The City of Philadelphia is working with a contractor, Intersection, to replace the existing transit shelters with a new design and to add new locations. The Philadelphia Transit Shelter Project is inviting residents to vote and provide feedback on proposed new bus and trolley shelter locations throughout the city, including West Philadelphia. Most of the existing transit shelters are in the easternmost part of University City, so this is a chance to have your say in where new shelter locations are needed.

The new locations have been picked based on the following criteria:

• ridership
• requests by citizens, local agencies and elected officials
• availability of space on the sidewalk
• proximity to hospitals
• proximity to shopping centers
• proximity to senior centers
• proximity to community centers

Some of the new transit shelter locations being proposed in West Philly are at: 44th and Walnut (Bus Route 21), 48th and Spruce, 49th and Baltimore (Bus Route 64), 46th and Market (Bus Route 31), 49th and Woodland (Trolley Routes 11, 36), 52nd and Woodland, 52nd and Market (Bus Route 52).  Continue Reading

With temperatures in the lower 20’s, it has been reported that a West Philadelphia elementary school has no heat. Alain Locke Elementary, located on the 4500 block of Haverford Ave, is currently not heated and will close at noon, according to CBS Philly.

Despite problems with their heat, classes at the school were in session this morning. The school enrolls over 460 students.

The School District of Philadelphia will provide an update about the school later this afternoon.

Happy Martin Luther King Day! Here are reminders about what’s going on in the area today and information on today’s closings and schedule changes.

• If you missed our post about MLK Day of Service happenings and volunteer opportunities, you can read it here.

• West Philly Community Pet Pantry, where low-income residents can get free food for their pets, is happening from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Shepard Recreation Center (5700 Haverford Ave.).

• SEPTA buses and trolleys are operating on a modified weekday schedule. Go here for more information.

• Public schools and libraries, government offices and post offices are closed.

• There will be no trash and recycling collection today. If your trash collection day is Monday, set out your materials for Tuesday pick-up. Trash collection for the rest of the week will be delayed by one day.

Low-income West Philadelphia residents who need help feeding their pets are invited this Monday, on Martin Luther King Day, to a Community Pet Pantry and Help Desk. Individuals and families can get supplemental free pet food and supplies for their four legged family members from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Shepard Recreation Center (5700 Haverford Ave.).

The Community Pet Pantry targets specific Philadelphia neighborhoods each month to serve families in need all around the city.

Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society), and Best Friends Animal Society will also be on-site to distribute information about emergency preparedness and low-cost spay/neuter.

Recent documentation of financial hardship is required. Email helpdesk@phillynokill.org for more information or visit www.phillynokill.org.

If you’re looking for something interesting to do tonight, check out this special exhibition opening at University City Arts League (UCAL). An emerging young artist, Patrick Maguire, has totally transformed the gallery space at 4226 Spruce St. The exhibition includes an amazing structure in the middle of the gallery, paintings on the walls, and ambient sound installation.

“Without ruining the experience it will be difficult to tell you much except that even the walls and doors of the space will be entirely different, almost disorienting–in the best possible sense of the word,” UCAL director Annette Monnier wrote in an email.

The opening reception for Maguire’s “We’re on a Road to Nowhere” exhibition is tonight from 6-10 p.m. You can also stop by any weekday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during the run of the exhibition (January 15th-February 12th).

For more information, go to: http://www.ucartsleague.org/

This Monday, we’ll be celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We have compiled a list of many of the MLK Day of Service projects and events (including events for the whole family) happening in West Philadelphia. We have also included information about MLK Day celebration at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

Check www.mlkdayofservice.org to find more projects in your area. If you know of more MLK Day events or projects, please post them in the comments below.

MLK Commemorative Symposium for Social Change at University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania and the surrounding communities come together to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This commemoration includes a day of service and special programming and events through Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 (click here for more events):

Friday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m. – God’s Great Expectations of Men of Color, Christian Association, 118 S 37th St – A panel discussion on men of color’s shared understanding of God or a higher power’s relationship to them and their mission in everyday work.

Monday, Jan. 18:

8:00 – 9:30 a.m. – MLK Day of Service Breakfast, Hall of Flags, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St. – Day of Service Breakfast with include performers and guest speakers, including Jasmine Senior, Affinity Group Director, NeXT Philadelphia, and Urban League Youth Outreach. Free and open to the public.

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Community Beautification Projects at Comegys Benjamin B School, 5100 Greenway Ave., Community Education Center (CEC), 3500 Lancaster Ave., Martha Washington School, 766 N. 44th St. Volunteers will clean, paint, and organize. Refreshments will be served. Come dressed for painting and doing light cleaning. Meet at Houston Hall for transportation to sites at 9:45 a.m. Free and open to the public. Contact: Robert Carter to register at 215.898.0104.  Continue Reading