“Edgar Allan Poe” pumpkin carved by Nate Johnson was last year’s Reader’s Choice winner.

Leaves are falling, the warm woolies are coming out and many SEPTA buses already have the heat cranked up as high as it will go. That can only mean one thing – fall is here and it’s time for the 3rd annual West Philly Local Pumpkin Carving Contest.

Past contests have included some pretty astounding works of art, but you don’t have to be a budding Rodin to get a sweet prize from our many sponsors. This year’s contest categories include funniest, scariest, Philly-themed and kids (carved by kids 12 and under) and, of course, the Readers Choice, which will be chosen based on your votes.

The contest opens today, Oct. 17 and runs through 3 p.m. on Oct. 31. The winners will be announced on November 3. Voting for the Reader’s Choice will run on October 31 – November 2. Note: One entry per person. We’ll put all photos in a gallery.

So here’s what you need to do:

1. Get yourself a pumpkin (we will have pumpkin alerts on Facebook and Twitter that include local places to get them).

2. Come up with a design and carve away.

3. Take a clear picture of your masterpiece. Remember that the quality of the photo could influence judging. It’s the Internet after all.

4. Submit your photo along with your name and address (West Philly residents only please and these details won’t be published) to contest@westphillylocal.com.

One entry per person please, so make it count.

This year’s sponsors include:

• Aksum
• Cafe Renata
• Curio Theatre
• Dock Street Brewing Co.
• Four Worlds Bakery
• Honest Tom’s Taco Shop
• Lil’ Pop Shop
• Penn Museum
• VIX Emporium

If you have questions, email us at: editor@westphillylocal.com.

Knowing what to do and what to expect in some potentially dangerous circumstances on the street can help keep you safe. Here’s a great chance to get some self-defense training.

Community members of all races, backgrounds, orientations, and income levels are invited to attend one or both of the Street Smarts, Safety, and Self-Defense workshops presented by neighbor Iris Marie Bloom tonight and October 30. Both workshops are at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave) from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m and are free (donations are appreciated).

Here’s what you can learn at each of these sessions:

• Skills and techniques to help you avoid, deter and resist assault
• Practice giving up “mugger money” as one way to stay safer
• A fierce yell — in case it’s needed!
• Strong stance, practical assessment of danger, and a “don’t mess with me” attitude
• Effective and practical tools for physical, verbal and emotional safety, assertiveness and self-defense

Iris Marie Bloom studied with Amulis Women’s Self-Defense where she learned karate, aikido, and other martial arts. She’s a founder of the Women’s Anti-Violence Education (WAVE) nonprofit organization.

This workshop was specifically designed for women, but the information is useful for men as well. For more information and to RSVP, email Patty Bulack of the 48th Street Neighbors at pbulack@gmail.com.

The Spruce Hill Community Association’s (SHCA) Business Association Committee was formed earlier this year to work on several things in support of SHCA’s efforts to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood. These efforts include figuring out what the neighborhood wants and doesn’t want in terms of storefronts. To get a better idea of your interests and opinions, the committee is conducting a survey of retail preferences in the neighborhood and inviting community members to participate. Later this month, SHCA will be distributing a newsletter to every resident in the neighborhood that will include an invitation to participate in the survey, according to Lee Huang, the committee chair.

The 10-question survey is now available online. Residents can also email shca.bac@gmail.com to request a copy of the survey.

Some of the survey questions include: What kind of retail would you like or not like to see in the neighborhood? What is your favorite business? What retail locations need the most improvement? For more information about Spruce Hill, including its borders, visit: http://www.sprucehillca.org/about/

Editor’s Note: Police have said that they have received many useful tips on this case (see the update below). This is not an easy case for us to report for a couple of reasons. First, it’s a sexual assault and that requires the utmost sensitivity to cultivate a constructive conversation that does not blame the victim. Second, the perpetrator is still at large and many neighbors are trying to help find him, which is important in a functional and vital community. But we also must be sensitive to jumping to conclusions about our neighbors who are thin, young African American males. If we’re not, we risk that functional and vital community that everyone wants.

UPDATE (10/16/13, 9:00 a.m.): Police are still searching for the suspect. “The public is really stepping up and sending us tips, videos and names. Helping a lot,” Detective Joe Murray told West Philly Local.

A woman was sexually assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at 11:45 a.m. on Monday near 50th and Hazel. The 29-year-old was the latest victim in a string of as many as a half-dozen gunpoint robberies in that area in the last two weeks.

The victim told West Philly Local that she was approached by an African American male, 18-22 years old, wearing a red t-shirt. According to police, she was robbed of cash and then taken to a nearby alley and sexually assaulted.

“(I) didn’t even think at 11:45 in the morning on Hazel that this would happen,” the victim said.

Police confirmed the uptick in armed robberies in the vicinity in recent days. The victim said her friend was approached last night by a man fitting the same description only wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with white drawstrings near 50th and Pentridge. The man said he was from Detroit and asked for directions. The person immediately called police and the man fled. Two other robberies were reported last night and the general description of the perpetrator is similar.

Detective Joe Murray said the descriptions are similar, but couldn’t confirm that the robber was the same person that attacked the woman on Monday morning. Police are investigating the case and we’ll post an update when we have more information.

Here’s a more detailed description of the perpetrator provided by the victim:

African American male, aged 18-22, 5’8, very skinny, no facial hair, short haircut, no distinguishable scars/tattoos, was wearing a red t-shirt.

University City Kiwanis, a local chapter of international service club that unites young professionals in the Philadelphia area, is organizing a great charity event this upcoming Saturday and invites everyone to participate. Registration is now open for the 4th Annual Kiwanis International Charity Kickball Social (KICKS) which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, from noon-4 p.m. in West Fairmount Park (Belmont Plateau, 2000 Belmont Mansion Drive). Proceeds from the event will benefit Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization that provides essentials to homeless and low-income children in Philadelphia. Prizes and raffles will also be available.

Registration fee is $20 if you register before midnight on Friday, Oct 18 or $25 onsite (11 a.m.-noon). The fees include games, lunch and a t-shirt. Click here to register for the event. More information about the event and University City Kiwanis is available here. For questions, email: kicks@uckiwanis.com.

(Photo via uckiwanis.com)

The building that housed Gary’s Nails Salon was damaged during demolition of Elena’s Soul Lounge in December, 2012. (Archive photo/West Philly Local)

After nearly a year of no movement, it seems that the site that was once home to Gary’s Nails Salon at 4910 Baltimore Avenue is now buzzing with renovation work.

Like Cedar Park Cafe, Gary’s Nails was extensively damaged during demolition of neighboring Elena’s Soul Lounge in December of last year, causing the nail salon to shutter its door. (The owners were cited with a violation on December 28, 2012 that claimed the property was “imminently dangerous.”) While Cedar Park Cafe reopened its doors at 4912 Baltimore Ave. mid-August, there was still no word on Gary’s Nails until a few weeks ago when construction work began on the building.

According to one worker at the scene, Gary’s Nails is only undergoing renovation on its roof. In particulars, that means the erection of roof framing and installation of a low-slope built-up roof assembly, describes an active alternation permit issued by Philadelphia License and Inspections on June 21, 2013. The active permit, which was updated October 8, also calls for the partial construction of a masonry wall.

While, according to the Board of Revision of Taxes, the property that once housed Gary Nails is still owned by Ye Me Chi, there is no indication if Gary’s Nails will return as a business  (the property’s exterior condition is listed as “vacant”). West Philly Local was unable to get in touch with the owner for confirmation. We’ll post an update as soon as we have more information.

–Annamarya Scaccia