Friends of Clark Park are hosting Charles Dickens’ 200th Birthday Party this Sunday (Feb. 5) and everyone is welcome to attend this fun and free event. The celebration begins at 2 p.m. in Griffith Hall of the University of Sciences (43rd & Kingsessing), across the street from Clark Park. The party will feature dramatic readings, music and refreshments.

One of the party guests is British folksinger David Jones who will perform a medley of songs popular in England during the time of Dickens. Curio Theatre’s Jared Reed will present a scene from his adaptation of A Christmas Carol. The list of performers also includes The Kingsessing Morris Men with their sampling of English morris dancing and Frank Chance, Ceil Mann and Curio Theatre’s Paul Kuhn reading from David Copperfield, The Pickwick Papers, and Great Expectations.

The bronze Dickens statue was installed in Clark Park in 1901 and was the only statue of him in the world for over a century. It’s become a good tradition for neighbors to meet on or near his birthday to commemorate the statue’s special role in the neighborhood’s history.

If you haven’t tried a burger at the Lucky Old Souls food truck, then New Year’s Day could be the start of something special for you.

The truck will be there this Sunday to help patrons through what could be a groggy morning. Along with their grass-fed beef burgers and veggie burgers, the “farm to truck” spot will feature a range of breakfast sandwiches.

The Buttercream Cupcake Truck (and possibly another truck or two) will also be in the park on Sunday from about 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Lucky Old Souls truck has been coming to Clark Park on most Sundays, and will continue doing so. They are slowly building a following in this part of town. The usual hours in Clark Park have been noon-6ish, but they might move earlier for the winter.

A few weeks ago we wrote about an amazing rescue of a starved cat (since named “Clark Kent” in honor of where he was found and his heroic survival) in Clark Park by one of our neighbors. Today we learned that another cat was abandoned in the park and this time it took a group effort to save him.

Reportedly the cat was taken to the park by some women and dumped there yesterday morning. The neighbors who saw that tried to plea with the women to take the cat back. It didn’t work. The poor animal was very frightened and climbed atop one of the tallest trees in the park, where he stayed all day yesterday and all night, crying.

This morning some neighbors observed the scene when a landscaping worker put a ladder on top of his truck and was trying to reach the cat, while the University Of Sciences security and other neighbors gathered around and cheered loudly for this effort. Some folks held blankets to catch the cat in case of a fall.

Fortunately, everything ended well. The worker was able to grab the cat who later was taken to South Philly for foster care. The woman who temporarily adopted the rescued feline came here after she learned about it from a City Kitties Facebook announcement.

Note: We’d like to thank Valerie Ross, Naomi Segal, Barry Grossbach, and Linda Lee for reporting this story on the UCNeighbors listserv.

 
Clark Park at about 4 p.m. yesterday looked and sounded as usual. Kids playing after school; their parents nearby chatting. People walking their dogs or reading the paper. Then things changed for a few minutes when a large red-tailed hawk swooped down, grabbed a squirrel and perched about 20 feet off the ground near the older kids’ playground. The hawk sat on a branch with the squirrel dangling from its talons as people gathered underneath the tree to get a better look – the parents of younger children looking a little nervous. The hawk, one of many that call Philadelphia home, lingered for 20 minutes or so before taking his dinner to a more secluded location.

Two more awesome holiday events are happening in the neighborhood this weekend.

• This Saturday, Dec. 10 come and see what Stanford Thompson (director of Play On, Philly!) and his student musicians at Saint Francis de Sales have achieved when they present their Holiday Concert. Guest conductor is Rossen Milanov, who has conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann. The concert begins at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium (917 S. 47th St., at Windsor Ave.). Admission is free.

• Are you up for caroling this weekend? If yes, come to Clark Park “B” (45th & Regent) on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5:00 p.m. for the annual Clark Park Christmas Caroling. Sing traditional Christmas carols around the Community Christmas tree with your neighbors and enjoy some refreshments afterwards. For more information call 215-222-2255.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, neighbors and friends are welcome to join the Friends of Clark Park, students of the HMS School and the Boy Scouts in honoring those who have served in the Armed Forces. Veterans Day Commemoration will begin at 11:00 a.m. near the Gettysburg Stone in Clark Park (44th and Baltimore Ave.). Everyone is welcome.

If you are a veteran, you will be recognized and honored too. Please call 215-222-2255 and leave your name and phone number.