Trash drop-off at 50th and Locust. (Photo by West Philly Local)

Some 9,000 city workers – from trash collectors to 911 call center operators and school crossing guards – voted to strike early this morning, demanding higher wages and improved health and pension benefits.

The strike, which 95 percent of union members voted for, will impact a host of services. Health centers across the city will be closed and the Philadelphia Water Department will stop repair and maintenance services, among other service disruptions.

It’s the first walk-out strike in the city in 39 years. That strike lasted 20 days.

The city has established trash drop-off sites across the city. You can start dropping trash off there today at 5 p.m. After today, they will be open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Here’s a searchable map that will locate the nearest temporary trash drop-off site and recycling collection center (see more on recycling below).

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Evans (center) visiting South 52nd Street in 2021. (Archived photo)

Congressman Dwight Evans, who represents the 3rd Congressional District which includes West Philadelphia, has announced that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026, concluding a remarkable career in public service spanning over four decades. He will serve full term ending Jan. 3, 2027.

“After some discussions this weekend and thoughtful reflection, I have decided that the time is right to announce that I will not be seeking re-election in 2026,” Evans said in a statement.

“Serving the people of Philadelphia has been the honor of my life… I am deeply proud of what I have been able to accomplish over my 45 years in elected office — from revitalizing neighborhoods block by block to fighting for justice, economic opportunity, investments in infrastructure and education. I cannot express the gratitude that I have for the trust that voters put in me as their voice in both state and federal office. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to serve as their advocate in government.”

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The historic Calvary Church building at 48th and Baltimore and organizations hosted under its roof need help from the community. On Saturday, June 28, from 5-9 p.m., the church is hosting a benefit concert, Rock This Roof, with the goal of raising funds for some critical roof repairs.

The 118-year-old building is home to the Calvary United Methodist Church and the Calvary Center for Culture and Community, which houses a diverse range of community organizations, such as Curio Theatre Company, Cedar Park Neighbors, Camp Sojourner, Ju-jitsu Shotokan Karate Association, phlAIR Gallery, and more.

The concert is more like a mini music festival. It will feature a variety of local artists, including Aidan Selmer, Lanie Altmiller, Ross Mann, Norris Person, Taupe, and vocal group Sing Slavic.

Suggested donation is $20, but if you can donate beyond this amount it will be much appreciated. You can purchase tickets or make a donation online or at the door (cash/Venmo). Light refreshments will also be available for purchase.

The concert will take place in the building’s chapel – please use the 48th Street entrance.

First-time owner Raphael Freeman was welcomed to his property, freshly rehabbed by Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. “It’s good to come home to 19139,” he said. (Photos by Tony West)

Born in the Mill Creek neighborhood, Raphael Freeman is a worker at Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania. On June 18, affordable home ownership became a reality for himself when Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia gave him the deed to a vacant Overbrook rowhome next to Cobbs Creek that its apprentice program had restored to modern standards.

Freeman underwent a yearlong training program to provide him with the knowledge base and skills to manage property ownership. Meanwhile, Habitat’s Carpentry Fellows Program set three apprentices to learn the art of rehabbing Philadelphia’s traditional affordable housing stock.

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Summer is here with some record-breaking temperatures in the forecast for this week. But here’s some good news. More than 60 public pools will be open this summer throughout the city and many of them have already opened or are scheduled to open this week. The West Philadelphia pools that have already opened include:

• Kelly Pool (4231 Lansdowne Dr.)

• Fletcher Pool (743-81 N 48th St.)

• Shepard Pool (5700 Haverford Ave.)

Here’s the opening schedule for other pools located in West Philly:

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The City Council recently voted to add the Summer Winter Community Garden in Powelton Village to the Neighborhood Gardens Trust in an effort to save it from development pressure.

The volunteer-run garden, located at 33rd and Race (near Summer and Winter Streets), has been a fixture in the neighborhood for decades. Increased development has surrounded the garden, much of it tied to Drexel University.

The City Council passed legislation authored by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier that moves the one-acre plot to the NGT, which will provide liability insurance and some maintenance support. Most importantly it keeps the valuable plot a community garden.

The Summer Winter Garden joins other West Philly community gardens protected by the NGT, including the Chester Avenue Community Garden, Five Loaves Two Fish, the Pentridge Children’s Garden, Saint Bernard Community Garden, and the Warrington Community Garden.