Spring is here and time to shop for plants for your garden, porch or patio. If you’re planning to shop locally, check out these opportunities, which include events for green thumbs.

• The annual University City Garden Club (UCGC) Spring Plant Sale is now live online through April 15. As always, the sale features a great selection of herbs, veggies, flowers, annuals, and perennials. The pick-up is scheduled for May 2nd in the neighborhood. To shop for plants online, click here. If you want to shop in person, UCGC will hold a plant sale at the Spruce Hill May Fair in Clark Park (43rd and Chester) on Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. In addition, UCGC will host a Mother’s Day Pop-up Plant Sale on Sunday, May 10, from 1 – 5 p.m., at 519 Woodland Terrace near 40th and Woodland. For more information and other events, visit: https://ucgcshop.square.site/.

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One of West Philly’s biggest annual community events, Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll is returning in June.  Two Strolls will be held this summer – on Thursday, June 4 and Thursday, Sept. 3.

The event draws thousands of visitors each year to enjoy deals from participating local businesses and community vendors.

The Dollar Stroll is a great opportunity for local businesses and community vendors to sell food, beverages, and merchandise for some valuable exposure. The price levels vendors can offer are $1, $3, or $5.

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Photo by Andrew Gormley

West Philly singer-songwriter Gretchen Elise is sharing her story of rebuilding, recuperation, and gratitude. A car crashed into her home on S. 47th Street on Christmas Eve, which spawned a GoFundMe campaign to recoup losses and record a song called “Grateful Love.”

The Fox 29 clip of the hit and run went national. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

“The driver took out a tree, 4 cars, backed into our house, and fled,” Gretchen said. “We have not had any follow up from the police on our case and unfortunately with the time consuming process of repair, we haven’t had time to pursue it.”

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Kenny and Nina outside of their restaurant (Facebook photo).

Longtime owners of Pasqually’s, a popular Spruce Hill pizza and beer shop, are saying good-bye after more than 23 years. Kenny and his wife Nina have shared their news of leaving the restaurant in a long and emotional Facebook post.

“Pasqually’s has been more than just a restaurant to us,” reads the post. “It’s been our second home, and in many ways, it’s been where life happened. We came in every day to cook and serve, but what we really found was a community that embraced us, supported us, and grew alongside us here in the West Philly neighborhood.”

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One of the city’s oldest recreation centers has reopened after a two-and-a-half-year long renovation. On Friday, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, city and state officials, representatives of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Kingsessing community members celebrated the reopening of Kingsessing Recreation Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Through its Rebuild Philadelphia program, the City has invested $27 million to modernize the facility, which originally opened in 1916, while preserving its historic character. Upgrades include renovated interior spaces, a new artificial turf field, an accessible playground, and improved community gathering areas.

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The City has renamed the 4700 block of Wyalusing Avenue, where the historic Philadelphia Masjid is located, “Philadelphia Masjid Way.”

Elected city and state officials, including Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), and State Rep. Joanna McClinton, and the Philadelphia Masjid leadership and worshippers gathered at 47th and Wyalusing for the street renaming ceremony and to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr on Friday morning.

The Philadelphia Masjid is one of America’s most historic predominantly-Black masjids – it has served as a community cornerstone for more than five decades. This street renaming recognizes over 50 years of faith, service, leadership, and community excellence.

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