with a roundtable discussion by parent organizers in West Philly neighborhood public schools.  Continue Reading

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The West Philly Tool Library has been loaning tools to community members for over a decade. A few months ago, the non-profit organization started offering low-cost workshops for those who want to learn home care or improvement skills, or who want more knowledge before working with contractors.

Classes are open to members of the Tool Library and non-members, and are filling up quickly. Some of the upcoming classes, like Plumbing 102 and Home Electric 101, have already been sold out for this and next month, but more classes are on the way (check out the flyer). If you want your bike ready for Spring, check out the bike maintenance and repair class, which will be held on Saturday, April 6.  Continue Reading

Ahimsa House and community garden (Photo West Philly Local).

Everybody at the Cedar Park Neighbors zoning meeting on Tuesday night lauded the mission of the Ahimsa House, the volunteer run community space on the first floor of a three-story house at 5007 Cedar Ave. The question is, how to make the whole thing “legal”?

The Ahimsa House (“ahimsa” is a Sanskrit word meaning “non-violence”) dates back to 2011, when Meg Ferrigno bought the Cedar Avenue property through the Penn home ownership program. The three-story property had been a triplex and Ferrigno was advised to have it re-zoned as a duplex to qualify. A mix-up at the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) resulted in a single family designation.  Continue Reading

Here are two opportunities for community members to meet candidates in the May 21 primary election.

The 27th Ward democrats are inviting friends and neighbors for a Spring Shindig at Clarkville (43rd and Baltimore), which will take place Monday, March 18, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. This is an opportunity to meet and mingle with local Democratic candidates running for office, including Congressman Dwight Evans, who will be a special guest at the event.

This is also a fundraising event supporting the 27th Ward democrats. Tickets are $20 in advance, or sliding scale at the door (no one will be turned away).  Continue Reading