December 23, 2014
Dr. Helen Giles-Gee (photo via usciences.edu).
The University of the Sciences announced today that the school’s president, Helen Giles-Gee, will step down at the end of the year.
“As this year comes to a close, I continue to be proud of the many contributions made by the faculty, staff, and students at USciences and believe that the university moves strongly forward,” Giles-Gee said in a statement. “At this time and after serious reflection, I have decided to leave University of the Sciences. I am honored to have served as president and will hold this University dear in my heart.”
Her resignation becomes effective on Dec. 31.
Giles-Gee is USciences’ first female and first African American president. She came to USciences from Keene State College in New Hampshire where she served as president from 2005 through 2012. She earned a bachelor of arts in psychobiology, a master of science in science education, and a Ph.D. in measurement, evaluation, and techniques of experimental research from the University of Pennsylvania.
USciences board of trustees chairman Marvin Samson will serve as interim president.
December 22, 2014
Here are some news briefs from around West Philadelphia.
VA Hospital to be renamed
Photo via philadelphia.va.gov.
The Philadelphia’s Veterans Administration Hospital (3900 Woodland Ave) will be renamed in memory of Michael J. Crescenz, a Philadelphian who served in the Vietnam War. He was 19 when he was killed in action. President Obama signed a bill, sponsored by Rep. Chaka Fattah and Sen. Pat Toomey, to rename the hospital last week. Continue Reading
December 19, 2014
UPDATE (12/20/2014): PhillyFireNews.com is reporting that a firefighter responding to Friday’s fire at 4730 Pine St sustained burns and required medical treatment. No injuries were reported among the building’s residents. The fire reportedly started in a first floor apartment of the four-story building and spread to the second floor. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
(10:55 p.m.): A GoFundMe page has been set up to help a couple displaced by the fire. Kristie and Mark’s apartment was destroyed and they lost all of their belongings in the fire, according to information posted on the page. They are currently staying with family.
If you know of any other people displaced by the fire please let us know (editor@westphillylocal.com).
The Red Paw Relief Team again did a great job providing emergency assistance to pets:
(1:10 p.m.): Several residents have been evacuated. The streets in the two-block radius around the fire are closed.
(12:59 p.m.): Fire crews are at the scene and the fire has been taken under control. The fire began on the second floor in an apartment facing Pine Street.
West Philly Local readers are reporting that a fire broke out at The Westover apartment building at 4730 Pine St (across from the Garden Court Eatery), shortly after 12 p.m.. We’re trying to get more information. Stay tuned. Twitter Photo by @AtomicChristine:
December 17, 2014
Lovers and Madmen Coffee at 28 S. 40th St. (Facebook photo).
The Green Line Cafe announced today that it will soon be taking over Lovers and Madmen Coffee at the corner of 40th and Ludlow. The new shop is expected to be fully operational by January 15, 2015, according to an announcement on Green Line’s website.
Green Line will be rebranding the shop, which will offer a mix of fair trade coffee and teas along with their signature foods. “…We hope to continue the vision of a welcoming neighborhood coffee shop that Lover’s and Madmen established so nicely,” the announcement reads.
Lovers and Madmen Coffee has been in operation since early 2009 and was popular with students due to its proximity to Penn’s campus.
This will be Green Line’s fourth location in West Philadelphia, adding to the shops at 43rd and Baltimore, 45th and Locust, and 38th and Lancaster.
Green Line also announced today that they are closing their only Center City location at 15th and Moravian due to new plans for the building, which recently was sold. Currently, Green Line owners, Douglas Witmer and Daniel Thut, are exploring a potential new location in Center City.
December 15, 2014
UPDATE (12/16/2014): Here’s the agenda for tonight’s meeting:
• Enrollment
• Support of K-12 education
• Ongoing Engagement activities
• Campus Master Planning
• Call for university – community collaboration ideas
(12/15/2014): University of the Sciences (USciences) is reaching out to the local community by hosting a regular public meeting every three months. In a message circulated via email, USciences president Dr. Helen Giles-Gee writes that “as a member of our community, University of the Sciences recognizes that it’s important that we communicate with each other and share information.”
At the quarterly meetings, university leadership will provide updates on new and ongoing projects and “will seek your feedback on ways in which we may work together for the betterment of our community.”
The first community meeting will take place this Tuesday (Dec. 16) at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the McNeil Science and Technology Center (43rd and Woodland, see map here). Light refreshments will also be served.
It’s not clear whether the meeting will include information and discussion of the university’s recent purchase of the former Wilson Elementary School building at 46th and Woodland, which it plans to convert into student housing (read more here).
December 12, 2014
Great news for West Philly artist James Dupree and his supporters: After two years of fighting the authorities to save his 8,646-square-foot art studio near 36th and Haverford from being destroyed to build a supermarket, the artist announced victory yesterday.
James Dupree (Photos from SaveDupreeStudios.org)
Dupree purchased an auto repair shop at 3617-21 Haverford Ave in 2005 and turned it into a sprawling art space, known as Dupree Studios, but the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority seized and condemned the property along with other properties in a two-block area in December 2012 as part of efforts to revitalize the Mantua neighborhood. Since then 64-year-old Dupree has been fighting the plans of turning the lot into a grocery store with a parking lot through legal appeals and public campaigns. The PRA has finally ended the proceedings to condemn the property, which includes art studios, classrooms, and even three “quirky” apartments.
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