Here’s an opportunity to share your vision of the Spruce Hill neighborhood this upcoming Thursday (Dec. 13). The Spruce Hill Community Association is hosting a Community Visioning Workshop and all are welcome to come and offer their thoughts on what kind of a place you would like Spruce Hill to be. The workshop will be held at the Spruce Hill Christian School (42nd & Baltimore), beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Community input is needed for the planning process as the Philadelphia Planning Commission is working on a new District Plan and Re-zoning for West Philadelphia neighborhoods (University/Southwest District Plan). Many West Philly residents participated in the first University/Southwest public meeting on November 13 at the Enterprise Center. More details, including the summary and presentation from that meeting are available here.

For more information on the workshop, contact Barry Grossbach, chair of the Spruce Hill Community Trust, at b.grossbach@gmail.com, or leave a telephone message at the Spruce Hill Community Center, 215-349-7825.

Police inspect one of the two vehicles involved in an accident this evening near 46th and Hazel.

A collision near the intersection of Hazel Avenue and 46th Street was the result of a driver trying to elude police, an officer at the scene said.

The accident occurred at about 7:15 p.m. on Saturday. A police officer at the scene said the driver of one car “panicked” when he saw a police car, sped up and collided with another car. The officer said there were no serious injuries.

Witnesses said that one person fled the car being chased and another was arrested. We’ll pass along more information as we get it.

A new bike corral was installed this week in front of Mariposa Food Co-op, near the intersection of 49th St. and Baltimore Ave, accommodating a dozen or more bikes. (Photo courtesy Bicycle Coalition).

Many neighbors have been asking about ways to donate various items to help victims of Hurricane Sandy. Thanks to a neighbor, Cindy, we learned about a brand new (only about a week old!) Philly Hub for Occupy Sandy NJ, where Cindy volunteers and where you can drop off your donations. The Hub is located at 2nd and Spring Garden and is currently accepting the following donations:

ITEMS NEEDED
Safety Equipment/Muck out Gear
tarps, pry bars, heavy-duty garbage bags
OSHA N95/N92 facemasks
waterproof boots, work gloves
hazmat suitsor heavy-duty overalls
waterproof plastic bins
headlamps, flashlights, batteries

Construction Equipment
drywall, floorboards, Lumber
joints, insulation, wiring

Appliances
hot water heaters
refrigerators, stoves (gas or electric)
newer model personal computers
electric wheelchairs
generators

NOT NEEDED
Clothes (except socks, underwear, heavy winter coats)
Food (except baby food, pet food & bottled water)
Toys

In addition to accepting donations, the Occupy Sandy NJ Hub also has the capability (through the wonders of the internet) to dispatch skilled workers and volunteers to areas where they are needed. Usually they would come to the Hub, find out where they are needed, and transportation would be provided.

“Saturdays will be designated as Workday Saturdays, and we hope to have a van going to different shore points. Our Food Committee will be making bagged lunches, which will be provided for both the volunteers and the people they serve,” says Cindy.

PHILLY HUB FOR OCCUPY SANDY NJ
Philadelphia – Main Distribution Hub – Occupy Sandy NJ
Transport Workers Union Local 234
500 N. 2nd St. Philadelphia, PA 19123
Now open: M-S, 9-5
609-318-4271
Website: http://www.OccupySandyNJ.org/

Update: Service was restored to all the affected residents just before midnight last night.

11/28, 5:48 p.m.: About 930 residents lost their power on Tuesday night, shortly after 11:00 p.m., in the Spruce Hill and Garden Court areas due to an issue with an underground cable at 49th and Spruce Streets, according to PECO spokesperson Liz Williamson. Service was restored to about 865 of those residents by about 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

There are currently 65 residents in the vicinity of 49th and Spruce Streets without service. “PECO has already contacted those customers to let them know that we are working to replace the underground cable in their area and that their service may not be restored for several hours while we make repairs,” Williamson said at about 5 p.m.

Reuben Mitchell.

Reuben Mitchell, an inspiring 31-year-old actor, was riding his motorcycle on the 3900 block of Woodland Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. on November 12 when he struck a car that was making a u-turn. He died later that evening from the injuries sustained in the accident (source: Philly.com). Reuben was cast to play the role of Magnus in an upcoming Curio Theatre show, Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound.

Mourning Reuben’s death and after some difficult decisions, the theatre administration decided to cancel the first weekend of previews scheduled for November 29 – December 1 but to go on with the main production run. Josh Browns who knew Reuben well will be filling the role.

“It’s been a real tragedy for the entire Philadelphia theatre community,” says Curio’s Managing Director Gay Carducci. “Though, we have known Reuben for quite some time, The Real Inspector Hound was going to be the first show that Reuben would have done with us. After much thought we decided to continue on with the show, as we believe Reuben would have wanted us to do.”

The December 5 performance will be held in honor of Reuben, and all of the proceeds that evening will go to his family in an “effort to help them during this trying time.”