A mock-up of the expanded Mariposa at 4824 Baltimore Avenue.

The Baltimore Ave member-owned  food co-op Mariposa needs some help to cover the estimated $2.2 million costs for their new location down the street in the old bank building at 4824 Baltimore. The co-op recently purchased the building.

The co-op has most of the tab covered in a combination of grants, loans and donations. But there are two ways that neighbors can help cover the rest. The first is buying some raffle tickets at a buck apiece. Each ticket gives you a chance to win one of dozens of fabulous prizes, including handmade goods from local artisans, classes and workshops, deals at local eateries and hotel stays. VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave.) is selling the tickets online here. The raffle drawing will be held Nov. 20 from 2-10 p.m. at Dock Street Brewing Company (701 South 50th), in a shindig that will include live music.

Mariposa is also offering member loans. The loan terms are from five to 10 years and offer a 3 percent return. Many co-ops have used member loans to help with expansion plans and decrease the reliance on banks. The minimum loan is $1,000.

The proposed layout of the new building.

So the skinny on the expansion in case you hadn’t heard … The new space is a five-fold increase from the current space and there are plans for a mezzanine level cafe, a classroom and rooftop gardens and behives. The folks at Mariposa say that the added space will help them scale up their purchasing volume and keep prices relatively low. The added space will also mean that the co-op will be able to serve non-members, though membership – the lifeblood of Mariposa – will still be encouraged.

A date has not been set for the opening of the new building.

The University City District and officials from the 18th Police District are holding a meeting to update residents on a recent increase in street crime in the Garden Court and Spruce Hill neighborhoods. The meeting will take place Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) in the chapel.

Several muggings, some at gunpoint, have occurred in recent weeks. Three muggings went down within a few hours on 48th Street on October 25. A fairly detailed rundown (as detailed as one can get in 140 characters or less) is available at the Twitter feed of an 18th District police officer.  For example: Be on the lookout: tan/silver 2004 Nissan Altima pa tag:HGP3654. Used in 3 robberies tonight. Targeting 48th St. Others have occurred near 46th and Chester and the 4500 block of Regent.

It is important to report any crime to the police so they can, hopefully, devote more resources to problem areas. At the very least report them to the University City District, which can be done by e-mail, so that they can send bike patrol officers to these areas.

A jogger heads west on the new South Street Bridge.

The South Street Bridge opened Nov. 6 after two years of reconstruction, giving West Philadelphians their path back to South Philly.

Local politicos lauded themselves and developers for getting the bridge done ahead of schedule and under budget. Little mention was made that the final product comes 18 years after design work began. But, fair enough, we got our bridge back.

The bridge isn’t much to look at it – strips of galvanized steel and concrete – but it’s functional attributes are attractive.

They include (soon to be?) painted bike paths and pedestrain friendly crosswalks. Before it closed, an estimated 23,000 people per day used the bridge (by foot, pedal and motorized vehicle). Its reopening could not come soon enough for business owners on both sides of the Schuylkill. Development in Graduate Hospital or “South of South” areas are reportedly scheduled to begin soon.